106
Continued from previous page…
CHARLOTTE
What’s that supposed to mean?
KATHY
(struggling)
Charlotte… Ugh, this is hard to say..
I was talkin’ to the guy downstairs..
and he made it seem like…
CHARLOTTE
Like what?
KATHY
Like… if you don’t marry this guy…
they’re gonna mix you in with
the olive oil.
CHARLOTTE
(gasps)
Huhh !! No!!
KATHY
Yes… I didn’t want to have to tell
you this.. but it makes a lot of
sense… These people are kidnappers,
Char.. and murderers… They’re bad
people… If they don’t get what they
want…
CHARLOTTE
(pacing back and forth)
Who told you this?
KATHY
The guy downstairs.. My roommate.
CHARLOTTE
Your roommate is a guy?
KATHY
He’s not my roommate. He’s in
the room next to me.. He’s Bulgarian..
He sounds like my gardener.
CHARLOTTE
And you believe him?
KATHY
Well, I don’t know if I necessarily
believe him… But, I don’t know if
I have a reason not to believe him,
either… I mean, why would he lie?
He’s in the same boat as all of us.
CHARLOTTE
You mean there’s more downstairs?
KATHY
A couple more, yeah, I think… It
sounds like there’s more down there.
I can hear voices… I’m tellin’ ya, Char,
these people are wicked. You can’t
fool around anymore. You gotta marry
this guy and get us outta’ here.
CHARLOTTE
(not sure what to think)
How do you think marrying him
will help us?
KATHY
Because it will take us to the next step.
It will get us some place other than here.
Then we can plan our next move.
It will buy us some time.
CHARLOTTE
Yeah… Yeah, you’re right… We need
to get to a better place than this…
Some place out in the open. Where
we can make a run for it.
KATHY
Right.
CHARLOTTE
Okay… Okay, good plan… That’s what
I’ll do… As soon as I see him, I’ll tell
him I’ve made a decision… I’ll tell him
that I talked to you.. and you convinced
me that it was the right thing to do.
That way.. they might have more
leniency on you… I’ll tell them you have
to be my Maid of Honor. Otherwise,
I won’t do it. How’s that?
KATHY
That sounds good.. Good thinkin.’
Way to keep me alive, I like that.
CHARLOTTE
Then maybe they’ll move you to
better accommodations in the
meantime.
KATHY
(looking around)
Maybe I can have this room.
CHARLOTTE
(playing along)
You can’t have this room.
This is my room. I’m the bride
to be, remember?
KATHY
Mm-hmm.. Is this your bed?
CHARLOTTE
Yup.
KATHY
(feeling it)
Very nice.. Very firm..
Silk sheets?
CHARLOTTE
I believe so.
KATHY
Uh-huh, uh-huh… I have a cot…
And one of the springs is coming
up through the mattress.
Charlotte just stands there
and allows Kathy to continue
on with her routine. It’s more
fun that way.
KATHY
Fresh-cut flowers?
CHARLOTTE
Yup.. They bring a fresh batch up
to me every morning… Those are
wild Azaleas that grow right here
on the island… So are the Tulips.
KATHY
Uh-huh, uh-huh… I have some
mold growing on the walls…
And a transistor radio from the
sixties.
CHARLOTTE
(smirking)
Very nice.
KATHY
But the batteries just ran
out, so…
CHARLOTTE
Ahh, too bad, yeah…
KATHY
Is this your lunch?
CHARLOTTE
Yeah, that’s it… Broiled lobster
tail and fried scallops in garlic
sauce… diced potatoes and green
onions with fresh green beans in
extra virgin olive oil.
KATHY
Uh-huh, uh-huh… I had some
saltines and peanut-butter with
a glass of water… Did I mention
the saltines were fresh?
CHARLOTTE
No, you didn’t.
KATHY
Delicious. Absolutely delicious.
CHARLOTTE
Sounds like it.
KATHY
I’ll tell ya’ what, Char…
CHARLOTTE
Yeah?
KATHY
How bout’ I marry this guy..
and you can go back to The States?
CHARLOTTE
(calmly)
Are you through? Cuz’ there’s
nothing left in this room
for you to comment on.
KATHY
JUST another example of everyone
else’s life compared to mine, that’s all.
CHARLOTTE
Compared to you? Kathy, you have
a three-million dollar home in
Brentwood.
KATHY
And I slave to earn
every penny of it.
CHARLOTTE
(dramatic pause)
Now, are you through?
KATHY
(satisfied)
I believe so, yes.
CHARLOTTE
Do I need to remind you that my
business skills have made you
wealthy beyond your wildest dreams?
KATHY
No, you do not.
CHARLOTTE
Can we get on with the
business at hand?
KATHY
Please.
Copyright 2023
by Clark Wright