by Joan Burrows
jessie: Tired? You look a little tired. I know it’s a pyjama party but I think we should let Leslie get some sleep.
gloria: I agree. Leslie, take the bed in that room. I’ll sleep on the cot that’s in there.
eva: Can I have the cot? That way I can gab with Les for a while. Until she falls asleep.
leslie: Are you sure? I’m last in. I don’t mind staying here on the sofa.
gloria: Don’t be silly. This is too soft for you. I’ll sleep here.
jessie: I think I’ll turn in as well. What about you, Margaret Anne?
peggy: I guess. We have to be up early tomorrow.
eva: The party’s over? It’s not even midnight. I haven’t dyed my hair yet.
leslie: Oh, don’t stop because of me. I promise to be more energetic tomorrow. Can we go to Gary’s Diner for breakfast?
guy: You? The chef from Allen’s wants to eat breakfast at Gary’s?
leslie: I’ve been craving it ever since I left the city. Who’s in for Gary’s with me?
leslie puts her palm out to be slapped.
peggy: Mom and I have to organize the dresses. And Gloria and Eva were going to golf tomorrow morning.
jessie: (looking at guy) Oh really?
jessie attempts to prompt guy.
Did you book a time?
gloria: Yes.
eva: No offence, Gloria, but I’d rather have breakfast with Leslie. You’ll get to see her in the city before she moves. But I might not see her again until next fall.
gloria: That’s fine, Eva. I’ll cancel the tee-off time.
jessie crosses to guy.
jessie: I’m sure Guy could help you with that, right, Guy?
guy: Sure. No problem. Consider it cancelled.
jessie gives guy a shove.
jessie: (in a low voice) Although . . .
gloria: Pardon?
jessie: Guy said, “although.” Although what, Guy?
guy: Uh . . .
jessie: Of course! Although . . . it would be a shame to lose your tee-off time. Maybe there’s someone else who could go out with you? I’d offer but I found out tonight I’m really not very good. And, of course, Margaret Anne has the dresses, and Eva and Leslie are gonna have a good gossip session. You could join them and hear all about Eva’s husband . . . again.
gloria grimaces.
So who’s left?
They all look at guy.
leslie: What about Guy?
jessie: What a great idea, Leslie. Of course. Why didn’t I think of that? Guy would love to go out on the course with you, wouldn’t you, Guy?
guy: Uh . . .
jessie: See, look at this.
jessie picks up the putter.
Gloria just bought this and she really needs to break it in.
They all step back as jessie does a rather large, awkward swing.
guy grabs the putter from her.
guy: I don’t think I should . . .
jessie: Nonsense. It’s okay for Guy to use your putter, isn’t it, Gloria?
gloria: I guess.
jessie grabs it back from guy.
jessie: Maybe you could share it tomorrow. Kind of give it a double workout. Well, it’s settled. (hurriedly) You two can get in a golf game. You two can gossip at Gary’s. We two can do the dresses. And then we can all go to the church to see Kerry Larkin marry Bobby Seyfert.
peggy: Ma, you’re quite the social planner. Maybe the girls don’t wanna go.
gloria: Oh, I planned on it. I even brought a dress to wear. I can’t wait to see your gowns on all the girls.
leslie: I’m going. I wanna make faces at Jimmy as he walks his daughter down the aisle. It’s hard for me to believe that my old locker partner is gonna be a father-in-law.
peggy: Forget father-in-law. Try grandfather.
leslie: You’re kidding? You mean? When?
jessie: I’d say in four months, given the last fitting.
leslie: Now this I definitely want to hear about. Right now, however, I just want the bathroom. I believe he or she is sitting on my bladder.
leslie exits into the bathroom.
gloria: Come on, Eva, I saw extra sheets in the cupboard. Let’s make up that cot for you.
gloria exits into the bedroom.
eva stops at the bar and picks up a bottle of wine.
eva: One for the road. Join me, Guy?
guy: No. No thanks. I’m going to check on Bobby and the boys. Make sure they’re behaving themselves.
eva: Too bad. We still have so much catching up to do. If I can’t sleep, maybe I’ll head back down to that old hot tub. We could catch up then. Just to warn you though, I’m not putting on a wet bathing suit.
guy: Oh.
eva: See ya later.
eva exits into the bedroom.
peggy: Good night, Eva.
peggy turns to guy.
Thanks for all your help today, Guy. See you at the wedding tomorrow.
She starts toward her bedroom.
Coming, Ma?
jessie: In a minute, dear. Just waiting for the bathroom.
peggy exits and jessie hits guy on the arm.
guy: Ow! Would you quit doing that?
jessie: What are you doing? Making plans to sit in the hot tub with Eva when Gloria could’ve walked out here any minute.
guy: She wasn’t serious.
A pause while he looks at eva’s door.
Was she?
jessie: Did that California sun bleach your brain? Or have you always been this naive? Now wait here until Gloria comes out and then make your move.
guy: What move?
jessie: Your move. Your strategy. Your plan. Talk to her, you idiot. Connect. Reminisce. Beg forgiveness for being eighteen and stupid. Cry. I don’t know. Just communicate to her that you would like to spend more time with her.
leslie comes out of the bathroom and picks up her overnight bag.
leslie: Good night, Mrs. McConnell.
jessie: Good night, dear. I hope you’re able to sleep.
leslie: It’s fits and starts but I’m used to it. I’m sure the Diva will prattle on and won’t even notice that I’m asleep.
jessie heads into the bathroom. leslie watches until the door closes then turns and gives guy a long hug.
How are you? How’s it been going, really?
guy: Since you saw me at that AA meeting last January? Or since I’ve been home?
leslie: Both.
guy: Not very anonymous when I go to my regular AA group and meet up with an old high-school friend. I never saw that coming.
leslie: I hadn’t been to one in years. But I knew the restaurant opening would be . . . stressful. Thought I needed a little help to get through that week.
guy: So you found a meeting and you found me.
leslie: Looking like shit, I might add.
guy: I did, didn’t I? I came home last spring. I wanted to come see you at Allen’s but it was the beginning of the season here and every week was busy. I wanted to thank you.
leslie: For what?
guy: For showing up when you did. Out of nowhere. Out of a past that I thought I’d forgotten about. For listening and not judging. And for coming home and calling Jimmy. He flew out right away. Did you know that?
leslie: I didn’t know that. I just knew Jimmy. You don’t share a locker for all those years with someone and not know him. You seemed so alone out there. I just thought you needed some support. You needed a brother.
guy: He brought me home. Or, at least, he gave me a reason to come home. The lodge keeps me busy. And I’ve been thinking of putting out the shingle again. Jim said I could turn one of the front suites into an office. We’ve been trying to come up with a slogan: “Come for a weekend ret
reat and plan your will at the same time.”
leslie laughs.
I know. Too long.
leslie: How about “Wellness and Wills”?
guy: Now that I like. I wonder if Jimmy’d go for a name change to this place?
leslie: And your wife? How did that turn out?
guy: Badly at first. But since I’ve been home things have gotten better. Sometimes long-distance geography can solve a lot of problems. She’s with a decent guy, now. He was an accountant at the firm. Maybe a little boring, but after living with me I can understand why she’s choosing him. Actually, I like him. And he’s great with Justine. Who I will get to see next month. Her mother has agreed to visit her family in Chicago for American Thanksgiving. I’m flying there for the weekend. I get to take them out to lunch, maybe the aquarium, a movie. Whatever Justine wants.
leslie: So your sad story has a good ending?
guy: I like to think of it as a new beginning. Each day. One day . . .
She finishes with him.
leslie: . . . at a time.
They smile.
guy: I go to the meetings here. You wouldn’t believe who I see. But then again, you probably would.
leslie: (hugging him) I’m glad for you, Guy. That little girl needs to know her dad. Trust me. This comes from someone whose father walked out on his family when she was four. And look what happened to me.
guy: Bad argument, Les. You’re the richest and most successful of anyone in our class.
leslie: With a lot of crap that I hid from a lot of people for a long time. Look at you, a California lawyer.
guy: With a lot of crap that I hid from a lot of people . . .
leslie: (together) . . . for a long time.
Beat.
But I think we’re gonna make it, Guy. I’m hopeful. Are you?
guy: I want to be.
jessie comes out of the bathroom and makes her way to her purse, which she puts in the refrigerator during the following. The others watch her with interest.
jessie: Oh, still here? Well, good night again, Leslie. Guy, why don’t you stay until Gloria comes out? Make sure she’s clear about the golf game tomorrow. It would be a shame to have the wrong tee-off time.
jessie looks meaningfully at him and then exits into the bedroom.
lelie gathers her things.
leslie: I think Mrs. Mac has the right idea for you.
guy: Playing golf?
leslie: Trying to match you up with Gloria Atherly.
guy: It’s that obvious?
leslie: Gloria’s great. She would be good for you. She stuck by me when I was pretty crazy. She understands pain and loss. She was pretty stoic when Charlie was killed but I could see it in her eyes. She was devastated. But if you’re thinking of asking Gloria out, be honest with her, Guy.
guy: Her husband was killed by a drunk driver and you want me to tell her who I am? Hey, Gloria, how about a movie next Saturday night and, by the way, I could’ve been the guy who drove the car that killed your husband. Just thought you should know. How’re my chances of scoring that date?
leslie: Be honest. Not brutal. Why don’t you begin by telling her why you came home? And while you’re at it, you could apologize for not showing up for the prom.
guy: Not that again. We both know I found other things to indulge in that night.
leslie: I know. I was there, and although it’s foggy, I do recollect some serious hash that had been scored from the city.
guy: You see, even then, you and me on the same path of self-destruction.
leslie: I do remember making it out here later that night and all the girls were sitting in this room, looking at that door, knowing Gloria was in there crying her heart out.
guy: I did come out to apologize.
leslie: It was four in the morning and you were wasted. Yelling her name from the dock below. Glooorrrryyyy! And then laughing hysterically.
guy: I was trying to be Marlon Brando.
leslie: We weren’t impressed. Poor Gloria standing in the middle of the room with the girlfriends all around her. It looked like a scene out of Wagon Train except she was encircled by feminine rage. You didn’t stand a chance, my boy. It was a shitty way to end your friendship, let alone your teenage romance. Apologize for that. Trust me, even after all this time, she, at least, needs to hear that from you.
gloria enters from the bedroom.
gloria: Did you call me, Leslie?
leslie: Uh . . . no. Well . . . I’m exhausted. Good night, Guy.
leslie kisses him.
Thanks for the talk. You really are a sweet man.
She exits into the bedroom.
gloria watches her go.
gloria: That’s the second woman today who’s called you a sweet man.
guy: Me?
gloria: Yeah, hard to believe, isn’t it?
guy: Oh, I don’t know. Is it?
gloria stares at guy. A long pause.
So . . .
guy sees her putter and picks it up.
I had my eye on this one too.
gloria: Really? I didn’t know you played that much.
guy: Oh, I don’t. But just thought this looked like a good one.
He takes a few practice swings.
gloria: You’re breaking your wrist.
guy: What?
gloria: And you’re bringing your head up too early. You’re probably one of those golfers, more interested in where the ball is going rather than making the solid contact.
guy: You can tell that. That I’m one of those kinds of golfers?
gloria: Yes.
guy: So how do I fix it?
gloria: Concentrate on your spine. Keep your back long.
She places her hand on his back while he follows through, and just as the club is above the imaginary ball she stops him.
Stop there. Do you feel my hand along the length of your back?
She gently rubs up and down his back.
A pause as he enjoys this.
guy: Oh, yeah.
Suddenly realizing her position with him, gloria takes away the putter.
gloria: You really don’t play much, do you? Why’d you agree to go out tomorrow?
guy: I didn’t want you to lose your tee-off time and I thought you’d give me some pointers. You were always better at sports. Now that I’m home, I should take more interest in the golf course.
gloria: I didn’t know there would be a lot of legal issues around the golf course.
guy: Oh sure.
gloria: Like what?
guy: Uh . . . accident insurance . . . getting smacked by a ball, run over by a cart . . . uh . . . environmental issues . . . smacking a goose with a ball. Those geese are vicious in court, you know. They’ve got litigation down to a fine art. The way they come at you . . .
He forms a vee with his arms. gloria is not impressed.
gloria: Perhaps you’d better stay clear of the course then in case you run into some former adversaries. It’d be bad enough losing to me let alone being chased down the fairway by some angry gander.
guy: Losing to you?
gloria: You admitted you don’t play and that I was always better at sports, so yes, I would beat you. And you can even use the ladies’ tees.
guy: Care to make a small wager on that statement?
gloria: No. I’ll make a big one, though. Unless you’re not financially able at this time to . . .
guy: How much?
gloria: A hundred bucks and the winner names the charity.
guy: Fine. Bring your chequebook.
gloria: You can start filling yours out now. To the Society for the Preservation of Canadian Geese.
guy: You’re making that up.
gloria: Wanna bet anoth
er hundred?
Beat.
guy: No.
gloria: Fine.
guy: So . . . this’ll be fun. Actually, I was hoping to spend some time with you, Glory. Just to talk. Catch up. You know.
gloria: Talk? About what?
guy: Lots of things. Life. Yours. Mine. What’s happened over the years.
gloria: There’s not much to say, is there. I left Woodsville, graduated with an economics degree, married Charlie McAllister. He died five years ago in a car accident. I work for a big bank. Your turn.
guy: That’s it? I don’t think I could summarize my . . .
gloria: Sure you could. You moved to BC. Graduated with a law degree. Moved to Los Angeles. Eventually married. And apparently you are now divorced and living back here with your brother and his wife, running the Larkin Lodge. See? We already know about each other’s lives. So, if there’s not another topic of conversation, I could really use some sleep if we’re golfing in the morning.
guy: Wait a minute. Don’t you think you left out some of the details in your brief chronicle of our life and times?
gloria: The details aren’t important.
guy: Not important?
gloria: Look, Guy, I’m sorry that your marriage didn’t work out, but the reason or reasons are not my concern. I’m sorry that you chased your dream to sunny California and apparently your career didn’t work out and you’re back here now. I’m sorry that at middle age you’re living with your brother’s family. I’m sorry . . .
guy: You feel sorry for me? That’s it? You judge my life on generalities, without knowing the details, and decide that ultimately I should be pitied? And I’m not middle-aged.
gloria: We’re all turning forty this year. Look, that’s not how I meant it.
guy: Well, I feel sorry for you.
gloria: Why? Because I’m widowed? Oh please, your condolences would’ve been better appreciated five years ago when the accident happened. But I don’t recall hearing from you then. But better late than never, right?
guy: I feel sorry that you’ve become so cold.
She glares at him.
Yes, I feel sorry for you that Charlie died. That he was taken so horribly and suddenly. That you were left alone. And, yes, I feel shallow for not writing to you. For not extending sincerest sympathies. For not signing a card saying my thoughts are with you in your time of sorrow. But, Glory, you had to know they were. You had to know that.