Frank's Home

by Richard Nelson

  KENNETH: Someone in the office called at six this morning and said he’d seen a photograph where it is the only building left standing in all of Tokyo. Everything else . . .

  LLOYD: I can’t believe that’s true.

  CATHERINE: It says in one of those papers, I think the one you have, Mister Sullivan, that something like ten embassies have temporarily moved into Father’s hotel. And with now—a thousand refugees.

  (Short pause.)

  SULLIVAN (Reading, and correcting): Twelve.

  LLOYD: What??

  SULLIVAN: Twelve embassies. Not ten.

  KENNETH: I got two other calls from the bank. I don’t know why they should congratulate me.

  CATHERINE: Have you gotten calls, Lloyd?

  LLOYD: Yes.

  CATHERINE: To congratulate you?

  (No response.)

  WILLIAM (Reading one of the papers): They quote a Japanese: “Wright’s Imperial Hotel and its now famous floating foundations will go down in the annals of architecture with the Pyramids and the other great wonders of the world.”

  SULLIVAN: I’m glad now I wrote my essay. Maybe people will listen to me. (Finished with the paper, he now tries to hand it to Lloyd) Don’t you want to read about it?

  LLOYD: Later.

  SULLIVAN: It is good for all of us. Are you all right? Anything wrong?

  LLOYD: No.

  SULLIVAN: Lloyd, give him credit. He was right, and you were wrong.

  (No one knows what to say; they listen to the children.)

  CATHERINE: They’re having fun.

  (Miriam slowly enters. She tries to “smile” and “be relaxed.” The others, except for William and Sullivan, are surprised to see her.)

  MIRIAM: Frank’s still on the telephone. But now he wants to take a trip. What’s the name of that beach?

  CATHERINE: What beach? (To Lloyd) What is she doing here?

  WILLIAM: I think you mean—Malibu.

  MIRIAM: We’ll take a picnic lunch, I thought.

  WILLIAM: When does he want to go? I haven’t prepared anything—

  MIRIAM: And he wants to see some house.

  SULLIVAN: The one in Pasadena.

  KENNETH: That’s in the opposite direction.

  SULLIVAN: We’ll go one way, and then the other.

  CATHERINE (To Lloyd): What is this?

  (Lloyd too is confused.)

  MIRIAM (Looking at Kenneth): Hello. Have we met?

  KENNETH: I don’t think so.

  (Kenneth looks at Catherine.)

  CATHERINE (After some hesitation): My husband, Kenneth. Miriam Noel. Father’s—friend.

  KENNETH: How do you do?

  (They shake hands.)

  MIRIAM: You’re the banker.

  KENNETH: That’s right. Is it that obvious?

  (Kenneth laughs at his joke, no one else does.)

  MIRIAM: So I’m supposed to ask if we’re all going on this picnic? That would be nice. (To Catherine) And how are you?

  CATHERINE: We’ve met.

  MIRIAM: I know. You have his granddaughter.

  CATHERINE: That’s right.

  (Miriam suddenly smiles to herself.)

  What?

  MIRIAM (Suddenly serious, trying to hide her smile): Nothing. I was just remembering something Frank said about you. (Looking off) Is one of those (“children”) yours?

  CATHERINE: One is. Yes.

  MIRIAM: Which one? Point her out. I’d like to know . . .

  CATHERINE (Hesitates, then): She’s . . . You can’t see her.

  KENNETH (Pointing): She’s right—

  CATHERINE: The blue dress.

  (Miriam looks off, says nothing. The others look off at “Ann”; no one knows what to say.)

  Lloyd, you didn’t know Miss Noel was here?

  LLOYD: I didn’t. Had I known I wouldn’t be here.

  MIRIAM: I like you, too.

  CATHERINE: But, Miss Noel, I understand you’ll soon be going back east.

  MIRIAM: Yes.

  CATHERINE: That’ll be nice. Won’t it?

  MIRIAM: We’re talking about doing just that.

  CATHERINE: We? (She turns to Lloyd)

  SULLIVAN: Your father, Catherine— (Catherine turns to Sullivan) —has asked Miriam to marry him.

  (Pause. Sounds of the children playing.)

  LLOYD: Catherine—

  MIRIAM: I’m thinking about it.

  CATHERINE: I don’t understand.

  MIRIAM: What’s not to understand, Catherine?

  CATHERINE: But Father isn’t divorced from—

  MIRIAM: In four weeks. It’ll be final in four weeks.

  LLOYD: No one told me this. Does Mother know?

  MIRIAM: Why does she have to know? What business is it of hers? Is that coffee, Louie?

  (He begins to pour her some coffee.)

  SULLIVAN (As he pours): Do you want something in it?

  MIRIAM: No. No.

  SULLIVAN: Good for you, Miriam. (He pats her hand)

  CATHERINE: Kenneth—?

  KENNETH: What do you want me to do??

  LLOYD: Will there be—? I don’t know what to say. Where’s the wedding?

  MIRIAM: I said—I am thinking about it. I haven’t said yes. I want to be sure this is the right thing for both of us. (She sips her coffee) Chicago. We’ll do it there. My friends are all there. We thought we’d go back with Louie. Have a party on the train. (Smiles) Like kids.

  (Short pause, then:)

  CATHERINE: That’ll be nice.

  MIRIAM: You’d be invited of course. You are his children. But I don’t know if you want to come all the way to Chicago.

  LLOYD: Probably not.

  KENNETH (To Catherine): If it’s something you’d like to—

  CATHERINE (To Miriam): We can’t. (To Kenneth) We can’t leave Ann.

  MIRIAM: Isn’t it wonderful about your father’s hotel? You know I never doubted him for an instant. It never even occurred to me to do that . . .

  (Frank comes out. All turn to him. Awkward moment, then:)

  CATHERINE (Going up to Frank and kissing his cheek): Congratulations . . .

  FRANK: I’m sorry, I’ve been on the telephone. Everyone’s been—

  LLOYD: I’m sure.

  (From off, a telephone rings.)

  FRANK: See? William—no more.

  (William hurries off.)

  (To Sullivan) He’s happy. When the young are disappointed in us—is there anything worse?

  CATHERINE: I’m happy for you, too.

  MIRIAM: Louie told them about you proposing.

  CATHERINE: I didn’t mean—! I wasn’t congratulating—I mean your hotel. I’m happy about that, that it didn’t . . .

  SULLIVAN (To Frank): They brought the papers, have you seen—?

  FRANK: People have been reading them to me over the telephone.

  SULLIVAN: This one—they compare the hotel with . . .

  (He shows Frank the article. Pause as Frank reads. Miriam tries to smile pleasantly. Sullivan pats her hand. Then:)

  FRANK: Lloyd, have you read this? (Hands Lloyd the paper, pointing out the article) Read that.

  (Lloyd “reads.”)

  CATHERINE (Finally): So you are going back to Chicago to get married?

  FRANK: She hasn’t accepted my proposal yet. Have you?

  MIRIAM (Teasing): And maybe I won’t.

  (She and Frank laugh.)

  LLOYD: Jesus Christ.

  FRANK: I think she’s going to say yes.

  (Miriam kisses Frank on the lips.)

  Is that a “yes”?

  MIRIAM: I told them about the picnic.

  FRANK: What picnic?

  MIRIAM: How we’re all going on a picnic to that beach.

  FRANK: Miriam wants us to go on a picnic. All I want to do is show Louie that house.

  MIRIAM: We’ll do that, too.

  KENNETH (To Frank): Would you be willing to—?

  CATHERINE (Interrupting): What? Why are you talking?

&nb
sp; KENNETH: I was just wondering—I haven’t mentioned this to Catherine—

  CATHERINE: What?

  KENNETH: If maybe you’d stop by our house—because of the addition? See how it— I understand you usually like to see the land before you come up with something. Lloyd told me that.

  CATHERINE (Trying to stop him): Kenneth—

  FRANK: I do—like to see the land.

  CATHERINE: I’m not sure this is the best time, Kenneth.

  KENNETH: I don’t understand.

  CATHERINE (Nods toward Miriam): I don’t think it’s the right time.

  KENNETH (To Frank, confused): Another time then.

  FRANK: Just say when.

  (Another awkward moment.)

  MIRIAM: So we’ll go to the beach.

  FRANK (His mind on other things): The Japanese ambassador himself telephoned me. He thanked me.

  SULLIVAN: Good. Very good.

  FRANK: Lloyd, the Japanese ambassador.

  MIRIAM: So we will go on a picnic. To this beach. That’ll be nice. It’ll be good to get your father away from his work for a day. He needs that. He told me that last night. To think the worst has happened and then . . . it all turns out. We’ll need to take two cars, won’t we?

  (No response, everyone looking at everyone else.)

  So—who wants to ride with whom? Catherine and—what’s your name?

  CATHERINE: Kenneth.

  MIRIAM: Thank you. Kenneth and—Lloyd? Do you want to go together? Or one of you drive with your father and us? You decide. (No response) We have room for one more. Lloyd?

  (Lloyd and Catherine exchange a look; Miriam sees this.)

  No one?

  (Kenneth starts to volunteer, but is stopped by Catherine.)

  Then it’ll be you—and us. I should go and get a hat for this sun. Excuse me . . .

  (Upset, she hurries off. Then as soon as she is out of sight:)

  CATHERINE: I don’t believe her. (To Kenneth) Now you see what I mean?

  LLOYD: Does Mother know anything about this?

  FRANK: This has nothing to do with your mother.

  LLOYD: Goddamn it, Father, this is how you tell us?!

  CATHERINE: Helen telephoned me last night, Father. After she stopped by to—thank you.

  LLOYD: Why are you bringing that up now? Why are you saying it like that?

  CATHERINE: Why do you think?

  LLOYD: He didn’t try and pick her up, did he?

  (William hurries out and interrupts:)

  WILLIAM: Mister Wright—Miss Noel, she asks if you could . . . (Gestures “come inside”)

  FRANK: What does she want? I can’t.

  SULLIVAN (Head in his newspaper): Frank . . . (Gestures that Frank should go to Miriam)

  WILLIAM (To Frank): I don’t know what to do, sir.

  FRANK (To Sullivan): I don’t know why I have to—

  SULLIVAN: Because she’s upset. And you’re marrying her. And she’s going to take care of you.

  FRANK: Why should I have to do this? (He hurries off)

  CATHERINE (Under her breath, to Lloyd): He’s marrying that woman!

  LLOYD: I heard! I have ears!

  KENNETH (To Catherine): Why don’t I just drive with them?

  CATHERINE: You don’t understand anything. (To Lloyd) My heart’s like this. (Gestures pounding)

  (Kenneth has stepped away and now stands near Sullivan.)

  SULLIVAN (Still reading his paper; to Kenneth): This one is interesting . . .

  (Off, Miriam cries out to Frank: “They hate me!” He in turn sh-shs her.

  William starts to head inside.)

  Stay out here. Anyone want some of the papers?

  (No response.)

  LLOYD (To Catherine): He tried to pick up that girl?

  CATHERINE: Look, there she is now. (She waves off to Helen and “smiles”)

  LLOYD: She told you he . . .? (He waves off and “smiles”) I don’t believe this. He treats them all the same. Mother. This “Miriam.” The same. I wish one of them would just hit him. (He shouts toward the house) Just hit him! Hit him!

  CATHERINE (Stopping him): Lloyd. (He struggles with her) Lloyd! Act your age. The children can hear you. Please.

  (Lloyd calms down.)

  It won’t be any different than it’s always been with him. Nothing’s changed. Come here.

  (He goes to her. She straightens his shirt and tie, brushes dust off his shoulder, smoothes back his hair. Then with a slap on the shoulder:)

  We’ll be fine.

  (Frank comes out, this time wearing an admiral’s hat and carrying a ukulele.)

  FRANK: Miriam’s taking a little nap.

  (As he speaks, the others turn to him and notice his costume.)

  CATHERINE: Father what are you—? (To Lloyd) What’s he wearing?

  FRANK (Hesitantly): Remember this? (Touches the hat) Lloyd?

  LLOYD: I haven’t seen that for years.

  FRANK: I brought it out here with me, to show the both of you. (About the ukulele, to Kenneth) I used to play this—when they were kids.

  CATHERINE: At Christmastime.

  FRANK: At Christmastime.

  KENNETH: Why the hat?

  CATHERINE: You’ll see. (Turns to Lloyd, excited) I forgot about this, did you?

  LLOYD: No. I didn’t forget.

  (Frank strums.)

  Sh-sh.

  FRANK: Sit. Sit.

  (They sit and look up at their father with awe and love as he begins to strum and then sing, not very well:)

  I am the very model of a modern Major-General,

  I’ve information vegetable, animal and mineral—

  SULLIVAN: I thought you hated everything English.

  FRANK: Everything but this. I’ve always loved this.

  SULLIVAN: You Welsh don’t know how to hate. Not like us Irish.

  FRANK (Sings):

  I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical,

  From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical;

  I’m very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical—

  CATHERINE: As you are!

  FRANK: Thank you. (Continues:)

  I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical,

  About binomial theorem I’m teeming with a lot o’ news—

  (He pretends to search for the rhyme, others laugh, especially Lloyd and Catherine who have been transported back to childhood.)

  I got it! (Sings:)

  With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse!

  LLOYD AND CATHERINE (Sing the refrain):

  With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse!

  CATHERINE: Another one! Come on, Father.

  LLOYD: And faster!

  (Frank prepares himself, sets his balance, then:)

  FRANK (Sings):

  I know our mythic history, King Arthur’s and Sir Caradoc’s.

  SULLIVAN: And I thought you were American!

  FRANK (Sings):

  I answer hard acrostics, I’ve a pretty taste for paradox,

  I quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus,

  In conics I can floor peculiarities parabolous,

  I can tell undoubted Raphaels from Gerard Dows and Zoffanies,

  I know the croaking chorus from the The Frogs of Aristophanes!

  Then I can hum a fugue of which I’ve heard the music’s din afore,

  And whistle all the airs—

  (He stops, nearly in tears.)

  KENNETH (Turns to Catherine): What’s wrong?

  (She turns to Kenneth, who sees that she too is crying.)

  Why are you crying?

  (Frank looks at Lloyd, goes to him and rubs his head as one does a little boy’s. Then:)

  FRANK: We should stop this.

  KENNETH: Why?

  FRANK: I don’t feel like it anymore. (He moves off to the side, in his own thoughts/memories)

  KENNETH (To Catherine): What happened?

  CATH
ERINE: It’s how it used to be. I’d forgotten it. Let’s go. I want to go home.

  KENNETH: What about the picnic?

  LLOYD: There isn’t going to be a picnic today, Kenneth.

  (Catherine hurries off, trying not to cry.)

  KENNETH: I don’t understand. (He follows her off)

  SULLIVAN: I don’t think I’m ever going to get to this Malibu.

  WILLIAM: It’s where you were the other day. It hasn’t changed. I was making sandwiches. I’ll put all that away.

  (He starts to go, Frank stops him.)

  FRANK: I don’t want to go on a picnic.

  WILLIAM: I’m putting it all away. (He goes)

  (For a moment, Frank doesn’t know what to do. There is an emptiness, then:)

  SULLIVAN: I feel like drawing. Anyone else? Gentlemen? I’ll bring out some sketchbooks.

  (He goes off, inside.)

  LLOYD: I’m surprised Catherine even remembers you singing that. She couldn’t have been more than—five, maybe. The last time.

  FRANK: She looked just like she did when she was small. Looking up like that.

  LLOYD: Mother brought out the presents while you sang.

  FRANK: I know. I know.

  LLOYD: Ann—she looks just like Catherine did. The spitting image. You should spend some time with her.

  FRANK: I will.

  LLOYD: But it’s not the same.

  FRANK: No.

  (Short pause.)

  LLOYD: Congratulations on the hotel. I’m sure you are very proud of yourself. You always are.

  (Frank looks at his son. Sullivan returns with the sketchbooks.)

  SULLIVAN: Who wants to draw? I’ll leave them on the chair.

  FRANK: I’ll draw.

  SULLIVAN (Sitting, opening a sketchbook): So why don’t we ask Miss—the schoolteacher over, maybe she’d pose for us again.

  LLOYD: I think she’s busy. Maybe later.

  SULLIVAN (Sketching): Maybe later.

  LLOYD: Father, would you like that?

  FRANK: I don’t do people.

  (Lloyd has taken a sketchbook as well; the three now sketch. We hear the children playing, off. Sullivan sketches what he sees, off; Frank sketches what he is thinking, and Lloyd, again, begins drawing his father.)

  Don’t draw me, Lloyd.

  (Lloyd ignores him and keeps drawing him. William comes out, hesitates, then:)

  WILLIAM: Miss Noel—

  FRANK (Sketching): What William?

  WILLIAM: She’s asking for you.

  FRANK (Sketching): Tell her you couldn’t find me.

  WILLIAM: She saw you out . . . She knows you’re— (Stops himself and goes inside to tell her)