Caroline Castro

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ALEXANDRA
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BEATRIZ
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TOMMY
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ABUELO
Quién me habla? Fernando?
TOMMY
Sí.
ABUELO
Ah, sí, bueno, sabías que tu hija esta portándose muy mal.
Muy mal, Don Sánchez.
TOMMY
Esa es la vecina, no te preocupes.
ABUELO
De veras? Parece a mi Cuquita.
TOMMY
No, no, no es ella.
ABUELO
Ay, ahora me siento bruto.
210
TOMMY
No, no, no te sientas mal.
ABUELO
Pues, perdóneme, señorita suelta. Que disfruten la noche.
TOMMY
Vente, Ricardo.
ABUELO
Dónde está Cuca?
TOMMY
En el baño. Acuéstate y vendrá ahora mismo.
ABUELO
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5&%&20'&57$!89:";$'#$(05$)##*,
TOMMY
Gloria, what’chu doing?
GLORIA
Nothing, Tommy.
TOMMY
Who’s that?
GLORIA
A friend, Tomás.
211
TOMMY
You be careful with my sister, fucker, you hear me?
GLORIA
Tomás Castillo.
TOMMY
This is my house.
GLORIA
Mine too.
TOMMY
I don’t want Alexandra learning nothing.
GLORIA
Nothing’s happening.
TOMMY
Fine. Don’t be loud.
GLORIA
Okay.
TOMMY
Goodnight.
GLORIA
Bye.
212
!"#$$%&'()*+,
TRISTAN
What just happened?
GLORIA
My sister-in-law’s father has dementia. He thinks I’m his
wife, Cuca.
TRISTAN
That’s a funny name.
GLORIA
We all have to play around it. He thinks Tommy’s his
father-in-law.
TRISTAN
You can’t check him into a hospital, or a home?
GLORIA
They don’t speak Spanish. I mean, I can’t really speak to
him either, but Bea and Tommy can. He rarely speaks unless he’s in a spell.
TRISTAN
He sounded really worried.
GLORIA
He thought I was cheating on him with you.
213
TRISTAN
He went back to bed though.
GLORIA
Yes.
TRISTAN
So come kiss me, Cuca.
GLORIA
!"#$%&'()$*+(,#$$+$(*#-./(01(213(4&''&(51(614'$%&#"$(%1(
the basement?
TRISTAN
Is that where your grandma is?
GLORIA
No. It’s where my room is.
TRISTAN
You gonna put me to sleep?
GLORIA
No.
TRISTAN
Well then hush.
GLORIA
71-+(-&,+(-+/(()89:(51+$(614'$%&#"$;(9:(<1==14$.
214
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!"#$%"&'(")*+,-)./01+2-),3,45)(410674)8056429:))
ALEXANDRA
Me dijo que te dijera que si no hubieras hecho eso como si
tuviese—como si no fuese—fuese?
RONALDO
Sigue.
ALEXANDRA
Fuese tan enojado que podías tener el control.
RONALDO
Haber tenido. Que hubieras tenido el control.
ALEXANDRA
Really? I don’t know what I’m saying.
RONALDO
Alexandra.
ALEXANDRA
What? I get all confused.
RONALDO
En español, por favor.
215
ALEXANDRA
Me siento estupida. Like a fake or something. I’m never
gonna learn this. I just look brown I don’t speak it, okay?
RONALDO
Marrón?
ALEXANDRA
Yeah, you know in the U.S., Latino people are brown. You
don’t know that in Argentina?
RONALDO
Si soy blanco, casi pálido. Que dirían de mi?
ALEXANDRA
That you speak brown. What?
RONALDO
Hm. Me parece extraño.
ALEXANDRA
How long have you lived here? Ay, cuantos años vivía aquí?
RONALDO
He vivido aquí por—déjame ver—han sido tres, sí, tres
años.
ALEXANDRA
And do you speak English?
216
RONALDO
Of course, but not during Spanish tutoring. Ahora, cuéntame de tus padres.
ALEXANDRA
Well, papi’s probably in the parking lot. He doesn’t trust
you but he says I gotta learn Spanish or it’s a shame.
RONALDO
Ya veo. Y la señora Castillo?
ALEXANDRA
Mami speaks both and has a pretty accent. I like it. Papi
speaks both all the time he can’t even separate them. But
he says I should speak Spanish so that we’re not hypocrites. He won’t come here just in case you try to talk to
him all proper. He only needs slang in his special meetings
that our jibaro neighbor keeps taking him to.
RONALDO
Y que opinas del idioma? Te gusta o no te gusta?
ALEXANDRA
It’s alright. Casi casi.
RONALDO
Un poco.
ALEXANDRA
I think our class is over.
217
RONALDO
Qué hora es?
ALEXANDRA
Son las hora that my Aunt Gloria’s picking me up.
!"#$%&'()*+,-(./0
GLORIA
Excuse me. Sorry. Alexandra is your class over?
ALEXANDRA
Yeah. Ciao, Ronaldo.
RONALDO
Hasta luego, Alexandra.
GLORIA
Your dad had to go, so—I know I’m early. If you need to
1/.-2(345
RONALDO
No se preocupe, señora.
ALEXANDRA
Aunt Glo doesn’t speak Spanish, Ronaldo.
RONALDO
Ah no?
218
GLORIA
I understand it.
ALEXANDRA
She understands it real good. She’s a translator.
RONALDO
Y no hablas?
GLORIA
No. I know it’s strange. Never found a voice for it.
RONALDO
Well, you have a very beautiful voice.
ALEXANDRA
She tells me stories at night when I wanna feel like a little
girl. She translates them from the page from the books.
What’s that one you’re reading to me now?
GLORIA
Cien Años de Soledad—
RONALDO
Soledad. Usted tiene un acento precioso.
GLORIA
Oh, well, thank you. Alex, don’t forget your workbook.
219
ALEXANDRA
I always leave it here.
RONALDO
You’re supposed to do your homework. Toma.
ALEXANDRA
Thanks a lot, titi.
GLORIA
You know your papi will get mad if he sees you’re skipping
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RONALDO
Ronaldo Carlos Goracci Sepúlveda. Mucho gusto, Gloria.
Here, I’ll get the door.
GLORIA
Oh, thank you.
ALEXANDRA
She’s gotta boyfriend, Ronaldo.
GLORIA
Alex.
RONALDO
Women of any status deserve good treatment.
220
ALEXANDRA
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RONALDO
Could I, could Alexandra maybe bring some of your translations to me? I’ve never read Gabriel García Márquez in
English with that voice.
GLORIA
Oh, I haven’t written the translations.
RONALDO
You do it all automatically when you read to her?
GLORIA
Yes.
RONALDO
Impressive.
GLORIA
I translate in the courtroom, so it’s very quick work.
RONALDO
Oh.
ALEXANDRA
I’m gonna wait at the car.
221
GLORIA
I’m coming, Alexandra.
!"#$%"&'(")*+,-./
RONALDO
She’s very animada.
GLORIA
Yes.
RONALDO
I really like your voice.
GLORIA
My voice?
RONALDO
It has a Spanish rhythm. The accent is very slight but it’s
not American.
GLORIA
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RONALDO
Maybe you should take lessons. Just to get comfortable
speaking.
GLORIA
Oh well, thank you but—
222
RONALDO
You wouldn’t like that?
GLORIA
I get by with what I studied.
RONALDO
Would you like to speak it?
GLORIA
Someday. Sure. I speak it, I just don’t prefer it.
RONALDO
You prefer to stay silent in Spanish?
GLORIA
I don’t know.
RONALDO
Do you get nervous to speak it? Your English is beautiful.
GLORIA
I get tired of it sometimes.
RONALDO
Of English?
GLORIA
Of speaking just to talk. People think hearing each other’s
voices makes them closer.
223
RONALDO
You don’t think conversation does that?
GLORIA
It depends on what you’re saying.
RONALDO
It’s true, listening is better.
GLORIA
I’m not a very good listener either. I should go.
RONALDO
Do you enjoy court hearings?
GLORIA
Sometimes. Lawyers either say a lot or they get straight to
the point. Unless I’m translating, I only listen when they
get straight to the point.
RONALDO
Your boyfriend must appreciate that.
GLORIA
He’s a lawyer.
RONALDO
Is he from here?
224
GLORIA
Yes. Alexandra is waiting.
RONALDO
Yes, of course. We’ll talk later at your lesson.
GLORIA
I can’t.
RONALDO
Tomorrow.
GLORIA
I can’t afford it—time or moneywise. I’m sorry.
RONALDO
It would be my pleasure. Just pay me with translations.
GLORIA
I’ll think about it.
RONALDO
Si trabajas hasta esta ahora, quizás sería mejor coger la lección mañana por la noche? Después de la cena?
GLORIA
I can’t.
RONALDO
!"#$%&'$(")$*+$,-($./$0/12.3/4
225
GLORIA
I sing Tuesday nights.
RONALDO
Where? Qué cosa?
GLORIA
Jazz.
RONALDO
Latin Jazz? Tito Puente, Ray Barretto—
GLORIA
That’s New York.
RONALDO
So bring that music here.
GLORIA
I should take Alexandra’s workbook, she left it again.
RONALDO
Take it for you. Do exercises in the back, it’s more advanced. But we’ll talk tomorrow.
GLORIA
!"#$%&'$()*+,-./*
RONALDO
Hasta luego, señora Gloria Castillo.
226
!"#$#%&
At the kitchen sink.
BEATRIZ
Tommy, qué le pasa? Is it broke for real?
TOMMY
I don’t know. Looks like it. Give me a minute.
BEATRIZ
First the bathroom water’s brown, y ahora esto.
TOMMY
Cálmate, Bea.
BEATRIZ
I know. I’m trying.
!"#$%&'()*+),-.
BEATRIZ
Ay que bueno, Gloria. Tommy salte de ahí. Gloria, could
you help me make a phone call?
GLORIA
Sure, what happened?
227
BEATRIZ
Well, I could do it but I get nervous with them on the
phone explaining things and it’s la fregadora que está tapa’
y no se como arreglarla y el agua a veces se pone brown en
el baño y estoy estrésica—
GLORIA
Okay. Let’s just get a phone.
TOMMY
!"#$%"&'"()*"
BEATRIZ
No, baby. It needs professionals.
TOMMY
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BEATRIZ
I don’t want all those Young Lord men up in here. No,
que no. Que ayuden a las viejitas y que los gringos uniformados me ayuden a mí.
TOMMY
Whatever you say. We’re free. They’re gonna charge un
montón de chavo’, you know it.
BEATRIZ
Well, let’s see when Gloria calls.
228
GLORIA
Hello.
BEATRIZ
See, she sounds more American, they’ll help.
TOMMY
She still sounds different, Bea.
BEATRIZ
Ah pues, change your voice, chula.
GLORIA
Yes, we need a repairman for our sink. Yes we’ve checked
it and it’s a problem with the set up, I mean the valves?
Our address is 2321 Lincoln and Larrabee. You don’t
come here? Is there another number of someone to
contact? We know it’s just a sink but the water in the
bathroom needs to get repaired as well, something’s wrong
with the pipes. Excuse me, sir, we are residents of this
!"#$%&'()&*+,&!"#"-(+)%&&.(/00&!1+#*!#&)12(1+(&*+,&30(&*&
complaint. Oh and where do you suggest we move? Don’t
worry, we’ll be more used to the heat in hell while you
2(0#%&45*#/)&6"75#8&71&#1&5(009:5*+7)&;<=
TOMMY
Motherfuckers.
BEATRIZ
412>)8&:(?<0*"+"+7=&@0(?*+,6*%&&
229
TOMMY
They can’t do this. Beatriz, it’s shit. They treat us like little
brown shit. Gloria, there has to be someone you know up
where you work that can help us.
BEATRIZ
Alguien que intercedería por nosotros.
GLORIA
I’ll look it up.
TOMMY
Ask your white fucker while you’re at it, maybe he should
do something besides fuck my sister.
GLORIA
I’ll ask him, okay. He’ll have advice.
TOMMY
Good. I’ll go see if la manguera works outside so we can
put water in the fridge and near the tub.
BEATRIZ
Gracias, bebé.
(TOMMY exits mumbling: gringo mother fuckers, I spic
!"#$%&'()"*(+,)"%&'GLORIA
What’s Don Fuentes doing?
230
BEATRIZ
Carving all day. Como siempre, nunca para. At least it
keeps him busy.
GLORIA
What does he make?
BEATRIZ
Nothing, he can’t do nothing with that head of his. Pobrecito. One day he won’t know how to talk.
GLORIA
A mute Puerto Rican, we’ll shock them with that news,
right?
BEATRIZ
They won’t be listening, ah Papi?
(ABUELO whittles away at a big chunk of wood. We can!"#$%&&$'()#$(&*%$+),-!.$&/)0#1234
BEATRIZ
Quizás haces algo para mi, ah papi?
ABUELO
Ah?
BEATRIZ
Nada, nada. I don’t know. It keeps him ocupado, you
know. Wish he could make us a crib.
231
GLORIA
Beatriz, you’re not? Are you? Can you?
BEATRIZ
He could make it for you.
GLORIA
Oh, I don’t want a baby.
BEATRIZ
I woulda had ten, but I’m all dried up. Look at him go,
like he really has something to do. Envuelto en un sueño.
Perdido.
!"#$#%&
GLORIA is onstage singing Peggy Lee’s Is that All there Is
at jazz club. At the end of the song, both Ronaldo Carlos
and Tristan approach Gloria.
RONALDO
Buenas noches.
GLORIA
Hello.
RONALDO
That was pretty. A bit sad, but the music and narration, a
good blend.
232
GLORIA
Tristan, this is Alexandra’s Spanish tutor.
TRISTAN
Hi. You here for a music lesson?
GLORIA
It’s Peggy Lee night.
RONALDO
Is that All There Is?
GLORIA
Exactly. Yes. Funny.
TRISTAN
A gas.
GLORIA
Ronaldo Carlos, this is Tristan my boyfriend.
RONALDO
Un placer.
TRISTAN
Back at’chya.
RONALDO
She has a spectacular voice.
233
TRISTAN
I know.
GLORIA
Ronaldo wants me to sing Latin jazz.
TRISTAN
Might be money in it in a couple years. These old fogies
like the classic stuff though, unfortunately.
RONALDO
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new.
GLORIA
Well, I’m up again.
TRISTAN
This one’s for me.
GLORIA
6. "0*$4&%7""89*":*1;+,*<"=4%"5*$"&(;5'1#";4*$1,>
RONALDO
I was planning on listening to some jazz here, yes. And
then maybe go to Humboldt if you’re interested, they’re
having a street concert.
GLORIA
Talk about it with Tristan, I have to go up.
234
TRISTAN
Kiss me, honey, for good luck.
!"#$%&'())*
GLORIA sings
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love.
TRISTAN
Beautiful, Glo.
RONALDO
Well, I should get going to the street festival. It was nice
meeting you, Tristan. Enjoy the rest of Peggy Lee.
GLORIA
Oh, no, you have to stay for the next one. I think you’ll like
it. I know the last one was a little racist, but it’s old—
TRISTAN
It’s not racist, Gloria what are you talking about?
GLORIA
Well, it could offend some people.
TRISTAN
Who?
RONALDO
The Argentine with no means.
235
TRISTAN
Oh, are you South American? I thought maybe Spain or
Puerto Rico even.
RONALDO
I’m from Argentina. But that’s not what offended me.
TRISTAN
Well what did? The chink part? You part Chinese,
Ronaldo?
RONALDO
No.
TRISTAN
Hey, I’m all for civil rights, tell him, Glo. It’s just a song is
what I’m saying.
RONALDO
Well then I should listen to another.
TRISTAN
I mean if you have to go, don’t let us keep you.
GLORIA
Thank you for coming.
RONALDO
I’ll stay.
236
TRISTAN
I’ll buy you a drink.
RONALDO
It’s alright.
TRISTAN
No, really. C’mon.
GLORIA
Let him.
TRISTAN
!"#$$%$&&'()%*&+%+,%-&.%"/(%'".(("%-('"012$3%"/(*#$$%2$$%4(%5.+)6%
on rum anyway. You can catch up with ‘em here.
GLORIA
Just don’t be offended.
RONALDO
I will do my best.
GLORIA
It’s just old jazz. I like it.
TRISTAN
And we all like Peggy. C’mon to the bar, Ronaldo Carlos.
78(-(..0)9%"&%/0'%)2:(;%</(%=/&$(%"/0)9%.09/">%8&)2$5&%
Carlos?
237
RONALDO
Yes.
End with GLORIA singing Peggy Lee’s Mañana.
!"#$#%&
Abuelo playing el cuatro. GLORIA and ALEXANDRA
come back from tutoring that day. ABUELO thinks Gloria
is Cuca again and Alexandra is Beatriz.
ABUELO
Cuca. Cuca, oyéme. Cuca escúchalo, escucha la música del
cuatro. Cuca baila.
GLORIA
No, Don Fuentes, no soy Cuca. I’m Gloria. I’m kind of
like your daughter?
ABUELO
De qué tu hablas, Cuca? Mi loca. Mueve las caderas,
!"#$%&'()*+(,&*-!,(.'*%/(0"12
ALEXANDRA
Buelo, no. Leave her alone.
GLORIA
304'*15(.6*7,&8($9"()*+($%&*:#0;*<&)*-=;&.*9($%&2
238
ABUELO
No, tú sola, Cuca. Sin Beatriz. Beatriz, siéntate aquí con
tu papi.
ALEXANDRA
You’re my grandpa!
GLORIA
!""#$
ALEXANDRA
It gets so annoying.
GLORIA
He can’t help it.
GLORIA dances for a little but ABUELO stops abruptly
ABUELO
Beatriz, casi te veo la chocha con esa falda cuando te sientas.
GLORIA
Don Fuentes.
ABUELO
Cállate mujer si es verdad. Mírala. Beatriz Fuentes Sánchez
en este mundo, en mi casa y en mi reino te portas como
%&'$(%)*+$,&'-$&.$/.(.$0'1$2+.1343%3'1$5*$!'&3%+/*6$7413*8
239
ALEXANDRA
I’m going to my room, I don’t have to hear this shit. Tu
estás loco en la cabeza, abuelo. Viejo y enfermo. Okay?
!"#$%&'()*+,ABUELO
No respetan, Cuquita.
GLORIA
Lo sé.
ABUELO
Pues, que me respete la correa (runs up the stairs with his
./0+GLORIA
Ay bendito. Beatriz.
ALEXANDRA
That’s not my name.
GLORIA
I’m calling your mother.
ALEXANDRA
I’m locking my room. Abuelo, dejáme.
ABUELO
Abuelo? No soy tan viejo. Me has hecho un abuelo, putita?!
240
GLORIA
Beatriz.
BEATRIZ
Que pasó? Ay, papi, ya! Suelta la correa. Caramba. Gloria
say something.
GLORIA
What?
BEATRIZ
Your voice calms him down.
GLORIA
What do I say?
ABUELO
Cuca.
BEATRIZ
Let me think.
ABUELO
Cuca.
BEATRIZ
San Francisco de Asís. A prayer.
GLORIA
You say it.
241
BEATRIZ
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4)))3*5,&6$($)/$*&&07-8&92)"%47-8&$-.&:;<<&82&8"%&),&
book.
GLORIA
Starts singing “Nowhere Man” by the Beatles
BEATRIZ
=>*?*@&02)"%47-8&-76"A
ABUELO
Canta, princesa.
GLORIA
All I know in Spanish are parranda songs.
ABUELO
Asalto!
GLORIA
Temporal, temporal, allá viene el temporal. Temporal, temporal, allá
viene el temporal. Qué será de mi borinquen cuando llegue el temporal? Qué será de mi borinquen cuando llegue el temporal?
ABUELO
Dame la mano Paloma! Pa qué! Pa—
BEATRIZ
Okay. Here it is. La Oración de San Francisco de Asís.
242
ABUELO
La canción de Ricardo Fuentes.
BEATRIZ
Shhh. He needs to calm down. He’s all eléctrico. Read this,
Gloria.
GLORIA
Señor—
ABUELO
Me cago en na’.
GLORIA
Hazme un instrumento de tu paz.
Que donde haya odio,
siembre yo amor.
Que donde haya injuria, perdón.
Que donde haya duda, fé.
Que donde haya
desánimo, esperanza.
Que donde haya oscuridad, luz.
Que donde haya tristeza, gozo.
ABUELO
Gozo, gozo. Tengo un gozo en mi alma.
GLORIA
Oh Divino Maestro,
concédeme que yo no busque ser consolado, sino consolar.
243
Que no busque ser entendido, sino entender.
Que no busque ser amado, sino amar.
Porque dando es como recibimos.
Perdonándo, es como somos perdonados.
!"#$%&'()*"+,-".,-/*"0*12"
es como nacemos a la vida eterna.
ABUELO
Amen. Eterna. Paz—ha, ha. Sueño. El sueño es eterno.
Necesito descansarme.
BEATRIZ
Vente, Papi.
ABUELO
Sí, ángel.
BEATRIZ
Thank you, Gloria.
+345"6,7'/"8&#"6*"8&/"%**#1
!"#$#%&
ABUELO is either playing or carving. Knock on the door.
He ignores it. Knock on the door again.
ABUELO
Aha?
244
CITY OFFICER 1
Hello, sir. Are you Mr. Castil-loh?
ABUELO
Americanos! Hola y bienvenidos a Jayuya. Gracias por
darnos ciudadanía. Soy orgulloso de ser Americano. Es!"#$%&'!()*%+&%,$-%#&'+&.$-%&-#*/$,&-%0-#(11('23%#"45%#"46%%
Libertad, entra.
CITY OFFICER 2
Sir. Mr. Castil-oh.
ABUELO
745%0,*"24-3%28('2"(1$-9:&,,$-;%%<"&'*%2&'1&5%:"&'*%2&'1&%
en verdad.
CITY OFFICER 2
I knew we should have gotten someone to accompany us.
He probably doesn’t speak a word of English. Sir, we have
a very important message. The city of Chicago is going to
renovate this house. Here’s the notice.
CITY OFFICER 1
Do they sell Spanish-English Dictionaries somewhere?
CITY OFFICER 2
I don’t know.
245
CITY OFFICER 1
!"#$%#&'()*'+",'%'$%#-'./0*/'(1**#'234'45)('$)66'7%8/'45/'
house better for all of those who live in it.
ABUELO
Sí, sí gracias. (Looking at the paper and thinking it’s his
!7/*)9%"'9)4):/"(5);<'!7/*)9%"1(&'43'#'#1=''>5/5-''?*%cias. Van a tomar una foto para el pasaporte?
CITY OFFICER 1
Get that to someone who can translate. What do we do
now?
CITY OFFICER 2
I don’t know.
CITY OFFICER 1
Well, good day sir.
ABUELO
Adios, gringos honrados. Pueden volver cuando quieran,
oiste. Mira esto. In-glish.
!"#$#%&%
Gloria is in the living room and starts playing the Sandpiper’s Guatanamera—trying to learn the words and sing to
it— on an old record player. ALEXANDRA comes and
turns it off at “the palms of my soul” during the narrated
English part of the song.
246
GLORIA
Why’d you do that?
ALEXANDRA
It’s boring. I wanna play something.
GLORIA
You should listen with me. Ronaldo Carlos gave me records to listen to.
ALEXANDRA
Oooo, Ronaldo Carlos. (Beat!""#$%"&'"()*"%++,"-+."/+%*thing else.
(Alexandra plays Summer in the City"01"()*"2+3&'4"56++'-78!
ALEXANDRA
9:3*."()*"%7/&;!"<)&/"&/"0*((*.=
GLORIA
Don’t play it loud, your abuelo’s sleeping. Turn it down.
ALEXANDRA
Fine. It’s done. I’ll play something soft.
GLORIA
#">+78,"8&?*"(+"@'&/)"%1"A807%/="#")A3*"(+".*(7.'"()*%"(+"
him.
247
ALEXANDRA
I’m sure he’ll give you a break. He likes you. Here, this you
might like too.
(ALEXANDRA plays “Sound of Silence” by Simon and
!"#$%&'()*
GLORIA
Lower it still.
ALEXANDRA
Fine.
GLORIA
This is sad.
ALEXANDRA
It’s supposed to be.
GLORIA
It’s good.
ALEXANDRA
Just because it’s not in Spanish doesn’t mean it’s not about
us too.
GLORIA
I agree. Ronaldo Carlos just gave the music for me to
practice.
248
ALEXANDRA
He’s always saying something. Even with the albums.
!"#$%&'()*+&,)*-.()(/&-0&-+.&*0(/1&23$425672&80)(*&
with the “Wells of silence9&:;<-=
ALEXANDRA
I really like this song.
GLORIA
Me too.
ALEXANDRA
Do you pray, Gloria? Or when you sing, is it like praying?
GLORIA
I like singing. It’s not to anyone though. Why do you ask?
ALEXANDRA
I don’t know. I’m thinking about praying. You know.
Things are shitty.
GLORIA
You shouldn’t use that language.
ALEXANDRA
I shouldn’t have to but that’s how things are.
GLORIA
You’re too young.
249
ALEXANDRA
I’m serious. I’m just afraid that if I pray things will stay
the same. Like God will be quiet and everything will be
the same as always. Do you think God speaks brown?
GLORIA
What is that? What do I know?
ALEXANDRA
Mamí seems to hope sometimes. When she’s praying next
to me at the bed. I can’t understand everything because
she prays those Catholic prayers so fast in Spanish, but I
can tell there’s hope in there. In her prayers.
BEATRIZ
!"#$"%&'
Ah, Gloria y Alexandra. Come here. I have a surprise for
your abuelo. Sit for a second.
Papá, bájate un momentito.
ABUELO
!()*)'+,-.
BEATRIZ
("#+/0/12/34+!5"#+/0/6+/2/34')++
ABUELO
!7489#:+;4<#+$-"+&$/9%&'+,-.+
(BEATRIZ reaches for him to help him the rest of the
</=)'
250
BEATRIZ
!"#$%&'$()*+,-$+'./'$*##0$1#*$&)0$)2$%&'$0)33+'$#1 $%&'$
4#54&6$!"#$789:;<-$=)>2%.%'$.?5@A$B.B)%#6$$"'$4#0B*>$
algo especial.
ABUELO
Qué? Dónde estamos? Mujer? Háblame.
BEATRIZ
Todo está bien, siéntese, si ahí. Y ahora (brings out a
4.**CD#5%$%&)2(-$4E0'%'$',%#6
ALEXANDRA
What is that?
BEATRIZ
It’s a jibarito. Papi, para ti. Jibarito ah? Como tu. Rico.
ABUELO
No soy un jibaro! Soy un artista poblano!
BEATRIZ
Papi, cómetelo.
ABUELO
Pero por qué pusieron el bistec entre dos tostones?
BEATRIZ
Porque sabe rico así. Pruébalo.
251
!"#$%&'()*+,-(*(./),0
ABUELO
Lo como separao’.
BEATRIZ
Ay, papi.
ALEXANDRA
I wanna try it. Jibarito? Dámelo, Abuelo.
ABUELO
#,*)1/23(41,5/6-*7((&6(89/,1,-:(!;,(4*--,-(/)()6(<,10(
ALEXANDRA
It’s so good.
BEATRIZ
It’s a Chicago thing. They invented them here. I love it.
ABUELO
Dámelo separao’, mujer.
BEATRIZ
Give it to him, baby. He’s hungry.
ALEXANDRA
Fine. Here grandpa. I’m gonna play more music.
252
GLORIA
Play one of mine, please. So it’s two and two.
ALEXANDRA
Fine.
!"#$%&'(&)*+&,+-.+/&.0&123425&6+75(%8
942%&2%&+3$#+770&:#(;&!<+(35%&+(=&%4+>5%8
ABUELO
Que geso?
ALEXANDRA
Música.
ABUELO
De dónde?
ALEXANDRA
?45@5A%&2$&:@'-B&C7'@2+D&&!9'&E,FG*H8&1'(+7='&I+@7'%J&&
GLORIA
Es de México y de aquí.
ABUELO
Huh. La bamba. Debe ser la bomba!
!9HKKL&5($5@%8
TOMMY
Turn that off. What’s going on in here?
253
BEATRIZ
Try this.
TOMMY
Later. I gotta take a shower.
BEATRIZ
You smell like smoke, what happened?
TOMMY
We burned trash in the streets. Right in the middle.
BEATRIZ
Tomás. That’s silly. Se comportan como niños. Alexandra,
take abuelo upstairs please.
ALEXANDRA
Vente, abuelo.
ABUELO
Beatriz?
ALEXANDRA
Sí.
ABUELO
Linda.
ALEXANDRA
Vente, papi.
254
(ALEXANDRA and ABUELO go upstairs while
!"#$%&'()*+)(',-))./0'*1*2'+345+6(7
TOMMY
They treat us like trash, we gotta do something.
BEATRIZ
Ay, Tomás, that doesn’t mean burning trash in the middle
of the street. Puñeta.
TOMMY
Don’t talk like that, you’re a respectable woman.
BEATRIZ
You talk trash all the time, fresco.
TOMMY
Bea, I need you to understand this, mujer. This is big shit.
They gotta do something about it now.
BEATRIZ
Qué van a hacer? What’s it gonna solve, honey?
TOMMY
Something. Gloria, I need you to write me a letter.
BEATRIZ
Una carta a quién?
255
TOMMY
A alguien, mujer. Don’t be all in my business.
GLORIA
What’s the matter?
BEATRIZ
What’s this (gets paper that Abuelo left near his wood
!"#$%&'()**
TOMMY
Later, Bea. Gloria, I want to write a letter to someone you
know from up there, the government or whatever. Did you
get me the name?
GLORIA
Yeah. Tristan said we could write to the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico.
TOMMY
Who’s that?
GLORIA
Santiago Polanco-Abreu.
TOMMY
Okay well, here. Start writing. Dear Resident Commiwhatever.
256
GLORIA
There’s a problem.
TOMMY
What’s that?
GLORIA
He doesn’t really have a vote in anything.
TOMMY
What? What does he do?
GLORIA
He represents Puerto Rico.
TOMMY
And? Then doesn’t he vote stuff ? He can pass a bill and
shit.
GLORIA
No, Tristan told me he can only show an opinion so that
Puerto Rico participates in political things.
TOMMY
But it doesn’t count for nothing?
GLORIA
Just like an opinion in the room.
257
TOMMY
But—
GLORIA
It’s a silent vote. It doesn’t change anything. Maybe you
should write to Mayor Daley.
TOMMY
That prick, uh-ah.
GLORIA
Tristan said he could maybe help, I mean probably more
than the other guy.
TOMMY
No, I want this guy. He’s my guy.
GLORIA
Then Tommy, why don’t you do this?
TOMMY
You write prettier and you spell perfect. Hurry up, Dear
!"#$%&'()*+%*,-.*+/01"0*2$
GLORIA
Uhuh.
TOMMY
This shit has got to stop.
258
GLORIA
Tommy—
TOMMY
Put it in your own words.
GLORIA
Fine.
TOMMY
How you gonna say it?
GLORIA
As a Puerto Rican resident of Chicago, I believe some
things need to come to your attention. It’s gonna take
longer if we do it like this.
TOMMY
I don’t care. It’ll take one second.
BEATRIZ
Tommy, you gotta read this.
TOMMY
Beatriz, not now. I’m doing something important.
BEATRIZ
Write that with your Young buddies, this is about us.
259
TOMMY
This is about us too, linda.
BEATRIZ
They’re kicking us out of the house.
GLORIA
What?
BEATRIZ
Read it. They want us to leave the house for renovations.
!"#$%&'(&)*+$,%-.$/0-1&+2
GLORIA
I can ask Tristan. Can I take this?
BEATRIZ
I don’t know. Papito, don’t you wanna look at it?
TOMMY
345$'-&('$6-$67,$-8)*,9
BEATRIZ
:+;,$+$0--;$+6$67&%$)1%69
TOMMY
I don’t have to. You know what it means, Bea.
BEATRIZ
Don’t come home too late.
260
GLORIA
What about the letter.
TOMMY
Trash.
!"#$$%&'()"*+
BEATRIZ
It happened to Doña Ines from down the street. And
across the street. I’m not stupid, just because I’m a jibarita. I know what they’re doing.
GLORIA
What are they doing? It’s renovations, right. For free.
",-./00&12&3,-&4567&869&3,-&:5:-4;&<,83&.=>&?863-9@&A5B,3C
BEATRIZ
They think they can come and wipe out whatever? Nothing’s free, Gloria. They charge later. Something. I don’t
know exactly what because all the people it happens to
leave before telling us. It costs money.
GLORIA
I’ll ask Tristan.
BEATRIZ
You think he’ll help?
GLORIA
Yes. He knows about this stuff.
261
BEATRIZ
So why don’t you know about it?
GLORIA
I don’t know.
BEATRIZ
Me dieron una vacuna de esterilización. That’s why I only
have Alexandra. They made me all clean for free. Came
in when I was working in Juana Diaz where Tommy and I
lived a couple years after getting married. And they came
in. Health Something of the United States. I didn’t speak
!"#$%&'()'*"(+,)("-.(/(0"-.1((2*(.*")()-(3"(-456*(3"7(
they sucked our womanly power from us and no more
babies. Schools closed down because there were no children. Some women were jealous because of Alexandra y
me siento bendecida por ella. (Touching/referring to her
&)-836'9(:,)()'*;(<-++*7()'%&('-,&*(-4 (3(=,*<)-(>%63"(
family.
GLORIA
When was this?
BEATRIZ
Hace once, doce años. 1950s. This is the same thing, Gloria. Pero ahora puedo leer lo que están diciendo.
GLORIA
I’ll call Tristan.
262
BEATRIZ
I’ll check on papi.
!"#$#%&
Abuelo playing cuatro singing Jayuya himn.
ABUELO
Ante nos se yergue
fuerte y majestuoso
nuestro pueblo cuya
historia nos ensalza.
En sus montes de un
verdor indescriptible
nacen ríos, riachuelos
y quebradas.
Siente orgullo todo aquel buen
jayuyano por sus bardos
sus patriotas y poetas
en esencia sus mujeres
amorosas son orgullo de
la tierra borinqueña.
Tierra alta primorosa
las riberas de tus ríos
nos recuerdan nuestra infancia
y la herencia del Taíno luchador.
263
Tierra alta patrimonio
de nobleza gente amena
hospitalaria y muy sincera.
Compatriota en nuestro
Pueblo eres hermano
te brindamos un abrazo
Borincano.
Jayuyano tú que amas
nuestro pueblo si estás
!"#$%&!!'()!$&"*&+,&-$.)/0*&
no te olvides de la
historia y del honor.
Tierra alta primorosa
las riberas de tus ríos
nos recuerdan nuestra infancia
y la herencia del Taíno luchador.
Act two
!"#$#%&
Tristan and Gloria walk from the car to the classroom.
He’s given her a ride to Ronaldo’s after taking her out to
dinner. They’re continuing a discussion they started in the
car.
TRISTAN
!"#$%&'(()*%+),"-./&'".0,1
264
GLORIA
And what can we do about it?
TRISTAN
Make more money.
GLORIA
How are we supposed to do that?
TRISTAN
All three of you in that house make enough money.
GLORIA
Tommy’s a janitor. Beatriz is a waitress. It pays for small
stuff.
TRISTAN
Then you move somewhere else.
GLORIA
Where?
TRISTAN
Southside? Some other side.
GLORIA
You want me to move there?
TRISTAN
Move in with me.
265
GLORIA
I can’t do that.
TRISTAN
We could maybe get married or something. Eventually.
Why not? This tutoring guy getting to your head?
GLORIA
What are you talking about?
TRISTAN
I’m just saying, you’ve been going to him right?
GLORIA
Yeah, to improve. It’ll be better for work too. You should
take lessons. Speak with me.
TRISTAN
!"#$%&'(#&""$#)(*#+%,'-"#.&"*#+%,#/%,0$#1(%2#3%)&3#4&$#
spend more time with me.
GLORIA
I will spend time with you after class.
TRISTAN
Don’t go today.
GLORIA
I’ll see you after.
266
TRISTAN
I love you, Gloria.
GLORIA
Pick me up at 9 then we’ll go to the club, okay?
TRISTAN
Uhuh.
GLORIA
And thank you for dinner.
!"#$%"&'()*+,-.(/01#$&(2345-(+6,7(843--9
Spanish Lesson Gloria and Ronaldo
RONALDO
Buenas noches, Gloriosa.
GLORIA
Hola. Aquí están los álbumes.
RONALDO
Gracias. Te gustaron?
GLORIA
Sí.
RONALDO
Tengo otra canción para ti. La borinqueña.
267
GLORIA
Qué?
RONALDO
I looked up La borinqueña!"#$%&#'%(#%)*+,-%%.(/)%(01%+2tional anthem of your island, no?
GLORIA
Sí. You didn’t have to do that.
RONALDO
Discúlpame, qué? No te entendí. Ahora no hablo inglés.
GLORIA
No tenías que hacerme eso.
RONALDO
Hacer eso.
GLORIA
I knew that.
RONALDO
It’s okay. Will you sing it for me?
GLORIA
Qué?
RONALDO
Si lo cantarías para mí?
268
GLORIA
No lo recuerdo tan bueno.
RONALDO
No importa. Lo recordarás.
GLORIA
(Looks at the lyrics he got her and sings La Borinqueña!
La tierra de Borinquen
donde he nacido yo
!"#$%#&'()*%#+,(-),
de mágico primor.
Un cielo siempre nítido
le sirve de dosel
y dan arrullos plácidos
las olas a sus pies.
.$'%),#'#"$"#/0'1'"#00!23#.,03%
4560'73#00!%,#)!#')7-('6-3%8
“Oh!, oh!, oh!, esta es la linda tierra
que busco yo”.
Es Borinquen la hija,
la hija del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol,
del mar y el sol.
Now can we talk about the homework.
RONALDO
Sí, trajiste el trabajo?
269
GLORIA
Uhuh.
RONALDO
Por qué se fueron de Puerto Rico?
GLORIA
Uh, nos fuimos porque no había trabajo. We had to leave
Puerto Rico for money.
RONALDO
No había ninguna manera de sobrevivir?
GLORIA
!"#$%&$'&$()*)+,-$.$/%-(0%$1-&23$*%)004$,3*56%$5&$()*)15,%#$
nothing much to do. So we came here. What about you?
Why’d you come to Chicago?
RONALDO
Persiguiendo a una mujer.
GLORIA
A woman? Your wife?
RONALDO
No. Pero la amaba mucho.
GLORIA
Y qué pasó?
270
RONALDO
Bueno, se casó con otro hombre después que nació
nuestro hijo.
GLORIA
Your son?
RONALDO
Antonio.
GLORIA
So they live here?
RONALDO
Sí.
GLORIA
And her husband doesn’t mind?
RONALDO
Qué me importa a mi? I’m here for Antonio.
GLORIA
I stay for my brother.
RONALDO
Te gustaría regresar a tu isla?
271
GLORIA
Quizás, but not really. Pero quizás me gustaría mudarme a
otro lugar.
RONALDO
Pero él te necesita.
GLORIA
Exacto. Gracias por el himno.
RONALDO
Sabía que te iba gustar.
GLORIA
Sí, me gusta mucho.
!"#$#%&
We see Abuelo making another cuatro upstairs. We see
all the ones he’s made already. He tunes some. Plays la
boriqueña (and other songs on the cuatro, they should be
!"#$%&'%()*%+,-./0.(112%3(242(%546%.#41*%(1+#%5-%7-118
9)#7)%+#):+%#"%#"/:/)(1+;<%=1#"/(%+1--,+%#)%6>-%.#4.>%
downstairs and has a dream of Ronaldo Carlos.
RONALDO
?4()*#%.()6(+%.#)%-+(%@#AB%=1#"/#+(C@/5"(%4)%$-)+(D-%
personal. Penetrable.
272
GLORIA
Ronaldo Carlos.
RONALDO
Sing. Sing those songs.
GLORIA
People may not understand.
RONALDO
They will. It’s in your voice. The energy. The language
doesn’t matter.
GLORIA
My voice puts people to sleep.
RONALDO
Only because it gives peace.
GLORIA
!"#$%&'()$#*)$+),+-)$.*,$/01$+)&2)$30$%'$4,32)$1,05#$
have it inside them already.
RONALDO
Maybe you bring it out in them. Give them a peaceful
voice to listen to.
GLORIA
And you? What do I bring out in you?
273
RONALDO
Háblame en español, hermosa.
GLORIA
What am I supposed to say?
RONALDO
Whatever you like.
GLORIA
Ronaldo Carlos.
RONALDO
Sí.
GLORIA
!"#$%#&"'(#)*%#+%#'*,$-./-#,"#+%#0%,-.-,1)*%#2-./-,3
RONALDO
Te preguntaría si estás segura.
GLORIA
Uhuh.
RONALDO
4*5#6%7,-./-,#,"#$%#&".5#)*%#*7#0%,(#6-.-#+"#$"%7%#,"'7"8cado. No es silencioso.
GLORIA
I would tell you to speak then.
274
RONALDO
Ven acá, linda.
GLORIA
!"#$%&'()*&+,#-.&/012&345&"+467&8&#9:5#;;$<+46&:/#:&
8&:/0+"&#=45:&0:&./45;>+?:<8&./45;>&:#;"&:4&@-0.:#+&A-.:&
because—
RONALDO
Gloria, hush. Let me speak to you.
(RONALDO kisses her while dipping her back into her
position on the couch. Gently drops her and disappears.
BCD*E!&",,F.&F;#$0+G2
!"#$#%&
BEATRIZ and ABUELO
BEATRIZ
Papi, que pasó cuando te dieron esta forma? Que te dijeron?
ABUELO
Donde está mi nena? Déjame contarle de nuestra identidad
nueva. Americanos verdaderos. Mira, tienes mi pasaporte
en la mano. Dámelo. Please.
BEATRIZ
Papi.
275
ABUELO
Mujer. Dónde está mi beba. Pa’ contarle. Voy pa’ la
guerra. Representante boricua. Borinqueño americano.
Americahn. Inglish.
BEATRIZ
Papi, pero qué te dijeron cuando trajeron esto?
ABUELO
Inglish. 1917.
BEATRIZ
Sí, papi. Very good. English.
ABUELO
!"#$%&'%($$&%)'*+%%,-'".&/%&'%0'1(2%3'45"$1/%61".7%"&+
BEATRIZ
Yes?
ABUELO
You are very pretty American.
BEATRIZ
Thank you.
,89::;%$.&$1/2
TOMMY
Beatriz. Good, you’re here. Stay inside.
276
BEATRIZ
Honey, you’re all sudao. What happened?
TOMMY
!"#$%&'(%$)*+,$-&$.'/'0'&($1-233-4$$!$(33535$-&$%3-$#6$7*%4
GLORIA
89(-320:$;3*-2'<=$>&##64
ABUELO
Cuca? (HE takes the form from Beatriz and makes it into a
?*?32$*'2?@*(3:
BEATRIZ
Where’s Alexandra?
GLORIA
I don’t know. I was at the beauty parlor, about to pick her
up from her friend’s and—
BEATRIZ
What friend?
GLORIA
Carmen Trujillo.
TOMMY
The Trujillo’s live on Division.
277
GLORIA
That’s where it happened, right?
BEATRIZ
What happened?
GLORIA
They shot a boy.
TOMMY
A kid, Beatriz. A Puerto Rican kid on the damn Puerto
Rican Day parade. Cabrones—
BEATRIZ
Who did it—where are you going?
GLORIA
The police did it.
TOMMY
I’m going back to Division.
BEATRIZ
Get Alexandra.
TOMMY
!"#$$%&'())$*'$+,'#$-".$/012$3,$&'4'#
BEATRIZ
Tommy, this is crazy.
278
GLORIA
They’re having riots.
BEATRIZ
Tomás Castillo.
TOMMY
I’m going. I wanted to make sure you stay here. Please.
!"#$%&'
BEATRIZ
I’m calling a los Trujillo.
GLORIA
I’m sorry I didn’t pick her up.
BEATRIZ
Just let me call.
GLORIA
What’s going to happen?
BEATRIZ
No sé.
ABUELO
Cuca mira. Un avión jet pilot. Como los ví en el cielo en
Alemania.
279
BEATRIZ
Ven conmigo, soldado. Arriba.
ABUELO
Con los aviones?
BEATRIZ
Sí. Vente, paso a paso. Escalón por escalón. Muy bien.
ABUELO
!"#$%&#'()*$+,(-.$/01)2$/0)3,#$'45'4.#$6)7#.$)$18(35)'$
cada noche hasta que tengamos doce hijos—
BEATRIZ
Papi.
ABUELO
Te amo, Cuca.
GLORIA
Te amo.
ABUELO
Quiero que la primera hija se llame Lidia. Y la segunda
Beatriz. Las segundas siempre salen más bellas.
GLORIA
Sí, amor.
280
ABUELO
Te quiero a tí con todo mi corazón, reina de mi alma. Y
a nuestra familia americana. Americana! Pero siempre
puertorriqueños de corazón. No te olvides eso mientras yo
esté allá.
GLORIA
No olvidaré.
ABUELO
Que nuestros hijos hablen español como sus padres. Como
la patria. Que su madre lengua les enseñe, que les diga los
secretos del paraíso y de la paz. Compromiso. Estoy comprometido a tí como Puerto Rico a los Estados Unidos.
Lucho por ti, bella hermosa. Mi isla jibarita. Te amo.
BEATRIZ
Te amo, papá.
(BEATRIZ takes ABUELO into his room after he throws
the plane down the stairs. GLORIA picks it up. She un!"#$%&'(&)*$&%'+,%-&./(%&'(&$"0*-1
2345637893&:*(:;%1
GLORIA
Alexandra.
BEATRIZ
29/%,'*+&$"0*&(,:&%()';%1&3#:<)*$;)=&>'?'()=&@/:&(:&A)%B281
ALEXANDRA
I was with Carmen.
BEATRIZ
Ah-huh.
ALEXANDRA
And we looked out the window. The men were running
outside. And, I don’t know what’s going to happen.
BEATRIZ
Where were you?
ALEXANDRA
At her apartment on the second story.
BEATRIZ
So nothing happened.
ALEXANDRA
No. Not really. I mean stuff was happening.
BEATRIZ
Did you see your papi?
ALEXANDRA
No. A lot of cars were there because of the parade.
Streets were closed off. So we waited.
282
BEATRIZ
Good, baby good.
BEATRIZ
You didn’t take the bus, mija.
ALEXANDRA
No. No buses. I walked.
BEATRIZ
En ese revolu?
ALEXANDRA
I don’t know. Where’s papi?
BEATRIZ
I don’t know. There. Let me call Carmen’s mami so she
knows you’re here. Ay, you’re here baby. (Kisses her fore!"#$%&!"'%(#)"*%&!"%+#,,%-'%#'.&!"/%/..(0
ALEXANDRA
A policeman pointed a gun at me—I was looking out the
window to see—and he looked up and pointed it and said,
“Get in or I’ll shoot.” But he was trying to protect me
right, Gloria?
GLORIA
What did you do?
283
ALEXANDRA
Closed the window and I tried to start praying with Carmen. She was crying. And we were praying. In Spanglish. Her in Spanish and me in English. Together. The
message won’t get mixed up, right Gloria? God’ll get the
message, right? I don’t know how else to get his attention.
Will papi be alright?
GLORIA
I hope so.
!"#$#%&
Tommy coming back from prison.
BEATRIZ
!"#$%$&'(%&)%&$*%%+)%&$%,-(%#./(#01*
GLORIA
+$2)%,3(4%5(#$/&67
BEATRIZ
Talk to me a bit. To calm me down. Okay? Alexandra, get
in here and get those albums stacked up, okay? Your papi’s
gonna be here soon.
ALEXANDRA
893$(/):%;<%$"(1%0/&-(%$"('%&3%=/<'%>#&.*%%?/%0<()%"(%"#-(%
to walk?
284
BEATRIZ
El vecino’s bringing him. Stack ‘em up, and come sit
down. You gonna wear that? I need a fan. Hace calor, ah?
Gloria talk.
GLORIA
What do you wanna hear?
BEATRIZ
Talk about—
ALEXANDRA
Ronaldo Carlos and love.
GLORIA
Ronaldo Carlos has taught me to love some things. Like
Spanish.
BEATRIZ
Hear that, Ale?
ALEXANDRA
Yeah, yeah.
GLORIA
!"#$%$&'()*$+,&+,-$$%$&'()$./0+$/'1+)-$$2()34./0"5$0"$./0+$
house.
ALEXANDRA
Even abuelo?
285
BEATRIZ
Alexandra, shhh.
GLORIA
!"#$%&'(')**+',*-'%-.$)/01''23-')"#$%&1''45).-)&'"366#$%7
BEATRIZ
Ah, our things. Thank you, Gloria, for giving me perspective. See, Alexandra, this woman knows what to say and
how to say it that makes me feel warm inside. Warm like
home. Like my Puerto Rican mami. You’re lucky you got
one too, Alexandra.
ALEXANDRA
Yeah.
BEATRIZ
Yeah. And this house. We ain’t never letting go.
ALEXANDRA
You hear that?
BEATRIZ
48/)&'397'(&')".):'!*66;:
TOMMY
Familia Castillo. Ábreme!
BEATRIZ
Tommy. Corazón.
286
TOMMY
!"#$%&'()*"+$,%%-./(0%1*++,2
BEATRIZ
Bienvenido, amor. A tu reino.
ALEXANDRA
How was it, daddy?
TOMMY
Donde está Don Fuentes?
BEATRIZ
Durmiendo.
ALEXANDRA
How was it, papi?
TOMMY
We don’t have to talk about those things.
ALEXANDRA
Okay, just asking.
TOMMY
Asking is good, Alexandra. Pregúntame en español.
ALEXANDRA
Was that your special code in the big one, papi? Spanish.
287
TOMMY
Yeah. And everyone loved me for it. Imagínate. They had
a special language too. With all sorts of pretty messages
for me. And names. I hope you never hear them, amor.
Ahora, vete y cámbiate la ropa.
ALEXANDRA
What? What are you saying?
BEATRIZ
Nice girls don’t dress like that.
TOMMY
Don’t look like a puta, Alexandra. That’s what I’m saying.
BEATRIZ
Tomás.
TOMAS
Si es la verdad. Go. To your room.
ALEXANDRA
I can do what I want. It’s a revolution, papi.
TOMMY
Yeah, I can still whirl my belt in revolutions. (Getting his
!"#$%&'(!"&)*+*&,"&-.)"&",$*&"/&",0(1*#2&/"/(3&&4.,).0#./(5
BEATRIZ
Ya, Tommy. Deja el show.
288
TOMMY
Háblame. Háblame puñeta. En nuestro código de amor,
ah? No quiero que hables el idioma del invasor.
ALEXANDRA
Yeah, what about the language of the conquistador? The
Spanish invaded us too.
TOMMY
Don’t get smart with me.
ALEXANDRA
Fine. I’ll just leave.
BEATRIZ
You can’t, there’s curfew.
TOMMY
Good. She needs a curfew. Don’t go out until you’re
twenty.
GLORIA
The curfew’s for everyone, Tommy.
TOMMY
Excuse me?
GLORIA
They’re enforcing a curfew for everyone. Can’t go out past
seven.
289
TOMMY
Adults too?
BEATRIZ
It’s okay, papito.
TOMMY
The hell it’s not. They wanna keep us inside. Doing
nothing.
BEATRIZ
Someone was shot, papito.
TOMMY
I was there, baby. At the parade.
BEATRIZ
Pues.
TOMMY
So, what? They wanna keep us inside so there’s less temptation to shoot somebody? What? We don’t gotta stay
inside. Gloria has to sing. I gotta meet with the boys.
BEATRIZ
I thought that was over.
TOMMY
What? No. They want us to help in New York. Might take
a couple of years for them to set up. But things are
290
happening, Bea. I’m not stopping now.
BEATRIZ
They’ll lock you up again. I can’t have that.
TOMMY
I can’t have this. House arrest. I’m going to get a drink.
BEATRIZ
Tomás.
TOMMY
I can do what I want. Just like the other Americans out!"#$%&&'(!)&*$+,(!$&)-$.&/0)&-$1$&21!)&#0$!34)&5$,3&645&30)&
here now, because of them. Coming to PR in 1898, making
us citizens—let them not forget—in 1917. We fought the
wars. Still do. Someone got a problem with me, let me
show them my passport. It says U.S. citizen from Estado
Libre de Puerto Rico. Libre! Free! It doesn’t say unincorporated dependent overseas possession. No, it says
Estado libre. Maybe it should say Commonwealth and
what that means. That I’m second class. And that I gotta
stay inside if they want me to. Right? I’ve been learning
things, mamita, all about us. But don’t they get it? I wanna
be outside. Out there, in the U.S.A. I love the U.S.A. I’m
here, ain’t I? Here. I’m yours, Uncle Sam. Tío. Socio. Be
mine. Ah? Ah? What do my women think, that I’m crazy?
Shit, this place is ours. All of it. Tío Sammy will come
around, bring some Corona or Miller Light. Or a Medalla.
And I’ll give him some rum, and Puerto Rican blood on
291
the front lines. Ah? I’ll do it. We’ve done it. We love doing it. We love having a common wealth between us. But
how about some autonomy. Just a little. To say this house
is ours. To say we can walk outside when we want. And
breathe together, breath in little Spanglish breezes, trading
!"#$%%&'((')%*+!,-.%'/ %!"#0%'123+)0%!)4%5!-#"'-"6%6')7dence. I’m going outside. Let them have another huff of
a red-hot Puerto Rican.
!"#$#%&
GLORIA
Ha sido un placer, Ronaldo.
RONALDO
Vas a dejar las clases?
GLORIA
Creo que sí. Le dan celos a Tristan.
RONALDO
No deberías dejar las clases por eso. Pero no los voy a
juzgar. Ni a tí ni a él
GLORIA
Gracias por lo que me has dado.
RONALDO
Qué te di? Nada que no tenías ya en tu alma.
292
GLORIA
Despertaste mucho en mí. En mi corazón.
RONALDO
Que bien. Te felicito, Gloria. Lo mereces. La paz de conocer todo lo que eres. Todo tu herencia genética, cultural,
mundial, verbal. Felicitaciones.
GLORIA
Quiero invitarte al club esta noche.
RONALDO
Para la noche de jazz con Peggy Lee?
GLORIA
No. Con Gloria Castillo.
RONALDO
Pues acepto [la invitación] y vendré.
!"#$#%&
!"#$#%&'%(%)$#%&*%+"#%,('+&--.%"./'#".-01%!"#23$#%4#++&*4%
burned out of their home.
BEATRIZ
Papi, corre. Afuera. Ahora mismo.
ABUELO
Beatriz, mis cuatros.
293
BEATRIZ
Quédate aquí.
ABUELO
Mi música. Mi voz. Beatriz, no. No. Cuca. Cuca está ahí
adentro. Cuca! CUCA!
BEATRIZ
!"""#$%&'()*+,$-)-.*/0$$1)(.$+2*&$-3/*+4.5)$-/3$')2$(6rallas del Morro.
ALEXANDRA
Mom, my albums are burning. My Simon and Garfunkel.
And our book. Me and Glo’s. Cien Años de Soledad.
Gloria’s gonna come home and see that it’s all gone.
BEATRIZ
She’ll be okay, Alexandra.
ABUELO
Mi Cuquita bella. Muerta.
BEATRIZ
Sí, papi. Pero yo estoy aquí contigo.
ALEXANDRA
I prayed, mami. And God didn’t listen.
BEATRIZ
Yes, He did, angel.
294
ALEXANDRA
!"#$%&#'(#)%*+*#,+*BEATRIZ
So we can go back to the water. To Puerto Rico for a little
bit.
ALEXANDRA
I don’t speak Spanish to go to Puerto Rico. I’m gonna die.
BEATRIZ
!%%.#/0*1234+2.#5"6700#8*#,3*.##9*700#8*#)":*)%*+.
TOMMY
;<"'3'3:#)%*=>#9%&#4"#)%*&#8+'3:#,+*#,:%)*+(#$%*3#)%*&#
started it? I’ve been here hours pouring out from the
manguera and buckets.
BEATRIZ
It doesn’t matter, Tomás. We’ll go home. That’s what they
want.
TOMMY
This is home. We’ll do something about this. Me and the
guys.
BEATRIZ
Quit with the guys. We’ll go home.
295
TOMMY
Beatriz.
BEATRIZ
For a little while. Then you can go to New York, to D.C.
Be the president of the United States. Whatever.
TOMMY
Be the Resident Fucking Commissioner. Say silent things.
“Spic” in my head. Not out loud. We’ll move to Division
Street. Next to the Trujillos.
BEATRIZ
!""#$%&'()*+),$$-../$01$1")($10/)$.21$1")$34),
ABUELO
564)$7.4/+,$896+:4.2*.2*;6*<=$5.241$.> $?2'@,$
!"#$#%&
Gloria singing En Mi Viejo San Juan, maybe with a Latin
jazz sound to it.
#'%()%*)+,-%!.'%/0.'1
En mi Viejo San Juan
cuantos sueños forjé
en mis noches de infancia
!"#$%"!&%'#"()*"+,#
y mis cuitas de amor
son recuerdos del alma
296
Una tarde me fuí
!"#$"%&'"%()*+","%'"#$-'%
pues lo quiso el destino
.(+/%0$%#/+"1-'%
2(%3&(4-%5+('*(%"6%0"+%
en mi viejo San Juan
74$-2%8"4$-2%"4$-29%
borinquen querida (tierra de mi amor)
"4$-2%8"4$-2%"4$-29%
mi diosa del mar (mi reina del palmar)
me voy (ya me voy)
pero un día volveré
a buscar mi querer
a soñar otra vez
en mi viejo San Juan
:(+/%(6%*$(0./%."2-%
;%(6%4(2*$'/%<&+6-%
mi terrible nostalgia
y no pude volver
al San Juan que yo amé
pedacito de patria
0$%#"<(66/%<6"'3&(-%
y mi vida se va
ya la muerte me llama
y no quiero morir
alejado de ti
puerto rico del alma
74$-2%8"4$-2%"4$-29%
borinquen querida (tierra de mi amor)
"4$-2%8"4$-2%"4$-29%
297
mi diosa del mar (mi reina del palmar)
me voy (ya me voy)
pero un día volveré
a buscar mi querer
a soñar otra vez
en mi Viejo San Juan
END OF PLAY
298