Patricia Monologue
Scene IV
Patricia is zipping up her suitcase. She is presentable, well-dressed, and in orbit. It is morning, sunshine enters through the window. The room’s temperature feels cool and comfortable to be in. The beds are unmade, proof that housekeeping has not knocked on their door yet.
Patricia: In a high voice, so that Hernan can hear from the distance. Are you ready?
Hernan: He responds from the distance, coming from the bathroom, in a high voice too. Almost. He exists the bathroom with his hair soaking wet.
Patricia: Patricia notices him. Dry yourself well, and hurry up, we’re going to be late, we must be there at 6:15.
Hernan: I don’t know if I should be doing this.
Patricia: Doing what?
Hernan: Going to where we’re going today.
Patricia: Why? …show more content…
Hernan: I feel bad about what’s going on with Tatiana.
I spoke on the phone with her this morning while you were sleeping.
Patricia: What did she said?
Hernan: She said she was doing fine. She said that she is praying a lot and that she is calmed—learning some English. But I just can’t stand the thought of picturing her there. You should have seen the days when she would spend most of her afternoons, until late midnight, working her butt off, sleepless nights, dedicated to her education. She even graduated with honors as a bacteriologist and look at her now: in jail. In jail because there are no jobs for her title there. And also part of it is my fault. I was the one who called the ‘Papers’ guy.
Patricia: I feel for her, I really do, but you also need to understand that she’s not a baby anymore. She made all those decisions herself, she’ll learn from it, trust me. You must not blame this on yourself and, I’ve repeated this many times, what can you do? Really, what can you do for
her?
Hernan: A bail has been established.
Patricia: She looks at him directly in the eye, her whole body is suspended. How much?
Hernan: $250
Patricia: Hundred?
Hernan: Thousand.
Patricia: Holy! You’re not paying that, are you.
Hernan: That’s how much my three properties in Colombia are worth, including Angela’s.
Patricia: Are you insane? Not that I would love to see Angela out of your property for being a freeloader. But you’re gonna lose more than you gonna win. If you don’t pay the bail, then how much time will she spend behind bars?
Hernan: Maybe a year, maybe 2 or 3. I don’t know.
Patricia: You’re not selling your properties. My dear, you’ve worked hard for all you’ve got now, don’t let all go away. This is something she got into herself. You warned her, she was stubborn, she has to face the consequences of her own stubbornness. Let her learn.
Hernan: But what about my family? They’re pressuring—I must do something.
Patricia: You ‘must’? Do you have an identification with you?
Hernan: His face is met with befuddlement, but without further questions, he handles her his State ID. Here.
Patricia: It says here born on November 20th of 1989. You’re twenty-seven-years-old, my man. Your life already belongs to you—you just need to give the very first step yourself. Come on, we’ve come here to have fun and set all preoccupations aside for a few days at least. So today, we’re to the Grand Canyon, we’re going to unplug ourselves, like you said.
The phone rings. It is the usual, same ringtone.
That’s for you, dear. Do you what to say to her?
Hernan: He hesitates for a few seconds, but like a light bulb turning on, he seems to have gained confidence. I know exactly what I’m going to say to her. [He picks it up] Hello?... Hi… Yes, I know the sum now… I’m going to fly there tomorrow, I’m going to buy her a few things, anything that she may need during her stay there and make sure she’s okay…Are you insane? Where am I going to get 250K?... Honey, I’m not a bank… You really want me to do something? Well, I’ve just told you what I’m going to do, I’m gonna make sure she’s comfortable there... Bail her out? OK. Then start packing up your things and move out of my house, we’re gonna sell it, it’s the only way I’ll get the money… No, you listen, it’s your daughter, why should I be the one doing something? The only one, if I correct myself. You didn’t bother to raise them well…You know what, Angela, from this point on, I’m going to start worrying primarily about myself. I’ve been working since I was 16 and everything has been going towards my family. My mom is fine, thankfully I can look after her. I tried to help your sons too, you know that, and they were foolish idiots, I’ve been fair. Okay? I hate to remind you, but it seems like you need to. It seems like you’re a machine that only takes and takes, but can you ever give? I would love to see you doing something for me, just once... Silence on the other end. Hello? Are you there?... Disappointment? Excuse me? The other line hangs up. She hung up on me.
Patricia: She’s a thoughtless, cold woman.
Hernan: It’s like I don’t have a family. He stares at Patricia.
Patricia: Are you ready to go?
Hernan: Yes, I am.
Patricia: Good.
Hernan: I’m wrong, though, I do have a family… He takes both of Patricia’s hands.
Patricia: What are you doing?
Hernan: I have you, you’re family—my family.
Patricia: It’s small, no?
Hernan: I don’t care, it’s real.
Patricia: Actually, it won’t be that small after these two are born. She rubs her belly.
Hernan: These two?
Patricia: Yes, these two. I’m having twins.
Hernan: He gasps. I’m going to be uncle twice? We can raise them together, if you want.
Patricia: I wouldn’t want it other way. They both remain for two or three seconds looking at each other, she snaps out of the moment. We must be going, get your things.
The both get their belongings and exit hurriedly the room without looking back.
Curtains fall.
Patricia is zipping up her suitcase. She is presentable, well-dressed, and in orbit. It is morning, sunshine enters through the window. The room’s temperature feels cool and comfortable to be in. The beds are unmade, proof that housekeeping has not knocked on their door yet.
Patricia: In a high voice, so that Hernan can hear from the distance. Are you ready?
Hernan: He responds from the distance, coming from the bathroom, in a high voice too. Almost. He exists the bathroom with his hair soaking wet.
Patricia: Patricia notices him. Dry yourself well, and hurry up, we’re going to be late, we must be there at 6:15.
Hernan: I don’t know if I should be doing this.
Patricia: Doing what?
Hernan: Going to where we’re going today.
Patricia: Why? …show more content…
Hernan: I feel bad about what’s going on with Tatiana.
I spoke on the phone with her this morning while you were sleeping.
Patricia: What did she said?
Hernan: She said she was doing fine. She said that she is praying a lot and that she is calmed—learning some English. But I just can’t stand the thought of picturing her there. You should have seen the days when she would spend most of her afternoons, until late midnight, working her butt off, sleepless nights, dedicated to her education. She even graduated with honors as a bacteriologist and look at her now: in jail. In jail because there are no jobs for her title there. And also part of it is my fault. I was the one who called the ‘Papers’ guy.
Patricia: I feel for her, I really do, but you also need to understand that she’s not a baby anymore. She made all those decisions herself, she’ll learn from it, trust me. You must not blame this on yourself and, I’ve repeated this many times, what can you do? Really, what can you do for
her?
Hernan: A bail has been established.
Patricia: She looks at him directly in the eye, her whole body is suspended. How much?
Hernan: $250
Patricia: Hundred?
Hernan: Thousand.
Patricia: Holy! You’re not paying that, are you.
Hernan: That’s how much my three properties in Colombia are worth, including Angela’s.
Patricia: Are you insane? Not that I would love to see Angela out of your property for being a freeloader. But you’re gonna lose more than you gonna win. If you don’t pay the bail, then how much time will she spend behind bars?
Hernan: Maybe a year, maybe 2 or 3. I don’t know.
Patricia: You’re not selling your properties. My dear, you’ve worked hard for all you’ve got now, don’t let all go away. This is something she got into herself. You warned her, she was stubborn, she has to face the consequences of her own stubbornness. Let her learn.
Hernan: But what about my family? They’re pressuring—I must do something.
Patricia: You ‘must’? Do you have an identification with you?
Hernan: His face is met with befuddlement, but without further questions, he handles her his State ID. Here.
Patricia: It says here born on November 20th of 1989. You’re twenty-seven-years-old, my man. Your life already belongs to you—you just need to give the very first step yourself. Come on, we’ve come here to have fun and set all preoccupations aside for a few days at least. So today, we’re to the Grand Canyon, we’re going to unplug ourselves, like you said.
The phone rings. It is the usual, same ringtone.
That’s for you, dear. Do you what to say to her?
Hernan: He hesitates for a few seconds, but like a light bulb turning on, he seems to have gained confidence. I know exactly what I’m going to say to her. [He picks it up] Hello?... Hi… Yes, I know the sum now… I’m going to fly there tomorrow, I’m going to buy her a few things, anything that she may need during her stay there and make sure she’s okay…Are you insane? Where am I going to get 250K?... Honey, I’m not a bank… You really want me to do something? Well, I’ve just told you what I’m going to do, I’m gonna make sure she’s comfortable there... Bail her out? OK. Then start packing up your things and move out of my house, we’re gonna sell it, it’s the only way I’ll get the money… No, you listen, it’s your daughter, why should I be the one doing something? The only one, if I correct myself. You didn’t bother to raise them well…You know what, Angela, from this point on, I’m going to start worrying primarily about myself. I’ve been working since I was 16 and everything has been going towards my family. My mom is fine, thankfully I can look after her. I tried to help your sons too, you know that, and they were foolish idiots, I’ve been fair. Okay? I hate to remind you, but it seems like you need to. It seems like you’re a machine that only takes and takes, but can you ever give? I would love to see you doing something for me, just once... Silence on the other end. Hello? Are you there?... Disappointment? Excuse me? The other line hangs up. She hung up on me.
Patricia: She’s a thoughtless, cold woman.
Hernan: It’s like I don’t have a family. He stares at Patricia.
Patricia: Are you ready to go?
Hernan: Yes, I am.
Patricia: Good.
Hernan: I’m wrong, though, I do have a family… He takes both of Patricia’s hands.
Patricia: What are you doing?
Hernan: I have you, you’re family—my family.
Patricia: It’s small, no?
Hernan: I don’t care, it’s real.
Patricia: Actually, it won’t be that small after these two are born. She rubs her belly.
Hernan: These two?
Patricia: Yes, these two. I’m having twins.
Hernan: He gasps. I’m going to be uncle twice? We can raise them together, if you want.
Patricia: I wouldn’t want it other way. They both remain for two or three seconds looking at each other, she snaps out of the moment. We must be going, get your things.
The both get their belongings and exit hurriedly the room without looking back.
Curtains fall.