Scene Six
The Knopf living
room, the same afternoon. At rise, NADINE is polishing the furniture. ROSALIE
comes rushing through the kitchen, slamming the back door. She dashes to
the front window. NADINE stares in astonishment. A car is heard driving
up and stopping. ROSALIE hurries to Nadine, kisses her on the forehead,
takes her arm and leads her to the bedroom.
ROSALIE
Hi. Integrating time.
NADINE
Rosalie!
ROSALIE
Remember those children in
the center.
(A knock on the front
door. ROSALIE pauses, inhales deeply, once again assumes her cretin mask
and opens the door.)
ROSALIE
Why, this is a surprise!
(DIANE WOLFE, BETTY
CLAIRE and SHARLENE enter. DIANE is a lovely young lady with the elegance
of a calla lily and the tenacity of mildew. SHE surveys the room with distaste.)
SHARLENE
What do you mean a surprise?
Didn’t you hear us honking?
ROSALIE
Honking what?
SHARLENE
Diane’s horn! We honked all
the way down Hanahan Boulevard!
DIANE
We did try to get your attention,
Rosalie…
SHARLENE
Boy, someone should enter
you in a seven-day bike race!
ROSALIE
Oh, I didn’t know that was
you. I thought it was a strange man or something.
BETTY CLAIRE
What!?
ROSALIE
According to the Reader’s
Digest, there are more sex fiends on the road than in the street.
SHARLENE
You mean who keep sticking
their heads out the window and yelling, "Rosalie"!
DIANE
(looking sharply at Sharlene and then graciously at Rosalie)
We want to invite you
to a party, Rosalie. A little slumber party at my house on Thursday night.
ROSALIE
A slumber party? Is that
a special kind of party?
SHARLENE
You never heard of a slumber
party!
ROSALIE
No.
BETTY CLAIRE
We have them all the time.
ROSALIE
I don’t go out much.
DIANE
It’s a party in which a group
of us get together and spend the night at someone’s house.
ROSALIE
Oh, my mother would never
let me attend one of those.
SHARLENE
What do you seen none "one
of those"?
ROSALIE
People sleeping together.
DIANE
Girls sleeping together,
Rosalie.
ROSALIE
Oh, girls.
DIANE
It’s Thursday at eight.
ROSALIE
But I don’t have anything
to wear.
BETTY CLAIRE
All you need is pajamas.
ROSALIE
I don’t have any pajamas
DIANE
Then bring your nightgown.
ROSALIE
I don’t have any.
DIANE
Then a nightshirt. It’s not
that elegant.
ROSALIE
I wish I had a nightshirt.
DIANE
Then your slip…your panties…that
dress…anything…just come!
ROSALIE
But I don’t wear anything
when I go to sleep.
DIANE
(impressed)
You don’t? How does it
feel?
ROSALIE
I don’t know. I’ve never
slept in anything else.
DIANE
Well, I’ll lend you a pair
of my pajamas.
ROSALIE
I couldn’t impose.
DIANE
It’s not imposing.
ROSALIE
Oh, it would be.
DIANE
No, it wouldn’t.
ROSALIE
Oh, yes, I’m sure.
DIANE
But it wouldn’t.
ROSALIE
You’re just too nice to say
it would.
DIANE
I’m not. Believe me, I’m
not.
ROSALIE
You are. You really are.
DIANE
For the love o’ pete, I want
to lend you a pair. I have two dozen pair. I’d love to lend you a pair.
ROSALIE
Really?
DIANE
Really.
ROSALIE
Are you sure?
SHARLENE
(under her breath)
What did I tell you?
DIANE
Yes, Rosalie. I’m sure.
ROSALIE
When did you say it was?
DIANE
Thursday at eight.
ROSALIE
Oh.
DIANE
What’s the matter, Rosalie?
ROSALIE
I can’t come.
SHARLENE
You can’t come?!
ROSALIE
I’m sorry. I forgot. I promised
I’d go to the movies Thursday night…with Margot.
LIGHTS DIM
