RICARDO. This place has served its purpose, Rosie. (He exits to the kitchen.)
ROSIE. (To herself:) For who?
NATHAN. (He enters cautiously. Rosie is down on her hands and knees picking up silverware. She looks up, sees Nathan and then slowly stands with a steak knife in her hand.) Rosie, Rosie, Rosie. Got a pocketful of… Ashes fall. They hit the ground. And I hear talk all over town.
ROSIE. (She takes a step towards him.) Do you want me to kill you?
NATHAN. I just want you to love me.
(Rosie rushes to him, tosses the knife down and they collide into a passionate kiss. The attraction between them is wild, barbaric, animal-like. He clears off the top of a table, with a quick swipe of his hand, and he lifts Rosie up and places her on the table top. She leans back, claws at him with lust.)
ROSIE. I want you so bad.
NATHAN. She bought the whole thing. Just like you said she would.
ROSIE. Where is she now?
NATHAN. Crying at home. She tried to get the money out of the truck.
ROSIE. Did you hit her?
NATHAN. I beat the shit out of her. Called her a thief and a liar.
ROSIE. (She moans in ecstasy:) Oh God, I love you.
NATHAN. You gonna run away with me?
ROSIE. Hell yes, I am. We’re going to Miami, baby.
NATHAN. You gonna be my girl?
ROSIE. As long as you wanna be my man.
NATHAN. Don’t worry. I’ve got everything under control.
ROSIE. Not everything.
(Britney enters from the front door, unnoticed and wet from the rain. Her bottom lip is busted open. She sees Rosie and Nathan together, on the table. She is mortified. Slowly, she picks up the steak knife from the floor. She approaches Nathan.)
NATHAN. What do you mean?
ROSIE. Your little Britney is having a baby.
NATHAN. What?
ROSIE. Relax, bad boy, it ain’t yours.
NATHAN. You’re wrong. Britney can’t have kids. The doctor told me so himself.
ROSIE. Why would she lie?
NATHAN. I could eat you alive.
ROSIE. Where’s the money?
NATHAN. You’re so fucking hot.
ROSIE. Baby, where’s the money?
NATHAN. I love you.
ROSIE. I love you, too, Ricardo.
NATHAN. What the fuck? You just called me Ricardo.
BRITNEY. I’m taking the money back to the store! (Britney raises the knife, prepared to stab Nathan in the back. Nathan jumps, rolls off of Rosie and hits the floor. The knife comes down, landing in the middle of Rosie’s chest. She screams in pain and within seconds she loses consciousness. Britney turns to Nathan.) Look at what you made me do!
LINDA. (Barefoot, wet and cold, she enters the restaurant. She is dazed and weak. She is very pregnant and very young.) Help me.
RICARDO. (He enters from the kitchen.) Rosie? (A moment of realization:) Oh my God—
NATHAN. Is she dead?
BRITNEY. I didn’t mean to do it! (She throws the knife down and runs out of the restaurant, repeating the same phrase over and over, like a hysterical mantra.)
LINDA. (She staggers to Ricardo.) Can you please help me?
(Linda faints, falling into Ricardo’s arms. He gently guides her down to the floor.
Nathan scrambles up, goes behind the counter and picks up Rosie’s suitcase. He rips the suitcase open and throws its contents on the floor. He opens the cash register, and empties it into the suitcase. Ricardo does not try to stop him or intervene. Instead, he grabs a tablecloth and covers Rosie’s body with it. Nathan dashes out of the restaurant.
Ricardo picks up the road map, discarded on the floor. Slowly, he folds it up and puts it into his back pocket.
Lights fade to black.)
ACT TWO: SCENE ONE
(When the lights come up, two hours have passed. Linda is sitting at one of the tables, hunched over a bowl of soup. It is evident she is hungry.
Ricardo is on his hands and knees, scrubbing the floor. A bucket of water is nearby.
The radio is on.)
RADIO ANNOUNCER. Winds have reached 50 miles per hour in parts of the state. We’ve got enough rain to fill an ocean. The temperature has continued to drop. Folks, it’s getting cold out there. Stay warm and hopefully the storm will pass over us soon. Here’s a little something to heat things up.
(Music begins to play. Judy rushes inside from the main entrance, wet from the rain. She is carrying a grocery bag with her. She turns off the radio.)
JUDY. (To Linda:) Oh good. You’re eating. How are you feeling?
LINDA. Much better, thank you.
JUDY. You are a precious thing. Do you know that? I could curse your folks for throwing you out. Have they no shame?
LINDA. I’m the one who shamed them. My father said he’d rather see me dead than pregnant. He almost got his wish. Do you think the storm will hit soon?
RICARDO. It already has.
JUDY. Ricardo, this soup is cold. And she needs some crackers. Get her some crackers.
RICARDO. They’re behind the counter. My shift ended five minutes ago. Kimberly’s running late.
JUDY. What time is it?
RICARDO. It’s after ten, Judy. I’ll be leaving soon.
JUDY. Made up your mind, did you?
RICARDO. It was made up for me.
JUDY. Do you think Derek knows about his sister?
RICARDO. He’s waiting for me down at the bus station. I’ll be on my way soon.
JUDY. I pray to God that Britney went fast. The sheriff said he only used one bullet. I don’t think she felt anything.
RICARDO. I’m sure she felt everything. Britney was a sensitive woman.
JUDY. (She goes behind the counter and gets crackers. She takes them to Linda.) Look, Linda. I brought you some stuff. I wasn’t sure what size shoe you wore, so I brought you a pair of house slippers. I only wore them once. They made my feet swell. And here’s a sweatshirt. The zipper sticks a little. It’s temperamental. Here, try this on. (She literally dresses Linda as if she were dressing a doll. Linda obliges.)
LINDA. Thank you, ma’am. Thank you both. I don’t know what I would’ve done. I saw the light from the highway and I just followed it.
JUDY. I’m just glad you got out of that car when you did. That maniac could’ve killed you. And the baby.
LINDA. My father wanted me to have an abortion.
JUDY. It’s the will of God you didn’t.
LINDA. Do you have any children?
RICARDO. She doesn’t need any. She’s got you now.
JUDY. I’ve never been married, Linda. I don’t have any children of my own. I take care of my father because he — well, my mother left us years ago to fend for ourselves. He’s been broken hearted ever since.
RICARDO. He isn’t broken hearted, Judy. He’s a drunk.
JUDY. Don’t speak that way in front of Linda.
RICARDO. She isn’t made of glass.
JUDY. Why are you scrubbing the floor, Ricardo?