Act V

Before the Bar— Outside the Apartment

Lee, Oliver and Rosario have walked down the two flights of wooden stairs, and out the building, and are standing outside—alongside the building, saying their goodbyes; Rosario and Lee are about to catch a taxi and head on downtown for a walk, a little shopping, and a bite to eat. Lee has his brown hat on, it is reminiscent of what the gangsters wear, or used to wear [as Rosario has told him many times before], but he likes it and kind of pushes the front down to look a bit more deviate. Rosario is quite conservative in her dress compared to both Oliver and Lee, and has a nice skirt on, and blouse tucked into her waist belt, some white socks on that go halfway up her legs, towards her knee. Her hair is combed backwards, and tied in a ponytail in the back. She is cute, and fresh looking. Lee is handsome and a little flashy, for the most part; and of course, Oliver is loud as loud can be, the colors could blind you if stared at them too long. But Lee, he finds it irresistible, the gleam, and Rosario is more, or better put merely pragmatic; --as a result, they both seem quite happy for some odd reason, I would guess, for the same reason two trees would get bored looking at one another, now put a lake or hill in front of the trees and you got company, and mystery, and a good warm difference. And on comes a long discussion, as Lee tries to get away, waiting for his cab.

Oliver [his cheeks puffed, with a little seriousness]. You folks going to have children soon, yes, no…?

Lee [leaning against the building railing in a loose posture by several cement steps leading down from the apartment-building, Rosario standing a little closer to Oliver after that statement]. Not sure where that came from old buddy, but you sure surprise me with your gobbledygook sometimes. I have no intentions of giving an absolute sacrifice to perfection. Do you not know, perfection cannot raise kids, plus I do not want anyone coming before me—with kids or little rug-rats…I'd be second in the house [jokingly].

Oliver. Rug-rats, gobbledygook, no Rosario what kind of husband do you have here. No one before him, he sounds as if he is God! [A smile and grin appear on his face.]

Rosario [with a sigh]. Will you two just stop it, every time you get together you go on for hours like this [with a high pitched voice]. Yes, yes, you Oliver and my husband, Lee eeeee…both alike, can't you two talk about sports or something, --everyone else in this city does?

Oliver [acting dumb with a few waves of his head, bobbing back and forth, with the sway of his shoulders, his voice a little shaken]. It just happens to be, your husband doesn't know a thing about baseball, football, hockey. Not sure what sport he knows.

Lee [rising through his defeat, and defense, sort of]. I'm keen on boxing and karate.

Oliver. Now boxing I can deal with, but this karate thing, what is that, it seems more similar to a chicken fight…I mean, cockfight [a pause, Rosario looking at Oliver].

Rosario. Don't go there, --Oliver, you like baseball, he likes karate, I like reading, and life goes on.

Oliver. Reading is not a sport.

Rosario. Now you're on me, I can't believe this. Where is that taxi, I hope it comes and saves us all.

The taxi just arrives on time; everyone now is saying their goodbyes. Rosario kisses Oliver on the cheek, and Lee shakes his hand, telling him, '…see yaw later, take care…'etc., as they jump into the taxi and take off.

[ten minutes later]

They are silent in the Taxi …then it stops and they both get out, and you can see them window shopping and looking about, as they stroll down the sidewalk. Then they find themselves hot, and hungry. The Jam Bar is close by, and Lee is having some trouble with his chest from the heat. Breathing is getting a little complicated for him. He is trying to suck in a little more air, trying too hard that is—too much effort Rosario feels.

The Curtain goes Down