History Ends Here

CHARACTERS
MADELINE, about 35, a New Jersey schoolteacher
GRETTA, also a teacher, Madeline’s friend
ZANE, about 25
EMILY, older, runs an historical house
BERKLEY, about 40, a lawyer

The play is in one act. The time is the present. The place is an old house in Vermont.

(We see a bench and a velvet rope. On the bench sit MADELINE and GRETTA. On another bench is ZANE, wearing cameras around his neck.)

MADELINE
I don’t care. We have to get out of here before she comes back.

GRETTA
I want to see it, Madeline.

MADELINE
We’ll stop back here on the way home, okay?

GRETTA
It’s too late. We already bought the tickets.

MADELINE
Then I’ll wait for you in the car.

GRETTA
You’re not going to make me feel guilty by sitting in the car for an hour.

MADELINE
Gretta, I don’t care how I make you feel. After two weeks on the road with you I don’t care. I don’t like the route you chose, I don’t like your personal habits, I don’t like your conversation, and I’ve decided that it’s okay for me to tell you this.

GRETTA
Of course. I want you to share your feelings with me.

MADELINE
These are my feelings. I don’t want to see another historical house. It looks exactly like the last historical house.

GRETTA
But this is the Governor Simpkins house.

MADELINE
Then why does it look exactly like the Mayor Sturbridge house and the Captain Swenson house? Why is it that in the whole state of Vermont there was only one interior decorator? We were supposed to be in Montreal by now.

GRETTA
This is history. Don’t you want to learn something?

MADELINE
We spend the entire school year teaching history. This is vacation. I don’t want history.

GRETTA
Madeline.....

MADELINE
I want some action.

ZANE
You ladies here for the tour?

MADELINE
Who wants to know?

ZANE
I’m Zane DePaul. I live right near here.

MADELINE
Then why don’t you go home?

ZANE
I’ve taken this tour a hundred and forty-nine times.

GRETTA
Isn’t that wonderful.

ZANE
You can call me Zane.

MADELINE
Thanks a lot.

ZANE
You ladies from out of town?

GRETTA
New Jersey.

ZANE
You have much historical stuff there?

GRETTA
Not as much as New England.

MADELINE
When something gets old, we throw it out. How long is this going to take, Zane?

ZANE
Between 28 minutes and an hour and a half, depending on how many questions we ask.

MADELINE
Please don’t ask any questions, okay Gretta? Just let her talk and then we can get out of here.

ZANE
Oh you don’t have to worry about asking the right questions. I usually ask just about every question it’s possible to ask. I like to try to stump the tour guide. If it’s MaryAnn or Rebecca, they don’t mind. But Emily doesn’t know all the answers so she gets testy.

GRETTA
Why do you keep taking the same tour?

MADELINE
Gretta, can we please.....

ZANE
I just really like it. They used to try to turn me away because they said the other people taking the tour found me repulsive. But lately they don’t see to care about that anymore. Times have really changed.

GRETTA
They let you take pictures in here?

ZANE
Normally, no. But this is the last tour they’ll ever give of the house. They’re shutting it on account of budget cuts.

GRETTA
You see that? This is the last chance we’ll have to see it.

ZANE
I figure since it’s the last tour, they can hardly say no.

MADELINE
Gretta, for your own good, I think you should cooperate with my selfishness. It will help you develop as a person. I want to leave now.

(Enter EMILY. )

EMILY
Hello, welcome to the Governor John L. Simpkins house. My name is Emily Whitehead and I’ll be your tour guide this afternoon.

ZANE
Hello, Emily.

EMILY
Nice to see you again, Zane.

ZANE
Could I take some pictures today Emily? Seeing as how it’s the last tour and everything?

EMILY
No pictures, Zane. You know the rules.

ZANE
Aw gee.....

EMILY
For those of you who are visitors to our area, the county historical society is very happy to see you and we hope you enjoy the tour.

MADELINE
How long will this take?

EMILY
About thirty minutes.

MADELINE
Would it be possible for you to just give us the highlights? You know, like the hottest five minutes of the tour and leave the other stuff for another time?

EMILY
Well, what’s hot for some isn’t necessarily hot for all. I think you’ll really enjoy it once we get started. Please feel free to ask any questions.

GRETTA
I understand this will be the last tour of the Governor Simpkins house. Are they just going to shut it down?

EMILY
Well for now, I’m afraid so. The Society has had some budget problems and we can’t seem to get the same kind of local support and contributions as we used to, so this will be our final day of operations.

ZANE
How about if I take a few snapshots, but I promise not to show them to anyone except Rusty.

EMILY
Did you bring that dog in here again?

ZANE
No, he’s at home waiting. I promised him pictures.

EMILY
No pictures.

MADELINE
Shouldn’t we be starting now? Like before it gets dark?

EMILY
Of course. Step this way.

(They move from the waiting area into the Simpkins study.)

GRETTA
So this is your last day. That’s such a shame. You’ve been here a long time?

EMILY
Yes, ever since my husband died. I was involved in researching the governor’s life and organizing the restoration, and I wrote the original script for the tour. But there are things in life that one must simply accept.

GRETTA
It still seems a shame.

EMILY
Well, yes dear, but you’ll find that when you get to be my age, you’ll be able to accept a lot more things that you realize you can’t change. And a certain serenity comes over you. You feel that there’s a hand guiding us all and that things will end just as they should. You feel warm and peaceful, and you don’t resort to squabbling over little things.

ZANE
Emily, could I ask a question about.....

EMILY
Zane, can it. I haven’t even begun the tour yet. After I’ve shown them the study, you can ask your questions, if they’re appropriate.

ZANE
Aww gee.....

MADELINE
Can we please start.

EMILY
We are starting precisely on time and not a moment late. Let me begin by telling you about how the house was built. It was designed in 1852 by the British architect Matthew Worthingham. The governor’s father, Preston Simpkins, was descended from one of the original freeholders of.....

(BERKLEY, in a business suit, enters in a rush. He stops at the waiting area, afraid to go any further.)

BERKLEY
Hello? Excuse me? Hello?

EMILY
Yes, please come in. We’re in here.

(BERKLEY enters the study.)

BERKLEY
Excuse me, I’m really sorry, I’m very, very sorry about this. The man outside said it was the last tour and I rushed down here. I figured I had to see it now or not see it at all and I’ve been feeling the last few months that I had to do all the things I’ve never done before and I’ve never done this before and I’ve very sorry for interrupting. I’m alone, it’s just me, and I was hoping that you’d let me interrupt and walk with you. In the tour, I mean. I’m very, very sorry.

GRETTA
I understand completely. My name is Gretta. Let’s talk about it.

BERKLEY
No, no, I didn’t want to interrupt, it’s just me here. I’m the only late one and I’m alone and I’m interrupting your tour and everything.

EMILY
You’re not interrupting anything. We’ve barely started. Please come in.

(BERKLEY joins them.)

BERKLEY
Here I am, ruining everything for all the rest of you.

GRETTA
Oh don’t say that. Nothing could be further from the truth. My name is Gretta, by the way.

BERKLEY
Thank you very much.

MADELINE
Can we get on with it please?

GRETTA
(To BERKLEY.)
My name is Gretta.

BERKLEY
Edmund.

GRETTA
Edmund. Really. I have a car outside.

MADELINE
Gretta.....

ZANE
Are we gonna start the tour or are you people going to just keep interrupting?

BERKLEY
I’m sorry. I’m very sorry. I’ve never done this before.

EMILY
I was just talking about the origination of the house. As I said, Governor Simpkins is descended from one of the original freeholders in Vermont, and his father was a farmer. But the governor spent most of his life in the lumber business and made a lot of money. Much more than you or I would need, I’m sure. He had this house built for his wife, Gwendolyn, and his two sons, Seth and John Junior.

ZANE
Isn’t it true that John Junior’s original name was Enoch and he hated it so much that he locked himself in the tool shed and wouldn’t come out till they renamed him?

EMILY
No, that’s not true. Over here we see this maple settee made by the local furniture maker Crabtree and Sons from a British design. Mrs. Simpkins was so fond of the settee that she had Crabtree make her a four-poster and a chest of drawers which we’ll see when we go up to the master bedroom.

ZANE
Isn’t it true that the bed broke the first time Mrs. Simpkins sat on it, but she couldn’t bring it back because she lost her sales slip?

EMILY
No, Zane, that is not true.

MADELINE
If you people keep arguing, we’re never going to get out of here.

EMILY
Well I’ll try to get you out as soon as I can.

GRETTA
There’s no rush. Are you in a hurry...Edmund?

BERKLEY
Me? Oh no, no rush at all. Nobody waiting for me at home. Anymore.

GRETTA
Oh. That’s too bad.

EMILY
May I continue? Please?

ZANE
She’s going to show you the old books now.

EMILY
Zane, button it. The governor’s library includes several dozen first editions of famous early American works of literature.

ZANE
After the governor died, the public library asked Mrs. Simpkins to donate them, and she told them to go jump in the lake.

EMILY
That’s not true, Zane, and you know it.

ZANE
You never tell them the good stuff.

EMILY
Some of these people may actually have some intelligent questions they wish to ask and you’re ruining the tour for all of them.

MADELINE
None of us have any questions. We’ve seen the study. Can you just go on? Show us the bathroom or whatever else you have and let’s be done with it.

EMILY
I’ll do my best to expedite. Over here we have this lovely Waterford crystal wine decanter. It was a special present from the Governor to Mrs. Simpkins. In fact whenever they had parties, Mrs. Simpkins had a little joke about it that she used to tell her guests. She always said she told the Governor that since he hadn’t given her any daughters, that’s the least he could do was buy her a nice wine decanter.

(EMILY laughs. None of the others do.)

MADELINE
What’s so funny about that?

EMILY
I’m sorry if you didn’t enjoy it.

ZANE
Isn’t it true that she cracked the Governor in the head with it when she found out he had been cheating with a barmaid from Montpelier?

EMILY
No that is not true.

ZANE
You can still see a little blood on the edge of it here that they never washed off.....

(ZANE points out the spot and they all huddle around it.)

EMILY
No you can’t see any blood on it and don’t you dare say another word, Zane DePaul.

MADELINE
Aren’t we done with this room yet?

EMILY
No we are not.

ZANE
We still got the desk, the rug, the lamps, and the coatrack.

GRETTA
Would you mind if Edmund and I took a little walk in the garden out back?

EMILY
The garden is not until the end of the tour.

ZANE
That’s where the Governor buried his mother.

EMILY
He didn’t bury his mother there.

MADELINE
If you people don’t shut up we’re never going to get out of here.

EMILY
And wouldn’t that be a mortal tragedy.

MADELINE
I’m sorry.

EMILY
Excuse me. I have to check the outside door.

(EMILY walks through the waiting area and out.)

GRETTA
What did you do that for, Madeline?

MADELINE
We’re never going to get to Montreal if we don’t leave here before five.

GRETTA
Well so what if we don’t get there today.

(ZANE begins to snap pictures. He gently nudges Gretta, Madeline, and Berkley into striking poses for his camera. Without argument, they move as they’re requested and smile as his flash goes off.)

GRETTA
What would be so terrible about you having the evening off to do whatever you want to do and Edmund will take me for a drive around the area. I’d just love to see where you work.

BERKLEY
It’s just an ordinary old office.

MADELINE
I don’t want to stay here tonight, I want to leave.

GRETTA
Madeline, Edmund would really, really like to take me for a drive.

BERKLEY
I’m sorry, my car is still being fixed.....

GRETTA
That’s alright, we’ll take Madeline’s car.

MADELINE
Gretta, I want to get out of here now.

(EMILY reenters just as ZANE is snapping a group photo of the other three sitting on the desk, holding
the wine decanter.)

EMILY
Hello.

ZANE
I didn’t do it. I didn’t do anything. It was them. They made me do it.

EMILY
Go ahead, desecrate history, don’t let me stop you.

MADELINE
We’re sorry, we didn’t....know what to do while you were out.

EMILY
Why should I care what you do? Why should I care that none of you give two hoots for preservation or history or your democratic heritage?

MADELINE
Now wait a minute, that’s not true. We’re teachers.

EMILY
Oh my lord, I should have known. The country can go to hell in a basket as long as you get your pay raises.

MADELINE
That’s not true where we come from.

EMILY
You don’t know where you come from. And neither do any of the youngsters you say you’re teaching. That’s why they don’t know where they’re going. No wonder there’s all this drugs and depression and anxiety and poorly written software applications. Because you don’t appreciate all the things we’ve given you.

GRETTA
Well personally I don’t think that.....

EMILY
You don’t think period, girlie. No wonder we can’t get anybody to contribute to the historical society and no wonder the state doesn’t give a damn. Because nobody votes around here unless you buy him dinner and a cigar. Teacher? You couldn’t recite the Declaration of Independence if I held a gun to your head.

GRETTA
Well we don’t believe in memorization anymore.

EMILY
You don’t believe in anything anymore. Twenty-three years I worked here. I gave every ounce of my strength to this place and you’re perfectly satisfied to see it all covered with mothballs and me put out to pasture somewhere.

MADELINE
Gretta, can we please leave now. I don’t need to listen to this.

EMILY
Go ahead. Try to leave. Try the door. See what happens.

MADELINE
What are you talking about?

EMILY
Try the door, you ingrate.

(MADELINE exits through the waiting area.)

ZANE
Isn’t this kind of a big deal just over a few pictures?

EMILY
You have no idea what a big deal is. You came here to take the tour and you’re going to take the whole tour. And then some.

(MADELINE returns.)

MADELINE
It’s locked. She locked the door from the inside.

EMILY
And I locked the back door too. And the phone is locked in the office. And I’m not telling you where the key is.

MADELINE
This is ridiculous. What are you trying to pull here.

EMILY
You think people like me just don’t count anymore. You think you can run away from your history without so much as a blink.

BERKLEY
I’m sure none of us meant to upset you or anything.....

EMILY
The windows are wired to an alarm in the station house, so don’t even think about breaking out. I’ll tell them you tried to steal the wine decanter. Your hands were all over it. And if you so much as touch me, they’ll be hell to pay. The local police will believe me long before they believe you.

MADELINE
You just want us to take the tour, right? After the tour, you’ll let us go.

EMILY
Why should I?

MADELINE
What do you mean?

EMILY
I’ll finish the tour when I think you deserve it.

(EMILY sits down.)

MADELINE
You can’t do this. We can’t just sit here locked up in a house.

ZANE
Oh sure we can. We can go without food for 2.5 months.

MADELINE
That’s not the point.

ZANE
I had a big breakfast, so I’m all set.

MADELINE
This is perfect. This is just absolutely perfect. What if one of us gets sick?

EMILY
We assume no liability. That’s what it says on your ticket.

(BERKLEY takes out his ticket and reads.)

BERKLEY
“The Historical Society assumes no liability for an act of God.”

EMILY
If I’m not an act of God, what is.

GRETTA
Edmund, are you going to do something or not?

BERKLEY
What am I supposed to do?

GRETTA
Offer her some money.

BERKLEY
That’s going to seem really tacky.

GRETTA
How else are we going to get out of here?

ZANE
Rusty could get help. I’ll call Rusty.

MADELINE
Oh, Rusty will get help. Why didn’t I think of that?

(ZANE blows on a dog whistle.)

MADELINE
Do you really think he’s going to hear that from here?

ZANE
You’re right. I’ll blow it from the foyer.

(He leaves.)

BERKLEY
Ms. Whitehead, I know this sounds a little mercenary, but if I wrote you a post-dated check for say $25, would you let us go?

EMILY
Twenty-five dollars? For twenty-five dollars I’m supposed to let you go?

GRETTA
Give her more, Edmund. He has much more than that.

BERKLEY
No I don’t. I have alimony to pay.

MADELINE
Tell me it was an accident, Gretta. I want you to tell me it was an accident that you forced me to come here with you to this house on my only vacation in three years. Tell me you didn’t do it deliberately.

GRETTA
I’m trying to get us out if you would stop feeling sorry for yourself for once.

MADELINE
(To EMILY.)
What do you want, blood?

EMILY
I want you to take some responsibility for the things you see around you.

MADELINE
Is it my fault you’re a retired psychotic? Is that my fault? If someone else goes off the deep end, I have to put down everything I’m doing and pull her up?

EMILY
Yes. That’s what you’re supposed to do.

MADELINE
Nobody is supposed to do anything anymore, lady. There’s no more “supposed to.” We do what’s right for ourselves.

EMILY
That must be why you’re all so happy and contented.

BERKLEY
Yuh, I’m having real problems with that part. Could you advise me on that?

GRETTA
(To BERKLEY.)
Edmund, can we please go into the waiting room? Now?

EMILY
(To GRETTA.)
Can’t you see you’re getting nowhere with him? Are you blind as well as ignorant?

GRETTA
I am a living, loving, and learning person. I have learned to love myself and to express my needs and wants.

EMILY
You’re not allowed to do that in this house. This house is to help you recognize your history.

MADELINE
The house is just stuff. There’s nothing here that can help me.

GRETTA
You’ll always have your stupid history.

EMILY
No we won’t because you messed it up.

GRETTA
I didn’t do anything.

EMILY
Oh dearie, don’t look at me like that. It’s written all over your face. You were supposed to stay home and keep an eye on the store. And instead you put on your yellow dress and ran off to the dance with the Spooner boy, didn’t you.

GRETTA
What are you talking about?

EMILY
The cookies weren’t baked just for you, young lady.

GRETTA
What cookies?

EMILY
We came over here and started this country so that everyone would have an equal chance.

GRETTA
You didn’t “come over here.” You were.....What am I doing, reasoning with you? You’re a gray, dead muffin.

MADELINE
I want it to mean something. Tell me what it means.

EMILY
All along we knew Tom Paine was right. We knew what a hypocrite Washington was on slavery. But we didn’t have you on our side, so what could we do about it?

MADELINE
What are you saying. That you were there?

EMILY
Of course I was there. Where the hell were you?

BERKLEY
Well I didn’t know I was supposed to be there.....

EMILY
You were with the town officials in New Rochelle who wouldn’t let Paine vote in 1806. You and all those stupid little Tory children called him names, didn’t you?

BERKLEY
No, really.....

EMILY
Oh don’t look at me like that, I saw you there.

ZANE
(Reentering.)
Everything’s okay. Rusty will be here any minute.

MADELINE
I’ve tried to do things. It never works.

EMILY
Try again. Every time we need you, you go off and run away. Why weren’t you with Wendell Phillips and me at the Labor-Reform Convention in 1871?

MADELINE
I guess I should’ve been.

EMILY
What are you trying to tell me, you were too busy?

ZANE
Wasn’t that in 1872?

EMILY
No, you twirp, it was 1871. And you ought to know because when it came time to elect William Jennings Bryan and stop the robber barons and the plutocrats once and for all, you were too busy with your books and your cameras and your house tours.

ZANE
Well I wasn’t exactly.....

EMILY
Oh sure, I know what you’re going to say, Zane. You were only a little boy in 1896 and you didn’t know any better.

ZANE
Yuh, right.

EMILY
But what about 1924? We had Robert LaFollete. We had a plan for farm credit unions and fair labor practices. You didn’t give a damn, so you let everybody vote for Coolidge, you idiot.

ZANE
Well I didn’t mean to.....

GRETTA
But we weren’t there.

MADELINE
Yuh, but we could’ve been there.

(GRETTA thinks about this.)

GRETTA
No. We could not have been there. Edmund, I want to see you outside now.

EMILY
(To MADELINE.)
Talk to me. Tell me what I’m missing here.

(GRETTA exits.)

BERKLEY
(To EMILY.)
Excuse me, I know this is important, but I’m just going to see what she wants, I’ll only be a....I’m sorry, I’m just....very sorry....

(He follows GRETTA out.)

MADELINE
Can she hear us in here?

EMILY
No, not unless you shout. I thought the two of you were friends. Doesn’t that mean anything anymore?

MADELINE
A friend is just someone who wants something you have. I have a car, Gretta wanted a cheap vacation. I have to ask you to do something.

EMILY
I know what you want. You want me to let you all go.

MADELINE
No, that’s not what I want. Whenever you decide to let us go, whether it’s now or tomorrow or whenever, I don’t really care. But I want you to hold Gretta here an extra two hours.

EMILY
I can’t do that. That would be kidnapping.

MADELINE
What do you think this is?

ZANE
No, this is forced confinement. It’s only kidnapping if you bring us somewhere against our will. Like if you took us for ice cream even though we didn’t want to go, that’s be kidnapping, which would be 10 years in the slammer. Forced confinement is only three to five.

MADELINE
I just want two hours.

EMILY
Why? What’s the point?

MADELINE
So I can get to the Canadian border before Gretta has a chance to tell anyone and I can change my identity and never be heard of again.

EMILY
What on earth would you want to do that for?

MADELINE
I’m going to go to Montreal and forget who I am. I’m going to become French Canadian.

ZANE
You’re going to have a terrible time getting a library card.

EMILY
Why? What are you doing this for?

(ZANE begins to scratch a note on a piece of paper.)

MADELINE
I need it to be different. At least it’ll be different. They’re very creative up there. The money comes in different colors. I know it’ll be different.

EMILY
You can’t just run away. Stay here. People need you.

(ZANE hands MADELINE his note.)

ZANE
Here’s the directions to my Aunt Marie’s house.

MADELINE
What you mean, your Aunt Marie.

ZANE
I’m French Canadian. Most of my family is in Montreal.

MADELINE
I don’t want to meet your family.

(GRETTA and BERKLEY reenter. She pushes him in front of her.)

GRETTA
Go ahead and do it. Be a man, you worm.

BERKLEY
I’m sure you mean well, but I just don’t think I can.

EMILY
Oh what is it now.

GRETTA
I said do it.

BERKLEY
Excuse me, Ms. Whitehead. Gretta wants me to hit you over the head with the wine decanter, tie you up with the velvet rope, and then search your dress for the keys.

ZANE
Gee whiz.....

MADELINE
Is that the kind of thing you do to an older person?

GRETTA
Look what she’s doing to us.

MADELINE
That doesn’t mean you have to assault her.

GRETTA
Some people sit around and some people take action.

BERKLEY
I usually sit around.

GRETTA
No kidding.

BERKLEY
I’ve never been any good in this kind of situation. Anything I would do would only make things worse. I don’t help people. I’ve never helped anyone. Elaine is miserable. And I made her that way.

(GRETTA circles behind EMILY and picks up the wine decanter, as if to admire it. She then holds it by the neck and hefts it, as if to test whether she can swing it with one hand.)

EMILY
Forget Elaine. I’m sure you did the best you could. You can’t worry about that now.

BERKLEY
Elaine was watching television when the president came on and said, “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” She looked at me and then called an all-night law firm. We’re sort of divorced now.

EMILY
Yes, I gathered that.

BERKLEY
It was my fault. I’m sure it was my fault.

(GRETTA moves quietly behind EMILY and begins to raise the wine pitcher over her head. MADELINE sees her.)

MADELINE
Gretta!

(They all stare at GRETTA, caught in the act.)

GRETTA
Someone has to do something.

MADELINE
Put that down. That isn’t going to solve anything.

(GRETTA puts down the wine decanter.)

GRETTA
What am I supposed to do, limit my own personal freedom?

MADELINE
Yes.

GRETTA
No. I have a responsibility to reward myself. I am my own lover.

MADELINE
By conking an old lady on the head?

ZANE
Well you were all set to ditch Gretta and run to Montreal, weren’t you?

MADELINE
Zane!

GRETTA
Madeline!

MADELINE
I wasn’t serious.

ZANE
Sure you were. You tried to get Emily to kidnap her for an extra two hours so you could make a run for it. You didn’t want her with you when you were living it up in Canada with all that multi-colored money.

MADELINE
That’s not true.

GRETTA
You animal.

ZANE
You were going to leave her here without a ride home or a sandwich or anything.

GRETTA
You slop. You reptile.

EMILY
Alright. That’s quite enough. Are you the people I’m leaving the world to when I die? Are you the best and the brightest?

(EMILY pulls a ring of keys out of the pocket of her dress.)

EMILY
Here are the keys.

(She places them on the table beside her.)

EMILY
If you can honestly tell me that you’re going to do something decent with your life when you leave here, anything decent, then you can take the keys and leave. Is there a single one of you who is capable of doing anything decent whatsoever? Anything?

(They stare at each other.)

GRETTA
I’ll collect for Green Peace.

(GRETTA dives at the table trying to scoop up the keys. EMILY snatches them away at the last moment and GRETTA tumbles onto the floor
empty-handed.)

EMILY
Somehow I don’t think I believe you. Well you all deserve each other, as far as I’m concerned. I honestly thought that if I got the house just right, if I got the curtains and the chairs and the rugs just right, you people would start to understand what democracy is. What the hell was I thinking? I must’ve been crackers. Where did I get this from?

GRETTA
Can someone else please talk to her?

EMILY
Okay, new plan. Starting tomorrow morning, we’re putting together a new organization and it’s going to do a lot more than restore houses. It’s going to give people something to live for.

GRETTA
For the last time. What do you want?

EMILY
I want you out. Now.

(EMILY tosses the set of keys at GRETTA.)

EMILY
Get out of my house this instant. Move!

(GRETTA picks up the keys and exits.)

EMILY
(To MADELINE.)
Let’s go, sweetheart. It’s time to hit the road. For both of us.

MADELINE
I apologize for insulting you before. I’m sorry, it was wrong.

(GRETTA runs back in.)

GRETTA
It’s open, the door’s open. Let’s go, Madeline.

MADELINE
In a minute.

(GRETTA leaves.)

EMILY
What are you waiting for? Move it.

ZANE
See you tomorrow, Emily. I mean if tomorrow you’re still.....

EMILY
Goodbye, Zane.

BERKLEY
I’m sorry about.....everything.

(They both leave. EMILY begins to straighten up the room.)

MADELINE
You were right about Montreal. I’ve decided to go back to my home town. I still know people there and maybe I can do something useful.

EMILY
Then go to it. Go on. Get moving.

(MADELINE starts to leave and stops.)

MADELINE
I’m sure you’ll do well with the new organization. If I don’t see you again.....Best of luck.

(She leaves.)

EMILY
No. You’ll see me again.

(Blackout.)