ACT 3, SCENE 2
(OLIVER and CASSANDRA’s apartment, afternoon.)
(CASSANDRA and AMADI enter.)
AMADI: (laughing) Oh my! That guy was hitting on you.
CASSANDRA: Yeah...
AMADI: At least, you have another option for the near future.
CASSANDRA: Do you want his phone number? I would gladly share...
AMADI: I like that. Why not?
CASSANDRA: (sitting in the sofa) It’s in my purse. Oh, I don’t care. I am just exhausted.
AMADI: I think you need --
CASSANDRA: Please, stay.
AMADI: Oliver might come back anytime...
CASSANDRA: Let him. Please, stay.
(Long pause.)
AMADI: Simon wants to talk...
CASSANDRA: Sounds familiar.
AMADI: Why do we need men who, who, who always want to talk? Silence is good!
CASSANDRA: Don’t tell me!
AMADI: Seriously, is it really over?
CASSANDRA: (dreamily) Do you think one can forget the past?
AMADI: Well...
CASSANDRA: Things are never really over, you know.
(She stares at the floor.)
AMADI: I don’t agree.
CASSANDRA: Simon and you --
AMADI: I never loved Simon. At least, not the same way I used to –
CASSANDRA: I love Oliver.
AMADI: If my future husband were to tell me –
CASSANDRA: You have not married yet.
AMADI: Not yet. I probably will. (pause) Look, all I’m saying is that Oliver is a great guy. He knows you, you know.
CASSANDRA: I feel different. Things have changed for me. Since my mother died. I have no idea why. I used to be so scared of things...
AMADI: What things?
CASSANDRA: Do you remember when we were in university? When my mom was hospitalized?
AMADI: Of course, I do.
CASSANDRA: That’s what I meant. I was scared out of my wits at the time. And I couldn’t figure out why.
(CASSANDRA shows the box and a few letters from the pile. AMADI nods.)
CASSANDRA: What I find amazing is that, that, this lady.... I had never heard of her nor even seen any letter. And, my mother never mentioned anyone of that name. Not even as a friend.
AMADI: Do you know why?
CASSANDRA: No, but I had the weirdest dream last night. The lady and my mother were there. And the book Father Gibrerson gave me was in the dream too.
AMADI: A deeper meaning?
CASSANDRA: It looked so real! And the dream is not over...
AMADI: It must have been emotional then!
CASSANDRA: (nervously) In a way, yes.
AMADI: (sensing her embarrassment) So, what about your mother?
CASSANDRA: Well, my mom never talked much. I have never known what... I mean, it was hard to know what she thought. Maybe, she was afraid of my dad’s reaction. After all, it is such a sin for him! Plus, divorce is such taboo in his congregation.
AMADI: But, she loved your father so much! I can feel the pain. When you love two people and, and, you can’t choose.
CASSANDRA: What do you mean, when you can’t choose? We all have to make choices!
AMADI: (looking into CASSANDRA’s eyes) We certainly have to. May I read a couple of letters?
CASSANDRA: Please, go ahead. I’ll go make some coffee for you. No sugar, as usual?
AMADI: You know me too well.
(CASSANDRA exits. AMADI reads one letter, then another one. She is moved to tears. CASSANDRA re-enters with a cup of coffee in her hand. She looks at AMADI a few seconds and smiles.)
CASSANDRA: Here you go. So, did you read anything interesting? What do you think?
AMADI: Well, I’m not the best judge here.
CASSANDRA: What do you mean?
AMADI: Well, that’s pretty obvious.
CASSANDRA: I think you’re a very wise person generally.
AMADI: Maybe I don’t want to be in that case.
CASSANDRA: But I need you! I need your advice. My dad hates me! He was in complete shock! And I was mean to him. We haven’t talked in a couple of days. I can’t --
AMADI: (calmly) This lady must, she must have loved your mother very much. That’s all I can say.
CASSANDRA: Poets, they tend to over exaggerate...
AMADI: That’s not what you used to say.
CASSANDRA: (finding herself suddenly attracted to AMADI) And what did I use to say?
AMADI: (avoiding her look) That’s not the point here. The letters. Cass, look. Let the letters guide you, and, and, and, just take them for what they are. They are beautiful. I mean, that’s what I think. They are beautiful. Your mother’s past is what it is. You can’t always deny who you are. And maybe... maybe, the letters will help you. If your mother wanted you to read them, then, then... I believe she trusted you a lot. She had faith in you. Those pages are where her soul belongs. Can’t you see?
CASSANDRA: (hesitantly) Do you think one can forget the past?
(Long pause. CASSANDRA and AMADI look at each other at the same time, and their eyes meet for a few seconds. They both start on their feet and move in opposite directions.)
AMADI: I guess I should go.
CASSANDRA: Wait! I am going to call Celeste.
AMADI: Do you really want me to?
CASSANDRA: Please...
(AMADI reluctantly resumes her seat. CASSANDRA exits.)
CASSANDRA: (O.S.) I shan’t be long!
(AMADI opens a new letter.)
AMADI: And if I should ever forget you, let my heart and soul never forgive me. (putting the letter back in the envelope) Oh yes, they never would.
(She writes the excerpt on a piece of paper and leaves.)
CASSANDRA: (O.S.) Nobody was answering. (re-entering) Amadi? Oh, she left.
(CASSANDRA stares offstage, speechless.)
(END OF SCENE 2)
Copyright © 2007 Cendrine Marrouat
Cover design by Cendrine Marrouat
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In the Silence of Words: A Three-Act Play is available for purchase on Amazon.
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