Richard
Moments later, Barbara, Marian and Jane enter from the kitchen, talking. Benjamin is sitting at the table.
JANE (Entering): Sorry we’re so late.
MARIAN: That’s not your fault—
BARBARA (This explains everything): Amtrak . . .
JANE (To Marian): You look good.
MARIAN (To Barbara): What did she expect, Barbara? (Makes a funny “sad” face)
JANE: I meant, I like the blouse. I didn’t “expect” anything.
(Marian is smiling.)
BARBARA (To Benjamin): You know who this is, Benjamin.
JANE (To Marian): Why are you smiling like that?
BARBARA: Say hi to Benjamin.
JANE (To Benjamin): It’s so good to see you, Uncle. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? How are you doing? (To Barbara) He’s looking great. (To Benjamin, a joke) I think the word is “dapper.” (She gives him an awkward kiss on the cheek. To Barbara) Is this what he’s going to wear for the reading?
BARBARA: He’s going to change. He’s got a suit.
MARIAN (Playfully, messing up Benjamin’s hair): He’s hungry. So he’s grumpy.
BENJAMIN (To Marian): Stop that.
JANE: Are you hungry, Uncle? Tim and I can’t wait to see you “perform.”
BARBARA (To Benjamin): It’s Jane.
BENJAMIN: I know it’s Jane.
MARIAN (To Barbara): He doesn’t know who she is. (To Benjamin) She’s our sister, Uncle Benjamin.
BENJAMIN: I know who Jane is. When are we going to eat?
MARIAN: He likes to eat early. Too early, I think. (To Benjamin) They’re late. The train was late.
BARBARA: And the reading’s—
JANE: That’s at five? We have time. We’re not that late.
MARIAN (To Barbara): I kept everything warm in the oven . . .
JANE (To Benjamin): We haven’t seen you act since—for ages! (To Barbara) The last time, was that at the Y?
BARBARA (To Benjamin): When you did your Oscar Wilde at the Y in New York.
MARIAN (Interrupting): Sh-sh!
BARBARA: What are you doing?
MARIAN: Both of you, sh-sh.
(They are confused.)
BARBARA: We’re talking. (Continuing to Benjamin) Jane and Tim have come up to see your reading, Uncle.
MARIAN: Sh-sh! I have a surprise!
BARBARA: What surprise?
BENJAMIN: And Richard.
JANE: What?
MARIAN: Benjamin!
BENJAMIN: And Richard’s come up. He’s here.
(Barbara and Jane are confused.)
BARBARA: Richard?
JANE: What do you mean? What are you talking about? Richard’s not here.
MARIAN: Uncle—
BENJAMIN: He’s here. (To Marian) Isn’t he here? (To Jane and Barbara) He went in there. (Points, then calls) Aren’t you in there, Richard?
(Richard comes out.
Jane is stunned.)
RICHARD: Surprise . . .
JANE: What is he doing here?
MARIAN (To Benjamin): Why did you tell them?
JANE (To Richard): What are you doing?
BARBARA (Over this, to Marian): When did he get here?
MARIAN: I wanted to surprise you. (Explaining) He just walked in. Didn’t even knock. I turned around—I just screamed.
JANE (To Richard): Why are you here? (To Barbara) You said he couldn’t come.
BARBARA: He called this morning. I didn’t tell them, Richard.
RICHARD: It’s good to see you too, Jane.
JANE: I didn’t mean— (As she hugs him) I’m just surprised. That’s not your car—
RICHARD: Pamela’s taking the kids somewhere . . .
MARIAN: It’s a rental.
BARBARA (To Marian): He told me not to tell you. All of a sudden, he says he wants to come to the reading.
BARBARA: I wanted it to be a surprise . . . (To Jane) Jane, my turn. (As she hugs him) I’m happy to see you.
JANE: So am I.
MARIAN: It was a surprise.
BARBARA: Good! It worked.
JANE (To Richard): You could have driven us up. We took the train—
RICHARD: I didn’t know—
BARBARA (For him): He decided at the last minute. He told me this on the phone. He wanted to come . . .
(The lights fade.)