“Maria”

By Karen H. Saravia-Orellana

 

 

SCENE I

 

Scene:  Ecuador, mid 1980’s.  In the kitchen is MARIA, 61 years old is wearing a long black dress and her black hair is up in a bun.  She is placing glasses into the sink. Carmen her best friend appears.

 

Carmen: Maria, all the beverages have finished.  Do you have any more?

 

Maria: Yes, I do. 

 

Carmen:  Where are your kids?

 

Maria:  They all went to get drunk after the service; all, except Carlos.  It’s at times like these that I’m glad that he stopped drinking years ago.

 

Carmen: They all left to go drink? (Sighs) Figures.  But that’s not important at the moment.  My concern is what are you going to do now?

 

Maria:  I’m going to . . . I don’t know.

 

Carmen:  That’s why I’m worried about you Maria.  Your husband is gone, thank God.  Your children are all grown.  What about you?

 

Maria:  What about me?

 

Carmen: Don’t you think it’s time that you lived a little?  Do some traveling; see something else beside this tiny town. 

 

Maria: Where would I go? What would I do? And with what money?

 

Carmen:  Well, what about Carlos?  Doesn’t he live in the United States?  Ask him to take you with him.  I’m sure he won’t say no.

 

Maria:  Are you so eager to get rid of me?

 

Carmen:  Are you kidding me? (Hugs Maria) I would miss you terribly, but I want you to be happy.  You deserve to be happy.  I think it’s time, don’t you?

 

 

 

 

SCENE II

 

Scene: Ecuador, mid1940’s.   Maria is sweeping the kitchen floor.

 

Grandmother:  (Shouting at Maria) Maria, where are you?

 

Maria: I’m in the kitchen grandmother.

 

Grandmother: What are you doing?

 

Maria: Sweeping.

 

Grandmother: Go wash your face and change your clothes. You must look presentable when Manuel arrives.

 

Maria: I still don’t understand what he wants with me? He’s almost three times my age.

 

Grandmother:  I will not discuss this with you again.  Your only thirteen, now go get ready!

 

Maria: Yes, grandmother.

 

The grandmother also appears; she’s now fully dressed with knitting sticks and yarn in her hand.  There is a knock at the door.

 

Grandmother: Open the door!

 

Manuel: Hello, Maria.  How are you?  You look beautiful today, you have such beautiful hair.  I’m Manuel.  Is your grandmother here?

 

Grandmother: I’m right here Manuel.  Come right in.

 

Manuel enters.

 

Grandmother:  Please take a seat and tell me about your plans.

 

Manuel:  I must apologize, but I am in quite a hurry.  I’m very eager to take Maria home.  I’ve brought the furniture, just as we had agreed.  Let me call in the worker.

 

Manuel walks outside a man in with a table, chair and plant. 

 

Maria: Grandmother, why is this man bringing in all this new furniture?

 

Grandmother:  Oh, hush up child and go get your things.  You will be leaving shortly.

 

Maria: But grandmother, I don’t understand . . .

 

Grandmother:  Children should only speak when spoken to now.  Now, go fix your hair and get your things.

 

Manuel enters as the moving men leave and Maria leaves the room.

 

Manuel:  What do you think? Do you like it?

 

Grandmother: It’s beautiful, just like you promised. 

 

Manuel:  You haven’t told her that you have traded her for furniture have you?

 

Grandmother: Of course not Manuel.

 

Manuel:  Thank you.  I promise to take good care of her and always provide for her.

 

Maria enter the room with a bag in her hand, which contains all her worldly possessions.

 

Manuel: Let’s go Maria we’re going home.

 

 

 

SCENE III

 

Scene: Ecuador, 1950.   A pregnant Maria is signing a paper with Manuel, who then also signs and puts a ring on her finger.

 

 

 

SCENE IV

 

Scene: Maria is washing the dishes and drops one.  Manuel screams in the background.

 

Manuel: What was that?

 

Maria: I dropped a glass.

 

Manuel enters.

 

Manuel:  How many times have I told you to be careful?  You useless woman, I’ll teach you to hold on to things.

 

Manuel grabs her by the hair and begins to beat her.

 

THE CAMERA WILL FOCUS ON MANUEL AND MARIA, IN EDITING THERE WILL BE A BLURRING EFFECT..

SCENE V

 

Scene: Maria and Carmen are sitting on a sofa her face is red, she’s crying.

Carmen:  I just can’t believe he would do that Maria, on your own wedding night.  Has that man any heart?

 

Maria: Of course he doesn’t, he never has.

 

Carmen:  But why?  What could you have possibly done to make him so angry?

 

Maria:  I dropped a glass that one of his friends gave us as a wedding present. 

 

Carmen:  That’s it!  You dropped a glass.

 

Maria:  It was an accident.  I was washing all the dishes after the guests left and I guess my hands were too slippery and it fell to the floor.  It shattered into pieces.  He was furious; I thought he was going to kill me.  I don’t doubt that he wanted to punch me in the stomach like he has before.  But I guess he didn’t want to hurt the baby so he punched me in the eye and then slapped me.

 

Carmen:  Did you scream or defend yourself?  Did any neighbors come to help?

 

Maria: Of course I screamed, but who is going to come and help?  What could I do I’m pregnant; I can barely walk any more.  I’ve screamed before and no one has come, no one ever does.  Marriage is sacred here and people don’t get involved in a couples business, even if their killing each other.  (Pause) You were right.

 

Carmen:  About what?

 

Maria: About what you said last week. As a wife it is now my responsibility to be patient and faithful.  That’s how it has always been and that’s how it will always be.  There’s no way out. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCENE VI

 

Scene: Ecuador, mid1960’s.   In the kitchen a 7 months pregnant, Maria is standing by a pot cooking.  Manuel enters through the front door.

 

Manuel:  Maria, you there?

 

Maria: In the kitchen.

 

Manuel enters carrying some paint cans, he’s dressed in overalls that are stained with paint.    He places the cans next to the sofa. 

 

Manuel:  What are you cooking?  I hope it’s not that vegetable crap soup you made last week. 

 

Maria:  It is soup, but it doesn’t have vegetable. I got some guinea pigs from the market and I also made some rice and beans.

 

Manuel:  All my favorite things! (Pause) What do you want?

 

Maria: What do you mean?

 

Manuel:  Oh please, like I don’t know you.  You always make my favorite foods when you want to convince me about something. 

 

Maria returns to the living room to fold clothes.  Manuel sits on the sofa and starts to take off his shoes.

 

Maria: Fine, I  (hesitates) I wanted to speak to you about Carlos.

 

Manuel:  What about him?

 

Maria: He says he wants to go to school.

 

Manuel laughs puts on some old sandals that were under the sofa and places his shoes in front of the sofa.

 

Manuel:  He’s been saying that for years, he doesn’t mean it.  That’s his excuse for not doing anything. He’s just lazy.  

 

Maria:  He’s not lazy.  Don’t talk like that about your oldest son.  You should be proud of him because he has goals and ambitions.  And how many times have I told you to not put your stinky shoes under the sofa?  They make the whole room stink. 

 

Manuel ignores her and goes over to the kitchen to look at the food.  Maria sighs, gets up, but sits back down again.  She then goes back to folding the clothes. 

 

Manuel: If he really wanted to study he would have done it when I put him to study, TWICE.

 

Maria:  He does want to study, but not what you want him to study he wants a degree.  He wants credentials and he wants a good position.  He’s doesn’t want to . . .

 

Manuel walks out the door and returns a few seconds later with a newspaper in his hand.  He then sits on the sofa and starts to look at the newspaper.

 

Manuel: Well, at least he’s good at getting the newspaper for me.

 

Maria:  Like I was saying, He doesn’t want to be a mechanic or a radio repairman; he wants to be an electrical engineer.

 

Manuel:  He doesn’t have the brains to be an electrical engineer.  He a big donkey and that’s all he’ll ever be.  This is all your fault because you let him have those stupid dreams that will never happen.  I’m not going to let him go to school and that’s final.  He either learns what I want or he can leave my house.  I’m not here to support some lazy kid.

 

Maria:  (Offended) He’s your son!

 

Manuel:  So, what? It’s about time he started to work.  It’s about time that he started bringing us some money for all the years we’ve raised him.

 

Maria:  He’s only sixteen and he wants to go to school. Why do you want more money for, we both have jobs and make more than enough?  Plus, he’s still young he should be enjoying life and doing what he wants. (Pause) And what he wants is to go to school.

 

Manuel:  He already went to school, He complete all six grades, that’s more than his older sister did.  Why does he want more?

 

Maria:  Because six years are not enough, not for what he wants to be.  I want him to be happy and I want him to have a good future.  (Pause)  I want him to go to school.

 

Manuel: Guess what? I don’t give a damn what he wants or what you want.  He’s not going and that’s final.  I’m the one who makes the money around here and I’m not giving one cent for him to go to school.  What school does he want to go to anyway?

 

Maria: El Colegio de los Alecianos. What do you mean you’re the one that makes the money?

 

Manuel:  (Laughs loudly.) Is he crazy?  Not only does he want to go to school, but he wants to go to THE most expensive private school.  This is even worse then when he wanted to be a bull fighter.  He almost got himself killed.  (Pause)) Maybe he would have been better off.

 

Maria:  No, it’s not. And don’t talk like that. (She crosses herself) God forbid we would have lost him like that. 

 

Manuel:  I don’t know why we’re still talking about this, I said no, the answer is NO!  Just drop the subject and go check and on the food.

 

Maria looks at Manuel with disgust, but puts down the clothes again and goes to the kitchen.  She checks on the food and returns to fold the clothes.

 

Maria: I have a job too, you know.

 

Manuel looks up from the paper in confusion, as if he had already forgotten what they were talking about.

 

Manuel:  What?

 

Maria:  (Speaks softly, respectfully, but with determination) I said, I have a job too. If you don’t want to pay for Carlos education you won’t have too.  I will pay for everything. 

 

Manuel:  (Puts down the newspaper and answers in a serious and upset voice.) No you won’t!  I said no and you have to obey, that’s your job!

 

Maria:  I always do my job I have done my job for 23 years and I will continue to do my job until the day you die. (LONG PAUSE, when she starts to speak it is soft, but her voice will get stronger and more confident as she continues.)  But, I will not have my son lose out on the chance of a life time.  I will not kill his dreams or his future. Not only will he go to school, but he will go to the best school and I will make sure of that.  If I have to give my own life to make that happen than I will.

 

Manuel stares at Maria in shock.

 

Manuel:  Are you defying me?  And what do you mean until the day I die?

 

Maria:  I have let you beat me and abuse me for 23 years and I don’t doubt that you will continue to do so until your old and have no strength left in you.  And I will stay because I have no other choice.  You treat me like dirt, it really does not matter to me anymore, that is all have known and that is all I will ever have.  But I will NOT let you ruin my son’s life by keeping him ignorant.  I will not let him turn into you.  He’s going to go to school whether you like it or not.  It’s not your choice anymore.

 

Manuel looks at Maria with anger and disbelief.  He goes over to the table and slaps her.

 

Manuel: (In rage) what has gotten in to you?  You have never spoken to me like that.

 

Maria:  You can hit me all you want, but I will not change my decision.  Carlos will go to school and that’s final.

 

Manuel looks at her in disbelief then grabs all the clothes that Maria has so carefully folded, throws it on the floor and across the room.  Manuel then heads out the door.

 

Manuel:  Call me when dinner is ready.

 

Maria gets up and begins to pick up the clothes.. 

 

 

 

SCENE VII

 

Scene: Maria is standing in the kitchen washing some dishes.  Carmen enters with a tray filled with empty glasses.

 

Carmen: So, have you thought about my idea?

 

Maria:  Yes, I have.

 

Carmen:  What are you going to do?

 

Maria:  I’m going to ask him.

 

Carmen hugs Maria.

 

Carmen: That’s great Maria.  Now?  Do you want me to stay with you?

 

Maria:  No, Carmen.  I mean I am going to ask him now, but I won’t need you to stay.  It’s getting late and I think it’s better for you go before it gets too dark.

 

Carmen:  Okay, I’ll go, but I’ll be back very early to find out what he said and to help you pack.

 

Maria walks Carmen to the door and they hug good-bye. As she closes the door Carlos walks over to his mother and hugs her. 

 

Carlos:  Are you alright?

 

Maria:  I’m fine Carlos. (Pause) Until when are you staying? 

 

Carlos:  Only three more days.  I had to make the trip short because it was an emergency.

 

Maria:  You must have had to spend a lot of money.

 

Carlos: Don’t worry about that mother.  I had to come; I know you needed me. I didn’t want you to be alone.

 

Maria: Thank you son.  (pause) I was wondering if . . .

 

Carlos: Yes?

 

Maria:  You know what, it doesn’t matter it was silly. 

 

Carlos:  Nothing you say is ever silly.  What is it?

 

Maria:  Do you think it would be okay if I went back with you?

 

Carlos:  Back where?

 

Maria:  Back to the United States.

 

Carlos: Oh, why?  I mean I wouldn’t mind at all, but all your other children live here.  I’m the only one who lives over there.

 

Maria: Son, your brothers and sisters are all grown up they don’t need me anymore. Your father is gone; I have nothing to keep here anymore. (Pause) I want to see where you live and see my granddaughters.  I want to die knowing that I have seen something else besides this small town. Plus, it will only be for a few months or years, not forever.

 

Carlos smiles at his mother and hugs her tighter.

 

Carlos:  Of course I’ll take you.  If that’s what you want.  Tomorrow we’ll go apply for a visa and get you a passport.  It may take a few weeks or months for it to come through, but when it does I’ll come and get you. You can stay as long as you want.

 

Maria:  Do you think I could get a job?

 

Carlos:  (Laugh) You can, if you want to.  Or you can just stay at home and spend time with your grandchildren.  It’s really up to you mother.  Whatever you want to do, we’ll be there support you in any way we can.  Now, it’s been a long day and I think it’s time we go rest.

 

Maria:  Thank you, son.  You go ahead and rest, I have some cleaning up to do.

 

Carlos kisses his mother on the forehead and exits the room. Maria goes into the kitchen and takes out a scissor from a drawer.  She walks her bedroom and begins to cut her hair. THE CAMERA CLOSES IN ON MARIA’S REFLECTION IN THE MIRROR THEN ZOOMS INTO THE HAIR FALLING ON THE FLOOR. WE THEN SEE A BLACK DRESS FALL TO THE FEET OF MARIA AND A RED ONE TAKES ITS PLACE.

SCENE VIII

 

THE CAMERA FOCUSES ON MARIA FROM BEHIND IN A DARK HALLWAY, OPENING A DOOR AND WALKING OUT OF IT.  THE CAMERA IS THEN IN FRONT OF A HOUSE AND MARIA IS WALKING OUT THE DOOR SMILING AND WITH A BAG IN HER HAND.