Scene Eight

 

Inside the cabin of the seaplane. MOLLY is seated at the rear of the plane reading a magazine and smoking a cigarette. ANNIE MAY and SAM are sitting in the center facing front. ANNIE MAY And then Yin Yang, he say, "You pick flied lice for dinner." (SAM bursts into hysterical laughter, falls on the floor. MOLLY looks up from her magazine.) MOLLY And they say I work fast.

ANNIE MAY

You hear the one about the Mandarin's daughter?

SAM

                                        China doll,
                                        Oh, China doll,
                                        To my heart you holding the key.
                                        China doll,
                                        My China doll,
                                        You is the strangest China doll I ever did see. I likea you,
I likea you much,
I likea your smile,
I likea your touch.
I likea sit like this,
I likea hold your hands;
Two hands that fit like this
Can soon wear wedding bands.
I likea you,
I likea you true,
Whatever you say,
Whatever you do
Is okay, you see---
If you likea me
The way I likea you. ANNIE MAY I likea you,
I likea you much,
I likea your smile,
I likea your touch.
I likea sit like this,
I likea hold your hands;
Two hands that fit like this
Can soon wear wedding bands.
I likea you,
I likea you true,
Whatever you say,
Whatever you do
Is okay, you see---
If you likea me
The way I likea you.
  (THEY both dance to the number. When THEY are finished, MOLLY looks up from her magazine.) MOLLY Sit down, Annie May. You are rocking the plane.

JOHNNY (o.s.)

Hey, Sam---how 'bout a little relief?

SAM

Okay, bossman.
                                                        (to Annie May)
You likea drive plane with Sam?

ANNIE MAY

You betcha.
                                                       (catching herself)
Honorable Pilot. (THEY exit left. JOHNNY comes on. HE pops a wad of chewing gum and slumps down in the chair next to Molly staring into space.) MOLLY Looks like storm clouds over China.

JOHNNY

Yup.

MOLLY

I hope we are in time to meet the junk off the Canton shore.

JOHNNY

Yup.

MOLLY

I wouldn't want to get behind schedule.

JOHNNY

Nope.

MOLLY

As you know, I have a very important mission.

JOHNNY

Yup.

MOLLY

You ever play with yourself?
                                                                       (JOHNNY suddenly looks at her in surprise.)
That's one way of getting a rise out of you. It may be the only way. You're a peculiar fellow,
Johnny Glissando---
What's going on behind
Those gorgeous blue eyes?
Not a sign on your face
As you stare into space---
Can those gorgeous blue eyes
Hide some fabulous surprise?

You don't talk much,
But neither do I;
You don't even mumble
Or murmur or sigh.

You don't talk much
Or chuckle or chirp,
You don't even grumble
Or gurgle or burp.

I can only imagine
All that's behind
That strong silent mind,
Those thoughts so delicious,
Those thoughts unrefined.

But what a letdown
If I discover one day
That you don't talk much,
That you don't talk much,
You don't talk much
Because you've nothing to say.

JOHNNY Yup.

MOLLY

That's it? Yup?

JOHNNY

Yup.

MOLLY

Yup, nope. At least you don't have to learn irregular verbs.

JOHNNY

Nothin' irregular about me, lady. I'm just an All-American joe.

MOLLY

If all All-American joes were like you, Johnny, there wouldn't be any America.

JOHNNY

Hold on, lady!
                                        I don't talk much,
                                        I like it that way---
                                        It's all in your actions
                                        And not what you say. A lady who talks much
Is one for the birds;
A flick of an eyelash
Is worth ten thousand words.

I prefer to imagine
Lips upon lips
And hips against hips,
My head on your shoulder,
My teeth taking nips.

But what a letdown
If I discover instead
You not only don't talk much,
Not only don't talk much,
Not only don't talk much,
You don't do much in bed.
 

(MOLLY, who has been getting very turned on during Johnny's chorus, leaps to her feet.) MOLLY You dare say a thing like that to Mandalay Molly!

JOHNNY

You wanted to know what was goin' on in this strong, silent mind.

MOLLY

Couchon! Schweinhundt! (SHE reaches out to slap him, but HE grabs her wrist and kisses her violently. SHE struggles. HE tosses her onto the floor of the plane. SHE fights, but at last succumbs.) MOLLY Oh, Johnny. (Lights dim. A single spotlight illuminates her face, as SHE looks down at Johnny, who is slightly raised above her. Her eyes widen in awe.) MOLLY                                                             (to herself)
Annie May. Remember what I said before. I think I was wrong. (Lights blackout briefly as the orchestra plays "You Don't Talk Much", then come up. It is sunset. MOLLY and JOHNNY are still on the floor.) JOHNNY Feel okay, babe?

MOLLY

Yup.

JOHNNY

Want anything?

MOLLY

Nope.

JOHNNY

Now that I relieved you, guess I should relieve Samoan Sam. (HE gets up and strides offstage left to the cockpit. MOLLY stretches sensually.) MOLLY

I talk more than you do
If you are keeping the scores,
That's why my billing
Is larger than yours.

                                                                                (ANNIE MAY rushes on excitably.)

ANNIE MAY

Miz Molly! Oh, Miz Molly!

MOLLY

What is it, Annie May?

ANNIE MAY

I jus' noticed. Mr. Johnny, he don' have no medallion arounds his neck.

MOLLY

Medallion?

ANNIE MAY

Da jade medallion dat Mr. Duval tole us to looks fo'. He don' has it.

MOLLY

Yes, I know.

ANNIE MAY

Then he not da one dat was suppose tuh picks us up in Manila.

MOLLY

Unfortunately, you are right, Annie May.

ANNIE MAY

Oh, Miz Molly, what is we gonna do? (Two parachutes are lying near one of the seats. MOLLY picks one up and starts putting it on Annie May.) ANNIE MAY Miz Molly! You donts mean… I cain't, Miz Molly. I cain't jump outa dis plane. We is a thousand feet up in da air. I cain't do a thing like that, Miz Molly. I'se scared to death of heights.

MOLLY

Parachuting is like sex, Annie May. After the first shock, you hardly notice it anymore.

ANNIE MAY

Oh, Miz Molly!

                                                                               (MOLLY shoves her through the hatch.)
Oh, Miz Molly!!!!

(Her voice fades in the distance as MOLLY dons the other parachute.) MOLLY Goodbye, big gorgeous brute. (SHE grabs the briefcase and jumps. JOHNNY enters from the cockpit.) JOHNNY Hey, beautiful lady… (HE stops, see the hatch open and the parachutes gone. HE is stunned---or as stunned as Johnny can possibly be.) What the devil…?
                                                                               (HE feels for the money pouch about his neck.)
Why that dirty witch stole my smackeroonies!
 
 

BLACKOUT