Two Hearts

The House on the Hill
Two Hearts
ACT 2 â€" Scene 3



It's late evening, Connie is home alone and hears a noise out in her garden. She rushes out to find Paul digging holes to plant bushes.


CONNIE
What are you doing? (watches Paul digging) Paul! What on earth are you doing in my garden?

Paul stands up, sweating and out of breath.


PAUL
Ah, there you are ... Look! (slurred speech) I have something for you.


CONNIE
Oh, what could it be? (pause) A bottle of? What, Paul. You tell me.


PAUL
(slurring, stumbling as he walks toward Connie) Now, Connie. Is that any way to speak to your husband?


CONNIE
You're drunk! (Pause) Get out of my garden... you're wrecking it! Get out!



PAUL
(slurring) Connie ... Connie... Connie. I'm not wrecking your garden. (Pause) I have something special ... (pause) for you. (he walks up to her, trips, and grabs her hand, looks at her lovingly) "Costanza ... Amore Mio... mia Bella moglie."



CONNIE
Please stop. I don't find this amusing, Paul.


PAUL
You've been working hard in your garden. I wanted to get you something special, just for you.


CONNIE
(softly) Paul, let me go.

Paul pulls her in closer and inspects her wrists.

(nervous, softly speaking) Paul (pause) let me go. Please. (Paul exposes both of her wrists)


PAUL
(slurred speech) These have healed up nicely... right, Connie? Don't you agree? What was it? 37 stitches? Wow... that must have hurt. (he lets her arms go)

Connie steps backward away from Paul.

CONNIE
You would know...



PAUL
There you go again. Connie, how could I possibly know how much your (pause) self-inflicted injuries hurt you?


CONNIE
Yes. (quietly) All over my arms, the back of my neck, and (pause) shoulder too. You've been drinking ... Okay, Paul? It was a long time ago now, let's not talk about this right now. (pause)

PAUL
What difference does that make? Connie... how could I possibly know what it feels like ... when you slit your own wrists ... like a loon. Right? Am I wrong, Connie? (sarcastically) Please tell me how wrong I am... you always do. (Grabs her by the shoulders, stares in her eyes) Go ahead... tell me how wrong I am. (moves her out of his way, grabs the shovel, returns to digging)

CONNIE
What ... Ummm... what are you planting?


PAUL
Oh, Connie... Mia Bella Donna. (trips, smiles, points to the bushes) These are for you? All for you, my love.


CONNIE
I'm your love? Am I? (long pause) Or one of ... your loves. You tell me.


PAUL
(starts laughing) Connie, you are your own worst enemy. Remember what the doctor said... you get confused sometimes... and forget what you do ... and say? Remember?


CONNIE
No, I don't Paul.


PAUL
That's part of the problem, Connie... you do things ... terrible things to yourself... forget ALL about it, and then blame me.


CONNIE
I do, Paul?


PAUL
Yes, that's right Connie. You do. Trust me... you do. (pause) This is why I have to be in charge of you and your financial and legal dealings. The doctors thought it best, that I am in charge... due to you and ... well, your issues.


CONNIE
Do I fuck the neighborhood whore too, Paul?


PAUL
What? Why would you say such a thing? Connie, listen to yourself... this isn't ... (stares into her eyes) right. Are you delusional ... again? Connie, are you?



CONNIE
I know it isn't... Paul. I know. (long pause) Believe me, I know. (stands in silence) I'm not making much sense, am I? (pause) I'm sorry Paul. I'll do better.


PAUL
You had better, Connie. I don't want to call ... again... do you want me to call ... again?


CONNIE
(smiles, changes topic, points to the bushes) They are beautiful bushes. What are they called? They seem familiar.


PAUL
(walks over to the newly planted bushes) They are... aren't they? I had them delivered special ... for you. I knew you would... (sigh) I had hoped you would like them. Do you?


CONNIE
I do. I think Nessa will like them too.


PAUL
(loudly) Keep that brat out of the garden! DO you hear me?


CONNIE
Why? Oh, Paul, she's a little girl. (pause) We've been planting the garden together ... all spring. You can't make her stay out of it.


PAUL
Keep her out. She probably will steal whatever you have growing in here and not think twice about it. She's that type, you know. (grabs Connie by the arm again and tugs her) Do you hear me?



CONNIE
Yes, Paul. (pause) Umm... it's just ... that...





PAUL
It's just what? (sighs) What don't you understand about keeping ... that thief ... out of this garden?


CONNIE
Oh, well... I do understand but ... Paul, her mother ... (long pause) we've worked too hard on this ... she would be heartbroken to find out she can't come back. Please ... Paul. She's waiting for the blueberries and strawberries to ripen. Paul... it's her only happiness. Her mother...



PAUL
Her mother, what Connie, what about her mother? (pause) Are we slipping again, accusing innocent people again, Connie?


CONNIE
NO, of course not. I was just going to say... Ummm.... Their car is broken... and getting to the grocery store is difficult. So, I told them both... uh.... They could get some produce from the garden when it ripens. That's all I was going to say, Paul. That's all. (pause) She's so excited Paul. Please, don't do this.


PAUL
Excited? Excited to see you?


CONNIE
Yes, only to work in the garden. That's all, Paul. That's all.


PAUL
Do you talk with her mother a lot, Connie?



CONNIE
Of course not, I never see her. She is usually busy ... working (glances at Paul to see his reaction).




Paul walks over to the lawn chair and table. He pours another drink and downs it in one gulp.

PAUL
What else do you know about her?


CONNIE
Nothing much. Her name is Miranda... she's 21. (shrugs) Vanessa is her daughter. They are by themselves, her significant other is ... well... (whispers) a drug addict.


PAUL
A drug addict?


CONNIE
(sits down in the chair opposite the table) Yes. I guess he's no longer around, however.


PAUL
You ... know all of this? What else do you know? You know a lot about her for never speaking to her.


CONNIE
Nothing, Paul. I spoke with her once, a while ago. Since then, I only see... well, Vanessa. Miranda is usually too busy to play with her. So, she comes over here and helps me in the garden. (long pause) Paul, Nessa would be so disappointed if she couldn't come over here to help me in the garden. (pause) I don't think they have much money either, Paul.


Paul lovingly looks at Connie, his speech slurred, and grabs her hands lovingly.


PAUL
Do you really ... love the bushes? I got them ... especially for you, Connie.



CONNIE
I do, Paul.



PAUL
(looks into the distance, glossy eyes, away from Connie) You said to me and meant it ... once. (pause) If I allow her over here... do you promise? (stops)


CONNIE
Promise? Promise what, Paul... what?


PAUL
(sigh) What happens to ... Emmaline?



CONNIE
(shocked, horrified) What do you mean... what happens to... Emmaline?



PAUL
The doctors said... she should go away after some time. It's been a long time, Connie. Emmaline needs to go away ... now.



CONNIE
(turns away from Paul, in shock, whispers) My Emmaline... my baby girl. (clutching her chest) My baby... gone?


PAUL
It's the ONLY way I will allow Vanessa to come over here to work in the garden with you. It's the only way... (long pause) It's in your best interest Connie. Remember this... okay?


CONNIE
(looks at Paul bewildered) In my best interest, Paul?


PAUL
Do we have a deal? Connie? Yes or no.


CONNIE
(talking to herself) You'll take away my baby from me? ... You'll take her away? Gone?


PAUL
You need to send her away Connie. You have to do this. It's in the best interest of your mental health. The doctor said so, do you remember? Connie? Do you? (pause) Do we have a deal? Vanessa can come over if you send Emmaline ... away. Okay?


CONNIE
(tears streaming down her face) Whatever you say, Paul. (sigh) Whatever you say.


Paul pours another drink and takes a sip.


PAUL
That's right, Connie. Just remember ... whatever I say is right. Okay? (pauses, changes topic) Now, look at those bushes. They are the most beautiful bushes ... I've ever seen. Right, Connie? (smiling)


CONNIE
(glances at the bushes) Whatever you say, Paul.


PAUL
Don't you want to know what kind of bushes they are?


CONNIE
You said you weren't going to tell me.


Paul takes another sip and smiles.

PAUL
Connie... you know I'm just playing with you, right? (laughs) They are a hybrid Northern Highbush Blueberry plant. (laughs harder) Vanessa ... told me ... those are her favorite ... berries. HA! (slaps her on the leg, laughing). (sigh) What did you say? Miranda ... is that her name? (slurred speech, looking over the fence toward Miranda's house) She's having problems with her car?