Visible Noir, Act II Scene 2

Act II Scene 2
---A few minutes after, and the stage is the same. Clouds hang from the ceiling,
---ridiculously low and obviously artificial, with visible wire. There is a puddle
---somewhere near left stage. Jonquil is sitting on steps far to right-stage.
---She wears an orange frill that can only be described as a 'Can-can' dress:
---short, with wonderful shape and ruffle. In her hair is a large orange hot-house
---flower. Wistful walks on from right-stage, in leather jacket and jeans.1

WISTFUL
Good evening, my lady.2

JONQUIL
Good evening, dear sir.
---(Wistful gives her a gallant but rather awkward hand to help her up.)
Pleased by the weather?3

WISTFUL
If it pleases you, madame.4

JONQUIL
It does.5

WISTFUL
We've got a long walk in it.6

JONQUIL
I can't complain; now you will have walked it to here, and back - twice as much as I have today.7

WISTFUL
I'm very sorry for not bringing a trap and pony.
---(There is a pause.)
Pidgin-Brow wandered off today.8

JONQUIL
Can you find her? Where have you searched for her?9

WISTFUL
I haven't. It would have made me late to meet you here.10

JONQUIL
Oh!
---(There is silence.)
I don't mind walking at all. 11

WISTFUL
What if it rains?12

JONQUIL
I - I love the rain!13

WISTFUL
I think it can be very miserable. There's no sunlight at all today. It seems like a perfectly bad day. Except that you are here with -14

JONQUIL
Bad days are the perfect time to think about good days, I think.15

WISTFUL
---(With a look of tenderness.)
Does Jonquil not even need the sunlight - to make everything better.16

JONQUIL
---(With a confused look.)
I haven't done anything, I - it's not me, it's -
---(A sudden ecstasy is on her face as she looks up at him.)17

WISTFUL
---(Not noticing, he gives a sigh.)
You know something, life is -18

JONQUIL
---(Reasoning to herself.)
I'm never myself except when I'm beside -
---(They look at each other suddenly.)19

WISTFUL
---(Boldly.)
Sweetheart - 20

JONQUIL
---(Interrupting, in a low voice.)
My only discouragement is that I can't really do anything for you, my lovely boy.
---(She looks up at him.)
Nothing proportionate to the time you've spent being sweet to me.21

WISTFUL
There isn't anything as much as you.22

JONQUIL
---(With a small smile.)
Oh dear. 23

WISTFUL
No, I mean - nothing I want - nothing that is so much to me!24

JONQUIL
You're glad to say?25

WISTFUL
Beyond glad! You're all I want - like the sunshine, to me. 26

JONQUIL
---(A little shaken.)
Oh - 27

WISTFUL
But I'd be the most pleasant man you could like, because of you. Like sunshine.28

JONQUIL
---(Crestfallen.)
I'm not what you think. I can't make anybody so happy that they'd always be pleasant! Oh, what things do you think I can really do, Wistful?29

WISTFUL
---(With anguish.)
Ah! I'm sorry Jonquil!
---(Softly.)
I've got no sense. How do I always make you sad?30

JONQUIL
---(Resolutely.)
I'm not sad, Wistful. 31

WISTFUL
Your eyes say so!
---(Jonquil shakes her head quickly and begins to walk toward left-stage.
---Wistful slaps his arm against the right-stage wall in frustration and walks to
---her.)32

JONQUIL
Do you ever feel like things are sliding? 33

WISTFUL
As though they... slid away from me??34

JONQUIL
Yes. As though I've lost something, or missed out on something, and I don't know what!35

WISTFUL
---(Admiringly.)
It's too rough! Your most honest intentions met the honest old scuff of Ville Noir.
---(Jonquil continues walking, and Wistful stays a little ahead, turning back to
---see her.)36

JONQUIL
---(Tremulously.)
Oh, don't look at me now!
---(He meets her eyes. She laughs wretchedly.)37

WISTFUL
---(Walking beside her.)
My lady's distressed or not?38

JONQUIL
---(She breaks away, hopping over the puddle and away from him.)
Oh Wistful - I'm afraid I've got the blues!39

WISTFUL
---(Walking to her, through the puddle with a dry humor.)
Oh - don't you run away from me, love. It's not any shame. Everybody gets the blues.
---(They walk off-stage together.)40