Baquiana - Year XXII / Nº 119 - 120 / July - December 2021 (Theater) - Baquiana.com

The daughter of the Llorona

(Work in three acts)

by

Teresa Dovalpage

Characters:

CHARITY

29 years, Cuban.Michael's wife.High school teacher at Cuba, housewife in albuquerque

Rita

64 years, housewife.Michael and Angelica's mother

ANGELICA

13 years, daughter of Rita

MICHAEL

31 years, engineer, new Mexican, son of Rita and Caridad husband.

MARGARita

30 years, Puerto Rican.Charity friend

Place:

Albuquerque, New Mexico.The current era.

Act i

Scene 1

Ten in the morning of a Saturday, November 2, the day of the dead.The action takes place in the Gallegos family house.

A baby room: cradle, armchair, high armchair and a table where several diapers appear in disorder, a milk bottle and a medicine bottle. En la pared hay pósters con personajes de Disney y se ven algunos juguetes by el suelo.A woman's dress hangs from the armchair hangs.There is a door that gives the house room.

Charity remains in front of the crib, with a lousy humor.He has a sleeping robe with coffee spots and is disheveled.

CHARITY: ¡Coño, mira que los muchachos joden! ¡Me estás desbaratando la existencia, chico! Anoche no me dejaste dormir con tu gritería, ¿sabes? Me levanté más de diez veces para darte jarabe. ¡Y nada! (Toma el frasco de medicina, lo observa by un momento y lo vuelve a dejar en la mesa violentamente) Seguiste tosiendo como una puñetera locomotora y chillando cada media hora y no me dejaste pegar un ojo.Your father's fresco snatched like a pig so the one who bother was me, as always. ¡Como siempre, carajo, como siempre! (Patea la cuna con rabia) A ver, ¿by qué no toses ahora, eh? ¿Por qué no chillas? Hazlo, desgraciao, para que veas lo que te pasa.Cough, go!Chilla, go!Cry!(He has been exalting as he speaks until he reaches a rage paroxysm.Grab the saddle and spear on the crib, hitting it with savagery.Outside a lament is heard, almost a howl, a woman) Move at once, shit girl!(She stops, snorting.With deliberation he returns the chair to his place) Bad time I stopped!

(The crib is lodged to muttering curses. Entra Angélica, vestida de blanco y con un traje vabyoso, quizás de muselina.Angelica approaches the crib, glances and shrugs.Its presence, except when indicating otherwise, is invisible to the rest of the characters that must, if necessary, look "through" of it.)

Voz de Rita (fuera de escena): ¡Caridad! ¿Dónde estás?

CHARITY (cansadamente): En el cuarto del chiquito…

(Rita enters, bringing a baby who cries in arms.Rita wears mirrors and has hair collected in a bun.It seems older than it is.Pass with Angelica, who smiles at the baby.)

Rita: Mike no hace más llorar.I think he is hungry.

CHARITY: Hambre no puede tener byque le di la leche hace una hora.

Rita: Pero algo le pasa. Los babies no lloran by gusto.

CHARITY (seca): Éste sí.Put it in the crib and let it disagree if you feel like it.

Rita: Ay, qué maneras… ¿Ansina es cómo lo hacen en Cuba?

CHARITY: Así lo hago yo.Put the child in the crib, I said.

(Angelica puts a pacifier in the baby's mouth and he stops crying.)

Rita (acomodando a Mike en la cuna): Gracias a Dios que se calmó.Why don't you fix the sheets?(She does it herself) But what is this?I never saw so much revoltijo ... and you could sing a little.Little by not you know nanas?

CHARITY (entre dientes): Nanas te voy a dar yo a ti…

Rita: Tienes que mimarlo más.Childhood passes fast.When you realize, your baby has become a man, he has Girlfriends, he goes to College ... and you lost the most beautiful years without realizing.

CHARITY (tratando de ser amable, aunque sin conseguirlo): Yo le agradezco sus consejos, pero a mi hijo lo voy a criar a mi manera.I get used to the nanas, as you say, I pamper the account, and when I go to work again, you are the first to shout in the sky.

Rita (asombrada): ¿A trabajar? Yo pensé que te ibas a quedar en la casa al menos hasta que Mike cumpliera un año.

CHARITY: Eso está by ver.I am already up to the last hair (he takes his hands to the head) of the enclosure between four walls.

Rita: Los babies necesitan a sus madres cuando son pequeñitos.

CHARITY: Con usted que le limpia hasta el culo, no creo que me vaya a necesitar mucho.

Rita (bajo): ¡Qué grosera es esta cubana!

CHARITY: Excepto by la noche.At night everyone sleeps to a loose leg and the one that has to fuck with the cries, milk and medicines of the Mocosa is me.

Rita: Bueno, para eso eres la madre.

CHARITY: ¿Y Michael no es el padre? ¿O yo me preñé sola? Ahora, eso sí, todos saben dar órdenes…

Rita: Yo no doy órdenes.I only suggested ...

CHARITY (sin oírla): Y para meter la cuchareta todo el mundo está listo.How good it is to speak shit!But at three in the morning ... that the mule is lifted and loaded with the dead!

(Durante el diálogo Angélica se mueve by el cuarto poniendo en orden los juguetes y los objetos que están sobre la mesa.Sometimes he stops to hear the conversation better or fix the crib sheets.)

Rita (persignándose): ¿De qué muerto hablas? (Caridad no responde) Yo estoy un poco sorda, no oí nada anoche.

CHARITY: No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír.

Rita: ¿Mande?

CHARITY: No mando nada, señora.In this house, we already know that the one who orders and sends you.

(Angelica nods.)

Rita: No es verdad. (Con aire resignado, que tiene algo de afectación): Ya mi época pasó, by suerte o by desgracia.Here is my son, who is the man for.

CHARITY: La mandará a usted, si se deja, byque lo que es a mí… (Va a mostrarle aRita el dedo del medio, pero se contiene) A mí no me manda ni la puta madre que me parió.(He puts a hand to his mouth) Oh, disculp me, mommy.It was unintentionally ... (Rita) that's why I tell him that from next month I start working.And if his little boy does not like it, then he will end up.

Rita: ¿Y el baby?

CHARITY: Lo cuida usted, que tanto se nos está ofreciendo cuando no hace falta, o lo pongo en una preschool.

Rita: ¡Pero si no tiene ni cuatro meses!

CHARITY: ¿Y? Aquí sueltan a los muchachos en los kinders desde los dos meses y que se las compongan como puedan.(Take the dress of the armchair and measure it on the sleep robe.It shows that he would have a narrow waist.Angelica observes her and makes gestures of disapproval) Alabao!I am made a cow!

Rita (solícita): ¿Quieres que te lo arregle?

CHARITY (zafia): ¿Usted es santa para hacer milagros? Ya estoy usando la talla diez y éste es la ocho.Before returning to Intel I'm going to buy a couple of dresses more and new pants.

Rita: Michael va a estar bien disgustado cuando sepa que quieres trabajar otra vez, te lo advierto. Le va a dar coraje byque ya ustedes tenían un acuerdo y…

CHARITY: Los corajes de su hijo yo me los paso by el culo.

Rita (bajo): ¡Qué mujercita!

Michael (out of the scene): I'm here, hearts ...

Rita: Te dejo con tu marido.Ah, I'm fixing the altar of the dead.If you want to put the photo of a deceased of your family, give it to me.

CHARITY (indiferente): Deje que busque entre mis cosas. A lo mejor tengo una de mi madre by ahí.(Rita goes out, directing a last look at the crib.Angelica follows it) What deceased or what a face!As if the dead go out of their tombs to solve my problems!(He is pursued) Forgive me again, mommy.Old, if I had known ... why don't you brought you with me?So what happened to you would not have happened to you.You would be here helping me. Y falta que me haces byque ya yo no puedo con esta vida.I swear I can't take it anymore!One day I'm going to make a barbarity!

(He rages the dress on the crib and leaves the room.)

Scene 2

One p.m.THE HOUSE ROOM.Conventional: a sofa, two seats, a center table and a TV.On the wall in front of the spectators there is a large portrait of Michael's father, framed in black, near the door that gives the child's room. En la esquina derecha, junto a una ventana, se alza el altar dedicado a los difuntos, presidido by una imagen de la virgen de Guadalupe.

El altar mide aproximadamente tres pies y está cubierto by una tela blanca.Rita is adorning it with flowers, candles, chopped paper and portraits. Entre ellos se destaca el de Angélica, representado by un marco vacío, detrás del cual se encuentra ella, en actitud infantil, tal vez con las manos bajo la barbilla.Throughout the scene the sound of the rain and an occasional thunder will be heard.

Michael and Charity are sitting on the couch.Charity is still sleeping robe.Has not combed.

Rita (con una vela en la mano): Todos los años llueve el dos de noviembre.Have you not noticed?

MICHAEL (aparentando no darle imbytancia): Casi no tuvimos lluvia este verano, mamá.Don't you remember that I had to water your plants every day?Now all the water that lacked falls.

Rita: Pero no es sólo este año.It is always so.It does not fail.As in seventy -three.He has not stopped raining a single two of November since then.(Look at the portrait of Angelica and sigh) I don't want to imagine how the Rio Grande will be now.I hope Naiden has to cross the bridge tonight.

MICHAEL (en voz baja, a Caridad): No sé by qué mom se empeña en seguir con la costumbre del altar.Every year he ends up feeling bad and crying.I have already told him that Forget it but ignores me.

CHARITY: Cosas de vieja.

Michael (a little annoying): my mother is not old.It is a lady of a certain age, but old is not.

CHARITY (sarcástica): No, bobo.It is a quinceañera, a chick ... His problem is that he spends the day in the house or watching the enter and leaves the neighbors.So entrometry!

Michael: She doesn't ...

CHARITY (sin prestarle atención, levanta la voz): Pero a mí no me va a pasar lo mismo, ¿oíste? No te pienses que me voy a quedar encerrada aquí, enmoheciéndome igual que ella.I have no vocation of vase!

(Rita turns around.He has heard it.It seems that something is going to say, but it changes your mind.Keep placing flowers on the altar.)

Michael: What do you want to say with that?

CHARITY: Que en cuanto empiece el semestre de Spring regreso a mis clases de inglés en el college, para que te enteres.And I'm going to ask for work again at Intel.

Michael: Honey, I can teach you English.You have no need to go to College.You still don't drive well, at least not to grab the highway.Do the exercises at home and I check them when I return from work.Or do you not trust me?

CHARITY (más suave): No es eso, mi amor.The problem is that I kill me to me.

MICHAEL: Pero ¿by qué tienes que estar encerrada? Saca al baby a pasear, date una vuelta, llégate al mall.I have never forbid you to go out, I'm not an ogre. Y tú no necesitas trabajar, al menos by el momento.For how little they pay you ...

CHARITY: Peor es nada.That is, worse it is to have to depend on you until a blumer.

Michael: a what?

CHARITY: Unos panties, chico.I also miss people, my friends from College.By the way, Margarita will come today.Do you remember her?(Michael denies his head) The Puerto Rican who lived here next to and also studied in TVI.(Pausita) How have you now put TVI?Ah, College of New Mexico ... Well, to what I was going: Margarita gave me a bottle when we had classes at the same time.

Michael (alarmed): Huh?Bottle of what?

CHARITY: Ay, viejo, me daba raites.She loves altars and all that driver.

Michael: Margarita is a bit ...

CHARITY (a la defensiva): ¿Un poco qué?

Michael: Like ... Stuck up ... conceited ...

CHARITY: A mí no me lo parece.(The child cries.Rita runs to the room and brings it.)

Rita (meciéndolo en sus brazos): Cállese, mi amor, quédese tranquilo.Look that the crying comes and takes it.If she hears him shout, she thinks she is one of her lth of babies, she grabs it and we don't see it anymore ...

CHARITY (fastidiada): Rita, haga el favor de no meterle esas sandeces en la cabeza a mihijo.

Michael: Honey, please.He doesn't even understand what Mom tells him.

CHARITY: ¡Por si acaso! ¡Qué Llorona ni qué carajo!

Rita (molesta, le extiende el niño a Caridad): Ahí lo tienes.Take yourself from him.(Charity receives it reluctantly.)

CHARITY (A Michael, pasándole el bebé): Toma, cárgalo.

Michael: Let me wash my hands.(He gets up and walks towards the door of the room.)

CHARITY: Chico, ¿cuál es el brete con las manos? ¿Tú tocaste mierda antes de venir a la casa?

MICHAEL: Siempre se pegan bacterias by la calle.And children do not have enough antibodies.I hope you are still antibacterial soap.(Comes out.)

CHARITY (meciendo al niño con más fuerza de la necesaria): ¡Cuando yo lo digo! Trata de recordar una canción infantil, pero no puede) Arriba los pobres del mundo, de pie los esclavos sin pan… (Se detiene de golpe): Mira de lo que me estoy acordando ahora, de La Internacional nada menos… (Vuelve a cantar) Al combate corred bayameses que la patria os contempla orgullosa. No temáis una muerte gloriosa que morir by la patria es vivir… (Se interrumpe de nuevo y sacude a su hijo) Los muertos, la muerte… es lo único que me viene a la cabeza hoy, by culpa de la vieja loca esta.

Rita (desde la esquina del altar): Con todas las muchachas bonitas que mi hijo estuvo dating y terminó casado con esta cubanita hocicona. No sé qué fregados le encontró, byque linda no es, ni cariñosa, ni sabe apenas cocinar. Además, no tiene respeto by nadie.Nor does he know how to take care of his son, even to change the pampers, balls are made. Por todo pierde la paciencia, by todo reclama… ¡uf!

CHARITY: ¡Michael! Ven acá, viejo, ¿tú estás lavándote las manos o dándote una ducha, eh? ¡Oye, que no se puede contar contigo para nada!

(A rage is getting up and goes to his son as if it were a lump.)

Rita (preocupada): Un día lo va a matar…

(Outside a lament is heard, almost a howl, a woman.)

Scene 3

The child's room has become that of a teenager.THE TABLE OR THE HIGH SILLITA ARE NOT.The cradle place is occupied by a bed on which a Barbie doll is seen.On the wall, a poster of the Rolling Stones and an almanac open on the page of the month of November of nineteen seventy -three.In the corner, a small dressing table with a mirror. Una falda, una mochila y varios libros by el suelo.

Angelica carries the hair collected in Tirabuzons and a dress too young for her age.He is sitting in front of the dressing table with a makeup case in front of her.Lips has been painted and mask is applied in the eyelashes.As in the previous scene, it rains to pitchers and the sound of the rain is heard in the background.

Voz de Rita (con acento severo): ¿Qué estás haciendo, maldosa? ¿Por dónde andas que no estás con tu hermano?

(Angelica hides the makeup case.Take a handkerchief and try to remove the paint on the face.Collect a book from the floor and open it, pretending to be embedded in its reading.Rita enters, dressed in the seventy years and with loose hair.Do not use mirrors.Clearly, he is younger than in the previous scene, but his face, contracted and with the frown, does not have a youth appearance.)

ANGELICA: ¿Que no ve que estoy estudiando? Mañana tengo un test de geografía.

Rita: Eso está bien.(Pause) The Amber already called you again.

ANGELICA (dando un salto): ¿Está en el teléfono?

Rita: Colgó.I told him you weren't at home.(Angelica, annoying, kicks on the floor) I don't want you to get together with her.Those gringas nothing but know about vices.Leaving with boys since I was thirteen, what indecency.

ANGELICA: I want to date too! What’s wrong with that?

Rita: ¡Deja el inglés ahora! Ya te he dicho que en la casa sólo se habla español.You will end without knowing either of the two languages, or confusing them like the pochos.

ANGELICA (bajo): Yeah, right.Your problem is that you don't know how to scold me in English.(A Rita) And what's wrong with dating?

Rita: Tiene de malo que usted es una mocosa todavía. No está para pensar en novios ni en byquerías.

ANGELICA: Yo no pienso en novios.I don't want to go out with boys, just like my friends.

Rita (irónica): Salir no más, seguro. Para andar con besuqueos by las oscuridades.If I know how things are here!Then get a gringo pig and his free love.Or with a fatty Mexican.No sir!In my family, good customs remain.

ANGELICA: Pos si no le gustan los gringos ni los mexicanos, me quedaré una spinster como la Aunt Lola.Is it what you want?

Rita: ¡Déjate de retobos! No todos los chicos, cuando te toque elegir uno, serán indios de Juárez ni gringos desmadrados.In Albuquerque there are a lot of boys like us, Spanish family ...

ANGELICA (burlona): Sí, sí, que vinieron con Cabeza de Baca desde el primer día de la conquest. We have pure Spanish blood by más que tengamos el nopal en la mera frente.You are Silly, Mom.

Rita: ¡Te voy a dar una cachetada!

ANGELICA (fingiendo humildad): Disculpe…

Rita (al cabo de un momento, cambiando de tono): Si tu padre estuviera aquí, mandaba a comprar más flores para el altar y una cuarta de harina y mantequilla, pero como está trabajando…(Angélica hace una mueca de incredulidad) ¡Tener que conducir yo sola con esta lluvia, y cómo se ponen los caminos! En fin, que sea lo que Dios quiera… (A Angélica) Anda, ve a cuidar a tu hermano mientras yo me llego hasta la tienda.Don't let him cry.

ANGELICA: ¡No me da la gana de pasarme la pinche tarde cuidando a Michael! Yo también tengo cosas que hacer. A usted le gusta usarme de babysitter pero ni siquiera me paga fifty cents by hora.

Rita (furiosa): ¿Cómo te voy a pagar by cumplir con tu deber? ¿Acaso alguien me paga a mí by limpiar la casa y cocinar para todos ustedes? ¿Alguien me paga, eh?

ANGELICA: No es lo mismo.All my friends give money when they Babysit.

Rita: Será cuando lo hacen para los extraños, no en su propia familia. (Encarándose con Angélica) ¿Ves by qué no te dejo juntarte con los gringos? Dinero y dinero, es en lo único que piensan desde que son escuincles… Haz lo que te mandé y no rezongues más.Start preparing the tamales, the dough is already ready.

ANGELICA (bajo): Tamales my ass.(A Rita) Won't you tell me what the Amber wanted?

Rita: Ni que ella me lo fuera a contar a mí.Another escuincla that has not learned to greet ... Hello, I say. Y ella contesta Is Angelica there? No sabe preguntar by la familia ni decir “¿Cómo está usted, señora Gallegos?” Nada.Where has these people left respect?Then they talk about Good Manners ...

ANGELICA (pensativa, sin prestarle atención a Rita): Seguro que quería invitarme al party en casa de Erin, es esta noche.(Suddenly sweet) Does it give me permission to go with Amber, Mom?I promise you that we will return early.I swear.Until eleven no more we are there.

Rita (escandalizada): ¿Cómo que party? ¿Una fiesta el mero día de los muertos, cuando todas las personas decentes se recogen dentro de la casa y les rezan a sus difuntos?

ANGELICA: Pero yo no tengo ningún difunto a quien rezarle.What am I going to stay?

Rita: ¿Y tus abuelos, mi apá y mi amá, que en paz descansen?

ANGELICA: Yo no los conocí.They died in Chihuahua a lot of years ago.How do you want me to cry?

Rita: Te estás volviendo como las gringas, estás perdiendo los buenos sentimientos que tenías de niñita.(Dramatic) If you continue like that, when I am an old woman you lock me in a Nursing Home and you don't take more care of me.You let me die alone, like a dog ...

ANGELICA: Oh shit.

Rita: ¡Cochina! (Le da una bofetada) ¡No vuelvas a decir esa grosería! ¿O quieres pasarte el resto del mes sin salir a ningún lugar?

ANGELICA (llorando): ¡Nunca, nunca puedo divertirme igual que mis amigas! Usted me trata como si yo fuera una little girl. That’s not fair! No imbyta si yo estudio o si me saco good grades, siempre es lo mismo.I spend it locked here!

Rita: Yo sé que ya no eres una niña.(Calmer) and study and try at school.But, daughter, don't you see that I am taking care of you so that nothing bad happens to you?(Try to stroke your hair.Angelica La Esquiva) I never went to a dance or a wake to the sixteen, and then, only if my brothers accompanied me.

ANGELICA (secándose las lágrimas): Pero eran otros tiempos.See, Michael, he doesn't have six months, how do you want me to accompany me?Do I have to wait fifteen more years to go with him to a party?

Rita (conciliadora): No dije eso.If it were any other day, I let you go to your mentioned party.I could even accompany you.(Angelica bites her lips, trying to hide her indignation) but today it would be a sacrilege. ¿No te acuerdas de la historia del diablo que se apareció en un baile de Old Town, echando chispas by los cuernos?

ANGELICA: ¡Lo del diablo fue en la Semana Santa!

Rita: Hoy también es un día sagrado.

ANGELICA (rencorosa): Para mi dad no.Most likely to come drunk and at the many of the night.

Rita (le da un manotazo): ¿Qué manera es ésa de hablar de tu padre?

ANGELICA: ¡No me pegue más! ¡Usted sabe que es cierto!

Rita (súbitamente decaída): ¿Y si sabes que lo sé, by qué me lo dices? (Para sí) A mi marido le ha dado by emborracharse.But I am that his drunkenness is no more a pretext so that I do not find out about other things ... worse.Miguel is not the same since Michael was born.He wants nothing with me.At night he turns sideways and hoarse, snoring all the time.It was not like this in the past. Me buscaba siempre y yo tenía que inventarle pretextos para que no me ocupara, pero ya… Será byque he engordado o byque…

ANGELICA (persuasiva): ¿Me va a dejar ir? Please…

Rita (recuperándose): Ya te dije que no.Don't you see that it is raining to pitchers?What if you find the Llorona?

ANGELICA (conteniendo la risa): Mom,give me a break.That story of the Llorona is ... the bull poopoo.

Rita: Ríete, maldosa. Ríete hasta que se te aparezca y te dé un susto by desobediente.Then you're going to cry.(Pause.Angelica looks at her overflow) in addition, I can't take you.How are you going to go out at night and with this bad weather?Don't you see that you would arrive soaked to your party?

ANGELICA (animándose): No se preocupe by eso, mom.There are no problems.Amber's boyfriend has permission to get the car from his parents.They can give me a raite.

Rita: ¿El boyfriend de la Amber? ¿Solas las dos con él? ¡No faltaba más! ¡Ahora sí que no vas a ninguna parte!

ANGELICA (en voz baja): Damn it!

Rita (mirándola fijamente): ¿Qué tienes en la cara?

ANGELICA (restregándose las mejillas): Nada.

Rita: ¿Rouge, eh? ¡Esto es el colmo! (Se contiene para no pegarle de nuevo) ¿De dónde aprendes esas malas mañas? ¿De la Amber?

ANGELICA: Amber no es la única que se pinta.

Rita: ¡No, seguro! ¡Todas las rameras lo hacen también!

ANGELICA: Yo ando siempre como niña de elementary school, by culpa suya, con las faldas hasta los pies y estos crappy lazos en la cabeza.I am so sick and tirad!Jesus!

Rita (sin oírla): Con el favor de Dios te voy a poner en la Pío Décimo el año próximo.It is what you need, to go to a good Catholic school where you do not get together with the gentuza.Fu!

ANGELICA: ¡Yo no me cambio! La gente de mi escuela es super cool.(Determined) And if you don't give me permission to go to the party, I'm going to ask my dad when I come.He won't tell me no.He sometimes gets brown, but it's not like you.He does understand me.And it's my father.

Rita (rabiosa): ¡Tú no le vas a pedir permiso a nadie más! ¡En esta casa yo soy el padre, la madre y el Espíritu Santo! ¡Cuida a tu hermano mientras yo esté fuera o te vas a arrepentir! ¡Y haz los tamales! ¡Chiquilla más bocona!

(Closing the door of the room of a pull.)

ANGELICA (sentándose en la cama y abrazando a la muñeca): I hate her! Cuando termine high school me voy a ir a un college en New York, bien lejos, para no verla más nunca en mi vida…

(The telephone rings.)

ANGELICA: Ésa es la Amber.(He gets up, with a resolved air) if I have to leave the party without permission, so be it.I don't stay here tonight!

Act iI

Scene 1

Six in the afternoon.In the child's room, which has the same decoration as at the beginning.Charity is sitting in the armchair and Margarita in a chair that has brought from the dining room.The baby is in the crib.Margarita wears Bluejeans and loose blouse.Charity is still sleeping robe y tiene un cepillo de pelo en la mano.

CHARITY: Como te cuento, chica.They give me some attacks that I don't recognize me.This morning, if I get to Mike near, destroy it.His luck was that my mother -in -law had taken it to change the diaper.

MARGARita: ¡Ay, mujer!

CHARITY: Ya sé, es una atrocidad.But I can't stand it.There are days when it even disgusts me.I approach him (he points to the cradle and wrinkle his nose) and nothing more than feeling his smell makes me want to vomit. No sólo byque tenga peste a caca o a pipí.Simply, I can't stand his natural smell.I stomach my stomach.And the same is happening to me with Michael. Me toca by la noche y le digo: échate pa allá, tú, deja la jodedera…Y yo antes no era así, si a mí siempre me ha gustado muchísimo templar.

MARGARita: ¿Templar qué?

CHARITY: Make love, niña.Lie with my husband.(He begins to brush his hair pulls) I didn't know that this was having children.I feel like a robot.Every day is the same routine: Get up breakfast, put your clothes on the washing machine, give the milk to the mocose, take the air, clean it if you vomit ... and Michael is a two -legged uselessness, it doesn't help me at all.

MARGARita: Tienes que hablar con él, que coopere y se deje de vainas.The son is of the two.

CHARITY: ¿Y crees que no lo he hecho? Pero como si se lo dijera al inodoro.(Pause) Estoy gorda, fofa, horrorosa… (Se levanta la bata y le muestra la barriga) Mírame las estrías, by Dios.Look at these masses!I have no waist, no clothes are useless.Who would send me to give birth, with how quiet I lived before?I have fucked my existence myself. Y todo by tener un chiquillo de mierda que ojalá…ojalá…

(Outside a lament is heard, almost a howl, a woman.)

MARGARita (preocupada): A mí me parece que deberías ir a un psicólogo.

CHARITY (molesta): ¿Qué psicólogo ni un carajo? ¿O tú piensas que yo estoy loca?

MARGARita: Loca no, pero estás alterada.Have you never heard of post delivery depression?

CHARITY: ¿Qué es eso?

MARGARita: Que rechazas a tu hijo y te sientes down.Something similar happened to me with the second baby. Aunque no tan fuerte como a ti, byque lo tuyo ya es exagerado, mi hermana.Why are you not going to see Dr. Carbonell, at the University Hospital?She also speaks Spanish.

CHARITY: ¡No jodas, tú! Yo no tengo que ir a contarle mis líos a una extraña que, a fin de cuentas, no va a poder hacer nada by mí.LOOK, MY PROBLEM IS SOLVED EASY: When I return to Intel and my clas.(Book the brush mymango) but Michael is denied, the verystupy.(He gets up, approaches the crib and covers the child with the sheet) it seems that it is cold, everything was shrunk ... It is not that it rejects my son, as you say, but that it loads me to be involved here all day.And, naturally, I take it with him.That is not strange.I also have tremendous bronchas with my mother -in -law.I'm tired of seeing her and the little girl, her and the little boy ... It is not easy!

MARGARita: Sí, es mejor que vuelvas a tu trabajo y a las clases.And Michael that will stop.But there is something else.(He observes it for a moment, before deciding to speak) Why don't you dress?

CHARITY: Ven acá, mi amor, ¿yo ando encuera? ¿Con el fondillo al aire?

MARGARita: Quiero decir, con otra ropa.Already darkened and you are still in sleeping robe.Before you were not like that.(Laughs) You were always very fixed and painted to the classes, with those miniskirts that even the teacher stared at you with some eyes ...

CHARITY (ríe también, pero hay una nota de tristeza en su voz): Entonces tenía más alicientes.I went to College, to Starbucks, I saw other people ... it was different.Who am I going to fix now?(Shy the brush in the direction of the crib) for the guanajo that?Or for the Mrs. Moñitos de my mother -in -law?

MARGARita: Para ti misma.And for your husband.

CHARITY (indignada): ¡Ahora sí que la cagaste! ¿Tú no eres feminista, chica? ¿Tú no me prestaste un libro que decía que la mujer no tenía que servirle de objeto a nadie? ¡Y me sales conque tengo que andar bien bonitilla para que el sanaco de mi marido esté contento? ¡Manda carajete! (Sus gritos han despertado el bebé, que comienza a llorar.Charity shakes the crib with rage) Say!Shut up, eat!

MARGARita: ¡Cálmate! (Sujeta a Caridad) ¡No lo muevas tan fuerte, lo vas a reventar!

(Outside a lament is heard, almost a howl, a woman.)

CHARITY (haciendo un esfuerzo by contenerse): Así se estuvo desde las dos de la madrugada hasta las siete de la mañana, sin darme tregua.And you come to say that if I have not dressed!

(Angelica enters, take the baby in his arms and lulls him until he stops crying.)

MARGARita: Seguro que tú nunca berreaste cuando eras chiquita.

CHARITY (convencida): No con esa persistencia.My brothers either. (Angélica se pasea by la habitación con el niño en brazos. Caridad se vuelve de espaldas a la cuna) A veces me dan ganas de decirle: Métete by donde saliste, coño.(It plays between the legs) I don't know what would happen ... if I pushed it inside again.Would you drown?Or would it become a fetus again?

MARGARita (con determinación): Mañana te voy a hacer una cita con la doctora Carbonell.Cuban, what you have in the head is a rice with ass, so you know.

(Rita enters with a tray in which there are sweet breads in the form of skeletons and skulls.)

CHARITY (bajo): Ella jamás de los jamases dice “con su permiso” antes de entrar.As we are at home, we endure it.

Rita (mostrándoles la bandeja): ¿Gustan probarlos? Son panes de muerto, acabo de sacarlos del horno.

CHARITY (seca): No, gracias.

MARGARita (probando un pan): Están sabrosísimos.You have to give me the recipe.

Rita: Cuando quieras, hija.Good thing you like cooking.It is always an ornament for women to have that art.It is something nice, feminine ... (Angelica and Charity make grimaces of annoyance.A bell is heard) Oh, I left the bell put so that the second batch was not burned.Here I leave the tray.

(It is hurried, after placing the sweet tray on the table.)

CHARITY (en cuanto Rita cierra la puerta, lanza con fuerza el cepillo tras ella): ¡Vieja sucia! ¡Asquerosa! ¿Viste como no pierde ocasión de lanzarme una pulla?

MARGARita (recogiendo el cepillo del suelo): ¿Qué dijo de malo?

CHARITY: Que cocinar era un adorno de la mujer.As saying, an ornament that I don't have.

(Angelica takes a sweet and eats it.)

MARGARita: Pero tú sabes cocinar.

We learned very quickly today how imbytant step by a step directions are when describing how to make a peanut butt… https://t.CO/UUAJAS9EC2

— Mrs. Warsinskey Fri Dec 11 17:43:51 +0000 2020

CHARITY: Arroz con pollo, frijoles, puerco asado… Todo eso.But I don't use Chile, as they do here, right now they put it even in desserts.So for her I don't know how to cook.And Michael doesn't like my seasoning, so we only eat what her mom prepares.

MARGARita: Michael y tú deberían tener su propia casa.

CHARITY: Eso mismo pienso yo.But who tells the command in chief?When we were preparing the trip to San Diego, before the little boy was born, Rita gave a hysteria attack.He started talking about asylum and we were going to let her die like a dog.(Angelica nods) for a week nothing more that was going to pass alone!Manipulator that is, pussy, to the wall in front.

MARGARita: ¿Y qué hicieron ustedes?

CHARITY: La llevamos, figúrate.And that was going to be our second honeymoon.Fucking moon is what it was!We return to the same, to the constant joint. Oye, que esto pase en Cuba, se entiende, byque allá la gente tiene que vivir encaramada una arriba de otra: padres con hijos y abuelos con nietos, oliendo hasta el peo que los demás se tiran.But come here, to the yuma, to walk with the mother -in -law in tow ... I snoring the picnic!

MARGARita: ¿Michael se deja dominar by ella?

CHARITY: Como un muñequito de trapo.

Voz de Rita, desde la sala: Caridad, si quieres poner algunas fotos en el altar, tráelas ya.It's almost finished.

(Angelica places the child in the crib and comes out.)

CHARITY: Deja ver si encuentro una de mami, la pobre.But I don't like to remember ... certain things. Yo no soy masoquista como la gente de by aquí.I will not always be remembering the past and the misfortunes I have had in my life.Enough salations have one in the present to stir the bad memories.

MARGARita: ¿Tu mami se murió?

CHARITY (pretende no haberla escuchado.Look towards the crib): Mike fell asleep, less bad.Let's see the fighter altar and look for some photos to get out of the step.

MARGARita: ¿No te vistes, by fin? A lo mejor llega alguien más a visitarlos y te encuentra hecha una facha.

CHARITY (respira profundamente.He puts his hands on his waist.It seems that she will insult Margarita, but changed her mind): you won.I'm going to get good Hoochie Mama, as in the very little times of Havana.

MARGARita: Atta girl! Way to go!

(They leave together.)

Scene 2

Seven p.m.The room is in gloom.Only the altar appears, adorned with candles, chopped paper, flowers, fruits and a tray with dead bread.Michael's father's portrait has been removed from the wall.Now it is located on the altar and in front of this there is a bottle of tequila.Next to the portrait of Angelica, which is again behind the frame, you can see a cassette of the Rolling Stones, the Barbie doll and the makeup case.There are more photos of different family members with offerings in front of them - a Mexican hat, maybe some spurs.

Caridad and Margarita are sitting on the couch, looking at a photographs album.Their faces are not seen, they are only heard.On the wall in front of the spectators, where the portrait of Michael's father was before, an image of the Malecon of Havana is projected.During the rest of the scene, different views will be screened on the wall.As background music will be heard at the beginning, very low, a Cuban song song.It can be the jinetera, from Willy Chirino.

CHARITY: Cuando yo vivía en Cuba, todas las noches me iba con Ernesto, un marinovio que tuve en los noventa, a sentarme en el muro del Malecón. Pero allí no sólo se sentaban las parejas de cubanitos sin un quilo prieto partío by la mitad, como nosotros.It was also the point of appointment for all the jineteras of Havana, who were going to look for foreigners.(The photo of a Cuban prostitute appears, with shine shorts and high heel shoes, signaled to a tourist taxi) was the year 93 and things were in Candela. Cincuenta pesos by un dólar, y yo ganaba ciento ochenta pesos al mes como maestra de secundaria.After dealing with the boys all the holy day, I had to bed with a glass of water with sugar and a sliced air in the belly.The worst thing was to know that shopping malls, dollar stores, were full of food and clothing, but if you were with a foreigner you could not even look at.

MARGARita: Pero ¿by qué ustedes no protestaban? ¿Por qué no exigían sus derechos? ¡Con lo bocones que son los cubanos!

(A recording of voices with a Cuban accent is heard, they spoke.)

CHARITY: Seremos bocones, pero no comemierdas. ¿Y qué derechos ni qué izquierdos? ¿No ves que todo el mundo quiere cuidarse el pellejo? En Cuba tú le tiras una cáscara de naranja a un retrato de Fidel Castro y al momento te meten en la cárcel con tres patadas by el culo. Lo mejor es inventar, resolver by ahí… Pero calladito, para no señalarse.(Pause) Nosotros empezamos a resolver aquella noche que estábamos en el Malecón papando moscas, como siempre.Sudden.And the guy is alone.Why aren't you going to be company? "

MARGARita (azorada): ¿Y tú que hiciste?

CHARITY: Le fui a hacer compañía…Era un canadiense maduro ya, pero decente. Nada de vicios ni de cosas raras, by suerte, aunque de esos sí me cayeron unos cuantos después.He took me to spend the night with him at Meliá-Cohiba.(Photo of a luxury hotel: mirrors, marbles, carpets) The next day I lacked classes, but I had breakfast like a Hindu princess in the hotel restaurant: ham and cheese sandwiches, coffee with milk, mango juice ... by little IDa Cagalera, from the scare that my belly took.I swallowed a couple of snacks as if they were aspirin. Y by supuesto, le llevé uno a Ernesto, que se había pasado la noche en blanco.Ah, and the Canadian left me fifty dollars.I felt a millionaire, mika!

MARGARita: Pero, ¿tú volviste…?

CHARITY: Sí, estuve jineteando un tiempo, qué remedio.Now, nothing of a different type every night.The pepes lasted a week, two ... the time they were in Cuba. Dejé el trabajo en la secundaria byque en una noche ganaba lo que en un año bregando con chiquillos malcriados.Or more.Foreigners paid me well.(Proud) I have a tomb, mamita.Do you not know that song by Celia Cruz, the black one has a tumbao?And tremendous sandunga.With an Italian there I met Varadero (photo of the beach of Varadero) and a Span.(Photo of a Cayo Cayo: palm trees, cabins, very tourist) life itself was that ...

MARGARita (suena apenada y confundida): Pues no sé qué decirte.

CHARITY: No tienes que decir nada.Nor do you have to have me pity.After all I'm here, look at me.Alive and kicking!I did not grabbed my AIDS, I'm not prey, I didn't sank the raft, I'm not missing any piece.After all, I am a lucky woman.

MARGARita: ¿Cómo fue lo de la balsa?

CHARITY: Vine con Ernesto y sus padres.In 94 the reliables formed.People took to the streets disrupted the stained glass windows of dollars and shouting freedom.(Photo of a street demonstration in Havana.The next song can be coming) that seemed the end of the world.It was the first time someone demanded their rights, as you say.But nothing was resolved.The government opened the boardwalk and the noise was over ... (photo of rafts coming out to the sea from the Malecon.)

MARGARita: ¿Abrió el Malecón?

CHARITY: Vaya, que dio autorización para que todo el que quisiera se fuera para el carajo, en balsa, en bote o en un tibor si le daba la gana. No había que tener permiso de salida, ni visa, ni pasabyte, ni nada.There we take advantage of Ernesto and I.His father built a raft with two dining tables, half of a cedar showcase and four tractor tires.The old man was a carpenter and the raft was very good.(Photo of an artisanal raft, but of safe appearance, reinforced with tires.Music changes again.It can be heard when I left Cuba.)

MARGARita: ¿Y en eso cruzaron ustedes el estrecho de la Florida?

CHARITY: No hizo falta.At six hours after being on the high seas, an American boat picked us up and put us in Cayo Bone in less than a rooster sings. Tuvimos suerte byque al día siguiente empezaron a llevar a todos los balseros que recogían para Guantánamo.(Pause) Mi mamá se había quedado en La Habana.The day I left, my brothers were for school to the field and she said that she was not leaving them behind.(Photo of the Mother of Charity at the entrance of a quarter of a plot, displayed and in ruins) Finally the three came out together, a week later.

MARGARita: ¿Se reunieron en Miami?

CHARITY (con voz sorda): Su balsa era una byquería.Imagine, my brother did, who never in their lives had serrurupado or the leg of a sofa.(Photo of the Mother of Charity and two adolescents aboard a small, fragile raft, built of keyboards) never knew about them.It was my fault.I should have insisted so that Mami came with me and then send my brothers looking for.Not even live a hundred years I'm going to forgive.

MARGARita: No fue culpa tuya.How were you going to know ...?

CHARITY (sin oírla): A veces sueño con ellos.They call me, when a wave is about to swallow them.I hear my mother shouting at me: Charity!And I wake up soaked in sweat.(Pause) Ésta es la última foto que tengo de los tres.My grandmother took it, not getting on a raft or going to glory.He says she comes by plane or dies in Old Havana.When I gather the money I will send it to look for.For that, I want to return to Intel.Because I'm not going to ask Michael to pay Granduela Chucha's ticket.He will say that with an old fucking at home enough and left over.But a good thing has him, and he takes care of his mother, with everything and what she syringes.And I ... I let mine swallowed her.

MARGARita (para distraerla): ¿Qué pasó con Ernesto?

CHARITY: En Miami nos separamos. Yo no pude encontrar trabajo de maestra, by el inglés y las licencias que piden aquí.I had to put me to work in a factory.But he thought he was going to keep him maintain, as in Cuba.One day I said: “You ended the chuleo, my Chinese.Or you are looking for a job or you go for the fuck."With rhyme and everything.And he left for the fuck.Then they offered me to relocate me here in Albuquerque and the people of Catholic Charities helped me move and get a job in Intel.Thus I came to the desert.Who was going to tell me when I left Havana, Valgue me God ...

MARGARita (tímidamente): ¿Y tu marido sabe lo de…uh…el Malecón?

CHARITY: Yo nunca se lo dicho a las claras, pero creo que se lo imagina.(Proud) he knows that I am a woman whose.Therefore, I fuck me more that I want to have me in the house like a closing nun.At this time green mangoes?

Rita (entrando a la sala): ¿Ya tienes las fotos listas? (Cesa la música.The room illuminates, while the projection of the last photograph is turned off.We see that charity is dressed provocatively: short skirt and a tight blouse, with very low neckline.Rita observes it with disapproval but says nothing.)

CHARITY: Sí.Put this one of my mother and my brothers.(He gives him a photo taken from the album.From the room the child's crying is heard.After a moment Michael appears with a diaper in his hand.)

Michael: Forgive to interrupt them, but Mike did poopoo and I don't know how to change the pampers.Can you come, my love?

CHARITY (a Margarita): ¿Ves lo que te digo? ¡Una inutilidad con patas! (Se levanta con brusquedad.Top with Michael and move on without apologizing.As soon as you enter the room, the baby's crying immediately ceases.Angelica leaves the altar and comes out quickly behind her.)

Scene 3

THE HOUSE ROOM.The altar has not finished fixing.There are no photo of Michael's father or that of Angelica.There are no flowers or candles, neither does the tray with sweets or fruits, although the chopped paper is maintained, some portraits of the Galician family ancestors and the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.On the wall in front of the spectators there is a large, old mirror, with a wooden frame.On the couch, a long woman's coat.Outside it rains.The sound of the water is heard and a thunder from time to time.

Angélica camina by la sala modelando un vestido negro y corto.He wears the hair collected in a bun that makes it look older.He has dark red lips.From the room comes the cry of a baby, but she does not pay attention.Look in the mirror and smile.

ANGELICA: Wow! (Da media vuelta, satisfecha) I’m so hot.If mom sees me with this dress, she hits a Heart Attack.But she has to understand it: i’m already to Woman.I'm not going to spend my life dressed as if I're nine years old and without going out on Saturdays.(Look at his watch) Oh, God, the Amber arrives soon!

(The engine of a car is heard.Angelica runs to the window.)

ANGELICA: ¡Damned vieja!

(Take the coat and put it on, buttoned it with precipitation.Lip paint is removed with your fingers.Rita enters several packages in her hand.)

Rita: ¡Gracias a Dios que llegué sana y salva! Las calles están llenas de charcos y de fango.And those ditches!Then the wind, which was contrary ... take.(He gives the packages to Angelica) Take them for the kitchen.(Observe it) Why do you have such an elegant coat?You know well that you will not go out.

ANGELICA (coloca los paquetes en la mesa de centro y mira a su madre desafiante): Tenía frío, by eso me lo puse.Do you want me to be fried too?

Rita: Enciende la calefacción, entonces.(Sigh) Ay, Guadalupana, I'm dead tired. Cuántas cosas me quedan by hacer, y son ya las seis de la tarde.The day has gone without realizing.I still have to prepare the pozole, the chocolate, finish the tamales ...

ANGELICA (burlona): Mom, ¿para qué pasa tanto trabajo? Acuéstese y descanse un rato.Sleep a nap.After all, your apas, as you tell you, will not come to eat.Those are superstitions, hey.(Laughs) the dead do not leave again after they bury them.They are done dust.

Rita (incomodada): ¿Eso es lo que te enseñan en la escuela gringa, a no respetar la religión de tus mayores? Yo nunca he dicho que los difuntos vengan en carne y hueso.I know well that the meat already rotted, Mrs. Sabelotodo. Lo que viene es el espíritu de ellos, que nunca muere ni se pudre byque está con Dios Padre.And the spirit does not eat food or take chocolate (with emphasis) but is fed with the substance of our offerings.

ANGELICA: ¿Y cómo usted sabe cuándo se alimentó? Sus panes y su chocolate siempre se quedan ahí tirados.

Rita (convencida): Lo sé byque la comida pierde parte de su sabor.Have you not set when testing?The tamales that have been offered to the spirits need enough salt so that they know us well after.

ANGELICA: Si el espíritu ya usó la sustancia, entonces no deberíamos comernos las sobras, ¿no le parece?

Rita: ¿Por qué no? Los espíritus no son egoístas…como ciertas personas.They love to share with us.They are pleased to feel in family again.

ANGELICA (bajo): Bullshit.(The baby's crying is heard again.)

Rita: Saca las velas blancas del envoltorio.Put more flowers in the silver and Échales water vases.(Comes out)

ANGELICA (furiosa, da una patada a los paquetes y lanza uno al suelo): ¡Sigue la generala dando órdenes!

Rita's voice (from the room): keep the butter, don't forget!

ANGELICA: What else? (Hace la higa en dirección al cuarto y vuelve a mirar su reloj) ¿Cuándo va a llegar la Amber?

(Rita returns.)

Rita (molesta): El pobre Michael estaba empapado.Why didn't you change it?Don't you know that if you leave it wet, your skin is irritated?

ANGELICA (indiferente): Pos póngale bastante talco Meneen para que se le quite la irritación.

Rita: Deja de hablar para atrás, muchacha.Did you do the tamales?

ANGELICA: No.

Rita: ¿Cómo que no? ¿Por qué?

ANGELICA: Porque no me dio la gana.And those packages take them for the kitchen or there they stay until tomorrow.

(Rita raises her hand to hit her.Angelica dodges her and parapets behind the couch.)

ANGELICA: ¡Usted no me vuelve a dar golpes! ¿Por qué tengo yo que cuidar a Michael? Usted es su madre.Fasting with him, or take it to a well, but I don't take it again.Check it to dogs, if so much work gives him and can't with him!Just Kill Him!

(Outside a lament is heard, almost a howl, a woman.)

Rita: Pero, hija… (Confusa, no sabe cómo reaccionar.It is the first time that his authority is discussed, and it shows) your brother ...

ANGELICA (envalentonada): Ah, y sí me voy al party con la Amber.Without your permission.Let's see how you will prevent me.(He puts his hands on the waist, challenging) Aughter is angouch!

Rita (recuperándose): ¿Conque todo el disgusto es byque quieres irte a un baile en día sagrado, eh? ¿Por eso me estás faltando al respeto y me estás haciendo rabiar? ¡Lo que tienes es que se te ha metido el diablo en el cuerpo!

ANGELICA (riendo): Sí, el diablo.The mere devile that is inside the bottle, as you always tell my dad when Biago comes. El que no deja dormir de noche a Aunt Lola byque está necesitada de hombre.(Rita tries to reach her with a swipe, but she doesn't get her) her devil is Really Busy.How does time reach everything?Or is it everywhere, like God and The Holy Goat?

Rita (furiosa): ¡Deja que te ponga las manos encima! ¡Yo te voy a quitar las ganas de blasfemar!

ANGELICA: (burlona, canturreando) You can’t catch me! (Le hace muecas) You’re too slow! You’re too fat! Come on! Try again…

(Rita la persigue by la sala.Angelica dodges her, taking her tongue and speaking to her in English, until she stumbles with the altar.The portraits and image of the Virgin fall to the ground with a crash.)

Rita: ¡Ay, Santo Niño de Atocha! ¡La foto de mi apá! ¡La única que me queda!

(Desperate, Rita runs to the altar and begins to fix it, carefree from Angelica.A moment later this is coming to help her.)

Rita (empujándola): ¡Váyase, váyase de aquí! ¿Que éstas no son supersticiones? Ya no quiero tenerla al lado mío.Don't you want to go to your party?Well, go.Go to where you want, I'm not going to prevent it.Return at the time you want.And that accompanies her Barabás if it is her taste.

ANGELICA: Mom, es que usted…

Rita (sin escucharla): ¡Mire el cochinero que ha hecho con sus malacrianzas! ¡Lo que me ha tomado a mí dos días arreglar, viene la idiota y me lo desbarata en dos minutos! Le voy a dar una bola de chingazos… (Se lleva una mano a la boca) Perdóname, Jesús bendito.(It is pursued) is that this insolent girl ends my patience ...

ANGELICA (con aire arrepentido): Yo no quería arruinar su altar…

Rita: No, usted quería mortificarme.Make me blaspheme on this holy day.Post already achieved it.It's like his father, the same as him. No tiene respeto by nada.You know nothing but disturb.Out, leave me alone!(Angelica doesn't move) What else do she want?I already told him that he can go to where his scrub wins.

ANGELICA: Usted tampoco me respeta a mí, mom.He spends respecting respect, but it's no more for you, not for others.

Rita: ¿Qué voy a respetar, mocosa desorejada? ¿De dónde le va a venir el respeto, eh?

ANGELICA: ¡Yo soy una mujer!

Rita (burlona): ¿Mujer cuando no sabe cocinar, ni cuidar a su hermano, ni planchar? ¡Pst! (Termina de colocar los retratos en su sitio) ¡Y no se acerque más al altar brincando como una cabra!

ANGELICA: Usted no quiere oírme…

Rita (camina hacia el cuarto, pero antes de dejar la sala se vuelve hacia su hija): Ah, y acabe de llevar los paquetes para la cocina.(Threatening) we will follow this conversation later.Slug!

(Comes out.)

ANGELICA (frustrada, conteniendo las ganas de llorar): ¡Yo quise hacer las paces y ella me rechazó! Traté de que me entendiera y ¿qué conseguí? A kick in the ass! Se empeña en tratarme como si fuera una chiquilla y no, no puede ser… ¡Le voy a demostrar que soy una mujer!

(Sounds the horn of a car.Angelica runs to the window.)

ANGELICA: ¡Son la Amber y su novio! I’m out of here!(Comes out.A moment later, Rita appears and stays silent, supported by the door of the room, while listening to the motor of the car that moves away.)

Rita (haciendo un ademán de fastidio): Que se la lleve el diablo si es su destino.Let it take it, yes ...

(Outside a lament is heard, almost a howl, a woman.)

Act iII

Scene 1

Eight o'clock at night.In the child's room.The same decoration of the first scene.There are still the medicine bottle and the milk bottle at the table.Charity, standing next to the crib, tries to remove a spot of vomiting of the blouse with a humid napkin.

CHARITY (rezongando): ¡Mi mejor blusa! ¡Hace un año, un año justo que no me la pongo, y no la he tenido ni una hora encima cuando este desgraciao me la viene a ensuciar! (Se restriega la mancha con rabia) ¡Yo nunca le hice esto a mi madre!(Pause) El único día que me arreglo, el único día que trato de sentirme otra vez mujer y no una vaca lechera, y me lo echa a perder.Then they do not want one to be hungry.Then they want him to be very happy and with a birthday face ... Let's see, to bring me a psychologist so that I key his psychology in my ass!(Breathe deeply.Try to control) I try not to dislike, I try not to catch struggle, but this is the height of the colmos ... (kicks the crib) why did you have to vomit me?Did you eat arsenic, so scoundrel?(Pate the crib again, with more force.The baby begins to cry with acute shouts) Well, cries!(Hysterical) Cry, Pussy!Hopefully you die at once!

(Outside a lament is heard, almost a howl, a woman.Angelica enters, throw a look of contempt for charity and take the child in his arms.This stops crying.)

CHARITY (con ferocidad y alegría): ¡Llévatelo, viento de agua! ¡Llévatelo bien lejos! (Angélica camina hacia la puerta con el bebé) ¡Me salvé! ¡Al fin voy a verme libre de ti, chiquillo de mierda! ¡Libre de tu gritería nocturna, de tus pestes, de tus suciedades! ¡Eres peor que los mocosos de secundaria con los que yo lidiaba en Cuba! ¡Vamos, pa fuera, pa la calle! ¿Qué hacen aquí todavía? ¡Acaben de largarse pal carajo los dos! (Empuja a Angélica y se deja caer en el sillón, resoplando) ¡Voy a estar durmiendo una semana completa!

(A bluish light wraps Angelica, which is in hieratic position, and the baby.The screams, outside, increase in intensity.Thunder. Con el sonido de la lluvia se mezcla el de las olas, la voz de una mujer que clama by sus hijos, otra que llama con desesperación a Caridad.

Caridad seincorbya y mira a su alrededor.He approaches Angelica. Cesan de repente los gritos y todos los ruidos, excepto el de la lluvia, pero desde este momento hasta la entrada de Michael, la escena tendrá un aire de irrealidad, acentuado by los juegos de luz y el combytamiento de las actrices.Charity and Angelica must move as in slow chamber, even at the time of struggle.)

CHARITY: (A Angélica) Oye, tú, ¿adónde vas con mi hijo? (Angélica no se mueve) Yo te he visto antes … (Trata de recordar) ¿Tú eres cubana? ¿Tú hacías el Malecón también? Bueno, a mí qué me interesa. Anda, dame acá al chiquito y vete by ahí.(Pause) Cambié de idea.I stay with him.One can change your mind from one moment to another, right?(She tries to remove the baby, without getting it) That I gave it to you, it will degene!Or do you want me to set foot in your ass?Get it on, go!

(Struggle.In the fight they lay down the table.The medicine bottle and the milk bottle fall to the ground with a crash.The baby slips from Angelica's arms and also falls to the floor, where he begins to cry again, fear and pain.)

Michael's voice, from the room: are you okay, Honey?What was that?

(Charity recovers the baby and sits with him in the armchair.Angelica is placed next to them, alert. Parece dispuesta a arrebatar a Mike en cuanto tenga una obytunidad.)

CHARITY (abstraída): Ya, ya, no fue nada, mi amor.Was nothing.(Mece your son) healthy, healthy, frog ass.If not heal today, he will heal tomorrow.(The baby calms down little by little) Duémete my child, sleep my love, or do you pieces in my heart ... (He stops.Angelica extends her arms towards Mike) no, it's not.I'm saying bad.Mommy sang it differently.(He puts a hand to the forehead) How was it?(Frightened) I don't want to make you pieces, millet!For my mother not!

(Michael enters.The bluish light disappears and the scene returns to normal.)

Michael: Did Pi made again ...?(Repair the disorder of the room) What is this, charity?What happened?

CHARITY (como saliendo de un sueño): No me acuerdo…

Michael: Don't you remember?!(Remove the baby) But he is bleeding!(He examines it) he hit the mouth and it seems that the gums were hurt.Can you tell me how…?

CHARITY (aletargada): Ah, sí…Se dio un mal golpe.

Michael: What?(He examines his son again, worried) Did You Hit Him?Did you hit him?

CHARITY (despacio): No fui yo.A little boy came and wanted to take it.Then I took it off and he fell to the ground.

Michael (observes charity with restlessness and a little fear.It shows that he does not believe it): A little girl?Where did she go from?

CHARITY: No sé… La he visto antes, pero no me acuerdo dónde.He tried to snatch it.Tremendous darkest!

Michael: Come on, charity.No one has entered.

(Angelica is placed between them.)

CHARITY (señalando a Angélica): Pues ahí se estuvo, parada como una estaca, con mi hijo en brazos.

(Michael puts the baby in the crib, after making sure the fall has not affected him. Levanta la mesa y recoge los objetos que se han desparramado by el piso.Angelica covers Mike with the sheet.)

Michael (to charity): You are not right.

CHARITY: ¿Ahora te enteras?(Pause) Bien jodía es lo que estoy.

(Margarita and Rita enter.)

Rita: ¿Algún problema?

Michael: Baby fell.

CHARITY: Michael no me quiere creer que vino una muchachita a quitármelo.I had a white dress.

MARGARita: ¿Se hizo daño?

Rita: ¿Qué edad tendría?

Michael: Luckily no.But something worse could have happened.

CHARITY: Doce o trece años…

Rita (convencida): Yo sí te creo.

Michael (in a low voice): I think she (he points to charity) threw him to the ground.

MARGARita: Cubana, esto no tiene vuelta de hoja.Tomorrow we will see Dr. Carbonell.

Scene 2

Nine p.m.THE HOUSE ROOM.The altar is adorned and illuminated with candles.In addition to the portraits of the Gallegos family, the mother and the brothers of charity looks.Angelica has returned to her place behind the frame, next to her father's portrait.At the center table there is a bottle of tequila and four glasses, the tray with dead bread and other sweets.

Rita, Michael, Margarita and Caridad have sat around the table, sharing the sofa and seats.Charity has your child in arms.

MARGARita: Me gusta la tradición del día de los muertos, aunque no la entienda del todo.It's like ... bittersweet.But they taught me to move forward with life.

CHARITY (sorbiendo despacio su tequila): Igual que a mí.The dead to the hole and the living to the chicken, we say in Cuba.

Rita: Nosotros tratamos de no perder el contacto con los que ya no están.The chicken, for the diffuntite too.Even a wing, right, son?

(Michael shrugs and separates his glass, which is full to the edge.It shows that he shut up not to hurt his mother's feelings, but that he does not agree with his ideas.)

MARGARita (a Rita, paladeando el tequila con cierta precaución): Entonces, ¿hoy es un día especial para honrar la memoria de su difunto esposo (Rita no le responde) Usted debe extrañarlo mucho, me imagino.

Rita (lentamente): La fiesta es para todos los difuntos y no lo vamos a dejar fuera a él, pero yo jamás lo he extrañado.(He takes his glass to his mouth and is given a long drink) He was a son of the fucking.

Michael (amazed): Mom!

Rita: ¿Por qué no lo voy a decir? El último año by poco le pongo sus tiliches en medio de la calle.Three times we were about to separate.Thank you that God took it.

CHARITY: Oiga, yo creía que su marido era un santo.As you have it in a box with candle and everything ...

Rita: ¡No mames, cubana! ¿Qué iba a ser santo? Llegaba todas las noches borracho como un cerdo, después de gastarse el sueldo en los bares, sin acordarse de que tenía una familia que mantener.For three months we do not pay the house.It was a miracle of the Virgin who would not lose it. Hasta me tuve que emplear en un Walmart, by no pasar miserias y para educar a Michael como Dios manda.

MICHAELavergonzado by las revelaciones de su madre): Eh… Por lo menos a mí me curó de la tentación de la bebida, al verlo llegar así cada noche.

CHARITY: No te confíes.Son of cat hunting mouse.

Rita (con suavidad): Tampoco era toda su culpa, lo reconozco. Lloraba mucho by su hija.Every time he got drunk, that was his subject.It is true that he took from before, but the girl made it worse ...

Michael (bass): We start ...

CHARITY: ¿Qué niña es ésa? (No advierte una seña de su marido para que se calle) ¿Usted tenía una hija, Rita?

Rita: Sí.That.(Drink.He points to Angelica, who leaves his place behind the frame and sits together. Caridad da un respingo al reconocerla y casi vacía su vaso de un trago) Bonita, ¿no? Pero se murió by mi culpa.I didn't take care of her as she should.

ANGELICA: That’s not true.It was not anyone's fault.

Michael (Malhumorado): Is it going to be the same every year, Mom?Maybe you must see the mentioned Dr. Carbonell.

Rita (sin escucharlo): Le daba demasiados deberes.I had it pure helping me at home, like a little boy.

ANGELICA: Bueno, eso sí es verdad.And I didn't let me out with boys!

Rita: Michael lloraba mucho de bebé y yo la mandaba a ella a que lo entretuviera y le cambiara los pampers.

ANGELICA: ¡Y cómo berreaba el escuincle!

Michael (exasperated): fine.Now, It’s All My Fault!

CHARITY (a Michael, pero mirando a Angélica): Nunca me hablaste de tu hermana.

Michael (dry): because I don't remember her.It was very small when she passed away.

CHARITY (con curiosidad, a Angélica): ¿Qué pasó, eh?

ANGELICA: Yo quería ir a un party en el downtown…

Rita: Era de noche y le prohibí que saliera.I had to stay here, helping me with dinner.In addition, I seemed sin to party the mere day of the dead.And it rained to pitchers, like today.

ANGELICA: La Amber vino a buscarme con su boyfriend…

Rita: Yo la vi cuando se escapaba.And I wish I wouldn't come back. Ya tenía bastante carga con un borracho que no me ayudaba en nada, con el bebé, y encima tener que sobytar a una chiquilla hocicona.I let her leave.I could have stopped her, but I didn't.And the car in which she was going turned, when he passed near the Rio Grande.The bodies were never found.

ANGELICA: Mejor.So they didn't bury me.

Rita: Ni siquiera puedo llevarle flores al panteón.(SOLLOZA) Nor flowers has had the poor ...

Michael: That’s sicking!(He gets up and comes out.)

ANGELICA: No hay pedo, mom.I'm glad not being in the pantheon.You know that I do an accomplice hall to charity) I don't like being locked up either.

CHARITY: Mis hermanos y mi madre también murieron en el agua.(To Angelica) they have no grave, just like you.

ANGELICA: Ni falta que les hace. Ya vendrán by acá una de estas noches, si tú los quieres ver.

CHARITY (después de un momento de duda): Me gustaría saludarlos, aunque me da un poco de miedo. Mami debe estar disgustada conmigo, by irme con Ernesto y dejarla aella atrás.She wanted to stay, but everything and everything ...

Rita (sin prestarles atención): Le pegaba a mi hija cuando me faltaba al respeto.To Michael no.I never put a finger on him or let my husband punish him.If I had treated Angelica better ...

CHARITY: Mi madre me pegaba también, a veces. Un día me zumbó un orinal by la cabeza.Luckily it was empty!

ANGELICA: Yo no le guardo rencor, mom.Get over.All that happened.

CHARITY: No me gustaría ser como ella en ese aspecto.It was quite bad.But when I pissed off with my son, I feel my hands are gone.

ANGELICA: ¡Te las aguantas!

Rita: Si mi hija regresara, yo no la volvería a golpear.

CHARITY (a Angélica): No voy a pegarle más a Mike.I swear.

ANGELICA (amenazante): I’ll be watching.Do not play with me.You saw how I almost took it today.

CHARITY: ¡Pero no pudiste! (Aprieta al bebé contra su pecho) El problema es cuando me dan ganas de estrujarlo, de hacerlo polvo.I get out of all.What do I do then?(A lock of hair is twisted) Oh, my father Changó, Ay, Santa Bárbara!Is it that I am a mother, a criminal?

MARGARita: No eres desmadre.It is milk.

CHARITY: ¿Qué leche?

MARGARita: La misma hormona que produce la leche materna causa depresión y cambios de humor bruscos.That's why those outbursts give you.

CHARITY: Deprimida me siento a veces, aunque no mucho.But rabid I'm all the time.

MARGARita: ¿Ya ves by qué tienes que ver a la doctora? ¿O es que a ti te gusta rabiar?

ANGELICA: Ve, cubana.What do you lose?

CHARITY: Bueno, chica, está bien.They already convinced me.Now, like Carbonell that gets a lot of garbage, I send her to fish trout.

ANGELICA: Al Río Grande.

Rita (hablando consigo misma): Sí, en el Río Grande.There it was.I did not drown her with my own hands, but I let her drown.

MARGARita (a Caridad): ¿Vas a ir a verla el lunes? Yo te doy raite.

Rita: Me byté igual que La Llorona.

CHARITY (a Margarita): Coño, sí.Even so that they don't hump me anymore.(A Rita, gently) And what Llorona is that that you mention so much?

Rita: Era una buena madre.I had a boy and a girl.And a drunk husband, like mine, who hit him and abused her.When he couldn't stand it anymore, he escaped from the house with his children.It was night and it was cold.They walked near Rio Grande.While she was going to look for firewood to warm up, the children began to play.They fell into the water.The little boy sank immediately, but the girl grabbed a branch and shouted asking for help.Her mother heard her.They say that he was going to save her, but then he thought: “So that it happens to me and any son of the fucking and hits her, I better let her drown her."And the girl drowned too ...

CHARITY (impresionada): ¿Y qué pasó con ella, con la madre?

Rita: Se volvió loca.A few months later he died and returned in spirit.Since then he cries out.I have heard it many times.

CHARITY: Y yo igual.But I thought they were hallucinations.

Rita: La Llorona busca a sus hijos para que la perdonen.That's why I entrust me every time I adorn the altar.Maybe one day my daughter finds me and forgive me too ...

ANGELICA: Mom, ya le he explicado que no tengo hard feelings. Todos los años trato de decírselo, pero usted no me oye…(Pause) Como siempre.

Rita (en lo suyo): O me diga si aún me guarda rencor.If a bad mother judges me ...

CHARITY (aprehensiva): ¿A eso vienen los difuntos, a juzgar a la gente?

ANGELICA: Nonsense! Una viene para estar en familia otra vez.(Take a bread from the tray and make a picara grimace) and to eat, of course.Mom makes the best sweet breads in all albuquerque.Yummy ...

CHARITY (le sonríe): Pero a joder también vienes, ¿eh? Se ve que eso te encanta.

ANGELICA: No seas malagradecida, cubana.Notice that I am going to tell your mom and your brothers that you are here, to visit you.(He winks at Charity and returns to his place behind the frame.)

CHARITY: Hasta el próximo dos de noviembre, entonces.

Rita: Si Dios quiere.

ANGELICA (suspirando, desde el altar): Sí, si Dios quiere que usted me oiga, mamá.

(He makes a goodbye signal and begins to turn off the candles while the curtain falls)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Teresa Dovalpage

He was born in Havana, Cuba (1966).She is a novelist, playwright and teacher.He lives in the United States since 1996, when he left his country. Es graduada con una licenciatura de la Universidad de La Habana y obtuvo su doctorado en Literatura Latinoamericana by New Mexico State University en Albuquerque.She was a professor at New Mexico State University (UNM) in Taos, New Mexico, until 2018 and currently works as a Spanish and English teacher as second language (ESL) in New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, New Mexico.Has published nine novels and three collections of stories to date.He has written several theatrical works, such as: the daughter of the Llorona (2006) and until the mortgage separates us (2009), both released in the sting Theater of Chicago.NBC News selected his novel Queen of Bones (Soho Crime, 2019) as one of the ten best Latin books of 2019.From the same series are Death Comes In Through the Kitchen (Soho Crime, 2018) and Death of a Telenovela Star (Soho Crime, 2020).Other novels that he has published are: Death of a Murcian in Havana (Anagrama, 2006, finalist of the Herralde Award), the late Fidel (Renaissance, 2011, Rincón de la Victoria Award in Spain), the run in Havana (Grupo Edebé, 2012), Orpheus in the Caribbean (literary atmosphere, Spain, 2013) and the return of the expatriate (Egales, 2014).

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________