THE GOATHERD AT LUNCHEON

Written by

Gregory Dodds

Adapted from the short storyBy Italo Calvino

3330 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #32Los Angeles, CA 90034805.722.4674gregorymdodds@gmail.com

QuinnFatherAbran

(A dining room in a lovely manorial home. Dark and light-patterned carpets, majolica plates and touches of Southwest red tile. There are few traces of a feminine touch about the room; they are barely noticeable. A square dining table in the center with three chairs. Two doors, one to the hall SL, one to the kitchen SR.)

(QUINN, 16, in a coat and tie, sits at the table, idly reading the paper. A cigarette burns in an ashtray. Places are set at the table for lunch. Country music plays, nothing modern or maudlin. The rustic feel of the music almost feels out of place amongst the setting of easy, comfortable wealth.)

(Quinn’s manner and body are young, but his face bears the weight of the world on his shoulders, troubled with trivia.

(The song ends. A door swings opens offstage SL. Two sets of feet are heard in the hallway.)

FATHER (O.S.)Come in! Yes, come right in. Never mind your boots. They can stay right on your feet.

(Quinn puts down his paper to listen. He takes one last puff of his cigarette and puts it out.)

FATHER (O.S.) (CONT’D)Don’t be ridiculous. Leave that where it was. We do not stand on ceremony here. Nonsense. Right through here.

(Father and Abran enter. Father, 50s, has a clean denim jacket over an expensive button-up shirt. Abran, 17, young and strong, but with his chin on his chest, wears a dingy flannel shirt, trousers and boots. He can barely stand to look up at either Father or Quinn.)

FATHER (CONT’D)Look! Lunch is just about to be set at the table. Just your luck. There’s plenty for all. More than enough. No one starves around this house, inside or out. Ask your fellows. They’ll tell you.

(MORE)

This is my son Quinn, he’s in high school. Put the paper down, Quinn and say hello.

(Quinn stands and shakes Abran’s hand. They do not make eye contact.)

FATHER (CONT’D)Quinn’s going to be a notary. Organized mind. Good with numbers too. Took a prize in academics last term. But he’s no hothouse flower, no sir. You’ll see him out in the fields. He knows these fields as well as any goatherd. He shot a squirrel from thirty paces last week. Far as here to the windows there. A crack shot.

QUINNA lucky shot.

FATHERHe’s still got two more years at school, and then he could make his own way, like I did. But he’s got eyes on the University. Education is not just a luxury, it’s a gift. Can’t be picked off the vine too soon, I say. I would give my left leg to have a chance to go back. But time has passed me by. No reason to make the same mistake with my Quinn. But here, now, Abranito. I’m talking too much. Sit down and let me get you something to snack on. Lunch will be here momentarily. Just sit down.

(Abran does not sit down. Father exits. Abran and Quinn still cannot look at each other.)

ABRANI tend to the goats.

QUINNYou work for my father?

ABRANI work for your family.

QUINNYou don’t work for me.

2.

FATHER (CONT’D)

ABRANIf you ask me to do a thing, I will do it.

QUINNYou don’t have to stand there. (beat.) Father has it in his head that you’ll have lunch with us. So you will. He’s like a dog with a rag.

ABRANHe’s very kind.

QUINNHave a seat. It’ll be better if you do.

(Slowly, Abran sits at the table, away from Quinn. He picks up the napkin and tucks it under his chin.)

QUINN (CONT’D)Where are you from?

ABRANI was born here.

QUINNI’m not going to tell anyone.

ABRANI’m not lying. I went home for a while. Now I came back.

QUINNWhere?

ABRANDel Mare.

QUINNI don’t know it.

ABRANIt’s far. Far south.

QUINNHow far?

ABRANTwo days.

3.

FATHER(entering with a plate of sliced cucumbers)

There he is. Some cucumbers from the garden. Any time you get hungry out in the fields, you feel free to help yourself to a cucumber. Or a pepper or two. These are both grown up from the valleys. Taste it. Ever tasted a cucumber like that, Abranito?

ABRANNo sir.

FATHERKeep your strength up, eh? I want you to feel at home in the gardens too. Maybe some bosses treat you like a slave, but not us. Right, Quinn? We treat you like family. We are a family. We share what we have. Quinn, you eat some too. We eat from the same plate. I sliced these myself, Abranito. We all get our hands dirty.

QUINNDid you see the paper this morning, Father?

FATHERI’m talking to our guest. Don’t be impolite.

QUINNListen to this. (reading from the paper) “Two policemen were killed in a robbery shootout in the town of Brookline, a suburb of Boston. One of the culprits was also killed, but the other was taken into custody.” Brookline. That’s where the Hannorans live, right, Father? We should send them a telegram. I hope Mr. Hannoran is okay.

FATHERMr. Hannoran would not be anywhere near a bank robbery, Quinn. You’re being ridiculous in front of this young man. Trying to stir up a funny story.

4.

QUINNWe haven’t seen the Hannorans for two years, right, Father?

FATHERThat’s right. I don’t know how you even remember them.

QUINNPatty hurt his foot and Mister Hannoran carried him back to the house. Remember?

FATHERAh yes. Over by the reservoir. You know the reservoir, Abranito?

ABRANI know it.

FATHERThey say not to jump off. My father told us not to jump off, but we did anyway. We were naughty. I suppose all boys in town have jumped off the reservoir at one time or another. Sneak down there while the old folks like me are away, eh? Part of the ritual. Part of growing up. (To Abran) You’ve taken the leap, haven’t you?

ABRANNo sir.

QUINNFather, quit bothering him.

FATHERI know, Quinn. It’s a supposed to be a big secret. But we all know, don’t we? Worst kept secret around, eh?

ABRANI haven’t, sir.

FATHERI’m not angry with you. You don’t have to tell me. Eat your cucumber.

(Abran takes a slice and nibbles at it.)

5.

ABRANDelicious. Thank you.

FATHER(singing)

“High on a hill stood a lonely goatherd / Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo / Loud of the voice of the lonely goatherd / Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo!”

QUINNHe doesn’t know the song.

FATHERThe way I sing it, probably not! Ha! I’ve got no voice at all. Christina’s got the voice in our family. She’d fill this house with music. It was something to hear, Abranito. Morning to night. Music makes life worth living. Sometimes I hear the goatherds singing out in the fields. Makes my heart swell with pride. Do you sing, Abranito?

ABRANNo, sir.

FATHERYou should! Even with my creaky voice, I’ll starting humming a tune and my work goes twice as quick. You can’t be sad singing a song. We haven’t had music in this house since Christina. We’ve got a grand piano in the next room and no one plays it. Maybe you’ll start singing for us.

QUINNYou don’t have to sing.

FATHERWho was our old man who used to sing for us? Right outside that window.

QUINNI don’t remember.

FATHEROf course you do. He would sing on your birthday every year.

6.

(MORE)

He always remember my children’s birthdays. Better than I did, to be honest. Like family.

QUINNHow old are you, Abranito? I suppose no one asks you that.

ABRANSeventeen.

FATHERWhat’s that? Sixteen?

ABRANSeventeen.

QUINNSeventeen, father.

FATHERA year older than Quinn. You must be a junior in school.

ABRANNo sir. I am here.

FATHERWill you do military service?

QUINNI don’t think he’ll be called.

FATHERWhy not? He looks like he could fell an oak.

QUINNHe won’t. No need to make much of it.

FATHERSo much the better for us. A strong boy like him, “fell an oak”, I said? So much the better for us. Let’s hope you don’t let any goats escape, eh?

QUINNI’ll do my military service after my studies are completed.

7.

FATHER (CONT'D)

FATHEREvery American should enlist. One and all. We can be proud of those boys.

ABRANYes. Everyone must do his service.

FATHERYour English is excellent, I must say. That’s remarkable! You know the joke about Americans, right, Abranito?

ABRANNo, sir. I don’t.

FATHERSurely, you know the joke. You can’t fool me. Make fun of the blanco while his back is turned.

ABRANI would never.

FATHERIt’s all right. There’s no shame in it. Keeps us from getting a swelled head, keeps us in our place. Who are we if we can’t stand a little kidding?

QUINNHe said he doesn’t.

FATHERIf you speak three languages, you are called “multi-lingual”. If you speak two languages, you are called “bi-lingual”. If you speak one language, you are called “American”! Good one, don’t you think?

QUINNHe doesn’t get it.

FATHEROf course he does.

QUINNHe didn’t laugh.

8.

FATHERLaughter is so important. It opens up the heart, a big loud laugh. Some say it’s a sign of weakness: to laugh. Not me. The world is an absurd place, why should we not laugh at it?

QUINNSome of us born landowners...

FATHERBut we’re all here together, sharing this world. Bringing people together is not a hardship, no. It’s a blessing. Familia esta una bendición. (Father lisps out his ‘th’.) Is that right, Abranito?

ABRANSi, senor. Es.

FATHERQuinn never learned any Spanish. When you’re out amongst your workers, you can’t help but learn a little. Your English is quite good. Quite passable. Quinn knows his Latin though. Has a knack for it. Reads it and writes it fluently. Say something in Latin.

QUINNI don’t want to.

FATHERBoth Romance languages. When you know Latin, you can speak to anyone in the world. Except the Chinese. That’s a whole ‘nother kettle of fish.

(Quinn rises and moves to the DS windows.)

FATHER (CONT’D)Quinn! Lunch will be served any moment.

(Quinn takes out a cigarette and lights it.)

QUINNI’ll put it out when it comes.

9.

FATHERCigarettes are for after lunch.

QUINN(offering him a cigarette)

Abran?

FATHER(after a pause)

Well, help yourself, Abranito. Lunch is dragging its feet today. At this rate, the lunch dishes will still be on the table when dinner is served. Excuse me, young gentlemen.

(Father rises and exits. Abran takes the offered cigarette and the boys smoke together in silence.)

QUINNYou can go if you would like. I’ll tell my Father you had to go.

ABRANI do not want to make your father unhappy.

QUINNHe doesn’t understand that it would embarrass you. He doesn’t understand that you don’t care for all this. He doesn’t know you’ve never been to Boston or anywhere - how could he ask that?

ABRANIt was kind of him to ask.

QUINNYou don’t have to say that.

ABRANYour home is lovely.

QUINNHe is a lout and a brute.

ABRANIf you say so.

QUINNHe cals you Abranito. Like his child. Or a pet.

10.

ABRANI do not mind.

QUINNMy father sees nothing. He thinks I’m to be a notary.

ABRANThat is a fine job. A notary.

QUINNMy brother is going to be the notary. Not me. He can’t keep it straight in his head. He calls me Patrick more than my own name.

ABRANI have a brother. In Mexico.

QUINNThen you know it’s no picnic.

ABRANI see.

QUINNNo matter. I’m glad you’re here, but you don’t have to stay.

ABRANYour father invited me. I wouldn’t want him to come back and be gone.

QUINNHe wouldn’t notice. He’s so wrapped in himself.

ABRANI’d want to say thank you.

QUINNFor a plate of cucumbers. What a generous soul. And if he can’t remember my name, how will he remember that he let the goatherd eat from his fields? First time he spots you in there munching away, he’ll get a stick. All his promises forgotten. You’ll be lucky if you leave with only bruises.

ABRANI bring my own food to the field. I have soup in a can.

11.

QUINNYou should. Be happy with soup in a can, because when you’re through, you can throw the can away.

ABRANI should stay.

QUINNI want you to stay. I want you to see the man you’re working for. My God, I want you to stay. Let my Father make a fool of himself with his airs of friendship and warmth. It’s all an act.

(Quinn puts out his cigarette.)

QUINN (CONT’D)You are like someone opened a window, letting some fresh air in. My father thinks he’s a friend to the people, but he’s a lout. Don’t you agree?

ABRANI don’t know, Mister Quinn.

QUINNAnd drop the Mister. It’s Quinn. I’m Quinn and you’re Abran.

ABRANYes, sir.

QUINNYou’ll see soon enough. He’s putting on a big show for you, so you’ll go home and tell your family what a great man you work for. What a saint. But when winter comes, and it will come, when winter comes, and you find there’s no electricity, who will your family turn to for answers? Not my father, no, sir. They’ll look to you! Where is your great man now, Abran? Where is your saint?

ABRANMy family is not here.

12.

FATHER(re-entering)

There was a bit of confusion in the kitchen, but I’ve straightened it out with Cook. Nothing to fret about. Should be out any moment now. Look at you two, commiserating over in the corner like revolutionaries! Should I hide the silverware, Quinn?

QUINNWe’re just looking out the window, Father.

FATHERLook his face, Abranito! Like a criminal. Can’t tell when I’m joking. He’s a serious boy, isn’t he? What are you looking at?

ABRAN(staring out the window)

There’s a little boat on the ocean, I saw it. And two sailors who kept rowing and rowing. And then it passed behind the roof of a house and I couldn’t see it anymore.

QUINNHow can you see men in a boat from our windows? We’re too far away.

ABRANTwo men in a boat. Rowing and rowing. And there was a flag, too, the Stars and Stripes.

FATHERSuch an imagination! You must love books as much as my Quinn. But he only reads books filled with numbers and facts. A little boat, you say. I shall lend you a book.

(Father crosses to a bookcase SL and begins scanning the spines of the books.)

FATHER (CONT’D)What sort of stories are you interested in, my son? An adventure story, robbers and pirates? A book of maps? Come over and choose a title. Don’t be shy.

13.

(MORE)

You can take it with you. I won’t even miss it. They’ve stayed on the shelf too long. These books need eyes.

(Abran gingerly joins Father at the bookcase.)

FATHER (CONT’D)Pick any one you want. Go ahead.

(Abran takes a small green book off the shelf.)

ABRANThis will be fine. Thank you.

FATHERWhat’s that? Let me see the title? That’s a natural history book. You’ll die of boredom reading that. (Scanning the pages) It’s almost all pictures. Why, you probably know more about the trees and animals of the valley than the author does! There’s a book in your head already. That’s why I need folks like you around. Folks who know the land, without their nose in an almanac. These books are for old housewives like me and Quinn. We have to read what you already know.

ABRANThis will be fine.

FATHERSuit yourself, Abranito. Now you take good care of that book. It’s part of a set. The set’s no good without all the volumes.

ABRANI will. Thank you.

FATHERDon’t set it on the ground next to you while you’re out tending the goats. Don’t let a goat make it into his lunch! Ha! Those nasty goats will eat anything they get a mind to. A ocean of grass at their feet, and they’ll chew on your book just to spite you.

14.

FATHER (CONT’D)

(MORE)

Keep an eye on those rascals. And let’s hope you don’t let any goats escape, eh?

ABRANI won’t, sir.

FATHERTake another.

QUINNOne’s fine, Father.

FATHERWhat’s wrong? I used to read several books at time. Everywhere I went in this house growing up, a trail of books.

QUINNHe’ll have to carry it home.

FATHERWe can get someone to go with him. Quinn will help.

ABRANThe one book is fine, thank you.

FATHERWell, when you’ve finished that one, come and get another one. We are like a family here. I have no more right than anyone to take more than my share. I have more books that I could read in my lifetime. A dozen lifetimes!

ABRANI will keep it safe.

FATHERSee that you do. You have a place in your home to keep it.

(A silence.)

ABRAN(after a silence)

I share a room, sir.

QUINNHe lives in the huts at the edge of the field.

15.

FATHER (CONT'D)

FATHERWell, no matter. No matter at all. I’m sure you’re a careful young man. Certainly intelligent. That’s why you were hired.

QUINNThey sleep in one room.

FATHERI know that, Quinn. No need to embarrass him. It’s why I’ve asked him in. No need for some to have all and not share. God has blessed us, truly, and it would be a sin not to share with others. Particularly those who all share the land. I helped build those huts, Quinn. No need to lecture me.

QUINNI’m not lecturing.

FATHERYou must think we squabble all the time, Abranito! A couple of hens clucking at one another. Far from it. Family is all we have. Myself, Quinn here, Patrick, Christina.

QUINNShe doesn’t live with us anymore.

FATHERBreaks my heart in two. She was born very ill. Almost dead, but she survived. Every day was a struggle for her here in the house. The doctors said she needed to go away and rest, and away she went. Every day I pray to hear word that she can come home. I even keep a chair at the table, the one you’re using, ready for her return. Her room is just how she left it.

QUINNWe will visit her next month.

16.

FATHERShe can’t have too much excitement. She used to look out those windows there - the ones you two were looking out when I came in. Hours she’d spend there, staring.

ABRANYour garden is beautiful.

FATHERKeep the goats out and they’ll stay that way, am I right?

QUINNThe goats don’t come down to the house, Father.

FATHERBecause we don’t let them down here. They stay in the fields.

QUINNUnless you bring one into the house.

FATHERYou’re ridiculous, Quinn. You’re misbehaving on purpose just to show off. Your hunger has gone to your head.

ABRANI must go now.

FATHERBut you mustn’t! Pardon my lack of hospitality. Lunch will out soon. Enough. Cook knows if I have to go back in that kitchen...

QUINNCook is not lazy.

FATHERSays the boy who sits at the table and reads the paper all day.

QUINNI know what’s happening in the world, Father.

17.

FATHERYou know very little, Quinn. Markedly little. The newspaper tells you what it wants. Stories about lottery winners and shark attacks. Our new friend here knows what’s happening in the world. He’s got the land under his fingernails. We treat them how we ourselves want to be treated. Bringing them into our home.

QUINNYou treat Cook horribly.

FATHERCook is not a good worker. Lunch should already be over, and my guest has been waiting.

ABRANI do not need anything.

FATHERNo, no. Guests in my home are treated with respect and courtesy. I would expect nothing less. Do not sell yourself short, Abranito. Do not let your station determine who you are. Take nothing less. When I was young, I expected nothing less. I scratched and clawed to have this home. And you have the same dreams, the same goals. All of us do.

QUINNCook has been with us for years.

FATHERLaziness is no virtue. All my children work. They enter the service. Perhaps I spoil you too much. Too many handouts.

QUINNChristina did not work.

FATHERShe could not work. But she brought something to our home. She brought joy and music. Everyone on our land loved her like a sister.

18.

QUINNDo you think I don’t miss her too?

FATHERArguing again! What you must think! We have food, fine clothes, a lovely home, shelves full of books, and still we argue. There’s no pleasing us, I suppose. No wonder you make fun of the blancos.

ABRANI must go. Thank you for the book. For everything.

FATHERThis is most embarrassing. Please accept my deepest apologies, Abranito. Quinn, show him to the front door. It can be quite a maze if your don’t know the way.

ABRANI can find it. Thank you again.

FATHERDon’t forget. If you ever want to join us again, please feel free. My door is open, as I hope I yours would be to me and my family. We are all part of the same family, the same land.

QUINNStay and have lunch with us. Please.

ABRANThank you for the conversation and the cigarette. I must get back to work.

FATHERI like that, Quinn. Lunch is late, just can’t wait. Work to be done. If I had a hundred of you, I’d be the richest man in the Valley. Twice as rich.

ABRANGood bye, Mister Quinn. Goodbye, sir.

(Abran exits. Quinn returns to the paper. Father sits.)

19.

FATHERWhat were you telling me about? In the paper.

QUINNNothing. (Beat.) A bank robbery.

FATHERYes. Right. The Hannorans.

QUINNAbran said he could see a boat on the Gulf. Out our windows.

FATHERThat’s nonsense. The sea is too far away.

QUINNThat’s what I said.

(BLACKOUT)

20.