Walter Myers - Carmen

CARMEN

That you make me remember the girl I once was, the girl who believed in every dream that came her way, who used to roll the top of her skirts up outside of Saint Dominic’s, hoping the boys would notice her.

JOSÉ

You did go to Saint Dom’s.

CARMEN

In a way I did. I mean, it was me, but I wasn’t who I am now. I was just a little girl with wide eyes and teeny boobs. I was maybe softer inside than I am now.

JOSÉ

You are like a breath of fresh air to me, Carmen. My life has been just stupid for the last few months. First it was that kid-

CARMEN

I know about that, José. It was in La Prensa that you shot a boy who threatened you. But I know that’s not who you are. I know that.

JOSÉ

It really hurt to see the things they wrote about me in the papers.

CARMEN

Nobody wants to hurt another person.

JOSÉ

The thing with the boy-it happened so fast.

CARMEN

The thing?

JOSÉ

He came out of the shadows and…

CARMEN

(putting her fingers on his lips)

Don’t talk about it.

JOSÉ

I’ve been really depressed since it happened. I can’t sleep.

CARMEN

Let’s talk about us.

JOSÉ

Last night I tried to make my mind blank, just not think about anything. Then, in the morning, the air was all still and I reached over to get a glass of water and my hand touched the flower you gave me. You remember the flower?

CARMEN

You kept it? All this time?

JOSÉ

And suddenly the flower was more than just a flower. It was a promise that your soul had made to mine. I put the light on and took it in my hand, and the lightness of it just spoke of you. I put it to my lips and I could smell it, and it was as if you were near.

CARMEN

You speak very well, José. I’ve never been that good with words. They seem to only get in my way.

JOSÉ

Words are only tools, Carmen.

CARMEN, somewhat unsure of what JOSÉ is saying, stands and moves awkwardly away from him. He reaches for her and takes her wrist, and she turns to face him.

CARMEN

Dancing is a tool, too. Let me dance for you!

JOSÉ

Dance?

CARMEN

(brightly, changing the mood)

Yes, you’re the hero that kept me out of the slammer, and I’ll dance in your honor!

CARMEN begins to dance for JOSÉ. From time to time, he reaches for her swirling figure, but she moves away from him.

CARMEN

Look at me! Giddy as a schoolgirl. My body wants to move!

JOSÉ

You move your body, but you’ve captured my soul. We’ll be together from this moment on. From this very moment. Promise me. As the flower promised me.

CARMEN

(stops dancing and looks at JOSÉ)

José, my friends say that I’m taking a big risk.

JOSÉ

Take it, Carmen. I’m offering you my life.

CARMEN

(turning slightly away from JOSÉ)

José, why do you want me?

JOSÉ

Why? How can you ask a question like that? People look at you and they’re amazed. You’re the brightest star in their universe. People will look at us walking together and wonder what magic I performed to have you on my arm. They’ll know that together we’re somebody. That we’re special.

CARMEN

I don’t want to be that special. Just loved, José. I want to run and jump right into forever after. Does that make sense to you?

JOSÉ’s cell phone rings.

CARMEN goes over to him and puts her hand over the phone, which he now holds in his hand. JOSÉ turns as he answers the call.

JOSÉ

Yes?… Yes?… Of course! I’ll be there right away, sir.

CARMEN

What are you doing?

JOSÉ

They need me down at headquarters at once. It’s a big operation.

CARMEN

But I’m standing here promising you forever, and suddenly the phone rings and forever is put on hold.

JOSÉ

(checking his gun)

I have to go. I have no choice.

CARMEN

No choice? One minute you’re saying that you have no choice except to love me, and the next…

JOSÉ

This is my job.

CARMEN

(confused)

How can you-? Who are you? One minute you’re hopelessly in love, and… and the next minute you’re leaving?

JOSÉ

(roughly)

Be sensible! I have to go!

CARMEN

(emulating a ringing phone)

Brrring! Brrring! Calling all mice! Calling all mice!

Brrring! Brrring! There are crumbs on the carpet for you!

JOSÉ

You don’t understand, Carmen.

CARMEN

Yes, yes, you’re right. I don’t understand. And I don’t understand how I let myself fall in love again! What was I thinking?

JOSÉ

A man must do his duty, no matter what.

ZUNIGA enters. He is tipsy. His collar is unbuttoned, and he is carrying a brown paper bag that probably holds a bottle of liquor.

ZUNIGA

Carmen! I thought you might still be here. I was thinking about you all evening. Come sit with me. You old enough to drink wine? We could go someplace.

JOSÉ

Carmen doesn’t need a drink from you.

ZUNIGA turns slowly and eyes JOSÉ with contempt.

ZUNIGA

You still running around the city? When’s your hearing? Next week? Then you’ll be gone from the force forever, and maybe they can even give you some jail time for letting a prisoner escape. They’ll love you on the cell block. Now, get back to the precinct. They must have some wastebaskets that need to be emptied.

He puts his arm around CARMEN.

JOSÉ

(angrily)

Don’t tell me what to do! I am as much man as you are!

Curious about the shouting, DANCAIRO, RAIMONDO, and ANGEL enter from the back room.

ZUNIGA

(shouting)

You? A man? You’re a boy who occasionally dresses in the uniform of a man. Now, get out of here before I lose my temper!

JOSÉ

Go ahead: lose it!

ZUNIGA slaps JOSÉ, and for a minute the two men grapple. Then ZUNIGA throws JOSÉ to the ground.

ZUNIGA

Look at you! Lying on the floor like the child you are! See how all your friends stare at you-wondering if you have the nerve to stand up again.

CARMEN

(to both men)

Stop it! What are you doing?

JOSÉ

(pulls out his gun)

Watch your mouth, man!

ZUNIGA

Why, you going to mug me, lover boy?

JOSÉ fires, and ZUNIGA stiffens as he is grazed in the arm, then draws his own weapon.

CARMEN

(to JOSÉ)

Oh, my God! What have you done? We’re not murderers, you fool! Put that gun away!

RAIMONDO rushes over to ZUNIGA and gently pushes his gun down as DANCAIRO signals JOSÉ to calm down.

RAIMONDO

Sergeant, twenty thousand dollars! You forget this whole incident, and I’ll bring twenty thousand in small bills. I can have the money by noon tomorrow. Come on, man. You’ve taken money before. This is twenty thousand!

ZUNIGA

(angry but still greedy)

Twenty thousand dollars. Small bills. I’ll forget this incident but not this fool! No way I forget him.

DANCAIRO and RAIMONDO escort ZUNIGA out.

JOSÉ

(standing)

What have I done? My career is finished.

CARMEN

You shoot a man because he disses you? How stupid is that? I look at you and I don’t know who you are! When I saw your picture in the paper, I thought I recognized someone from when I was a girl. But now I don’t recognize you at all!

JOSÉ

Oh, God! Look, Carmen, I love you, but right now I have to think. I just know my career is wrecked.

CARMEN

What did the boy do? Did he look at you wrong, too?