SCENE 2. The same quiet night. Rosary stands at the doorway of Christine's
room, gazing at the angel, when Sato surprises her from behind.
SATO
Hey.
ROSARY
God, you scared me.
SATO
You know, you are beautiful, Rose.
ROSARY
Didn't I tell you to stop with that shit? I know what you see: average woman, who'll just eat up everything to say like it's the sweetest thing she ever tasted. An easy target. But look, I'm not going to be the fool twice, and I'm insulted that you think I look that stupid. [sighs] Why are you even here?
SATO
I'm sorry.
ROSARY
[is silent]
SATO
But it's not really like you said. It's not really like that. It may have been that way before, but now...it's different.
ROSARY
[is silent, because to her, it's just another line. He's still a smooth-talker]
SATO
Really.
ROSARY
Hm.
SATO
I - I really meant what I said earlier. I don't claim to have miraculously exorcised the horny bastard out of me overnight, but I'd curb my hyperactive sex drive for you. [pause] I love you.
[Silence, followed by a kiss, unsuccessful.]
ROSARY
I thought you were curbing your sex drive.
SATO
Kisses don't count.
ROSARY
I know what you were thinking.
SATO
I wasn't.
ROSARY
[sighs again, wishing she could believe him] Whatever. I should put Kevin to bed now. It's nearly an hour past his bedtime.
SATO
He's been put.
ROSARY
[with a look of disgust] Goddamn it, can't you just stop this?
SATO
Stop what?
ROSARY
You know.
SATO
I don't. I'm helping you.
ROSARY
You are not. God, you think you always know what to say, what to do, don't you? But to me, you're still just a sweet-talking asshole. And you know, that's what I fucking hate about you. My mind does not appreciate being toyed with.
SATO
[with genuine hurt] Why don't you trust me?
ROSARY
Give me one reason why I should.
SATO
I love you.
ROSARY
And how am I supposed to believe that? I'm the one who was used. How can I trust you? Answer me that, Sato.
SATO
[and for once, he's speechless]
ROSARY
[whispered] Answer that one for me, David.
SATO
[looks down at his shoes to hide the tears] I - I'm sorry.
ROSARY
Goddamn. Don't you understand that it's not enough just to be sorry? When you say 'I love you,' you mean it. You just don't know what that might mean to someone. And for chrissakes, you don't take advantage of someone when they're low. [her voice quavers with anger] Now would you please -- would you please get out of my house.
SATO
But --
ROSARY
[her voice rises and breaks, and she forgets about the sleeping children] But what? My sister is in the hospital dying and you --
[Enter eight year-old, wide-eyed boy]
KEVIN
Mom...Mom's going to...? [his eyes fill with tears]
ROSARY
[her voice shakes with worry, anger, and fear]For chrissakes, Sato, I thought you put him to bed.
SATO
[pushes back all semblance of emotion, and looks up] I did.
KEVIN
I couldn't sleep, and then I heard you guys...
ROSARY
Sweetie...Oh, God...[looks to the smooth-talker for assistance]
SATO
[kneeling down, looking Kevin in the eye] Look...how old are you?
KEVIN
Eight.
SATO
All right, then. You're practically a man. Well, an adolescent at least. So I'm going to level with you, okay?
KEVIN
[gives a tentative nod]
SATO Your mother...she has a disease. But you knew that, right?
KEVIN
[nods again]
SATO
Well, this disease she has, it's really hard for her to get better. And it might not happen. Actually, it probably won't happen, and you, you're going to have to deal with it, whatever the outcome. Whatever happens -- and I know this is tough -- you'll handle it -- I know you will -- because you're a good kid. Just listen to your dad and your aunt; they know what's good for you. All right? You got that?
KEVIN
[nods slowly]
SATO
Good. I'm sorry if I put too much out there at once. Maybe you should get to bed and leave your aunt and me to finish some business [eyes Rosary].
KEVIN
I can't sleep.
SATO
Well, um, how about some ice cream?
KEVIN
Ice cream?
SATO
Yeah, why not? You wouldn't want that?
KEVIN
No -- I mean, yes -- I mean...I want ice cream.
SATO
What are we waiting for?
ROSARY
Not too, much, Kevin, or you won't be able to sleep at all.
SATO
[whispered to Kevin] Now I know I told you to mind your aunt, but this one time, you can have as much as you want.
ROSARY
[playfully arches an eyebrow. She's falling for the sweet-talker again] Wha--?
SATO and KEVIN
Nothing.
ROSARY
Hmph. Sure. You boys have fun. I'm going to bed, 'cause Auntie's sleepy. Sato, you can show yourself out, I hope. I expect you to. And don't keep Kevin up too late.
SATO
Yes, m'love.
ROSARY
[glares]
SATO
[grins] Come on, Kev, let's get our eat on. Say goodnight to your lovely aunt.
KEVIN
Goodnight, Auntie.
ROSARY
Goodnight, Kevin. Goodnight, [coughsweettalkingassholecough].
[And then she grins and makes her exit.]
SATO
Hey.
ROSARY
God, you scared me.
SATO
You know, you are beautiful, Rose.
ROSARY
Didn't I tell you to stop with that shit? I know what you see: average woman, who'll just eat up everything to say like it's the sweetest thing she ever tasted. An easy target. But look, I'm not going to be the fool twice, and I'm insulted that you think I look that stupid. [sighs] Why are you even here?
SATO
I'm sorry.
ROSARY
[is silent]
SATO
But it's not really like you said. It's not really like that. It may have been that way before, but now...it's different.
ROSARY
[is silent, because to her, it's just another line. He's still a smooth-talker]
SATO
Really.
ROSARY
Hm.
SATO
I - I really meant what I said earlier. I don't claim to have miraculously exorcised the horny bastard out of me overnight, but I'd curb my hyperactive sex drive for you. [pause] I love you.
[Silence, followed by a kiss, unsuccessful.]
ROSARY
I thought you were curbing your sex drive.
SATO
Kisses don't count.
ROSARY
I know what you were thinking.
SATO
I wasn't.
ROSARY
[sighs again, wishing she could believe him] Whatever. I should put Kevin to bed now. It's nearly an hour past his bedtime.
SATO
He's been put.
ROSARY
[with a look of disgust] Goddamn it, can't you just stop this?
SATO
Stop what?
ROSARY
You know.
SATO
I don't. I'm helping you.
ROSARY
You are not. God, you think you always know what to say, what to do, don't you? But to me, you're still just a sweet-talking asshole. And you know, that's what I fucking hate about you. My mind does not appreciate being toyed with.
SATO
[with genuine hurt] Why don't you trust me?
ROSARY
Give me one reason why I should.
SATO
I love you.
ROSARY
And how am I supposed to believe that? I'm the one who was used. How can I trust you? Answer me that, Sato.
SATO
[and for once, he's speechless]
ROSARY
[whispered] Answer that one for me, David.
SATO
[looks down at his shoes to hide the tears] I - I'm sorry.
ROSARY
Goddamn. Don't you understand that it's not enough just to be sorry? When you say 'I love you,' you mean it. You just don't know what that might mean to someone. And for chrissakes, you don't take advantage of someone when they're low. [her voice quavers with anger] Now would you please -- would you please get out of my house.
SATO
But --
ROSARY
[her voice rises and breaks, and she forgets about the sleeping children] But what? My sister is in the hospital dying and you --
[Enter eight year-old, wide-eyed boy]
KEVIN
Mom...Mom's going to...? [his eyes fill with tears]
ROSARY
[her voice shakes with worry, anger, and fear]For chrissakes, Sato, I thought you put him to bed.
SATO
[pushes back all semblance of emotion, and looks up] I did.
KEVIN
I couldn't sleep, and then I heard you guys...
ROSARY
Sweetie...Oh, God...[looks to the smooth-talker for assistance]
SATO
[kneeling down, looking Kevin in the eye] Look...how old are you?
KEVIN
Eight.
SATO
All right, then. You're practically a man. Well, an adolescent at least. So I'm going to level with you, okay?
KEVIN
[gives a tentative nod]
SATO Your mother...she has a disease. But you knew that, right?
KEVIN
[nods again]
SATO
Well, this disease she has, it's really hard for her to get better. And it might not happen. Actually, it probably won't happen, and you, you're going to have to deal with it, whatever the outcome. Whatever happens -- and I know this is tough -- you'll handle it -- I know you will -- because you're a good kid. Just listen to your dad and your aunt; they know what's good for you. All right? You got that?
KEVIN
[nods slowly]
SATO
Good. I'm sorry if I put too much out there at once. Maybe you should get to bed and leave your aunt and me to finish some business [eyes Rosary].
KEVIN
I can't sleep.
SATO
Well, um, how about some ice cream?
KEVIN
Ice cream?
SATO
Yeah, why not? You wouldn't want that?
KEVIN
No -- I mean, yes -- I mean...I want ice cream.
SATO
What are we waiting for?
ROSARY
Not too, much, Kevin, or you won't be able to sleep at all.
SATO
[whispered to Kevin] Now I know I told you to mind your aunt, but this one time, you can have as much as you want.
ROSARY
[playfully arches an eyebrow. She's falling for the sweet-talker again] Wha--?
SATO and KEVIN
Nothing.
ROSARY
Hmph. Sure. You boys have fun. I'm going to bed, 'cause Auntie's sleepy. Sato, you can show yourself out, I hope. I expect you to. And don't keep Kevin up too late.
SATO
Yes, m'love.
ROSARY
[glares]
SATO
[grins] Come on, Kev, let's get our eat on. Say goodnight to your lovely aunt.
KEVIN
Goodnight, Auntie.
ROSARY
Goodnight, Kevin. Goodnight, [coughsweettalkingassholecough].
[And then she grins and makes her exit.]