Autumn Leaves

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(looking of to the left) He’s not going to be able to see us

Yes he is.

From all the way over here?

You’ll be fine.

(looks weairly off in the distance) I told him not to get out of the car. Roger hates looking for me.

As long as he drives up Constitution, he’ll see us.

Maybe we should stand on the others side.

He’ll know where to look for you. He’ll see you.

I hate this.

What?

He could show up any minute. He could take an hour. Those damn meetings.

Trail mix? (Pause) Nature’s candy.

(Smiles and takes some) I miss Morgan, that’s all.

I know you do (Pause) There are flights going out all night. Let's have dinner together.

I thought we'd have dinner near the airport. Save some time. We heard about an Italian place that sounds great. It's just five minutes from-

I know the place. And it's over-rated, believe me. Chinatown's not far from here.

Chinatown?

No one ever died from a greasy egg roll.

Not yet.

Dinner in Georgetown, then. Down by the water it's terrific. Come on.

I've got to get back. I promised her I'd help her with her homework tonight.

What about your live-in? Can't you just call her and tell her you'll be late?

Morgan's having trouble with her spelling. I'm worried.

You're acting like a new mother.

And I supposed you have nothing to worry about now that the boys are what - fourteen ... fifteen?

They're ten and twelve.

Oh. (Pause) I thought you said this would just take a minute.

Sometimes it does. Sometime it-

I'm worried about Morgan.

What's to worry about? She'll be spelling for years.

Stop it! (Pause.) I need to get back to her. I need to get back home. I'm sorry.

Me, too. I shouldn't tell you how to worry. You know what you're doing.

I guess older sisters should always put their two cents in.

Even if younger sisters do tend to throw it right back.

And stick their tongues out. Don't forget about that. (she does so)

(they both laugh)

Harriet, let's get out of here. I know. I'll buy you a cup of coffee over at the National Gallery. We could take in a little of the Impressionists over some cappuccino. Come on. Monet and then some. How about it?

You can't drink in the Gallery.

(pause) I know. I meant - not at the same time. We'll look first, drink later. Like they do on the Champs Elysses

We're not in Paris (Pause.) If you want something - some coffee, hot chocolate - there's a vendor across the street.

From a truck? God knows where those filters have been. Let's go over to the Gallery. How about it? Come on. Let me give you a tour. Please, let's go inside.

Why do you wan to be inside on a day like today? November is never like this.

Are you kidding? This is cold for me.

Oh come on.

Harriet, I'm very uncomfortable. My lips are starting to chap.

Oh, please, Mommy. Please. Don't make me go in. I want to stay outside and play.

Oh, Harriet.

But I want to make angels in the snow. See? See how red my nose is turning. Please. I don't want to go inside. Don't make me. Please.

I do not whine anymore, I don't.

I remember. As soon as you got the go ahead - whoop! - you'd throw on your jacket and mittens and run outside. Ten below zero. You didn't care.

Is that right?

You were unstoppable. You loved the outdoors. Whatever it was. You had this thing about parking lots, I remember.

I did not.

Yes, you did.

(seriously.) Whatever you say. (silence)

You know, every time I come here, it's sunny. There'll be three feet of snow or the cherry blossoms'll be out. It's always sunny. But fall. Fall is my favourite time.

San Diego has no seasons. Morgan doesn't understand what fall is. Or winter. I wish I could explain it to her.

Here. Give her something tangible. Something she can touch.

(take the leaf.) Not this one, it's damp. (she drops it to the ground. pause.) So? Where is everybody?

What?

The guide book said it was a real tourist trap

Guide book.

yes.

Your "guide book" was probably referring to the crowd last week. Veterans day.

That's right.

It usually trickles off for a month or two after that.

I took Morgan shopping. We got this adorable little velvet number with a lace collar and brass buttons shaped like panda bears. You should see her in blue. Everything was on sale, too. Even the shoes.

Come on. Relax.

I can call Roger and tell him to come by the Gallery. He can pick us up right in front. I know he won't mind He's flexible.

Stay here. He will see you from the street. In that colour, he'll definitely see you. The pentagon can see you.

Hey!

Sorry. I like the shoes, though.

They're new. They hurt.

Why'd you buy them?

I was in the lobby this morning. I saw them in the window. They didn't look like they'd hurt.

They're just new. You need to break them in.

Not there. Concrete ruins the soles.

It's granite. Like the wall.

Marble's better. For the shoes. The floors over at the Gallery are marble.

But it's more then a mile to the Gallery.

I just want to get off my feet.

Take off your shoes if they hurt so much.

Don't be ridiculous.

Your stockings won't snare. They won't ever get dirty.

Please. I'm not going barefoot.

Stop thinking about your feet. You're obsessed.

I'm obsessed.

(Harriet puts her shoes back on and Sara looks away to her left).

Ah, remarkable.

What?

The monument. Now that I want Morgan to see. It's so-

Tall?

White. I was thinking "white." (she looks in the opposite direction.) stunning.

Do you know what they say?

About the Lincoln?

Yes. About the Lincoln.

Tell me, then.

The Lincoln is looking at the Capitol building but his gaze falls on the wall, first. He's looking at us, Sara

If we hurry, we can still make the Gallery. There's still time.

I thought you'd want to see this place. He's our only brother. (pause.) It was such big news around here. The quickest construction time for any monument in history. Eight months. A record. I mean, all those articles I sent you ...

Oh, yes. Thanks. It's been so long. I think they fell apart.

I should've mounted them for you.

It's ok

The dedication was so exciting. I wish you'd been here.

I couldn't get here.

You should've.

It was impossible. I wasn't going to drop everything and fly back here to watch someone to stick a shovel into the ground.

It was a groundbreaking ceremony. What do you expect? besides, it was a dedication I wanted you here for.

I'd only been out there six weeks. I still hadn't found a place to live. I was broke.

I offered to pay you fare.

I had three interviews that week. I couldn't leave.

It was a real event. History in the making.

(pause.) Well, it's good, then, I have some record of it.

I thought you said they fell apart.

What?

The articles, of course.

No. They didn't fall apart. I lost them. Yes. I forgot. I lost them. They got lost in a move.

How could you lose them?

A lot of papers got tossed around. Mine and Roger's both.

I'll send you copies of mine.

That's not necessary.

But i can.

It's all right.

It'll take me two minutes. I'll go down to Mark's office. I'll zip in. I'll zip out.

I tossed them, ok?

What?

I had just three days to pack up the house. I threw out a lot of stuff.

You just threw them away?

It's our third house. You do that much moving around, you don't hang on to things.

What's that got to do with it?

I just don't hang on to a lot of crap I don't need, Ok? (Pause.) I did read them. I did (Pause.) Don't give me that look. (Pause.)

There's something on your face. An eyelash, I think. (She reaches out to to touch it)

(sara quickly turn away, harriet looks straight out front, she is stunned) wow!

What is it?

I- I just didn't expect-

What?

My reflection... in black.

Isn't it beautiful? The granite is from India. It was polished in Vermont. And then sent to Tennessee. Thirty women sand-blasted the names into the stone.

Sara (Once again admiring her reflection. laughing.) very exotic, you know.

come on. (she beckons sara to move on)

(Sara winces in pain from the shoes)

I'm not kidding. these shoes aren't meant for hiking. Ooh!

(she hands Harriet the overnight bag.)

Hold this. (She starts fishing around in her purse.)

What are you looking for?

This receipt. I think they're the wrong size.

How could you buy the wrong size?

(still looking in her purse.) Those salespeople don't know anything. God-d*mn it!

(Harriet turns away and looks in front of her)
(Sara pulls several slips of paper from her purse searching for the right one.)

I've got another pair of heels in my bag for emergencies. So just bring these back and get the store to mail me another pair (pause.) Harriet? (pause.) Harriet?

(Sara notices Harriet closely examining the names in front of her)

What are you doing? Counting them?

Fifty-eight thousand one hundred fifty-six

My sister, the tour guide

I think I'd make a great tour guide.

I like going off on my own and exploring. When Roger and I were in Nice last year, I got up early one morning and hiked over this hillside about a mile from the hotel. I discovered this little village with fruit stands and push carts with hand-made dolls, and jewellery ... what a find! (Pause)

Let me tell you something. (Pause) Just one thing. Please?

Say it. Go ahead and say it.

It's about today. What today is. It's an anniversary.

Who's Yours? Well, Happy-

No, it's not mine (Pause.) It was Mike's big game.

What?

That's what I wanted to tell you. Today's the day he played the victory game. Today's the day he won.

So what are we doing? Celebrating?

It was in the paper.

So I was told.

Don't you remember? He took us along for the victory ride. In that hideous green Impala of his. That huge boat. Don't you remember?

I wasn't there.

What?

I wasn't there.

Weren't you?

No.

I thought you were (Pause. Well, I saved the newspaper. The sports section. It's got his picture, the score an an article on-

More articles? Forget about being a tour guide. You should start your own clipping service.

I've laminated everything and put together a scrapbook. I'll mail it to you.

It'll get lost. roger's mom is always mailing me packages. Half of them get lost.

I've never had a problem.

Well I have. Roger's mom bought Morgan this jewelry box with a turning ballerina, music and everything. I never saw it. I was calling the post office for weeks.

Don't worry. I'll send it registered.

You don't need to send the book, all right?

It's no problem, I can -

Forget the book, ok?!

"Robert R. Jeffries." What does that do for you?

What?

Does it do anything for you? It's a game I like to play.

I see

"Robert R. Jeffries." The name. How does it make you feel?

You sound like my therapist.

Just try. It's a common name. You must be able to associate it with something.

This is silly.

It's a game. The name is
Jeffies." Time's running out. Jeopardy tune

Uh ... Jeffries, Jeffries. Uh ... Morgan has a friend. Davey. His last name is Jeffries.

Davey Jeffries

Yes. Davey Jeffries.

Maybe he's related.

What?

It's just a thought. Maybe he's related.

Impossible. I've met his father. A young guy. He's alive too.

Maybe it's an uncle or something.

Kind of a long shot, don't you think?

I wonder if you knew him.

Who?

You know who. (Pause.) Michael.

And you're wondering if this "Robert R. Jeffries" knew him.

Maybe he did. Maybe they played cards together or shared a flashlight and a back issue of Newsweek.

Really, Harriet.

Or maybe one of them buried the other.

They brought them home, Harriet.

Look.

What?