Native Gardens 6

Good morning. Tania.

Good morning, Virginia. Frank.

Where’s Paula?

Paula is at work. I so wanted to apologize for what happened yesterday.

I should say so.

We wanted to all talk together…but then we got ahead of ourselves…and we didn’t handle the situation as…adroitly as we should have.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

You have been so gracious and kind. We didn’t mean for this to get tense.

Let Frank go through the competition this Sunday…and then we can revisit the issue.

But the fence people are here. I thought you wanted a nice wood fence to help you win? Because I think a fence-

I think a fence is imperative. But Tania, there needs to be a compromise about when, and maybe where.

Okay. So where do you think we should put the new fence?

Right where the old fence is!

That’s not much of a compromise.

When all the facts are in.

But I think all the facts are in.

We need more time. Please.

I don’t have it! We have a lot of other pressures and we need this fence in the right place as soon as possible. Frank can use all year to re-plan his garden for next year. I’m sorry.

I’m telling you: Organic gardens get eaten alive.

I know! That’s the point of organic gardens!!! I realize no one wants to be in this situation.

All we are asking for is a little more time…

And we don’t have that. We have this barbecue to throw on Staurday.

A barbecue?

It’s a very important line-in-the-sand barbecue.

You’re telling me you are going to destroy Frank’s flowers, his vision, and art, for a hamburger party!

It’s “BBQ Jacks” and it’s catered. This party is much more complicated than that…

This can’t be happening.

It’s for Paula’s law firm.

Oh no.

You understand…he has something to prove. We need this party. I know…this is very upsetting. But it seems that for years, for one reason or another, you have ended up taking-

-We have taken nothing-

-Obtaining part of the Whitefield lawn which belongs to us.

Obtaining?

I’m sorry, but we can’t let you…borrow…this land anymore. We need it.

And what are you going to do? Butcher it? Ruin my chances of this year of with the garden competition.

Frank, you’ve have many years to try to win with that garden. I only have this one chance to help my wife impress her partners. And the sooner we get this done. The sooner we can all get on with the healing process.

Healing process? What kind of mumbo jumbo is that?

It’s the process you go through when things don’t go your way.

Things will go our way.

Maybe not this time. My wife says the law is on our side.

Well, possession is nine-tenths of the law!

Really? Then every thief would use that as an argument.

Did you just call us thieves?

NO! NO. Not at all. I was just poking holes in your argument.

You are poking holes in Frank’s heart.

I feel caught in the middle. And I feel you are ganging up on me. Paula feels strongly-

It’s barbaric!

Barbaric? You think reclaiming what is ours…is barbaric?

Listen missy, I’m not sure that it is yours.

Frank, what are you doing? You can have a surveyor come out. He’ll just tell you what he told us.

If you gave us some time, but that seems impossible!

I’m sorry…it is pandemonium. We have the people here right now to help make this into something presentable. In a matter of two days it will all be over. And it will look good. And we can move on.

We have had you in our home. I thought we were going to be friends.

I want to be friends.

Like this?

I’m so sorry, Frank.

You are stressing him out!

Virginia, I don’t want to upset him…but I assure you, this fence…will make us better neighbors in the long run. Not-

You! Stop!

You aren’t their boss. I am.

How do you say STOP in Spanish?

You say, “Alto! Soy una pinche vieja.”

What did you say?

Nothing. Oh God.

Peter Paul and Mary! I could be your mother!

I should not use language like that.

I may not understand what you said but I hootin’ well know what you meant.

But you weren’t being kind either. You pushed all my buttons.