mátame

ACT TWO, SCENE FIVE

(enter ELIZA, ALBERT & CLAIRE )

in the main bedroom a blonde woman in a aquamarine blue dress fixes her makeup while her children observe her, bored as they are. she knows more than she lets on, there isn't a secret unknown to her; not even the bitter truths hidden behind the sweet taste of honey. her eyelashes are long and her words lack the proper intelligence to do something with what she knows, but she knows. my god, she know.

ELIZA this family is sick!

ALBERT oh, did someone catch a cold?

CLAIRE not everyone ―― father is nice, so are nathan and dulcinea.

ELIZA ah, hector, where's he? ―― i swear to god if he's smoking again i'm ――

ALBERT nathan was rude to me, said we aren't brothers.

ELIZA better that way, his hands are covered in red.

CLAIRE ―― what about dulcinea? she is sweet like honey.

ELIZA oh, honey, don't trust that girl, don't let her fool you. she's not what it seems ―― like mother, like daughter ―― she knows how to put on a scene.

CLAIRE what does that mean?

ELIZA her mother was a cold-blooded villain, do you think she is much different?

( there's a knock on the door, enter TOM )

TOM oh ―― hello, i don't believe we've been introduced. i'm tom.

ALBERT the peacock!

TOM ―― peacock?

ELIZA ignore him ―― you're handsome for someone your age ―― which is?

TOM nineteen.

ELIZA a little too old for dulce ―― don't you think?

CLAIRE and a little too young for you, mother.

ELIZA that isn't a bother ―― where were we? ah, yes. you and dulcinea, how was your first meeting?

TOM it was alright, his father was there.

ELIZA i don't know what for ―― frigid as she is, she wouldn't let you near.

ALBERT ―― what does frigid mean?

CLAIRE it's something cooked in hot oil.

TOM i doubt that the correct defi ――

ALBERT the peacock cooked dulce in hot oil!?

TOM that's not ――

ELIZA oh, my god. why don't you go bother hector?

ALBERT he's smoking in the yard with dulce.

CLAIRE and ginés is taking a nap, that old woman is cleaning the dishes and nathan is crying ―― everyone is busy.

ELIZA i don't care ―― go bother the dead.

ALBERT okay

( exit ALBERT )

CLAIRE wait ―― albert!

( exit CLAIRE )

ELIZA finally ―― now, what were you saying about that girl.

TOM why do you want to know?

ELIZA i love gossip ―― now tell me.

TOM there isn't much to say. i promised her a wedding gift.

ELIZA what is it?

TOM i can't say, it would ruin the surprise.

ELIZA oh, that's disappointing.

TOM but i do need to find dulcinea's brother ―― do you happen to know where he is?

ELIZA his room is at the end of the corridor, just follow the cries.

TOM ―― thank you.

ELIZA thomas ――

TOM yes?

ELIZA you are a nice boy ―― be careful, there's poison in the honey.

TOM i'm aware ―― don't worry mrs. belmonte, i know what i'm doing.

( exit TOM )