JUNE WEDDINGS By Barbara Hammond (a one-act play)

A corner bar in Washington Heights.  It is eleven thirty in the morning on the first Saturday in June.  The blinds are raised and sunlight is streaming in. 

Johnny (the bartender) takes his breakfast out of a paper bag.  He’s reading the Daily News and listening the the horse race on the radio.

A cowbell clangs over the door as Sonja enters.  She is Russian.  Dressed for the summer day.

SONJA            Good morning, handsome.

JOHNNY            Morning, Moscow.

He pulls another shade down.  She takes off her sunglasses.  He turns off the radio.

JOHNNY            What will you have?

SONJA            Champagne.

JOHNNY            Breakfast.

SONJA            Yeah.

Johnny takes an airplane-size bottle of champagne, unscrews the cap and pours it into a glass.

JOHNNY            Last night --

SONJA            Just pour and leave me alone, sweetie.

Sonja takes out a thick novel and reads.

JOHNNY            What have you got there today?

SONJA            Book.

JOHNNY            What’s it about?

SONJA            Oh, you wouldn’t understand, baby.

JOHNNY            That’s not even English.

SONJA            No it’s not.  Shhh.

He offers to pour some of his orange juice into her glass.  She puts her hand over it to stop him.  RJ enters. 

Takes off his suit jacket, loosens his tie.

RJ                        Man, do I need a drink.

JOHNNY            Texas.

RJ                        Johnny.

JOHNNY            Didn’t expect to see you today.

RJ                        Just stopped by for a quick one.

JOHNNY            Are they happy?

Johnny pops open a beer.

RJ                        They looked all right.

JOHNNY            Good to hear it.

RJ goes to his wallet for money.

JOHNNY            On me.  You’re gonna have that out a hundred times today.

RJ                        You’re telling me.

JOHNNY            Congratulations.

RJ                        Thanks.   Thanks a lot.

Johnny leaves.

SONJA            Congratulations.

Not looking up from her book, she raises her glass to RJ.    He clinks her glass with his beer.

RJ                        Thanks.

He takes a long drink.  She reads. 

SONJA            For what?

RJ                        Excuse me?

SONJA            For what the congratulations?

RJ                        My son.

SONJA            You should have a cigar.

RJ                        Married.  He got married this morning.

SONJA            Really.

RJ                        Uh-huh.

SONJA            Beautiful.

RJ            It sure was.  Right up the hill at the Cloisters.  In the garden with all the flowers.  Smelled like lilacs. You been up there?

SONJA            I been up there.

RJ            Didn’t know there were places like that in New York City.  Hot, though.  Muggy.  I perspired right through this --

SONJA            Very early for a wedding.

RJ                        It’s not over.  I”m on a break.

He notices she has gone back to reading and has stopped listening to him.

RJ                        Hey John! 

Johnny puts his head out.  As RJ speaks, Sonja finally looks up from her book.

RJ                        Set me up? 

He motions for another beer.

RJ                        I have to go over my speech before the meal - what do they -- the reception.  What time is it?

JOHNNY            Almost noon.

RJ                        Shit, I gotta --

RJ starts to pull his jacket back on.

SONJA            It’s eleven thirty.  You have time.  Relax.

Sonja pulls at his suit.

He lets her guide his jacket off.  He arranges it carefully on the back of a barstool closer to her.

Johnny watches this as he opens another beer.

SONJA            He must be a baby.

RJ                        Not anymore.

He takes another drink.

JOHNNY            Slow down, Texas.

SONJA            Texas?

RJ                        The guys here made that up the other night.  I’m not even --

SONJA            I like it.

RJ                        Well, okay, then. 

(to Johnny)            Nobody’s here.

JOHNNY            It’s early.

RJ                        Is there a game this afternoon?

JOHNNY            Yankees.

RJ                        Playing?

JOHNNY            Detroit.  I think.  Or Cleveland.

SONJA            Cleveland.

RJ                        I might stop by -- when it’s all over.  A reception can’t last more than, what -- two, three hours?

JOHNNY            You know where we are.

Johnny leaves again.  He’s doing inventory, sweeping up, getting ready for the day to come.

SONJA            So what was it like?

RJ            It was a wedding.  There was a lot of hassle all week, everyone flying in, nobody married to anybody they used to be.  And I’m in a sleeping bag on the floor two in-laws down from my ex-wife.

SONJA            How was the speaking, the walk down the aisle?

RJ                        Fine.  Fine.  It was all fine.

SONJA            Is she pregnant?

RJ            Naw.  Nothing like that.  She’s in school.  They wanted so bad to live in New York.  Gotta hand it to them.  They did it. 

This thing -- today -- totally planned out.  They had matching gloves.

SONJA            Your son and his wife?

RJ                        The girls. Dyed to match their dresses.

SONJA            What color?

RJ                        I don’t know -- it’s called pastel, they said.

SONJA            Hmm.

RJ                        Nothing wrong with pastel -- it’s just the whole -- show.

SONJA            So you slept with your ex-wife?

RJ                        In the same room. 

SONJA            Do you still want to fuck her?

RJ                        Excuse me?

SONJA            I never want to again after I break up.  Only sometimes in dreams I fuck them but only if I’ve been -- very lonely.

She tapers off.

SONJA            I wondered if you still thought about it.

RJ                        No.  I don’t.

SONJA            Never?

RJ                        Never.

SONJA            Very odd.

RJ                        So is she.

SONJA            But at one time, she drove you wild.

RJ                        Is that any of your business?

SONJA            You’re in New York with no one to keep you company.

RJ                        My son.

SONJA            He’s busy.

My place looks over the river.  I see Mr. Washington’s bridge every night -- all lit up and no place to go.  You want to see it?

RJ                        I’m leaving tomorrow.

SONJA            That’s too bad.

RJ                        You ought to be careful, you know, talking like that--

SONJA            Maybe it’s the suit.  I love a man in a suit. 

RJ                        Oh.

SONJA            It’s a nice view.  Nobody has a view in New York.  But mine is spectacular.

RJ                        Well.  That’s quite an accent.

SONJA            I’m from Moscow.

RJ                        How’d you get here?

SONJA            I was thirsty.

RJ                        I mean, America.

SONJA            I have friends in high places.

RJ                        Can I buy you -- what are you drinking?

SONJA            Champagne.

RJ                        Johnny, can I get -- what’s your name?

SONJA            Sonja.

RJ                        Sonja.  That’s pretty.  Can I get Sonja here a glass of champagne?

SONJA            With a schnapps, honey, okay?

Johnny looks to RJ for approval of the double order, pours, unscrews the top, just breaking the seal, and leaves it on the bar beside Sonja.

JOHNNY            He’s got a wedding to go to.

SONJA            I know.  He knows.

RJ                        I don’t have to be anywhere really until one.  I just wanted to be early, collect my thoughts.

SONJA            I can help you.

RJ                        This --

He points to the beer.

RJ                        --this is helping me.

SONJA            What about your speech?

RJ            I didn’t even know I had to give one.  Then my buddy, Kurt, he told me I did -- so I’ve been planning it.

SONJA            You should say it out loud -- in front of someone.

RJ                        Naw.  I don’t need to do that.  Do I?

SONJA            It’s a good idea.  I used to give speeches.

RJ                        Yeah, where?

SONJA            I was a dancer.

RJ                        Dancers give speeches?

SONJA            Sometimes.  If they’re singers too.

RJ                        You’re a singer?  You should meet my son.  He plays piano.

Sonja laughs.

SONJA            This is New York, baby. 

RJ            I just thought -- if you sing.  He’s been working all the time since he got here last year.  I don’t think he’s really playing enough.  I don’t think he’s satisfied.

SONJA            That’s sweet.

RJ                        I don’t want to see him frustrated.  Lose his drive.

SONJA            You got drive?

RJ                        Nah.  That’s why I want to see him use his.

SONJA            I like you.

RJ                        You’re a good-looking woman.

SONJA            Thank you.

RJ                        It’s just a fact.

She arches her back and tilts her head.

SONJA            Which part of me do you like best?

RJ looks away.

RJ                        Okay, I’m just being nice -- you don’t have to get all -- like that on me.

SONJA            What kind of drive you have, Texas, drinking this early in the morning?

RJ                        I’m in here ‘cause it’s a special occasion.

SONJA            Everyone in here knows you.

RJ            I’m a friendly guy.  I make a point of that.  I don’t know anybody and we’re all crowded in that -- it’s someplace to go, have a beer, watch a game.

What’s your occasion?

SONJA            Oh, honey, I don’t need to make up an occasion.

A brief pause.

SONJA            Does it make you feel old?  Your baby getting married?

RJ                        I felt old when he was born.  Now I am old.

SONJA            You’re the perfect age for a man to be.

RJ                        There’s a perfect age for a -- I never heard that one before.

SONJA            It’s true.  You’re at the height of your powers.

RJ                        No kidding.

SONJA            Do your speech.

RJ                        I have to read it over.

SONJA            Do that.  Then come over here and do it for me.

RJ                        What’s that?

SONJA            Like you’re saying it to everyone at the party.

RJ                        You don’t mind? 

SONJA            I want to hear it.

RJ                        Well, maybe.  Might be a good idea to say it out once.

SONJA            Okay.

RJ                        It’s not long.

SONJA            Good.  I mean, it’s better short.  And sweet.

He starts to walk off to look at the speech, then turns to her again.

RJ                        You’re not going to know any of the people I’m referring to.

SONJA            I don’t mind.

RJ                        All right.

He goes off into the corner, pulls a crumpled paper out of his pocket, skims it.  Sonja looks back down into her book.  He comes back.

RJ                        Ready?

He takes a deep breath.

Rj            I -- I want to thank everyone for coming here today from wherever they’re from to share in the celebration of Ben and Keisha’s wedding day.

He stops.

RJ                        Is that too formal?  I don’t want to sound like a dick.

SONJA            It’s nice.

RJ                        Okay. 

He breathes again.

RJ            As many of you know, Benjamin is my only child.  And there’s a whole lot of things a man thinks when his only child tells him he’s going to get married.  At first, I gotta admit, it feels like a kick in the head.

Now I don’t expect him to understand that, and I couldn’t have understood it ‘til I felt it, but -- well.  I raised Ben since he was a little boy.

I worked in a restaurant most of the time -- and he’d watch movies in the break room  -- and then driving home he’d tell me the whole story of what they were about.  And he was always supposed to finish up by the time we turned onto our street, but most times by then he was asleep, and I’d carry him into bed.  And that’s the sum total of what I know of all the movies that came out in the nineties, ‘cause I sure as hell didn’t get to see any on my own. 

And since he was four or five, he’d bring his checkerboard into my room and play on the floor ‘til I woke up to make him breakfast.  I woke up just the other morning hearing that click-click and looked down to see if he was there -- obviously, he wasn’t.  That’s just a couple of instances.

There’s a whole lot of folks involved in bringing up a kid, that makes him who he’s gonna be, and a lot of those people aren’t here today, and I wouldn’t even know how to find ‘em if I tried.  There was a crossing lady who used to give Ben a dime every Friday, and he made a stack of ‘em and wouldn’t ever spend ‘em.  Just stacked ‘em up on his dresser top.  Who the hell knows where she is now.

And this guy Bobby here, when Ben was in the first grade, he used to get Ben from school and make him a sandwich or a hotdog and hang out with him ‘til I got home.  Every day.  I found out, not too long ago, he gave up a job in Denver just to  -- I’d get in and they’d be, you know, playing blackjack or watching Nightmare on Elm Street or something equally inappropriate --.

And Marian, you know,every year, -- never fail -- she’d come up on Ben’s birthday and bake him a cake.  She made that cake we’re all about to eat.  Brought it in her suitcase all the way from home.

I didn’t know Ben was coming, and suddenly there he was.  And I thought everything about being a father was tough.  

Anybody who knows me -- women especially, are always complaining that I never show my feelings.  Or that I don’t have any.  But Ben -- he woke me up and taught me that I have a heart.  ‘Cause today is breaking it.

Raise your glasses to the couple --

There’s a pause.

SONJA            Texas?

RJ                        Yeah?

SONJA            It’s too long.

He’s deflated.

RJ            RJ.  My name is RJ. You think I was gonna say all that?  Nah.  That was just notes.  I’ll take most of it out. 

SONJA            And the end --

RJ            -- I just thought -- a joke at the end.  ‘Cause every time I practice I get a little choked up and I want to avoid that at all costs.

Anyway, I appreciate that.  I appreciate your taking the time.

He thinks.

RJ                        I should lose the joke.

SONJA            Was there a joke?

RJ                        You didn’t want to laugh?

SONJA            No.

RJ                        Son of a bitch.  How should I end it then?

SONJA            Say you’re happy.

RJ                        Mmm -- Nah.

SONJA            Say you’re happy.  Welcome to the family.  Blah blah blah.

RJ                        I only met her last week.

SONJA            So what?

RJ            I can’t act like suddenly she’s -- special to me.  Someday I’ll feel that, not right away but someday maybe I will, and then I’ll say it. 

I don’t get it. 

I thought marriage was finished with the seventies.  And now, man -- 

White weddings in June with flower gardens and -- you know what I don’t get --

He motions for another beer.

RJ            -- regular folks acting like they’re royalty. Dressed up like kings and queens and drinking champagne--

RJ sees her champagne.

RJ            pardon me -- and attendants in gloves, and people waiting on them and driving them around in big flashy cars and  --- it’s stupid.  It’s beneath us, as -- the common man.  Common people.  No pride. 

SONJA            I love fairy-tale weddings.

RJ                        Women do.  I don’t know why. 

SONJA            Love, honey.  It’s all about love.

RJ                        You gotta be kidding me.

SONJA            My husbands were all very romantic.  All my weddings were special.

RJ                        I bet.

SONJA            They were.

RJ                        Why didn’t they last?

SONJA            Who cares?

RJ                        I wouldn’t call that -- success.

SONJA            Having three husbands who I was madly in love with is fabulous success.

RJ                        You put it that way, and --

SONJA            You love women?

RJ                        I don’t have anything against them.

SONJA            You like to make love?

RJ                        Sure.

SONJA            It’s an art, I think.

RJ                        What is?

SONJA            Love.  I could show you --

Johnny exits.

RJ                        Show me what?

SONJA            You can see the river from my bed, you know.  You can lay back in the pillows and watch the sun set.

RJ                        I don’t believe in all that crap.

SONJA            You’ve had a broken heart. 

RJ                        Nothing like that.  I’m just cold. 

She touches his hand.

SONJA            You’re not cold.

RJ            I can’t help feeling, when a woman is talking to me, that she’s just playing at something, ‘cause when she’s all mushy, I wonder who in the hell does she think she’s talking to.  -- it’s like how you’d talk to a baby or something.

SONJA            I love men.  So hard.  So big.  I don’t understand, you know, the kind of woman who can live without that pleasure.

RJ                        You sure you want to talk like that?

SONJA            I say what I feel.

RJ                        You can get in a whole lot of trouble using that kind of -- imagery on a guy in a bar.

SONJA            I like a man in a suit.  I go down to Bryant Park, behind the library on Forty-Second Street.  I go at lunchtime just to look at all those men in their suits.

RJ                        I haven’t worn a suit since my dad died.

SONJA            Such a good color.

RJ            I didn’t even have one.  My son took me down to this big warehouse down by Wall Street.  Like an airplane hangar full of suits.

SONJA            It fits so well.

RJ            Why’d they have to get married?  They’re both Americans.  They don’t even have a kid yet.  I wanted to say to him -- travel.  I did -- I said it to him.  Down at the suit place.  It’s the only time we’ve been alone since I got here.  And he said “We can travel together.”  And I said, what about, you know, messing around a little bit.  Not to push him but just -- he’s a young guy -- all that responsibility.

When I was his age I had a five-year-old kid.  If he wanted he could -- do stuff.  I couldn’t do anything.  A kid changes everything.  He plays piano.  He’s not gonna play anymore.  I know it.

SONJA            Maybe not.

RJ                        Oh, he won’t.  He used to have me there, pushing.  Without that.

SONJA            Maybe she’s pushing.

RJ                        Well, now, I don’t want him pussy-whipped -- hen-pecked.

SONJA            I don’t mind.

RJ            My hands are off the wheel now -- but I can’t help -- I’m not into any of this introspective shit -- that stuff drives me crazy.  

He can’t hide his emotion.

But I don’t want to lose him, you know. When it comes down to it, that’s what it is.

She hands him a cocktail napkin.

It’s not -- you raise a kid, you spend all this time with them, and you get him piano lessons and take him camping and show him things, teach him stuff you know, and it’s really fucking hard, but you do it, and then - what, they’re gone?  I -- again, fuck me, but it’s not natural. 

You don’t have children I bet.  You wouldn’t know what it’s like to lose a child.

A pause.

SONJA            I’ve had abortions.

RJ                        God.  That’s -- Yeah.  I had a -- snip-snip.

He makes a scissors motion.

SONJA            God.

RJ            ‘Cause it used to scare the shit out of me, afraid it would happen again so much that I -- couldn’t even -- you know - get it together -- for a while.  So I cut the cord.  Twenty-two years old.  Younger than he is now.

SONJA            My mother was very young when she had me.  She told me not to have the baby -- the first time.  I never saw her after I left Soviet Union.

RJ                        Never?

SONJA            Never.

RJ                        That’s a shame.

A pause.

RJ            Why don’t you come with me -- to the party?  It’s just a bunch of their friends from school, and my ex-wife, and Keisha’s parents and some cousins.  Come on.

SONJA            Don’t joke.

RJ                        It’s a party.  Some music, some toasting.  You can sing.

SONJA            No, honey. 

RJ                        Why not?

SONJA            You call me later if you want to come to my place.

RJ                        You afraid Ben will care?  He won’t care.

SONJA            You should go.

RJ            It’s so dark in here.  It’s twelve noon.  Go for a walk around the park.  Look at the flowers.  I like this place, but, man, it’s kind of -- gloomy, isn’t it?  This early? 

You gotta hit things just right for them to be -- it’s too early for a place like this.

SONJA            This is where I read.

RJ                        Why don’t you read in the park?

SONJA            So bright.  And I wouldn’t find you in park.

RJ                        Why would you want to find me?

A pause.  Sonja drinks.  Decides to open her book again.

SONJA            You.  Somebody else.  Whatever.

RJ                        But it’s Saturday and it’s summertime -- why don’t you go out and get some air?

SONJA            I am working.

She stares at him.  It finally dawns on him what she’s doing there.

RJ                        Oh.

Johnny sticks his head back in.

JOHNNY            You okay?

Sonja nods, sighs.

JOHNNY            Tex?

RJ                        I was just going.

Johnny leaves.  RJ has had time to take it all in.

RJ            Well, so what?  No law says you can’t take a couple of hours off and go to the park.  There’s nothin’ like that park anywhere I’ve lived.  Just makes everything seem real pretty.

SONJA            The light hurts my eyes.

RJ                        Go real early.

SONJA            I sleep late.

RJ                        Well, okay. 

She starts to light a cigarette.

RJ                        Should I take your number?

SONJA            Sure.

She holds the cigarette in her mouth and writes her number on the back of his hand.

SONJA            It’s a good speech, Texas.

RJ                        I don’t know if I’ll say all that.

SONJA            Say it like you said it to me.

RJ                        Those people are going to want to hear how terrific everything is, how perfect they all look --

SONJA            So what?

RJ                        It is their day...

SONJA            Days don’t belong to anyone.

RJ                        That’s true.

SONJA            They want you to be somebody else today, they’ll always want you to be somebody else.  And then it’s their week and then it’s their anniversary, and no one ever has to look anybody in the eye.

She takes the thick Russian novel she is reading and drops it onto the bar.

SONJA            They know it’s a lost cause.  It was over the day they dressed up like princes and drove up the hill to the park.

So don’t mind what they want to hear. Say your speech.

It’s how you really feel, baby.  And that’s all there is.

He’s moved.

RJ                        That’s good.  That’s right on.

A pause.

RJ                        You’re not just saying all this to get me in trouble?

A moment passes between them.

RJ            If you feel like coming by, you come by.  I’m sure there will be champagne.  It’s right at the entrance to the park, on your left as you’re going in.

SONJA            Don’t wash off that number.

RJ                        I won’t.

RJ is at the door.  He lets the blind fly up on the door.

RJ            I don’t know when I’ll ever see him again.  Christmas.  Have to invite Dad.  Great.  Maybe I’ll go see the world now.  Where are you from again?

SONJA            St. Petersburg.

RJ                        What’s it like there?

SONJA            Cold.

RJ                        I want to go somewhere hot.  Maybe South America.

SONJA            Rio.  Rio’s nice.

RJ                        We’ll see.  Okay then.

Hey John.  I’ll see you later.  Keep score.

Johnny returns with a crate of bottles.

JOHNNY            I will. 

Johnny holds a hand up. RJ leaves.  A streak of light is burning through the doorway window.

SONJA            Johnny, could you --

JOHNNY            Sure. 

He is already at the door, pulling down the shade. 

JOHNNY            I wonder whether that guy is going to find the park.

Doesn’t look like he knows where he’s headed.  He’s just standing out there on the sidewalk......Maybe I ought to --

She stands.

SONJA            Wait.

JOHNNY            There he goes.  He’s moving.  He’ll find it ---

She sits back down.

In silence, he finishes the job he started twenty minutes ago, pulling down the blinds on all the windows until the place is well-shaded from the day outside.

Johnny turns on the radio.

Sonja doesn’t look back into her book.

Blackout.

End of Play.

Note:  A new play will be available each month to be read on this website.  For production queries, contact bjh@barbarahammond.com.  To purchase the film June Weddings, see the STORE button.