Gloria's Guy Read online

  jessie: Well, you can’t always get what you want.

  peggy: God, another song title! You’ll have a musical by the end of the weekend.

  peggy pushes her mother into the bedroom.

  Listen, why don’t you unpack before Gloria tours the boathouse and lays claim to our room.

  (to gloria) Sorry but Ma and I have to deal with a last fitting of the dresses this afternoon.

  gloria: No problem. I’ll just drop my stuff and take a run into town. Are we going to eat out or do you want me to pick up some dinner for us?

  peggy: Oh, would you mind? That way Ma doesn’t have to do the stairs again. We can veg here all evening. Pat said the family will be busy with the rehearsal party tonight so we can use the pool and hot tub to our heart’s content.

  gloria: The pool in October? Is it heated?

  peggy: I don’t know. But the hot tub’ll be lovely. Especially with a bottle of vino and lots of gossip to keep us warm.

  gloria: Gossip — must mean Eva’s coming. I can’t believe she was okay with your mom being part of the reunion.

  Beat.

  peggy: She doesn’t know.

  gloria: What?

  peggy: When the others cancelled, it just made sense for me to bring Ma out here. She’s great at last-minute alterations. Besides, this way I don’t have to drive all the way back into town tomorrow to pick her up. She wants to see the final products sashaying down the aisle. She’s worked hard on these dresses and her eyesight and arthritis didn’t make the job any easier for her.

  gloria: How’s she been doing since your dad died?

  peggy: Better in some ways. At least now she has time to get involved with her life again. She threw herself into this wedding project. Hauled out the old Singer and we set up a production line on her dining-room table. I don’t know what I would’ve done without her. So Eva can whine all she wants about Ma being here for our girls’ weekend, but she’s staying. Besides, I don’t think she should be left alone too often.

  gloria: What do you mean?

  peggy: A few weeks ago I went over to her place to help Kerry with a fitting. Kerry asked for a glass of water and when I opened the freezer to get some ice, Ma’s purse was sitting in there.

  gloria: What was it doing in the freezer?

  peggy: God knows. I wasn’t gonna ask her in front of Kerry, and when Kerry left I didn’t know how to broach the subject. It terrifies me that what happened to my dad is starting to happen to her. I don’t think I can go through all of that again.

  gloria: The freezer. That is weird. Have you noticed anything else?

  peggy: Sometimes she calls me Jeannie or rather runs through all my sisters’ names until she comes to me — “Abby, Jeannie, Margaret Anne — whatever your name is.”

  gloria: Oh, my dad did that for years.

  peggy: And she mixes words up. Drives me crazy.

  gloria: She seemed fine to me. But if I notice anything out of the ordinary, I’ll let you know.

  peggy: Thanks, Glory. I just hope Eva doesn’t make the weekend miserable for her.

  gloria: It’ll be the opposite. Eva won’t be able to be so outrageous. She was always a little terrified of your mother. If we have to hear all about what’s wrong with husband number two, maybe we’ll get a shortened version with your mom here.

  jessie enters from the bedroom with the sewing basket and a wedding dress.

  jessie: I unpacked and hung up the dress I’m wearing tomorrow. I’ll iron it out when we do the others. Has the ironing board arrived?

  peggy: Guy’s not back yet. I’ll go see if I can find him and a couple of the bridesmaids. If we can get them out of the way, we can spend more time on Kerry’s dress.

  jessie: Hers is the one I’m most worried about considering what happened at the last fitting.

  peggy: That’s why I told Pat to send her here as soon as she arrives.

  peggy exits.

  gloria: Did Peggy say Guy was bringing an ironing board?

  jessie: Yes, dear. Did you want to press out some things?

  gloria: (hurriedly) No. No. I’m just going to put my stuff away and then get out of your way for a while. I’ll drive into town and take a walk around. See what’s new and different.

  gloria quickly picks up her bag and heads into the bedroom stage left.

  jessie: Gloria, this is Woodsville. Nothing is new and different.

  guy walks in front of the window and enters the boathouse carrying an ironing board and an iron.

  guy: Hey, Mrs. Mac, how’s this for room service. I’ll even set it up for you. No charge. Where do you want it?

  She indicates in front of gloria’s door.

  jessie: Oh, over there, I guess. As long as it’s out of the way.

  guy, with his back to the door, is busy putting up the ironing board, unaware of gloria who, unaware of guy, backs out of her room, closing the door behind her. Suddenly they back into each other, turn, and stand inches from each other. There is an awkward moment and then an even more awkward head nod first from guy and followed by gloria. jessie watches all of this with fascination. There is a long pause.

  Guy, you remember Gloria Atherly, don’t you?

  guy: Huh? Oh, yeah. Sure. Hey, Glory. Gloria. Hi.

  He goes to shake hands but is holding the iron.

  jessie: Gloria, you remember Guy, don’t you? Weren’t you all in the same class together?

  gloria: Right. Yeah. Hello, Guy. Nice to see you again.

  jessie: Again? Oh, you see each other regularly?

  guy & gloria: No!

  guy: I mean. I’ve seen Glory . . . Gloria. On occasion. From a distance. When I’ve been home.

  jessie: Oh, I see. Well, doesn’t she look stunning, Guy? Margaret Anne and I were just saying how stunning she looked when she arrived.

  guy: Stunning. Yes.

  gloria: Thanks. You look . . . good, too. You look very . . . relaxed. How’ve you been?

  guy: Uh, relaxed.

  Another pause.

  jessie: (prompting) Guy’s moved back to Woodsville, Gloria. He’s part owner of the resort now with Jimmy and Pat.

  gloria: I heard about that. From Peggy.

  guy: Yeah. A couple of months now . . . I came home at the beginning of the season . . . Thought I could help out around here for a bit.

  Another pause.

  jessie: (prompting again) And Gloria’s still in the city. Still with the bank.

  guy: So you’re still in the city? Still with the bank?

  gloria: Yes.

  Beat.

  Yes.

  guy: That’s good. Being with the bank. That’s good.

  gloria: Well, I was just heading out.

  She starts to head toward the door.

  jessie: Guy, why don’t you go with Gloria and show her everything that’s new in town.

  guy: Huh?

  jessie: She hasn’t seen the showcase in the library. Marjorie Heckles has that wonderful display on the gynecological chart of her family. It goes all the way back to the War of 1812.

  guy stares at jessie in disbelief.

  guy: They let her put that in the public library?

  gloria: Do you mean genealogical chart, Mrs. McConnell?

  jessie: Isn’t that what I said? You should take that in.

  jessie pushes them together.

  Oh, and what about the new booths in Gary’s Diner? I hear they’re very comfortable. Maybe you two could go and have a coffee, try them out.

  gloria: (quickly) I’m sure Guy’s busy.

  guy: Uh, yeah. I, uh, have some work to do in the reception hall for the wedding tomorrow.

  jessie: Do you need some help?

  guy: Huh?

  jessie: Gloria could help you. There’s nothing to see in to
wn anyway.

  guy: Well, we’re setting up tables and stuff. It’s kind of dirty work. I wouldn’t want you to . . .

  gloria: (quickly) It’s okay. I really need to run a few errands. Pick up dinner.

  (to jessie) Tell Peggy I’ll meet you here later. I’m sure Eva’ll be here by then.

  (turning) Goodbye, Guy. It was . . . nice to see you.

  guy: Bye, Glory. Gloria.

  gloria exits. They watch as she passes the window and then jessie turns, glaring at guy and giving his shoulder a swat.

  Ow!

  jessie: You just let Gloria Atherly drive into town all on her own when you could’ve spent the rest of the afternoon with that lovely woman. You’re not relaxed; you’re pathetic.

  guy: I didn’t expect to see her so soon. I was hoping not to see her at all. Boy, that was awkward, wasn’t it?

  jessie: Awkward? It was unbearable! What’s wrong with you? Ten minutes ago you were as cheeky as all get out, maybe even a little charming, if you like that sort of thing. But in front of Gloria you turned into this . . . this . . . big head-nodding lug. Didn’t you use to date Gloria years ago?

  guy: I dated Gloria in our last year of high school, but we didn’t end our friendship very well. Our prom date was a disaster and it was sort of my fault, I guess.

  jessie: Why? What’d you do?

  guy: I didn’t show up. I never went to get her.

  jessie: What?

  guy: She had to go to the prom by herself. At around ten that night. Apparently she stayed fifteen minutes and then came out here to the boathouse. It was pretty humiliating for her.

  jessie: Where were you?

  guy: It’s a long story. I tried to apologize to her. Some of the girls were staying here for that weekend and I came out to see her but she wouldn’t speak to me. Two days later I left for a summer job at my uncle’s logging camp in BC. Stayed there for university. Went south to California. We never connected. So anytime we’ve caught sight of each other over the years, it’s always very . . . strained. Very . . . complicated. Especially after Charlie was killed. I wanted to write to her but I didn’t know what to say.

  jessie: How about “sorry”?

  guy: Which sorry? Sorry for the sudden and tragic loss of your husband? Sorry for being a jerk in high school? Sorry for being a coward all these years?

  jessie: I like the last one. Start with that one.

  guy: It’s more than that. There’s things I need to say to Gloria but not now and not in front of somebody else.

  jessie: I hate to tell you this but if I hadn’t been standing here with the two of you just now, you would’ve been head-bobbin’ the afternoon away. Gloria’s only here for forty-eight hours, so you’d better find the time. She didn’t wait for you on prom night. My sense is she won’t wait for you now. And clean yourself up, for goodness’ sakes.

  She knocks his hat off.

  Don’t be trying to have a serious conversation when you look like Paul Bunyan.

  guy: Am I becoming your personal pity project, Mrs. Mac? What’s it gonna take for you to lay off me?

  jessie: Fine. I’ll stop pestering you if you help me out with something before you head down to your tables and chairs. The hem of Kerry’s wedding dress is uneven and I need to put it on someone. She’s not here and I doubt Pat has a mannequin, so you’ll have to do.

  guy: You want me to put on the wedding dress? Are you crazy?

  She holds up the dress.

  jessie: Oh for heaven’s sakes, it’ll only take a minute. You’re about the same height when Kerry has her heels on and, let’s be frank, we all know that her size keeps changing these days, so you should be about where she is now. Here, you need to step into it. Mind the pins. And don’t put your grubby hands on it. Let me help you.

  He struggles with the fitting.

  guy: Look, Mrs. Mac, I don’t think this is such a good idea. I’m not model material.

  jessie: Nonsense. Stop fidgeting and let me see if I can do up this zipper a bit so that the dress will fall more evenly. Hold on a sec.

  She looks around for a small pillow that she places firmly in the stomach of the dress.

  Good. That should be about where she is now, I would think. Now, turn around.

  He spins around.

  Slower. Slower. Let it fall naturally.

  He turns again.

  That’s better. Now walk over there for me.

  guy: You’re kidding, right?

  jessie: Guy Larkin, stop being so stubborn. There’s a spot in the back that’s bothering me. I want to see what happens to it when you’re moving. People are gonna be staring at the back of this dress for the entire ceremony.

  He clomps to the other side of the room.

  Oh for heaven’s sakes, not like that. Kerry may be your niece and . . . a big girl, but she’s got more grace than that. Now try again. Stop swinging those arms.

  She rolls up a magazine and gives it to him.

  Pretend you’re carrying flowers.

  He lumbers back, turns, and attempts to cross more gracefully.

  guy: How’s this?

  jessie: Better. Once more.

  guy: Mrs. Mac!

  jessie: Guy!

  He repeats the walk.

  There, I see the problem. Stay still a minute until I readjust a few pins.

  She kneels down behind him to fix the dress.

  So . . . why don’t you drop by this evening after the rehearsal party? The others’ll be here. They’d love to see you. And you’d be dressed better, right?

  guy: Look, Mrs. Mac, I know what you’re trying to do and you can stop, okay?

  jessie: What do you mean?

  guy: Trying to line me up with Gloria Atherly. It’s not gonna work. For a lot of reasons.

  jessie: Such as?

  guy: We don’t have anything in common any more.

  jessie: How do you know?

  guy: She lives in the city. I live here.

  jessie: You used to live in a city. She used to live here. I’d say you share geographical knowledge. Next excuse.

  guy: These aren’t excuses. Just facts.

  jessie: Well, how about the fact that you’re both single? How about the fact that you’ve both had your hearts broken? In different ways, of course, but you both know what it’s like to lose someone. How about that you used to be best friends? You liked each other. In fact, I remember one night, many years ago, Margaret Anne was prattling on about you and something that had happened in school that day. She kept repeating the phrase “glorious guy,” “glorious guy.” It took me a few minutes to realize she wasn’t complimenting you. She was explaining who you were. You had become Gloria’s guy. At eighteen, that was a pretty good person to be.

  guy: Yeah, well at eighteen I made some pretty stupid choices.

  jessie: Oh, get over it, for heaven’s sakes. That was high school. This is middle age. I’m sure Gloria has long forgotten and forgiven.

  guy: Mrs. Mac, I don’t think any girl gets over being dumped at her prom. And I’m not middle-aged.

  jessie: Well, how’re you gonna know if you don’t find out?

  Standing up and turning him around to face her.

  Now, I expect you to show up here tonight. In better clothes. Lose the hat. And spend some time with her. Take her on a tour of the place.

  (suddenly) I know. Why not ask if she wants to go in the hot tub?

  guy: The hot tub? You are certifiable, Mrs. Mac, you know that? Gloria Atherly is not gonna climb into a hot tub with me after almost twenty years of us hardly speaking to each other.

  jessie: You never know. I can help by keeping the others busy. But you have to want to be here. Now walk back and forth once more and you’re done.

  guy crosses back and forth. gloria suddenly appears in t
he window and watches him execute a slow but graceful turn. guy catches sight of her and lets out a scream. gloria hastily moves to the front door. Mortified, guy struggles to get out of the dress as gloria enters the room.

  gloria: I don’t mean to interrupt, but I got all the way down to the car and realized I’d forgotten my keys. I’ll just be a second.

  She crosses into her room.

  jessie: Be careful, Guy! One of these side seams is only basted. Don’t rip the dress, for heaven’s sakes.

  guy: At this moment, I really hate you, Mrs. Mac. I really do.

  jessie: Don’t worry. She hardly noticed. At least you’re a little more dressed up.

  guy: Get me out of this!

  He fumbles to get out of the dress and falls into gloria just as she is entering from the bedroom with her purse and keys. They fall to the floor together. There is a horrible awkward moment where they look at each other. guy nods his head. gloria returns the nod.

  Are you all right? I’m sorry.

  He stands up, holding the dress around his knees, and sticks his hand out to help her but she is too busy crawling around looking for her keys. When he realizes what she is doing, he drops to the floor to help as she stands up.

  gloria: Here they are.

  She rises, looks down at him, and holds out her hand.

  Can I help you up? I wouldn’t want you to rip your dress.

  guy finally takes the dress off.

  guy: It’s not my dress! It’s Kerry’s! And I’m done here! All right, Mrs. Mac? Done! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going down to the reception hall to carry tables and chairs. Which are really heavy!

  He heads to the door.

  jessie: Yes, dear. That’s a very manly thing to do now, isn’t it? But let me know when you’re finished.

  guy: Why?

  jessie: The maid of honour’s dress needs some buttons down the back.

  guy storms out. jessie and gloria watch him cross in front of the window.

  jessie motions to gloria.

  Not yet. Give it a second.

  They wait and he returns to see if they’re laughing. jessie gives a little wave. When he backs away the two women turn and laugh.