Part Three of the Khalil Short Play Series

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THE DANCE - (c) 2006 Cherie Renae

Khalil is loosely based upon my own grandfather, who lived to be 99. He lived to the last with my grandmother in their own home. Family and friends were always dropping by to visit. Their house, and especially their kitchen, still hold special memories for me.

Characters: Khalil, a man in his early 90's; Joe, a man in his 80's, the widower of Khalil's late cousin, Marian; May, Khalil's wife; Esther, Joe's lady friend

Scene: A kitchen with a table, two chairs, a coffee pot, two coffee mugs, and an old black-and-white TV with rabbit ears. A cupboard or breadbox (food items are stored in here.) An oven. (Tip: The TV, cupboard, and oven can be constructed of cardboard.) An outside door is visible.

The Dance

(Khalil and Joe are sitting at the kitchen table, sipping coffee.)

Khalil: So, it didn't work out, huh?

Joe: Nope. Didn't work out.

Khalil: (Takes another sip of coffee.) Well. At least you gave it your best shot.

Joe: I did. I tried, Khalil. I really tried. But I guess I'm not cut out for it.

Khalil: The important thing is, even at your age, you were willing to try. I don't think I would, you know.

(Silence while Khalil gets up, pours them new cups of coffee. They each take a sip.)

Joe: I didn't mean to fall asleep. But the next thing I knew, May was shaking me. I guess I snored so loud, I drowned out the soprano just before her dramatic death. She was pretty miffed.

Khalil: Well, opera's not for everyone. Was Esther mad? Whoo-boy, I can imagine what May would say to me. I'd never hear the end of it.

Joe: No, Esther was a good sport. She even thanked me for going with her. I think she'll probably take another friend from now on, though.

Khalil: I think she's already asked May to go with her to the next performance. May is talking about buying a new dress. What does she need a new one for? She has plenty of dresses! Besides, it's dark in there most of the time, anyway. No one will see her new dress.

Joe: The opera's a big deal to a lot of people. You should see the tuxedos some of the men wear! Besides, clothes are important to the ladies. We should be sensitive to their needs. That's what Oprah said on her show last week.

Khalil: Oh, boy. You were watching Oprah?

Joe: There was nothing else on. It was Monday. You know there aren't any baseball games on Monday. I had to watch something while I ate. Speaking of eating, I'm hungry. (He stands.)

Khalil: I know. Where are the girls? May needs to come home and make us lunch.

Joe: We don't have to wait for May, Khalil. I'll make lunch. Where do you keep the bread?

Khalil: In the cupboard over there. Doesn't Esther come over and cook for you?

Joe: (going to the cupboard and taking out bread) Sometimes, Khalil. And sometimes I cook for her. I've been alone for a long time, you know. I had to learn to cook for myself. It wouldn't hurt you to learn to make a sandwich and heat up some soup, you know.

Khalil: I'm an old man. I have the gout.

Joe: (He prepares sandwiches as he talks.) You haven't had the gout for a long time, Khalil. Ever since May put you on that new diet, your foot's been much better.

Khalil: Still. I'm an old man.

Joe: Your hands and arms seem to work just fine when you put the food in your mouth. I think they can fix the food, too.

Khalil: You're sounding brainwashed, like one of those women's-libbers. Getting engaged to Esther has changed you.

Joe: (Putting the sandwiches on plates. He adds baby carrots and an apple to each plate.) It's made me a happy man. You should be happy, too, Khalil. You have May. How many years now? 66? 67? You're one of the lucky ones, Khalil.

Khalil: I know. You're right. May is a wonderful woman. She talks too much, but my hearing's gone, so most of the time I don't hear her, anyway. She takes good care of everyone around her, including me. But she still needs to come home and make me lunch.

Joe: (sets a plate briskly in front of Khalil) Here. Here's your lunch. A tuna sandwich. Carrots. Apples. Good food.

Khalil: And are you going to bake a pie for dessert? (He chuckles.)

Joe: I bet I could, if I set my mind to it. I made bread once. I bet pie dough is made the same way. Should we try?

Khalil: (Frowns, thinking.) Pie sounds good. You think we could? The girls would sure be surprised!

Joe: Sure! All we need is a bread recipe and some canned cherry filling.

Khalil: I've watched May make that fancy checkered top. You just cut the dough into strips and put them on.

(Both men rise.)

Khalil: Wait – I know! We have one of those pre-made pies in the freezer. All we have to do is put it in the oven. Let me go get it.

(Khalil walks off stage, returns w/ the pie.)

Khalil: Here. You read the directions. My eyesight's not so good.

Joe: (Squinting.) It says to preheat the oven to 450 degrees. (He looks at the oven, turns a knob.) There.

Khalil: You think we need to wait to put the pie in?

Joe: Nah. It'll cook faster if we just stick it in now. (He puts the pie in the oven.) Khalil. I need to talk to you.

Khalil: Uh-oh. Last time you needed to talk to me, look what happened! Now what?

Joe: What do you mean, ‘look what happened'? Don't you like Esther?

Khalil: Of course I like Esther. She's a very nice lady. I just meant – you're getting married! What now? You thinking of having more kids?

Joe: Khalil! (They both laugh.) No, actually, it has to do with the wedding. (He pauses.) Well, the reception.

Khalil: The reception? What's so hard about the reception? You eat, you drink, you talk.

Joe: And you dance. Khalil, I don't know how to dance. Esther expects me to dance with her, and I don't know how.

Khalil: Uh-oh. That means May will expect me to dance. I haven't danced in years. I'm an old man. I have the gout.

Joe: You don't have the gout!

Khalil: I know. That means, I have to dance. Well, I can waltz. No one plays waltzes anymore. That means I don't have to dance much.

Joe: Will you teach me how to waltz?

Khalil: Me? Have Esther teach you!

Joe: But I don't want her to know that I don't know how to dance. I wasn't so popular with the girls when I was young, because I couldn't dance. Esther might not like me anymore if she finds out that I can't dance.

Khalil: Then ask May.

Joe: No. She'll tell Esther.

Khalil: True. But who cares if Esther knows?

Joe: I do! Please, Khalil?

Khalil: (Sighs.) If I can remember. Let me see, one-two-three, one-two-three. Slide, step, step, slide step, step. OK. Take my hands.

Joe: We have to hold hands?

Khalil: What, you want to dance without touching Esther? Do the modern dancing or something? (He stiffly mimes modern dancing.)

Joe: (laughs.) OK, OK!

(They tentatively hold hands.) 

Khalil: Take your left foot and slide it over. Step in place with your right foot, and now with your left.

(Joe awkwardly follows Khalil.) 

Khalil: Good, good! Now slide with your right foot, step, step. See, you've got it!

(The two men slowly shuffle a waltz back and forth, saying out loud ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three. They gain confidence, and start moving in larger steps, swinging their arms, etc.)  

Khalil: See! You're doing it!

Joe: Khalil! I think I can dance! ONE-two-three! ONE-two-three!

(The men continue dancing. The ladies walk in the door, unnoticed. They watch the men curiously.)  

May: Khalil, what are you two doing?

(The two men stop in mid-stride, arms high. They look at each other in horror, and drop hands.)

Esther: And what's that smell?

Both men: The pie!

(They rush to the stove and pull out the pie.) 

May: You baked a pie?

Esther: That looks good! Except for the burnt part, of course.

May: You baked a pie? Khalil, you've never cooked anything in your life – this must be Joe's doing.

Khalil: (Huffily.) It was MY idea. Well, to get it out of the freezer. I can do things, you know.

May: (Lovingly.) Khalil. That's wonderful. Let me get some plates, and we'll all sit down and have a piece together. Esther, tell the boys about your dress. Joe, she got a wonderful dress. She will be the most beautiful bride ever. And I got a dress too, for the opera!

(Khalil rolls his eyes and shakes his head. Joe looks warningly at him. They smile at each other, and Khalil smiles at May.)  

Khalil: That's wonderful, honey. (He reaches for her hand, and pulls her to him. They begin to waltz.) 

Joe: (Nervously.) Well, here we go. (He reaches out for Esther, and they slowly begin to waltz, too.) 

Both men: (quietly, looking lovingly at their ladies) ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three…

THE END

---(c) 2006 Cherie Renae - may not be reproduced without permission

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