Cuban American Theater

CLAUDIA: We're Americans and we live in a free country; so all of us can do as we please here.

CARLOS: Laissez-faire?

CLAUDIA: I don't speak French.

CARLOS: If you want me to, I'll teach you.

CLAUDIA: What does that "laissez-faire" mean?

CARLOS: That here we can do any kind of business and nobody can do anything against us.

CLAUDIA: That's what I said.

CARLOS: That is a concern between the government and the people, but with me things are different.

CLAUDIA: Why?

CARLOS: Because I'm able to do anything.

CLAUDIA: Would you throw me in front of the train?

CARLOS: I would eliminate anybody who competes with me. It has nothing to do with you, that I swear!

CLAUDIA: If you swear, it's because you are a believer. Do you ever go the church?

CARLOS: When I was a child, I used to go with my mother. Now, I never go.

CLAUDIA: Why not?

CARLOS: Because my grandmother never goes to church.

CLAUDIA: Is she paralyzed?

CARLOS: Far from it, pretty girl. Instead of going to church, she goes to Atlantic City.

CLAUDIA: She switched religions, what a pity!

CARLOS: She switched the church for card games. (A train approaches.)

CARLOS: Will you come with me?

CLAUDIA: Where would you take me?

CARLOS: I'm going to the South Bronx.

CLAUDIA: I was born there.

CARLOS: I'm not asking where you were born, I'm inviting you to come with me.

CLAUDIA: Am I your hostage?

CARLOS: A hostage, of your own accord. (The subway train stops. The two youngsters board it. Blackout.)

4:00 P.M. CLAUDIA and CARLOS climb what is left of what appear to be stairs of the skeleton of a burned-out building. When

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