(The Spaulding Mansion. Alexandra is in the living room, listening to Lujack’s old music box when the doorbell rings. She closes the box, places is on the table, and goes to the door. Lujack is on the other side. Alex exhales and smiles).
Lujack: (Tough guy act in place)
You wanted to see me?
Alex:
Please. Come in. (Lujack enters reluctantly.) It was good of you to come so promptly, Brandon.
Lujack: (whipping his head around in shock)
Who told you my name?
TAPE CUTOFF
Alex:
…Probably more than you know yourself.
Lujack:
Who have you been talking to, lady?
Alex:
You resemble your father so much. Especially around the eyes.
Lujack:
The only people in Springfield who know my real name are my probation officer and the cops that booked me when I got arrested.
Alex: (coming closer)
I know your name. I know you were born in Milwaukee. I know you were taken to Europe when you were a child. And I know that your father is Eric Luvonaczek, the great concert pianist.
Lujack:
Oh, okay, I get it. You sent some of your flunkies out to get some dirt on me, right?
Alex:
Oh, come, now, these are simple facts, not dirt. I have no intention of blackmailing you, if that’s what you think.
Lujack:
Are you some kind of music groupie or something? You trying to use me to get to my old man?
Alex:
No, no, no.
Lujack:
‘Cause you can forget it, lady. Me and my old man ain’t exactly close. We haven’t even seen each other in a couple years.
Alex: (sadly)
You’ve had a confusing childhood, haven’t you?
Lujack:
You don’t know the half of it.
Alex:
I do. You were shuttled around from relative to relative. Milwaukee. St. Louis. Several cities in New Jersey. Never in one place long enough to make friends. Truly belong.
Lujack:
Lady, I don’t know what your scam is, but you’re messing around in something that ain’t your business.
Alex:
You’re very much my business. I have a personal interest in you, Brandon. In your future.
Lujack:
Right. Sure. Look, if you’re so interested, why don’t you cool it with this Brandon stuff.
Alex:
Why?
Lujack:
Because it’s a stupid name. Even my old man hated it.
Alex:
I know. Did he change your name to Lujack?
Lujack:
No way. I did it.
Alex:
How did you choose it?
Lujack: (annoyed)
I couldn’t say Luvonaczek when I was a kid, so I shortened it.
Alex:
It has a rather plebian sound.
Lujack:
Tough. But see, I didn’t pick it to please you, lady.
Alex:
No. Well, I can live with it for the time being.
Lujack:
What are you talking about? Live with it? (Pause when Alex doesn’t respond). Okay, look, enough’s enough. Why did you call me here?
Alex:
For a very good reason.
Lujack: (angry)
What?
Alex:
Well…
Lujack:
Look, all right, forget it. I bet I know.
Alex: (pleased)
Really?
Lujack:
Yeah, yeah. You’re trying to buy me off, right? Or run me out of town?
Alex:
Oh, please don’t be like that.
Lujack:
Come on, you are. You’re all bent out of shape because I messed around with your precious nephew Phillip at the Spring Dance.
Alex:
My interest in you has nothing to do with Phillip.
Lujack:
Then what’s the dig then?
Alex:
Dig?
Lujack:
Yeah. What are you playing, Good Samaritan or something? You plan to send me off to some summer camp somewhere or get me a job washing cars or what?
Alex: (sitting down on the couch)
Nothing like that, I assure you. Please, sit. Sit. I don’t bite.
(Lujack uncomfortably sits on the arm of the couch.)
Alex:
Now, what can you tell me about your mother?
Lujack: (stunned)
My mother?
Alex:
Yes.
Lujack:
Nothing to tell.
Alex: (shocked)
Nothing at all?
Lujack:
Uh-uh. Except she walked out on me and my old man and never looked back.
Alex:
Who told you that?
Lujack:
No one. I figured that out myself.
Alex:
How?
Lujack:
Are you kidding me? From the moment I was three years old I never laid eyes on her once. You think she was hiding in the broom closet the whole time?
Alex:
But you don’t know that she walked out on you.
Lujack:
Look, I know everything I need to know about that dame, okay? She didn’t want me period. Hey, but that’s okay, man. I didn’t want her either. I just wish I had the chance to return the favor sometime. And dump her.
Alex:
You…you don’t have any memories of your mother?
Lujack:
I don’t want any.
Alex:
But if you don’t remember, you could possibly be wrong. Perhaps she didn’t really leave you.
Lujack:
Lady, look, I don’t bank on fairy tales.
Alex:
Perhaps she didn’t, you see. Maybe your father took you away.
Lujack: (Standing up, angry)
Look, just drop it, okay!
Alex: (Standing up and walking over to a pile of Lujack’s old toys)
Do these mean anything to you?
Lujack:
A bunch of toys?
Alex: (picking up a bear)
Oh, but they’re very special toys.
Lujack:
Sure, yeah.
Alex:
I think if you examine them more closely, you’d be surprised by them.
Lujack:
Right. And you got magic tricks too?
Alex:
Come on. Please?
Lujack: (giving in reluctantly. He picks up a wooden boat. Alex looks at him expectantly)
This is real swell stuff, lady. Um…now if you don’t mind, I really have to be going.
Alex: (blocking his way and holding the teddy bear to his face)
This is Goldie. You must remember Goldie.
Lujack:
Look, just tell me what’s on your mind or forget it. I’ve got to get back to the boarding house.
Alex:
Oh, no, no. After tonight, you’ll never have to go by that place again.
Lujack:
Whoa, look, I’m sorry, lady, but there must be something wrong with me, because I’m not understanding what game it is that you’re so hot to play here.
Alex:
It’s no game.
Lujack:
Look, then I don’t have time. I’ve got to go.
(He heads for the door. Alex follows)
Alex:
Brandon! Lujack, wait! (She holds out a locket with a picture). Look, look, look.
Lujack:
Some other time.
Alex:
Just look.
(Lujack looks down at the photo—and is stunned.)
Alex:
It’s my son. I spent sixteen years searching for him. Don’t you understand? Your mother didn’t walk out on you. (Crying) I’m your mother, and I’ve finally found you. Nothing will keep us apart. (Touching his hair). Ever again.
(Lujack breaks away, angry.)
Lujack: (yelling)
There’s no way you’re my mother.
Alex:
I am. This picture. You saw.
Lujack:
Look, I’m used to every con in the book, lady. Don’t try to pull anything on me because it’s not going to work.
Alex:
Oh, please, I’ve been searching for you for so long.
Lujack:
Stop!
Alex:
You’re my son!
Lujack:
That’s impossible.
Alex:
Why won’t you believe me?
Lujack:
Why? A million reasons. For starters, my old man hates money. He wouldn’t have ever married anybody rich like you.
Alex:
We weren’t married!
Lujack:
Oh. What are you telling me? It was a one-night stand and he dumped you?
Alex:
Oh, no, no, it wasn’t like that at all.
Lujack:
Right. It wasn’t like anything because it never happened.
Alex:
Oh, your father…your father Eric and I loved each other very much. We…we ran away together. I gave birth to you and we went to Europe.
Lujack:
What a load of crap.
Alex:
We traveled around, the three of us, for several years, hiking and camping out, doing odd jobs. We were very poor, and very, very happy. Oh, I wanted it to go on forever. And then my father, your grandfather, Brandon Spaulding, tracked us down. And he paid Eric to give up our child and to abandon me.
Lujack:
Try again, lady. My old man, he didn’t do much for me, but he was around every once in awhile. My mother was the one who walked.
Alex:
I didn’t.
Lujack: (screaming)
Then how?
Alex:
Eric double-crossed all of us. He kept you and the money…
Lujack:
Ah, man, I’ve got to hand it to you, lady. You are smooth, man. You’ve got an answer to anything. But I still don’t buy it.
(He starts to leave. Alex chases after him)
Alex:
No, wait. Wait! I have proof.
Lujack:
What? Another baby picture?
Alex:
Oh, no, it’s not that. (She opens up the music box, which begins playing, and pulls out a document). There. Look at this. This is your birth certificate.
Lujack:
Oh, birth certificates can be forged.
Alex:
No, this one wasn’t. There’s the seal. And besides, you can check it.
(Lujack hears the music box and approaches it, transfixed. Alex notices).
Lujack: (emotional at last)
Where did you get this?
Alex:
You do remember. I knew you would.
Lujack: (looking up)
Tell me, where did you get this?
Alex:
You already know. I used to let that play when I rocked you to sleep. And I’ve kept it all these years. Kept it for the day I would hold my son again, and give him everything his father and grandfather denied him. You’re my son. You have to believe me now. You are a true Spaulding, and no one will ever deny you again.
Lujack: (trying to process this)
Is that all you got? No proof?
Alex: (showing him the birth certificate again)
This. And much, much more. I have a file on you. I can document everything I’ve told you.
Lujack:
I want to see that file.
Alex:
Of course. I’ll get it right away.
(She leaves the room. Lujack closes the music box, shoves it under his jacket, and leaves).
