By Misti Velvet Rainwater
Date: 17 March 2000

SCENE 67

SCENE 67-INT.-Carl and Gladys's bedroom. Night.
Papaw's memory. He's in bed with Gladys, who is
in her last trimester of pregnancy with Laura,
Derek's mom.
   Carl is sleeping. Gladys isn't. Turns on the lamp on
the bedside table. Looks at the clock. It's 2:25 a.m.
Gladys: Damn it. I wish this baby would come out
already!
Carl opens his eyes. Turns over and squints at Gladys.
Carl: Baby? What's wrong? Are you hurting? Is it time?
(sits up)
Gladys: No, it's not time. It'll never be time. I'll be
pregnant for the rest of my life and you'll never
touch me again!
Carl: What can I do to make it better? Want me to rub
your back?
Gladys: Okay.
Carl rubs Gladys's back.
Carl: I'm glad you're the woman and not me.
Gladys: Being a woman definitely has its benefits. But
I've forgotten what they are.
Carl: The baby will come out soon and she'll be perfect
like her mommy and in six weeks we'll be back in business,
workin' on makin' her brother.
Gladys: Absolutely not!
Carl: You said you wanted to have four babies with me.
Gladys: That was when I was stupid and didn't know any better.
No more babies. You can spoil the hell outta this one.
Carl: I can do that.
Gladys: Okay, that's enough. I'm still not sleepy. Go back
to sleep. I'm gonna walk to the bakery and wait for it to
open.
Carl: You're not getting out of this bed.
(wraps his arms around Gladys)
Gladys: But I'm craving glazed donuts! And chocolate milk!
Carl: The bakery opens at six, dear. I'll be there when Sid
opens up the shop.
Gladys: I can't wait four hours for Sid to get his ass out
of bed! That's ridiculous! The bakery should be open 24
hours!
Carl: I agree 100%. The world would be a much better place if
the bakery never closed. How about some French toast?
Gladys: With powdered sugar and maple syrup?
Carl: Yes, baby.
Gladys: But we don't have any chocolate milk!
Carl: We have Coca-Cola.
Gladys: Okay.

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