Barbara's Scripts
Scene from The Anniversary

COMMUNITY HALL DAY

Beautifully decorated. Hanging plants, Japanese lanterns, streamers, tree plants.

Sidney and Erleen put finishing touches on the tables.

Dana and Pete stack empty boxes into a closet.

Suddenly, the outside door flies open; Bud glares at them.

ERLEEN

Bud? For heaven's sake, what's wrong?

Bud comes towards her, holding Carla's baby picture.

BUD

I want you to tell me how this picture
got into the hands of Rosa Vasquez' son.

Sidney backs up. Erleen looks frightened.

BUD

He said he was her uncle.

No one moves; Bud shouts.

BUD

I'm waiting!

SIDNEY

Where's Carla?

BUD

She ran off. The man said she was his
niece, and she ran off.

SIDNEY

Oh my God. Pete.

Sidney heads for the door, but Bud blocks her.

BUD

It's true, isn't it? It's true. I had hoped,
but you've lied to me. All these years, lies.

Bud turns to Erleen.

BUD

And you've been with her, deceiving me,
my own wife.

SIDNEY

I had no choice.

BUD

What the goddamn hell you talking about,
you had no choice?

Dana stands beside Erleen. Pete goes to Sidney.

Bud focuses on Dana and studies him for a long time and shakes his head.

BUD

You too? And here you've always been
so honest with me about everything,
about yourself.  Even when I didn't want
you to be. (Pause) I wouldn't have
thought this of you.

Dana’s eyes fill with pain as he realizes how he’s hurt him.

SIDNEY

We were afraid.  I thought that...

BUD

Afraid?  For God's sake, what do you take
 me for? All of you?  Do you think I would
have kicked you and the baby out into the
street just because its daddy was a Mexican?

Bud looks around, overcome with emotion. He rips down one of the streamers.

BUD

And this is my family. Family?  Jesus Christ,
I don't have a family. I don't have nobody.

He turns and walks out.  Erleen collapses in the chair, sobbing.