Chapter Six
Three weeks passed, and the students began to get used to their roles. They only had a week and a half left before
their performance, and each person was anxiously awaiting the moment the curtain opened.
Kay was firmly secure in her role as Scarlett. At first, she almost had a panic attack after realizing she had
to memorize hundreds of lines, cues, and reactions. But after watching the movie, and practicing with other cast
members, she found herself at easy with her character.
She also found herself around Reese more. She couldn’t figure out why. It either had something to do with the
fact that they shared a lot of scenes together, or that Miguel and Charity were even more wrapped up in their worlds
now that they were Ashley and Melanie.
The students busied themselves around the stage, clearing the old set and preparing for the next, and last, scene
of the day. It was a big one, one that had been practiced again and again, but tonight they were going to add the
finale element.
"Alright everyone, let’s get into character. I’ll give you all the mood. The scene is in Scarlett’s parlor,
after Frank’s wake. Rhett will be waiting and Scarlett will enter from stage right." Mrs. Hablar said to the
group. Students scurried of stage and to the side wings as Reese took his place.
"She says she’s comin’. I don’t know why she’s a comin’, but she’s a comin’." Missy said, entering the
stage.
"You don’t like me Mammy." Reese stated.
"Humph." Missy said.
"Now don’t you argue with me, you don’t, you really don’t." Reese commented with a chuckle. Missy concerted
her face into a mixture of expressions, then left. Reese chuckled to himself. Kay entered stage and raised her
hand to Reese. He kissed it as the blotted her face with a handkerchief.
"It’s no good Scarlett."
"What?"
"The cologne."
"I’m sure I don’t know what you mean." Kay said, leading them towards center stage.
"I mean you’ve been drinking. Brandy. Quite a lot." Reese commented as he followed her.
"So what if I have. Is that any of your affair?" Kay demanded, quickening her pace.
"Don’t drink alone Scarlett. People always find out, and it ruins the reputation." Reese said. Kay sat
down in a chair in the front of stage and she began to lightly cry.
"What is it? This is more than loosing old Frank."
"Oh Rhett. I’m so afraid." Kay sniveled.
"I don’t believe it. You’ve never been afraid in your life." Reese scoffed.
"I’m afraid now. I’m afraid of dying and going to Hell." Kay sobbed.
"You look pretty healthy. And maybe there isn’t any Hell." Reese said with a light laugh.
"Oh there is. I know there is. I was raised on it."
"Far bid for me to question the teachings of childhood." Taking a seat next to her, Reese asked, "Now
tell me what it is you’ve done that Hell yawns before you."
"I ought never to marry Frank to begin with. He was Suellen’s beau and he loved her, not me. And I made him
miserable. And I killed him. Yes I did, I killed him." Kay sobbed. "Oh, oh Rhett. For the first time
I’m finding out what it is to be sorry for something I’ve done."
Reese pretended to grab a handkerchief and hand it to her. "Here. Dry your eyes. If you had it all to do
over again, you’d do no differently. You’re like the thief who isn’t the least bit sorry he stole, but is terribly
sorry he’s going to jail."
"I’m glad Mother’s dead. I’m glad she’s dead so she can’t see me. I always wanted to be like her. Calm, and
kind, and suddenly I’ve turned out disappointing." Kay sobbed.
"You know Scarlett, I think you’re on the verge of a crying jay." Reese said, causing Kay to fly from
her chair and walk over to stage left front.
"So I’ll change the subject and say what I came to say." Reese continued, following her and standing
next to her.
"Say it then get out! What is it?"
"That I can’t go on any longer without you." Reese smiled, thinking how true the words were.
"Oh, you really are the most ill-bred man to come here at a time like this-"
"I’ve made up my mind that you were the only woman for me Scarlett the first day I seen you at Twelve Oaks.
Now that you have your lumber mill and Frank’s money, you won’t come to me as you did at the jail. So I see I shall
have to marry you."
"I never heard of such bad taste." Kay said, appalled.
"Would you be more convinced if I feel to my knee?" Reese said, getting down on his knee and holding
her hands.
"Turn me loose you varmint and get out of here." Kay said, trying to jerk her hands away from his.
"Forgive me for startling you with the impetuosity of my sentiments my dear Scarlett, I mean my dear Mrs.
Kennedy. But it cannot have escaped your notice that for some time past the friendship that I have felt for you
has ripened into a deeper feeling. A feeling more beautiful, more pure, more sacred. Dare I name it? Can it be
love?" Reese said, over exaggerating the words as Clark Gable did.
"Get up off your knees, I don’t like your common jokes." Kay snapped, pulling him to his feet.
"This is an honorable proposal of marriage, made at what I consider a most opportune moment. I can’t go all
my life waiting to catch you between husbands." Reese said, lifting her chin so their eyes met.
"You’re course, and you’re conceded." Kay said, jerking his hand away from her chin. She moved away
from him and said, "And I think this conversation has gone far enough. Besides, I shall never marry again."
"Oh yes you will, and you’ll marry me." Reese said, crossing stage to join her where she was.
"You? I don’t love you. And, I don’t like being married."
"Did you ever think of marrying just for fun?" Reese asked.
"Marriage, fun? Fiddle-dee-dee. Fun for men you mean." Reese laughed, and Kay said, "hush up, you
want them to hear you out there?"
"You’ve been married to a boy and an old man, why not try a husband with the right age, with a way with women."
"You’re a fool Rhett Butler. When you know I shall always love another man." Kay smugly stated, turning
away from Reese. Reese face grew angry, and he pulled her back to him.
"Stop it. You hear me Scarlett? Stop it, no more of that talk." Reese said, pulling her in for a soul
shattering kiss. It lingered longer than what he thought it would, and when he pulled back, he could see Kay’s
face in total disbelief. Recovering herself, she mumbled her next line, "Don’t, or I shall faint."
"I want you to faint. This is what you were meant for. None of the fools you’ve known have ever kissed you
like this. Not your Charles, or your Frank, or your stupid Ashley." Reese gruffly replied, pulling her in
for another kiss. Slowly Kay’s hands reached up around his neck.
"Say you’re going to marry me. Say yes. Say yes." Reese coerced.
"Yes." Kay said, weakly nodding her head. Reese dipped down to kiss her again, but pulled back. "You
sure you meant it? You don’t want to take it back?"
"No." Kay said, pushing her head up so he would kiss it.
"Look at me, and try to tell me the truth. Did you say yes because of my money?" Reese said, pushing
her head down to look into her eyes.
"Well, yes, partly."
"Partly?" Reese questioned, walking a few steps away from her.
"Well, you know Rhett, money does help. And of course, I am fond of you."
"Fond of me?"
"Well, if I said I was madly in love with you you’d know I was lying. But you’ve always said we have a lot
in common." Scarlett stated.
"Yes you’re right my dear. I’m not in love with you any more than you are with me. Heaven help the man whoever
really loves you. Well, what kind of ring would you like, my darling?"
"Oh, a diamond ring. And do buy a great big one Rhett!"
"You shall have the biggest and most vulgar ring in Atlanta. And I’ll take you to New Orleans for the most
expensive honeymoon my own cotton gains can buy."
"Oh that would be just heavenly!" Kay exclaimed.
"And I think I’ll buy your trousseau for you too."
"Oh Rhett how wonderful. But you, you won’t tell anyone will you Rhett?" "Still a little hypocrite."
Reese said, starting to walk towards stage right. "Aren’t you going to kiss me good-bye?" Kay desperately
asked as Reese neared the exit. She half-heartily hoped he’d say yes.
"Don’t you think you’ve had enough kissing for one afternoon?"
"Oh you’re impossible. You can go and I don’t care if you never come back." Kay said, turning around
and walking the opposite way.
"But I will come back." Reese said, exiting the stage.
"Great work everyone. Practice tomorrow. Get some rest." Mrs. Hablar said, allowing them to leave. Kay
sighed aloud and walked across stage to where Simone was standing, holding both their bags and waiting to leave.
"Great job Kay."
"Thanks. You too."
"That kiss was kinda steamy."
"Tell me about it. I have never experienced anything like it. Reese can kiss." Kay admitted.
"Maybe you should actually give him a chance."
"Maybe. This play has changed him."
"No. It’s just changed your opinion of him." Simone corrected her as they walked out of the auditorium." |
