BELÉN’S MOTHER

Play to be especially performed for all involved in mental health episodes.

Characters: Leopold (In love with Belén. Takes pills to calm down his                                            impetus)                                                                                        Belén    (Leopold's girlfriend. Compromised in the Struggle)                                                                                                                                              Belén's Mother                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Belén's Father                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Demonstrators (Shouting Long Live Poldo)                                                                                                                                                                        Albert    (Leopold's quarter friend)                                                                                                                                                                                 

Scene 1

         (Leopold is quietly waiting for Belén to come out from her doorway, looking fixedly at the door. Belén comes out and they look at each other. Leopold takes Belén by the hand and they start walking. They look at each other again and Belén laughs. They go together by the hand.)

LEOPOLD: Wow! It’s the first time you look at me normal!

BELÉN: (Smiles and laughs at once, looking at him) Do I? Why do you say that?

LEOPOLD: (With both authority and tenderness) You cannot say no. (Looks at Belén) You spied on me, you peeked at me.

BELÉN: (Goes red in her face) Did I?

LEOPOLD: That’s confessing it. (Waving the arm that gives her his hand) Yes, I have caught you up several times. (He keeps on waving his arm very happy on walking down the street) I was pending in your eyes too, you know? (He kisses her on her cheek and laughs) You can’t know how much I liked the game! It’s for that I caught you up nearly always. (They laugh openly and he comes nearer to her face to kiss her lips) (Without releasing her hand) Look how many big friends stand there down the street.

(Down there in the street there is a group of demonstrators that is cheering up Leopold shouting Pold! Pold! Pold! Belén and Leopold go to them but when they reach the spot most of them has scattered and only four or five remain)

LEOPOLD: (Belén taken by his hand. To the few remaining) Where have the big friends gone to? I knew you were going to be here today. (He asks the two remaining) Why have they gone so fast? And where?

BIG FRIEND 1: I don’t know where they have gone to. I imagine they’ve gone home. It’s late. Tomorrow we shall have to work.

BIG FRIEND 2: (Doing as though he was going away too) We had appointed only to meet and to greet you.

(The two big friends move a little and speak. Finally they go away. Leopold and Belén look at each other amazed, although accomplices still there, at the bottom of the street. Leopoldo releases Belén’s hand and take his hands to his inner thigh.)

LEOPOLD: Something has happened to me now in my leg. I can’t feel it! I felt a jerk and it fell asleep! (Belén’s scared) Oughhh!

BELÉN: Does it hurt?

LEOPOLD: (With his hand on his hip) It doesn’t but I got nervous. I don’t know what to do! Oughhh!

BELÉN: (Taking him by the arm). Let’s go to my house. My mother can give a massage, that she’s very good on it.

LEOPOLD: The truth is that I don’t know what your mother is going to think. (He moans, with his had on his hip).

BELÉN: Don’t worry. Could you walk on well now? (She offers him her shoulder).

LEOPOLD: Starting to walk with big effort, his arm on Belén’s shoulder and moaning) The thing is I scarcely can. It doesn’t hurt, but I can only limp.

BELÉN: We are very near. (Like speaking intimately) Don’t worry about my mother. I have already spoken with my parents about you and my brother has too and they know we have been meeting since some time.

(Leopold limping beside Belén)

LEOPOLD: Oughhh. My God! I’m very worried. I’m nervous.

CURTAIN

Scene 2

(Belén’s parents speak in the lounge and it is the father who goes to open the door when it rings.)

FATHER: (Opening the door) Hello. What’s happening?

BELÉN: Leopold’s leg has gone inert suddenly and now he can’t walk properly.

LEOPOLD: (With both his hands on the hip of the inert leg and moaning) I’m very worried.

FATHER: Come on, Leopold, come in.

MOTHER: (Moving nearer to Leopold and taking Leopold by the arm). Come, Leopold. Lie down on the sofa.

LEOPOLD: I wear boots. I’m going to leave it dirty.

MOTHER: (Laughing) Don’t worry. I suppose you will know how to take them off.

LEOPOLD: (He sits down trudginly. Tries to take off his boots) I can’t. In this position it hurts.

BELÉN: Lie down with your boots on this side and I will do it.

(Doing a big effort Leopold lies down on the sofa with his boots at Belén’s side. Belén takes his boots off).

MOTHER: Lie down all along, you will be more comfortable. Try to relax. (She sat down on the sofa. Touching Leopold’s hip and leg) I think I know why it happens to you. Don’t worry. I will massage you and you will see how you will be capable of walking.

(The mother begins to massage Leopold’s leg. Belén and her father stand close to them and wearing a worried semblance.)

FATHER: (To Belén) You have come very soon. You have come out only twenty minutes ago.

BELÉN: It gave him a tug a bit later, a short while after I came out.

LEOPOLD: (Making a face of pain. The mother continues with the massage) We went to see the big colleagues.

BELÉN: There was a communist demonstration at the end of the street and when we got there almost everybody had gone away already.

LEOPOLD: I didn’t expect such a warm welcoming. They shouted at me: Pold! Pold! Pold!

MOTHER: You will see how you will recover.

FATHER: I suppose what you both do.

LEOPOLD: If there is misery, there will be complaints. You cannot tell you don’t know.

FATHER: Of course I know!

LEOPOLD: The government consents misery, poverty!

FATHER: It was the first thing they would have to have done, to eradicate poverty.

LEOPOLD: There are people with no food, no house, no water, no clothes and footwear…

MOTHER: Do you feel better?

LEOPOLD: Yes, thanks, But I haven’t recovered yet. (He touches his leg and later his hip). No, it hasn’t gone completely. I feel much relieved when I feel your hands. I have my leg insentive yet and I know I can’t walk well, limping only.

MOTHER: Well, we don’t mind your lingering here all the time you wish until you recover and walk well. Let’s see if the massage has made its effect. (She stands up).

LEOPOLD: The truth is I am far more quiet. I’m going to try to stand up.

(Belén and her parents observe Leopold as he sits down)

LEOPOLD: Let’s see if I can put on my boots.

MOTHER: Stay a little more still, if you want to.

LEOPOLD: I think I may now. (Takes a boot).

MOTHER: You can come if you want to whenever it happens to you.

LEOPOLD: (Tying up his boot laces) Thank you very much. I hope I will have no tugs never more. (Taking the other boot). It hurts much not being capable of walking. (Tying up the lace. Sighs) Belén, it was a pity they were gone…

CURTAIN

Scene 3

(Leopold at home taking some pills. After this he comes out of his house and goes inside a bar near. There are not many people in. He sees a friend and goes to him).

LEOPOLD: Hello, Albert. I’ve come here before going to bed hoping to meet up someone who can invite me to a beer.

ALBERT: I will.

LEOPOLD: Yes? Can you?

ALBERT: Yes, man. What d’you want? A beer? (To the bartender)  A beer for Leopold, please.

LEOPOLD: Thank you very much, Albert. I needed to come out to the street and see someone.

(The bartender puts him the beer.)

LEOPOLD: Thank you very much. (Drinks at once from the bottle).

(Albert has gone to speak with a man at the counter’s other extreme. Leopold stays alone. With another big draught leaves the bottle empty. Suddenly he looks worried and touches his forehead with the palm of his hand. He comes out from the bar not saying goodbye and begings walking towards his house and on coming he continues walking and leaves his house behind. He passes all the way along the red-brick quarter’s blocks and gets to a highway. Stops walking ahead and begings to do stretchings, as though something pinched him. He keeps doing stretchings for a minute and then with difficulty begins to walk again, little by little, stepping in short paces and as though he was stiff and goes this way until he gets to Madrid. He goes on walking this way through Madrid’s streets until after a very long walk he reaches Belén’s block. He rings the bell and leans on stooping against the entrance’s wall. It can be heard the phone picked up).

BELÉN: Yes?

LEOPOLD: Hello, Belén. (With a very tired voice). I am Leopold…

BELÉN: What do you want?

LEOPOLD: I know it is too late, but could you please ask your mother to give a massage like the last time, that I am exhausted and feel pain.

BELÉN: She’s in bed. Wait, I’m going to tell her.

LEOPOLD: Thanks, Belén. (He blows up) Oughhh.

(He tries to stand erect, but he collapses and stoops again helping himself leaning on the wall. He touches his knees with his fists.)

BELÉN: Leopold?

LEOPOLD: Yes, Belén. Could I come up?

BELÉN: Yes, I open you.

(It can be heard the sound of the interruptor. Leopold opens the door and comes in. When he gets to Belén’s house she’s on the door.)

LEOPOLD: Hello, Belén.

BELÉN: Hello, Leopold. Come over. My mother has gotten up.

(They come in the lounge and Belén’s mother glances at him smiling with her hands folded.)

MOTHER: Hello, Leopold. It happened to you again. I can see.

LEOPOLD: Hello. I’m sorry, t’s too late, but yes, although it doesn’t happen to me the same as last time, I feel much pain.

MOTHER: Don’t worry. I can see you are rigid and tired. Well, let’s see, lie down on the sofa. Take off your shoes first, please.

LEOPOLD: Oughhh. The thing is that last time I couldn’t walk but limped. And now my whole body hurts much…

BELÉN: I will take them off myself. Lie down with your shoes my side.

(Belén takes off Leopold’s shoes, and later lies down all along the sofa.)

MOTHER: Is it the first time it happens to you or it happened to you more times?

LEOPOLD: It had never had happened to me. Last time it was my sleepy leg. It is the first time this happens to me. (Sighing). Ay, I’m crushed. They had warned me.

(Belén’s mother begins to massage Leopold softly at first and later with more energy on other points of the body. As the mother is touching him his nerves, Leopold does stretchings and complaints.)

LEOPOLD: Ay, ay. Let’s see if it doesn’t happen to me again, because it is unbearable. (To the mother, doing suave stretchings). You are very kind. Thank you very much.

MOTHER: Are you better?

LEOPOLD: Little by little.

(Belén’s father comes into the lounge.)

PADRE: Hello, Leopold.

LEOPOLD: I apologise for coming so late. It was because I was alone. There’s nobody at my place. You don’t think it is going to happen…

FATHER Where did you come from?

LEOPOLD: From my place. The thing is I was careless. Ay, Ay. After I took the pills I went to the bar and I had a beer and I have contraindicated alcohol after pills. Ay, ay.

MOTHER: Quiet, Leopold. Are you getting over?

LEOPOLD: Yes, I think so. I feel a little better now.

MOTHER: Is there nobody at your place?

LEOPOLD: No, not today. There is nobody. I’m alone.

FATHER: You live in Usera, don’t you?

LEOPOLD: Yes, it is a bit far away.

FATHER: I do already know. Well, it is a long walk. Have you come here from there?

LEOPOLD: Yes, as I could. It took me more than an hour. Ay, ay.

(The mother seems to have spotted where it hurts him most.)

MOTHER: Quiet, Leopold. Quiet.

LEOPOLD: It’s been because for a moment I felt as if was a tug again. I become nervous.

(The mother massaging blandly shoulders and neck.)

MOTHER: In a few moments you will be capable of walking right without tugs or seizures.

(It seems Leopold has recovered enough and issues a sigh of relief. He remains sunk down on the sofa. The mother stops her task.

LEOPOLD: (Looking at the father and some times at Belén) When I had the beer I realised at once that it would cost me an extrapyramidal reaction that will make me seizured for a good while, and I came out from the bar not saying anything to anyone, passed by my house not stopping and came all the way along to get here.

FATHER: Well, I never. Nearly an adventure.

(Belén remains in the lounge paying attention to everything happening.)

LEOPOLD: Yes indeed! You can imagine what was the cost of getting here, all the time creeping onwards as I could.

BELÉN: Are you better?

LEOPOLD: Yes, thank you. Just a moment, please. One or two minutes and I get up.

BELÉN: Don’t worry.

LEOPOLD: I need a short rest.

MOTHER: Don’t worry. Rest the time you need. You can stay the time you want. You can sleep here, if you want to.

LEOPOLD: No, no. Don’t worry yourself. Many thanks. I’m getting up. (Getting up). Ay, what a bad time I have passed.

MOTHER: You can sleep here, I’m saying it seriously, really.

LEOPOLD: I can’t. I can’t, don’t you worry. Thank you very much. I think I can move well now. Now I’ll let you rest. Thank you very much. I’m very grateful to you.

BELÉN: There is room if you want.

LEOPOLD: Thank you, Belén. It’s not necessary, better if I let you to rest. Another day I’ll come with some thing and I’ll say thanks once more.

MOTHER: It’s not necessary, Leopold. You may come whenever you want, Belén at home or not.

(Leopold goes to the door.)

LEOPOLD: (Looking at the father first and later at the mother) I am very grateful to you for so much kindness. For me it’s been a great relief. I beg your pardon for such an ungodly hour.

FATHER: (Smiles) You are welcome, Leopold.

MOTHER: Come again when you want. (With her hand she touches tenderly Leopold’s. She looks at him fixedly with wetty eyes) My husband and I were like Belén and you. You can guess what we lived during the dictatorship. We have run a lot indeed! We used to hide! (The father laughs recalling and attracts her attention. They glance at each other and laugh together).

(Leopold looks moved. He goes to Belén and kisses her on her lips)

LEOPOLD: (To Belén’s parents) I shall never forget this. Many thanks once more. (To Belén) We shall keep I touch, Belén. So long.

CURTAIN

Scene 4

(Next day in the afternoon. Leopold rings the bell at Belén’s.)

BELÉN: (After a few seconds) Yes? Who is?

LEOPOLD: Hello, Belén. It is Leopold. Could you open the door?

BELÉN: I open the door.

(Leopold comes in. Belén waits at the door.)

LEOPOLD: Hello, Belén. How are you?

(He kisses her first on her cheek and later on her lips)

BELÉN: Well, thanks. You haven’t warned.

LEOPOLD: The truth is I am very grateful to you. I felt an obligation to come here today. I am delighted. I couldn’t let a single day go by. (Belén smiles at him) What a time I gave you!

BELÉN: My parents are not at home and my brother not either. I’m alone.

LEOPOLD: (Looking first at the couch and then at Belén) You were lying down on the sofa wrapped with the blanket, weren’t you?

BELÉN: Yes, I was lying.

LEOPOLD: Lie if you want. I’ll keep you company.

BELÉN: I’m going to lie down for a while. I want to rest.

(She lies down on the sofa and wraps up with the blanket. Leopoldo sits down on the sofa beside her.)

LEOPOLD: Next week the big colleagues celebrates the Yearly Party at the Country’s House. We may go on Saturday, that will be more animation, and stay for the concert…

BELÉN: (Shrinking as thoug the blanket wasn’t enough) OK, we may go.

LEOPOLD: (Bringing his face closer to Belén’s) Well, then, please hold me strong and give me a kiss and I will give you another kiss for the good your mother and you are, and you tell your mother I gave a kiss to you.

(They put their faces together, they hug and kiss.)

CURTAIN