JASTON, a handsome, Haitian man, enters....

JASTON, a handsome, Haitian man, enters.

JASTON Bèl nonm...

It is February, 1970 in the Dominican Republic.

JASTON What’s wrong, boy? You look as spooked as a one-eyed bird.
NINO Come in, Jaston. JASTON Lieutenant. NINO What? JASTON Now I’m Second Lieutenant Jaston Marcelin.

NINO That was quick. JASTON You wanna see the march I lead? NINO Not really-

Jaston demonstrates his march.

JASTON One, two, one, two, HUT!

Beat.

NINO That’s it? JASTON What do you mean is that it? Blood and sweat went into getting that privilege you see right there. NINO Great. Congratulations. JASTON Who would have thought it, right? Had this been Haiti I would have rotted. NINO Nice uniform. JASTON Thank you. NINO It fits you pretty well. JASTON It’s gonna fit even better when it’s filled with medals. You should join. I can put in a good word so they can place you in my unit. NINO I don’t get involved in that kind of stuff. JASTON Your brother does. NINO You hungry? You want some- JASTON How’s everything? NINO Neither here nor there, as they say. JASTON Oh! Hold on... So nobody talks.

Jaston does the sign of the trinity by the front door in an exaggerated manner. They laugh.

NINO Happy new year.

JASTON 1970 arrived over a month ago. NINO I know. I just... I hardly see you no more. JASTON Lately you the one always running from me. NINO Because you always with that military stuff. JASTON You scared of it? NINO No. Should I be? JASTON Here…

Jaston hands him a folded piece of paper.

NINO What’s this? JASTON Open it and see, boy!

Nino unfolds the paper.

NINO Is that me? JASTON Who else, bèl nonm? NINO It’s in pencil. JASTON I don’t have my tools anymore. NINO Because you left school. JASTON To serve my country. NINO Your country. JASTON THIS is my country. NINO Right. JASTON You like? NINO Um hm. JASTON You still haven’t put up the big one I made.

NINO I don’t want people to talk. JASTON Who’s gonna talk? That brother of yours? He needs to keep his mouth shut because they talking about him too. NINO What do you mean? JASTON The last few months he’s been spotted at O&M with a group from UASD. NINO Probably just friends. You want some coffee? JASTON What, so you can burn it? NINO Ha ha. Very funny. We also have rum. I can make you- JASTON I don’t get you people... Up and down the streets protesting there’s no money for food but you certainly have it for rum. NINO You want a drink or not? JASTON Only if you have one with me. NINO You know I don’t drink. JASTON Just one, bèl nonm. Come on... NINO I’ll go get some ice. JASTON Forget that. NINO I know you like it on the rocks- JASTON Straight up. No filters.

Nino prepares and serves the drinks. Thunder strikes.

Damn... There’s a big storm cookin’. Open up the windows. Let some air in.

NINO Better if we keep them closed. Here’s your drink. JASTON Where’s yours? NINO Right here. JASTON Isn’t that your father’s glass? NINO Yes. JASTON I thought you were gonna give it to Fello. NINO He doesn’t want it. JASTON Ready? One, two- WAIT! NINO What? JASTON Look me in the eyes. NINO Why? JASTON They say when you don’t look someone in the eyes during a toast it’s gonna be a looong time before you make love again. NINO You are so full of it. JASTON I’m not taking any chances! Look me in the eyes, coño. Cheers! They shoot the drinks. NINO Ugh! Tastes like armpit! JASTON Another one! NINO I’m done.

Nino makes Jaston another drink.

JASTON Listen. The sound of rain falling on tin rooftops. Nothing better. In a little while the smell of earth will come right in. NINO What’s with you? JASTON What do you mean? NINO You’re acting a little strange. JASTON Said the pot to the kettle. NINO I’m not the one talking about “rain falling on tin rooftops” and “the smell of earth”. Showing up with no notice- JASTON Now I have to notify? NINO Come on, Jaston. I know you.

Jaston shoots the second drink.

JASTON That little UASD group has another protest planned in the city. You tell your brother it’s best he don’t show up. NINO He hasn’t said anything to me about that. JASTON There’s been several meetings he’s been linked to and there are certain individuals following his thread. NINO People like to gossip. JASTON I’m not talking about regular folk, Nino. NINO You mean... Caliés? JASTON Don’t use that word. They’re informants. NINO Those were Trujillo’s ways. We’re in a democracy now. Fello has the right to protest if he wants to.
JASTON So then he is up to something- NINO I didn’t say that. JASTON Come here. NINO Don’t start. JASTON I said come here.

Jaston unbuttons his shirt.

JASTON Me wearing this uniform don’t change a thing.

Jaston sits on the floor. He invites Nino to do the same.

NINO Your suit’s gonna get filthy. JASTON All filthy things get cleaned up. NINO Alright.

Nino sits with him.

JASTON ...Seems like yesterday we were flying kites: “There they go! The pretty white boy with the hideous Haitian.”
NINO I never saw it that way. JASTON And you just loved playing cowboys and Indians, remember? NINO God, yes.

Jaston pretends to shoot guns like a cowboy while Nino shouts like an Indian.

JASTON AHA! I GOT YOU! NINO CATCH ME IF YOU CAN! JASTON I’M GONNA LASSO YOU UP WITH MY ROPE! NINO AND I’M GONNA STRIKE YOU DOWN WITH MY ARROW! JASTON OH NO! NINO FUA!

They laugh.

JASTON You always wanted to be the Indian. NINO You always liked to capture me. JASTON And tie you up real good. NINO Hey. Watch it. JASTON Let me see your hand. NINO What for? JASTON They say if you have a perfect “M” written on the palm of your hand it means long life. NINO You go a lot by what people say, don’t you? JASTON Let me see. Uh oh... NINO What? JASTON All I see here is a giant “X!”

They laugh.

NINO Fool.

JASTON (SINGS IN SOTTO)

Sin remedio. Sin ti no tengo remedio. Y aunque e’ veigüenza rogaite a que caime mi doloi.

JASTON & NINO (LOUD)

Sin remedio he venido a suplicaite, y a decite que ‘toy loco sin remedio poi tu amoi!

No remedy! Without you I have no remedy! And though it is shameful to beg for the soothing of my pain...
I come to you pleading. My incessant love has no remedy!

They laugh.

Nino lays back and rests his head on Jaston.

Pause. Silence.

Nino reaches for Jaston’s arm. Then the other. They embrace. For a few moments they enjoy the rain crashing against the tin roof.

JASTON Sometimes that rain sounds like an orchestra. NINO Sometimes like a machine gun. JASTON We’re safe here. NINO Cuddled up. Like little pigeons.

Pause.

JASTON I can protect Fello. NINO Really? JASTON But you have to tell me everything. NINO Like what? JASTON Is it true he’s gotten mixed up with the Cubans? NINO I don’t know anything about that.

JASTON Nino... NINO I really don’t. Not exactly. JASTON What do you mean “not exactly”? NINO Well... He hasn’t said much. He did mention some Cubans... JASTON And? NINO Apparently there’s a group getting together to do something. I don’t know... I’m scared. JASTON Of what? NINO That he’s getting mixed up in all of that communist mess. JASTON Hm. I see. NINO Jaston. JASTON Yes? NINO Do you think this is the right government for us? JASTON What do you mean? NINO No more secrets and hiding. JASTON Of course. NINO Why do you follow Balaguer? JASTON What kind of question is that? NINO Just a question. JASTON Don’t you see all the good he’s doing? Building roads, remodeling the capital... NINO I know, but... Sometimes you show one thing and behind closed doors you’re another, don’t you think? JASTON Take care you not catching any of your brother’s ideas.
NINO Fello says there’s backlash against anyone who resists. JASTON You believe your brother’s ramblings? NINO I don’t know what I believe anymore. I don’t get any of that political crap.

JASTON Neither do I. NINO Then why join the military? JASTON You have to follow something, Nino. The country doesn’t govern itself. And it certainly pays a hell of a lot better than that damn tobacco farm. NINO You know Trujillo couldn’t stand Haitians. JASTON What does that have to do with anything? NINO Well... Balaguer worked closely with him and now- JASTON I am not from that backwards, piece of sh#t country! I’ve had my Dominican citizenship a long time now!

Jaston gets up.

JASTON It’s getting late. NINO Wait until the rain eases up. JASTON A little water never hurt nobody.

Nino buttons up Jaston’s shirt.

NINO Don’t be a stranger. There’s people that wanna see you. JASTON Alright.

Beat. Jaston heads for the door.

NINO Remember you promised to watch over Fello. JASTON When was it the Mrs. put that palm up there? NINO I put it up, remember? After papá died. JASTON Right... How does it work? You wish for something and it grants it? NINO You don’t wish. You pray. JASTON Isn’t that the same thing? NINO No. JASTON It’s dried up. Take it down. NINO Not yet.

Jaston leaves.

END OF SCENE

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