Carmen Read Online Free PDF Page A

can’t count that high.
    FRASQUITA
    You got us!
    RAIMONDO
    Carmen?
    MERCEDES
    She’s too much in love. With a cop!
    RAIMONDO
    No, I’m serious. Carmen, are you with us?
    CARMEN
    I’ve got stuff on my mind, Raimondo. Maybe some other time.
    RAIMONDO
    What some other time? This is once in a lifetime, sweet cheeks!
    MERCEDES
    Lighten up, Raimondo. She’s got a life, too.
    FRASQUITA
    (spots JOSÉ at the door)
    And here he is.
    JOSÉ enters. DANCAIRO and RAIMONDO back away quickly, DANCAIRO shielding his face with his hand. They both exit out of the rear door but not before RAIMONDO glances toward CARMEN and shakes his head in disbelief.
    JOSÉ
    Carmen, I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I thought you were going to be home.
    CARMEN
    Too hot in there. I got home last night and a mouse was sitting in the refrigerator!
    JOSÉ
    A mouse? Oh, that’s a joke. Right. At first I couldn’t remember the name of this place. But then I did. You’ve been on my mind all day.
    (looks around)
    Can we go somewhere?
    CARMEN
    José, I want you to meet my friends. This is Frasquita.
    FRASQUITA
    Hey, guy.
    CARMEN
    And this is Mercedes. They’re my homegirls.
    MERCEDES
    What’s happening?
    JOSÉ
    Hello.
    FRASQUITA and MERCEDES retreat to a table, and JOSÉ kisses CARMEN’s hand tenderly.
    JOSÉ
    Nice friends.
    CARMEN
    The kind that look out for you. You know what I mean?
    JOSÉ
    Yes, I do. I like loyalty in my friends.
    CARMEN
    Frasquita asked me why I’ve been talking about you so much.
    JOSÉ
    You’ve been talking about me? What did you say?
    CARMEN
    That you make me remember the girl I once was, the girl who believed in every dream that came her way, who used to roll the top of her skirts up outside of Saint Dominic’s, hoping the boys would notice her.
    JOSÉ
    You did go to Saint Dom’s.
    CARMEN
    In a way I did. I mean, it was me, but I wasn’t who I am now. I was just a little girl with wide eyes and teeny boobs. I was maybe softer inside than I am now.
    JOSÉ
    You are like a breath of fresh air to me, Carmen. My life has been just stupid for the last few months. First it was that kid—
    CARMEN
    I know about that, José. It was in La Prensa that you shot a boy who threatened you. But I know that’s not who you are. I know that.
    JOSÉ
    It really hurt to see the things they wrote about me in the papers.
    CARMEN
    Nobody wants to hurt another person.
    JOSÉ
    The thing with the boy—it happened so fast.
    CARMEN
    The thing?
    JOSÉ
    He came out of the shadows and…
    CARMEN
    (putting her fingers on his lips)
    Don’t talk about it.
    JOSÉ
    I’ve been really depressed since it happened. I can’t sleep.
    CARMEN
    Let’s talk about us.
    JOSÉ
    Last night I tried to make my mind blank, just not think about anything. Then, in the morning, the air was all still and I reached over to get a glass of water and my hand touched the flower you gave me. You remember the flower?
    CARMEN
    You kept it? All this time?
    JOSÉ
    And suddenly the flower was more than just a flower. It was a promise that your soul had made to mine. I put the light on and took it in my hand, and the lightness of it just spoke of you. I put it to my lips and I could smell it, and it was as if you were near.
    CARMEN
    You speak very well, José. I’ve never been that good with words. They seem to only get in my way.
    JOSÉ
    Words are only tools, Carmen.
    CARMEN, somewhat unsure of what JOSÉ is saying, stands and moves awkwardly away from him. He reaches for her and takes her wrist, and she turns to face him.
    CARMEN
    Dancing is a tool, too. Let me dance for you!
    JOSÉ
    Dance?
    CARMEN
    (brightly, changing the mood)
    Yes, you’re the hero that kept me out of the slammer, and I’ll dance in your honor!
    CARMEN begins to dance for JOSÉ. From time to time, he reaches for her swirling figure, but she moves away from him.
    CARMEN
    Look at me! Giddy as a schoolgirl. My body wants to move!
    JOSÉ
    You move your body, but you’ve captured my soul. We’ll be together from