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willburnafterourboatdeparts,sowecanwatchtheflamesfrom the deck as we disappear over the horizon, a spectacle of fire,our farewell.
    ISABELLE
    Arthur, Arthur! Are yougone?
    ARTHUR
    Sails . . . yellow, red . . . thesea.
    END
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SERIOUS ENOUGH

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    CAST OF CHARACTERS
    Jane Bowles , forty-fiveyearsold,authorofthenovel Two Serious Ladies and a play, In the Summer House
    B renda , well-dressed woman in late middle age
    B artender
    A Man
    SETTING
    ThebaroftheStanhopeHotelinNew York City, December 1962.
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    JANE BOWLES enters the elegantly ap pointed bar and takes a seat. The Stan hope is a first-class hotel. She takes off her gloves, unfastens her coat and removes her hat, revealing unruly dark hair, cut short. She shivers from the cold. Seated a couple of stools away is BRENDA , smoking acigarette in a long holder and sipping amartini. They are the only two customers inthe baronamid-afternoon.The BARTEND ER comes over to JANE .
    BARTENDER
    May I serve you,madam?
    JANE
    I suppose,yes.
    (points to Brenda’s glass)
    What is she drinking?
    BARTENDER
    A Beefeater martini, straight up, twoolives.
    JANE hesitates.
    BARTENDER
    English gin. Very dry.
    JANE
    Fine, I’ll havethat.
    The BARTENDER walks away.
    JANE
    (to brenda )
    Hi, my name isJane.
    BRENDA
    Mine isBrenda.
    JANE
    (stillshivering)
    I’m notusedtothecoldanymore.IgrewupherebutI haven’t been in New York for twoyears.
    BRENDA
    Do you live inFlorida?
    JANE
    Oh, no, Florida is a terrible place. My mother lives there. I livein Tangier, Morocco.
    BRENDA
    You’re alongwayfromhome. I’ve neverbeentoNorthAfrica. What do you dothere?
    JANE
    Oh, I write, and mingle with the natives. My husband writes,too, and he composes music. We’re in New York now because he hasa job composing music for a Broadway play. His name is Paul. My motherandsisterwerejusthere,fromFlorida,tovisitme.Theyleft this morning, thank goodness. We don’t get on well together,not well at all. Is your mother stillalive?
    BRENDA
    No.
    JANE
    That’s one less thing you have to worryabout.
    The BARTENDER bringsJaneherdrink.
    BARTENDER
    One Beefeater martini, straight up, twoolives.
    He walks away. JANE lifts the glass to her lips.
    BRENDA
    Don’t drink it too fast. It’s verycold.
    JANE
    Thanks for thetip.
    She sipstentatively.
    JANE
    Ooh, you’re right.
    (shiversagain)
    BRENDA
    What sort of writing do you do,Jane?
    JANE
    Short stories, a play. Now I’m trying to write anovel.
    BRENDA
    Do you have a title? I often buy a book just because I like the title.
    JANE
    Three Serious Ladies , or maybe it’s only Two Serious Ladies . I haven’t decided yet. Is it good for you, Brenda? The title, I mean. Would it appeal to you enough to make you want to buy it?
    BRENDA
    I’m notsure.Perhaps,ifthecoverartattractedme. How seriousare these two or threeladies?
    JANE
    Serious enough. Each of them is searching for the best way tolive her life. And with whom, if there is a whom. Where do youlive?
    BRENDA
    Aren’t we all. I live here, in theStanhope.
    JANE
    I like to come in here when I’m in New York. Charlie Parkerdied inthishotel.Didyouknowthat?Inasuiteoccupiedbyaveryrich heiress.
    BRENDA
    The Baroness. Yes, I knew her. She moved to New Jersey afterthat musician died.
    JANE
    He and his friend Dizzy Gillespie invented bop. Do you likejazz? My husband hates it. Oh, I’m sorry, asking you all thesequestions.
    BRENDA
    Drinkyourmartini,Jane. You don’t wantittocooldowntoomuch.
    JANE and BRENDA both sip fromtheir glasses.
    JANE
    Do you prefer women or men, Brenda? To sleepwith.
    BRENDA
    (laughs)
    I sleep with Horatio. He’s beenfixed.
    JANE stares at her.
    BRENDA
    My poodle.
    BRENDA signals to the bartender, who comes over and presents BRENDA with a check, which she signs, then stands up. The BAR TENDER picks up the check and moves away.
    BRENDA
    It’s been interesting talking with you, Jane. I’ll look for yournovel.
    JANE
    Oh,