You are here:
- Authors, Plays & Translators
- Play index
- La nona
- Sample translations
La nona (c.1977), Roberto Cossa
La nona, translated by Rachael Nazarko
ACT TWO, Scene One
ACT TWO
- Context:
- This is the day of La nona civil marriage ceremony with Don Francisco. The family awaits his arrival but all la nona can think about is food.
- Sample text
-
NONA. – Eez taim too eet?
Nobody answers. Carmelo opens the fridge and takes out a large dish covered by a serviette. Nona steals a loaf of bread and is surprised by Carmelo, who takes it out of her hand and returns it to the bread bin.
CARMELO. – Out, Nona! You’ll be eating the roast soon.
NONA. – Baht… frohm nahw ahnteel lahnch. Da fai-oor’s noht ray-dee.
CARMELO. – The fire’s fine. We’ll be eating soon.
Enter María carrying a veil and a pair of shoes.
CARMELO. – (to María) Go get her ready.
Carmelo exits downstage.
MARIA. – Come on, Nona. You have to get dressed up.
Nona shakes her head.
NONA. – Pohp-cohrn.
MARIA. – There isn’t any popcorn. Come on!
Nona shakes her head.
NONA. – Creesps.
MARIA. – Nor crisps. We’re going to eat in a second.
NONA. – Dool-say deh lehche.
María sighs, looking worn out. She opens the fridge and stares.
MARIA. – There’s no dulce de leche. (She looks at her) Mayonnaise?
NONA. – May-oh-nay-sah.
María takes out a jar of mayonnaise and a spoon, and gives them to Nona. Then she sits on a chair and changes Nona’s veil and shoes, while Nona devours the jar of mayonnaise.
MARIA. – You have to get dressed up, Nona. We’re going to change your veil, eh? And we’re going to put on your shoes.
NONA. – Eez mai boorf-day tooday?
MARIA. – No, not yet. But we’re having a party.
NONA. – (happy) Pahtee, pahtee!
Chicho appears in his Sunday best.
CHICHO. – (happily) Ah, little Nona… how lovely. You look ten years younger. (He realises that this is not much). What? Twenty… or thirty. You don’t even look seventy.
NONA. – Pahtee, pahtee, Chicho!
CHICHO. – Party, yes.
María exits downstage carrying the veil and the slippers. At the same time Carmelo appears.
CHICHO. – Hey, Carmelo, look at our sweet little Nona.
CARMELO. – (taking Chicho to one side) Francisco won’t let us down, will he?
CHICHO. – As if he’d let us down!
CARMELO. – If we have to be in the registry office by two, we’ll have to eat early. (Pause. He looks at Nona) Wouldn’t it be better to say something to her?
CHICHO. – Do you think?
CARMELO. – And… I mean… what if she puts her foot in it at the registry office?
CHICHO. – It’s ok, I’ll sort it out. Go tend to the roast.
Carmelo exits downstage.
NONA. – Carmelo… caht da sweet-bre’s nais an fain.
CHICHO. – (Caressing Nona) Darling Nona…
NONA. – Les go ah-oot-said. Clohs too da fai-oor.
She heads downstage.
CHICHO. – They’re about to bring the nibbles.
Nona stops. Chicho sits her down and sets himself in front of her.
CHICHO.—Little Nona... With her sweet gaze. Those eyes that have seen trees be born and die and be born anew.
NONA.—Ah day breen-geen da neebools?
CHICHO.—It’s coming, it’s coming… Have they told you who’s coming today?
Nona shakes her head.
CHICHO.—Francisco. Do you remember him?
NONA.—Dat mascalzone.
CHICHO.—He’s a nice boy, Nona. And he loves you very much.
Nona looks at him.
CHICHO.—(Falsely mischievous.) And I think you like him too.
NONA.—Da neebools, Chicho.
CHICHO.—I told you, Nona... you have to think of tomorrow... secure your future. One day we might fail you and... (Looks at Nona, expecting a reaction.)
NONA.—(Rather annoyed.) An da neebools?
CHICHO.—Fuck the nibbles! (He gives her a loaf of bread while stroking her hair to calm her.) Have a chew.
A pause. Nona chews and Chicho continues to caress her while he thinks.
CHICHO.—But that Francisco is a great man, huh? (Looks at Nona and waits.) He’s Italian. (No response.) And he’s doing very well. He has a news-stand by the station. If you could only see it... Full of chocolates... sweets...
Nona’s eyes light up.
NONA.—Choh-cah-layt?
CHICHO.—Whew. He has a room full of it. White chocolate, bubbly chocolate... filled with dulce de leche... orange bonbons... mints... chocolate peanuts...
NONA.—Eez Franchesco cah-meen?
CHICHO.—He must be almost here by now. He’s going to have a bit of roast with us... Then we’re all going to see a man in an office and... (Cautious.) Tonight he’s going to take you to the news-stand. You’re going with him.
NONA.—‘Ee geev mee da choh-cah-layt?
CHICHO.—He’ll give you anything you ask for. (He strokes her head.) Well, my lovely Nona?
Nona says yes with a rapid nod. Carmelo pokes his head out downstage and he looks at Chicho.
CHICHO.—It’s all sorted… all sorted.
The doorbell rings. María goes to answer it.
CHICHO.—El ‘sorello’, el ‘sorello’ has arrived.
CARMELO.—What are you saying, idiot! El fidanzato.
CHICHO.—El fidanzato... el fidanzato...
Enter Francisco, dressed in a navy blue suit and with a bunch of flowers in one hand and a box of chocolates in the other. Marta appears from downstage.
CARMELO.—Come in, don Francisco.
FRANCISCO.—How are things, Carmelo? (He greets him.) Hello, Chicho. (He looks around.) And little Marta? (At this point he sees her appear.) Martita...
MARTA.—How are you, don Francisco? (She gives him her hand.)
FRANCISCO.—I suppose that now I’m going to be your... (He looks at the others.)
CARMELO.—Great-grandfather.
FRANCISCO.—Right... great-grandfather. I can give you a little kiss, can’t I?
He kisses her rather forcefully. Chicho takes his arm and separates him from Marta.
CHICHO.—Right, don Francisco. Now you have to greet the… bride.
FRANCISCO.—Yes... yes, of course.
Francisco, surrounded by the others, approaches Nona, who remained apart from the scene and is still chewing. Francisco plants himself in front of her and bows.
CARMELO.—Have you seen who’s come, Nona?
NONA.— Franchesco.
Francisco hands her the roses.
NONA.—(Annoyed.) Cosa e? Waht aboht da choh-cah-layt?
Chicho, quickly, takes the bunch of roses from Francisco’s hand, takes the box of chocolates off him and lays it down on Nona’s lap.
CHICHO.—Here you go, Nona. (To Francisco.) Roses bring back bad memories for her. Sit yourself down, don Francisco.
He sits him next to Nona, who has already opened the box of chocolates and set about eating them.
CARMELO.—Pardon, don Francisco. I’m just going to check on the roast. Bring some bread over for the chorizo, María. You, Chicho, serve don Francisco some wine.
Carmelo and María exit downstage.
FRANCISCO.—(Signalling the seat next to him.) Come here, Martita. Next to me.
MARTA.—I have to finish getting ready.
Marta exits downstage. Chicho hands Francisco a glass of wine. He looks at Francisco and Nona for a moment.
CHICHO.—Right then… Say what you have to say.
Chicho takes a few steps downstage. Francisco gets up and approaches him.
FRANCISCO.—I don’t know what to say to her.
CHICHO.—Tell her about yourself. About your news-stand, for example. About the things you have in your news-stand. That’ll interest her a lot. (He slaps him on the back.) Tell her about your world, don Francisco.
FRANCISCO.—And we can’t talk about Catanzaro?
CHICHO.—Don’t even mention it! She’s going to think you’re only in it for the money, do you understand? She doesn’t know that you know. Once you’re married... (Now he raises his voice.) Well... You have a lot to talk about.
Chicho exits downstage. Francisco looks for a momento at Nona, who is chewing, eyes fixed on the floor. He takes the glass of wine and finally he sits next to her. There is a long pause while Francisco considers how to start the conversation.
FRANCISCO.—Are the sweets nice?
Nona nods.
FRANCISCO.—They’re from my shop.
NONA.— Yoo breen-gah moh-oor?
FRANCISCO.—No... But my shop is full of them.
NONA.— Yoo taik me dehr dees ee-veh-neen?
FRANCISCO.—Yes... yes... of course.
He timidly puts his arm around Nona’s shoulder.
NONA.—An waht yoo geev mee?
FRANCISCO.—(More confused.) Whatever you ask of me.
NONA.—Choh-cah-layt!
FRANCISCO.—Ah, yes... yes...
There is a long pause, during which Francisco keeps his arm around Nona, and she continues to chew. Finally, Francisco looks around to check that they’re alone.
FRANCISCO.—(Suddenly.) Catanzaro.
Nona turns and looks at him, without stopping her chewing. Francisco looks at her waiting for a reaction.
FRANCISCO.—Do you remember Catanzaro?
Nona nods.
FRANCISCO.—(In a low voice.) And what do you have in Catanzaro?
Nona looks at him and chews.
FRANCISCO.—What do you remember?
NONA.—Catanzaro... Goo-dah wain.
FRANCISCO.—Wine. Do you have vineyards?
NONA.— Pasta.
FRANCISCO.—A pasta factory.
NONA.—Cuesta cosa... (She makes a gesture of something small.)
FRANCISCO.—Gold... Little gold nuggets!
NONA.—(Shakes her head.) See-food-ah.
FRANCISCO.—A fish factory... You catch fish... You have boats...
NONA.—Eez coht an eez ee-tehn. (Laughs.)
FRANCISCO.—(Squeezes Nona with joy.) Dearest Nona.
At this moment Chicho enters carrying a dish with chorizo sandwiches.
CHICHO.—Well, well! Sorry if I’m interrupting, but the chorizo is done.
Nona quickly pockets the chocolates that she hasn’t yet eaten. She takes a sandwich and sets to eating. Carmelo and María enter behind. Francisco hugs Chicho and gives him a kiss.
FRANCISCO.—Beloved Chicho...
Chicho looks at Francisco without understanding and serves him some wine. Anyula arrives with a glass of wine in her hand and she brushes past Francisco. He takes the glass out of her hand.
FRANCISCO.—Don’t drink any more, Anyula. You’re not going to solve anything this way.
ANYULA.— (Taking back the glass.) It’s Carmelo’s.
Chicho holds out a glass to Francisco.
CHICHO.—Here, don Francisco.
Francisco takes it and hands it to Marta, who has just entered.
FRANCISCO.—Here, Martita.
MARTA.—Thanks, don Francisco.
FRANCISCO.—Don’t call me don.
MARTA.—So… you’re my great-grandfather now.
FRANCISCO.—(In a low voice.) For the moment, but after Catanzaro you’ll see.
From the street comes the sound of various toots of a car horn. Marta heads towards the door.
MARTA.—Right... ciao.
FRANCISCO.—(Disappointed.) You’re off?
MARTA.—I have to go, don Francisco.
FRANCISCO.—What a shame!
MARTA.—There’ll be another time. (Exits.)
FRANCISCO.—(To Chicho.) She left.
CHICHO.—Yes, but what did she say to you?
Francisco looks at him.
CHICHO.—She’s waiting for the right time.
FRANCISCO.—(Laughs and kisses Chicho.) Beloved Chicho! The pasta factory is yours.
CHICHO.—(Disconcerted.) Wouldn’t it be a good idea to stop drinking, don Francisco? We have to be in the registry office by two, you see.
Francisco watches Nona, who takes another sandwich, and he stops laughing.
FRANCISCO.—Listen... About Nona’s health...
CHICHO. – What’s wrong with her?
FRANCISCO.—You told me she’s very ill.
CHICHO.—Last night we almost lost her. We had to give her mouth to mouth.
FRANCISCO.—(Looks at Nona, who eats voraciously.) But… she eats well.
CHICHO.—The final glow of imminent death.
FRANCISCO.—Maybe we’ll lose her now.
CHICHO.—No... she’ll definitely hold on until tonight, but then... (He makes a fateful gesture.)
NONA.—Chee-mee-choo-ree soh-sah!
CHICHO.—(He takes the tray to distract Francisco.) Take another sandwich, don Francisco.
Carmelo, María and Anyula have arrived from downstage bringing various things and they gather around the table.
CHICHO.—A toast. Anyone?
Everyone raises their glass, except Nona, who continues eating distractedly, and Anyula, who moves away from the others with a sad expression.
CHICHO.—To the bride and groom!
Everyone says ‘to the bride and groom’. Anyula puts her head in her hands and runs crying downstage. Francisco watches her go.
CHICHO.—(To Francisco.) Leave her be... Now she’ll go to her room and hit the bottle... What a disaster!
FRANCISCO.—How awful!
CHICHO.—Right, right... (He raises his glass.) Another toast!
MARÍA.—Let the groom...
FRANCISCO.—(Raises his glass.) To Catanzaro!
Nobody except Chicho really understands, but they all raise their glasses.
FRANCISCO.—(Extending his glass towards Nona.) Nona... To Catanzaro.
Nona looks at him and continues to chew. Francisco invites her to toast.
CARMELO.—Toast, Nona.
Nona now looks at Carmelo and chews.
CARMELO.—Toast, don Francisco.
Francisco remains with his glass extended. There is a pause. Francisco looks at Chicho demanding an explanation.
CHICHO.—Um… it’s a very special day for her.
MARÍA.—(Takes Nona’s glass and gives it to her.) Come on, Nona!
Nona takes her glass and raises it. Everyone applauds and says ‘hooray’, etc. When the voices quieten down, Nona speaks.
NONA.—‘Ahpee Noo Yee-ah!
Sudden lights out.
- Copyright
-
The above sample taken from the translation La nona by Rachael Nazarko is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Entry written by Gwendolen Mackeith. Last updated on 15 June 2012.
