Turn Around the Receiver [CANCELLED]

SCENE III

INT Breakfast table. Everyone is chattering a lot more this morning.

RODERICH

He wanted me to divert everything to Czechoslovakia. It would’ve cost twice the shipment. But all those men Braginsky sent to the Soviet border-

GILBERT

Not much of a choice, eh?

RODERICH

You should tell that guy to lay off us. I provide half his stock, anyways.

ELIZABETTA

More than.

RODERICH

(puffing up) That’s right.

ARIA

(walking up to the table from off-screen with a plate of fruit) Good morning. (She exchanges kisses with Roderich and Elizabetta. Gilbert and Ludwig watch, Gilbert almost predatory, Ludwig neutrally. Both watch her take her seat.)

GILBERT

(to Aria) I’ve got some business this morning with Roderich, but I’ll be around this afternoon. I was hoping you’d show me around in Vienna, Aria.

ARIA

Oh! Well, sure. It’s a bit of a walk though, are you sure you want to risk being out after dark?

GILBERT

I think we’ll be fine, I’ll be there. (He winks, she laughs a little; Ludwig shoots an almost jealous look at his brother)

ELIZABETTA

(standing; she glances at Aria) I think I’ll go with you boys this morning.

RODERICH

(irritated) Really dear? (He leans in and whispers loudly) And leave Aria unsupervised with a man?

ELIZABETTA

(fake, purposeful stage-whisper) It’s Aria. She would never. And you already expressed your views on Ludwig. (Ludwig blushes so hard even his ears are red)

RODERICH

(stonily silent for a moment before turning to Gilbert) Gil, how does this sound to you? (Elizabetta turns an imperial glare on him)

GILBERT

(incredible tension in the room; a beat) Sounds good. (He shoots a narrow warning look at Ludwig) We’d best get moving, then.

With a great clatter, the three older all depart the table, leaving a mess. Aria and Ludwig sit in silence for a moment after the full departure, a door shutting in the distance. Finally Aria begins to tidy up.

INT Outside the mansion. We look at the same fixed view of the mansion as Aria and Ludwig exit it. It’s a beautiful summer’s day out, windy enough to stir the skirt on Aria’s dress.

INTThe side of the mansion. Aria and Ludwig sit against the side of it, in the shade. They look out on rolling hills. There’s a forest far out there.

ARIA

(Watching nature) It’s so pretty today.

LUDWIG

(looking at Aria) Yes.

ARIA

Is it quite this nice in Berlin?

LUDWIG

Well, it’s the city, so it’s not as open. But I like it either way. I think it gets colder here in the winter, though, because of the mountains.

ARIA

I don’t like the winters here. They make me miss Italy.

(Beat)

ARIA

Remember when we played here as children?

LUDWIG

(hesitates) Yes.

ARIA

I miss those days.

(Beat)

LUDWIG

What’s Italy like in the winter?

ARIA

(warming up again) Much nicer than Austria! It doesn’t snow, not really. It’s way warmer.

LUDWIG

It doesn’t snow? How do you know it’s winter?

ARIA
(laughs, embarrassing Ludwig) It still gets colder! And it frosts.

LUDWIG
Of course. (He picks at the grass)

The sun passes behind a cloud. Aria gets up and walks a bit of a ways out, so when the sun comes back, she’ll be in it. The sun comes back.

ARIA

(laughing, she spins around) There’s no better season than summer, though! (Ludwig smiles a bit at her) Say, what do you think all that was about? About not leaving me unsupervised with you?

LUDWIG

(blushing and looking back down) They don’t like to leave boys and girls alone together. In case they, you know…

ARIA
What do I know, exactly? (She wanders back over and plops down next to him)

LUDWIG

(nervously) I don’t know if you’re messing with me right now.

ARIA

I swear I’m not!

(Beat. Ludwig is so obviously uncomfortable that Aria changes the subject)

ARIA

How old are you?

LUDWIG

Just eighteen.

ARIA

(impressed) You’re right between me and… (trailing) You’re two years older than me.

LUDWIG

(with a sideways look at her) Really? I thought you were eighteen, too…

ARIA

No, what would make you think that? (She tosses her hair behind her shoulder, picking some of the clover off the ground, smiling in a satisfied way)

Silence between them is comfortable. Aria leans towards Ludwig. She notes their hands; Ludwig’s are much bigger.

ARIA

Do you like music?

LUDWIG

I guess. I don’t know a lot.

ARIA

Really? Gilbert said the theatre is just a few streets away from your house, do you not go?

LUDWIG

Not really. I’m not a music person. I like sports and things.

ARIA
I bet you like football. You look like the sort of guy who would.

LUDWIG

(with a little laugh) Yes, I do like football. (His laugh causes Aria to really laugh)

ARIA

What else do you like?

LUDWIG

(thinks about it) Planes.

ARIA

(thoughtfully) I don’t know much about planes.

LUDWIG

I think it’s amazing human beings can fly. Like birds, but faster. Just on diesel. I want to fly in one someday. (this is the most he’s ever said, and he seems to have exhausted himself)

ARIA

I think that’s a pretty good dream.

LUDWIG

Pretty good?

ARIA

Okay, really good. (LUDWIG chuckles)

More silence.

INT The same shot of the front of the house. No human disturbs it, only the sounds of the summer outdoors.