Genius in Love: Scene Finale

by Jay Squires

[Note to reader: This is long. But it comes with a promise: if you let it take you all the way to the end, you’ll leave it loving our Cornelius.]

The Previous Scene in a nutshell: The two friends, Cornelius and Jennie, are in their favorite place in the schoolyard, communicating in their way. Jennie explains her Dad is dead and her Aunt Fawnelle brought her in the middle of the night back to California. At Cililla’s bidding Cornelius shows his compassion by holding Jennie’s hands. When Cililla sees Jennie’s response threatened to get out of hand she convinces Cornelius to divert Jennie's attention by telling her that he has agreed to play the piano at their graduation.

CHARACTERS DESCRIPTION: Found in “Author’s Notes”

SETTING: Interior of the school auditorium. Only the front three rows of seats are shown facing the stage, an aisle separating them and ending with three steps leading to the stage. [Behind these three actor-occupied rows, is the actual seating for the playgoers.] Onstage, three rows of chairs, stage left, face three rows of chairs stage right, with a walkway between. The rows of chairs on either side are curved, similar to an archer’s bow, so that the children occupying them can be seen by their parents. Behind these chairs, Upstage Center is a raised platform on which a grand piano dominates. Downstage center, a microphone faces the parents. A dozen lovely arrangements of flowers in lavish vases are evenly spaced on the stage’s periphery, on either side of the microphone.

Time: Spring, 1952, evening: auditorium just beginning to fill.

At Rise: TOLOACHE is in the second row, two currently unoccupied seats from the aisle; HOWARD is to her right, dressed to the nines, casting his eyes about, looking arrogantly bored. PHYLLIS, front row and one seat removed from the aisle, is turned, talking over the seat-back to TOLOACHE. Men and women, sitting across the aisle in the first three rows, show all the animation of people just arriving, chattering, calling out to friends just entering.

PHYLLIS:
They all look so cute in their blue robes, don’t they? Boys on one side, girls on the other. Just like school dances.
(Indicating the empty seats next to TOLOACHE with a tilt of her head)
Folks shouldn’t be able to reserve their seats with their programs.

TOLOACHE:
I’d have saved them for you myself, but I didn’t know if Jennie’d be sitting with you.

PHYLLIS:
No, she’s up there; see her? Jeff—Mr. Hallows—is letting her graduate with the rest of the kids. Just no diploma inside the envelope until she passes the constitution test.

TOLOACHE:
That’s good—means a lot to a kid.

PHYLLIS:
She’s been working so hard at those books—like it’s a regular nine to five.

TOLOACHE:
I’ll bet.

PHYLLIS:
She could pass it now … but she says she has to be sure. You know.

TOLOACHE:
I know.
(Beat)
Are you okay, Phyl?

PHYLLIS:
(Starts nodding rapidly, eyes tightly closed; then after a sigh that seems to take all the air out of her, she slowly begins shaking her head, side to side)
No. Toley … no. Gary should be here. She’s our daughter. Why’d he have to be so selfish?!

TOLOACHE:
Maybe … Maybe it all just—I don’t know, just wore him out.

PHYLLIS:
We all get tired … that was just selfish.

TOLOACHE:
(As though studying her)
Does—does Jennie know?

PHYLLIS:
She’ll never know, Toley. To her, he just died in his sleep.

TOLOACHE:
The poor baby!

PHYLLIS:
It’s better this way. He died in his sleep.
(Beat)
But listen to me! Tonight’s a happier occasion, Toley! Tonight’s for the kids.
(Turning, rather distractedly, to the stage)
And, look at our Cornie, there! So handsome, and so dapper-looking. You and Howard—hi, Howard!—you two have to be so proud. Are you nervous about tonight?

TOLOACHE:
About his playing? No, not once he starts. But so much can happen …
(Starts fiddling with her necklace, then her sweater sleeves)
… between now and when Jeff announces him.

PHYLLIS:
(Turning back toward CORNELIUS)
He’ll be fine, Toley. He’s cute as a bug’s ear. He’s sitting so tall and proud.

[While PHYLLIS and TOLOACHE look at CORNELIUS, CILILLA, her hair in a pixie-cut and of every color in the rainbow, clad in a daring mini-skirt, high heels, and a colorful cutaway blouse, exposing her midriff, threads her way down the row of seats to get to CORNELIUS. Of course, none of the other boys can see her as she stands directly in front of his chair and looks down at him]

CILILLA:
Should have put a bug in Mr. Hallows’ ear to place an empty chair next to you so you wouldn’t be staring into my belly button.
(Glancing right and left)
Oh, well, I’m nothing if not enterprising.

[With that, she settles down in the lap of the boy sitting next to CORNELIUS; then, seeing CORNELIUS’S mouth drop open and his eyes get as big as quarters as his head jerks first to her, then to the face of the boy on whose lap she is sitting, she's quick to remind him]

CILILLA (Continues):
He doesn’t know, Sweetie-pie. He doesn’t know. Remember, only you can see and hear me.

PHYLLIS:
What do you suppose that was all about?

TOLOACHE:
I haven’t a clue. Maybe the boy said something to him.

BOY:
(In a subdued, but angry voice)
Why d’you keep looking at me—dummy?

[General chittering and barely contained laughter on the boys’ side follows]

CORNELIUS:
Sorr-reey …

CILILLA:
It’s because you’re looking at me, Cornie … Okay? Got that, Sweetie, just look straight ahead, not at me.

BOY:
(Buoyed up by his peers, but his voice still modulated, so as not to be heard by the mothers and fathers in the audience)
You’d better be sorry, dum-dum.

CILILLA:
Ignore him, Sweetie. Just look straight ahead and listen to me.

PHYLLIS:
(Turning back to TOLOACHE)
Well, I couldn’t see if Cornelius said anything, but I didn’t like the look on that other little boy’s face. Did you hear any—?

TOLOACHE:
I’m not sure. I thought that—no, I’m sure everything’s going to be fine.

HOWARD:
(Standing, bending down to TOLOACHE and PHYLLIS, but his eyes roving the seated parents)
Well, I’m not fine! I heard him. We don’t need this. He doesn’t need to be made a spectacle of in front of all these people!

TOLOACHE:
(Through the teeth of a fierce smile)
Sit your ass down, Howard. No one’s taking my boy off the stage!

HOWARD:
(Quickly sitting, but then rising again)
Stay if you wish. I don’t have to watch it. I’m going outside for a smoke. I’ll see you in the lobby when it’s over.
(Crosses in front of TOLOACHE, and exits up the aisle)

CILILLA:
Keep looking straight ahead, Sweetie. I’m sorry, Love. I didn’t anticipate any of this happening. Now …
(Beat)
We need to cover a couple of things … When Mr. Hallows calls on you to play the piano, and you are up there, just stay in the deep ocean of your music. Everything’s going to be beautiful. Because you’re beautiful. They’re going to love it.
(Beat)
And I think that just about … No! When you’ve finished, and all the people applaud, you may want to rush back to your chair. But don’t, okay? So, stand there in front of the piano until the applause dies. Then, I want you to bow. Nice and long, from the waist. I know you can do that.

[MR. HALLOWS emerges from Stage Left and proceeds to the microphone.]

CILILLA (Continues):
I’m leaving now, Sweetie-pie. We’ll talk later.
(She gets off the boy’s lap, straightens her mini-skirt, then looks down on CORNELIUS)
Now, Cornie, Sweetie, no one can see me, and you must keep looking straight ahead, but I want to give you a little kiss on the cheek for good luck.
(She gives him the promised kiss, and then sidles out the row and exits Stage Left)

MR. HALLOWS:
(Taps mic)
Parents, siblings, and friends of the graduates of Zachary Taylor Middle School …
(Turning and sweeping both arms toward the graduates like a symphony conductor)
… and the honorees: the eighth-grade graduating class of 1952, I hope everyone is as proud as I am, as your principal, of your achievement. After tonight’s ceremony, you young men and women will have earned the right to address me to my face as Mr. Hals.
(Facing front again, with a smile, confidentially)
... since it’s the name you’ve been using all along among your friends.
(Beat)
I must ask, however, that parents and seventh-graders still address me as Mr. Hallows.

[There is general laughter among the audience and the graduates. TOLOACHE and PHYLLIS trade smiles.]

MR. HALLOWS (Continues):
Before I pass out the diplomas and you all leave here to get your celebratory ice cream, I would like you to enjoy tonight’s entertainment. Won’t you join me in welcoming a young man from our very own eighth-grade graduating class, Cornelius Plumb?

[The audience applauds while his fellow graduates exchange puzzled looks. CORNELIUS stands, and as he passes in front of the boys, one covertly pinches his leg. CORNELIUS covers it with his hand, and his face distorts in pain, but he continues on. Instead of turning toward the piano, he walks stiffly to MR. HALLOWS, who, covering the mic, bends down and inclines his ear to him.]

MR. HALLOWS (Continues):
(Straightening up and looking at the girl graduate group)
Certainly, if she’s willing ...
(Beat)
Jennie Jax, would you care to join Cornelius on the piano bench?

[Puzzled eyes in the girls' group turn to JENNIE. She appears flustered, looking about with a half-smile, but she stands and makes her way through the row. CORNELIUS joins her in the aisle. As they near the stairs, CORNELIUS’S hand blindly feels for hers. She accepts it. They mount the stairs and seat themselves on the bench]

TOLOACHE:
(As though to herself)
Oh ... my … God! Would you look at that!

PHYLLIS:
Yes … Um … Um …
(She finishes by holding a handkerchief to her face, her shoulders bobbing)

HOWARD:
(Coming down the aisle from the lobby, he removes the program from the empty seat and sits. He shakes his head a moment then looks at TOLOACHE)
Mama …?
(After a moment he leans in and gives TOLOACHE a kiss on the cheek. Glassy-eyed, they gaze at each other. Then, she nods)

[[SIDEBAR NOTE TO READER: at this point, the musical director would be keying up the first piece, followed immediately by the second. For the full emotional effect, please listen to each piece (found at the bottom of the "author notes") completely, as though you are in the audience. Each is quite short. (WHEN THE FIRST SELECTION ENDS GO IMMEDIATELY TO THE SECOND.) It's best if you can listen with your eyes closed while imagining, if you will, CORNELIUS, his eyes closed, rapturously, his body gently swaying with the first selection, and his head and shoulders keeping time with the rhythm of the second. JENNIE, meanwhile, gazes at him with so much pride and love it would test the skills of any actress.]]

###

[With the completion of the final song, the audience erupts; both sections of graduates spontaneously get to their feet, clapping, cheering. MR. HALLOWS, clapping as loudly as any, motions CORNELIUS to the front. As he and JENNIE, holding hands, pass between the two sections of graduates, CORNELIUS acknowledges each side with a nervous dip of his head.]

MR. HALLOWS:
(His arm on CORNELIUS’S shoulder, he waits for the applause to die down, though the audience still remains standing, and he smiles down at CORNELIUS)
Well, Cornelius, I guess it’s safe to say you entertained us all very well.
(Audience resumes applause)
And, I know there’s a couple of parents down there who are mighty proud of their boy.

[HOWARD, grinning, has his arm around a smiling TOLOACHE and he holds his free hand overhead and punches the air]

MR. HALLOWS (Continues):
(To CORNELIUS)
You don’t need to say anything, Cornelius. You let the piano say everything that needed saying. I just wanted you to know how proud we are of you and how much everyone loves you.

CORNELIUS:
(Still clutching JENNIE’S hand through a silence that is so long it begins to be palpable, he lifts his eyes to MR. HALLOW’S brows)
Than-thank y-you, Mis-ter Hal-lows ….

MR. HALLOWS:
(Tearing up)
Oh, my …

CILILLA:
( As a voice, somewhere offstage)
YEEEEESSSSS!

CORNELIUS:
(Not releasing JENNIE’S hand, he bows deep and long to the audience. Rising he keeps his eyes on an empty seat)
Th-thank youooooo.

CILILLA:
(Singing, dancing, twirling, down an aisle from the lobby toward the stage)
Yes! Yes! Sweetie-pie ... Yeeeeeeeeees!

CORNELIUS:
(Caught up in CILILLA'S antics, he smiles down at her)
Yeeeeees! Thank-youuuuu!

[The applause begins again, in the audience and with the graduates behind him, while a few in the latter group chant "Cornie, Cornie"]

CORNELIUS (Continues):
(Keeping his smile, he swings his eyes to his parents)
Thaaank youuuuu. Yeeeeeees!

FINAL CURTAIN

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October
2021

CHARACTERS:

CORNELIUS PLUMB: An autistic, musical genius child, age 12. He is uncommonly handsome, well-groomed, well-dressed. His speech is clipped, with a beat, between each word, as though he is forcing himself to slow the flood of experiences bubbling from inside. His best friend is Jennie.

CILILLA QUEEZ: An actualized part of Cornelius's deeper mind, there to guide him through rough emotional patches. Only Cornelius can see and hear Cililla.

JENNIE JAX: Cornelius's classmate, age 12, physically not yet blossomed. Emotionally tossed and turned by events in her young life. On the shy side, she is kind-hearted, but still a child and swayable. She has been attracted to Cornelius from the beginning.

TOLOACHE [Pron: Toh-loh-AH-chee] PLUMB: Cornelius's mother; former off-Broadway actress and bit player in daytime soaps, she now owns a small, borderline-successful acting studio. She glows with love for her son and protects him with much the same fierce devotion and duty as a knight would protect his kingdom.

PHYLLIS JAX: Jennie's mother; a housewife, married to an unstable novelist, Gary Jax, who has recently abducted their daughter and moved to New Mexico.

HOWARD PLUMB: Cornelius's father; Enormously successful founder and C.E.O of a Fortune 500 chemical company. Highly intelligent, he is emotionally distant from his wife and entirely dismissive of his son.

JEFF HALLOWS: Principal of Zachary Taylor Middle School. Age 45. A true empath. He understands Cornelius from within the social and educational construct better than anyone.

BOY: sitting next to CORNELIUS.

Much gratitude for the photo by Daniel on Upsplash

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Graduation Night

A chapter in the book Genius in Love

Genius in Love: Scene Finale

by Jay Squires

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