Characters:
MARIA, Al's widow. Dressed in like a typical Catholic in mourning, complete with a black lace veil.
FRANK, Al's best friend.
RANDALL, Al's estranged brother.
Setting: A funeral home with a cross somewhere on display and an urn on a pedestal in the center of the stage.
MARIA: God, I wish this feeling in my chest would go away. I just want this all to be over and done with.
FRANK: Hey, we're in the home stretch. We've got, what, ten minutes left in the memorial? Who the hell shows up in the last ten minutes? It'll be fine.
MARIA: You're right. I just... wish he was here.
FRANK: I know, me too. But he'd be proud of the work we've done. He is proud.
MARIA: I can't wait to see him again.
Frank puts his arm around Maria.
FRANK: I know, sweetheart. You'll be with him again soon, though.
Randall enters loudly.
RANDALL: Well, well, well. What do we have here?
MARIA:
(Startled, under her breath.) Oh, Jesus H. Christ!
(To Randall.)Randall, what are you doing here? I thought you were still in... federal prison?
RANDALL:What, are you not pleased to see me?
MARIA:No, I am! I just... wish it were under better circumstances. (She sniffles.)
RANDALL: Me too. I just... can't believe he's gone. For good. We may not have always gotten along, but I wouldn't miss my brother's memorial for the world.
FRANK: Oh, I'm sure he'd be appreciative of that. He's probably looking down on us right now.
RANDALL:Or up at us.
An awkward beat of silence.
FRANK: Well, we're glad that you stopped by. Maria and I were actually just about to say our last goodbyes and head out; the memorial ends soon.
RANDALL: No, no, no. We've got... nine minutes left. I checked with the man up front to make sure I didn't miss it. Seemed a bit stiff though, so he'll probably kick us out at four o'clock on the dot. I plan to spend every minute I can with my dear little brother, though.
FRANK: I understand, but I'm sure Maria wants some time to say goodbye to Al alone. It's been a... difficult time for her.
MARIA: It really had. I'd love to have just a few more moments with him. Alone. Just my husband and I. One final time.
RANDALL: I appreciate that, and I'll leave a few minutes early so you can get that time. I'd still like to pay my respects, though.
FRANK: Of course. We understand that.
Randall looks closely at the urn while Frank and Maria exchange nervous looks.
RANDALL: I didn't know that Al wanted to be cremated. I always thought he wanted to be buried in the same cemetery as our folks.
MARIA: He ended up changing his mind fairly recently.
RANDALL: Huh. Didn't he have a plot already set aside for the two of you?
MARIA: He did.
RANDALL: Well, what changed?
MARIA: Oh, um... Well...
