The Black Orchid

(suspenseful theme playing)

(car engine starts)

Murderers.

For in his mercy,

he gave Tony one last chance.

Thanks be to God,

Tony did not miss that chance.

He died repentant.

So we have helped Tony.

But we can help him even more

by praying for the two

he left to us,

his wife and his son.

Whatever Tony did,

whatever Tony was to cause

another man to murder him,

we cannot judge him.

I remember one day,

Tony stood right here

in front of me,

with Rose...

May God's blessings

go with you.

PRIEST:

...the remission

of all his sins...

( wedding dance music plays )

( guests hum along with music )

PRIEST:

...of thy divine justice

and punishments

in the world to come...

You're not sorry

you came over?

A dream comes true,

you don't feel sorry.

I'm in that dream?

You are the one who has

to make it come true...

more.

Um, Tony, we won't live

in that one room too long, huh?

Pretty soon, we will have

a whole house.

Oh, I can't wait.

How I am going to furnish it,

top to bottom,

everything new and beautiful.

And it's got to have

lots of closets

and a private garage and--

Rose.

Yes?

Well, we may have to wait

a while for that.

PRIEST:
Nobody made Tony become

the kind of man he became.

Every man chooses his own road.

The worst tragedy here is,

he took two innocents with him

when he went down that road.

For Rose Bianco

and her son

and for Tony,

let us pray.

O God,

the creator and redeemer

of all the faithful,

hear our supplications,

and through thy infinite love...

( upbeat piano music plays )

( children chatter

indistinctly )

Rose. You worked

overtime again, huh?

I took work home as well.

At least with overtime,

you make a little extra money.

God knows you could use it.

That insurance company

should have gave you the money.

You know, natural

or unnatural, dying is dying.

Those companies, they don't care

how you pay the policy,

but to collect,

you gotta die their way.

You gotta sit here and work

all night by yourself?

Rose, take this stuff.

Come over to my house.

We'll sit and talk, instead

of each of us being alone.

You got two grown daughters

and a son-in-law and a husband.

That's being alone?

Friday night, they play cards.

Frank Valente

comes over.

You know Frank Valente?

The widower?

Poor Frank.

He's got this one child, Mary.

She's going to get

married next month.

She's going to leave

Frank all alone.

Her husband-to-be has

a business in Atlantic City.

That's how come

she's moving there.

Poor Frank,

all alone.

Just like you.

You know what I think?

I think he likes you.

Who?

Frank, the widower.

Last week, he said,

"Don't nobody take out

that beautiful widow

lives next door?"

You forgot to tell him

I'm in mourning?

He knows. He sees you

all the time in black.

You know what

he said?

You remind him

of black orchids.

Giulia.

He's coming to play cards

tonight.

Rose, come over.

Be there when he comes.

Stop making romance. Tell him,

"Go find somebody who ain't got

a murdered husband in the grave

and a son in a work farm."

Tell him, "Go find somebody

who's still got a piece

of heart left," huh?

He'll be there

from 8:
00 on.

Okay, Papa.

Five of hearts to you.

Here's my four.

Eight.

( guests laugh )

Come on, Frank.

Stop joking and play.

Come on, Paul,

let's play serious.

Henry's getting mad.

You should have married

a poker face like your father.

HENRY:
Frank, please.

Three of diamonds.

Looks pretty safe.

I can get under that.

And to you, Papa,

the six of spades.

I give up. Any better?

Ace of spades.

PAUL:
Hey, look.

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote