The Fourth Daughter

Dale Andersen
27702 Crown Valley Pkwy

Suite 117
Ladera Ranch, CA 92694
562-508-5820
andersen.dale@gmail.com
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

(Formerly entitled A Curse on the Fourth Daughter)
a play by
Dale Andersen
Cast of Characters
Cuarta
Hispanic, female, late 20s
Psychic
Female, older
Orqudea
Yolanda
Hispanic, female, early 40s
Flor De Oro
Papa
Hispanic, male, 60s
Atilano
Hispanic, male, early 30s
Aaron
White, male, early 30s
Narciso (yng)
Hispanic, male, 5 or 6
Narciso (teen)
Hispanic, male, 12 or 13
Priest
Hispanic, male, 30s
Doubling:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Orqudea & Flor De Oro play Lola & Lupe & Guides.
Flor De Oro plays Bargirl.
Yolanda plays Nurse
Papa plays News Vendor and Accountant.
Aaron plays Man and Policeman.
Aaron and Papa play Firemen.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
ACT I
(At Rise: First space: PRIEST in spotlight at
small table. On table, small open chest. Second
space: interior of living room in PSYCHICs
home. Sitar music playing. Occult art on wall.
PSYCHIC sits, reading. CUARTA passes by window
three times. The first time, she carries a hedge
clipper. The second, a rake. The third, a basket
of clippings. PRIEST & PSYCHIC watch her
intently each time. Then silence as PSYCHIC goes
back to her reading. PRIEST takes some papers
from chest)
PRIEST:
Mamas chest. I got this when she passed on. Papers. A
few mementos. Here, a letter from a woman named Clovia.
(Reads)
Dear Cuarta:
I enjoyed your letter so much -- and the grapes were
wonderful. Such large bunches! Im about to turn into a
grape. Please visit soon. I miss you terribly.
Your Psychic Friend, Clovia
ps. Do you remember when you cut your hand stealing my
grapes? Ha ha. Just kidding.
(PRIEST space fades to black. Urgent knock)
Maam!
CUARTAS VOICE THROUGH DOOR:
Maam!
PSYCHIC:
Yes?
Maam!
What is it?
CUARTAS VOICE THROUGH DOOR:
Please! I need help.
Maam!
(PSYCHIC rushes to door, opens it)

Oh, youre cut!
PSYCHIC:
Youre bleeding. Come in.
Come in.
(CUARTA enters, holding one hand in the other)

Im so sorry, Maam.
CUARTA:
Im dripping blood on your rug.
PSYCHIC:
Its okay, dear.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
CUARTA:
Let me stand here by the door, so I dont ruin your - PSYCHIC:
Come on over here.
I said its okay.
Come.
(PSYCHIC takes CUARTA, holding her cut hand,

guides her to table and has her sit in chair.
She goes to a cupboard and takes out a medical
kit. She sits at the corner of table at right
angle to Cuarta. She cleans the cut. Then she
takes an aloe vera leaf. She cuts it lengthwise
on a cutting board. She presses the cut edge of
leaf to the wound. CUARTA looks nervous)
PSYCHIC:
Aloe vera. Press it to the wound, let the gel inside the
leaf do its work. Aloe vera is an excellent astringent.
Do you know what an astringent is?
CUARTA:
No.
PSYCHIC:
(Binds the wound)
It draws the tissues together. It heals. Its an herbal
medicine. From Mama Natures copious pharmacy. Its not a
very deep cut. How did you do this?
CUARTA:
I was cutting some grapes from the vine.
Grapes?
PSYCHIC:
Who said you could pick my grapes?
My grapes?
CUARTA:
Just one bunch. I. I didnt know you didnt want us to - PSYCHIC:
So thats where my grapes went. It was the gardeners.
Im sorry, Maam.
I.
CUARTA:
I thought it was okay.
PSYCHIC:
Im joking. You can pick my grapes. Anytime your little
heart desires, uh. What is your name?
CUARTA:
Cuarta.
My names Cuarta.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
PSYCHIC:
Im Clovia. Youre new. I havent seen you before.
So. Cuarta. What kind of name is Cuarta?
CUARTA:
Its just my name.
PSYCHIC:
Oh no no no. Not just your name. A name defines you, hides
you, disguises you, defiles you. Oh, Ive embarrassed you.
(CUARTA is suddenly looking up at the wall art)
Well now, look at you. Drawn to my art.
That one.
CUARTA:
It must be quite old.
PSYCHIC:
(PSYCHIC stands, goes to wall)
Do you know what it is? Its a penis. Its Roman.
(CUARTA flinches, not used to such language)
You see here? The shaft, the head. Snakelike. Romans
would display this to ward off the evil eye.
CUARTA:
In my country, Peru, people fear the evil eye.
But you dont fear it.
I dont know.
PSYCHIC:
Do you?
CUARTA:
Sometimes I wonder.
PSYCHIC:
No. You dont fear. I can tell. Youre a bold one.
Suddenly, youve stopped calling me, Maam. And you look
me in the eye. Evil eye people always look away.
CUARTA:
My father said, Let your eyes sparkle. Theyre the window
to your mind. But sometimes theres a war between my eyes
and the evil eye. In Peru, we have the mano fico.
(She demonstrates. It embarrasses her)
You see? You make the thumb like the male thing and you
spread the knuckles apart to look like. Like the - (She indicates her crotch)
We make images of mano fico. To fight the evil eye.
PSYCHIC:
I must have such an image. Can you get me one?
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
CUARTA:
We have Peruvian shops here in Los Angeles. I can try.
(A shrill whistle from outside)
My boss calls. I must go.
(PSYCHIC hugs her, kisses her. CUARTA exits,
fade to black. Spotlight up on PRIEST. PRIEST
takes document from chest. Scans it)
PRIEST:
Mamas I-20 student visa. Grandpa sent Mama to The States
to school. He didnt openly dislike her, but her being near
him prompted in him emotions best left at rest.
(Reads)
Family Name: Acosta
First Name: Cuarta
Country of Birth: Peru
Country of Citizenship: Peru
School: Woodbury College; Glendale, California
This certificate is issued to the student named above for:
attendance at this school.
Level of education the student will pursue in the United
States: Bachelors Degree in General Studies.
Remarks: English and math placement tests are required.
Last day to register is September 8, 1971.
(Puts document back in chest)
Mama wasnt cut out for school.
(Lights up, in PSYCHICs home a week later. Fine
accessories on stand at wall. CUARTA & PSYCHIC)
PSYCHIC:
Penny for your thoughts.
Why the laugh?
CUARTA:
(Handles accessories covetously as she speaks)
Im thinking of Papa. He tells jokes about this. And
heres his daughter, hanging a mano fico. But Papa has his
superstitions. He breathes on dice to make them lucky. So.
Does it speak? Is the power there?
PSYCHIC:
Perhaps it needs a nudge. Come, sit, help me nudge it.
I shouldnt.
CUARTA:
Im all sweaty. And your things are so nice.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
PSYCHIC:
Nothing wrong with honest sweat, dear. Come sit here.
(They sit. PSYCHIC dips fingers in water bowl)
Dippy down my fingertips,
Dab them on a blister
Catch and tame a water-fairy,
And you get her sister.
(Gestures to CUARTA)
Now open your palm.
PRIEST:
Dont open your palm.
No, Mama!
Dont!
My palm?
CUARTA:
(Glances in PRIESTs direction, as if she heard)
Why do you want my palm?
PSYCHIC:
To stir the psychic waves. Oh, youre nervous. We can stop.
Im such a coward.
CUARTA:
Ive never opened to anyone.
PRIEST:
Mama, you should have said, because I dont want to sin.
PSYCHIC:
Thats not being a coward. Thats being prudent.
CUARTA:
Thank you for not being upset.
PSYCHIC:
When you do decide to do it, first do a surface read. A
palms like an onion. Layers upon layers of information. A
surface read doesnt penetrate, doesnt go inside. It gives
an overview. Its like a summary. Here, let me show you.
PRIEST:
Poor Mama. She tricked you. But you let her, didnt you?
PSYCHIC:
The left is the hand youre born with. The right is the one
you make. Always go left first. Turn it over, dear, now
open up. Yes, lovely. Relax, dear. See that? Your life
line. There. Do you see how delicate it is? See it
quivering at my touch? Its opening up, talking to me,
telling me about you. It says you like outdoors. Parks,
lawns, gardens, the sun, the wide open spaces.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
Yes.
CUARTA:
Papa doesnt know I quit school.
I love the sun.
PSYCHIC:
Oh, now I see issues. Confidence issues. Indecision.
Depression. This weak line? Here? It says you want to be on
top of the world, to have riches, to be successful and
well-to-do. But your life frustrates you. You bottle it up,
you hold it in, you let the pressure build. And it builds
until something sets it off. In desperation, you act on
impulse for a quick fix. You take plunges, you gamble, you
let the wheel spin. Sometimes, you get in hot water.
CUARTA:
Hot water?
PRIEST:
I cant watch this any longer. Youre a sick old fraud.
Leeching off an innocent, nave immigrant girl.
(PSYCHIC glances in PRIESTs direction, as if
she heard. PRIEST space fades to black)
PSYCHIC:
Your fate line. Here. See the hard knocks youve had.
No no.
Lets stop now.
CUARTA:
Lets not talk about that.
PSYCHIC:
It began with your name. Your father named you Cuarta.
No.
Please.
No deeper.
CUARTA:
Stop. I want you to stop.
(Enter FLOR DE ORO, ORQUDEA & YOLANDA)

Your older sisters.
PSYCHIC:
He gave them flower names.
YOLANDA:
Yolanda, which means violet.
Send them away.
CUARTA:
Tell them to leave.
ORQUDEA:
Orqudea, which means orchid.
FLOR DE ORO:
Flor De Oro, which means golden flower.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
PSYCHIC:
Your name, Cuarta, simply means the fourth child.
(Sound of woman giving birth in pain)
YOLANDA:
It was her eighth month. Mama pregnant with Cuarta.
Something tore inside her. There was much blood.
(Enter PAPA. He wears a hat. He looks important)
PSYCHIC:
Your father prayed for her.
PAPA:
Save her, save her. Please! Ill give you my eldest.
(YOLANDA gasps, mouths, Who? Me?)
PSYCHIC:
You came out a healthy, strong baby.
Poor Mama.
ORQUDEA:
She drifted in and out of consciousness.
FLOR DE ORO:
As if God couldnt decide whether to take her or not.
PAPA:
Please dont let her suffer!
She passed on.
YOLANDA:
Papa was with her at the end.
PAPA:
(Removes hat, holds over heart)
Thank you, Lord. Thank you.
PSYCHIC:
He looked for a reason. He blamed you.
PAPA:
(Puts hat back on head)
No no! I didnt blame her. It was Gods will. I see that.
PSYCHIC:
A cousin who was childless offered to take you.
her a fee. She wanted a baby. So she paid.
YOLANDA:
I always wondered why Papa charged her.
He charged
Its so - -
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
PAPA:
I wasnt being greedy. I did it to protect Cuarta. If you
pay money, its like an investment. You wont want your
investment damaged. You see that, dont you?
FLOR DE ORO:
From then on, we saw Cuarta two days each year.
Saint Rose of Lima day.
ORQUDEA:
And Easter Sunday.
(ORQUDEA, FLOR DE ORO & YOLANDA mime little

girls at play. CUARTA in yellow dress, watches)
ORQUDEA, FLOR DE ORO & YOLANDA:
Cinderella dressed in yellow,
Went upstairs to kiss a fella
Made a mistake and kissed a snake
How many doctors did it take?
CUARTA:
Can I play?
ORQUDEA:
Were done choosing sides.
But youre two to one.
Didnt you hear?
CUARTA:
You need two on each side.
ORQUDEA:
Were done choosing sides.
ORQUDEA, FLOR DE ORO & YOLANDA:

(Playing hopscotch)
Thump on a drum and say it loud
Three is company, fours a crowd.
Cinderella, dressed in yellow
Went upstairs to kiss a fella.
(CUARTA picks up rock, threatens to throw it at
her sisters, who move to edge of stage, laughing
and skipping)
CUARTA:
I hate them.
PSYCHIC:
(Stands, dons schoolgirl garb, goes to CUARTA)
Hi.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
10
CUARTA:
Hi.
PSYCHIC:
You wanna play?
CUARTA:
Okay.
You get to be Cinderella.
PSYCHIC:
CUARTA:
I dont want to be Cinderella.
PSYCHIC:
This is the good Cinderella.
Well, okay.
CUARTA:
As long as its the good one.
PSYCHIC:
Your Fairy Godmother leads you into the ballroom. Youre
dressed in a golden yellow gown. Poof! She vanishes.
CUARTA:
Oh, Im so beautiful.
PSYCHIC:
Everyone gasps in wonder.
Look at me.
Look at me!
A trumpet flourish.
Oh.
CUARTA:
PSYCHIC:
The Prince enters.
(Curtsies)
Your Majesty.
CUARTA:
(PSYCHIC draws close to CUARTA, bows)

PSYCHIC:
The Prince has eyes only for you. He dances with you.
(They dance)
CUARTA:
Oh you dance so divinely, Your Majesty.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
11
(They separate. PSYCHIC bows, CUARTA curtsies)

PSYCHIC:
A year goes by. You are Princess Cinderella now. Your
royal baby boy rocks in his cradle as you cut a bunch of
grapes for your Prince. He insists that you, his beloved
Princess, prepare his food, so sweet are your hands.
CUARTA:
(Mimes cutting grapes from the vine)
I love him so much.
PSYCHIC:
But a wicked witch has switched knives.
is poisoned. You prick your finger.
The one you hold
Oh!
CUARTA:
(Mimes dropping knife, grasping your hand)
PSYCHIC:
You fall.
It hurts!
CUARTA:
(Falls)
Im going to faint!
PSYCHIC:
You fall into a deep, deep, hellish sleep.
Oh God!
CUARTA:
(Shivers)
No! Its so cold in here!
Let me out!
ORQUDEA:
Cuarta picks the strangest girls for friends.
YOLANDA:
Theyre just not normal girls.
(Fade to black. Lights up. Two spaces. Space
one: PSYCHIC and CUARTA seated across table as
in earlier scene. Space two: PAPA seated at
desk, blowing on dice and casting them, talking
to an empty chair)
PSYCHIC:
Time passes. Thats what time does. The cousin dies.
Your father gives you a room in a shed behind the house. He
feels nothing for you.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
12
PAPA:
With the other girls in the USA, what about Cuarta?
CUARTA:
Papa?
Yes, youre right, my dear.
PAPA:
This requires thought.
CUARTA:
Papa?
(YOLANDA, ORQUDEA, FLOR DE ORO enter)

Exactly!
PAPA:
She needs a change. A change of place.
YOLANDA:
You know, that actually makes sense.
Change.
ORQUDEA:
It does.
FLOR DE ORO:
Change is good. Its like going to a nice salon and
getting your nails done in rainbow glitter.
PAPA:
A change will force her to take charge of her life.
CUARTA:
Papa?
Exactly. Youre right.
PAPA:
Shes strong.
Nows the time.
CUARTA:
Papa?
Papa?
PAPA:
Good good, were agreed then. Now you go rest.
to Cuarta. Come here, Cuarta. Come.
Papa?
Ill talk
CUARTA:
PAPA:
Sit, Cuarta, sit. Sit there in your mothers chair.
(CUARTA sits. He hands her his drink)
Here. Drink this.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
13
YOLANDA:
I hate it when he makes us do that.
(ORQUDEA & FLOR DE ORO shush YOLANDA. CUARTA
takes it, sips, forces herself not to make a
face, hands it back)
PAPA:
Your mother and I were thinking. Thinking about you.
CUARTA:
Me?
PAPA:
Thinking you should go. Away from all this negativity.
Go?
But where?
CUARTA:
Where would I go?
What would I do?
PAPA:
Go? Wherever the wind blows. Do? Whatevers in your
heart to do. Have I ever told you how I started?
Yes, Papa.
Many times.
CUARTA:
PAPA:
When I was young, I had nothing but the brains in my head
and my own two hands. I knew wherever I went, whatever I
did, Id succeed. But go where? And do what? My head said,
go to Peru, open a shop, get rich. My heart said, go to
Alaska, join the gold rush, get rich. Go here, go there. I
couldnt decide. You know the saying: Tis easy to see, but
hard to foresee. So I did like the gambler. A coin flip.
Heads, Alaska, tails, Peru. It came up tails and here I am.
I guess it was for the best. But you know? I never made
that gold strike. It still eats at me. Like an obsession.
Yes, Papa.
CUARTA:
Your obsession.
PAPA:
You havent yet made your mark. And youve only yourself to
blame. Youre lazy. You lack drive. You feel sorry for
yourself. You need to find your talent. You need the same
get up and go your sisters have. Look at them! Theyre in
the USA running their own business. Orqudea married to a
dentist. Yolanda married to an accountant. Little Flor is
going with a movie guy. Im sending you away to school. It
will be hard for you, but worth it. You know the saying:
The roots of learning are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
YOLANDA:
Ill bet he sends her to Argentina.
FLOR DE ORO:
Or Australia.
ORQUDEA:
Or Bolivia.
Im sending you to America.
PAPA:
ORQUDEA:
What?
America?
FLOR DE ORO:
Did he say America?
Your sisters are there.

No, we cant!
PAPA:
They can watch and help.
YOLANDA:
Look at us! Were running a business.
ORQUDEA:
Seven days a week. Nine hours a day. Theres no time.
No time!
FLOR DE ORO:
Look at my fingernails! Theyre ruined!
I cant.
ORQUDEA:
Im two months pregnant. I nominate you.
Me?
Why me?
YOLANDA:
ORQUDEA:
Youre the oldest.

CUARTA:
Is this what you want, Papa? Are you sending me away?
(PAPA, SISTERS exit. CUARTA sits by PSYCHIC)
PSYCHIC:
This is how it is, Cuarta.
(Takes deck of cards. Turns top card over)
Your family mistreated you. They say youre bad luck.
(Keeps turning cards over, reading them)
You have a talent, yet untapped. You must be patient.
14
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
A talent?
15
CUARTA:
Like what Papa said?
PSYCHIC:
Pay attention. Therell be a person obsessed with you. That
person will help you grow and find yourself. One last
thing. Therell be a bridge. Watch for a bridge.
(Gathers cards. A gesture of dismissal)
Okay. Thats it. Were done.
Done?
Done?!
But.
CUARTA:
But you. You cant stop now!
PSYCHIC:
Thats all I have.

But what about the bridge?
CUARTA:
Therere so many bridges.
PSYCHIC:
Just feel your way along. Like everyone else. Trust your
feelings. In the end, its all about trust.
This person.
CUARTA:
How can I know this person will love me?
PSYCHIC:
It wasnt love. It was the obsession card.
Wash the sweat off. I left a robe for you.
Now go shower.
(CUARTA exits, PSYCHIC watches her. Fade to

black. Lights up, dimly-lit West LA street.
Lights play across shadows. Sound of VW being
driven, Sound of VW engine sputtering, then
quitting. Sound of someone trying vainly to
restart it)
CUARTAS VOICE:
No! Not my car! Darn this VW! Dont quit again on me!
(Sound of car door slamming, sound of CUARTA
walking on gravel. Car lights approaching)
ATILANOS VOICE:
Hey girl! You! Walking there! Hey girl!
Need a ride?
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
16
(Lights up, new space. CUARTA on phone. Behind

her, a mechanics workbench. On wall, huge
ROGERS CHEVRON DECEMBER 1973 calendar. CUARTA
dials. Lights up, second space. PAPA, wearing
his hat, sits, breathing on dice and rolling
them. On his desk, phone, bottle & glass. Huge
PEACOCK BAKERY DECEMBER 1973 calendar on wall.
PAPAs phone rings)
Peacock Bakery.
PAPA:
Rubn Acosta here.
CUARTA:
Hi Papa.
Its Cuarta.
Cuarta?
PAPA:
Cant you call after six?
What is it?
CUARTA:
Nothing, Papa.
PAPA:
A daughter calls from the USA and wants nothing?
(ATILANO in work uniform
fuel filter, his uniform
workbench. He moves with
on PRIEST space. PRIEST
chest)
enters her space, with

immaculate. He goes to
precision. Lights up
in spotlight with
ATILANO:
Chicks never check their car. Whenever a chicks car quits,
its on a Sunday night. True fact. Look it up.
CUARTA:
I think I met a guy, Papa.
PRIEST:
(Takes letter from chest, reads)
A letter. Translated from the Spanish.
Dated Monday 6 April 1970
Los Pimas Police Barracks, Sonora, Mexico
To: Seor Javier Carrillo
My Dear Father:
This letter is written in self-preservation only.
do not broadcast any part of it to Uncle Tomas.
Please
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
17
PRIEST (Cont):
I have threatened myself to write you many times to set
myself right in my present trouble, but the time has come
when I can stand the everyday criticisms no more.
Therefore, it is with regret that I must leave.
This is a plain letter and I do not say anything but the
truth. Even this very minute, as I type this, your
brother, my uncle, stands here, saying I am his worst
nephew, I am brainless, I have no reasoning power, no
ability, no friends, I am so useless Ill never have a
woman. I can take Uncle Tomas' insults no longer.
Your son, Atilano
(PRIEST stops reading, sighs, shakes head)
Ah!
So it comes out.
PAPA:
A man.
CUARTA:
Hes from Mexico.

Hello, father.
PRIEST:
(ATILANO glances in PRIESTs direction, as if he

heard something as PRIEST space fades to black)
ATILANO:
So there she was, walking alone. I told her I was Mexican.
Told her, dont be afraid. Mexican men know how to take
care of a woman. Told her stay close. Its not safe. She
was walking in the dark. Shed left her VW back at the
pedestrian bridge.
CUARTA:
You noticed it, too, didnt you? A pedestrian bridge is a
kind of bridge. That bridge has significance.
ATILANO:
And shes going on about a bridge.
lucky I was there.
Not luck.
All I know is, youre
CUARTA:
You were meant to be there.
ATILANO:
She last serviced her car in 1971.
not fate. Thats negligence.
It was fate.
Two years ago.
Thats
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
So.
18
PAPA:
Did you meet him in school?
A Mexican fellow.
CUARTA:
I kind of dropped out, Papa.
PAPA:
Dropped out?
ATILANO:
You got a clogged fuel filter.
PAPA:
I pay tuition. I pay books. I pay. I pay. What do my girls
do? They quit. They go to work. They meet men. Dont
apologize. Its my fault. I shouldve sent you to the
nunnery. They have free books and no phones.
CUARTA:
Yes, Papa.
ATILANO:
You got a clogged fuel filter.
Did you hear me?
PAPA:
So, whats this Mexican fellow do?
CUARTA:
He runs a service station, Papa.
(Reads address on calendar)
Uh. Rogers Chevron. On uh. On Santa Monica Boulevard.
Ah.
And.
PAPA:
Good Spanish name.
Santa Monica.
And hes.
CUARTA:
Hes a mechanic.
PAPA:
Does this fellow have a name?
Ah.
A handy person.
Um.
CUARTA:
It says George on his shirt.
ATILANO:
Do I look like a George?

His name is Georgie, Papa.
CUARTA:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
19
PAPA:
Georgie doesnt sound very Mexican.
ATILANO:
My names Atilano. Last guy to work here was George. He
quit. I got his uniform. Says George on the pocket. See?
Everyone calls me George, but my names Atilano.
(ATILANO exits)
CUARTA:
Ill send you pictures, Papa.
Next time, call after six.
PAPA:
CUARTA:
Yes, Papa.
Bye, Papa.
(Fade to black, all spaces. Lights up. A few
days later. Night time, interior, ATILANOs
apartment. Hes still in uniform. Several
pressed uniforms on hangers. Bottle and glass on
counter. Two doors: front door & bathroom door.
He takes frozen burrito and places it on cookie
sheet. His movements are precise. Lights up on
PRIEST space. PRIEST in spotlight with chest,
takes out a crumpled, folded paper, unfolds it,
reads)
PRIEST:
A recipe, handwritten, in Mamas script.
(Reads)
Potato Enchiladas
3 tablespoons cooking oil
6 potatoes, peeled and shredded
8 ounces melted cheese
2 cans diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
1 can peas
1 can corn
12 tortillas
Heat oil in skillet. Cook the potatoes until golden brown
on both sides. Then take the - (Knock, front door. PRIEST space fades to black)
ATILANO:
Aww, what now?!
(He opens front door. CUARTA in yellow dress
and yellow shoes with covered baking dish)
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
20
CUARTA:
I made supper.
Howd you find me?
ATILANO:
CUARTA:
I followed you.
ATILANO:
You cant just go and follow someone.
CUARTA:
Guys follow girls all the time.
Thats different.
ATILANO:
This is unwomanly.
CUARTA:
Our dinners getting cold.

(He steps aside. She enters. He watches silently
as she sets table. Then she stands at table,
hands folded, eyes on floor, waiting silently)
ATILANO:
Oh yeah, sorry. Here, let me.
(He pulls chair for her. She sits, he sits)
So uh. Smells interesting. What did you cook?
CUARTA:
Enchiladas.
(Takes his plate, dishes him a serving)
I made them Peru style.
ATILANO:
They got enchiladas in Peru?
CUARTA:
I added things to make them Peruvian. I experimented.
ATILANO:
Oh yeah. I see how its different. So whats in it?
CUARTA:
Potatoes.
You used potatoes?
ATILANO:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
21
CUARTA:
The potato is Peruvian, first discovered in Peru.
ATILANO:
(Pushes plate away)
You dont put potatoes in enchiladas.
(She gets up, runs to bathroom door. He follows)
Hey hey! Where you going? Stop! You cant go in there.
Shit! She locked it. Come out! Thats my bathroom!
CUARTAS VOICE:
You didnt even try it. I spent all afternoon and you - ATILANO:
Thats my bathroom. Do you hear me? I pay rent on it.
CUARTAS VOICE:
You could at least try it. It wouldnt kill you.
ATILANO:
Okay, look. Look, if I try it, will you come out? Please.
Im asking please. I really will try it. I mean it. I
will. But you have to come out.
CUARTAS VOICE:
You got to try it first.
Try it first?
Yes.
ATILANO:
You want I should try it first?
CUARTAS VOICE:
ATILANO:
Okay, okay. Ill try it now. Im getting the plate right
now. Ive got a fork. Im eating it. Im eating it now.
Just like I promised. Im eating it. Now open the door.
Hello in there! Please come out.
CUARTAS VOICE:
You hate me, dont you?
ATILANO:
No no.
I dont hate you.
CUARTAS VOICE:
You think Im crazy, dont you?
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
22
ATILANO:
No no no. Youre not crazy. Youre just intense. Women
are like that. Thats why they throw stuff. And cry. Women
arent themselves when theyre like that. They turn into
someone else. But then they calm down and turn back into
themselves.
(Sound of lock.
Door opens.
CUARTA enters)
CUARTA:
Your bathroom is very clean.
ATILANO:
A clean bathroom is good for business.
at Chevron.
They teach us that
CUARTA:
(They exit space. Blackout on apartment)
I guess my enchiladas take getting used to.
ATILANO:
Yeah. There you go. Takes time. You gotta grow into it.
You gotta be patient. You gotta adjust.
(CUARTA kisses him shyly. YOLANDA, FLOR DE ORO &
ORQUDEA enter in matching blazers. Atilano
picks up a grocery bag on the floor)
YOLANDA:
So this is the lucky man.
FLOR DE ORO:
Looks like hes adjusting. Carrying things for her.
CUARTA:
These are my sisters. What happened to the restaurant?
Oh, that.
We sold it.
ORQUDEA:
Time to move on.
YOLANDA:
New vistas. New horizons. Were in real estate.
Youre George.
So.
ATILANO:
(Hands bag to YOLANDA)
Here. Bananas. Lady next door has a produce store. We keep
an eye on her shop, she gives us fruit.
CUARTA:
Georgie always brings me fruit and vegetables.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
23
ATILANO:
(YOLANDA takes bag, hands it to FLOR DE ORO)
My Mexican name is Atilano. From Attila the Hun. My father
wanted me to be tough, so he named me Atilano.
ORQUDEA:
History says Attila was very cruel. George is from St
George. Ill stay with George. Tell us about yourself.
ATILANO:
Im from Los Pimas. In Sonora, Mexico. My Uncle Tomas is
the Police Major. My family runs things there.
ORQUDEA:
I was once engaged to a policeman.
ATILANO:
Oh really?
In Peru.
cars and
back his
Tarzana.
psychic.
Engaged?
ORQUDEA:
But I learned he and his partner were stealing
making people pay to get their cars back. I sent
ring. The service will be at St. Marks in
Cuarta, I hope youre not still seeing that
Psychics are devil worshippers.
FLOR DE ORO:
My boyfriend, Maurice, knows Gene Simmons. Hell get you
passes to KISS. Cuarta, fix your hair and nails. Get a
makeover. Pays dividends in the bedroom.
YOLANDA:
My husband Arturo is an accountant. Hell show you how to
save with a Schedule C. Cuarta, time to think about a home
business to supplement income. Telemarketing. Catalog
sales. A dating service. You can do these at home. Money
is the ultimate aphrodisiac.
ORQUDEA:
Gotta scoot. Were due at an open house.
(To CUARTA out of ATILANOs hearing)
Be careful. His people are police. Police are snakes.
Oops.
(Exit YOLANDA, ORQUDEA, FLOR DE ORO. ATILANOs

eyes follow FLOR DE ORO. She picks up his
signal. CUARTA is oblivious to this. Fade to
black. Lights up, PRIEST space. PRIEST takes
small square of yellow paper from chest, reads)
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
24
PRIEST:
No date.
In pencil on a memo pad.

(Reads)
Cuarta.
I see youre not at home, so I slipped this under your

door. Walters car is making funny sounds again. Have
George call us.
Orqudea.
(Lights up, new space. Inside apartment. Evil
eye charm on wall. A crib. Half-empty liquor
bottle & glass. ATILANO stands at crib
headboard, dressed in a clean crisp uniform.
CUARTA enters with mail. She crosses to wall,
rubs charm. PRIEST watches her do this, he
crosses himself. PRIEST space fades to black.
ATILANO leans over, begins letting his spit
dribble down into crib)
Any mail?
ATILANO:
Anything from Uncle Tomas?
CUARTA:
Nothing from Mexico.
ATILANO:
Damn!
CUARTA:
Georgie, youve been asking about your uncle for weeks.
Hes not going to change. What are you doing with Narciso?
ATILANO:
Just stuff.
CUARTA:
Youre spitting on him.
ATILANO:
Its what big brothers do.
My brother did it to me.

Its not what fathers do.
Bombs away!
See that?
CUARTA:
Now stop.
ATILANO:
Nose dead center.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
25
CUARTA:
(Pushes him away. Leans in, dabs baby)
Thats enough! I said stop it!
ATILANO:
It just wipes off. Its not like what your sisters do.
CUARTA:
Whats that supposed to mean?
ATILANO:
You know.
CUARTA:
I dont.
ATILANO:
Forget it.
CUARTA:
We wont.
You know, youre
make behind your
figured you out.
Someone did your
ATILANO:
really stupid. Ever seen the faces they
back? Their tone of voice? I finally
Youre the stepsister. Like Cinderella.
mom behind daddys back.
CUARTA:
You bastard, you bastard!

(She tries to hit him. He grabs her, forces a
hard kiss. She struggles, and as she struggles,
she builds up a ball of spit inside her mouth.
He releases her. She spits in his face.
Enraged, he pushes her away hard. She falls)
ATILANO:
Dont spit on me ever again, you bitch! Nobody spits on
me! You spit on me again, I swear Ill kill you!
(Shes trembling. He takes rag from back
pocket, wipes face. Hes building to a shaking
rage)
And you tell your family, get off their high horse! Im
not taking their crap! Im not a sap or a wetback!
(Someone hammering on wall. Baby cries)
Think Im a chump! Im not! Tell them it stops! Walter and
Orqudea! Tell them, fuck off! Fucking Dentist!
(Baby cries. Hammering. He hammers back)
Hey, fuck you! You want to get killed, just keep it up,
asshole! Ill come over there, fucking kill you!
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
26
ATILANO(Cont):
(Baby cries. Hammering stops)
And tell Flors nigger boyfriend, stop talking shit!
Warren Beatty this, Burt Reynolds that! Like he hangs with
them! Black fucks a fucking stuntman! He gets paid to
get his ass kicked. Fuck him and fuck them!
(Silence. Hes run out of rants. Baby cries.
Sound of siren in distance)
Come on. Get up, girl.
(He pulls her up gently. He tries straightening
her clothes. She lets him)
Cmon, youre okay. You just fell down. No big deal.
Youre not hurt. Now smile and do something about him.
(She picks up baby, comforts him. Siren a bit
closer. Phone rings. ATILANO answers)
Yeah? Oh. Oh uh. Uh hi, Flor. Yeah, home early. Things
kinda slow. Howre things with you? Good. And Maurice?
Really? Jack Nicholson? No shi - - I mean, no kidding.
Cuckoo's Nest. Just never quits. Maurices gonna be a
star someday. Have his own action movie.
(Red flashing light starts enveloping stage)
Shes out right now. Took Narciso for a walk. Baby needs
cool air. Sure, Ill tell her. Okay. Sure. Bye.
(Siren still closer. He hangs up phone)
Im going for Chinese. You coming?
(She nods. Siren, red flashing light closer)
Leave him. Hell be okay. Well be back in an hour.
CUARTA:
No.
ATILANO:
Come on. Its just an hour. Nothingll happen to him.
CUARTA:
No.
Fuck it then.
ATILANO:
(They exit. Siren loud, very close, red flashing

light floods stage. Fade to black. Lights up,
PRIEST space. PRIEST takes folded sheet of lined
paper from chest, unfolds it, reads)
PRIEST:
No date. Fathers script.
(Reads)
Let me start by expressing to you how wrong I was for
hurting you. There is no acceptable excuse for what I did.
In pencil.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
27
PRIEST(Cont):
As I sit here writing this, I keep asking myself, how could
this happen, because I am totally in love with you!
XXXX
PSI'm not going to blame being drunk. Thats no excuse.
But I have decided to stop drinking and will go to A.A.
(PRIEST space fades to black. Lights up. Big
sign THREE SISTERS FINE INCA GOLD! South
American dance music. A counter & display case.
Fine accessories on top of case. ORQUDEA &
YOLANDA, dressed smartly. FLOR DE ORO, dressed
sexily. Enter ATILANO & CUARTA. ATILANO has a
bag)
FLOR DE ORO, ORQUDEA & YOLANDA:
(ORQUDEA is not thrilled at seeing them)
Welcome to our grand opening!
ATILANO:
(Hands bag to YOLANDA. She takes it, sets it
behind display case)
Pecans. Guy on the street was selling them.
(Moves to the beat, grabs CUARTA, dances)
Hey, cmon, girl. Show me how they dance in Peru.
CUARTA:
Stop it, please.
No, Georgie.
ATILANO:
(Moving to the beat)
Hey, how about one of you ladies? Flor?
(FLOR DE ORO smiles, steps forward. They dance.
Theyre both good dancers)
Hey, you dance good. Is this a Peruvian dance?
Its Argentine.
FLOR DE ORO:
ATILANO:
Very sexy.
I like it.
Excuse me.
ORQUDEA:
We have to get ready for customers.
No problem.
ATILANO:
Well stop when they come.
(FLOR DE ORO laughs. ORQUDEA stops music)
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
Flor has work to do.
28
ORQUDEA:
ATILANO:
(Holds on to FLOR DE ORO a bit too long before
releasing her)
Too bad. We were just getting hot. Hey, just joking.
(FLOR DE ORO laughs, moves away)
Hey, what happened to all those big real estate deals?
YOLANDA:
It was time for us to move on.
ORQUDEA:
New horizons.
New vistas.
ATILANO:
Oh yeah, new vistas. Whereve I heard that before?
CUARTA:
(Under her breath)
Georgie, can you wait outside for me?
Please?
ATILANO:
What? Oh uh. Yeah. Sure.
(Takes cigarette from pack in shirt pocket)
Cuarta said you dont like smoking. Ill go outside.
(ATILANO starts to exit. Out of CUARTAs line of
sight, he makes eye contact with FLOR DE ORO. He
exits. FLOR DE ORO smiles)
YOLANDA:
Whoa!
ORQUDEA:
Whats with him?
Oh yeah.
YOLANDA:
Whereve I heard that before?
ORQUDEA:
Whatd he mean by that?

CUARTA:
(Touches, handles fine accessories covetously)
He was just joking.
YOLANDA:
Hes got a chip on his shoulder. He dances too close.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

CUARTA:
You have to understand. He has a big problem with his
uncle in Mexico. It puts him on edge.
ORQUDEA:
Everyone has family issues.
FLOR DE ORO:
Hes nice to me and Maurice. During the gas crisis, he
filled our tanks. It was against rules, but he did it.
ORQUDEA:
Your skirt is too short.
(They back off. CUARTA peers into display)
All this gold.
CUARTA:
All so beautiful.
ORQUDEA:
Papa says, nothing works like gold.
CUARTA:
Oh, I want to try that one.
(FLOR DE ORO gets it, clips it on her)
Oh, how beautiful. I feel so rich. I wish I had it.
ORQUDEA:
Papa says, where theres a will, theres a way.
CUARTA:
Oh look. It shines. Do you think I could owe you for?
YOLANDA:
No! Papa says loans and debts are worries and frets.
CUARTA:
(Unclips bracelet, hands it back)
I do so want nice things.
Then start a business.
With us?
Ill work hard.
I told you to.
CUARTA:
Let me learn from you.
Let me work here.

Here?
YOLANDA:
Remember?
ORQUDEA:
CUARTA:
I just want to learn.
29
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
30
ORQUDEA:
You know the saying. Threes company. Fours a crowd.
YOLANDA:
You need your own shop. You need to be your own boss.
Listen.
One word.
FLOR DE ORO:
Rattan.
CUARTA:
Rattan?
Rattans cheap.
ORQUDEA:
You import it from Laos.
YOLANDA:
Mark it up two hundred percent.
ORQUDEA:
Take the profit. Buy real estate. Encino, Northridge.
FLOR DE ORO:
Youll need a business startup loan.
Theres Brian.
YOLANDA:
Brians good. Heres his card. Be sure to mention us.
ORQUDEA:
Youll need a lease. Try Burbank. Go see Philip.
YOLANDA:
Philips topnotch. Heres his card. Mention our names.
CUARTA:
You really think I can do it?
Of course!
Yes.
FLOR DE ORO, ORQUDEA & YOLANDA:

Why not? All it takes is hard work.
Youre right.
CUARTA:
I will. Ill do it.
(CUARTA exits. Fade to black. Lights up, PRIEST

space. PRIEST takes document from chest, reads)
PRIEST:
Thirty-eight thousand dollars. Dated January 9, 1974. For
value received, with interest from date of note at rate of
nine per cent per annum, on demand, and if no demand is
made, then on the 9th day of January, 1975, I promise to pay
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
31
PRIEST(Cont):
to West Coast Bank the above principal amount plus all
unpaid interest. Signed Cuarta Acosta.
(PRIEST space fades to black. Lights up.
PSYCHICs residence, she sits. CUARTA walks by
window, dressed smartly. College fight song
plays in background. PSYCHIC sees her, springs
up)
PSYCHIC:
(Opens door)
Step aside, get ready!
We're turning up the heat!
We're on our way to victory,
We won't take no defeat!
Ta da!
(Enters.
CUARTA:
Music stops)
PSYCHIC:
Well, just look at you! The picture of success.
missed you. Ive looked for you.
Ive
CUARTA:
(Plops herself merrily in chair, spins around)
New vistas, new horizons. Its a blur. Exciting news.
PSYCHIC:
(Sits across from her)
All good, I hope. Cmon, give. Details! Lets have it.
CUARTA:
Are you ready for this? I started a business. I sell rattan
products. I have a shop, suppliers, a credit line. The
whole nine yards.
And how is business?
PSYCHIC:
CUARTA:
(Touches PSYCHICs wall accessories)
Its the slow time now. The Falls when you make it.
PSYCHIC:
Let me see your hand.
CUARTA:
Oh, stop being a worrywart.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
32
PSYCHIC:
If youre in this by yourself, its a big gamble.
CUARTA:
Papa says, If you gamble well, you
All life is a gamble.

win. Theres more.
PSYCHIC:
Tell me.
CUARTA:
Im having an affair.
You are tempting fate.
And.
He?
PSYCHIC:
CUARTA:
And its exactly like you said.
Hes obsessed.
PSYCHIC:
When did I say it was a he?
CUARTA:
Hes Jewish. Hes insecure, but nice. We made love to a
song. I now know what you meant by the bridge. It was a
musical bridge.
(Sings)
Ask your heart are you in love,
Ask your heart can this be love,
Lips may try to alibi,
A heart can never tell a lie.
Shes not listening.
PSYCHIC:
Her ears are shut.
CUARTA:
We met the first day I opened. His shop is next door.
(Lights up, shop. Sign on shop: RATTAN OF
BURBANK. Newspaper on ground. CUARTA enters
space, picks up paper. AARON enters)
AARON:
Ive been meaning to say welcome.
Oh!
Hello.
Thank you.
CUARTA:
AARON:
That space has been vacant for over a year.
Thats my shop there. The Casual Big Guy.
Im Aaron.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
Oh yes.
33
CUARTA:
Hows business?
I see.
AARON:
Different from what Id hoped. I started with a plan. To
be rich in five years. But its getting very discouraging.
Sometimes I think you have to be lucky.
CUARTA:
My father says diligence is the mother of luck.
AARON:
The mother of luck. Well. Maybe my luck is coming.
(They stare transfixed, falling in lust)
PSYCHIC:
Oh please, spare us. That pose is so hokey.
(Enter ATILANO. His uniform is immaculate)
Oh thank God! And not a minute too soon.
Hey girl.
Oh!
ATILANO:
You got forty on you?
Georgie!
CUARTA:
This is Aaron.
This.
ATILANO:
I asked if you had forty in the till.
CUARTA:
Yes.
Yes, I think so.

(CUARTA, ATILANO exit into shop. AARON watches.
Fade to black, shop space. Lights up, PRIEST
space. PRIEST takes letter from chest)
PRIEST:
(Reads)
February 10, 1975
NOTICE OF NON PAYMENT
You are in default on your promissory note. West Coast
Bank has not received payment which is due in its entirety.
If you have not yet made payment, please do so immediately.
Very truly yours,
Wayne Ng, Past Due Accounts
(PRIEST space fades to black. CUARTA enters)
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
34
PSYCHIC:
Well, hi there! Hey. Hey, whats the matter?
(CUARTA plops herself in chair)
Come on. Smile for Clovia. Lets see that smile.
(CUARTA slaps currency on table)
All right. So this is a purely professional visit.
CUARTA:
Its not supposed to be like this.
PSYCHIC:
Really.
CUARTA:
The business isnt working.
Nothings working.
PSYCHIC:
Really.
CUARTA:
The bank people are after me. I have ten days to pay.
PSYCHIC:
Stuff happens.
Well, you know.
CUARTA:
Im a mess.
A total mess.
PSYCHIC:
Life is a mess. Why should you be different? Good news is,
you dont get a mess you cant handle. You dig a hole, you
fall in, youre up to here in doo-doo, you do a gut check,
pay your dues, overcome, climb out of the hole, hose
yourself off, grow. I forget what else.
It isnt working.
CUARTA:
Im failing. Can we do business?
I have a headache.
Tomorrow.
PSYCHIC:
CUARTA:
I can come back tomorrow.
Tomorrows not good.
PSYCHIC:
The omens arent favorable.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
35
CUARTA:
(Stands, begins to exit. Stops, turns)
It wouldnt kill you to help, I need help, Im begging, Im
frightened. Everythings crashing down. We can be like
before. Remember? Just help me. I need thirty-eight
thousand. Show me how to get it.
PSYCHIC:
Show you how? Okay. Beg on the streets. Sell your virtue.
Go to a loan shark. Steal from your father.
(Stands, roughly pushes CUARTA away)
And next time, see me first. Im not your last resort.
(PSYCHIC exits, fade to black. Lights up, AARON
in shop. Huge CASUAL BIG GUY NOVEMBER 1977
calendar. CUARTA enters with NARCISO)
Well hi there.
AARON:
And hey, what do you say, Narciso?
(Lights up, PRIEST space. PRIEST walks over and

stands next to NARCISO, smiles down at him.
NARCISO smiles up at PRIEST)
CUARTA:
Narciso, say hello to Aaron. Hes shy.
AARON:
Youre not opening your shop today.
CUARTA:
Im going out of town. Hes staying at his cousins.
AARON:
How long?
A week.
Maybe longer.
CUARTA:
(PRIEST winks at NARCISO, scrunches down next to

him, takes out rosary, hands it to him. NARCISO
takes it, smiles, puts it around his neck)
AARON:
Is everything okay?
Everythings fine.
CUARTA:
AARON:
Its not about.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
I said, everythings fine.
36
CUARTA:
(PRIEST goes back to his space. NARCISO watches

him go. PRIEST waves. NARCISO waves as PRIEST
space fades to black)
AARON:
I didnt mean - CUARTA:
It was practically the first word out of your mouth.
AARON:
I worry somethings wrong.
CUARTA:
Why does there have to be something wrong?
There.
There doesnt.
Thank you.
AARON:
Ill watch your shop.
CUARTA:
AARON:
I still have your key from when we - CUARTA:
(Cuts AARON off hard)
I said thank you.
(Looks down at NARCISO)
Where did you get that? Take it off.
(NARCISO removes it from around neck)
Now give it to me. How many times have I told you not to
take things from strangers? Give it to me.
(Tries jerking rosary from his hand. He hangs
on)
Give it, I said! Oh, now you cut your hand. What am I
going to do with you!
(CUARTA angrily squats next to him, takes napkin
from purse and presses it against cut, as
NARCISO cries. CUARTA starts sobbing in
frustration. Fade to black. Lights up, PAPAs
office. Wall calendar DECEMBER 1977 PEACOCK
BAKERY. Chair, desk, bottle, glass. Enter PAPA,
hatless with cane, feeling way along wall toward
desk. On his desk, a fine vase)
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
37
PAPA:
Cant fool me. I know. I see what theyre up to.
Her and her lover. Waiting for me to drop my guard.
(Enter CUARTA, ATILANO, dressed expensively.
They stay back, as PAPA feels his way)
CUARTA:
Watch the door. Let no one in.
Stay here.
Whats the deal with him?
ATILANO:
Whats this about?
CUARTA:
I want to talk to Papa. Without being disturbed.
ATILANO:
Whats the matter with him?
Nothings the matter.
CUARTA:
Hes fine.
He doesnt look fine.

Hes old.
ATILANO:
CUARTA:
People look old when they get old.
Whos there?
Who is it?
PAPA:
CUARTA:
If I signal you, I want you to make noise.
Whos there?!
Okay?
PAPA:
CUARTA:
Okay?!?
You never explained this.
up to, lets not do it.
No.
ATILANO:
Lets stop now.
CUARTA:
(PAPA is seated now)
Im doing it. With or without you.
Orchdea!
Its you!
PAPA:
Whatever youre
Hello, Papa!
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
38
CUARTA:
Yes, Papa. its me, Orchdea.
ATILANO:
Orchdea?!
CUARTA:
(Shushes ATILANO)
Ive come from America, Papa.
PAPA:
I waited so long. Come. Sit. Let me touch your face.
(She sits. He touches her face)
You still have your pretty face.
CUARTA:
Everyone says I look like you, Papa.
PAPA:
Yes, same cheekbones.
I came to save you, Papa.
CUARTA:
PAPA:
Your mother and her lover are after my gold.
I came to help.
Oh yes, yes.
CUARTA:
Ill save your gold.
Quickly.
Ill move it.
PAPA:
We must move it quickly.
CUARTA:
Look, I stole the key to the strongbox.
PAPA:
Oh Orchdea, my clever clever daughter.
CUARTA:
Papa. I hired some men to move it. I must pay them.
Pay them?
PAPA:
What do you mean?
CUARTA:
Theyre helping me move the gold. I have a bank draft. With
your account number. To pay them. You must sign.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
Sign it?
PAPA:
Now?
CUARTA:
A small price to save the gold.
Yes, forty thousand.

No no.
PAPA:
Yes, lets wait.
We should wait.
No, Papa.
39
CUARTA:
(Signals ATILANO. He makes a noise)
We cant wait.
PAPA:
Today is bad.
Come back tomorrow.

Theyre coming!
I cant think.
ATILANO:
Hurry!
CUARTA:
You must sign. Theyre coming. Its our last chance.
PAPA:
Too many whispers.
No! Today is bad.
ATILANO:
Theyre coming!
Who is shouting?
Mama.
Not a good day.
PAPA:
Who is making noise?
I cant see.
And her lover.
CUARTA:
Theyre coming for the gold.
PAPA:
Dont let him in!
Oh God, keep them out!
CUARTA:
Were trapped, Papa. We can only fight. Sign it.
Sign it?
Hurry!
PAPA:
Is this the only way?
Should I?
Look out!
The only way!
ATILANO:
Theyre closer!
CUARTA:
Theres no time. Fight them!
Sign it!
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
Yes, fight!
PAPA:
Yes, you are right. We will fight!
Sign, Papa.
Hurry!
40
Yes.
Yes.
Yes!
CUARTA:
Fight them!
There!
PAPA:
I signed. That will show them.
CUARTA:
Good, Papa. You must not say a word. Let them think
theyre winning. We will surprise them.
PAPA:
They will be surprised. We will shock them.
Yes!
CUARTA:
The jokes on them. You must keep the secret.
Papa. I now go to rescue your gold.
(CUARTA takes vase.
Good bye,
CUARTA & ATILANO exit)
PAPA:
(To the air)
I see youre back from your shopping. Why do I laugh?
What is the joke? Its a secret. Anyway, it's nothing.
you will soon see. The world will see!
But
(PAPA chuckles quietly, reaches for bottle.

Fade to black. Lights up, new space. A Las
Vegas hotel room, pile of currency on bed. A
window. An armoire. A door to bathroom.
ATILANO in boxer shorts, unbuttoned dress shirt
& untied tie, CUARTA in panties & bra. The mood,
post-coital. They sit side by side)
CUARTA:
Forty thousand. Two thousand twenty-dollar bills. Such a
feeling. Like a prison door opening, a voice calling.
ATILANO:
Yeah?
Whose voice?
CUARTA:
Papas voice, saying, Come out, Cuarta, youre free.
ATILANO:
Oh.
If he only knew.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
41
CUARTA:
Ive promised myself to pay it all back.
ATILANO:
Sure, someday. Someday, youll pay everyone back.
(Silence. Then she smiles, draws near)
Georgie.
CUARTA:
Explain to me how roulette works.
ATILANO:
Why do you wanna know?

I just want to know.
CUARTA:
ATILANO:
Planning on doing a little gambling here in Vegas?
It had crossed my mind.
CUARTA:
ATILANO:
Dont forget. Thirty-eight thousands to pay the bank. That
means you can only use two thousand for gambling.
CUARTA:
I know.
Pay the bank off.
ATILANO:
Im sick of taking messages for - CUARTA:
I know.
I know.
ATILANO:
Theyre even calling me at Chevron. I want it to stop.
I know.
Hey!
I know.
I know.
CUARTA:
I know!
ATILANO:
Stop drowning me out.
CUARTA:
Then stop repeating things.
You never listen.
ATILANO:
I know!
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
42
CUARTA:
I listen.
(They back off. Silence, then)
Okay.
ATILANO:
Just dont forget. Two thousand is your limit.
CUARTA:
I said okay.
(Lights up, roulette wheel & table. PRIEST
stands in roulette space)
ATILANO:
That is roulette. See there? That is the wheel.
(PRIEST indicates wheel)
That is the table.
(PRIEST indicates table)
Those are the numbers.
(PRIEST indicates numbers on cloth)
Wheres the steel ball?
CUARTA:
ATILANO:
Its not steel. Its ivory.
(PRIEST holds up ivory ball)
There, look, see? Ivory. You cant run a charge through
ivory. That means the house cant juice the ball. Now you
gotta have a good brain. You gotta remember numbers and
colors and what hits when and in what sequence. You gotta
be able to put two and two together, because each spin
controls the next.
CUARTA:
So its a sure thing then, if you can remember.
ATILANO:
(PRIEST removes cassock, reveals croupier garb)
Nothings for sure. Theres patterns and tendencies and
sequences. Sometimes, theres a message. Like, if it keeps
hitting black, its saying, next time bet opposite. Another
thing. Watch the croupiers. Learn how they release.
(PRIEST demonstrates several release styles)
Croupier have rhythms. Know the rhythms. And finally, each
day has a lucky number. If you come to know the number, bet
it. But watch out. Theres people wholl tell you they know
todays number but all theyre doing is selling you a crock.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
43
(Blackout, roulette space)

Well.
CUARTA:
Maybe you do know something.
ATILANO:
Learn to keep your eyes open. And remember your limit.
CUARTA:
Tell her well be home tomorrow.
Im calling Yolanda.
ATILANO:
Dont forget to tell her to tell Arturo to go to hell.
(CUARTA laughs, dials. He exits to bathroom)
CUARTA:
Yolanda? Its me. What? Were in Las Vegas. Why? Whats
wrong? Is it Narciso? Is Narciso all right? What? Papa?
Whats wrong? Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. What do the doctors
say? I see. I see. Yes, Okay.
(She hangs up. He enters, wearing tuxedo
trousers, buttoning shirt)
ATILANO:
Whats wrong?
Papa.
Hes in surgery.
Well, we saw him.
CUARTA:
It doesnt sound good.
ATILANO:
I said he didnt look good.
CUARTA:
You shut up!
ATILANO:
Hey hey, easy, girl.
CUARTA:
(Goes to armoire, opens it)
It was my doing. I know it was.
ATILANO:
Dont go laying a guilt trip on yourself.
I did this to him.
CUARTA:
I did this to my own father.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
44
ATILANO:
And what a great father! Treated your sisters like queens
and treated you like dirt. A real dad!
CUARTA:
Im giving it back. If he dies, God will curse me.
ATILANO:
(As he speaks following, she takes knife from
armoire, hides it as she moves to window, opens
it, steps out on ledge, puts knife to throat)
Oh come on! You think God cares? Hey Cuarta! Its me, God!
Listen! I dont give a shit. No, were using this money to
pay off that business loan of yours. And listen, hed think
youre nuts if you gave it back.
Shut up!
Hey!
CUARTA:
You know nothing about Papa!
No, girl.
ATILANO:
Hey, please. Please dont do that.
(Sound of crowd forming below)

I.
I didnt mean this.
Sure you were.

to me, girl.
CUARTA:
I was going to pay it back.
ATILANO:
He knows you were.
Put that down.
Listen
CUARTA:
Dont touch me!
I wasnt going to.
you feel.
ATILANO:
I was just gonna say, I understand how
CUARTA:
You dont understand. You said Papa was bad. You dont see.
They used him. He would have understood.
ATILANO:
Exactly! Thats what I was gonna say. He would have
understood you. Hes a gambler. He flipped a coin.
Remember?
He laid it on the line. Youre a gambler, too.
Youre just like him.
(Pounding on door. Muffled sounds of Open up
in there. Pounding continues to end of scene)
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
Yes.
I am.
45
CUARTA:
Im a gambler.
ATILANO:
You laid it on the line. Just like him. You risked your
ass for this money. Hed understand that.
CUARTA:
But I didnt want to hurt him!
ATILANO:
Sure you didnt. And dont go thinking youre bad.
not a bad person. It was one of those things.
Youre
CUARTA:
It was going to be a temporary thing. I just needed to use
the money for a while to. I was using it.
ATILANO:
He was drinking a bottle of booze a day. He was old. He was
blind. He was out of his head. He was bumping into things.
Anything could have set him off.
CUARTA:
I cant get past the fact I lied to him and now hes - ATILANO:
And now hes somewhere else in his mind. But maybe where
he is right now, maybe hes there pondering your words.
Maybe your words are the only words hes conscious of.
Sure, you lied to him, but he thought you were telling him
the truth. And what you said to him made him happy.
Remember that. Maybe what hes thinking right now is more
important than what youre thinking. Maybe this money was
meant for us and maybe the lies you told him were meant to
be told to him. Maybe theres a truth somewhere in them.
Doesnt every lie start out as the truth?
(Lights up, roulette space. PRIEST in croupier
garb)
Roulette right here.
PRIEST:
Step up, ladies and gentlemen.
CUARTA:
(Withdraws knife from neck, comes inside)
I shouldnt listen to you. I shouldnt.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
46
ATILANO:
(Takes knife from her, puts it back in armoire,
closes armoire door)
Trust, girl. Its about trust.
PRIEST:
How does roulette work for you? Is it luck? Or skill?
ATILANO:
Now come on. Get dressed. Lets go into the casino.
No.
I.
Id better not.
CUARTA:
I think I need to be alone.
ATILANO:
Im not leaving you alone.
CUARTA:
Im okay now. Really. I wasnt going to hurt myself.
There was just a fleeting moment. Im over it now. Its
passed. You go without me.
No!
ATILANO:
You need to be with people. You need to be out.
PRIEST:
Roulette, ladies and gentlemen. Roulette.
CUARTA:
I tell you, Im fine. Look at me. You see? My hands
arent shaking. Im fine right now. Really.
ATILANO:
Sorry, girl. Im not leaving you by yourself. Now get
dressed. Were going gambling. To take your mind off.
PRIEST:
(Spins wheel)
Roulette right here! Roulette!
ATILANO:
(As CUARTA dresses, ATILANO takes flight bag and
begins stuffing currency into it)
I hope you didnt forget what I said about roulette.
Um.
Yes.
CUARTA:
Watch the croupiers rhythm.
ATILANO:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
47
CUARTA:
Patterns and tendencies and sequences.
Okay.
Good.
What else?
ATILANO:
CUARTA:
The ball is made of ivory.

ATILANO:
Maybe you do know something.
Well.
(She laughs. Theyre both dressed to the nines.

CUARTA sees ATILANOs putting all the currency
in flight bag. PRIEST spins wheel)
CUARTA:
Were not taking it all to the casino!
ATILANO:
Yes, we are. We want them to think were high rollers.
want them to think were gonna bet the whole stash.
We
(They open door, exit hotel room, FIREMEN enter

in a rush)
ATILANO:
Theres a woman out there on the ledge.
Hurry!
(FIREMEN rush to window as CUARTA & ATILANO exit

hotel room & enter roulette space. ATILANO
carries flight bag. PRIEST at wheel, LOLA & LUPE
in Playboy Bunny suits. Blackout, hotel room)
Ah!
PRIEST:
New players in the house. Welcome.
ATILANO:
(Takes two currency bundles from bag, making
sure PRIEST, LOLA & LUPE see inside)
Two thousand in chips! A column bet! One thousand on a
column bet!
(LOLA & LUPE oooh and ahhhh, move closer to him)
PRIEST:
A column bet, a cautious player, odds two to one.
Im nobodys fool.
ATILANO:
I got a system for winning.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
48
CUARTA:
Georgie, thats half our gambling money.
ATILANO:
I know how this works.
Relax, girl. Trust me.
LOLA:
(Sets napkin and drink on table for him)
Drink, sir?
LUPE:
(Lights cigarette for him)
Cigarette, sir?
ATILANO:
Here, girls. The little lady wants a screwdriver. Light on
the vodka, heavy on the o.j.
(LOLA & LUPE exit, giggling)
PRIEST:
(Spins wheel, launches ball)
Round and round she goes. Still time to place bets.
CUARTA:
Georgie, you gave each girl a hundred dollars.
ATILANO:
Gotta spend money to make money.
PRIEST:
Ball has dropped. No more bets! No touching the table.
Come on!
Come on!
Black seventeen.
Go!
ATILANO:
Go! Go!
Go!
PRIEST:
The lady and gentleman win.
ATILANO:
Yesssssssssss!
Very good, sir.
PRIEST:
Two to one. You doubled your money.
ATILANO:
(Tips PRIEST, who counts out winnings)
See what I mean, girl?
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
49
LUPE & LOLA:

(Enter. LOLA sets drink by CUARTA. LUPE lights
his cigarette. He tips LUPE & LOLA a chip each)
Oh congratulations! You won, sir. Congratulations!
ATILANO:
Was there ever a doubt?
Shall we let it ride, sir?
PRIEST:
Its your call, sir.
ATILANO:
Youll see two thousand become four.
Watch, girl.
CUARTA:
Dont you think we should move them?
Just to be safe?
ATILANO:
Naw!
Let em ride!
PRIEST:
Letting the bet ride. Round and round she goes.
Go!
ATILANO:
Go!
PRIEST:
Still time to change bets. The ball has not dropped.
LOLA:
(Tops off his drink. As scene goes on, his
speech gets slurred, as does CUARTAs, hers less
so)
Two words, sir.
Yeah?
Go!
ATILANO:
Go!
LOLA & LUPE:

Black twenty-six.
Go!
Go!
ATILANO:
Black twenty-six. So whats it mean?
Todays lucky number, sir.

Sorry, girls.
LUPE:
Bet it, sir.
ATILANO:
Got me a system. Go!
Go!
Go!
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
50
PRIEST:
Ball has dropped. No more bets! No touching the table.
Oh, too bad, sir.
LOLA:
Too late.
Too late, my ass.
Go!
Go!
Go!
ATILANO:
Go! Go!
CUARTA:
(Starts feeling liquor)
Go! Go!
Black twenty!
PRIEST:
The lady and gentleman are winners.
(CUARTA whoops. LOLA refills her glass)

Wooohooo!
Look it that!
ATILANO:
Read em and weep!
PRIEST:
(ATILANO tips PRIEST, LOLA & LUPE)
Wheels about to spin, sir. Let it ride?
ATILANO:
Well let it ride again, okay girl?
CUARTA:
Maybe we should move them to other squares, Georgie.
ATILANO:
I always say, if it aint broke, dont fix it.
(LUPE & LOLA giggle)
Whaddaya think, girls? Let the fuckers ride again?
CUARTA:
I think we should move them.
ATILANO:
(Makes a hoodoo gesture)
Why? You got some mojo message from outer space, girl?
CUARTA:
I feel if you keep letting them ride, the luck will move to
other squares.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
51
ATILANO:
Ooh, she feels.
(LUPE & LOLA laugh)
Okay. If you wanna move em, you go ahead and move em.
But remember, its your ass if you fuck up.
CUARTA:
Why are you being like this, Georgie?
ATILANO:
Because you gotta take responsibility. You say you wanna
move em? Fine. Your call. You do it. So where you gonna
move em? To the left or the right?
(Silence)
Cmon, girl. To the left or the right?
CUARTA:
To.
To the right.
ATILANO:
Column on the right, croupier.
PRIEST:
Yes, sir and maam. Moving the bets to the column on the
right. There. Its done. Are we ready to spin?
ATILANO:
If it blows up in your face, dont cry to me.
PRIEST:
Round she goes. Where she stops, nobody knows.
Black twenty-six, sir.
LUPE:
LOLA:
Thirty-five to one on black twenty-six, sir.
PRIEST:
The ball has not yet dropped, ladies and gentlemen.
LOLA:
Still time to change to black twenty-six, sir.
You chicks never quit.
ATILANO:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
52
LUPE:
We dont want you to lose, sir.
PRIEST:
No more bets! No more changes.
Ball has dropped.

Go!
Go!
Go!
Go!
CUARTA:
ATILANO:
Come on!
Go!
Go!
Come on!
Come on!
Red twenty-three.
CUARTA:
PRIEST:
No winner.
CUARTA:
What?!
ATILANO:
Oh shit!
CUARTA:
Oh no!
PRIEST:
Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen.
Damn!
ATILANO:
Red twenty-three was where we had them before.
CUARTA:
Im sorry.
ATILANO:
What were you thinking about?
I.
CUARTA:
I thought we needed to move them.
(PSYCHIC enters in bunny suit. PRIEST stands at
wheel. LUPE & LOLA draw near to ATILANO)
PSYCHIC:
For those who stand on fortunes wheel,
Boasting in their worldly pride.
Bear in mind they soon shall feel
Treasure lost, their footing slide.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
53
CUARTA:
Please, dont say lost. Say gained, treasure gained.
I know that voice.
PSYCHIC:
I see a man standing by a wheel.
CUARTA:
Thats my Georgie. Im here cheering him on.
PSYCHIC:
Looks like he has lots of cheerleaders.
CUARTA:
Georgie loves being admired, loves attention.
Do tell.
So.
PSYCHIC:
How are things with you and uh - -
That is personal.
CUARTA:
PSYCHIC:
I was about to say, its okay, you neednt answer.
(Takes out cards, shuffles, draws card)
Oh look, Queen of Diamonds. Isnt this Cuartas card?
Me?
Queen of Diamonds?
CUARTA:
PSYCHIC:
Queen of Diamonds. Dont you want riches?
To be seen as
important and successful? Queen of Diamonds.
CUARTA:
Queen of Diamonds. Okay. Youre right. I guess I am.
PSYCHIC:
Oh now, look. Six of hearts. The inadequacy card.
Trapped. A sinking sensation. Personal deficiencies.
Wait!
No!
CUARTA:
Thats not about me!
PSYCHIC:
A tangle of past events, confining, denying, suffocating.
No!
CUARTA:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
54
PSYCHIC:
Husband, son, siblings, father. All coming together.
You stop that!
CUARTA:
Youre wrong! Thats not my story!
PSYCHIC:
Father wagging finger, shaking head, rolling eyes.
CUARTA:
Dont you see that?
They poisoned his mind!

Hallucinations, too.
PSYCHIC:
Just sad, isnt it?
(CUARTA sobs quietly)

ATILANO:
Maybe your familys right. Maybe you are bad luck.
CUARTA:
Im sorry.
Sorry about the loss, sir.
Dont worry about me.
Yes, sir.
PRIEST:
ATILANO:
Just spin the wheel.
PRIEST:
Spinning the wheel. Spinning the wheel.
Excuse me, sir.
PSYCHIC:
ATILANO:
Yeah?
PSYCHIC:
I couldnt help noticing you and your companion seem to be
having a disagreement.
Ladies and gentlemen.
PRIEST:
Still time to place bets.
LUPE:
Maam?
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
Yes?
55
CUARTA:
(Still dabbing her eyes, sobbing)
LOLA:
A moment of your time, if you please.
LUPE:
Were telling your friend of an exciting opportunity.
CUARTA:
Opportunity, you say?
LOLA:
Possibly never again to be offered anywhere.
But he - -
LUPE:
Doesnt seem to be interested.
ATILANO:
Disagreement is as good a word as any. We were on a roll
and she gets this bolt from the blue to change the bet. I
said, better think twice about that.
PSYCHIC:
(Takes bottle, tops off ATILANOs glass)
Im a student of human nature. Its my specialty.
ATILANO:
Yeah?
PSYCHIC:
And if I may be so bold, its my opinion she suffers from
pangs of inadequacy, owing to childhood trauma.
ATILANO:
Yeah! Between you and me and the lamppost, its her
family. Always giving her the shitty end of the stick.
PSYCHIC:
Sounds like youve got her pegged.
Im nobodys fool.
ATILANO:
I call it the way I see it.
LOLA:
(Takes bottle, tops off CUARTAs glass)
Todays lucky number.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
56
LUPE:
We told him several times, but he goes his own way.
Wed hate for him.
Or you.
LOLA:
Not to benefit.
LUPE:
From this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
PRIEST:
ATILANO:
Did you know? Her mother died when she was born and they
blamed her. Her father sold her to a relative to get her
out of the house. Sold her! But she still worships him
like a fucking god. Excuse my French.
PSYCHIC:
(Tops off ATILANOs glass)
Not unusual for the victim to bond with her abuser.
CUARTA:
You know, my family said Id amount to nothing.
LOLA:
(Tops off CUARTAs glass)
Thats so sad.
Except my father.
CUARTA:
He supported me.
LUPE:
Well, If you cant count on good old Dad, who can you?
CUARTA:
But they all watched him and tried to control him.
LOLA:
Oh, what a false and uncaring world we live in!
PRIEST:
PSYCHIC:
What Im saying is, she needs uplifting. If you have a
negative message, try putting a positive spin on it.
ATILANO:
So I should say good when I mean bad.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
Exactly.
PSYCHIC:
You come to the point quickly.
LOLA:
Be aware a lucky number is like.
A card drawn from a deck.
LUPE:
LOLA:
Theres no logic why its this card and not that one.
LUPE:
And yet, the drawn card always has significance.
LOLA:
A lucky number is like that.
ATILANO:
So how does a barmaid know so much psychology?
PSYCHIC:
(Tops off ATILANOs glass)
By not giving up her day job.
LOLA:
First it was seventeen.
Listen to us.
LUPE:
Then you add three and its twenty.
LOLA:
Then you add three more and its twenty-three.
LUPE:
So the next number.
LOLA:
In sequence.
If you add three.
LUPE:
Should be. What?
Twenty-six.
CUARTA:
Thats right. Twenty-six.
Yes.
LOLA:
Black twenty-six. Todays lucky number, the next spin.
57
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
58
CUARTA:
Youre saying its a sure thing.
Black twenty-six.
LUPE:
This is a chance that wont pass your way again.
LOLA:
Thirty-five to one on thirty-nine thousand.
million dollars.
Thats over a
CUARTA:
How did you know we have thirty-nine thousand?
LUPE:
Just a lucky guess.

PRIEST:
(PSYCHIC & LUPE & LOLA melt into background.

Spotlight on CUARTA & ATILANO. PRIEST draws
back)
You must think Im crazy.
CUARTA:
ATILANO:
No no, not crazy. Sometimes, youre just intense.
I lost our money.
CUARTA:
I didnt want to, but - -
ATILANO:
Not ours. It was your money. Your gambling money.
It was for us.
CUARTA:
I intended to share it.
ATILANO:
I was going to let you keep it.
CUARTA:
If I tell you something, promise not to laugh?
ATILANO:
I wont.
Dont just say it.
CUARTA:
Mean it.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
59
ATILANO:
I mean it.
CUARTA:
I want you to know I always supported you.
ATILANO:
(Wondering where this is going)
Okay.
CUARTA:
Even if I didnt show it, I want you to know Ive always
wanted the best for you. And us.
Yeah.
ATILANO:
Of course you did.
Sure.
CUARTA:
The rattan business. It was for us. You believe me, dont
you? I never meant to keep it separate.
Sure.
I see that now.
I just wanted
bring you in.
failed almost
wife. I know
ATILANO:
CUARTA:
to have it up and running first and then
I wanted to please you with its success. It
immediately. I. I know Im not a very good
that.
ATILANO:
Dont say that. Youve been fine. You have.
Thats kind of you to say.
can make it good now.
Sure we can.
Why not?
CUARTA:
We can still make it good.
ATILANO:
We
CUARTA:
We start over. Start from zero. Like its Day One again.
Pay everything off. The bad never happened.
Yes.
Yes!
ATILANO:
A clean slate. We can do that.
CUARTA:
We buy you a service station. Youd be owner, the boss.
Well buy it in a good location. Just off 405.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
Georges Freeway Service.
60
ATILANO:
Atilano Cabrillo, owner.
CUARTA:
Id have a shop. Near you. Well have lunch together.
ATILANO:
Maybe a cot in the back room. Take a nap together.
CUARTA:
Like when we were first married.
Yes.
ATILANO:
I came home for lunch every day.
CUARTA:
Yes. And I had a clean freshly-ironed uniform ready for
you to wear back to work in the afternoon.
(They embrace)
Well pay back Papa. Repay him double what I stole. And
well set aside money for Narciso. For his future.
(To PRIEST)
Our sons name is Narciso. Were going to use our winnings
for his future.
PRIEST:
Thats a lovely idea, Maam.
And well buy a house.
CUARTA:
ATILANO:
Yes! Well make sure its bigger and nicer than your
sisters. And then well have them over.
Yes!
CUARTA:
And well watch them. Turning green with envy.
PRIEST:
CUARTA:
(He lets her take flight bag from him)
Are we ready?
ATILANO:
Yes.
Ready.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
61
CUARTA:
This is for the rest of our life.
ATILANO:
(Takes her hand)
Im glad were together right now.
CUARTA:
Im very, very happy. Ive never been happier.
(Hands flight bag to PRIEST)
Everything on black twenty-six, please.
PRIEST:
But what about your system? What about your column bets?
I thought you were a scientific gambler.
Didnt you hear the lady?
ATILANO:
All on black twenty-six!
PRIEST:
(Takes flight bag, moves chips on table)
Very good, sir. Unceremoniously abandoning the system by
which you swore only a few short minutes ago and betting
the farm on pure whim. Straight up on black twenty-six.
Odds, thirty-five to one. Good luck. Round, round, round.
Hold me.
Go.
No.
CUARTA:
Go.
(He holds her. She presses tight against him)

Go. Go. Go. Go. Go.
No.
PSYCHIC & LUPE & LOLA:

(Talks over CUARTA)
No. No. No. No.
(CUARTA & PSYCHIC & LUPE & LOLA continue
chanting the above, their voices growing fainter
as the sound of the wheel and the ball grow
louder and overwhelm. CUARTA & ATILANO freeze in
tight embrace. Fade to black. Lights up. Bare
stage. PRIEST, now in his cassock, and CUARTA
on floor fighting for control of the knife. The
knife is in CUARTAs hand and shes trying to
stab herself. The PRIEST struggles to prevent
her. CUARTA is very strong. She cries loudly
and uncontrollably as she struggles. She spits
and bites and kicks insanely as she struggles.
Her cries sound as if shes in convulsions)
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
62
PRIEST:
(As he struggles with her for knife)
O God, Who knowest us to be set in the midst of such great
perils, that, by reason of the weakness of our nature, we
cannot stand upright, grant us such health of mind and
body, that those evils which we suffer for our sins we may
overcome through Thine assistance. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
(Fade to black)
End of ACT I
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
63
ACT II
(At Rise: bare stage. Spotlight on CUARTA. She
has bandages on wrists and bruises on her face)
CUARTA:
Papa. Its always about Papa. Since the stroke, he
remembers only Orqudea. The rest of us, Yolanda, Flor De
Oro and me, weve been erased from his brain.
(Enter PAPA, hatless, bent over, feeling his way
along wall like a blind man)
He has no memories of me. Its like I was never born.
Orqudea!
Are you there?
PAPA:
CUARTA:
It says somewhere, Fathers, dont provoke your children to
anger. And now that hes in this. This condition. I
know he needs me, but. But sometimes I feel anger about.
(Enter YOLANDA)
YOLANDA:
Well, did you never talk to him?
(Exit YOLANDA)
PAPA:
Orqudea!
Is that you?
For what?
CUARTA:
What good would it do?
(Enter FLOR DE ORO)
FLOR DE ORO:
Did you never tell him how you felt?
(Exit FLOR DE ORO)
FLOR DE ORO:
You think hed listen? Id never get a word in edgewise
with him spouting those proverbs the way he does.
(PAPA turns, stands upright, dons hat)
PAPA:
Dont count your chickens before they hatch, Cuarta!
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
64
CUARTA:
Yes, Papa.
PAPA:
Too many cooks spoil the broth, Cuarta!
CUARTA:
Yes, Papa.
PAPA:
Plenty of other fish in the sea, Cuarta!
CUARTA:
Yes, Papa.
(PAPA turns back to wall and again hatless and
bent over, feels his way along wall)
Ask me what hell is like, Id say its growing old with
Papa. Being sucked dry, withering away, nursemaiding him
until hes gone. I know Ill be damned to hell for saying
this, but Im glad Im far, far away from him.
Yes.
Who is that?
Yes, Papa.
Orqudea?
Its me.
PAPA:
Is that you?
CUARTA:
Orqudea.
(Fade to black. Lights up. PRIEST in spotlight

at small table with chest. PRIEST takes legal
document, reads)
PRIEST:
IT IS ORDERED THAT:
You shall not harass, molest, intimidate, retaliate
against, or tamper with any witness to or victim of the
acts you are charged with committing.
(Lights up on separate space. ATILANO & NARCISO
in spotlight)
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT:
You shall:
stay away from any place victim is likely to be.
not contact or communicate with victim.
not possess or control a firearm or other weapon.
not possess or consume alcoholic beverages.
(PRIEST attempts to serve Restraining Order on
ATILANO. ATILANO, drink in hand, slaps it away)
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
65
ATILANO:
No no! She said she was never happier. Its true! She was
talking about buying me a service station. No no! This is
wrong. I wont accept this! This isnt her! This isnt
something she would do. Im not accepting this! Do you
hear? Im saying Im not accepting this! Do you hear me,
girl? Do you hear me?
(All fade to black. Lights up, inside PSYCHICs
bedroom, occult wall art, sitar music. PSYCHIC
crosslegged on rug. A small red cloth square on
rug. On bed, CUARTA sits, watches. Late evening.
CUARTAs wrists, bandaged, her face bruised)
PSYCHIC:
(Sprinkles herbs on cloth as she recites)
Dash of salt, a charm it weaves
Comin through the rye
Fennel, fern and basil leaves
Comin through the rye
(Ties corners together to form an herb bag)
CUARTA:
Thank you.
How are the wrists?
PSYCHIC:
CUARTA:
Painful.
I have scars.
PSYCHIC:
But you survived. There are far worse things than scars.
Deep, hideous things from wounds self-inflicted. Youre
going to call the police, arent you? You heard him. Hes
not accepting this. Theres no telling what hell do.
CUARTA:
I dont want to slam the door. He has Narciso.
PSYCHIC:
The important thing is, youre safe.
back your sanity.
My advice, rest.
Get
CUARTA:
I must go out. This one time. To the Court tomorrow. I have
an appointment. A friend is going to help.
PSYCHIC:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
66
A friend?
A business friend.
CUARTA:
To help me with my debts.
PSYCHIC:
For me, money matters can always wait. But if you must, I
suppose you must. Just be careful. Hell be looking for
you. And remember, the herb bundle doesnt work outside.
CUARTA:
Another thing. I must mail this letter. Its money for Papa.
Money for your father.
PSYCHIC:
Youre a good daughter.
(Fade to black. Lights up, new space. PAPA

sits, an empty chair opposite him. NURSE
enters)
NURSE:
Medicine time, Mister Acosta. A letter from the USA.
(He snatches it, holds it close as he takes
medicine. NURSE exits. Opens letter after NURSE
is gone. He talks to empty chair, waving letter)
PAPA:
You see, she doesnt forget. She sends me money. Look here.
Five dollars. Orqudea sent me five US dollars.
(Pulls back, as if someone reached for it)
No no no. No, its not for you. she doesnt send you
money. She knows all about your lover. I told her. No!
Dont try crying! You deserve it. All right. Go on and
cry. Doesnt matter to me. Youre leaving? Go ahead.
Leave. I dont care.
(PAPA laughs. Fade to black. Lights up,
exterior of shop. Large sign, THREE SISTERS
SPEEDY DRY CLEAN. FLOR DE ORO enters space
carrying garment. ATILANO & NARCISO enter,
dressed in matching outfits. She pretends not
to see. ATILANO carries a bag)
ATILANO:
Hey Flor, fancy seeing you. Narciso, its your Aunt Flor.
FLOR DE ORO:
Oh!
George.
Narciso.
NARCISO:
Daddys taking me for ice cream. Is my Mom at your house?
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
No, honey.
FLOR DE ORO:
I havent seen your Mommy.
You see how it is?

We uh.
He and.
ATILANO:
Poor kid. So hows Maurice?
FLOR DE ORO:
He and I broke up.
ATILANO:
Oh yeah, thats right. He dropped by for a fill-up last
week. So I guess that blonde girl is his new - FLOR DE ORO:
Isnt this a long way for you to - ATILANO:
Taking a day off. Time for dad and son. Three Sisters
Speedy Dry Clean. What happened to the gold shop?
FLOR DE ORO:
Gold prices. Walter got tired of bailing Orqudea out.
You havent seen Cuarta?
ATILANO:
FLOR DE ORO:
I really got to go, George. I got to deliver this.
ATILANO:
Hey, I dont know what Maurice sees in that other - Shes nineteen!
His loss.
FLOR DE ORO:
Thats what he sees!
Shes nothing.
ATILANO:
You run rings around her.
FLOR DE ORO:
I really got to go. But thank you. You cheered me up.
ATILANO:
My good deed.
Here. Have a bag of apricots.
(FLOR DE ORO takes the bag, exits)
I can do more good deeds! Just gimme the chance.
Hey.
67
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
68
ATILANO:
Thats a fine looking woman. Slim. Perfect hands. Think
shes pretty, Narciso? Take my word for it. She is.
Imagine those fingernails. Digging into your back. Think of
the marks theyd leave. No comment? Listen, I gave you
your name, Narciso, for a reason. Its from a Greek guy
who was so handsome every girl in the world loved him.
Youre gonna be like that. Youre gonna be a lover. Thats
my plan for you.
I dont wanna be a lover!
Yes, you do.
No!
NARCISO:
ATILANO:
Yes, you do.
NARCISO:
I want some ice cream? Please?
Ice cream?
ATILANO:
Why not?
Yeah, sure.
NARCISO:
Mommy always gets me vanilla.
Vanillas for pussies.
I like vanilla.
ATILANO:
Were gonna get Rocky Road.
NARCISO:
Its my favorite.
ATILANO:
You gotta try all the flavors. Youve been run through the
hoops by a woman too long. Youre getting pussywhipped.
(ATILANO, NARCISO exit, fade to black. Lights
up, PRIEST under spotlight with open chest. He
takes a sheet of paper from chest, reads)
PRIEST:
When you file your Chapter 7 Bankruptcy petition, your
creditors are sent a notice informing them that you have
filed and they must stop trying to collect. After you file
your bankruptcy case, your creditors are not allowed by law
to write or call you. This is called the "Automatic Stay,"
i.e., they are automatically "stayed" from contacting you.
If they do contact you, tell them that you filed for
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and give them your case number.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
69
(PRIEST space fades to black. Lights up, new

space. Big sign, BANKRUPTCY COURT. AARON sits,
writing. Enter CUARTA, dressed fetchingly)
AARON:
I was worried you werent coming.
My car again.
CUARTA:
Always my car. So.
What now?
AARON:
We resolve your finances. Howre the wrists?
bruises?
Painful.
And the
CUARTA:
Youve done this? Youve been through this?
AARON:
I know the drill. Ive been through it with my shop.
CUARTA:
If I do this, what will people think?
a failure?
Will they think Im
AARON:
Its about moving on.
Its not about failure.
CUARTA:
But therell be a mark against me. Papa says, Your
reputation is like fine gold.
Cuarta, it was a mistake.
AARON:
It wasnt your fault.
CUARTA:
I made a promise. I signed a promissory note. Papa says,
Bad people make promises to break them.
AARON:
Youre not a bad person. Look, if you bought a dress and it
didnt fit, would you still wear it?
Of course not.
CUARTA:
AARON:
And what would people think if you kept wearing it?
Youre right, Aaron.
right answer for me.
CUARTA:
Youre right. You always have the
I was silly to worry.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
70
AARON:
Not silly. Your fathers advice was good. Now down to
business. The courtll assign a case number. Then we send
the creditor people a letter. December 4, 1978. Dear
Creditor Person. How are you? I am fine.
CUARTA:
Can we say that?
AARON:
Just a quick note. I filed Chapter Seven bankruptcy, case
number bla bla, in Central District Court. Sorry to leave
you holding the bag, but you know how it is. Best Wishes.
Ta ta. There. They'll stop dunning you.
CUARTA:
Youre not really going to send that?
AARON:
(He grins, holds out paper which she signs)
Lets file this and go. How about a donut?
You need
cheering up. I know a half-price donut place.
(They stand, start to exit. They check to ensure
coast is clear. Fade to black. Lights up.
PSYCHIC below sign, PALMIST: PERSONAL PROBLEMS
SOLVED. On table, some pebbles. She moves them
about)
PSYCHIC:
Stone they be shakin left,
Stone they shakin right
Stone they do a dosie-doe,
Move it in tight
Floatin like a butterfly,
Weavin tapestry
Two by two we take em home,
Dressed in finery.
(Enter CUARTA with paper sack. PSYCHIC stands,
smiles. There is much affection in her smile)
CUARTA:
(Blushes. Smiles back. Then turning to AUDIENCE)
Roles. When youre with a person and theres romance going
on, each assumes a role pleasing to the other. Theres so
much fantasy in romance. Playing your chosen role is an
effort to invoke that fantasy, to make it as real as
possible. Its a kind of shared insanity. Which is why,
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
71
CUARTA(Cont):
when its over, you hear them say, What was I thinking? I
must have been insane.
(Flashes a shy smile at PSYCHIC, who smiles
back)
She sees me as her sweet little girl. She plays the sage,
explaining lifes meaning, as I sit at her feet, hands
folded, looking up worshipfully. She doesnt know it, but
I already know about life.
(To PSYCHIC. CUARTA holds up bag)
I need a favor.
PSYCHIC:
Ask.
CUARTA:
I have some things here. For you to look at.
(Empties sack: napkin, paper cup, piece of
donut)
You see here? This cup. He drank coffee from it.
PSYCHIC:
He?
Here. He bit into a donut.
Dear one.
Please.
CUARTA:
Here. He wiped his mouth.
PSYCHIC:
Tell me. What is this about?
No no.
CUARTA:
Lets just forget it. Its too silly.
No no.
Tell me.
PSYCHIC:
CUARTA:
Youll just be angry.
PSYCHIC:
Oh, how could I ever be angry with you?
You just will.
I know it.
CUARTA:
PSYCHIC:
I wont be angry.
Cross your heart?
CUARTA:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
PSYCHIC:
And hope to die.

All right.
72
Theres a man.
CUARTA:
Hes the one helping me.
PSYCHIC:
This is not a man youve seen in the past.
CUARTA:
Oh no.
Not at all.
PSYCHIC:
Are you sure you want to pursue this, dearest?
youre been with were not very good for you.
Oh, I dont know.
The men
CUARTA:
Its all so confusing.
PSYCHIC:
Of course it is.
CUARTA:
I just want to know if hes the right one.
another wrong man.
Thats understandable.
I dont want
PSYCHIC:
Wed all like a guarantee.
CUARTA:
Im sorry, if Ive made you upset.
You didnt.
PSYCHIC:
CUARTA:
May I ask him to come and see you?
Yes.
Please?
PSYCHIC:
CUARTA:
(Hands sackful of items to PSYCHIC)
Thank you. Thank you.
(To AUDIENCE)
Older women shouldnt chase after girls half their age.
Its really a bad fit.
(CUARTA exits. PSYCHIC tosses sack in trash,
sits, slams table, scattering pebbles. Fade to
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
73
black. Lights up. Interior THREE SISTERS SPEEDY

DRY CLEAN. YOLANDA, FLOR DE ORO, ORQUDEA stand
behind counter. PRIEST, in front of counter)
ORQUDEA:
Heres your laundry, Father.
PRIEST:
Thank you.
What do I owe?
ORQUDEA:
Just pray for us.
Nothing, Father.
PRIEST:
Thank you.
Good bye.
Good bye, Father.
ORQUDEA:
(PRIEST exits)
Nothing?
YOLANDA:
(Hangs clean, starched Chevron uniforms)
Hes a priest.
Yes.
ORQUDEA:
Are those Georges uniforms?
YOLANDA:
He still brings them here.
ORQUDEA:
Not fooling me. Its an excuse to hunt for Cuarta.
YOLANDA:
(Passes around a bag of peanuts)
Still, nice of him to bring us peanuts.
(To the uniforms as if talking to a person)
Shes not here, George. Cuarta hasnt phoned in weeks.
He doesnt believe you.
ORQUDEA:
YOLANDA:
Isnt it a long way for you to come just for laundry?
ORQUDEA:
He says its keeping the business in the family. What
family do you mean? Youre not caring for our sister.
YOLANDA:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
74
He says she walked out on him.

ORQUDEA:
She walked out on you for good reason!
YOLANDA:
He says shes not herself. He says when she returns to
being her true self, shell return to him.
ORQUDEA:
Return to you? Oh Jesus, Mary and Joseph! I so worry
about little Narciso, being with that. That man.
FLOR DE ORO:
I saw him take Narciso for ice cream. They were happy.
Youre taking his side.
ORQUDEA:
FLOR DE ORO:
I say what I saw. George was doing what every father
should do. Making time to be a real dad.
YOLANDA:
If thats true, its very good of him.
FLOR DE ORO:
I thought it was was very self-sacrificing. He was taking
time off from his work to spend quality time.
ORQUDEA:
Is this the man who drove our sister to slash herself?
think he has the same name as a great saint.
FLOR DE ORO:
When you come right down to it, Cuartas no saint.
To
ORQUDEA:
Shes our sister!
FLOR DE ORO:
Time was when youd slap me if I called her sister.
ORQUDEA:
That was when we were young. We didnt know any better.
Were different now.
FLOR DE ORO:
Whatever. I think George tries to be a good father.
ORQUDEA:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
75
Whatever. I think you try to be a good idiot.

(Fade to black. Lights up, CUARTA, AARON in bed.
Evil eye charm on wall. Atmosphere, fearful,
They cuddle silently. Finally)
AARON:
Lets run away. Lets disappear. Start anew somewhere.
CUARTA:
Were not deserting Narciso.
AARON:
Then lets snatch him. We wait outside his school. When he
comes out, you call him. We grab him and - CUARTA:
Are you crazy?
AARON:
People run away all the time.
CUARTA:
Were not running away!
(ATILANO enters space with NARCISO in tow)

AARON:
Listen. As long as George has him, hell use him to use
you. He knows your thoughts will - - what is it?
CUARTA:
A sudden chill.
(ATILANO & NARCISO exit)
There. It passed. It was like a blast of winter air.
Your skin.
So sensitive.
AARON:
CUARTA:
Like the Princess and the Pea.
(Fade to black. Lights up, ATILANOs apartment.
A bed, evil eye charm on wall. Open bottle &
glass. Knock on door. ATILANO, pressed uniform
& shined shoes, opens door. FLOR DE ORO enters,
in sexy yellow dress, holding covered casserole
dish)
FLOR DE ORO:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
76
I was in the neighborhood.

ATILANO:
Yeah?
I saw your light on.
FLOR DE ORO:
Wheres Narciso?
ATILANO:
Spending the night with a friend.
FLOR DE ORO:
Time off for a little boy. Big boys need time off too.
ATILANO:
Yeah.
Sometimes we do.
Hunh!
FLOR DE ORO:
(Sets dish down. Goes to wall, regards object)
Looks like Cuartas voodoo things.
Heebie-jeebie stuff.
Does it work?
ATILANO:
She left it behind.
FLOR DE ORO:
ATILANO:
I dunno.
FLOR DE ORO:
I have something here for you.
ATILANO:
Yeah?
FLOR DE ORO:
(Hands him a scrap of paper)
The address of her fortune teller.
(He smiles. She winks, rubs evil eye charm)
Now lets see if this thing works.
(They walk to the bed, smiling. Fade to black.
Lights up. Outside porch, PSYCHICs residence)
PSYCHIC:
When hate, contempt and conflict rage
With patience then, we must engage,
Our conscience clear and with no blame,
Rebuff our foe with blush of shame
ATILANO:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
Hey.
77
(Enters wearing a police disguise)

Hey there!
PSYCHIC:
The hays in the barn.

ATILANO:
(Flashes badge, pockets it quickly)
Excuse me, Maam. Police. This isnt exactly official. Its
a favor for some neighborhood ladies. Volunteer work.
About a woman who cheated her father.
Oh my goodness.
PSYCHIC:
How very sad.
ATILANO:
Im doing some checking for the sisters, poor ladies.
PSYCHIC:
Very noble of you, officer. But I dont see how.
ATILANO:
This woman owed thirty-eight thousand. She couldnt pay.
Driving her nuts. She asked a friend, Whatll I do? The
friend said, Steal from your father.
PSYCHIC:
May. Maybe the friend didnt put it quite that way.
ATILANO:
Anyway you slice it, theres nothing lower than - PSYCHIC:
Do you by chance know the friends name?
ATILANO:
Your name came up as a business contact. Womans name,
Cuarta. Ring a bell?
PSYCHIC:
Cuarta. Cuarta. Wait! A Cuarta worked for my gardener.
All right.
ATILANO:
Thats something.
PSYCHIC:
In fact, last week, she and her new boyfriend came by.
A new boyfriend.
ATILANO:
You dont say?
PSYCHIC:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
78
She had me read his palm. She wanted to know what kind of
relationship shed have with him.
(Lights up, separate space. CUARTA, AARON in
bed asleep. Evil eye charm above headboard)
They paid by check. It was one of his checks. Came back
NSF. See? Here it is. Theres his name. Theres a Glendale
address. I shouldve asked for cash.
(ATILANO snatches check, begins to exit space.
PSYCHIC draws card, waves it, calls after him)
Eight of Hearts. The obsession card. Love is sharing, but
when theres no sharing, you have a fools love!
(ATILANO exits PSYCHIC space. Blackout, PSYCHIC
space. ATILANO enters CUARTA & AARONs space.
CUARTA & AARON awaken. CUARTA senses danger)
AARON:
Suddenly your skins turning cold.
What is it?
CUARTA:
Somethings not right.
(She touches the evil eye charm)
Dont you hear it?
Something.
No.
AARON:
(ATILANO remains at edge of space, waiting for
her, his back to her. He checks himself in
mirror. He combs his hair. She exits bed)
CUARTA:
No? Guess Im more sensitive than you. Im sure its just
a window. Ill go check.
AARON:
Ill go.
CUARTA:
Its just a window, Aaron. Youre tired. Ill do it.
AARON:
Okay.
CUARTA:
Go back to sleep.
(She approaches ATILANO)
Georgie, I have no money.
ATILANO:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
79
Im not here for money.

Im living hand to mouth.
CUARTA:
I had to take some steps.
ATILANO:
I heard you filed papers in court.
Yeah, steps.
CUARTA:
I had to. There was no choice.
No choice?
ATILANO:
Thats what he said? You had no choice?
CUARTA:
Georgie, there were people phoning late at night.
knocking on my door. I couldnt pay.
He told you to file.
People
ATILANO:
You didnt think about pride?
CUARTA:
I filed because it was logical. To make a clean break.
ATILANO:
A clean break. Filing says failure. Thats what people say.
Doesnt it bother you what people say about us?
There is no us.
CUARTA:
ATILANO:
Dont say that, girl.

Then stop talking crazy.
CUARTA:
You dont want me.
ATILANO:
Thats how it starts. When she wants to mix it up, she
starts up with the you dont want me. I do want you.
I bore you.
CUARTA:
I always bored you.
ATILANO:
And then she says bored. She doesnt know bored. I know
bored. You want bored?
Heres bored. Trivial Pursuit.
Disco. Sushi. Thats bored. Everything else is a fucking
huge galactic extravaganza, so awesome it makes me come
just thinking about it.
CUARTA:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

I dreamt I was in a cage. And you were watching me.
said, Georgie, touch me, and you turned away.
80
I
ATILANO:
And then. Then she trots out the dreams and the psychic
shit. I touch her. Sometimes I touch her.
(He touches her arm. She jerks it away)
There. You see? You see what shes like?
CUARTA:
This. This thing we have, I mean, had. Its dying.
dying. Its dead. Cant you smell the rot?
Do I look like Im dying?
Were
ATILANO:
Do I look like Im dead?
(PRIEST enters)
PRIEST:
Is everything all right here?
Excuse me.
Hey!
Move on!
ATILANO:
Mind your own business!
Are you all right, Miss?
PRIEST:
CUARTA:
Yes.
Yes, Im fine.
Youre sure?
PRIEST:
CUARTA:
Yes.
ATILANO:
The lady said shes okay. Now move on, padre.
(PRIEST walks a short way, stops, watches them)
I said, move on.
PRIEST:
Its a public area, friend. I think Ill stand here.
ATILANO:
(CUARTA turns away, as if to leave)
Yeah, thats right. Go. Go back to him. It wont do you
any good. He doesnt care.
CUARTA:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
81
Oh, youre so wrong.

ATILANO:
All he wants is someone warm and naked to hold onto while
he resurrects his situation.
Youre wrong.
CUARTA:
You - -
ATILANO:
Youll see. Once hes on his feet, hell move on. Look. He
wont even protect you. He let you come here alone.
Unprotected. I would never have permitted that.
(She turns away, approaches bed. He calls after)
Narciso is doing well. As well as can be.
CUARTA:
You bastard! You fucking bastard!
(ATILANO exits. PRIEST exits after ATILANO in
opposite direction. AARON stirs & awakens)
That fucking bastard!
What?
Is everything okay?
Yes. Everythings fine.
AARON:
CUARTA:
An open window.
Some bad air.
(Blackout. Lights up. Donut shop. YOLANDA, FLOR

DE ORO & ORQUDEA at counter. Large sign, THREE
SISTERS YUMMY DONUTS. Separate spotlight up on
NEWS VENDOR at kiosk)
1978!
1979!
NEWS VENDOR:
The dollar loses a quarter of its value.
Demand for gold is overwhelming!
FLOR DE ORO:
We were fools.
Fools.
ORQUDEA:
FLOR DE ORO:
Fools.
Selling the gold shop.
ORQUDEA:
Why did we do that?
NEWS VENDOR:
Early
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
82
Gold soars to $381 in 1979! To $850 in early 1980! People

who moved out of gold are looking pretty silly.
FLOR DE ORO:
You shut up! Whose idea was it to sell the gold shop?
Yolanda.
ORQUDEA:
It was Yolandas idea.
YOLANDA:
Why are you blaming me?

ORQUDEA:
You should have said no.
Youre the oldest.

Look at my nails.
FLOR DE ORO:
Look at my nails!
(Blackout, donut shop. NEWS VENDOR silently

hawks papers. Lights up, new space. AARON at
desk, CUARTA sits. Evil eye charm on wall)
AARON:
I know what to do.
Ive got it!
OPM.
CUARTA:
O P what?
OPM. Other peoples money.
Were going to make loans?
AARON:
Were going to make loans.
CUARTA:
With what?
Were broke.
AARON:
With other peoples money.
Read my lips.
(They look at each others lips, they kiss)

NEWS VENDOR:
April 1980! Interest rates skyrocket! Double-digit
mortgages. Hey, Mister Small Businessman, you want a
commercial loan from a bank? You can forget about it.
AARON:
But people still need to borrow. Theres still a demand.
Hey, Enrico. Hows business?
Whattaya think?
NEWS VENDOR:
Barely scraping by.
AARON:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
83
Enrico sells newspapers and magazines, candy and gum.

NEWS VENDOR:
I do okay on the fuck books. The rest is a wash.
AARON:
He owns the business, he leases the space.
ever think of expanding?
Enrico, did you
NEWS VENDOR:
I use any more sidewalk, copsll kick my ass.
AARON:
I mean a full service facility inside a building.
Whoa!
NEWS VENDOR:
Now youre talking overhead.
AARON:
Listen. We get you a cream puff lease on a primo space.
Set you up with a complete line. The best.
NEWS VENDOR:
I dunno.
AARON:
People on their way to work. You have fresh brewed coffee.
And hot muffins along with the paper.
Muffins?
NEWS VENDOR:
Where the fuck am I gonna get muffins?
You bake em.
AARON:
NEWS VENDOR:
Gonna take startup money. Gonna take an operating loan.
And bank rates are through the roof.
AARON:
What if I said I got private sources at below market?
Why they wanna do that?
NEWS VENDOR:
AARON:
People with cash dont sit on it.
Keep talking.
They invest.
NEWS VENDOR:
AARON:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
84
Enrico, meet my associate, Miss Acosta.

Pleased to meet you.
CUARTA:
AARON:
Enrico, Im sending Miss Acosta to take a credit
application. Which is better? Tonight or tomorrow?
NEWS VENDOR:
Uh tonight. Yeah, tonight. Tomorrow nights poker.
CUARTA:
See you tonight, sir.
(Blackout on NEWS VENDOR space)
So. Do you know some private money sources?
AARON:
No.
But you just said.
CUARTA:
AARON:
Ill put ads in the paper. Investors! Triple A borrowers
ready to sign up! Dont wait! Call today! Theyll come
running. Guaranteed!
Can we do that?
CUARTA:
AARON:
We need a partner. Someone with a brokers license.
sisters have licenses.
Your
CUARTA:
I dont think theyll work with me.
AARON:
Cant hurt to ask. We just need one. Ask Flor De Oro.
CUARTA:
Why Flor?
(Enter FLOR DE ORO, stands at distance, smiles)
She seems nice.
AARON:
CUARTA:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
85
Is that all you know about her?

AARON:
Trust me. Im a one woman man.
(Tries a joke)
One woman at a time.
(They kiss. CUARTA hands him an envelope)
CUARTA:
Please mail this. Its for my father.
dollars. Its all I can spare.
AARON:
You send him something every week.
Youre a good daughter.
Its only ten
I admire that in you.
(AARON starts to exit with envelope)

CUARTA:
No, Im not.
(As AARON passes FLOR DE ORO, he smiles. She
smiles. They exit together. Fade to black.
Lights up. PRIEST in confessional. FLOR DE ORO
enters, kneels, makes the sign of the Cross)
FLOR DE ORO:
Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It's been a while,
Father. I don't remember how the rest goes.
PRIEST:
Tell me when your last confession was.
FLOR DE ORO:
I don't really remember, Father.
Well, try.
PRIEST:
Give me an aproximation.
FLOR DE ORO:
I think it was right before my Confirmation.
PRIEST:
That would be when you were sixteen.
Yes.
I think so.
FLOR DE ORO:
PRIEST:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
86
And you are how old now?

Thirty-eight.
Father.
FLOR DE ORO:
PRIEST:
What do you wish to confess?
I dont know, Father.
FLOR DE ORO:
Can you help me?
PRIEST:
All right then. Lets begin with the mortal sins.
you committed blasphemy?
Have
FLOR DE ORO:
No, Father.
PRIEST:
Have you committed perjury?
FLOR DE ORO:
No, Father.
Homicide?
PRIEST:
FLOR DE ORO:
No.
Adultery?
PRIEST:
(No response. Finally)

All right. A reading from the Gospel of Saint John. They
left Jesus alone with the woman standing before
(FLOR DE ORO gets up, exits)
him. Jesus looked up and said to her, "Woman, has no one
condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." Jesus said,
"Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.
(Fade to black, Confessional space. Lights up,
donut shop. YOLANDA & ORQUDEA at counter. FLOR
DE ORO enters, straightening her dress and hair.
ORQUDEA is munching dried peaches from a bag)
Oh oh.
YOLANDA:
Looks like Flor had another bad night.
FLOR DE ORO:
I didnt have a bad night.
ORQUDEA:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
87
It hasnt been the same since Maurice.

FLOR DE ORO:
This has nothing to do with Maurice!
YOLANDA:
The boy friend she wont tell us about.
Or that other man.
FLOR DE ORO:
Stay out of my business.
ORQUDEA:
Everythings business with you. Youve never had a - FLOR DE ORO:
I had a bad night!
Will you please!?
ORQUDEA:
(To YOLANDA, passing her bag of dried peaches)
My, but wasnt that awfully sudden about George?
George?
FLOR DE ORO:
What about George?
YOLANDA:
Yes. Very sudden. I was surprised. These are such good
dried peaches. Where does he get such good - What about George?!
FLOR DE ORO:
ORQUDEA:
He came in yesterday, said his uncle passed away.
hes taking Narciso to Mexico.
Said
YOLANDA:
I must say he didnt look very sad.
ORQUDEA:
No surprise there. He and his uncle were on bad terms.
think he was in America to escape his uncle.
Youre too hard on him.
YOLANDA:
ORQUDEA:
And youre an idiot!

YOLANDA:
I just give him the benefit of the - ORQUDEA:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
88
You would!
FLOR DE ORO:
I must go say good bye to him.
(Enter PRIEST. FLOR DE ORO starts to exit, bumps
into him. A fleeting look of recognition)
Oh sorry! Excuse me, Father.
I.
Quite all right.
PRIEST:
(FLOR DE ORO passes by him, looks back at PRIEST

fearfully and exits. PRIEST scans donuts in
display case)
ORQUDEA:
I wish he wasnt taking Narciso down there. I blame Cuarta
for that. She should have fought for Narciso.
YOLANDA:
(Passing bag of dried peaches to ORQUDEA)
What could she do? She had nothing. Not a cent.
ORQUDEA:
Hes taking the boy to his police relatives. Mexicos just
like Peru. Sex slaves. Drugs. All police are garbage.
Soldiers, too. Dont you agree, Father?
PRIEST:
Well, Cornelius was a soldier and an angel spoke to him.
ORQUDEA:
Thats different. Cornelius was in the Bible. If youre
in the Bible, it changes everything. These dried peaches
are really excellent! Here, Father, try one.
(PRIEST takes one. Fade to black. Lights up, A
room. MAN seated, his back to audience. ATILANO
enters in elegant police uniform. He is
perfectly groomed and coifed. The MAN hands him
a suit on a hanger)
ATILANO:
Nice suit. Classy. I like it. Like it a lot. So, I get to
keep it? Well, thanks. Makes me feel like a million. You
guys do good work. But Los Angeles is a long way to come to
deliver a suit. You couldda sent it. Yeah, youre right
about that. Personal touch. You get to know a person that
way. Really get to know em. Dont trust no one who wont
show his face. Like they got something to hide. Know what I
ATILANO(Cont):
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
89
mean? So what do you think of Los Pimas? Good. Glad you

got to sample the cuisine. We got great chitepn, dont we?
Lotsa cultural sites, too. Especially the bridge at the
edge of town. Very historical. During the revolution, they
used to ransom hostages there. The rebels would be at one
end of the bridge. The government forces at the other.
Someone would carry a sack of money from one side to the
other. Then the hostages would walk across. Sometimes
thered be treachery. Sometimes thered be shooting.
Theres a plaque there that tells the story. What? No
time? Youre going back today? Too bad. I was hoping we
could do some tittie bars together. Well, you gotta go, you
gotta go. Oh, one thing. Since youre headed back, these
three girls need a ride. They got their papers.
Everythings copacetic. Hope you dont mind. Theyre clean
girls. If you know anyone in the garment industry wholl
hire them, feel free. Theyre good workers. Wont give no
trouble. Hey, come back soon.
(They shake hands. Fade to black. Lights up.
PRIEST in spotlight, takes document from chest)
PRIEST:
Aunt Flors Brokers License.
(Reads)
State of California. Department of Real Estate. Name: Flor
De Oro Acosta. Fictitious Business Name: ACF Mortgage.
Ah!
(Lights up, new space. AARON, CUARTA, FLOR DE

ORO sit at a table in bar, dressed expensively &
fashionably in a flashy way. PRIEST dons
waiters smock, takes serving tray holding three
drinks, one of which is a garish monstrosity
with an umbrella sticking out. PRIEST enters bar
space. Blackout, his previous space. PRIEST
serves the drinks. He serves CUARTA last,
serving her the drink with the umbrella. AARON &
FLOR DE OROs eyes meet as CUARTA is served)
Careful.
FLOR DE ORO:
Dont drown in that.
CUARTA:
I always wanted to try one of these.
them on The Love Boat.
I see people drinking
FLOR DE ORO:
I had one in Hawaii once. Too much pineapple.
AARON:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
Thank you.
90
(To PRIEST)
(PRIEST exits)
Can we start now?
CUARTA:
Whats the hurry?
AARON:
No hurry. I just wanted to make an announcement.
Im just kind of excited.
I guess
CUARTA:
Aaron. Theres just the three of us here. You dont have
to be so formal. Just say what you want to say.
AARON:
Well. All right. I did want it to be formal. But what
the heck. All the partners are here.
(Raises glass. CUARTA, FLOR DE ORO raise theirs)
To ACF Mortgage. Happy first birthday.
CUARTA:
Happy birthday!
FLOR DE ORO:
Yes.
Happy, happy.
AARON:
And may all future birthdays be as profitable as this one.
CUARTA:
No. No! More profitable. I need more money.
FLOR DE ORO:
Oh right. For Cuartas shoe collection.
outfit account.
Hey!
And her designer
CUARTA:
A girls got to splurge now and then.
AARON:
Okay, ladies. Next. Item two.
(Takes out a sheet of paper, holds it up)
Our new logo. Ta da!
(FLOR DE ORO cheers wildly)
New logo?
Why a new logo?
CUARTA:
AARON:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

Whats wrong?
91
Dont you like it?

FLOR DE ORO:
I like it.
CUARTA:
Its not about liking or not liking. Clients get used to a
logo. Now they see a new logo. They think weve sold the
business. They ask, whats going on?
FLOR DE ORO:
Well, I like it.
AARON:
Well. Okay. I see. All we were thinking about was
putting a little pizzazz in the image. But you seem to - CUARTA:
We?
Whos we?
AARON:
Flor and I were thinking, wouldnt it be?
You two did this?
CUARTA:
And you didnt run it by me?
AARON:
Well, we thought you.
CUARTA:
Wait. Wait. Wait. Thats three times you said, we
thought. We thought this. We thought that. We thought.
We thought. We thought. Let me tell you something.
Theres no we around here without me.
(Points to ACF in logo)
That C in ACF stands for Cuarta. Thats me. And you kept
Cuarta out of the loop. This is my life. This is my money.
Maybe I better leave.
FLOR DE ORO:
CUARTA:
Sit down!
(PRIEST enters)
Excuse me.
PRIEST:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
92
(AARON & FLOR DE ORO turn, grateful for the

interruption)
CUARTA:
No! Dont look at him. Look at me. Im was talking first.
Hes not part of the we around here. Hes just the waiter.
Excuse me, Maam.
PRIEST:
You need to take this outside.
Please?
CUARTA:
Outside? Youre telling me to leave? Sure. You bet.
Ill take it outside.
(Stands up, still holding her drink)
I will definitely take it outside.
(Exits, slamming door loudly behind her. AARON &
FLOR DE ORO, visibly shaken, sit silently. Door
opens. CUARTA sticks head through door)
In case you forget, partners get to slam the door twice.
(CUARTA slams door, exits.
Well, I liked it.
Silence.
Then)
FLOR DE ORO:
(Fade to black. Lights up. AARON & CUARTAs new

home. Garden party, CUARTA, FLOR DE ORO dressed
expensively. Costly outdoor accessories. Evil
eye charm on gate. CUARTA reaches up, touches
charm. PSYCHIC sits nearby. Enter YOLANDA,
ORQUDEA & PRIEST, at gate)
Welcome!
CUARTA & FLOR DE ORO:

Come in! Hello, Father.
YOLANDA:
Such a beautiful new house. So expensive.
Too expensive.
ORQUDEA:
Papa always said, save for a rainy day.
And in Malibu.
YOLANDA:
You and Aaron and Flor are doing so well.
CUARTA:
Its been a lot of hard work. A lot of ungodly hours.
(Enter AARON, dressed flashy. PRIEST snubs him)
AARON:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

(Taking dig at PRIEST)
Too ungodly. No vacation in three years.
93
And the house.
CUARTA:
Home.
AARON:
Yes. Sorry. Home. As for the home. It took a heck of a
lot longer to build than we anticipated.
CUARTA:
And cost two hundred thousand more than we budgeted.
YOLANDA:
Two hundred thousand?
ORQUDEA:
Dollars?
CUARTA:
Can you believe it? It was after the foundation was
poured. Thats when Clovia spotted the flaw.
AARON:
Here we go again.
Stop mocking.
CUARTA:
For all we know, Clovia saved our lives.
AARON:
Whatever.
CUARTA:
85% of all household fatalities are in houses.
AARON:
Homes.
CUARTA:
Thank you, dear. In homes not conforming to Feng Shui.
PSYCHIC:
I was only doing what any psychic advisor would do.
(PRIEST turns his back on PSYCHIC)
CUARTA:
The man Aaron hired called himself a builder. He had not
the slightest grasp of Feng Shui principles.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
94
AARON:
She fired him. Then she ripped up the slab.
CUARTA:
I brought in monks from the Thai Temple to perform a
purification ritual to mollify the injured spirits.
(PRIEST groans)
Very important.
PSYCHIC:
If you fail to do that, they never leave.
Look!
AARON:
(Swats at the air)
Theres one they missed. Call the monks back.
(FLOR DE ORO laughs too loudly at joke)
Oh ha ha.
CUARTA:
Very, very funny.
YOLANDA:
Well anyway, I see its been a lucky three years.
AARON:
Yes and now finally we have our house, I mean, home in
Malibu. Everything falling into place. Like dumb luck.
(FLOR DE ORO makes eye contact with AARON &
quietly exits)
CUARTA:
Its not luck.
Oh.
Of course not.
AARON:
Once again I stand corrected.
CUARTA:
(AARON rolls his eyes and silently mouths the
following words as she speaks them)
Diligence is the mother of good luck.
AARON:
Yes, dear. Just as you say. And now, I must go to the
bathroom to diligently relieve myself. Please excuse me.
(AARON bows and exits)
CUARTA:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

I consult Clovia on everything.
before I read it or sign it.
95
She touches each contract
ORQUDEA:
Maybe I should hire a witch to lay hands on my donuts.
Clovias not a witch.
CUARTA:
ORQUDEA:
Papa would roll over in his grave.
PSYCHIC:
This is becoming a personal matter.
Maybe I better leave.
CUARTA:
Stay.
You work for me.

PSYCHIC:
Yes, Maam.
ORQUDEA:
I brought Father to bless the house. I hope you dont mind.
No, I dont mind.
CUARTA:
Every little bit helps.
Right, Clovia?
(PSYCHIC turns back to PRIEST, covers ears)

ORQUDEA:
Go ahead, Father.
PRIEST:
Visit this house, we beg Thee, Lord, and banish from it the
deadly power of the evil one. May Thy holy angels dwell
here to keep us in peace, and may Thy blessings be always
upon us. Through our Lord. Amen
Amen.
YOLANDA & ORQUDEA:

(All exit. Lights dim to give effect of late
night with everyone asleep. Spotlight on a
space. CUARTA dialing a phone. As she dials,
spotlight up on a second space, stage left,
POLICEMAN at desk seen from back)
POLICEMAN:
Police.
May I help you?

CUARTA:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
96
Narciso Carrillo, please.

POLICEMAN:
Maam, Ive told you many times, this is an official line.
CUARTA:
I want to talk to Narciso.
POLICEMAN:
I suggest you contact him at his fathers residence.
I know hes there.
CUARTA:
I know youre not telling me.
POLICEMAN:
Youre tying up an official line.
Maam, please.
CUARTA:
Wait!
Stop!
Please!
(He hangs up. CUARTA covers face. ATILANO

enters. His uniform, gaudy with brass and
leather. NARCISO enters, in matching miniature
uniform)
ATILANO:
Who was that?
POLICEMAN:
The woman again, sir.
ATILANO:
Shes not supposed to call here.
Yes, sir.
POLICEMAN:
Several times.
Ive told her.
ATILANO:
Did she ask to speak to me?
No, sir.
POLICEMAN:
She asked to speak to the boy.
ATILANO:
Are you quite sure of that?
Yes, sir.
POLICEMAN:
She asked twice for the boy.
But not for you.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
97
ATILANO:
(He is very upset. NARCISO smiles a secret
smile)
Call her back. Tell her I need Narcisos school tuition by
next Wednesday. She knows the amount.
Ah just curious, sir.
POLICEMAN:
Is she the boys mother?
ATILANO:
Mind your own business.

(Fade to black, both spaces. Lights up, new
space. CUARTA & PSYCHIC at poolside. PSYCHIC is
rubbing suntan lotion on CUARTAs back)
Some things
Some things
Some things
Cant stand
PSYCHIC:
aint actual,
aint right
aint factual,
the light.
(CUARTA shushes PSYCHIC. Enter AARON.

stands off, watching them)
He
AARON:
We werent always like this.
CUARTA:
We get the occasional young female summer intern. Theyre
all of a type. A certain thing they do with their eyebrows.
A certain walk. I could see him going after one of those. I
could see that. But my own sister? In my own home?
AARON:
We used to fuck like animals.
(PSYCHIC glares at AARON)
I. I know thats crude.
CUARTA:
The phrase hes searching for is with wild abandon.
What happened to us?
AARON:
CUARTA:
Commitments. They accumulate, take up space, compete for
our attention. To the point that, when I start thinking
about you, it disrupts my focus. I came to despise you.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
98
(Enter FLOR DE ORO. She stands next to AARON,

smiles up at him)
AARON:
If its any consolation, I came to despise you too.
(Fade to black. Lights up, new space. Interior
of shop. YOLANDA & ORQUDEA, wearing matching
red blazers. Big sign on wall: TWO SISTERS
HELP-U-SELL REAL ESTATE)
They hate each other.
going to buy her out.
YOLANDA:
Its hurting business.
Theyre
ORQUDEA:
I heard.
YOLANDA:
She and Aaron never tied the knot. That makes it all hers.
ORQUDEA:
Theres still George.
George is in Mexico.
YOLANDA:
ORQUDEA:
Shes married to him.

Yes, but hes in Mexico.
YOLANDA:
With Narciso.
(Lights up, separate space. Interior of cantina.

A BARGIRL. ATILANO enters with NARCISO dressed
in miniature police uniform. BARGIRL recognizes
ATILANO, rushes to him. He introduces her to
NARCISO. NARCISO looks very uncomfortable)
ORQUDEA:
With his nose, he could be on Mars and smell it. Police are
trained to smell money. Theyre filthy snakes.
YOLANDA:
Youve never stop blaming him.
ORQUDEA:
I blame them both. Bad seed, bad soil.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
99
(BARGIRL seats ATILANO & NARCISO. She does a

striptease. ATILANO hands currency to NARCISO,
indicates her g-string. He merrily urges NARCISO
to tuck it in her g-string. He does so)
Whatever.
YOLANDA:
Our sister is about to get a lot of money.
Shes not my sister.
ORQUDEA:
(Blackout, YOLANDA & ORQUDEA space. Blackout,

cantina space. Lights up, new space. AARON, FLOR
DE ORO, ACCOUNTANT)
FLOR DE ORO:
Are we ready?
Yes.
AARON:
Lets get to it then.
Shouldnt she be here?
FLOR DE ORO:
Does she know this is about her?
(Lights up, CUARTA in donut shop, coffee &

donuts. Sign on wall, ALIS DONUTS, ALL DONUTS,
ALL AFTERNOON, ALL HALF PRICE)
Yes.
I know.
CUARTA:
AARON:
She knows.
CUARTA:
When life puts a roadblock on your highway to happiness,
turn off onto a side street. Find a familiar place, a
place you associate with good thoughts and good memories.
Park there and take in the spirit of the place. And
proceed to regroup, refresh, reenergize, reinvigorate.
(Holds up donut)
We came here every day when we were putting our lives back
together. Wed drink coffee, munch on day-old donuts and
go back to his place and fuck our brains out.
AARON:
What were doing is, were buying out her interest.
FLOR DE ORO:
Just as well she isnt here. I couldnt face her.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
100
CUARTA:
A familiar place. Your bodys like an urn. There you are,
turning on a potters wheel, being reformed, reshaped,
letting the witchery of the place invade your being.
AARON:
A buyout is in everyones best interest.
FLOR DE ORO:
Itll free her up to move on to the next phase in her life.
(Lights up, new space. PSYCHIC shuffles cards)
PSYCHIC:
Presenting the beginiing of the next phase of Cuartas
life!
So. Howre things in the commitment department?
CUARTA:
I know that voice. Uh. Doing good. Real good.
A-Okay.
ACCOUNTANT:
Ive done the audit. The buyout amount is forty thousand.
AARON:
Why only forty thousand? She has a one-third interest.
She should get a lot more than that.
ACCOUNTANT:
Offsets against advances. She borrowed to the max.
AARON:
Thats true. She likes expensive things. But I had no idea.
FLOR DE ORO:
Come on, Aaron. Lets cut the check.
Lets get rid of her.
(Fade to black, AARON, FLOR DE ORO, ACCOUNTANT)

PSYCHIC:
Last time, you had commitments pulling you six ways from
Sunday. Good to hear you got your ducks in a row.
Yup.
CUARTA:
Everythings ducky-wucky. Quack.
PSYCHIC:
Then I guess its on to the next card.
CUARTA:
Quack.
Quack.
This time you draw.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
101
Okay.
You know me. Always ready.

(PSYCHIC shuffles, CUARTA reaches hand to deck)
Okay, I think I got one.
PSYCHIC:
Read it to me.
Hmmmm.
CUARTA:
I got two cards.
Thats odd.
Two cards?
PSYCHIC:
That shouldnt happen.
CUARTA:
They were stuck together. First is the four of diamonds.
Four of diamonds.
PSYCHIC:
CUARTA:
The second is the four of spades.
Four of diamonds.
PSYCHIC:
Four of spades.
CUARTA:
What does it mean?
(PSYCHIC snaps fingers. CUARTAs space starts
fading. CUARTA tries stopping fade to no avail)
Hey! No! Stop! Hey! Stop! I said stop!
(Fade to black on CUARTAs space)
PSYCHIC:
Oh the four of th diamonds, the four of th spades
Did you boo, did you hiss when you saw her betrayed
Did you groan and lament when she raised up the blade
At her window outside on the ledge?
Did her life then unravel in a grimly charade
Did you see her despair as her bills went unpaid
Do you think theres a lesson in moral degrade
In this postcard I send from the edge?
Not over till its over, is it over they say
And over itll be, when shes bought for and paid
On a bridge in Sonora where the next scene is playd.
On my soul do I make ye this pledge.
(Fade to black. Lights up, new space. A bridge,
sound of river below. ATILANO in elaborate
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
102
police uniform enters with NARCISO in miniature

police uniform. ATILANO has attache case)
ATILANO:
(To NARCISO)
You know about this bridge? No? They did prisoner
exchanges here. During the revolution. Its a quiet
place. A good place to do business.
NARCISO:
What if theres an earthquake? What if the bridge falls?
ATILANO:
Bridge collapse? Wont happen. Whats that in your pocket?
NARCISO:
Nothing.
ATILANO:
Its gotta be something.
(Taps offending shirt pocket)
Square away that pocket. Empty it.
NARCISO:
Cant I do it later?
ATILANO:
I said now! Now means now.
(NARCISO nervously unbuttons shirt pocket, takes
out small cross on chain, gives it to ATILANO)
The hell is this?
Something I found.
NARCISO:
ATILANO:
Whered you find it?

I.
I just found it.
CUARTA:
ATILANO:
(Slaps NARCISO. NARCISO yelps in pain.
object into water)
There!
Throws
(Enter CUARTA & two GUIDES with backpack from

opposite side. ATILANO sees them)
Im not done with you.
CUARTA:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
103
(Stops at far end of bridge)

Hello, Narciso.
ATILANO:
Hes not speaking to you.
Hes rubbing his jaw.
CUARTA:
ATILANO:
Lets get down to business. Lets get this over.
You did something.
CUARTA:
You hit him. Did he hit you, Narciso?
NARCISO:
Yes!
He hit me.
CUARTA:
Take a good look, Narciso. Take away the uniform, take away
the swagger stick, take away the gun, hes just a snake.
ATILANO:
No! Shes the snake! Hear her cold-blooded words,
Narciso. I should have kept you out of sight.
(PSYCHIC enters, in the garb of a Mexican
bandida. She stands at center of bridge)
All right, damn you! Lets get to it!
CUARTA:
Yes, the business!
The money.
ATILANO:
CUARTA:
The money and Narciso.

Stop!
PSYCHIC:
(They stop)
Listen, people. Lets not go into this confrontationally.
No need for enmity, no need for negativity.
(Walks up to ATILANO, shuffling cards)
Dont I know you? Didnt you once visit me in disguise?
Oh, look. Five of diamonds. Thats not good.
ATILANO:
How would you know?
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
104
PSYCHIC:
Its elementary. Five of diamonds. The self-doubt card.
The not-sure-of-yourself card.
ATILANO:
Youre a fake.
Fake?
PSYCHIC:
Youre calling me fake?
Its what you are.

Thats pretty funny.
I?
ATILANO:
PSYCHIC:
A poser crying fake.
ATILANO:
A poser?
PSYCHIC:
Poser. Pretender. I saw you at the roulette table posing
as a high roller. Pretending you knew all the ins and
outs. And what happened? Turns out you didnt know squat.
It was a sure thing.
ATILANO:
Tell her, girl.
CUARTA:
No, Georgie.
No!
We were this close.
ATILANO:
You and I.
CUARTA:
Stop it, Georgie!

It was a sure thing.
ATILANO:
It was real.
She knows.
PSYCHIC:
I hear ya. If you say it was real, it was real.
(Goes to CUARTA, shuffles deck)
Oh look! Look here! Three of hearts.
Hey.
CUARTA:
(Draw close to PSYCHIC. Whispers)
Three of hearts. Is that good? Thats good, isnt it?
Yes, dear.
PSYCHIC:
Three of hearts is good.
CUARTA:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

Im so glad youre here.
Hey.
Hey, over there!
105
I know I can count on you.

ATILANO:
CUARTA:
You and I. We have a past. We have a relationship.
ATILANO:
Whats the whispering about? Whats going on?
PSYCHIC:
Nothings going on.
(Drills CUARTA with hostile eyes)
The past stays in the past. No fear or favor.
CUARTA:
(Stage whisper)
You cant mean that! I wont accept it!
No fear.
No favor.
You love me.
ATILANO:
I like that.
PSYCHIC:
Three of hearts. The opportunity card. Okay. Things arent
hopeless. Things get better. People climb out of holes,
hose themselves off, pull themselves up. Oh look! Look! A
brass ring. Quick! Grab it and you get a free pass.
(CUARTA looks for ring. PSYCHIC to AUDIENCE)
Please stop laughing. It happens.
CUARTA:
It does happen!
You see?
It does!
PSYCHIC:
A testimonial from a once suicidal young lady.
CUARTA:
I see it! I see it! The brass ring! Its right there!
Oh! I missed it! But it was there. I saw it. We all saw it.
PSYCHIC:
Of course we did.
(Rolls eyes. Goes to ATILANO, shuffles, draws
card, frowns)
Six of clubs. Hmmmm.
ATILANO:
What now?
PSYCHIC:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
106
Youre not doing well. Six of clubs is the confusion card.

The you-got-it-wrong card. The we're-having-a-failure-tocomprehend card.
ATILANO:
I dont like how youre running this.
PSYCHIC:
You dont like it, leave.
ATILANO:
I got business here.
I cant.
PSYCHIC:
Business. Okay. Lets do business. How about I give you
a job? How about I let you shuffle and draw?
ATILANO:
Whats the angle?
PSYCHIC:
Just you and the cards. No middleman. Here.
(ATILANO takes deck, holds it gingerly)
Hey! Therere just cards. Just bits of paper with numbers.
No angle.
CUARTA:
Georgie!
Draw a card!
Better hurry.
All right!
PSYCHIC:
Shes champing at the bit.
ATILANO:
All right!
All right!
Dont drown me, Georgie!
CUARTA:
ATILANO:
Then dont talk stupid. Give me a minute. I got to shuffle.
(He shuffles and draws)
Four of clubs.
PSYCHIC:
Very impressive.
ATILANO:
So I did good?
Yes.
You did good.
PSYCHIC:
ATILANO:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

Well.
107
Looks like Lady Luck is coming my way.
PSYCHIC:
(Goes to CUARTA with card, hands it to her)
All right. Four of clubs for you. This ones about - Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
ATILANO:
What are you doing?
PSYCHIC:
Its her card.

But.
But I drew it.
ATILANO:
PSYCHIC:
We go in order. The first card was for you, the next was
hers, the third was yours again. And now, its her turn.
We go in order. Thats a rule. The four of spades. The
freedom card. The you-can-do-it card. The inner-power-ofthe-individual-standing-unchained card. Inner power.
Standing unchained. Now Cuarta, pay attention. I want you
to focus on a key life event where you unleashed your inner
power and stood unchained.
Um, okay.
Lets see.
Um.
CUARTA:
There was the time when Papa - -
ATILANO:
Why is it always about him? Why is it never about us?
CUARTA:
When I was very small and Papa was - She always
doing this
bit of his
told me a
ATILANO:
has this knack for killing the mood. Well be
or that and, out of the blue, shell cite some
wisdom to support whatevers on her mind. She
stitch in time saves nine was his.
CUARTA:
Papa always had little sayings. Waste not, want not,
Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
ATILANO:
He sold her to a relative. A cousin who wanted a kid. Did
you hear me? He sold her!
I know why he did it.
CUARTA:
I accept it.
PSYCHIC:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

Its okay, dear.
108
Now tell us your story.
CUARTA:
(Two GUIDES in stage whisper repeat I think I
can, I think I can as she tells story)
I bent my tricycle. Papa was fixing it and he had it apart
on the cement. Hed pulled the rubber grips off the
handlebars. The grips lay on the cement. I put one in my
mouth. Because thats what kids do. They put things in
their mouth. I tried to swallow it. Thats what kids do.
They swallow things. But it was too big for me. It stuck in
my throat.
(Think I can, think I can Faster tempo)
Suddenly, Papa knew what was wrong. He tried getting it
out. My mouth was tiny. His fingers were large. He only
succeeded in pushing the rubber grip deeper into my throat.
There was a hole in the grips tip, so I could breathe.
(Think I can, think I can Still faster tempo)
All the way to the hospital, he held my mouth open, saying,
Breathe, Cuarta, breathe. But it was so hard to breathe.
There was saliva building up in my throat, choking me.
Dont give up, Cuarta. Breathe in, breathe out!
(Thought I could, thought I could Fast tempo
ending at secret)
When we got to the hospital, I was all blue. Papa called
me Little Blue-face. My sisters called me stupid. But
Papa grinned and laughed. It was our secret.
That was beautiful.
PSYCHIC:
ATILANO:
Doesnt make up for the thousand times he crapped on her!
PSYCHIC:
It was beautiful. Whether it was real or from your fantasy.
CUARTA:
It was real.
ATILANO:
You see, Narciso? Shes not right in the head.
like this, she turns into someone else.
Hey. Hey! No whispering.
CUARTA:
All right.
ATILANO:
You go first.
CUARTA:
When shes
Lets get on with it.
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
109
You go.
ATILANO:
No, you go.
CUARTA:
No, you.
PSYCHIC:
Why this lack of trust? Why dont we place the items to be
exchanged here in the center of the bridge? That way,
theyll be in safe hands while the numbers are verified.
Why dont you butt out?
your game.
ATILANO:
I saw you two whispering. I see
CUARTA:
Theres no game.
ATILANO:
No game? So that means you and she are on the outs. That
alone argues for keeping her.
CUARTA:
But - -
ATILANO:
No buts.
She stays.
PSYCHIC:
Well! Now that thats settled. Lets start the
proceedings. Bring the items to the center of bridge.
(ATILANO & CUARTA wait for other to move first)
Trust, people. Its about trust. And if you dont trust
the person, trust the process.
(Long silence.
Then, finally)
ATILANO:
All right.
Yes.
(ATILANO nods to NARCISO, who begins slowly
walking toward PSYCHIC)
CUARTA:
Arent you going to say good bye to your son?
(NARCISO stops)
ATILANO:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

Oh.
Yeah.
110
Forgot.
(ATILANO clumsily hugs NARCISO, who without
emotion lets him. Then he releases him and
NARCISO continues walking to PSYCHIC)
CUARTA:
(Nods to GUIDE with backpack)
Okay.
Go.
(GUIDE with backpack walks to PSYCHIC. NARCISO &
GUIDE walk slowly toward each other, measuring
their steps. They reach PSYCHIC at same time)
PSYCHIC:
Give, please.
(GUIDE opens backpack, takes out package of
currency taped into a rough cube)
There should be forty thousand here, right? Right?
(Silence. To CUARTA & ATILANO)
Hello? Are you there?
CUARTA & ATILANO:
Yes.
(PSYCHIC takes odd measuring device and proceeds

to measure the package. She pulls five randomlyselected bills from middle and closely inspects
them. She hefts the package in her hands)
Yep.
PSYCHIC:
Theres forty thousand here.
ATILANO:
Dont you need to count?

PSYCHIC:
Forty thousand is two thousand twenty-dollar bills. Two
thousand twenty-dollar bills bundled into a cube has a
specific length, width, height and breadth. I measured it
with this. As a check against her substituting pieces of
plain paper, I took samples from various points in the
center. I was as random as random could be. Im convinced
this is the real thing. Theres forty thousand here.
(Long silence. PSYCHIC looks for a response)
Well, arent you going to say okay?
CUARTA:
Say okay, Georgie!
ATILANO:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

Okay!
Okay!
111
Okay!
PSYCHIC:
Were done. And right on schedule.
You can go, young man.
NARCISO:
Me?
You mean me?
Yes, I mean you.
PSYCHIC:
Go to your mother.
Youve been ransomed.
(GUIDE takes NARCISOs hand and pulls him toward

CUARTA. As he goes, he takes off his shirt and
throws it down in an act of defiance. The
closer he gets to CUARTA, the more his face
lights up)
ATILANO:
You always were weak, boy! Do you hear, weak! Like a girl.
Always on the verge of giving up. A sad little man. Go
ahead. She can have you. You can have her. You two can have
each other. Youre two of a kind. A fit. A match.
(CUARTA hugs NARCISO. CUARTA, GUIDES and NARCISO
quickly exit. Sound of motorcycle engines
starting up. Sound of motorcycles speeding
away. ATILANO to PSYCHIC)
What do you think of that? All the time and energy I
committed to him. First chance he gets, he insults me.
I hear you.
commitment.
Exactly!
PSYCHIC:
Theres no loyalty out there. No sense of
People dont know how to show gratitude.
ATILANO:
People are scum.
PSYCHIC:
Hey, cmon. Come and get your money.
Then we can go home.
(Sound of motorcycles in distance speeding away

getting fainter. ATILANO starts onto the bridge)
ATILANO:
(Squats down, packs money in case)
Its funny about her.
Funny?
PSYCHIC:
ATILANO:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
112
She pursued me. Its usually the other way around, isnt
it? One day, she barged in and took over my life. She
wouldnt give me a moments peace until I said, okay okay,
Ill marry you. But I should of checked.
PSYCHIC:
Checked?
ATILANO:
Whats the business term? Due diligence. Yeah, thats it.
I shouldda done a due diligence. Tell you true, if you
dont scope things out in advance, your life can become a
living hell. Yeah, next time Ill check first.
(Long silence. Then)
Id like another shot at the cards.
PSYCHIC:
Thought you said it was fake.
ATILANO:
Nevertheless.
PSYCHIC:
I take cards seriously. I use them to guide me through the
rocks and shoals of life. A lot of people ridicule me.
Doesnt bother me.
ATILANO:
I need to know if she and I will ever - You and she?
PSYCHIC:
She was just here. You could have asked.
I wont beg her.
ATILANO:
I wont prostrate myself.
PSYCHIC:
You know shes not fundamentally a nice person.
ATILANO:
I know.
PSYCHIC:
She sees relationships as a means to gain status.
ATILANO:
I know.
Shes a user.
PSYCHIC:
If you let her, shell use you and move on.
ATILANO:
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
113
I know.
You know a lot.
PSYCHIC:
Do you know she likes women?
ATILANO:
No.
PSYCHIC:
Seems I know something you dont.
Even so.
I.
ATILANO:
She prefers men to women, doesnt she?
I wouldnt know.
PSYCHIC:
ATILANO:
Oh I think you do.

PSYCHIC:
(PSYCHIC flushes with anger)
All right. Lets get on with it.
(Draws card from deck, drops it beside ATILANO)
There.
ATILANO:
Youre not going to read for me?
PSYCHIC:
Find someone you trust for that. Someone whos not a fake.
(PSYCHIC exits. ATILANO watches her leave, then
picks card up. Stares at it. Blackout. Rumbling
sounds. Sound of a large stone structure
collapsing. Silence. Lights up. PSYCHIC enters)
PSYCHIC:
in time resigns to night
oak in time resigns to dust
stag at length his race is done
all must end that was begun.
(Turns to leave, stops, turns to AUDIENCE)
It was the eight of clubs. The instability card. The
internal strife card. The foundations-are-crumbling card.
The funny thing is, you never know whether the meaning is
metaphorical.
(Turns again to leave, stops, to AUDIENCE)
Or not.
Day
The
The
And
THE FOURTH DAUGHTER
114
(Fade to black. Lights up. PAPAs house. A fine

clock on a stand. It's the only non-junky item
in the room. PAPA sits, breathing on dice and
casting them, mumbling to the empty chair
opposite him. PRIEST sits in chair next to PAPA,
drinking coffee. CUARTA, in work clothes
outside, passes by window. Noon whistle sounds.
CUARTA stamps her feet to shake dirt off her
shoes and enters. PRIEST smiles. PAPA glares)
PAPA:
Cant you shake the dust off somewhere else?!
(NARCISO enters from another room, neatly
dressed & groomed, schoolbooks in hand. He goes
to CUARTA, kisses her affectionately)
NARCISO:
Mama.
(Goes to PAPA, kisses him affectionately. PAPA

tries to push him away. NARCISO smiles, hugs
him)
Grandpa.
PAPA:
(NARCISO starts to exit. PAPA points at NARCISO)
Cant fool me. I see what you did. I see what they're up
to. They got that street kid to rob me.
(NARCISO exits. To PRIEST)
You see what he did? He stole my books.
(To CUARTA, pointing at the empty chair)
Orchdea, your mother and her lover are at it again. Get me
the phone so I can call the police. Well, go on! Get me the
phone!
(No one does)
Ahhh! To hell with it!
(He gestures Cuarta to come close. She does)
Your mother and her lover are after my clock. It is very
valuable. They plan to sell it and run off to Spain.
Ill save it, Papa.
CUARTA:
Ill move it to a secret place.
PAPA:
Oh Orchdea, my precious one. What would I do without you?
Yes, Papa.
CUARTA:
What would you do without me?
(She takes the clock and exits. Fade to black)
The End

The Fourth Daughter - A Play About A Girl From Peru Who Counts On Luck.... Both Kinds of Luck...

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The Fourth Daughter - A Play About A Girl From Peru Who Counts On Luck.... Both Kinds of Luck...

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Dale Andersen

27702 Crown Valley Pkwy

Hispanic, female, late 20s

Hispanic, female, late 30s

Hispanic, female, early 40s

Hispanic, female, late 30s

Hispanic, male, 60s

Hispanic, male, early 30s

White, male, early 30s

Hispanic, male, 30s

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

CUARTAS VOICE THROUGH DOOR:

(PSYCHIC rushes to door, opens it)

(CUARTA enters, holding one hand in the other)

Its okay, dear.

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

I said its okay.

(PSYCHIC takes CUARTA, holding her cut hand,

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

Why the laugh?

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

I love the sun.

Lets stop now.

(Enter FLOR DE ORO, ORQUDEA & YOLANDA)

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

(ORQUDEA, FLOR DE ORO & YOLANDA mime little

ORQUDEA, FLOR DE ORO & YOLANDA:

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

You wanna play?

(PSYCHIC draws close to CUARTA, bows)

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

(They separate. PSYCHIC bows, CUARTA curtsies)

The one you hold

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

Yes, youre right, my dear.

(YOLANDA, ORQUDEA, FLOR DE ORO enter)

Nows the time.

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

What would I do?

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

Your sisters are there.

Youre the oldest.

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

Thats all I have.

(CUARTA exits, PSYCHIC watches her. Fade to

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

(Lights up, new space. CUARTA on phone. Behind

enters her space, with

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

Hes from Mexico.

(ATILANO glances in PRIESTs direction, as if he

All I know is, youre

Two years ago.

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

Did you hear me?

Do I look like a George?

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

THE FOURTH DAUGHTER

Our dinners getting cold.