A Place of Our Own

Act 1

Marilyn: Ellen, I'd like your opinion

Ellen: About what?

Marilyn: Well, Richard and I feel that with a baby coming we need to have our own place to live.

Ellen: Oh.

Marilyn: Well, what do you think about Richard and me looking for a small house or an apartment at this point in our lives?

Ellen: We love having you here, and there is room, and...and when the baby comes, the baby can stay in your room for a while.

Marilyn: Richard feels we need to find a small house.

Ellen: I remember when I was pregnant with Richard. Philip and I were living with Grandma and Grandpa. Philip was a young doctor, and he kept talking about having a house of our own. It's natural.

Marilyn: What did you do?

Ellen: We looked at a lot of houses.

Marilyn: Did you find one?

Ellen: Oh, not at first. We couldn't afford it. Grandpa wanted to lend us the money to buy one, but Philip is too independent. He didn't want to borrow any money.

Marilyn: Sounds like Richard.

Ellen: They're all alike. Richard is a real Stewart. He's independent, and sometimes just stubborn.

Marilyn: When did you buy a house?

Ellen: After Richard was born. I was teaching music, and Philip was opening his first medical office.

Marilyn: Where was the house?

Ellen: Right here in Riverdale. Of course, it was a small house, but just right for us.

Marilyn: It's funny. History repeats itself. Now Richard and I are having a baby, and we probably won't be able to afford a house right away, either.

Ellen: Why don't you look at some houses, Marilyn?

Marilyn: Good idea.

Ellen: Look in the real-estate section of Sunday's Times. You'll learn a lot.

Marilyn: Maybe we should speak to a real-estate agent about a house.

Ellen: And a bank about a mortgage.

Marilyn: I'll talk to Richard about it. I think it's a good idea, Ellen. We can learn a lot by asking.

Ellen: And if I can be of any help, let me know. As a matter of fact, my friend Virginia Martinelli is a real-estate agent.

Marilyn: Good.

Ellen: You won't believe this, but she sold us our first house and this one.

Marilyn: Well, I'll tell Richard, and we'll go to see her. Do you think the skirt length is right, Ellen? Do you think it's too long?

Ellen: I think the skirt is just right. Are you planning to attach a train to it?

Marilyn: No. No train. Just the dress. But I am going to make a headpiece of lace.

Ellen: That dress is gorgeous.

Marilyn: Thanks, Ellen. And thanks for the advice about the house. I'll talk to Richard about it the minute he comes home.

Ellen: And remember, we love having you here. There's no need to rush.

Act 2

Virginia: I remember your parents' first house very well. It was on Spring Avenue, near the park.

Richard: I grew up in that house.

Virginia: Yes, and you were such a cute baby.

Marilyn: I've seen pictures of him. He had blond hair.

Virginia: I've been friendly with the Stewart family for a long time, so it's my pleasure to help you find a house now.

Richard: Well, we're not sure we can afford one.

Marilyn: But we'd like to find out about the possibilities.

Virginia: That's a good idea. I love your house on Linden Street. I sold your father that house seventeen years ago.

Marilyn: Really?

Richard: Yes, Mom was pregnant with Robbie then, and they needed the extra room.

Virginia: I hear you're expecting a baby, Mrs. Stewart.

Marilyn: Mmm-hmm. So we will be needing more room.

Virginia: Oh, so you don't need something immediately?

Richard: No. But in five or six months...

Marilyn: And time passes so quickly.

Virginia: Yes, it does. Well, when you called, you gave me enough information about your salaries and your savings. So I have a good idea about your financial situation. Let me show you some pictures of houses.

Marilyn: With two bedrooms?

Virginia: Yes, I think I can show you some. Of course, they won't be in Riverdale. The cost of housing's too high for you here.

Richard: I haven't thought about living anywhere else. We've always lived in this area.

Marilyn: Where should we look for a house, Mrs. Martinelli?

Virginia: Well, we have an office in Mount Kisco. It's a lovely area, and it's only about an hour's drive from here. Here. I have a book with photos of some homes in that area. Now, let's see. Here. This is a lovely two-bedroom house in your price range.

Marilyn: It's pretty, but I prefer a two-story home.

Richard: I do, too. I don't care for a ranch type.

Virginia: OK. Oh, this is a wonderful house. I know it well. I sold it to the present owners.

Richard: It looks wonderful.

Virginia: This is a two-bedroom, two-bath house. It has a full basement, and it is on a half-acre lot. You can probably afford this one.

Marilyn: I like this house.

Richard: So do I.

Virginia: And the price is right. Would you like to go see it?

Richard: Yes. We're planning to talk to someone at the bank next week. Perhaps we could see the house this weekend.

Virginia: If someone doesn't buy it before then. But let's keep looking. Just to get an idea of some other possibilities.

Richard: This is very helpful, Mrs. Martinelli.

Virginia: Here. This is a wonderful example of Spanish-style architecture.

Richard: Oh, I love the roof tiles on a Spanish-style house.

Marilyn: It looks like the houses in Hollywood.

Virginia: It's interesting. A house like this in Riverdale costs double the price. Oh my! Here's a real buy. It's a bargain. This house just came on the market.

Marilyn: It's quite lovely. Is it a two-bedroom house?

Virginia: No. It has three bedrooms and three baths. I know the house. It has a brand new kitchen. And a living room with a twelve-foot ceiling. And there's a two-car garage.

Richard: Then why don't we go look at this house, too?

Virginia: It's a good investment.

Richard: Thank you, Mrs. Martinelli.

Marilyn: Thanks so much.

Virginia: My pleasure. Give my best to your parents.

Virginia: Your father's a wonderful doctor, Richard. He took care of my daughter when she was a child. He's the best pediatrician in Westchester.

Richard: Thanks, Mrs. Martinelli, I'll give them your regards.

Marilyn: We really appreciate your advice.

Virginia: I do think you should go see the houses and talk to the bank. Here. Let me give you some information sheets about the houses. They're both very good buys.

Richard: Well, thanks so much for your help and your time, Mrs. Martinelli. We've got a lot to talk about.

Marilyn: Mmm-hmm. Thanks.

Act 3

Mr. Riley: How do you do?

Richard: Hello.

Mr. Riley: I'm Ralph Riley.

Richard: I'm Richard Stewart, and this is my wife, Marilyn.

Mr. Riley: Pleased to meet you.

Marilyn: Likewise, Mr. Riley.

Mr. Riley: Please, sit down. What can I do for you?

Richard: We'd like to discuss a mortgage.

Marilyn: For a house.

Mr. Riley: Fine. Are you buying a house or are you refinancing your present home?

Richard: We're planning to buy a house.

Marilyn: And we'd like to find out about a mortgage.

Richard: We are customers of the bank. As a matter of fact, my whole family banks here.

Mr. Riley: I have some questions to ask. Do you own your house or do you rent?

Richard: Neither. We live with my parents, Dr. and Mrs. Philip Stewart.

Mr. Riley: And how old are you?

Marilyn: I'm twenty-nine.

Richard: I'm thirty.

Mr. Riley: And, Mr. Stewart, what is your occupation?

Richard: I'm a freelance photographer.

Mr. Riley: And, Mrs. Stewart, are you working?

Marilyn: Yes. I'm a designer, and I work in a boutique.

Mr. Riley: Did you bring any savings or salary information? Last year's tax forms?

Richard: Yes. Here they are.

Mr. Riley: OK. What...what kind of house did you have in mind?

Richard: We're talking about buying a two-bedroom house in Mount Kisco. Here are the financial details on the house.

Mr. Riley: Thank you. Are you prepared to make a ten-percent down payment?

Richard: Yes, we are.

Mr. Riley: Payments over thirty years?

Richard: Yes.

Marilyn: Do you think we can get a loan?

Mr. Riley: Well, it depends. Do you own any other property? Any stocks or bonds?

Richard: No.

Mr. Riley: I see. Then you don't have any collateral. Perhaps you could get a guarantor—someone to sign for the loan for you.

Richard: Why is that necessary?

Mr. Riley: Since you don't have enough income, and you don't already own any property, the bank needs to be sure you can pay the mortgage every month. A guarantor is responsible for the loan if you can't make the payments.

Richard: I see. Well, the idea of buying a house is exciting.

Marilyn: Thank you, Mr. Riley. We'll read this over carefully.

Mr. Riley: Thank you.

Richard: Good-bye. Thanks.

Mr. Riley: Good-bye. And hope to see you soon.

Richard: I hope so, too.

Mr. Riley: Take care.

Marilyn: Good-bye.

Richard: It all sounded so easy until they mentioned needing collateral or a guarantor.

Marilyn: We have no collateral.

Richard: And I don't think it's a good idea to ask Dad to sign as a guarantor. I don't feel right about it.

Marilyn: I understand your feelings about it, Richard.

Ellen: Now, tell me, what's the problem?

Marilyn: We can get a loan from the bank if we can put up some collateral.

Richard: And we don't own anything to use as collateral.

Marilyn: Or someone can sign with us as a guarantor.

Ellen: Why don't you speak to Dad?

Richard: No. If we buy a house, I want to be able to handle it alone.

Ellen: Everybody needs help sometimes, Richard.

Marilyn: I understand Richard's feelings about it, Ellen.

Richard: In two or three months, I'll have an advance on my book and be able to put more money down.

Marilyn: What about the house in Mount Kisco? Somebody else'll buy it by then.

Richard: Then there'll be other houses, Marilyn.

Ellen: Richard has a point. You're just beginning to look.

Marilyn: We're in no great rush. It's true.

Richard: This has been a great learning experience for us, Marilyn. Talking to the real-estate agent. Looking at the houses. Talking to the loan officer at the bank.

Marilyn: It has been a learning experience. That's true.

Ellen: I think you're doing the right thing. Taking your time. Looking around. Especially with a purchase of this kind. You're talking about a lot of money.

Marilyn: We'll call Mrs. Martinelli and tell her to keep looking for us.

Richard: And I'll call Mr. Riley at the bank and tell him we'll see him in a couple of months.

Ellen: And if you ever need Dad or me to help you...

Marilyn: We know.

Ellen: You know we'll be there for you.

Richard: It's a Stewart tradition. We're a family.