CARTER: That’s the one. Churchill Downs.

CECILIA: I’ve got nothing to wear.

CARTER: I’ll take care of that. Don’t worry about that.

CECILIA: But, I’ve got a job here—

CARTER: This is the chance of a lifetime, Cecilia! It’s like no other horse race in the world. Impressions are stamped on you for life. Branded. The Twin Spires. The icy eyes of Laffit Pincay. The hands of Eddie Arcaro. The rippling muscle of Seattle Slew. These are things that never leave you, Cecilia. Things beyond seduction. Beyond lust!

CECILIA: I don’t know, I’ve never—

CARTER: “My Old Kentucky Home”? They sing that, you know. They all sing that. The masses. Even the ones who don’t know the words. Even the ones from Illinois and Wisconsin. They all want to be part of it. They’re all dying to belong to something old and rooted in American earth. They’re swept up in the frenzy. Have you ever felt that, Cecilia? Have you ever felt like throwing yourself to the dogs?

CECILIA: I’ve dreamed about it.

CARTER: Yes. But the dream is nothing. Wait ’til you see it in the flesh and blood.

Pause.

CECILIA: What do you want me to do?

CARTER goes to cellular phone and dials SIMMS’ number, Lights come up dimly on simms again.

CARTER (as he dials): I want you to talk to this man. Tell him you’re coming. Tell him you’re bringing him something. He’ll know what it is.

CECILIA: What man?

CARTER: Tell him you’re working for me. My personal representative. He’ll understand. Here—Tell him.

CARTER hands her the phone, once he’s dialed the number. CECILIA takes it and stands there, waiting for SIMMS to answer but he doesn’t. CARTER crosses to VINNIE’s bed, takes another drink and lies down on his back. Phone keeps ringing. SIMMS stares at it and goes back to his work.

CARTER (lying on bed): You make a move like this, Cecilia. A radical move. Just one little move and everything shifts. Everything falls into place behind it. It carries its own momentum. It’s a frightening thing but it pays off in the end. You’ll see. It pays big dividends. It has a power all its own. Like a force of nature.

CECILIA stands there waiting for SIMMS to answer phone but he never does. Lights fade slowly to black on both sides as phone keeps ringing in SIMMS’ OFFICE.

Act Three

SCENE ONE

Day. Place-name card that reads—“LEXINGTON”. Split-stage right. Living room of CARTER’s Kentucky mansion, very simple set with the impression of wealth. A sofa, glass table and carpet. VINNIE is standing in the room with his box tucked under his arm, facing a young and very attractice nanny named KELLY. She is dressed in a dark skirt, white blouse, short black heels and her hair done up in a bun. Lights up.