Machinal: Episode 6: Intimate Summary & Analysis

In Mr. Roe’s dark apartment, the sound of a hand organ in the streets drifts through an open window. Helen and Mr. Roe lounge together and speak intimately. Helen’s voice is calm as she talks without strain about her childhood. When she asks what song the hand organ is playing, Mr. Roe says it’s called Cielito Lindo, or “Little Heaven,” which is “what lovers call each other in Spain.” Pleased, Helen asks him to sing the song, eventually joining in and laughing. After a while, she asks him if he likes other women as much as he likes her, and he assures her that none of them are “any sweeter” than her. Shortly thereafter, though, he says, “I’ll have to be moving on, kid—some day, you know.” When she asks when, he replies in Spanish, saying, “Quien sabe?” He explains that below the Rio Grande, this phrase means “Who knows?”

“I’ll never get—below the Rio Grande—I’ll never get out of here,” Helen says. “Quien sabe,” Roe replies, and Helen’s mood lifts. Mr. Roe then tells her that it’s easy to feel free below the Rio Grande. When a streetlight flickers to life outside, Helen realizes how late it is and starts collecting her things. As she does so, she notices a flower on the windowsill and asks Mr. Roe who gave it to him. Roe tells her he bought it for himself because it reminded him of San Francisco, where he was born and where it’s also possible to feel free. Helen says she’d like to go there someday with him, and before she leaves, they embrace. On her way out, she asks if she can take the flower, and he gives it to her. “Goodbye,” she says. “And—thank you.” The lights go off and the hand organ grows louder.