Sins of the Mother

A Play for Five Women

Above image from the original production The Shipley School, Bryn Mawr, PA 1996

Theater Words offers royalty free plays and scenes, plays for women, plays for Black actors, African American plays, plays with gay themes, ten minutes plays, scenes, plays for children, plays for small theater groups, created by the Performing Arts Department of The Shipley School.

Sins of the Mother

The Sins of the Mother

A One Act Play for Five Women.

By

Tony Devaney Morinelli

This piece examines alcoholism and the barriers it creates in an Irish American family.
Two maiden daughters are trapped at home with their alcoholic mother where Irish born bitterness and resentment replace love and understanding. Inheritors of their grandmothers sin the two daughters seek their redemption.

Contact:

Tony Devaney Morinelli
tmorinelli@verizon.net
tmorinelli@shipleyschool.org

610 - 348 - 4669
610 - 642 - 3782

The Sins of the Mother Cast

Marie (the mother)

Ellen (the elder daughter)

Rose (the younger daughter)

Aunt Theresa (Marie’s sister)

Grandmother (a vision)

THE SET: A large worn armchair center stage. The chair has a pillow and a coverlet. In front of the chair, a small coffee table. To one side a small couch to the other a small chair. A sideboard with side cabinets is to the left. Near it a table. To the right is a dark area with a chair where the GRANDMOTHER remains throughout.

IMPORTANT STAGING NOTE: All soliloquies are delivered out to the audience.)

NOTE ON THE TEXT: The language attempts to reflect a lower working class Philadelphia accent. All words that should end in "ing" are written "in."

The pronoun "you" has two forms. When the word is not stressed it is pronounced "Ya" or "Yeh". When it is emphasized it is "You."

"I am" is often pronounced "Ahm."

There are no misspellings in the text. What may appear to be errors are attempts to imitate local speech.

Phrasing plays an important role in approximating local speech. Statements are short and often repetitive.

There is a certain rhythm and cadence to their way of speaking.

_____________________________________________________________________

The Play

PHILADELPHIA

Late 1950's

(Ellen is about the room puffing pillows, fixing things. On the sideboard are a birthday cake and a present. Ellen finishes the wrapping on a package as she looks in the side board drawer for a box of candles she calls:)

ELLEN: (to herself) Where are those candles?

(to Rose) Rose!

Rose!

(to herself) I know I put them in here somewhere.

(again, to Rose.) Yo,

Rose!

ROSE: (In the hall at the door.) Just a minute I can’t hear you.

ELLEN: What?

ROSE: I can’t hear you.

            I’m getting the mail.

ELLEN: Rose!

(To herself) Where did they get to?

(Pause)

Rose!

Rose!

I know I put them in here.

Rose,

Rose?

(Ellen unlocks one of the side doors of the cabinet.

She moves out some liquor bottles, puts them on top of the sideboard.)

I bet she moved them.

(She rummages in the cabinet then returns the bottles and relocks the cabinet.)

ROSE: I said I can’t hear you.

            (Coming in from the hall.)

            Why must you always shout from the other room?

You’re just like her.

Always shouting.

ELLEN: I wasn’t shouting and I’m not like her.

            (Composing herself.)

            I didn’t know where you were.

            Have you seen the box of candles

            The box of candles I put in here?

ROSE: Did you look under the table cloths?

            I was getting the mail.

ELLEN: The mail ...

            Did anything come for me?

            (She pokes her fingers into the mail that Rose carries.)

ROSE: (thumbing through.)

            Water bill,

            junk,

            here ...

            this is yours.

            (She holds the letter with curiosity.)

            "Westchester Teachers College?"

            What's this?

ELLEN: Nothing.

            (She grabs the letter)

            It’s for me.

ROSE: What’s in the letter?

ELLEN: It doesn’t concern you.

            (Beat)

Where are those candles?

ROSE: (repeating with emphasis)

            Did you look under the table cloths?

ELLEN: They’re not in here.

            (Flustered, annoyed.)

            Are you sure you didn’t move them?

            (As she rummages through the cabinet she leaves the letter on the sideboard.)

ROSE: (Rose looks in the drawer, lifts the table cloths and pulls out the box of candles.)

            You are just like her.

            (beat)

            Whadda ya call these?

            Things don’t go your way and you get all hyper.

ELLEN: I’m not hyper.

            You just can’t seem to keep anything in order around here.

ROSE: They were right where they always are.

ELLEN: But this drawer is such a mess

            you can’t find anything.

ROSE: Don’t look at me.

            I didn’t leave it that way.

            You know who’s always rummaging through the cabinets.

            Looking for her key.

            Told you not to hide the key.

            She'd wreck the whole room to find it.

            More trouble than it’s worth.

ELLEN: Is that really necessary?

ROSE: Well, it’s true.

            When she gets on a binge

            she can ransack the whole room.

ELLEN: Rose, ..

            That’s enough.

            (Ellen breaths her annoyance and redirects the subject.)

            Do you want to call her in now?

ROSE: I suppose.

            I really don’t see the purpose.

ELLEN: Rose,

            for once

            just for once,

            can’t you just do something without a comment?

ROSE: Why do you keep it in the house anyway?

ELLEN: For company.

ROSE: Company?

            What company?

ELLEN: You never know.

            Suppose...

ROSE: Suppose what?

            You expecting someone?

            Maybe the guy you had here last month?

            Still expecting him?

ELLEN: That’s not necessary.

ROSE: Neither is having ...

ELLEN: Why must you make an argument of everything?

ROSE: I’m not arguing,

            I’m just saying.

ELLEN: Well, don’t say.

            And besides,

            it helps sometimes to keep her home.

ROSE: Only in a snowstorm.

            And the boys down Kelly’s wouldn’t know what to do without her.

ELLEN: Can you have a little respect, please.

            And instead of spending your time with useless comments you could be helping me get things together.

ROSE: I don’t know why you bother.

            You know she’s going to make a fuss.

ELLEN: And shed make a worse fuss if we don’t.

ROSE: Some fusses are worse than others.

            (beat)

            You didn’t answer my question.

            (She picks up the letter from the sideboard.)

            What’s in this letter?

ELLEN: It’s addressed to me.

            Not you.

            (She grabs the letter back.)

ROSE: OK,

            take it.

            I was just curious.

ELLEN: You don’t have to know everything.

ROSE: I was just asking a simple question.

ELLEN: And I’m giving you a simple answer.

ROSE: Touchy aren’t we.

            Must be important.

ELLEN: Can we just drop this please?

            (Beat)

            Is she awake?

ROSE: Dunno. (She slurs : "I don’t know.")

ELLEN: What time did she come back?

ROSE: She was home just before you came in.

            Just before six.

            (Points to the letter in Ellen’s hand.)

            And I’m just curious, that’s all.

ELLEN: Will you stop with the letter?

            Was she feeling well when she came in?

ROSE: Feeling well?

ELLEN: Was she?

ROSE: Was she what?

ELLEN: Feeling well.

ROSE: Well enough to find her way home.

            Better than last Thursday.

ELLEN: No need to bring that up again.

ROSE: It’s a long walk from Kelly’s.

ELLEN: Why must you be so sarcastic?

ROSE: It’s not sarcasm.

            It’s an honest appraisal.

ELLEN: There you go again.

ROSE: Come off it, El.

ELLEN: See if she’s awake yet.

ROSE: (to herself) Little Miss Perfect.

            Livin in her Happy Town dreams.

            (Rose picks up a little vase with a plastic flower and moves it to the small table in front of the chair.)

(Goes to the bedroom door and listens.)

I hear moving around in there.

She’s awake.

(Pause)

ELLEN: Should we wait until Aunt Theresa is here?

            (Ellen fusses about the table settings.)

            I wanted to wait for her.

ROSE: Why?

            All she’ll do is talk about aches and pains and tell mom how bad she looks.

ELLEN: She’s still her sister.

ROSE: Who keeps telling her that she looks like death?

ELLEN: That’s just her way.

ROSE: She’s annoying.

            Always pushin Ma around.

            Always one uppin her.

ELLEN: It’s just her way.

ROSE: Just her way?

ELLEN: Just the way some people are.

ROSE: Ya know, you got a lot of her in you too.

ELLEN: Aunt T'reesa

ROSE: Who'm I talkin about?

ELLEN: I do not.

ROSE: Yeh, you do.

ELLEN: I’m not like her at all.

ROSE: She’ll come trippin in here with her little hat,

            and little white gloves

            and little purse

            like she’s miss society.

            Who she think she’s kidding?

ELLEN: What are you talking about?

            I don’t wear gloves.

ROSE: That’s not the point.

            You’re always trying to be somethin your not.

            Always puttin on airs.

ELLEN: (Putting candles on the cake.)

            There’s a difference between putting on airs and just trying to do things nicely.

ROSE: Sure.

            Whatever.

ELLEN: Trying to do things nicely makes what you already have better.

            Putting on airs is pretending to be something you’re not.

ROSE: Have you ever looked at what’s outside that front door?

            Do you know where we live?

ELLEN: What goes on outside has nothing to do with what goes on inside.

ROSE: Yeh, until you try to step outside

            and you trip over a drunk

            a drunk passed out on the front step.

ELLEN: Why do you have to be so sarcastic?

ROSE: I just try to make sense.

            That’s all.

ELLEN: Sense?

            If everything we did made sense..

ROSE: You don’t have to explain to me.

            I’ve been your sister too long not to know.

            So what’s in the letter?

ELLEN: I told you more than once.

            It’s for me.

            (Trying to change the subject.)

            Aunt Theresa’s late.

            She should have been here a half hour ago.

            (Ellen starts looking through the drawers again.)

            Now where are the matches?

ROSE: She’s always late.

            No sense in waiting.

ELLEN: We should wait for Aunt Theresa.

            (Continuing to rummage through the drawers.)

            Where did those matches get to?

ROSE: They should be right there with the candles.

            (Shouting over her shoulder towards the bedroom as she walks toward the sideboard.)

Mom,

Mom.

Come on in here a minute.

ELLEN: You tell me I yell.

            Listen to you.

            Now who’s yelling?

            You see.

            You’re not so different either.

            (Beat)

            And I said, wait for Aunt Theresa.

            (At the sideboard.)

            They’re not here.

ROSE: I’m not yellin.

            She’s half deaf.

            (Rose goes to the sideboard.)

            Did you look in the drawer?

ELLEN: And you’re not.

ROSE: What?

ELLEN: Deaf.

ROSE: Sometimes I wish I were.

            It may be a lot easier.

            (Rose stops searching for the candles in the sideboard.

All lights dim. Rose is lit in a single beam. This is a private thought.)

A lot easier to be deaf.

Deaf to everything in this house

Deaf as the walls.

Hard like the walls.

Dark like the closets.

The closets.

A little girl behind the coats

The coats and the dresses

smelling of camphor and smoke and drink.

Curled into my knees tight under my chin;

buried;

my hands between my legs.

Hiding from the shouts,

hiding from the fights,

hiding from the men,

from the slaps,

hearing her scream,

hearing her cry.

Afraid to be found.

Afraid of the light when she opened the door.

Afraid of her kisses,

of his kisses

And who he would be.

Afraid

Of the hands

Of the fingers

The unknown face

The sour smell from dragging lips.

The gin smelly air

fogged with meaningless words

words mumbled

and twisted

and slurred.

(beat)

I am deaf.

I’ve had to be deaf.

Deaf from childhood,

deaf from infancy,

deaf from my birth.

Alone in closets of camphor

and wool

and smoke

and gin.

Waiting in the dark.

Waiting for what?

For the screams to stop?

For the beatings to stop?

Waiting for the silence where I could fall into sleep

among the boxes

and shoes

and tossed off stockings.

(beat)

Easier to be deaf.

(The Lights return to normal full stage)

ROSE: (Rose finds the matches beneath the table cloths in the drawer)

Here's your matches.

Mom!

Mom!

You awake in there?

Mom?

Mom?

MARIE: (Emerging from her room in night gown and robe. She is disheveled from sleep.)

            What’s all the yellin?

            Stop all the yellin.

ELLEN: I told you not to yell.

MARIE: I’m not deaf yet.

ROSE: Cut me a break, will ya El?

            (Rose goes over to her mother.)

ROSE: Need a hand?

MARIE: Think I’m a cripple too?

ELLEN: (going up behind Marie and covering her eyes)

            Can’t look.

            Can’t look yet.

MARIE: What’s all this nonsense?

            (She breaks away and moves toward the sideboard.)

ELLEN: Not nonsense.

            It’s your birthday.

MARIE: (Marie moves toward the sideboard.

            She fingers the cabinet with the key.)

Who locked this?

You lock this?

MARIE: Birthday’s is for kids and I ain’t no kid no more.

ELLEN: Oh, Mom, everybody’s still a kid on their birthday.



(She hands Marie the present)

MARIE: What’s this?

ROSE: You’re not gonna wait for Aunt Tree?

ELLEN: Mom can open this while were waiting.

ELLEN: This is for you.

            It’s from both of us.

Go ahead, open it.

Open it.

MARIE: Now don’t go rushin me.

ELLEN: We’re not rushing.

            Take your time.

MARIE: (takes the package and turns it about)

Now, what do you expect me to do with this?

ELLEN: Open it mom.

            You don’t even know what it is.

ROSE: (Aside to ELLEN.) What did you buy her?

ELLEN: You’ll see.

ROSE : (Cynically and with disbelief) Is that a book?

ELLEN: Be quiet.

ROSE: I can tell by the shape.

            You bought her a book.

            (Beat, with a huff.)

            Ellen!

ELLEN:   (To MARIE:) Open the card first.

            Open the card.

MARIE: ( puts the still unopened package on her lap and pulls the card from the ribbon.

            She tries to open the envelope.)

My fingers don’t work so good.

ROSE: Let me, Ma.

            (Rose opens the envelope, looks at the card.

            The card is hand made.

            Rose holds the card up to ELLEN, gives her a look of disbelief then hands the card to her mother.)

ELLEN: You like it?

MARIE: What you call this?

            (Examining a home-made card)

            What’s this?

            Paint?

            Crayon?

ELLEN: I made for you mom.

            I made it myself.

ROSE: (to ELLEN) Still the kid in school, Ellen?

MARIE: Looks last minute to me.

            You forgot, I bet, and made the last minute.

ELLEN: No, Mom.

            I didn’t forget.

MARIE: Looks like somethin you slapped together at the last minute.

ELLEN: It wasn’t last minute, Ma.

            I made it last week.

            I had it all ready for you.

ROSE: (To ELLEN.) Why do you bother?

MARIE: If you didn’t forget,

            why’d you make up this thing?

ELLEN: Because I wanted to make it.

ROSE: (to ELLEN) When are you ever going to grow up?

ELLEN:(to ROSE) She really appreciates it.

            She just has to make some noise.

ROSE: Still in your day dreams, Ellen.

MARIE: You couldn’t even take the time to buy your mother a card?

            What would it cost?

            A few pennies?

ELLEN: It’s not a question of money or forgetting.

MARIE: A few pennies for a lousy card….

ROSE: (To ELLEN) You never cease to amaze me.

            This isn’t the Saturday Evening Post, Ellen.

            This isn’t a Norman Rockwell cover page.

ELLEN: Not everything has to be ugly.

MARIE: What’s all this scribble stuff?

ROSE: You know what I think?

            I think you set yourself up for these things.

ELLEN: (to MARIE) Flowers, Mom.

            (To ROSE) Im just trying..

ROSE: Trying what?

            We go through this every holiday.

            Christmas,

            Easter,

            birthdays.

(The door bell rings or there is a knock)

ELLEN:(TO MARIE) I’m just trying to make things a little nicer, that's all.

            (To ROSE) A little nicer.

            They’re flowers, Mom.

ROSE: But she doesn’t want a little nicer.

            Can’t you get that through your head?

(The door bell rings (or there is a knock) again..

This time with impatience)

ELLEN: (ruffled) Can’t you answer the door?

ROSE: Yeh,

            Here comes the other half.

(Rose opens the door.

Aunt Theresa enters.

She is plain.

She wears a hat as would a lady, also gloves.

She carries her handbag in front of her and keeps it on her lap.)

AUNT THERESA: (To ROSE with a kiss on the cheek. )

            What takes you so long to answer the door.

            What?

            You think I’m the insurance man?

            Or them people wanna sell the bible?

ROSE: Sorry, Aunt Theresa,

            We were right in the middle ……

THERESA: (cutting her off.)

            Hi, hon.

            I couldn't get your uncle off the couch to drive me over.

            (To ELLEN with a quick wave.)

            Hi, El. Sos I took the bus.

ELLEN: That's OK Aunt Theresa.

            Were glad you could make it.

            Uncle Jack not coming then?

AUNT THERESA: His leg's botherin him, hon.

ROSE: His leg?

AUNT THERESA: Yeh,

            ya know, hon,

            the phlebitis,

            He can’ hardly get from the couch to the kitchen.

            So, I jus' tol' him,

            Jack hon,

            you jus' lay there with the game

            Lay with the game

            an' I’ll get ya yer beer.

            I just tol' 'im to stay where 'e was.

            I ken take the bus, I said.

ELLEN: How are you feeling?

AUNT THERESA: What can you expect?

ROSE: The usual, I suppose.

AUNT THERESA: What’s that hon?

ELLEN: (covering ROSE)

            Still having trouble sleeping?

AUNT THERESA: You know, I seen that doctor twiced this week.

            I even called him on na phone.

            Them pills he gave me don’t work for nothin.

            And you know what they charge you.

            They charge you fi’ty cents a piece for them things.

            Fi’ty cents a piece

            and I can’t get a decent night sleep.

            (She meanders over to her sister and gives her a poke)

            How you doin Marie?

            (To the girls.) Two a clock in the mornin Ahm layin there starin at the ceilin.

            (to Marie) You don’t look so good.

MARIE: I don’t sleep neither.

ELLEN: Let me take your coat Aunt Tree.

THERESA: (Ignores Ellens offer.)

            An my bladder keeps me goin too.

            Ya know what I mean.

            Yous are young.

            Ya get older ya get a weak bladder.

MARIE: I get so tired I can’t sleep.

THERESA: (patting MARIE on the hand.) We’re all gonna sleep long enough pretty soon.

ROSE: You’ve been asleep all afternoon.

THERESA: You should let her be, Rose.

            Your mother’s not well.

            She needs to rest.

ROSE: She doesn’t do so bad.

THERESA: You know,

            she’s always been a high strung kinda person.

            You know.

            High strung.

            Things bother her.

            She gets upset.

            Not like me.

            Nothin bothers me.

ELLEN: Aunt Tree, let me take your coat.

THERESA: I’ll jus' keep my coat hon.

            It’s cold in here.

            It gets my bladder.

            The cold does that.

            Ain’t that right Marie?

            Nothin bothers me.

MARIE: You were the baby.

            You had it easy.

THERESA: I had it easy?

            Who you kiddin easy?

            I went to work over at the plant when I was fourteen.

            Fourteen I was.

            That’s where I met your uncle Jack,

            he was a stoker.

            Shovlin in that coal.

Shoulda seen him

Face all black

All black with that coal.

(To the girls)

Ya know I never even finished high-school.

Went to work in that plant every day.

All them people who went out a work when they shut it down.

But you two are too young ta remember.

But your mother remembers.

Don’t ya Marie?

MARIE: Yeh, I remember, Tree.

THERESA: Then the next year the fire took the whole place.

            Nothin left.

            Every fire truck in the city.

            You could see smoke from everywhere.

            That’s when we lived over on Second.

            Then they fixed up the place

            and all them rich people moved in.

            Fourteen when I went to work.

            Fourteen

            I knew just how to handle myself.

            How to shake it off.

            Don’t let ‘em get to me.

            Push me aroun.

            You was always too high strung, Marie.

            Too high strung.

ELLEN: (trying to change the subject).

            Show Aunt Tree what we got you for your birthday, Ma.

THERESA: What the girls give you for your birthday, Marie?

Ya know what your uncle give me for my birthday?

A night gown.

A flannel night gown.

Real nice.

He gay ("gave") me a night gown, Marie.

A night gown.

Nice flannel.

Real warm.

Ya know.

But it didn’t fit

Too small

Thinks Ahm still eighteen

so it had to go back.

Who wants to be eighteen no more?

I was smaller than you then.

Wouldn’t ya think that after forty five years he’d know?.

But men don't know.

What can ya do?

ELLEN: Show Aunt Tree, Ma.

THERESA: Geh head (go ahead),

            Show me,

            Show me, Marie.

MARIE: Look what they give me for my birthday, Tree. (She lifts the package)

THERESA:(continuing on her story.) Forty five years an’ he don’t even know my size.

            ( She looks at the present.)

            Yeh, that’s nice.

            Nice paper.

            Real pretty.

            Dont throw it out.

            Save it.

            Can come in handy.

            (beat)

            What is it?

MARIE: I don’t know.

            I gotta open it yet.

THERESA: Got a nice ribbon.

MARIE: And look.

            Look.

            They call this a card.

THERESA: You gonna save the ribbon, Marie?

            Pretty color.

(MARIE opens the gift)

THERESA: Save the ribbon.

            (She snatches up the ribbon.)

            Use it Christmas.

            (She puts the ribbon in her purse)

            I don’t throw nothin out.

THERESA: What’s that Marie?

MARIE: Some kin' a book.

THERESA: Yeh, a book, eh?

            (Pause)

            'At's nice.

ELLEN: It's a book of rose gardens, Mom.

            Pictures of all the most famous rose gardens in the world.

MARIE: Yeh, she gives me a book, Tree.

            Rose book.

            (beat)

            Least you gotta night gown.

ELLEN: It’s a coffee table book mom.

            You leave it out so you can look at it when you feel like it.

            See you sit it right here.

MARIE: (Referring to ELLEN.)

            Where’d I get this one?

THERESA: Lady I used to clean for

            She used ta have books

            all kinds a' books

            books on shelves

            books on cabinets

            books layin on the end tables.

            So much trouble to move every time you dust.

ELLEN: You can open it to a different page every day.

            And look.

            (She flips through.)

            Here’s a picture of a garden in Ireland

            Donegal

            Donegal, where you said your mother came from.

            Look.

            Isn’t that just beautiful?

THERESA: (Quoting with a singing lilt.)

            "Me mother she came from Donegal,

            where they et their potatoes (pronounced " pah-tay-tahs")

            skin an' all."

MARIE: Fancy books on coffee tables.

            One o' them uppity half cuts ma used to work for.

            A dust collector.

            Just another thing ta clean.

            Another thing ta clean.

(The lights dim and we see GRANDMOTHER .)

GRANDMOTHER: Remember why y'er here girl.

            The missus pays you ta clean and nothin else.

            Y'er gonna work up the third floor.

            Make the beds.

            Bring me down the lundry (laundry)

            and use this rag to wet mop the floors ..

            Wrench it good. (wrench = ring out, twist)

            Don't be leavin no spots.

            An' while y'er up there

            don’t be touchin nothin.

            Specially nothin in the girl's room.

            She don’t want you foolin with her books and things.

            Keep y'er han's to yerself

            and your mouth shut.

            Y'er gettin more for a day’s work

            than I did when I first come here.

MARIE: I'll work hard, mamma.

            I will.

            I won't touch anything.

            I promise.

            (Beat)

Mamma?

GRANDMOTHER: What?

MARIE: If I work hard?

            If I work hard,

            can I go back to school?

GRANDMOTHER:

Back ta school.

Back ta school?

There ya go again.

Always puttin it on.

Yeh can read can’t yeh?

Yeh kin write yer name.

What else ya need?

'fraid ta do a bit a work

Doin' works the problem.

Too good ta stoop

Too good ta stoop an' clean.

Think yer better than the rest of us,

Think yer better, don't ya.

Well, let me tell ya.

Count yer blessins for what yeh got

Cause it's always worse someplace else.

Always worse.

I kin tell yeh

I kin tell yeh that.

(The lights return.)

ELLEN: You don’t have to worry about cleaning.

            I got the book for you to enjoy.

            Just look how pretty all the pictures are.

MARIE: Another dust collector.

ROSE: Like she’s ever kept house. (Rose moves to the sideboard, Ellen follows)

THERESA: Ya know, Marie.

            Ya just can’t keep stuff around.

            Ya gotta get rid a' it

or it just sits

            sits around collectin dust.

            I don't keep nothin 'round no more.

            Get rid of it all.

(The following exchanges run simultaneously)

______________________________________

MARIE: (to Theresa) Look at this, Tree.

ELLEN: At least I tried. What did you get her?

THERESA: Yeh, nice Marie.. What is it, hon?

ROSE: Nothing. What should I buy her?

MARIE: She made 'is here card. Couldn't buy one.

THERESA: (to MARIE) Jack always buys me a card. (To the girls) Your uncle Jack always buys me a card. I don't

ELLEN: You didn't have to buy anything.

                                                            care what you say. Jack always remembers. He always buys me a card.

ROSE: Buy her a bottle , ...that's what she wants.

____________________________________

THERESA: What ken ya do, Marie?

            (beat)

            What are yous two doin' over there?

            Get your aunt Treesa some coffee.

            I thought you were going to have a cake.

MARIE: Get your aunt some coffee.

ELLEN: Rose,

            please.

            Let's not argue.

            It's Mom’s birthday

            and I want her to be in a good mood.

(Ellen lights the candles and brings the cake to the coffee table)

(lights return to all four)

(ROSE, ELLEN, AUNT THERESA all sing Happy Birthday).

ELLEN: Blow out the candles, Mom.

            Blow ‘em out.

(Marie blows out the candles.)

ROSE: She’ll set the place on fire.

ELLEN: Stop it, Rose.

(The following must move very rapidly. Everyone talks and no one listens. The lines should almost overlap.)

THERESA: (to Marie)

            Ya got a cake, Marie.

            (As she fingers the icing)

            All that sweet stuff ain't good for ya.

ELLEN: A piece won't hurt Aunt Tree.

            (Ellen cuts the cake.)

THERESA: Ya know, Marie, I was tellin' these kids

            they don't know how lucky they got it.

            They don’t know.

They got everything when they got their health.

Where'd you buy the cake?

ELLEN: I didn't buy it, Aunt Theresa, I made it.

THERESA: I like 'em cakes you get from the bread man.

            Ya know,

            they got that little pink carnation on 'em

            Little pink carnation made outta some kinna paper.

ROSE: That's for Mothers Day Aunt Tree.

THERESA: They make good cake.

            Not dry.

            I used to save that carnation.

            Wear it on my coat to church.

ROSE: And we haven't had a bread man for years.

THERESA: Remember that, Marie?

MARIE: Why you waste all them eggs and make all that mess in the kitchen?

THERESA: You think this is a little dry hon?

ELLEN. It wasn't a waste.

THERESA: Seems a little dry.

ELLEN: And the kitchen's all cleaned up.

            I made it last night after you went to bed.

THERESA: I need a little coffee to break up the dry.

            I don't wanna eat too much.

.

ROSE: You look like you're doin all right, Aunt Tree.

THERESA: (To ELLEN)

            Get me some coffee,

            will ya hon?

            (To ROSE) I'll just eat half.

MARIE: (To ELLEN) Get your aunt some coffee.

THERESA: I don't bake no more for Jack.

                    He don't need it.

                    All that sugar.

                    Ya know.

                     All that sugar

                     and the diabetes an' all.

                        (beat)

        You made this cake Ellen?

ELLEN: Yeh, Aunt Tree.

(Theresa talks even more quickly now.

Ellen and Rose are almost unheard)

THERESA: It's good to have daughter like that at home.

But I can't eat none.

            The doctor says too much sugar isn't good for me.

Maybe even diabetes.

An' you know Jack with his leg.

Won't see no doctor.

And he's got the diabetes in the family.

Brother lost his leg from the knee down.

ELLEN: (trying to participate) Diabetes?

THERESA: You should watch too, Marie.

            In your condition.

            You no'nt (don't) want all 'at sugar stuff.

            Can't be too careful.

ROSE: Condition?

ELLEN: (trying to silence her sister's remarks.) Rose.

THERESA:   But you go ahead

I suppose it can't hurt.

It’s good you got these two girls, Marie.

(Whispers to Marie).

Good thing none of 'ems married.

You know,

sometimes I think I got married too young.

Don't get me wrong.

Jack’s been good ta me.

Always brought home his pay.

I give him a little back for goin' to McGinty's

For goin’ to McGinty’s couple times a week.

Likes bein' with the boys.

You know.

I ain't complainin'.

But don't ya ever wonder sometimes?

They could leave you any time Marie.

They're here one day and gone the next.

THERESA: (Back in time)

(Lights dim on all except THERESA and GRANDMOTHER. Each speaks out to the audience.)



THERESA: I don’t care no more, Ma.

I’m leavin.

You hear me.

I’m leavin.

I have a chance , a chance with Jack.

He's good to me.

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They speak out to the audience.

It is the past)

MARIE: What do you think you're doing Theresa?

            You can’t leave her like this?

THERESA: Oh no, just watch.

MARIE: And you’re gonna leave me alone to take care of her

            To take care of her myself:

THERESA: Let her take care of herself.

MARIE: She can’t.

            You know she can’t.

THERESA: No.

She can't stand to see any of us have anything good,

anything better than what she had.

Face it Marie,

she never took care of me,

not you either for that matter.

All that fightin at night.

All those men who came and went.

When a gun went off

or a knife went flying

When the cops came.

How many times did they take us away?

How many times?

How many families did we live with?

How many times we got beat?

How many times we got ..

MARIE: Stop it!

            Ya hear me? ..

Stop it!

Don't say it.

THERESA: Jimmy made it out of here

            He made his way out

            And so will I.

MARIE: The war took Jimmy away.

                        He had to go.

THERESA: Well, this is my war.

A war where I win.

There’s a man who cares about me,

No, he ain’t rich

He ain't even good lookin'

And he just works at the plant like the rest of us

But he’s the first person who ever even thought about me.

Who thought about me!

He treats me good.

Treats me nice.

(beat)

Ya know,

Ya know,

There’s this bible story

A bible story I heard wonced in church

Heard it once and it always stayed with me

Know what it said?

It said,

‘Leave the dead to bury the dead,”

The dead to bury the dead.

Well, she’s dead.

She’s always been dead

But, she’s not buryin me with her!

MARIE: But she’s our mother.

THERESA: Our mother.

            Our mother?

            She’s a gin soaked rummy who let herself get knocked up

            Get knocked up by god knows who

            and we get the blame.

            Who was he?

            Who was my father?

            Who was your father?

            I don't even know if we have the same father.

            She prob'ly don't know neither.

            She had 'em open for anything that passed.

            (beat)

            You wanna stay,

            Stay.

            That's your problem.

            Go ahead.

            Crawl in there with her.

            Crawl in.

            Get buried with her.

MARIE: Theresa..

THERESA: Damn it, Marie.

            Same father or not you’ll always be my sister.

            I’ll be there for you,

            but not for her..

            not for her.

(The scene changes.

MARIE and THERESA go back to their former places.

We are back in the present.)

ROSE: That’s alright mom.

            Aunt Theresa never liked me so much.

THERESA: I never said nothin like that, Rose.

            I never said I don’t like you.

            You’re my sister’s kid.

            I never said nothin like that.

            I only said you should talk with more respect.

ROSE: Sure, Aunt Tree.

THERESA: You hear what I said,

            Didn’t you Marie?

You heard what I said.

I didn’t say nothin like that.

I just mean that Rose could be more like.

ELLEN: Please,

            Let’s not start.

THERESA: I ain’t startin nothin hon.

            I was only sayin …

ELLEN: Fine, Aunt Tree.

Let's just forget it.

There's something I want to talk about.

Something I want to ask mom.

(She goes to her mother and holds her back from the cabinet)

Mom, please.

Not now.

It’s your birthday.

Have some of your cake.

MARIE: I'm too tired.

            I think I need to go back to sleep.

ELLEN: Not now.

            There's something I want to tell you.

MARIE: My head.

ELLEN:Mom, please..

MARIE: My head feels like

ROSE: (to Ellen) What did I tell you?

ELLEN: Mom,

            please.

            (she moves her back to the chair)

MARIE: Why don't you do your mother a favor and get her a little something.

ELLEN: Not now, Mom.

            Just sit a minute,

            I need you to listen.

THERESA: What are talkin Ellen.

            You're not gonna give this woman trouble are ya?

ELLEN: No, Aunt Tree.

            Just listen.

            (Beat)

            Mom,

            I've been saving my money.

            I've working over time

            Working over time

            and saving my money.

THERESA: You're a good girl, Ellen.

            Smart to save your money.

ELLEN: I have an idea.

            I've thought about it for a long time now.

MARIE: What are you talkin, girl?

ELLEN: An idea.

MARIE: What kinna idea?

ELLEN: Something I wanna do.

MARIE: Your not thinkin about then damn nuns again ..

ELLEN: No mom.

            It's not that.

            Not that at all.

            That was a mistake.

THERESA: Good god girl.

            You don't wanna be thinkin about that again.

            (To ROSE)

            Nearly killed her.

            It's still cold in here.

            (THERESA picks at the cake.)

MARIE: Them damn nuns,

            Them nuns thinkin theys better

            better than everybody else;

            always puttin ideas in your head

            Tryin to trick you into some convent.

ELLEN: No, Mom,

            it's not the nuns.

            Mom.

            (beat)

            I'd like to go back to school.

ROSE: So that's what's in the letter.

ELLEN: Yes,

            that's what's in the letter.

MARIE: Them nuns always makin themselves out to be so perfect..

THERESA: Go back to school?

            (She licks cake crumbs from her fingers.)

MARIE: Makin life miserable for everybody else.

THERESA: I'm a good church goer

            when I can get Jack to take me,

            but them nuns.

            God bless -em

            but you know,

            somethin ain't right.

ELLEN: You know what I mean.

            Go to college.

            Get a degree.

THERESA: A degree!

            What you gonna do with a degree?

ROSE: A degree?!

MARIE: Stop talkin nonsense

ELLEN: It's not nonsense, Ma.

MARIE: Ya talk ridiculous.

ROSE: (sarcastically)

            This is a good one Ellen.

            A real good one.

ELLEN: Why not?

            In the long run we'd all benefit.

MARIE: School?

            Whadda ya mean school?

            Who put these ideas in your head?

            Ya talk ridic'lus

            You don't need no school

            What makes you think....?



(Lights dim. Grandmother appears. She speaks out to the audience.)

Grandmother: Where'd you get ideas like that?

From them people they put you with, right?

(beat)

Them people they put you with Christmas

Christmas

When they take you away from your own mother

Puttin you with some strangers

(beat)

Them damned nuns,

comin round here to check on everything.

Comin round all the time

Askin me questions

Askin 'bout everything

Askin where....

(beat)

They don't even know what a man is

Don't even know

and they go around

go around tellin everybody else how to live.

Stickin my kids in some rich folks house for Christmas.

For Christmas.

Always around snoopin

putting their noses in other people's business.

Tryin to make your own mother look bad.

Like they come from families made in heaven

families that never saw gin on the table.

Takin you away

Away from yer mother

Makin you somethin you ain't.

Just to cause trouble.

That's who got you up to this.

MARIE: ( to the audience but addressing her mother.)

                        I was just wondering, Mamma.

                        What if I was to go to the secretary school.

Suppose I could do it?

Grandmother:

                        Secretary school?

                        Secretary school?

                        How you goin to secretary school?

                        You even got the nickel for the trolley up town?

                        Lazy

                        That's all you are

                        Lazy.

                        You think you're better than us?

You think just because they put you in some big house

some big place with parlors

and maids

and golden mirrors

you think you can be like them?

Well, go back again

Go back again

and this time look in them golden mirrors.

Look at them mirrors

look at 'em.

Take a look and see what's in em.

Whadda ya see?

What?

Take a look

Take a good look and see

See that you ain't nothin but a serving girl.

And it's your job to wash them mirrors

and make them shine.

Make them shine.

You un'ertstand?

(beat)

Tryin to put on airs

Just like your ol' man

Always think you're better than everybody else.

Well life don't work that way.

The image dissolves.

THERESA: You go off to school and who's gonna take care of your mother?

ELLEN: Going to school doesn't mean I can't take care of you.

ROSE: How can you be doing school and work?

            How we gonna pay the bills?

ELLEN: I'll still be here.

            I'll start out part time.

ROSE: Part time?

            We can't even manage with both of us full time

            Not even full time.

            Between the regular bills

            and the cost of keeping her supplied.

ELLEN: We can do it.

            We can cut corners a bit.

ROSE: Cut corners?

            Where we gonna find rent lower than this?

            And what you gonna do for her?

            Ration her out?

MARIE: (in a panic)

            I don't give a damn what the hell you do.

            I'll move out.

            I'll get my own place.

            I don't need none of you.

ROSE: No one said you have to move out, Mom.

            No one's leavin you alone.

MARIE: I don t care what the hell you do.

ROSE: I don't want to listen to this.

            Ellen, you're doing it again.

MARIE: Get the hell out of my way.

            (MARIE goes back to the cabinet)

            I don't wanna see none of you.

ROSE: I told you Ellen.

            I told you you would start her up.

(Even louder and more confused)

THERESA: You're gonna kill that woman.

            She's a sick woman.

MARIE: I'm goin back to bed.

THERESA: You're gonna kill her.

            First your father walks out on her and now you.

THERESA: They put her away once when your father walked out.

ROSE: My father?

            My father?

            He wasn't my father.

            Not Ellen's either.

            You ougta know.

            How many times did you remind her of it.

THERESA: Go ahead..

      Keep talkin like that.

            You got no respect.

            She's a sick woman...

MARIE: (aside)

Ya walk in the filth and the garbage and the tenement boxes.

And how do ya pay?

So, you go back to your knees.

Back to the floors

Back to the scrubbin'

And what do you find but more of the same that you left behind.

And none of its better.

All of its worse.

Even your own kind.

Even your own kind

treat you worse than English at home.

You're a maid.

A servant.

You clean out the dust bins and wash all the crap buckets

and for two dollars a week they allow you to stay. .

And so when a man,

on your one after noon,

shows you a kindness you take any at all.

So you know what it means.

But even at that, It don't make no matter

What else can you hope for?

You take what comes.

And soon it's no different.

Your face in the mud.

(beat)

Then drop by drop you learn it from them.

First you have a sip from his glass

and you do it to be cute,

then you let him buy you one

and you feel like a woman.

Then you start buyin for yourself

and when you do

it's the only thing that brings a bit of comfort

It takes you to a new world

where you see no crap,

no dirty streets,

no parlor floors.

(beat)

And so you're free,

the only ship that can take you away.

(Lights return)

MARIE: I'm tired, Rose. I need to rest. Help me rest. (She holds up the empty glass.)

ROSE: Not now ma.

I'll take you to your room.

You can lie down.

Aunt Theresa, I think you should go home.

Ellen, why don't you help Aunt Theresa?

Take her down to the corner for a cab.

THERESA: What? What are you sayin? I got no money for a cab.

(ROSE goes to the sideboard, opens a draw and takes out some cash. Goes to THERESA and pushes into her hand still closed around her purse.)

ROSE: You heard me.

            I think it's time for you to go.

            This night has been long enough.

THERESA: That how you talk to your aunt.

            To your mothers sister.

ROSE: Do you wanna take mom with you?

            (ROSE walks her mother towards her room.)

MARIE: Just somethin to help me sleep.

THERESA: Don't let em be rude to you Marie.

            Yous hear me.

            Don't be rude to your mother.

ROSE: Good night Aunt Tree.

(THERESA Leaves in a huff without a word .Ellen sees her out.)

MARIE: You won't leave me will you Rose.

            You still need your mother, don't you?

            You're not like Ellen.

            You never thought you was better than everybody.

            Never pranced around with all them books

            tryin to make a show a yourself.

            You un'erstood your mother.

            You still need me, don't you Rose.

            Don't you.

(Rose has led Marie to the door of her room.)

ROSE: No, ma.

            I won't leave you.

            Go lie down now.

MARIE: I need to sleep, Rose.

            I'm tired of wakin up.

ROSE: I know, ma.

            I know.

MARIE: Tired.

ROSE: Lie down.

            Lie down.

(Rose goes back to the chair.

She picks up the glass and studies it.

Slowly, she lowers herself into Marie's chair.

She sees herself in the same position.

Rose picks up the pillow and cradles it, then buries her face in it.

Ellen returns and startles Rose.)

ELLEN: Did you get her back to sleep?

ROSE: She's in the bed but she's not asleep.

ELLEN : She won't sleep now.

            She slept all afternoon.

ROSE: So are you satisfied?

ELLEN: I'm sure she expected something

            and I'm sure there's something inside her that appreciates it.

(ELLEN starts clearing the coffee table and begins returning napkins and dishes to the sideboard.)

ROSE: Yeh, sure.

ELLEN: In fact, I think there's something that enjoys it,

            She just doesn't know how to say it.

            The only trouble is your fault.

            Getting on Aunt Theresa the way you did.

ROSE: She had it coming.

            I don't like the way she gets on Ma.

            Uses her to make herself feel good.

ELLEN: you could still be a bit more patient with her.

            No need to get her all in a mood.

ROSE: You know as well as I do

            she'll be right back here tomorrow.

            I don't know why, but she will.

            Can't get rid of her if you try.

ELLEN: That because there is something inside her that is fundamentally good, Rose.

            That what you don't understand.

            It's just her way to be catty.

            But inside, underneath .

ROSE: Inside,

            underneath.

            Who you kidding?

            The only reason she keeps coming back is to play it over mom

            Because she has no place else to go.

            Uncle Jacks passed out on the couch

            and who else does she know who would put up with her.

            Aunt Theresa's stuck here the same as us.

            It's either here or the bar or Uncle Jack

            and that's as good as the bad in either case.

            Kills me the way she keeps talkin about his bad leg.

            The only thing bad about his leg is that its hollow.

            Phlebitis?

            It's rum that lays him out on the couch.

ELLEN: Why do you keep going on about that Rose?

            Can you not once talk about anything

            without talking about drinking?

ROSE: Because that's all there is to talk about around here.

            What else does anybody do that we know.

ELLEN: But it's the way it creeps into every conversation.

            Don't you do other things don't you know other people?

ROSE: Frankly no.

            Why bother?

            It all comes home.

            It all ends up right here.

            You go out

            and the whole time your away you think that she might be out cold on the front step.

            You meet someone and instead of seeing them all you can see is the look on her bleary eyes

            The look in her eyes finding fault with anyone or anything you may bring home.

But I can live with it.

I don't expect anything else.

ELLEN: Well, I can't be that way.

            I think there can be more.

            I think ....

ROSE: When are you going to grow up Ellen?

            (Affecting a brogue)

            Were two darlin maiden sisters who have taken the goodness to care for their ailin mother.

            Ah me mother she came from Donegal where they et the pataytahs skins an all ( back to normal ) and were the potatoes.

She's a drunk, Ellen,

a rummy through and through

and were gonna shrivel up and waste away fermented in her gin.

ELLEN: Rose, that's enough.

ROSE: Tough to face isn't it but that's the truth and you know it.

ELLEN: That still doesn't mean you have to.

ROSE: Have to what?

            Have to what?

ELLEN: Be crude about it.

ROSE: Crude?

            Crude?

            You think that guy you brought in here is coming back after the show he got.

            Talk about crude.

ELLEN: I'm sure he just thought mom was not feeling well.

ROSE: Not feeling well?

            Wake up El!

            Dancing around the living room.

            Singing "My Wild Irish Rose".

            She practically took her dress off in front of him.

ELLEN: Her age.

            He could have thought she was senile.

ROSE: Senile?

            When are you gonna face it Ellen?

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ELLEN: I'm sure he didn't notice.

ROSE: Then why hasn't he called back?

ELLEN: Hess been busy.

            I know he had to go away for a while.

ROSE: Away for a while?

            Like your other friends?

            None of em come back.

            Why do you bring em here in the first place?

ELLEN: It's our home.

            Why shouldn't I?

ROSE: Because it's not a home.

ELLEN: Enough, Rose.

ROSE: Was it our home when she brought in her strays from the bar?

            Was it our home every time she locked us out in the yard while they were in here with

            her?

            Was it our home when the nuns from social services came to take us away?

ELLEN: The ugly side.

            You always see the ugly side.

ROSE: Who are you kidding.

            It's all game all part of your act.

You need her to be on a drunk so that she needs you.

That why you bring your friends here.

You bring them here so that she can scare them all away for you.

ELLEN: That not true_

ROSE: She's your excuse.

            She's your excuse for being afraid to find someone.

            You think you have to find some guy,

            some prince for your fairy tale

            because that's how it reads in your little book.

            But it's not a man you want.

            It's just a part you need in your picture books.

ELLEN: Things just don't work out for me.

ROSE: Oh, they work.

            They work just the way you want them to.

            It's not a man you want, is it Ellen?

            It's not a man.

            I know.

            I know because I'm your sister.

            I know because I smell them too.

            They stand within a foot of me and I can smell it on them.

            They all smell of it.

            And it sickens my stomach.

            They smell like her bedroom when we were kids.

            They smell like the kitchen table where she gave them their morning coffee,

            They smell like the sofa where she put us to sleep.

            Their smell was all over

            All over the rooms.

ELLEN: You're talking like a fool.

            Who remembers those days?

ROSE: Who remembers?

            (beat)

            Who forgets?

ELLEN: I do.

            I forget.

            I forget because I don't need that in my life anymore.

            I don't need to keep going over it the way you do.

            (violently)

            I don't need it!

            I don't want it!

ROSE: You do need it!

            You do!

            You need it because that's all you know.

            You need the shouts and screams to know where you are.

            You want the hysteria

            You want the chaos.

            You want it because that's the real world for you.

Yes, it's the ugly side.

Because the ugly side is what we got.

The ugly side is where we live.

The ugly side is what we are.

And no book of roses,

no hand painted card

No world somewhere else

is going to change it.

We're not free

As long as she's not free.

And she has us bolted in.

ELLEN: But you can change if you want to.

            (Ellen fingers the Book Of Gardens)

            You can try,

            You can make it better.

ROSE: But that's just it El, you really don't try.

ELLEN: And what have you done?

            What have you done ?

ROSE: I face who I am,

            what we are,

            where we live

            and what we have to live with.

            This is no paradise Ellen,

            no matter how many flower books you bring around here.

            I know who I am.

ELLEN: And I know who I am

            and its more than this.

ROSE: More than what?

            You couldn't last five minutes outside this house.

ELLEN: Don't be ridiculous.

            I'm a working woman

            and I can take care of myself in this world..

ROSE: A working woman.

            Directory assistance and a ten minute bus ride.

ELLEN: It pays the bills.

ROSE: And I don't help.

ELLEN: Of course you do.

            I didn't say..

ROSE: A least I don't pretend standing behind a lingerie counter is more than what it is.

            I'm a shop girl

            A shop girl who never finished high school

            (beat)

Stop pretending Ellen.

Grow up and stop pretending.

ELLEN: I'm not pretending.

            Trying to see the good side is not pretending.

ROSE: Your whole life is pretending.

            Even keeping her here and not sending her off to where she belongs is part of your pretending.

ELLEN: Stop talking nonsense

ROSE: Nonsense?

            Nonsense? -

            What would you do without her El?

            What would you do?

            She gives you all the parts you need to play.

            You love being the martyr,

            you love the theatrics,

            the suffering.

            You swallow it down like she does gin.

            And that's not all you need.

            That's not all.

            (beat)

            You think I don't hear you in the kitchen at night?

            You think I don't notice the extra glass you leave in the sink,

            you think the smell isn't on you just like it's on her?

ELLEN:(violently angry)

            That not true and you know it.

            I don't drink.

            I'll never drink.

ROSE: Then what's that you've been sipping at night?

ELLEN: I don't drink.

            I don't.

            It's not the same as drinking.

            It just sometimes she makes me so worried I have a little something to help me sleep.

            It's to help me sleep that's all.

ROSE: Something to sleep.

            (Rose goes to the sideboard and holds the key in Ellen's face.)

            That why you keep the bottle locked up.

            Why's it even in the house?

            For company?

            What company?

            Who ever comes here?

            Whets the key for Ellen?

            What's it for?

            To keep it away from her or to save it just for you?

ELLEN: How can you say....?.

ROSE: Go ahead,

            buy your pretty books,

            make your little cards and set your birthday tables.

            But you're not fooling me.

            You may be fooling yourself.

            Fooling yourself because you have to .

            But,, you're not fooling me.

            It's in your blood and in mine too.

ELLEN: You're cruel.

            You're cruel.

            (Ellen cradles the book and starts crying over emotionally)

ROSE: In your blood, Ellen.

            In your blood.

            You're goin the same road, Ellen.

            Bubblin' booze.

            Jumpin' gin.

            in you just like me

            (beat)

            just like her.

            And you know what?

            She knows it.

            She knows it and she's waiting.

            Waiting to see you slumped in that chair beside her,

            waiting for you to mumble your half words to hers.

            You'll be her company.

            Her companion in the bottle.

            You know she doesn't like to drink alone.

            become just like her.

            And that's what will make her happy.

            That's what will satisfy her,

            knowing that you're right there with her.

ELLEN: Cruel.

            Cruel.

            Just like her.

            Every word from your mouth.

            Small and mean,

            always finding fault.

            Nothing but meanness.

            You cut and you stab just like she does.

ROSE: Meanness.

            How can you call me mean?

            You want her to be this way.

            It gives you something to pay attention to.

            We coulda had a life.

            We coulda done something different.

            But we didn't did we?

            Not you.

            Not me.

            We shoulda left her in that place but we didn't.

            Were took her back.

            Took her home because we wanted to

            because you wanted whatever sick thing it is that she makes you feel.

            (Brandishing the bottle.)

            And you just keep locking yourself deeper inside it,

            covering it over with paper cards and pretty roses.

            But you've never done anything.

            Anything to get us out.

ELLEN: I do try.

            I do.

ROSE: You wanna get out.

            Here.

            Take it!

            take it!

            (Pushing the bottle in her face and then pouring out a drink.)

You feed off each other like roaches feed off their own shit.

(Rose flings the liquor at the Book of Gardens.)

            (Marie appears from her room)

MARIE: Whets the racket out here?

            Can't get no sleep with all this racket out here.

ELLEN: It's nothing ma.

ROSE: I don't know why I bother.

            It just keeps goin on.

And you won't get within a mile of the school.

You set her up with another of your impossible ideas.

You work her into a state and once you've got her all worked up

you back out of you plans

back out of whatever you're gonna do with some half baked excuse.

MARIE: (pointing to ELLEN)

            She's gonna leave me, Rose.

            She's gonna go off.

            I know it.

            Jus' like your ol' man.

            Jus' like him.

ELLEN: Get her to be quiet.

            (beat)

            Can't you get her to be quiet?

            (beat)

            Things happen Rose.

            Things happen that don't always let your plans go the way you want them to.

MARIE: I'm cold Rose.

            I'm cold.

            Help me sit down

(Rose helps Marie to her chair but continues speaking to Ellen.)

ROSE: They go just the way you want them to.

            (semi beat)

            Get Ma a blanket.

            On the bed..

            in my room.

ELLEN: Fine.

            Fine

            Just get her to be quiet.

            (as she exits for the blanket)

            I just want things to be nice.

            just for five minutes.

            five minutes.

            And I don't see you doing anything to make it better.

ROSE: (For once, ROSE is silenced. Then)

Nice.

            Everything nice.

            (beat)

            Quiet.

            Just for once.

            Quiet.

(Pause)

ROSE (aside)

Once I saw a little girl in the park.

I saw her fall from the swing

She fell and hurt her arms and knees.

There was blood on her.

Blood washing around black rings of gravel and mud.

Her mother was there.

And ran to her in an instant.

She held the little girl and covered her in kisses.

Again and again she kissed her face

and her elbows

and her knees.

And when the little girl stopped crying

she carried her to the water fountain

And with the edge of her summer dress,

the mother washed off the little girls cuts and bruises.

When they went home I went to the same swing

I pumped myself as high as I could.

My feet raised above my head

and blocked the clouds and the sun

Then my face turned down and skimmed past the black mud beneath the swing.

Again and again ,

back and forth ,

up and down

And then in complete dizziness I flung myself forward.

Flung myself free

Flung myself into arms that were not waiting

Blood covered the ground where my head struck

the pain passed through my nose

and into my mouth

and throat

and lungs

I tasted the hurt in the core of my heart.

But no one came to me.

No one saw me.

And so I sat alone and huddled

Curled into my knees and folded into my own arms.

(ROSE goes to her mother: She pours her a drink. MARIE Takes it and swallows fast.   There is a brief moment of exhilaration. )

MARIE:I count on you, Rose.

            I count on you to keep me goin.

            You've always been the good one Rose.

            If you wasn't there, what would I do?

            (Pause)

(Looks at her glass.)

Its empty Rose.

It always gets empty so fast.

You don't wanna make your poor ma get up.

Will you take care of me Rose?

Don't make me get up no more.

( She holds out the glass.)

ROSE: Sure, Ma.

MARIE: I'm so tired Rose, ya know.

            If you could just take somethin to go to sleep.

            I jus' wanna sleep.

ROSE: Yeh, ma.

MARIE: I jus' wanna sleep,

            but I keep wakin up.

            (Beat)

            Fix my chair first, will ya, hon?

(Beat)

Fix this pillow.

Ya got a blanket?

Cover me.

Cover me.

I got a chill.

Something so that I could go to sleep.

I jus' wanna sleep

Ahm so tired.

(ROSE draws the pillow from behind her mother.)

ROSE: You tired, ma?

MARIE: Yeh, Honey.

            I need to get some sleep.

            I get so tired wakin up.

            Wakin up

            Why?

            For what?

            I jus' wanna sleep.

            A good night of sleep;

            (beat)

            Help me get some sleep.

            (She holds out the glass.)

            I'm tired a wakin up.

            Tired.

Rose still has the pillow in her hand.

She takes the glass and walks with the pillow to the sideboard.

She puts the pillow down on the sideboard and next to it the glass.

Rose fills the glass.

She picks up the glass then puts it down.

Rose picks up the pillow and returns to the chair.

There is a coverlet on the chair.

Rose puts the coverlet over her mother.

As MARIE mumbles something inaudible, ROSE puts the pillow over MARIE's face.

MARIE struggles but only for a moment.

ROSE kisses her mother on the forehead and then makes the sign of the cross over herself.

Ellen enters.

She sees that MARIE is still.

ELLEN: Did she fall asleep already?

ROSE: (Very softly as she strokes her mother's hair)

            Yeh.

            She's asleep.

            (beat)

            Asleep.

(Ellen sits silently in the chair next to her mother. )

(Lights dim slowly.)