The Sins of the Mother Marie (the mother) Ellen (the elder daughter) Rose (the younger daughter) Aunt THERESA (Marie's sister) Grandmother ( a vision) Ellen is about the room puffing pillows, fixing things, finishing the wrapping on a package as She looks in the side board drawer for a box of candles. she calls: ELLEN: Where are those candles? Rose, Rose. I know I put them in here somewhere. Yo, Rose! ROSE: Just a minute I can't hear you. ELLEN: Rose!. Where did they get to? Rose! Do you want to call mother in now. (Pause) Rose! Rose! I know I put them in here. Rose, Rose? I bet she moved them. ROSE: I said I can't hear you. Why must you always shout from the other room. You're just like her. Always shouting. ELLEN: I wasn't shouting. I didn't know where you were. Have you seen 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? ROSE: Water bill, junk, ... here this is yours. Westchester Teachers College? What's this? ELLEN: Nothing. It's for me. Where are those candels? ROSE: (repeating with emphasis) Did you look under the table cloths? ELLEN: They're not in here. Are you sure you didn't move them? Rose looks in the drawer, lifts the table cloths and pulls out the box of candels. ROSE: Whadda ya call these? ELLEN: Do you want to call her in now? ROSE: I suppose. I really don't see the purpose. You know she's going to make a fuss. What did you send for this time? ELLEN: And she'd make a worse fuss if we don't. (Pause) ROSE: You didn't answer my question. What's in that letter? ELLEN: It's addressed to me. Not you. Is she awake? What time did she come back. ROSE: She was home just before you came in. Just before six. And I'm just curious, that's all. ELLEN: Was she feeling well when she came in? ROSE: Feeling well? ELLEN: You know what I mean. ROSE: Yeh, I know what you mean... was she sober? She at least made it to her bed. ELLEN: Did you notice if she's even awake yet? ROSE: I heard hear walking around in there. She's awake. (Pause) ELLEN: Aunt THERESA's not here yet. I wanted to wait for her. ROSE: Why. All she'll do is talk about aches and paines and tell mom how bad she looks. ELLEN: She's still her sister. ROSE: Who needs a sister who keeps telling you that you look like death. ELLEN: That's just her way. ROSE: Her way to make herself feel better. ELLEN: She should have been here a half hour ago. Now where are the matches? ROSE: She's always late. No sense in waiting. Who needs her anyway? ELLEN: Where did those matches get to? ROSE: Mom, mom. Come on in here a minute. ELLEN: Now who's yelling? Did you see the matches? (ROSE goes to the side board to look for the matches) ROSE: Oh shut up will you! She's half deaf. Did you look in the drawer? ELLEN: And you're not. ROSE: Sometimes I wish I were. It may be a lot easier. ROSE: (aside. 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 to the words inside these walls Deaf to their echoes that invade every room, every corner every closet where I tried to hide. Curled into my knees and folded in my own arms Driven away, pummeled by the shouts and screams Sliced and hacked by acid stench, the gin filled air that carried their sounds. I am deaf. I've had to be deaf. Deaf from childhood, deaf from infancy, deaf from my birth protected in the silent walls of my own making. (The Lights return to normal full stage) ROSE: (Rose finds the matches beneath the table cloths in the drawer) Here's you matches. Mom. Mom. You awake in there? Mom? Mom? MARIE: What's all the yelling? Stop all the yelling. I'm not deaf yet. ROSE: Now don't look. Don't look yet. ELLEN: (going up behind her 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.) ROSE: Not nonsense. Its your birthday. (Stopping her from the bottle) Not now mom. Not now. MARIE: How do you know it's my birthday. I don't even know if it's my birthday. ROSE: (under her breath) Here we go. Not in the room two minutes and already she starts. MARIE: What's a birthday anyway? You're born to grow old. We're all gonna die anyway. ELLEN: Everyone likes their birthday, mom. ROSE: (interrupting) You should have let her stay asleep. She's probably not slept it off yet. ELLEN: (continuing to her mother and ignoring ROSE) You have presents and a cake. And Aunt Theresa will be here. MARIE: (leaning of the sideboard) What's she comin' for? ELLEN: She's your sister isn't she. MARIE: Theresa? ELLEN: She's here for your birthday mom. MARIE: My birthday? I don't care about no birthday. Another nail in my coffin. Another day closer to the end. They put you in the ground and your six feet under pushin' up daisies. What's the point of all the fuss? Tomorrow you forget all about it and the next day you're dead. Birthday's are kids' stuff. They're for kids. MARIE: (aside. The lights dim except for a single beam on Marie. We are back in time with Marie who speaks to her mother. Grandmother is on her hands and knees with bucket and floor brush) Margaret invited me to her birthday party mommy. She's having cake and ice cream and all the girls at school. Can I go mommy? Please, can I go? GRANDMOTHER: You can just get that idea out of your head. You ain't goin'. MARIE: Why , why can't I go? GRANDMOTHER: Cause I says so, that's why. MARIE: Please mommy? GRANDMOTHER: Don't ask again or you'll get the back o' my hand. MARIE: The other girls are going. GRANDMOTHER: The other girls got dresses to wear and presents to bring. What you gonna bring? What? You out there workin' and making any money. Get out to work the way I did and make yourself a penny and then you can think about it. MARIE: Mommy? GRANDMOTHER: Now what. MARIE: When is it my birthday mommy. When is it mine? The other girls have birthdays. They wear dresses, dresses in pink with ribbons and lace and fancy bows. When is it my birthday? When is it mine? The baby will have a birthday. I know when she was born. Don't you know when was mine? GRANDMOTHER: You want a party. Here's a party (she hits her) A party. Where you get these ideas. You want a party? Take this pail and rag and get on your hands and knees. You can have a party with the soap and water. (The lights return. We are back in the present.) ELLEN: here sit down mom. Sit down. (She hands Marie the present) This is for you. It's from both of us. Go ahead, open it. Open it. 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: What did you buy her? ELLEN: You'll see. ROSE: (to ELLEN aside) Is that a book? ELLEN: Be quiet! ROSE: I can tell by the shape. You bought her a book! 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 opens the envelope) This? ELLEN: You like it? MARIE: What's 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: You forgot, I bet, and made this at the last minute. ELLEN: No, mom. I didn't forget. 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: 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 but your mother a card? What would it cost? A Dollar? ELLEN: It's not a question of money or forgetting... ROSE: (To ELLEN) You never cease to amaze me. Still trying to live your Norman Rockwell cover page. ELLEN: Not everything has to be ugly. (The door bell rings. AUNT THERESA enters.) ROSE: Here comes the other half. I'll get it. AUNT THERESA: I'm sorry I'm late. I couldn't get your uncle off the couch to drive me over. ELLEN: That's ok Aunt Theresa. How are you feeling? ROSE: Still having trouble sleeping? THERESA: You know I saw the doctor twice this week. I even called him on the phone. Them pills he gave me don't work for nothin. And you know what they charge you. They charge you fifty cents a piece for them things. Fifty 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? You don't look so good. MARIE: I don't sleep neither. ELLEN: Let me take your coat Aunt Tree. ROSE: You've been asleep all afternoon. THERESA: Your mother's not well. She needs to rest. I'll just keep my coat hon'. It's cold in here. MARIE: Look what they give me for my birthday Tree. (She lifts the package) THERESA: Yeh, that's nice. What is it? MARIE: I don't know. I gotta open it yet. THERESA: Got a nice ribbon. MARIE: And look. They call this a card. THERESA: You gonna save the ribbon Marie? Pretty color. (MARIE opens the gift) THERESA: Save the ribbon. Use it Christmas. (She puts the ribbon in her purse) THERESA: What IS that Marie! MARIE: Some kind a book. THERESA: Yeh, a book eh? That's nice. ELLEN: It's a book of rose gardens, mom. Pictures of all the finest rose gardens in the world. MARIE: Yeh, she gives me a book Tree. What the hell am I supposed to do with this? 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: Where'd I get this one? ELLEN: You can open it to a different page every day. MARIE: Tryin' to be one o' them uppity half cuts ma used to work for. It's another thing to clean. Another thing to clean. (The lights dim and we see GRANDMOTHER standing behind MARIE) GRANDMOTHER: Remember why you're here girl. The missus pays you to clean and nothin' else. You're gonna work up the third floor. Make the beds. Bring me down the laundry and use this rag to wet mop the floors . Wrench it good. Don't be leavin' no spots. While you're up there don't touch nothin'. especially nothin' in the girl's room. She don't want you foolin' with her books and things. Keep your hands to yourself and your mouth shut. You're gettin' more for a day's work than I did when I came here. MARIE: I'll work hard, mamma. I will. I won't touch anything. I promise. Mamma? GRANDMOTHER: What? MARIE: If I work hard, can I go back to school? (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: You know Marie. You just can't keep stuff around. You gotta get rid of it or it just sits around collecting dust. I don't keep nothin' around no more. Get rid of all of it. (The following exchanges run simultaneously) ________________________________________________________________________ MARIE: (to Theresa) Look at this ? ELLEN: At least I tried. What did you get her. THERESA: Yeh, nice Marie. What is it. ROSE: Nothing. What should I buy her? MARIE: she made a 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 care what you say. He always buys me a card. ELLEN: You didn't have to buy anything. ROSE: Buy her a bottle that's what she wants. ________________________________________________________________________ (Ellen pinches ROSE on the arm. The lights are now on ROSE and ELLEN and they dim on MARIE and THERESA) ELLEN: don't say that. ROSE: When are you going to grow up? ELLEN: So. You still don't have to say it. ROSE: Why, there's nobody here who doesn't know. You think that guy you brought in here is coming back after the show he got. ELLEN: I'm sure he just thought mom was not feeling well. ROSE: Not feeling well? 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? She made a pass at him. ELLEN: I'm sure he didn't notice. ROSE: Then why hasn't he called back? ELLEN: He's been busy. I know he had to go away for a while. ROSE: 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. 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. Was it our home when the nuns came to take us away? ELLEN: The ugly side. You always see the ugly side. ROSE: Yes the ugly side. Because the ugly side is what we got. And no book, of roses, no hand painted card is going to change it. ELLEN: But you can change if you want to. You can try, you can make it better. ROSE: But that's just it El, you really don't try. Not really. It's all game all part of your act. You need her to be on a drunk so that she needs you. ELLEN: That's not true! ROSE: You need the shouts and screams to know where you are. You want the hysteria and the insanity to make sense out of yourself. ELLEN: Stop talking nonsense... ROSE: Nonsense? Nonsense? - What would you do without it El, What would you do? You love being the martyr, you love the theatrics, the suffering. You swallow it down like she does gin. You think O 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's 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: Go ahead, buy your pretty books, make your little cards and set your birthday tables. But you're not fooling me. It's in you blood and in mine too. ELLEN: Stop it Rose! (Ellen starts crying over emotionally) ROSE: You're gonna be just like her Ellen. And you know what? She knows it. She knows it and she's waiting. Waiting to see you 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: You're just like her Rose. Just like her. Every word from your mouth. Small and mean, always finding fault. Nothing but meanness. You've learned how to cut just like she does. ROSE: Meanness. How can you call me mean. It's not mean to bring outsiders in to suffer her? You want her to be this way. It gives you something to pay attention to. You've got a life out there Ellen and so do I. There's something better than all this 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. I've been thinking. There is something to help, help us both. There's something I've been wanting to do. ROSE: Not another one of your pipe dream plans. ELLEN: They're not pipe dreams they're real dreams. ROSE: You know, there's something sick in your head. This constant scheming you do. You devise these plots just to provoke her, to keep her sucking on her bottle .What this time? Another trip back to the old sod? Moving to Florida? What other nonsense have you come up with? ELLEN: It's not nonsense. I've though about this a lot. It's something I've always wanted to do. ROSE: So was your decision to become a nun. That lasted long enough to keep her on a drunk for a month straight. What are you aiming for this time? Half the year. ELLEN: I want to go back to school. To teacher's college. I want to get a degree. ROSE: So that's what was in the mail. Are you really out of your mind? Why do you do it Ellen. What is wrong with you? You know I think you look for ways to keep her tanked up. It gives you some kind of sick purpose. ELLEN: You complain I don't do anything. There's nothing wrong with trying to improve yourself. ROSE: You know you won't go through with this. It's like everything else. You do it because it gives you a lift. It's your "drink", just like her gin. ELLEN: How would you know. You're the one who never tries. ROSE: Try. What you try puts her in even deeper. You start this game and she'll be on a binge for a week straight. She'll be on a binge. You'll be home from work to watch her and I'll have to work overtime to cover the bills. ELLEN: Not if I explain it to her in the right way. ROSE: 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 you back out of whatever you're gonna do with some half baked excuse. ELLEN: Things happen Rose. Things happen that don't always let your plans go the way you want them to. ROSE: They go just the way you want them to. MARIE: What are you two doing over there? Get your aunt Theresa some coffee. I thought you were going to have a cake. 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. 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) You got a cake Marie. All that sweet stuff ain't good for you. ELLEN: A piece won't hurt aunt Tree. THERESA: You know Marie I was tellin these kids they don't know how lucky they got it. 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 them cakes you get at Hanscomes. You know they got that little pink carnation on 'em. ROSE: That's for Mother's Day Aunt Tree. THERESA: They make good cake. Not dry. 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. And the kitchen's all cleaned up. I made it this afternoon while you were out. THERESA: I need a little coffee. 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? Just a small piece. MARIE: (To Rose) Get your aunt some coffee. THERESA: I don't bake no more for Jack. He don't need it. 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 ain't good for me. Maybe even diabetes. ROSE: Diabetes? THERESA: You should watch too, Marie. In your condition. ROSE: Condition? ELLEN: Rose! THERESA: But you go ahead I suppose it can't hurt. It's good you got theses 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 a good provider. I ain't complainin. But don't ya ever wonder sometimes? They could leave you any time Marie. There here one day and gone the next. Lights dim on all except THERESA and GRANDMOTHER who appears, perhaps through a scrim. THERESA: (Back in time) I'm leavin ma. I'm leavin. I have a chance, a chance with Jack. He's good to me. He takes me out. He takes care of me. He treats me good. GRANDMOTHER: ( she is ironing) You think when you marry that louse he's gonna stay with you? You don't think he's gonna be like your father Theresa? You think you found something better. We'll I'm telling you, there ain't nothing better. He's a louse like the rest of them. What kind of job you call what he's got. What kind a job is that on a building crew. One day of rain and he's out a work and down at the tap room. You're trying to put on airs like your sister Marie. Well, she ain't come to nothin'. Runs off with some gigolo. And what it get her? Pregnant with a kid and he goes off to Australia. And where does she go? Back to her mother, back to me. Well I ain't takin you back the way I done her. I raised you. I gave you everything I never had. Takin' in laundry, washing floors, cleanin' rich people's crap. And this is how you pay me back? I'm tellin' you Theresa, you leave and you ain't comin back in. I ain't got no room for tramps in my house. You go out and the door gets locked. THERESA: (to the image of her Mother) Well I am leavin. And I don't care if I never come back. What have you ever done for me. You think you're gonna trap me here like you done to Marie? I'm gettin out! You're a rummy, nothin' but a rummy And you got no room to talk. At least I got a man, a good man And he won't leave me the way yours left you. I don't even know if he was my father. You probably don't either. But I'm gonna know who my husband is. You're not chainin' me here the way you done to my sister. I'm gonna have children. I'm gonna have a home. GRANDMOTHER: Then go ahead. Go. I still got Marie and you can go to hell. You're an ingrate. An ingrate and I won't forget it. (Lights return to full). The following exchanges become quicker and quicker. Everyone shouts. No one listens. THERESA: (lights back up on the family) Ya know, ya can't help but wonderin sometimes. Ya know what I mean Marie? ELLEN: You're not eating your cake mom. Just try a little. ROSE: She'd rather drink it. MARIE: I don't eat cake Ellen, you know that. I don't like that sweet stuff. THERESA: too much sweet stuff. MARIE: All this commotion in here. It's late. There's a draft. ELLEN: There's no draft mom. THERESA: Your mother feels a draft. MARIE: I said I feel a draft. Where' my sweater Rose? You got a window open somewhere. Where's my sweater? ELLEN: Mom, the heat's on seventy. It's warm in here. MARIE: I said I'm cold. Can't you listen to your mother? THERESA: The woman's cold Rose! ROSE: (fetching the sweater from the back of the chair) Here you go mom. MARIE: Keep that cold air from outside commin in here. Can't you keep the heat up in this place? I feel like I'm gettin a headache. ROSE: You gettin' a headache mom? MARIE: Yeh, my head's startin' to hurt. You know how my head starts to hurt when it gets like this. ROSE: How did I guess? THERESA: It's her condition. MARIE: You wanna get a little somethin for me hon? Somthin' to make my head feel better. I'm so tired. Don't make me get up. ROSE: Has it been an hour already? (With frustration if not disgust) Can't hold out for more than an hour. No, don't get up. I'll get it. THERESA: Rose, you don't talk nice to your mother Rose, You don't talk nice. She's not a well woman. ROSE: Aunt Theresa you know as well as I do... THERESA: It don't matter. You still talk nice to your mother. You know this woman isn't well. It's good you got one good daughter at home Marie. ROSE: And what am I? Don't I live here too. THERESA: It's respect, I'm talking about, respect. ELLEN: Please, Rose, please not tonight. ROSE: Rose, Always Rose. THERESA: You know Marie, I don't care what you say ... MARIE: My head's going to explode. Isn't it time for bed yet? (she stands and goes to a side cabinet) THERESA: Your mother needs a daughter like Ellen at home. MARIE: What are you talkin Th'resa? Rose is a good girl. She just don't talk much. THERESA: That's not like us Marie. Not like us. We always shared everything. (Lights dim. MARIE: and THERESA step out of the setting into their own tableau. it is the past) MARIE: What do you think you're doing Th'resa? 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 myself. THERESA: Let her take care of herself. MARIE: She can't. You know she can't. THERESA: No! She just make you think she can't. She wants you here to rot with her. 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. When she fought in the night. When those men 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 families did we live with? How many times we got beat How many times we got ... MARIE: stop it. Stop it . Don't say it. THERESA: Jimmy made it out of here 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, the first person who ever even thought about me. MARIE: But she's our mother. THERESA: Our mother. Our mother, she's a gin soaked rummy who let herself get knocked up by god knows who and we get the blame. If you want to stay, that's your problem. MARIE: Theresa... THERESA: You'll always be my sister Marie. I'll be there for you, but not for her... not for her. The scene changes, 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 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 only was say... 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 you up to Ellen. What's the big talk here? ELLEN: Mom, I've been saving my money. I've working over time and saving my money. THERESA: You're a good girl Ellen. ELLEN: I have an idea. I've thought about it for a long time now. MARIE: What are you talkin, girl? Your not thinkin' about then damn nun again ... ELLEN: No mom. It's not that at all. That was a mistake. MARIE: Them damn nuns, thinkin' they's better than everybody else; always puttin ideas in your head... ELLEN: Mom,. I'd like to go back to school. THERESA: Go back, you never started. ELLEN: You know what I mean. Go to college. Get a degree. THERESA: Ellen you talk foolish. MARIE: You're talkin' nonsense ELLEN: Back to school. Why not? In the long run we'd all benefit. MARIE: School. Whadda ya mean school? Who put these ideas in your head? Lights dim. Grandmother appears GRANDMOTHER: Where'd you get ideas like that from those people they put you with, right? Those damned nuns, comin' 'round here to check on everything. They don't even know what a man is and they go around tellin everybody else how to live. Stickin; my kids in some rich folks house for the holiday. Always around snoopin' putting their noses in other people's business. Tryin' to make your own mother look bad. Like they come from families that never saw gin on the table. Makin you somethin' you ain't. Just to cause trouble. That's who got you up to this. MARIE: I was just wondering mamma. What if I was to go to the secretary school. Suppose I could do it? GRANDMOTHER: 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 and this time look in them golden mirrors take a look and see what's in 'em Take a look and see that you ain't nothin' but a servant girl And it's your job to wash those mirrors and make them shine 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: Who's gonna take care of your mother? ELLEN: I will. ROSE: And where does that leave me? ELLEN: I'll still be here. I'll start out part time. ROSE: and leave me with her full time? ELLEN: No, I'll still be home. It's just like when I go to work, only I'll be going to school. 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? 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) they're gonna leave me. They're both gonna leave me. The way they all do. THERESA: They ain't gonna leave you Marie. They ain't gonna leave. MARIE: They'll put me in that place. Back in that place again. (She nervously tries to pour a drink but with no success) THERESA: Where you get these ideas? Stay home with your mother. ROSE: You know Aunt Theresa, she could stay with you now and then, even during part if the day. She is your sister. MARIE: I don't need nobody. Not none of you! THERESA: (burst of nervous anger) And she's your mother:.A sick woman. Don't try to put your responsibility on somebody else. ELLEN: We wouldn't think of it Aunt Tree. ROSE: And you woudn't think of helping. THERESA: Don't be a smart mouth Rose! ELLEN: Rose, don't start trouble! ROSE: The trouble started long before me. THERESA: You should be ashamed of yourself. ROSE: For what? THERESA: For not carin' for that sick woman! ROSE: That sick woman? That sick woman? She's a drunk, a drunk and the two of you keep her there. THERESA: Why I never! ROSE: You never what! You come here every day, day in and day out and all you do is tell her how sick she is. You gloat on it. You thrive on it. (To Ellen) And you, you keep her in a constant drunk just so you can feel like some wounded martyr. She's not the one they should put away. It's you two! THERESA: I should smack your face. How dare you talk to me like that! ELLEN: Rose, Rose, stop it. Stop it! MARIE: I won't go back. You can't make me go back. Women walkin in circles. All day sewin buttons. Women with their tongues hangin'. Sewin buttons, buttons and beads. (Marie starts arguing with an unseen person.) GRANDMOTHER: (appearing): You do as you're told or I'll call them nuns. They'll come to take you away. They'll take you back to the home. MARIE: Don't let them take me, mommy. I'll be good. I'll be good. Don't let them take me! ROSE: Mom. Stop it. Stop it. MARIE. Leave me alone ELLEN: Get her to sit down. ROSE: You satisfied Ellen. You satisfied now? ELLEN: Stop it Rose. THERESA: Look what you're doin to your mother. ROSE: How long do we wait till you back out of this one? ELLEN: I'm not backing out. I'm going to school. MARIE: I don't care what the hell you do. You can all go to the devil. (Lights dim. We see the GRANDMOTHER) GRANDMOTHER: You can all go to the devil and may you all rot in hell. You think you have it rough. You think its all unfair. Do you know what it is to sleep on the dirt? To have your father come into the house reelin' with the drink And push your face into the mud? You talk to a lad and he makes you smile You make him smile And the priest calls you whore And have the people where you live drive you out with sticks and stones? To walk day and night in the black streets of Cork Hidin' in alleyways so the drunks don't grab ya Sleepin under back steps to keep off the rain. America they tell ya. America will give ya the chance. And so ya do what ya can in an honest way to pay your way across. You clean for the English and the high born Irish. You scrub and you wash and you sweep and you tote. Three years on your knees and every penny you save. And so you sail on the ship. And you sit in a black hole a black hole filled with dark Jews and dagos, Greeks and Pollacks who babble and jabber like the monkeys in the trees and you stink and sweat and puke up your guts For ten long days. But you're goin' to America and there life is better. And you get off the boat and they line you all up And the poke you and prod you and they mark you with chalk Like the cows in the field they give you mark. Then they set you free walkin' Walkin in the filth and the garbage and the tenement boxes. And you go back to your knees. 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 its no different. Your face in the mud. 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 or your own 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 but where you see no crap, to dirty streets, no four bed rooms. And now your free, the only ship that can take you away. (Lights return) ROSE: Aunt Theresa, I think you should go home. Ellen, why don't you help Aunt Theresa? THERESA: What? What are you sayin? ROSE: You heard me. I think it's time for you to go. This night has been long enough. THERESA: That's how you talk to your aunt. To your mother's sister. ROSE: Do you wanna take mom with you? (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 unerstood your mother. You still need me, don't you Rose. Don't you. 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 girl's 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. 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. ROSE picks up a pillow and puts it over MARIE's face. MARIE struggles but only for a moment. 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. (Ellen sits silent in the chair next to her mother. ) Blackout