Issue 6 • Summer 2003 • Featured Writer • Drama
Troy HillAct I, Scene 3
Scene 3.
Lights up on the kitchen of a suburban McMansion. Nice, new, Midwestern. Todd comes through the door with bags.
TODD
Hi.
Sarah goes up and hugs Todd as he comes through the door. Jack stands back and waits. Sarah and Jack are both dressed, not formally, but definitely dressed for the day.
SARAH
I just have to kiss your face. I don't get to do that very often.
Sarah holds Todd's face looking at him for a prolonged period of time. Todd stands there still holding bags. It's awkward.
SARAH
Well, come in, put your stuff down. Stay a while.
Jack takes a bag and sets it over to the side.
SARAH
So, how was the flight?
Jack sits down.
TODD
Fine. Fine.
SARAH
What would you like dear, beer, wine, martini?
JACK
Shirley Temple?
TODD
I'm good for now.
SARAH
Dad?
JACK
Scotch on the rocks. So how's it goin'?
Sarah fetches Jack's drink.
TODD
Oh, pretty good.
SARAH
Sit, sit.
They sit.
TODD
So, how's Audrey?
JACK
She's just fine.
SARAH
All things considered -- Praise the Lord. She's got a hard road ahead of her, but...
JACK
She's doing just fine.
TODD
That's great.
SARAH
We'll take you over to the hospital tomorrow so you can test and all that. But you may as well relax in the mean time and have a nice visit with your poor old mom.
TODD
Okay. (Beat) So is Audrey doing okay otherwise?
SARAH
Well, she's fragile with the Lupus. And I've told her -- she doesn't take care of herself.
JACK
Doesn't eat right.
SARAH
Of course, she's been putting on a lot of weight, that doesn't help anything.
JACK
And she was such a beautiful girl. It's a shame.
TODD
Doesn't that have something to do with the medication?
SARAH
She may lose some weight now that she won't be able to eat regular food for a few days.
JACK
Gosh I hope so.
SARAH
We'll take you over to see her tomorrow after the other business.
TODD
Should we go tonight?
SARAH
Oh, we should let her rest.
TODD
Okay.
Pause.
SARAH
So how's everything? How are you?
TODD
Fine. Fine.
SARAH
You've been working a new job, right?
TODD
Oh just freelance. Stuff.
SARAH
Do you like it?
TODD
Not really, but, you know, it's work.
SARAH
I just hate to see you taking jobs you don't like. With all the talent and that brain you've got. Not to mention the education we paid for.
TODD
Um, I do like painting.
SARAH
I just wish you had something to look forward to, that's all. You're so capable. I hate to see you waste away.
TODD
I'm not...
JACK
So how's the painting?
TODD
Oh, coming along. I'm working out some new ideas. I think I'm finally discovering color. Or beginning to. (Beat) Anyway.
(Pause)
SARAH
I just wish you could find a job you really liked. Something you could look forward to.
JACK
Have you thought about what you're going to do if this painting business doesn't work out?
TODD
Um, well, I guess. I mean, sure I've thought about it but I try not to. I mean I feel like I need to really focus on what I'm doing in order to succeed at it -- whatever that means.
JACK
Get paid.
TODD
Well, yeah, that would be nice.
JACK
You're getting a little old to have your mother sending you checks.
TODD
I know that.
JACK
You gotta take these museum people or gallery folks to lunch, dinner. Buy 'em some drinks. Tell 'em to sell your stuff. I know this guy about your age who went into computers, Bob's boy, and he's done real well.
TODD
I'm sure.
JACK
There are some kids in our new neighborhood in Florida who are about your age -- with houses even bigger than ours.
SARAH
(Overlapping) Real nice.
TODD
Yeah, I'm sure. A lot of people made a lot of money in the nineties.
SARAH
Seems like every one's made a bundle these last few years.
TODD
I guess I've been focused on other things.
JACK
Yeah, well, it never hurts to have a backup plan.
(Beat)
TODD
So how was -- was it Mexico?
JACK
Real nice.
SARAH
Oh yes, it was wonderful. Our club got the trip together -- they organized everything -- and you go down there and eat great food and play tennis and everything is right there. You don't even have to leave the resort grounds.
JACK
They say it's dangerous if you leave, but there's no need to. Right there are the finest facilities -- almost as nice as the club's courts -- and the finest of rooms and restaurants. They say the town is a dump. We saw it on the way from the airport. Nothing there.
SARAH
We weren't even going to go because of Audrey's surgery coming up, but all our friends -- Dad's friends at the club -- wouldn't hear about it. You know how popular he is. I think they would have paid our way -- or his way anyway -- if he'd asked.
JACK
Oh, come on.
SARAH
We'll have to show you the pictures. Dad won a doubles tournament. They gave him a trophy and everything.
TODD
Great.
SARAH
And then we stopped over in L.A. for a few hours to see Susan on the way back. We have pictures of her new baby, Little Lisa. She is a doll!
TODD
Oh, when were you in L.A.?
SARAH
Oh let's see, that must have been...
JACK
The 30th --
SARAH
September.
JACK
That's right.
SARAH
Just real quick.
TODD
Oh, I was going to say because Jonathan was at LAX that day coming back from a conference -- you could have run into him.
Pause.
SARAH
Have you talked to Janice? Are you going to see her while you're here?
TODD
Um. I was going to head over tonight at some point -- maybe for dinner.
SARAH
Oh no. You're having dinner with us. I've got it all planned.
TODD
Okay. Well, I'll go later, whenever.
SARAH
He's a real chip off the ol' block. Popular just like his ol' Dad. There's just not enough to go around. Oh Todd, I met the nicest lady on our Tennis trip. And it turns out she lives right around the corner from us in Florida.
TODD
Wow.
JACK
They live in those condos next to our old place -- Sunny Haven. They're kind of old -- from the 70's, but they're pretty nice.
TODD
I know the ones.
SARAH
We'll have to have them to the new house. Todd, you're going to love it. It's so nice. When can you come?
TODD
I'm not sure.
SARAH
Well anyway, we just hit it off. She loved A Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing too! We just chatted all day.
TODD
Great.
SARAH
I just feel like I can be totally myself around her. The way I do with you, Todd. I don't think I've met anyone besides you I feel that way around. We just chat away -- the way you and I do -- used to.
TODD
Have you met her Dad?
JACK
Oh yeah. They came over for the ball game. I watched the game with George, and Mom and Meredith -- did whatever women do -- talked I guess.
TODD
Right.
JACK
He's quite a talker himself. Kind of like a woman. Talks on and on about nothing. Right in the middle of the game.
SARAH
They both loved your Dad. Well, everybody does.
TODD
I think I'm going to take a shower.
SARAH
Are you sure you don't want something else? I've got a great dinner planned. And tomorrow after we take you to the doctor, we're just going to eat all day. I tried to make everything perfect Todd. I tried. I really, really tried. And of course we'll have to run over to see Audrey at some point.
TODD
Um, I think I'll have a drink when I get out of the shower.
JACK
Beer?
TODD
Sure.
SARAH
I'll bring it in for you. Oh, well Jack, you bring it to him.
TODD
(Exiting) That's okay. I'll just wait till I get out. Thanks.
JACK
Oh, he just doesn't want me to see his pecker.
Todd shakes his head as he's walking out and almost turns around as he overhears but keeps going. Lights fade as parents banter:
SARAH
His tally wacker?
JACK
His chip off the ol' block.
SARAH
Well I hope it's more than a chip. Course I haven't seen it since he was -- since it was little bitty.
JACK
Well, if he's like me he's a grower not a shower. Ha hah!
SARAH
Jack Johnson!
JACK
Well?
SARAH
Doesn't grow as fast as it used to.
JACK
I haven't heard any complaints.
Etc.
Next Page:
Act I, Scene 4 (page 4 of 22 pages)
All Pages: See the entire play on one page
Table of Contents: Home Again
Go To:
Issue 6 or Lodestar Quarterly home page
|
