Issue 6 • Summer 2003 • Featured Writer • Drama
Troy HillAct I, Scene 7
Scene 7.
Jack and Todd in the waiting room.
JACK
What the hell is the matter with you?
TODD
What?
JACK
Bringing up those jerks.
TODD
What are you talking about? I went to Trinity with Dean.
JACK
I'm real proud of Audrey.
TODD
Yeah, of course, I mean she's doing really well. But, don't you think it's sort of weird that she's blocked out this whole period of her life... or else is acting like she doesn't remember people she was good friends with?
JACK
I'm real proud of her: her marriage, their beautiful home. She's doing real well -- struggling with her illness. They're thinking about joining the club. All my friends just love 'em.
TODD
If you keep stuff buried, I just think it's going to surface sooner or later. It can't help to have all this repressed emotional baggage when you have health problems -- or even when you don't. I mean maybe even the illness has grown out of it.
JACK
Now don't give me any of that liberal garbage. We're Christians. We don't need that bull shit.
TODD
Look, I'm just saying that maybe she should be honest with herself.
JACK
Well, I'm real proud of her. She's really turned herself around. Got cleaned up. Quit drugs. Got her head straight. Learned respect. Unlike some people.
TODD
Look, I'm just worried...
JACK
Oh yeah, I'm sure you're real worried about us. That's why you spend so much time with us. Now that's enough.
TODD
Look, I'm just trying to help.
JACK
No you're not. You show up here throwing insults around. You think you're so smart. Well let me tell you something. I provide for my family. When I was your age I had two kids, a wife, a house, a business of my own, two cars. And you come down here driving around the neighborhood in those tight t-shirts, and you know you your mother is up for the Hyde Park Neighborhood Council.
TODD
I'm not...
JACK
Don't try to act like you give a shit. You've never been interested in this family. Moving off to New York. You could have had everything -- the business. You just move away. Live like a pauper. And you dare come here and insult your sister.
TODD
I wasn't ...
JACK
And she's doing great. What is the matter with you? Your mother thinks you hate her. And I know you don't like me and that's fine but at least show a little respect for the rest of the family.
TODD
I don't --
JACK
We can't even eat at the club you're such an embarrassment. My friends want to know why you don't play tennis. And you what? Everybody wants to tiptoe around the fact that you're queer.
TODD
(Overlapping) I don't...
JACK
I don't like it. I never liked it and I never will. You make me sick. I pray every minute of every day that you'll get over it. It's an illness and you can get over it. I wish you'd just quit it. Now let's just forget it.
Next Page:
Act I, Scene 8 (page 8 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
|
