White shirt
By Michelle Lane
(I should mention this is a continuation of another play, So
About Mom )
MARY stands at a kitchen sink
trying to get a wine stain off her white shirt.
KATHLEEN enters.
KATHLEEN
Is everything okay?
MARY
Yes. I’m fine, just a little pinot!
KATHLEEN
Need any help?
MARY
Nope! I’m good Kathleen.
KATHLEEN
Alrighty then.
KATHLEEN exits for a moment. Then
she returns a moment later.
KATHLEEN
Cousin Billy wants to know if we have more Coors?
MARY
There should be some out already.
KATHLEEN
Can’t find ‘em.
MARY
Check the fridge.
KATHLEEN checks the fridge, finds
a six pack, and leaves again.
MARY finishes cleaning her shirt.
She then begins to set up appetizers or something.
KATHLEEN enters again.
KATHLEEN
Mary? Do you want me to get you anything?
MARY
No I’m fine. Go mingle. I’m sure everyone wants to say their
condolences.
KATHLEEN
She was your mom too, everyone wants to know when you’ll
come out.
MARY
I was out there a few minutes ago.
KATHLEEN
Let me do this. You go say hello to everyone.
MARY
No, I’m fine. You’re a guest in my house, there’s no need to
help.
KATHLEEN
Mary please.
MARY
No Kathleen. It’s fine.
KATHLEEN
Mary…
MARY
I don’t want you fucking up again.
KATHLEEN
I’m sorry?
MARY
She died in your damn house Kathleen.
KATHLEEN
She took an extra sleeping pill!
MARY
You should’ve watched her!
KATHLEEN
How would I’ve known?
MARY
I would’ve known. You just wanted her to die. You were
waiting for the day so you wouldn’t have to worry about her anymore. She was my
mother Kathleen! My damn mother!
KATHLEEN
She was my mom too! You don’t think I wanted her alive?
There was nothing wrong with her Mary! She wasn’t supposed to die! She had
anxiety and mild depression. She’s had it since dad passed. People don’t die
from anxiety.
MARY
They die from carelessness.
KATHLEEN
You wouldn’t have done any better. You think it was so easy.
So simple; just change her clothes, help her bathe, feed her, give her a pill.
It was doctors and therapists, late night talks, her almost tripping every
night, she barely slept anymore, which means I sure didn’t. And now I can’t
sleep because my own damn sister thinks I killed my mother.
MARY
I would’ve kept her alive, Kathleen. You wouldn’t have found
her dead in my guest room.
KATHLEEN
I did the best that I could’ve done.
MARY
Well it wasn’t fucking good enough! I lost my mother! My
kids lost their grandmother! She’s gone Kathleen, she’s gone.
MARY begins to cry. KATHLEEN hugs
her.
THE END.
