So about Mom.
By Michelle Lane
KATHLEEN and MARY sit at a kitchen
table drinking coffee neither talks for a few moments.
KATHLEEN
So I found a new cake recipe last night. I thought about
using it for Henry’s birthday party. Does he like red velvet?
MARY
I have no idea Kathleen.
KATHLEEN
Well he is your son…
MARY
Kathleen.
KATHLEEN
I just thought as a mom.
MARY
Do not bring up mom. Don’t even say that word.
KATHLEEN
That’s a bit harsh Mary.
MARY
And you’re not? Kathleen, I can’t believe you would suggest
that.
KATHLEEN
Mary, damn it. You see her once every two weeks. I am with
her day in and day out. You have no idea what it’s like.
MARY
There’s nothing even wrong with her Kathleen!
KATHLEEN
Every morning she forgets where she is. She forgets that dad
died. She doesn’t remember that she lives with me. Asks me where you are and
when we’re leaving for Maine. She asks me questions about Rick. And every damn day I’m the one who has to
remind her.
MARY
She’s old, of course she forgets things.
KATHLEEN
Then she starts getting crabby. Then she gets sad.
MARY
Mom is fine Kathleen!
KATHLEEN
She’s depressed!
MARY
She was fine today!
KATHLEEN
And what about tomorrow Mary? What about two weeks from now?
A month? A year?
MARY
That’s it. She’s living with me from now on.
KATHLEEN
You? With the kids? And Shawn? And the dog?
MARY
It’ll be fine. She’ll be better with me.
KATHLEEN
It won’t change anything!
MARY
I’m not killing off my mother Kathleen! She is our mom, our
family, the only thing I have left! She might be depressed but I’m not having
her take some be-all-end-all pill! She will be fine! She has to be fine! And
even if she’s not, we will not, I repeat NOT putting her down like she’s some
DOG.
KATHLEEN
She wants it Mary. She wants to die.
MARY
Then she can tell me that, because I wont believe some
mother-killer like you!
MARY stands and walks off stage to
their mother’s room.
KATHLEEN
Let her rest Mary damnit.
MARY
Mom, I know you’re asleep, but this is something very important…Mom?
Mom wake up. Mom…
MARY
re-enters the kitchen
Is she still on that sleeping pill?
KATHLEEN
No.
MARY
She isn’t getting up.
KATHLEEN remains at the table
drinking her coffee while lights fade on MARY running back and forth from the
rooms, on her phone, panicking.
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