"Margaret, the Play"
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Act 1, Scene 1
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| (Lights up on Margaret (90-year-old woman) looking into mirror
(an empty frame at front of stage looking directly at the audience))
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| Old woman, who are you? I don't think I recognize you at all. You
look like hell that's for sure.
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| Declare yourself! Friend or foe?
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| (Powders face)
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| Death warmed over . . . ever so slightly I'd say.
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| What time is it? Five-thirty. The night is endless . . . endless
pain, endless being here alone without sense enough to get out of my own way.
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| Get a hold on yourself old girl. You have to focus. You are right here, right now
and that's all there is to it. It's Friday. Alice is coming this afternoon. Two o'clock
she said, can't make it for lunch. Thank god. These bottom dentures won't stay
in . . .
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| (Looks in mouth)
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| Another abscess starting up. I refuse to be seen eating in public
without my teeth.
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| (Bends forward, rubs knees and rocks in chair)
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| This getting old is one ugly pain after another. I'm tired all the
time, but I can't sleep. I hurt all the time . . . no relief. I've lived
too long. I know that. There's nobody around who still remembers how it was -- who we
were before this.
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| (Jabs finger into her own face looking in the mirror)
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| Everybody's dead now . . . or waiting to die, laying incontinent
in some hospital bed just waiting. Frances, is in a coma they said, both legs amputated
and she's blind now from diabetes. Emma hasn't said a coherent word since her automobile
wreck. At least she's going out fighting. I don't see how else she could of hit that
linden tree that's been at the foot of her driveway all these years. They said she was
going 50 miles an hour. Good for you!
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| (Shouting)
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| Bobbie Rae, where are you? She sleeps more than I do, if that's possible. Bobbie
Rae?
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| There you are dear. What? No I'm fine, just the old pain, nothing but pain, it
could be worse.
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| What time is Alice coming?
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| I know it's 5:30 in the morning.
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| Then go back to sleep. Yes, I remember we agreed not before 7:30 unless it was an
emergency. No, no emergency. Yes, a pill. Yes the strong pain pill. For pain what do you
think? Pain, pain, pain . . . Can't you hear? Yes, dear, I'll be good. Yes a sleeping tab
too . . . though they don't do a damn bit of good.
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| Night dear. Yes dear not before 7:30. No emergency.
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| (Pause as if Bobbie Rae exiting)
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| Alice keeps reminding me that Bobbie Rae and she are the same age. Both turning 70
this year, says I should ease up on her. I suppose she means Bobbie Rae, but I'm not so
sure. She said I should give Bobbie Rae something special for her birthday this year. I
suppose she's right but I can't imagine what's out there to get her. Don't know how long
since I've been shopping -- for real. I remember when we all wore gloves and hats to go
downtown. Now they all look like a bunch of hobos.
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| I gotta stop that. Now is now. Then was then. I hate those old people who are
always talking about the past. That's gone, long gone. Period!
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| Alice suggested I give Bobbie Rae money, $1,000. I can't afford that. W. W. left
me enough so I don't have to worry about money. But I do, of course. Nobody knows how long
it will last . . . how long it will have to last. I wanted to put on a new porch, but
Alice said it's not worth it now that the neighborhood's changing. Course, she's not the
one sitting out on the rotten boards worried she'll end up under the house. If I don't
break my neck I'll just have to build a sky light in the floor of the porch.
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| Oh, Alice is not a bad daughter, as they go these days. Right from the start, she
was so independent. Had to have her way or no way. She wouldn't nurse, not tell W. W.
hired that Jodie Whitman as wet nurse. Maybe I got sour milk.
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| Well, that's better. I guess all I needed was a little pain pill after all, a bit
of sleep before Alice arrives. What a dreadful way to start the day.
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| Bobbie Rae . . . No, nothing. I'm just fine.
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| (Margaret walks slowly back to bed. Hangs up gown. Slowly
crawls under covers. Tugs at covers. Pulls covers up over her head)
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Act 1, Scene 2
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| (Margaret at age 14 gets up in a rush, throwing the covers off
and runs to a small desk where she unwraps her diary from its silk scarf covering and
opens it and begins looking through it.)
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| Let me see, it was on Monday, no Tuesday, two weeks ago today. I guess it must of
happened Monday night but we didn't hear until Tuesday morning. Here it is:
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| "The school burned to the ground. Nothing but ashes they say. What luck, I
wasn't at all prepared for the Latin test and now I'm free. No more school. They don't
know who burned the school down. They think it was one of the Balfey boys, but I don't
think so. Joe wouldn't dare. I think it was you, you answered my prayers, I wasn't ready
for the test! Oh, thank you."
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| How silly of me to write that. If anyone read it they would think I
started the fire.
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| (She places the diary down on the desk and begins to write and
speak as she writes.)
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| Dearest Diary:
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| Just before bed last night mom called Helen and me into the front room. I thought
something terrible must have happened. We never use the front room unless
there is a very special guest. We sat on the good sofa. Mom and dad had talked it over and
decided something had to be done about our schooling. They had a telegram from Uncle Pat
and Aunt Mag in Kansas City. Helen and I are going to go the convent school with our
cousins Sarah and Lucy. But, we will be boarders.
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| Oh, it will be so wonderful. I'm scared. Whatever shall we wear? Lucy and Sarah
are always dressed in the latest styles. When they came last Christmas they had so many
beautiful dresses. I've never seen the like, even in the stores. Oh, we will be the
country cousins for sure. I can hear the other girls now, they'll call us
"bumpkins," and laugh at us.
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| Mom wouldn't let Helen or me say a thing. She just said we are going next week,
that way we won't miss any more school. That's that. Oh, my god, I don't know anything.
They won't be using the same books. I'll really look the fool.
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| But, I want to see the city. I want to see all the lights. They'll have bathrooms
inside, lights, everything.
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| Oh, diary, I want everything, but I'm sure it'll be frightening. You'll be there.
We'll be okay. You will be my friend. I'll tell you everything.
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| Oh, diary, there is so much to do before we'll be ready. Mom says we will go to
town today and buy material for new dresses. We will have to wear uniforms at school. We
have to buy them in Kansas City. Aunt Mag is going to order them today but we will have to
make do with what they have in stock until we can get them altered. Mom said we can make
our own alterations. She knows I can't sew a stitch. I'll be such a mess. Maybe I can get
Helen to do mine and trade her something. Oh, it is so exciting.
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| Now, I have to go milk the cows. Until later.
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| (She kisses the diary and places it back in the silk scarf and
puts it on the desk. She begins to dress.)
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| Just think, no more cows to milk before school. I'll just wake up and be there. I
won't even have to go outside in the cold. I can't imagine. Sarah showed me pictures of
the Academy. It's on top of a hill. It's beautiful and so big. There'll be ten times as
many students. Lucy said the nuns are really strict. She had to sit in the closet for a
whole afternoon, just because she didn't know her conjugations. I'll probably have to
spend all day and night there.
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| Oh, I don't care. I don't care. I'll be in Kansas City, at last. Imagine, I'll be
a hundred and fifty miles away. It'll take forever to get there on the train. I'm on my
way. I'm really going.
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| (She turns round and round. She exits.)
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Act 1, Scene 3
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| (Margaret at 40 enters holding her jaw in both hands. Moaning.)
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| Not a tooth left in my head. Ooohhh . . .
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| (Goes over to mirror frame. Looks at herself.)
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| God, I'm old at forty. Doctor said it's from nursing so many children. What did he
think I was supposed to do? I couldn't just go getting a wet nurse every time I had
another baby. Well, by number eleven I suppose they sucked all the calcium out of me.
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| Alice had the wet nurse, of course, first born and all. That child will be the end
of me. She's growing up fast, though. She's a beauty, I'll say that for her. But
independent as a mule. I guess she's got a bit of her mother in her. Maybe we're just too
much alike. I do worry for her. She'll be graduating from college next May. Then what?
She's been all crazy about that Hofer boy. I'll have to put my foot down on that one.
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| (Goes over to bed and lays down, moans, then shouts.)
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| Missy! Missy, get me some more of that medicine the doctor sent over. Yes, now!
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| I know I said never to shout in the house. This is an exception. When you have all
your teeth pulled out you can shout too.
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| Your grown up teeth, young lady.
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| Pour it in that water and bring it over here.
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| (Sits up and drinks medicine.)
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| That should help. Thank you sweetheart. Yes, run along.
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| She can be so good when she wants to.
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| Well, look at that would you. Mom, how did you get here? Walked right through the
wall, did you? Come to take care of me. I need taking care of, that's for sure. God, this
morphine is doing a job all right.
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| Mom, I don't think I can take it any more, but what choice do I
have . . .
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| (Lays back in bed. Moans.)
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Act and Scene to be determined later
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| (Talking on the telephone.)
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| Martin Devilbis please. Martin, I want you to bring out the new radio this evening
when you pick up Kerry . . . It's the latest I know. You can hear Kansas
City they say.
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| Well sometimes, I suppose. I'm sure it will be perfect if you recommend it.
W. W. said we could rely on your advice. We're counting on you, you know.
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| Yes, she's staying late again. Around 10:30 should be okay. And, can you talk to
that brother of yours and see if he can finish painting the fence?
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| Yes, he's not well, I know. Tell him to stop drinking so much and he'll feel a lot
better.
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| I know. Listen, Martin, you are such a dear, can you see if you can get over to
his place early in the morning before he has a chance to start.
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| Yes, I know. Well, the best you can.
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| (Hangs up the telephone.)
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| He's a good soul, but not much in the brains department. Runs in the family. I
can't imagine what Kerry sees in the man. Course, not a man alive that
I'd . . .
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| Girls, get ready. We're going to town.
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| Kerry, have Bob and Charlie help you move that big table up from the basement.
We'll put the new radio on it when Martin delivers it tonight.
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| Yes, tonight. Try the lace tablecloth. That'll cover over the damage to the top.
And put a white tablecloth under the lace. That'll be fine. We'll be back by dinner. And
don't let the boys fool you. They can very well get that table up the stairs. If it got
down the stairs, it can come up the stairs.
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| Girls, stop fooling around. Get your hats on and let's go. Mary Louise, there's an
extra pair of gloves in the prayer book drawer. Wear the white ones. They go with
everything. And put on your new white shoes too. Now!
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| (Puts on flower covered hat. Looks in mirror, turns. Pulls on
gloves and exits.)
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TO BE CONTINUED
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