MLK DAY
An excerpt from my play "Honey"that was developed at Primary Stages with the support of Winter Miller and Tessa LaNeve. Reading directed by Patricia McGregor.
MARTHA C She’s not disturbing me. She’s Mary C.
MARY C How you my know my name ?
MARTHA C Knew it since you signed it on that big red blossom you painted in Mrs. Brown’s studio.
MARY C You go to Washington Middle ?
MARTHA C Everyone does.
MARY C I never seen you in Mrs. Brown’s studio.
MARTHA C We have different art classes but I’ve seen your red blossom and Mrs. Brown had a photo of you by the painting.
MARY C They hung that blossom in the front hall.
MARTHA C They did. But your photo isn’t next to it ?
ICE CREAM MAN (to himself) Cause they hung it in the front wall.
MARY C I painted a lot last year.
MARTHA C I saw the peacock you painted. It was beautiful.
MARY C Thank you.
MARTHA C You done swimming for today ? It is too hot to stop swimming.
MARY C I haven’t started.
MARTHA C Say. I don’t have your address.
MARY C I reckon not.
MARTHA C I’m having my fourteen birthday in two weeks at Stony Pizza and Bowl and Shakes. Would you like to come ?
MARY C Yes.
MARTHA C I’ll get my mother. She has invitations in her bag. (Martha C runs off.)
(Mary C turns to Ice Cream Man.)
MARY C I’m going to a party at Stony Pizza.
ICE CREAM MAN Her mother hasn’t seen you. You going no where. She’s not coming back.
(Martha C comes back with an invite.)
MARTHA C She’s on her way ?
MARY C Who ?
MARTHA C My mother. She always likes to meet my new friends.
(Martha C gives Mary C the invite through the fence.)
MARTHA C You got a dress ?
MARY C Yes. For Church
MARTHA C Good. Because we are going to play spin the bottle after bingo after bowling.
MARY C You just met me.
MARTHA C But you are in my class. We are classmates and I invited the class. It’s hard having a birthday in August. Everyone is away but I am so glad you got your invite.
MARY C What’s your favorite color ?
MARTHA C Purple.
MARY C I will paint you something purple.
MARTHA C You hair isn’t wet. Have you gone swimming at all ?
MARY C No. I have been waiting.
MARTHA C For what ?
MARY C An... opening.
MARTHA C Funny girl. Can I borrow your intertube ?
(Martha C opens the fence. Mary C enters the threshold. Marilyn, Martha’s mother enters. She hops along the hot pavement in her bathing suit. She is all woman.)
MARTHA C Hey, mommy. It’s Mary C.
ICE CREAM MAN Mary C. Grab your things and go to Bateman.
(Marilyn notices that her daughter is speaking to Mary)
MARILYN Martha C ! What are you doing Martha C ?!
MARTHA C What’s that mommy ?
(A panic look crosses Martha C and Mary C’s faces.)
ICE CREAM MAN That sign ain’t just hanging their Mary C. It gets enforced.
(Martha C runs away from the fence.)
MARTHA C Why you yelling. mommy ? Everyone is looking.
ICE CREAM MAN Everyone is looking.
MARY C Everyone is looking. (Pool noises are silenced.) (Marilyn runs up to the fence.)
MARILYN She is a......
(Mary C walks backs away and exits the pool area. Marilyn slaps the gate in front of her face.)
MARY C I got an invitation.
(Mary C and Martha C look at each other through the gate.)
ICE CREAM MAN That’s what Thaddeus Zucker said.
(Marilyn C grabs Martha C.’s hand.)
MARTHA C She was going to share her inter tube with me.
(Marilyn drags her daughter away.)
MARILYN No.
(Mary C looks down at the envelope. She picks up her intertube.)
MARY C I am going to Bateman.
ICE CREAM MAN Amen.
MARY C But I am keeping this.
(Mary C holds up the invitation.)
ICE CREAM MAN Martha C doesn’t understand much about things. They call her slow and the boys call her worse.
MARY C I think she understands enough.
