San Francisco Olympians Festival V: An Overture
In anticipation of our fifth season of the Olympians Festival, which has its first writer’s meeting tonight, we thought we’d share this fun little appetizer by Patsy Fergusson, who joined us for last year with her short play “Hecuba”. Enjoy, and see you in 2014!
CHARYBDIS — A SHORT PLAY
by
Patsy Fergusson
(A woman is sitting on a bench in a park, staring out blankly at the audience. She’s clean and well
dressed, holding a purse on her lap. She is waiting for someone. She looks at her watch. A young
man enters and sits next to her. He’s dirty, unshaven, in shabby clothes.)
SON
Hey, Mom! I’ve been looking for you.
MOTHER
I’ve been waiting right here.
SON
Well, I’m glad I finally found you. Are you hungry? Do you want to go get a sandwich?
MOTHER
Sure. I guess we could do that.
SON
Let’s go. I’m starving.
MOTHER
Why haven’t you eaten?
SON
I don’t have any money.
MOTHER
What happened to your money?
SON
I spent it on other things.
MOTHER
What kind of things?
SON
Oh, you know. The usual.
MOTHER
(looks away, then down at her feet; seems surprised and lifts her feet a little off the floor)
The water is rising.
SON
What water? I don’t see anything.
MOTHER
My shoes are getting wet.
SON
Don’t be an idiot. There isn’t any water! C’mon, let’s go get a sandwich. I’m starving to death!
MOTHER
(gives him an appraising look)
Yes, you do look like you’re starving. You look like a skeleton. Why are you are ruining the good looks that God gave you? You got a great gift of beauty and you’re throwing it away for no reason!
SON
Jesus. Not this again.
MOTHER
Not what?
SON
Not this big pile of bullshit.
MOTHER
(Sighs dramatically. Looks away, then takes a hand towel out of her purse and starts drying her shoes.)
SON
(watches her skeptically for a moment before continuing)
There’s a reason.
MOTHER
What reason?
SON
I’m suffering.
MOTHER
Why?
SON
I’m suffering because you never loved me enough.
MOTHER
(Sits up straight and looks at him)
How can you say that? I’ve always loved you! I love you more than my own self!
SON
That’s what you say.
MOTHER
I gave you everything-everything I could muster. I rack my brain every night about how to help you!
SON
And then you don’t do it.
MOTHER
I’m trying!
SON
No you aren’t. You’re not even getting me a sandwich. You’re just sitting there giving me grief.
MOTHER
Forget about the fucking sandwich! Listen to me! The water is rising up inside me. It’s past my ankles!
SON
I don’t see any water.
MOTHER
It’s almost up to my knees!
SON
(nonchalant)
Whatever. I’m not really hungry anyway. After you go a day or two without eating, your stomach forgets.
MOM
A day or two? Jesus! Okay, you convinced me. Let’s go get that sandwich.
SON
No. Forget about it. That’s not really the problem. I’m suffering because Joanna left me.
MOTHER
Joanna? That was 2 years ago! That’s not a good reason
to hurt yourself.
SON
I think it is.
MOTHER
So you’re feeling lonesome? So am I. I miss you so much…
SON
(annoyed)
How can you miss me when I’m sitting right in front of you?
MOTHER
But I never see you! I never know where you are! Every night, I worry that you’re lying dead under some
freeway. Why don’t you ever answer your phone?
SON
I lost it.
MOTHER
Again?! I just bought that last month. How could you lose another phone?
SON
(Growing angry)
The same way everyone else does! I put it down and forgot to pick it up!
MOTHER
(taps the top of her purse and looks away again)
Have you seen your doctor lately?
SON
No.
MOTHER
When is your next appointment?
SON
I don’t know. Maybe next week.
MOTHER
Are you taking your medication?
SON
You’re not allowed to talk to me about that, remember?
MOTHER
But are you?
SON
What do you want me to say? Yes?
MOTHER
(Pauses. Sighs. Taps her purse.)
You smell like you need a shower.
SON
I probably do.
MOTHER
Why didn’t you take one at the shelter?
SON
They kicked me out.
MOTHER
What?! When did that happen? Why?
SON
I don’t know why. It’s crazy. They said they couldn’t wake me up.
MOTHER
Why couldn’t they wake you? Were you on drugs?
SON
No.
MOTHER
Why wouldn’t you wake up, then?
SON
I don’t know. I guess I was tired.
MOTHER
How can you be tired when you don’t do anything all day?
SON
(angry)
What do you know about it!? I spend all day walking from place to place, just looking for somewhere to sit down. It’s exhausting! It took me three hours just to get up here on the bus to see you!
MOTHER
(penitant)
Where are you going to sleep tonight?
SON
I don’t know. I was thinking maybe I could spend the night on your couch. What do you think? I just need a place to lie down for a few hours…
MOTHER
(guiltily)
I don’t think I can let you do that…
SON
Why not?
MOTHER
You need to check into a hospital, or a drug treatment program. Those are your choices. We don’t want to enable you to go on living like this.
SON
It’s Dad, isn’t it? You won’t let me sleep over because Dad says no.
MOTHER
He thinks it’s your only chance.
SON
Why don’t you think for yourself for a change? It’s pathetic.
MOTHER
I am thinking for myself. I agree with him. This isn’t working. It’s not right. You’re in danger.
(putting her hand out to touch his jaw)
Why is your mouth swollen? Did somebody hit you?
SON
(pulling away from her)
Yes. But it didn’t hurt. I was smiling the whole time.
(giving her a lurid smile)
Don’t worry about it! Everything will be fine as soon as my loan comes through.
MOTHER
Your loan?
SON
The $50,000 government transparency loan I told you about. Damien is going to co-sign for me.
MOTHER
(exasperated)
No one is going to loan you $50,000! And if someone said they would co-sign for you, they’re just trying to get their hands on your disability money-to rip you off.
SON
(growing angry again)
What do you know about it!
MOTHER
I know you aren’t being realistic. I know you need help.
SON
Then why don’t you help me?! I stink! My feet hurt! I’m cold! I’m hungry! You’re sitting there with a
purse full of money and you won’t even buy me a sandwich!
MOTHER
But I WILL buy you a sandwich! Come on. Let’s go get one right now.
SON
No. Let’s wait. That’s not really the problem. I’m suffering because I don’t understand what’s going on.
MOTHER
(suddenly alert)
What?
SON
I’m sinking, Mom. I’m slipping under the surface.
MOTHER
Please don’t say that.
SON
It’s scary, but I kind of like it. The water is warm. It protects me from falling. It cushions me from the blow.
MOTHER
No, it doesn’t.
SON
I can see a grate at the bottom of the pool, creating a current. It’s pulling at me. It’s sucking me in.
MOTHER
Don’t go towards the grate. It’s a trap. Swim up! Swim up to the top!
SON
I can see the sun penetrating the water, and little particles of dust floating beside me in the light; I can see your shape standing at the edge of the pool, peering in…
MOTHER
(takes a sharp breath)
Yes. And the water is rising. It’s covering my shoes. I’m looking around for a rope…
SON
A rope?
MOTHER
I want to throw it to you. I want to pull you in.
SON
Do you have one?
MOTHER
I can’t find one. I’m looking.
SON
Yeah?
MOM
Let’s go get a sandwich.
SON
(getting up and starting to walk around the bench in a widening spiral)
Forget it. I changed my mind. I don’t want anything from you.
MOTHER
(Following after him. The spiral getting wider and wider until she chases him off the stage; Each time she passes behind the bench, she emerges wetter and wetter.)
Where are you going?
SON
What do you care?
MOTHER
Don’t you want a sandwich?
SON
Not anymore.
MOTHER
(Looking around anxiously, perhaps for the rope)
But you said you were hungry.
SON
I’d rather have a beer.
MOTHER
I’m not buying you any alcohol!
SON
(stooping to pick up a cigarette butt off the sidewalk and holding it up to admire in the light)
Look at the size of that one!
MOTHER
Don’t put that in your mouth! It’s dirty.
SON
Stop pretending you care about me.
MOTHER
Stop running away from me!
SON
Stop following me! Go find the fucking rope!
(exits)
MOTHER
Wait up. Come back. Don’t leave me!
(stops at the edge of the stage, reaching after him; the next line is delivered quietly, in defeat)
I could buy you some cigarettes…
(walks back to the bench, carefully; sits down; looks down at the ground fearfully, then lifts her feet up on the bench to avoid the rising water)
END