GrowingGardenias

ANORIGINALPLAYBYANNASCHULIGER

DescriptionofSet:
Thesetisverysimple.AdoorwayStage
Rightlinksbackstagetothestage.Thereisatableandchair
locatedCenterStage.Thereisalsoacoatrackupstageleft
containingallthecostumepiecesandpropsneededforeach
character.TheresasmalltrashbinCenterStageRight.Down
Left,attheedgeofthestage,therearethreepotsfullof
soil.

Setting:
ThefictionaltownofWashville,PA.
Time:
PresentDay

VirginiaGinnyHolbrook(26yearsold):
(Ginnyissittingathersmallkitchentablelookingdownintoa
latteinapersonalmug.Herstareisblankandshesasstill
ascanbe.Herhairisdownanditsclearthatshedoesntcare
aboutherappearanceatallinthismoment.Thereareacouple
ofred,genericclosedandoutofbusinesssignsonthe
tableinfrontofheraccompaniedbyalargeblacksharpie.
Finally,shetakesasipofthelatteshesbeenstaringat.It
tastesgoodshespleasedwithherworkandshelooksupand
scoffsquietlyattheaudience.Afteradeepsigh,shebeginsto
speak.Herspeechistiredandhasacareless/surrenderedfeel
toitasiftocommunicate,well,whatelsecouldgowrong?
However,asGinnycontinuesthroughhermonologue,itisclear
thatsomethinghasupsethermorethansheletsoninthe
beginning.)

Well.Huh.Thatdidntworkyknowatfirst,Ithoughtthat
nothingcouldgowrong.Supplyanddemandwereprobablythetwo
mostimportantwordsIlearnedinbusinessschool.Firsta
demand,thenyoursupply,finallyyoursuccessProf.Ryans
usedtorepeatthattousuntilitwassearedintoourbrains.
YouhavetoSEETHEDEMANDhedalwayssay
(laughs)
.Well,I
1

thoughtthatIhadseenone,butapparentlynot.Iguess,Prof.
Ryansshouldfindanothermottotojamintofreshmansbrains
becauseitsjustnotthatsimple.
(Takesanothersip)
.AndI
makea
damn
goodcupofcoffee!
(beat)
Yeah,Imangry.
Goddammit!
(hitstablewithherfist)
Angryiseasierthan
sadnesssofornowallIhaveenergyforisangry.Myfirst
instinctwastofightformy
(referencesthesignsonthetable
infrontofher)
HoleintheWallHavenbutwhenIcouldnt
paytheleaseforthespaceonMainStreet,thefightingwas
useless.
(momentofrealization)
Wherestheloyalty?Leavingmy
sweetcoffeeshopforanotherswhooffersacheaperdeal.This
iswar,thatswhatitis!
(realizationthatshestakenita
bittoofar)
Well,okaymaybenot,butIfuckinghate
capitalism.Ijustdontknowwhattodo.EversinceIwasa
sophomoreincollege,runningacoffeeshopwastheplan!Imean
Iwassupposedtogrowoldandwisedoingthis!
...Right?(beat)
Theworstwaswatchingthecustomersslowlyabandonship.I
thinkthatswhatbrokemyheart.Itwasntacleanbreakitwas
morelikeacrackwasmadeeverytimeIdidntseeacustomer
comein,knowingtheywereoveratBensBarnhousegettingtheir
cheaper,crappy,coffee.
(swirlslatte)
Oractually,youknow
theworstpartwasntseeingallthecustomersslowlyfadeaway,
itwasthedaywhenIrealizedthattherewasnowayfor
HoleintheWallHaventostayopen.
(Beat.Fightingback
tears)
Myemployeesthoughyouknow,
that
brokemyheart,
tellingthem.Ididnthavemanyemployees,soweallbecamea
sortofcoffeeshopfamily.Iwillneverforgettheirfaceswhen
ItoldthemtheywereoutofajobandHoleinthewallHaven
wastogoingbacktojustbeingaholeinthewall.
(beat.sits
backdownatdeskandtakesasignwithonehandwhilepicking
upasharpieinanother,beginswritingonthesign,takes
anothersipofcoffeeandbeginsspeakingagainstillfillingin
informationonthesigns)
IranintoEmilyFischeronherway
outofBensBarnhousetoday.Itwasawkward...Shelookedatme
andsaid,Imsorry,Ginny.IamitsjustcheaperWhydont
peopleunderstanditsmorecomplicatedthanthat.Dontthey
gethowimportantthisshopistome?
(justthinkingbackto
boththerealitythathercoffeeshopisgoneandalsoher
interactionwithEmily,Ginnysfacebecomeshotandsheis
2

strugglingtokeepastraightfacetearsseeminevitable)...was
tome.
(beat.)
Didthey
forget
thelaughterandlatenights?!
THEYJUSTDONTGETIT.(
Atthismoment,thebeginningof
SpiegelimSpiegelplaysunderavideooftheplantingofa
seedappearsaboveGinny.Shepausesandallfocusistothe
videothoughitsclearthatGinnyisalsoexperiencingthe
video/audio.Afterthevideoends,Ginnyblinksbackintoher
scenelookingthoughtfulthoughslightlyconfused.Lightsgo
down.)

EmilyEmFischer(30yearsold)
(Emhasjustwalkedthroughthefrontdoorofherhome.Sheis
wearinganoldcoatoverasweatshirtwithahatandscarfstill
on.Sheisclearlyupsetandatfirstdoesntreallyknowwhat
todo.Atlightsup,sheisstandingrightinsidethedoorwayof
herhouse,withalookofconcernmixedwithbitsofshock.
Emilywalksovertothetableinamessyanddestructivesortof
way.Shekicksoffhershoes,throwsherjacketoverthechair,
pullsoffherscarfandisclearlyveryfrustrated.She
collapsesintothechair.Itsclearshesbeenrecentlyvery
anxiousandhasbeenrunningonlowamountsofsleep.She
carriesinherhandadisposablecupofcoffeewithBens
Barnhouseprintedonit.Shetakesthelastsipofcoffeeand
thencrumplesitandtriestochuckitinthetrashcanacross
theroom.Shemisses.Aftershesseated,sheletsoutan
exasperatedexhalationofbreathandthenpullsopensupthe
laptopinfrontofher,typesonthekeyboardforafewbeats.
Stops,looksatthescreenintentlysearchingforsomegood
news.Afterabeat,shelooksouttotheaudienceandbeginsto
speakassheshutshercomputerscreen.)

(Commentingonwhatshehadjustseenonthecomputerscreenas
ifprocessingtheinformation)
Nothing.Absolutelynothing!
(to
audience)
FindinganewjobisTHEWORST.Turnsout,Monster.com
is
not
amagicaljobgenie.ItsbeenthreeweekssinceSylvania
letmego.Three.Weeks.Icantlivemuchlongeronmysavings
alonehell,
what
savings?!
(beat)
Nobodyshiringrightnownot
innowherelandPennsylvaniaatleast.AndIcantjustupand
movetoCaliforniaorsomethingthatsjustnotaluxuryIcan
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afford.Andmovingbackinwithmyparents?Yeahnowayinhell
isthatgonnahappen.Huhhhhh,god
dammit
.
(roughlyrunsfingers
throughherloosely,notverywellmaintainedhairandthen
looksup,thenlooksatthecrumpledcoffeecupwhichseemsto
remindherofsomethingandshebeginstospeakinorderto
addressthisthoughtingreaterdetail)
IranintoGinnytoday.
Shewassoangrywhenshesawme.IguessitwasbecauseIwas
comingoutofBensbutshehastounderstandthatmoneyis
tight!Imean,hercoffeeisnotcheapitmaybebetter,but
still...AndIgethersidetoo,Ibetitsdisappointingto
losesomethinglikethat,butshecanopenothers!Andmaybe
Washvillejustwasnthertown.I
will
missthefeelofthat
place,though.Itwaspeacefulwiththiskindofenergeticbuzz
allthetime
(hasdifficultyexplainingitexactlyafter
strugglingtofindwordswithhandgesturesfailing,shegives
up)
Idontknowitwasjustreallycool.AndGinnywasreally
cool.
(beat)
Butwhydidshehavetobesorudetomelikethat?
Itcaughtmeoffguard,tobehonestwithyou.Whycantshe
justgetoverit,Imean,atleast
she
hasacollegedegreeshe
couldgetajobanywhere!Andatleastshedoesnthavetopay
forafreakingfenderbender.
(beat.)
Youknow,IblameGinny.
(beat)
Plus,thewomaninthecarinfrontofmeactedlikeI
wreckedhercar!Jesus,shewascrazymad.Whatthehellis
wrongwithpeopletoday?
(atthismoment,thebeginningof
SpiegelimSpiegelplaysunderthevideooftheplantingofa
seedappearsaboveEmilyshead.ItisclearEmilyiswatching
thisintandemwiththeaudiencethoughsheiscompletelystill.
Whenthevideoends,sheblinksthreetimesandreentersthe
scenenowmorereflective)
Iguesswiththeclosingof
HoleintheWallHaven,Ginnyisout

ofajobtoo.GodknowsI
knowwhatitsliketobeinthatposition.Ishouldgovisit
herandmakesureshesalright.
(sigh)
Yeah,
(sighsknowingly)
Illdothat.
(lightsfadetoblack.)

MayClark(65+yearsold)
(Aslightscomeup,Mayisshuttingherfrontdoorasshewalks,
halfstunnedtoherkitchentable,clutchingapretty,porcelain
doll.Sheisclearlyanolderwomanthoughstillnotyet
retired.Shewearsaverydistinctivefloweredscarf.Mayplaces
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thedollonthetable,looksatitforabeatandthenbeginsto
speak.Itisclearthatthereisaslowrage,burningthrough
herbodywithweightoneachword.Herscarffallsoffherneck
andshedoesntevenbothertopickitup.Sheisrubbingher
neckasshespeakshermonologueasifrecoveringfrom
something.)

Howcouldshebeso
thoughtless
and
rude?!
Didshenot
REALIZE
howhardshehitmycar?
(apainedexpressioncrossesherface
asshetriestomassageherneck)
Andnotonlydidsherefuseto
helpmegathertheitemsthathadfallenoverandspilled
everywhere,shedidntevenaskmeif
I
wasalright!!Noteven
anImsorry.
(asifmockingthevoiceoftheotherwoman)
Onlya
scratch
?Wasthisgirlblind?
(beat)
Anddidshenot
see
thatthefallenitemswereclearly
gifts
?GiftsIhadtopickup
asubstitutingjobtobuy.(
Beginningtoboilover)
Andmyneck
too:Icantjustbouncebackfromsomethinglikethat.How
couldshebesoselfish?!
(Herhandsfalltothebrokentoys.)
AndnowImsupposedtoshowupaftertwoyearswith
broken
toys?
(Tugsnervouslyatherscarfanditsclearshesonthe
vergeoftearsbutquicklyhersadnessturnstoangerandshe
beginstoblame)
Itstheirmothersfault.Ifonlyshewasnt
sogoddamnstubborn!Ifshed
listen
tomeforonce.
(Atthis
momentthebeginningofSpeigelimSpiegelplaysunderthe
videooftheplantingoftheseedappearsaboveMay.Shefreezes
thoughitsclearthatshecanseethevideoplaying.Whenit
finishessheblinksthreetimesandresumesspeaking,thistime
farmorereflective)
IsupposeIvebeenstubborntoo.Icould
haveallowedhermoregrace.IguessIdalwaysimaginedDan
bringinghomesomeonemore,ahIdontknowjust
not
someone
likeRachel.Wejustnevercanagreeonanything.
(Thinking
back)
TherearesomanythingsIshouldntvesaid.Especially
aboutthechildren.Ireallyshouldvekeptmymouthshutabout
theirbehavior.
(beat.)
Afterthat,theystoppedvisiting.We
losttouch.Justlikethat.
(beat.)
Iwanttoseethemagain.I
wanttospoilthemandgivethemtoomuchcandybeforebedtime.
Iwanttomakesugarcookiesandscoldthemforeatingallthe
dough...Grandmathings.
(fadesoff.Shenoticesthedolland
picksitupagainfromthetableandinspectsit)
Herarmis
5

broken
(Maytakesamomenttoholdthedollclosetoherheart
andthenbeginsspeakingagain)
MaybeIcanfixit.
(looksout
totheaudienceasifrecitingaproverblearnedatayoungage)
Whensomethingisbroken,onemustdoonesbesttomendit.
(Lightsfade)

OliviaRichardson(15yearsold)
(LightsgouponOliviawhoissittingwithherlegscrossedand
herabdomenbentovertothefloor,awornnotebooksitsonthe
floorinfrontofherthatsheisfuriouslywritingonwhile
sometimespausingtochewonthebackofherpen.Whatsheis
writingisobviouslyveryimportanttoher.Suddenlyshestops,
looksup,seestheaudienceandthoughalittlestartled,
immediatelydefendsherself.Herdefenseisscaredandtimid.)

Whatareyoulookingat?
(Ripsapieceofpaperoutofher
notebookandhidesitunderhershirtasifbyhabitprotecting
herwordsbutquicklyrealizingthatherdefensivehabitmustve
lookedoddandcontinuingnow,lessdefensiveanddecidingtobe
openassheadmits)
Sorry.
(Pullsthepieceofpaperoutfrom
underhershirt.Explainsfurther)
Somekidsinmymathclass
stoleoneofmypoemsandIguessitsmademealittlebit
protective.
(Beat)
Ireallylikewriting.Ithelpsmeclearmy
mind,IdontknowthatsoundscheesybutIvebeenwritinga
lot.Beforethisyear,Ineverconsideredmyselfawriterand
youknow,IguessIstilldontbutwritinghashelpedme.A
lot.
(beat)
IdidntknowSeraverywellactuallyIbarelyknew
heratall.Likesure,wehadGeometryfreshmanyearandwe
workedonacoupleofprojectstogetherbutitwasmoreoflike
aIknow
of
herrelationshipthananI
know
her
relationship.ThenitallhappenedsofastandIdidnteven
knowshewassickuntilthelettersweresenthometoallofour
families
(beginstotrailoffthisisnteasyforherto
remember)
informingallofusthatSerawas...Ithinkthe
letteractuallysaidgonewithGodormovedontoaplaceof
paradisebutshewasdeadandithitmelikeabricktomy
stomach.AtfirstItriedtobrushitoffandthenIwalkedinto
EnglishclassthenextdayandnoticedtheemptychairIlost
it,then.Ihadtogotothenurseandeverything.Theysatme
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downandtriedtohelpbutIjustwenthomeandcriedalot.My
momandmyschoolnurseandmyguidancecounselorsaiditwas
thetraumaoftheexperience,whatever.Theyjustdontget
it.Shewasmyage.Howcouldthispossiblyhappen?!Whocould
letthishappen?!Whydidithavetohappen?
(beat)
Nobodyhad
answerssoIpickedupanoldjournalandjuststartedwriting.
Ibeganwritingletterstopeople.LetterstoSera,lettersto
God,letterstomyparentsortomyfriends.Talkingtothem
aboutit,askingquestions...AndthoughInevergotanswers
(well,Ineversentthem)Ididntreallyneedanswersfrom
them.Ijustkeptwritingbecauseitmademefeelbetter.AndI
stillwriteallthetime.
(beat)
Mostofmyteachershateit
becauseIdomostofitinschool.Evenyesterday,theSubtook
oneofmypoems,crumpleditupandthrewitaway.TheysayIm
offtaskandnotpayingattention,buthonestly,howmuchgood
isAlgebragonnadomeinmylife?Buttheworstpartis:the
popularkidshavenoticedthatImalwayswritingandforsome
reason,theyhavedecidedforsomereasonthattheyeitherdont
likeitordontlikeme.Idontknow.Theyjustdontgetit.
(slowerthistime)
They
justdontgetit.(Atthismoment,the
beginningofSpiegelimSpiegelplaysunderthevideoofthe
seedbeingplantedisprojectedaboveher.Liketheprevious
characters,Oliviafreezesthoughitisclearthatsheis
watchingthis.Whenthevideoends,Oliviablinksthreetimes
andcontinuesspeaking,thistimemorethoughtfuland
reflective)
EverybodyhatesthatIwritesomuch,Iguess.But
maybetheyredealingwiththelosstoojustinotherways.
(Lightsfade)

McKenzieParker(16yearsold)
(LightscomeuponMcKenzieassitsuponthetablenowmadeinto
abedwithapillowandasheet.Sheissittinguprightwiththe
coversoverher,justonherphone.Sheslookingthrough
instagram,facebook,andtwitterdoingthesocialmediarounds
buthermindisclearlyelsewheredistracted.Shelooksupfrom
herphoneandbeginsspeaking.)

IwishIcouldtakebackwhatIdid.Shelookedsoupset,
shockedyouknowbutatthesametimewhydoesshehavetobeso
7

weird?AndthenIreadit,andthefunnythingwasitjusthit
me.AndnowallIcanthinkofishowthatstupidpoemmademe
feelandIcantgetitoutofmyhead.Itsoundstotallyweird
ifItryandexplainitbutIjusthavethisimageinmyhead
wheretherearegoldenburstsoflightamongstthisoverwhelming
uncertaindarknessForgetit.Imlikesuchanidiot.Idont
knowmaybeitstherecentmove,mymomjustnotgettingit,
maybePopsdeathprobablye.alloftheabove.
(suddenly
uncomfortable,brushingitoff)
Butlikewhateveryouknow?
(beat)
Itsmostlikelymylackofsleepthatswhatitis.
(At
thismoment,thebeginningofSpiegelimSpiegelplaysunder
thevideooftheplantingoftheseedisshownabovewhere
McKenzieissittingonherbed.ItisclearthatMcKenzieis
experiencingthisvideowhileitisplaying.Whenitfinishes
playing,McKenzieblinkshereyes3timesjustastheother
charactershavebeendoing.ItisclearthatMcKenziesmoodhas
changeddramaticallyfromthebeforethevideostarted
playingmorereflective.Afterabeat,shebeginsspeakingagain
andsaysthenextline,asifadmittingpointblanc)
IreallyshouldntvetreatedOliviathewaythatIdid.Wow,
yeahhowcouldIhavedonesuchathing?Nobutseriously,
how?
(beat.sheisreallythinkingaboutthis)
IguessIwasjust
caughtupinthemomenttryingtobecoolwithKatelynnand
everyoneelse
(beat)
ShouldIapologize?Thatwouldbesocial
suicide.Butwetookherpoemandwelaughedand
toreitapart
(shuddersveryslightlyatthememory)
Youknowwhat?MaybeI
canjust
not
participateinsuchathingagain.Imean,Ilike
poetry
(suddenlydefensive)
notlikelikeitbutyouknow
itsnotliketerrible.
(beat)
Yeah,Ijustwontbotherher
anymoreIllpretendIjustdidntcatchontoKatelynnsplan
andmissedout,thatshouldwork,right?Yeah.MaybeIcould
evensmileathereveryonceinawhile,Imeanshelooksnice?
Ithinkthatwouldwork.
(beat)
God,movingtoanewplaceis
hard.
(lightsfadeasMcKenziepicksupherphoneagain.As
phonescreenfadestoblack,McKenzieexits.)

JanParker(44yearsold)

(Aslightscomeup,Janissittingatherkitchentable,
cuttingceleryforahomemadechickennoodlesoup.Shehasa
8

senseofworryandconcernabouther.Subtlefrightisalso
foundonherfaceitsclearthatsheistense.Sheiscutting
thevegetablesintenselyandfinallyasheremotionsbeginto
growandfester,itallcomestoahaltandshesuddenlystops
cuttingwithanexasperatedexpression.Shebeginsspeaking.In
hervoiceisthemumbledfeelingofsurrenderassherestsher
headinbetweenherwrists)

Howdopeopledothis?Howdofamiliesmove?Andwedidnteven
comeveryfar!VirginiatoPennsylvania.Wow,Ithought,nobig
deal,anewbeginning.Yeah.
(beat.shelooksdownather
knifeandnoticessomethingonitwhichshewipesoffin
disgust)
Themoverspackednotonlythebuttertinbutalsothe
butterinthatsamebrownpaperandputitinwiththerestof
thekitchenappliances.Whopacks
butter?
Canyoubelievethat?
Nowtheresbutter
everywhere,allover
mykitchensuppliesand
itsgettingtoapointwhereIcantstanditanymore.
(beat)
Itsbeenreallyhardonthekidstoo.Especiallyonmytwo
oldesttheymisstheiroldfriendsandIdontblamethem,I
missminetoo.OfcourseIknewtransplantingmyfamilywasnt
goingtobeeasybutIdontthinkIwasready.Andmovingtoa
small,closeknittownlikethisoneitsisolating.Iknow
McKenzieseemstohavemadeacoupleoffriendsatschoolbut
withMadison,shetellsmeshehatesfeelingliketheexcluded
one.Honestly,Iexpectedmorefromthiscommunity.IsupposeI
thoughtsmalltownswouldbemorewelcomingtonewcomers.I
mean,isthatcrazytobelieve?Well,huh.Apparently.
(beat)
Maybethiswasthewrongchoice.Maybeweshouldjustgoback.
(Atthismomentthedoorbellrings.Jangoestotheinvisible
door,answerswithapleasanthelloandwehearoh,thank
youhowthoughtful,thankyou.andtheclosingofadoor.Jan
turnsbacktotheaudiencetofacethemstunned,holdingapot
ofblossomingwhiteGardenias.Atthismoment,thebeginningof
SpiegelimSpiegelplaysunderthevideooftheplantingofa
seedappearsaboveJan.Itisclearthatsheisexperiencing
thisvideoasitplays.Oncethevideoisover,Janblinks3
timesandstillstunned,staresattheGardeniasassheplaces
themonthetablenexttohercuttingboard.Shemovestowards
theGardeniasandinhales.Itisclearthattheysmell
9

wonderful.Asmileformsacrossherface.Then,afterabeator
twoJanbeginsspeakingagain)
ThatwomanIwishIcouldkiss
her!!Ourfirsthousewarminggift.
(Janexitsthestagefora
momentleavingthewhiteGardeniasonstage.Shereturnswitha
whiteribbon.Delicately,shetiesthewhiteribbonaroundthe
Gardeniavaseandtiesitintoabow.Afterthisisdone,she
sitsbackdownatthetableandjustlooksatthem.ThenJan
beginstospeakagain)
Reallybrightensupthekitchen,doesnt
it?
(Lightsfadetoblack.)

RoseLumiette[Epilogue](Agenotspecifiedorimportant)

(Lightsuponawomanwhoseageisnotspecified.Sheskneeling
attheedgeofthestage,gardening.Hercomposureiscalmand
collectedandthereisasenseofwisdomandinsightintowhat
shesdoing.Shesplantingseedsverycarefullyandartfully
andthisactiongreatlyresemblesthevideothathasbeen
appearingaboveeachcharacterintheirmonologues.Thereisa
rhythmandtempotoherplantingthatresemblesasortofdance
asSpiegelimSpiegelbyArvoPartplaysaboveher.Aftershe
hascometoastoppingpoint,shelooksdownathersoiland
thenlooksupattheaudienceandgentlysmilestothem.Then
shebeginsspeaking.Herwayofspeechisclearlythoughtfuland
poetic.)

(Playfullytotheaudience)
Shhh.Theyresleeping.
(chuckles
quietlythenturnsandsaysfondly)
Theyvebeguntheirlong
sleep.Itstimetowaitandwatchastheygrowbrilliant
greenstalkswithsweet,whiteflowers.
(Picksupahandfulof
seeds.)
IttakestimeandpatienceGardeniasaresomeof
themostdifficultplantstogrowfromthissmallseedbutwith
carefulpractice,itispossible.Someplantslovethesunshine
andyearntoturntheirheadstoitbutforothersthatwoulddo
moredamagethangood.Gardeniasneedfulltopartialsunshine
theylifttothewarmthofthesunbutofcoursethatwouldbe
differentforaDaisyoraCosmos.Andagardenermustlearnthe
differencebetweenwateringanddrowningforeachflower.
Gardeniasneedonlyminimalwaterforgrowthmoistsoilmore
10

thansufficesthoughirisesandmarshmarigoldswouldquickly
witherinthoseconditions.WhenIfirststartedplanting
flowers,Iwasntsocareful,Ididntpayattention.ButasI
beganlearningtheirwaysandneeds,Ibegantounderstandthem
moreandmore.Plantinghasbecomethemostpreciouspartofmy
day.Thereismuchhopeinplantingasingleseedmuchjoyin
caringforeachparticularflowerandthenanewlifeisable
toflourish.Andthat,that,isamostmiraculousmoment.
(lightsfadetoblackout)

ENDOFPLAY.

11