Casting Suggestion: Ea cast of sci wed, and there are song arguments for wsing this umber, the following cating ofthe roles has proved to be ‘workable and sucessful ast cron: Father, Michael, Browser, Grandfather, Sts, Gordon, Davi, Harvey, and Host sand acton: Ghent, Howard, Psychiatrist, Tod, Pas, Ben, Chris Jim, Dick, and Guest sd scrons Arthur, Boy, Areitet il Standish, and Guest ast Acmss: Agent, Mother, Carolyn, Sandra, Dora, Margery, Beth, Kat, Clare, Rath aud Acrues: Annie, Grace, Peay, Nancy, Sart, Aunt Hart, Ely, Ani, and Guert, ged scrmsst Sally, Gil Eli, Agate, Winkie, Old Lady, Helen, Meg, Botha, and Guest Nick, Fred, Tony, ‘The play take place in dining rom-or, rahe, many dng rooms "The seme dining room furstre eres for al @ ley Irunced, shining ding room table; to ch, wth rms, etter ens to mor, artes, along each sds; severe d tional matching cha, placed vo ato def the wal of the room Upitage vomethie, «sideboard, pssbly wth mor Upioge, Lf, a sunging dor lade to the pantry and token. Uptoge, Right on orclcey lads tothe rot hal end the vot of he howe, But we shold see no deals fom thet ther ooms Both esrances ol be mated tn sch aay {0 ugg lib outside the dining room There should be a good, hardwood foor, poly porque, covered ith ood san rental “A vowe ofthe eo rounds th room, 1¢ might elmo seem to be tarounded by a teleccoered ow-stang cht, on ras Son oe on dayne ma any yr Since thee are no walls to the dnt rum, winds shoud be uggested through lighting. The implication should be tht there are large French doo, Dowsage, and maybe winds along another wall, ea = Since the pla takes place during the cour o day the ght ‘Mould change acer. ‘The play requires o tt of sc-thee men, three women-endACT ONE (No one on stage. The dining room furniture sparkles in the curly morning light. Votces from Off Rlgh, Then’ teomon ral ‘estate ogent and her male client appear inthe. dooray. Bath ‘eoarrincots) Acs: «and the dai room, canoer; O, boy. scm: You see how these rooms were designed to catch the ‘arly morning ight? commer Ty. ‘cmon: French doors, lovely garden, fowering crabs. Do you ke gardening? * cree cust: Used to, Auer: Imagine, Imagine having long, Jsuely breast Sa uct: As opposd to instant cole on Easter Aithines omer: Exactly, You know this fa toom after my own heart. 1 Bem up ina ding room Iie tis: Sane sor of fie a‘Tue Dose Rooxe cue So did 1 Aces: Then eco we are. Welcome home, (Pose) ‘caaner: What ae they asking again? ‘cesT: Mako an eller. I thiak they come down, (Another pause) caocr: Troubles, wel never use this oom. cost: Ob, now. umr: We won't. The last two hones we lived in, my wie ‘we the dining room table to sort the laundry. scent: Ob, dee, ‘aust: Maybe you'd better show me something more cote ora scocr: That means something farther out. How loog have we ‘otto Bad you a home? cunmer: One day ‘cnet: And how lg will the corporation keep you her, afte you've found IP ‘cums: Sis months toa yar scr: Oh, then defiitely we should look farther out. (She ‘pens the Kitchen door) You ean look at the kitchen as we Ive ‘caver: You should’t have shown me this ist. cas: [thoughts was something to go by. uncer: Youve spoiled everything ese, scar: Ob, no. Well find you something if we've got all day But wast ta lovely out? ’ ‘Ta Doane Roose (xamsr: Let’ go, or buy it (They both ext though the Mtchen door as a brother comes in Irom the hell, followed by his sister. Both ore middeaged. ‘is name Arthur, hess Sally) samen: The dining room, suns: Yes, Anat: Notice how we gravitate ight to this rom, saubr: Henow i rn: You sure Mother does’ want this sulin Floida? ‘sauce: She hardly has room for what she's got. She wants ws to take turn. Withot iting, smc: Well just have to dra lt then Suit: Unless one of us want something. and one of us doe ‘arruen: We have to doit today, ‘ster: Do you tink that eoogh tine t divide up a whole ‘arm: T have to got back Sal, (Ie looks in the sidebord) Well draw lots and thea go Wrough the rooms taking tars (ite brings out a sler spoon) Here. Wel ute this salt spoon, (Ue shits from hard to hand behind his back, then holds lout tuo fits) Take your pek. You get the spoon, you ae the ining ron, saxty: You moan yon want to start ere? Anritn: Cot to start somewhere {Sally Loks at his fits. Anne, a maid, comes out from the |atchen to set the table for breaifost. She sets place mals at thor end end tzo cofee cups, eth saucer. Sally and. Arthur take no notice of her Aste then leaves) ‘sutx: (Not choosing) You mean you want the dining room? s‘Tue Drvese Roone anruvn: Yes, Sauce: What happened to the stuff you bal? ssn: Jane took it Le was par ofthe settlement sstty: If you wa, where wil you put it? src: That's my problem, Sl ‘vu. I thought youd tay apartment. Ammen: Fn pace, SauLx: Imeun, you cilzen wont wat sen: Probably not sautv: Then where om earth... # ‘amen: Come on, Sah Choose. (He holds ont his fats again She start to choose. Arnie comes tn rom the hitchen, bo ‘ng the momsing paper. She pute tat the had of the able, so Arthur oes his has) You dnt want ie saute: Ofeonrse L want nmi: I mean, you already bave a perety god dining roam, satu: Nota good as ‘muon: You mean you want two dining roms? ssa Td give our old stuf to Debbie tim: To Debbie? ‘att: She's our oldest ei anno: Does Debbie want a dining toon? s8u0¥s She might sate: She might, srr: In Beaver? ‘Tu Dose Roone Sau: Sho jst might, Arthur, (A father comes in from the Right He settles comfortably atthe head of the table, unfolds hs newspaper importantly) nmon: (Shufing the spoon behind his back again. Then hal {ng out is ts) dou want to Bh. Which hand? (Silly stort to choose, then stops) ‘auc: Are you planing to pati in storage? roan: Tight satar: I checked on that That cots an arma ad a eg -awtcm: So dows shipping to Denver, (He hold out is fits) arm: (Calling to Bitehon) Good mering, Ante sux: (Almost picking « hand, then stopping) T know what ‘wll happen if you wi. sma: What? ssuer: Youll end up selling it. aon: Selling i ssiax: That's what wil happen. Té will ck around fora while ‘nd you end up calling a furniture dealer. (Ante comes outwith a small los of “orange ui” ona tray) soon: Lam absolutely amazed you'd say that. Sauer: I dont wat to fight, Arthur. summons Neither do I. Maybe we should defer the dining room. (Hl start for doo, Right) sate: (Following him) Maybe we should scum: Good moming, ls arse: Cood morning, Anse‘Tur Dene Roone ‘mci: Selig the dining room? Is that what you told Mother Td do? ‘ssusx: (Following him out) told het Ta give you the pian if ‘an have the disng rom ‘mien: Tbe Tacky 1 kp this spoon, ‘stax: I give you the piano and the colle table if I can bave the dining oa (Ardhar an Sally exit into the hat) armen: Aa (Amie is clos tothe Kitchen door) sa: Yossi ‘amu: Did 1 find seed in my orange julce yesterday mor ing? soo stated tse atime, Ti sue 900 did, Amie. Nontiles, think 1 may Ihave detected a all sed or Tl ses i vee, ‘aun: Seeds can wreak havoo with the digestion, Annie sm: Yes ss armet: They can take root. And grow. ‘os Yes, Tim sore, (Annie goes out, Father drinks his orange juice eareflly end Trade hs nvspaper. Ale gl sticks hr hd ut ooh the ‘ining room door) cana: Dada arte: Yes, good moming, Lizee Boo, ‘ts Daddy, could Charlie und me Tar Dawe Roone armen: Chase and 1 Gat: Charlie and 1 came out and si with you while you ave brake? ‘arn: You certainly may, Lizikins Td be delighted to have the pleasure of you eanpany, provided ‘amt: Vippeel assem Tsai, provided you se quily, without leaning back in Your chairs bd dowt ght or argv cams (Calling into Mtchon) He says we cant arma: [sd you may, sweetheart (The Gt comes out odoringly, followed by a tle boy) ‘as (Kissing er father) Good morning, Daddy. ‘or: (Kistg him 20) Morning, Dad (They settle into thotr sate. Annie brings out the fothers “ireakast") ‘oat Heras your eream, si aren: Thank you, Ani, soa: You're weleote, (Annie goes out. The cilden watch ther father) wor: Dad ara: Hm? or: When do we get to have fresh eteam on our shredded wheat? ‘eau When you grow up, that’s whe, armen: I tll you one thing IF theres a wat, no one gets eam, If theresa war, well all have to sete for top of the bot °“Tue Dee Roose ‘ins Mother sald sho was thinking about having us eat dinner ‘a hee vith you everynight ariten: Yes. Your mother and I ate both thinking about that ‘And weire both looking forward to sk-At soon as you chideen Team to sit up straight... (They quickly do) Then 1 see no reason why we shouldst all have plant meal together very evening or: Could we try i tonight, Dal? Could yon give us tsk amnen: No, Chari. Not toight, Because tonight we'e giving ‘smal dinner erty. Bat I hope very nach you and Lie wi ‘ome down and shake hinds, tamu: T get mo hy, Dal esnen; Well, youl jst have to lear, ewetio pe. Half of life earning to meet peopl ov; What the other half, Dad? (Pause. The father fies hi witha steely geze) aru Was that @ crack? sor: No, Dad asunn: That was a rac, was i? ov: No, Dad, Realy "ers: That sounded very much lke smar-guy wiscrack to te. nd people who make ercks like that don't morally et or: I dideit mean it asa crack, Dad ten: Thea weil gio it Wellgo on with our breakfast. (Annie comes in) ain: (To Git) You ens here, Lise. For schoo, es Camping mp) OK, ‘Tue Dose Roose amen: (To Gif) Thank you, Ane, ‘emu; Thack you, Annio. . . (Kisses father) Goodbye, Dud. amen: Goodbye, darling. Dost be late, Say good morning to the diver. Sit quietly in the er. Work hard. Han, tune Goo. by (Gini goes Of. Father retums to his paper. Powe. Boy sits ‘watching hs father) sor; Dad, ean Taead the fannie? ari: Certainly, Certainly you may. (Ie carefully extracts the second section and hands ito is son. Both read, the son ty. ‘ng fo imitate the father in how he does tt. Pilly.) "Ths wort mean much to you, but the goverment i systematically runing this emt. now: Miss Kelly told us about the government. ‘armen: Ob really. And wo e Mis Kelly, pay tll ‘or: She's my teacher scum [dont remeber any Miss Kelly. 0¥: She's new, Dad ‘arm Ise. And what has she been telling you? or: She said there's depression going on aren Tee tor: eople allover the country are stindng tn Hie for bread, aren Te, ro: So the government has to step Sn and do something (Long pause) armen: Annie vom; (Coming out of tchon) Yes, sizTite Drseve Roost "erie Td very much lik some move cle, please. soars Yes tt. (She goes out) rien: You tell Miss Kelly she's wrong vow: Why? ‘vasa: TI tell yor exactly why, ifthe government keeps on Inding out money, no one wall want to work, And in one ants to work, thre won't be anyone around to support sch things as private schools And if no one is supporting private schools, then Miss Kelly wll be standing onthe brenden along with everyano else You tell Mis Kelly that, if you ws. (Annie comes in and pours cnee) Thank you, Anni. (Father returns to hs pepe. Ane has retreated tothe item, By road as funds for @ moment) vox: Dad ena (Reading) Hann? 0¥; Could we leave a itl ear today? semen: Well eave when we aiays leave vor: Bat fm always late, Da, aren: Nonsense ow: Tam, Dad. Yesterday I had to walk into assembly while ‘hey wer stl inging the yom, srs Asante orto late 0: Everyone looked at me, Dad "orien: You tell everyone to concentrate on that hyn vor: Teast, Dad ‘varumns If that new stoplight an Riehmood Avenue, I aes ‘or: IES not just the new steplight, Did. Sometines 1 come in ‘Tum Dense Rooxt when theyre aleady doing auithmetic Mss Kelly says 1 sho leat to be patetual ‘aru (Putting dwn paper) Miss Kelly again ch? or: She sid if everyone i late, no one would lear any mathe- ‘atic, arin: Now you listen to me, Chale, Mise Kelly may be en ‘exellent teacher, Her factoring may be flawless, her goog. py beyond question. But Miss Kelly doe not teach us pall fies. Nor does she tach us how to run oor lives. She i not going to tell you, or mo, to lave in the middle of a pleasant breast, and get eaught in the bulk of the moralng tai, {ists tat you ean arsve in time for a sily hymn. Long after you've fongotten that hymn, log ater youve forgotten how to factor, log after youve forgotten Miss Kelly. you wil re ‘member these pleasant breakfasts around this dining. room table. (Mote lies into the room from the Bight) And here 's your mother to prove i. Sonia: (Kissing fother) Good moming, dear. (Kising Char ie) Good monting, Chane ammm: (Remalning seated) 1 know people who leap to thie feet when a beautfl woman eaters the room, (Chante jumps up) worm: Ob that’ alright, dea. vara: Talo know people who rah to push in their mother’s ‘chain (Chart dae #0) ‘worn: Thank you, dear, "erm And, finally, T know people who ate quick to give thee ‘mother the second setion ofthe morang paper: ‘cstae: Ob! Here, Mum, orm: Thank you, dear 8‘Tue Dove Roone ante: Now, Chari, take a ment if you wool ist to lok at your lovely mother, bathed in the morning sunlight and reflected inthe dais room tale ors: Ob, Russell. Char Loks at his mother) varamin; Look at ber, Chars, and then atk youre carefully Which worth our ultimate attention? Your mother? Or Mice Kelly? ‘ora: Who ie Mis Kelly? aniten: Never miad, deur. Which, Chale? ‘cunt: My mather, ‘arut: Good, Chari. Fine, (He gets up, taking his section of ‘he poper) And ow, I think you sd I should take.a tip ep salts befove we Say goodbye and are on our way (Mother smiles nicely. Pather end son lave the oom. Annie enters carying coffe sort) ‘orm: Good morning Annie, Horning, Mes ori: Tell Irma TTL have poached eggs this morning, please, Annie. svt; Yes, Mos. (She goes out) (Mother sts sipping coe, reading her section of the paper. A {ounsh woman—call her Eliemcomes ont of the Kitchen Hot ‘arms are stacked with a small ponable typeuritr, papers, see ‘rol books and notebooks. She finds a place atthe lable wn be {i to spread things out around her. Mother pays no sttention ther. A man caied Howanl, camying « bifeae, appears at Bight) nnowano: Hey! 4 ‘Tur Doone Roone ‘21; Ooops. I thought youd gone. ‘owano: I forgot my bifease. . . What’ going oa? uum: Thave to got this term paper done, swowaso: In here? uum: Where elie, "owano: You're going to type? ‘um: OF course Tim golag to type. "HOWARD: Tn ere? At tha table? uu: Why not? owaro: Youre going to sit there, banging a typewriter oa my familys dining root fable? am: Why not? owano: Bocanse t wasnt designed foe thats why ‘xz: (Sighing) Ob, Howard owaao: Lucky I came back Next thing you know, youll be feeding tho dog off ur Lowestoft china, ‘time: Its got rubber pads under it I checked. (Gots up, gost to sideboard) And YM get something else, if you want, (She takes out a couple of place mets) ‘mowano: You're not golng to use thse place mats? ci: I thought I would. Yes, ‘owano: Those are good pce mat uum; We havent used them in ten years. owano: Those are extremely good place mats, Elie, Mother sot those ia Tay. ‘um: Allright. (She puts ch place mats bock tn the sdeboard, rummages around, fds a couple of het pads. He watches het a5“Tue Dace Roose corcfully) TH ws these, then. Mind sf ase these? We put pots on them. We ean erally put a typewiter (She cores them to the table, pts them under the typewriter, Continues to get things set up, Howard watches her. Mecnle Mother, impatient for her pooched eges, puts down her pape ‘nd rings a ltl stor Bellon the table tn font of her. Sree omer out of the Kitchen) som: Yes, Mis? ‘Momma: I wonder if anything might have happened to my poached eggs, Aanie, sam: Irma’ eooking two more, Mrs. Mores: Two more? ‘sxoar: The fist ones std of the plate while she was butring the oat orm: (Standing up) I he dsinkng gala, Annio? sos No, Mes orm: Tellme the truth svat dat thik so, Mrs Mormn: Td better go see... A simple question of two poached exgs. (She stat forthe Kitchen) Honestly, Anne, Sometimes T think is almost better f we ust do gy out. selon soe Yes, Mr, (Mother goes out into the Itchen, Ane clears the mother’s and father places, leoetng a gles td pte for the next ene ‘Anse ext) uum: (To Howard, who & standing at the dooreay, sit watching) Don't you have plane to catch? Tes ind of hard to work when your husband i= hovering over you ikea el copter. 6 Tar Dowrse Roose ‘owano: Well. its kind of hard to Ive when your wife i sys ‘ematclly mutating the dining room tale suum: Tl be careful, Howard. wat, Now goodbye. (Ske begins to hunt and peck on the typewriter. Howard stats out, then stops) ‘owano: Could’ you please work somenere else? ust: Tike to know where, plese, soveano: What's wrong with dhe itchen table? uLm: It doest work, Howard, Last time the kids got peanut Tt allover my footnotes, "owato: I setup the bridge table in the living ram "uae: Td just have to move whenever you and the hoys wasted to wate a fontall game, "owano: You mean, youre ging to leave al that stl there? am: I thought I woul. Yes, ‘owano: All hat shit? All ver the dining row? "uum: Is aterm paper, Howard, I’ erucal for my degree. owano: You mean you're golng to commander the dling oom for the resto the ern? ‘suum; It jt sts her, Howard, Ife never usd, ‘owano: What i wo want to gve a dinner party? ut: Since when have we given a dianee party? owano: What if we want to havea few people over, for Chl ale? Lu: We ean eat the itchon, owano: Ob, Jos ‘atm: Everybody does thse days "‘Tue Dose Roose owano: That donst make i right ir: Let me get thie done, Howard Lat me get a good grade, ‘and my Masters degnee, and mgood job so ean be out of Tere every day! nowano: Fine! What the Bell! Then why doit I tum it into a tool room everynight (He storms out} is doggedly returns to her work angrily hunting and pecking ‘on the typewriter. Grace enters from the Right; she st down Left, and begin to work on her grocery Ut. Carolyn, « gil of ourleon, enters sleepy. a moment later) ‘canoty: Why did you tell Mildred to wake me wp, Mother? maces Let me ust ash this grocery list wots: T mean fs Saturday, Mother ce: (Pinishing the Uist with a flourish) Sh. «There. (Puts doen the list) Snowe is Saturday, dali” and T apologize. Bat something has come up, and T want you to make a ile Accson ccanorzs: What decison? race: Stat your breakfast, dear. Noone ean tisk on an empty Stomach. (Carolyn ste at the able) Now. Guess who tele ‘honed this moraing? ‘eons Who? ‘nace: Your Aunt Matha ‘oy: Ob, Hove her, nacr: So do I. But the poo thing hast got enough to do, so she was on the telephone a the eral of dawn canon: What did she want? ‘ce: Well now, hor's dhe thing: shes got an extra ticket for ‘the theatre tanlght, an he waats you to join ex 8 Te Dove Roose canon: Sure ‘uc: Now wat Hl Tve fished, deur ald her i was your decision, of ours, but I thought you had ater plans Ceaous: What other plans? ‘ace: Now think, darling. It there something rather special gong on ln your fe his eveing? (Pause) conor: Ob ‘gc: Am Tsght or am rght? ceanou: (Crimly) Dane school Lut; Shit (She begin to gather up her materials) ‘mcr: Not dancing schoo), swoctbeart; The fist session of the Jor Assemblies” Which ae a big step beyond dancing ehoal ium: I cart work inthis place! Is like a toubl (She goes out ‘nto the Kitchen) ‘cx: I told Aunt Martha you'd call ber right back, vo she ould drum up someone els. ‘vous: L thought it was my decision, ‘races I, sweetheart. OF course ‘noun: Then alike to see play with Aunt Martha, (Powe) ‘asce; Carly, I wonder if yovte being jst Tite impulsive this moming. You don't even know what the play is, a cananens What, then? cuca: Well, happens to be a very tally p Tee, called Saint anotae: Ob, we read that In school I want to go all the more“Ta Dose Roose ‘nvcr: It's the road company, setheart. It does't even have Katharine Corel canons: Fa stl tke to go, ‘once: To some endles play? With your tniden aunt? ‘nour: She's my favorite peson, race: Well, then, go, that enportant to you, ‘arora: (Getting up) Tl eal her right now, (She stort forthe ‘door) ‘ace: Carolyn... (Carol tops) You realize of couse, that on the fist Junior Assembly, everyone gets acquasted cao: Really? ‘ouce: Oh, heavens, yex It starts the whole thing of on the ght fot ‘cans: Tid now that. ‘race: Oh, yes. IE Hike the Bat day of school. Once you mis, Yo neve etch np ‘canons Ob, goth ‘ons: You se? You seo why we shoud make hasty decisions (Pause ‘anon Then maybe I wort goa all ‘ce: What do yon mean? ‘canon: Maybe I skip all the Junior Assemblies exacr: Ob, Carolyn, ‘arora: I dnt lke daneing schoo any ay. ‘uct: Dost be sly feaonin: I dont Ivo never biked it. Tim bigger than half the Te Due Roone boys and T never Know what to say, and Tim terible dase [ast year I spet half the time inde ladies’ room, cxuce: Thats sonsense, foun: Its true, Mother. I bate dancing school T dost now why [have to go. Ssint Joan would’ goto dancing schol Ia ‘millon yeas ‘race: Yes and ook what happened to Saint Jnl ‘amotys I dot ate, Te mage wp my mind, (Pause) ‘race: Your Aunt Math seems to have caused file trouble ‘round here this morning ‘canouen: Maybe ‘cuce: Your Aunt Martha seems to have opened up a whole ean of worn moc glad she dd cece: All ight. And how do you propose to spend your other Saturday night? T mean, when there's to Aunt Marth And po Sunt Joma? And all your finds are having the tine of Ur ie at Jusioe Assembles? expots Tl do something, ‘ace: Such at what? Hanging around here? Listening to that stupld “Hit Parade"? Bothering the malde wien wee plan. ing to havea party? (Aggie, @ mai, comes out ofthe Kitchen, sits ot the table, be- hs to polish some flat sor with asics cath) ‘ctnoie: Ido something, Mother. race: (Picking up Corals brealfat dishes) Well, you ob ‘iow not old enough to make an intligent decison. ‘moran: I knew you woeldnt let ne decide.Tur Downe Roost nace; (Wheeling on her) Al righ, en! Decide! ‘son: Fike to= ‘cusct: But let me tell you a very short story before you do ‘About your dear Aut Martin. Who also made a lite dec Slon when she war about your age. She. decided —if you breath w word of ths, Tl strangle yoo-she decided abe was In love with her riding master. And 20 she threw everything ‘up, snd ran off with him. To Taos, New Mexico. Where your father had to tack her down and drag ber back. But it was too late, Caolyal She ed been... overstinnlated, Aud fom then an in, she refused t join the workaday world, Now there {ti In ttl So tisk about it, while Tn ordering the ‘rocels. And decide. (She goes out, caring Carols glass ‘end plats) (Aggie polishes the seer. Cooly st nd thinks, She decides) ‘anoint Ive dase, Mother, cscs vases: (From the ltchen) Good I hope you've come to ‘canon (Getting up) Ive decided to talk to Aunt Martha (She goos ow!) ‘race: (Bursting though the Itchen door) You've gota dentist ‘appointment, Caolyal Youve got nding lesons et noon~no, no, wel sip the riding eso, bat~Carolya! Carey (she ruses out through tho hal ar Michael comes in through the Mtchen. Ho about twelve) cet: Michael You scared me out of my ska sca HL wanted to (Pause, He comes alte clover ito the room. Aggie returns to hor polishing) von Your mother sid you was sick thi tarning sascunst: I wat. Lam, ‘Taz Doone Roone ct: So sick yom could goto schoo cam: T am, Aggie! I wpehucked! Twice vote: Thon you ge ight straight back to bed (He doost) cast: How come you dds do my room yet? scone: Hocause I thought you was seeping cast Te jst boon Ing there, Ag, Waiting com: Well T got more todo now, since Id lft. 1 got the sl vd tho downstairs lavatory, ad al the beds besides (he comes forthe in) v2 want oleve us exasn: My mother yy (Pause She poses) ‘cut: When did she say that? scant: Last Thursday. On your day of When she was coke ng diame. She sald now theresa war yout loki foro with more money, (Powe, Aggle plies) Ts that te, Ag? soem: Maybe ‘nant: (Coming forthe tn) Money ist everything, Aggie, cst: Listen to itn so Drcrttt: You ean be ch ara ng ad sill be miserable. Look at my Unde Paul, He's ich ar Croesus and yet he's driing Dims ato oblivion ‘cat; What do yo now about al that? Stanast: T now alot. Feat dinner here in the dining room ow: listen, And [ow that my Usee Pa edn bin self nto oblivion. And Mes, Williams ba «tipped uterus soc: Here, now, Yu stop that talk 3“Tur Doane Roose scram: Well is tus, Ag And it proves that mone iit ey. ‘eything So you dot have to Teave us (Pause. She work. He dfs aroun the table) scat: Is nt just the mony, dain oc ‘Then what, Ag? (No anewer) Dost you lke us cae: Ob, Michel enart: Dost you ike our family? cent: Ob, Mikey ani: Are you sill mad at me for pecking at you ia the Tathtnb? cnt: That enough now. acta Them what st, Ag? How come youre ast leaving? (Powe) ‘aca: Bocause I dont... (Paute) I dot want to do domestic (Paws) asnauaas Why? com Bacause I dot ike na more, Mike, (Pause He thinks) sonia: Thats because Ida left and you have tno much to do, wnt: No, dai’ cris (Sting don nearer) VM help you, Ag. U sweat 1 ‘make my awn bed, and pick wp my towel. 1 ty tbe mach tote careful when | pee! ‘cut: (Laughing) Lord love you, ad. ‘Tne Desoxe Roone cea: No, no, really. Twi. And I tll my parents not to have 50 many dinner partis, Ag, IM tell then to give jou ‘more tne ofl tll hem to give you all day Sunday. cm: No, dari. No scars: Tn serio, Ag soon: Foo, data know. (Toco men come tn from the Right, an architect and a prospec: tice buyer) ancaract: OLK: Las ensure i oot then, (The architect has large rel tape measure and a roll of Blue rinks. They begin to moasure the room npematicaly, the r= ‘hitect renng the figures ond recording them ia sna! not book, the buger holding the end of the tape) ‘nett: When wil you be going the, Ag? ‘Accit; As soon as your mother figs someone ele attcuset: She oat fd anyone, Age scene: She vl, she wil Drcast: She says she cant. They keep showing up with city Sngerails ad dyed bal svcamect: (Reading measurements, writing them dow Twenty-two feet si inches, oven: Fle 0m, scree: Big room, Drum: So you got to stay, Ag. You eat ast leave people ln the lurch ovsn: Look at theee French doors veuncr: In looking, Tm also thinking, About heat loss (They measure more) 25“Ta Dore Roose soca; 1M stay tl you go away forthe summer ancunrcr: (Measuring width of French door) Eight fet, two inches (Mlchaet gots up and comer Dowonstage, looks out through the French doors asthe architect goes Upstage, 10 record his nota on the sided) steam: You gonna got marled, arent you, Ag? scene: Maybe, rcusen: That guy you told me about fom church? sccm: Maybe sucenara: You gonna have children? (Aggie laughs) You will 1 know yon wal. YouT havea boy of your own ancutece: Hol tight now, ccna: Will you comeback to 80? sca: Ob, my, you scars: You won't, Ag. con: wil, surely. ascast: Youll never come back, Ag TI never se you again! Evert avcuract: (Now measuring the width) Twelve feet, four inches ccs (Holding out her ors) bere, Mik, pment: No cont: Come here and give Agate a big ugh scstsss No, Why shold 1? No, cent: Just a squeeze, fr old tine's ake Tue Deas Roost sorta: No! (Squaring his shoulders) Go hug your ovm kids, Ans. Tve got work to da, Tve got'« whole sack of home work todo, Tm missing & whole day of school (le rane out of the rom) ‘Acca; Michael! (She resumes polhing the lat few pieces of sileer) avcammece: (Reeling in his tepe with profesional zeal) OK. "There's your dining oom, Doctor oven: (Who ta paychitist) Thane i, vcuracr: Big room. . The old lady gets up fgzin) But who ace thewe people? Fim not quite sure who these people are. (She begins to wonder arn he room) sane: (Following her oround) TE me, Motber: Stuart. Your son. Ard here's Fred, acd Ban, and Nancy, and Beth, We'e all here, Mather, ancy: (Going int the hitchen) get the takey. That might help her fos svoanr: Yes. (To old lady) Mrs. Driscoll is here, Mother. Right in the btcea, whete shes aluays been, Ad your grand slildren, All your grandehldeen svere here, Dont yon to member? They ate fist, at the dhldren's table, ad now they'e oat in back plying touch fotball, You watched them, Mother (He indicates the Pench doors) foxy Las: Ob, yor. «(She sts down again at the other end of tho abl 0‘Tae Drone Roose (Nancy comes ont from the kitchen, carrying large pater. Ap propriate ahs and ahs from group) run And look, Mother, Here's Nancy with the tuskey Put it right over there, Nancy... See, Mother? Innit ia bout bird? And Tr going to earve i Just the way Father id, and gvo you a small pce of the breast and a dab of resing, just as alwys, Mother. (He shorpns the careng dif oftouty) ‘x Lave: (Stl staring out nto the gorden) Just as alvays sruam: (Ashe sharpens) And Fred wil have the dramsick— ‘am I right, Fred?—and Beth gts the wishbone, and Bea ends up with the Pope's nose, am Tight, Ben? (Geonial in group laughter) anes Save some for Mrs. Driscoll soar: Lalways do, Nancy. Mrs Driscoll kes the scond ot coun tapes Tis all very no, but I Uhink Ta like to go home svvant; (Patonly, at he cares) You ate home, Mother. You've lived here ity-two year, sex: Fifty-four, svar Be, pss this plate dowm to Mother ‘ou an: (Getting up) Thank you very much, but ¥veally do think ifs te tog savers Ub sera: Ob, dar roan: (Golng to her) Mother ‘tas Will someone dive me home, ple teen Sumer Steet with my mother and sates live at High scr; What will we do? » ‘Tur Doane Roose sreanr: (Going to old lady) Is not thee now, Mother. Dest you remember? We drove dows. Theresa ig building thee ‘up tane: (Holding ont Bor hand) Thank you very rach for suking me... Thank you for having ne do your house. (She begin to go around the tobe, thanking people) ‘aup; Mother I'm Fre! Your son! ‘10 Lave: It that nice? Thank you. ve had pereetly lovely time... Thank you. Think you xo much, (She shaker hands with Nancy) Ws bac abscstly lovely». Thank you, ‘hak yon, svar: Quik, Let's sing to her svuanr: She likes singing, We used to sng to her whenever she'd fet upse. Fred Ben, Quickly, Over here, oto tiny: (Wandering tracted around) Now 1 eat fd ny loves: Where would my gloves be? I ‘east go out without my loves ex: What song? Tea remember any of the songs, stuart: Sue you ean. Come on. Haim, (Ee sounds a note ‘The Oulers ty to find thet parts) 48 re: Hansimnmmm, up sane: Teed my gloves nes my hat sTuanr: (Singing) “As the Blackbird inthe spring corms: (Joining in) “Neath the willow tee Sat and piped, T head him sing, Sing of Aura Lee (They sing in ploasrt ametentish cory harmony. The od tay Stops fusing, tars her Bed, and ston, The other women remain atthe table) sTu Dose Roose (Singing) ‘Aura Lee, Anra Lee, Matd of Golden Hair Sunshine ame along with thee, and swallows inthe as ‘ou apr: [love music. Every person in our fay could play @ “ferent instrument. (She sts a char along the well, Don, ‘isha swear: (To his brothers) She's comlug avund. Quickly. Second mx: (Singing with more confidence now, more daring. har ‘mony Tm thy blah the rote was bom, Musi, when you spake, ‘Throngh tine azure eye the mom Sparg seemed to break, Altra Lee, Aura Lee, Maid of Golden Hal, Sunshine came long with thee and yallows in the ae at the end. The old lady cops. Reergone ( LADY: That ws absolutely lovely, sats Thank you, Mother. ‘ou tas: But now Uve simply got to go tonne, Would you ell ny carriage, pleaso? And Someone filmy hat sid loves, Its 5 late, and may mother gee very wervous i Tm aot home i tne fr te. (She heads forthe hall) svar: (To no one tn particular) Look, Fred, Ben, well dive her down, and show her everthing. The new olice complex whete her house was. The entrance tothe Thraway. The new Howard Johnson's motel. Everything And shel see hat note Sng’ there at all ‘yam: TM being the ear atoud sroanr: I gether coat srearr: Well ust have to go touch the motions. s “Tue Doense Roone (The brothers huery ofter tole mother. Noney and Beth ore left ‘lone, Onstage. Pause. Then they begin to stack the dishes) eae: Thats seay ert: Low i anew: [suddenly fel so precsius sera: It could happen to ws all aver: No, but is a if we didnt exe. As if we were all jst hosts, or something Even ber own sons. Sho. walked fight by then, era: And guess who walked sight by ws, aver: (Glancing Of) Yer... (Raw) Know what Tike? ern: What? ancy A good tif drink ox: Tin with you anc: Il bet Mr, Dll coud use a drink too ‘evn Bot she could aver: (Deciding) Lats go out and ask her! sat: Mes. Driscoll? anor: Led (Pee) srt A ight. raxcr: Let's go and have a desk with Mrs, Driscoll, an then ig into this tarkey, and help ber withthe des, and thn figure ot how to get through the rst of the goddamn day! (They g0 Of, into the Kitchen, The tablets clear, the diving room's omy) END OF acr 1 8ACT Two (The dining oom & empty. The light euggeite that Ht about Uhree inthe aftemoon. After @ moment, «git» cole i heed Of ight, from the front hall ‘caus voice: Mom? Mom? Anybody home? (Silence: then mare fly) Se tla you. She at here (Sorah appears in the doorway, with Helen behind her) meus: Where ie she? ‘sanat She works At a boutique. Four days a week, And my fa ‘hers away’ on busines. In Alanta. Or Denver oF somewhere, ‘Anyway. Come on TH show you where they Kep the liquoe, murs: My mons alvays there when I get home from selol Always sana: Busine. unk: And if se ie, my granduoter comes in sanast The liquor’ ia the panty (Samuh goes out trough dlning room door, Left. Helen says ia the dng room) ”The Dose Roose snus: (Taking io th dining rom) Oh. Hey. Neato sans voter: (From within) What? vce: This rom snsufs worse: (Over elinking of liquor battles) Thats our din. sae: Low, But its vii nice ‘nat: (Coming out of kitchen, carrying tuo battles) Which do ‘yo want? Gin or vodka? sacs: (Wandering around the rom) You decide sant: (Looking a bolas) Wel, theses more gin, soi less ‘hance they nati, Ee: Gin, then ‘nan: Bt tbe roan there's more gin is that K put water fn i ae week vet: Vodka, then, sam Tell you what, Well mie in a lite of bot, (She goes tnt the klchen) vet: OX. . «De you se this rom? svat vorce: Ob, sure ‘neu: Special occasions, huh? When the relatives come to vst? sana’ vse: very night ssnuiis wore: Well, at Teast evry sight they/ee both how, vest: Realy? sats (Coming in, comming to glases) Ob, sue, Whevever ‘theyre home, my father dts that we all at fo the dining, (Uonds Helen Ber drink) Here. Git and yd and Fresca. The boy ae bringing the pt s ‘Tur Dove Roont aan: (Drinking) Maxam... amos be nee, eating hee, sanan: (Slouching in a chair) Ob yea, sure, you bet. We have to lng tings out, and lg things bac, and nobody can begin til everythings cold, and we're supposed ty carry on a decent ‘cversatian, and everyone has to Bish before anyone can get ‘up, and it sucks, you want to kxow. It sucks ot oud (they dink) rau: We et fn the Bitchen sant: Can you watch TV while you et? ‘mum: We used fo, We used to watch the local news and ‘weather. se That's someting. Atleast you dont have to tall ‘mum: Bet now we cat watch it My mother read a Family (Circle that TY was bad at meals. So now we turn on the store end listen to semiclassical mais, ‘saa: My parent sald they teed eating inthe kitchen when T ‘went to Bonding school But when 1 got kicked ox, they ‘moved back in bere I's euppored to give me se sass of stably sma: Do you taki dos? sana: Shit, nal I jurt makes me nervous. They take the te ‘hone ofthe hook so no ane ca cll, and my brother gets ltchy about his bomewark, and when my sister had anor, she sl had to st here and teatch, for God's sak, and may par feats spend most of te meal bitching, and the whole thing ‘ites, Helen. eally bites. bites the big one. Want another? size: No, thanks, soma: I do. «You call the boys and tll them its all clea. (She goo back ito the lichen) sm; (Calling toward hitchen) Sar. . so