A raisin in the sun script

Made by Group 2

Walter (julia): What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a
sore— And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat Or crust and sugar over— Like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags Like a heavy load. Or does it explode?

(curtain: start of scene 1)

———————————————-
Act 1, Scene 1
At Rise: It is morning dark in the living room, (TRAVIS) is asleep on the make-down bed at center. An
alarm clock sounds from within the bedroom at right, and presently (RUTH) enters from that room and
closes the door behind her. She crosses sleepily toward the window. As she passes her sleeping son she
reaches down and shakes him a little. At the window she raises the shade and a dusky Southside morning
light comes in feebly. She fills a pot with water and puts it on to boil. She calls to the boy, between yawns,
in a slightly muffled voice.She crosses to her son and gives him a good, final, rousing shake.

Ruth( sop): Travis, Walter! Get up from there or you’ll be late!

(The child, a sturdy, handsome little boy of

ten or eleven, drags himself out of the bed and almost
blindly takes his towels and “today’s clothes” from
drawers and a closet and goes out to the bathroom,
which is in an outside hall and which is shared by
another family or families on the same floor, RUTH
crosses to the bedroom door at right and opens it and
calls in to her husband)

She stops,
pulls the door to, and returns to the kitchen area.
She wipes her face with a moist cloth and runs
her fingers through her sleep-disheveled hair in
a vain effort and ties an apron around her
housecoat.

(Stopping and thinking)

WALTER Check coming today?

RUTH(sop): They said Saturday and this is just Friday and can you please stop talking about money
'cause I don't wanna hear it.

(He rises and finds a cigarette in her handbag on

the table and crosses to the little window and
looks out, smoking and deeply enjoying this first
one)
(TRAVIS appears in the hall doorway, almost fully dressed and quite wide awake now his towels and
pajamas across his shoulders. He opens the door and signals for his father to make the bathroom in a
hurry)

Travis (Darwin): (Watching the bathroom) Daddy, come on!

(WALTER gets his bathroom utensils and flies out to the bathroom)

RUTH (Sop) Sit down and have your breakfast, Travis.

TRAVIS(Darwin) (Eating) This is the morning we supposed to bring the fifty cents to school.

Ruth (Sop) I don't care what teacher say. We don’t have it. Now if you're done eating breakfast go ahead
and fix your bed.

(The boy obeys stiffly and crosses the room,

almost mechanically, to the bed and more or
less folds the bedding into a heap, then angrily
gets his books and cap)

TRAVIS (With conspicuously brushed hair and jacket) I'm gone.

WALTER Travis, come here! (gets something in his pocket)

Here son (hands him fifty cents)

(He hands the boy the coin, but his eyes are directed to his wife's, TRAVIS takes the money happily)

TRAVIS Thanks, Daddy.

(He starts out. RUTH watches both of them with murder in her eyes. WALTER stands and stares back at
her with defiance, and suddenly reaches into his pocket again on an afterthought)

WALTER Now, you better get to school, man.

TRAVIS (At the door) O.K. Good-bye.

(He exits)

WALTER You know what I was thinking 'bout in the bathroom this morning?

RUTH I know what you thinking 'bout.

WALTER You see, I plan on opening a liquor store.The little liquor store we got in mind cost seventy-five
thousand...(Walter holds ruth's hand) I need you to back me up on this..

RUTH (reminds him softly) Walter, we got no money for that..

(Walter looks at ruth sadly then sighs)

RUTH Eat your eggs, they gonna be cold.

(She rises and gets the ironing board and sets it up and attacks a huge pile of rough-dried clothes,
sprinkling them in preparation for the ironing and then rolling them into tight fat balls)
You sent
(Beneatha enters)

BENEATHA (Drily) Good morning, everybody.

WALTER (Senselessly) How is school coming?

BENEATHA (In the same spirit) Lovely. Lovely. And you know, biology is the greatest. (Looking up at
him) I dissected something that looked just like you yesterday.

WALTER You know how expensive medical school is, beneatha. (Walter says in a serious tone)

WALTER (Looking at his sister intently) You know the check is coming tomorrow.

BENEATHA (Turning on him with a sharpness all her own) That money belongs to Mama, Walter, and
it's for her to decide how she wants to use it.

WALTER (sarcastically) Wow look at you being a two-goody-shoes! You're such a nice girl worrying
'bout Mama, but if she got that money she can take a few thousand and help you through school ain't she?

BENEATHA I have never asked anyone around here to do anything for me!

WALTER Oh yeah? Really!

BENEATHA (With fury) What do you want from me, Brother- that I quit school or just drop dead, which!
It's not my fault Mama picked my education over your liquor store!

WALTER Nobody in this house is ever going to understand me.

(WALTER slams out of the house into the swamps!)

(WALTER exits, MAMA enters.)

MAMA(maribel) Who was that slamming the door?

RUTH(sop) That was Walter . He and Beneatha were arguing again.

MAMA What were they fighting about?

RUTH Now you know as well as I do.

MAMA (Shaking her head) Walter still worrying about money?

RUTH You know he is.

MAMA Child, we got a great big old check coming tomorrow.

RUTH (Sincerely, but also self-righteously) Now that’s your money. It ain’t got nothing to do with me.
We all feel like
that—Walter and Beneatha and me—even Travis.

RUTH Well, what are your plans for that money?

MAMA I ain’t sure yet. (Thinking. She speaks now with emphasis) Some of it got to be put away for
Beneatha and her schoolin’—
I'm also thinking bout buying a house. It was Big Walter and I's dream to have one

RUTH Mr. Younger sure was a good man.

MAMA Yes, a fine man—just couldn’t never catch up with his dreams, that’s all.

(BENEATHA comes in, brushing her hair)

MAMA Who you going out with tomorrow night?

BENEATHA (With displeasure) George Murchison again.

MAMA (Pleased) Oh—you getting a little sweet on him?

BENEATHA I like george all right, Mama. But not enough

MAMA What do you mean?

BENEATHA (Wearily) Oh, I just mean I couldn’t ever really be

serious about George. He’s—he’s so shallow.

RUTH Shallow—what do you mean he’s shallow? He’s rich!

BENEATHA I know he’s rich. He knows he’s rich, too.

RUTH (A wisdom-of-the-ages manner. To MAMA) Well, she’ll

get over some of this—

BENEATHA Get over it? What are you talking about, Ruth?
Listen, I’m going to be a doctor. Getting married isn't one of my plans yet.

MAMA Well, you being married might be one of God’s plan

BENEATHA What does God knows about my plans Mama? If he really knows what’s best, he should’ve
known how much pain we’re going through!

MAMA(slaps beneatha) Don’t you ever talk like that, you hear me?!

(Beneatha picks up her book and goes out)

RUTH (Soothingly, older than her years) Now ... you taking it all too seriously.

MAMA (Looking at her plant and sprinkling a little water on

it) They spirited all right, my children. Like this little old plant that
ain’t never had enough sunshine or nothing—and look at
it ...

(She has her back to RUTH, who has had to stop

ironing and lean against something and put the
back of her hand to her forehead)

(She turns at last to see that RUTH has

slipped quietly to the floor, in a state of
semiconsciousness)
MAMA Ruth! Ruth honey—what’s the matter with you ... Ruth!

Curtain (END OF SCENE 1)

SCENE 2

CURTAIN(START OF SCENE 2)

It is the following morning; a Saturday morning, and

house cleaning is in progress at the YOUNGERS. Furniture
has been shoved hither and yon and MAMA is giving the
kitchen-area walls a washing down. BENEATHA, in
dungarees, with a handkerchief tied around her face, is
spraying insecticide into the cracks in the walls.

BENEATHA Mama, where did Ruth go?

MAMA (Looking at her with meaning) To the doctor, I think.

BENEATHA The doctor? Why would she- (she looked at mama with a shocked face) Do you think she’s
pregnant?!

MAMA( shrugs)

(The phone rings)

BENEATHA (At the phone) Hay-lo ... (Pause, and a moment
of recognition) Well—when did you get back! ... And
how was it? ... Of course I’ve missed you— Just cleaning the house... Right, see you then. Goodbye

(She hangs up)

MAMA Who was that you talkin to and why does it seems like you inviting him to our house?

BENEATHA Its Joseph Asagai, the African guy I met on campus. Do me a favor and dont ask him
ignorant questions about africans.

(RUTH comes in forlornly and pulls off her coat

with dejection. They both turn to look at her)

RUTH (Dispiritedly) Well, I guess from all the happy faces—

everybody knows that Im pregnant..

(ruth starts to sob and slowly exits the room, mama comforts her)

BENEATHA Oh, myGod—

(someone knocks at the door)

BENEATHA oh that must be Asagai.

(asagai arrives with the gift of nigerian records and colorful robes for beneatha )

ASAGAI Hello, alaiyo-

BENEATHA (Holding the door open and regarding him with

pleasure) Hello ... (Long pause) Well—come in. And please excuse everything.

(asagai comes in and sits down the sofa)

ASAGAI oh beneatha, I got something for you. Open it and see!

BENEATHA it’s wonderful! Thank you, asagai.

ASAGAI Beneatha, what happened to your natural hair?

BENEATHA Oh I straightened it out..

ASAGAI what a shame, your natural curls were beautiful.

(MAMA enters and is immediately all social charm because of the presence of a guest)

BENEATHA Oh—Mama—this is Mr. Asagai.

MAMA How do you do?

ASAGAI (Total politeness to an elder) How do you do, Mrs. Younger. Please forgive me for coming at
such an outrageous hour on a Saturday.

MAMA you should come over again for a meal, Mr. Asagai.

ASAGAI (Moved) Thank you. Thank you very much. (They are all quiet, then—) Well ... I must go. I will
call you, Beneatha.

(Beneatha tries on the dress and headdress then quickly leaves the house, ruth then enters the living room)

MAMA (Drumming her fingers) What time is it getting to?

RUTH Ten twenty. And the mailman is going to ring that bell sooner or later.

(The bell sounds suddenly and sharply and all three are stunned—serious and silent—mid- speech. In
spite of all the other conversations and distractions of the morning, this is what they have been waiting
for, even TRAVIS who looks helplessly from his mother to his grandmother. RUTH is the first to come to
life again)

(TRAVIS snaps to life and flies out to get the mail)

RUTH (Excited) Miss Lena, It really came!

MAMA (Collecting herself) Well ... What are you guys excited for? We know it was coming for months.

(TRAVIS bursts back into the room. He holds the envelope high above his head,
like a little dancer, his face is radiant and he is breathless. He moves to his grandmother with sudden
slowceremony and puts the envelope into her hands. She accepts it, and then merely holds it and looks at
it)

TRAVIS Open it, Grandmama!

(MAMA finally makes a good strong tear and pulls out the thin blue slice of paper and inspects it closely.
The boy and his mother study it raptly over MAMA’S shoulders)

TRAVIS it is ten thousand dollars! Grandma, you’re rich!

MAMA . (She hands it to RUTH) Put it away somewhere, Ruth.

TRAVIS (To his mother, sincerely) What’s the matter with Grandma—don’t she want to be rich?

RUTH (Distractedly) You go on out and play now, Travis.

(TRAVIS exits. MAMA starts wiping dishes absently, humming intently to herself. RUTH turns to her,
with kind exasperation)
(WALTER enters in great excitement)

WALTER (To RUTH) The cheque really came! (He turns suddenly, frantically to his mother and draws
some papers out of his breast pocket) Mama—look. Old Willy Harris put everything on paper—

MAMA Walter, I am not going to invest in a liquor store. You hear me!

WALTER well, Mama. How do you expect this family to get out of poverty?!

(walter then starts to storm out)

MAMA (Still quietly) Walter Lee— (She waits and he finally turns and looks at her) Sit down.

WALTER I’m a grown man, Mama.

RUTH (Suddenly) Oh, let him go on out and drink himself to death! He makes me sick to my stomach!
(She flings her coat against him and exits to bedroom)

WALTER and you turn mine too, baby! (walter said angrily)

MAMA (Still quietly) Walter, what is the matter with you? Son—how come you talk so much ’bout
money?

WALTER (With immense passion) Because it is life, Mama!

MAMA walter, step up. Be your father’s son.

(Walter gets up and walks out)

MAMA you are a disgrace to your father’s memory!

CURTAINS (END OF ACT 1)

ACT 2
Time: Later the same day. At rise: RUTH is ironing again. She has the radio going.

(Someone knocks at the door and ruth goes to open it)

RUTH Oh hello George! Have a seat (They both sit.)

(WALTER enters. We feel he has relieved himself, but the edge of unreality is still with him)

WALTER Hey! How’s your old man ?. I need to talk to your father about business, man.

GEORGE yeah, if you say so.

(Beneatha then enters the room dressed up with a cocktail dress and earrings, her hair natural)
GEORGE wow, beneatha… You look great!

BENEATHA thanks, George... Shall we go now?

(George then escorts beneatha to the door as they go out, mama then enters)

WALTER Mama, where have you been?

MAMA oh well, nothing. Its none of your business

( travis then knocks at the door)

MAMA oh travis! Come here child, I’ve got something to tell you.

TRAVIS hi grandma! What is it?

MAMA well, boy. I bought us a house! You should thank your grandfather. One day, it’ll be yours ( she
then pats travis’ head)

TRAVIS thank you grandma! (he then hugs her)

RUTH That’s great news mama! Where is it located?

MAMA (smiling) It’s located at Clybourne Park, we’ll be moving there first of the month.

RUTH That’s great news! Now, travis lets go ahead and clean up your room.

(ruth and travis then exits)

WALTER isn’t that an all-white neighbourhood? so that’s the peace and comfort you went out and bought
for us today?

MAMA It was the nicest place for the least amount of money. Walter, give me some understanding. Will
you?

WALTER So you butchered up a dream of mine—you—who always talking ’bout your children’s
dreams ...

MAMA Walter Lee—

(He just closes the door behind him. MAMA sits alone, thinking heavily)

CURTAIN(END OF ACT 2 SCENE 1)

SCENE 2
Time: Friday night. A few weeks later. At rise: Packing crates mark the intention of the family to move.

(someone knocks at the door and then mama opens it)

MRS JOHNSON Oh hi Lena! Did you hear about the black family that was bombed out of their place?

MAMA No, I haven’t read the newspaper. May I see? (gets the newspaper)

MRS JOHNSON Oh dear, what a tragedy. You guys are movin’ to a new place right? There might be a
chance that y’all will be in the news sooner or later.

MAMA That’s just pure nonsense!

MRS JOHNSON oh well, I have to go. Nice talking to you lena (goes out)

(mama walks away)

(phone rings)

RUTH Hello- Just a minute (Goes to door) Walter, it’s Mrs. Arnold. (Waits. Goes back to the phone.
Tense) Hello. Yes, this is his wife speaking ... He’s lying down now. Yes ... well, he’ll be in tomorrow.
He’s been
very sick. Yes—yes, I’m very sorry. Yes ... Thank you very much. (She hangs up. WALTER is standing in
the doorway of the bedroom behind her) That was Mrs. Arnold.

RUTH She said if you don’t come in tomorrow that they are getting a new man ...

WALTER Ain’t that sad—ain’t that crying sad.

RUTH Where you been, Walter Lee Younger? (WALTER looks at her and starts to laugh) You’re going to
lose your job.

WALTER That’s sad too— Everything is sad.

(RUTH goes out quietly, Mama then enters the room)

(She takes an envelope out of her handbag and puts it in front of him and he watches her without speaking
or moving)

MAMA I paid the man thirty-five hundred dollars down on the house. That leaves sixty-five hundred
dollars. Put aside 3,000 dollars for beneatha’s education… And do what you want with the rest..

WALTER (Stares at the money) You trust me like that, mama?

MAMA Im not gonna stop trusting you. Like Im not gonna stop loving you.

CURTAIN( END OF SCENE 2)

SCENE 3
(Someone knocks at the door, BENEATHA goes to the door and opens it. BENEATHA is somewhat
surprised to see a quiet- looking middle-aged white man in a business suit holding his hat and a briefcase
in his hand
and consulting a small piece of paper)

LIDNER Uh—how do you do, miss. I am looking for a Mrs.—(He looks at the slip of paper) Mrs. Lena
Younger?

BENEATHA Oh, that’s my mother. Please come in.

LIDNER (coming in) Thank you

BENEATHA My mother isn’t here just now. Is it business?

MAN Yes ... well, of a sort.

WALTER (Freely, the Man of the House) Have a seat. I’m Mrs. Younger’s son. I look after most of her
business matters. What can we do for you?

LIDNER I’m Mr. Karl Lidner, Well—I am a representative of the Clybourne

Park Improvement Association— You could say I’m part of the welcoming committee.
I am sure you people must be aware of some of the incidents which have happened in various parts of
the city when colored people have moved into certain areas—but we are trying to do something about
it.

WALTER pardon me, mr. lidner. But can you go to the point?

LIDNER well, the association is willing to pay you more than you have paid to buy back the house.

WALTER we don’t want to hear any of that. Get out of my house!

(Mr. Lidner then exits)

CURTAINS
In the living room
Someone knocks at the door and then walter opens it

WALTER Hey, Bobo. Where’s Willy, man?

BOBO willy harris took off with the money..

WALTER No… No, that cant be. THAT MONEY IS MADE OUT OF MY
FATHER’S FLESH—

(Walter slowly sits down on the sofa as tears starts to fall)

BOBO I’m sorry, Walter ... I had my life staked on this deal too.
(bobo taps his shoulder then exits. Mama then enters)

MAMA walter, dear. What’s the matter?

WALTER( as he sobs) I lost all the money you gave to me… I never went to the bank

MAMA (Not wanting to believe him) You mean ... your sister’s school money ... you used that too ...
Walter? ...

WALTER Yessss! All of it ... It’s all gone ...

MAMA Oh, God ... (She looks up to Him) Look down here and give me strength(she prays)

CURTAIN(END OF ACT 2)

MAMA Start unpacking… Tell the moving people not to come anymore

RUTH no mama, we should still move. Beneatha tell her, tell her we can still move in

(WALTER enters from the outside, looking spent and leaning against the door, his coat hanging from him)

WALTER I made a call to mr. lidner. Called him to tell him that I’ll accept the offer.

(travis then enters the room)

TRAVIS grandma, the movers have arrived!

(mr. lidner then appears at the door)

LIDNER im glad to hear from you people

WALTER we’re going to be moving in to the house my father earned

LIDNER( confused) Well… I thought it was about our offer. What do you say mrs. younger?

MAMA I agree with my son.

LIDNER it is decided then (lidner bows goodbye then wears his hat, then exits)

CURTAIN (END OF THE PLAY)