Greener Meadows By Ral Carpentier

Cast of Characters Evelyn: Diony: Elderly woman suffering from dementia. 20+ female. Evelyns daughter.

Greener Meadows At rise there is an elderly woman sitting in a rocker with a blanket on. There is another chair beside her. Shes reading the last few pages of a play. Her daughter walks in. DIONY Im home. EVELYN Diony? Is that you? DIONY Yes, ma. EVELYN Where did you go? DIONY I told you I was going out to get a few things. (sits beside her) So, what do you think? EVELYN What? DIONY The play...the play I wrote you wanted to read. Oh...I love it, Diony. EVELYN But it looks like its not finished.

DIONY I told you it wasnt finished, but you insisted on reading it anyway. Oh. EVELYN When are you going to finish it? DIONY The ideas are just not there. Just to tease?

I dont think I can, ma.

EVELYN Why did you have me read it then?

DIONY You asked to read it. (beat) Hows your hip?

(CONTINUED)

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2.

EVELYN Its fine. DIONY No pain? EVELYN Nope. DIONY Why do you lie to me? Im not lying. EVELYN Im just protecting you from the truth. (Diony nods her head as though shes heard that many times before)

DIONY So you do have pain. (beat) Did you eat this morning? Yes. EVELYN Me and dad went out to that little place we like. DIONY (Somberly) Daddy died, ma. EVELYN (recollecting) That was a sad day, wasnt it? Yes, very sad. while? No, Im fine. DIONY You sure? Yes. Is it cold in here? EVELYN I feel like its cold in here. DIONY You want another blanket? EVELYN Thats ok. DIONY That was quite a fall you had this morning. DIONY Are you ok? You want to lie down for a EVELYN

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3.

EVELYN Yeah, I dont know what happened. out of bed.

I was just trying to get

DIONY Were you hanging on to the railing I had installed for you? EVELYN Yes, I just dont know what happened. DIONY You need to take your time and be more careful. EVELYN I was careful. DIONY Next time, you need to call me so I can help you. EVELYN I dont want to be in the way, and be a problem. DIONY (beat) I picked up something for you. (she reaches in her bag and gives Evelyn a little stuffed dog) Its really nothing. I just saw it there and I thought it was so cute. Youre not. EVELYN (Eyes wide open and elated) Ohhhhh!!! Shes so beautiful, Diony! (She embraces the stuffed dog gently) Whats her name? DIONY Its just a stuffed animal. EVELYN (holding it up to her face, and laughing) Shes licking my face! Shes so adorable. DIONY Im glad you like her. EVELYN (Puts the dog on her lap, and pets it) Oh, I love her. (beat) Do you still have your pet grooming business?

Look!!

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: DIONY That was Diony, your sister. Im your daughter. EVELYN I know...my daughter the writer. DIONY (Sarcastically) Yeah, right. EVELYN Did you finish your play? DIONY No, ma, Im having a hard time with that.

4.

EVELYN Well you should finish it. Its very funny. Only you could write a play where the characters are just someones emotions. DIONY You really liked it, huh? EVELYN Whats it called again? (she looks at the script beside her) Mixed Emotions. I even love the title, its clever. Oh its a riot. DIONY What do you like most about it. I love humor. EVELYN Hes my favorite character. DIONY Yeah, I like him. EVELYN Anger is funny too, but humor is my favorite. I want you to finish it. I want to know what happens when they get on the sofa. (they laugh) DIONY What do you think happens when theyre on the sofa? I can only wish. EVELYN Youre the writer, you tell me.

DIONY Its not easy. Ive run out of ideas. Yes, its a great concept, but I dont know how to finish it.

(CONTINUED)

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5.

Well, dont give up. it on stage. Ill try.

EVELYN I insist you finish it.

I want to see

DIONY You want something to drink?

EVELYN Nothing for me, but maybe your father. DIONY ok. EVELYN (talking playfully with the dog) Whats the matter? Whats the matter? You hungry? your toy? Did she bring you a toy to play with? (turns to Diony) Did you bring a toy? DIONY No, I will next time I go out. EVELYN She needs to play. Remember that swing set we used to play on? The one near old man...whats his name?...Trudell?...Old man Trudell. DIONY I dont know him, ma. EVELYN Yeah, yeah, when we lived on Grove Street. We used to steal his rhubarb. Remember? He used to get so mad. DIONY That was a long time ago, huh? EVELYN We had a dog just like this, except she had some white spots here and there. I remember when daddy brought her home. We were so excited, jumping up and down and the dog doing the same. That was a Sunday, remember? I was all dressed up in my Sunday dress, and mom was getting mad because I was playing with the dog. We sat there for the longest time trying to figure out the best name for her...Penny. Penny...what a beautiful name. She was my best friend, too. We were in the same class together, and even sat next to each other. We used to laugh because she wanted to be like me, and I wanted to be like her. We did everything together. One night she slept over and we didnt go to sleep at all. We looked in the mirror the next morning and we both looked so pale. Just a couple of (MORE) (CONTINUED)

Wheres

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6.

EVELYN (contd) ghosts. She was my best friend. Then they moved. I dont know where they went, they just moved away. Never had a friend like her again. I felt alone when she left. I think thats why dad bought a dog, and its a good thing too. I would throw sticks and shed go get it and bring it back. (to the dog) Do you do tricks like that? Ill teach you. We can ask Diony if she can groom you, too. Youre so cute. (to Diony) Can you groom her when youre not too busy with the others? Sure, ma. DIONY But, Im the writer, remember?

EVELYN I dont know why you had to add that character in your play. Whats her name again? Ecstasy? Shes a tramp. Id never expect you to write that kind of trash. I dont like tramps. DIONY Shes just a small character, and what she says is not that bad. Times have changed a little you know. EVELYN Dont I know it. You cant go anywhere without seeing someone in their pajamas, or sometimes worse. People dont dress proper anymore...anything goes. Like those tramps you see on those shows on TV. I hate tramps. I always dressed proper, and not just on Sundays...everyday. When ma took us out, she wasnt embarrassed. We knew what to wear and how to behave in public. (beat) There wasnt much to do on Grove street, though. Sometimes, wed go to that little store on the corner for some ice cream. Old lady Bakers, remember? She sold the best ice cream. It was easy to choose, then. Non of those flavors you have today. Now they have 100 flavors. DIONY I know, right? (taking a bottle of pills from her purse) Here, its time for your medicine. (Evelyn takes the pills followed by a drink of water) Howd you sleep last night? Pretty good. EVELYN But your father snores.

(CONTINUED)

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7.

DIONY But you slept ok? EVELYN Oh yeah. Hes a good man, your father. I could have done much worse. Lilly from up the street...she had problems with her husband. Always coming in drunk. We could hear him holler down the street where we lived. Do you know he used to break dishes when he got mad, and shed have to go out and get another set? I never would have stood for that. Id have kicked him out the door if he had done that to me. He never raises a hand to me...always there for me. Whats a little snoring in the night? I hope your man is like your father. DIONY I hope so too. EVELYN My mother used to say "a good man is hard to find". Im one of the lucky ones, and I want the same for you. You think youll find someone like your father? DIONY Only time will tell. EVELYN Time is not always your friend. When you find someone, you need to make sure not to let him go. Ill remember that. No, thats ok. DIONY Feel any discomfort from the fall? EVELYN Not really. DIONY You lying to me again? DIONY Do you want me to prop up your pillow? EVELYN