Play #4

The Good Wine

__________________________

A short play written for

the 2018
31 Plays in 31 Days
Challenge

By Joseph Frost

Contact:
Joseph Frost
4550 Normandy Dr
Jackson, MS 39206
FrostJosephD@gmail.com
 A wedding party.

A guy sits alone.

His mother comes up to him.

MOTHER
You’re sitting alone.

GUY
I’m taking a minute.

MOTHER
You should join the party.

GUY
I’ve been in the party. I’m sitting down for just a minute.

MOTHER
A minute.

GUY
Yes.

MOTHER
I’ve seen you sitting over here.

GUY
Oh?

MOTHER
It’s been more than a minute.

GUY
I was just talking to Andrew.

MOTHER
I know you were.

GUY
He wanted to talk to me about Sarah.

MOTHER
Which Sarah?
 2.

GUY
Nicholas’ Sarah.

MOTHER
Oh.

GUY
He’s still got feelings for her.

MOTHER
He loves her.

GUY
No. He thinks so, but he doesn’t.

MOTHER
You know this?

GUY
I do.

MOTHER
Of course you do.
(a moment)
You know why I’m here.

GUY
No.

MOTHER
You don’t.

GUY
I do. I’m saying, my answer is no.

MOTHER
There’s a problem.

GUY
A problem.

MOTHER
They have... no wine.
 3.

GUY
No wine?

MOTHER
They’ve run out.

GUY
They should have planned better.

MOTHER
They should have.

A moment

GUY
What does this have to do with me?

Mother gives him a mother look.

GUY
My hour has not yet come.

MOTHER
Not yet come.

GUY
No.

MOTHER
When will it?

GUY
Mother...

MOTHER
We wait and we wait and we wait. And your hour has not yet come.

GUY
This is it? This is what you think will force the hour to arrive? You can make the sun fly
faster in the sky?

MOTHER
That’s not what I mean.
 4.

GUY
(getting louder)
Are they out of food?

MOTHER
Please.

GUY
(loud, generally)
Shall I grill up some steaks too? Do we need any more potato salad?

MOTHER
(quiet)
Do I mean so little to you?

GUY
You are my mother.

MOTHER
I am.

GUY
Mother. Is this all I mean to you?

Mother rises.

MOTHER
Do as you will.

Mother steps away.

A moment.

GUY
Call them.

Mother gets the attention of a servant.

MOTHER
(to servant)
Do whatever he tells you.

Mother steps further away.

 5.

GUY
(laughs to himself)
Do whatever he tells you.
(looks at the servant)
Easier said than done.
(moment)
Get some containers and fill them with water.

SERVANT
With water.

GUY
Yes. Then draw some out and give it to the steward.

SERVANT
The water.

GUY
Yes.

SERVANT
Give the water to the steward.

GUY
Yes.

SERVANT
He will laugh at me.

GUY
I’ve told you what you should do.
(turns away)
Now it’s up to you.

The servant waits for a moment. Then leaves.

MOTHER
Water.

GUY
The bridegroom has saved the good wine for last.

Mother goes to him, kisses him on the head.

 6.

MOTHER
Thank you.

GUY
Thank you, Mother.

Mother goes to leave, stops and takes one last

look, then exits.