Due to Edd's demands <chortle>, I wrote a one-page play yesterday. Edd gave me this line of dialogue--"I’ve knitted you a sweater, a tea cozy, and a pink toilet paper cover"--and I had to come up with the play. *wiping sweat off brow* 'Twasn't easy, but it was rewarding, and great practice for the forthcoming eight-hour marathon I was asked to participate in a week from Friday. *gleep* So, for your reading pleasure, here is "Tea Cozy, " a one-minute play dedicated to Edd Crosby Wells (don't forget the Wells).
TEA COZY by Sue Brody
Cast:
Mary – 50’s, wearing a house dress
Rachel– early 20’s, wearing sweater and jeans
Setting:
Mary’s porch, somewhere in the Midwest, present day
LIGHTS UP ON MARY’S PORCH, WHERE SHE SITS, ROCKING. RACHEL ENTERS.
RACHEL: Auntie!
MARY: Rachel, chile’. (stands) What a nice su-prise. (they hug) Ain’t seen you in forever.
RACHEL: Well, I come bearing gifts.
MARY: That weren’t necessary, honey.
RACHEL: I know, but I wanted to. I’ve knitted you a sweater, a tea cozy, and a pink toilet paper cover. I hope you like them. (hands MARY a nicely wrapped package)
MARY: Huh. (puts package on ground) It’s been two years since we seen each other.
RACHEL: Uh, right, I know that, but--
MARY (sitting): And the cancer…I thought I was goin’ to heaven for good.
RACHEL: I really tried to make it out here, Auntie--
MARY (folding arms): Is that so? The trains stop runnin’? The planes stop flyin’?
RACHEL (looking down): I wanted to come. And I thought about you all the time.
MARY: I reckon so. Probly while you was knittin’ my sweater, and my tea cozy. Oh, and my pink toilet paper cover.
RACHEL: I’ve been so busy, you know? And I just got accepted to graduate school—
MARY: Ain’t no need for a sweater, a tea cozy, and a pink toilet paper cover in heaven, I reckon. Ain’t they teached you that in yer fancy school?
RACHEL (downcast): Maybe I should just go.
MARY: Why, I think that’s the smartest thing I heard outta yer mouth so far.
RACHEL: I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry. (tries to kiss MARY, who turns away)
MARY: The cancer ain’t comin’ back and neither is you. (RACHEL pauses, then starts to leave slowly – almost to exit.) Oh, get back here, chile’. We need to see 'bout that fancy education of yers. We can start by findin’ out what you know ‘bout knittin’. (MARY slowly opens the package, looking at each item.) This ain't bad, but we still got us some work to do. Have a seat and we’ll start yer lesson.
