ONE ACT PLAY THE EDGE (INTRO)

One Act Play: THE EDGE (I have used the lyrics to Lennon's "Mother" without permission)

Actors:

Eleanor: bedridden voice in house, the Mother

Charles: father works full time, an Engineer, at local Oil Refinery, wears grey suit with pocket protector, pen in place, white shirt, black shoes, grey tie, hair slicked back, dirty light brown, thinning widow's peaks

Anne: eldest child, 15 years old, wears hand made yellow checked gingham dress.

Josie: 5 year old plays Beatles music, only the voice and music is heard.

Walter: 1 year old baby cries in crib, when held is wrapped in blanket.

STAGE SETTING: Circular Stage. Front to a one story small rambler, near the Mississippi River. Functioning front door to a stucco house, open framed rooms show mother in hospital bed, crib in the same room, a living room with a phonograph, 2 steps up to the door, back drop behind the front of the building is dim, sound of river nearby.

Sound: Beatles Music. John Lennon "Mother"

Mother you had me

But I never had you

Mother (stage right): Anne Marie Elizabeth!! Make Josie turn off the music!!!

Anne (standing close to crib bending over baby): You make her do it!

Mother: (tries to sit up and collapses) You … FATHER … TELL JOSIE… NOW….(gasps)

Anne: Shit!

Father: (through clenched teeth, hand on the front door, turns to Anne) What did you say?

(2 beats of Silence while the music comes through:

I wanted you

But you didn't want me

So, I got to tell you

Goodbye

Goodbye)

Anne: Nothing.

Father: You do what you Mother says and no back talk.

Anne: But.

Father: You're damned to hell if you swear, if you don't obey your Mother. I can't take care of her, work AND you. I cleaned her up, so you do the rest.

(Father in gray suit, white shirt, grey tie with pocket protector in shirt, pen in place, opens the door)

AND if I hear anything else.

Anne: All right, all right. (we see a gingham checked dress as the door opens)

(As Father slams the door and walks off stage Left, engine starts and smoke drifts on the stage.)

Walter: baby cries.

Mother: ANNE ELIZABETH….

Josie: Mommmmm, Anne is being mean to me!

(Beatles music louder

I got to tell you

Goodbye, Goodbye

Father you left me

But I never left you

I needed you

But you didn't need me

Goodbye, Goodbye

Children don't do what I have done

I couldn't walk

And I tried to run

So, I just gotta tell you

Goodbye, Goodbye

Momma don't go

Daddy come home)

Mother: ANNE ELIZABETH, turn off that music

Music fades:

Momma don't go

Daddy come home

Momma don't go

Daddy come home

Anne: I DID IT MOTHER. (Walks outside with baby on her hip). Shhh Wally, I love you, don't you cry.