Merciful Are These Stories
down, takes a look at the scene, then enters it, sitting down. Music
fades out. Katie begins to pace.
Characters:
Mother
Eric, the oldest child
Luke, the middle child
Katie, the youngest child
Beth, Eric’s wife
James, Eric and Beth’s teenage son
On stage right, a little upstage of center, is a table, with no chairs.
Placed in appropriate positions around the stage are five bottles of
alcohol that Eric will drink from. “Goodbye” by Chet Baker plays.
Lights fade in. Actors will enter, stage right, one by one, each with a
folding chair. Actors will place the chairs in a line, far down left,
facing upstage as if making a new row of seats. The actors should
stand upstage of the chairs, facing upstage. The order of entry (and
of the final line, going stage left to right) is Beth, James, Mother,
Luke, Katie, and Eric. Katie, Luke, and the Mother can
acknowledge each other – a handshake or a nod. If Beth is
acknowledged, it would be only with a nod. Beth and James have a
moment – maybe a quick, reassuring touch. Eric enters last. The
others should look at him but give no indication of familiarity.
Music fades out. All except Eric sits. Eric walks to center, then
turns to face the audience.
Eric:
Hospitals are numb and still at 4am. I sat, I knelt, I
stood next to her until
the sun rose. January
was a cold month. I got stuck inside my winter that
year.
“It’s Only” by Herbert plays. Katie and Luke stand, take three
chairs and place them upstage, side by side for the waiting room.
Luke sits, Katie stands. When the actors are set, Eric approaches
the area, picks up a bottle and drinks from it. He puts the bottle back
Eric:
Will you stop pacing?
Katie:
I’m having a hard time with this.
Luke:
We all are, Katie.
Katie:
I refuse to believe there’s no hope for her.
Luke:
anymore.
There’s no brain activity. That’s not really our mom
Eric:
She stopped being our mom a long time ago.
Katie:
You don’t know what it’s been like—you haven’t
even been here.
Eric:
I know exactly what it was like. Being ten years old
and making sure the
two of you were fed, did your
homework, took a bath.
Beth:
Eric.
Eric:
No. Pulling Mom off the sofa in the middle of the
night. Hiding the
bottles. So don’t give me that
“Where were you” crap.
Beth:
Eric, please.
Luke:
This isn’t helping.
Eric:
No, it isn’t.
Katie:
There are still things that need to be said.
Eric:
Like what?
Katie:
What if the doctor –
Eric:
I don’t care what the doctor says. I’m done.
Katie:
I can't believe you're doing this - she's our Mother.
Eric:
She's been a freaking vegetable for a month. Let's
just get this over
with.
Katie:
That’s not what I’m trying –
Katie:
Yes, it is! You’ve hurt her enough already.
Eric:
I hurt her?
Katie:
her.
Someone has to protect her. Someone has to still love
Luke:
We all still love –
No. There’s still time. Something could change.
Luke:
I don’t think anything is going to change, Katie. We
need to make a
decision.
Eric:
Eric:
Katie:
As long as I’m alive, you are not going to touch her.
Do you understand? I
won’t agree to anything. I will stop
you if I have to. Mother stays alive.
Even if you
want her dead.
I made my decision years ago.
Katie exits.
Katie:
Well I’m not ready to make mine. I’m not going to
give up on her the way you did.
Eric:
This isn’t just her decision.
Eric:
I did not give up on her. She gave up on herself.
Luke:
I know.
Katie:
now.
You left her! You left her. I’m not going to leave her
Eric:
This is supposed to be a family decision.
Eric:
This has gone on long enough.
Luke:
I know. But it’s been harder for her. She’s the one
who’s taken care of
Mom the past few years.
Katie:
on her.
No! It hasn’t. I am not going to let you pull the plug
Eric:
Luke:
Katie, we really need –
Luke:
No, but I understand her. Look, let’s give things
another month. Let me
talk to her. Maybe
she’ll be willing to let her go.
Katie:
No. I am not going to give up hope.
Eric:
Would you just listen -
Katie:
You are not going to bully me into killing Mother.
You don’t agree with her, do you?
Lights dim, Eric steps out of scene. Other actors stay frozen. “I Just
Want Out of Here” by the Poems plays.
Eric stays standing while the other actors move. Katie and Luke
each move a chair to the table, then one of them takes the third chair
back to the line. Beth goes to the bottle Eric drank from. She picks it
up and moves it to the side of the stage, then goes to the table. The
actors say the following lines while crossing.
Beth:
It's probably frozen over anyway.
Eric:
That would save some energy.
Luke:
I carry my fear.
Beth:
I went skating on it once.
Katie:
I carry my shame.
Eric:
Maybe check the siding.
Beth:
I carry my sorrow.
Beth:
I don't know if I love you anymore.
Eric:
I know.
Lights dim, Eric steps away and watches as Katie and Luke ritually
lift the Mother to her feet. Katie and Luke cross to get chairs and
bring them to the table. Beth picks up the bottle and brings it to the
side of the stage. As Katie, Luke and the Mother pass Eric, each
says: “I carry my family.” After chairs are placed, Katie, Luke and
the Mother should be lined up in a diagonal, from Eric to the table.
Beth sits on the far side of the table.
“Hardly Getting Over It” by Hüsker Dü plays and continues until
the car scene.
Beth stands up first, takes bottle and moves it to the side of the
stage.
Eric moves to center.
Eric:
Tight and twisting. The cramping in the very center
of my gut. The hollow
cold empty center of my chest.
Colder somehow than room temperature.
Unnaturally cold and strangely selfish- the bodies of the
dead…I was so
accustomed to touching the
living that I took for granted the energy a
living
body constantly gives- spends - unselfishly…
Eric:
A dripping faucet in the middle of the night. The
scree of seagulls taking
flight on panicked wing
beats and the sound vacuum that follows. Waking
up to canned late night monologues in their second run of the
evening. The
persistent whine of the television. The
uncoiling and compressing of the
sofa springs as
both feet slap heavily to the hardwood floor in as many
days.
“Marciful” by Nils Petter Molvaer plays. Eric slowly winds his way
through the standing actors. He picks up a bottle and takes a long
drink. He sits at the table. Music fades out.
Actors move chairs into automobile set-up. As they move, they say
the following lines.
Eric:
The wind.
Luke:
I carry my anger.
Beth:
You can't see the lake anymore.
Eric:
My anger.
Eric:
I should seal the windows better.
Katie:
I carry by bitterness.
Eric:
My bitterness.
Mother:
I carry my guilt.
Eric:
My guilt.
Eric:
I’m not getting in the car, Mom.
Luke:
What should we do?
Eric:
We’re gonna walk home. C’mon, Katie.
Luke, Katie and Mother (overlapping): I carry my past.
They each step out of the car, trapped in their own thoughts.
Eric:
I carry my past.
TRANSITION
By this time, the Mother and Katie (now 4 years old) should be
sitting in the front of the car. Luke (now 8) should be standing
nearby. Eric reaches down for a bottle. The Beth, now behind him,
tries to get to the bottle before he does, but fails. Eric, unaware of
Beth, drinks, then puts the bottle down. Beth angrily takes it and
moves it to the side of the stage.
Eric (now 10) moves to Luke. Katie begins to wave. Eric and
Luke approach and enter the car.
Katie:
grass today!
I got to ride in the front seat and we drove on the
Mother:
Now stop telling stories, Katie.
Katie:
Remember, mommy? After you hit that car and
everyone honked at you?
Beth and James at table. Eric enters scene and sits, placing bottle on
the table. James sends his hate to Eric.
Beth:
Honey, do you have to drink tonight?
Eric:
No.
Eric takes a drink.
Beth:
James, you need to eat.
James:
Why?
Eric:
Do what your mother says.
James:
I’m not hungry.
Eric:
Just eat something.
Mother:
Oh, don’t be silly, honey.
James:
Why should I?
Eric:
Have you been drinking?
Eric:
Because I’m you father!
Mother:
No, I haven’t. Now shut the door.
James:
Then act like it!
Eric:
You’re drunk, aren’t you?
Eric:
Fine! Go to your room.
Mother:
Just shut the damn door!
James – responds? Gets up to leave.
Beth:
James, take something to eat.
James:
I’m not hungry.
Oh, you’ve gotten so tall.
And now high school….good for you!
Really great, honey. Really really
really.
Grandmother continues to pat and paw at James.
James leaves, goes to the chairs – does he take his chair with him?
Long pause.
Beth:
Okay, okay, don’t smother him.
Beth:
You’re losing him.
Luke:
Are you OK mom? Do you want some water?
Eric:
He’ll be all right.
Mother:
What? No! I’m fine.
Luke:
Are you sure, Mom?
Mother:
What? Yes, I’m fine!
Katie:
She’s okay, Luke.
Long pause.
Beth:
You’re losing me.
Eric looks at Beth. Long pause. Eric gets up, takes bottle with him,
takes a few steps down and looks at the frozen scene as if looking at
a memory.
Mother:
Isn’t this wonderful? I’m so proud of James, he’s a
good boy. What a
good boy.
TRANSISTION
Eric enters the scene.
Mother, Beth, James (now 14), Katie and Luke gather in center.
Eric:
What are you doing, Mom?
Katie:
Good job James!
James:
It’s just middle school.
Mother:
Luke:
Still, we’re proud of you.
Eric:
Mom, I thought we agreed we wouldn’t drink
alcohol at family events.
You’ve done enough damage to your
liver already.
Mother:
you!
Hi sweetie! Congratulations! I’m soooo proud of
Mother embraces James, who awkwardly returns the hug.
Mother:
Great job, sweetie! Really, really, really wonderful!
All done with middle school, huh? That’s a big education for you!
Pause
Eric. This is a nice time. James is such a good boy.
Mother:
here.
Well, Eric, I don’t believe we are having alcohol
Eric:
No, we aren’t.
Luke:
Eric, it’s okay.
Eric:
Mother:
Eric:
Katie:
Come on, Mother. I’ll drive you home.
Mother:
I’m fine, I’m fine.
No, it’s not.
Don’t do this here, Eric.
Mother pulls away from Katie’s grip
and leaves scene.
Mom, this is it. No more.
Mother:
Everyone, I’d like to congratulate my handsome,
handsome, intelligent grandson James who is a high school – a
middle school graduate and has… graduated. He… (stumbles for
words) has studied hard since a
little boy and I’m very proud
of him! Honey? Gramma’s going to take
you out for lunch next
week, OK? Gramma’s treat!
Katie:
You didn’t have to embarrass her like that.
Katie leaves the scene and guides
Mother back to the chairs.
Luke:
It’ll be okay. I’ll talk to her.
Luke leaves the scene and goes to the
chairs.
Beth:
I don’t think that would be a good idea.
Mother:
I’m his grandmother!
James:
What was wrong with Gramma?
Luke:
Maybe we could all go.
Beth:
It’s okay, honey.
Eric:
No. No! This is it. I don’t want you here ruining
James’ celebration. Katie is going to take you home. Say
goodbye, Mom.
TRANSITION
Beth is cleaning up, collecting the empty bottles, maybe wiping
down part of the floor.
Pause
James:
Mom, stop it. Stop cleaning up after him.
Mother:
Eric, if you kick me out of your house, I never want
to see your face in
MY house ever again.
Beth:
He’s just - he’s just having a hard time right now.
Eric:
James:
So am I.
Fine.
Mother:
FINE?! Fine. Katie, take me home. It was nice
seeing you all. I’m so proud of you, James. You’re such a good boy.
Beth:
Things will get better once all this with his mother
gets worked out.
Eric:
Goodbye, Mother.
James:
You mean when she dies?
James:
Goodbye, Gramma.
Beth:
Don’t say that.
James:
Why not? Isn’t that –
Beth:
Because it’s not polite.
James:
dying.
But’s that’s what we’re talking about, right? She’s
Beth:
Honey, when you become an adult you’ll realize that
there are some things
that just – shouldn’t be said.
James:
myself?
So I’ll learn to shut up? To keep everything to
Beth:
No, you learn how to -
James:
Maybe if Dad would actually talk to us he wouldn’t
drink so much.
Beth:
James. You don’t understand yet. You’re just sixteen.
You don’t know all
the things adults have to deal
with. You don’t know everything your
father and I do
for you. You’ll learn that when you have kids.
James:
Great. I’ll learn to hide things. I’ll learn to ignore
things. Like Dad having
a problem.
Beth:
James:
Beth:
I had some things to do.
Luke:
We’ve finished most of the cleaning.
Eric:
Jesus, it’s cold in here.
Luke:
Have you been by to see Mom?
Eric:
No, I haven’t.
Katie:
Of course you haven’t.
Eric:
I’ve been busy.
Katie:
Like we haven’t.
Luke:
It might be a good thing for you to see her.
Eric:
Why?
Luke:
She might appreciate it.
Katie(overlapping Luke): Because she’s your mother.
Eric:
She’s in a coma.
Katie:
She’s still alive.
Eric:
She’s a vegetable!
Honey, just –
Be an adult?
Just drop it.
TRANSITION
Two or three chairs, perhaps around a table. Katie and Luke have
just finished cleaning up. Eric enters.
Katie:
Eric:
You’re late.
Katie:
She’s still you’re mother. After all you’ve done, you
owe it to her.
Eric:
I tried to help her!
Katie:
No! All you did was leave. I stayed with her. I helped
her. I took her to the doctor, I took her to meetings. I fed her, I
cleaned up after her. I talked to her. I listened to her. And you don’t
even know what she had to go through with Dad.
Katie:
He didn’t know. She hadn’t told him she was
pregnant yet.
Eric:
Dad was a good man!
Eric:
She should have told us.
Katie:
No, he wasn’t. He left her!
Katie:
She didn’t want you to hate Dad.
Eric:
You’re blaming him for dying?!
Eric:
So what? He might have deserved it.
Katie:
He didn’t die!
Katie:
But you didn’t. She still wanted you to have a father
you could look up to.
Eric:
What?
Luke:
Katie?
Eric:
Katie:
He didn’t die. At least right away. He left her. He left
after she told him he
had to choose between being a father
to his two sons or sleeping with
some woman in
his office.
Luke:
But he had a heart attack.
Eric:
I remember the funeral.
Would you close the window?
Luke:
She liked hearing the birds. They sound nice this time
of the morning.
Eric:
Just close it.
Katie:
I wonder if anyone will keep feeding them.
Eric:
I don’t know how she stood the racket.
Katie:
She liked the company.
Katie:
He was with the other woman when it happened. She
managed to keep it
quiet somehow.
Eric:
They’re not people.
Eric:
Wait. How do you know this?
Katie:
Still. I wonder if she has any birdseed left.
Katie:
Because I listened to her.
Luke:
window?
Maybe in the garage. Do you want me to close the
Eric:
Why didn’t she tell us?
Eric:
I don’t care.
Katie:
She was protecting you. She didn’t want her sons to
think their father was
a bad person.
Luke:
What about you?
TRANSITION
Eric:
My past. I wish I could just…(louder) I wish I could
just… (even louder)
I wish I could just…
Eric:
Drunk again.
“No Self Control” by Peter Gabriel begins to play. Eric picks up a
bottle. When each actor says their line, they become unfrozen, lift
their chair and move it to the square formation, with the backs
facing in. Beth will stay where she is. Eric’s lines will follow
closely the previous lines.
Actor 1:
Again
Eric:
Every word slurred.
Actor 2:
Slurred.
Actor 1:
Calm my thoughts.
Eric:
Falling in circles.
Eric:
I wish I could calm my thoughts.
Actor 3:
Circles.
Eric:
Going.
Eric takes a drink.
Actor 2:
Be at peace with myself.
Actor 1:
Going.
Eric:
I wish I could be at peace with myself.
Eric:
Going.
Actor 2:
Going.
Gone.
Eric takes a drink.
Actor 3:
Let go.
Eric:
Eric:
I wish I could let go.
Actor 1, 2, and 3 (overlapping): Gone.
I wish I could hold on.
Eric takes a drink. At this time, the chairs should be in position. The
three actors will slowly start to circle Eric (not necessarily in the
same direction), repeatedly whispering the lines “I wish I could
remember,” and “I wish I could forget,” overlapping each other.
Eric should become disoriented.
Eric:
I wish I could…I wish…I….
Giving up, Eric drinks again. For Eric’s next lines, the three actors
should continue whispering but slowly transitioning to just saying
“forget,” and stopping briefly to echo Eric in a whisper.
The actors push Eric into the chair facing downstage, then sit in the
other chairs. Actors clasp hands and pull each other left and right.
Hands are dropped. With exaggerated movements, each actor throws
a drink back with the left hand, then the right. Hands are clasped and
the tug of war begins again. Actors except Eric stand and surround
him. They pull him up, then spin him around while rotating in the
opposite direction. Beth approaches and reaches for him but is
pushed away. Grabbing Eric’s arms, two actors spin Eric around,
then lay him on the ground, spread-eagle. Actors pick up their chairs
and pass Eric, who tries to stand up, but is pushed back down by the
actors’ feet. One chair should be brought to the table. The actors
stand upstage, their backs to the audience. Beth is just outside of the
scene. Music fades outs. Eric, obviously dealing with a painful
hangover, groggily comes to. Still on his back, he blindly reaches
for a bottle, moving his hand until he finds one. He slowly sits up,
unsteadily gets to feet, and sits in the chair, bringing the bottle with
him. Beth enters the scene and begins to pack.
Beth:
Eric:
Beth:
Eric:
Eric:
What are you doing here?
James:
I had to get some stuff. For school.
Eric:
Is – is your mother outside?
James:
No. I got a ride form a friend.
Eric:
How’s she doing?
Your office called.
Yeah?
You didn’t show up.
Shit. I told them.
Pause.
Eric:
Where’s James?
Beth:
He’s at my Mother’s.
Eric:
Oh. Good.
Eric shakily takes a drink. Pause. Eric
notices Beth’s face.
Eric:
James stands outside of the scene, looking at Eric. He hesitates, then
enters.
What the hell happened to your eye?
James:
Dad, you have to get help. You have to get help
because I’m never going
to go through this
again. Mom has been so strong, and she – she hasn’t
said anything bad about you. But she cries sometimes and I
don’t know
what to do. And I hate it. I hate feeling
that way. She might be able to
forgive you
some day, but if you don’t get help, I never will. I will never
forgive you.
TRANSITION
End of Shostakovich’s 4th Symphony plays. Eric’s line “Then I
dove” should take place on the timpani buildup to the climax.
Beth gives him a deadly look.
Beth:
I’m not going to make excuses for you anymore.
Beth exits scene and walks to the
other actors, her back to the audience.
Eric looks at the letter.
TRANSITION
Two actors approach and lift Eric roughly from his chair and begin
to push him and spin him around. The other two each take a chair
and places it into position. The two actors pushing Eric roughly
bring him to a stop, facing the audience. They move to the chair
formation, one of them grabbing Eric’s chair as they pass. Katie,
Luke, and the Mother are each behind a chair. Beth stands upstage
with her back to the audience. Eric drops to his knees and begins
searching for a bottle.
Eric:
It was night. Or almost night. That time in the early
evening when the
lights inside can't make the
room bright enough and outside is just light
enough
to see. A reversal from what is normal.
Eric notices the “pool,” stands up and
walks over to it.
Eric:
There was a pool in the back of the house, whoever's
house it was,
surrounded by concrete and
patio furniture.
Eric stands on the center chair.
Eric:
I stood on the diving board and waited, fully clothed
except for I had taken
off my shoes when I opened the fence
gate and left them on the ground. I
stood looking
down in the water. Then I dove.
Eric dives into the center, as the actors lift the chairs above their
head. One actor brings her chair to its original position in front of
the audience, then returns to the side of the pool. The other actors
put their chairs back. Eric struggles to swim. The other two actors
try to help him, but he pushes them away. They force him to another
chair. Eric stands on the chair. Beth turns around and watches. As
the scene continues, she will slowly walk downstage to the chairs in
front.
Eric:
Eric dives into the center. An actor raises the last chair above her
head, then brings it to its original position and returns. Eric begins
to falter and falls to his knees. The actors steady him and this time,
he does not push them away. They lift him to his feet and watch as
he slowly, tentatively, moves to his starting spot in front of the row
of chairs as the music fades out. “Lead a Normal Life” by Peter
Gabriel plays.
Actor 1:
I carry my pride.
Eric:
I’ve lost my pride.
Actor 2:
I carry my family.
Eric:
I’ve lost my family.
Actor 3:
I carry myself.
Eric:
I’ve lost myself.
Actor 4:
I carry my hope.
Eric:
I’ve lost my hope.
Outside of Mother’s hospital room.
Beth is waiting for James. Eric enters.
And then I dove.
Eric dives into the center and the actors again lift the chairs above
their heads. One actor brings her chair to its original position in
front of the audience, then returns to the side of the pool. The other
actor puts the remaining chair back. Eric struggles to swim. The
other two actors try to help him, but he pushes them away. They
force him to the last chair. Eric stands on the chair.
Eric:
On Fifth climax, “Then I fell.”
And then I dove.
Eric:
Beth.
Beth:
Eric.
Eric:
What are you…
Beth:
James is in there. He’s been coming by to talk to her.
He says it helps.
James:
I was just…checking on her.
Eric:
Oh.
Eric:
Good. I think she’d like that.
Beth:
He tells me you’ve been going to meetings.
James:
I, um…
Eric:
Yes. I’ve been – yes.
Eric:
James, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal
with all of this. With me.
Beth:
Good. I’m happy for you.
Eric:
Beth, I never meant to –
James:
So am I. I’ll see you on Friday. Mom might drop me
off a little early.
Beth:
Just stop.
Eric:
Eric:
I’m sorry.
Sounds good.
James exits. Eric enters the room.
Beth:
We’re having James’s graduation party next week.
I’ll make certain he
gives you one of the
invitations.
Eric:
Thank you, but that’s –
Beth:
He would like you there.
Eric:
Okay.
Beth:
I’m going to wait in the car.
Eric:
party.
Okay. Let me know if – well… I’ll see you at the
Beth nods, then exits. Eric waits
awkwardly. James enters.
James:
Dad.
Eric:
James.
Eric:
Mom. I’ve messed up so many things, Mom. I’ve lost
Beth. For
good. Katie hates me too. She
won’t talk to me anymore. And James.
Well,
he’s sixteen. Sometimes he despises me, sometimes he pities me.
And occasionally, sometimes he still seems to like
me. I’ve been trying
Mom, I’ve been trying. I’ve
hurt a lot of people. But I’m trying to make
things
right.
Here. I got it at the meeting last night. It’s been six
months since I’ve had
a drink. I wish you could have
been there. I wish you – you would have
been proud. I’m
sorry, Mom. I’m so sorry. I wish I’d known how to help
you. I wish I could have made things better for you.
But I’m trying to
make things better now. I love you,
Mom. I love you.
Eric places chip on her chest, gives
her a kiss.