Mother! Page #8

As he leaves, tucking in his shirt, her breath starts tothin. She feels a pain in her chest. She swallows the painand follows him down the stairs into the

DINING ROOM:

HIM holds Woman. She’s stoic and numb.

HIM:

I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry for

your loss.

Meanwhile, Man is hysterical. The Mourner helps him to a

chair.

Woman glances at Mother.

MOTHER:

I’m so sorry.

Woman turns and goes to her husband. HIM puts his hands on

the man’s shoulder.

A friend, the CUPBEARER, starts pouring shots.

CUPBEARER:

Shall we have a toast?

58.

Man just cries.

WOMAN:

(whispers to HIM)

Would you say something? He so

respects you.

HIM:

Of course.

HIM nods as the Cupbearer distributes glasses. He hands one

to Mother.

HIM:

How can one begin to understand

your pain? The sacrifice of a

parent? All those years of worry.

Years in days. Days in hours.

Hours in seconds. But in each

second, an infinite amount of love.

Woman rubs her husband’s shoulders.

HIM:

And now, suddenly it seems there is

nothing to love. Just a vast and

silent darkness. But fear not,

from inside it, there’s a voice

crying out to be heard, loud and

strong. Just listen...

And for a moment everyone is silent. Then Man starts to cry.

So do the mourners. In a moment, everyone is crying.

HIM:

Do you hear that? Do you hear

that? That is the sound of life,

that is the sound of humanity.

That is your son’s voice. His cry

of love. His love for you.

Woman takes HIM’s arm.

WOMAN:

Thank you.

HIM:

My pleasure.

CUPBEARER:

Here! Here!

EVERYONE:

HERE! HERE!

59.

Everyone shoots. The Cupbearer looks at Mother who still

holds her drink. She follows through and downs the drink.

WOMAN:

Thank you all for coming here andbeing with us tonight. My husband

and I are so touched. We lost our

baby today. I can’t believe that

just a few hours ago he wasstanding there and I was holdinghim in my arms. He was so full of

life. He always was...

There’s a knock at the door. Mother looks at HIM. He nods

to her. She goes to the

FRONT DOOR:

SIX GRIEVERS file in. They say hello and Mother welcomes

them. They shed jackets and Mother hangs them before joiningeveryone in the

DINING ROOM:

Woman continues her toast. She glances through Mother with

empty eyes.

WOMAN:

It means so much. I don’t know

what else to say. I just want tothank our dear host for his

hospitality in our time of need.

HIM:

Of course.

WOMAN:

(to HIM)

So please, I’d like to drink toyour kindness.

Everyone raises glasses and drinks. Man stands up.

WOMAN:

Sweetheart, you don’t have to dothis.

MAN:

No, I want to.

He collects himself.

60.

MAN:

I loved my son. I loved him. I

can’t believe this. I shouldn’t be

eulogizing him, he should-

And he breaks down unable to continue. Everyone quietly

drinks. Mother sips.

MAN:

I’m sorry, I can’t. Would someone

please...

(to Mother)

Would you say something?

Everyone turns to look at Mother. Mother doesn’t know what

to say. After a long awkward beat.

MOTHER:

(meek)

For your child...

HIM helps out.

HIM:

For both your children. Let’s not

forget the one still in thewilderness. Wherever he goes,

wherever he is may he findkindness, compassion, and one day,

even forgiveness.

The front door opens. Mother looks. Another five people

enter, including the PHILANDERER.

HIM:

Welcome, please join us.

PHILANDERER:

I’m just gonna put this in thekitchen.

HIM:

Yes, through there.

Mother looks on in disbelief. Concerned, she follows the

Philanderer into the

PANTRY:

The room is half full with people drinking and talking. The

Philanderer joins the CONSOLER who is sitting on the counternext to the sink.

61.

PHILANDERER:

Hey, how you doing?

CONSOLER:

Good, considering.

MOTHER:

Excuse me. Could you get down from

there? That sink’s not braced yet.

They nod and get down, apologizing.

Someone steps on the glass pane from the broken back door.

Mother quickly sweeps it up.

The Cupbearer enters.

CUPBEARER:

That was so beautiful, no?

He hugs her. Mother is taken aback.

CUPBEARER:

It’s all right. Can I use your

phone?

MOTHER:

Sure it’s in the kitchen.

She sees him head the wrong way.

MOTHER:

No, it’s just there. Excuse me!

But he’s not listening. She follows after him into the

DINING ROOM:

Woman pops up right next to Mother. She’s smoking.

WOMAN:

Where did you go?

MOTHER:

I was just in the... I’m really

sorry again.

WOMAN:

I know you are.

It’s loaded. Mother tries to change the subject.

62.

MOTHER:

I can’t imagine how-

WOMAN:

No. You can’t imagine what itfeels like if you don’t have achild. You give and you give andyou give and it’s just neverenough.

MOTHER:

I understand.

WOMAN:

Do you?

(lashes out)

Why don’t you at least put onsomething decent?

Mother realizes she’s wearing a night gown. Embarrassed, she

exits to the foyer, where the pain in her chest starts again.

She sees more guests arriving, rushes up the

STAIRS:

And sees the Cupbearer grab the DAMSEL and duck into the

MASTER BEDROOM:

MOTHER:

Hey!

Mother pushes inside. And finds them sitting on her bed.

MOTHER:

You can’t be in here.

CUPBEARER:

I’m sorry?

MOTHER:

You need to leave.

CUPBEARER:

We’ll just be a minute.

MOTHER:

This is our room.

That makes him smile. But he backs away and exits.

63.

CUPBEARER:

It’s your room.

(to Damsel)

Come on, let’s find another spot.

Mother shuts the door.

Her chest tightens more. She fights for breath. She goes

into the

MASTER BATHROOM:

At the medicine cabinet she drinks some yellow powder. In a

moment, she feels better.

She starts to change her clothes. The WANDERER pushes open

the door.

WANDERER:

Oh.

MOTHER:

(embarrassed)

Excuse me!

WANDERER:

Just exploring.

He ducks out but doesn’t shut the door. She gets up and

shuts it. Later, in the

MASTER BEDROOM:

She’s finished getting dressed and exits into the

HALLWAY:

Where the IDLER and the STRAGGLER talk on the stairs.

MOTHER:

Excuse me, could you please godownstairs?

STRAGGLER:

This way?

MOTHER:

Yes.

IDLER:

Sure.

64.

She follows them down past the

HALF LANDING:

The boards that HIM used to seal the office are now paintedwhite.

Curious, Mother touches the wood. It’s still wet. She gets

paint on her hand. Quickly now she rushes down the

STAIRWELL:

Where the Cupbearer uses a roller on a stick to paint thebottom side of the stairs.

MOTHER:

What are you doing?

CUPBEARER:

Oh it’s no big deal. I worked myway through college doing this.

MOTHER:

But why are you painting my house?

The comment makes him smile.

CUPBEARER:

Well, he’s been so kind to

everyone, it’s the least we coulddo.

We? She turns around and sees the Damsel painting in thedrawing room.

MOTHER:

Stop! Both of you! Stop.

They look at her strangely.

CUPBEARER:

No problem.

They put down their brushes. Frustrated, she moves quickly

into the

DINING ROOM:

Where HIM holds court. He’s with a room full of people

smoking and drinking. He bangs on the table, animated andfilled with excitement.

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