Assisted Living

Speaks for itself????

Want to go for a walk?

That is my house on the big square next to the photographer's It is a very large square. Below are the market stands. Want to stop for coffee? Or go on to Mariahilferplatz?

Next to it is the entrance to the island in the Mur. Looks best at night lit up blue. And across the river the ever present Schlossberg.





















Then we pass the so-called 'friendly alien', das Kunsthaus. Weird how they integrated into that old iron building, isn't it?
































and leaving the center a ways.... you reach the house of 'assisted living'. See the ramp going to the door?

Just when you think....your 'lover' of over thirty years

is 'ok' or something, you find out he or she is not. Because after thirty years, you'd think you would know the person.....

You gotta be pretty DENSE for that, ok?

Just because they pushed the right buttons and told you what you wanted to hear?????

Just because your'e an empahtetic person, and they know what strings to pluck on the little Stradivarius in your heart?

You can't get any denser...

No, it wasn't anything 'big'. Never is, when you get claw-hammered. It was a small remark. I shouldn't show up while everyone is still eating. And walk in as if I belonged there even though he gave me the key, because the big bad 'Nurse Ratchett' recently yelled, 'Is your Life Partner' coming today?' And they are gonna say bad things about him and he won't get any respect. Ohmygawd, how SHAMEFUL.

He wants to live out the rest of his life in 'dignity', hey.....

Yup. It means denying who he was, who he is, what we were for one another over thirty years, so he can deny everything. Another reason he killed my play.

Well, in my book, dignity is standing up for who you are and what you want, and standing by the person you chose, whoever it is. That is so fucked up. And yes, he is physically very ill, but it doesn't mitigate ANYTHING.

I know a lot of you live your lives in your little boxes, but are happy. I envy that. I know that a lot of you don't necessarily like people like me. It's ok, as long as you don't get violent or aggressive. BUT. Anyone, Anyone who comes at me with denigration, contempt, or aggression is going to get such a come-back, they will be sorry. It took me literally decades to feel ok in my skin.

I thought, I really thought, everything was ok. And I get it back from the one person I thought I loved and trusted, and defended against many who said, 'uh-uh'. I never figured in the generation gap. I thought he got over it. His 92 year old aunt doesn't blink an eye, and I can tell her just about anything... and she comes back affectionate, lovely, caring, accepting... So where is the PROBLEM, huh?

And you end up feeling so fucking dumb, words can't describe it.

So, just when you think, hey.... What do you DO when the one person you really loved turns out to be so devious? In many senses.

Hurt? I can't even begin to express it. Angry? No. Am too tired. Disappointed? Flattened.

At least I know what a stab in the back feels like.

I wish I'd been born later in the century. But they don't seem much happier either.

Just saying...

Update. And the next day, while cleaning out his furniture, I found two large envelopes with the logo from Vienna's English Theater, so it seems they did answer after all. Maybe they wanted to see something else, because one isn't addressed. The content was gone. He said they'd sent the ms back without a comment. I've had enough letters of rejection to know that cannot be the case. They always write something. And none of them ever told me to take up taxi-driving, or do something useful. He didn't want me to be 'upset'. Rubbish. So I sort of went off the charts for near-nervous-breakdown, but meanwhile have decided not to have one this month, thenk you veddy much.... But I surely wish I could have seen what they did write way back when. Oh yes, Preciouses, I do.

Thanksgiving I - 1

Thanksgiving



Cast:
Louise, 50
Robert, 30 her oldest son
John, 27, his full brother
Theresa, 25, half African-American
Ginnie: Theresa’s sister
Martin, 21, from Louise’s third marriage.
Anne, 19, father unknown
Georg 42, an Austrian

Time: 1985
Set: the large living room of what began as a mobile home, front door on the left, dining room at the back with entrances to bedrooms that have been added on. Living room area near front stage . Décor should be tacky Early American with a lot of hand-made New England kitsch articles placed about.


Act One
Scene One

Arrivals

Thursday, one p.m.

Louise: Anne! Anne! Come out here and help me set the table. They’re all gonna be arriving any minute, now. (Murmur off). Anne! Did you hear me talking, girl?

Anne: (off) I said I’ll be out I a minute! The turkey….

Louise: That turkey’s doing fine as he is. (doorbell) See, what did I tell you? They’re here already. (Hollers). Come on in, it’s open. (enter Ginnie) Why Ginnie, how lovely you look! And you’re even punctual. (A kiss and a hug, restrained on Ginnie’s part. Where’s Tom, didn’t you bring him?

Ginnie: (evasive, an obvious lie.) I had to leave him home. He’s got the croup.

Louise: You could have brought him anyway. God knows I nursed you all through the croup often enough. Did you take him to the doctor’s?

Ginnie: Yes, I took him to the doctor’s. He was just too cranky, and I didn’t want the others to catch it, ok?

Louise: (sudden suspicion) You sure it’s the croup?

Ginnie: The doctor said it was the croup. You want a written diagnosis? And speaking of doctors, what was the latest on your condition?

Louise: well they say I’ll hold up a little longer, at least. (laughs) We better wait on the details till the others get here or I’ll be repeating and boring myself to death. Come to think of it, I wonder if anybody ever has?

Ginnie: Not to my knowledge, and in our family, it seems to be a rather remote possibility. We all have too much excitement for my taste. (pause) Are they all really coming?

Louise: Yes, and for me it’s like a dream come true! You’ve all been scattered to the four winds for so long, Anne in that Mali, Rob in Vienna, and the rest of you so many states away that visiting requires the planning of a major campaign.. But finally I’m going to have all my children under one roof for four whole days, and see you all together just once before I die.

Ginnie: (to herself) I have the feeling that won’t be as soon as you think. (louder) Just remember what you promised: no feeding time at the zoo stuff.

Louise: (miffed) I don’t know where you get off talking to me like that! You seem to forget we’re all adults here. (G. opens her mouth, thinks better of it and shuts it.) Listen, go see what’s keeping your sister Anne, will you? (exit Ginnie. Doorbell.) Now who will that be? (L. goes to the door and opens it. Enter John.) Well, my goodness! John, I was so hoping you wouldn’t stand us up, dear. (tries to hug him, but he evades her.)

John: I didn’t want to come, actually, but then I heard that Rob was coming, and I need to have a talk with him. Is he here yet?

Louise: (hurt) No. Have the rest of us become your doormat, or what? (pulls in with an effort.) Well, whatever the reason, I am happy to see you, you know. I don’t suppose you brought Marge and Kevin with you?

John: They didn’t want to come. And I want to talk with Rob alone. I have heard something that could have terrible consequences… I want to clear that up with him and then I’ll be off.

Louise: We’ll have to wait and see, I guess. I am not sure what the connections are like out of Logan. And then again, he’s never been dependable. Since he’s been living in Vienna, he’s worse than ever. Oh, I know him so well. Listen if he doesn’t show up before tomorrow, you’re welcome to spend the night.

John: Did he specifically say he’s coming tomorrow?

Louise: No, but….

John: Then he’ll be in today. He told me so.

Louise: You talked to him? He only wrote me a note.

John: Maybe he thought phoning was superfluous, since you know him so well.

Louise: Don’t you get sarcastic with me, John! I’m still your mother, and I’m not well. I… (doorbell) Oh Lord, that’ll either be Theresa or Martin. Look, just don’t stand there. Take off your coat, or something. And why not look into the kitchen? Tell Ginnie and Anne to stop jawing and get themselves out here. (exit John. Louise goes to the door and opens.) Martin! (Enter Martin. They embrace warmly.) Welcome home, dear. So glad you could tear yourself away from your harem. (they laugh)

Martin: Hiya! You’re looking pretty chipper! Am I the last of the gang?

Louise: No, Theresa and Robert are due any minute. I hope.

John: (re-entering) Ginnie and Anne said they’d be right out. Sounds like they were laying out a war strategy in there.

Louise: (incredulous) WHAT?

John: Who gets the dark meat, who gets the light meat…

Louise: Very funny. You….

John: I meant the turkey, Louise. You getting sensitive in your old age?

Louise: (forced) No, I’m just on edge.

John: (spotting Martin) Oh, hello, Marty….

Martin: Hello yourself. Nobody ever calls me that, you know, but you can if you want, I guess…

Louise: Listen, you guys, I know you’ve hardly ever had a chance to get acquainted, but it would please me no end if you’d both make an effort, since you’re finally together, here.

(spots up)

John and Martin together:

Oh boy! What does she expect, miracles? I hardly know him! Twice seen in a lifetime for two hours is nothing at all. He’s a stranger to me. I only came to see Robbie/Terry.

(spots down)
(doorbell)

Louise: (nervous) Which of them will that be? Ginnie! Anne! Come out here and greet your brothers! (Opens.) Theresa.

Terry: Well, I made it. Hope you’re happy. Is the clan gathered?

Louise: Of course I’m happy to see you, dear. Everyone’s here except for Robert.

Terry: I can’t wait to see him. (evades her) Hello, John. Long time no hear. Martin! I thought you had duty this weekend.

Martin: (embraces her) My curiosity got the better of me. I can play fireman some other time. Besides, I heard there were brush fire warnings up this way.

John: Terry….

Terry: Forget it, John, it’s water under the bridge.

Louise: Theresa, where are the girls?

Terry: I didn’t bring them. I thought we’d make this an adult reunion. You do remember what I told you….

Louise: Well who the hell is taking care of them?

(Ginnie and Anne enter)

G & A: Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! (they giggle)

Terry: I left them with Mark’s sister.

Louise: You still got him up on a pedestal, girl? No sign of tarnish on that halo yet?

Terry: Hold it right there, lady. Remember what you promised. No attacking, no unnecessary criticism. Any more out of you like that and I’m out the door.

Martin: (a plea) Terry…

Ginnie: (to Anne) We’d better set the table. Sounds like it’s getting on to feeding time….

Louise: (with an effort) None of you thought to bring your children. Do you consider me such an ogre? I’m a grandmother several times over, and you, Theresa, won’t even let me see your girls. It’s, well, it’s just insulting, is what it is.

John: Marge didn’t want to come.

Louise: That I can understand only too well.

Anne: Michael couldn’t afford to send us all over from Mali.

John: Mali? Where in the world is that?

Anne: (contempt) Africa.

John: (puzzled) What’s all this? You on a back-to-the-roots kick?

Anne: Later.

Louise: I said I understand most of you.

Terry: Leave it, gang. She does not mean you in the plural, but you as in me.

Martin: (upset). Why do you always go after Terry like that Ma? She’s always had it the roughest.

Louise: And fell butter-side-up, didn’t she. Profiting from that smut she wrote.

Terry: All right, I’m out the door.

Louise: You always were very good a running away, dear. (Terry re-considers, sits.) You said you’d come. You have. I’m glad.

Terry: It doesn’t feel like such a warm welcome, if you don’t mind my saying so.

Louise: If that’s how you feel, I’m sorry, dear. (pious) I’ve always wamted my children to be happy and to confide in me.

Anne: Huh!

Louise: (turning) Well I wanted to see my grand-children. Is that so unnatural? My feelings are hurt. And in my condition…

Terry: We know all about the state you’re in.

Louise: (threatening) Say what?

Terry: You’re as healthy as a horse.

Ginnie: Terry! Can’t you ever leave well enough alone?

Terry: This is just between us, Ginnie.

Louise: What do you expect of me, Theresa?

Terry: Only that you hold to the promise that you made.

Louise: Look, I… (doorbell) Oh Jesus, that can only be Rob. (Anne goes into the kitchen.)

John: Finally!

Martin: Why you all make such a fuss about him, I’ll never understand.

Louise: (at the door) Robert! You made it, dear. (polite kisses on both sides)

Rob: Yup! (surveys the room) Oh, am I the last? I hope I haven’t held you all up. The limousine took ages. What smells so good?

John: The turkey. Hello, Rob.

Rob: John. (they embrace embarrassedly.) You’re looking good. I was hoping that you’d come.

John: I need to talk with you, Rob.

Rob: We will, but later. We’ve got plenty of time, ok? Martin, is that really you? Last time we were together you looked like a Biafra baby without the stomach. It’s good to see you’ve really filled out. Boy, do you take after Mom’s side of the family. Unbelievable.

Martin: Well what do you know. I’m surprised that you ever even noticed me.

Rob: (somewhat hurt.) Did it look like that to you? I’m sorry. (gives M. his hand) Want to try for a re-acquaintance?

Martin: (letting go) We’ll see.

Louise: You see? This is what I’d been hoping that today would be like.

Terry: Aren’t you going to say hello to your big sister?

Rob: You betcha! Hey, you look even better than the night we went to the opera! (They embrace and kiss fondly.)

Louise: What’s this about an opera?!? When did you two ever go to an opera?

Terry: (offhand) it was in Vienna, mother. (to Rob) Wasn’t that an amazing evening? Remember how I tripped and nearly fell down that staircase? And that champagne bar! But I still say it was the blood-thirstiest thing I’ve ever seen.

Rob: And I still say that Turandot is fun for beginners. It’s impossible to fall asleep while watching it.

Louise: (too quiet) When were you in Vienna, Theresa?

Terry: Last Spring, Mother. You were too busy to see me, remember?

Louise: And you didn’t even tell me, Robert?

Rob: Should I have? It’s her life. After all, she’s attractive, chocolate, and over twenty-one, right?

Terry: (puches his arm, laughs) You clown!

Ginnie: (to Louise) I knew. I took care of the girls for two weeks.

Louise: So you were in it together. I shudder to think of the other things I don’t know about.

Terry: It did me good. I needed a sympathetic ear. Yours seemed to be blocked.

Louise: This is getting better and better.

Rob: You’ll have to admit you weren’t of much help to her at the time, Mom.

Anne: (re-entering) Watch your mouth, Rob. You’re very good at forming opinions after listening to only one side.

Louise: (tentative) Rob….

Rob: Anne! Jesus, you grew up!

Anne: Did you doubt I would?

Louise: Ummm…. Robert….

Rob: Of course I didn’t. People stay fixed in your memory as you last saw them, is all. It takes re-adjustment. Now what was that about sides?

Louise: (breaking in, nervous) Look, we can straighten this out later. The turkey….

Rob: What, an after-dinner free-for-all? Uh-uh. We’ll just let it go.

Anne: Well, we’ll see.

Rob: And I’ll reserve the right to my misconceptions. Oh, by the way, I’ve got somebody with me. Hope you don’t mind, Mom.

Louise: (hopeful) A woman? You finally going to get married?

Terry: (a warning) Rob….

Rob: Hush.

Terry: I don’t think that…

Rob: That’s good, Sis. People who don’t think remain attractive longer.

Louise: Well, where is she? Are you getting married, or what?

Rob: More like: or what. (goes to the door, calls out) Come on in, the water’s fine! (to Louise). You always said that if something like this happens to come to you first.

Louise: (a light dawning) Heyyyy, what is all this?

Rob: Mother, I’d like you to meet Georg. (Georg enters, Rob puts his arm about him possessively.) You needn’t bother with the German pronunciation. Just call him George. (Louise sits suddenly, the others are speechless for the moment.)

Georg: (a mischievous grin, a half-bow) How do you do? Terry! It is good to see you again..

Terry: (Breaks the silence with a long laugh) Hello, George. (to Rob) I always wondered how you’d do something like this, but you’ve surprised me, as usual. You take the cake! (They laugh, then embrace.)

Ginnie: (with a little shake) I guess I better set another place at the table. (John, cut to the quick, turns his back to the others, shaken. Martin grins. Anne glowers.)

Louise: (dazed) I guess I knew this was coming.

Anne: (furious) FEEDING TIME!


Blackout





Graz, May-December, 1989

all rights reserved

Thanksgiving I - 2

Scene Two

Resentments

After dinner, 4 p.m.

The set is the same. The family has eaten, the table has not been fully cleared, and everyone is coming back from the kitchen to retire to the living room. Anne and Martin enter first.

Anne: I don’t like this. They’re being too civilised, you know what I mean?

Martin: I’m just glad we got through it without a major crisis—although it was rough going for a few minutes, there. Reminded me of the old days.

Anne: Whatever you do, don’t let them start in on that, ok?

(The others re-enter. Rob is finishing an anecdote.)

Rob: so he goes up to see what all the racket is about, and lo and behold, sixteen wholesome-looking students from the Midwest are crammed into a rather small double, holding an orgy---with the door wide open.

Georg: They were not so many. I did not count them.

Rob: I know, you shut your eyes, but you peeked a bit anyway, right? Well, let’s just say there were ten. (They sit. To the others.) So he goes in and says, ‘This is Amerika, the be-autiful? It is four o’clock in the morning. In Austria, the people are sleeping.” So that’s how it became a catch word with us: In Austria, the people are sleeping. Then he told them to at least shut the door.

Louise: (slightly amused) Well, what happened then?

Rob: They shut the door and went right on with it. Except for one little runt who had a conscience attack and kept saying ‘Sorry Sir...’ And the next day we all acted as if nothing had happened. I guess you had to have been there.

Terry: Well, I think it’s a funny story anyway.

Louise:
You would!/I think it’s sick.
John::

Rob: (to John) Society is sick, you should know that. (to Martin) I’m sure you see enough of it in your line of work.

Terry: (to Louise) Just knock it off, will you?

Rob: We just get confronted with the more personal aspects of it in the hotel, is all.

Georg: Yes, that’s the different.

Rob: Differencccce.

Georg: (grins) Ssssss!

Anne: I’m just glad I’m in Mali most of the time.

Louise: If only it weren’t so far off!

Anne: Nothing could be too far off from… all this.

Louise: Huh. You act as if we all treated you badly. I miss you the most you know. You were the biggest help to me of all my children.

John: (has been fidgeting) I have something to say.

Rob: Well hallelujah! I’ve been wondering all through dinner if I were going to have to learn sign in my old age.

John: (contemptuous) You’ve out-done yourself this time, Rob. I’m going out for a walk. (takes them all in) My family! You make me feel…dirty. (exits, slamming the door)

Louise: (smug) See what you’ve accomplished, dear? I dare say it was a mistake to be so public in your announcement.

Rob: You think it would have been better to let you all think what you thought anyway so you could feel superior about it? It’s better out in the open. John will get used to the idea in time, just like he got over my taking Austrian citizenship.

Louise: (Pursuing it) I still would have preferred it if you had come to me beforehand, is all.

Terry: Oh boy, the great keeper of secrets, guardian of the skeletons.

Louise: (saccharine) You have enough of the latter to fill a warehouse, dear. At least now I understand what’s been going on between you two.

Terry: Then we needn’t go into that, either.

Ginnie: (small laugh) Hey, how many taboo subjects have we got going here?

Terry: I’m not sure, but I do know that you would fly off the handle if yours were up for discussion.

Ginnie: (flaring) I don’t like the tone of that. Compared to you all, I’m leading a very normal life!

Georg: Nothing is ever normal.

Ginnie: Who asked you, anyway?! (to Rob) How much does he know about us? What have you been telling him?

Rob: Enough to keep him on his toes.

Anne: Huh. Can’t nobody be too careful, right? Listen, Ginnie, I’ve had enough for the moment. Come on and help me clear away the dishes.

Ginnie: (rising) All right. Relax, Terry we won’t ask you to help. We all know how energetic you are.

Terry: I’m a damned sight better housekeeper than you’ll ever be, Ms Career Woman.

(Ginnie and Anne keep passing back and forth from the dining area to the kitchen, nudging one another at different points in the ensuing dialogue.)

Martin: Will you all please stop bickering? We made it through dinner without hacking at anything except the turkey, which was excellent, by the way, so let’s just take it easy. We had enough of the other way back when.

Louise: Well I’m glad somebody tasted what they ate!

Georg: It was very good. Rob makes it differently, though.

Louise: (ignoring him) All that work and for what? It was like a funeral in there. And I especially went and made a Southern-style meal, Robert, none of that heavy New England stuff you pride yourself on. Most people take it for granted that I come from the South.

Rob: I don’t know why you always pride yourself on that. All I can remember about the South is that it was infested with insects.

Terry: What insects? Roaches?

Rob: No, ants, crocodiles, weevils—ha! Every time I heard Theresa Brewer later on it made my flesh creep.

Ginnie: Crocodiles are reptiles, college boy!

Rob: Well, they slither, or is it sidle?

Louise: (uneasy) I didn’t think you remembered that trip.

Rob: How could I forget? You were like a hurricane in reverse. You bickered and bellowed and howled from Hartford to Miami.

Louise: The hell I did!

(John re-enters)

Terry: Hey John, they’re talking about that time you were in Florida. Remember anything about ants?

Louise: What do you want to be running on about them ants for, now? I don’t remember nothing about no ants.

John: Well I do. You took what had to be the poshest cottage in town. (to Rob) I’d hoped to speak to you alone out there.

Rob: (ignoring it) Martin, if you think the roaches in New Jersey were bad, you should have seen the West Palm Beach ant colonies. They were everywhere. Five minutes after dinner was on the table, we’d have to eat standing up. They’d come marching up the table legs. They were even in the toilet.

Martin: Oh, gross.

Louise: It wasn’t like that at all.

John: I remember you making a game out of shaking them out of your pajamas in the mornings.

Rob: (quietly) I didn’t want you to feel scared so I made a joke out of it. Just like my arrival here today.

John: It worked, you know….. back then.

Rob: Well, we weren’t there all that long. Dad came to get us after three weeks. You were sick with the croup.

Ginnie: (to Louise) Doesn’t sound like you nursed them through it too well, does it?

Louise: You’ve got some nerve! I was nearly out of my mind because I was about to lose my babies!

Rob: And lovingly belted us when we cried.

Louise: I most certainly did not!

John: Oh yes you did.

Ginnie: The perfect mother does not admit to violent acts. She has blackouts. It’s written down somewhere. Emily Post? Doctor Spock? Freud?

Terry: You should know best.

Georg: (very uncomfortable now) Why are you all being so morbid? In Austria, one never discusses such things. I think it is better to forget the past.

Louise: Well thank you, George. He is right, Robert. Why harp on the past? We had some good times too, you know.

Rob: Really? I don’t remember any.

Louise: (explodes) YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THAT I KEPT YOU CLEAN AND FED! JUST LET IT GO, DAMN IT!

Rob: The past is never ‘over.’ It colours your whole outlook, you know? I mean, it doesn’t really get to me any more, but when I think about it….

Terry: Then take your own advice, and don’t brother dear. Frown lines, you know.

Martin: At least you didn’t have to battle the rats and the junkies. Ma never tired of telling us how good you had it with your father.

Rob: Were you poisoning a few minds in your spare time way back when, Ma?

Ginnie: (quickly, to cover) Once I nearly cornered a rat. I must have been four or five at the time. (to Louise) That was the only time you were justified in beating on me!

Louise: I can’t believe the turn this discussion is taking! I NEVER beat on you all that much! Have you ever stopped to consider how difficult it was for me alone, a white woman with all you children in a black ghetto?

Terry: (a smirk) You sure were successful in finding protective males, though, weren’t you.

Martin: Come on, let’s keep it civilised, here…

Anne: (mocking) We are civilised, brother. Here the day is almost over and no one’s gotten knifed yet.

Louise: (barely in control) I just don’t deserve the kind of contempt you are showing me here. Our life together wasn’t all that bad. I tried to keep the worst things from affecting you all.

Georg: (trying to change the subject) Anne, aren’t things worse in Mali? I have been meaning to ask you what things are like there.

Rob: (also wanting to avoid an all-out confrontation) Yeah, didn’t you have trouble adjusting?

Anne: (suspicious of their motive) Uh-uh.

Rob: I find that hard to believe, but then again, maybe you haven’t really noticed the difference yet.

Anne: People are the same all over.

Rob: (facetiously) If that’s the case, there’s no sense gallivanting about, is there? (feigns a double-take) Did you say all over?

Anne: All right, that’s enough. You want the low-down? I can’t understand why you are all carrying on about the so-called bad conditions we had. You make it sound as if we were alays at death’s door or something. Sure we got on for weeks on collard greens when the money was short….

Louise: You tell it like it is, girl!

John: In our day it was hot dogs week in, week out.

Anne: And so what? You think that was poverty? You want to come to Africa and see what real poverty is, babies. People drop like flies over there every day.

Terry: Get a load of Flo Nightengale! Opening up a computer company is your contribution to allevieating all that misery and suffering, is it?

Martin: hey, be fair, now.

Terry: The folks out there may be starving, but give ‘em computer culture and American know-how. Let them bite the dust, but at least playing Pac Man, the while.

John: Just a minute! You mean to tell me you and Michael went to Africa to open up a computer company? Why?

Anne: For your information, the poverty there may be great, but they are hardly living in the Stone Age. (open contempt) Your idea of the continent stood still in the Fifties with Johnny Weissmüller.

Rob: Not to mention Cheetah.

Anne: how come you’re so flip, huh? Most people think you’re mucking about in the Alps in short leather pants, and doing those slap dances, or whatever they are called.

Georg: Schuhplattler.

Anne: Say what?

Georg: The dance. It is called a Schuhplattler.

Ginnie: (Laughs). Where did you find this guy, Rob? Under a rock?

Rob: (annoyed.) He was like Everest. I turned around one day, and he was just there. (to Anne) But as I recall, your world view isn’t very solid. You thought that Mali was only an hour’s flight from Vienna. Come to think of it, it might be possible at mach five.

Anne: You know damned well that was Ma’s idea!

Rob: But you believed it. And that’s why I sent her an atlas for Christmas.

Terry: Oh, no! Did you really?

Louise: I’ll say. It was one of the less cruel things he sent me.

John: Are you going to start in on the photo again?

Ginnie: Somebody want to fill me in?

Louise: The last picture I had of your brother was his high school graduation picture. So I asked him to send me something more recent. And what do I get? An x-ray!

Martin: (laughing) That’s great!

Ginnie: (to Rob) You always think you’re so smart, don’t you.

Rob: (grinning) I really didn’t have anything else at the time, and was getting aseries of rather unpleasant check-ups. So they were the most recent things I had.

John: Our dad thought it was hilarious.

Louise: He would, the bastard. You certainly do take after him, Robert.

Rob: (indifferent) We buried the hatchet on that long ago. Besides, you got your revenge. You sent me a fruit cake—without the nuts. Very symbolic.

John: Well, I haven’t and I won’t

Louise: Be that as it may, today you’ve proven I was right about you, Rob.

Rob: But at the time, you weren’t. That is the point. Your ‘concern’ only served to upset me.

Georg: (to Rob) I told you I should not have come with you.

Louise: Oh, don’t worry about it, George. You seem to be an all right sort of person. I mean, you got good manners and everything. I noticed that at dinner. Seeing your age difference, I suspect you’re sort of a father figure for him. God knows his own was weak enough.

Rob: (irate) Ten years ago the age difference wasn’t an issue, so don’t start in on the psychological crap, ok?

Terry: I just knew it! Look out, gang, here come all those worn-out clichés and name tags. You’ve just been dying to haul them out, haven’t you?

Louise: Well, I was right, wasn’t I? I warned you too, but did you listen?

Terry: (guarded) I loved him.

Louise: Oh yes, and didn’t you pay the price, girl?

Terry: You’ll never understand. I only suffered when you put my private life on display among your alcoholic friends, as if it were a soap opera.

Louise: You objected to my being open in public, and after he died so horribly, you went and spilled your guts in print. And landed a best-seller! Love? I dare say I don’t understand.

Terry: I needed to ease the grief. I wanted to warn other women in my situation. You weren’t about to listen to me. And I contacted Rob much later. You only objected to the money I made---and didn’t give you.

Louise: No. Whatever I’ve done in my life, money was always secondary. A least I can say I loved real men.

Ginnie: (losing patience) And devoured them, just like a spider.

Louise: Well get you! And where’s your wedding ring, Miss High and Mighty? You know, I’ve kept my mouth shut for a long time, but it doesn’t look like Cal’s going to get that divorce, does it? You let him dump all over you till you decide you have had enough and then you go at him with a knife! Am I to blame for that too? Did I teach you those kind of manners?

Martin: Don’t you think we’re going a bit too far, here? Why don’t we just drop all this?

Louise: (attacking) Martin the peace-maker! You were born old, you know that? You have no goals, no drive. Just like your father.

Martin: You drove him off in a hurry, didn’t you! And used a knife to do it, as I remember.

Louise: he was a drunkard! It was his fault I ended up in AA! He was a weakling.!

Martin: Like me, I suppose….

Louise: Yes! Oh, I know you try to compensate. You play the macho and have one girlfriend after the other, but basically, you’re trying to get back at me. And you take unnecessary risks at work, then get yourself into the papers. On page 47. Some hero! Sometimes I think you were my biggest mistake.

Rob: Like Anne was an ‘accident’?

Louise: You shut your mouth! I was always fair with you and you’ve given me the most pain of all my children.

Anne: What do you mean, an accident, Robert?

Rob: (shrugs) Something she told me a million years ago.

Louise: I said shut up and I mean it! When I think of how much it meant to me to have you all together after so many years, I don’t know, I must have been off my rocker! I worked so hard to have this week-end come about, and all I get for my trouble is a lot of animosity and a constant barrage of accusations against me. As if I were a monster or something!

Well let me tell you one thing! This is your mother speaking! I did the best I could for you all my life. Even now I can hardly make ends meet! But I put the food on the table today, and no one is going hungry here! You all gorged! And it’s damned cold out, but I paid for the heat and it’s damned near ruined me, prices being what they are. And you take it for granted. That’s what mothers are for, right?

Now, I went to the doctor’s last week, and he said that if I take it easy, I can last another ten years, and….

Terry: Here it comes, you guys!

Louise: You have always been just plain evil!

Terry: (false cheer) Just living up to your expectations, dear.

Louise: Stop interrupting me. (to the others, pacing) They say I could last another ten years, but when I look around this room, all I can do is ask myself ‘for what’? You call this a family?

John: All we have in common are your genes.

Louise: The oracle speaks! With you, I always had the feeling I’d given birth to a clam. And since you aren’t coming up with any pearls of wisdom, shut up.

Terry: Can we finally get to the end of this bullshit? You’re fishing for something. Spit it out, hey.

Louise: One more word, and I’m going to gag you, girl.

Terry: (to the others) You know, recently I’ve come to realise that she uses the word ‘girl’ in the sense that a racist would use ‘boy’. Our mother, the racist.

Louise: How dare you!

Terry: Need I remind you of what you said when I married Mark?

Louise: Admit I was right!

Terry: You weren’t. He loved me. How often do I have to say it?

Louise: Then I would hate to find out what the opposite of that much over-rated emotion is. Look at you all! My children! You know, I’d hoped today that I would find out that one of my children loves me. Not too much to hope for, right? I mean, there should exist the odds that one out of six would, right? One who would love me enough to help me in my sickness and old age…..

Anne: I try to do the best I can, Mother.

Louise: You have a family! And most of the time you’re thousands of miles away. You have a right to your personal life. And you others? You all sit there looking like I’ve just asked for the crown jewels of England. (long pause) Nobody has anything to say? All right, I’ll get by, and on next to nothing if I have to. Just like I survived the hell of AA and came out a person.

Rob: You were never an alcoholic, mother. None of us ever saw you take a drink.

Louise: I was a dry drunk! How often do I have to explain that to you!

Rob: You were in need of a sympathetic ear, and chose some pretty odd people to talk to, if you ask me.

Louise: And where were you, may I ask? You chose the fastest way out, didn’t you? Didn’t want to hurt your father’s feelings. What I felt was immaterial. You talk about odd friends? You come in here with this lame-brain, and I’m supposed to be happy?

Rob: Yes, God damn it! He’s damned intelligent, and I love him.

Louise: Well good for you. I put a lot of hope in you, even though I knew what would become of you. (R. makes a move as if to protest. Louise stops him with a gesture.) No, I did. You’ve made your choice and if you’re happy, I’m glad. At least you were smart enough to find a man with a lot of money. I take my hat off to you.

Rob: Foul, dear. It’s his money, he only got it recently, and it’s a problem, although I doubt you can understand that.

Louise: Don’t try to bluff me. You send me post cards from Italy and Teneriffe, and I sit up here in the cold and am supposed to be thrilled for you, or what? You’re selfish, Robert. You even hated your brother when he was born.

Rob: (groan) Are you going to drag out that old chestnut? It was normal, Louise.

Louise: Don’t you ‘Louise’ me!

Rob : You wanted me to be abnormal, so that you could go right on being paranoid.

Louise: That’s a lie! I was happy when you came along. The last thing in my mind was that I’d given birth to a monster. (pause) Yes, a monster of ingratitude. But you don’t even come close to John in that department.

John: Me?

Louise: Yes, you! You are the only one of my children who is even half-way normal. You’re married, have a good job, a child you won’t let me see, and you reject me totally. And it wouldn’t put that big a dent in your bank balance to help me out a bit, but you too, are selfish.

Terry: Leave him alone, Mother. He was only three years old when you dumped him.

Louise: You stay out of this!

John: You know, you’re the monster, Louise. The only thing I owe you is gratitude that you left us with our father as soon as you did….

Georg: I think I should go now….

Rob & Terry: Stay where you are!

Louise: You think you’re so smart, don’t you? You’re nothing! Zeros! I never wanted to have any of you! I brought you into this world and what do I get? An X-ray. Forbidden to see my grandchildren!

Rob: Ergo….

Louise: Don’t come at me with your damned German! (clutches at her chest, a visible effore to try to regain some calm) To tell you the truth, I gave up on you both years ago.

John: A sensible decision.

Louise: And when I think of my girls!

Terry: Do me a favour and don’t, ok

Louise: You’re my greatest disappointment there, Theresa.

Terry: Do tell.

Louise: I tried so hard to give you the right values but you rejected me from the day one.

Terry: You know the reason why.

Louise: And I tried to tell you what the score was with Mark, that he was like your brother. You ignored me and went ahead with your marriage. And suffered a lot of pain. I’m not as blind as you’d like me to be. But I did try to help!

Terry: You and help! You only made me sick with your preaching about how only an African American man could make me happy. All you were interested in was the myth of the big dick!

Louise: THERESA!

Terry: ADMIT IT! You always told me that whites were bad, evil, and that I’d only be sorry if I let myself in for an affair with one. Well, I had a marriage with one, and he may have been bisexual, but he made me happy! And that is more than I can say for the men in your life, all those ‘fathers’ we had!

Louise: (dead quiet) How dare you compare yourself to me, you tramp?

Ginnie: You want to be careful with your accusations, mother. You hardly set us an example.

Louise: Are you taking your sister’s side?

Ginnie: Yes. Because in one thing, she’s right. Your main gripe was that she was too interested in whites. And everything you ever told us only served to confuse us as to where we belonged. You had a good time watching her suffer when she really needed you. You just practiced reverse racism. I mean, do you think I’m better off with Cal than she was with Mark?

Louise: Only you can answer that. And only you can answer to your child one day for the neglect you’ve shown him. I never neglected any of you.

Ginnie: I never said I was a good mother. I didn’t want my child. I was too young. You forced me to have him.

Martin: Ginnie!

Louise: Shut up! (to Ginnie) I forced you to face the fact that if you undertake an adult action, then you have to face very adult consequences.

Ginnie: Adults have more choices that you gave me! You accuse me of being an incapable mother. Well if I am, I have you to thank for it. And if you aren’t satisfied with the job I’m doing, you’re welcome to take custody of him. Maybe by the time he’s working, he’ll be grateful enough to want to support you, which was the only reason you got us out here to this shindig.

Louise: (pale, short of breath) How dare you blame me! I set you all an example! I didn’t run away from my responsibilities, and I won’t stand for any child of mine doing that either. Whenever I was pregnant, it usually wasn’t convenient for me, but I faced the music.. And I could have taken the easy way out and done away with the lot of you! (gasps) You are all failures in my eyes! (clutches at her chest) Did you hear me? Failures! (collapses)

Ginnie: (shocked) Ma!

(the others gape not yet grasping)

Martin: Call a doctor, somebody. I’ll go! (runs out the door)

Terry: (surprised) Well whaddaya know?! (pause, then flat) Shit….

Blackout

Curtain


Graz May-Dec. 1989
all rights reserved

INTERMISSION

Champagne bar is in the lobby on the left, WCs to the right. Please do not throw up in the urinals. Use the toilets. Thank you. We resume shortly.

The Management.

THANKSGIVING II 1

Act Two

Scene One

Contact?









Friday, one a.m. As the scene progresses there will be several re-groupings of the characters, each facilitated by black-outs. Each grouping should be lit by spots, the back-ground fairly dark. Otherwise the set remains the same. It should be staged a bit dream-like, reminiscent of talks we have all had in the middle of the night...

Enter Georg, carrying a suitcase, followed by Rob from a bedroom left.

Rob: (holding Georg’s arm, to detain him.) Georg, will you please try to be reasonable? It’s one in the morning. How do you think you’re going to get anywhere at this time of night?

Georg: I called a taxi. The number was on a pad next to the phone.

Rob: But why? Listen, I know you hated what went on here today, but…

Georg: (Sets his suitcase down, and takes Rob by the shoulders.) Robert, I think we both know that it wasn’t right for me to come here. You were only being stubborn. I should have listened to my instinct.

Rob: You shouldn’t have listened to all that yelling and taken it seriously.

Georg: Your mother has a heart attack, and that is not serious?

Rob: No! Besides, the doctor said it was only a minor circulatory collapse and not too severe. You were there, or weren’t you listening? Please, Georg, don’t leave me alone here.

Georg: Terry will look after you. (Enter John right, unseen by them.)

Rob: I need you! (a sudden thought) Are you going for good?

Georg: Don’t be so absurd, ja? (exasperation) I will never understand you Americans. You are all so intense, so emotional. I try, Robert, and just when I think you are the same as me, boom! We have the great melodrama, fix and fertig.

Rob: People in Austria can be like that, too.

Georg: I do not know them, and do not wish to in the future either.

Rob: Me included?

Georg: (embraces him) Do not carry your family manners into our personal lives. (John winces)

John: (spot up) Hearing it is one thing, seeing it is terrible. (spot out)

Georg: You know I have often told you how I feel. (tiredly) Let me go for tonight, Robert. I will stay in a hotel in town, and when you are finished here, we will go someplace nice together. I do not feel right here. (smile) And in Austria, the people are sleeping. I will call you tomorrow and we can make plans.

Rob: No need. (kisses Georg) Seeing as this has been a disaster, I will join you in town tomorrow at noon.

Georg: But your mother!

Rob: Didn’t stick around when I needed her either.

Georg: I don’t know… My mother…

Rob: Loved you very much. That’s the different.

Georg: (small chuckle) Difference. I guess you could be right. (heads for the door) Until tomorrow, then. And then we will have a real vacation.

Rob: (suddenly depressed) Ok. Ciao, Bear. (exit Georg, then separate spots on Rob and John. ( to the closed door, barely audible) I’m sorry. I love you.

John: And he left home for that?!?

Blackout

Lights up on Rob and John, standing together, defensive

John: So your ‘friend’ decided to cut his losses and split, huh?

Rob: Why ask me? You were in the doorway listening. Get an earful?

John: You can’t seriously expect me to condone what you are doing to yourself and to our real family.

Rob: (pacing) Families! They expect you to toe the line, and God help you if you budge one inch over it. Then you get two choices: either you go the sackcloth and ashes route, or you get on with your life and they refuse to have anything to do with you. It’s my life, John. I don’t need anyone’s approval.

John: Well, at least you were decent enough to do what you did outside of the country, I suppose. When I think about your so-called reasons for staying in Austria, I could explode. That was dishonest, all those ‘rational’ arguments, and in reality you indulged yourself in one long debauched fling.

Rob: Boy, your mind has been working overtime, and in the gutter at that! (stops) Try to be sensible, hey. We work eighty hours a week trying to make a go out of running the hotel. That hardly leaves much time over for decadence, don’t you think? I didn’t set out to disgrace myself, and I’ll be damned if I can feel like that now.

John: Then why did you let it happen?

Rob: (impatient) Because that’s the way I am, for God’s sake! You act as if I were a slur on your reputation. What are you afraid of, anyway? That it’s catching, or what? WHAT?

John: (begins to cry) I… I just didn’t want it to be true. I always thought that that was how you’d turn out. I looked up to you!

Rob: (embraces John, brotherly) Shhh! There’s no reason for you to upset yourself like this. In two weeks, we’ll be back home and Ma isn’t in a position to make much of a stink after today. (steps back) Look at it this way: I am content. I didn’t set out to disappoint you all, but I can’t live a lie either. And Georg is a good person, take my word for that.

John: (re-gaining control) I guess….

Rob: (persuasive) He is. (confidential) You know, he only left because he was totally horrified at American manners.

John: (stiff) I hope he realises we aren’t representative!

Rob: You really haven’t the foggiest, do you? You know Ma always used to ask ‘What’s it like, out there? As if it were outer space or something. Not to worry, they’re often far better informed about us than vice versa. Hey I got an idea. Let’s scout around for a bottle of booze and you can ask me anything you like. I’ll shoot straight from the hip, ok? (John nods) Let’s se how AA Ma really is. (They laugh go toward the dining area as the lights fade)

Blackout

Lights up on Terry in a flannel night-gown. During the first part of the following, she searches restlessly in the living room area for something to drink.

Terry: Oh where oh where has the scotch bottle gone? Oh where, oh where can it be? (Looks under the sofa.) Huh. I know damned well she keeps one around for her male company. Not that she’ll have too many nowadays. Naw, now she’s into bounty hunting. Inheritances from people she turned against herself years ago with her silliness. (Removes a cushion from an armchair, looks beneath it.) Family reunion in-deed! She’d have been better off doing her own version of ‘This Is Your Life—house would’ve been chock-full of men. (straightens up, shrugs.) Then again, they couldn’t handle her either. (giggles)

Spots up on Rob and John in back. John suddenly laughs.. Terry jumps with a little yelp.

Rob: (waving a bottle, coming forward) Lookin’ for this, Sis?

Terry: Bingo. Wanted a night-cap. Where did you find it? Under the sofa?

Rob: Nope, it was in the cupboard. (Hands her a glass, pours) Some day, wasn’t it. Georg fled a little while ago, John threw a tantrum, and since then we’ve been discussing little-known facts of life. And what’s with you?

Terry: Ginnie and Anne are of the opinion that you and I are the main culprits. We aren’t talking, and that very loudly.

Rob: A dubious art, that...

(John joins them from the back)

John: Left field went quiet all of a sudden. Having a good time?

Terry: Just came in for a night-cap. You ok?

John: I’ve been better. How did you two get together after so long a time, anyway? I’ve been meaning to ask you that all day.

Terry: If you’d kept in touch, I would have told you about it.

Rob: Ma wrote me one of her cryptic letters in early Oracle of Delphi style, with the one-liner: Your sister lost her husband. Period. So I shot back with: ‘Where, in the supermarket?’

Terry: Mom was so much afraid of what I’d say if she told him that she gave him my address, and the rest, as they say, is history.

John: So that’s why. I read your book, you know. Shocking.

Terry: (shrugs) Writing it was my way of coming to terms with Mark’s death. It was so senseless.

John: And there’s no danger that you’ll come down with AIDS?

Terry: A little late to be asking, but no, no danger.

John: I’m sorry we stopped talking with one another. I wish I’d known, but then again I probably wouldn’t have been of much help.

Terry: It’s over. Let’s just try to do better in the future, ok?

John: I suppose you know the risk you’re taking, Rob?

Rob: I don’t want to get into that. I lost two good friends this Spring, and it is something that you can’t understand, believe me. I’m a one person person. I trust Georg enough so that I don’t worry.

John: Well I do.

Rob: Not to change the subject, but to change the subject, what are we going to do about Ma?

Terry: Oh no, you don’t! Tomorrow noon I’m out of here and it’s back to the kids. No way!

John: Don’t look at me! You’re the only one without any real ties, Rob. Maybe you should stick around. She’d have a field day giving you good advice on safer sex.

Rob: You didn’t listen to a word I said before, did you? I repeat: this is the first vacation we have taken in five years, and I’m beginning to wish I’d gone to Cuba, Halifax, anywhere but here. Then I have to get back to the hotel. We only have three weeks left, and I am definitely NOT going to spend them with Louise. You’re the logical candidate. You only live an hour’s drive away.

John: I’m leaving for business on Monday, though. California for a week.

Rob: Then cancel, or something.

Terry: Now don’t get to arguing, you guys. We all have good reason to be leaving tomorrow. So let’s just leave it to the others, why don’t we?

Rob: I don’t know….

Terry: (brightly) Re-fill?

John: Let me. (grabs the bottle) This time we’re going to keep in touch, right?

Rob & Terry: I’ll drink to that! (pause, they look at one another surprised, then laugh. Enter Martin.)

Martin: Hey, hey! A party…. And you didn’t even invite me?

Blackout

Spots up on Rob, Terry, Martin and John, laughing.

Martin: Shhh! We’re gonna wake Mom up if we don’t stop, and you know what that will be like.

Terry: (holding her side) Then stop making me laugh.

Rob: I never realised that the fire department could be such a hot-bed of hilarity.

Martin: (chuckles) I’d say that it can compare with your crazed hotel guests.

John: (dour) You certainly inherited the ‘family’ sense of humour.

Martin: (suddenly sober) If you say so….

Terry: (not catching the mood swing) Too bad you guys didn’t know him when he was growing up. He kept us all going when things got unbearable.

Rob: ‘Things’ being Louise?

Martin: She’s still our mother, Rob.

John: I won’t accept that, ever.

Rob: As if you get to pick and choose! Come off it.

Terry: Re-fills, anybody?

John: You ought to go easy on that, Terry, or Ma will have a case-worker on your back in no time.

Martin: Aw, let her tie one on, if she wants. It was a hard day all around. In a way I feel bad for Mom, though, you know?

John: Bad enough to stay with her till she is back on her feet?

Martin: Oh no, you don’t. She wouldn’t be able to stand me after twenty-four hours, man… (pause, struggle to gain control over animosity) Look, you guys just have no idea what it was like growing up with her.

Rob: I've heard enough to get the general picture.

Martin: Bullshit, man! You weren’t around for the beatings. You weren’t around when she threw me out onto the streets when I was sixteen, because she was too selfish to want to spend any more money on my up-keep. And up to that time, I paid for my father’s defection, believe me.

John: You’re not making any sense, Martin. You just said you feel bad for her and now you’re running her down.

Martin: There were times she was almost a normal human being. It gets mixed up. I feel the same way about you two, and I can’t even put a label on it. It has to do with blood ties, and what the world demands you are supposed to feel for family.

Ours is so complex that we aren’t ever going to come to terms. Yes. I do feel something like pity, for lack of a better word. She is a master of self-delusion, and never seems to realise that, whatever she’s done, she always leaves a trail of emotional carnage behind her. Still, understanding doesn’t lead to acceptance, you know. So I’m leaving tomorrow.

Rob: All in all, this weekend reunion seems to have been a rotten idea. All it seems that we have to offer one another is our animosities.

Terry: Not true, not true. (goes to a side table, re-fills her glass) We’re finally talking here.

John: I hardly see what good it’s doing. We’ve only established that we resent one another, and that we hate Louise.

Rob: (laughs) Freud would have a field day.

Terry: Isn’t that more than your average family would do? My husband’s family visited him all of twice while he was in the hospital. They all knew one another well, but didn’t dare let anything surface. No anger, lots of unresolved guilt feelings all around.

Then he died and now everyone else has the burden of not having said what they really wanted to say. We seem detached enough to be honest, at least. Talking might bring us closer than a ‘normal’ family lets themselves be. Isn’t it worth a try?

John: No! (anger breaking through) You all were only a burden to me, a hindrance to all that was normal around me and all that I wanted to be part of. And now I’m supposed to play the liberal and accept you all? All I want is to be left alone. I want my family, and 2.5 children, a house and car, and not a bunch of brothers and sisters I would be ashamed of in front of the people I do business with.

You are masters at breaking taboos, and can go right on being in the vanguard of any new decadence that comes along, but without me, if you please!

(Martin grins, Rob shifts from one foot to the other, not sure whether to be offended or laugh, Terry considers)

Martin: I think I’m going to turn in. We don’t seem to be making any progress, here.

Terry: You always were the one for getting out while the going was good. Always afraid of the waves. (Martin makes a gesture of protest) No. Don’t say another word. Good night: (Kisses him as Ginnie enters.)

Ginnie: (crosses to the group, picks up the bottle, looks severely at the others, and frowns) Have you all gone crazy or what? Good thing Ma’s under sedation, is all I can say. Get to bed, all of you!

Martin: I was just going, Sis. Calm down.

Terry: I’ll go to bed when I damn well please.

Rob: Let’s not get riled, or we’ll waken the wrath of the Oracle.

John: Rob, get me another drink. (to Ginnie) And I’ll go do bed when I damn well please, sister.

Martin: Oh-oh, storm warnings. Night, all. (exits)

Ginnie: You’re all beasts. First you nearly kill Ma, and then you’re so indecent, you celebrate!

Terry: Want to come down off your high horse, dear? We are in the process of trying to forgive and forget. May you be as successful, at least.

Rob: Night-cap, Ginnie? (She glowers, gets a glass from the sideboard) Too bad we didn’t wake you earlier. We’ve been talking for a change. And even if we aren’t agreed, it’s been a start. (raises his glass) To us.

The others: (partly accepting, partly to assuage) TO US….

Blackout

Spots up on two seating groups. Rob and John on the sofa, Ginnie and Terry in armchairs.

Ginnie and John: (to their respective partners) You took the easy way out. You just up and left us with the real problems. And had a good time.

Rob and Terry: It wasn’t the way you think!

Terry: She’d gotten way out of hand. I was tired of taking your beatings for you.

Rob: Georg had nothing to do with my going away. I was tired of being perceived as a freak.

Ginnie: I needed you when I got pregnant. Where were you then, huh? With Mark. And a lot of good it did you.

John: You may have looked after me when I was little, but whenever I needed your help later in making the big decisions, where were you then? Europe!

Terry and Rob: You’ve got a hell of a nerve Sister/Brother!

Terry: Ginnie, as long as I can remember I felt like I didn’t belong. I was shrivelling up inside, and if I had stuck it out, all that would have been left of me would have been ashes. And I wasn’t ready for an urn.

Rob: John, if I had stayed, I would have become everything I hate. I couldn’t cope with this society. Austria has its’ problems too, but it was the first place where I ever felt like I was at home.

Terry: I felt at home with Mark. He hurt my feelings sometimes, but he loved me as best he could. I found I was able to settle for what he had to offer.

Rob: Austria has culture, that was the most important thing to me. And Georg made me feel even more like I was at home.

John: What do they have that we don’t have?

Terry: I wasn’t what you would call educated, except on the street. Ma ruined all our chances on that score. Mark gave me knowledge, and a sense of culture.

Rob: They have a sense of themselves and their history. All we have is an over-developed sense of the myth that we are the best.

Ginnie: I still can’t forgive you for taking off and leaving the rest of us to bear the brunt of her anger!

John: I saw you in there with George. It made me sick. All the rest of what you’re saying is bunk.

Terry: Oh bullshit! I was supposed to be sacrificed so that everyone else would be happy? Come off it! She’s only happy when we’re unhappy! I’ve done my best for you since. Don’t I take Tom every summer so that you can have your peace and quiet? Don’t you think I’d like to spend a summer without a pack of children underfoot twenty-four hours a day? Don’t be such an ingrate.

Rob: Sorry. (sudden heat) What am I saying? How would you feel if I told you that I feel the same way when I see a hetero love scene? Everything is relative, brother dear. And I'm also sick of being of being in a place where I have to consider every word and action so as not to frighten the horses.

Ginnie: It still doesn’t make up for the past.

John: And it doesn’t matter what your ‘life-style’ does to me or Mom and Dad?

Terry and Rob: STOP IT! STOP IT! I’m sick to death of your selfishness!

Blackout

Spot up on the four, change of partners, John with Ginnie, Terry with Rob

All four: I’ll never understand him/her.

John and Rob: He was always the complete opposite of me.

Ginnie and John: Her/his main concern was looking out for number one and to hell with the rest of us.

Ginnie and John: When Terry left… (stop., look surprised) What? You first.

Ginnie: She was only thirteen. God knows how she ever survived in those homes. Ma imagined the worst and fed us wih horror visions---daily.

John: I kept an eye on her for a while and tried to keep her out of trouble. Rob never bothered to find out what was going on.

Terry: She was always aggressive. Yet one of these days she’s going to have to learn to make her own decisions.

Rob: John never told me that you had run away from home. He just went very quiet and distanced and I was the enemy all of a sudden, only because I went to visit Ma.

Terry: Well, John looked after me as well as he could, but I was stubborn. The only bond between us was our hate for Louise.

Ginnie: Rob was selfish just like Terry. He’d come to the house, and it would be like a circus.

John: He’s always followed his own bent interests. And he calls me selfish.

Rob: I only visited because I was confused, and wanted to piece the vague memories I had together so that they made sense.

Ginnie: When he visitied, Rob never paid much attention to us. Mother used to say to watch out for him, that he was a more dangerous racist than you were, because he hid it so well.

John: I didn’t have any feelings about race one way or the other, although I did feel it could hurt my career later. … (stops, struck by what he’s said.)

Rob: I spent all that time trying to figure out where she really stood, and felt guilty because there were some people of colour I couldn’t bring myself to like. Therefore I had to be racist, right?

Terry: People are people, Rob. She knows how to play the mind games all right. One Easter she gave Sarah a white chocolate bunny, presumably because she has such light complexion, and Susan got a dark chocolate bunny.

Rob: My God, that’s like that film. She’s like Lana Turner---without the mink.

John: I was only trying to find out if she was the immoral person I took her to be. I’m sure she was already carrying Terry when the divorce went through. Who the father was was beside the point.

Ginnie: Terry has been trying to find him for years. I could care less. Where was he when we needed him?

John: Knowing her, you can’t really blame him.

Ginnie: (Acidly) Seems like there’s a whole lot of folks in this family running away from their responsibilities.

Terry: We went all over this in Vienna, Robbie. John doesn’t really hate you. He wouldn’t be so upset if he did. Give him a little time. I wish it were that simple with Ginnie.

Rob: Ginnie has always been an advantage taker, and she isn’t going to change. She’s running on a lot of hate, but is inhibited, too.

Ginnie: Actually, it’s funny, you know. You were out there looking after Terry as much as she would let you, and Rob did try to help me, but I wasn’t having any, if the truth be known.

John: What do you mean?

Rob: You know, she was wrong about no one having tried to help her. The last time I saw her she was several months along, and I did my damndest to try to find out how she felt, because I could see how unhappy she was. All I got for my trouble was: ‘have a good trip’.

Ginnie: He tried to pry the truth out of me when I was carrying Tom. I thought it was one of Ma’s intrigues. Looking back, maybe he was being honest after all, and trying to help.

John: That’s his main fault. Take today as the perfect example.

Terry: Ginnie was never one for saying what was on her mind. Face it, Rob, you do what you can in this life, and leave the rest alone.

Ginnie: Face it, John, you just can’t stand the idea that your brother isn’t perfect.

Rob: I feel like I’ve failed to connect somewhere along the line.

Terry: You can only show that you’re willing. If no one takes you up on an offer, that’s ok, too. You were there when Mark died. I could just as easily have told you to go to hell.

John: But it’s high time he settled down. You can’t call the life he’s living acceptable.

Terry: But the fact is, I needed you.

Rob: And John , I envy him sometimes, but just imagining living his life….I’d be bored to death.

Ginnie: The life Terry has led is so intensive that it scares me to the point where I hate her sometimes. (quietly) Just like you hate him, sometimes.

Terry: There are days when I hate her. If only I could get along with her like I get along with you.

Rob: I’m not so irresponsible as they all make me out to be.

Ginnie: I’m not the harpy you all take me for.

John: Now Terry and Rob are closer than they ever were, and all because of Mark. It makes me angry.

Terry: John meant so well, but he never would really have understood, and Ginnis is all wrapped up in herself.

All Four. I’LL NEVER UNDERSTAND HIM/HER!

(enter Martin and Anne)

Martin: You all going to finally calm down and get some sleep, or what?

Anne: What in the blue blazes is going on here, anyway?

Blackout

Lights up, grouping as above,

Anne stands before the rest, aggressive. The others are on the defensive.)

Anne: All right!!! What is this, a party? Or What? I mean, I’m not exactly thrilled at being kept awake by your caterwauling till all hours of the night but the least you could do is show a little respect for our mother!

Terry: Give it a rest, Anne. She’s obviously out like a light.

Rob: We were just about to turn in, so leave us alone, why don’t you.

Anne: Don’t you tell me what to do, Robert. You and Terry have caused enough damage to last us a decade. Every time you show up you cause us grief to last years. I was listening to you all. Aren’t we the dutiful family, though?

John: Why didn’t you come in, if you were so curious=

Anne: Because you all make me sick.

Marin: Anne!

Anne: You do! NO one willing to stick around and help mother when she really needs us.

Ginnie: Well, you got any suggestions that we can all live with, or are you just here to condescend?

(Louise appears in her bedroom doorway, dazed, but becomes more and more attentive as she listens.)

Anne: Condescend? God, how typical, Ginnie. You’ve always done whatever you could in order not to be bothered. And John’s hopeless, always has been. Robert will back out of his family responsibilities as he always has.. Martin will disappear with some girlfriend or other—just like his father did, and Terry will go back to the wilds of Vermont under the pretext of having to take care of her girls, and end up going from one moral dilemma to the next.

Rob: How well you have us typed. But what about you? From what I’ve heard, you don’t have any reasons for showing such familial affection.

John: Terry told me Louise spent all the money your father left you that was intended for your college education. You can’t maintain that that didn’t constitute a reason for your being less that well disposed toward her.

Anne: You don’t know the first thing about it, so shut your mouth, why don’t you? I never had any intention of going to college. And it didn’t seem to get you very far, Robert. And it didn’t serve to save your husband, did it, Terry? You all took what you could get and left Mother in the lurch as soon as you possibly could.

Martin: Your perspective is very slanted, Sis.

Anne: Call it what you will. At least I’m not going to be running out on her tomorrow like the rest of you.

Terry: Don’t give us the martyr act, Anne. Your return ticket isn’t valid for another three weeks, and knowing you, you don’t have enough spending money to last on your own meanwhile.

Anne: That’s right, just twist the facts to suit your opinion.

Ginnie: So that’s it! I knew there had to be some ulterior motive. You always were devious, girl.

Anne: Well lookee lookee, the pot calling the kettle…

Louise: ( approaches them from the bedroom door, slightly unsteady from the sedation she’s received, pale) That’s enough out of all of you!! What are you trying to do, bring me to an early grave? (The rest have gotten a scare, show their chagrin in various ways, Terry defiant, Martin sheepish, Robert blushing, John acting as if nothing were unusual, Ginnie as if she weren’t present, and Anne defensive and wary. Louise draws herself up, delivering an edict)

I don’t know what’s been going on in here but I heard enough to get the picture. I don’t want any of you in my house tomorrow. You all got that? I never needed any of you before and I won’t need any of you in the future. Now get to bed before you really do succeed in killing me before my time!

Rob: (tentative) Ma…

Louise: Get! All of you! (They disperse to their various bedrooms giving one another sceptical glances on the way.) I SAID GET! (alone, begins to cry quietly) What was I thinking? Just what the goddamn hell was I thinking?

Blackout

Graz, May-December, 1989

all rights reserved

Thanksgiving II 2

Scene Two

Departures

Friday morning, 10 a.m. The entire cast is at the table in the dining area, breakfasting. Silence first, then:

Rob: (to Terry) Pass the butter, please. (Terry does so. Notices Martin reading the paper.) Anything new? George always gives me the update on whatever skulduggery is going on.

Martin: Only the usual: upheaval, revolutions, murder, theft, and so on. No fires, though.

Louise: Huh. Sounds like our family.

John: Somehow it seems like the world never functions the way it is supposed to. How are the Sox doing?

Martin: (amused) As usual.

John: I’d love to see a game again, but I’m afraid it isn’t in the cards. (to Louise) I have to fly out to California tonight. Business.

Louise. I wish you a terrible trip. May your plane have as much turbulence as you have created here.

John: I didn’t do anything!!

Martin: (throws his knife and fork down) My God, are we going to start in again?!?

Ginnie: Let them go at it if they want to. I wash my hands of the whole business. (to Louise) You got us up here on false pretences. The way you wrote, you’d think Woodstock II was about to take place. Let this be a lesson. We aren’t a family, never were, and never will be.

Louise: But you are all my children! I brought you into this world!

Terry: Your idea of what constitutes a family is very strange, you know that?

Rob: (interrupting, trying to conciliate) let’s not get all riled up again, ok? We are a family… of sorts. (to Louise) Only you can’t expect us to behave like one when you kept us all apart and even went to the extreme of engendering sibling rivalry among us whenever you felt threatened.. (Louise makes a gesture of protest) No, that isn’t an attack, but it certainly is true!

Terry: Your idea was utopian, we can’t reach that.

Louise: You have all made it perfectly clear that you hate me. Do we have to go on about it?

Rob: None of us hate you. You confuse us to death at times, and are often hurtful, but hate is something else again. No, you just cause permanent confusion whenever we get together. Some of it you programmed. The rest is a result of our own personal problems.

Anne: I don’t hate you, mother.

Louise: Oh, you can stay until your flight back. And when you get home, do me the favour of staying there. (resignedly) I was awake for a long time last night, especially after hearing you among yourselves. And I did a lot of thinking. It seems I went right ahead and made all the mistakes any mother can make.. And that realisation hurt me more than anything else that went on here yesterday.

I had always had this vision of us one day becoming a real family, not ‘one of sort’, as you so aptly put it, Rob. It is crushing to realise that I’ve failed. (regains composure) So. I suppose you’re flying the coop, Robert?

Rob: (uncomfortable) George will be picking me up in a little while. We still have a lot of people to see here before we go back.

Louise: Figures.

Martin: I’ll have to be moseying on today as well. (Louise gives him an exasperated look) Look, you know I only get on your nerves, and they aren’t in the best of shape at the moment. It’s better you recuperate from yesterdeay’s upset.

Louise: And you, Ginnie?

Ginnie: I guess I’ll stay on for a few days and get caught up on Anne’s other news. That is, if you don’t mind.

Louise: No, it might be nice to have at least the two of you here for a little while longer. (a little hope) Maybe we can try to solve some of our differences, huh?

Anne: We can try….

Ginnie: I guess….

Doorbell

Louise: Who can that be. so early?

Rob: (hopefully) I’ll go see, stay put. (goes to the door, opens, goes into a hug) George! (they go to the dining area)

Georg: Good morning.

Louise: Good morning Georg. (Rob looks surprised.) I’m so sorry you felt so uncomfortable yesterday that you found it necessary to sleep elsewhere. We aren’t normally so cantankerous with one another. Will you have breakfast with us? There is plenty of coffee left.

Georg: No thank you, Mrs. Bartlett. I had breakfast at the hotel, thank you. (sees Louise is piqued.) Well, maybe one small cup of coffee, then.

Terry: hey you missed out on the best part of the evening, Georg.

Georg: (guarded) I was very tired, Terry.

Anne: Would you please stop, Terry?

Terry: All right.

John: Well I’d better get going if I’m going to get packed and make my plane. (stands up) I’ll think about what you said, Rob. Will you stop by to see us before you leave?

Rob: No, not this time around, I don’t think. You’re uncomfortable enough as it is.

John: (relieved) maybe next time, huh?

Rob: Yup, you bet…

John: (awkward) Well, goodbye all. (to Terry) I’ll call you, huh?

Terry: You do that.

John looks a Louise, can’t think of anything other to say than ‘Well, good-bye…’ (exits to bedroom)

Georg: (has finished his coffee) Ready, Rob?

Rob: (reluctant, now that the moment has come) Yeah, I guess.

Terry: Hey, can I ride in wih you to Boston? Would you mind?

Rob and Georg: Of course not. / It will be fun!

(Rob goes to Louise and hugs her from behind as she sits at the table and kisses her cheek. Louise stiffens perceptibly.)

Rob: Sorry, Mom. Really. ( Georg makes the rounds shaking hands. To Ginnie and Anne.) Hey, take care, you two. And try not to think too badly of the rest of us, ok? (Joins Terry and Georg) Well, are we off to new adventures? (They head to the door. Ginny and Anne look on darkly and draw closer to Louise. As they reach the door….)

Louise: Hey! Hey! (they turn) Just a thought for you all to take on your way, right? How do you all expect the world to function if you can’t even get along on a family basis, huh? Think about it.

They look wonderingly at one another, frozen in tableau, as the lights fade to

Blackout


Curtain


Graz, May-December, 1989

all rights reserved