Dahlias and Moonshine

CAST OF CHARACTERS

 WILL   27

 MALCOLM   22

 DOT    50’s

 MARJORIE   22

 LEE   40’s

 CARLSON   40’s

** The action takes place in a small southern township**

DOT’S house. An attic room.

Entrance is door, down a few steps right. There is a door to a bathroom left.

The place is a mess.

As the lights come up- WILL is sitting on the edge of a window sill, holding a box of chocolates. MALCOLM is in bed under the covers.

WILL: You wanna chocolate Mal? -They’re real good.

MALCOLM: ..no chocolate..

WILL: -Hmm. Butter cream. Love butter cream.

MALCOLM: ..cherry..

WILL: Chocolate covered cherry?

MALCOLM: ..chocolate..covered -Will.

WILL: Hi. Gonna get up?

MALCOLM: Will. -What are you doing here?

WILL: Bringing you chocolate.

MALCOLM: I ain’t joking.

WILL: Waiting for you to get out of bed.

MALCOLM: -..you followed me.

WILL: For moral support.

MALCOLM: ‘Cause you think I’m a coward.

WILL: You don’t know I think that.

MALCOLM: You think I won’t.

WILL: Think you mean to.

MALCOLM: That’s right.

WILL: Just thought..-well, not much help, here in the back of beyond.

MALCOLM: Hell. Still a few hours till you get there.

WILL: If you say so.

MALCOLM: We’ve talked all this out. I know you mean well..but..-right I do this on my own. -Go on back.

WILL: After coming all this way? Could at least offer me some kind of good morning.

MALCOLM: Cut that out! -Go on now.

WILL: You sure?

MALCOLM: Sure, I’m sure.

WILL: All right.

[he crosses the room to the door]

MALCOLM: Where you going?

WILL: Front door.

MALCOLM: Just makin’ trouble now.

WILL: Could go like I came -I guess.

MALCOLM: Good.

[he goes back to the window.]

WILL: Pretty light out this window now though.

[waves out the window]

MALCOLM: What the hell-

WILL: Being polite.

[MALCOLM grabs him out of the window]

MALCOLM: Someone’s gonna see you!

WILL: You can be the most contradictory boy.

[he goes to the bed]

MALCOLM: -Wait.. -No.

WILL: You just said wait.

MALCOLM: Don’t get in that bed.

WILL: Little chilly.

MALCOLM: Put those shoes on. Don’t take those socks-

WILL: I ever tell you you’re just the cutest thing when you sleep?

MALCOLM: I’m serious now-

WILL: Nose all screwed up with snot. Drool sliding out the side of your mouth. Eyelids- fluttering a mile a minute.

MALCOLM: Will-

WILL: ’Cause you’re dreaming of me, huh?

MALCOLM: No. -What?

WILL: -There a dog down there?

MALCOLM: No. You hear something?

WILL: No. Just wondering if you had any pets.

MALCOLM: You’re crazy.

WILL: Boy- growing up a few hours from the back of beyond. No brothers or sisters. Must have had some kind of best friend around?

MALCOLM: Don’t know why we gotta talk about it now..

WILL: ‘Cause I’m here. And it’s your home. Gotta give me some kind of memento for the trip.

_______________

WILL: Just a little sweet good-morning, huh? Come on now. Shhh..

[WILL begins to make love to MALCOLM.

There is a noise suddenly; as though at the bottom of a stairway.]

DOT: [offstage]  Malcolm?

MALCOLM: -shit-

WILL: Happens.

DOT: [offstage]  Malcolm?

MALCOLM: No. You gotta hide!

WILL: Wouldn’t this save you the trouble?

MALCOLM: -bathroom- bathroom.

[WILL and MALCOLM go off left. Running water can be heard.

DOT makes her way up stairs to MALCOLM’S outer door; knocks.]

DOT: [entering]  -..Hello? -Hello?

MALCOLM: [entering] -..Oh- Hi..

DOT: Guess you didn’t hear me over the water.

MALCOLM: No. Overslept.

DOT: Oh. Were you meant to be somewhere?

MALCOLM: ..-No.

DOT: Then what have you overslept?

MALCOLM: Nothing -I guess.

DOT: Oh. I thought it might have to do with your...-return?

MALCOLM: Just a visit.

DOT: Visit?

MALCOLM: Mom..

DOT: Seems to me-

MALCOLM: All right. Wrong word.

DOT: -..and in the middle of the night -looking like a -downed sparrow.

MALCOLM: I’m not some..feeble bird.

DOT: Oh. Maybe you’d prefer eagle?

MALCOLM: -..kinda..-yeah.

DOT: Eagles don’t have problems, Malcolm. That’s why they’re eagles.

MALCOLM: There’s no-

DOT: Three years. There’s a problem. -..what’d you expect?

MALCOLM: I wrote.

DOT: Yes. I have both letters. -You imagine I hadn’t been worrying? You could drop on in, and we’d just pick up where we left off?

MALCOLM: -..course not.

DOT: Malcolm.

MALCOLM: Water’s running. Gonna just.. [exits to turn it off; returns]

DOT: -Hear that?

MALCOLM: Don’t hear anything.

DOT: Like that all the time. Only me and the house.

MALCOLM: Used to threaten you couldn’t wait for that.

DOT: Nights, quiet enough to hear every inch of the place? Don’t think I ever intended punishing myself. -Nothing left to do here but think. And that some more.

MALCOLM: ‘Bout?

DOT: Things.

________________

DELL’S house; her bedroom. Afternoon.

A bed -with a body in it.

Over the bed -a crucifix and a picture of Jesus weeping.

Two chairs.

DOT is sitting in one.

MARJORIE is standing holding a wedding dress.

DOT: -..she sounded fine..-a little tired, but..- Told me to take my time. -..she’d be waiting.

MARJORIE: Never could get her timings right. Dry chicken. Soggy pasta. Pineapple rightsideup cake.. -

DOT: Made her special.
 

MARJORIE: I’m having an affair with one of my professors.

DOT: -..Say what?

MARJORIE: He’s fif -sixty. I’m his - toy girl. We do it everywhere.

DOT: Marjie.

MARJORIE: I meant to tell mother. I wanted to introduce them. So we could do it here.

DOT: Now honey-

MARJORIE: I’d thought..the dining room table. The kitchen. Maybe even..-

DOT: ..sweet Jesus..

MARJORIE: Had it all worked out. Made it all up. Invented all kinds of positions to taunt her with. Just for dying to see the look on her face. -Dying...- You know..-Doctor was told not to contact me until the last possible, moment.

DOT: Just didn’t want you worrying.

MARJORIE: Given her the greatest amount of pleasure if she thought I would.

DOT: Honey..-I know. She was my dearest friend. But I can honestly say-

MARJORIE: She was an- unfortunate  woman. Grew up with that excuse. Littlest aggravation in a day, and it was her unfortunate  cross to bear.

DOT: Guess she did make alotta use of the word.

MARJORIE: Putting her wishes behind those of someone else’s -it was just in her unfortunate  good nature.

DOT: Now..

MARJORIE: Unfortunate -her home was too small. Unfortunate the town was so ignorant. Her life -appallingly unfortunate. Dreams -always out of her hands. Unfortunate her husband-

DOT: Marjie.

MARJORIE: And her daughter loathin’ her like that.. -Truly unfortunate now. -But you know -she saved it all for her own end. -Gave me this. -Wanted me to have it as a pillow cover. “..probably be the closest you’ll ever get to wearing one, honey.” 

DOT: She had to be in great pain. She couldn’t have understood what she was..

MARJORIE: Looked me up and down. Said I still looked pathetic. In spite of being smart. “Shows smart’s not everything...unfortunately.”  -Such a long life. -..and you stuck by her.

DOT: Why wouldn’t I?

MARJORIE: Things she did..-..said..-such..-all kinds of folks..

DOT: Truth makes a person mighty unpopular. Your mother didn’t mind.

MARJORIE: That’s for true. -How’s uncle Lee? Still hiding in that hut half way ‘cross town?

DOT: I suppose.

MARJORIE: As if you don’t know. I heard you two still-

DOT: Shouldn’t be payin’ gossip attention.

MARJORIE: Mama never gossiped. Just said she didn’t quite believe the two of you kept any great distance between you. Always sounded afraid you might give in and forgive him one day.

__________________

MALCOLM: No one needs you here. I’m here.

LEE: I can see that. How long you here for?

DOT: Lee.

LEE: ‘Cause you know your mama was powerful upset the last time you didn’t say good-bye.

DOT: That’s enough!

 LEE: -I’ll leave this here.   [he puts the cartons on the kitchen table]

MALCOLM: -I hate you.

LEE: Don’t even know me boy. Too busy hatin’ my reputation.

MARJORIE: -..Don’t go.

LEE: Things to do, honey. -Only wanted to say ‘hi’.

MARJORIE: -She’s dead uncle Lee. -Gone.

LEE: ..-Dell?

DOT: Yes.

LEE: ..-dead.

MARJORIE: No reason not to keep company with us. -Please. -You got enough food.

LEE: Think I could do more with something to drink.

DOT: Maybe we all could. Marjie? Some white wine around here..somewhere.

LEE: Beer?

MARJORIE: Scotch. -Rocks. Pinch of lemon -please.

MALCOLM: ..-used to get sick over ginger ale.

MARJORIE: I used to wear pigtails. And live at home with my mother.

DOT: You’re here now though. And we’ll take good care of you. Of everything.

MARJORIE: Don’t need you bothering yourself over this.

DOT: No bother. Know how difficult tomorrow’s gonna get.

MARJORIE: Don’t know why. Just baggin’ everything. Gonna be Christmas right out that bedroom window.

DOT: Child.. -

LEE: Talk to Carlson yet?

DOT: We’re barely in the door.

LEE: Don’t want to leave that body out too long -especially in this heat. Move her later to the root cellar, if you like?

DOT: Can’t help but be gruesome, can you?

MARJORIE: We oughta leave mama cool aunt Dot.

LEE: Just common sense. In the morning, I can run you over to the funeral parlor-

DOT: I’m sure Mal can do that.

MARJORIE: It’s all right. -Would you please?

LEE: ’Course.

DOT: Well..-Mal can meet you later- see if there’s anything else..

LEE: Sure,  Mal. You can do that,  right? -Great.

MARJORIE: I’m starving.

DOT: Never did know how you can eat that stuff..-..-deep fried grease and Lord knows what sauce..

LEE: Puts hair on your chest.

DOT: Oh stuff!

LEE: City’s doing well by you.

MALCOLM: What?

LEE: Ain’t that where you went? Hell- where else? Shines real bright from here. All that way off. Like a magnet for dreamin’. Ain’t that right?

MALCOLM: You say so.

LEE: I do. I know. I’ve been there. A few times.

MALCOLM: More than we know about?

LEE: That’s good. -Still pretty. -Lookin’ fed. -Must have lots new going on there.

MALCOLM: I’m doing all right.

LEE: No doubt in my mind. Never figured you for spending your days doing nothing.

MALCOLM: Ain’t never been lazy.

LEE: No sir. Why, I remember all kinds of summers I could’ve used your help down to the garage. Always were too busy -needed here -needed there. Always proud you were popular though.

[MALCOLM gets up to leave.]

DOT: Where you going?

LEE: Only showing an interest.

MALCOLM: ‘Cause you got an audience?

LEE: ‘Cause things change. Time moves. -Been trying to make your mother see that.

MALCOLM: My mother’s seen enough of your-

DOT: Hate being talked about like I’m not in the room.