(no subject)
From now on I'm going to post my plays on Sunday, because otherwise I delay for too long.
I'm not really as happy with this week's play as with the previous ones. I don't think I really finished it yet - I just got to the end.
Oh well. Here it is, for you to see if you'd like, if only to prove that I did it this week.
Donny - These were brought to the surface just before they closed the mine. The rest are still buried just off of the mine shaft.
Sarah - You know how big the mine is, right?
Donny - Yes, but we have a fairly good idea where they came from. If we're systematic we should be able to find them.
Sarah - I'll see who's willing to give it a go.
Mr. Weston - Hello, Donny.
Donny - Father. You came to my dig.
Mr. Weston - Yes.
Donny - I thought I told you to go to hell.
Mr. Weston - Soon enough.
(Break. Sarah and Donny are outside)
Donny - It doesn't apply.
Sarah - It does. Spring is a time of life and flowering and humping.
Donny - And all of the animals are in heat?
Sarah - Exactly.
Donny - But you're always in heat.
Sarah - Yeah, well maybe I always want to marry you.
Donny - Did you want to marry me last winter?
Sarah - Yes.
Donny - Really?
Sarah - Yep. The spring just brings it out. Makes me want to hear you propose, meet your family, all that gooshy stuff.
Donny - You don't want to meet my family.
Sarah - No?
Donny - It's just my dad. And I met him years ago and I've regretted it ever since.
Sarah - I could meet your mom.
Donny - She's dead.
Sarah - I know. I could still meet her.
Donny - If you want. But don't ask me to speak to my father again.
Sarah - I'm not gonna torture you. But then I think you're doing that yourself.
(Break)
Mr. Weston - It's lung cancer. I had it before, once, but the chemo got it. This time there's no way around it. (pause) I always hoped I'd live long enough to see what I wrote about. So much for that.
Donny - Is that why you're here?
Mr. Weston - Yes and no.
Donny - You know things can't be like they were.
Mr. Weston - That's how time works.
(Break)
Donny - I'll be gone in half an hour.
Mr. Weston - If that's what you want.
Donny - I want you gone.
Mr. Weston - It doesn't work that way.
Donny - The hell it doesn't. I'm going to be seven states away, out of every form of contact. As far as I'm concerned you don't exist.
Mr. Weston - Your sister is going to miss you.
Donny - She knows how to contact me.
Mr. Weston - She's still going to miss you.
Donny - I know.
Mr. Weston - What's she gonna take from this?
Donny - Maybe she's gonna learn not to put up with you.
Mr. Weston - I love you.
Donny - I know.
Mr. Weston - But if you're determined to go I'm not going to stop you. (pause) Here. (Hands Donny a family photo. As he's about to leave, Donny drops the picture into his bag and it breaks. He stops. Donny leaves.)
(Break)
Donny - I can't forgive you.
Mr. Weston - You don't need to worry about that. I just didn't want you leaving to be the last I saw of you. (pause) Let me atone for my own mistakes.
Donny - I'm not punishing you. I left for my own sake.
Mr. Weston - Well talk to me, then. For whoever's sake you'd like.
(Break)
Mr. Weston - Where have you been?
Donny - I've been studying.
Mr. Weston - You missed dinner again. (Pause) I know you want to get into a good college but you can do that without ignoring your family.
Donny - You got along fine without me.
Mr. Weston - We survived, yes. But we do enjoy having you there.
Donny - I'll still say goodnight to Anna.
Mr. Weston - She's already in bed.
Donny - Fine.
Mr. Weston - What are you studying at this hour anyway?
Donny - Geology.
Mr. Weston - Well you still need to make time for your family.
Donny - How can I if you put Anna to bed this early?
Mr. Weston - You could start coming home earlier.
(Donny exits. Mr Weston waits a moment, then goes.)
(Break.)
Mr. Weston - Was that your assistant there?
Donny - Research partner. She's also my fiancee.
Mr. Weston - The things I've missed.
Donny - Yeah.
Mr. Weston - Do you love her?
Donny - Yes, I do.
(Break)
(Mr. Weston and Donny both enter, coming from Donny's mother's funeral. Donny collapses on a chair, and Mr. Weston, broken as he is, still keeps his eye on Donny.)
Donny - It doesn't make sense. No fucking sense.
(Donny knocks the chair over and begins to kick it. Mr. Weston moves to hold him, and Donny starts to hit him. Mr. Weston lets Donny hit him, and then when Donny collapses again Mr. Weston holds him wordlessly.)
(Break)
Donny - There are fossils down here somewhere. I'm sure the miners crushed a few but most of them are still down here. (pause) We're gonna bring htem up.
Mr. Weston - Good. (pause) I've been writing this year, but I don't know if I'll finish this one. Have to keep going.
Donny - It's worth living for.
Mr. Weston - Is Sarah this dedicated, too?
Donny - Yes. (pause) She's worth living for, too.
Mr. Weston - You're a better man than I.
(Break)
Mr. Weston - I'm going to be inside talking to Mrs. Cohut for a while. You stay out here and play with Anna, okay?
Donny - Alright. (Mr. Weston goes in.)
Anna - You have a playset?
Donny - No.
Anna - That's ok. I have some toys. Here. You take this one.
Donny - Who's he?
Anna - It's Ken.
Donny - And who've you got?
Anna - This is a Deinonychus.
Donny - No Barbie, huh?
Anna - Barbie had high heels. She ran slower than Ken.
Donny - Let's take them back here. I know a secret place.
Anna - Really?
Donny - Yeah. (He leads her to a depression in the ground, hidden behind a tree.)
Anna - Do your parents know about htis?
Donny - No.
Anna - It'll be our secret.
Donny - Alright.
(Break)
Mr. Weston - I shouldn't keep you forever. They want to put me in the hospital before long. I want Anna's birthday to be outside at least.
Donny - I ought to get back to the dig.
Mr. Weston - You really do love this.
Donny - The truth is down here. I like bringing it up.
Mr. Weston - You're good at that. (pause) I love you.
Donny - I love you too.
I'm not really as happy with this week's play as with the previous ones. I don't think I really finished it yet - I just got to the end.
Oh well. Here it is, for you to see if you'd like, if only to prove that I did it this week.
Donny - These were brought to the surface just before they closed the mine. The rest are still buried just off of the mine shaft.
Sarah - You know how big the mine is, right?
Donny - Yes, but we have a fairly good idea where they came from. If we're systematic we should be able to find them.
Sarah - I'll see who's willing to give it a go.
Mr. Weston - Hello, Donny.
Donny - Father. You came to my dig.
Mr. Weston - Yes.
Donny - I thought I told you to go to hell.
Mr. Weston - Soon enough.
(Break. Sarah and Donny are outside)
Donny - It doesn't apply.
Sarah - It does. Spring is a time of life and flowering and humping.
Donny - And all of the animals are in heat?
Sarah - Exactly.
Donny - But you're always in heat.
Sarah - Yeah, well maybe I always want to marry you.
Donny - Did you want to marry me last winter?
Sarah - Yes.
Donny - Really?
Sarah - Yep. The spring just brings it out. Makes me want to hear you propose, meet your family, all that gooshy stuff.
Donny - You don't want to meet my family.
Sarah - No?
Donny - It's just my dad. And I met him years ago and I've regretted it ever since.
Sarah - I could meet your mom.
Donny - She's dead.
Sarah - I know. I could still meet her.
Donny - If you want. But don't ask me to speak to my father again.
Sarah - I'm not gonna torture you. But then I think you're doing that yourself.
(Break)
Mr. Weston - It's lung cancer. I had it before, once, but the chemo got it. This time there's no way around it. (pause) I always hoped I'd live long enough to see what I wrote about. So much for that.
Donny - Is that why you're here?
Mr. Weston - Yes and no.
Donny - You know things can't be like they were.
Mr. Weston - That's how time works.
(Break)
Donny - I'll be gone in half an hour.
Mr. Weston - If that's what you want.
Donny - I want you gone.
Mr. Weston - It doesn't work that way.
Donny - The hell it doesn't. I'm going to be seven states away, out of every form of contact. As far as I'm concerned you don't exist.
Mr. Weston - Your sister is going to miss you.
Donny - She knows how to contact me.
Mr. Weston - She's still going to miss you.
Donny - I know.
Mr. Weston - What's she gonna take from this?
Donny - Maybe she's gonna learn not to put up with you.
Mr. Weston - I love you.
Donny - I know.
Mr. Weston - But if you're determined to go I'm not going to stop you. (pause) Here. (Hands Donny a family photo. As he's about to leave, Donny drops the picture into his bag and it breaks. He stops. Donny leaves.)
(Break)
Donny - I can't forgive you.
Mr. Weston - You don't need to worry about that. I just didn't want you leaving to be the last I saw of you. (pause) Let me atone for my own mistakes.
Donny - I'm not punishing you. I left for my own sake.
Mr. Weston - Well talk to me, then. For whoever's sake you'd like.
(Break)
Mr. Weston - Where have you been?
Donny - I've been studying.
Mr. Weston - You missed dinner again. (Pause) I know you want to get into a good college but you can do that without ignoring your family.
Donny - You got along fine without me.
Mr. Weston - We survived, yes. But we do enjoy having you there.
Donny - I'll still say goodnight to Anna.
Mr. Weston - She's already in bed.
Donny - Fine.
Mr. Weston - What are you studying at this hour anyway?
Donny - Geology.
Mr. Weston - Well you still need to make time for your family.
Donny - How can I if you put Anna to bed this early?
Mr. Weston - You could start coming home earlier.
(Donny exits. Mr Weston waits a moment, then goes.)
(Break.)
Mr. Weston - Was that your assistant there?
Donny - Research partner. She's also my fiancee.
Mr. Weston - The things I've missed.
Donny - Yeah.
Mr. Weston - Do you love her?
Donny - Yes, I do.
(Break)
(Mr. Weston and Donny both enter, coming from Donny's mother's funeral. Donny collapses on a chair, and Mr. Weston, broken as he is, still keeps his eye on Donny.)
Donny - It doesn't make sense. No fucking sense.
(Donny knocks the chair over and begins to kick it. Mr. Weston moves to hold him, and Donny starts to hit him. Mr. Weston lets Donny hit him, and then when Donny collapses again Mr. Weston holds him wordlessly.)
(Break)
Donny - There are fossils down here somewhere. I'm sure the miners crushed a few but most of them are still down here. (pause) We're gonna bring htem up.
Mr. Weston - Good. (pause) I've been writing this year, but I don't know if I'll finish this one. Have to keep going.
Donny - It's worth living for.
Mr. Weston - Is Sarah this dedicated, too?
Donny - Yes. (pause) She's worth living for, too.
Mr. Weston - You're a better man than I.
(Break)
Mr. Weston - I'm going to be inside talking to Mrs. Cohut for a while. You stay out here and play with Anna, okay?
Donny - Alright. (Mr. Weston goes in.)
Anna - You have a playset?
Donny - No.
Anna - That's ok. I have some toys. Here. You take this one.
Donny - Who's he?
Anna - It's Ken.
Donny - And who've you got?
Anna - This is a Deinonychus.
Donny - No Barbie, huh?
Anna - Barbie had high heels. She ran slower than Ken.
Donny - Let's take them back here. I know a secret place.
Anna - Really?
Donny - Yeah. (He leads her to a depression in the ground, hidden behind a tree.)
Anna - Do your parents know about htis?
Donny - No.
Anna - It'll be our secret.
Donny - Alright.
(Break)
Mr. Weston - I shouldn't keep you forever. They want to put me in the hospital before long. I want Anna's birthday to be outside at least.
Donny - I ought to get back to the dig.
Mr. Weston - You really do love this.
Donny - The truth is down here. I like bringing it up.
Mr. Weston - You're good at that. (pause) I love you.
Donny - I love you too.