Setting: John’s living room; Sam’s living room; Jean’s living room, Jean’s workplace; her friend Samantha’s living room and a few other places.

TIME: PRESENT

Characters:

MICHAEL: 18-year old boy, Jean’s son whom she dotes and gives and does everything for.
JEAN: 34 years old African American who is Michael’s mother
SAMANTHA: Jean’s 35 year old African American friend who does not like the way Jean treats her son
JOHN: Michael’s African American friend who is much older than he is; he is 40 years
FRANK: Jean’s boss who is a white man
CLARA: Iris’ 16 years old daughter whom she dotes and does everything for.
IRIS: Clara’s 36 years old mother
CATHERINE: Iris’s friend.
CARLENE: Clara’s friend
SYMONE: Clara’s friend
JESSICA: Clara’s schoolmate.
Voice of CECILE, one of Michael’s girlfriends

The scene opens at John’s home, his living room; there are two chairs and a table; JOHN is seated around the table; he has his legs crossed and has a paper opened in front of him; he is reading it. There is a knock on his door.

JOHN [lowering the paper and looking towards the door.] Come in.

[MICHAEL walks in. He is wearing a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt, the shorts has a tie, but the tie is loose; hence his pants is falling and his underwear is showing; he is constantly pulling up his pants. JOHN looks at him.

JOHN: Now you don’t come inside here until you pull up them pants and tie that tie. [JOHN puts the paper on the table]

MICHAEL [Reluctantly does as he is told.] man, you so old fashioned. [He sits.]

JOHN: So what brings you here now? Don’t you have something at your home to help your Mom with?

MICHAEL: Man, I keep telling you, Mom ain’t old fashion like you; she do everything for herself.

JOHN: you’re going to be the death of that woman.

MICHAEL: Why?

JOHN: That woman does two jobs, and she does everything for you too.

MICHAEL: Hey bro., that’s my Mom.

JOHN: I know that’s your Mom, but you should help her too.

MICHAEL: No man, my Mom loves me, so she does everything for me.

JOHN: So what about you? Don’t you love her?

MICHAEL: Yeah man, but I ain’t have to do nothing to prove it, she know I love her.

JOHN: So what new thing she bought you this time?

MICHAEL: Man, she bought me this outfit, it’s a bomber.

JOHN: How much did that set her back?

MICHAEL: A cool half grand.

JOHN: [looking unbelievingly at him.] You’re telling me that your Mom has bought you an outfit for five hundred dollars?

MICHAEL: Yeah. [MICHAEL is smiling and shaking his head; he is apparently very happy.] Yeah man, I ask her and she bought it.

JOHN: Have you ever thought of getting a job?

MICHAEL [Laughing forcefully.] What for? My Mom does everything for me. I take my girlfriends to my home, I make love with them there, my Mom says nothing. Times have changed; it’s not like in your days when you couldn’t do these things man.

JOHN: Yeah, you’re right. So what are you going to do now that you’re out of school?

MICHAEL: I’m going to enjoy my life man; I don’t have to work. [He pushes his hand in his pocket and comes out with a crisp hundred-dollar bill; he places it on the table] I got that this morning.

JOHN: [Looks at the money and then back at MICHAELl who takes the money and pockets it] Your Mom gave that to you?

NICHAEL: yeah bro., my Mom loves me man. I keep telling you. Don’t you wish you had a Mom like that?

JOHN: No!

MICHAEL: [Laughing] I Think you’re jealous bro.

JOHN: No, I’m not jealous. You see this house? It’s mine. I work and I bought it for myself; my Mom didn’t buy it, my dad didn’t buy it. But you know what they did?

MICHAEL: What? [He laughs] Worked you so hard that you had to run away from home and buy it yourself? I ain’t running away from home, when my Mom dies, I’ll get our home, bro, I ain’t never gonna work.

JOHN: So you’re gonna sit around and wait until your Mom dies?

MICHAEL: Well, she says when she dies, I’ll get everything she has, so I ain’t worrying.

JOHN: Well, good luck.

[Michael gets to his feet]

MICHAEL: Hey Bro., I’ll talk to you later, gotta go meet my girl. [He pulls the string of his pants as he exits, allowing his pants to drop so that his underwear could be seen; he walks off the stage.]

SCENE 2

This scene opens at CLARA’S house; her bedroom; CLARA is sitting on a stool in front of an mirror; she is well dressed as if she is waiting for someone to pick her up. Her hair too, is well done; she is filing her nails. Clothes are strewn all around; her bedroom is messy. Her bed is unmade. Her Mom enters. She looks around, seemingly appalled at the sight.

IRIS: Clara, you need to clean up your room.

CLARA: Mom, I can’t do that right now, my friends will be here pretty soon and we’re going to the movie.

IRIS: I thought I told you to clean it this morning.

CLARA: I had to go to school, Mom, and if I had stopped to do it, I would have been late. And you said you love me so much, why don’t you just do it for me, Mom? Please.

IRIS: Haven’t I always been doing it?

CLARA: Yes Mom, but lately you have been slackening up a little. I think you’re listening to that friend of yours. What’s her name?

IRIS: I’m not listening to Catherine.

CLARA: Oh yeah, Catherine, she is old fashioned, she is being left behind; she doesn’t know that things now aren’t the way they were in her days.

IRIS: She is my age.

CLARA: Well Mom, you’ve evolved, she hasn’t; she is remaining in her ignorant stage and she’ll remain there forever, don’t let her corrupt you.

IRIS: What time will you be coming back from the movie?

CLARA: Mom, it’s the weekend, remember?

IRIS: Yes, but I don’t want you to stay out as late as you did last week.

CLARA: But I was okay, Mom, nothing went wrong.

IRIS: Yeah, but I still think that a decent girl shouldn’t be out on the street that late.

CLARA: Mom, we’ll be fine.

IRIS: I still want you home at a reasonable time.

[The doorbell rings]

IRIS: [Cont’d] Sounds like your friends, I’ll go let them in.

[Iris turns to go.]

CLARA: Mom. [IRIS stops and looks at her.] Let them wait in the family room; I don’t want them to see the mess my room is in.

IRIS: Okay. [IRIS leaves.]

SCENE 3

This scene opens at the theatre’s cafeteria; CLARA, her friends SYMONE, African American, 16, her friend CARLENE, also African American and 16 are seated around a table; they are eating and talking.

SYMONE: So what did your Mom say when you went home today and your room was still messy?

CLARA: My Mom’s a sweetheart, she’ll do it for me. She has always done it, but lately she has been talking to her friend who is very old fashioned, and she has been telling her that I should be the one to clean up my room.

[The girls laugh]

CARLENE: You had better be careful, pretty soon she’ll be telling her that you’re supposed to cook too.

[They laugh again. CLARA shows them her well manicured nails]

CLARA: You see these nails? No man will be lucky enough to have me cooking for him. Some times I look at my Mom’s hands and they look so terrible, and I said, I don’t want mine to ever look like that.

CARLENE: Yeah, I know what you mean, I’ve seen my Mom’s hands too and I don’t like the way they look.

SYMONE: My Mom’s hands look terrible too. The way my Grandmother treats me now, I can’t believe she was ever that cruel to my Mom; forcing her to do all these things she didn’t want to do.

CLARA: Yeah, man, they were like slave drivers themselves. Mom doesn’t even ask me to cook, because she knows I wouldn’t do it.

SYMONE: Has she ever asked you at all?

CLARA: Once, but the look I gave her, she never asked me again.

CARLENE: You said she was angry about us staying out so late last week, what did she say about this week?

CLARA: She wants me to come home early, so I said, “Mom, it’s the weekend”.

SYMONE: So what did she say?

CLARA: She is trying not to be, but she is old fashioned, she said she doesn’t think any decent lady should be on the street that late.

SYMONE [giggling] Guess what I got girls?

[The girls are excited]

CLARA AND CARLENE: The fake I. D.‘s

SYMONE:[Places them on the table] Correct.

[The girls are very excited; each takes the one that belongs to her and looks at it keenly. Clara looks at Symone.]

CLARA: How much did they cost?

SYMONE: Each one of you girls owes me ten dollars more.

[CLARA and CARLENE look appalled]

CLARA: That guy is a crook.

CARLENE: I say the next time we want fake I.D’s, we get it from someone else.

SYMONE: But you guys still owe me.

CARLENE: We know, I’ll ask my Mom for that money tomorrow.

CLARA: I’ll give you mine on Monday.

SYMONE: Okay [Beat] So what club you guys want us to go to?

[Once again the girls are excited]

CLARA: How about the T.K.O?

SYMONE: That’s in Palm Beach.

CLARA: So? If we go now, we could come back before one.

[SYMONE and CARLENE look at Clara]

CARLENE: Clara, party starts at one.

CLARA: So what time would you suggest we leave there?

SYMONE: Three o’clock.

CLARA: [Surprised] Three o’clock? That’s definitely going to be too late.

SYMONE: Come on Clara, you sound as if you’re scared, I thought you said you had your mother under control.

CLARA: I do, but…

CARLENE: No buts, if you have your mother under control as you say you do, we can go and all you’ll have to tell her is that we got a flat or something.

CLARA: But she is going to wonder why I didn’t call.

CARLENE: Where is your cell phone?

CLARA: Well, I accidentally left it at home, but you guys got yours.

[SYMONE and CARLENE look at each other and then look at Clara; they have mischievous smiles on their faces.]

CARLENE AND SYMONE: No, we don’t.

CLARA: But it wouldn’t be safe for us to go to Palm Beach without having a phone.

[CARLENE produces one out of her pocket; it is a boost.]

CARLENE: Ta da.

CLARA: A boost. [CLARA takes it and looks at it, she gives it back to CARLENE and looks at her.] I thought you said you would never use a boost.

CARLENE: Well, that’s what I told my Mom too.

CLARA: I don’t get it.

CARLENE: well, I left my phone where my Mom can see it, that way, she’ll know that I’ve left my phone, so if I’m late in coming in and she asked why I didn’t call, I’ll say, I left my phone.

CLARA: But she’ll ask you why didn’t you ask your friends to call?

CARLENE: Well, the real truth is that you guys also left your phones.

[CLARA is now beginning to realize what her friends are up to; she shakes her head and smiles approvingly.]

CLARA: I like the way you girls think.

CARLENE AND SYMONE: we thought you would.

[They look at each other and laugh]

SCENE 4

This scene opens at JEAN’S friend’s home, in her living room. Both of them are there; they are seated and are having coffee. SAMANTHA is a 35 years old African American. There is a table and two chairs.

SAMANTHA: Has Michael found himself a job?

JEAN: I told him he doesn’t have to right now, I can take care of him. I don’t want him to go out there and work for the peanuts these companies are paying.

SAMANTHA: Jean, you’ve got to realize that Michael hasn’t got an education where he can get a real job; you took him out of school before he was finished.

JEAN: I did it for his own good.

SAMANTHA: He needs an education if he is to survive in today’s society.

JEAN: I’m working, I can take care of him. He is my only son.

SAMANTHA: Doesn’t matter Jean, you have to teach him to take care of himself.

JEAN: When I go, he’ll be well taken care of.

SAMANTHA: Suit yourself. How is the jobs been treating you lately?

JEAN: Not bad, the lady I was taking care of has died, I only have one job now, I’ll need to get another one soon.

SAMANTHA: I think you should take the time to rest a little.

JEAN: If I do, who would take care of my son?

SAMANTHA: You’re talking as if your son is a kid.

JEAN: He is a kid to me, he’ll always be a kid to me, I’m his mother, remember?

SAMANTHA: How can I ever forget that? You remember when we were kids growing up? How we had to do things, even though we didn’t want to do it?

JEAN: I remember those days all right. [Resentfully] Our parents use to treat us just like the slave owners used to treat their slaves.

SAMANTHA: That’s not true Jean.

JEAN: That’s the truth Samantha, and you know it. They used to force us to do things we didn’t want to do.

SAMANTHA: But it was for our own good.

JEAN: It wasn’t for my own good, even now I hate cooking, but I use to have to do it when I was a kid, whether I want to or not; we had no choice but to do exactly what they said.

SAMANTHA: They were our parents Jean, we were their kids; we were supposed to obey them, not the other way around.

JEAN: Well, I love my child and I won’t force anything on him, if he doesn’t want to work, he doesn’t have to.

SAMANTHA: So how is he going to support himself?

JEAN: I’ll support him, you don’t worry about that.

SAMANTHA: Well, I’m sorry for thinking I could advise you.

JEAN has her cup in her hand, sipping her coffee; she places it on the table and stands; she places her handbag over her shoulder.]

JEAN: I’ve got to go; it’s getting late and I haven’t fixed his dinner as yet, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

SAMANTHA: Okay.

[Jean leaves.]

SCENE 5

This scene opens at JEAN’S home in the living room; MICHAEL is asleep on the couch; his back is turned to the audience; his shorts is all the way down and his underwear is showing. Jean enters; she wakes him.

JEAN: Michael, wake up.

[He gets up, he looks at his Mom and then at his watch.]

MICHAEL: Mom, it’s eight o’clock, I thought you said you were going to be here at six.

JEAN: I had something I had to do.

MICHAEL: [An incredulous look on his face] But Mom, you put something over me, your son? I’m hungry Mom, you don’t love me, I thought you said you loved me.

JEAN: Michael, will you cut that out?

MICHAEL: Mom, I’m serious, you don’t love me.

[His mother slaps him and instantly regrets it.]

JEAN: I’m sorry son, I’m so frustrated, I don’t know what to do. And I do love you.

[MICHAEL picks up his cellular off the coach.]

MICHAEL: You don’t love me Mom, you’ve never slapped me before.

JEAN: And I said I’m sorry.

MICHAEL: Sorry doesn’t always make it right, Mom.

[He is walking towards the door]

JEAN: Michael, I said I’m sorry. And where are you going?

[MICHAEL goes through the door and doesn’t answer. JEAN is angry with herself.]

JEAN: Damn, damn, damn. Why did I go to Samantha’s? when I should have been home looking after my son.

[She is walking around, frustrated.]

JEAN: what am I going to do? How am I going to make it up to him?

[She smiles as she is apparently hit with an idea; she goes into her purse and comes out with a fifty-dollar bill.]

JEAN: I’ll give this to him and tell him to go and buy himself something to eat. I’ll give him the car for the night. [She sits down on the couch and takes her cellular from her purse; she beeps her son.} Sweetheart, I am sorry for what I did. I have fifty dollars for you and you can have my car for the night.

[MICHAEL comes running back into the house.]

SCENE 6

This scene opens with JESSICA, 16 years old fair skin, African American; she is dressed in Jeans and T-shirt and has her knapsack on her back. She is coming from school.

CLARA: [OFF) Jessica!

[JESSICA stops and turns. Clara enters the stage.]

CLARA: [Cont’d, out of breath] Why are you walking so fast?

JESSICA: Because I have to go home and do my laundry.

CLARA [Appears surprised] Laundry? Why don’t you let your Mom do it?

JESSICA: Because she has other things to do.

CLARA: Girl, I don’t do laundry, my Mom does it for me.

JESSICA: So what do you do for yourself?

CLARA: Nothing.

JESSICA [surprised] Nothing?

CLARA: Nothing, my Mom does everything for me. She loves me.

JESSICA: My Mom loves me too, but she doesn’t do everything for me.

CLARA: Girl, these are not the old days that we are living in; these are new days, kids aren’t supposed to do anything, especially if their parents love them.

JESSICA: [Defiantly] My parents love me. What do you want?

CLARA: I know a friend who can get me some fake I.D’s. Are you interested?

JESSICA: No, I don’t want to go anywhere I’m not supposed to go.

CLARA: Ah, you’re no fun. Wouldn’t you like to hang out with Carlene, Symone and me?

JESSICA: No, I have more important things to do.

CLARA: [Disdainfully] I know, like doing the laundry and cleaning up your room. Man, your life is so boring.

JESSICA: I’m learning stuff.

CLARA: Stuff I’m sure you don’t want to learn.

JESSICA: I want to learn, I want to be able to take care of myself when I grow up.

CLARA: Girl, please, my Mom is putting aside money for me so I won’t have to think about that. For now all I have to do is have fun.

JESSICA: Well, that may be good for you, but it won’t do a thing for me. My Mom tells me that I will have to work for whatever I want in life; she says she loves me, so she is showing me how to do things so that when she is not around I can do it for myself.

CLARA: Tell your Mom to get insurance, that way when she is gone, you can be taken care of without having to work.

JESSICA: If my Mom goes, I’d go too, I love her that much. Don’t you love your Mom?

CLARA: Of course I love my Mom, what do you think?

JESSICA: You’re talking so casually about her death, I thought you didn’t love her.

CLARA: Girl, I’m just thinking about the reality of life; she is gonna go one day, and then I’ll have everything for myself.

JESSICA: Are you trying to tell me that you don’t intend to work?

CLARA: Exactly.

JESSICA: Well, I wish you all the luck in the world. I’m not going to wish I were you, but I wish you all the luck.

CLARA: You still work at Macdonald’s?

JESSICA: not right now, but if I need a job, I could get one there.

CLARA: My Mom would never let me work at Macdonald’s.

JESSICA: Why?

CLARA: They don’t pay enough.

JESSICA: I just work there to make extra money.

CLARA: My Mom gives me extra money.

JESSICA: Good for you. Well, I guess you must think you have the best Mom in the world.

CLARA: [Proudly] Of course I do.

JESSICA: Well, I gotta go. I told my Mom I would get home from school as soon as it’s over and I’d go do my laundry, I never like to disappoint my Mom.

CLARA: Seems to me like you’re scared of your Mom, that’s why you don’t want to go to places they don’t allow us to go.

JESSICA: No, I’m not scared of my Mom; we do a lot of things together.

CLARA: Like?

JESSICA: Going to the mall…

CLARA: [Laughing] I’d never go to the mall with my Mom; I’m not a child anymore.

JESSICA: So how does she buy your clothes?

CLARA: My Mom doesn’t buy my clothes for me, she gives me the money and I buy it for myself, anything I want to buy, I can buy. Are you going on the trip to Disney?

JESSICA: Maybe, I don’t know.

CLARA: I should have known you wouldn’t be going; your Mom can’t afford to send you, I’m sure you wished you were me now; my Mom’s going to send me.

JESSICA: I still don’t wish I were you. You know what? I may go.

CLARA: How are you going?

JESSICA: [shrugging uncertainly] I don’t know, I may have to work at Macdonald’s and make the money.

CLARA: So why won’t you ask your Mom?

JESSICA: I know she hasn’t got it to give, so what’s the sense in asking?

CLARA: [Chuckling forcefully] Well, my Mom is going to get it one way or the other so I can go.

JESICA: It doesn’t matter to you how she gets it as long as she does?

CLARA: [Proudly] Correct.

JESSICA: Oh well, it was nice talking to you, but I gotta go, see you.

[JESSICA saunters off, leaving Clara, who exits the other way]


SCENE 7

The scene opens in John’s living room; he is on his couch and MICHAEL is there sitting beside him.

MICHAEL: I saw this bike the other day man, and I want it.

JOHN: How are you going to get it?

MICHAEL: I ain’t gonna stop nagging my Mom until I get it.

JOHN: How much is that going to set her back?

MICHAEL: Three hundred bucks.

JOHN: Your Mom is only doing one job now you know.

MICHAEL: She is looking for another.

JOHN: You shouldn’t make your Mom work so hard you know.

MICHAEL: She is all right; she is young and strong.

JOHN: Not as strong as you are.

MICHAEL: What did I tell you man? I ain’t gonna work. What am I working for?

JOHN: The things you want for one, like the bike.

MICHAEL: My Mom can give that to me.

JOHN: Have you ever thought that maybe your Mom needs something from you too?

MICHAEL: She never asks.

JOHN: Why?

MICHAEL: ‘Cause she knows I ain’t got nothing to give her.

JOHN: If you were working, you would be able to give her something.

MICHAEL: [Sounding agitated] Well, I ain’t working dawg, so I can’t give her nothing.

JOHN: Don’t call me dog; I’m a human being, not a dog.

MICHAEL: Man, I ain’t mean nothing, it’s just a name.

JOHN: Just like ‘Nigger’ is a name you don’t like the white man to call you but you call yourselves.

MICHAEL: Hey dawg, just cool man. [His pants is at his waist. He walks off and stops. He turns.] Talk to you later dude. [He unties the string to his shorts and allows it to drop, showing his underwear as he walks off stage.


SCENE 8

This scene opens with CLARA and her friends, CARLENE and SYMONE; once again they are sitting in the cafeteria of the theatre. They are eating chips and drinking soft drinks.

CLARA: Do we have the best Moms or what?

[Carlene and Symone look at her.]

CARLENE: What do you mean?

CLARA: I saw Jessica in School yesterday and she was hastening to go home.

SYMONE: Why?

CLARA: Said she has to go home and do laundry.

CARLENE AND SYMONE: Laundry? [They look at each other and smile. They look back at Clara.]

CARLENE: Our Moms do that.

CLARA: I know. Don’t you think we have the best Moms? It’s mid-week and we’re at the theatre. Do you know that some times my Mom does my homework for me?

SYMONE: Mine doesn’t, but who cares about homework? I’m going to find myself a rich man to marry.

CLARA: Me too, and if I don’t, I’ll have money to survive on when my Mom is gone.

CARLENE: I’ll find myself a good man.

[Symone and Clara look at her]

SYMONE: But he has to have money, doesn’t he?

CARLENE: [Smiling} You know me girl, if he ain’t got money, he ain’t getting nothing.

[They all laugh]

CLARA: So where are we going this weekend with our fake I.D’s?

CARLENE: I heard there is a good club in Fort Lauderdale; a reggae band plays there.

CLARA: I love reggae.

CARLENE: And I heard it doesn’t open as late as T.K.O. does.

SYMONE: Well, maybe we can check it out.

CLARA: That’s kind of far, isn’t it?

[SYMONE and CARLENE look at her.]

CARLENE: Are you chickening out on us?

CLARA: [Too fast] No… [She sees them looking at her keenly] Mom was a bit upset the other night.

CARLENE: How come you never tell us?

SYMONE: Yeah, how come you never tell us?

CLARA: Well, it wasn’t a big deal, if it were, I wouldn’t be here, would I?

CARLENE: I guess not, but does this mean you won’t be allowed to go out this weekend?

CLARA: I don’t think so. Mom knows if she tries to keep me in over the weekend, I’ll throw a fit.

CARLENE: And I’m sure she wouldn’t want to see you throwing a fit.

CLARA: No, she wouldn’t. You can count me in this weekend guys.

SYMONE: All right, that’s more like it.

CLARA: Are you guys going to Disney this year?

SYMONE: I always go, I never missed it. Are you going?
CLARA: Sure. I asked Jessica if she were going.

CARLENE: [Eagerly] What did she say?

CLARA: Poor child, she says if she wants to go, she has to work to go there.

SYMONE: What about her Mom? Can’t she send her?

CLARA: Child, they are so poor, I’m really sorry for her.

CARLENE: Well, my Mom gives me everything I want, I’m glad for her.

SYMONE: Me too.

CLARA: Me three.

[The girls laugh]


SCENE 9

The scene opens at Michael’s home in the living room; he is on the couch lying down and on his cell with one of his girlfriends. His girlfriend’s name is CECILE.

MICHAEL: Hey, how about going to the movie with me tonight?

CECILE: [OFF] I thought you said you didn’t have any money.

MICHAEL: Today is Friday; my Mom gets paid.

CECILE: [OFF] so what does that have to do with you?

MICHAEL: Cecile, what’s my Mom is mine.

CECILE: [OFF] So I imagine what yours is your Mom’s?

MICHAEL: What’s mine is mine.

CECILE [OFF] That’s not fair, if what’s your Mom is yours, what is yours should be your Mom’s.

MICHAEL: Well, that ain’t the way it goes. Are you going with me or not?

CECILE: [OFF] I’ll get back with you on that.

MICHAEL: Okay, I’m listening for you to call.

CECILE: [OFF] I will. ‘Bye.

MICHAEL: ‘Bye.

[MICHAEL hangs up. His Mom walks in with a bag of groceries in her hand. She places it on the table.]

JEAN: Michael, could you get the other bag of groceries in the car for me?

MICHAEL: Mom, I’m tired.

JEAN: Michael, you have been home all day doing nothing, how come you’re tired?

MICHAEL: Mom, I’m just tired, that’s it.

[His mother leaves and comes back with another bag of groceries.]

JEAN: What do you want for dinner?

MICHAEL: you know my favourite Mom, chicken and rice.

JEAN: I’m not going to be able to cook that tonight, because I have to get to my other job, which starts in another hour or so.

MICHAEL: So what am I supposed to do Mom, starve?

JEAN: I didn’t say that, I just think that you can do something for yourself too.

MICHAEL: So who have you been talking to about me now Mom?

JEAN: I haven’t been talking to anybody, but I’m a human being and I’m tired some times too.

MICHAEL: Okay, here is the deal. Give me fifty dollars and I’ll just go out and get something to eat.

JEAN: Michael, this week is rent week, I don’t have any money.

MICHAEL: Mom, you told me you were going to give me some money this weekend.

JEAN: I know, but something came up and this is rent week, what do you want me to do?

MICHAEL: If This is the way you love somebody, I wouldn’t like to see what you would do to them if you hate them.

JEAN: Michael, that is not fair.

MICHAEL: It’s the truth.

JEAN: I give you things whenever I can. Why can’t you understand when I can’t give it to you?

MICHAEL: I need some money Mom, and I need it between now and tomorrow.

[He is walking away.}

JEAN: Michael! [He stops and turns] I can’t get it for you now, but I can get it tomorrow.

MICHAEL: Why can’t you get it now?

JEAN: I told you it’s rent week; I’m broke, I don’t have any money now.

MICHAEL: When are you going to be buying a house Mom?

JEAN: Soon, I hope.

MICHAEL: Okay, I’ll be looking for it tomorrow.

JEAN: Where are you going now?

MICHAEL: I’m going to visit a friend.

[He walks off]

JEAN: I love you.

MICHAEL: [OFF] Whatever.



SCENE 10

This scene opens at Frank’s office; he is Jean’s boss, white and in his early forties. There are two chairs and a desk. JEAN is sitting in front of her boss.

FRANK: You’ve been taking a lot of advances on your check lately, Jean.

JEAN: I know, but it’s important that I get it.

FRANK: How is your son?

JEAN: He is fine.

FRANK: Has he found himself a job as yet?

JEAN: Yes.

FRANK: I hope he is helping you.

JEAN: He does whatever he can.

FRANK: Good, these youngsters now a days are no good; walking with their pants waist at their knees and their underpants showing; I bet your son isn’t one of those.

JEAN: He is not.

FRANK: And he is respectful too, isn’t he?

JEAN: Yes sir.

FRANK: [counting out some money] They have these names to call themselves now a days. [He is counting out the money to her] Ten, twenty, thirty, fifty.

JEAN: [Taking up the money and checking it in her head] Thank you sir.

FRANK: I think you’re a decent woman, and I think you teach your son respect, I don’t think you have ever heard him calling anyone dog, have you?

JEAN: No sir, my son would never call anyone names like that; he has too much respect for people sir.

FRANK: I didn’t think he would have done something like that. You’re a very fine woman Jean, and I’m glad I have someone like you working for me. Your parents must be very proud of you and I know you would bring up your son just the way your parents brought you up.

JEAN: Yes sir. Good day Mr. Frank.

FRANK: Good day Jean.

[JEAN leaves]


SCENE 11

This scene opens at Jessica’s home; she is in her bedroom, Her room is neat, her bed is properly made up. She is sitting in front of her bed and has her piggy bank shaking; she is getting out pennies, dimes and quarters. There is a knock on her door.

JESSICA: Come in Mom.

[Her Mom enters; she is fair skinned like her daughter; around thirty five years and petite. Her name is CHARLENE.]

CHARLENE: What are you doing?

JESSICA: Checking to see if I have enough money.

CHARLENE: For what?

JESSICA: My friends are all talking about the trip to Disneyland this year, I was thinking that if I had enough money in my piggy bank, I could get to go. I know you haven’t got any money to give me.

[CHARLENE sits on the edge of the bed; JESSICA turns to face her; she places the now empty Piggy bank on the floor beside the money.]

CHARLENE: Honey, I wish I could give you some money, but right now I can’t.

JESSICA: Mom, I could work at Macdonald’s on the weekend and make some money if you don’t object to my going.

CHARLENE: You don’t mind doing that?

JESSICA: No.

CHARLENE: You’re a good girl Jessica. When I was a kid, my parents pampered me a lot, I used to think that they were doing good for me, but they weren’t. My siblings hate me because of the fact that I was treated better than them when I was a child.

JESSICA: Aunt Christie is a nurse and Aunt Joyce is an accountant.

CHARLENE: And what am I? A C.N.A. at this stage of my life. As a child I wasn’t even allowed to cook.

JESSICA: Why Mom?

CHARLENE: I told you I was special; my Mom wouldn’t let me do anything; some times my sisters had to do things for me.

JESSICA: And that made them resented you?

CHARLENE: Even now they don’t talk much to me.

JESSICA: Mom, if you could afford to, would you give me everything that I need?

CHARLENE: No.

JESSICA: [Surprised] Why not?

CHARLENE: Aren’t you listening to me? I love you, I love you with all my heart, but I would never give to you everything you want, I’ll teach you how to get everything you want, but I wouldn’t give it to you.

[JESSICA looks sad; CHARLENE reaches out for her.]

CHARLENE: Come here Sweetheart. {JESSICA gets up and goes and sits beside her] There is a saying, “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, but if you teach him to catch a fish, he’ll have food for the rest of his life”.

JESSICA: What does that mean Mom?

CHARLENE: It means that if you continue to give someone something to eat, it won’t benefit him much, ‘cause when you’re gone, he’ll still be needing food from some one. But if you teach him how to do something for himself, even when you’re no longer around, he’ll still be doing something for himself that can benefit him.

JESSICA: [Smiling] Oh, I understand.

CHARLENE: I’m teaching you how to do things, so you don’t have to depend on anyone else when I’m not around.

[JESSICA holds her Mom as if she is afraid to lose her]

JESSICA: [Sincerely] I don’t want you to go Mom.

CHARLENE: Sweetheart, I have no intention of going anywhere, at least not now.

JESSICA: So if I can come up with the money, would you let me go, Mom?

CHARLENE: Here is a deal. How much is the money for the ticket and the bus?

JESSICA: One hundred dollars.

CHARLENE: If you can come up with the money for the ticket and the bus, I’ll come up with the money for your enjoyment at the park.

JESSICA: [Smiling brightly] All right. Thanks Mom.

CHARLENE: You’re welcome. [JESSICA is about to get up; CHARLENE rests her hand on her shoulder.] Sweetheart, I’m teaching you to do things for yourself, so that you don’t end up like me.

JESSICA: You’re okay Mom.

CHARLENE: Thanks Sweetheart, but I mean I don’t want you to have to struggle the way I’m struggling now.

[JESSICA kisses her Mom.]

JESSICA: Thanks Mom.

CHARLENE: You’re welcome Sweetheart.


SCENE 12

This scene opens at Clara’s home in the family room; her Mom is there seated on the couch; she is sewing. CLARA sits beside her.

CLARA: Hi Mom.

IRIS: Hi sweetheart.

CLARA: Am I going to get that money to go to Disneyland this year?

{IRIS puts down her sewing.]

IRIS: Sweetheart, I’ve been wanting to tell you, I don’t think I’m going to be able to come up with the money this year.

[CLARA gets to her feet angrily]

CLARA: Mom, you can’t do this to me.

IRIS: Sweetheart, I’m not doing this to spite you or anything, you know if I could do better, I would get it to you.

CLARA: Mom, what am I going to tell my friends? All of them are going and I told them I would be going too.

IRIS: Sweetheart, if I could do better, I would, but I just can’t do it this year, I’m sorry.

CLARA: [Screaming and near to tears.] Mom, you can’t do this to me, you can’t.

IRIS: Sweetheart, I’m not doing anything to you, I’m behind on my bills and I have to catch up.

CLARA: [Crying.] You just can’t do this to me Mom, you just can’t. I’ve told all of my friends that I’m going, I can’t go to them and say I’m not going now.

IRIS: Sweetheart, if I don’t pay my bills, they are going to take away the house.

CLARA: I don’t care about the house Mom, I wanna go, I wanna go.



[She runs to her room and slams the door shut. IRIS picks up her sewing and resumes.]

IRIS: [To herself] She’ll calm down.


SCENE 13

This scene opens at Michael’s home; he is in the family room with his Mom; they are both sitting on the couch. She has given him some money. He is counting it. He looks at her.

MICHAEL: Mom, this is short ten dollars.

JEAN: I had to use some money to buy some groceries, I owe that to you.

MICHAEL: Mom, I needed fifty dollars that’s why I asked you for it.

JEAN: Son, I said I’d give it back to you when I get paid.

MICHAEL: Mom, you don’t do things like that, if I asked you for something it’s because I need it Mom. You can get money elsewhere to buy food, don’t trouble what you have for me Mom.

JEAN: I’m sorry son, I’ll give it back to you, I promise.

MICHAEL: Okay, make sure I get it Mom.

JEAN: You will, I promise.

MICHAEL: Mom, some of my friends are planning a trip to Disneyland, I wanna go.

JEAN: How much is that gonna set me back?

MICHAEL: Two hundred bucks.

JEAN: When is that going to be?

MICHAEL: The end of the month.

JEAN: That’s gonna be too early for me, I won’t have the money.

MICHAEL: Come on Mom, you can get it.

JEAN: I’m not gonna promise you because I don’t know if I can get it.

MICHAEL: Mom, I’m depending on you.

JEAN: I’m not going to promise I’m gonna give you.

MICHAEL: Mom, I know you won’t let me down.

JEAN: I’ll try.

MICHAEL: That’s my Mom. [He leans forward and kisses her] That’s why I love you so much Mom, you’re the best Mom.

[He gets to his feet and is walking out; she sees the way his pants are.]

JEAN: Why don’t you pull up your pants, son?

MICHAEL: [Stopping and looking over his shoulder at his Mom.] Mom, it’s the in-thing, you ain’t gonna understand; you’re old fashioned. See you.

[He exits.]


SCENE 14

This scene opens at JOHN’S house in his dining room. He is there as usual reading his paper. MICHAEL enters; his pants is properly set at his waist. JOHN stops reading and looks at him.

JOHN: Haven’t seen you in a while, where have you been?

MICHAEL: I have been around.

JOHN: I passed your place yesterday and I noticed your lawn is getting real high, when are you going to cut it?

MICHAEL: [Looks as if he is surprised at being asked.] Me?

JOHN: Yes, you. Don’t you cut your lawn?

MICHAEL: No, my mom pays someone to do it.

JOHN: Why doesn’t she pay you?

MICHAEL: There are guys out there she can pay, I’m not greedy; some other guy can get that money.

JOHN: Well, if you would cut it, she would pay you that money and wouldn’t have to pay someone else, or maybe that money could stay in her pocket.

MICHAEL: My mom always pay for it to be done.

JOHN: She has you, she shouldn’t have to pay anyone else.

MICHAEL: Well, she does.

JOHN: So what are you up to today?

MICHAEL: Nothing, just walking.

JOHN: I heard some of your friends are going to Disneyland, are you going?

MICHAEL: Yeah, I going.

JOHN: I guess you’re gonna tax your mom again?

MICHAEL: I ain’t got nobody else to tax.

JOHN: I have some work you could do for me, I would pay you.

MICHAEL: Bro. I ain’t need to work, my Mom is taking care of me.

JOHN: What if she can’t come up with the money you want to go to Disney?

MICHAEL: She will.

JOHN: What if she can’t?

MICHAEL: Man, my Mom will find ways to get it, I’m sure she will.

JOHN: Or maybe one of your girls can give it to you?

MICHAEL: I ain’t asking no girls for money Bro., my Mom can give it to me.

JOHN: Man, I’m really sorry for your Mom.

[JOHN goes back to reading his paper]


SCENE 15

This scene opens once again with CLARA, CARLENE, and SYMONE at the theatre cafeteria.

SYMONE: Do you know if you’re going to Disney as yet?

CLARA: She is going to have to send me, I don’t care how she gets the money.

CARLENE: Have you spoken to her as yet?

CLARA: No, I’m still angry with her.

SYMONE: How long are you gonna keep this up for?

CLARA: Until she gives me the money.

SYMONE: What if she doesn’t have it?

CLARA: Do you know how embarrassing this is going to be if I don’t go to Disney this year?

SYMONE: Well, if you miss one year, it’s not the end of the world, you’ve always gone those other years.

[CARLENE and SYMONE look at each other and giggle]

CLARA: What if it were your mother who said you weren’t going, what would you do?

CARLENE: My mother wouldn’t dare say such a thing to me, she knows me too much.

[SYMONE has a mischievous smile on her face when she looks at CARLENE.]

SYMONE: You want me to tell her what happened when your mom said she didn’t have the money to pay for your Cheerleaders’ tryout?

CARLENE: Go ahead.

SYMONE: Child, Carlene threw a fit and didn’t speak to her Mom for one straight week.

[CLARA looks at CARLENE]

CLARA: How come you didn’t tell me that?

CARLENE: It actually only happened once, she hasn’t tried that trick again with me. Girl, you have to stick out for what you want, if you give in to them, then you won’t get what you want.

CLARA: That’s what I say.

SYMONE: Well if she is going to pay, she had better come up with the fee pretty fast; the seats are filling out pretty fast in the bus.

CLARA: You guys paid yours already?

SYMONE: Yeah.

CARLENE: Me too.

CLARA: I know Jessica isn’t going, but I can’t let her know that I might not go.

CARLENE: Have you given up already?

CLARA: Of course not.

SYMONE: If you hold out, she may still come through for you.

CLARA: She had better. She knows I never miss this trip, and everyone knows that.

CARLENE: Well, you still can make it if she comes up with the money between now and Friday.

CLARA: I hope she does, I surely hope she does or I’ll never forgive her.

SCENE 16

This scene opens at CATHERINE’S house, her living room. She is IRIS’ friend, African American around Iris’ age. They are sitting together in the couch.

CATHERINE: So how are things going with you and your daughter?

IRIS: Girl, she hasn’t spoken to me in a while.

CATHERINE: [Surprised] Why?

IRIS: I made a promise to her and I broke it.

CATHERINE: What was the promise about?

IRIS: I promise her I would give her some money to go to Disneyland Theme Park and I didn’t come through with it.

CATHERINE: Well, I’m sure it’s because you couldn’t help it.

IRIS: Yeah, but this reminds me too much of my parents, when they would make promises to us and broke them.

CATHERINE: Our parents broke promises they couldn’t really keep.

IRIS: I just don’t want to be like my parents when it comes to my kid; we used to have to do so many things we didn’t want to do.

CATHERINE: But it was for your own good Iris.

IRIS: Come on Catherine, our parents were too strict when we were kids; I was never allowed to hang out with friends.

CATHERINE: Me neither, but I’m not complaining, I’ve known of girls in my town who are now in jail; if it weren’t for my parents I probably would have been hanging out with them when they were caught and sent to jail, and maybe I would have been there too.

IRIS: I was never a stupid person Catherine, I knew then who to hang out with and who not to.

CATHERINE: Iris, look at what you’ve become. You are a nurse, a registered nurse; your parents made you do your homework. They didn’t just say that you should do it, they insist, and look what you have become as a result of what your parents did for you.

IRIS: I still say my parents were too strict.

CATHERINE: I think what’s happening now a days is that the parents of today are too permissive and too lenient.

IRIS: What do you mean?

CATHERINE: Some of us think that we are doing our kids good when we are too permissive and too giving, but we are not.

IRIS: Well, if you love your kids, you’ve got to show them.

CATHERINE: But the best way to show someone you love them is to teach them how to be independent, and that means showing them to do things for themselves so that they can become productive citizens when they grow up.

IRIS: When I was a kid, I had to work for everything I got, I’ll never let my daughter do that.

CATHERINE: You’re not always going to be around for her you know.
IRIS: [Adamantly] I’ll make sure that she is well taken care of when I’m gone.

CATHERINE: Well, good luck to you and her.

IRIS: Thanks. [IRIS gets to her feet] I think I’d better go now, I have to get something to my daughter before the time runs out.

CATHERINE: Okay, see you at work tomorrow.

IRIS: Sure.

[IRIS leaves]

SCENE 17

This scene opens at Iris’ house, in the living room. A disgruntled CLARA is lying on the couch and is listening to a C.D., which is in on a CD player on a table. Her mom enters. She turns her back to her mom.

IRIS: Good evening Sweetheart.

[No response. Her mother sits beside her.]

IRIS: [Cont’d] It seems like you’re going to Disneyland after all.

[CLARA turns on her back, looks at her and smiles.]

CLARA: I knew you would come through for me Mom.

[IRIS gives her the money.]

CLARA: [Happy.} I love you Mom. [She embraces her Mom].

IRIS: [Happy} I know you do Sweetheart, and I’m sorry I had to make you go through so much problems to get this money.

CLARA: That’s all right, Mom, I knew you would have come true . [She gets up.] I’m gonna go call my friends and tell them I’ll be there with them in Disneyland.

IRIS: [Smiling] You go ahead Sweetheart, I’m glad for you.

CLARA: I love you so much Mom.
IRIS: I love you too Sweetheart.

[CLARA skips off happily to her room]

SCENE 18

This scene opens at Jessica’s home; her living room; she is sad; she didn’t earn the money she needed so she could go to Disneyland. Her mother is with her.

CHARLENE: Sweetheart, I’m sorry it didn’t work out.

JESSICA: That’s okay Mom, I’m not mad with you; I’m just so mad because we’re poor.

CHARLENE: Not everyone was born to be rich honey, but maybe one day if you work hard enough you can become rich and help your Mom.

JESSICA: I’m going to do that Mom, I’m going to go to school and study hard so I can become a doctor and take care of you.

CHARLENE: That is so nice Sweetheart, that’s why I love you so much, you’re so thoughtful.

CHARLENE: And you’re so thoughtful too, Mom, you’re doing everything to ensure that I have a better future than what you have now.

[They embrace each other.]