Ugly Lies the Bone by Ferrentino Lindsey

Author:Ferrentino, Lindsey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nick Hern Books
Published: 2017-02-22T16:00:00+00:00

‘When Johnny Comes Marching Home’

Let love and friendship on that day,

Hurrah, hurrah!

Their choicest pleasures then display,

Hurrrah, hurrah!

She picks the walker up as much as she can and valiantly smashes it into the trees, the snow, the virtual world.

Over and over again as it disappears.

And let each one perform some part,

To fill with joy the warrior’s heart,

And we’ll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching HOME!

When Johnny comes marching HOME!

When Johnny comes marching HOME!

A strong wind blows, but she withstands it.

The feathers blow away and disappear as well.

Lights fade to black. Song out.

In the dark:

VOICEOpen your eyes.

Lights up to JESS by herself in the living room, still without her headscarf.

She returns the mirror to its proper place on the wall.

She waits nervously in the living room as offstage, a car pulls up. JESS peeks out the window, paces. Car doors and voices come from outside.

KACIE(Off.) Watch your step, watch your step –

THEIR MOM(Off.) – your house always so big?

KACIE(Off.) This is your house, Mom.

THEIR MOM(Off.) It’s big.

JESS grabs her walker and retreats into the bedroom as KACIE helps THEIR MOM into the house. THEIR MOM is confused, but shouldn’t be physically frail.

Even bigger in here.

KACIERemember, I said there was a special guest –

THEIR MOMIs it Johnny Carson? I love Johnny Carson.

KACIEWhy don’t you sit on the couch, I’ll start inner soon.

(Shouting off.) Jess!

JESS(Off.) Why’d you have to make it such a big deal?

KACIEI’ll get her –

THEIR MOMWho?

JESSLeave me alone –

THEIR MOMWho is that?

KACIEOpen up.

(Knocks.)

Don’t do this!

THEIR MOMStop yelling.

JESS tries pushing the door closed. KACIE struggles, but pulls JESS out of the bedroom.

What? What’s going on?

THEIR MOM and KACIE stare at JESS.

JESS…Hi.

THEIR MOM(Nonchalant.) Hello…

KACIE…

JESS– It’s – I’m – Jess.

THEIR MOMOkay.

KACIEMom.

JESSForget it.

KACIE(Louder.) Ma –

THEIR MOMWhat, honey? I’m not deaf.

KACIEShe’s –

JESSLeave it alone.

KACIENo – Ma, come on, do you know who this is?

THEIR MOMWhat’s wrong with you? You think I don’t know my own daughter?

Long beat.

JESSWhat?

THEIR MOMIf you wanna be Jess now, fine, but I like Jessica better, – why I named you that… Why’re y’all starin’ at me?

Beat.

KACIEYou – haven’t – seen her in awhile…

THEIR MOMI dropped you girls at school this morning, didn’t I?…

(To herself, quiet, confused.) Didn’t I?…

KACIE and JESS look to each other.

JESS crosses to her MOM, hugs her tightly, collapsing into her.

THEIR MOM(Scolding.) Kacie, what’d you, not let Jessica sit with you at lunch today? How many times do I have to tell you, I don’t want her crying she’s got no one to sit with.

KACIE…

THEIR MOMYou two have to watch out for each other. That school’s so big… And you’re just little girls…

Beat.

Now…

(Shoving them off.) Get off me.

Beat.

Where’s this special guest?

Beat.

THEIR MOM taps the fish tank.

KACIE…It’s gonna happen any minute now, Jess. Okay? Your doctor said give you plenty of warning.

THEIR MOMWhat?

KACIEThe sonic boom.

(To THEIR MOM.) …Remember what you’d tell us when we were kids. When the shuttle comes back, and you hear the two sounds, it means everybody made it back safe, everybody made it home…

JESS(A laugh.) Kacie.

KACIEAny minute, alright?

Mom, you wanna fold these napkins?

JESS watches KACIE setting the table, her mom folding napkins.

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