INT.KITCHEN - NIGHT
The kitchen is dimly lit and has old knickknacks and is very
cluttered, showing the old the age of the house and mess
they live in. TOM is sitting is in the kitchen writing a new
poem in his bath robe. LAURA is sitting in the living room
reading a book while looking back and forth at her glass
animal collection. AMANDA is cleaning up small messes around
the house wearing a night gown while coming frequently to
adjust Tom while he works.
AMANDA
Tom sit up straight! You don’t want
to slouch.
Amanda adjusts Tom to sit up straight. She brings the lamp
in the center of the table closer to Tom.
You need the light to see better,
you don’t want to hurt your eyes.
Tom begins to get agitated with her nagging as he proceeds
with his writing. Amanda continues to clean up around the
house.
Tom here is a pencil so you don’t
waste the ink scratching out your
unnecessary thoughts.
TOM
No thank you Mother, I’m fine using
a pen
AMANDA
You don’t want to waste ink now,
just use a pencil
TOM
Mother I don’t need a pencil
AMANDA
Fine Tom, fine...
TOM
Thank you...
Tom continues to write as Amanda begins to fiddle with a
stitching ring. Amanda begins to think about Tom’s reaction
and current behavior
AMANDA
Tom I just wanted to let you know
something...
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.
TOM
What is it?
AMANDA
It’s your sister, I didn’t want to
say this in front of her, but
she...
TOM
She what Mother?
AMANDA
At the rate she’s going, she will
grow old and become a Spinster.
Tom, I worry that Laura will not
survive unless she has the
stability of a husband.
TOM
Mother what the hell are you
talking about?
AMANDA
I’m talking about the survival of
you sister! She dropped out of
college so there goes her being an
educated woman! Now she needs a man
to ensure a life better than this
one!
TOM
Better than this one? Better this
one!? If it wasn’t for me paying
all the bills and rent while you
and her just sit around in your own
little worlds, you two wouldn’t be
able to survive as it is. You know
how much Of my own dreams I
sacrificed to ensure you two can
live in this luxury you call a
home?
AMANDA
Don’t talk to me about sacrificing
selfish dreams, if anyone has
sacrificed, it’s me! Raising you
two when you bastard of father took
off leaving us on our own to
survive. Do you want the same fate
to fall upon your sister?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.
TOM
What fate? Bitter, old and alone
filled with regret that she
couldn’t keep her husband? With
your consistent nagging, it’s no
wonder he left you! The only thing
that pisses me off is he didn’t
take us along with him!
Tom goes to his room to get his clothes to go out for the
night
AMANDA
Is that why you constantly go to
the movies? Or wherever it is you
go? Trying to be like you father?
Trying to run away your
responsibilities?
Tom puts on his clothes and prepares to exit
TOM
I’m not running from my damn
responsibilities! I’m escaping this
prison I was put in! Nothing is my
own, all of my earnings, gone! Gone
to support you and Laura! Nothing
in this whole damn house is mine!
He moves to Laura’s glass collection and picks up a figurine
Just like these figurines, I can’t
leave, just stay here forever! In
my own damn menagerie of sorrow,
forced to appear as I am happy.
Well I will tell you something
Mother, I’m as HAPPY AS THIS DAMN
FIGURINE!
Tom unknowingly throws the figurine to the floor and it
shatters in to pieces. Laura reacts with a shock and begins
to cry.
AMANDA
TOM!
Tom realizes his actions and gathers the pieces and puts the
remains with the rest of the figurines. Tom exits as Amanda
goes to comfort Laura.
FADE OUT
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