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by
Damillion W.
Characters: GOLD MEMBER, the GOLD BRICK, age 17 ERICA, the TEMPLE, his mother Setting: At the temple. There is dirt, flowers and trees. Hear birds chirping, sound of a waterfall, other animals. They feel the rain. Time: 7:00 AM At Rise: Gold Member knocks on the door.
MOM
Who is it?
GOLD MEMBER
It’s me. Gold Member.
MOM
(pauses, surprised) Hold on a minute. (opens the door) What are you doing here?
GOLD MEMBER
I told you I was coming back home.
MOM
Why so soon? We never got to the point where I said you could come back.
GOLD MEMBER
Well, I felt something wasn’t right so I come back home to check out everything.
MOM
What is there to check out? Everything’s good, everything’s cool here.
Why you asking all these questions, making statements, asking questions?
MOM
I’m just curious why you come home so soon.
GOLD MEMBER
Does it matter why? I’m a member of this family. I helped you raise my brother and sister when Pops walked out on us and you didn’t know what to do.
MOM
You’re right. You do have a point…but still…do you remember what we talked about? I told you I want you to live the good life. Explore the world. Meet nice people, like you. All people aren’t bad. When you get old and have little bricks of your own I want you to have a good story to tell about your life. It’s good that you came back home and all but I want you to get out and explore the world.
GOLD MEMBER
Yes, I remember you told me all those things but that doesn’t change the fact that I want to be at home too. I don’t want to feel like my Pops. I don’t want to feel I’m abandoning you and the family. I know you want me to explore the world and I will do that. But first, I want to fix things here. I want to make make sure you’re ok.
MOM
I’m ok. I’m a grown temple, boy. I know how to take care of myself and I know how to take care of home. Don’t you forget that I raised you. Your Pops didn’t help me raise you. If I want to go out and meet new people I can do that. I’m finally living my life in peace. Your brother and sister are gone. They haven’t been calling me and complaining like you have. You’re the only one that calls and says you want to come home. Don’t get me wrong. You’re my son and I still love you. But boy, you gonna be 18 and you need to start acting like it instead of like a kid whining about things. I raised all three of you as best I can without a father figure and now that you’re all old enough to live on your own you’re the only one acting like you don’t want to grow up and live on your own. You know, when I was old enough to live on my own I got the hell away from my mom and I got my own place and had little bricks. Now that I did my part in raising them I feel like I did a good job of it on my own.
(GOLD MEMBER is stuck. He doesn’t know what to say. Thinking…….)
MOM (continues)
Are you going to say something?
GOLD MEMBER
I don’t know what to say. Everything you said was right except I think you’re hiding something.
MOM
(Nervously) Boy, are you serious? Do I look like a kid? Do I look like I have something to hide? I don’t have anything to hide.
GOLD MEMBER
(Gives her a look) Are you sure you’re not hiding anything?
MOM
Why do I have to be hiding something?
GOLD MEMBER
You gotta be hiding something. We still at the door. You ain’t let me in yet and it’s raining. I know you hiding something.
MOM
Ok. I give up now. I’m going to stop playing with you. I met this gold brick at a party. He’s nice, outgoing, outspoken, and funny. We have a lot in common. His wife left him to raise his gold bricks on his own just like your Pops left me to raise you on my own.
GOLD MEMBER
(Angry) What the hell you talking about! What gold brick? Do you really know him or is that what he told you? How long you all been knowing each other?
MOM
(Angry) That’s none of your damn business.
GOLD MEMBER
What do you mean it’s none of my business? I’m trying to make sure you’re good and nobody hurts you like Pops did.
(MOM quiet) GOLD MEMBER (continues)
You’ve changed, Mom.
MOM
Tell me how I’ve changed.
GOLD MEMBER
All of a sudden you talking to this new gold brick and you don’t want me around no more. You forgot about me.
MOM
Are you crazy! I would never about forget my kids!
GOLD MEMBER
Then how come you don’t let me in? How come we’re still standing here in the rain. You know what? I’m not going to keep arguing with you. You made your point…You want to live your life in happiness. I guess Momma gotta to have a life too.
MOM
Do you know why I chose to meet this gold brick? I’m tired of being lonely. No one to talk to. You are grown up and gone and Granny’s too old to talk to. I finally found someone that I can vent to, tell them how I feel and he comforts me. He makes me feel how your Pops should have made me feel a long time ago. He’s not like your Pops. He’s cool. He’s very nice. You don’t know what it’s like to be lonely. You’re still young. All the little fun things you do now, even if you’re single or not, when you get my age and have your own little bricks and they’re all grown up. Everything gets boring and you’re going to feel exactly how I felt…lonely.
GOLD MEMBER
Wow! So that’s what you meant by living a peaceful life.
MOM
Yes, that’s exactly what I meant. I don’t want to be lonely forever. Just know that I’m happy. I’m not going through hell anymore. I ‘m not in the dark anymore. I’m a shining temple. People know me now. Do you know how long it took me to meet friends? I’m at peace with the world. I don’t have to worry about anything. I’m just living in peace now. Do you understand now?
GOLD MEMBER
(sighs) I guess.
MOM
(sighs and rolls her eyes) No. Do you really understand? ‘Yes or no”…Not “I guess.”
GOLD MEMBER
Ok. Yes. I get it. Can I come in now? It’s raining. I’m not getting any dryer here.
MOM
Ok. Don’t be disrespectful. I raised you better than that.
GOLD MEMBER
(sighs) ok. |
