The lights come up on the other side of the stage in a simple living room setting. There is a small sofa, a coffee table with magazines on top of it, a rocking chair, and an end table. There are framed family photos on the end table. An older woman sits on the sofa and takes her shoes off. She is dressed in a waitress uniform. She looks at the younger woman, her daughter, in a conversation. The younger woman stands holding a very small baby in her arms. A newborn baby rests quietly in its mother’s arms. There is another child, a little girl about three or four years old. The little girl is holding onto her mother’s skirt.
DAUGHTER
“Like I said Mom, it would only be for a little while…. until I get on my feet.”
MOM
“If you remember, I told you not to marry him in the first place. I knew he was nothing but trash, pure trash: Umph, umph, umph.” The mother shakes her head. “What’s the matter with your face? Come over here; let me get a look at it.” The young woman reluctantly turns to face her mother, pushing her hair back. “Did he do that to you? He’s a wife beater—don’t that beat everything, and I bet it came easy for him. Look at me.” She points to her daughters and holds her face still. “You are not the first woman he’s laid a hand or his fists to. You might be the first wife but not the first woman he’s laid his hands on. Come here to grand ma-ma, sweetheart.” She reaches out for her grandchild, and her daughter gently hands the baby over to her. “Does he know you’re pregnant again?”
DAUGHTER
“Yes, he knows. I really think he was trying to make me lose the baby. He punched me in the stomach with his fists.”
MOM
“Did he hurt the baby?”
DAUGHTER
“I don’t think so. I had some spotting right after it happened, so I went to the doctor. She said the baby was ok. I was ok, so I guess we’re ok. Mom where else we gonna go?”
MOM
“And what will you do for money? There’s no way four people, excuse me – pointing at the daughter’s stomach – , five people can survive on my little check. Damn it, Angie, these are supposed to be my good years—what do they call? My sliver years….no golden years, whatever it’s called, that’s what these times are supposed to be for me.”
DAUGHTER
“I plan to continue working. My supervisor said I could keep on working as long as I could keep up with the line. Jeannie pays ok, and I might start a savings account—not like before, but you would have your name on it solely. You are the one who could take money out. I thought I could go down today to Social Services and get the food stamps and medical, and they could tell me how to make Mike support us this time. A shoot! I may just have to take another sick day off from work.” She looked down at her oldest child, who was now holding onto her leg. “Tess you need to go to the bathroom?” Tess nods yes. “You know where it is?” Tess once again nods yes. “Do you remember where it is?” Tess nods yes, looks over at her grandmother, and then back at her Mom. She nods yes but still holds on to her mother. “You want Mommy to go with you?” Tess shakes her head no and leaves the room. “I had him arrested and I’m going to press charges.”
MOM
“I’ve heard that tune before, again and again. I remember getting him out of jail for you. You said Mike was sleeping on the floor. Well, that’s what jail is—hard times. Punishment for bad behavior.”
DAUGHTER
“I mean it this time. I have to. When he finished beating me up, it’s… it’s…. like it made him madder. That’s when he went after Tess. First, he slapped her, and she wouldn’t cry. That made him even madder. Then he picked her up, and he threw her. He just threw her little body up against the wall and walked right passed her out the door like it was nothing. I called the police and had him arrested, so as far as I know, he’s still in jail. My brave little girl is scared to death. YES, I DO MEANT IT THIS TIME! Mom, help us.”
The older woman continues rocking the baby to sleep. She takes a deep breath and blows it out. Her hands are shaking. She doesn’t look up as she says the next lines.
MOM
“You might want to think about getting some counseling for Tess. She’s been thru a lot. Unfortunately, this may not have been the first time her father has abused her. That’s one scared little girl. Social services will provide counseling for her. If they don’t, I will pay for it.” She gently hands the baby back to her daughter. She took another big breath and pushed it out.
DAUGHTER
“I love you, Ma-ma.”
MOM
“I love you too. You’re my beautiful girl.” She then kisses her daughter’s forehead. “I love all of you. A day doesn’t pass that a woman my age or older crosses my path, women raising their grandchildren as if they were their responsibility. I promised myself that I wouldn’t be one of them. You are so much in love, don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking it. You have been putting your man before your children, or this wouldn’t have happened. Each time you’re worse.” As the daughter prepares to respond, the mother lifts her hand to cut her off. “You can’t live here. There’s a women’s shelter, not three blocks from here. I know because I volunteer one day a week. Like I said before, you can’t live here. Gather up your and your children’s belongings.”