Ever Lasting Love by 張益勤 (Jean Chang)
Dramatis Personae
Thomas Garrard. A sale manager in a small company. He owns a house in 3rd street and lives happily with his family.
Laura Garrard. Thomas’s wife. She pays much attention to Eric’s behaviors.
Eric Garrard. Thomas and Laura’s son. A 5-year-old boy who is well-mannered because of her mother’s discipline.
The old lady. Just moved to the neighborhood, always carries a baby-carriage whenever she goes.
Act 1
Scene 1
The light is dim. It is a gloom evening, just before sunset. The curtain rises, before us is an old lady pushing a baby-carriage along the sideway from the left of the back stage, where a street sign is clearly marked “2nd street,” to the right of the front stage. A dilapidated house is on the right of the back stage. The house is grassy with the wall full of ivy and a big chimney towering into the sky. The carriage, which the old lady is carrying, is completely covered by a black silk, which made it hard to see through. Her frizzy gray hair is disheveled. Wearing a white shabby loose robe with ink spots on the right sleeve, she murmured softly.
THE OLD LADY(murmurs softly, repeating). Don’t be afraid, I am with
you …always. I promise I’ll love you forever, as I always do…
(The old lady slowly crosses the road and is back to the house on the back of the stage.)
(Black out)
(Lights on)
Scene 2
Before us is inside the GARRARD’s house. A kitchen is on the left side of the stage which is clean and neat. LAURA is there preparing dinner. In front of the kitchen, there is a rectangular dinning table with a few dishes on it. ERIC is setting the table. On the right side of the stage is the doorway, where guests can take off their shoes and come in. A pair of slippers is nicely placed on the side.
(The door shuts, THOMAS comes in.)
THOMAS (puts on his slippers). Honey, I’m home.
ERIC (runs to the doorway and grabs THOMAS’S leg). Daddy!
THOMAS (holds Eric in the arm and enters the dinning room). Hey, kiddo, how’s school today?
ERIC (happily). Great! Ms. Handerson asked us to draw our favorite animal today, and here’s my dog. (shows the picture) His name is Spot. Dad, can we…
LAURA (enters dinning room from the kitchen). Eric, I thought we finished the discussion! Go wash your hands! (turns to Thomas) Welcome home, honey. How’s work today?
(Eric goes to wash his hands. Laura and Thomas sit down, put the napkins on their laps, and prepare to eat)
THOMAS. Pretty good. Mr. McCray is retiring, so I think I’m close to a promotion.
LAURA. That’s good news.
THOMAS. Oh, did you know what I heard on the subway? An old man’s body was found in an apartment on the 10th street. And…his head is gone!
ERIC (comes back from the bathroom and sits on the chair). A murder case?
THOMAS. That’s what I thought, but according to the source, the old man died of heart attack. Isn’t it weird? If the old man died of heart attack, why took his head off? And,who…
LAURA. Alright, that’s it. No homicide on table. (starts passing food) Honey, do you remember the old house on 2nd street? The one with a big chimney?
THOMAS. Yes, why?
LAURA. Well, it seems like we have a new neighbor. Mrs. Larkin said she saw an old lady wandering around the house yesterday.
THOMAS. I can’t believe those estate agents! The house is in a really bad condition. I wonder how much they sold it to the lady?
LAURA. Anyway, I think we should visit our new neighbor someday.
THOMAS. Sure, why don’t we invite her to dinner tomorrow?
ERIC (happily). Are we going to have an apple pie?
LAURA. Hmm…apple pie will be fine.
(Black out)
(Lights on)
The next day. Inside the GARRARD’s house. LAURA and THOMAS are in the kitchen preparing dinner. The dinning table is covered with a beautiful cloth and there is a vase of fresh flowers.
(Door bell rings, ERIC enters with hurry from the left stage to the right, approaching the doorway.)
ERIC. I’ll get it!
(Eric gets out a pair of slippers, opens the door, and sees the old lady)
ERIC (with politeness). Good evening, ma’am. My name is Eric. Nice to meet you.
(Thomas goes to the door way.)
Thomas. Welcome. I’m Thomas Garrard, you can call me Thomas. Please come in. (turns to Eric) Kiddo, you want to help your Mom set the table?
LAURA (voice from the kitchen). Eric, I need your help.
ERIC. Sorry ma’am, I’ve got to…
THE OLD LADY (smiling). It’s ok, sweetheart. Go ahead.
(Eric runs to the dinning table and starts to set the table)
THOMAS. Here, let me help you with the carriage. (offers a hand)
THE OLD LADY (pulls a long face). I can do it myself.
(Thomas is shocked. He leads the lady to the table.)
LAURA (happily). Welcome! I’m Laura. Nice to meet you. Here, you must have some pie. I made this especially for today. (puts the apple pie on the table)
THE OLD LADY. That’s very nice of you. Thanks.
LAURA. Is that your grandson? (walks close to the carriage)
THE OLD LADY (pulls a long face and stands in front of the carriage). I think he doesn’t want to be disturbed.
LAURA (shocked). Oh…I’m sorry.
THE OLD LADY (lifts the silk a little, peeking, smiling). He’s sleeping.
LAURA (carefully). I…see.
ERIC (finish setting the table, happily). What’s his name?
THE OLD LADY (smiling). Sam.
ERIC (getting close to the carriage). Hi, Sam. I’m…
THE OLD LADY (pulls a long face and stands in front of the carriage, protecting the carriage from being seem). I THINK HE DOESN’T WANT TO BE DISTURBED.
THOMAS (trying to smooth the air). Eric, Sam is sleeping. You don’t want to wake him up, do you?
ERIC (scared). I guess not.
THOMAS. Good, then…let’s start our dinner. Honey, you want to say the prayer?
LAURA. …Sure. (Everybody holds hands.) Lord, Thank you to the food before us, and thank you for bringing the friends to our neighborhood. Please bless the food, drink and the people around us. Amen.
EVERYONE. Amen (everyone puts napkin on laps.)
THOMAS. So, Mrs…?
THE OLD LADY. I expect you to call me ma’am.
THOMAS. …Ma’am, when did you move to this neighborhood?
THE OLD LADY. Last week.
THOMAS. Oh, then, how do you like it here?
THE OLD LADY. Pretty good. Except that some people are always trying to BOTHER my Sam.
THOMAS. I apologize.
THE OLD LADY. I forgive you, son, as long as you remember that MY SAM doesn’t like to be disturbed.
THOMAS. Yes, Ma’am.
LAURA. Eric, did you wash your hands?
(Eric is stunned and runs to the bathroom on the left.)
LAURA. Do I have to remind you all the time? “Always wash your hands before meal!” (turns to the old lady) Sorry, you know how kids can behave badly sometime.
THE OLD LADY. Yes, I understand.
LAURA. So, where are you from?
THE OLD LADY. 10th street.
THOMAS. That’s not very far from here. (something comes to his mind) Oh, I heard a body was found on 10th street, and the head is off. Have you heard of this?
THE OLD LADY (pulls a long face). NO
LAURA. Honey, I don’t think it’s the time to talk about this. (turns to the old lady). I’m sorry. So, do you live alone?
THE OLD LADY. No, I live with my husband.
LAURA. Oh, I didn’t know that. You should bring him tonight.
THE OLD LADY (looks at the carriage and smiling). He’s a lazy bug, always sleeping.
(The three of them laughs. Then, Eric comes back from the bathroom, running.)
LAURA. Don’t run, Eric. You could have…
(Eric trips on the baby-carriage and something falls from the carriage. It’s a head with eyes wild open and a few white hair. )
THE OLD LADY (looks at the head, smiling). Oh, here’s my husband, Sam. Sam, say “hi” to our new neighbors, Thomas, Laura and little Eric.
(The Garrards are shocked. THOMAS stands up and breaks the glass of wine. ERIC runs to his dad and hides behind his back. LAURA sits still, screaming.)
(the curtain falls)