A C T I V
S C E N E O N E
Time: 7 years later.
In
the afternoon: WALTER rushes home from work. It’s 1966 and Mr. Arnold has just given WALTER a promotion. RUTH is ironing in the
Clybourne when WALTER bursts through the door.
WALTER Honey, I’m home! (WALTER closes the door behind him. He stands in the doorway waiting
for her to answer)
RUTH Well? What you doin’ in the doorway? (RUTH puts down the dish she was washing and puts her hands on her
hips. Her eyes follow WALTER as he walks through the house to make his way to her. He tosses
his coat on the armrest of the couch. RUTH rolls her eyes and
snatches the coat off the armrest. She hangs it up on the hook and returns to
the kitchen)
WALTER (With excitement) I’m takin’ the last
look at our old life. Because tomorrow, I start working for Sears, Roebuck
& Company! (WALTER sits down on their worn down couch where TRAVIS used to sleep)
RUTH You ain’t making any sense right now!
What you talkin’ about Walter Lee Younger? (RUTH drops her rag on the pile of dishes and her
eyes widen in shock. She walks over to the couch, giving WALTER a look. He shrugged his shoulders, unphased by what she had said)
WALTER Well you know Mr. Arnold, that nice ol’ man I
work for?
RUTH (RUTH’S voice is tinged with annoyance) Nice? A couple years ago, you was barely showin’ up
to work! Now you callin’ him nice?
WALTER Honey, that is beside the point. Anyway, he
called me into his home today and I was shakin’ in my shoes, thinkin’ I was
gonna get fired! But after that whole Civil Rights act that just happened,
Sears was getting in some trouble with the court about EEOC. (WALTER waves his hands wildly, making large hand motions. His voice
picks up excitement as he goes on. RUTH sits down on the chair
facing him, confusion covering her face. Her hands start playing with a loose
thread that had popped out of the old chair)
RUTH The E what who C?
WALTER The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission!
So anyways, I was waitin’ up in his fancy apartment, and Mr. Arnold comes out
and I start actin’ like a fool. I go, “How you doin’ today Mr. Arnold?” And he
says, “Fine, and you?” (WALTER’S face lights up like a child’s and his eyes are
filled with youth)
RUTH (Impatiently, twisting the thread tightly
around her fingers) How long this gonna go
on for?
WALTER Ruth, honey, be patient. So I start ramblin’
and apoligizin’ for everything I never done to that ol’ man and he stops me
mid-sentence and puts his hand on my shoulder, and looks me straight in the
eye. Now, in all the years I have worked for that man, never has he so much
glanced at me! (RUTH ignores the jab and continues to twist the
thread)
RUTH (Disinterested) I really don’t see
where this is going Walter Lee…
WALTER (Throwing his hands up) Honey, if you
just gonna keep interrupting every word I say, I ain’t goin to say a thing!
RUTH Alright, I just don’t get where this is going.
(The thread snaps and she finally looks up at WALTER while he’s speaking)
WALTER So, since I’ve worked with Mr. Arnold for so
long, they promoting me Ruth! So, they figure, what better way to keep up
appearances with the EEOC then to hire a black man! (RUTH wearily looks at him. Comprehending the situation, she starts to
get interested in what he’s saying)
RUTH Wait, so what you sayin’ is that... you gonna
be working in an office now? So earnin’ more money for the house and for
Travis? (Her eyes fill with the same excitement and youth that had been in WALTER’S eyes)
WALTER Well, let’s not be getting ahead of
ourselves... But just think- everything that I had lost with Willy Harris, I
have another shot at that with this new job! (WALTER takes off his shoes
and stretches out. His mind is wandering with all the new possibilities that
could come with the new job)
S
C E N E T W O
Time: Another 7 years
later, 1973.
In the morning: The Sears Tower has just
finished construction and WALTER
is getting ready for
his first day in the new building. TRAVIS has been drafted into
the Vietnam War in 1969 in the lottery draft. RUTH is heartbroken about having her only baby out of the house so soon
and in danger.
WALTER A good morning to you Ruth! (He stretches
his arms above his head, his fingers brushing the headrest. He swings his legs
off the bed, brushing RUTH’S
arm as he gets out of
bed. She rubs her eyes to adjust to the change in light)
RUTH (Shocked) Walter Lee Younger,
are you up before I even woke you?
WALTER (Cheerfully) Why, yes I am.
Because today is my first day workin’ in a real office, in the big city! (He
exits the bedroom to get ready for work)
RUTH (Shouting to WALTER) Walter Lee, you’ve been workin’ in an office for almost 8
years now. (She gets out of bed and goes to the bathroom where WALTER is getting ready. She picks up a brush and starts to untangle
all of the knots that have wound up in hair)
WALTER I know, but today is just different. All those
dreams that got snatched from my hands because of that bastard Willy Harris,
today, I can really have another chance! (He briefly exits to grab his work
clothes)
RUTH (With admiration) And I am so proud of
you Walter Lee. I just wish we could have had Travis and Beneatha here. Maybe
even another baby could have been here if I had done better. (RUTH looks down at her stomach, memories from around 10 years ago
resurfacing. Sadness and loss overcomes her momentarily)
WALTER (Softly) Ruth, honey, you know that is
none of your fault. You did everything’ you could to make sure everything went
well with the pregnancy. What happened to that baby was not your fault. And of
course you can’t do anything’ about Travis, honey. They chose from a lot of
healthy, young people, and Travis just happened to be one of them. I bet he’s
doing just fine over there. And Beneatha… I mean- (MAMA enters the bathroom, looking extremely tired)
MAMA Who’s up this early in the morning talkin’
about that crazy girl? Runnin’ off to Africa with Asagai to join some silly
tribe of his? And then she don’t even bother to talk to us for more than 10
years? Crazy… (MAMA starts fussing with her hair in the hair,
angrily tugging at what’s left of it. There’s sudden tension in the room and awkward
silence occupies the room)
WALTER (Obviously) She’s not crazy Mama, she’s
just following her dreams. I haven’t given up on mine yet. (RUTH rolls her eyes, knowing her husband has said the wrong thing.
Knowing a fight could ensue, RUTH exits)
MAMA (Annoyed) Walter Lee Younger, how on
earth are you chasing your dream while working for that company of yours?
WALTER I’m just takin’ it one step at a time. We
can’t get our dreams in one day, can we? We gotta work for them. (He grabs
his toothbrush lying on the counter and applies toothpaste to it. He shoves the
toothbrush in his mouth and gleefully brushes his teeth. MAMA is still trying to sort out her hair. The rattling of pans can
be heard from the kitchen. MAMA
sighs, annoyed her
hair isn’t cooperating, and MAMA exits the bathroom to
go help RUTH make breakfast)
RUTH (Shouting from the kitchen) Walter Lee,
now you better hurry up if you don’t wanna be late today! Now what kind of eggs
you want?
WALTER (Shouting back with a toothbrush hanging
out his mouth) Better not be scrambled.
RUTH (Sighing) Alright Walter. Just today,
I’ll give you something other than scrambled. Humph. Men and their eggs. (Rolling
her eyes, she goes into the refrigerator and pulls out the egg carton. She
grabs three eggs out of the carton and cracks one into her hot pan on the stove)
WALTER (Spitting the toothpaste) Well, I’m off
to work. The next time you see me walk through this door, I’ll be comin’ in a
different man! (Proudly holds his head up high as WALTER exits the bathroom)
RUTH That boy and his dreams, huh. What you
thinkin’ about Lena? (She can hear WALTER’S feet
stomping down the stairs, making as much noise as he possibly could)
MAMA (In a light tone with a smile on her face)
Aw, nothin’ Ruth. Just remembering when Walter was a little boy, always goin’
on ‘bout his dreams. Hasn’t changed much, has he?
RUTH (Smiling and chuckling a bit to herself.
She’s happy and proud that her husband has achieved something he’s proud of)
He really hasn’t. But there’s been somethin’ different in eyes ever since
he got that promotion from Mr. Arnold.
MAMA (Surprised and with curiosity)
Somethin’ good?
RUTH Oh, definitely somethin’ good Lena.
S C E N E T H R E E
Same day, a couple
hours after WALTER has arrived into work. He runs into WILLY and discovers what he ended up doing with his money. WILLY offers WALTER a job working with him.
WALTER (His eyes bulging out of his head and his
fists are tightly curled into balls, ready to throw a punch. His voice is full
of anger) Man, I just don’t get it. You comin’ to me, after 15
years, to give me a job? A job you got with the money you stole from me? I
trusted you with that money! That money was made out of my father’s blood and
sweat! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT DID TO ME? (WALTER takes a step closer to
WILLY, towering over him)
WILLY (Timidly and scared) Walter…
WALTER (Continuing his rant) I was goin’ crazy
man. I almost gave up my family’s dignity just to get some money in our
pockets! We was just scrapin’ by. But then… But then, I realized all I needed
was my family. So I started going to my job every day, workin’ hard, and I got
us back on our feet. And now you back here, with my money, tryin’ to get me to
work with you? (WALTER throws his hands up, clearly annoyed with WILLY’S offer. WALTER
starts to walk away,
knowing it’s better for himself and his family if he does)
WILLY (Running in front of him, stopping him for
leaving) Walter, I’m still talkin’ to ya. I’d take it all back if I could
Walter. That’s why I’m talkin’ to you now. I’ll pay you back, and then we can
split whatever we make. Man, if you work with me, it’s only up from here! (WILLY straightens up a bit, gaining back confidence. WALTER’S angry is dissipating and his fists uncurl)
WALTER (Still a bit wary of WILLY) Man, you’re crazy.
WILLY (Animatedly) I’m serious! Just think
about it... You and me, we could be makin’ it big time! You can finally buy
Ruth some pearls, and send your boy to college, and man, yea, I may be crazy,
but you were like me only a couple years ago. (WALTER thinks of all the
possibilities he would get with all the money WILLY promising. He could see the happiness on RUTH’S face when TRAVIS
could home and go to
college. His son would be safe)
WALTER (Internally debating) I don’t know...
You messed up pretty bad in Springfield. How can I ever trust you again?
WILLY (With a tone of begging and putting his
hands together like he’s praying) I’ll pay you the 6,500 back, and you can
start working tomorrow. There’s a meeting tomorrow, and we can sign into it
together!
WALTER (Surprised) Huh, I’m gonna have to
think about it man… Tomorrow? Ain’t that a bit soon?
WILLY Too soon? How long you been waitin’ for your
dreams to come true Walter? Just think about it man. (WILLY exits, leaving WALTER alone in his thoughts)
S
C E N E F O U R
Later that day, at
night. WALTER is talking to RUTH and MAMA about getting into business with WILLY. Meanwhile, MAMA has been feeling
faint all week.
WALTER Hello everybody, I’m home from work!
RUTH We’re in the living room, honey.
WALTER (WALTER enters the living room
to see MAMA leaning against the armrest on the coach. Her
neck is barely supporting her head and her face shows she’s exhausted. RUTH is sitting her chair, absentmindedly staring out the window) Mama, are you okay? You lookin’ a bit pale.
MAMA (Dismissing WALTER’S comment as serious) Just tired is all. So, tell us ‘bout your first day Walter
Lee.
WALTER (Excitedly) It was amazin’! You should
see the place Mama, it’s huge! I even ran into ol’ Willy Harris, and he’s
talkin ‘bout doin’ some business with me!
RUTH (Aggravated at the mention of the name of
the man who ruined WALTER’S dream and tore apart her family 15 years ago) You mean that no good loudmouth Willy
Harris? The one who took off with our lives in his hands?!
MAMA (Angered) What you doin’ talking to him
Walter Lee?
WALTER (Oblivious to the tension now present)
Now, you all just gotta listen to me. He’s promising me all my money back, and
we’re gonna work at the top together! I may sound crazy, but if he’s havin’ his
dreams come true right now, what’s stopping me from doing that with him?
RUTH Oh Walter Lee… (She buries her head in her
hands. She’s afraid WALTER’S going to throw away his life and money again)
MAMA (Pointing her finger at WALTER) Now listen to me here Walter Lee. I don’t got much time left
on this planet, so I’ll be damned if I spend it watchin’ you come home from
work again, devastated that he gone and took all your money again! You didn’t
listen to me before, and look what went and happened. So you gonna listen to me,
and you not gonna work with that damned Willy Harris!
WALTER (Stubbornly and narrow mindedly) Mama,
you know I love you, but you just gotta trust me this time. This time feels
right. It’s him and me, in Chicago, and he ain’t goin’ nowhere. So I’m gonna go
get a good night’s sleep and tomorrow, I’m gonna go to work, and sign those
papers with Willy Harris. (WALTER
gets up to exit, but
is stopped by RUTH)
RUTH (Pleading) Walter, I’m not sure this is
the best idea either… (WALTER shakes his head and exits. RUTH plops down in her chair, hanging her head in defeat. MAMA goes back to using the armrest to support her body up)
MAMA (Sighing in displeasure) Oh, Ruth,
there’s nothin’ much we can do now is there. All we can do now is wait and see.
S
C E N E F I V E
The next day, at
WALTER’S workplace. He decides he wants to work with WILLY and walks into the
conference room, ready to sign the papers.
WALTER (Positively) I’m ready to do this man!
WILLY Alright man! Now come over here and sign these
papers, so we can get you started. (He waves WALTER over. There are no papers on the desk though, confusing WALTER)
WALTER (With hope) Oh, do you got my check
today?
WILLY (Bringing his hand to his forehead) The
check! I completely forgot... I’ll get it to you first thing tomorrow. I’m so
sorry, man.
WALTER (With sadness and a small amount of doubt. RUTH’S and MAMA’S disapproval of this deal are in the back of WALTER’S mind) Oh, um, I was really
hopin’ to get it today. That’s alright though, as long as I get it tomorrow. So
where these papers I need to sign?
WILLY (Pulling out the papers from inside the
desk) Right over here. You don’t even gotta read them, ‘cause I already
read them for you. A bunch of boring business stuff is all. I was almost
fallin’ asleep reading all of it. (He lightly chuckles at his own joke)
WALTER Fallin’ asleep, huh? I better skim over ‘em to
make sure. Hmm… I hereby agree that I fully consent to the deposit of the check
under my name, Walter Lee Younger for 6,500 dollars. I understand that I have
agreed the money will now be in full possession of Willy Harris and… What is
all this man? This is what I need to sign? You playin’ some kind of prank on
me? (WALTER’S clutch on the paper tightens, threatening the
rip it)
WILLY (Worried) Walter, man, you just don’t understand. All these business
terms are messing with your head. Just sign the paper, huh?
WALTER Do you think I’m an idiot? I know what full
possession means Willy! It means, I ain’t getting my money back! It means that
I’m not a part of this business! YOU WERE TRYIN’ TO FOOL ME AGAIN AND YOU HAD
NO INTENTION OF GIVING ME ANY OF MY MONEY BACK! (WALTER slams his fist on the
desk and waves of anger are rolling him. He rips the paper in half and throws
it at WILLY)
WILLY (Ignoring the paper) YES! IT’S
TRUE! And it’s all because you were so careless with that check in the first
place! I was ready to start my own business, over in Springfield, when the bank
saw that there was no signature on that check! You know what that means? That
means I couldn’t deposit it which meant NO MONEY. So, I waited Walter. I waited
for 12 years, for you to come back to Chicago, and you were dumb enough to fall
for it ALL OVER AGAIN! (Veins are sticking out of WILLY’S neck and his whole body is trembling. WALTER takes a step back, not wanting to enrage WILLY anymore)
WALTER Man... I... I don’t even know what to say. You
know what? I’m better than all this. I’m goin’ home right now. But before I do
that, I’m gonna go to Mr. Arnold, and I’m gonna get my check. I’m never, EVER,
signin’ that stupid paper, and you can just quit while you’re ahead. You never
had any money did you? Sure, you had Bobo’s couple hundred, but that never got
you far, ‘cause you blew it. So this was your back-up, but now, you don’t even have
that. So, you’re broke and a criminal. And I don’t ever wanna see your face
again. (WALTER exits with his head held high. WILLY is still standing there in astonishment and bewilderment)
S
C E N E S I X
It’s the same day, and
WALTER returns home from work. RUTH is about to tell WALTER the bad news about MAMA.
WALTER (Opening and closing the front door, WALTER enters the house) Mama? You gonna be happy to know that-
RUTH Walter, dear. Come over here, would you?
WALTER (Confused and worried, he rushes over to RUTH) Ruth, honey, what’s wrong? Are you okay? Where’s Mama? I want
to tell her that I didn’t take the job with Willy Harris.
RUTH (In a melancholy tone) I’m glad to hear
that, and I’m sure Lena would be too, but she’s not here.
WALTER (Annoyed with his mother) Where that
crazy woman gone at this hour of the night?
RUTH (Avoiding eye contact) Actually, she
hasn’t been here since this afternoon. Walter, she’s…
WALTER She’s what, Ruth? (He realizes what RUTH has been avoiding saying out loud) No… You can’t mean... Not Mama. Not tonight.
Not before I could give her the money back. No... This ain’t happening. (WALTER falls down onto the floor, curling into a ball. Tears are
streaming down his face and all he wants is his mother’s comfort. RUTH kneels down beside him and places her hand on his head, trying
to comfort him)
RUTH And that’s great honey, I’m so proud of you.
And she would be so happy to hear it. But she passed away this afternoon, and
there ain’t much we can do about it. But I’m sure she’s much happier up there,
knowing you didn’t take the job. (RUTH has tears running down
her cheeks, dripping onto the floor. WALTER has moved onto
sobbing, her death is really sinking in)
WALTER (Between sobs) It just don’t make
sense. Why tonight? I did what she told me. It wasn’t supposed to happen this
way... No...
(Lights fade on the
stage, RUTH and WALTER exit, leaving only MAMA’s plant on the table, still alive and well. Next to the plant,
there’s a single leaf that has fallen off, starting to decay)
Curtain
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