Cast:
Cindy -18
Annie - 20
Drizzy -19
Mama
Willie – 21
Bobby-John - 21
Gaggle of girls Bunch of boys
Setting: Mama is sitting on a wooden deck, which is attached to a mobile home, occupying one of two beat up lawn chairs, and smoking. Several other mobile homes are scattered in the background. It’s nighttime and there’s commotion from inside the house.
Annie: Cindy will ya please make sure the taters have no lumps this time?
Drizzy: And no gravy on mines, you know I hates that.
Mama: (Glances toward the open door and crushes another cigarette into the already full ashtray.) Girls git on out here!
Annie and Drizzy appear on the porch. Both are dressed in tight clothing stretched over bulging bellies, too much make-up, and hair teased out around their faces.
Together: Yes, mama?
Mama: What’s she makin’ for supper?
Annie: (Frowns) Meatloaf.
Drizzy: Again.
Mama: (Lights up another cigarette) Cindy!
Cindy appears in the doorframe holding a large bowl and a spatula. She has little make up on, ratty and loose fitting clothing.
Cindy: Yes, step mother?
Mama: Make the chicken instead.
Cindy: But I’m almost done…
Mama: (Stands up and takes a long drag.) Chicken.
Cindy hangs her head as Annie and Drizzy snicker then vanishes back inside.
Mama: It’s a be-you-tiful night out, innit girls?
Annie: I reckon. (Sighing.)
Drizzy: It’s purty. I love the spring.
Mama: Did anyone git the mail? (Both girls shake their heads.) Cindy!
Cindy: I’m making the chicken!
Mama: Go git the mail!
Pots and pans slam inside then house then Cindy appears wiping her hands on her apron as she storms out of the house, across the porch and down the steps toward the mailbox. She gathers the mail, slams the box shut and walks back up the steps.
Cindy: Here. (She shoves the mail in Mama’s face.)
Mama: Don’t you take a ‘tude with me, girl. Yer old enough to get a job and git yer own place, I can kick ya out right now.
Cindy: (Grumbling) I’ll finish cooking.
Mama: (Hands out the mail accordingly after Cindy goes back inside. Puts one off to the side and starts reading her own.)
Annie: (Tears open her mail) Goodness gracious gravy! Driz did you git one?
Drizzy: (Looks at her enveloped then opens it.) Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit! We gots invited to a park party!
Mama: A party? When? (She crushes the cigarette into the ashtray and lights another.)
Annie: Tonight on Bobby-John’s street.
Drizzy: Oh mi gosh, whatam I gonna wear? (She rushed back inside yipping) Party-party-party-party!
Annie: (Moves to the railing and takes a deep breath as she grins.) Mama, tonight I’m gonna git that boy to notice me.
Mama: Which boy sweetems?
Annie: Willie, he owns a double wide on Sycamore. He just got a new truck and all. He’s so cute I can’t stands it sometimes. He works at the Home De-pot and he’s a manager. Ya think he’ll like me Ma?
Mama: (Rises and stands beside her daughter) Of course he will, yer the prurtiest girl in all these parts.
Annie: I dunno ‘bout that Mama, them girls up at the vo-tech college said my hair’s frizzy and they can’t do nuthin’ wit it.
Mama: I’ll fix yer hair, don’t worry ‘bout a thing. You’ll be turnin’ all the boys heads. Now go find somethin’ to wear and hurry. We ain’t got all night to git you ready.
Annie goes inside and Mama finishes another cigarette and carries the rest of the mail inside the house.
Cindy is setting the table inside. Annie and Drizzy are trying on clothes in the living room, their scatted all over the place. They parade around for Mama as she shakes her head.
Mama: Wear them new dungarees I bought you girls last week. Annie yer pink sweater will look nice. And Drizzy you should wear that purple shirt with the buttons.
Drizzy: It makes me look fat!
Cindy: (aside) You are fat.
Drizzy: What?
Cindy: Nothing.
Annie: Nutin? Yer a liar. I heard you sayin’ somethin’.
Cindy: I said where’s the cat?
Mama: Dun worry ‘bout the cat. I’m hungry.
Cindy starts serving the food to Mama as the girls continue trying on clothes in the living room. The girls turn around with the suggested outfits, Mama nods, then they sit at the table as Cindy finishes serving. When she’s through, she makes herself a plate and carries it to the living room to eat on a TV tray.
Annie: I can’t believe we’re goin’ to a party.
Drizzy: It looks like Bobby-John invited the whole park.
Mama: Oh, Cindy…here. (She tosses over an envelop)
Annie: Ugh, Ma!
Cindy opens the letter, smiles, sets it aside then continues eating.
Drizzy: (Leans close to Annie.) Dun worry.
Annie: Huh?
Drizzy: Mama we ain’t got much groceries left. And I have nuthin’ to wear to vo-tech on Monday.
Mama: (Nodding) Cindy, you ain’t got no plans tonight, right?
Cindy: I got invited to the party too.
Mama: Well we need food and the laundry has to git done. Tonight.
Cindy: Why tonight? I have the whole weekend to pick up after….do all the chores.
Mama: Well tomorrow you gotta mow the lawn and wash the windows, clean the bathroom and the girls rooms.
Cindy: I’ll do it all tomorrow if I hafta. I want to go to the party too.
Annie: You?
Drizzy: (Laughed) Puh-leeze, Bobby-John probably just invited ya because he feels sorry for you cuz you ain’t got no friends.
Cindy: (Shook her head and carried her plate to the sink.) I have plenty of friends. Just because they don’t come here doesn’t mean I don’t have any.
Annie: Ma!
Mama: Well if you can get back from the market and finish all the laundry…and everything you have to do tomorrow, you can go.
Drizzy: What?
Annie: I dun want her at my party.
Cindy: (Mocking) It ain’t yer party.
Mama: Watch yer tongue missy.
Cindy: (Aside) Can’t watch what’s
in my head now can
Drizzy: I heard that! Yer just a no good smarty pants ain’t ya. Mama she’s makin’ fun of you.
Mama: Now Driz, we dun need to tattletale. You girls go finish gettin’ ready. (Aside) I’ll take care of the her. (The girls exit to their bedroom and Mama gets up from the table and pulls out her smokes) Cindy, I’m gonna need you to do the ironing and clean the living room up before ya go.
Cindy: I can do that on Sunday.
Mama: If ya wanna go to that party, yer gonna do it tonight.
Cindy: Fine.
Mama exits to the other side as Cindy cleans the table and finishes the dishes. She then picks up all the clothing from the living room and makes a huge pile on the couch. She walks through the house, past the girl’s bedroom and into her own which is small and cramped with a bed and a dresser. She closes the door behind her, sits on the bed, and opens her bottom drawer. She pulls out a blue shirt and skirt set and lays it on the bed.
Cindy: (Smiling) They’re going to regret being so mean to me one of these days.
Annie: What you say? (Appearing in the doorframe)
Cindy: Nothing.
Drizzy: (Enters and picks up the shirt) What’s this?
Annie: That’s that there outfit you wanted from the Walmart, Driz! (She picks up the skirt)
Drizzy: This’ll fit me. (She stretches it across her chest)
Annie: (Put the skirt against her waist) And this’ll
fit me.
Cindy: That’s mine! I paid for it with my own money. Give it here! (She snatches both away and the girls start fighting over the clothing until they rip) Dang it, now look what you did!
Annie: You ain’t gonna make it to the party anyway. (Turns and leaves)
Drizzy: Yeah, you gots lots
of stuff to do. (Laughs and exits)
Cindy: I’ll show you! You’ll see! I’ll be there with bells on! (Aside) And you cows won’t even know what hit you.
Clock sound chimes eleven times and Cindy pushes the lawnmower into the shed. She walks back into the house, which is spotless and heads to her room. She pulls out another outfit, smiles, and heads into the bathroom. Lights dim then come up to the sounds of music, laughter and fun. A gaggle of girls and a bunch of boys are hanging outside in front of a few mobile homes, laughing, drinking, and dancing to the music. Drizzy and Annie are in the center of the group giggling and talking to their friends.
Drizzy: And then Mama said she had to do all her Saturday chores too before she could come.
Annie: It’s already after eleven and she’s ain’t allowed to be out past midnight, she ain’t a comin’. (Laughs)
Gaggle of girls laugh.
Bobby-John: (Frowning) That’s mean, yous should be ashamed of yerselves. Right, Willie?
Willie: (Absently) Uh, yeah. Right.
Drizzy: It dun matter none anyway, she’s ain’t our concern anyhows. Got any more beers?
Bobby-John: In the cooler.
Drizzy and Annie make their way through the group toward the cooler on Bobby-John’s truck bed and pull out more beer. Drizzy screeches and pokes Annie.
Annie: Oww, what?
Drizzy: She’s comin’!
Annie: Huh?
Drizzy: (Sarcastic) Princess Cindy. And she’s wearin’ somethin’ real nice. You better go git over by Willie before she gits here.
Annie runs over to Willie, links her arm in his, smiles, and pulls him away from the crowd. Cindy walks up to Drizzy.
Cindy: Can I have one?
Drizzy: (Scoffs) You ain’t old enough.
Cindy: Neither are you. (She takes one and walks off toward the gaggle of girls and bunch of boys)
Bobby-John: Hey! Cindy! I’m glad ya made it. You look real nice.
Cindy: Thanks Bobby, I almost didn’t make it though, had stuff to do. Thanks for invitin’ me, that was sweet of ya.
Bobby-John: Aww, shucks, you’re welcome. I figured it was good a weekend as any to have a party and my Maw and Paw is out of town…
Cindy: (Opens her beer and sips it) Quite a turn out.
Bobby-John: Everyone loves parties. Have you seen Willie?
Cindy: (Looks around and shakes her head laughing.) I think my evil stepsister has her claws up in him over there. (She points) Poor guy…
Bobby-John: Good lord, she’s a flirtin’ with him! He dun like her though, he’s just a nice guy and dun like hurtin’ people’s feelings.
Cindy: I know Willie would never be mean, that’s what I like about him most.
He’s the sweetest guy around these parts. But Annie could use a good hurtin’
I’ll tell ya. (She shakes a fist in the air)
They chuckle and mingle through the crowd talking and joking. Someone stops Cindy and they dance a little, Bobby-John wanders over and pulls Willie away from Annie. Drizzy goes to Annie and they both look upset as Willie goes off with Bobby-John. Annie stomps her feet and balls her hands into fists as Drizzy hugs her. The dancing continues for a bit longer, then the music softens to a slow song and Cindy walks over to the truck with the cooler and takes out another beer.
Bobby-John: Hey again.
Cindy: Hiya. (She turns around and smiles.) Hi Will.
Willie: Hi Cin, how’re ya?
Cindy: I’m good, you?
Willie: Not bad. Say, listen…your uh um…Annie right, she’s your sister?
Cindy: Stepsister—kill me quickly if they were related to me by blood.
Bobby-John: (Laughing) Ain’t no lying ‘bout that, them girls are as annoyin’ as mosquitoes. Bet you’re glad to be graduating this year.
Cindy: You bet I am.
Willie: Are you going to the vo-tech when you’re out?
Cindy: (Leans close) I got a scholarship to State, full ride. I’ll be moving out at the end of the summer but they don’t know yet.
Bobby-John: Hot damn, Cindy I always knew you was smart.
Willie: That’s really great, Cindy.
Cindy: Thanks.
Willie: Say, you wanna dance?
Cindy: Okay.
Willie offers his hand and leads Cindy away from the truck and toward the other dancing couples. On the other side of the dance area Drizzy is poking Annie again.
Drizzy: Lookie what we got here.
Annie: That good for nothin’ little…UGH!
Drizzy: They look cute together.
Annie: Shut up!
Drizzy: Sorry, I mean…
Annie: What time is it?
Drizzy: (Grins) Almost twelve.
Annie: (Storms through the dance area and jerks Cindy out of Willie’s arms) You best be getting’ home.
Cindy: You’re not my mother, I’ll go when I wanna go.
Drizzy: (Catching up) Mama’s gonna kick you out of you ain’t home by midnight.
Annie: Besides, Willie here wants a real girl not some poor leach with no family, no money, no nuthin’ like you.
Willie: Hey now wait a minute here…
Drizzy: Yeah, you’re more like a maid than anythin’ else. All yer good for is cleanin’ and cookin’.
Annie: And mowing the lawn. (Laughs and takes up Willie’s arm again.) Come on, let’s go somewhere.
Willie: Uh…
Drizzy: You don’t wanna be hangin’ ‘round some high school girl do ya? (Takes up his other arm)
Cindy: You leave us be, we were dance. Why don’t you go home?
Annie: (Starts to pull Willie away.) I’m gonna be twenty-one soon.
Drizzy: (To Cindy) If you don’t leave now, I’m gonna tell Mama, and then you’ll never be able to leave the house. You want that, huh? Do ya?
Cindy: I…I…(Looks at Willie, then her stepsister and runs through the crowd of people covering her face)
Drizzy and Annie begin laughing.
Willie: (Breaks from Annie’s arm and runs after Cindy) Cindy wait!
Drizzy trips him and he falls, Annie rushes to help him.
Willie: (He picks up something from the ground and holds it in his hand as he gets up and Annie brushes off his clothes) I’m fine.
Annie: You sure?
Willie: Leave me be, I don’t like people like you. (He walks off and finds Bobby-John near the cooler.) Hey…
Bobby-John: What happened to Cindy?
Willie: Her stepsisters, what monsters they are. Jeeze.
Bobby-John: Yeah, tell me about it. You two looked cozy danin’ out there. You gonna finally ask Cindy out? I mean she’s eighteen, she’ll be in college soon and she’s awful purty.
Willie: (Opens his hand.) She dropped her bracelet.
Bobby-John: Maybe you should go give it back to her. (Smiling)
Willie: I dun know if I wanna go to that house…
Bobby-John: Well why don’t you meet up after she gets out of school on Monday? I know you still like her, you always have since you moved here. Nows a gooda time as any.
Willie: You think?
Bobby-John: I think. And I know she likes ya back.
Willie: Really?
Bobby-John: Really, she said you were nice. So go fer it, what ya got to lose?
Willie: True, nothin’ to lose. My Paw would be real happy if I dated someone like Cindy. He’s always sayin’ I needs a nice girl, not like them other moneygrubbers ‘round here. All right, Monday—I’ll give her back her bracelet and ask her out.
Bobby-John: Attaboy, I knew ya had it in ya.
Party music fades, lights dim for a moment then come back up. In the background is a schoolyard and a group of people huddled together holding books waiting by a school bus sign. Cindy is off to the side, reading a book while she waits.
Willie: (Approaches clearing his throat)
Cindy: (Looks up and smiles.) Hiya Will, what brings you around here?
Willie: Uh…um, well you dropped this at the party. (He opens
his hand.)
Cindy: Oh my gosh! (Takes it and puts on the bracelet) Thank you! I’ve been lookin’ all over for it. Thought I chopped it up in the mower on Friday. (She hugs him and jumps back.) Uh, sorry.
Willie: Dun be sorry. I wanted to bring it to ya earlier but I didn’t wanna come over, you know cuz…well Annie scares the bejesus outta me.
Cindy: I won’t apologize for them no more. They get what they deserve. They’re lazy and ungrateful cretins and I got no love for them.
Willie: Can’t say I blame ya.
Cindy: Thanks for bringing this to me, it was my Ma’s when she was a girl, it’s all I got left.
Willie: Well, I’m sure glad I did then. (He reaches for her hand.) I know your home life isn’t all that great and you don’t have much time to do fun things, but I…uh…well, you see.
Cindy: What?
Willie: I’d like to go out with you. Take you to dinner maybe or a movie, or they got that skeet-shooting place down the road…
Cindy: I don’t have any plans tomorrow.
Willie: You want me to come get you after class?
Cindy: (Smiles devilishly) Nah, why don’t you pick me up. I’d love to see the look on their faces when you do.
Willie: (Chuckles) Okay, long as you won’t get trouble for it.
Cindy: Believe me, it’ll be worth it.
Willie: I bet. Okay, say four o’clock?
Cindy: Sounds great.
Willie: (Leans close and kisses her cheek.) You really are the prettiest girl around. See you tomorrow.
Cindy: (Watches him leave, sighs, and hugs her books close to her chest) Yes you will, Willie, yes you will.