Late
Cast:
Adam
Mallory
Ling
Setting: Sofa, chair, living room minimal.
(Lights, action in progress)
Adam: I was late.
Mallory: Late?!
A: Yes!
M: How can you day that?!
A: Because I was.
M: Late. Just that. Just late?
A: Yes... okay?
M: No. Not even possibly close to "okay"!
A: Sweetheart. I know. I...
M: If you know, why didn't you know earlier?
A: I was busy.
M: Busy?!
A: Yes. I was busy.
M: What's wrong with you?!
A: I'm sorry. I was late and, I was busy.
M: No one is that late. After a few hours, you're not late anymore.
A: I was extremely late. I know that.
M: You weren't anything. You were nothing.
A: Listen...
M: You're still not anything.
A: I understand why you would say that, but we have to heal this...
M: You have to heal it. You're the sick one. Here comes Mom.
(Ling enters, taking off her winter coat and talking)
Ling: Sweetie, did you ever see if you can go to Point Frederick on Sat... (notices Adam) ur... day. (long pause) You?!
A: Hello, Ling.
L: (stiffly) Adam.
A: Oh... Ling.
M: He was "late", Mom.
A: I got very busy. I...
L: Don't we all?
A: I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
L: (long pause) Apology accepted.
M: What?!! Mom!!
L: What's the point in being angry, dear?
M: The point is revenge.
L: He was late. He was busy.
A: All I could think of was you and... and... uh...
M: Mallory!
A: (overlapping) Mallory.
M: I can't believe you, Mom!
L: What will it get us if we get revenge, Mallie?
M: Satisfaction, happiness, a sense of closure, some reduction of pain, wholeness, peace?
L: No. I think we've done alright, even with your father being late.
A: Thank you, Ling. I really do apologize.
L: I know you do. (approaching Adam) Don't apologize again, okay.
A: I... I won't.
M: This is terrible, Mom! You can't do...
L: Mallie. Adam, I accept your apology. Now leave.
A: Ling. I want to get back and make...
L: I accept your apology. I reject you.
A: Now, Ling. I am trying to tell you that...
L: Good-bye, Adam. Never come here again.
A: Ling, please!
M: Leave! Scum!!
L: Mallie, don't.
A: (backing offstage as Ling presses forward) Start over again, and...
L: No.
A: I was busy.
L: Yes.
A: I was late! I know! Ling!!
L: You fix phones.
A: Now I sell them! I own the company! I have a lot of money!
L: Good for you.
A: I want to...
L: You've seen your daughter.
A: She's beautiful!
L: Yes, she looks like me.
A: She does.
L: And you've seen me.
A: You're still gorgeous, sweetheart.
L: Yes.
A: So...
L: Goodbye.
A: But I was late!!
L: Nineteen years.
A: Very late!
L: Too late.
A: I... I'm sorry. I'm sorry!
L: Apology already accepted, Adam.
A: Then, take me back.
L: You were late, you were busy.
A: Yes.
L: Once.
A: Yes.
L: You own a phone company.
A: Yes.
L: You could have called.
A: I...
L: Could. Have. Called.
A: Ling!
(he is offstage, we hear a door close)
M: (as Ling returns) You did it, Mom!
L: Yes. I guess I did.
M: Wow! So that was Dad?
L: No.
M: What?
L: Not your Dad, just your father.
M: Oh.
L: There's a big difference.
M: Yeah... yeah... I get it. (hugging Ling) Thanks, Mom.
(lights fading)
L: You're welcome, Mallie. So, Point Frederick?
M: Yes, Saturday. Barry's diving.
L: Barry. Again with Barry?
M: Mom, he's like magic.
L: He's very handsome.
M: Polite.
L: Funny.
M: And... always five minutes early.
L: (starts crying) Perfect.
(lights out)
(end)
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