A Return
Tay Roylance
Dahlia is the youngest sibling, having graduated college just after their mom’s death. After getting her diploma, She packed up her car with her boyfriend and left with only a note saying ‘I’m sorry, but I just can’t handle this.’ No one has heard from her since.
Sandra is in her early 20’s, fresh out of college. She is gentle and quiet, but after her mother’s death, she was left alone to take care of their father, who has been declining mentally after his wife’s death.
Cole is in his late teens, first or second year of college. He is Sandra’s dorky baby brother who was a freshman in college when his mom died. He was unable to return home due to school and his grief.
Non Included Characters:
Ned is Sandra, Cole, and Dahlia’s dad. He is in his early 60’s but after his wife’s death, his small memory problem has progressed into Alzheimer’s. He only really remembers that he enjoys jelly beans, cribbage, his wife, and daytime television. He is kind and gentle, and always amicable towards Sandra, but does not remember that she is his first born.
Cindy was Sandra, Cole, and Dahlia’s mom, and Ned’s high school sweetheart turned wife. She was a kind soul, only stern when her children acted out. She died at the age of 62 , suddenly and unexpectedly.
The Conflict is Sandra is at wit’s end trying to live her life as a young adult, as well as take care of her dying dad with no help from her two siblings. Cole has just returned after a year, and when he tries to help, Sandra can’t seem to accept it.
The Scene is in the family house’s kitchen. There are little items that are reminiscent of a happy family, but all pictures of Dahlia or Cole have been removed, having been broken in a quiet fit of rage from Sandra. There is a breakfast table with two mismatched chairs, and the table is cluttered with paperwork and miscellaneous household items.
Sandra stands at the sink, doing dishes.
Cole enters.
Cole: Hey, need some help? I could dry? Holds up discarded dishtowel next to Sandra.
Sandra: Ha, real funny. Of course you would want to help now that I’m almost done. Snaches the dishtowel and goes back to the dishes.
Cole: I’m sorry? I was just helping Papa to the living room. He wanted to watch TV.
Sandra: It’s whatever. I shouldn’t expect anything more from you.
Cole: What’s that supposed to mean?
Sandra: I’m just saying the truth. You show up after the hard parts are over and offer to do as little as you can get away with.
Cole: I’m sorry! At least I’m here now, and I’m trying. Please, just let me help.
Sandra: No, it’s fine. I can handle this. I’m f-
Cole grabs her and turns her towards him.
Cole: Don’t you dare tell me you’re fine. Don’t stand there and lie to me. Please.
Pause.
Sandra: Let go.
Cole: No. We’re talking about this.
Sandra: No. You are going to let go, and we are going to watch tv with Papa and pretend everything's just fine and then in the morning, you are going to pack up and leave again.
Cole: Sandra, I can’t. We can’t. We need to talk.
Sandra: breaking away No! You don’t get to tell me what to do. Not after all of this. No phone calls, no visits, nothing. For an entire year I waited. As far as I’m concerned, you lost that right when you decided to leave. Stay gone Cole. It’s what you wanted.
Cole: Please. Sandy. Just… listen.
Sandra: No.
Cole: getting angry Are you really that stubborn that you would refuse help when it’s finally offered to you? You can’t just keep going like this! Take a look in the mirror Sandy. You’re killing yourself. Do you really hate me that much? What can I do to fix this?
Loaded Silence. They make eye contact and hold it. Sandy breaks away first.
Sandra: There’s nothing you can do. Turns to finish the dishes.
Cole: Goddamnit Sandy, stop being such a frigid bitch and just fucking list-
Sandra: What did you call me?
Cole: What? Now I can’t even call you Sandy? Do I need to call you Sa-
Sandra: No! I’m talking about the fact that you called me a frigid bitch.
Cole: Well that’s what you’re being. If you would just-
Sandra: I think you should leave now.
Cole: No wait, Sandy please. Please listen. I’m sorry, but you just need to-
Sandra: Stop. You need to st-
Cole: No I won’t stop until you listen!
Sandra: I was listening! For a year, I’ve been listening! And you know what I hear after a year of silence? I hear-
Dad: from offstage Sandy? Cole? Where’s your mother?
Sandra stops talking. She stops doing anything, only able to stand frozen in shock. This is the first time her dad has called her by name in months. Most times he doesn’t even recognise her. Cole, however, goes into action. He crosses offstage to deal with his father.
Sandra stumbles to a chair, still in shock. Tears begin to run down her face but she makes no move to dry them. Cole returns, looking instantly tired, but collects himself in the doorway and goes to comfort Sandra.He stands behind her.
Cole: Hey. He’s okay, just confused. He didn’t actually know who I was. He thought that we were still in middle school. I tried to explain what was happening, but halfway through he forgot and just… takes a breath just kept watching TV.
Sandra: Yeah. He loves that damn TV. Tries to put herself together, but looks at Cole and begins to cry again.
Cole: Hey, hey. Shhhh. Gets up and tries to soothe her. It’s gonna be okay. I’m here, and I’m not leaving. Shhhhh.
Sandra: I’m just so tired Cole. I’m so fucking tired. I-I can’t do this anymore.
Cole: I know. I know.
Sandra: No you don’t. Getting angrier. You really don’t. Everyday is the same god damn thing. Wake up, make breakfast, check on Dad, clean the house, make dad lunch, pretend that when he asks me what my name is it doesn’t hurt, play cribbage, watch daytime television, make dinner, watch TV with no plot because Dad can’t remember so what’s the point, put him to bed, clean some more, go to bed, dream of you, or Dahlia, or Mom, wake up, do it all over and over and over again. And worst of all, I answer the same god damn questions everyday because Dad doesn’t remember me, or this house, or the pictures on the wall, or that mom is dead. Every day I have to be the one to tell him that Mom is dead. Cole flinches and backs up. Every day I am the only one here that can help him calm down. And then by lunch he’s forgotten again, and asks for her again, and I have to tell him again, that she’s gone and she’s never coming back. Shouting, she gets up and follows Cole. Every goddamn fucking day I have to relive my own mom’s death, and I can’t even cry because then he gets even more upset and confused. Quieter, more to herself I didn’t even have time to mourn just her. Dahlia left, and you never came home and Dad lost his mind, and I’m the only one here. Everyone left, and no one came back, no matter how many stars I wished on, or- or coins I tossed into that fountain at South Cascade Mall. No one came back, and I was alone. to Cole, angry, but not loud So no, I don’t think you know. I don’t believe that you comprehend what I have had to put up with because you decided some college parties were more important than your own family.
Pulls herself together, starts to put the clean dishes away. Cole stares at where she had been screaming, lost in thought.
Sandra: Are you just going to sit there all night? At least go be catatonic in your room so you’re not in the way. I’ve got to finish the dishes.
Cole continues to sit there, not moving. Sandra moves to stand in front of him.
Sandra: Damn it Cole, get up and get out of my kitchen. Sandra goes to pull him up, but as soon as she gets close, he bursts into tears.
Cole: I’m-I’m so sorry Sandy. I-I knew that it would be a lot, but I did-didn’t even think about how hard it would be. I’m so sorry. I wanted to come back, bu-but Mom had worked so hard to send me to that school, and I couldn’t- I couldn’t waist her last gift to me like that, you know?
Sandra sits next to him, and he grabs her hands, as if to ground himself.
Cole: I couldn’t give up on what we had always talked about. I wanted to deep breath, looks up, I wanted to become a writer. She wanted me to be this great guy with a successful series, win prizes. She always believed in us, wanted us to achieve greatness. When she got sick, I wanted to come home, but I didn’t have anything to show her. No stories to publish or even drafts for her to help me with. And then she died, and I was so ashamed that I couldn’t come back. I’m so sorry Sandy, but I couldn’t face her grave and still have nothing.
Sandra: Well, why now? Why, after a year, why come back?
Cole: I have something. I wrote- I wrote mom’s story. Not, like, the story of her life, but the story that she always wanted me to write. I brought it home so you could read it. Tell me what you think. You were always the closest to her. Always looking out for Dahlia and I, like a second mom. I’ll always be sorry, and I know the pathetic excuse doesn’t make up for it, but I- I had to try. Goes to leave.
Sandra: Wait. Cole stands in the doorway. You’re right. I can’t forgive you. Too many nightmares and too many moments that I wished for you, just for you to stay gone. He flinches.
But, I can try to move on. It’s going to take a lot of time Cole. You need to prove that you’re here to stay, but if we work together, then I think… I think we can get along again.
Cole: Sandy, you don’t have to-
Sandra: I know, but you’re my kid brother. Of course you’re going to make mistakes, and besides, it’s-it’s what mom would have wanted.
They embrace.
Sandra: Now, where’s this story?
Cole: I have a copy in my bag, let me go get it.
Dad (offstage): Hello? Cindy? Cindy, where are you? I-I don’t know where I am. Are you here? Cindy?
Cole: Actually, let me help you get him to bed first. It’s getting late.
Sandra: Okay. Then, your story.
Cole: Okay.
They exit together.