Soft by Mark Alexander

This Play is the copyright of the Author and must NOT be Performed without the Author's PRIOR consent

ACT I
Scene 1
(Lights up)

(We see a boy scribbling in his journal in his room. He looks out the window. He talks while he writes)

Finley: Hey God. How's it goin up there? It’s November 23rd. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. But you already knew that, I guess. And not to mention, it’s the first thanksgiving without mom...mom. I really hope she’s up there with you...part of me...erase erase erase...It’s gonna be the first Thanksgiving without mom. We haven’t really had much family around because...erase erase erase...All I need to do is get through this Thanksgiving. It’ll be easy. Just me and dad. I just have to remember to breathe so i dont...erase erase erase. Dammit. Sorry God. I’m...at a loss for words anyway. I just wanted to say Hi I guess. See ya.

(Knock knock knock)

Finely: Yes Sir?

(Howard Enters)

Howard: I see you're up with your prayer journal already.

Finely: yea. I couldn’t sleep. I, uh...had a bad dream

Howard: The same old?

Finely: yea...but it’s nice to journal though. It helps.

Howard: That’s good...you been keepin up with your prescriptions?

(silence)

Howard: You haven’t been skippin again have you?

Finely: n-no sir

Howard: So, you have some left

Finely: Yessir..

Howard: Good. Welp, pack them up with you on the trip.

Finely:...what trip?

Howard: It's Thanksgiving tomorrow. We’re gonna go see your Aunt Donna.

Finely:..oh

(a beat)

Finely: oh, I didn’t mean it like that, I just- I mean- it’s-

Howard: It’s weird for me too. But...she needs it. Besides. She’s not the only one we’re seeing. Your cousins are coming. Donna and her...guy is gonna be there of course. Uncle Buck is coming too.

Finely: uncle buck? I haven’t seen him in forever! Wait- I thought he didn’t like Auntie donna...or us.

Howard: Not necessarily true. Plus, Your Cousin Reese is coming into town…considering-

Finely: I GET TO SEE REESEY?!

Howard: Yes boy. My goodness.

Finely: I’m sorry. It’s just, I ain’t seen them in so long since-...oh.

Howard: What’s Wrong?

Finely:...I- no. nevermind sir.

Howard: don’t be afraid. Speak ya mind boy.

Finely: Are they only coming back...because mom’s dead?

(A beat)

Finely: I'm sorry. I didn-

Howard: Family is family. We ain’t got a lot on that side but we ain’t got none on our side, Family is important. It’s...It’s the only thing that holds most of us together. Good or bad. You understand?

Finely: yessir…

Howard: pack your bags son. We leave for Saraland tomorrow morning.

Finely: yessir…

(Howards exits)

(Finely opens back his journal)

Finely: Hey God...I’m gonna need a lot of help.

(Blackout)


Scene 2
(Lights up)
(We see a Southern-esque home interior. There is a boy at the table playing a video game with headphones in. A woman yells for him off stage)

Donna: EVAN!

(No response)

Donna: DON’T MAKE ME CALL YOU TWICE

(No Response)

(Donna Enters)

Donna: EVAN! Dammnit Boy! (Donna throws a shoe)

Evan:(removing his headphones) OW! What was that for?!

Donna: You made me call TWICE! What have I told you about them headphones being so loud in your ears?

Evan: I didn't even hear you. (Donna glares) I’m sorry mom.

Donna: Now we’re gonna have company tomorrow and I need you to clean up. And all you’ve done is sit there and play that damn game!...(sigh) What am I gone do with you?

Evan: Why are you so worried? It’s just us and some family

Donna:(starting to clean) That’s no excuse for a dirty house boy! Besides, it’s our first Thanksgiving without Auntie Beth...I just want things to go swell. Always remember, when you’re hosting an event, keep your space as if someone could walk through that door at any moment.

(knock knock)

Evan: Already?

Donna: Get the door boy.

Evan: but you’re already standing

Donna: (through teeth) BOY!

Evan:...alright.

(Evan opens the door. Enter Trevor)

Evan: TREVOR!

Trevor: Well, if ain’t little E!

(Cool handshake)

Donna: Oh darlin! I’m glad you came.

Trevor: I got the next few days off. No deliveries till Saturday for me. I gotcha girlie.

(The two kiss)

Evan: gross

Trevor: you won’t be saying that when you’re older.

Donna: Boys, can you please help me clean up. Y’all can start with the yard

Trevor: Little E. You heard her. Start with the leaves. I’m on my way

Evan: Ok…

(Evan Leaves)

Donna: And what do I owe the pleasure sir?

Trevor: Darlin, I ain’t seen you in a hot minute...let’s say we get cookin early?

Donna: MHM I ain't got time there’s so much to get done. It’s the first time I'm hosting the dinner. It’s...It’s gone be different without Beth around...Even mom and dad aren’t ready to have a dinner without her…

Trevor: (Getting a beer from the fridge) She must’ve been something.

Donna: She...was a character.

Scene 3

(Spotlight on Beth walking drunkenly)

Donna: She was always getting into trouble. Drinking and partying in her school days. She thought she was gonna be a Showgirl growing up

Beth: WOOOO! (Starts singing a show tune off key)

Trevor: Sounds like my kinda girl!

(Donna Glares)

Trevor: I’m joking!

Donna: Anyway…

(Spotlight off)

Donna: She was a wild child. But when she met Howard.

Trevor: howard?

Donna: my…in-law. He helped her after she fainted at the local bar. after that, they started talking. Went on a couple dates and next thing you know she got married. She even cleaned up. Then she had Finley. Everything was going well. But taking care of a child is hard work. And she wasn’t really the family type. She always had “big dreams”. And Finely, was never a sports boy or a performer. He liked writing and math. Sharp as a needle. Great grades. But to her...smarts don’t get scholarships, or endorsements. She wanted a better life. Outta the south. She wasn’t like the rest of us. Content with simple living. Plus beth always had a bad heart since birth. And her heart condition…it was getting worse. She got depressed. So, She started drinking again. It was awful. Her and Howard would argue in front of the boy. She said he just wasn’t ”man enough”. Finely..he’s a passive boy... But then she stopped drinking.

Trevor: What for?

Donna: She found God…

(spotlight on. We see Beth praying and Howard walks in.)

Howard: Beth? What are you doin?

Beth:...i had a dream last night…a terrible dream.

Howard: honey?

Beth: i had a dream about finely…he was being tortured by demons and-and i couldn’t do anything to stop it and…I don’t know who else to turn to…I need help Howard. I need someone to help me save our son…and that person is God…he’s telling me if i don’t stop my sinful ways that…my son…(sobs)

(Howard goes to comfort her)

(Spotlight fades)

Donna: I thought a lil god in her life would change her for the better…but she was…more radicalized than any other christain i had ever seen. She was even harder on Finely than before. Figures. My sister got religion and she wouldn’t shut up about it. But at least she had her faith...for better or worse.

Trevor: Could be worse. I mean was she entirely wrong?

Donna: Excuse me?

Trevor: About The boy. Boys shouldn’t be no soft pushovers. Crying and whining that’s not what men do. Men work. Pay the bills. They don’t have their head in the clouds. You let a man cry and whine and all the sudden you get what you got out there now. Everybody getting sensitive over words. No banter, no jokes, no fun. It’s tiresome holding my damn mouth closed cause i might hurt somebodies feelings. Hell, nobody gave a damn about how i felt when i was younger. The amount of drinks i have to swallow just to tolerate the modern snowflake...It’s not gonna be like that when they get here right? The world is so...soft now. I can’t stand the idea of having to hold my tongue on holiday.

Donna: Well…Trevor-

Trevor: Damn. It’s gonna be “tense” ain’t it.

Donna:NO...no… no it’s not. it’s gonna be a good thanksgiving with no trouble...

Trevor: Alright, I'll go help the boy with the yard.

(Trevor Exits)

Donna:(dialing up her phone) Oh lord. It’s Beth all over again…I’m NOT ruining this…not this time. Holly baby, mama needs you more than ever.

(Donna moves into a spotlight)
Scene 4

(Scene change. We see a couple in a bed making love and giggling. A phone rings. Holly pops up from under the sheets. She looks at her phone and compsoes herself before answering,)

Holly: Hey momma!

Donna: Hello my little sunshine. I’m just calling to make sure that you’re still heading down here.

Holly: Of course momma! I ain’t never missed a Holiday yet! Oh and momma-

Donna: I knew I could count on you! It’s gonna be a tough one this year without Aunt Beth.

Holly: Yea...Hey mom-

Donna: And I don't know if I'm ready to see Sammie again. But...she’s(he’s) comin down.

Holly:...Reese mom. They go by Reese.

Donna: Right...it’s hard to remember. Especially since I ain’t seen him (her) in so long

Holly:...they momma

Donna: Holly! I- (sigh)

Holly: I was just-

(Beat)

Donna: That’s why I was callin. It’s...strange. and Trevor and Evan here, they just ain’t used to that kinda thing… So I was hoping maybe you could be...like a mediator of sorts.

Holly: ma’am?

Donna: Trevor’s old fashioned and you know how Evan is…well..i don’t know . I’m not sure if Howard and Finely are gonna mesh with them...I know how Buck gets.

Holly: Daddy’s coming too?

Donna: Yes...he insisted. And i ain’t gone keep him away from kids even though he left me and-This dinner needs to go smoothly. For Beth’s sake. I know I can rely on you to bring some “normal” to the house with you.

Holly:...yes ma’am… I understand.

Donna: You sound upset. Is something wrong?

Holly: No momma, I'm just…i wanted to call you because…i’m...bringing a friend along. They didn’t wanna spend Thanksgiving alone. But it’ll be fine. I promise.

Donna:Oh that's fine! Alright. I can’t wait to meet them...I’m trusting you darlin. I know you won’t let me down. I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you.

Holly: I love you too mom

(Hangs up.Holly sighs. Devin comes from under the covers)

Devin: a “friend” huh?

Holly:...Did you listen to all of that?

Devin: Sounds almost as bad as my Dad. Listen we can spend the holidays at my mo-

Holly: NO! No. I already promised!

Devin: So you want me to pretend to be your friend? We’ve been dating for 5 months! I mean we practically live together.

Holly: We’re not pretending. I’m just...not revealing the whole truth...The timing is just off

Devin: Sounds like you’re hiding me...is it because…( gay gesture)

(a beat)

Devin: ah. I see

(Devin gets up to put on clothes, holly follows suit)

Holly: darlin. It’s just one day. I promise we can smooth this over. I just...it’s my momma. And she’s going through a tough time.

Devin: Does that give a pass for the rest of them?

Holly: They won’t be a problem. I’ll be sure of it...you trust me?

Devin:...Yeah. Just don’t...put me in any tough spots mhmkay?

Holly: Of course not.

(They embrace)

Devin: okay. I’ll start packing.

(Devin leaves)

Holly: *sigh*

(Holly slumps on the bed)

(blackout)