CHARACTER:

SARAH: A mother in her mid-thirties with auburn hair and tired eyes. She has two children: Suzie the youngest who is five, and Carl the oldest who is seven at the start of the play.

SETTING

A clean dining room with dark-wood furniture and a cabinet full of expensive china dishes. Scene changes are shown by blackout.

TIME

1962-1965

IT”S ALRIGHT- October 21, 1962

SARAH: No, no, hush now Suzie, it’s okay. Carl, please come over from the window, he’s gone now. Now listen kids. Marriage is hard. It’s all about compromise; mommy and daddy simply forgot that.

(pause)

No Suzie, daddy’s not going away forever, he just went to the store. You don’t need to worry, my darlings, mommy and daddy were just having a debate. You all know what a debate means, right? All grownups do it when they have been around each other for so long. Mommy and daddy are happy and we love you kids very much.

DON”T WORRY – January 5, 1963

SARAH: What do you mean you saw dad with another woman, Carl? No, don’t worry, that’s just daddy’s work friend. They were discussing things for work. Why would mommy be mad? Don’t you be mad either, darling. Your daddy’s working very hard. He’s working extra hours to make sure we have enough money for the house, food, and clothes. Your daddy loves you very much.

NOTHING IS WRONG – August 12, 1963

(Sarah runs her hand through her hair a few times while looking down)

SARAH: Oh, Suzie darling. I thought you had gone to bed; it’s late. Why are you up? What? Mommy is fine, what makes you say that? No, mommy is not crying. Where’s daddy? He’s away at a conference for work.

(Voice tightens)

Yes, I guess he does go away for conferences a lot.

(pauses)

But it’s for you kids. Your dad wishes he could be here with you kids all the time, but he is the provider for this family. Why can’t I do that? Suzie, darling, mommy doesn’t have a job that makes money, mommy works at home. Mommy’s job is taking care of her precious children and the house.

(chuckles quietly)

Maybe mommy should get a job so dad can be here more often.

COMPROMISES – March 26, 1964

SARAH: Look Carl, you father bought you a new airplane model and he wanted me to give it to you. What’s that? You’re surprised your father and I talked to each other? My darling, what do you mean by that? Your father is my husband. Of course we talk to each other, maybe you just don’t notice it. Well, yes, he does eat dinner a lot at the office, but that’s because he has a lot of work to do. And yes, he does read the paper at the table, but that’s so we have things to talk about, like politics and current events. And he is very interested in your life, your sister’s life, too. What you’re learning in your history class, how you’re doing in math, your friends. Mommy is interested in those things as well. Yes, I suppose if you don’t want to talk to your father about those things you can talk to me about it, but I’m sure your father would love to talk to you. And yes, you can always come to me with homework help, fractions are tricky after all. Mommy went back to school, you know, so she’s learning right along with you.

IT”S NOT EASY – November 25, 1964

(Sarah takes a sip from a wine glass)

SARAH: Your father wishes he could be here, my darlings, but there was an emergency at work. There’s a deadline he has to meet and some of the workers messed up with the organization. And besides, Carl, you’re old enough to carve the turkey, this is a big moment for you. Go ahead, why don’t you start carving it and we’ll say what we’re thankful for. I’ll start. I’m extremely thankful to have you wonderful kids in my life. You make mommy so very, very happy, even when things seem dark.

(pauses. Takes another sip)

You say you’ve noticed things being dark, Suzie? Well, you don’t need to worry about that kind of thing. Neither of you do. Things will work out. Mommy wants you all to be happy.

WE”LL FIND A WAY – February 17, 1965

(Sarah is tying her hair into a bun)

SARAH: We’re going to be staying at grandma’s for a while, my darlings. No, your father is not coming with us. And no, mommy won’t be coming back here either. You kids might, sometimes, but mommy won't. Mommy and your father don’t get a long anymore, and quite frankly mommy doesn’t want to see him for a good while.

(pauses)

Listen, my darlings, marriage is hard. And sometimes marriage doesn’t work. It’s none of your faults, you can’t put blame on this sort of thing, remember that. Mommy wanted to give you two the best lives, but mommy can’t do that here. So, mommy and your father won’t live together anymore, but you three will see both of us equally, and we’ll all be happy as long as we believe we can.