SPINNER
A
Drama in One Act
by
William C. Seward
Performance
Rights
It
is an infringement of federal copyright law to copy or reproduce this
script in any manner or to perform this play without royalty payment.
The author controls all rights. Contact for additional scripts and
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programs and promotional material.
William Seward : lastromantic49@yahoo.com
December
2, 1998
Copyright
© 1997 by Bill Seward
CHARACTERS:
RICK
DINSMORE: 40's. Grandson.
MARGOT: Rick's
wife.
D.W.
DINSMORE: The Grandfather. About 80.
CLARA
DINSMORE: Grandmother. A bit younger.
GRADY
DINSMORE: Father. 60.
NELDA
TARVER: Waitress. 20-30
BROTHER
SNYDER Local Minister
SPUD
BROWN Town character.
JEFF
LAYTON Local farmer
BUS
DRIVER
Time:
1970's,
Saturday morning, early spring.
Scene:
Small
town cafe. Rural setting. A few tables, counter w/ stools. Counter
with exit to kitchen behind it. Front entrance visible. Decor is
early dinette set. Some patrons enter w/ mail, etc.
Act
I
Scene
1
(SETTING: Early
morning cafe. Dishes rattling, coffee brewing.)
(AT RISE: SPUD and
SNYDER are finishing a game of dominos. NELDA is bustling back and
forth from kitchen to counter to tables.)
SNYDER.
(slaps
last domino down, jubilant)
Domino!
SPUD
Domino,
domino, the pope plays dominoes.
SNYDER.
Very
funny, what have you got?
SPUD
Thirty-five.
(SNYDER marks his
score, SPUD shuffles dominoes as NELDA approaches and refills their
cups. This is daily routine for all. The game continues throughout
the play, their remarks usually barely audible. SNYDER wins mostly.)
SNYDER.
(placing
double five)
I've
got the spinner. That's ten.
SPUD
You
sure preachers don't cheat?
SNYDER.
Don't
have to. God's on our side.
NELDA
More
donuts?
SPUD
Not
yet.
SNYDER.
I'll
take some of that pie, Nelda.
SPUD
Giving
in to temptation, Preacher?
SNYDER
I
consider Frances' coconut pie a religious experience.
SPUD
I
guess you would know.
(CLARA and D.W.
enter from street. They are carrying mail. They have been married a
long time. As the following dialogue continues, they cross to their
regular table and sit. CLARA is somewhat dressed up, not quite Sunday
best, but nicer than a house dress. D.W. is in work khakis, but clean
ones. He wears a comfortable old hat or feed store cap.)
CLARA
Good
morning Brother Snyder.
SNYDER.
'Morning
Sister Clara . . . D.W.
D.W.
Brother
Snyder . . . Spud.
SPUD
Plowing
done, D.W.?
D.W.
Rick's
gonna finish today.
SNYDER.
You
really work that boy, D.W.
D.W.
He
enjoys it, Brother Snyder.
CLARA
He
wouldn't let us sell the place, said it should stay in the family.
SPUD
But
working in the city all week, and the farm all weekend. . .
D.W.
Evenings
too, sometimes.
CLARA
I
just can't sleep for worrying about him.
D.W.
He
says it's a break for him, clears his mind after being in the office
all day.
SPUD
Not
many people work for relaxation. Most fish or take up golf.
D.W.
Golf?
I'd rather be bored.
SNYDER.
What
would you know about it Spud? You don't even remember the last time
you worked.
SPUD
Sure
do. It was 1953, before my medical problems.
SNYDER.
Medical
problems? You were just born tired and never got rested! Been
fishing, D.W.?
D.W.
Too
windy. Never have much luck when the wind's blowing. You and Sister
Snyder coming for forty-two on Tuesday?
SNYDER.
We
wouldn't miss it.
D.W.
Spud?
SPUD
I'll
pass D.W., thanks.
(NELDA comes to the
Dinsmore's table with coffee pot and cups (with saucers). CLARA is
cool toward her, D.W. warm.)
NELDA
Coffee,
folks?
D.W.
Two.
(NELDA
pours and crosses to get cream etc.)
CLARA
I
just do not know why Frances keeps her on.
D.W.
Nelda's
okay.
CLARA
(Sarcastically)
You
men think so, anyway.
(NELDA approaches.
Places cream and sugar near CLARA. CLARA pours hers into saucer and
blows on it to cool it, then drinks from the saucer. RICK and MARGOT
enter from street. They approach the Dinsmore's table. They speak to
all except CLARA and D.W. )
RICK
Morning
Brother Snyder. Hi Spud.
SNYDER.
Morning.
SPUD
Rick
. . . Margot.
NELDA
(from
off)
Coffee,
Rick?
RICK
(looks
at MARGOT)
Honey?
(MARGOT
nods)
RICK
(to
NELDA)
Two,
with donuts.
CLARA
(opening
letter)
We
won some free luggage, and a diamond watch.
RICK
You
did that one last year, remember? They wanted you to buy that land at
Lakeshores.
D.W.
Lakeshores!!
I remember when it was called Griddle. Nothing but sun and rocks.
CLARA
But
if it's free. . .
RICK
You
still can't afford it grandma. Remember when you spent a hundred
dollars getting that free television?
CLARA
That
was for shipping charges.
D.W.
It
didn't even work.
MARGOT
The
silverware that time was nice.
NELDA
(with
coffee and donuts)
That's
how Frances furnished this place. Free silverware and lots of trading
stamps.
(D.W.
and RICK laugh, women ignore her.)
It's
the truth!
CLARA
(opening
another letter)
That T.V. Guide subscription of yours is almost up.
D.W.
Better
renew it.
JEFF
(comes
just inside street door)
Rick,
come look at this. Oh, morning D.W. . . . Miz Dinsmore.
D.W.
Morning
Jeff. What's going on?
JEFF
Just
something Rick wanted to see.
RICK
I'll
just be a minute.
(RICK
exits to street.)
CLARA
I
wonder what's so important.
MARGOT
Oh,
you know Jeff, he probably got a new set of tires or something.
(points
to another letter.)
What's
that one?
CLARA
I
don't know. It's postmarked Tucson. Who do we know in Tucson?
D.W.
Can't
think of anyone. Open it, maybe we won something else. . . lake front
property in Death Valley or something.
CLARA
You're
something, you know that, just something.
(opens
letter)
This
is from Grady!
D.W.
What's
he doing in Tucson?
CLARA
I
don't know, let me . . . I just can't read it, here Margot, can you
make it out?
MARGOT
He
says "Just dropping a line to let you know I'm on my way home.
I'm catching the bus, should be there Saturday, the 14th."
CLARA
Why,
that's nice. It's been so long since we've seen him . . .wait . . .
the 14th . . . that's today. D.W., Grady's coming home today!
D.W.
Our
boy's coming home? Now?
SNYDER.
What's
that, D.W.?
CLARA
Our
son, Brother Snyder, remember Grady? He's coming home.
SPUD
It's
been a long time since old Grady's been here. He didn't even come
back for his class reunion. 'Course, nobody else did neither.
CLARA
Rick's
always missed his father so. Oh, just wait till he hears.
RICK
(entering
from street with JEFF. JEFF goes to sit near SNYDER and SPUD)
Wait
till who hears what?
CLARA
Honey,
it's your father, Grady, he's coming home.
D.W.
Clara
just opened the letter, he's on today's bus.
(louder,
to NELDA)
Nelda,
put out the flag, the bus is bringing Grady home!
NELDA
It'll
stop, Mr. Dinsmore, if someone's getting off.
RICK
He's
coming here? What does he want?
CLARA
(Surprised)
He's
your father, Rick. He's coming home to see you, and us.
RICK
There
must be another reason. There's always something else.
D.W.
That's
no way to talk about Grady. He brought you into this world.
RICK
And
then he split.
MARGOT
Rick.
. .
CLARA
(Dismissing)
If
you say so.
(Louder)
Nelda!
Did you put that flag out?
RICK
She
said that it would stop anyway, Mom.
CLARA
Oh,
she doesn't know. What if it doesn't.
D.W.
Grady's
not going to stay on it all the way to San Antonio.
CLARA
He
could be asleep, or reading.
RICK
(to
MARGOT)
Or
not even on the bus.
CLARA
Nelda,
the flag!
(NELDA
has been nearby listening, now she starts to protest again, but after
a look from RICK she goes and gets the flag, taking it outside.
Returning immediately without it.)
CLARA
When
does that bus get here?
NELDA
(Checking
clock.)
It'll
be about an hour, I think.
CLARA
So
soon?
D.W.
Now
don't get into a state Clara.
CLARA
But
there is so much to do. I have to put dinner on, air out his room.
Should I get my hair done? You need a haircut.
D.W.
I
don't think. . . .
CLARA
No,
no time for that. Take me home. I'll get a cake started.
(She
gathers the mail, her things. Starts to the street door, D.W.
following.)
SPUD
Later
D.W.
RICK
Mom,
wait. . . .
(CLARA
and D.W. exit. At about the same time, NELDA exits to kitchen.)
MARGOT
Rick,
what's wrong?
RICK
It's
always like this. They drop everything the minute they hear from
Grady.
MARGOT
He
is their son.
RICK
And
me, what am I.
MARGOT
His
son.
RICK
He's
not my father, not really.
MARGOT
I
know how you feel, you've told me often enough. And you're right.
But, whether or not you accept him as your father, he's still their
son.
RICK
I've
been their son for forty years. Twice as long as he was around. I've
farmed the place since I could sit on the tractor and I work at the
plant so we can afford to farm. He's done nothing, he's contributed
nothing, he's meant nothing. He only comes through every ten years or
so and stirs everything up.
MARGOT
There
might be something else.
RICK
I
know, I said there was.
MARGOT
You're
forty years old, how old is your dad?
RICK
Don't
call him that!
MARGOT
How
old?
RICK
Sixty,
I guess.
MARGOT
He's
getting older now.
RICK
(Realizing.)
Oh, Jesus. You're right. He is coming back.
MARGOT
He's
retiring.
RICK
He's
waltzing right back and taking over.
MARGOT
He's
their son.
RICK
GODDAMMIT!
(All
are startled)
MARGOT
SHHHH!
RICK
I'm
gonna be out on my ear.
MARGOT
You
don't know that.
RICK
I've
worked the place for forty years. I'm supposed to be a partner. It's
all supposed to be mine someday.
MARGOT
I
don't think they would . . .
RICK
Of
course they would, they will. You said it yourself, "He's their
son." I'm not, I never have been. I could have left too. Old man
Jackson offered me that job in San Antonio. I thought I owed it to
them to stay.
MARGOT
You
always said your roots were here.
RICK
Sometimes
roots don't go as deep as you think. I need to talk to Nelda.
MARGOT
(Suspicious)
Her,
why?
RICK
I'll
tell you later.
(He
exits to kitchen, MARGOT sits back down and picks at her donut. She
is preoccupied, but can't avoid paying attention to the domino game
which is still proceeding.)
SPUD
Jeff,
you want to play for me? I need to see a man about a dog.
JEFF
Sure,
if you want me to.
SNYDER
Couldn't
do any worse.
SPUD
Keep
your eye on the preacher, I think he's changing the spots.
(Gives
JEFF his dominos and crosses toward street door, pauses, turns back
to SNYDER.)
SPUD
Genesis,
chapter 31, verse 49; "The Lord watch between me and thee, when
we are absent one from another."
(Exits
through street door. Pause in conversation as play continues a couple
of downs (turns).)
JEFF
You
know Brother Snyder, I don't understand something.
SNYDER
What's
that Jeff?
JEFF
There
are other folks around, why does the preacher spend time with the
atheist?
SNYDER
Well,
first, he's not an atheist. Spud's more of an agnostic. Second, he
knows more bible than anyone else around here.
JEFF
(Downs
last domino)
Domino.
SNYDER
Well,
I'll be! Here, you get forty off me.
JEFF
Done.
(SNYDER
shuffles dominos)
JEFF
Doesn't
the bible say that the devil can quote scripture too?
SNYDER
That's
right Jeff, glad you paid attention. Thing is though . . .
(SPUD
enters)
SNYDER
(Cont'd)
. .
the devil doesn't play dominos.
SPUD
The
pope does though.
SNYDER
Jeff
won one for you.
SPUD
Beginner's
luck. You must have let him.
SNYDER
(Quoting)
"It
is impossible for a man to be cheated by any one but himself . . ."
SPUD
(Finishes
quote)
"As
for a thing to be and not to be at the same time." Emerson.
(SPUD
sits in his chair, JEFF returns to his own. Play resumes.)
(RICK
enters from kitchen.)
MARGOT
(Catty)
Did
you have a nice little chat?
RICK
We
need to go.
MARGOT
No!
I'm not leaving until you tell me what is going on.
RICK
Nothing
is going on.
MARGOT
Sure!
And you're not sneaking off behind my back to see that bimbo.
RICK
She's
not a bimbo. And no one is sneaking anywhere.
MARGOT
But
you can't tell me what you talk about.
RICK
Why
can't you just trust me?
MARGOT
I'll
trust you as far as I can throw you. You are not going to leave me,
for anyone. If anyone leaves it's going to be me!
RICK
What's
leaving got to do with it? Are you tired of me?
MARGOT
I'm
not the one sneaking around with miss perky!
RICK
No
one is sneaking around with anyone. We've had this discussion too
many times and this is not the place for it.
MARGOT
(Indicating
players.)
They
don't care. Afraid you're sweetie will hear? Let's call her out here.
RICK
No.
I'm going home.
(Starts
toward street door)
MARGOT
Don't
you dare walk away from me! You always walk away!
(Follows
RICK)
Come
back here!
(They
Exit.)
SNYDER
(Lays
down double-five)
Spinner.
(SPUD
and JEFF look at each other.)
(Blackout)
END
SCENE 1
SCENE
2
(SETTING:
Same as before, one hour later.)
(AT
RISE: SPUD and SNYDER still playing dominoes. NELDA is seated nearby,
taking a break. No one else on stage.)
SPUD
(On
playing)
Fifteen.
SNYDER
(Continuing
a discussion)
So
you maintain that it was a selfish act.
SPUD
What
else could it be? The writer says that it was not the season for
fruit. There was none on the tree, so he killed it.
SNYDER
But
he was proving a point.
SPUD
By
killing a living thing? Was that a "Christlike" thing to
do? Is that why we kill a living tree to continue a "pagan"
celebration and call it "his" birthday?
SNYDER
You
make him sound like a spoiled child.
SPUD
Like
father, like son.
SNYDER
I
think Jeff was right.
SPUD
That's
a revelation. What about?
SNYDER
Doesn't
matter.
(RICK
enters from street entrance, sees NELDA and approaches.)
RICK
What
are we going to do?
NELDA
Why
do we have to do anything?
RICK
You're
right. You don't have to. But I do.
NELDA
But
you'll lose everything.
RICK
It
looks like I already have.
NELDA
Don't
be so sure.
(D.W.
and CLARA enter from the street, MARGOT right behind them. D.W.
carries a newspaper. Women eye NELDA suspiciously, she moves away to
kitchen. CLARA has put on a newer dress for the occasion. D.W. only
changed to his best hat. MARGOT still looks as she did. D.W. and
CLARA move back to their table, MARGOT crosses to RICK.)
D.W.
Has
the bus come yet?
RICK
Not
yet. Soon, I'm sure.
(CLARA
digs through her purse for her makeup, D.W. looks at the newspaper.)
MARGOT
(A
bit catty.)
Did
we interrupt you?
RICK
(Absently)
No.
It's all right.
MARGOT
I
thought we settled this. What did you have to tell her that you
couldn't tell me?
RICK
Just
a problem she wanted me to help her with.
MARGOT
I
can imagine.
RICK
No,
I don't think you can.
MARGOT
Oh,
I can imagine a lot.
RICK
Well,
it doesn't matter now.
MARGOT
It
matters if you and that . . .that person are cooking something up.
Don't forget who you are married to.
RICK
You
don't understand.
MARGOT
Try
me.
(They
continue their discussion, but quietly.)
SNYDER
(Quoting)
“Therefore
said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given
unto him of my Father.” John six sixty-five.
SPUD
"Is
man only a blunder of God, or God only a blunder of man?"
Nietzsche.
SNYDER
(Plays
last domino)
Domino.
SPUD
I
can't win to save my soul!
SNYDER
That's
just my point.
CLARA
(Finishing
makeup)
I
wish that girl would leave Rick alone!
D.W.
(still
looking at paper)
Who,
Margot?
CLARA
You
know who I'm talking about. She's twisted all you men around her
finger since Frances hired her. And I'll never understand why she
did.
D.W.
You
know why. Frances was always saying she wanted to retire and let
someone else run things.
CLARA
Well,
why her of all people.
D.W.
No
one else wanted the job. She's bright, she works hard.
CLARA
(Ignoring
that)
And
above all, why move here? Nobody knows who she is, who her parents
were. Two years ago she only had the clothes on her back. Now
everyone treats her like the Queen of Sheba.
D.W.
Everybody
has to be somewhere. Why do you suppose Grady's coming back?
CLARA
You're
as bad as Rick. Our son's been away a long time. It's time he came
home.
D.W.
I
wonder if he's in some kind of trouble.
CLARA
Well,
if he is, he needs to be with his family.
D.W.
What
about Rick?
CLARA
He'll
be all right.
D.W.
I
don't know. I think there's trouble between him and Margot.
CLARA
He'll
get his head on straight. Maybe when Grady gets here. . .
D.W.
Maybe.
SPUD
The
fatted calf was killed for the prodigal son, how did that benefit the
good son?
SNYDER
Many
people have had trouble with that. The lesson was about compassion,
not justice.
SPUD
Let's
save some compassion for those that deserve it. The prodigal doesn't
always . . .return.
(GRADY
enters from street door, carrying bags, just before SPUD says
“return”.)
GRADY
I
don't believe anyone has moved an inch since I left here. Mom . .
.Dad?
CLARA
Grady!
SPUD
Domino!!
D.W.
Great
to have you back son!
CLARA
Oh
Grady, you look thinner.
GRADY
Just
older, Mom.
CLARA
Your
room is just as you left it.
GRADY
You
know, you haven't aged a day Mom. As pretty as ever.
CLARA
(Touching
hair)
Get
on with you. Will . . . will you be staying long?
GRADY
Just
as long as you'll have me. I've decided this is where I want to be.
CLARA
My
prayers are answered!
D.W.
That's
wonderful son, you know we could use the help around the farm.
CLARA
Why,
yes. It's too much for Rick to handle alone. Oh! Rick . . . what are
you doing over there? Speak to your father.
GRADY
That's
Rick? You've become a fine looking man, son.
RICK
(Uncomfortably)
Good
to see you, sir. I guess you'll be staying then.
GRADY
That's
about the size of it.
RICK
There's
someone else here you should say hi to.
GRADY
I
know. This must be Margot. Mom sent me pictures of the two of you.
She's even prettier than her picture.
MARGOT
Please
to meet you, Mr. Dinsmore.
RICK
Yes,
but I was speaking of someone else. Nelda. . .
NELDA
(Approaching)
Yes
Grady, it's Nelda.
GRADY
Nelda!
My god, I haven't seen you in years.
CLARA
What
do you mean, Grady? Do you know this girl?
GRADY
Of
course, Mom. Why didn't you tell me she was here?
CLARA
I .
. . . .
NELDA
They
don't know about me, I only told Rick.
GRADY
You
never . . . Well, Mom. Let me introduce you to your granddaughter,
Nelda.
CLARA
My
granddaughter? What do you mean?
GRADY
Her
mother and I were together for a while in Santa Fe. I didn't tell you
because it didn't work out.
MARGOT
Rick,
she's your sister?
RICK
Half
sister, but . . . yes.
NELDA
He's
been wonderful, the brother I've always wanted. I'm very lucky to
have found him.
BUS
DRIVER
(Entering
from street.)
Hey,
buddy. You gonna get your other bags?
RICK
I'll
get them.
(He
exits)
BUS
DRIVER
Where's
my new passenger?
NELDA
There
isn't one, we just wanted to make sure you'd stop.
BUS
DRIVER
Course
I'd stop with an incoming. Hadn't oughter put out the flag without a
passenger. Against regulations. Coulda made me late.
(He
exits)
GRADY
So
you never told them?
NELDA
Mother
told me where you came from, I wanted to find you, see what you were
like. We hadn't heard from you in ten years, so I came here. I
couldn't tell anyone but Rick. I didn't know if they would accept me.
GRADY
That's
ridiculous. You're kin.
CLARA
Grady.
. . Nelda. . .
JEFF
(Entering
from street)
Mr.
Dinsmore, Rick said to give you this.
(Hands
something to GRADY)
GRADY
What's
this?
D.W.
The
tractor key.
JEFF
He
gave it to me as he got on the bus.
MARGOT
The
bus?
CLARA
Oh
no! . . .Rick!
D.W.
Why
would he do a fool thing like that?
MARGOT
Where's
he going? How can he leave like that?
(They
look at each other, speechless.)
SNYDER
Domino!!
SPUD
You
know, I'm getting tired of losing this game to you.
SNYDER
How
about a game of checkers?
(CLARA
goes into GRADY's arms, he holds her awkwardly.)
CLARA
It's
good to have you home, Rick.
GRADY
I'm
Grady, Ma.
(Blackout)
End
of Play
--------------
This play was first produced October, 1998 at Sam Bass Community Theater in Round Rock, Texas as First Place winner in their first One-Act Play Contest and Director Workshop.
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