Contemporary Playwriting Festival
April 24-28
Written by Živilė Zablackaitė
She wants to be a mom and bring up a child.
And she doesn’t want to have children at all.
One is pregnant and the other one can’t be.
He wants a child but only his own flesh and blood.
All of them want freedom, family, to choose and not to be judged for their choices.
They are moms and dads.
But according to the law, only man, wife and a child can be a family. Whatever the circumstances are.
Act I
Scene I
A comfortable new apartment taken straight from the real estate ad. Dining room.
At the table right in front of each other are sitting DAVID, a man a little over thirty and LAURA, young woman, also more or less thirty.
They are silently having breakfast. David is concentrated on the food, he doesn’t look at Laura. From time to time he looks at his phone, sitting next to him on the table.
is trying to get David’s attention with a smile, by dropping a fork, sneezing. David is taking a silent look at her at most or just saying “Bless you” without raising his eyes.
LAURA
Maybe you’d like some more coffee?
DAVID
No, I don’t. I’ll grab some at a gas station.
LAURA
I can make some… You could bring it along.
DAVID
There’s no need.
Laura confuses as if she was slapped.
LAURA
Do you really don’t want me to come with you?
DAVID
What for? You liked it a lot last time? Or you have news and want to make a scene and surprise everyone?
LAURA
No...
DAVID
No, you don't have news or no, you don’t want to make a scene?
LAURA
I don’t have news.
David laughs as if he has waited for such answer.
DAVID
My brother called yesterday. Julia is pregnant with the second. They are married for less than we are and they will have two soon…
Laura stares at a plate in front of her. She looks as if she’s going to burst into tears any minute.
DAVID
Oh, please. There’s no need for that. I’m tired of your bullshit.
LAURA
But well...
DAVID
But, well, it wouldn’t be mine. What’s the point of having a child if it’s not yours? Huh?
Laura is hardly taking the way David looks at her. She has an answer but she knows David is not going to take it.
DAVID
You see, you can’t answer that, too. Better check what is wrong with you. And what we can do about that.
LAURA
I’m not the only one with who it might be something wrong…
David quickly stands up and throws his cup to the wall.
DAVID
What did you say?
Laura is terrified and silent.
DAVID
Well, repeat it. What did you say? Say it again!
Silent tears are falling down Laura’s cheek.
DAVID
Listen, you better check, okay? I’m sick and tired of waiting. If only we could try it in a dish… Huh, babe? That would be fun. I do it in a cup, they take an egg from you and mix it up. More fun for me and no trouble for you. But we can’t do that here anymore so just check what you can do to get pregnant so that I can look at you. Okay?
David comes to Laura and kisses her on a cheek.
DAVID
You know that my relatives like to party. I’ll be back day after tomorrow. Don’t bother to call if it’s nothing serious. Bye.
David leaves.
Laura sobs and picks shatters of the cup.
Scene II
Kitchen.
Laura sings and tries to put back and glue the cup.
LAURA
I wouldn’t have talked to him, No, no, I wouldn’t have! I wouldn’t have talked to him, No, no, I wouldn’t have!
His beautiful eyes, It seduced me! His beautiful eyes, It seduced me!
I wouldn’t have loved him, No, no, I wouldn’t have. He was a handsome boy, I was tempted!
I wouldn’t have gone with him, No, no I wouldn’t have! Moon was shining brightly, I was tempted!
I wouldn’t have kissed him, No, no I wouldn’t have! His lips were sweet, I was tempted!
Laura looks over the kitchen, sighs and throws the shatters into a bin.
Scene III
Sitting room. Almost like in the catalogue of IKEA.
Laura sits on the sofa and knits. In front of her there are a pot full of hot tea and two cups.
LAURA
I don’t like Sundays anymore. In summer especially. On winter Sundays it also is only good to sit at home. On Sundays everybody, for some unexplainable reason, want to go out for a walk and show off themselves and their families. Moms walk around pushing their strollers, all around the city. They walk and talk with other moms about their babies pooping and how happy they are to observe it. Sometimes I follow them and listen to them and can’t help but wonder how does it happen that friends have babies almost together at the same time. Or, do they stop seeing those who doesn’t have kids? I will never know that and I will never have the courage to ask. Oh, and I don’t even wanna start on Sundays at parks... Grandmas, grandpas, daddies and mommies. Everybody gathers there to play and enjoy the weather. Just have to keep my distance. What to do? Where to go for a walk if you do not have children? Where to go for a walk if you can’t look at others’ babies? Where?
A doorbell. Laura goes to open the door.
She comes back with Agnė, a young woman with 30 in her passport and 23 on her face.
Laura seems happy to see Agnė.
AGNĖ
Oh my dear... I have such news, you won’t even believe it! I don’t even know if I can tell YOU that...
LAURA
What happened? You know you can tell me everything, right?
AGNĖ
No, not this. Not for you. Better tell me how you two are doing. Do you have any news?
LAURA
News… What news can I have? What can be different? The only changes are that me and David don’t talk to each other, we make love even less often and don’t visit relatives together anymore. When you’re alone, somehow it is easier to answer all these questions. You don’t feel so guilty. But deep inside you still fear it’s your fault. And you can’t share these doubts with anyone. Because everyone will confirm them, for sure will confirm it is me, it is my fault, everyone will say that, and then what? I know he thinks so. I know it is because of me! Just me!
AGNĖ
Oh, darling. Please, stop this bullshit. Many people have difficulties. And you must not blame yourself just because you are a woman! Men also can be barren. Sometimes it’s just not meant to be a baby for THIS woman and THIS man. They just don’t match naturally...
LAURA
You know perfectly well that in our country you can have children only the natural way. To move somewhere only to spend thousands for artificial insemination? David would never do that. It’s not a guaranteed investment. And, he likes it here. He wouldn’t like to start over somewhere. And even if we go, it is very expensive. And you can’t just start all the procedures on day one. It might take year or even a two or even more. Even less possibilities with every year. I don’t know what to do...
AGNĖ
And I just can’t comprehend in my head why in the world you have to suffer so much to have a child. For all these low lives with wells - here you go, in out and a baby! And they don’t know where to put it so just throw it away... And you! You would be the best mom in the world!
LAURA
I don’t need all this anger.
AGNĖ
Why not? You’re just too kind.
LAURA
I’m not. If only I would get...
AGNĖ
Take one.
LAURA
I would take if I was allowed. But it is hard to bring up a child on your own. It is not a family.
AGNĖ
Since when only a man, a woman and children can be a family? Marriage doesn’t make people family as well. I don’t give a flying fuck what laws say.
LAURA
What are you suggesting?
AGNĖ
I’m not suggesting anything. David could support you more.
LAURA
I can’t give him a child.
AGNĖ
So what?
LAURA
So that.
An awkward pause.
AGNĖ
I don’t have who to give it to.
LAURA
What?
AGNĖ
A baby.
LAURA
What do you mean?
AGNĖ
Ah, never mind. Sing me something, please.
Agnė lays her head on Laura’s knees. Laura gently caresses it.
LAURA
Didn’t I tell you, my dear sis, didn’t I? Brush the yard, the boy will come riding.
Nine misters came with their seven servants. Rascal laddie will also come, how much damage there’ll be done.
Tied his horse next to the garden, to the flowerbed. Steed made moves, broke the wooden fence.
Oh, I’ll cry and run to my mother, Oh my mother, what should I be doing with my rues?
Water rues with wine, water lilies with milk. Rues will grow back to the roots, lilies will grow back to the leaves.
AGNĖ
Why are boys always trampling rues?
LAURA
You know what it symbolizes.
AGNĖ
Yeah, but why? Why, for example, in this song, rues grow back to roots after watering it with wine?
LAURA
Well, how to explain. Why aren’t you learning that yourself? Everyone has to sing them anyway…
AGNĖ
Because I can ask you.
LAURA
Yes, yes, you can. So, the story in this song. A boy came to visit and went straight to the girl, beautiful as a lily. The girl leaned as a broken flower and the rascal boy laid the girl. Then the boy went home and the girl became pregnant. She ran to her mother to ask what to do so she suggested to use rues to its purpose and then take care of her beauty so she would find a serious man who she would marry and get drunk with wine and trick him into thinking she was a virgin. Or at least that’s how I understand it.
AGNĖ
So what is the purpose of rues?
LAURA
Rues are poisonous. You make some tea and if you have been pregnant, you won’t be anymore.
Agnė sits down.
AGNĖ
You’re serious?
LAURA
So what are all those folk songs about?
AGNĖ
And these are not forbidden?
LAURA
Barely anyone is interested in what they are about. No one believes that someone would be trying to abort a child.
AGNĖ
So… In the old days women used to do this?
LAURA
Of course. I told you a long time ago. All songs and fairy tales have a practical base in reality. And not our generation and not the coming one are the most indecent.
AGNĖ
But if I would drink some rue tea I would have a natural miscarriage, right?
LAURA
Agne, dear, poisonous thing are those rues. You can die.
Wait, why do you?.. Miscarriage?
Agnė stands up and turns away from Laura.
AGNĖ
I didn’t want to tell you, especially to you and especially now. But... I am pregnant.
LAURA
Who’s the father? Ben?
AGNĖ
Uh-huh.
LAURA
And what he’s saying?
AGNĖ
Who cares? He doesn’t even know and it is none of his business. I can’t stand all his talks about family life and planning the future. I don’t see him in my future. He wants to change me. He wants me to be his show off doll. And, to be honest, if he’s lucky, he is never going to meet me again.
LAURA
So what are you going to do?
AGNĖ
What can I do?
LAURA
To give birth.
AGNĖ
I feel sick at a thought of another Ben coming into this world!
LAURA
Or it’s just your body getting used to pregnancy. That’s why you feel sick.
AGNĖ
Darling, you know that it’s not the reason.
Agnė stares at Laura’s knitting. Laura takes a free needle and gives to Agnė.
LAURA
You’re serious? Like this?
AGNĖ
Don’t be kidding. Neither like this, nor like that. If it happens naturally then… But to go, to put it in, to say that here… No, I don’t want that. And if it happens naturally then “Oh, how did I got so unlucky…” and that’s that. No judging, no finger pointing. And all the time there were ways, all the time. Here, you told one yourself.
Laura drops the needle.
LAURA
It’s not soviet times anymore. And you’re… I can’t believe what I’m hearing. You saying things like that? I thought sky is the limit for you and you don’t give a fuck about authorities. Well, you’ve surprised me…
AGNĖ
I knew I shouldn’t be telling you this…
LAURA
No, no, no. You had to. It’s okay. Well, almost.
AGNĖ
You’ve been trying for so many years and I don’t even want one, I use protection and here I have it…
LAURA
You used protection?
AGNĖ
Of course. I didn't want to risk. But those condoms with its three percent… Well, you know, even aspirin between your knees helps only if your lying on your back.
LAURA
But why just lie there, right?
AGNĖ
I’m sorry… I really shouldn’t have told you this. It’s unfair. If I could, I would give you this child! You are a mother without a child and I am a slut without the sense of responsibility.
LAURA
What are you talking about? You’re not a slut. It’s just that we want different things in life and that’s okay. Just... Oh the irony.
AGNĖ
I’m sorry, I just don’t know what to do…
LAURA
Just please, don’t poison yourself. You don’t know what may happen. And don’t lift weights. You should do it normally, like a human, so you know it is possible when you meet a normal man…
AGNĖ
A man like David?
Agnė talks gently but Laura reacts as if she been poured with boiling water.
LAURA
Give me your child.
AGNĖ
What?
LAURA
You said you would if you could.
AGNĖ
But you said that David won’t take anybody else’s but his own.
LAURA
How far are you?
AGNĖ
Just couple of weeks.
Laura laughs maniacally.
LAURA
Have sex with David and tell him it is his and you can’t lie to me and will tell me everything. Then I’ll say that it is ok and we will bring up this baby as ours. David won’t know, won’t have a clue. Everything will be ok for both of us. Perfect plan!
AGNĖ
Da fuck are you talking about? You seriously want me to have sex with your husband?
LAURA
What, he’s not good enough for you?
AGNĖ
Laura!
LAURA
What?
AGNĖ
No. I’ll think of something. But like this… No, no, no.
LAURA
What will you think of? You don’t want to see the doctors, because someone is still ashamed nowadays. So you’re going to act like women in Middle ages. Seriously, just take that needle and deal with it like in Soviet times. Only now in bright ikea furniture and not dark same in all the country…
AGNĖ
Laura!
LAURA
What do you want from me?
Laura jumps up. Her eyes are full of tears. Agnė hugs her.
LAURA
I want a child. To bring it up. To be a mother. Mine, not mine, whatever. But to be a mother.
Agnė sits down Laura on the sofa and pours tea for both of them.
AGNĖ
Are you sure? It might be premature birth, child might be nothing like David… What if he wants to have a DNR test?
LAURA
He wants a baby, not the test. He desires it very much. More than anything in this world. And it would be better for you not to knit it out of your body.
AGNĖ
But then... This child. How will I be able to look at it? What is everybody going to say? How will we fool everybody else?
LAURA
We will think of something. David will think of something. You’ll see, everything is going to be alright. For all three of us. For all four of us!
AGNĖ
I... I don’t know. To sleep with your husband?
LAURA
Not to sleep, to fuck him! Just once. Not for long.
AGNĖ
I’m not sure... There may be problems later…
LAURA
And what better would you suggest for us both?
Agnė tries to find an answer to this question with all her being.
AGNĖ
Nothing.
Laura proudly applauds her win.
Scene IV
David and Agnė sit on the sofa. There are a bottle of wine and three glasses on the table.
David and Agnė wait.
Laura walks around keeping distance from them.
David is nervous.
DAVID
I have no idea where Laura has gone… She’s late.
AGNĖ
Mhm...
DAVID
So maybe… Some wine?
AGNĖ
Sure.
David pours some wine for Agnė and himself. They drink it in silence.
DAVID
So how you’ve been?
AGNĖ
Not bad. How are you?
DAVID
You’re not with Ben anymore?
AGNĖ
No... Why you’re asking?
DAVID
I never liked him. You deserved a better man.
AGNĖ
Oh... Thank you? And... What kind of man have I deserved?
David drinks his glass of wine in one gulp.
DAVID
A man like me.
David kisses Agnė.
AGNĖ
What are you doing?
DAVID
You’re such a woman… A woman! I can’t take it anymore…
David grabs Agnė. She slowly gives in to him.
Laura watches them from far away.
LAURA
Today I almost wanted to cancel it all. I got scared of how it all may end. That it won’t work. Or...
Agnė frees herself from David’s hands and lips. They leave.
Laura watches them go.
LAURA
I liked David from the moment I saw him. I was with Agnė then and I was afraid he is going to like her more. She’s more feminine, more adventurous, more fabulous. If I would be a man, I would choose her, not me. And that first night, all three of us talked all that night. Well, almost all. Agnė left us two because David seemed boring and uneasy. But I was drinking his every word and movement. And I was crazy happy when he asked for my number. Women like me... It ain’t easy for women like me. Complicated. Constant fear and inability to change anything. Like now. I was always afraid that David will find himself another woman, feminine and fascinating. And now I myself pushed one just like that to his bed. But... Everything is going to be ok. Everything is going to be ok, right?
Laura leaves.
Scene V
David drinks tea and keeps walking from one corner of the kitchen to the other.
A doorbell rings.
David leaves and comes back with Agnė.
DAVID
I’m very glad you called. I really need to talk to you.
AGNĖ
Me, too. I’m pregnant.
David is startled then scared than extremely happy hugs Agnė.
Agnė rejects him.
AGNĖ
What are you happy about?
DAVID
Finally! Finally! Do you have any idea for how long I’ve been waiting for someone to tell me that? Do you? And you… You!!! I… I didn’t believe things can be so amazing in life…
Agnė is confused to see David react like this.
AGNĖ
What is so fucking amazing for you?
DAVID
Agnė, I can’t stand Laura for long time now. She tries to get pregnant but what woman is she if she can’t for such a long time? I wanted to leave her for a long time. I love you and I want to spend my life with you. And now… When there’s a child, it’s gonna be like this!
AGNĖ
Will you stop this bullshit?
DAVID
What? There’s a child… Yours and mine.
AGNĖ
But I don't want to have this child.
DAVID
But I want us to be a family!
Laura comes in.
LAURA
Hello.
David gets scared. Agnė feels scared and tries to avoid Laura’s eyes.
LAURA
Did something happened? It feels like something has happened.
AGNĖ
Laura...
DAVID
Laura. I’m leaving you and I will marry Agnė.
AGNĖ
What? Imbecile, I’m not marrying you. You talk like you’re delirious.
Agnė scolds David and goes to Laura. Laura pulls her off. Agnė’s eyes are full of tears.
LAURA
What?
DAVID
Laura... You know that… That there’s no point. That you’re not the woman I wanted you to be. It’s over.
LAURA
What?
DAVID
It’s over.
LAURA
No, no, no. No. No. It had to go not like this. No, no, no, no. No!
AGNĖ
Laura...
LAURA
Agnė had to tell you she’s pregnant. You had to get scared that I’ll find out what you’ve done. Then Agnė had to offer us to bring up the baby as our own…
Laura sits down full of despair.
DAVID
What did you say?
AGNĖ
It’s not you child, asshole.
DAVID
What? Agnė, don’t lie to me…
AGNĖ
Get out of sight!
DAVID
Agnė?
AGNĖ
That child is not yours. Get the fuck out of here!
Agnė perches next to Laura. Laura is shocked and tries to grasp what has just happened. Agnė tries to console her. David feels betrayed.
DAVID
What sick jokes are you pulling off here? Seriously? Are you fucking serious? You wanted to make fun of me? Like, you know how much I want a child and ha ha ha how funny is that? Right? Wow. Both of you? Both? What have I done to you to deserve it? You know what? Go fuck yourselves.
David throws first thing he grabs from the table and leaves.
Agnė tries to console Laura.
Scene VI
Laura sits on a sofa and sings. There are a teapot and two cups in front of her.
LAURA
Even though we were together not for long, The fire of friendship will be burning forever. How many friends, how many new faces, A blue wave, the sun was red.
Without you I’m like sea without waves, Without you I’m like a bird without wings. Don't leave, please, it will be too hard, it will, You know I love you still.
The sea soughs secretly again, Others are singing on the sunset. There’ll be no us, only this song, A blue wave and sun red.
Without you I’m like sea without waves, Without you I’m like a bird without wings. Don't leave, please, it will be too hard, it will, You know I love you still.
A doorbell rings. Laura leaves and comes back with Agnė.
Agnė and Laura sit on the sofa.
LAURA
I’m so happy you came.
AGNĖ
I… I’m still trying to catch up on everything. I feel so guilty.
LAURA
What for? For what has happened? Stop it… It was just a matter of time.
AGNĖ
But...
LAURA
But nothing. I see that you’re… You’re not…
AGNĖ
I’m not anymore. I couldn’t otherwise. If I wouldn’t have had an abortion, I wouldn’t be able to feel good.
LAURA
Do you feel good?
AGNĖ
I don’t know. I’m trying to get used to it. Strange somehow.
LAURA
Good strange?
AGNĖ
I don’t know. I can’t tell. Like I miss something. Like everything’s the way it should be. But at first it eased. I don’t know. Are… Are you?
LAURA
No. I don’t think I can. Well, that explains a lot.
AGNĖ
And how are you?
LAURA
It’s strange.
AGNĖ
I’m sorry.
LAURA
What for? I haven’t felt better in a very long time? I feel calm.
AGNĖ
Seriously?
LAURA
Yes. I go the shelter. There is so much love, you should go there, too. I’ll have to take one home. Or maybe two.
AGNĖ
And that will be your family? You’ll meet a man…
LAURA
I won’t. Or maybe I will. Doesn’t matter. For now one or two dogs will do. They are so cute! And you know, it is strange to hear things like that from you. “You’ll meet a man…”And you?
AGNĖ
I think I already have.
LAURA
Really? You? The one who two months ago was thinking how to exterminate all the men who tried to touch her?
AGNĖ
Yes. But. Maybe that was just Ben and David? With… With this one I may want to have a family. What we’ve come to… Totally unexpected. We knew each other for years. I was bitch of the bitches for him. And after… After that I cried, and you know I never cry and he came to console me. And… You know, it feels good not to ruffle all the time.
LAURA
I know. And… And will you be able to…? To have children?
AGNĖ
Yes, doctors said that all’s good. If I already could, there is no reason why I shouldn't in the future. So far.
LAURA
I’m very happy for you.
Agnė feels uncomfortable. Laura is sincerely happy for her friend.
AGNĖ
And what about David?
LAURA
He’s okay. He never told me I’m the woman of his life. Anyways. And… I hope he’ll find someone. Someone who will have a bunch of kids with him. David will be a happy father. If only his children will be better than his brother’s. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t talk like this. He’s a good person. He taught me many things. I just feel sorry for him.
AGNĖ
He’s a curse of a lifetime, more likely… Don’t pay any attention to him. He’s not even worth of your pity…
LAURA
I can’t. There’s a long process of divorce ahead of us. And… I… I grew up with him.
AGNĖ
Seriously?
LAURA
Yes. Life goes on.
AGNĖ
But… Ah… I can’t avoid asking. How about kids?
Laura takes Agnė’s hand and smiles to her. Agnė gets confused. Then squeezes her hand. Women smile to each other.
