Peachy Keen

SCENE 1 - THE KITCHEN

[BLEEEEEEP. BLEEEEEEP. BLEEEEEP.] (The fire alarm sounds. There is smoke coming from the kitchen. 

Marigold comes running in.)

MARIGOLD

What the hell is going on?!

INGRID 

I got it, I got it, I got it!

(INGRID waves her oven mitt around and covers her face with a towel. She opens the stove to remove a burnt pie.)

MARIGOLD

Mom, what happened?

INGRID

Well, I decided to make your Grandma’s peach cobbler.

MARIGOLD

But then you decided not to pay attention to it?

         INGRID [Agitated]

Ugh, Marigold. [Pause.] It was just a mistake. I was working on my computer and forgot to check it. You know, it’s warming up outside so I just wanted to use some of those peaches from the tree in the back.

MARIGOLD

My tree you mean.

(INGRID breathes in sharply and lets out a sigh.)

INGRID

Yes, Marigold, your tree.

MARIGOLD

You haven’t picked peaches from my tree in years.

INGRID

I just wanted to make you a little treat. Honestly, I can’t believe that damn tree even produces fruit. When your father got it for you when you were ten, I didn’t think

that little sapling would survive.

MARIGOLD

Well certain things in life need to be nurtured. My peach tree is one of them.

INGRID

And you have done a great job with it, that’s for sure.

MARIGOLD

I nurtured it and it survived.

INGRID

It didn’t just survive! That tree has been growing strong for eight years, just like you have and I’ll bet-

(RICHARD enters, home from work.)

RICHARD

Hellooo girls!

MARIGOLD

Hey dad.

INGRID

Hi Rich.

RICHARD

How are my beautiful flowers today? And… [sniffs] what smells? Hope that’s not dinner.

INGRID

I wasn’t watching the cobbler close enough. How was work to-

RICHARD

What’s for dinner?

(INGRID breathes in sharply. She lets out a long sigh. Marigold plugs in her headphones and begins scrolling on her phone.)

(Beat.)

RICHARD

Dinner, Ingrid?

INGRID

Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just that you interrupted me while I was speaking so I figured you didn’t want to hear anything I have to say. 

             RICHARD [Chuckling]

I just wanted to know what we are having for dinner, which only takes one second to answer.

INGRID glares at Rich.

INGRID

Meatloaf. [under her breath] Unbelievable.

RICHARD

Ooooo! Meatloaf! Delicious. And what did you do today Marigold?

(MARIGOLD removes a single headphone.)

MARIGOLD

Huh?

RICHARD [mockingly]

Huh?

(INGRID lets out another sigh. Pause.)

What did you do today?

MARIGOLD

Nothing.

RICHARD

Well glad to know everyone is having a good day!

(MARIGOLD puts her headphones back in and continues scrolling. Rich grabs the newspaper from the table and glances over it. INGRID stands by the stove and stirs a pot. Rich then folds up the paper to its original shape, rolls it up, and stuffs it under his arm, into his armpit. He leaves the kitchen. INGRID continues stirring.)

INGRID

So are we watching a movie tonight Mari?

(Marigold, still both headphones in, doesn’t hear her. She gets up and leaves the room.)

INGRID: Oh for heaven’s sake.

Beat.

Scene 2 - The Dining Room

INGRID

Dinner!

(RICHARD enters and sits down at the table. Pause.)

RICHARD

Marigold, dinner!

INGRID

Relax, Rich, I just called her. 

(Beat.)

INGRID

So how was work today?

RICHARD

You know the Michelson & Company account? The firm lost it so now we have to start from square one. It’s a real shit show.

INGRID

Do you have anything positive to share?

(Marigold enters the room and sits at the dining room table.)

RICHARD

Not today. People think marketing is so glamorous, but it’s such a misconception. Not every day is a good day, you know.

INGRID

Well, I didn’t say that every day is a good day. I just thought maybe you could find one positive thing to share with us. But I guess that’s too difficult for you. And you didn’t care enough to try.

    RICHARD[Chuckles]

You asked me how my day was and I told you. I guess I’m sorry I had a rough day and I’m sorry I said so. 

INGRID

Well, I’m sorry to hear that.

(The family sits at the table in silence for an awkwardly long amount of time. Marigold picks at her meatloaf, pushing it around without eating it.)

INGRID

You don’t like meatloaf, Mari?

RICHARD

I think it could use a little more ketchup. Might hold it together better so it’s not like ground beef.

[Roughly]

INGRID

I was asking Marigold. 

(INGRID jabs her fork into the meatloaf.)

And you know what, next time you can make your own fucking meatloaf.

(MARIGOLD takes two or three quick bites of her meal and then excuses herself from the table.)

Scene 3 - Upstairs in Marigold’s Room. 

(MARIGOLD storms in and stuffs her pillow into her face. She lays in her bed for a moment. She scrolls her phone. [Phone Ringing]. Marigold answers, placing her phone to her ear.)

MARIGOLD: Hey, how’s it going?

(Pause.)

MARIGOLD: Yeah, I’m okay, I guess.

(Pause.)

MARIGOLD: Yeah, you’re right, I’m not.

(Beat.)

MARIGOLD: I just don’t get it. Why do they stay together? They’re miserable. My parents… they just fucking snap at each other. Back and forth. All they ever do is fight. I didn’t say a word at dinner, I never do. Ever since I was old enough to realize it, every interaction they ever have is fighting or bickering or looking for an opportunity to burn the other. I don’t get it, they’re miserable.

(Pause.)

MARIGOLD: It’s like they think they’re doing me some type of favor by staying together. I swear to god if I was out of the picture they would’ve been divorced ages ago! [Pause] But you know what? I’m fucking 18! Get divorced for all I care. They are both just scared of being alone. But, I’m not.

(MARIGOLD ends the call. She sits silently for a moment. She rubs her eyes with her hands. Suddenly, she jumps off her bed and snatches her backpack. She stuffs clothes and a toothbrush in the bag. She tears her drawers open and keeps packing.)

Scene 4 - Outside

(MARIGOLD stands across the yard from the peach tree, staring at it. She walks toward the tree slowly. She lays her forehead on the trunk of the tree and wraps her arms around it. A tear streams down her face.)

MARIGOLD [Whispers]

Goodbye.

Scene 5 - Living room. The next day.

(INGRID storms into the living room.)

INGRID

Richard, what the hell? Did you have our peach tree in the backyard cut down? Marigold’s tree? She’s going to kill you, Rich, I can’t believe this.

RICHARD

Woah, Woah, Woah there. I have no idea what you’re talking about! The tree is cut down?

INGRID

Yes - have you looked out the window today? [Pause] I’m going to check on Marigold.

(INGRID exits. RICHARD meanders over to the window. He stares out the window.)

RICHARD

Hmph. So it is cut down.

(INGRID rushes in.)

INGRID

Rich, have you seen Mari today?

RICHARD

No. She’s probably still asleep...it’s Saturday.

INGRID

Rich. I just checked her room. She’s not asleep but her bed is made, and her drawers are opened but...

RICHARD

What?

RICHARD

Her drawers look like they have been emptied, Rich. [Beat] Is she gone for good?