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?
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2 comments
Good representation of a sad situation that happens all too often in real life
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Thank you, I appreciate your read!
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