A Full Length Play
AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT
By G. L. Horton
copyright © 2009
Geralyn Horton
CHARACTERS (all age 60 or older)
RONA – a charming cheerful retired librarian. She never married, but has led a full and active life at work and in the community. However, she is now having a series of almost imperceptible strokes resulting in disorientation and some damage to her memory.
VERONICA – a reclusive, depressed intellectual; a constant reader who met Rona years ago at the local library where they bonded over books. Veronica survived, barely, the illness and death of both her husband and her only child, supporting herself through a series of ill-paid boring jobs until she retired on Social Security.
EMMA – a red-diaper baby who has worked her whole life as a labor organizer and volunteer for progressive causes. Emma's 3 children are all in "helping professions" and have given her 5 grandkids. She is a practical optimist and a natural leader.
JOY – mother of 4, grandma to 6, Joy worked from a home office in her husband's plumbing contracting business. Joy has always been active in the community, but before The Grannies she mostly connected with "safe" do-gooders like the Food Pantry and the Parents & Teachers Association. Joy and Emma have been friends for many years.
BOB – a "great guy" and Joy's "model husband". Raised traditionally as the cherished only son of parents with a happy marriage, working out of his own home and in partnership with Joy has brought Bob great satisfaction. Bob is comfortable around women and secure enough to allow them to lead.
DOLORES – elegant and faintly exotic, Dolores is free with comments and criticism but reticent when it comes to her own personal life and history. She seems to have hard-won knowledge and bitter experience that she is unwilling to share.
AMY – a devout member of a small congregation of liberal Mennonites, Amy works hard for church, community, and family. She finds great satisfaction in service, and looks for the good in others. She loves to sing, but is humble about her own abilities.
HELEN – a warm and friendly do-gooder who is a substitute school teacher and a part-time Merry Prankster. She joins the group mid-play, and may be doubled by RONA if the actress is skillful enough that the doubling will pass undetected.
PLACE: Could be Anytown in Blue State, USA. TIME: summer 2007 to summer 2008.
SET: Most of the scenes take place at Bob and Joy's house, but the set cannot be naturalistiC: scenes must shift seamlessly from "sitting around at Joy’s" to multimedia presentations of public events; and to other locations such as Rona’s apartment foyer and the waiting area outside Rona’s hospital room.
PROLOGUE: A Collage of Granny-Action
To a sound track of Granny-type parody songs such as
(to the tune of "Frere Jacques")
Constitution, Constitution! Are you gone?/ Are you gone?
Gonzales went and shred you/ We’re afraid you’re dead, you!
Ding ding dong/ Ding ding dong
Or (to the tune of "God Bless America")
God, help America! Turn us away /
From the greedy, who are leading / All of us to go bust every day.
What with torturing, and outsourcing. And invading foreign soil /
God help America, trading blood for oil!
God forgive America, trading blood for oil.
Or newly composed ditties in a similar style. During the singing there is a slide show or video on the screens or monitors that will be used for visual effects in later scenes. Included are:
Images of signs flashing by with slogans, including "Honk if you want them home!" A few counter signs accusing anti-war protestors of treason.
Encouraging honks from car horns and shouts from a crowd:
"Go Grannies Go! You tell ’em! Beat back the Repuglocrats!" etc.
A little bit of counter-heckling such as
"Love it or leave it" Shut up, you old bags!"
"You should’ve never got the vote, you’re too ignorant!"
Generally, people react to the "Granny Act" with indulgent amusement, even if they don’t agree with the opinions expressed in the songs and skits. The collage should set this tone, and foreground the question of whether this kind of political activism is worthwhile.
SCENE ONE: The Entrance Area Of Rona’s Apartment
(RONA is dressed to go out, but is slumped in a chair, unconscious or sleeping. A hairbrush is in her limp hand, her huge carpetbag at her side. VERONICA is outside, alternately ringing the doorbell and knocking, calling.)
VERONICA: Rona! Rona, are you in there?
(RONA wakes slowly, staring as if confused about where she is and what is happening. She looks at the hairbrush as if it is a clue.)
RONA: What? What’s…? Who is it?
VERONICA: It’s Veronica. Can you let me in?
RONA: Will you give me a minute, please? I seem to be–
VERONICA: Should I call 911?
RONA: No. No! I’m fine. The dizziness is going away. If I can open the door–
VERONICA: (comes in) It's open. You look surprised.
RONA: I must have fallen asleep. I thought you might be–
VERONICA: Might be who?
RONA: I must have had a nightmare. (rummages through bag for date book (looks at date pages, puzzled) What day is it?
VERONICA: Friday. Friday the thirteenth, in fact.
RONA: And the time? My watch. Seems to have stopped?
VERONICA: (takes Rona’s watch) The reset button. I can fix it. There: ten minutes after twelve. Am I too early?
RONA: I'm sure you're right on time. I just wish– It doesn't matter. I don’t hurt anywhere --at least not anywhere unusual. The sun is shining. And I can smell that you've brought me something Italian?
VERONICA: Lasagna. But -- did you get bad news from your doctor?
RONA: My– my tests weren't good. He wants me at the hospital tomorrow at 3. VERONICA: I can drive you.
RONA: Thanks. They're going to keep me overnight. But there is something else– something I'd like you to do for me.
VERONICA: Of course– if I can. What is it?
RONA: Something– Just give me a minute. (Looks at her notes in her datebook. Frowns, turns the page forward, then back.)
You still sing in the community chorus?
VERONICA: Uhhuh. I missed the last concert, but I’m rehearsing–
RONA: Sub for me with the Grannies. Please? Rehearse at 4, sing in my place at 7 tomorrow night. You'd be back in time for that PBS show you like.
VERONICA: I wish I could, Rona! You know my phobias: strangers and--
RONA: Please, Veronica! This group is so important to me. I never felt I could work for what I believe in while I was a government employee--
VERONICA: But you faced down the FBI over the library's borrowing records--
RONA: That was as a professional. Part OF my job. Retired and with the Grannies, I can be both opinionated and silly. Utterly unprofessional, and so invigorating! You, who sing real music, with an orchestra--
VERONICA: 100 of us, anonymous in black, with a score in front of my face.
RONA: You can be anonymous-- or pretend to be me. Sub rosa to sub for Rona.
VERONICA: Impersonate a grandma? I'd feel like an impostor -- though technically, I might qualify.
RONA: You’ve never mentioned grandchildren–
VERONICA: One grandchild: whom I haven’t seen since he was six months old. I’ll tell you about him some day, if you like. Not now, though. Rona, I'd do most anything for you. But this--
RONA: Half our Gaggle can’t be there, and Emma was going to cancel. I said, "Do it with five". I talked Emma into it. And now to leave her stranded? Please-- I know it's silly, making a fool of yourself–
VERONICA: I don't mind silly, but I'm terrified! Look, I've started to shake just thinking of it... Can't you think of anyone? You've so many friends.
RONA: Half of my friends can't sing, and other half can't walk. If you won't, I'll have to skip the doctor.
VERONICA: Your health comes first, Rona. The Grannies will understand.
RONA: It'd prey on my mind in the hospital. Anxiety's bad for my blood pressure. I'm supposed to hold up a piggy toe picture– the last little piggy, number five– (VERONICA laughs) Please. I wouldn’t be able to rest easy, knowing Emma needs five piggies and I’m not there to go "wee, wee, wee".
VERONICA: That’ll be me? Going "wee, wee, wee"?
RONA: It's simple. Like reading a story in the children's room.
VERONICA: They're not children! There will be activists and hecklers and reporters and cameras and FBI spies and maybe even somebody who knows me; I can't!
RONA: Very well. If you can't, you can't. (begins to cry)
VERONICA: Rona, are you crying?
RONA: It doesn't matter. Sound and fury, signifying nothing. Thank you for the lasagna. I'll see you tomorrow. (turns away)
VERONICA: All right, all right. (embraces Rona) I'll do it.
RONA: Oh, bless you! You’ll like the Grannies: you will. Amy's religion is a bit much, and Dolores is– … Well, difficult. But maybe for you a kindred spirit? Take my Granny bag. (indicates) Directions and the music. Bonnet and shawl.
VERONICA: What all is in here? It weighs a ton!
RONA: There’s an itemized list in the outside pocket.
VERONICA: What is this? A green ham sandwich?!?
RONA: It can’t be! I never–!
VERONICA: Looks like your handwriting.
RONA: I swear, I've never seen that– that disgusting sandwich-thing– before.
VERONICA: Life's little mysteries. Don't worry, Rona. I’ve got your bag, I’ve got your back. You can rest easy.
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SCENE TWO: Joy’s Dining Room
(Table at one side, chairs. JOY and EMMA are making pig faces for the paddle puppets they’ll use in Emma’s skit, EMMA singing a ditty she is working up, JOY repeating each phrase, somewhat out of tune: "BE A CITIZEN, NOT A CONSUMER/ DON'T FALL FOR THE SCAM OF THE BRAND!" )
BOB: (enters, holds up box of nails) What’ll you be doing with these?
JOY: (demonstrates) Fastening these sticks to the pig heads.
EMMA: We thought we'd use gorilla glue–
JOY: For guerilla theatre–
EMMA: But the glue's in Rona’s bag.
BOB: I think you want to use staples.
JOY: What do you think, Em?
EMMA: Bob's usually right.
JOY: You all keep saying that!
EMMA: If you want an honest opinion– (doorbell rings, Bob starts to go)
JOY: Who are we expecting? Bob? I’ll get the door. You get the stapler. (JOY exits)
EMMA: We have a stapler, Bob. (shows small one)
BOB: That's for paper. You need a gun.
EMMA: I'm against guns. Beat ’em into plowshares.
BOB: A staple gun isn't really–
EMMA: I know! I’m just pulling your chain.
BOB: You don't fool me, Machiavelli.
EMMA: (batting eyelashes) Why, sir! Lil' ol' me? (JOY enters with VERONICA.)
JOY: Veronica, this is my husband Bob, and the shameless hussy who is flirting with him is Emma. (to BOB) Veronica is Rona’s friend.
BOB: Emma wasn't really flirting–
EMMA: Of course I was! If a woman has a terrific husband, shower him with positive reinforcement.
BOB: When they come out with stuff like that, they call it "Gaggle Rules"! If you’ll excuse me, I’m going down cellar to get a gun. (starts to exit)
VERONICA: To What?!
JOY: Get a staple gun. (Southern Belle giggles) Cause we-all'd never be able to find it on his big 'ol manly workbench.
BOB: (to VERONICA) These girls ought to call themselves a Giggle, not a Gaggle! (BOB exits. JOY and EMMA laugh)
JOY: You can change the Rules if you want. We’re democratic.
EMMA: Except for our token Republican.
JOY: Who we're grateful to have. And we’re grateful to Rona for sending you.
VERONICA: I hope I'm not too late. I had some trouble finding the house–
JOY: Late? Rehearsal's not for another hour.
VERONICA: You rehearse at 5:30? To perform at 7?!
EMMA: We'll run the choreography twice, then practice the songs in the van while Bob is driving us over.
JOY: It's lucky you're early, though. We can use the help.
EMMA: Making piggy paddle puppets. But we– uh– Can you draw?
VERONICA: Not really.
JOY: Turns out I’m terrible at drawing. Emma, too.
EMMA: You'd think that in a random group, at least one would be able to draw!
JOY: I can't sing or write, either. Joy the Talentless.
EMMA: You've got soul, Joy. You inspire us.
BOB: (enters) Your staple gun, ladies. (offers it with a bow)
EMMA: (grabs "gun" and points) Up against the wall, muthas!
JOY: (laughs, takes stapler) You are so naughty, Em!
EMMA: While your Bobby is so good! (to BOB) Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!
JOY: And he’s all mine. (BOB waves at VERONICA, exits)
JOY: ( to VERONICA) Don’t mind us. We go way back.
EMMA: To the Protozoic. Veronica? Do you think you could outline the head in black and do something with the eyes? While we're cutting out the rest.
VERONICA: I could try.
EMMA: I’m the first little piggy: The Disaster Capitalist that went to market.
JOY: I’m the fourth: the American Worker– the piggy that had none.
EMMA: You're Rona's stand-in– so the last piggy, right?
JOY: You go, "Wee wee wee– Wee wee wee–" (VERONICA joins last wees)
EMMA: I want my pig to have a top hat and a piggy bank.
JOY: But when we draw on a hat, it doesn’t look like a pig.
VERONICA: What if the snout were more like this? (demonstrates change with pencil)
EMMA: Much better! Here’s a brush. Black paint's in the black jar.
VERONICA: Do I wear this apron?
EMMA: (shouts) No! (takes apron away from VERONICA) That’s a costume!
VERONICA: Aren't costumes a hat and a shawl? Rona said--
EMMA: Shawls fall off when we do choreography.
JOY: So we bought aprons. Kept here because I’m the one with an iron.
EMMA: I gave my iron away in 1974.
VERONICA: Do you have a non-costume apron? For work?
JOY: Us? Never! Well, I did have a joke apron, once. It said "a woman’s place is on the tennis court." When I got bad knees and quit tennis, Bob started wearing it when he cooked. But people took the apron to mean, Bob ordered me to stay out of the kitchen! Like, "Go play on the tennis court, woman! I'm the chef!" So we got rid of that one, too.
EMMA: Nobody I know wears aprons. Who wants to look like a Granny for real?
VERONICA: Not to cook?
EMMA: Nobody I know cooks!
JOY: I cook! But I wear an old tee shirt, like for scrubbing the toilet.
VERONICA: No apron. I’ll get more paint on my clothes than on the pig.
EMMA: Paint naked and take a shower. (VERONICA looks startled)
JOY: She's kidding! Emma: go easy on the jokes till Veronica gets to know us.
EMMA: We never even introduced! Sorry. (shaking hands) My name’s Emma Goldman Winckler White, and I’m a career agitator. Organizing and protesting since I was a kid. You name it, I've been against it.
VERONICA: Is there anything you're for? (begins painting)
EMMA: I’m for fewer career agitators. We need amateurs, like you and Rona.
VERONICA: When I was in my twenties, I helped desegregate Kansas City. And I marched against Vietnam– for a while.
EMMA: Welcome back!
VERONICA: I’m not back. This is just one time, for Rona.
JOY: I love Rona. I hope she's all right?
VERONICA: She says she is.
JOY: Rona’s like me: accentuate the positive.
EMMA (sings) "Elim-i-nate the negative.."
VERONICA: I was surprised to learn Rona has no family. Lots of friends, of course, but apparently not close friends....
JOY: I have the impression she was very close to her sister.
VERONICA: (nods) Who died last year. (Pause. They look at each other)
JOY: You brought Rona's bag. Mind if I fish out a lozenge? I've got a tickle in my throat. (gets lozenge)
EMMA: Rona and her magic potions!
JOY: Rona’s a kick-ass reference librarian. She checks the tests before she recommends something. I trust her– for remedies or singers.
VERONICA: Maybe not, once you hear me audition–
EMMA: Sing "My Country 'tis of Thee."
VERONICA: I beg your pardon?
EMMA: Sing "My Country 'tis of Thee." Audition.
VERONICA: (sings) "My Country 'tis of Thee (Bob enters, smiles)
Sweet Land of Liberty/ Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died–" (Bob applauds)
EMMA: You're in. Too good for us, really, but we fight with the army we've got. You take #5 paddle pig and stand on the audience right, your left. When we get to the line about the last little piggy, you hold up the paddle– hold it up! And you squeal "wee, wee, wee!" as loud as you can. Ready? (Bob waves and exits)
EMMA: and (tone deaf) JOY: "little piggy had none. And the last little piggy went-"
VERONICA: "Wee, wee, wee!"
EMMA & JOY: "All the way Home!"
EMMA: I now pronounce you "rehearsed."
VERONICA: But I'm not--
EMMA: You'll be fine. Granny philosophy is not to sound too good. Nobody should doubt that they can do it themselves. After the skit, I'm going to do a roving mic thing.
JOY: Invite anyone in the crowd to voice an opinion.
EMMA: Anyone who does has taken the first step to activism.
JOY: But she wants to start by talking about Harriet Nahanee! Tell her it's a bad idea. (They return to their work on the pig paddle puppets.)
VERONICA: Harriet who?
JOY: That's my point!
EMMA: Harriet Nahanee. A Granny who died in jail, while serving a sentence for stopping the bulldozers.
VERONICA: Bulldozers? Is this in Israel?
EMMA: Canada. Defending the nature reserve.
VERONICA: I’ve never heard of–
JOY: Nobody's heard! Canada’s the bore next door. Stick to what people around here are mad about, and show them how they can come together to fix it, I say. Never mind the Granny martyrs.
VERONICA: Grannies have Martyrs?
EMMA: Maybe-- three?
JOY: Martyrs aren't the point! They could have been hit by a bus. Connecting, taking positive action– that's us.
VERONICA: Whew! I was flashing on the photos of that Muslim grandma, the one with the 3 martyred sons who blew herself up? –
(AMY and DOLORES ring the bell and come in.)
AMY: Joy? We decided to come early.
DOLORES: Amy wants to rehearse. I suspect mainly to get away from her family. But if there's a chance we'll be less bad, I'm all in favor–
AMY: (gestures at VERONICA) You're new! You're the new one.
JOY: Rona's friend. Veronica, this is Amy. And Dolores.
AMY: Wonderful! Welcome to the Grans. Emma! Wait till you see what I brought! Barbara made a recording of the Piggy bit music, so we can practice the moves. Plus there's 6 ditties on here– including the two we're doing tonight! So much easier!
EMMA: But Amy! We won't have a keyboard tonight, and who knows what for a sound system. We should rehearse as we'll perform, without crutches–
AMY: At our age, why shouldn't we have crutches?
DOLORES: It might be a good thing, Emma. Or at least better–
AMY: I know you have problems with Barbara. I do, too. She's so rich! But–
EMMA: I'm fine with Barbara! Barbara's smart and energetic. I'm sorry she has a problem with me, but I'd never be against something because it was Barbara's idea–
AMY: So can we try it? Since we've extra time?
EMMA: The paddle puppets aren't ready.
VERONICA: Close, though. I'm on the second to last–
AMY: We can hold up empty sticks. Please? I'm dying to try–
JOY: If the recording makes it easier for me to hear the tune–
DOLORES: That's three "yes" votes, Emma. We’re a Democracy.
VERONICA: Four, if I get to vote.
EMMA: All right. Gaggle rules.
AMY: Let's go, top of the chorus! Piggy places! You know where to stand?
VERONICA: Audience right, my left.
(They line up, some with completed puppets, some without. Each has a sign to hang around her neck identifying a political figure identified with each pig. Each has gestures/movements to indicate the figure's characteristic that is being mocked. VERONICA is surprised at who she "is"– and a bit panicked when she realizes that she's supposed to have a movement to go with her "wee wee wee.")
(sing)
This little piggy went to market (speak) Hail, the market!
(CRONY CAPITALIST) This little piggy went home (speak) Good riddance! (ROVE) This little piggy had roast beef (rude noise) Oink, oink!
(BUSH) & This little piggy had none (whimper) Poor thing.
(AMERICAN WORKER) & This little piggy went "wee wee wee" all the way home!
(AMERICAN SOLDIER) (shout) Go home! Come home! Home now! END
SCENE THREE: The Grannies in Performance
(Begins in black with the faded-in crowd sounds and then the sound of a Granny ditty: there may also be some kind of multimedia collage while we hear and/or see the group singing the end of a satirical verse:
Verse [tune My Bonny Lies Over the Ocean]
Where are we going with leaders/ Who ought to be going to jail?
Why do we fight in the desert? / We'd be better off if we fail!
Who is it set this agenda? / What are they trying to do?
I think they're stealing our country/ And they want the Middle east, too!
(chorus:) Yes, we are singing/ This nasty song
Hope's what we're bringing/ So sing along! (the crowd joins?)
Your Granny’s angry / At the mess they've made.
Let's right these wrongs!/ Join our parade! (applause & cheers)
(In the dark the Grannies get into costume, and get paddle puppets for the Piggy skit. When the lights come up the theatre audience sees them performing "The Little Piggies" for the rally audience from an off-angle when "on stage", but can also see them "backstage"– behind a black masking curtain– when waiting for an entrance or watching and commenting while Emma talks to the rally audience and then goes out into the crowd with a traveling mic, interviewing individuals. The interviewed people can be live, or audio voices, or pre-recorded video shown on the "backstage" monitors. The monitor sound levels should fade behind the Granny voices so that it is clear that the backstage action is the focus of the theatre audience’s attention.)
(Dialogue backstage will overlap onstage and with video monitor speeches.)
ANNOUNCER: Now, people: give it up for the Grannies and The Little Piggies! (applause) (GRANNIES take their places and perform the routine)
(sing)
This little piggy went to market (speak) Hail, the market!
(CRONY CAPITALIST) This little piggy went home (speak) Good riddance! (ROVE) This little piggy had roast beef (rude noise) Oink, oink!
(BUSH) & This little piggy had none (whimper) Poor thing.
(AMERICAN WORKER) & This little piggy went "wee wee wee" all the way home!
(AMERICAN SOLDIER) (shout) Go home! Come home! Home now!
(cheers and applause as the Grannies file off stage)
ALL: (Ad. lib.) We did it! Shh! Emma's speaking.
EMMA ON MIC: Hi! I'm Granny Emma, and I want to ask you: How many of you are afraid of being out of a job? (crowd noise) Medically bankrupt? Losing your house?Afraid you have an FBI file and will be locked up as an enemy of the State? (crowd noise) Like one of "those crazy hippies"?
AMY: Good for you, Veronica! You're practically a pro!
EMMA:.....Well, get over it! I was there in 1960. I hung out with hippies because the "respectable …
ALL: (Ad lib, hugging VERONICA & putting away the pig-skit props).
EMMA: .... adults" were talking gibberish. The hippies I knew weren't crazy– at least not to start out. They were serious enough to recognize delusion. Vietnam was insane.
DOLORES: You weren't scared at all.
VERONICA: Oh yes I was!
EMMA: Like what's happening now! America's 60-year effort to secure a cheap oil supply has stopped working.
AMY: Well, it didn't show.
JOY: Rona would be proud of you.
VERONICA: You're very kind.
EMMA: We bring down elected governments for 60 years– then complain that the Muslims sitting on the oil are Islamofascists!
DOLORES: We’re trying to butter you up and get you to stay.
JOY: At least come back to my house after the show.
EMMA: Frankly, we're once again in a time when being serious means you recognize delusion. Can we start to turn things around? (ALL join applauding and cheering.)
AMY: Please do. I feel like we should be friends..
JOY: Listen to that crowd! Emma's got 'em!
EMMA: Cause we're the ones who have to do it. Our elected "leaders" are all on the lobbyists' payroll. It's turn it around or go crazy. What do you think, people? Try to keep your comments to under a minute– Hands up! (Emma disappears into rally audience)
VOICE FROM AUDIENCE: Over here!
SPEAKER #1: (on monitor screen as video, or as recorded audio. continuous) Yeah, me. I'm asking. What happened to the Democrats? We elected them in '06 to stop the lawlessness, and they haven't done a damn thing! Are they afraid they're wiretapped? Making shady deals with lobbyists? Well, I say– let the chips fall where they may! Everybody, tell the truth...
DOLORES: Like that's going to happen!
AMY: Shhh!
#1... No one living on this earth is perfect. To learn from our mistakes we've got to admit them.
DOLORES: They can't hear us out there, Amy.
#1... Our country has gotten so used to liars that when...
AMY: I think (s)he's right, and I want to listen! Shhh!
#1... someone tries to be truthful they get accused of flip-flopping. But this is the time to insist on the truth. Our side too! (applause. AMY joins in.)
AMY: Amen!
EMMA: Who else has something to say?
SPEAKER #2, HELEN: I'm Helen. I got the notion I'd go to Baghdad to see the war for myself– and report on it. Yeah! I actually went! My local weekly got me a press pass.
JOY: Wow! She's either a total nut, or my hero.
#2... Problem is, I couldn't get much of the story, 'cause they wouldn't let me out of the Green Zone! Still, some Iraqis spoke English– especially women–
VERONICA: She looks to be sixty.
#2… and they told me things Americans never hear.
JOY: What if we could get her to join us?
DOLORES: Hell, we should join her! #2... I had lunch in the cafeteria one day: the next day it was bombed! Suddenly I felt it was time to go home and see my grandchildren. The weekly printed all my stuff– but it’s really small. I want to tell you– tell everybody I can. We don't belong in Iraq! (crowd applause)
JOY: I’m going to try to recruit her!
AMY: How will you find her in the crowd?
DOLORES: Wait a minute–
JOY: I'll be right back!
SPEAKER #3, YOUNG STUDENT: Have you people heard of Lt. Watada?
VERONICA: Aren't we supposed to stay here?
AMY: Yes. They may call us back.
#3... The conscientious objector who refused to return for a second tour in Iraq? (cheers)
AMY: You think Joy is out of line?
#3... Lt. Watada said he was inspired to become a Refusnik when he saw students walking out of class! Ordinary students, like me! Doesn’t that just blow you away?
DOLORES: If Joy does recruit that woman, Emma will love it!
#3.. I’d heard about the '60s. Drugs and stuff. My friends think "it’s history." Meaning, "in the past. Over."
VERONICA: If they call us back, what are we supposed to do?
#3... But protest works! Look at those Grams! You want to hear an encore? (applause)
AMY: Whoa! We can't encore "Piggies" without Joy.
#3... Anyway, I'm organizing a teach-in!
VERONICA: I’ve only rehearsed the songs we just did.
#3… I got a dozen friends to get on a bus and come to this rally!
VERONICA: What am I supposed to do?
#3... All across this country young people are on fire! We're going to organize and vote and turn this into a nation we can be proud of! (crowd applause)
DOLORES: Take your word sheet on stage with you.
SPEAKER #4: 40ish WOMAN: (unamplified voice, off-mic) You people! You’re on the wrong side! (crowd ad libs "Give her the mic.")
DOLORES: You'll be better than the rest if they rehearse for a year.
#4... (off-mic) You’re women– and some of you say you’re Christians. Don’t you know who’ll suffer, if al-Qaeda wins? (gets mic: on monitor) Do you want to live under a law that sews you up in a bag, imprisons you in the kitchen, stones you to death if you want to choose your husband? Here a woman can run for president! (murmurs)
DOLORES: Think she voted for Hillary?
#4... There they plant bombs inside a Girls’ School, kill and maim them if they try to get educated. Girls of thirteen given to diseased men of fifty to settle a debt!
AMY: This woman is really creepy.
#4... Even their heaven– the 72 virgins? Their heaven is a hell for females!
AMY: (to DOLORES) Somebody should say something.
#4 .. Is this what you want? For your Christian daughters and granddaughters?
DOLORES: It's her turn at the mic. (AMY goes onstage to mic.)
#4... We've got to defeat them, or Satanic Islam will rule the world. (crowd murmurs. AMY uses on-stage mic that EMMA used.)
AMY: (on stage) I have to witness, here. Jesus says "do good to them that hate you." Blessed are the peacemakers. (Emma takes back mic)
EMMA: Thank you, Granny Amy. But we all have the right to voice our opinions– (AMY retreats)
#4... Car bombs, anthrax, dirty nukes– Don't say I didn't warn you!
DOLORES: (to AMY) Please tell me you won’t do that again.
AMY: (nods) Emma looks upset.
EMMA: (to SPEAKER #5) You next? Go ahead.
SPEAKER #5: OK. Hands up! Who’s proud of our "Mission Accomplished?"
VERONICA: Nobody? (they look at monitor and shake their heads.)
#5... In a matter of years we’ve turned a functioning Iraq into tribes at war with each other, and destabilized the whole Middle East.
VERONICA: Usually crowds frighten me, but this one.. Look at them all.
DOLORES: I get choked up, too.
#5... That’s good work. Did it on the cheap, too– only 3 trillion bucks
AMY: Sometimes when we’re singing, tears run down my cheeks.
#5... and a few thousand dead Americans. Big Oil getting their paws on the fields. DOLORES: Vietnam Vets with their medals and gray mustaches–
#5... Politicians say, "Honor those brave men and women. Don’t let them die in vain."
DOLORES: And the young ones, the Iraq Veterans.
#5… They’re dying for Exxon and Shell! Just stop! Now! Stop the damage, people.
VERONICA: All the students, so gorgeous. Like Vietnam before the establishment turned on their own children.
#5... Don't buy, don't sell. Sit in the streets till the Empire dies. DOLORES: Nixon called all the hate mongers out of their caves, and put them on the government payroll. (#6 grabs #5’s mic.)
SPEAKER # 6 , TIMOTHY (in uniform, looking as if he hasn’t slept and is on medication): I’m Timothy. I’m back from Iraq. Those freaking Hajjis? They’re filthy, superstitious liars who ass-kiss everybody over them and treat anybody lower like dirt. But they’re really good at killing. They hate us!– Fucking Invaders.
DOLORES: This one's scary.
#6... We made their country Hell on earth. Goddamn "Insurgents" or Al Queda, or whatever we’re calling them? They're just waiting for us to draw down the troops to rise up and kill us-- and every Iraqi who worked for us.
AMY: War does that. #6... Sure, Saddam was a bad guy– but he was ‘their’ bad guy.
AMY: Look. The crowd is upset.
DOLORES: Too much anger. A real radical would blend in.
#6... We’ve killed more innocent, everyday, just want to live their lives Iraqis than Saddam ever did– so it's get the fuck out or nuke ’em all– Iran & Saudi & Syria, too. (DOLORES takes off bonnet and apron and walks to the onstage mic.)
DOLORES: I guess that’s my cue.
#6... "Cause they’re never sit gonna still and be pacified. (crowd response)
DOLORES: (onstage mic): My nephew, who is a Naval Reservist, was called up for duty in January. He’s 43 years old! With two young kids. He was retrained in Camp Shelby–
(EMMA joins DOLORES on stage, back from interviewing the audience.)
DOLORES: (continuous) to drive some big convoy escort vehicle. Fortunately, when he got to Iraq they learned that he knows how to pour concrete, so now that’s what he’s doing. Not so dangerous. Still, my younger nephew– he’s going to try to leave the Navy as soon as his enlistment’s up. He says he didn’t join the Navy to be in an Army of Occupation! (AMY walks out on stage, dragging VERONICA along.)
AMY: People! We’re got a new Granny here today, for her first time. I’d like to ask you to welcome her. (applause) Say something to the people, Veronica.
VERONICA: I don’t really have anything–
AMY: Don’t be shy. Democracy only works if we all make our voices heard.
VERONICA: Well, Ummm.. I'm shy. I'll let music speak for me. (sings)
This Granny’s angry / At the mess they’ve made.
Let’s right these wrongs!/ Join the parade!
AMY: (starts singing– tune "Good Night Sweetheart")
Good night ladies,
(Delores joins– VERONICA frantically tries to find the word sheet)
Till we meet tomorrow (VERONICA joins, sings harmony, sounds good) (JOY and HELEN enter "backstage.")
Sweet dreams ladies, dreams will ease your sorrow.
(JOY looks confused: should she sing?)
While you’re dreaming, Grannies are up and scheming
(go onstage? No. Stays behind.)
To fight the good fight, ladies– Good night! (GRANNIES all file off.)
ANNOUNCER: Give the Grannies a great big hand, folks! (applause) Now, people? Here’s Jeb Pool, Professor of Law at DI Polytech. Thanks for joining us, professor.
SPEAKER #7 Thanks, friends. It’s great to be here. You can bet your butt I want my country back! But it’s not going to happen overnight.
AMY: Joy! You found her!
#7... The corporate takeover got rolling in the early 70’s, when Texas oil men financed a drive to control the Republican party.
JOY: This is Helen. I think she’s going to join us.
EMMA: That’s wonderful!
#7... They push moderates out and Democrats to the right. No progressives left! They’re all the Money Party.
HELEN: I’ll be in this area till I’ve saved up for my next stunt.
DOLORES: I think you may be my heroine.
#7... With all the Police State tools King George put in place: Can you trust government?
CROWD and ALL BACKSTAGE: "No!"
#7... Do you believe me when I say The Kleptocracy is Bi-partisan?
CROWD: Yes!
HELEN and EMMA: No!
HELEN: Did you hear about the time I served George Bush an eviction notice?
#7.. Please! Can we petition the United Nations for an interim government?
ALL BACKSTAGE (astonished): What a good idea! (Nods. soft cheers.)
#7... The odds are against us.
HELEN: Bush had no right to be in the White House. He wasn't elected!
#7... But if you and I work night and day, maybe there's hope we can restore government to the people. (applause) Thanks for listening. (applause and bridge music)
HELEN: Back during the Eviction I didn’t have friends in the press. But my next stunt, I hope you'll hear and say: "Good! I wish I’d done that!" JOY: Good! I wish I’d done that! (hugs HELEN)
EMMA: Either one of that!
AMY: Baghdad’s heroic, but the eviction stunt’s too much like a joke.
JOY: You mean like fun? Fun's great! I’m all for it.
HELEN: Laughter damps down the fear that makes people cruel and stupid
EMMA: As my namesake Emma Goldman said, "If I can’t dance, you can keep your Revolution."
JOY: My knees won't let me dance much, but I can keep trucking.
ANNOUNCER: Don’t go away! Here’s the one you’ve been waiting for! That fantasmasgastic, superslappin’ rarpperdasting on- man DMZ– The Green Zone Hornet!
GREEN ZONE: Grannies? You back there? Come on out and join up with me! Let’s kick this scene up a level! All right?!
(Cheers. Grannies scramble to put bonnets back on as they go back out on the rally stage. A drum-heavy intro to the Green Zone Hornet’s rap number begins. On the monitor we see GREEN ZONE HORNET and a straggly group of Grannies who try to do call-and-response and ad lib choreography with the rapper.)
GZH: Say! No war!
GRANS: No war!
GZH: What’s it for!
GRANS: What’s it for!
GZH: Stand and insist!
GRANS: Stand and insist!
GZH: Resist!
GRANS: Resist!
GZH: Shake your fist!
GRANS: Shake your fist!
GZH: Shake it! Shake it! Shake it! Shake it! (The music segues into the chorus of the Grannies’ "Nasty Song.")
--------------------------------------------------------
SCENE FOUR: Joy’s Dining Room
(BOB and the exhilarated Grannies celebrating post-performance at Joy’s, some collapsing, some bouncing around, reprising the skit and song. Lights down as they move into place, continuing the "Nasty Song.")
Yes, we are singing/ This nasty song
Hope’s what we’re bringing/ So sing along!
Your Granny’s angry / At the mess they’ve made. (lights up)
Let’s right these wrongs!/ Join our parade!
BOB: Here’s to you, ladies! Another triumph!
JOY: We were great! Veronica especially.
VERONICA: I should be getting home.
JOY: Not till we try out Rona's new song. She'll want to hear how it goes.
AMY: You must tell Rona we got a blessed response! Best rally ever, I’d say.
DOLORES: You always say that.
JOY: Bob was out front, watching, and he agrees. Don’t you, dear?
BOB: Absolutely. Best ever.
DOLORES: Bob always agrees.
AMY: The audience all joined in!
VERONICA: The ones close up did.
BOB: They all sang "If I Had a Hammer".
EMMA: That's one they know from Vietnam.
DOLORES: If they know they have a hammer, why don't they ever swing it rather than just singing it? This is a movement that doesn't move.
EMMA: With a compelling analysis and a clear direction--.
BOB: I have great memories of those old songs. I drew #363 in the draft lottery, so from then on I could relax and enjoy the Summers of Love.
JOY: Bob! You enjoyed what?
BOB: You and your friends did, too!
JOY: Don't tell the kids.
EMMA: Not me! I was always on duty. Marxist parents, Union organizing. People born after 1950 can hardly imagine how brain-dead this country was back then– all that Cold War purging and blacklisting.
BOB: What about you, Veronica? Bread and roses? Or wine and weed?
VERONICA: Neither, really. I married young.
DOLORES: I thought I detected a hint of hippie.
VERONICA: My hair? I can't stand to have anyone fuss with it.
EMMA: Didn't you say you marched against Vietnam?
VERONICA: My husband and I. We had student friends who were Resisters.
AMY: Now the young can pretend it doesn’t touch them.
BOB: That Marine today made a big impression.
DOLORES: "Timothy"!? Either he’s an undercover agent, or he’s deranged.
JOY: Of course he’s deranged! He has Post Traumatic Stress!
AMY: Everybody knows killing is wrong. That's why they’re traumatized! But all that cursing made him sound like a brute.
BOB: I didn’t hear all that much cursing.
AMY: He used the f-word, he took the name of God in vain–
JOY: He said Iraq is Hell on earth. That’s not a curse, it’s a job description. EMMA: He used milder language than I do!
AMY: Sometimes your language is offensive, Emma. But I know your heart, so I forgive you. But to appeal to conservatives who would be with you on the issues–
BOB: War is obscene! Do you want to censor an eye-witness?
AMY: On the News it’ll be one long bleep! Just Timothy's angry face, and his uniform.
BOB: Reminds me– I’d better get our mic out of the van. (exits)
EMMA: At least they let us use the sound system! Last time we were stuck out of range at the back of the stage, and the reporter wrote about our "frail Granny voices."
JOY: Frail! I ask you, Veronica. Are we frail?
VERONICA: Isn’t frailty supposed to be part of the Grannies’ appeal?
AMY: Blessed are the meek. The peacemakers.
JOY: It’s one thing to look frail– frail-ish. but do you think we sound– ?
DOLORES: Compared to the rapper we do.
EMMA: Because he had the big fat phallic mic!
DOLORES: Face it. Without mics of our own, we’re barely a back-up group.
AMY: More like a back drop group.
EMMA: His posse of geriatric bootie-shakers!
JOY: Pumping it up. "Resist!"
ALL: "Resist! Shake your fist! Shake it! Shake it! Shake it!" (ALL collapse in a heap of laughter)
JOY: If we don't have mics-- Maybe we should do mime skits. Street theatre.
DOLORES: Street theatre’s what we’re doing! It’s certainly not music.
AMY: Don’t be such an elitist, Dolores.
DOLORES: I’m not an elitist. I sing with you, don’t I?
AMY: The Bible doesn’t say sing like angels. "Make a joyful noise", it says. "Shout, O daughters of Jerusalem."
DOLORES: The Bible is incoherent superstition. Why should I care what it says?
JOY: I dance with bad knees and two left feet. But I can shout loud!
DOLORES: Loud is good. In tune is better.
EMMA: After three years, Dolores, you still don’t get it. We’re not Peter Paul and Mary. We’re not a Gay/Lesbian chorus. The point of us is that we’re not daunted. We do what we can– what anyone can!– and we demonstrate that it makes a difference. I think today's roving mic worked, and we should build on it. I have a proposal to make– (BOB walks in carrying a big cardboard mic box, pauses to listen.)
JOY: After something to eat, please! I’m famished.
VERONICA: I only meant to stay to hear Rona's song...
AMY: Singing makes me happy. Best of all is singing well, with people you love.
VERONICA: (to Amy) Now I remember you! You’re in the Community Chorus! You sit way on the other side–
AMY: Second soprano.
VERONICA: You must be good. To pass the audition.
AMY: I think I got in because the accompanist is my church's choir director.
DOLORES: That would explain it!
JOY: You’re never happy unless you’re putting someone down, Dolores! Just S-T-F-U! (STFU abbreviates Shut The F–k Up)
AMY: What’d she say? S-T what?
EMMA: Don’t ask.
DOLORES: You might faint dead away.
ANY: Will somebody please tell me?
EMMA: Do you promise not to faint? (AMY nods, EMMA whispers, AMY is shocked.)
AMY: People say this? In public?
BOB: Don’t you ever watch Jon Stewart? The Daily Show?
VERONICA: What do you shout at the TV when Fox news comes on?
AMY: If I can’t stand to hear it, I turn down the sound–
ALL BUT AMY: (ad lib) Right! (or) That’s it! STFU!
BOB: Where are voices like the Grannies? Like those people at the rally?
EMMA: From their lips to God’s ears! There are rumors– I can’t talk about it yet, this is a plan that needs to stay under the radar– but we may get a chance to tell our rulers what we think of them. Face to face.
BOB: Not going to happen. They vet the crowds, screen out dissenters.... (turns to exit)
AMY: (to BOB) Come back and join us. We’re not rehearsing, just having fun.
BOB: I’m bringing in the brownies.
AMY: You baked some? Yum!
JOY: I know it’s the custom, Amy. But flirting's not compulsory, you know.
AMY: I wasn't--! I’m sorry.
BOB: Only members of the "I’ve-known-Bob & Joy-for-ages-club" get to flirt with me.
JOY: You’re getting close, though, Amy. We met back– when? 2002?
AMY: 2001, I think. At the Shelter. But I didn’t meet Bob till the antiwar demonstration in 2003.
BOB: Three or four years to go yet, Amy. Sorry. (exits)
EMMA: We forgive you, though. The temptation to flirt with Bob is really strong.
AMY: My husband’s a wonderful man. He really is. He’s on the board of charities, mentors the youth group, and personally he’ll do anything for someone in trouble. If some widow doesn’t have a man around to mow her yard or clean out her storm drain--? But expect him to put away a dish? Fold his own underwear? If I’m called away to the phone, he won’t even ladle out dinner for our grandchildren. He’ll sit there, letting the food get cold, till I come back.
DOLORES: I hate to cook. But my Sam hasn’t a clue how to put together a meal for his diabetes, and I’m not ready to be a widow.
EMMA: My husband and I take turns. His nights are mostly pizza and a Bag O' Salad. Not good, but good for a laugh.
AMY: Laughter’s a blessing. I wouldn’t mind the rest if Jim had Bob’s sense of fun.
JOY: Laughter gives you energy.
EMMA: It also drains off the anger that drives change.
VERONICA: Better than the anger turns inward, and eats away at you.
DOLORES: The Gaggle in Minnesota pulled off a Rage Raid. A temper tantrum, with screams and sirens and drums and the oldest ones clattering with their walkers like the chorus line in The Producers! They tore up a recruitment center, threw blood all over–!
JOY: "Grannies on a Rampage" Did they get away with it?
DOLORES: They were arrested, but released. Maybe it’ll be on TV when there’s a trial.
AMY: If they get sentences like the 3-1/2 years for Betty Krawcyzk.
VERONICA: What did she do, Betty –?
AMY: Krawcyck. The article's in Rona’s bag. (fishes it out) I clipped it from the Times. (VERONICA takes it and reads it.)
EMMA: I’m okay with getting arrested as a publicity stunt, but anything really criminal would reflect on the Union.
JOY: What about the Peninsula Grans thing? Going to our Representatives with calcium tablets? – saying, "grow a backbone!"
EMMA: Our reps are the biggest liberals in the country!
JOY: (slaps head) What was I thinking?
EMMA: You’re thinking: How can we make points? Not, how can we make friends? Don’t scorn, organize.
BOB: (enters) I’m ready to serve. How many coffees? (hands up) Cocoa? (hands) Tea?
VERONICA: Is it herbal?
BOB: If you want. What kind?
VERONICA: Anything without caffeine. I have trouble sleeping. (BOB turns to go, but DOLORES stops him)
DOLORES: How’d we do for bucks in the buckets, Bob?
BOB: Donations? Not so well. About $45.
DOLORES: $ 45?!
BOB: I’m afraid so.
VERONICA: Out of hundreds of people?!
EMMA: The economy's in a downward spiral. Isn't that our point? And it's worse for our kind of people than for professionals.
DOLORES: Our kind? Is there anybody here without an advanced degree?
AMY: Me. I just went to high school.
VERONICA: And me. But I'm subbing for Rona, who has 2 Masters'.
DOLORES: So we flunked fund-raising. Did we get any recruits?
JOY: Helen! We got that wonderful Helen!
EMMA: She can’t start till next month, she’s taking a class.
DOLORES: (skeptical) A class.
JOY: Bob said dozens signed the mailing list.
EMMA: We'll have to wait till Joan's back for a follow-up on that.
DOLORES: Joan’s out. She broke her hip.
EMMA: Such a pessimist! Sharon thought she’d never be back, but--
DOLORES: Sharon had a hip replacement, not multiple fractures. Joan will be staying with her daughter until she leaves in a box.
JOY: Laura won’t be with us any more, either. She’s moving to South Carolina.
DOLORES: At least none of us has dropped dead on stage. Yet.
BOB: (entering with food) Besides brownies, I’ve got no-sugar bran muffins. You can take your husband a diabetic doggy bag, Dolores. I’ll be right back with the drinks.
AMY: That’s a lot to carry. I’ll give you a hand. (exits after Bob)
DOLORES: (to JOY) Aren’t you going to go and keep and eye on her?
JOY: I’ve not getting out of this chair. My 2 left feet have got new bunions.
DOLORES: $45 won’t cover the new aprons. So we each pay for our own?
JOY: We should chip in an extra 2 bucks for Amy, who really can’t afford–
DOLORES: She could if she didn’t tithe.
VERONICA: Didn’t what?
DOLORES: Her family tithes. Ten percent to that cult church of hers. Buy health, buy heaven, buy votes...
JOY: The Mennonites from Amy’s church buy meals for the homeless. Serve them, too. At the shelter.
EMMA: And Mennonites are pacifists: always been against war.
JOY: Which is why her daughter’s marriage is such a shock.
VERONICA: Her daughter married– ?
JOY: Outside the church. A soldier.
DOLORES: Pacifism is all very well– but Amy has some nerve, forgiving Emma her language!
EMMA: (laughing) It’s okay. I forgive her for forgiving me. But Amy was way out of line to put our newbie on the spot. I'm sorry she did that, Veronica.
VERONICA: People who quote scripture frighten me. There’s a lot of choir singers in the Community Chorus, and some of them--. I'm just not comfortable. I’m the square peg–
EMMA: We all are! I know I’m the reason Barbara and her friends aren't here. They rehearse separately, and skip some gigs. But we can still cooperate... where we agree.
DOLORES: Barbara’s phobic about Socialists. If we have to convert the 90% who hate Socialists before we can oust the criminal millionaires--
JOY: It's not socialism. It's gays.
EMMA: What?
JOY: Barbara doesn't approve of Emma's attitude towards gays.
EMMA: Doesn’t approve of my–? What?
JOY: I haven’t a clue. She said something about the Gaggle and Lesbians, and I couldn’t tell if she meant we were too pro or too anti. Whichever, she doesn't approve.
EMMA: You don't know which?
JOY: Don’t ask; don’t tell.
DELORES: Well– the 4 of us are married. That might be a clue. And we meet at the house of the most married of all.
JOY: So it’s all Bob's fault? Thanks a lot.
EMMA: I guess I ought to do some fence-mending.
JOY: After all, some of our best friends are.... (they laugh helplessly)
JOY: Rona will be back, won't she?
VERONICA: She says my subbing's a one-time thing.
DOLORES: She's lying! She wants you to join us. So-- you might as well give in-- even I can't say no to Rona.
JOY: What’s wrong with her? Do you know?
VERONICA: I know that she’s seeing a doctor. And sometimes she seems-- disoriented. But that's all I know.
JOY: She says you’re her best friend!
VERONICA: Does she? I mean, Rona is MY best friend. The books she gives me and the talks we have are my lifeline. But Rona must have friends by the dozens-
JOY: We all love Rona...
DOLORES: Love’s a strong word, but no one is better company.
EMMA: Old age is not for sissies. My mother is a holy terror, and that’s probably why at 92 she’s still bullying politicians and managing the family law firm.
DOLORES: At 92? My idea of hell.
JOY: 92's the new 70. I look 15 years younger than my mother did.
VERONICA: Are you all really grandmothers? You look way too young.
EMMA: Two grandkids. But I still get carded on Public Transportation.
JOY: When I tried out with the Senior Chorus, they looked as if I had no right to be there.
DOLORES: Was this before or after they heard you sing? (AMY & BOB re-enter with refreshments. JOY grabs a brownie.)
AMY: You’ll have to come to the table– the kettle’s really hot.
DOLORES: Where’s the Sweet & Low?
AMY: Rona's bag has some. (VERONICA rummages)
VERONICA: Got it! (passes it)
DOLORES: Thank you, Rona!
AMY: These brownies are scrumptious, Bob. (applause)
DOLORES: Would you pass a muffin, please? I'm too stiff to reach.
VERONICA: Me, too. Too old for choreography.
EMMA: Painful or not, We may not move as well as when we were young, but what we're doing counts.
VERONICA: I would so like to believe that! But how? The Democrats say they'll reverse our race to disaster, but they don't say how. Nixon claimed to have a secret plan. Hilary won't even admit her vote on Iraq was a mistake.
JOY: Uhmm.. Veronica? We've decided not to discuss candidates.
VERONICA: Rona's for Obama. Isn't she working for him by working with you?
JOY: We've got Naderites, Libertarians-.
EMMA: We say to all parties: stop the war; restore the rule of law. Pry the system out of the hands of the crooks who profit from it.
AMY: My nephew drove a truckload of food down after Katrina, but his his buddies warned him not to. They said Homeland Security suspects charity as criminal conspiracy, now. A million people on the "No Fly" watch list! How many are on the Don't Hire" or "Don't give a Loan" list? JOY: That can't be true, can it? Who would even know?
BOB: "They" know, Joy. Back when we started the business, I had to keep warning you to watch what you say and who you associate with. But now we're retired, we can kick over the traces.
VERONICA: After my husband lost his security clearance, he never got a real job.
EMMA: I’ve got an FBI file yea long, but the Union stands up for me.
AMY: My church stands up for me.
DOLORES: Don’t fool yourself. If you go to jail? For every member of your congregation who backs you, there’ll be a dozen who say they "never really knew you that well" and "the police are just doing their job".
AMY: Some churches might: but mine's been tried by fire.
VERONICA: The worst thing is spies right where we feel most at home.
EMMA: Spying has always been right wing welfare. Vietnam, one out of every five activists was an informer.
JOY: You mean like FBI?
EMMA: Snitches. Paid by FBI. Local police, too. And they're still at it! The NYPD’s undercover squad was all over the 2004 Republican Convention. I bet St. Paul and Denver will be overrun with riot squads and surveillance, too
AMY: But not churches....
VERONICA: Of course churches! Back when I was a believer, my church had them! There are thousands of files on the Quakers alone.
AMY: Mennonites died in Europe rather than be soldiers. But America respected us! You think they're spying on us, now?
DOLORES: One out of five. Count heads.
JOY: Well, so what if there are spies! The more the merrier!
DOLORES: As long as they can sing.
AMY: I'm glad you’re here, Veronica. Please stay.
VERONICA: Rona may need me to be her driver.
EMMA: Have a Merry Revolution: That’s our motto! A Gaggle in Iowa passes out fabulous hats to get women on stage with them as Instant Grannies!
AMY: If someone like me, who voted for Bush believing that he was a compassionate Christian who’d unite us–
BOB: He united us, all right.
DOLORES: In fear and loathing
AMY: I don't want to loathe anybody! I want to love my enemies, and turn them from evil. I pray for the president, and for the poor soldiers, too.
DOLORES: And you imagine your prayers work how?
AMY: Look at a policeman's face. Sometimes he looks angry, but more often it’s sorrow or disgust. Cuffing a protester makes him sick.
DOLORES: That's the tear gas.
JOY: I don’t think so! When a Granny is dragged to jail, people identify.
EMMA: Speaking of jail! Who's going with me to the Code Pink strategy session on Wednesday? If we want a good slot at the impeachment rally we need to be in the room.
BOB: Joy and I are editing the Video Project, remember?
AMY: I'm on duty at the Shelter.
DOLORES: I'm taking my husband in for a checkup.
JOY: The Project needs interviewers. Beyond the two of us.
AMY: Maybe I could interview Veronica?
EMMA: That’s the spirit! (to Veronica) Are you willing?
VERONICA: I can’t. I just can't. What's this for?
BOB: You Tube. We're recording opinions and questions, like the videos people submitted for the nominees at the Debate.
DOLORES: That was so bogus! What kind of participatory democracy is it if the Media chooses who participates?
BOB: For our Project, we get to choose.
DOLORES: Choose the wildest. Mind-set breakers.
VERONICA: Rona says that as a librarian she never felt free to take a public stand.
EMMA: When a reticent woman like Rona speaks out, it's powerful. This is the moment; everybody into the fight or the Good Guys are going to lose, forever.
AMY: I feel in my heart that if Americans can elect a Black man, a great--
JOY: Or a woman!
AMY: - historic wrong will begin to be set right. I don't see why we can't work for-
EMMA: Individually, Emma White is going to vote for the Socialist: just as proof that there IS a Socialist! But as Grannies, our job is to get our fellow citizens to stop being passive and practice bottom-up small-d democracy.
JOY: Veronica, would you pass me Rona’s bag? (gets bag, looks in) Here's the song. A patriotic song: just a few changed words. Something to bring people together. (passes it)
DOLORES: I have to go. When and where's the next rehearsal?
AMY: (recognizing song) O, this is such a good idea!
JOY: Here, Friday, after the video thingee. Can we try this once? Please?
VERONICA: I don't know if I'll be with you when–?
DOLORES: Veronica? STFU. Just sing. Amy, you want to start us?
AMY: You start us, Dolores. Bob, you should sing too. In place of the audience.
O beautiful for spacious skies/ With no more fighter planes
For purple mountains’ majesty/ Fields of organic grains
America, America, God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with sisterhood/ From sea to shining sea.
JOY: Thank you! Even if we don’t ever perform it, it felt really good to hear it.
DOLORES: You weren't half bad, Joy. You were actually singing alto.
JOY: I remember it from middle school. I love that song.
EMMA: We can sing it. Hell, Let's sing it again. (They begin to sing as lights fade. End of ACT ONE)
-------------------------------------------------------------
ACT TWO, SCENE FIVE: You Tube Interview Project (BOB, JOY, AMY, EMMA, DOLORES, RONA and VERONICA are listening to the video recordings of "Public Opinion" interviews. We hear the beginning of VOICE ONE before the lights go up. BOB is playing the recordings for the group to vote what is usable material. RONA speaks sparely and with hesitations. She is still experiencing symptoms. Sound fades in. Image is optional: the Granny group can watch the interviews on a laptop, or they can be projected so that the audience can see them, too )
VOICE ONE: You can’t expect women to lead a revolution. They're used to being useless. My mother, for instance? Household help, country club, lived on Dad till he settled her in a senior complex and died so she could play bridge all day.
BOB: The sound quality's not bad. Is it?
WOMEN: It’s fine. Okay. Not bad.
ONE:.. Mom's determined to live till she's spent Dad's last penny. Never learned to drive, can you believe it? Her retirement palace has a chauffeured van.
BOB: I can edit out the noise if you think this is worth keeping. JOY: Erase it. I can't stand her OR her mother!
ONE: ... Still– even a woman who stays home can raise a conscious kid,
BOB: Is she that off-putting? Veronica?
ONE:.. who works for social justice: that's what I do. Anti-war rallies? I’ve got a van that'll carry eight.
VERONICA: You can’t go by me. I'm not a people person. Rona?
ONE:… The only excuse for having a gas guzzler is to haul the shock troops
RONA: That sounds – promising.
ONE:... to the front lines. You know? My mother is so selfish, she even refuses to recycle.
EMMA: One to five: what do you give it? (ALL: fingers up)
BOB: Average 2. Not for YouTube. Next-
VOICE TWO: If I were Bush? I'd say " I've got plenty of money in off shore banks and a 100,000 acre plantation waiting for me in South America. I can piss on little people all I want– they're just 'the Help'. And Jesus loves me! Do I care what polls say?" I’m not going to waste my breath "demanding" that Bush do this or-- (Amy pushes stop button)
AMY: Forget that one, too. (ad lib agreement. BOB starts the next VOICE)
VOICE THREE: You won't get me to protest. I work second shift, and I need my job. I’m going to need it till I'm eighty. Sorry. My husband would love to, though – he hates these guys. But his balls are in a sling. We need our paychecks: rent, food, maybe help the grandchildren. Yeah, well– we do have Sundays off. Maybe we could rally with you, some Sunday. Not next Sunday, though– we’re having a barbecue. (ALL are laughing and shaking their heads, hold up 2-4 fingers)
BOB: A 3? (agree) You're thinking comic relief?
VOICE FOUR: I remember watching TV when Congress was investigating Watergate. Even for a child, it was fascinating. Congress forced the resignation of a crook, and Justice prevailed. But you know, if the men who run the system have lost all respect for the law, no amount of complaint by people like me is going to cure it.
ALL: (groans, shrugs, blank looks)
DOLORES: Depression squared.
AMY: The first part’s inspiring. We could use that, cut the rest– (agreement)
JOY: That doesn't seem honest. All or nothing.
VOICE FIVE: Bush is an oil man from Texas. The Iraq War is his cash cow. It’s not some cockamamie crusade for democracy! What’s democracy in Texas? One dollar, one vote. (ALL laugh)
BOB: I give that a 5!
JOY: You would! It’s a 4 at the most.
BOB: OK, vote. Fingers up. (He starts the next VOICE while counting the fingers on raised hands and recording the vote.)
VOICE SIX: I marched before the war started, and did weekly vigils for a time. My sign said "Support Our Troops. Bring them Home!" Then the Administration claimed the power to "detain" just anyone– No trial? No habeas corpus?
BOB: Better?
AMY: I hope it’s a keeper.
SIX:... I stopped marching, out of fear. What if the police break down my door?
DOLORES: Hide under the bed!
SIX:...I’m not apathetic! Not in the least! I even worked for the Democratic Party in 2004. But Bush won! Everyone I know despises him, all the polls said he would lose– and yet somehow he won. I don’t live in an America I understand any more.
VERONICA: Sounds like the "hopeless" tape that runs in my head.
RONA: That's why you belong in the Grannies. Hope's contagious.
SIX:... But lately, I'd begun to feel a little hopeful. Florida straightening out, Ohio putting in paper ballots. I came to your rally, even in that
AMY: I hope you urged this one to join us!
JOY: We got her address and phone number.
SIX:... awful rain. But the President’s put his henchmen above the law! I’m praying our country will pull out of this, but what can a mere citizen do?
DOLORES: Veronica has a point. If this woman’s lost hope–
VERONICA: What do I know? I just read books, mostly sad ones.
RONA: Much as I love it, literature doesn't speak to young people. They find causes though things like You Tube, so that's where our ditties should go.
VERONICA: You think we can save civilization with ditties?!
RONA: I do. I do, dear. The impulse to share is basic.
VERONICA: I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Rona. Everyone. Forgive me. I'm not used to being with people. (awkward pause)
BOB: Whatever gets people talking is a keeper, in my book. And now for something completely different–
VOICE SEVEN: Hell no, I don't support the troops! Let the insurgents kill them all. If the jackbooted torturers who wear our country's uniforms escape being tried for war crimes? I call on all patriotic citizens to join me in shunning them. Shame on you! Your Commander in Chief is a fascist! I love the America I grew up in: sweet land of liberty. But I'd die in one of this criminal regime's torture cells before I'd pledge allegiance to what my America has become. (applause and laughter)
AMY: It's not funny. It's flat-out shrill and divisive.
JOY: Does me good to hear it, though. Emma?
EMMA: I want to contact that woman. I've got a job for her.
RONA: Dis– Disobedience?
EMMA: Maybe.
RONA: I want to be part of it.
EMMA: That's quite a start you've made, Bob. All kinds of promise.
BOB: Thanks.
AMY: Can we get to the singing now? We have a gig next Saturday.
(As they prepare to sing, the lights fade and the sound and video of the GRANNIES performing appears on the screen)
The Grannies are marching as to war, hurrah, hurrah.
But peace is what we’re fighting for, hurrah, hurrah!
We'll throw a wrench in the war machine
And teach Dick Cheney what we mean
And we'll all be free, when we bring our soldiers home!
--------------------------------------------
SCENE SIX: Rona’s Entranceway (RONA stands dazed, in nightgown.)
VERONICA: (outside) Rona? Rona, are you in there? It's Veronica. Are you okay? Please. I'm letting myself in, so I can help–
RONA: (to door) I don't– I can't– Help! I can’t– (sobs, overlaps ) No! No! No, no, no!
VERONICA: (enters with key) What is it? What's the matter? There, there. It's all right. I'll call your doctor– I'll stay with you. Or I'll drive you to the emergency room..
RONA: Not the doctor, not emergency. Got to go! Somewhere! But I can’t remember. You, you're in on it! Tell me.
VERONICA: You asked me to drive you to rehearsal. At Joy's. With the Grannies.
RONA: The Grannies. Yes. That's it.
VERONICA: But you're not well– (Rona puts on her jacket and picks up her magic bag.)
RONA: I'm fine. I'm fine now. I was lost, but now I'm found.
VERONICA: Oh, my dear– you can’t.
RONA: A matter of life. I’m ready.
VERONICA: You’re not dressed. (RONA looks puzzled) You’re wearing your nightgown.
RONA: Help me dress, please. (puts down bag, unbuttons robe) The readiness is all.
VERONICA: I think we should call your doctor and go to the emergency room. You don’t have to dress to do that.
RONA: I’m going – to rehearsal. With the Grannies.
VERONICA: There will be other rehearsals.
RONA: I can’t be sure. I can’t be sure– what’s next. There’s a rehearsal now: isn’t there? You drive me. Please. Help me do this. This is what I want to do.
VERONICA: I’ll get your clothes.
RONA: Don’t let me forget my bag! (lights down)
--------------------------------------------------------
SCENE SEVEN: Joy’s Dining Room
DOLORES: Why can we never get a rehearsal started?
BOB: Should I bring in the tea? I’ve made upside down cake.
AMY: How appropriate! (BOB exits) I'm so looking forward to singing with a big group of Grannies. How many other Gaggles do you think will will make it to Minnesota?
JOY: How many of this Gaggle will? In theory, there are 22 of us. We already know Dolores can't be away from from her husband overnight--
EMMA: Barbara and Judy are going. They’ll practice whatever we decide. Edith won’t be singing with us for a while. Her mother had an episode.
AMY: An episode of what? (EMMA shrugs)
DOLORES: Sounds like a soap opera. (BOB brings tea.)
JOY: (helps distribute cups and tea) Rona told me she was coming when I talked to her on Sunday. Except that she seemed to think Sunday was Monday. Emma?
EMMA: I talked to Veronica. She was about to pick up Rona– an hour ago. (to Bob) Do you want to try her again? (BOB takes cell phone, exits.)
AMY: I had a very strange conversation with Rona yesterday. I called to ask her how she was feeling, and I told her that I put her name out into our Wednesday night prayer circle. And she said in just the harshest tone, "I’ll thank you to keep my name out of your superstitions. When I want prayers, I’ll ask for them!" (DOLORES & EMMA laugh) Well, you may laugh, but I have to say it hurt me. Now if it were Dolores, or even Emma–
EMMA: You’d forgive me.
AMY: Yes, I would. That’s how you are, and in spite of it I think you’re fond of me–
EMMA: It’s true. I am fond of you.
AMY: But Rona’s not like that! I thought we were friends.
DOLORES: Live and learn. Could at least talk about the songs? I wrote a new verse for the nasty: take a look. (gives up searching) Joy! Still no Sweet & Low?
JOY: I’m sorry, Dolores. I keep forgetting.
DOLORES: My fault. Or Rona’s, for being my supplier. Try this, Amy. Emma? (sing)
Let’s hear you singing/
Our nasty song
March on the White House!
Ten million strong!
We’ll throw the bums out /
And the mess they’ve made.
Impeach Bush/Cheney!
Join our parade!
Im-peach, Im-peach!
JOY: I hope we include a patriotic song, along with the hit ’em hard satire. It'sfine to Bash Republicans, but if we harm the party that's nominating the first African-American-
AMY: We're harmless comic Grandmas! Faces like ours should be front and center if the Police crack down.
DOLORES: I wish I could be there. Though it looks as if the Grannies may not get on the Free Speech Stage. There's a problem with the permits.
EMMA: Permits or no permits, there’ll be a lot of talent competing for a slot.
DOLORES: But we're a national brand!
AMY: We are?
DOLORES: The Granville Grannies made network news with their Recruiting Center Caper. "Take me! Let my grandsons live!"
EMMA: Chained the door and shut the place down.
AMY: The police took them to jail?
JOY: The army doesn’t have much of a sense of humor.
EMMA: Shutdowns work. We get 15 minutes of fame for every arrest.
JOY: Well, it’s an arresting story!
DOLORES: Cute little old ladies is good video. Shut down recruitment all over the country? That'd be something!
EMMA: So far we've always won acquittal if we fight. There are still judges who take the first amendment seriously. But Bush could use shutting down recruiting centers as an excuse to cancel the election.
DOLORES: Does he need an excuse?
AMY: I think counter-recruiting at high schools is better. Actually talking to the kids, one on one, as if they were our grandchildren–
DOLORES: It might be, if we offered them an alternative. Like, a scholarship? Or a career? If those kids have to stay in the ghetto, they might be safer in Baghdad. Don’t expect me to go along next time you harass those kids. I’ve had it with hypocrisy.
EMMA: So it’ll just be Joy and Amy with me on Thursday?
AMY: I – I can’t this week. My daughter Sue–.
JOY: Bob will come, if you think it’d be good to have a man along.
EMMA: We don’t want to wear Bob out: we need him as our Minnesota roadie. Any police brutality at the RNC, it'll be his job to record it and distribute it to the press.
DOLORES: I vote Bob counter-recruit. A man makes it less of an insult.
AMY: I second the motion.
DOLORES: We haven’t a quorum. Or do we? (enter VERONICA & RONA)
JOY: We do! There they are!
BOB: They were just turning onto our street when I called.
EMMA: Welcome! It’s so good to see you, Rona.
AMY: I hope you’re feeling better?
RONA: I’m– I’ll be all right.
JOY: You’ve brought your magic bag! With Sweet & Low and cookies?
RONA: Oatmeal raisin. (indicates to VERONICA she should get cookies out)
BOB: I’ll bring in some more hot water. (exits)
VERONICA: I can’t seem to find the cookies– but here’s the Sweet & Low–
DOLORES: I brought an Impeach song, Veronica. (gives it) Sing and improve our sound.
EMMA: Who needs improving? Me?
VERONICA: Look at this, Rona. (sings)
We’ll throw the bums out
RONA (joins in) / And the mess they’ve made.
ALL: Impeach Bush/Cheney! Join our parade! Im-peach, Im-peach!
DOLORES: Rona’s an asset too, of course. (Applauds. Others join in)
RONA: I’m so happy to be here. You can’t imagine how much this means to me. (Begins to cry, quietly . The others hug her and murmur encouragement.)
JOY: Did you ever think when we started singing that there’d be a real movement for impeachment? Monster rallies at the Democratic and Republican conventions?
EMMA: When I started, eons ago, I thought I’d be singing in the People’s Republic! Now I’d settle for what we had under Eisenhower.
DOLORES: Talk about lowered expectations!
EMMA: I’d dance in the streets.
BOB: There are so many signed on to march in St. Paul that there’s no way the police can cordon us off. We’ll make headlines all over America, so large and so loud and so–
RONA: United.
JOY: We aren’t just a fringe, we’re the People. United we stand.
EMMA: Maybe even united we sit down.
RONA: Sit down?
EMMA: Some of us want to try a sit-down strike. If enough people join, we’ll turn into a Velvet Revolution! You can’t arrest the whole population.
RONA: Yes! Do it! I'll be right there beside you!
JOY: We’re going to get our country back. I can feel it in my bones.
DOLORES: That’s osteoarthritis, baby doll. Sit down and you may not get up again.
AMY: We should make it easy for people cross over and join in.
DOLORES: People like your soldier son-in-law? How's that going?
AMY: While Dan’s in Iraq, the last thing my daughter needs is people saying that her husband is going to hell.
JOY: All we’re saying is bring them home! Not that our troops are evil.
AMY: Her father believes that soldiers are damned. Our pastor preaches it, but–.
VERONICA: Your family must be in terrible pain from this.
RONA: There are signs. (ALL look at RONA)
VERONICA: Signs of what, Rona?
RONA: Did I say something?
VERONICA: We were talking about Amy’s daughter. And you said, "There are signs."
RONA: I – I’ve seen people carrying Signs. That say our troops are guilty of war crimes.
AMY: If we were to paint that on a 40-foot banner, God help me! Sue is so upset, and Dan--. He’s– he’s volatile. JOY: Dan has a loaded gun! He’s not just volatile, he’s dangerous.
BOB: If he won’t get help–.
AMY: He’s getting help! The church is helping him. Dan would never hurt Sue.
JOY: He’s hurt her already.
AMY: That was an accident. He was asleep. I told you that in confidence! If Sue found out, she'd never forgive me.
BOB: Suicide, car crashes, stupid crimes that amount to suicide. Your Dan is one of thousands.
EMMA: Amy, we just want to help.
BOB: A couple kids I went to high school with who came home from Vietnam were dead within a year. I wish I’d at least talked to them. But I was embarrassed. I kept my head down and my mouth shut.
AMYY: People can heal. Whole countries have.
DOLORES: Like who? Don't say Germany! Defeat in World War One made Germany worse. That, and an economic collapse, which began for the US a year ago. Be careful what you wish for.
RONA: What we wish for? Why?
DOLORES: So your hero Barak gets nominated. If he survives the election, he'll preside over defeat in the Middle East and economic collapse. Look for the KKK to rise again. The Disaster Capitalists will unleash the Blackwater Blackshirts. We might be better off letting Reagan's disciples own the mess they've made.
EMMA: Dolores, It's one thing to be an Eeyore. That's your temperament. But don't paint what we're doing as foolish and futile, just so you won't have to feel bad about staying home and letting us down.
AMY: We do what we can, even if it fails in a worldly sense.
RONA: "Sing of human unsuccess/ In a rapture of distress"
VERONICA: Pessimists are a blight on humanity. Or, all we're good for is some spectacular gesture. Like the Vietnamese monks?
AMY: Set yourself on fire! That's horrible! And a sin.
RONA: Death isn’t the– the worst. The worst is a tale told by an Idiot.
VERONICA: Signifying nothing.
EMMA: Pooh. Women ruled by tyrants like the Taliban burn themselves alive every day. For nothing! For no change! What we're doing works-- as Margaret Mead said, "It's the only thing that does work". Marching with thousands in Minnesota at the Convention. Registering voters. Setting out the progressive agenda, and convincing young people--
RONA: Yes. I say, too. Young people want to do–
VERONICA: The right thing?
RONA: Matter of life.
JOY: Yes. As long as I get some fun with my do-gooding– fun and friendship.
EMMA: Save the world, with fun and friendship. All in favor? (ALL: Aye!) Motion passed.
AMY: Time to sing.
BOB: (removing dishes, exiting) I'll clear up here.
EMMA: We can do "Nasty" with Dolores' verse. And Joy, you have a suggestion?
JOY: "America". What could be more patriotic than what we're doing?
EMMA: So, "America the Beautiful" and what else?
AMY: I think we should let Rona pick.
EMMA: What do you want us to sing, Rona? Your favorite.
RONA: The other– other words.
VERONICA: Other? To a tune they've sung?
RONA: Not words. Not brain. Heart. About... about.... (crumples)
VERONICA: She’s convulsing– Get an ambulance. Her pills are in her purse.
JOY: Bob! Call 911! (goes to RONA)
AMY: (hands pills) Here.
VERONICA: Rona? Rona, try to swallow.
DELORES: Let me do it. I’ve had practice.
EMMA: That looks like a stroke to me.
AMY: Oh dear God, please, not Rona. Is she going to die?
DOLORES: If she’s lucky. (An ambulance siren fades into police sirens.)
.............................................................................
SCENE EIGHT: The Demonstration in St. Paul
(Quick collage of images. Through whatever multimedia means has been established and live action on stage, we get a sense of a mass demonstration thwarted. Pictures of black limousines, roaring through back streets which are lined with police in riot gear, distant shots of retreating demonstrators– some being pushed behind barriers, a few in plastic handcuffs being herded into vans. News video shows quick interviews with individual demonstrators, who are coughing and wiping their eyes. Protesters carrying signs are dropping them, or using them as shields. The Grannies– EMMA in particular, as if she has been tagged as a leader and kept under surveillance– are rounded up and loaded into an offstage police van.)
ON TV– DEMONSTRATOR ONE: They caged us in a "free speech Zone"! They trapped us on the bridge and wouldn't let us leave, while they attacked us. Pepper spray, rubber bullets, smoke bombs! What a (bleep)ing bunch of (bleep). We never got near the delegates! The media-- they made no attempt to find out what was happening to us, to We the People! That's what it's come to.
ON TV– LAWYER: Don’t call it the "war on terror." It’s a war on the Constitution, on US citizens' free speech and peaceable assembly. I would never have believed it: spies, informants, preemptive search warrants-- in liberal Minnesota! I'm a lawyer, here to protect these people's rights, but the Feds and the riot squads confiscated all their means of communication, all the cameras and cell phones the protestors were going to use record these Storm Troopers. Journalists', too! This will happen to you, next! Follow the trail of tears, right under your feet, under your noses, a trail of broken impeachment signs, thrown down by terrified citizens running for their lives.
ON TV– BLEEDING DEMONSTRATOR- TWO: They treat us like serfs! "Serfs" who fight their wars and work to make them rich! What does a CEO do for his millions? Lies and bribes! Our government? Sold out to pigs!
ON TV– WITNESS ONE: I am stunned by this police state response in my city. I always thought of us as progressive. Street comedians and jugglers get more respect.
ON TV– WITNESS FIVE: I am now convinced that our Wars of Occupation will go on till our Empire collapses, because a meaningful resistance will not happen. Thousands of dedicated nonviolent people have tried their best, and been totally routed. Might has trumped democracy. Strangely, I now feel largely detached. All the fragile things I value are at risk– civilization, itself. Yet it feels as if there's nothing for me to do but bear witness.
---------------------------------------------------------
SCENE NINE: Hospital, Waiting Area Outside Rona’s Room
(VERONICA is sitting reading a book. DOLORES comes in, carrying flowers.)
VERONICA: Dolores?
DOLORES: Don’t look so surprised. I was sure you’d be here. Why were you sure that I wouldn’t?
VERONICA: I thought you'd be busy. Caring for your husband. Bailing out your friends.
DOLORES: They're all out of jail and back home-- except Emma.
VERONICA: The ACLU predicted they'd only be locked up till the Republicans left town.
DOLORES: Security must have flagged Emma as a ringleader.
VERONICA: Über-Granny!
DOLORES: She’ll straighten them out. No dark power behind the gray heads.
VERONICA: If there were one, she’d probably be on a government payroll.
DOLORES: The Feds knew beforehand what groups were coming, where they were staying. They jailed people before they could get a message out.
VERONICA: I noticed there wasn’t more than a sound bite on the news. Protestors arrested. No pictures, nothing about who or why.
DOLORES: If only the feds were that well organized for disasters! They canceled permits, cordoned off protests, kept the arrests out of sight.
VERONICA: People must have had cell phones. Where are those pictures?
DOLORES: Kill technology? Could the police have kill technology?
VERONICA: To block a square mile of cell phones?
DOLORES: It’d be classified.
VERONICA: Of course it would.
DOLORES: I’d better go in. If Rona’s awake she’ll be wondering what’s going on.
VERONICA: She won’t know you.
DOLORES: These things take time.
VERONICA: It’s so ironic! Rona wanted to die onstage singing, or in jail! To be numbered among the martyrs. But no: the machines got her.
DOLORES: A ventilator? My Aunt had that, and she recovered.
VERONICA: What’s in there is a terrified animal, howling in the clutch of demons. A Rona doesn’t "recover" from that.
DOLORES: If she has some speech, that’s a good sign.
VERONICA: Not speech. Sounds that she'd never want anybody to hear. They’re keeping her alive to justify their technology. Spending thousands of dollars that Rona would want to go to young people, or to her beloved library. I tell you, it’s horrible.
DOLORES: I’m tough. I can take it. (starts off)
VERONICA: I can’t!
DOLORES: Then go home. Live your life. We can only do what we can.
VERONICA: I’m still trying to figure out what that is.
DOLORES: Rona would want you to carry on with the Grannies.
VERONICA: If there were still a Rona for whom it would mean something, I would. It’d be almost unbearable, dancing and singing while the person I care about sinks– but I’d do it one last time. If I thought it mattered to her.
DOLORES: One last time?
VERONICA: My husband had Lou Gehrig’s. Our son Miles, just 27, with a pregnant wife and a one year teaching contract: his headaches turned out to be a brain tumor. We watched him suffer, his wife and I. Until he couldn’t stand to watch us watching him, and took his own life.
DOLORES: That must have been very hard.
VERONICA: I was in the house when Miles did it. I didn’t know, I didn’t help– but his wife accused me, said that I was glad. I was devastated! But I was– relieved, too. That Miles was able to chose. Kay, though; she was angry, bitterly angry– with Miles for leaving her, with me for letting him. With her God for condemning suicides to Hell. Kay never accepted that Miles did it for us. For love. She took Miles' baby to live with her parents, and cut off all contact.
DOLORES: You don’t need this. Why are you here?
VERONICA: It’s a good place to think, wouldn’t you say?
DOLORES: To feel, I’d say.
VERONICA: Oh, I can feel anywhere! I have more feelings than I know what to do with. I need to think. My life is a burden to me, but I don’t want to throw it away. I want to spend it on something significant. Tell me what to do!
DOLORES: Me? Dora Doomsday? Well, I'm sticking with the Grannies, if only as a Time Out from a grumpy husband. Sam's pessimism makes me look like Pollyanna. Plus, I enjoy writing ditties for Emma. I admire her.
VERONICA: So do I. Emma is the very model of a moderate major activist. But you’re the one who understands. Do you remember the Palestinian woman who made the cover of Newsweek? Great-grandmother of 37, mother and grandmother of martyrs? Who strapped on a vest in a smiling video, and blew up a bus?
DOLORES: You’re not thinking of bombs!?
VERONICA: Why not? You think of bombs. All the time. I know you do. But I’m thinking of symbols. Buddhist monks burning in Saigon. The poor and powerless version of Shock and Awe.
DOLORES: You can’t mean to–
VERONICA: No, I have no mind to turn murderer– if for no better reason than that people like me can never get close to our real enemies. But the impotent and old are not always tame. With Lear, I say: "I will do such things– what they are yet I know not; but they shall be the terrors of the earth."
DOLORES: Lear was mad at the time.
VERONICA: Me, too. (chuckles) Laugh or go mad-- isn't that what Emma says? I've outlived my sense of humor.
DOLORES: No, you haven't-- and you haven't outlived your caring. I WILL tell you what to do. Stick around for a while. Be my friend. Laugh at my snark. Sing with the Grannies on the days when you feel up to it, and on really good days? Allow yourself to believe that if Obama wins this election our country won't go the way of Columbia, or Nazi Germany.
VERONICA: You predict Obama will be assassinated.
DOLORES: Dora Doomsday figures a 70% chance. Haters have guns. Why do you suppose the Republicans choose a boogyman for Vice President? Assassination insurance.
VERONICA: Chaos? Civil war? I don't see how I can stand--
DOLORES: "Interesting Times", like the Chinese curse. Chin up! Life's a comedy to those who think. You can always off yourself, and waiting gives you time to plan something really spectacular. But when you do, for God’s sake, don’t tell me about it! (sounds of visitors coming towards them) All your friends will be vulnerable--
VERONICA: I won’t be evil. Just– spectacular.
DOLORES: Not even a hint! Don’t tempt any of us to help you, or stop you, or turn you in. People at Virginia Tech who so much as went to third grade with Cho– they were visited by police, interviewed on CNN–
VERONICA: I won’t involve anyone. (indicates friends)
DOLORES: You’ve already involved me! What am I supposed to do?
VERONICA: STFU?
(DOLORES bursts out laughing, embraces VERONICA, who is laughing and crying at once. AMY, JOY, BOB. EMMA, and HELEN enter, some of them carrying flowers.)
EMMA: Are you having a party?
JOY: Is Rona better? Does she recognize you?
DOLORES: Emma. you’re out! (hugs her) I haven’t seen Rona.
VERONICA: She doesn’t recognize. The doctors don’t hold out much hope. What they say is, they "can’t rule out a miracle".
AMY: I believe in miracles. I’m going to go pray with her. (goes )
EMMA: Veronica, you know Helen? The intrepid Baghdad reporter? She’s a real musician, too; from a musical family. Her twin granddaughters are home from college and want to play their guitars with us!
HELEN: (nods) They think you gals are a hoot.
VERONICA: And you think so, too? After the fiasco in St. Paul?
HELEN: Fiascos are the stuff of legend. Let me tell you about the time I-
EMMA: Save it for rehearsal, won’t you? When we can give it our full attention.
DOLORES: Our Gaggle thinks rehearsals are for talking.
EMMA: Dolores has this eccentric notion that we should do justice to the music.
BOB: Why haven’t you gone in? Are they doing a procedure?
JOY: I think Emma’s stalling because she wants to give Amy space for her prayers.
VERONICA: It’s hard to be in that room. Even though it’s wall-to-wall flowers. The nurses have started taking her bouquets to other patients. People send them who know her from the library, from her book clubs, the Symphony Society–
JOY: Of course. They love her. (AMY re-enters)
AMY: Rona looks as if she’s in some terrible– distress. I– I feel as if my prayers are making her worse.
VERONICA: She never thought much of prayer. Why ask favors? she said. If God is good, he’ll do what’s best. If not?– don’t give Him the satisfaction.
JOY: We should sing. Is that allowed?
BOB: People in a coma respond to singing: it shows up in their brain waves.
JOY: Let’s sing "Gimme That Old Time Constitution." She loved that.
VERONICA: No, she didn’t! She approved of it, because she thought it worked. But the truth is she didn’t like satire, or ditties. She liked hymns; sad and serious ones.
AMY: "How Can I Keep From Singing?"– That’s her favorite. Remember Emma? You wanted Dolores to rewrite it, but Rona said It's too beautiful to parody.
VERONICA: That sounds like Rona.
EMMA: Granny Rule is only sing stuff that’s Granny-written.
BOB: Rules are made to be broken.
EMMA: Of course! But nobody knows it. I mean I do, but I'm probably the only–
HELEN: I know it. (Some others agree.)
AMY: Is it possible we all know it? Wouldn’t that be a miracle?
(They nod, and begin to sing in harmony, which becomes beautiful as they gather strength and confidence.)
DOLORES: (sings) My life goes on in endless song
ALL: Above earth’s lamentation,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear its music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?
What though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
What though the darkness 'round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.
In prison cell and dungeon vile
Our thoughts of love are winging,
When friends by shame are undefiled
How can I keep from singing?
The End
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