LINKS
by
T. Cat Ford
T. Cat Ford
st
314 East 41 Street, #406B
New York, NY 10017
(212) 666-9788
[email protected]
www.tcatford.com
© July 5, 2006
Characters:
Ann Barns:
Early 30’s, upper class, perfect
Brenda Chatsworth:
Early 30’s, grew up in the country but is doing her
best to be like Ann. She is a little overweight.
Allen Barns:
Early 30’s, Ann’s husband. Appears to be very laid
back. A gentle person.
Brian Chatsworth:
Early 30’s, Brenda’s husband. Brash and assertive.
He is well educated but likes to put on “red neck” airs.
Setting:
The action of the play takes place in and around the Oakland Georgia Golf and
Country Club. A constant scenic element for the three acts are the trunks of long
leaf yellow pines. As these trees are usually between 40 and 60 feet tall we do
not see their tops.
Time:
June 1 of the current year.
Special Note:
The play takes consists of three scenes. The men and women’s perceptions of
their respective situations are different; therefore, the actors playing the women
in Poolside should not use information in Tee For Two and visa versa.
POOLSIDE
Characters:
Ann Barns:
Ann is perfect. Perfect figure, tasteful but sexy
designer bathing suit, hair that is styled but doesn’t
look it, make-up that took an hour to put on but looks
“natural”.
Brenda Chatsworth:
Brenda tries very hard to hide her “white trash”
background. Things that are easy for Ann are, for
Brenda, difficult battles. Her bathing suit is a designer
rip-off, her hair is styled but slightly messy, etc.
Setting:
The pool of the Oakland Georgia Golf and Country Club.
Relationship:
Ann and Brenda are friends because they each have what the other lacks.
Brenda admires Ann’s seemingly easy and graceful way of life and wants to
achieve Ann’s style. Ann would love to be ale to do something on an impulse
and treasures the moments when Brenda forgets herself and shows her white
trash roots.
Playing Style:
The beginning is to be played with absolute stillness as if Ann and Brenda have
been in their deck chairs for a very long time. The written pauses are important
both rhythmically and dramatically. Dramatically they represent what the
characters can’t say to each other and are as important as the dialogue.
Rhythmically, they shape the piece and, for this reason, as well as for comic
timing, pauses need to be taken only where written. Ann and Brenda
communicate on many levels and looking at each other is not always necessary.
As the piece progresses both characters are propelled by feelings and urges
they don’t understand. Seemingly small incidents, such as the smoking episode,
are extremely serious. After the chairs are moved for the last time a surrealistic
quality emerges. A pause could represent a week, a month or a year. Brenda
becomes more and more comfortable and self satisfied as Ann embodies the
image of the sand dollar – golden, trapped and aware
ANN
I mean it's very very personal . . .
BRENDA
I'm really sorry.
ANN
That's O.K.
BRENDA
I didn't mean to pry.
ANN
You weren't prying.
BRENDA
I was. It's a habit of mine. I'm sure you'll tell me where you're going before you
move so we can write at least. Brian doesn't like me making long distance phone
calls. I hope it's someplace real nice.
PAUSE
ANN
Randy Batton made a pass at me . . .
BRENDA
No.
ANN
Yes.
BRENDA
No.
ANN
Yes. I was out in the yard with the kids . . . they were swinging . . .and he walked
to the break in the hedge and motioned for me to come over there . . .
BRENDA
Unhuh?
ANN
I thought it was something to do with the hedge . . . it was Allen's turn to cut it
and he hadn't . . . but he said the most amazing thing . . . he said "Give me your
hand."--and I did because I thought he was going to do a joke or something--and
then he said that for the past year the highlight of his life had been when we
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were both out in the yard and we had talked about the pine cones and the straw
and the weather and that he loved me more than he had ever loved Cindy Sue,
and would I please let him kiss me just once. Can you imagine? Right there in
front of the kids holding my hand and saying all these things? I was so
embarrassed, and the worst part was what he said last . . . he said that for the
past year--every night--he had taped the news so that he could go out in his yard
and pretend to be straightening up, but what he was really doing was watching
me do my dishes.
BRENDA
No.
ANN
Well, ever since then I haven't been able to do the dishes even with the shade
down. Just thinking about Randy Batton thinking about me doing the dishes
makes me self conscious and I break plates. So for the past week Allen has
been doing the dishes, and he is so mad about it he says we have to move.
BRENDA
I'm speechless.
ANN
I know. It's just awful.
BRENDA
You have put so much work into that house.
ANN
I know.
BRENDA
You just got your dining room the way you wanted it.
ANN
I know.
BRENDA
I can't believe you have to move. I don't know what to say.
ANN
I know.
BRENDA
Well. Where do you think you'll go?
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ANN
I don't know. Allen's talking to Bud Graham about that lot across the street from
us. It's a little swampy but it's bigger than the lot we have now and we'd be able
to build a much bigger house.
BRENDA
You mean you're not leaving Oakland?
ANN
Of course not.
BRENDA
Oh. You had me worried.
ANN
We would never leave here. We were born here. This is where we belong.
BRENDA
That's what I thought. Won't it bother you being across the street from the
Battons?
ANN
Huh?
BRENDA
Won't it bother you just as much being across the street from Randy Batton?
ANN
I don't think so. Besides the kitchen's going to be in the back.
BRENDA
The kitchen's going to be in the back?
ANN
Umhuh.
BRENDA
I don't believe you.
ANN
What?
BRENDA
I just don't believe you.
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ANN
What?
BRENDA
Maybe we shouldn't talk about it anymore. Oh my oh!--Justin! It's all right.
Mommy just didn't know where you were that's all. Go back and slide with
Marylynn. For a few seconds I forgot all about that child. I wish I could leave
Justin at home with a sitter. Your kids don't seem to mind that at all, but I would
feel too guilty. Justin loves to go swimming. And, of course, we can’t do that at
home like you and your children can. We have to come here. We don’t have a
choice like you do. I suppose you’ll be building a new pool too? Have you
picked out the pool design?
ANN
What do you mean you don't believe me?
BRENDA
Nothing.
ANN
No tell me.
BRENDA
Nothing.
ANN
Now you're driving me crazy.
BRENDA
All right. I don't believe you went through this horrible experience, let yourself
get so traumatized you couldn't even wash a plate and now you are planning to
move right across the street from this man without even breathing a word of it to
me. I would have loved to help you pick out your new house plan.
ANN
I know, but things have been so crazy.
BRENDA
I love you. Don't you know that? And when you face trouble I want to be there
for you. You were there for me when my Nana died, and that meant so much.
I'd just like to be able to return the favor, that's all. So from now on don't hold
back on me. You make me so mad.
ANN
I'm sorry.
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BRENDA
That's O.K. What kind of house plan did you pick?
ANN
Ranch.
BRENDA
I love those. Have you picked out the color of brick?
ANN
No.
BRENDA
Then you have to let me help you. Promise?
ANN
Promise.
BRENDA
All right. I feel better.
ANN
You're getting a little sun.
BRENDA
Yeah?
ANN
Yeah.
BRENDA
Thank goodness. Maybe today won't be a total waste. Do you think we should
move our chairs?
ANN
Not yet. We just moved them.
BRENDA
I hope it doesn’t rain.
ANN
Don’t be silly. The sun is shining.
BRENDA
It can rain with the sun shining and you know what that means!
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