Closets - A Play

Act 2: Scene 6

Scene 6

Holly, Amy and Harold are sitting around a table, drinking out of mugs (coffee, tea, etc). They are spending time together.

Amy: Work is going really well, I'm going to take up some more hours, so that we can keep the house.

Harold: Am I still going with you?

Amy: Well- sometimes. I arranged for Kandi to babysit when she isn't working.

Harold: Why do you have to swim so much.

Holly: Swim?

Harold: Yeah! She works at a pool!

Holly: What? I thought you worked at a call center.

Amy: New job, Holly.

There is a silence. Holly clenches her fists. Preparing to speak.

Holly: I need to tell you guys something. But I need you to promise to listen to me first.

Amy: Sure, Holly. Is everything alright?

Holly: Well. The night before dad shot himself, I had- a bit of a moment of weakness.

Amy: A moment of weakness?

Holly: Yeah, I- um. I-. I- uh. I just.

Harold: Spit it out, Holly. You're annoying when you do that.

Holly: I fucked Jeremy.

Amy: Language, Holly.

Holly: I slept with- Wait, are you even listening to me?

Amy: Yes, I am Holly. Were you expecting me to be excited?

Holly: No I just wasn't expecting you to be this-

Amy: Calm? Yeah, Holly. I'm calm. I'll be real calm when you explain to me what in hell you were thinking?

Holly: I was scared, and upset. I wanted him to be close to me.

Amy: You are sixteen years old, Holly. Sixteen. You aren't ready for sex. You're not even legally old enough to have sex!You're a child.

Holly: No mom, I'm not. I take care of Hadley all the time, I take care of Harold when you're out drinking. I balance school, and pom, and my friends, and life. And I take care of your kids. I think I'm responsible enough to have a kid of my own.

Amy: What?! What the hell do you mean a kid of your own?

Holly: I-I'm pregnant, Mom.

Amy: You're PREGNANT? Holly, you are fourteen years old. Please- please tell me you're kidding.

Holly: No, I'm pregnant, Mom. I know you're upset but-

Amy: Upset?! Upset? Damn right, I'm upset. I'm hurt. I'm disappointed. I'm ashamed. How could you do this to us?

Holly: There is no us. There is a me. There is a you. There is a Harold. We aren't a team. That's not how this works.

Harold is in the middle of the two arguing.

Amy: We are a family.

Holly: Are we? Do families not speak to each other for weeks on end? Do families ignore each other? Do families hate each other?

Amy: I don't hate you, Holly...

Holly: Well Dad did...

Amy: Dad's dead...

Holly: And maybe that's your fault!

Amy: Don't. You. Dare!

Holly: If you would've been honest, and loved him, maybe I would have a fucking da...!

Harold: Holly, calm down.

Amy: And you were such a loving, amazing daughter, weren't you? Huh?

Holly is obviously hurt, and uses the most hurtful thing she can say

Holly: If you hadn't been such a shitty wife, maybe he wouldn't of had to fuck somebody else.

Amy stops, and stares at Holly. Realizes what she means, and is so hurt by Holly's insult, she slaps Holly and exits.

Harold: (jaw-dropped in surprisement) You shouldn't of said that.

Holly: I don't regret it.

On one side of the stage, Holly is sitting in a chair, on the opposite, Amy is sitting in a chair. They are both facing center stage, but they cannot see each other. A therapist sits in a chair center stage

Amy: I don't know what I did wrong, I raised her the best that I could. I don't understand why she has gone down this path. Is it because of my secrets? I have no idea who she is anymore.

Holly: And she thinks she's the boss of me, if she wanted to be my boss, and this amazing fucking mother, maybe she should've started when dad was alive.

Amy: I tried to be there for her, I tried to help her. She was always so independent. I thought that was a good thing. I thought she would grow up in a good way, and she'd listen and ask for help.

Holly: And she's determined to come in and help me all the time, I'm fine. I don't need her.

Amy: I want her to listen to me.

Holly: She never cares about what I say!

Amy: I want her to not be afraid.

Holly: She hit me!

Amy: I want her to respect me.

Holly: She's a bitch!

Amy: I just want her to love me.

Holly: I want her to give me the freedom I deserve.

Amy: She keeps breaking my trust.

Holly: I need her to let me be me.

Amy: She always makes poor decisions.

The speak simultaneously

Holly: I want to love her like that, but I don't think I can anymore.

Amy: I want to love her like that, but I don't think I can anymore.

Holly: She doesn't understand I'm doing what's best.

Amy: She doesn't understand I'm doing what's best.

Holly: I just don't know what to do.

Amy: I just don't know what to do.

Holly: I want to be a good mother. I'm afraid I'll mess up.

Amy: I want to be a good mother. I'm afraid I'll mess up.

Holly: Maybe it's too late to learn to love her.

Amy: Maybe it's too late to learn to love her.

Blackout