Inside The Morgan Family E-Book

kenechukwu obi

• Herausgeber: KenWrites
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

This play is about a California family.
Mr. Morgan is a widower with two daughters – Joy and Tracey, who are hot tempered and find it hard to get along most times. While Joy works hard at becoming a successful writer, Tracey is all party, fun and sex till she gets impregnated by Jim, her boyfriend........

Leseprobe

INSIDE THE MORGAN FAMILY

A PLAY

BY

KENECHUKWU OBI

CAST

MR. MORGAN

MR. DOUGLAS - JOY’S BOSS

JOY       

TRACEY             MR. MORGAN’S DAUGHTERS

JIM             -      TRACEY’S BOY FRIEND

FEMALE COP

SCENE ONE

SPOTLIGHT REVEALS THE SITTING ROOM OF MR. MORGAN’S HOUSE ON STAGE. IT IS MORNING. THE SITTING ROOM IS NOT TASTEFULLY FURNISHED. IT CONTAINS AN OLD TELEVISION, A CD PLAYER, TELEPHONE, TWO SETTEES AND A DINNING TABLE WITH FOUR CHAIRS AROUND IT. ON THE DINNING TABLE ARE A JUG AND FOUR TEACUPS. THE ATMOSPHERE IS ONE OF QUIET. THEN MR. MORGAN ENTERS, YAWNING.

MR. MORGAN

[He stops yawning and takes a deep breath] I’ve never slept this soundly for months. [Stretches himself] I am filled with so much strength that I feel I can jump up and down like a boy of thirteen. [Jumps up and takes another deep breath] Oh gracious heavenly father, thank you so much for making it possible for me to see this day, the eleventh day of September 2002, right here in Sherman Oaks, California. I will turn seventy-five, three months from today. I hope the good Lord…. will keep me alive to celebrate it.

[Laughs] Where are my daughters? [He calls out] Joy. Are you still sleeping? Won’t you come out for a cup of coffee?

MR. MORGAN GETS NO REPLY.

Tracey, what about you?

TRACY’S VOICE COMES ALIVE AS SHE REPLIES FROM HER ROOM

TRACEY

Go ahead, Daddy. I will soon join you.

MR. MORGAN

That’s right.

MR MORGAN WALKS TO THE DINNING TABLE; POURS HIMSELF SOME COFFEE AND TAKES A SIP.

MR. MORGAN

[Vociferates after the sip] How time flies and sends tragedies to annals of history. [Tone turns sorrowful] Time really flies………….

MR. MORGAN SUDDENLY BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS.

I miss her. She was the light on the dark side of me. What a dream that never came true, for I dreamt of Betty and me living long, and sharing the glittering love between us to even its last drop. What a horrible death that stole her from me. She would have been here now taking coffee with me and keeping me company. Oh… Betty, I miss you.

SPOTLIGHT DEPARTS FROM MR. MORGAN TO JOY’S ROOM. JOY IS LYING ON HER BED AND ENGROSSED IN SOLILOQUY.

JOY

I have read many of Shakespeare’s plays, of which Romeo and Juliet comes readily to mind. I have read the plays of Samuel Beckett, George Bernard Shaw and Harold Pinter. [With deep and sincere appreciation] I marvel at their artistries and wonder when I’m going to make it as a playwright. I crave the fame and attention all one’s works bring. When will I be a proud recipient of the prestigious Nobel Prize for literature? Just as Africa’s Wole Soyinka. I’ve read quite a number of his plays. What a talent he is. [Feels sudden surge of confidence within] I will surely make it.

JOYS SPRINGS UP AND JOINS HER NOW SEATED FATHER IN THE SITTING ROOM.

JOY

Good morning, Daddy. [Walks towards Mr. Morgan.]

MR. MORGAN

[Cheerfully] Good morning, Joy! Why not join me with your own coffee? You will be doing Daddy a whole lot of good if you will just spare some time. Listen, Joy, I know you have to go to work, but a couple of minutes won’t be too much to spare for Daddy, I suppose.

JOY

[Kisses Mr. Morgan’s left cheek.] I’m on vacation. You know what, Daddy? [Goes to pour herself some coffee] I have a burning question in my mind.

MR. MORGAN

I’m listening. [Laughs]

JOY

[Laughs, walks closer to her father and sits beside him]

I understand how much you love to sit all day and discuss with Tracey and I. You feel lonely, isn’t it?

MR. MORGAN

[Snarls] No thanks to the terrorists that snatched your mother away from me. She was my best friend.

JOY

[Suddenly urges.] No! Calm down, Daddy! Please let’s not go into that. I don’t want to break down in tears, please. September eleven cannot break our resolve to keep moving ahead. We have to be strong now and face the life ahead of us. You understand, Daddy?

MR. MORGAN

Sure! Right now, I want you to scream as you say these words. Daddy will live to see his seventy-fifth birthday.

JOY

[Screams] Daddy will live to see his seventy-fifth birthday! [Giggles]

MORGAN

[Screams] That’s right, my daughter. [Elated] Now I feel as strong as a boy of twelve. Oh…the glory is to God in heaven above the skies. [Hands spread out, face, up in heaven’s direction] I praise your holy name for the birds of the air …, the waters of the seas and oceans, for the beasts in forests. But mostly for daily bread you provide for our tummies. [Laughs]

JOY

[Laughs] Daddy, what does it take to be a successful writer?

MR. MORGAN

Oh! Good question! A lot! You want to be one?

JOY

Yes.

MR. MORGAN

That reminds me of my favourite story. A tale of two cities by the great Charles Dickens. You need to work hard. Write and read wide to hone your skills. You need to be patient and wait for your time to come. I believe every writer has a time to come to lime light. Be steadfast and persevere when things are not working out. So when am I reading your first novel?

JOY

It’s going to be a play. I hope to see it run in studio theatres and get the attention of HBO or Paramount pictures. RipRap theatre would be fine. Mad Lab theatre in Columbus, Ohio is also great! I wish also to see my play run there.

MR.MORGAN

RipRap! Yes I know about that theatre. It is right here with us in California.

JOY

That is Sandra Nutt’s brain-child, Daddy.

MR.MORGAN

Yes, I know about that hardworking lady. Is it true her father is from the Ivory Coast in Africa?

JOY

Yes. Sandra is one big inspiration I have here. Many of her programmes are geared towards creating exposure for writers of all styles. Isn’t that great, Dad? [Giggles]

MR. MORGAN

[Elated] That’s great! Hang on to your dreams, Joy. Oh… you’re another Shakespeare in my family. I feel honoured. Is it going to be like Romeo and Juliet or Hamlet or Mac Beth? Listen, my daughter. Your name ought to be Williams now.[Giggles] William Shakespeare and no more Joy. How about that? [Smiles]

TRACEY JOINS MR.MORGAN AND JOY IN THE SITTING ROOM, ALL DRESSED UP.

TRACEY

[Screams] Daddy, will live to see his seventy-fifth birthday! [Giggles]

MR. MORGAN

[Appreciates] Yes! That was the wonderful voice of, my Tracey. Come and have a seat.

TRACEY

[Declines] No, Daddy. I have a date with Jim.

MR. MORGAN

Oh…. that handsome boy with the face of a fox.

TRACEY

[Not admitting it] That’s not true, Daddy. Of course you know he is the best around.

MR MORGAN

But when are you going to get a job? I want you to be productive. This family will benefit from that. And of course, our great United States.