Sky

by Connie Gault
Haunting and beautiful, a tale of a pregnant girl, a dimwitted husband and the Second
Coming.
SETTING
The action of the play takes place between the late summer and winter of 1920, just
outside a small prairie village.
CHARACTERS
OLD BLANCHE: A tough, solid, resolute old woman. She smokes cigarettes almost
constantly, seldom putting her hand to her mouth, letting the smoke drift into her eyes.
She must look like a believable older Blanche. The play is her story.
BLANCHE: Sixteen years old and pregnant. She uses a surface anger to screen herself
from others. She never yells because in yelling she might reveal and share her real anger.
When she’s forced to say something that’s important to her, her vocal chords close in an
attempt to keep the words in.
JASPER: Late twenties. A sincere young man with a sense of humor and his own kind of
dignity.
NELL: A vigorous, motherly woman in her thirties.
Square brackets have been placed in the text to indicate dialogue spoken while the
following character interrupts.
Connie Gault writes plays and fiction. Sky, published by Blizzard Publishing in 1989,
was her first play. She is also the author of The Soft Eclipse (Blizzard, 1990), Otherwise
Bob (Scirocco Drama, 1999) and a new play, Red Lips. Several of her radio dramas have
aired on CBC, including Sky, which was also produced by the BBC World Service as a
“Play of the Week.” Her second short story collection, Inspection of a Small Village
(Coteau Books), won the 1996 City of Regina Book Award. Her stories have appeared in
anthologies such as: Turn of the Story: Canadian Short Fiction on the Eve of the
Millennium (Anansi, 1999); the Oxford Book of Stories by Canadian Women (Oxford
University Press, 1999); The Writer’s Path, (Nelson, 1998) and Best Canadian Stories
(Oberon, 1996).
Sky was first produced by Twenty Fifth Street Theatre Centre, Saskatoon, in February,
1989, with the following cast:
BLANCHE Lori Biamonte
JASPER Randy Hughson
NELL Sharon Bakker
OLD BLANCHE Eva Atwell
Directed by Tom Bentley-Fisher
Set designed by Robert Wells
Costumes designed by Lori Nehaj
Lighting designed by William McDermott
Technical Director: Jim Arthur
Stage Manager: Jodi Junkin
Artistic Director: Tom Bentley-Fisher
Following its premiere, Sky was performed at Theatre Network, Edmonton, in March,
1989. Susequently, it was produced by Coping Stone Theatre, Toronto, in 1995. A
version of Sky was workshopped by the Saskatchewan Playwrights Centre and by
Playwrights Workshop Montreal.
CHARACTERS
OLD BLANCHE in her seventies
BLANCHE sixteen
JASPER about twenty
NELL late thirties or early forties
PRODUCTION NOTES
The play takes place in two presents, that of BLANCHE, about 1920, and that of OLD
BLANCHE, about sixty years later. The story is set just outside a small prairie town.
There is a small, two-roomed house and a garden. There must be a sense of the
surrounding prairie and the wide sky. At the outside edge of the yard is a plain metal
arch, just a length of tubing formed into a narrow U and inverted. There’s no fence, no
path, and the arch leads nowhere. A kitchen window overlooks the yard and the arch. The
kitchen is crowded with plain furniture, a wood cook stove, a worktable, a kitchen table,
a Winnipeg couch, two chairs and a rocker. In the bedroom there’s room only for a
broken-down bed and a trunk
OLD BLANCHE works in her yard while the story of the first months of her marriage
unfolds. Throughout the play her attitude is that of one who perseveres in the ordering of
her own world. The stage directions given about the work she is doing are simply
suggestions. In rehearsal, opportunities should be explored for interaction between OLD
BLANCHE and BLANCHE and JASPER. It may be possible for OLD BLANCHE to
speak some of BLANCHE’S lines.
Note on punctuation: dashes indicate interruptions, brackets indicate speeches that are
overtaken by the next character’s speeches, and ellipses indicate where a character’s
speech trails off
SCENE 1
It is early morning after a summer storm. Wind has blown branches from the caraganas,
knocked over pails, ripped some shingles from the roof of the house. Old Blanche, with a
cigarette in her mouth, works steadily to clean up the mess. She empties the refuse into
the burning barrel. The sun comes out from behind the clouds.
BLANCHE, in a faded old dress, stands in the arch looking out on the prairie and sky.
JASPER, in a suit, hovers a few feet behind her.
JASPER It’s not so far from town, is it? (Pause) The house is pretty small, but that’s all
right. Not so much housework eh?
BLANCHE doesn’t respond.
I forgot to tell you, Aunt Nell invited us for supper tomorrow, to celebrate. She said
tonight we’d better get to know one another. She said you’re going to be surprised. She
says you won’t believe a bachelor lives here. Should say lived here eh? (Pause.) Dearly
beloved, that’s the part I liked best. Right at the beginning, remember?
BLANCHE doesn’t respond.
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God. I like that. I could almost feel
Him watching us. (He expects agreement, gets nothing. Long pause.) Do you like to
garden? You could grow flowers next year. (tries again) I put down some new linoleum.
It’s only the leftover from Mr. Carrie’s kitchen but it sure brightens the place up. And it’ll
be easier on your feet. I put it down where I figure you’ll be doing most of your walking.
Back and forth, to the stove. You want to see? Sure brightens the place up. That’s what
Aunt Nell said. It sure does too. Don’t you want to come in now? Blanche? (Pause.)
Blanche?
JASPER goes into the house. BLANCHE continues to stand staring out for a few
moments, then turns and goes into the house.
JASPER Come on in. What do you think eh? It’s small, but. . .. This is the kitchen. And
here’s the bedroom. Here’s the linoleum I was telling you about. I had to nail down the
edges. See all the nails? Couldn’t have you tripping. I said to Mr. Currie, them edges all
curl up. I like the linoleum fine, but them edges all curl up and he said, “You can’t have
that, Jasper.” He said you’ve got to nail it down. So I did. (Pause) Oh Nearly forgot. Got
some money for you. Here. (Pause.)
BLANCHE refuses to touch the money JASPER sets the roll of bills on the table.
BLANCHE looks at it. She turns the wedding ring on her finger.
You can get some material and make some curtains.
BLANCHE (quietly) Keep it.
JASPER No. It’s for you. For curtains. Nothing brightens up a house like curtains. That’s
what Aunt Nell says.
BLANCHE You keep the money. (Pause.) You’re the man in the house. aren’t you?
JASPER Yeah. (Pause.) I was going to buy new curtains, but Aunt Nell said you might
like to choose your own.
BLANCHE I don’t give a god-damn about curtains.
JASPER I know what you want. (Pause.) You want a new dress. (Pause.) Aunt Nell
thought you might like a new dress.
BLANCHE (after a moment) God-damn-it.
JASPER What do you want then eh?
BLANCHE (after a moment) Nothing.
JASPER Sure you do. (He waits, but no long enough for BLANCHE to decide to speak.)
Well?
BLANCHE How about some coffee?
JASPER Coffee? All right. Coffee. Yes sir.
JASPER reheats coffee. He begins to hum “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”
BLANCHE (after a few bars) It could be real quiet here. I’ll say that much for this place.
JASPER It’s pretty clean too, eh? Mother was always a stickler for a clean house. I’ve
been working on it all week
BLANCHE It’s cleaner than the place I left
JASPER I figured you’d be surprised. You are surprised, aren’t you? You think you’re
gonna like it?
BLANCHE Can’t tell, can I? Can you cook?
JASPER Yup.
BLANCHE Good.
JASPER starts humming again.
JASPER I guess your family will be coming to visit once we’re settled eh? Blanche?
BLANCHE I don’t expect they will.
JASPER Won’t they want to see you? See how you’re doing here? Get a look at the
house?
BLANCHE Do you talk all the time?
JASPER Sorry. But, won’t they?
BLANCHE Naw.
JASPER But, your Mother will worry about you.
BLANCHE There’s mothers and there’s mothers.
BLANCHE sits in the rocker.
JASPER That’s Mother’s rocker You- (Pause.) You can sit in it, though. (Pause) Aunt
Nell says it takes some getting used to, being married, but we’ll do just fine. I was
surprised your family didn’t come to the ceremony. Blanche? I said I was surprised your
family didn’t come to the ceremony.
BLANCHE doesn’t respond.
What was your favourite part?
BLANCHE What?
JASPER What was your favorite part of the ceremony? Mine was the beginning, just
after I saw you standing there waiting for me. Remember, I went and stood beside you,
and Reverend Poole started talking Dearly beloved – we are gathered here together-
BLANCHE (interrupting) I’m sick to death of all this god-damn talking. Why don’t you
bring me some of that coffee? It must be ready by now, for Christ’s sake.
JASPER goes to the stove to check on the coffee. He hums “What a Friend We Have in
Jesus.”
BLANCHE You do a lot of that?
JASPER Huh?
BLANCHE Nothing.
JASPER brings the coffee to the table.
JASPER You know, I can’t stop looking at you. Aunt Nell said it would take some
getting used to. She said it might be kind of frightening for you – being married. It might
be all – kind of new to you – being married. It might be all – kind of new to you. (Pause.)
It’s all kind of new to me.
JASPER starts humming again as he shovels four or five teaspoonfuls of sugar into his
coffee.
BLANCHE Did your mother let you do that?
JASPER Naw.
BLANCHE That’s one nice thing about her being dead eh?
JASPER You shouldn’t say that.
BLANCHE It’s true, ain’t it?
JASPER No. She wasn’t even sick. She was making pies and then I went out and when I
came back [she was. . .]
BLANCHE Come on.
JASPER She’s in heaven now, [where she belongs.]
BLANCHE Well it won’t hurt her, what I say then, will it? Since [she’s in heaven where
she belongs?]
JASPER You shouldn’t talk like that
BLANCHE Oh Well. You listen [here a minute.]
JASPER You’d better watch what you say [around here.]
BLANCHE Listen. If I’ve got to watch every god-damn word that comes out of my god-
damn mouth, I might as well just up and leave right now.
JASPER No.
JASPER reaches out to touch her.
BLANCHE Don’t. Don’t you touch me. Do you hear me? Who do you think you are?
Silence.
Don’t do it again.
Silence.
Just – drink your coffee.
JASPER drinks his coffee.
BLANCHE Now. You and me have got to get a few things straight.
JASPER Don’t you worry. Everything’s going to be just fine. (Pause.) You look pretty
from the side. (Pause.) Did you ever feel God’s hand was on your head?
Silence.
BLANCHE Didn’t they tell you anything about me?
JASPER Not much. What did they tell you? About me?
BLANCHE Nothing. (Pause.) They didn’t tell you I’m pregnant?
JASPER stares. OLD BLANCHE looks through the wall of the house, watching
BLANCHE.
Didn’t they tell you that?
JASPER No.
BLANCHE (after a moment) Well. I’m going to have a baby – at Christmas. (Pause.)
JASPER At Christmas. Well.
BLANCHE There’s more, too. (Pause.)
JASPER Yeah?
BLANCHE Yeah. You saying did I ever feel like God’s hand was on my head – it made
me think I should tell you. (Pause.) It’s God’s baby. This id God’s child I’m having.
(Pause.) And don’t go blabbing that all over town.
JASPER No. I won’t.
Silence.
BLANCHE You said yourself you could feel God watching us, today, in the church.
JASPER Yeah, that’s right. When Reverend Poole said, in the sight of God. But-
BLANCHE (interrupting) Forget it.
JASPER reaches out to touch her.
(quietly) Don’t do that.
JASPER I’am sorry.
BLANCHE You can’t touch me. You can see that, can’t you? (Pause.) You are nothing
but a man. You mustn’t touch me. After God? (Pause. She waits for him to think about
this.) You see? You’d get me dirty. (Pause.) Wouldn’t you?
Silence.
You wouldn’t want that?
JASPER No.
BLANCHE (after a moment) Fine. Fine. Are you ever, ever going to touch me?
JASPER No, I won’t.
BLANCHE Fine
OLD BLANCHE walks over to the house and lights a cigarette. She looks through the
wall into the house.
SCENE 2
Early evening, three days later BLANCHE is lying in bed. JASPER is splitting wood into
kindling. NELL is standing at the back of the yard, watching him. OLD BLANCHE leans
on her hoe, smoking, ignoring them.
NELL Hello.
JASPER Aw, I was hoping you wouldn’t make it today.
NELL This isn’t the most enthusiastic welcome I’ve ever received.
JASPER I was just thinking to myself I hope she don’t come walking up here today and
the next thing I know, here you are.
NELL What’s the matter?
JASPER I told her you were coming and she said she was too sick to have company.
NELL (after a moment) Is she sick?
JASPER I guess she is. (Pause.) She don’t eat enough to keep a bird alive.
NELL That’s not good. I’d just stay a minute?
JASPER I don’t think so.
NELL How are things going? Pretty much what you expected?
JASPER Well, like you said, it takes some getting used to. I figure it might take quite a
lot of getting used to. I said to her, “Aunt Nell gave me some pretty good advice about
being a husband. “And then I waited a bit to see what she’d say, like you told me to do
instead of doing all the talking, but she didn’t say a thing, so I said, “Did anybody have a
little talk with you about being a wife?” And she said she thought it just come natural to
her. The truth is, I don’t think it does.
NELL You don’t think so?
JASPER No.
NELL Well, give her time.
JASPER You said it would take time. I keep forgetting that. I’m sorry we missed your
supper. She don’t want to go anywhere.
NELL Tell her it’s important to you. Your happiness is important, too, to, her
JASPER Well, I don’t know. I guess so. And how about you? I bet you’re happy now that
Harry’s back eh? I always liked Harry.
NELL He likes you too.
JASPER Mother used to say you’d be just as well off without him. Of course, you know
how she was about drinking. She’d have been surprised he come back, I’d say.
NELL How’s Mr. Currie’s crop this year?
JASPER Good. He missed the hail, this year, you know. So, were you surprised he come
back this time? I mean, after two years?
NELL Well, he’s back now. You know, I really would like to talk to Blanche.
JASPER Maybe some other day.
NELL All right. Reverend Poole asked me to keep an eye on you two
JASPER I’m not surprised. She’s a pretty special person, you know.
NELL Is she?
JASPER I’m sorry I complained about her. I shouldn’t do that. You know, it was kind of
a miracle, the Lord bringing her and me together like this.
NELL It was Reverend Poole who [arranged it.]
JASPER Through Reverend Poole, of course. I wonder how he came to think of me? Do
you think God led him to the idea?
NELL I reminded him that you lived here, alone.
JASPER You did.
NELL Yes.
JASPER Did it come to you in a dream?
NELL No, I just thought of it. So now, you see, I feel a certain responsibility.
JASPER I see. But the responsibility mainly falls on me. I’m the one who has to look
after her. I’m amazed that she swears. Did you know she swears?
NELL It’s the way she was brought up.
JASPER There’s other girls around that don’t swear, though.
NELL Being around you, she’ll let up.
JASPER I never thought of that. Makes sense I guess. She’ll learn better.
NELL Give her time. I’ll do what I can to help. I’ll have a little talk with her. I’ll talk to
Reverend Poole, too. He knows the situation. Her family.
JASPER I doubt he knows the whole situation.
NELL Oh. She’s been confiding in you.
OLD BLANCHE turns her back on NELL
Reverend Poole did tell me she’s going to have a baby
JASPER He knows that?
NELL Yes.
JASPER What else does he know?
NELL I don’t know. Is there something else? Jasper?
JASPER No. No, that’s it. A baby.
NELL And that’s why she needs to eat. She’s eating for two now. You tell her that.
(Pause.) Did Reverend Poole say anything to you about her circumstances?
JASPER No. (Pause.) He did tell me our Father in Heaven has his plan and she’s part of
it. I didn’t know just what he meant at the time. Maybe Reverend Poole don’t know
himself eh? God works in mysterious ways, as you know.
NELL Yes, Jasper, it’s very good that Blanche is here with you. I don’t think she was
treated well at home.
JASPER I don’t know. Sometimes I think she’s homesick.
NELL I doubt it. Anyway, you’re going to make this her home.
JASPER Yeah. I’d like to.
NELL You will.
JASPER You’re right. I will. You know, you’re a real encouraging person. I feel happier
already.
OLD BLANCHE watches as NELL leaves. JASPER picks up his axe.
SCENE 3
Early evening of a dull day, two weeks later. OLD BLANCHE is weeding. JASPER is
lighting the kerosene lamp at the back of the kitchen table. Then he begins setting the
table for supper. BLANCHE is lying on the bed. She gets up, goes to the old trunk, lifts
the lid and frowns down into it. She’s barefoot.
BLANCHE Christ. Of all the . . .
JASPER It’s just about ready. You can come and sit down. I sure wish I’d learned to
cook more.
BLANCHE enters the kitchen.
BLANCHE You said that already.
Silence. JASPER takes food on his plate and passes it to BLANCHE.
JASPER Shepherd’s pie. That’s what I’d like. Or steak and kidney pudding. You’d better
take more than that. I told you, you’re eating for two now. Mother was a plain cook.
That’s what she used to say. Aunt Nell’s a good cook. Maybe she could teach you. So.
Guess you’re settling in, eh? Guess this place is feeling like home by now.
BLANCHE Sure.
JASPER Hey, I know. I’ll play you a record.
BLANCHE What?
JASPER pulls a cloth off a phonograph.
JASPER Surprised, aren’t you? Bet you didn’t know this was a phonograph. Eh? I told
you it was going to take a while before you knew everything about this place.
BLANCHE Where did you get that?
JASPER Mother’s uncle left it to her. He died not much before she did. She was hoping
for a nice little quarter section he had out Chaplin way, but he left it to his cousin in
England.
BLANCHE What records have you got?
JASPER We’ve just got two. The “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Moonlight Bay.”
BLANCHE “ Moonlight Bay”?
OLD BLANCHE stops working and listens.
JASPER Yeah.
BLANCHE (with desire) You’ve got “Moonlight Bay”?
JASPER Yeah. (teasing) Which one do you want to hear?
BLANCHE Oh, I don’t care.
JASPER All right. (teasing) I kind of like the “Battle Hymn of the Republic”.
BLANCHE No.
JASPER Oh. Do you want to hear the other one?
BLANCHE No.
JASPER What?
BLANCHE I don’t.
JASPER You don’t want to hear it? Or this one either? But - maybe you’ll like it.
(Pause.) What do you think eh?
BLANCHE won’t respond.
You just want me to put them away? All right. It’s a shame though. I know you’d like
them.
Silence.
You eat now. Come on. (Pause.) Aunt Nell’s going to invite us over for supper again.
You see, it’s important to me. I like to visit people. How are you going to have any
friends if you don’t go see them? That’s what I say.
Silence. BLANCHE stares at the wall.
What are you looking at? Eh?
BLANCHE Nothing.
JASPER You’re looking at the wall, there, at the light from the lamp.
BLANCHE Now, why do you ask, if you know the answer?
JASPER Sorry. I guess you were thinking.
BLANCHE Hey? How you’ve got pies in the trunk in the bedroom?
JASPER You want some bread?
BLANCHE Why are them pies in the trunk? (Pause.) Well?
JASPER I put them there.
BLANCHE And it wasn’t yesterday, neither.
JASPER I put them there when Mother died.
BLANCHE Now, how come you did that?
JASPER I don’t know
BLANCHE Sure you do
JASPER I don’t know. She made them the day she died. Blanche? Do I have to throw
them out?
Pause.
BLANCHE Know what I’m going to do? I’m going to pretend I never seen them.
JASPER You are?
BLANCHE Yup
JASPER Thanks.
BLANCHE Eat your supper now.
JASPER This means a lot to me.
BLANCHE Forget it.
JASPER You better eat too. Look at you. You haven’t touched a thing.
JASPER stares at her.
BLANCHE What’s the matter?
JASPER You look scary with that light shining on your face.
BLANCHE You’ve got no need to be scared of me.
JASPER pushes the lamp further back on the table.
SCENE 4
Two weeks later. OLD BLANCHE is sitting shelling peas. BLANCHE is sitting in the
rocker. JASPER rushes into the house. He’s wearing a suit because he’s come from
church.
JASPER It’s in the air.
BLANCHE What is?
JASPER A new world order. Reverend Poole said so himself. A new world, he said, the
making of a new world is in the air.
BLANCHE That’d be a nice change.
JASPER He said, after war and plague comes a new world. Kind of like Noah, after the
flood. Starting all over. Where are you going?
BLANCHE I’m going to go lay down a while.
JASPER follows her into the bedroom. BLANCHE sits on the bed. JASPER stands back.
JASPER “We are all fellow gardeners,” that’s what he said, “working in God’s garden.”
But there’s evil. There’s evil but we’re going to build a wall and keep the evil out. “Brick
by brick,” he said, “we’re going to build a new wall against the evil that encroaches.”
Encroaches. That’s his kind of word. (Pause.) With the war over, it’s time for a new
world. Everybody knows that. So, I was thinking, it makes sense, Blanche. (Pause.) That
our Father in Heaven would send some help. It says in the bible He will again some day.
OLD BLANCHE gets up and takes the pea shells to the burning barrel where she stands,
staring into space.
You know what this means? Son of God eh?
BLANCHE stands and goes back to the kitchen. JASPER follows her.
JASPER Ain’t that right? (Pause.)
BLANCHE Never mind all that. I shouldn’t have said anything to you. You just forget
what I said.
JASPER Just because. I didn’t believe you at first. But I’ve been thinking about it. I
figure there’s no time like now for Him to send his son.
Silence.
BLANCHE Maybe it’ll be a girl.
JASPER A girl? A girl? Daughter of God (Pause.) Daughter of God (Pause.) Don’t seem
to be no reason why not.
BLANCHE God-damn it.
JASPER (mumbling) You shouldn’t swear. Anybody could see that.
BLANCHE Look here now. You listen. All this is stopping now. All this about Son of
God, Daughter of God. You hear me?
JASPER You said. . .
BLANCHE I know what I said. I wish I never. It wasn’t true.
JASPER What?
BLANCHE You heard me. It’s not God’s baby.
JASPER Sure it is.
BLANCHE What?
JASPER Sure it is. You’re just afraid I’ll tell someone, but I won’t.
BLANCHE Jasper. You aren’t listening to me.
JASPER Well it’s no use your saying one thing and then saying another. I can figure
things out. You think you shouldn’t have told me. That’s all.
BLANCHE No. It’s not God’s baby. It’s not anybody’s. It’s all a lie. The truth is, I’m not
even going to have a baby.
JASPER Anybody can see, just looking at you. . .. (angry) Why would you do that
anyway? Tell a story like that? You are so going to have a baby. (Beat.) You’re scared.
BLANCHE I am not.
JASPER Everything’s going to be fine. Don’t you know that? Don’t you know God’s
watching over us? We’re part of His plans.
BLANCHE You’ve got no notion of his plans.
JASPER Neither have you then. Just because He picked you. He must have picked me
too. Did you ever think of that?
BLANCHE He’s got nothing to do with all this.
JASPER How can you say that? You shouldn’t say that. You make me wonder. How
come He did pick you? Why did He eh?
BLANCHE I don’t know. I don’t know nothing. You’re so smart, you figure it out.
JASPER Blanche? I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have talked like that. I want you to be happy
here.
OLD BLANCHE returns to the step, picks up her bowl of peas and listens. She cradles
the bowl in her arms.
BLANCHE I’ve got nowhere else to go.
JASPER You’re not going nowhere. You’re staying put Right here. This is where you
belong.
SCENE 5
The end of August, late afternoon. OLD BLANCHE is stacking wood at the woodpile.
JASPER is examining some small boards he wants to use to build a cradle. BLANCHE
sits in the rocker with her hands in her lap.
JASPER Bet you wonder what these boards are for. (Pause.) Aw, come on.
BLANCHE (after a moment) What?
JASPER A cradle.
NELL arrives and knocks loudly.
BLANCHE Who is that?
An embarrassed silence as NELL enters.
NELL I know I’m barging in here. I’ll only stay a minute. Do you know, Reverend Poole
asked me after church how you two were getting along and I couldn’t even tell him.
JASPER I think I’ll go over to the Curries for a minute.
NELL Jasper, this must have been the first church service you’ve missed in years.
JASPER I was. . . busy. Bye.
JASPER leaves.
NELL It’s a lovely day. I thought I’d just take a break and walk out here. You weren’t
feeling well last time I was here But I thought by now you’d be ready for a little female
companionship. I hope you’re not still sick?
BLANCHE I’m all right.
NELL Was it morning sickness? I’d have thought you’d be over that by now Maybe it
was flu? I guess you’re up and around by now. The house looks neat as a pin. Amanda
would have been pleased. Jasper’s mother. She died just last year. She was very
concerned about how Jasper would fare. Here, on his own. She’d have been pleased to
see him married.
BLANCHE Looks to me like he managed all right by himself.
NELL Well, sure he did. He was a great help to me, too. He used to do some work for me
every day and then stay to supper. And I’d do the odd thing for him, mending, baking,
that sort of thing.
BLANCHE And now your husband’s back.
NELL Yes, So, you’re feeling better, are you?
BLANCHE Sure.
NELL Good. That’s good. Maybe Jasper’s worrying too much. Do you think so? He was
fussing about you not eating enough. But I’m sure you realize how important it is, now,
to take care of yourself.
BLANCHE Now?
NELL Yes. Good food, and fresh air – it’s so important now – [to look after yourself. . .]
BLANCHE (interrupting) Now? Why now?
NELL In your condition, I mean.
BLANCHE In my condition. Married?
NELL You know what I mean.
BLANCHE Married women need good food and fresh air?
NELL Blanche, I know you’re expecting. Reverend Poole told me. (Pause.) And when
you’re expecting a baby. Blanche, you need to take good care of yourself. Do you ever go
out?
BLANCHE I like it fine in here.
NELL Of course. Of course you do. This is a nice little house and Jasper looks after you
well, I know he does.
BLANCHE You do, do you? Your husband look after you all right?
NELL We’re talking about you.
BLANCHE Hmmmn.
Silence.
NELL It’s beautiful day. You know how some days are, in the fall, when the air is crisp
and clean, and everybody walks a little faster than usual.
BLANCHE Hey? Why don’t you go on out there and see how fast you can walk?
NELL You sound bitter. Life isn’t easy, I know. We sometimes feel it’s not fair.
BLANCHE Don’t know what you mean.
NELL Blanche? Reverend Poole hoped, when he arranged for you and Jasper to. . . get
married. . . I was worried. . . I did mention to him that I was concerned. But your mother
felt we should go ahead with it.
BLANCHE What did she tell you?
NELL Just. . . that you were in trouble. Can I tell you a secret?
BLANCHE I’ll blab.
NELL I’m going to have a baby too.
BLANCHE That’s a shame.
NELL I’m very happy about it.
BLANCHE How many kids have you got now?
NELL Six.
BLANCHE Where are they all?
NELL At home.
BLANCHE At home? Alone? They old enough to stay alone?
NELL The oldest two are. But Harry’s mother lives with us. She looks after them
sometimes. I love babies. They’re wonderful. You’ll find out. And with your first one,
it’s just like playing dolls. You wait. When you see it, you’ll feel full of love. You can’t
help it, really.
BLANCHE Well, good. Ain’t that good to know.
NELL Oh Blanche!
BLANCHE Don’t you oh Blanche me. You don’t know what it’s like being me. You. . ..
Get out of here.
JASPER enters.
JASPER Did you make Aunt Nell some coffee?
NELL (to BLANCHE) I’ll come again, if you’ll let me.
JASPER Sure. Sure she will.
OLD BLANCHE, standing firmly with hands on hips, watches NELL leave the yard.
SCENE 6
A September evening. OLD BLANCHE is carrying a box of garbage to the burning
barrel. She dumps it and sets it on fire. She stands looking into the barrel. JASPER and
BLANCHE are sitting at the table. BLANCHE is staring at the wall.
JASPER You’re looking at the wall again, at the light. What are you thinking about?
BLANCHE Nothing.
JASPER Aunt Nell left you this. Did you see it? Eh? Look. It’s the catalogue. You’d like
it. Be a lot better than looking at shadows on the wall. (Pause.) I just wonder what you’re
thinking. (Pause.) You look like you’re thinking about something.
BLANCHE (finally) The shadows and the light – looks like fire.
JASPER It’s from the lamp.
BLANCHE Yeah I know. You could walk in there.
JASPER Walk in there. You could not.
BLANCHE It looks like you could. Into the fire. Like walking into hell, eh? (Pause.) I
always think of hell when I see fire. Don’t you?
JASPER It ain’t even fire. It’s shadows on the wall.
BLANCHE gets up and goes toward the bedroom.
JASPER Where are you going?
BLANCHE I’m going to lay down. I feel like being by myself.
JASPER You always feel like being by yourself. I wish you’d feel like being with me for
a change. (Pause.) I just wonder what a guy’s supposed to do, with a wife like you?
BLANCHE What?
JASPER I was thinking, you sure don’t talk to me much. Sometimes I feel almost as
alone being here with you as I used to, before you came.
BLANCHE (Pause.) I’m sorry.
JASPER Are you? I never heard you say that before.
BLANCHE Well, I am. I wish you had a better wife. (Pause.) Oh. (surprised)
OLD BLANCHE looks up in surprise.
JASPER What’s the matter? What’s wrong?
BLANCHE It jumped. The baby. It jumped.
JASPER It jumped?
BLANCHE Yeah. Just like a frog. It felt like a frog jumped inside me.
JASPER Is it as small as a frog, do you think?
BLANCHE I don’t know. I never thought it would feel like that.
JASPER It’s a good sign.
BLANCHE You think so?
JASPER Oh, yeah. The baby’s moving. Things are going like they should.
BLANCHE I guess so.
JASPER (shyly) Tidings of great joy. (Pause.) You know, I’ve been thinking. . . You
worry too much. And you don’t need to. You see, I’m going to be just like Joseph. I’m
going to look after you.
Silence.
JASPER But. . . Blanche, if you could just quit your swearing. . .
SCENE 7
October, three weeks Inter. The house is bright and warm. JASPER is working on the
cradle. BLANCHE is sitting in the rocker, looking at the catalogue. OLD BLANCHE is
raking leaves.
BLANCHE There he goes again. How am I ever going to get any rest? (but she sounds
proud)
JASPER He’s gonna be strong.
BLANCHE You’d think so if you were me.
JASPER You said he doesn’t hurt.
BLANCHE It feels strange, though, being kicked from the inside.
JASPER Why don’t you wear them slippers I gave you? The floor’s cold. (He brings the
slippers to her.) Here they are. Put them on.
BLANCHE All right, all right.
JASPER Let’s bake those apples for a treat. We got some cream to put on them.
BLANCHE Now that’s the best. . . g.d. idea you’ve had for a long time.
JASPER grins, very pleased with her. BLANCHE ignores him and goes back to looking at
the catalogue.
BLANCHE I’d like a blouse just exactly like this.
JASPER I’ve been thinking. You know, I figure, God. . . I just ain’t so sure now.
BLANCHE She looks so clean.
JASPER I said. . . Blanche, I ain’t so sure now a girl could be a saviour. It’s a pretty big
job.
OLD BLANCHE stops work to watch them.
BLANCHE You think I couldn’t do it? If I was the one born?
JASPER Aw, I don’t know.
BLANCHE What do you mean, you don’t know?
JASPER There’s times you’re not exactly. . .
BLANCHE Not exactly. . .?
JASPER Aw, I guess you’d do the job.
BLANCHE Not too sure, are you? You think you’d do better yourself.
JASPER Not me. Naw.
BLANCHE Sure.
SCENE 8
A cold, windy fall day. OLD BLANCHE is standing at the back of the yard, looking out at
the sky. BLANCHE and NELL are in the kitchen. BLANCHE is ignoring Nell and looking
at the catalogue. NELL looks over her shoulder.
NELL I like a white blouse myself. How about you? What colour would you like?
BLANCHE I don’t want any blouse.
NELL Well, you and I are in the same boat. Neither one of us could wear one of these
now.
BLANCHE You don’t look very. . . (she means very pregnant)
NELL You look beautiful, child. Oh, look at these hats. Which one’s your favorite?
BLANCHE I don’t know.
NELL I like that one. And this one. And this. . . this one would look good on you. I can
just see those eyes of yours looking up from under this brim. Perfect. (Pause.) I haven’t
had a new hat for. . . must be three years anyway. One of the boys sat on the last one. My
mother sent it, from Ontario Green felt. I’d love a new hat. I should get one. And you
should too.
BLANCHE Naw. I don’t want a hat.
NELL What about this style? For me, I mean?
BLANCHE Sure.
NELL This one really would suit you. We could order it, you know. No. The best thing
about getting a new hat, is trying them on. Tell you what Let’s get Harry to take you and
me into Seidler after Christmas. He’s too busy right now, but after Christmas-
BLANCHE No.
NELL No. There’s only the general store there. Maybe a dozen hats. We’ll go to Regina.
Yes. Yes we will. We’ll go to the city. Harry’s mother can look after the children. And
Mrs. Currie, we’ll ask her to take the baby. Or we could bring the baby with us if you’re
nursing. (Pause.) It would do you good. We’ll do it. You know, this is a cozy wee house.
SCENE 9
November, morning. It’s sunny, a heavy frost has fallen. OLD BLANCHE stands under
the arch, looking out. BLANCHE, in the bedroom, and JASPER, on the couch in the
kitchen, are waking.
JASPER You awake yet, Blanche?
BLANCHE I am now.
JASPER It’s Sunday.
BLANCHE (Pause.) Where would you like to be if you thought you were dying?
JASPER What kind of a question id that? I don’t know.
BLANCHE Don’t you ever think about it?
JASPER No.
BLANCHE I know where I’d like to be. There’s a big stone, just west of Seidler, out
about am mile west of town, by the side of the road. I’d like to be there. If I sometime
look like I might die, would you take me there?
JASPER What for?
BLANCHE I’d just lay down beside it. When I was a kid I used to walk out there
sometimes and lay down and put my arms around that stone.
JASPER Maybe it’s not there anymore.
BLANCHE Oh, it’s huge. Nobody could move it. You can tell, a big part of it’s
underground. Like an iceberg. Only the stone was warm.
JASPER It would be cold at night.
BLANCHE At night, I’d lay my cheek against it and watch the stars. And when I died,
I’d sink into the dirt and grow right into the grass.
JASPER I don’t think God would let you do that. He’d want your soul to rise to heaven
so you could sit up there with him, on his right side.
BLANCHE doesn’t respond.
I don’t think He’ll let you.
BLANCHE (after a moment) No, I guess not.
BLANCHE gets up and sits in the rocker. JASPER follows her across the kitchen. (Note:
in production, it may work to have OLD BLANCHE sit in the rocker and be touched by
Jasper by Jasper, though BLANCHE speaks.)
JASPER Tell me something nice.
BLANCHE What?
JASPER Something nice you remember from being a kid.
BLANCHE I don’t know.
JASPER (leaning forward, close to touching her) Come on.
BLANCHE (not noticing him) My mother, braiding my hair.
JASPER (Pause.) Oh. All right.
BLANCHE I liked the feel of it. She used to French braid it. . . use her little fingers to
scoop up the hair. . . I used to pretend she was. . . putting me together some way . . .
keeping me together.
JASPER I could braid your hair.
BLANCHE No
JASPER Yeah, I could. Not like your mother, I guess. I couldn’t do them French braids.
But I know how to make regular braids.
JASPER goes behind her chair and begins to braid her hair. BLANCHE sits as if
mesmerized. JASPER looks down at her breast. He slides his hand down to her breasts
and touches her lightly. They both freeze.
JASPER sweeps the dishes off the table. He picks the table up and carries if over his
head, around the room. OLD BLANCHE walks toward the house and raises her arm as if
to strike him.
JASPER (setting the table down) I’m sorry. I’m sorry.
SCENE 10
An afternoon in early December. OLD BLANCHE stands under the arch, looking out.
BLANCHE stands in front of the phonograph. She doesn’t know how to work it so it takes
her some time to put the “Moonlight Bay” record on. When the music start, OLD
BLANCHE turns and looks into the house. Both women stand very still, listening.
NELL and JASPER enter the yard. BLANCHE sees them. She lifts the needle from the
record and stands watching it spin around.
JASPER tries to get into the house.
JASPER It’s locked. Blanche. Blanche. You in there? It’s me. Open the door.
NELL Maybe she’s gone out.
JASPER Naw. Blanche. Hey. Let me in.
NELL Jasper, she wouldn’t lock you out of your own house.
JASPER Blanche, you in there?
NELL She must have gone out. Was she feeling all right this morning?
JASPER Fine.
NELL You’re sure?
JASPER Yeah.
NELL It won’t be long now until the baby will be ready to be born.
JASPER It’s a while yet.
NELL Sometimes babies are born early. You’re sure she was fine this morning?
JASPER Yeah.
NELL If she starts having pain, or if she’s feeling strange, I want you to come and get
me.
JASPER I don’t know.
NELL What do you mean, you don’t know?
JASPER I told you, she don’t want to see you.
NELL This is different. (Pause.) She can’t have the baby alone. If anything-
JASPER Don’t you worry.
NELL Did I do something wrong? Last time I was here, we got along so well. I don’t
understand. . .. Did she say anything? About me?
JASPER She said she don’t like your prying. And then, she said you try to make her
think she’s like you.
NELL I try to make her think she’s like me?
JASPER And she ain’t.
NELL Jasper, this is serious. Having a baby is serious business. I don’t know what to do.
Try the door again.
JASPER Blanche. You in there?
NELL Blanche? Blanche? Can you hear me? Are you all right? (to JASPER) Do you
think she’s in there?
JASPER She don’t go out.
NELL Blanche. You have to answer me. I’m not leaving until I know you’re all right.
JASPER Maybe she’s mad at me for bringing you here.
NELL (Pause.) Blanche. If you don’t answer me, I’m going to get Jasper to break the
door down. (pause, then to JASPER) We have to get in there. I mean it.
JASPER begins kicking and shoving the door. BLANCHE walks over to the phonograph
and starts “Moonlight Bay” playing. Then she opens the door. No one speaks for a few
moments.
JASPER What did you lock the door for? Eh? Why didn’t you open it? Aunt Nell was
worried sick about you.
BLANCHE doesn’t respond.
I said, why didn’t you open it?
BLANCHE I didn’t hear you.
JASPER What?
BLANCHE I didn’t hear you. I was listening to the phonograph.
NELL turns and walks away.
BLANCHE What’s the matter, Nell? Don’t you like the music?
SCENE 11
Evening, early December. OLD BLANCHE stands under the arch, looking at the house.
BLANCHE is sitting doing nothing. JASPER is working on the cradle.
JASPER Did I tell you Mr. Currie hurt his leg? You know how icy it is around here. . .
(runs down, seeing her response)
BLANCHE You told me.
JASPER Did I tell you Mrs. Pollock’s [still sick?]
BLANCHE –You told me that too.
JASPER (after a few moments) Why don’t you look at the catalogue? You like that. Look
at some of those hats. Hey, show me the one Aunt Nell likes, and the one she thinks you
should have.
BLANCHE doesn’t respond.
What would you like best, a new hat or a new blouse?
BLANCHE What I’d like best is for you to stop talking for about one whole minute.
JASPER (angry) Just look what I done now. I gotta do this part again. It don’t fit right.
You can’t have them rough edges like that. I just ain’t smart enough to make a cradle,
that’s all. I just. . .
BLANCHE Will you shut it? Talk, talk, talk.
JASPER begins to hammer the worktable rhythmically, with increasing force and
loudness. At first, BLANCHE ignores him.
BLANCHE Stop that.
JASPER continues.
(scared) I said stop.
JASPER continues. BLANCHE covers her ears. OLD BLANCHE walks out of the yard,
not through the arch. Suddenly JASPER stops.
JASPER (after a few moments) I’m sorry.
BLANCHE Yeah.
JASPER I am.
BLANCHE You’re always sorry. (Pause.) I can’t stand your talking all the time. You fill
up all the space in my head.
Silence.
JASPER But. . . We need to talk though. We got plans to make eh?
No response.
About this baby. I’ve been thinking. . . how are we going to let the world know?
BLANCHE Know what?
JASPER You know.
BLANCHE No.
JASPER We discussed this before. People have a right to know.
BLANCHE Forget it, will you? Just forget it.
JASPER I can’t You can’t neither.
BLANCHE I told you- (Pause.) Why do you keep on and on?
JASPER It’s God’s baby. You said. I believe you Blanche.
BLANCHE It’s what you want. You want to believe it.
JASPER God wants it. To save the world.
BLANCHE Save the world.
JASPER Why else would he-?
BLANCHE –Maybe he’s just practicing eh?
JASPER Practicing!
BLANCHE Yeah. For the real thing.
JASPER God doesn’t have to practice. Don’t you know nothing? God does it right the
first time.
BLANCHE I don’t see much he’s done right.
JASPER You don’t mean that. (Pause.) You shouldn’t say that. Mother used [ to say-]
BLANCHE (interrupting) I’ll say it if I like.
JASPER It’s bad.
BLANCHE I’ll say it if I god- damn like.
JASPER You’re swearing. You said you wouldn’t.
BLANCHE That’s when I wasn’t mad.
JASPER Why are you mad? After all God done for you.
BLANCHE gets the pies from the trunk in the bedroom OLD BLANCHE turns her back.
Where are you going? What are you doing? Blanche? What’s that you got there?
BLANCHE What do you think?
JASPER What? You said you wouldn’t You said!
BLANCHE They’re filthy old garbage.
JASPER You said!
BLANCHE I didn’t make no promises.
JASPER You said I could keep them.
BLANCHE So what? So what? You think I care? Think I give a good god-damn? God-
damn, god-damn, god-damn! I’m not having you or anybody else tell me what to do. Or
how I can talk. I’ll talk any way I like. Do you hear me?
BLANCHE goes to the door and pitches the pies out int. the yard. JASPER goes and sits
in the rocker.
SCENE 12
The same night. The sky is dark and the land is covered with a thin layer of snow.
JASPER is asleep in the rocker. OLD BLANCHE walks to the house and puts her hand
on the doorknob, then, changing her mind, she walks back to the arch and stands looking
out. BLANCHE wakes from a dream and goes to the door, a blanket wrapped around her.
She makes her way quietly out of the house. She walks over to the arch and stands under
it looking out at the sky. OLD BLANCHE turns, moves back and watches her. JASPER
wakes up, checks for BLANCHE in the bedroom and rushes outside.
JASPER What are you doing out here? It’s cold. (reaches out as if to tug at her arm, then
pulls back) Come on in now.
BLANCHE (quietly) Let me alone. (Pause.) I had a dream. I dreamed I had wings.
Angel’s wings. White and heavy.
JASPER Do you think wings would be heavy?
BLANCHE I came out here in my dream with these heavy white wings hanging on my
shoulders, dragging my shoulders down and back so it was hard to walk.
JASPER I seen angels in Mother’s prayer book. They got big wings. I didn’t know they’d
be heavy.
BLANCHE And I came over to this arch and looked out.
JASPER What did you see?
BLANCHE Nothing. But I had this feeling I had to leave.
JASPER What?
BLANCHE I had this feeling that I was supposed to walk through here and. . . I don’t
know what after that. Just keep walking, I guess.
JASPER Where?
BLANCHE I don’t know. Don’t matter anyhow, because I couldn’t get through. The
wings were in the way. I got stuck. I got stuck right here in the middle of the arch and I
couldn’t get out and I couldn’t get back either.
Silence.
JASPER What did you do?
BLANCHE Woke up. (Pause.) Do you believe there’s anything at all out there?
JASPER There’s stars.
BALANCHE Not them. In the world, I mean. Cities. Places where people. . . Sometimes
I get this scary feeling I’m all there is. (Pause.) Don’t you ever think you’re all alone?
(Pause.) Maybe I’m just a bad dream you’re having.
JASPER goes into the house. BLANCHE leans against the arch, one arm raised along the
side of it as she looks out into the sky, and OLD BLANCHE, on the other side of the arch,
mirrors her action. They’re almost touching. Then BLANCHE follows JASPER into the
house.
SCENE 13
December 24, late evening. Snow falling slowly, peacefully. There is a marked contrast
between the light inside and the darkness outside. OLD BLANCHE stands smoking.
JASPER brings BLANCHE a mandarin orange. He unwraps the paper and shows it to
her.
JASPER Should I peel it for you?
He peels it and hands it to her, then watches her taste it.
You eat nice. Like a bird. A little bit at a time. Not wolfing it down like I do when I
forget my manners.
BLANCHE You’ve got real good manners.
JASPER I do?
BLANCHE Yeah.
JASPER (Pause.) Blanche?
BLANCHE Mmm?
JASPER Aw, never mind.
BLANCHE Come on.
JASPER Do you. . . do you like me?
BLANCHE Well, if that ain’t the craziest question.
JASPER Sorry.
BLANCHE Of course I like you.
JASPER You do?
BLANCHE stands and moves away from him.
BLANCHE That’s just a dumb question, do I like you?
JASPER And you do eh?
BLANCHE Do you like me?
JASPER I sure do.
BLANCHE You see? And you’re a lot better person to have around most of the time than
I am, so of course I like you.
JASPER Blanche? Reverend Poole and me had a talk. This afternoon. Over at the
Currie’s. (Pause.) Blanche? He knows.
BLANCHE What do you mean, he knows?
JASPER He knows.
BLANCHE What did he say? What did you tell him?
JASPER He said: “Things will be different for you once this baby’s born.” I just said:
“Everything’s going according to God’s plan.” And he said: “Our Heavenly Father has
His plan, of that I’m sure.”
BLANCHE You don’t have to tell me every single g.d. thing.
JASPER It’s just the way he talks, you know. He don’t come right out with it. He works
his way round to it. But he said himself he could see he was going to have to speak
plainly.” (Pause.) “I know the story,” he said.
BLANCHE I know the story?
JASPER “It’s an old story,” he said. (Pause.) I’d have thought he’d be more excited. At
the idea of a new world coming. I said to him: “It sure is about time for a new world
order, eh?” And he said: “Ah, JASPER,” and he sounded tired, you know, and he said:
“Sin has a way of surfacing.” Well, I guess just because he’s a minister don’t mean he
understands exactly what’s it’s going to mean, having this baby born. Hey! I forgot. Aunt
Nell gave us a present. She said we don’t have to wait. We should open it today. Here.
You open it.
BLANCHE You.
He opens the present.
JASPER. . .?
JASPER Yeah? (not paying attention to her) Look at this. Shortbread and fruitcake. Ain’t
that fine? Have some. Have some. It’s for us.
BLANCHE I’m not hungry. I just had that orange. (She goes to the window and pulls the
curtain back.) I’m going to bed. (But she doesn’t move.)
JASPER Now that’s a good idea. What are you looking at? What do you see?
BLANCHE Myself. I see myself.
JASPER Oh look. I’m there too. See? There I am, right beside you.
BLANCHE Yeah. I’m going to go to bed.
JASPER Yes sir. Good idea. You get your rest. You want to be strong for the work to
come. You know what you are? (Pause.) Blessed among women.
BLANCHE stares at JASPER a moment then goes into the bedroom where she lies down
on the bed and pulls the covers over her head. JASPER continues tidying the kitchen.
He walks over to the door, opens it and steps outside, looking up at the dark sky.
SCENE 14
Early evening, Christmas Day. BLANCHE is in bed. NELL enters the bedroom. OLD
BLANCHE watches from a distance.
NELL It’s Christmas day and you’re in bed. How come? What’s the matter? (waiting for
a response) Blanche?
BLANCHE (after a moment) I’m tired.
NELL I know how you feel. I do. I’ve seen it in other women too. The last while can be
tiresome. It seems you’ve been waiting forever and you stop believing the baby’s going
to get born. (Pause.) Just about everybody feels anxious when they get to your stage. The
baby’s kicking all the time and that’s bother, and pressing down, and that can be painful.
BLANCHE It’s not kicking.
NELL Sometimes they rest a bit right before they’re born. Maybe it’s getting ready.
(Pause.) Women don’t always know when their child is about to be born, at least, not the
first time. Did you know that? Maybe you’re feeling a little low because it’s about time.
I’d like to have a look at you and see.
BLANCHE No.
NELL It’s important. (Pause.) I’ll be able to see if you’re ready.
BLANCHE (quietly) No.
NELL Here
BLANCHE (whispering) No.
NELL You needn’t even pull the covers down. I’ll reach underneath. Just lie there on
your back, that’s girl, and pull your knees up a bit. There.
As she talks, NELL reaches under the covers, facing BLANCHE, and presses
BLANCHE’s abdomen with both hands flat, first at the top, then down the sides, and then
she moves to the head of the bed, leans forward and presses along the bottom of her
stomach. She rests her head on BLANCHE’S belly for a moment.
NELL There, there. Just lift up a little. (Pause.) How long since the baby’s been kicking
you?
BLANCHE doesn’t respond.
How many days? Two? Three?
BLANCHE (finally) I don’t know. Three. More.
Silence. NELL can tell the baby’s dead.
You figure it’s gone and died?
NELL No. No. I’m sure it must be. . . just resting.
BLANCHE Myself, I think it died.
NELL Oh no.
BLANCHE Stands to reason.
NELL Why do you say that?
BLANCHE (quietly) Just because.
NELL I’m going to send Jasper for Dr. LaFoy.
BLANCHE Naw.
NELL I think so.
BLANCHE Forget it.
NELL Blanche? Are you all right? Here, with Jasper? I know it’s late in the day to be
asking, but are things. . .? I know he cares about you. I know he does. I thought – he’s a
good person. I thought you might come to care for him?
BLANCHE Pass me the catalogue, will you?
NELL If you need to talk – well, I. . . If there’s anything I can do. We could talk.
BLANCHE No. We couldn’t. Here. Now, which one’s your favourite?
NELL This is no time to be looking at hats.
BLANCHE You want a new hat, don’t you?
NELL Come on now.
BLANCHE How about this style? It would do you good to get a new hat. And there’s no
need to go all the way to Regina. Jasper says the great thing about catalogues is you don’t
have to leave home. You just order what you want and [they send it to you.]
NELL (interrupting) Stop this.
JASPER enters the kitchen.
BLANCHE You won’t tell him?
NELL No. (She goes to the bedroom door.)
JASPER Is Blanche all right?
NELL Fine.
JASPER Is it her time?
NELL Not yet. But soon, I think.
JASPER Can’t be long now. Everything’s ready.
NELL You do have everything ready, don’t you? That’s fine, good. When I’m finished
talking with Blanche, you and I will have a little talk. That’s a beautiful cradle. Beautiful.
There’s not a finer cradle in the land. (She goes back into the bedroom.) I forgot, it’s
Christmas day. The doctor won’t be in seidler. He’s gone to the Maxwell farm. It’ll be
tomorrow before he can come.
BLANCHE Don’t matter.
NELL Are you all right? Blanche?
BLANCHE Sure.
NELL About that other – what we were talking about. . .
BLANCHE When are you having your baby?
NELL Spring. March. . .
BLANCHE Not counting on any special day?
NELL No. (Pause.) There’s nothing saying you have to have this baby today you know.
Just because it would make Jasper happy. I know he’s got it into his head. . .
BLANCHE The baby’s dead.
NELL You mustn’t give up hope.
BLANCHE Go talk to Jasper about hope. He’s got enough for the two of us.
NELL You mustn’t talk this way.
BLANCHE stares at her.
It isn’t right to give up hoping.
BLANCHE just stares.
(Pause.) Blanche. I want you to know, we’re all praying for you.
Silence.
BLANCHE (very quietly) You’re all praying for me? Who is Who’s praying for me?
NELL Reverend Poole and myself, and others, others in the town who know about you.
BLANCHE Know what?
NELL can’t answer.
(quietly, but with intensity) What makes you think I need your praying?
NELL Blanche. Calm down, dear.
BLANCHE Know what? Know what? What do you know about me You won’t even say
it. You can’t say it. It’s too bad, isn’t it? It’s too bad to say.
BLANCHE gets out of bed and walks barefoot out of th house. She goes to the arch and
stands there. OLD BLANCHE remains still, looking out on the prairie.
JASPER Where’s she going? What’s wrong?
NELL Let me handle this.
NELL pulls on her coat and boots and picks up a pair o boots for BLANCHE on her way
out. JASPER remains inside.
NELL Put these on. You’ll freeze your feet off and that won’t help either you or the
baby. Did you hear me, young lady?
BLANCHE Can’t you leave me alone? (Pause.) Always knocking or my door. Who sent
you? Was it Reverend Poole? Or Dr.
Lafoy? Or was Jasper always telling you I needed cheering up? Ain’t that what you’re
good for? Making believe everything’s fine. Ain’t that what you come here for? (quietly)
Why don’t I tell you a story?
NELL Stop now.
BLANCHE Why don’t I tell you about my father? About my sister Molly? Maybe you
can save her too. Marry her off. Make her into a happy little housewife just like you. You
are happy. aren’t you?
NELL Put these on. You’ll freeze your feet off.
BLANCHE What good are feet to me? I ain’t going nowhere.
NELL That’s enough now.
BLANCHE You don’t want to hear it, do you? After all your prying. You’re scared to
hear it. You thought you knew it all, anyway, didn’t you? You and Reverend Poole and
all the other, you thought you knew all about-
NELL –Stop it. Stop it right now.
BLANCHE All about me and my father. (Pause.) You want to know why Jasper thinks
this baby’s going to be born today? I bet you can guess. What kind of baby would you
expect on Christmas day, eh? (Pause.) I lied to him. I saw him walking toward me in the
church the day we were married and he had that look on his face and I said to myself: not
this time. He couldn’t take his eyes off me and I knew before the day was out he’d be –
they don’t take no for an answer. You know that, don’t you? You know that as well as I
do. But that’s where you and me part company. You see, I’m smarter than you. I didn’t
give a god-damn what happened to me from that day on except for that one thing. I
wasn’t going to let him – I made up a little story. I said it was God’s baby. And he
couldn’t touch me because after God, he’d get me dirty. And you know what? He liked
the story. He liked the whole idea. Don’t you look at me like that. You think you don’t
lie? You do it all the time. Ain’t it wonderful that Harry’s back – freeloading on you,
drinking till he has to crawl home every weekend and running out to Anne Flynn’s farm
every [chance he gets]
NELL (interrupting) Stop it.
BLANCHE And you’re so happy to be having another kid, aren’t you? Christ, you’re
never home. You’re always off somewhere, either you’re out here nosing around or
you’re anyplace else anybody’ll have you just about ever hour of the god-damned day so
you can get away from the ones you’ve got.
NELL That’s not true.
BLANCHE Why are you here then? I don’t need you. I can look after myself. Stop
looking at me like that. I don’t need you to feel sorry for me. I’m holy, you know, I’m
blessed among women. “We’re all praying for you, Blanche, we’re all praying for you.
“Don’t you think I prayed? Don’t you think I said, “God, please don’t let him look at me
like that? Please make him stay away? Please make him stop?” I used to lie there and
pretend I could see through the ceiling to the sky. And then I’d pretend I could see
through the sky to where there was nothing. I’d look and all I’d see was nothing. And I’d
be all right. Then he’d say he was sorry. (Pause.) So – that’s how I know everybody lies.
You can’t really see through the god-damned ceiling can you?
BLANCHE begins to walk back to the house.
NELL Blanche, wait. (Pause.) Will you send Jasper for me, if you need me in the night?
Or tomorrow? Anytime?
BLANCHE (after a moment) Yeah.
NELL Thank you.
BLANCHE What are you thanking me for?
NELL For letting me help you.
BLANCHE walks into the house. NELL leaves.
JASPER Isn’t Aunt Nell coming in?
BLANCHE No.
JASPER You all right?
BLANCHE Yeah.
JASPER Everything’s ready.
BLANCHE I know.
JASPER Here.
BLANCHE What’s this?
JASPER It’s Reverend Poole’s gift. For the baby and for us too, he said. It’s a bible. I
thought maybe you’d read it, out loud. The part about Jesus being born. (Pause.) Be a
good idea. (He can’t read.)
BLANCHE You read it.
JASPER I think we should read it together.
BLANCHE I don’t want to, Jasper. I’m tired.
JASPER You go on to bed, that’s right.
BLANCHE You should too.
JASPER I’ll just wait up a bit. It can’t be long before you’ll be needing me. You go on
and sleep.
BLANCHE goes to bed. JASPER sits down with the bible. He can’t read it, but he opens
it and caresses it lovingly.
JASPER Tidings of great joy. Unto you this day a saviour is born. . . unto you a saviour.
OLD BLANCHE walks over to the house and looks in at Jasper.
SCENE 15
The morning after Christmas. It’s still quite dark. OLD BLANCHE waits under the arch,
watching the house. JASPER is asleep on the floor in front of the doorway and
BLANCHE is just beginning to stir in the bed. Slowly she sits and then stands and drags
herself to the door. She trips on JASPER, nearly falls, cries out. He jumps up. They back
away from one another.
JASPER You didn’t have the baby. (Pause.) Blanche. You didn’t have the baby.
They stare at one another until BLANCHE walks away. She lights the lamp.
BLANCHE I have to make my own g.d. coffee this morning, do I? (She checks the
stove.) Fire’s out. No wonder it’s so Christly cold in here. (She goes to the window and
speaks to herself.) God, you’d think there must be something out there. You can’t see a
god-damn thing but they say there’s mountains and cities, people. You just walk far
enough, that’s all. That way’s Seidler and who’d want to go there, for God’s sake?
Maybe it’s all just places like Seidler. And this town. So when you get right down to it,
there’s nothing out there at all.
JASPER Blanche?
BLANCHE ignores him, continues staring out the window.
Blanche?
BLANCHE keeps on looking out the window, but on her face is a fierce expression,
mirrored by OLD BLANCHE. They are waiting for JASPER to call her again, but he
doesn’t.
BLANCHE What is it?
What is it?
What is it?
What do you want?
Blanche?
Blanche?
Blanche?
You want something, don’t you?
JASPER (finally) We must have done something wrong.
BLANCHE What?
JASPER We done something wrong. We must have.
While BLANCHE watches, JASPER turns away, goes to the wall and sits against it. He
covers his eyes. BLANCHE walks over to him and lets herself down-awkwardly - to the
floor beside him. She puts her arms around him and pulls his head down to her breast
and rocks him back and forth.
BLANCHE Hush.
JASPER We done something. We must have, Blanche. We must have done something
wrong.
BLANCHE No. Not you. Not you. It must have been me.
OLD BLANCHE crosses the yard, goes into the house and closes the door.
The End.