LILLIAN
a play by John Stanley Urich
Characters:
Herb – coach for youth baseball
Greg – coach for youth baseball
Marian – a woman in her thirties
Setting:
A baseball field with a small grandstand. Noise of youth baseball
activity in the background.
At Rise:
Marian is concluding a heated discussion with Herb.
Greg listens from a distance.
MARIAN:
… and I’m holding you personally responsible for this!
(MARIAN walks away.)
GREG: (approaching HERB)
Whoa! What was that all about?
HERB:
That is one angry momma.
GREG:
So what’s her beef?
HERB:
Her daughter. The little girl. Lillian. She hangs around here sometimes.
GREG:
You mean the one with the –
HERB:
Right. The droopy eyes. The lips. Thick tongue. One of the players has been taunting her.
GREG:
You’re shitting me.
HERB:
Murphy. Little prick made her cry.
GREG:
Murphy … again?
HERB:
Again.
GREG:
Taunting some poor kid with Down’s? That’s it. I’ve had it with that little wise-ass.
He’s outta here!
HERB:
Greg – wait a minute.
GREG:
I can’t allow that. He’s outta here! Finito!
HERB:
Jesus, Greg. Two more weeks and we’re done. Look. We need this kid. He can freakin’ pitch.
GREG:
I don’t care if he’s freakin’ Cy Young.
(He starts to walk toward the field.)
I’m bustin’ his ass right now.
HERB: (grabbing GREG)
Look man, I’ll talk to him.
GREG: (shoving HERB)
No way. I’ll talk to him.
HERB: (shrugging it off)
Hey man. Back off, okay?
GREG:
Screw you.
HERB:
Look. Two weeks. The playoffs. Then it’s over.
GREG:
The playoffs huh? Well screw the playoffs. Hey, Murphy!
(shouting toward the field)
Where is that little shit?
HERB:
Look … Herb … buddy … there’s something you don’t know.
GREG:
Murphy, get over here! What don’t I know?
HERB:
Murphy wasn’t the only one. Your kid was in on it, too.
GREG:
My kid? Alex? That’s bullshit. I don’t believe it.
HERB:
Ask the little girl’s mom. She swears it.
GREG:
Damn!
HERB:
Yeah … damn.
(They stand wordless for a moment.)
GREG:
Two more weeks, huh?
END OF PLAY