1
Azriah Crawley
Literary Arts 8
One Act Final Draft
February 18, 2017
Three Weeks
Gertrude Memphine, 64, motherly, kind, intelligent. Has been widowed for the last 29 years. Loves children but never got the chance to have any. For the last 18 years, she has had short term memory loss and recently began to live at a nursing home that her granddaughter and daughter put her in. Has a degree in children’s care, and is very open to meeting new people.
Joey Heppner, 17, creative, athletic, stubborn. Grew up in a rich family with a “normal” suburban family. Went to Shorewood Christian Private School for high school, which is where he met Harry Edwards, his long-term boyfriend. Hard headed at times, but when not triggered or set off, he can become very sweet and gentle.
Maxine Davis-Allenton, 19, energetic, colorful, talkative. Grew up in Phoenix, Arizona but soon moved to Portland, Oregon to help take care of her grandma with her parents. Loves meeting new
Dylan Allenton, 39, snarky, sarcastic, caring. Recently divorced because of his stubbornness. Has a bit of a bad attitude with people he first meets, but warms up to them. Went to college for business, came out and took over his fathers company, Allenton Industries. Doesn’t enjoy feeling inferior.
Dean Heppner, 47, uptight, stubborn, traditional. Happily married with two children who go to private school. Valued in his community and has a title of the pastor at Saint Lauren’s Christian Church. Likes being in charge and when things go his way. Thinks he knows best.
Evelyn Heppner, 45, supportive, naïve, loving. Has been a stay at home mom since Joey Heppner was born; due to her attachment she has to her children and the need to make her husband happy. Known by many in her community, especially by the others who attend her church. Likes to protect her children, even when unnecessary.
Nurse Judy, 32, Gertrude’s nurse at her nursing home.
SETTING: A warm midnight sky brushes across the silent streets of Portland, Oregon. Streetlights cover the main roads, but the suburban lanes one have a few to help brighten the night, which is not needed due to the full moon. The Adelaide Westingfield Train Station was usually a very populated sight, but since it was close to 11 o’clock at night, the scene gave a bit more of a weary sight.
SCENE 1
AT RISE: The train station at 10:30 p.m. has always been one of the least populated places, but there were still a handful of people around. GERTRUDE walks in, smile on her face, cane in hand. She sits down on one of the benches and pulls out a book. Not long after, JUDY comes running in after her.
NURSE JUDY
Gertrude! There you are! You know that you’re not aloud to leave the home without a family member signing you out!
GERTRUDE
A family member? No one has come to visit me for as long as I’ve been here!
JUDY
Mrs. Memphine that’s not true. Your sister Angela was here just last week! Please just come back with me and you can sit on the patio, or even…
GERTRUDE
Why would I go back when there’s so much nice air in here? Better than the stuffy air in that home.
JUDY
Gertrude, we can go back and call Angela or Maxine even, and have them take you out tomorrow morning if you’d like. Just please come back with me!
GERTRUDE
(pauses)
Why would I go somewhere with a complete stranger?
JUDY
(phone rings)
Gertrude, I have to take this, but as soon as the call is done, we’re going back, okay?
(exits)
GERTRUDE
(picks up books and begins to read)
JOEY
(enters and looks around for bench)
I knew I should’ve come earlier.
GERTRUDE
Excuse me young man? You can come sit here if you’d like.
(scoots over)
JOEY
Oh no, it’s fine. I wouldn’t want to be a bother.
GERTRUDE
It wouldn’t be a bother. Besides it’s just a bench. Come sit.
JOEY
(sits on bench)
Thank you.
GERTRUDE
Anything for a soul in need. I’m Gertrude by the way, and you?
JOEY
Oh, uh, Joey Heppner.
(shakes hand)
DEAN
(enters)
Joey!
JOEY
Dad? What are you doing here?
DEAN
Chasing my son who ran away like a mad man!
JOEY
Dad stop, you’re causing a seen.
(walks over to the corner)
Now what is so important that you couldn’t have called me about?
DEAN
What is so important? Joey, you’re at a train station, quarter to eleven, trying to run off to California for a minor disagreement!
EVELYN
(enters)
Dean, did you find him?
DEAN
Over here, Evelyn.
EVELYN
Joseph Heppner, you have got some nerve, thinking like you can just run away like that!
JOEY
How did you guys even find me?
DEAN
We asked the Edwards, Monica had Lukas tell us.
JOEY
I knew I shouldn’t have told him. You guys need to leave, right now.
DEAN
Joey, you aren’t getting on that train.
JOEY
Who’s gonna stop me?
EVELYN
That’s why we came here. Joey, please just let us talk to you without you blowing up in our faces for once!
JOEY
There’s nothing left to say! You already said what you needed to say back at the house.
DEAN
Joseph, do not scream at your mother, you know we raised you better than that. We are just trying to help you.
JOEY
Help me? How is boarding school going to help me?
EVELYN
You won’t even let us explain.
JOEY
What is there to explain, mom? You guys never listen to me, but come running every time Justin or Jordyn even let out the smallest whine!
DEAN
Don’t bring them into this. This is only between us, not the entire family.
JOEY
No it’s not, dad! Don’t you get it? Do know the kind of stuff they do when you guys aren’t around?
DEAN
And we will take care of that.
EVELYN
But as of now, it’s about you.
(pauses)
The papers have already come in the mail. All we have to do is sign them and it’s official.
JOEY
Mom! Come on you have to understand where I’m coming from!
EVELYN
Joey, we’ve put this off for so long. It’s time you start taking responsibility for your actions.
JOEY
But mom…
EVELYN
You leave first thing next Saturday.
JOEY
No. I’m not going.
DEAN
Stop making everything so difficult. Just come home so we can talk more instead of screaming in some run down subway station.
JOEY
I’m not coming home.
DEAN
Excuse me?
JOEY
You heard me. If this is the way that you guys want it, then I’m not coming home.
EVELYN
Joseph!
DEAN
You think you’re man enough?
JOEY
I know I’m man enough.
DEAN
Fine. Let’s see when you come crawling back.
JOEY
I won’t be. You’ll be the one begging for me to come back.
DEAN
We’ll just see, won’t we?
(exits)
EVELYN
Joseph, please don’t make the wrong choice. Because no matter what we go through, you are my son and I love you.
JOEY
I’ll be okay, mom.
DEAN
(offstage)
Evelyn! If the boy wants to be a man, let him! We have to!
EVELYN
I love you, Joey.
(exits)
JOEY
(sits back on bench)
GERTRUDE
Well that didn’t sound good.
JOEY
Excuse me?
GERTRUDE
Oh, I didn’t mean to snoop. I just observe lots of things, especially since I can’t come outside much.
JOEY
Really? How come?
GERTRUDE
No one ever comes and takes me out.
JOEY
That’s no good. How about I come and take you out sometimes?
GERTRUDE
Nonsense. You aren’t a family member.
JOEY
Oh, a retirement home. Got it. So if you aren’t aloud to be out by yourself, who are you out here with?
GERTRUDE
I’m not supposed to be out here.
JOEY
What?
GERTRUDE
(laughing)
I snuck out!
JOEY
Gertrude! Has anybody come looking for you?
GERTRUDE
Only that nosy nurse, Judy. She went to take a phone call, never came back.
JOEY
So where is this retirement home you escaped from?
GERTRUDE
Only about 3 blocks away.
JOEY
So how about I take you up there so neither you or nosy nurse Judy get in trouble. Sound good?
GERTRUDE
(pauses)
Judy? Who’s Judy?
JOEY
The nurse you just told me about who came looking for you.
GERTRUDE
Oh right! Nurse Judy, what a sweet girl! Yes, let’s go to see her!
(stands up)
JUDY
(enters)
Alright Gertrude time to go.
GERTRUDE
We were just coming to see you!
JUDY
We?
GERTRUDE
Yes. Judy, this is my new friend Joey.
JOEY
(waves)
How ya doing?
JUDY
I’ve been better. Thank you for watching over her but Gertrude, we are leaving now.
GERTRUDE
Bye Joey!
(waving)
JOEY
You both have a good night!
GERTRUDE
(exits)
JUDY
(exits)
JOEY
(pulls out phone)
Hello? Hey Luke, is it okay if I come stay with you for the night? Yeah, something’s come up… Alright I’ll see you in a bit…Thank you so much…Bye…
(exits)
(STAGE FADES)
SCENE 2
Still the train station, t is now the next day, around 11 o’clock in the morning. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and all seemed right. There are more people now than there was last night, a person on almost every bench. Everyone sat around waiting for a train to come but there wasn’t one in sight. Earlier that day Gertrude’s granddaughter, Maxine, had signed her out and the destination she wanted to go was here. They both enter.
MAXINE
Grandma, it’s such a beautiful day outside, why would you want to come…here?
GERTRUDE
Well maybe I don’t want to be outside.
MAXINE
But you’re inside all of the time. Isn’t that the reason you wanted me to take you out?
GERTRUDE
No. I wanted to come out because it gets stuffy in that home.
MAXINE
Not even to spend time with me?
GERTRUDE
You know I love spending time with you, Maxine, don’t be foolish. Just wanted to come out and explore.
MAXINE
In a dirty train station?
GERTRUDE
Yes in a “dirty” train station. Now hush up and find us a bench.
MAXINE
(looking around)
They’re all filled up though.
GERTRUDE
Then we’ll stand.
MAXINE
Stand? For how long?
GERTRUDE
As long as it takes.
MAXINE
Takes for what, grandma?
GERTRUDE
Takes for me to find a new friend. Have you always been this nosy? Just like your father when he was a kid.
MAXINE
Speaking of my dad, he’s worried about you grandma.
GERTRUDE
Worried about me? Now why would that be?
MAXINE
Because you haven’t been to your doctor in weeks. Aren’t they supposed to be making you go?
GERTRUDE
There’s no need for me to keep going to that place. Keep on telling me things I don’t want to hear, keeping me from doing things I wanna do. All too much for me.
MAXINE
What do you mean?
GERTRUDE
Nothing. I’ll tell you when you’re older.
MAXINE
All right then. But dad says if you don’t start going again, he’ll either drive you himself, or have the doctor come to you.
GERTRUDE
Oh, I’d love for him to start taking me! Tell him to call me when he wants to go.
MAXINE
Okay…I’ll go call him now…
(exits)
JOEY
(enters and walks around looking for a bench)
GETRUDE
Young man? I’ve been here for about ten minutes and not one person has opened up a seat for me, so I’d suggest just waiting until the next train comes to get a seat.
JOEY
Gertrude? What are you doing here?
GERTRUDE
How do you know my name?
JOEY
Because we met here last night. Joey?
GERTRUDE
Oh, Joey! What are you doing here, I thought you took a train last night?
JOEY
I was going to, but something had come up, so I think I’ll be going today.
GERTRUDE
I’m glad I have a couple more hours with a new friend. And look at that a train is coming now.
(points to on coming train)
JOEY
Let’s got get a bench then.
(walks over to now empty benches)
GERTRUDE
(follows behind and sits next to him)
JOEY
So how’d you get out this time? Another runaway?
GERTRUDE
(laughs)
No, not this time. My granddaughter came and brought me here. She’s on the phone with her dad right now.
JOEY
How come you’re always left alone due to a phone call?
GERTRUDE
Too absorbed in technology I guess. It’s this new generation. Back in my day, we actually talked to our neighbors, had face-to-face conversations. Nowadays, only way to have a “face-to-face” conversation is either at school or through that face-timing thing on the new e-phones.
JOEY
E-phone? What’s that?
GERTRUDE
That phone you have in your hand there.
(points)
JOEY
Ohhh. An iPhone?
GERTRUDE
E-phone, iPhone, same thing.
JOEY
Right, right. So how long ago was this phone call?
GERTRUDE
Not very long, only about four or five minutes.
JOEY
At least you wont be in trouble for being out this time. But why come here?
GERTRUDE
She asked that same exact question! I just like to sit and watch the people.
MAXINE
(enters)
Grandma? Where’d you go?
(looks around)
GERTRUDE
Over here, Maxine!
(puts hand up)
MAXINE
There you are.
(runs over)
Dad said he can take you tomorrow when she gets off of work.
GERTRUDE
Great, I’ll be waiting. While you’re here, meet my new friend, Joey.
MAXINE
New friend?
JOEY
That would be me. Hi.
(goes for hand shake)
MAXINE
(shakes hand)
I see. And grandma, when did you meet this new friend?
GERTRUDE
Last night when I ran away.
MAXINE
Yes, which you won’t do anymore, right?
GERTRUDE
I can’t make any promises.
MAXINE
Why won’t you just stay? It’s a lovely place grandma.
GERTRUDE
Because I want to get out and explore! Especially since I have a new friend to do it with me.
MAXINE
Why not make friends at the home? There are lots of nice people there!
GERTRUDE
But none of them have enough energy for me!
MAXINE
Grandma, maybe you have too much energy.
GERTRUDE
None sense. When you’re old, energy is a need.
MAXINE
Yeah, okay, so we should back home so you can take your meds.
GERTRUDE
Home? Where?
JOEY
Your retirement home, where you live.
MAXINE
Joey, can we talk for a second?
JOEY
Sure.
(walks over with MAXINE)
MAXINE
Look. You’ve only know my grandmother for what, 24 hours now?
JOEY
Yeah, so?
MAXINE
She has short-term memory loss. She forgets some things at times, and you just have to take your time with her.
JOEY
I didn’t know, I’m sorry.
MAXINE
It’s okay. Besides, you give her this “energy” she claims to never feel so I think that she likes you.
JOEY
Would it be okay with you if I come to visit her some days?
MAXINE
I don’t want to say yeah because I don’t know you. But ever since you got here, she’s been happier to be out. So how about you take my number and we can set up some days where you come over. Sound good?
(writes down number on napkin)
JOEY
Sounds perfect. Thank you so much.
(walks back over to GERTRUDE)
Hey, I have to get going, some last minute errands. But I’ll see you later, yeah?
GERTRUDE
Bye Joey!
(waving)
JOEY
Bye Gertrude.
(exits)
GERTRUDE
What a nice boy.
MAXINE
(mumbling)
Especially talking to some random old lady.
GERTRUDE
What was that?
MAXINE
Nothing.
(STAGE FADES)
SCENE 3
The setting is now in Gertrude’s retirement home room, after her doctor visit. She’s just sat down in her favorite chair by the open window and her son; Dylan is in the room with her, looking over the papers her doctor gave them. The scenery outside the window isn’t as nice as yesterday because the sun was starting to but the summer thunderstorm was rolling in. Gertrude opens the window anyways and looks around for her slippers.
GERTRUDE
Dylan, do you know where my slippers are?
DYLAN
Mom, are we not going to talk about what just happened? I told you that you should have been going to the doctor weekly!
GERTRUDE
I already knew what they were going to say. I prayed for them not to have said it, I prayed for it to not come back. But there’s nothing we can do anymore, Dylan!
DYLAN
Mom, you have…
GERTRUDE
I have a reappearing tumor, yes. There’s no way to make it go away and I only have a short amount of time. There’s no point being sad right now. I’m still here.
DYLAN
I know but…how am I going to break this to Maxine? How am I going to do everything you’ve been helping with? What am I going to do without you, Mom?