Jump!

CHARACTERS:

DAD: Seventy-eight year old local, Japanese man with acute depression.
MOM: Seventy year old local, Japanese woman.
SCENE
(The scene takes place at night in the couple’s bedroom, where the couple has been asleep for several hours.)

MOM
(From off stage)
Dad? Dad, where you?
(Mom enters stage with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She looks around.)
Dad? Damn it, where are you?
(Mom looks out the window and sees Dad sitting on a wall. She walks out the door to the back yard. Wraps blanket tighter around shoulders.)
Daddy, what you doing out hea? You almos’ geev me one heart attack when I no can fine you!

DAD
(Hair disheveled, wearing t-shirt and boxer shorts. Hunched over and head lowered.)
Sorry, Ma. No can sleep. (Looks up at Mom)

MOM
(Sits on wall next to Dad and faces him. Looks down and rubs forehead with hand.)
Daddy, you gotta try relax. (Shakes head)
No can go on like dis. You gotta try hardah.

DAD
(Angrily) I trying! You no tink I trying?! You jus’ no undahstand!
(Turns away from Mom)

MOM
(Lowers voice and speaks slowly)
Daddy, I jus’ trying fo’ help you feel bettah. I no like see you all da time sad.

DAD
(Turns to face Mom)
Ma – I so tired. Tired of waiting. Mo’ bettah jus’ trow me away in da rubbish can. (Hangs head low)

MOM
Well, den, do somet’ing! I been tellin’ you fo’ volunteah at da hospice place or even jus’ have lunch wit’ yo’ braddah at Zippy’s. You know he like da oxtail soup. An’ you always get da clubhouse sandwich wit’ da –

DAD
(Angrily) I no like do notting! How many times I gotta tell you! When you no feel good, you no like do notting!
(Stands up and looks out over the city behind him) No point…(lowers and shakes head)

MOM
(Stands up and faces Dad. Puts arm around his shoulders.)
Daddy, you know how lucky we are? (Smiles) We get tree beautiful granchirren.

DAD
(Faces Mom and speaks calmly) Yeah, Ma, I know, but –

MOM
No buts! You should be happy. You only feeling sorry fo’ yo’self. You only focusing on –

DAD
(Angrily) Quit it, already! I no can sleep, I no can drink, I no can see good – I no can live like dis anymore!
(Gets up and stands on wall, facing the city)

MOM
(Grabs Dad by the arm)
Daddy, what you doing?

DAD
(Thrashes arm to release Mom’s grasp) Leggo me! (Looks at Mom with eyes wide and scared)

MOM
(Gets up on wall and stands close to Dad)
Daddy, stop it! You scaring me!

DAD
(Inches forward so his toes are right on the edge of the wall. He cautiously looks over.)

MOM
(Grabs Dad around the waist and holds him tightly. She starts crying.)
Daddy, please don’t! No leave me!

DAD
(Looks at Mom and speaks calmly) Ma, remembah we when promise each oddah we would go togeddah? Remembah?

MOM
(Holding Dad tightly)
Yeah, Daddy, but dat was long time ago. We was so young back den – we taught we was goin’ live…fo’evah!

DAD
(Takes Mom’s hand and holds tightly in his. He looks at her.)
It’s time, Momma. We goin’ be togeddah…fo’evah.

MOM
(Looks up at Dad and weeps softly. Takes his hand.)

DAD
(Looks out over the city)
Ready, Momma?

MOM
(Looks out over the city.)
Ready.

DAD
On the count of 3…1 – 2 – 3!

MOM
(Jumps off the wall and crawls off stage so that audience cannot see her.)

DAD
(Still standing on the wall. Peers over the wall.)
I guess I not ready.