SCENE 1

SETTING: Living Room/Dining Room

LIGHTS UP
Naomi & Mark are busy making preparations for an expected visitor.

MARK: Momma, I don’t see why we have to do all this cleaning for Eric’s return.

NAOMI: He’s your father, Mark. Stop calling him Eric. You know better, so don’t make me tell you again.
They continue dusting a bookshelf.

MARK: Okay Momma…why are we doing all this for Dad? I thought you said you were getting a divorce.

NAOMI: (Speaks in a quiet voice) I told you that?

MARK: Yes, Momma. That’s what you guys told me when we had “the talk,” remember? (Mimicking his mother) “Things ain’t working out for your father and me, so we’re going our separate ways, ya dig?”

NAOMI: I didn’t say that.

MARK: Well, maybe not in so many words.

NAOMI: You were fifteen years old.

MARK: Yeah…and I spent hours trying to comfort you after you read those emails. So, again I ask…why are we making such a fuss cleaning this place?

NAOMI: It’s not just for him, Mark…I like this place clean….and we don’t need to be having this kind of conversation right now, especially with the little brother around.

MARK: Pss…Charles is playing his video games…. We don’t exist to him right now.

NAOMI: Keep your voice down, young man.

MARK: There’s a million places I would rather be right now and a million things I would rather be doing.

NAOMI: But you’re going to be here, and you’re going to do what I tell you. You should be old enough to understand that, Mark.

MARK: Yes, ma’am.

Pause.

NAOMI: Me and your father…we’ve been talking a lot over the last few months.

MARK: About what?

NAOMI: Reconciliation.

MARK: Why, Momma? Hasn’t he hurt you enough?

NAOMI: You let me deal with that!

MARK: What he did was unforgivable.

NAOMI: There may be things that are unforgettable, but there’s nothing that’s unforgivable. God forgives us; therefore, we must also learn to forgive.

MARK: It’s hard to forgive when you can’t forget. Why don’t you hate him as much as I do?

NAOMI: It’s an unhealthy practice…and a terrible burden. I tried it.

MARK: Momma, you know that I love you, and I want only the best for you, right?

NAOMI: I know that, baby, and I don’t expect you to understand.

MARK: He’s never gonna change, Momma. He practically volunteered for this deployment.

NAOMI: I know, baby.

MARK: So what does that tell you, Momma?

NAOMI: I still love your father, Mark. One day you’ll see that love is a powerful thing.

Pause.

MARK: I don’t know.

NAOMI: Good. This is bigger than you and besides…it’s me and your father’s business, and I don’t need to be explaining myself to you like this. I know you have a little hair on your body…but there is still only one parent in this house.

MARK: Okay…fine.

NAOMI: Mark…I have prayed many nights that God would see fit to save my marriage to your father…I made a vow to love him until death…
Charles rushes in with a baseball trophy. He’s all ecstatic and tired.

CHARLES: Momma, I can’t wait to show Daddy my baseball trophy. (Looks around) Is he here yet?

NAOMI: No, baby.

CHARLES: Why is he taking so long to get here, Momma?

NAOMI: Don’t worry. He will be here any minute now.

CHARLES: Yeeeeah.

MARK: Why are you so chirpy and anxious? Dad never visited any of your games while he was here. He was always “working late”—pshh.

NAOMI (sternly) Mark…I won’t tell you again to stop doing that.

There is a knock at the door.

CHARLES: Is that him, Momma…is that my daddy?

GLEANING (concerned) I don’t think so, baby. He wouldn’t have to knock. Go see who it is, Mark. (Naomi exits to the kitchen)

Mark opens the door and two formally dressed service members are
standing on the other side. One is carrying a brown document envelope.

SERVICE MAN 1: Is this the home of Naomi Everett?