"Happiness"

"Happiness"
A One-Act, adapted from an original poem
Written by: Andie Bottrell

A young woman enters walking backward to center stage.

YOUNG WOMAN
Happiness, happiness, happiness.

She turns around, facing the audience.

YOUNG WOMAN
It reminds me, it rewinds me backwards, but I regress- before I've even begun, I've digressed to off-topics. Swimming in the tropics. Happiness, happiness, happiness. It reminds me of long ago...

An older woman runs out to center stage and sits. The young woman lays down in her arms.

OLDER WOMAN
I hold you-

YOUNG WOMAN
-you held me tight-

OLDER WOMAN
-comforted and rocked you-

YOUNG WOMAN
-I felt safe, alright.

OLDER WOMAN
Rubbed your back-

YOUNG WOMAN
-you gave me care-

OLDER WOMAN
-scolded you for-

YOUNG WOMAN
-sucking thumbs.

OLDER WOMAN
I love you.

YOUNG WOMAN
And you loved me.

Older woman stands abruptly.

OLDER WOMAN
We made a gingerbread house. Do you remember?

Young woman stands opposite.

YOUNG WOMAN
I remember.

OLDER WOMAN
And you called it Calibou.

YOUNG WOMAN
Because of that movie-

OLDER WOMAN
-that I showed you.

YOUNG WOMAN
And we watched White Christmas every winter-

OLDER WOMAN
-ate popcorn with raisins-

YOUNG WOMAN
-and feared God-

OLDER WOMAN
-worshiped Him-

YOUNG WOMAN
-I worshiped you.

OLDER WOMAN
You did?

YOUNG WOMAN
Until that day you left us-

OLDER WOMAN
-it was a bad day, that's all-

YOUNG WOMAN
-dad spanked me-

OLDER WOMAN
-he was upset.

YOUNG WOMAN
I didn't understand what was happening-

OLDER WOMAN
-neither did I-

YOUNG WOMAN
-he hurt me and it was unnecessary-

OLDER WOMAN
-he was hurting, so he hurt you- took it out on you-

YOUNG WOMAN
-and so did you.

OLDER WOMAN
Me, too?

YOUNG WOMAN
Yes, you.

OLDER WOMAN
Well.

YOUNG WOMAN
No one's perfect.

OLDER WOMAN
Not you?

YOUNG WOMAN
No. Not me.

OLDER WOMAN
Yes. That's true.

Older woman leaves.

A tall young man runs center stage and shoves the young woman.

YOUNG WOMAN
Ouch! Don't!

YOUNG MAN
You were in my way-

YOUNG WOMAN
-and you couldn't say, "Excuse me?"

YOUNG MAN
Your legs are hairy. You should shave them.

YOUNG WOMAN
But I'm only 9!

YOUNG MAN
You eat too much and chew too loud-

YOUNG WOMAN
-then look away and plug your ears!

YOUNG MAN
You're a tattletale-

YOUNG WOMAN
-so don't do bad things-

YOUNG MAN
-and you smell bad-

YOUNG WOMAN
-well, so do you.

YOUNG MAN
I can do everything better than you.

YOUNG WOMAN
For now.

YOUNG MAN
Forever.

The tall, young man freezes.

YOUNG WOMAN
I hated you sometimes because you didn't love me, I thought, but then one day you showed me you loved me when it mattered the most and I never forgot. Not ever.

The tall, young man hugs the young woman.

YOUNG WOMAN
I love you, too.

The tall, young man leaves.

YOUNG WOMAN
Happiness, happiness, happiness. It reminds me, it rewinds me backwards toward falling- on tip-toes toward reaching. It's what we're always seeking- it's always there but we're not always aware. It's in my childhood- in all its jaded forms- in my future when I feel forlorn, and in the present when I'm well and worn.

The young woman walks backwards off stage.

YOUNG WOMAN
Happiness, happiness, happiness.

Curtain down.