Sorrow for My Sons - Graig Du Theatre Players

Addendum to original scene that is in "Painting the Darkness" and "Sorrow for My Sons", the shorter of the two versions.

Gwen turns to face her mother.

Gwen:   I feel helpless, mother. Why do I find it so hard to understand? I am 

             worthless and there is no happiness to be gained. The days when

             I have been content are few and far between. My sole responsibility

            is keeping a watchful eye on my girls. They are petrified of me  when they               see me standing in the doorway. One child, so malnourished that I thought               she might die, could not stop fidgeting. She continued to stare at my hands,             mother. I said to her “Why are you looking at my hands, girl?” Her reply was             almost a whisper as she said  “Because your fingernails are clean, Ma’am.”             I cried, but did not shed any tears.

 

Emma:   Perhaps you should relinquish all responsibility. These children are 

               different to us. 

 

Gwen:    Why ever should I do that? My life is meaningless if I do not continue

               to administer the home. What would I do if I had to stay here all day

               and do nothing?

 

 

Emma:    William’s child will be well cared for, Gwen.

 

 

Gwen:     I wish not to speak of her. I could not be indifferent to the plight of the

                girls under my care. I would be foolish if I thought I could. Do you

                care what happens to them after they leave?

 

 

Emma:     A month ago, I rebuked you for your tardiness. Of course, I wonder

                 what will become of them.

 

Gwen:    Let us no argue about this once again. The quietness is what we are

              so used to because we never reveal our true nature. Father barely

               mentions William these days.

 

 

Emma:   If he does not speak of him, it does not mean he never thinks of

              his son.

 

 

Gwen:    John Michael? We have become a family of ghosts.

 

 

Emma:   I always think of both my boys, Gwen. William was his own worse

               enemy. He could be so trusting of people. I remember admonishing

               him for his gullibility.

Gwen:     We all make mistakes. My brother was never as foolish as you

                believed him to be. You will understand that eventually. Nothing

                is foreseen. Gladys is withdrawn. She will not pass William’s

                bedroom unless she holds my hand.

 

 

Emma:   I am not naive, Gwen. She misses her brother.

 

 

Gwen:    She clings to me, when we are out walking, as if the same thing

               is going to happen to me. That is not normal for a little girl. Father’s

               intransigence ruined everything when he forbade her to have a candle

               in her bedroom after William’s death. What harm could it have done

               when she was frightened of the dark?

 

 

Emma:    He speaks before he thinks.

 

 

Gwen:    That was one of William’s traits. He never took anything seriously,

               mother.

 

 

Emma:     That’s what annoyed your father the most.

 

 

 

Gwen:     Did I see you just smile. . .

 

 

 

 

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