Helen has been living on the farm since her marriage to George 54 years ago. George has recently passed away and Helen's mind isn't as sharp as it was. Her son Mike visits her everyday much to the objection of his overbearing wife Margaret. Noticing that his mother is showing signs of dementia he calls his sister who arrives out of the blue to "sort it all out." As the family struggles with the decision of where to put Helen it becomes very clear that she has no intention of going anywhere. After finally managing to remove her from the farm she returns to the there one night. It appears Helen has some unfinished business to deal with and the only place she finds comfortable to deal with it is the only home she has known all her married life. CAST 3 WOMEN 2 MEN Time: 2005 where: Ontario

LIGHTS UP.

ACT 1
Scene 1

A quaint little farmhouse that has seen better days. There is 
a Living room with an old woodstove and a set of stairs next to 
it going up. A radio can be heard in the background. There is 
also a closet and a door into the kitchen. An elderly lady 
(Helen) walks through the door, She is carrying a tray with 
cookies and coffee on it. She places it down and opens the 
front door. 

HELEN
	(Calling)
George! George! Oh there you are, coffee’s ready, Love.

ENTER GEORGE. 

He enters carrying a large pile of wood. He is a young man in 
the prime of his life around late twenties. He wears 6o’s 
jeans and t-shirt and his hair is 60’s style.

HELEN
Oh, careful of my figurines.

GEORGE
If you’ll move out of the way I can. . . .woman, you’re not 
being a help here.

HELEN
Be careful around my horses.

He turns around and knock’s a horse figurine over.

HELEN
Oh George, you’ve knocked over the Gelding.

She goes over and picks it up and sees that the leg has come 
off. 

HELEN (CONT’D)
It’s broken it’s leg.

GEORGE
Helen, I’ve told you before about having them so close to the 
door. 

HELEN
Poor Gelding, that was my first one. 

GEORGE
If you’d have stayed out of the way. I’ll fix it, no one will 
know it’s broken after I’ve finished with it.

HELEN
I’ll know! 

He puts the wood down in a large box next to the fireplace 

GEORGE 
There, that should do us for a few days. I’ll chop some more tomorrow.

HELEN
You broke off the leg, I wish you’d show a little more concern.

GEORGE
It’s a stupid, cheep, ornament, I said I was sorry what more do 
you want, blood?

HELEN
No you didn’t and it’s not stupid. You know I’ve been 
collecting these since I was a girl. Apology accepted. Now 
sit yourself down and put your feet up, you haven’t stopped 
all day.

Helen starts to make the tea for them both. 

GEORGE
There’s not much time to sit around when there’s a farm to run. 
But I will take a few minutes to rest my shoulder. 
	(rubbing his shoulder)

HELEN
Is it playing up again, love? Sit yourself down and I’ll rub 
some cream into it.

GEORGE
Ah, I’m fine, I’ll just rest it for a while and don’t forget 
the sugar.

HELEN
I haven’t forgotten the sugar, though I’d like to. Too much 
sugar’s bad for you, rots your teeth.

Hands him his coffee.

GEORGE
Stop fussing woman I got perfect teeth, a darn site better 
than yours.

HELEN
I got perfect teeth too, they’re just not mine.

GEORGE
	(Leaning forward he listens to the radio)
Hey, listen. . . 
	(he gets up and turns the radio up)
they’re playing our song. 

On the radio AUTUMN LEAVES is playing..

HELEN
	(Singing along with the music)
The autumn leaves of red and gold. . .

GEORGE (CONTD)
Come on, dance with me.

HELEN
What! No, I’m not. . . 

George pulls her off her chair and they start to dance.

HELEN (CONT’D)
Oh George, I’m too old.

GEORGE
	(Singing along too)
The sun burnt hands I used to hold.

HELEN
	(Singing)
Since you went away the days grow long.

BOTH
	(Singing)
And soon I’ll hear old winters song.


Helen starts to really enjoy herself.

GEORGE
Helen, you still got it. 

HELEN
	(Singing)
When autumn leaves start to fall. 

They continue to dance to the instrumental. They are interrupted 
by the sound of a car horn. They stop and Helen looks out.

HELEN
It’s our Michael.

GEORGE
	(Turning down the music)
That’s enough to spoil the moment. 

HELEN
Oh George, be nice.

GEORGE
I’ve got stuff to do out back. 

HELEN
Please George, at least stay and say hello.

GEORGE
No, we’ll only end up getting into it Helen, and today I’m 
not in the mood to be confrontational.

George exits through the kitchen as Michael enters through 
the front door. 

MICHAEL
Hi mom, I got your prescriptions but they were out of your 
silver polish so I got you this instead.

HELEN
	(Taking it from him)
This is no good, love, I can’t use that on my silver frame. 

MICHAEL
Silver polish is silver polish, besides, this was half the 
price of the other stuff. 

HELEN
Because it does half the job. You mark my word, I’ll be 
redoing the silver a week from today. 

MICHAEL
Alright, I’ll take it back.

HELEN
All that rubbing and polishing, my wrists will be sore for 
weeks

MICHAEL
I’ll take it back mom.

HELEN
Besides that, the smell is awful, they put ammonia in it.

MICHAEL
	(Picking it up and putting it in his pocket)
Look, it’s going back.

HELEN
Like kitty litter.

MICHAEL
Kitty litter? You want kitty litter.

HELEN
No, that’s what the ammonia smell reminds me of, when I used 
to change the kitty litter.

MICHAEL
You haven’t had a cat in twenty years!

HELEN
But I remember the smell of the kitty litter. . . . He was a 
large ginger tom, one of the barn cats, what was his name?

MICHAEL
I don’t remember. How is everything else mom? Are you well? 

HELEN
I’m very well, thank you love, how’s work?

MIKE
It’s going okay. I’m still running the stall at the market on 
the weekend and doing the accounting through the week, trying 
to save for that new house is killing me. 

MARG
You’re still going ahead with buying that cottage then?

MIKE
Margaret has her heart set on it. We’re having a conservatory 
built on the back overlooking the water.

HELEN
And you’re going to live there?

MIKE
Yep. 

HELEN
Why you want to live at a cottage is beyond me. A cottage is 
used to spend the summer in not live there all year. The 
wind coming off that lake will be terrible in the winter. 

MIKE
It’ll be fine.

HELEN
How’s David and Lucy? 

MICHAEL
You know kids, too busy to spend much time with their 
parents. Lucy’s hopefully getting her driving license this 
week and David’s still planning the wedding of the century. 

HELEN
Is he getting married then?

MICHAEL
Mom, you know he’s getting married, in July. 

HELEN
Do I? I forget. Did I get an invite?

MIKE
Of course.

HELEN
Who’s he marrying? 

MICHAEL
Malikah. You remember meeting her at the party last year.

HELEN
Malikah, Malikah, Oh yes, she’s that Lesbian isn’t she?

MICHAEL
Lebanese mom. Her families from Lebanon. 

HELEN
That’s a long way to come for a wedding. They must be 
foreign. Still, it’s his life. He’s not planning on moving 
there is he?

MICHAEL
	(Exasperated)
No, he’s not moving there. 
	(He sits)
Look, I’m not going to beat around the bush with you mom, 
Margaret and me, we’re worried about you. 

HELEN
Margaret’s worried about me? 

MICHAEL
Of course she is, we both are.

HELEN
What’s she so worried about? Does she think I’m going to 
change my will?

MICHAEL
Of course. . .

HELEN
Does she think I’m going to leave everything to the cat? Well 
tell her there’s not much chance of that, I can’t even 
remember his name. My estate will be divided equally between 
you and Karen. 

MICHAEL
Mom. 

HELEN
Oh Michael, you and that wife of yours can cease worrying about 
me because I’m fine. You have your own problems with your 
family and your work and Lesbian wedding’s you don’t need to go 
concerning yourself about me. 

MICHAEL
I know, but  it’s only been six months since. . . dad died and 
I can’t help worrying about you being here in this drafty old farmhouse on your own.

HELEN
Oh now you’re speaking nonsense! I wish you wouldn’t talk like 
that. We’ve been through this a million times, I’m not selling 
the farm and I’m not alone.

MICHAEL
I know, Mrs. Jarvis comes over to see you and then there’s 
that weird chap next door. . .

HELEN
Michael, Listen, if it all gets too much for me to handle I 
will call you and let you know. 

MIKE
Alright mom, it’s a deal.
	(He kisses her)
I’d better be off, I’ve got a million things to do before 
the weekend.

HELEN
Have you called your sister?

MIKE
Karen, no, why would I call her?

HELEN
She IS your sister, love. 

MIKE
And she could call me, but she wont! She’s too busy living 
the life of Edmonton’s newest socialite. Besides, if I need 
someone to remind me of what a loser I am I have a wife that 
does that. I’ll call in to see you on Sunday.

HELEN
Alright, see you Sunday. Oh, Sunny!

MICHAEL
Sunny?

HELEN
The cat’s name, it was Sunny. 

MICHAEL
Bye mom.

Michael exits. Helen goes over to the kitchen door and 
calls George.

HELEN
George!. . Okay Mr. It’s safe to come out, the troops are retreating. 

George enters with a newspaper. He sits down and opens it 
up as Helen unpacks the bag that Michael brought in. 

HELEN
Did you hear any of that?

GEORGE
Mm, mm. 

HELEN
You know our son thinks you’re dead don’t you?

GEORGE
Mm, mm.

BLACKOUT.