Storytelling, The Round Table

MOM

BEN 

INT:  Kitchen.

The interior furniture and appliances are all white, the counter tops are cut from a fine granite. There is an island center stage, this island contains the sink which is perfectly centered. To the left of the sink is a dish drying rack. To the right is a container used to organize silverware. Downstage left corner there is a round glass table, in the middle of the table there is a large, round goldfish bowl with a single goldfish inside. The water is clean and well tended. Splitting center of the table, there are two chairs. In the upstage right corner there is a refrigerator. The three landmarks should make a strong diagonal line.

LIGHTS UP on MOM who is behind the kitchen sink, attending to a large pile of dishes in the sink. She is a pleasant looking woman, somewhere around her late 30's and very early 40's. She is beautiful yet worn, everything about her is modest yet fashionable.  The kitchen shines in the light and the air smells of pine sol. Using a soap and sponge wand she aggressively scrubs the plates and bowls and sets them to the left. There should be an alteration between plates/bowls/glassware and the spoons/knives/forks. BEN enters upstage right. He's also dressed quite moderately. Consider khaki pants and a fitted white shirt. Walking into the kitchen, he observes the room with an air of caution. He remains casual as he opens up the fridge, taking time to analyze his options. He settles for an apple. Taking a bite, he shuts the door and turns to face his step-mother. He watches as she handles the dishes with an aggravated demeanor. He sighs, and decides to take the bait.

BEN

(lightly mocking) Mother dear...

MOM doesn't answer. She heard him, but does not answer. 

BEN
The kitchen sure looks clean.
(BEAT)
The whole house looks clean.
(BEAT)
So something must be wrong. 

MOM continues to clean, shaking her head in frustration.  BEN rolls his eyes. Listen, he gave it his best shot, right? He turns and heads to exit offstage right, when MOM stops him just before he can leave. 

MOM

(looking up from her dishes, but not at BEN) I just don't understand.

BEN

Understand what? 

With the attitude of a mostly matured adult, BEN enters back into the space with a sigh.

BEN
Understand what, mother?
(takes a bite from his apple)

MOM

How many mothers have to beg their children to have sex?

Exasperated, BEN throws his arms into the air.

BEN
This again? How many times-

MOM
As many times as it takes!
(BEN begins to protest but MOM hammers on)
Don't you want children? Isn't that... important to you- a value?
(Again, BEN attempts to interject)
Wouldn't your father be so... so happy and honored- Honor! Children in your father's honor!

As MOM speaks, she begins to dry spoons, forks, and knives. Without paying much attention, she picks up a knife and, with much force, wraps her hand around the blade. Her bare hand is covered by the towel, yet there is still blood and a mark. With a loud inhale, she drops the knife into the sink. BEN rushes to care for her. These next lines are spoken as BEN guides MOM over to the chair so he can properly look at the damage from underneath the kitchen table light.

MOM
I'm fine... it's fine... just a little cut. That's all. 

BEN
You have to pay attention. You can't flip into this mania, go around cutting yourself up, bleeding all over your freshly mopped floors.
(BEAT.)
(making a joke) You wouldn't like it if I did that, would ya?

They share a soft moment together as BEN places pressure on his MOM's hand. After a beat MOM begins to speak.

MOM
(slyly) You know what I would like... 

BEN
(standing up from his squatted position)
STOP!

MOM
You're always complaining that there aren't any woman for you here,
so why don't you, I don't know, expand your horizon.

BEN
Expand my horizon?

MOM
Absolutely!
(soft pause)

For example, a few cities over....

BEN
(desperate to close this conversation)
It's not going to happen. It won't. It's not. I try to tell you, and you just won't listen. 

MOM
I'm listening. I'm always listening. 

BEN
(sighing, trying to offer concrete reasoning) I can't... break this-

MOM
You're breaking my heart, you know that?

With a heavy sigh, BEN crosses his MOM to sit in the open chair. He takes her hand and they sit quietly for a moment.

BEN
I'm sorry... that I'm disappointing you.

MOM

No, your father disappointed me.
(pause)
Up and dying like that.

They share this moment together. It's a little bit funny, enough to smile by. After a BEAT, MOM continues-

MOM
(softly) 

Don't you... don't you want to have a family?
Don't you want to father the children of a beautiful wife?
Extend the family tree, Ben.

BEN doesn't speak, until it hits him-

BEN
Why are you so invested?
Huh?
Because if we want to be honest here...
You're not even...
(he pauses, unsure of how to say what he's trying to say)
You're not even my real mother.

This comment both surprises yet doesn't affect MOM. After a BEAT she slowly rises and walks back towards the sink. She turns on the water and begins to scrub a new plate. BEN sits idle at the table, thinking of what he had just said.

MOM
(after a build of great tension)
You know....
It's not just you.

BEN
What?

MOM
Through me...

You have a brother.

LIGHTS FADE to the sound of river water splashing. The kitchen set is removed and a YOUNG MOM is now standing center, holding a canoe paddle. 

a conversation
Google images, round table

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I decided to write a contemporary style play based on Mahabharata Episode 6 - Satyavati's Secret, due to the medium of the media. I was inspired by the moment when Satyavati is trying to convince her to son to break his promise of abstinence. I love reflecting on this story, and how much Satyavati really does love Bheeshm. I wanted to try and capture that tender relationship. I obviously changed the names to fit the style. Bheeshm as Ben, and Satyavati as Mom. The play would continue with a flashback to Satyavati as a young girl, the day she meets Parashara.