SIDE J - Agnes, Felicity

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AGNES. (Singing.) “Holy God, we praise thy name Lord of all, we bow before Thee And on earth thy scepter claim All in heaven above adore Thee.”

FELICITY. (Who appeared to be asleep.) What the hell is that?

AGNES. It's a hymn, mama.

FELICITY. Hymn! The time for hymns is when I'm in the coffin. Sing us a song!

AGNES. A song?

FELICITY. You know what a song is, don't you?

AGNES. Of course I know what a song is, but I don't think I know anything

FELICITY. (Singing.)

“Roll me over, in the clover,

Lay me down, roll me over, do it again.”

AGNES. Mama, people can hear you.

FELICITY. Do them good.

“This is number one and the fun is just begun

Lay me down, roll me over, do it again..”

AGNES. All right, mama. I'll get you some tea.

FELICITY. (ignoring her.)

"Roll me over, in the clover

Lay me down, roll me over, do it again ..”

AGNES. Would you like that? Would you like some tea, mama?

FELICITY. Put me by the table.

(More singing.)

"This is number two and

his hand is on my shoe.

Lay me down,

roll me over, do it again.”

(AGNES wheels her to the table.)

FELICITY. Other side! Other side!

(AGNES moves her to the other side of the table.)

FELICITY. “This is number three

and his hand is on my knee.

Lay down, roll me over…”

(FELICITY feels for the edge of the table.)

FELICITY. Closer! Closer!

AGNES. (Pushing her closer to the table.) There. Is that all right?

FELICITY. (Ignoring her.) “This is number four

And…” I don't remember four. What's four?

AGNES. (Setting up a game of checkers.) I don’t know, mama. I don't think I know this song.

FELICITY. "This is number five and his hand is on my thigh….” Do you know that one?

AGNES. No, mama. I don’t.

FELICITY. They'll pass you by, Agnes. They will.

AGNES. Who, mama?

FELICITY. They'll leave you at the station with your a suitcase in your hand and a big gardenia tacked onto your collar. Sons of bitches.

AGNES. I'm not anxious to be going anywhere.

FELICITY. “This is number six and his hands are on my tits . . .”

AGNES. Mama!

FELICITY. Does that make you anxious?

AGNES. No.

FELICITY. Well, it makes me anxious. And I haven't even got tits anymore.

AGNES. I'll get you some tea, mama.

FELICITY. Tea... tea… tea . . . !

AGNES. Please, mama, I’m very tired.

FELICITY. (At the top of her lungs.) "This is number seven and we're on our way to heaven…!"

AGNES. (Suddenly and violently screams at her.) Mama!!!! Stop it!! (FELICITY stops singing. She looks hurt, confused. She seems to drift off again as she did earlier, all her energy draining away. AGNES covers her mouth quickly, immediately ashamed and sorry for her outburst.

FELICITY. (Very gentle, very weak.) Put 'em away. Put 'em away. Shoot 'em and bury them. You can't get good milk from sick cows. Can you?

AGNES. No, mama. You can't.

FELICITY. They're not doing anybody any good. Standing around, making noises like it mattered. Bursting their bellies and there's nothing good inside. Just a lot of bad milk. Put 'em away. You see to that machinery.

AGNES. Yes, mama. I will.

FELICITY. It wants attention.

AGNES. We'll manage. We can sell off some of the land, if we have to.

FELICITY. But not the house.

AGNES. No, not the house. We'll keep the house.

FELICITY. What what time did you say it was?

AGNES. Oh. about four. Four-fifteen

FELICITY. Claire? Claire ...

AGNES. No, mama. It's Agnes.

FELICITY. It hurts . . . hurts now . . .

AGNES. I know, mama

FELICITY. Make it stop. Make it stop now.

AGNES. I'll give you some of the medicine.

FELICITY. Yes. With some tea. Could I have it with some tea?

AGNES. Yes, mama. I think so.

END