Ugly Lies the Bone Read online

  Over and over again as it disappears.

  And let each one perform some part,

  To fill with joy the warrior’s heart,

  And we’ll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching HOME!

  When Johnny comes marching HOME!

  When Johnny comes marching HOME!

  A strong wind blows, but she withstands it.

  The feathers blow away and disappear as well.

  Lights fade to black. Song out.

  In the dark:

  VOICEOpen your eyes.

  Lights up to JESS by herself in the living room, still without her headscarf.

  She returns the mirror to its proper place on the wall.

  She waits nervously in the living room as offstage, a car pulls up. JESS peeks out the window, paces. Car doors and voices come from outside.

  KACIE(Off.) Watch your step, watch your step –

  THEIR MOM(Off.) – your house always so big?

  KACIE(Off.) This is your house, Mom.

  THEIR MOM(Off.) It’s big.

  JESS grabs her walker and retreats into the bedroom as KACIE helps THEIR MOM into the house. THEIR MOM is confused, but shouldn’t be physically frail.

  Even bigger in here.

  KACIERemember, I said there was a special guest –

  THEIR MOMIs it Johnny Carson? I love Johnny Carson.

  KACIEWhy don’t you sit on the couch, I’ll start inner soon.

  (Shouting off.) Jess!

  JESS(Off.) Why’d you have to make it such a big deal?

  KACIEI’ll get her –

  THEIR MOMWho?

  JESSLeave me alone –

  THEIR MOMWho is that?

  KACIEOpen up.

  (Knocks.)

  Don’t do this!

  THEIR MOMStop yelling.

  JESS tries pushing the door closed. KACIE struggles, but pulls JESS out of the bedroom.

  What? What’s going on?

  THEIR MOM and KACIE stare at JESS.

  JESS…Hi.

  THEIR MOM(Nonchalant.) Hello…

  KACIE…

  JESS– It’s – I’m – Jess.

  THEIR MOMOkay.

  KACIEMom.

  JESSForget it.

  KACIE(Louder.) Ma –

  THEIR MOMWhat, honey? I’m not deaf.

  KACIEShe’s –

  JESSLeave it alone.

  KACIENo – Ma, come on, do you know who this is?

  THEIR MOMWhat’s wrong with you? You think I don’t know my own daughter?

  Long beat.

  JESSWhat?

  THEIR MOMIf you wanna be Jess now, fine, but I like Jessica better, – why I named you that… Why’re y’all starin’ at me?

  Beat.

  KACIEYou – haven’t – seen her in awhile…

  THEIR MOMI dropped you girls at school this morning, didn’t I?…

  (To herself, quiet, confused.) Didn’t I?…

  KACIE and JESS look to each other.

  JESS crosses to her MOM, hugs her tightly, collapsing into her.

  THEIR MOM(Scolding.) Kacie, what’d you, not let Jessica sit with you at lunch today? How many times do I have to tell you, I don’t want her crying she’s got no one to sit with.

  KACIE…

  THEIR MOMYou two have to watch out for each other. That school’s so big… And you’re just little girls…

  Beat.

  Now…

  (Shoving them off.) Get off me.

  Beat.

  Where’s this special guest?

  Beat.

  THEIR MOM taps the fish tank.

  KACIE…It’s gonna happen any minute now, Jess. Okay? Your doctor said give you plenty of warning.

  THEIR MOMWhat?

  KACIEThe sonic boom.

  (To THEIR MOM.) …Remember what you’d tell us when we were kids. When the shuttle comes back, and you hear the two sounds, it means everybody made it back safe, everybody made it home…

  JESS(A laugh.) Kacie.

  KACIEAny minute, alright?

  Mom, you wanna fold these napkins?

  JESS watches KACIE setting the table, her mom folding napkins. It is both mundane and perfect.

  …I got, um, broccoli on sale – hope we have enough…

  JESS goes to the window, climbs out on to the roof on her own.

  She looks out at the night sky.

  Her sister and mom grow smaller in the background until the kitchen and house fade away entirely.

  JESS stands pensively, looking into the sky.

  JESS is alone among a billion stars, clutching the roof tense, terrified, and thrilled.

  And that’s when we hear it…

  The SONIC BOOM.

  Overwhelmingly loud.

  The sonic boom feels like a heartbeat… beginning again.

  Blackout.

  End of play.

  Bows to ‘Homeward Bound’ by Simon and Garfunkel.

  LINDSEY FERRENTINO

  Lindsey Ferrentino is a New York-based playwright originally from Florida. Lindsey’s critically acclaimed Ugly Lies the Bone premiered at Roundabout Theatre Company in the Underground, has been produced at theatres across the United States, and marks both her National Theatre and UK theatre debut.

  She is the recipient of the National Art Club’s Kesserling Prize, Laurents/Hatcher Citation of Excellence, ASCAP Cole Porter Playwriting Prize, Holland New Voices Playwriting Award, Paul Newman Drama Award, made the 2015 Kilroys List, finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn, nominated for the Outer Critics’ Circle John Gassner Award, and is the only two-time finalist for the Kendeda Playwriting Prize.

  In the 2017–18 New York theatre season, Lindsey’s Amy and the Orphans will be produced at Roundabout Theatre Company and her play This Flat Earth will be produced at Playwright’s Horizons.

  Lindsey’s plays have been developed at Atlantic Theater Company, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, Playwrights Horizons, MCC, The O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, Premiere Stages, Florida Studio Theater, The Great Plains Theater Conference, 3LD Art and Technology Center, Manhattan Repertory Theater, and The Marilyn Monroe Theater in New York. Her work has been seen regionally at The Kennedy Center in DC, The Alliance Theater in Georgia, The Blank Theater in LA, and The Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. Ferrentino is a recipient of the Edward Albee Playwriting Fellowship and Residency as well as Blue Ridge Playwriting Fellowship. Her short stories have been published in New York Magazine and Aaduna Literary Magazine.

  Lindsey is currently under commission from Roundabout Theatre Company, The Public, The Tricycle, The Geffen, and South Coast Repertory.

  She holds a BFA from New York University and two MFAs in playwriting from Hunter College and the Yale School of Drama.

  A Nick Hern Book

  Ugly Lies the Bone first published in Great Britain as a paperback original in 2017 by Nick Hern Books Limited, The Glasshouse, 49a Goldhawk Road, London W12 8QP

  This ebook first published in 2017

  Ugly Lies the Bone copyright © 2017 Lindsey Ferrentino

  Lindsey Ferrentino has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work

  Cover image by Mads Perch

  Designed and typeset by Nick Hern Books, London

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

  ISBN 978 1 84842 644 3 (print edition)

  ISBN 978 1 78001 859 1 (ebook edition)

  CAUTIONThis ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  Performing RightsApplications for performance in any medium a
nd in any language throughout the world should be addressed, in the first instance, to Creative Artists Agency, 405 Lexington Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10174, USA, fax +1 212 277 9099, email [email protected]

  No performance of any kind may be given unless a licence has been obtained. Applications should be made before rehearsals begin. Publication of this play does not necessarily indicate its availability for performance.