(Mr Smith walks into the house and slams the door shut after him. Mrs Smith and Maggie are standing in the kitchen. They are both startled. Maggie grabs a knife and Mrs Smith takes the huge wooden spatula hanging on the wall. They get up and walk towards the door to check who got in. They collide with Mr Smith. They all topple over but manage to hold on to the sofas.)

Mrs Smith: (Placing a hand on her stomach). Oh! What a relief! I thought it was some scoundrels breaking in!

Maggie: (Eyeing the knife in her hand) I was ready, mother!

Mrs Smith: And what exactly would you have done if they had approached you?

Maggie: They wouldn’t have been able to lay a finger on me. Situations like that unleash the crockery demon within me. Jet Lee’s karate stands no chance against me when I’m mad!

Mrs Smith: You sure can build castles in the air! You would have jumped behind me and held me tight, trampling my clothes.

Maggie: Would you have been more worried about your trampled clothes than about your daughter’s safety? And I call you my mother! Incredible!

Mrs Smith: I’m a lady. I get the first prize in all the beauty contests I enter. I should be calm at all times, even during the darkest hour.

Maggie: I know you’re just saying that to get to me!

Mrs Smith: Of course, I am exercising your wits.

(They both laugh. Maggie lightly hits her mother’s shoulder. Mrs Smith turns her head and faces her husband, whose hand is scrubbing his head.)

Mrs Smith: Dear, are you okay?

Mr Smith: Yes, I am.

Mrs Smith: You’re a part of me, and simply by looking at your eyes I can tell that you’re not okay.

Mr Smith: What’s for dinner?

Mrs Smith: It’s only veggies – especially for Maggie. It’s her fourth year of being a vegetarian.

(Maggie gives her mother a huge smile.)

Mr Smith: Happy anniversary, my daughter! You make Daddy proud! (He grins.)

Maggie: Thank you, Dad.

Mrs Smith: Mr Smith, what’s the problem?

Mr Smith: What?

Mrs Smith: You’ve never been supportive of her being a vegetarian, and then overnight you’re suddenly OK with it. You thought she was being stupid and simply putting pressure on herself to please some jocks at college.

Maggie: (Gasping) Father said that?

Mrs Smith: (Facing Maggie) Yes, he did. I didn’t have to tell you though. So, just forget about it.

(Mrs Smith turns to her husband.)

Mrs Smith: Darling, we are one. We both said our vows out loud. We deeply meant them, or so I assume you did. I trust you with my life. Please, share with me.

Mr Smith: It’s nothing. Your mind is racing too much. I’m thankful for your concern.

(Mr Smith kisses his wife on the forehead.)

Mrs Smith: Do you think I’m going to let this slip, just like that? When we collided just now you flew, you didn’t have any balance. Your eyes are crimson red. You hobbled just now.

Mr Smith: It was two against one! Of course your combined weight defeated mine! What were you expecting to happen? I am not masculine. I am not a superman who defies gravity.

Mrs Smith: You’re lying to my face!

Mr Smith: What exactly are you accusing me of? Are you saying that I went out and slept with another woman?

Mrs Smith: It’s shameful that you would even think of that.

Mr Smith: What do you want me to say, woman?

Maggie: Please, don’t fight. It’s not my favourite scene to witness live.

Mrs Smith: You’re drunk, Mr Smith. It’s been thirteen years since you last touched alcohol.

Mr Smith: You’re right. I’m a little tipsy. So what? Am I not allowed to go out with friends on a holiday for drinks?

Mrs Smith: When you have to wake up to work the following day, no, Mr, you’re not allowed! Worse, you got drunk!

Mr Smith: You want to know why I’m like this? Huh? You really want to know the truth?

Mrs Smith: If you’ll be honest with your response, yes.

Mr Smith: Our son, Niall Donovan Smith, is as bent as a three-dollar bill.

(Maggie and Mrs Smith gasp and put their hands on their mouths.)

Mr Smith: Now, do you blame me for taking shots down my throat? Do you?

(Mrs Smith breaks down.)

Mr Smith: You don’t look surprised, Maggie?

Maggie: I am! It just somehow hasn’t sunk in.

Mr Smith: Did you know about this Maggie?

(Mr Smith moves towards Maggie. Maggie and Mrs Smith take a few steps backwards. The door is suddenly opened. All their eyes dart towards it. Niall walks in and locks the door behind him. Niall becomes aware of the people in the house. His eyes are glued on his mother.)

Niall: Mother, why are you crying?

Mrs Smith: (Sobbing) Is it true, Niall? Is it?

Mr Smith: You have the nerve to show up here!

Niall: Is what true, mother?

Mr Smith: Now he’s playing smarty-pants, excellent!

Mrs Smith: (Sobbing) Tell me it’s not true! Tell me it’s not!

(Niall looks down and fiddles with his fingers)

Mr Smith: Not so brave now, are we?

Niall: I’m sorry, mother. I genuinely am.

Mr Smith: Sorry for what actually? That I caught you red handed or that you’re seeing a man?

Niall: (Tears falling out of his eyes) Mother, if your feelings are hurt, if your wishes and dreams about me are shattered, please find it in your heart to forgive me! I am sorry that your son has turned out this way!

Mr Smith: You’re not sorry! You flaunted your shame in public! We had no idea, you ungrateful bastard! You fed on his lips and drank his saliva with everyone watching you! How could you do that, with a man?

Niall: (Continuing to cry) As crazy as it sounds, I call it love. It’s too pure to be disguised.

Mr Smith: Look at you! After all the shame you’ve brought to us, you’re not even remorseful! You told us nothing! What are we to say if the neighbours ask about you? Huh? Must we defend you?

Niall: (Sniffing) Father, you don’t need to shout at me. I understand your anger. I understand that you’re surprised. It’s all new to you. That’s exactly how I felt when I discovered this in myself.

Mr Smith: You are doing things that we never taught you! We raised you in church! We gave you a life that many kids could only ever dream of! And what do you do in the end? This!

Niall: (Tears falling out of his eyes) With all due respect, I never asked to be brought to this earth. You two jointly did. You could’ve aborted me, or even given me up for adoption, but you didn’t. Do you know why? Because you loved me. I am your son, your biological son. I haven’t changed a bit.

Mrs Smith: (Sobbing) Stop! Just stop! Stop! You’re hurting me!

Mr Smith: You’ve disappointed us! You’ve dragged a good name through the mud! You don’t deserve to be my son or a Smith!

Niall: (Continuing to cry) I love you, father, just as I always have.

Mr Smith: You’re a humiliation to this family!

Mrs Smith: (Sobbing) Now we will be a joke to this community! How will I go to church?

Maggie: It’s alright, mother. It’s alright.

Mr Smith: You’re no longer a part of this family! I disown you!

(Mrs Smith weeps out loud. Maggie joins her mother.)

Niall: (Tears falling from his eyes) Where is the love that you have for your son? You always promised to stand by me, through it all. You gave your word. In case I have to remind you, promises are made to be kept, not out of desperation or for convenience.

Mr Smith: Just leave my house!

Mrs Smith: (Sobbing) Please, dear, calm down. We all need to be rational. Niall can change. He can go to the mission and pray all day long. He can change!

Niall: (Taking his mother’s hands) I am sorry mother. It’s not a disease. I can’t cure what’s innate. I can’t change mother! I can’t!

Mr Smith: You’re a sinner! Go to hell!

Niall: (Crying softly) Only God can judge me, father. I thought that you as a Christian would know that.

Mrs Smith: (Sobbing) I am sorry Niall, but I have to torment you for the last time. Can’t you change?

Niall: (Wiping his tears away) I can’t change, mother. I’ve already told you that.

Mr Smith: I have nothing left to say to you. I want you out by dawn!

(Mr Smith goes upstairs. Niall takes his mother’s hand and puts it on his heart.)

Niall: Do you feel that? My heart is still beating. I am alive.

Mrs Smith: (Sobbing) I know.

(Niall takes both of his mother’s hands in his own.)

Niall: I’m sorry that I’m putting you through all of this. It was never my intention. I’m also sorry that I’m very close to giving up in life. Stay well mother, I’m going to pack and leave tonight.

(Niall hugs his mother and sister before pecking their cheeks. He goes upstairs and packs. After about two hours, he walks downstairs with five huge suitcases.)

Mrs Smith: (Sobbing) Please, don’t leave! Your father will change his mind by morning, after he realises what he’s done. Don’t leave, Niall, don’t leave!

Niall: Maggie, take care of mother. Mother, stay well. I’ll visit when father isn’t at home.

Mrs Smith: Where are you going at this time?

Niall: Mother, don’t worry about me. Take care of your husband. Tell him I won’t erase him from my memories. He’ll always be my hero.

(Mrs Smith hugs her son. Maggie joins in.)

Niall: (Forcing a smile) I have to go. Bye!

***

Tell us what you think: Did Mr Smith act in the right way towards his son? What could he have done differently? Where do you think Niall will go?