Lost Relations

Characters:

Gwen, the mother
Derek, the son
Nomsa, the domestic worker
Bob, the dog

Act One- Scene One

A woman of 73 years of age-Gwen- sits in her lounge alone with her dog, a brown Chinese Sharpei called Bob. In the lounge is a television, a brown cabinet, a large grandfather clock, a sofa and a couch. There’s a large carpet on the floor, various paintings on the wall, a plant in the corner of the room and an urn with her late husband’s ashes in it atop a little table. Gwen is sitting in her chair upholstered in material with flowers on it that match with the curtains. The dog is sitting at her feet with his head on her lap. She is stroking the dog’s head and talking to him.

Gwen: You know Bob I’m terribly lonely, I only have you and Nomsa to keep me company nowadays [Pause.]  Ever since my husband died 14 years ago, I’ve been really lonely and that’s why I got you Bob. And I named you after my husband because your wrinkly face reminds me of him. [Another pause as Gwen sits for a moment reminiscing about her husband.]

But Bob to be honest, you’re much better company and a far more attentive listener than my late husband and I know that you’ll always love me no matter what I do. [She looks down at the dog, as if waiting for a response from him. The dog just looks up at her and whines softly.]
You want a snack don’t you? [She gets up slowly and walks off stage through a side door and walks back in again with a dog biscuit and a glass of water. She sits down in her chair again and sets the glass on the table beside her and gives Bob his biscuit. There is a sudden knock on the door. Gwen looks up at the clock to see the time and Bob starts barking excitedly.]
Now I wonder who that could be. Bob, keep quiet! [Gwen walks to the door and open its, on the other side stands a tall man of about 37. He is well dressed.]

Derek: Hello Mom, it’s me Derek.

Gwen: I don’t believe it! It can’t be! [She claps her hand to her mouth in surprise]

Derek: Well it has been 12 years since you saw me last…

Gwen: My word! You have grown into a fine man. [Gwen is still very surprised and stands still in the door way]

Derek: I’m so sorry Mom... [Derek then steps closer and embraces his mother in a big hug. Gwen hugs her son back and starts crying.]
Don’t cry Mom, everything is going to be ok.

Gwen: I still can’t believe it is you, after so many years…

Derek: Don’t cry Mom, I’m here now and I’m not leaving you again.
[Gwen starts crying even harder]
Its ok Mom, please don’t cry I’m so sorry.
[Gwen stops crying and stands back to look at her son again.]

Gwen: Where are my manners? Please come in, we can’t stand outside like two bloody fools. [Gwen steps inside and lets her son in before closing the door. Bob comes to Derek and starts smelling him inquisitively. Derek stoops down and starts scratching Bob’s head.]
Oh, that’s Bob.
[Derek laughs at this]

Derek: You’ve always had a strange sense of humour Mom.

Gwen: Well he reminds me of your father, except he’s a better listener.
[Derek laughs again]
Can I make you some tea or coffee?

Derek: Tea would be lovely thank you.
[Gwen walks off stage to go make tea whilst Derek stays in the lounge. He turns and looks at the room and then starts playing with Bob. Gwen walks back into the room carrying a tray with a tea pot and two cups and saucers and a sugar bowl and small milk jug. Derek takes it from her and puts it on the coffee table. They both sit down and Gwen gives Bob another dog biscuit. He takes it gently and goes to lie under the coffee table to eat it.]

Gwen: Why did you come back?

Derek: I realized I was wrong and that I’m terribly sorry for what happened. I realized that none of this is your fault and that you don’t deserve to suffer like this.

Gwen: Well it took you bloody long enough to figure that out! A whole 12 years! Can you believe it?!

Derek: I know and once again I’m so terribly sorry…

Gwen: It’s ok, I forgive you but I am to blame as well.

Derek: Don’t say that Mom…

Gwen: No, its true, if only I hadn’t fought with you so much about how to run your father’s business, you wouldn’t have left like that. But you’re just as stubborn as your father was and you wouldn’t listen to anyone.

Derek: I know, but I was young and I was bitter from Dad’s death.

Gwen: It's ok now, let’s put the past behind us and carry on with the present. So tell me what has happened in your life, over the last nine years? Are you still with that horrible woman, Brittany?

Derek: No I’m not, we separated recently.

Gwen: I’m so sorry to hear that. [Pause.] Actually I’m not sorry one little bit, I thought she was an absolutely horrid woman and she was filling your head with all sorts of funny ideas. I am sure that she had something to do with our fall-out. 12 years of suffering because of that bloody woman! My blood pressure goes through the roof just thinking about her! [Gwen starts getting angry]

Derek: Calm down Mother, she’s out of my life and she’ll never bother us again. She moved to Slovakia.

Gwen: Good riddance! I could never stand that bloody woman and I don’t know what you ever saw in her….

Derek: I don’t think its healthy that you swear so much for your age… you’re an old lady, you know, and such language is not befitting for a woman of your class and age. [He smiles teasingly at his mother and starts laughing]

Gwen: You’re just like your father; he always used to love teasing me because he knew how angry I would get!

Derek: You and your temper, you really should take it easy with your old age. Look even Bob is cowering under the table, scared of your temper.
[They both look under the little coffee table at Bob. He is fast asleep and snoring peacefully.]

Gwen: Don’t be silly, Bob is used to me and my moods and nothing really bothers him. And excuse me but I am definitely not old!

Derek: Calm down mother, I’m just teasing you.
Gwen: I know but I still get worked up and you should know that even after all these years!

Derek: [Laughs] Sorry old bat, didn’t mean to offend you
[Gwen looks at him fiercely but decides to let it go]
So tell me what happened to Dad’s business?

Gwen: I sold it years ago, it just contained so many painful memories and it also became too much work for me to handle on my own.

Derek: I’m sorry to hear that, it was a good business and Dad worked really hard to build it up, but I completely understand why you sold it. I would have done the same thing in your situation.

Gwen: Oh well, the money I received for selling the business has kept me living comfortably in my old age.

Derek: Aha! So you finally admit that you’re old! [Starts laughing]

Gwen: Oh stop now with your nonsense! So tell me what work are you doing now?

Derek: I’m working for KGMP, as an accountant.

Gwen: That’s lovely, I’m very proud of you.
[The grandfather clock starts striking. They both look up at the clock.]
It’s starting to get late, why don’t you spend the night, you can stay in your old room.

Derek: Thank you Mom, I really appreciate it and I’m so glad that we have managed to make peace with our past tonight. It has been twelve very long years. Twelve years that I wish didn’t happen.

Gwen: Everything is ok now and what happened, happened. I’m just glad to have you back in my life. All the bad is gone now and I can live peacefully now. This nonsense between us has been a very heavy burden on my shoulders for many years, but thankfully this burden is now lifted.

Derek: [Smiles and says cheerfully] I feel so relieved as well. Sleep well Mom and thank you for not turning your back on me tonight after all the grief I’ve caused you. I love you

Gwen: And I love you too, so very much. I always have loved you and I just want you to know that I never stopped loving you. Good night my son and sleep well.
[Gwen walks out of room to go to bed and Bob gets up and follows her. Derek stands in the lounge for a moment, thinking then walks off in the opposite direction to his old room.]



Scene two

It is the following morning and Derek is up early. He has made himself tea and is sitting in the lounge reading the newspaper. His mother-Gwen- is still sleeping. Suddenly there is the sound of the turning of a key coming from the front door and then the door opens and in steps a large, black woman, Nomsa. She is the domestic worker and is wearing a colorful head cloth and a dress covered in flowers. The dress is typical of the uniform usually worn by domestic workers in South Africa. She stops dead when she sees Derek sitting in the lounge.

Derek: Nomsa! Is that you?

Nomsa: Ja, but who are you? And what are you doing in my missus’ house? There’s only ever one man in this house and its that wrinkly dog, Bob.

Derek: Ah Nomsa I can’t believe you don’t remember me. You raised me from when I was a little boy. Its me Derek…

Nomsa: Aikona Wena! [Nomsa cannot believe what she is hearing and is very shocked] I cannot believe it is really you. What are you doing here?

Derek: [Laughs] Don’t worry it really is me; see the little scar here on my forehead where I fell and cut my head on the edge of the table when I was eight, and you scolded me for being careless whilst my head was bleeding profusely?

Nomsa: Hai it really is you, but you’ve grown so much! But what are you doing here? You’re mother is still very upset about what happened all those years ago.

Derek: I came to apologise to my mother last night and make amends for what happened. Everything has been forgiven now and all is well between us.

Nomsa: I’m glad to hear that. Jou arme ma was baie upset daaroor. It’s not lekker to be all alone for such a long time, especially at your ma’s age. And Bob does keep her company, but he doesn’t talk much… he just eats and snores and makes a mess, which I have to clean up!

Derek: [Chuckles] Sounds just like my old man…

Nomsa: Talking about the missus, where is she?

Derek: She’s still sleeping. She had a rather emotional night last night.

Nomsa: Shame, but she doesn’t usually sleep till this late. She’s usually awake early and takes Bob for a walk. En waar is daai hond? I need to give him his food. [She looks around the room and doesn’t see the dog, so she calls him]
Bob!
[With that the dog slowly comes into the room and Nomsa goes to give him his food in the kitchen, and he follows her off stage. Nomsa returns shortly]
I don’t know what’s wrong with that dog, he doesn’t want to eat his food and usually he can’t finish it quick enough.

Derek: He probably managed to steal some food out of the fridge during the night and now he’s not hungry or he just wants to go for his walk. Let me go check on my mom. [Derek walks off stage and Nomsa starts cleaning the lounge. He returns after a few minutes.]
Nomsa, I’m afraid there’s terrible news, my mother died in her sleep.

Nomsa: I’m so sorry Derek, but it is because she is finally at peace with everything, for the first time in many years, that her soul can now rest.

Derek: But why did it have to happen now, there were so many things in my life that I wanted to share with her. I wanted to be a part of her life again and make up for all those lost years.

Nomsa: But you have. It is because you two have made things right again and forgiven each other, that she is now resting in a better place. [Pause]
I knew that all these years she wouldn’t rest until she had made peace with you and now you have given her what she has always wanted.

Derek: [melancholically] I guess you’re right, I just would have loved to spend more time with her, and there was still so much I wanted to say.

Nomsa: Don’t worry, your mother is happy now and at peace and you know that if you talk to her she’ll hear you from up there in heaven and she’ll smile down upon you.

Derek: Thank you Nomsa, you’ve always been there for me. Now let us go make the arrangements for a funeral and everything else. My mother deserves only the best.
[They then walk off stage with their heads low and the room becomes dark.]