ACT 1
SCENE 2
Tea Time
(Lillian and Annie are sitting on, perhaps a couch, with a small coffee table slightly down stage. Sarah enters with a tea tray, STAGE RIGHT.)
SARAH
We didn’t have the honey.
ANNIE
Well, don’t you worry none. I’ve got just the thing.
(Annnie pulls a small container out of her purse and sets it on the table.)
This new sweetener, saccharin they call it, seems to be all the rage; makes it twice as sweet with half the amount, and just a hint of tamarind I think, mmmm.
LILLIAN
Tch! More like asper-ine.
ANNIE
To the unrefined palate, perhaps.
We used to be such trendsetters, remember the days?
‘The Phillips sisters, what an elegant three, the Phillips sisters-‘
LILLIAN
‘-and their cooky husbands, two dead, one insane, there “O” for “O”.’
(She looks at Sarah.)
That’s called par in golf, you know.
(Lillian begins to help set the tea.)
I’m sorry all this is happening, Sarah, really, I am…
(Annie tries to silently signal her to shut up.)
…all this, and uh- well, Winnfield too… really. I don’t mean to speak ill all the time, my mouth just get’s ahead of me is all. – hell, if he had bought me a rock like yours, I’d probably forget what “No” means too.
ANNIE
Lillian Phillips!
(Annie pinches Lillian.)
LILLIAN
What!? Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.
ANNIE
“Diamonds are a”- Honestly, I don’t know where she gets this stuff.
(She looks over at Sarah.)
Ain’t she just a picture, Lillian. You always were the prettiest of the three, Momma’s little flower.
(Lillian gives a look of disapproval.)
ANNIE
Wouldn’t you say, Lil?
(Lillian smiles unconvincingly and nods.)
LILLIAN
Of course. It is odd that she named me Lillian though, Lily’s a flower, don’cha know.
(Annie scowls, Lillian begins to feverishly dole out saccharin and cream.)
SARAH
(Just registering that they were speaking to her.)
Hmm?
(She goes to sit.)
No, the flowers are dead, Annie. You know that. They only bloomed for Winnfield. I could never keep up, they just died after they took ‘em away… one by one.
(PAUSE)
ANNIE
(In desperate need to change the subject, she whiffs at her tea.)
MMmmm-mmm, this smells delicious. I will never know how you do it. Everything you make is just to die for, Sarah, you really must tell me your secret some day.
LILLIAN
Yes, please do. Everything she makes actually is to die for.
(Offers Sarah a pour from the pot.)
Won’t you have some tea?
SARAH
(Disconnectedly takes the cup and sips from it.)
I’ve been trying to figure it out…
ANNIE
What’s that, honey?
SARAH
What it means.
ANNIE
(Looks at Lillian worriedly.)
You know, we haven’t taken tea together in ages. When was the last time you think? Huh? Huh, Sarah?
SARAH
“Eh-“… or maybe “Ee”… no, that’s not it…
ANNIE
When do you think, Sarah?
SARAH
Soon.
LILLIAN
What?
ANNIE
Pardon me, hon?
SARAH
He said “soon”. Culthoo?..
ANNIE
(Puts a hand on Sarah’s shoulder.)
Darlin’, maybe you should go lie down.
SARAH
(Looks terrified at the thought.)
Get your hand off me!
(She stands.)
You listen. Now, there was something he said, just before… I can’t remember… and he- oh god, he was terrified. I’ve never seen someone look so scared.
I didn’t know what to do- I didn’t… he was dying, my little baby, and I couldn’t even hold him. Couldn’t bring myself to, because… because… I was scared too. God forgive me, but he scared me. And all he wanted was that I look at him… look at my son in the eye… and then I did… oh lord, I did.
And… and-and he said something… important, I know it. It’s the reason. It’s- how could I have not known? How… God, there has to be some reason.
“Soon, eeuh… or… uh”- goddamn it, I can’t remember!
ANNIE
Sarah… come on now…
SARAH
Don’t you look at me like I’m crazy!
LILLIAN
Well, you sure ain’t makin’ no damn sense.
SARAH
(Pronounced ee-ah)
“Ia”… that was it… “Soon” then “ia, ia…”
LILLIAN
C-cthulhu?
(She stands.)
(Pronounced: COO-THOO-LOO FA-TAG-IN)
Cthulhu fhtagin?
SARAH
How did you-?
LILLIAN
Oh my god.
ANNIE
What?
LILLIAN
My dream… that’s what he said in my dream. “ia, ia, cthulhu fhtagin.”
SARAH
Your dream?
(Lillian, hands quaking, pulls a white rosary out of her pocket, and holds it to her chest.)
LILLIAN
Hail Mary, mother of God, the lord is with thee, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death…
SARAH
What dream?
ANNIE
It’s nothin’, Sarah. She’s just having a conniption, if we ignore her it will pass.
LILLIAN
Annie, please, we have to leave this place. We have to-
SARAH
What dream!?
ANNIE
Please, don’t start her up again.
LILLIAN
Sarah, he’s comin’- he’s comin’… Oh Mary, mother of god, the lord is with thee…
SARAH
Who is? Who’s coming?
LILLIAN
Oh no– no, no, no…
SARAH
Who, Lillian?
LILLIAN
We have to leave- we have to get out…
(Lillian runs for the front door, CENTER STAGE.)
(The doorbell rings loudly, just before Lillian gets to it, she screams and backs away.)
ANNIE
I’ll get it. Both of you… you just sit down and rest a bit.
(To herself as she crosses to door.)
Haven’t slept for days, half crazed, jumpin’ outta your skin at the sound of a bell, lord have mercy.
(Answers the door.)
(There is a man in the door, well dressed, very business like. Has some sort of bag with him resembling a doctor’s bag, he wears a hat and black leather gloves, has a mustache perhaps.)
MAN
I have come for the body.
ANNIE
(To the others.)
Now you see, it’s just the damn coroner. You’ll have to pardon us, sir, it has been a long week. Won’t you come in, Mr…?
MAN
No yes.
ANNIE
Come again.
MAN
No yes.
ANNIE
You don’t want to come in.
MAN
No, no, no…
ANNIE
(Begins to shut the door.)
Well, come back when you’re ready then.
MAN
(Stops her from shutting the door.)
No, my name.
ANNIE
Yes?
MAN
Right.
ANNIE
Now just one cotton pickin’ minute-
MAN
(Ponounced NOI-ez)
I am Mr. Noyes, that is my name, my name is Noyes.
ANNIE
Well, why didn’t you say so in the first place? Come on in, Mister uh- These are my sisters, Sarah, and Lillian.
MR. NOYES
How do you do?
ANNIE
They’re just fine. We just sat down to have a cup of tea.
MR. NOYES
May I see the body please?
SARAH
…the body…
ANNIE
He’s right up the stairs, the door at the end of the hall.
MR. NOYES
Thank you, ma’am.
ANNIE
Uh-huh.
(Mr. Noyes exits stage left.)
ANNIE
Well, ain’t he a joy?
LILLIAN
I don’t like him.
ANNIE
Well he ain’t the most polite a’ sorts, but I don’t imagine you need a lot a’ manners hangin’ around all day with those dead-
(Looks to Sarah.)
Oh honey, I’m- I’m sorry, I’m so sorry
SARAH
What does it mean? Lillian, what does it mean?
(A clatter is heard from upstairs, STAGE LEFT.)
ANNIE
God almighty, you two just stay here and drink your tea. I’ll be right back.
(Annie exits STAGE LEFT.)
LILLIAN
Hail Mary, mother of god, the lord is with thee…
(Black out.)
willnight 