Without Self

Mrs. Parsons.   Anything interesting in the paper?


Mr. Parsons.    Don't be silly dear.  Oh, here's an item.  "Police Raid House, Catch 12 people with
                        Drugs".  Wonder if James knows any of them?


Mrs. Parsons.  Oh George, you can't be serious, could you?  Our James is a good boy.  He wouldn't
                        associate with those kind of delinquents!


Mr. Parsons.    Perhaps you're right dear.  What's for dinner?


Mrs. Parsons.  Veal and rice.  Better go check on it.


                        (Mr. Parsons continues reading the newspaper for approx. 30 seconds, when James
                         enters and starts walking across the room without speaking.)


Mr. Parsons.    What's the matter?  Cat got your tongue?  What do you say?


James.              Good evening father.


Mr. Parsons.     That's better, now where have you been?


James.               Out.


Mr. Parsons.      Out where?


James.                I was out walking, that's all.


Mr. Parsons.      Well James, you had better wash up.  Dinner is almost ready.


                           (James walks out without replying.  Mrs. Parsons comes back in.)


Mrs. Parsons.     Did I hear James come in?


Mr. Parsons.       Yes, something seemed to be bothering him.


Mrs. Parsons.      Well, dinner's ready.  Call the kids.


Mr. Parsons.        Susan!  James!  Supper's ready.
                            (Susan runs through the living rook and turns back towards door in which she
                            came just as James comes in, walking slowly.)
Susan.                 Come on James.  Supper's ready.
James.                 I'm coming.  Just don't rush me, okay?
                                                        End of scene I


                                                        Scene II--dinner table


Mrs. Parsons.     Did you have a good day at school, James?


James.                Uh, what did you say?


Mrs. Parsons.     Did you have a good day at school?


James.                Uh, oh yeah, sure did.


Mr. Parsons.      That's not the way to talk to your mother.


James.                Yes mam, I had a nice day.


Mr. Parsons.       That's better.  Eat your dinner.


James.                 I'm not hungry.


Mrs. Parsons.      You seemed to always like veal and rice before.
Susan.                 Maybe he's sick
James.                (rising violently and storming out of the room)  Sick of life!
Mrs. Parsons.     You better have a talk with your son.  He's never acted this way before.
Mr. Parsons.       You bet I will.  I can't have an outburst like that in THIS house! (exits)
Susan.                 Maybe he's just sick.
Mrs. Parsons.     Maybe it's something he ate.  Could it be the veal?  How was you day today Susan?
Susan.                Same as usual, Mom.
Mrs. Parsons.     Get any tests back?
Susan.                No mam.
                          (continue eating until Mr. Parsons comes back with a shocked expression
                          on his face)
Mrs. Parsons.    Well, honey how did it go?
Mr. Parsons.      He says that he's sick of life.  He told me that he's just fed up with everything
                          and wants to die.
Mrs. Parsons.    Why dear?
Mr. Parsons.      I think it has to do with that drug story in the paper.
Mrs. Parsons.    He takes drugs?
Mr. Parsons.      I don't know.  He might be.
Susan.               Don't be ridiculous.  He's just sick.
                                                                End of Scene II


                         Scene III--a few days later, Sandy and James are sitting in the living room, since
                         James has been grounded for a month.  He can't go out except to school and even
                         then he's got to be back as soon as school is out.


James.              ...And so my parents told me that if I didn't straighten up and fly right that I'd have
                        to be grounded for a month.


Sandy.             What's the problem, Jim?


James.              I don't know, it just seems like there's nothing to live for.


Sandy.             Sure there is.  What about love?


James.             You're the only one I can talk to.  I just can't seem to get it together.  My parents
                        think I take drugs.  My sister thinks I'm sick.  My friends think I'm a fag.  All I
                        have is you.


Sandy.            Jim, don't worry about it.  It will be all right.  You just wait and see.


James.            But my whole world is crumbling.
Sandy.            Hey listen, Jim, you got me.
James.            That's all I need.  (Mrs. Parsons enters)
Mrs. Parsons. All right.  Time's up, James.  Sandy's got to go home.
James.            It's only 10 o'clock.
Mrs. Parsons. Goodbye Sandy.
Sandy.            Goodbye, Mrs. Parsons.  Thank you for letting me come over.
Mrs. Parsons. You're quite welcome.  Come back again.
Sandy.             I will.  Goodbye James.
James.             Bye, Thanks for coming over.  See you tomorrow.
Sandy.            Okay, Goodbye. (exits)
Mrs. Parsons. Well, how was it.
James.             Oh Mom, it's not my idea of fun.
Mrs. Parsons. If you'd just straighten up and fly right then you COULD go out.  Now, why don't
                       you go to bed?
James.            Why don't you leave me alone?
Mrs. Parsons. I'm just doing what's best for you.  (end of Act I)