The Stonemason(8)

MAVEN I've got to get ready.

BEN Is Melissa awake?

Maven puts her arm around Ben and kisses him.

MAVEN Yes. She's playing. Playing, Ben.

BEN (Smiling) I know how to play.

MAVEN How many blocks did you lay yesterday on your father's new job?

BEN It's my new job too.

MAVEN How many.

BEN Why?

MAVEN I heard you put on quite a performance.

BEN I was just working.

MAVEN You had a gallery all afternoon.

BEN Well, people don't have much to do.

MAVEN How many.

BEN Seven hundred and something.

MAVEN Seven hundred and what.

BEN Seven hundred and eighty two.

She shakes her head.

BEN Do you want to know what that comes to in dollars?

MAVEN That's not why I asked, Ben.

BEN I know. It's mindless work. It's as easy to do fast as it is slow.

MAVEN That's not just working fast.

BEN Well. It makes it more interesting.

MAVEN Then you go out to the farm and work till eight. That's a thirteen hour day. Besides stonework that you and Papaw do on the side.

BEN I don't know any other way to do it.

MAVEN How soon are you leaving?

BEN Just a few minutes.

She kisses him again.

MAVEN Bye.

BEN I'll see you tonight.

MAVEN Look after him, Ben.

BEN You know I look after him.

MAVEN I know. Look after him anyway.

Maven exits.





SCENE II

The kitchen, evening. It is dark out. The supper dishes are still on the table and Mama and Carlotta are sitting at the table and MELISSA is in a high chair. Carlotta is smoking a cigarette. Ben is standing in the kitchen dressed in a sportcoat and tie and he has his coat over his arm. Sound of steps on the basement stairs. Maven enters. She is dressed for the evening and has on her coat.

MAMA Be slick out there, Benny. You be careful.

Maven comes to the table and kisses Mama on the cheek.

MAVEN Night Mama. Thank you.

She kisses Melissa.

MAVEN Night Punkin.

Ben is putting on his coat. Maven buttons her coat up.

BEN You ready?

MAMA What time you all be back?

BEN About daylight.

MAMA (Laughing) Yeah, daylight.

MAVEN We'll be back about eleven or eleven thirty.

She takes Ben's arm and they go out. Mama gets up and begins to clear away the dishes. Outside the truck doors slam and the motor starts and the truck pulls away. The lights sweep past the kitchen window. Carlotta stubs out her cigarette. Mama screws up her nose.

MAMA Shoo, girl. I don't see how you can puff on them nasty things. I'd about as soon commit fornication.

CARLOTTA So would I.

Mama has started away from the table and she turns and gives Carlotta a vicious look. Carlotta holds her hands palm up.

CARLOTTA It's a joke, Mama. A joke.

MAMA Joke? Mmph. Ain't nothin to be jokin about.

CARLOTTA Well you're the one that said it, Mama.

MAMA Well it wasn't said for no joke.

She goes on to the sink. Carlotta shakes her head, smiling. Mama returns and makes a fuss over Melissa.

CARLOTTA You've got her spoiled completely rotten.

MAMA Good thing they somebody here to spoil her.

CARLOTTA You think Maven ought to be here more?

MAMA She come to me fore she will to her own mama.

CARLOTTA Well it's just temporary.

MAMA Honey life's just temporary. Besides she got two more long years in that school. And then what she goin to do? I heard of Negro lawyers and I heard of women lawyers but I sure ain't never heard of no Negro woman lawyer. Not in Louisville Kentucky I ain't.

CARLOTTA Times change, Mama.

MAMA Amen, sister, Amen. You said a mouthful when you said that. (She sits heavily at the table). Ain't her nor Ben neither one in this house no longer'n what it takes to sleep and eat breakfast. Tell me about spoilin this child and her not much better than a orphan?

CARLOTTA Well Mama, I'd be ashamed.

MAMA Well it's the truth. What's the truth, you might as well tell it.

CARLOTTA Well I'd be afraid to start back to school. You'd be bad mouthing me too.

MAMA Ain't nobody bad mouthin nobody. She's a sweet girl. Couldn't ask for no better hardly. She just got a lot of high tone ideas, that's all. Life'll smack a few of em out of her fore it gets done with her. Besides, Benny's the one ought to be the lawyer. He'd be a dandy too. Smart as he is.

CARLOTTA Well I declare, Mama. I don't believe I'm hearing this. You're jealous of her on Ben's part.

MAMA Ain't done no such a thing. Just statin the facts, that's all.

CARLOTTA Well in any case she's here more than Ben, that's for sure.

MAMA She supposed to be.

CARLOTTA If you count the work he contracts with Papaw and the work he does out at his farm he's working three jobs. I don't see how she got pregnant the first time let alone twice.

MAMA Girl you got a mouth on you, you know that?

CARLOTTA There's nothing wrong with saying that.

MAMA Hmph.

CARLOTTA You think men are born with rights that women don't have. That they can come and go like migratory birds and it's perfectly natural. . .

MAMA It is natural. Tryin to change nature. Women has babies. You cain't get around that. That's the plan the good Lord laid down and you won't change it. You can make up you own plan if you want to, and you can read it in ruin.