Do not distribute
Auntie Nell's by Mercedes D. Loving-Manley
Based on the screenplay 'City Limits'
City Limits
617citylimits@gmail.com
Do not distribute ___________ Characters: NELL - Black woman, mid 40's. Nell is nurturing and stern. Straight shooter and bound to tell you like it is. Lovingly, of course. CYNTHIA - Black trans girl, early-mid 20's. Cynthia aka Cyn is mushy sensitivity clad steel in armor. She is soft as can be, but only when she's comfortable. Otherwise, she's not to be played with.
________ Setting: Inside Auntie Nell's house which is located in the Codman Square neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It is midday. School and work is out and rush hour is at it's peak in the Codman Square District. With it being springtime, cars ride up and down the block with the windows down and music blastin. The hustle and the bustle is in full throttle as the city folks make their way to wherever they're going. The nail shops are packed, along with Kim's fish market. The smell of Oriental House can be smelt for blocks. But inside, Auntie Nell is making her world famous homemade burgers as her and Cynthia catch up with one another.
Do not distribute
2.
ACT 1 SCENE 1 _____________
SOUNDS CUE: INNER CITY AMBIENCE AS THE BACKDROP - FAINT SOUND OF CAR HORNS AND THE ROAR OF THE CITY BUS SOUND CUE: WIND CHIMES SOUND CUE: SOUND OF FRONT DOOR SHUTTING. IT IS A HEAVY DOOR, MOSTLY GLASS AND FRAMED IN WOOD.THIS IS THE ORIGINAL DOOR THAT THE HOUSE WAS BUILT WITH, SO IT SQUEAKS. SOUND CUE: SOUND OF LOCK CLANKING. THIS IS A SINGLE CYLINDER DEADBOLT. SOUND CUE: FAINT SOUND OF FAMILY FEUD PLAYING ON TV IN BACKGROUND. SOUND CUE: SOUND OF CYNTHIA WALKING ACROSS THE VINTAGE, CREAKY WOODEN FLOOR. THESE FLOORS HAVE A STORY TO TELL OF THEIR OWN. SOUND CUE: FAMILY FEUD AUDIO GROWS MORE AND MORE DISTANT AS CYNTHIA APPROACHES KITCHEN CYN makes her way to the kitchen. NELL Booby, he left? CYNTHIA Yeah, he'll be back. He went to grab us (mocking) A surpriiise. NELL Oh, okay. Should I make a patty for him? CYNTHIA Yeah, you know he ain't gonna turn down no food. At least not nothin' made by Auntie Nell. SOUND CUE: SLIPPERS SLIDING ACROSS THE CERAMIC TILE FLOOR AS NELL APPROACHES FRIDGE NELL laughs off her niece's compliment and grabs ground beef, onion and green bell pepper from the fridge.
Do not distribute
3.
SOUND CUE: FRIDGE OPENING NELL Oh, girl please. It ain't nothin' but a burger! SOUND CUE: FRIDGE DRAWER SLIDING OPEN, THEN SHUT SOUND CUE: FRIDGE CLOSING SHUT SOUND CUE: SLIPPERS SLIDING BACK ACROSS CERAMIC TILE THE FLOOR SOUND CUE: CLUNK OF ITEMS ONTO THE KITCHEN COUNTER CYNTHIA You know your food is something different! It is an experience. No matter what it is. SOUND CUE: CLUNK OF ITEMS ONTO THE KITCHEN COUNTER NELL So how'd it go? The letter..? SOUND CUE: NELL OPENS WOODEN DRAWER SOUND CUE: METAL CLINK OF A KNIFE SOUND CUE: NELL CLOSES WOODEN DRAWER CYNTHIA (sighs) I just don't know. She puts me out because she couldn't take, and now she writes me every five minutes. She had the nerve to mention God. (scoffs) SOUND CUE: NELL BEGINS CHOPPING BELL PEPPER AND ONION AS CYNTHIA SPEAKS. SHE'S NOT A FAST CHOPPER. SHE TAKES HER TIME, NICE AND STEADY. CYNTHIA (CONT.) Like, do not bring God into this. I'm shocked her whole pen and paper didn't catch a fire as she wrote that down there. Talkin' about she is praying that we can talk soon. Where was the prayer before? How could you turn
Do not distribute
4.
against your own child? And then expect to pick up where we left off? No. That ain't fair. It ain't fair and it ain't right. NELL I know. I'm so sorry, baby. I don't know about your mama sometimes, God knowsCYNTHIA And Auntie, you wanna know something funny? I don't even wish her harm. Even after everything, I still want her to get her peace. I want her to be able to live happy and see days that were meant for her all along. SOUND CUE: CYN sniffles as tears well up in her eyes. NELL Oh, baby don't cry. SOUND CUE: TEAR OF A PAPER TOWEL SOUNDS CUE: INNER CITY AMBIENCE AS THE BACKDROP - FAINT SOUND OF CAR HORNS AND THE ROAR OF THE CITY BUS SOUND CUE: A LAUGHING GROUP OF KIDS CAN BE HEARD AS THEY WALK BY AUNTIE NELL'S HOUSE, MORE THAN LIKELY ON THEIR WAY HOME FROM SCHOOL CYNTHIA Days of no stress. Of knowing, that without a doubt, life is good, because she has felt it. She hasn't just imagined it, but actually lived it. NELL You gotta want that for yourself too, though. You gotta live for Cynthia. Choose Cynthia. If that means not responding, then hey, what can I say? But if that means opening yourself up to receive the love she has to give you now, in this moment, then go after it. Don't let the pain of loss deter you from ever receiving love in life again. Too many people get the love they deserve in their death, when really, life is the time to give and
Do not distribute receive love. This is the time to be gentle with ourselves. One thing about it, forever is not a real thing, baby. We won't be here always. CYNTHIA Thank you, Auntie. NELL You sayin' thank you but do you really hear me? CYNTHIA I hear you. I hear you. NELL When your uncle Gregory passed, I noticed how his old friends came out the woodwork hootin' and hollerin'. The same ones that were nowhere to be found when he got sick. Greg couldn't depend on none of them sorry niggas. When he was able to drink and smoke and start rounds at the bar, he had everybody around. But when shit got tough...tuh. Even some of their wives who I considered my "friends" disappeared. One-hundred and twentynine days, my husband was on a ventilator, unable to breathe on his own, let alone walk or talk. And it's as if they all just left. Greg was always there whenever they needed anything. They could always call him and he always answered. Greg was the good time guy until things weren't looking so good. CYNTHIA Yeah, I still remember when uncle G got sick. That whole thing was so crazy. It's still so crazy to me. NELL It was those 129 days that taught me the boundlessness of love. Sure, we had cursed each other out more than I could count. We had screaming matches they could hear through the whole Codman Square, but when it came time, I made my way everyday like my life
5.
Do not distribute depended on it. Because, in some way, I guess it did. You see, I had come to know a love so tender with your uncle Greg. So tender that it was an honor to wipe his ass. CYNTHIA (laughing, nervously) Auntie, oh, my god? NELL (laughing through tears) Listen, I hate the smell of even my own shit, but it's true! To bare witness to someone in their most vulnerable state like that...Not able to move...Having no choice but to be seen at their weakest point. It was one of the most intimate experiences of my life thus far. It felt sad on one hand. But on the other hand, it was honorable. It felt...rewarding to just be with Greg. To rub his hand. To pray. To sing. (brief pause) Sometimes, I would see a tear drop down the side of his face and that was a reminder that although he couldn't verbally express it...He still could love. Love was a language we both spoke and understood well. (brief pause) I love you, girl. And I am always here. CYNTHIA I love you too. NELL Now grab me that loaf of bread out the pantry. You want ya bread toasted? SOUND CUE: SOUND OF CYNTHIA'S STEPS TOWARDS PANTRY CYNTHIA Lightly, please. CYNTHIA hands the bread to NELL. SOUND CUE: NELL OPENS PLASTIC BREAD PACKAGE
6.
Do not distribute
7.
SOUND CUE: BEEP OF TOASTER OVEN AS NELL PREHEATS IT NELL Just like your nana. Not too hard, not too soft. CYNTHIA Egggzactly. SOUND CUE: SLIPPERS SLIDING ACROSS THE CERAMIC TILE FLOOR AS NELL APPROACHES SINK NELL You know, Cyn. I see the way Booby makes you happy. SOUND CUE: WATER TURNS ON SIGNIFYING NELL WASHING HER HANDS, THEN BACK OFF CYNTHIA Oh, lord. Here we go. We are friends! SOUND CUE: NELL SAYING "MHMMMM" IN DISBELIEF SOUND CUE: CYNTHIA SUCKING HER TEETH FOLLOWED BY A GIGGLE SOUND CUE: TEAR OF A PAPER TOWEL SOUND CUE: SLIPPERS SLIDING ACROSS CERAMIC TILE FLOOR TO CABINET SOUND CUE: CABINET OPENING SOUND CUE: SOFT CLUNK OF SEASONING BOTTLES TAPPING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER SOUND CUE: CABINET CLOSING SOUND CUE: SLIPPERS SLIDING ACROSS CERAMIC TILE FLOOR TO COUNTER SOUND CUE: SEASONING BOTTLES CLUNKING ONTO COUNTERTOP NELL begins seasoning the food with the dry spices she retrieved from the cabinet. NELL It's so amazing to witness. You don't never wanna talk about it, but it's an indescribable happiness you get when he's around. Now don't get me wrong,
Do not distribute
8.
you have that same effect on him. SOUND CUE: NELL MIXES INGREDIENTS INTO GROUND BEEF WITH HER HANDS NELL (CONT.) But I must say, I love seeing you happy like that. Almost like you a baby again. You know how babies just always smiling, ear to ear, not a tooth in they mouth but just smilin'! That's y'all. Just 'a kekeing: (mocking, dramatically) Oh, Booby helped me with my resumé...Booby gonna be back later with a surprise. SOUND CUE: NELL'S SLIPPERS SLIDING ACROSS CERAMIC TILE FLOOR TO SINK SOUND CUE: WATER TURNS ON AS NELL WASHES HER HANDS NELL (CONT.) (back to normal voice) Girl! That's happiness. That...seems like...peace. SOUND CUE: WATER TURNS BACK OFF SOUND CUE: TEAR OF A PAPER TOWEL SOUND CUE: METAL TRASH CAN TOP OPENING THEN CLOSING SOUND CUE: SLIPPERS SLIDING ACROSS CERAMIC TILE FLOOR TO STOVE SOUND CUE: CLICKING OF GAS STOVE AS NELL TURNS IT ON SOUND CUE: SLIPPERS SLIDING ACROSS CERAMIC TILE FLOOR BACK TO COUNTER NELL begins making some hefty hamburger patties. CYNTHIA (deep breath) I know. He does make me happy, like a real friend would. (mouth pop) I guess I just have a hard time confessing it because, you know the girls don't get no love like that. Not
Do not distribute
9.
from no guy like Booby, especially. I mean, it just so happens we practically grew up with each other but, I didn't know a love like this was possible. NELL Uh uh! Don't you let the world tell you who and how to love. Love is like water. Ain't no limit to it. It can travel anywhere. Through every nook and cranny. Every corner of the world. It can reach so far and hug you so close. It can beCYNTHIA (interjecting) Home. NELL Right. So comforting. It'll almost make you forget about the world. Experiencing love. I mean real, honest, unwavering love can sometimes make you forget there's a whole world outside of it. SOUND CUE: NELL'S SLIPPERS SLIDING ACROSS CERAMIC TILE FLOOR TO STOVE SOUND CUE: SOFT SIZZLING OF BURGER PATTIES AS NELL PLACES EACH ONE IN THE SKILLET CYNTHIA That's also the danger of love, Auntie. You let yourself get so deep into this dream that you forget once you wake up, it's war. I rather just tough it out and live in reality. SOUND CUE: NELL'S SLIPPERS SLIDING ACROSS CERAMIC TILE FLOOR TO SINK SOUND CUE: WATER TURNS ON AS NELL WASHES HER HANDS, THEN BACK OFF SOUND CUE: TEAR OF PAPER TOWEL NELL Tough it out?! Pshh. You oughta be glad for dreams! If love is the dream,
Do not distribute
10.
let me sleep all day long! SOUND CUE: NELL'S SLIPPERS SLIDING ACROSS CERAMIC TILE FLOOR TO TRASH CAN SOUND CUE: METAL TRASH CAN TOP OPENING THEN CLOSING CYNTHIA You got a point there, Auntie. (brief pause) SOUND CUE: NELL PULLS STOOL OUT FROM UNDER COUNTER AND TAKES A SEAT SOUND CUE: TOASTER OVEN BINGS, SIGNIFYING IT'S READY SOUND CUE: SOUND OF TOASTER OVEN DOOR SQUEAKING OPEN SOUND CUE: CYNTHIA PULLS OUT METAL RACK CYNTHIA places slices of bread onto rack SOUND CUE: CYNTHIA PUSHES METAL RACK BACK IN SOUND CUE: SOUND OF TOASTER OVEN DOOR CLANKING SHUT SOUND CUE: NELL GETS UP FROM SEAT SOUND CUE: SLIPPERS SLIDING ACROSS CERAMIC TILE FLOOR TO STOVE SOUND CUE: HEIGHTENED SIZZLES AS NELL FLIPS BURGERS OVER SOUND CUE: SPATULA BEING PLACED ONTO SPOON REST ON STOVETOP SOUND CUE: SLIPPERS SLIDING ACROSS CERAMIC TILE FLOOR BACK TO SEAT SOUND CUE: CHAIR BEING PULLED BACK OUT SOUND CUE: IPHONE TEXT MESSAGE PING CYNTHIA (quick) Oop, this is Booby, he's outside. I'll be right back. NELL Alright, baby. When you get back upstairs, would you butter this bread for me?
Do not distribute
11.
CYNTHIA Of course, I gotchu, Auntie! CYN exits the kitchen and makes her way down the stairs to open the door for BOOBY. SOUND CUE: SOUND OF CYNTHIA WALKING ACROSS THE VINTAGE, CREAKY WOODEN FLOOR. SOUND CUE: FAMILY FEUD AUDIO INCREASES MORE AND MORE AS CYNTHIA EXITS KITCHEN AND BYPASSES LIVING ROOM SOUND CUE: WALKING DOWN WOODEN STEPS SOUND CUE: SOUND OF LOCK CLANKING. THIS IS A SINGLE CYLINDER DEADBOLT. SOUND CUE: SOUND OF FRONT DOOR OPENING. IT IS A HEAVY DOOR, MOSTLY GLASS AND FRAMED IN WOOD. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL DOOR THAT THE HOUSE WAS BUILT WITH, SO IT SQUEAKS. SOUND CUE: WIND CHIMES REMIND US OF THE EVENING BREEZE END SCENE.