Play: A Better Life

(LILY, her mother ALICE, and a DOCTOR are in a cramped, messy and obviously poor one-room hovel. Lily and the Doctor are talking in one corner, and Alice lies in a bed at the far end, seemingly comatose.)

DOCTOR
The landlord found her on the floor when he came to get the rent. He came to look for me immediately… (laughs a little harshly) It’s good that she hadn’t paid him yet, otherwise she probably wouldn’t be alive.

LILY
What happened? Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?

DOCTOR
It was several days before he found her, and she wouldn’t give anyone your name. She wouldn’t even go to a hospital, so they put her on the bed, and they’ve had to force food and water down her throat just to keep her alive. (looks back at Alice, and then at Lily again) You might have to do that from now on.

LILY
(looking at Alice, not having quite heard what the Doctor said) Yes, of course.

(The Doctor takes two bottles of pills from his bag and giving them to Lily, who studies them)

DOCTOR
You should also make her take these pills. They’re pretty strong, so just one pill in the morning, and another at night. (pauses, looking at Lily’s slightly puzzled face) They’re sedatives. Enough to stop her from struggling so you can feed her. They gave her one last night, but not this morning, so you should probably do one now. Do you want me to show you how?

LILY
(slightly repulsed) No, I know what to do. Thank you, doctor. (the doctor nods, but he doesn’t leave) I’m sorry, was there something else?

DOCTOR
Well, I don’t want to be rude, but, well, the money…

LILY
(quickly) Yes, yes, of course. How much should we pay you?

DOCTOR
Forty dollars for the pills, and twenty for the consultation.

(Lily digs around in her purse, and draws out a small roll of bills. She peels off sixty dollars in tens carefully and gives them to the doctor.)

DOCTOR
Thank you. (He seems about to leave, but speaks instead) Don’t take this the wrong way, but if you could take her to a hospital it really would be for the best. It’s just that –

(The Doctor pauses, embarrassed.)

LILY
Yes?

DOCTOR
It’s just that I overheard some of the guys on the first day I was here, and it seems as though… well, as though your mother could afford a hospital. And you’re studying in a college, so… (breaks off, embarrassed again) But it’s none of my business, I know.

LILY
No, no… thank you for your suggestion.

DOCTOR
Right, right. I – I should go.

LILY
(perfunctorily, as though the Doctor is already gone) Thank you again.

(The Doctor leaves and Lily goes immediately to the bed, putting the bottles of pills on the small drawer next to it. She stands looking at Alice for a moment, then begins methodically changing the sheets and her mother’s clothes – they are both soiled. When she finishes, Lily draws up a stool and sits beside Alice, who has remained silent throughout.)

LILY
Ma… was it worth it?...

(Alice turns to look at Lily, and begins using her head to gesture to the bottles on the drawer, her mouth making painfully thin yelps.)

LILY
No, don’t be silly… I can’t. (Alice falls silent, staring at Lily) Nobody deserves to be punished like that, Ma, not even me. You just lay there; I’ll go downstairs and call a hospital and get them to come. You just lay there…

(Lily gets up and walks across the room, as Alice’s voice begins its heartbreaking keening again. Lily walks purposefully onwards, but when she reaches the door she stops, suddenly remembering. She walks back to Alice, who stops keening.)

LILY
Of course. We’ll need money. Where did you keep the book, ma? I’ll need the book to go and withdraw money so we can pay the hospital, and the landlord…

(Alice jerks her head continuously. Lily goes around the room, looking for it, asking “Here?” periodically, until she finds it. She opens the bankbook, and sees the balance, and is frozen for a moment that lasts an eternity. When she moves again she seems to be a different person. She walks to Alice’s bed and sits on the stool again.)

LILY
You – (she breaks off, as Alice’s eyes bore into her with terrible meaning, before jerking towards the bottles again) I can’t… I can’t. I can’t do it. (Alice begins to keen again over Lily’s murmuring) Stop, please, stop it, stop it! (Lily reaches over and begins shaking Alice, the bankbook falling to the ground. Alice stops immediately, and Lily stops shaking her) Please… Please.

(Alice’s head falls back onto the bed, defeated. There is a pregnant pause, and Lily takes a bottle, and Alice’s head raises slightly, hopefully.)

LILY
(opening the cap, taking out one pill) Just one, just one pill. (Alice’s head falls back again) Just take this one. (Alice refuses to take the pill, so Lily puts the bottle down, and gets up to force it down her throat) There. Just one will do.

(Lily sits again, picking up the open bottle. She stares at it a moment, an everlasting moment, and takes another pill. Alice sees this, and her head raises again from the pillow in sacrifice. Lily’s movements seem dazed, dreamlike.)

LILY
(putting the pill in Alice’s mouth easily) Just one pill. One pill will do it. Just one, just one pill…