Chutzpah
In this short drama scene, SANDRA is a teen who has just left home after a horrible physical confrontation with her Mother.  She passes AGNES, who is the neighborhood homeless lady.  This is their first actual verbal encounter.
Chutzpah
Agnes: Hello.
Sandra: …Hey.
Agnes: Nice day today. Â Sunshine. Â Cool enough to be comfortable and warm enough to feel the sunshine touch your face gently.
(agnes notices blood on Sandra’s arm)
Oh dear…let me give you a tissue for that cut on your arm.
Sandra: That’s okay.
Agnes: No, no, here.
Sandra: I don’t want it because I don’t feel like saying thank you…to anyone for anything.
Agnes: You don’t have to say thank you, but please, take the tissue.
(Sandra takes it)
You don’t owe anyone anything.
Sandra: What you sayin’ lady? Â You don’t know me.
Agnes: But I do know you, I know you very well, actually.
Sandra: You’re just a crazy old homeless lady. Â You sit on this bench all day, everyday. Â I never see you move, accept for picking in the trash. Â Maybe you’ve seen me, but you don’t know me.
Agnes: You’re an interesting one. Â Lots of chutzpah.
Sandra: What’s chutzpah? You making fun of me old lady?
Agnes: No, I’m afraid not. Â Cutzpah is a word for guts. Â I like your guts and your heart. Â You’ve got a good heart on you.
Sandra: Stop acting like you know me!
(Sandra stands up)
Agnes: Sit down. Â Relax. Â The dogs bark enough around here all night. Howling in the wind, begging for someone, anyone to hear them, to care enough to scold them quiet…no one ever does.
Sandra: I don’t hear no dogs barking at night?
Agnes: That’s because your ears are closed.
Sandra: Excuse me, I hear just fine, okay? Â How old are you, ninety? Maybe it’s you whose hearing is off.
Agnes: Maybe, that’s true.
(pause.)
I lost my hearing years ago.
Sandra: Huh?
Agnes: Â My hearing. Â Shot to nothing. Â Can’t hear a damn thing out of them.
Sandra: Are you a crazy person? Â Why are homeless people crazy people?
Agnes: I’m not crazy. Â I can’t speak for homeless people, but I’m certainly not crazy.
Sandra: You have to be. Â You’re the only white lady I ever seen in this neighborhood, ever…that’s crazy, but what I don’t get is why you still here? Why ain’t nobody ever dispose of you?
Agnes: Dispose of me? (she laughs) Â That’s a good one. Â I need a good laugh. Â Cleans out the cobwebs in my lungs. Â Haha. Â Dispose—
Sandra: How? Why nobody ever mug you or rape you or…kill you?
Agnes: This neighborhood isn’t what everyone seems to make it out to be.
Sandra: Now I know for sure you’re crazy old woman.
Agnes: Agnes.
Sandra: Agnes?
Agnes: I’d prefer you call me by my actual name. Â Agnes.
Sandra: Well, Agnes, I’m out…
Agnes: You will be back and I will be here, anytime you want to talk. Â Sandra, right?
Sandra: Yeah.
Agnes: Okay. Â I thought it was Sandra. Â You look like a Sandra to me. Â Good. Â Bye bye.
(Sandra walks away)
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