Even This
In Even This, BARBRA receives the final notice that her home will be taken over by the state within 30 days unless she pays what’s overdue. Â Her teenage son EDDIE tries to help her come up with a plan.
Even This
(Barbra answers a knock on her door)
Barbra: Can I help you?
Man: No, but I’m here to deliver this letter. Â You have thirty days left or your home will be taken over by the State.
(Man walks away)
(Barbra opens to envelope and reads. Â She sits down on the front porch)
(Eddie enters)
Eddie: Mom, who was that man?
Barbra: Huh? Oh, he, he gave me this letter here (reading)…we have thirty days to pay or we’re going to lose the house. Â It’s a final warning…
Eddie: How much do we owe?
Barbra: …Ten thousand…
Eddie: What are we gonna do?
Barbra: That bastard. Â One year more and it would have been ours…this land…everything on it.
Eddie: You need to call him.
Barbra: I wish him dead.
Eddie: He has the money Mom, you know he does.
Barbra: Oh, I know it…he’s out there living the high life, leaving you me and your sister out here in the gutter…he couldn’t just give us even this…even this.
Eddie: Call him or better yet let’s go visit him now.
Barbra: He lives two hours north from here. Â What are we supposed to do, walk?
Eddie: If that’s what we must do.
Barbra: I’ve called him fifty times.
Eddie: You have? Â When?
Barbra: I’ve tried him morning, noon and night. Â Doesn’t matter what time of day.
Eddie: We can’t let him get away with this!
Barbra: What am I supposed to do, jump on his back? Â I’ve called him enough times to make my fingers bleed.
Eddie: What about Uncle Tobey? Â He could take us.
Barbra: Your Uncle Tobey is a waste of a drunk, never did a damn bit for anybody least of all me or you kids. Â Besides, even if he did take us without sliding off the road, he blow your father’s brains out his skull with his shotgun.
Eddie: You’re an exaggerator.
Barbra: You think so, do ya? Â I’ve seen your Uncle do worse with both my eyes. Â He’s a wild fool and good for nothing. Â Don’t ask me again.
Eddie: Well, what the hell are we gonna do? Â We need to save the house.
Barbra: We can’t. Â Don’t you think I’ve been looking into everything. Â I haven’t found a solution yet.
Eddie: What about borrowing the money and we work it off? Â I’ll help Mom, I can give you all my money.
Barbra: What money?
Eddie: I have two hundred dollars saved.
Barbra: Where’d you go and get two hundred dollars from?
Eddie: I’ve been working.
Barbra: You’re telling me you saved two hundred dollars working at the candy store?
Eddie: Yeah, Rosie like me. Â She looks out for me. Â She pays me more than the other boys.
Barbra: Really? Â Well good ole Rosie better take it easy before I bop her one over the head. Â Old hag she is! Â Make sure she keeps her paws off of you.
Eddie: She’s a nice old lady.
Barbra: Don’t be fooled, son.
Eddie: Well, the two hundred is yours. Â Who could we borrow from?
Barbra: Golly if I know.
(pause.)
Eddie: What about Mr. Hank?
Barbra: Hank? Â Boy, what’s gotten into your little head?
Eddie: I know he’s soft on you. Â He’s always coming over here, asking if we need anything and that one time he gave me that baseball glove. Â Come on, he’s got money too, I’ve seen his car.
Barbra: Boy, that Mr. Hank is a Mr. Slimeball. Â He ain’t rich, nothing.
Eddie: Â What you talking about Mom, I’ve seen his house.
Barbra: That house has been in his family for centuries. Â It’s about to fall over to one side.
Eddie: Let’s ask him for money before it does.
Barbra: I said no! Â Hank is a gambling man. Â One day he’s rich, the next day he’s poor. Â He’s all over the damn place.
Eddie: Borrow money on his rich day, Mom.
Barbra: You think you’re cute…you are though. Â I love you, boy.
(she hugs her son)
Eddie: I love you too, Mom but let’s talk to him, it’s the only chance we have.
Barbra: That’s a shot in the dark, that is…
Eddie: Any other ideas?
Barbra: I don’t know what to expect, what the outcome will be…
Eddie: If we get some money, it can buy us time, I’m sure we can figure something out together Mom, I promise. Â Please, I don’t want to lose the house. Â I’ll get another job and quit school.
Barbra: You ain’t quitting nothing!
Eddie: I can work until we pay things off!
Barbra: Get away from me. Â I can’t talk about this anymore.
Eddie: Mom, I’ll do anything for you.
Barbra: I know honey. Â It’s alright. Â Everything is gonna be alright.
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