Want me to lie and say he’s rich?

In the drama scene from one-act eplay Muddy Feathers, Lena learns about who her daughter Jamie’s been dating.

Featured Scene – Muddy Feathers

LENA: Is he an architect then?

JAMIE: Who?

LENA: Arthur.

JAMIE: You joking?

LENA: What did I say?

JAMIE: Tryin’ to get a rise out of me?

LENA: I was only wondering. You mentioned architecture. I didn’t mention it.

(beat)

Is he?

JAMIE: What?!

LENA: An architect?

JAMIE: (sighs) Wants to be one.

LENA: In school for it?

JAMIE: No.

LENA: Oh, well, what does he do for money, then?

JAMIE: See?

LENA: What?

JAMIE: You turn it into that –

LENA: No, honestly, I wasn’t –

JAMIE: Money, money, that’s all you think about –

LENA: It was only a question –

JAMIE: He’s poor! Want me to lie and say he’s rich? Drives around in a bloody Rolls-Royce? Get in the real world!

LENA: Does he at least work?

JAMIE: He’s tryin’.

LENA: Oh, that’s good. Trying is good. (beat) Um, so, if — well, does he plan on making a go of being an architect then?

JAMIE: No.

LENA: What sort of work is he trying for then?

JAMIE: Anything, really.

LENA: Does he have skills?

JAMIE: He can draw, like, anythin’. Like, he could take a look at something once and draw it exactly like he saw it. Like a photographic memory, but he can’t make money doin’ that, innit?

LENA: Why not?

JAMIE: ‘Cos nobody’s hirin’ for drawings.

LENA: What about illustration??

JAMIE: (laughs)

LENA: Why are you laughing?

JAMIE: ‘Cos he’s from the streets, Mum.

LENA: Everybody’s gotta be from somewhere.

JAMIE: They hire from university.

LENA: But if he has good drawings…what do they call those things, when you show people your drawing, a PORTFOLIO, that’s right, that’s right. Does he have a portfolio?

JAMIE: I dunno, he’s got stacks of drawings all over his room, some on the walls, some in notebooks, on his desk, bed, floor – I mean, they’re everywhere.

LENA: So you’ve seen his bedroom, then?

JAMIE: Yeah, I saw his bedroom!

LENA: Okay, alright…alright…umm…err, and do you think that maybe you can help Arthur collect his best drawings and put them in a portfolio and that maybe he can go off to show his work to people that are interested in them?

JAMIE: Nobody’s interested.

LENA: But how do you know?

JAMIE: ‘Cos he draws nudes, Mum.

LENA: Nudes…right. That’s — I thought you said he likes architecture?

JAMIE: He does.

LENA: So why does he draw naked people?

JAMIE: ‘Cos that’s what he likes doin’.

LENA: But why not buildings or animals in the park, cars, and so many other things he can draw –

JAMIE: He draws me, Mum.

LENA: He does?

JAMIE: Yeah.

LENA: Naked?

JAMIE: He does.

LENA: …I see…do you look nice?

JAMIE: Yeah.

LENA: Maybe Arthur is more of an artist than an architect?

JAMIE: Why?

LENA: Based on his drawings.

JAMIE: He draws everyone naked.

LENA: He does? How?

JAMIE: He imagines people in the nude. Says he tries to show their ‘essence’…is the word he used.

LENA: Essence?

JAMIE: Yeah. Says we’re all hidin’ beneath what we wear and that when we’re naked, we see ourselves clearer…something like that, anyway.

LENA: Makes sense.

JAMIE: What does?

LENA: What he’s saying.

JAMIE: Yeah.

LENA: As long as he’s not some sort of weirdo.

Pause.

Lena resumes watching television. She sips her tea, which is cold.

LENA: Would you like a cup of tea?

JAMIE: Yeah, alright.

Lena leaves the room.

Jamie furiously colours in her colouring book.

Lena comes back with two cups of tea, setting one down on the coffee table beside Jamie and going back to her seat on the couch.

LENA: Why don’t you bring him ’round for supper?

JAMIE: What are you talkin’ about?

LENA: I can make us a roast this Sunday, perhaps.

JAMIE: That’s a stupid idea.

LENA: Why?

JAMIE: ‘Cos he’ll ask to draw you naked.

LENA: He what?

JAMIE: He’s always askin’ people to draw them naked.

LENA: But I’m your mother.

JAMIE: So?

LENA: Surely he wouldn’t ask me.

JAMIE: He would.

LENA: Where are his manners?

JAMIE: He has none.

LENA: Well –

JAMIE: Besides, he don’t care what anyone thinks.

LENA: He should care.

JAMIE: He don’t.

LENA: He should.

JAMIE: He don’t!

LENA: A person can’t go walking through life asking people to draw them naked!

JAMIE: Well, that’s what he does!

LENA: It isn’t right!

JAMIE: He don’t care if it’s right or not!

LENA: And people let him?!

JAMIE: Yeah!

LENA: How ghastly! Utter ghastly, that is!

JAMIE: He’s a f’ckin’ pr’ck and that’s it, alright?

LENA: Why are you seeing a fella like that?

JAMIE: ‘Cos I like him.

LENA: But he doesn’t show any respect, it seems.

JAMIE: Don’t matter. I don’t care either.

LENA: That’s not how I raised ya.

JAMIE: What do you want from me?

LENA: I don’t want anything from you, except for you to respect yourself.

JAMIE: I DO!

LENA: Not if the fella you’re dating is going round making naked drawings of strangers.

JAMIE: Well, he ain’t my boyfriend.

• To read the full ePlay Muddy Feathers, find purchase button below:

Scene Summary

In the one act eplay Muddy Feathers, Jamie tells her mother Lena that she’s been seeing a guy named Arthur, who is a struggling artist. 

• Genre: Drama
• Length: ~5 minute scene
• Characters: 2 women
• Themes: dating, mother / daughter, family
• Best For: drama scenes

FAQ

Related Drama Scenes

• I’m starting a new life. – from Fallen Money
• It seems as though people grow apart. – from Stroke of Bad Luck
• You don’t seem to ever get past the thought. – from The Arrangement
• We’ll have to come to some arrangement. – from Armed and Dangerous
• What if death makes though nightmare grow worse? – from Bounty of the Sun

Scene Source: Muddy Feathers

Muddy Feathers is a dramatic play script by Joseph Arnone, 2026.