TODD: Yes?
TOMMY: But the fact is—No, I’m sorry, I’m too embarrassed.
TODD: You can tell me. What is it? Trust me.
TOMMY: You see, I’m a little insecure.
TODD: What about?
TOMMY: Well, for one thing I don’t think my penis is very big.
TODD (Sadly): Oh, I see.
TOMMY: But isn’t that part of the human condition? I mean aren’t all men, on some level, insecure about the size of their genitalia?
TODD: No.
TOMMY: I’m so humiliated!
(Todd places his hand on Tommy’s crotch.)
TODD: It feels . . . big.
TOMMY: That’s the feather duster.
TODD: I’m sorry.
TOMMY: But it’s not just that. You see, I’ve never really had a woman.
TODD: Surely at the orphanage.
TOMMY: Just the priests. And they tied me up so all I had to do was shout the occasional “Hail Mary.” They were easily satisfied. I never had to do anything. Now, I’ll have to do something!
TODD: You have nothing to worry about. I’ll help you.
TOMMY: How can you? No one can. Sex is the loneliest arena.
TODD: Pretend I’m Emma.
TOMMY: Pardon me?
TODD: Pretend I’m Emma, I’ll talk you through it.
TOMMY: Do you think we should? It might not be safe.
TODD: I’ll be careful.
TOMMY: I don’t know. I’ve tried to forget my past and this seems oddly redundant.
TODD: Just come here.
TOMMY (Crossing to Todd): This won’t involve harnesses or holy water?
TODD: Give me your hand.
TOMMY (Doing so): All right.
TODD: Put your hand on my waist.
TOMMY (Doing so): Like we’re dancing?
TODD: And your other hand . . .
TOMMY: Yes?
TODD: On my breast.
TOMMY: What breast?
TODD (Forceful): Imagine!
TOMMY (Placing his hand): It’s nice.
TODD: Grab my nipple.
TOMMY: Like that?
TODD: Harder.
TOMMY: Like that?
TODD: Harder. Just rip that motherfucker off!!
TOMMY: Doesn’t that hurt?
TODD: YES! YES! YES!
TOMMY: It seems like a fetish.
TODD: It’s not! Women love this!
TOMMY: What’s next?
TODD: Don’t rush. Do this for a long time.
TOMMY: How long?
TODD: You’ll know. And trade off, don’t ignore the other one!!
TOMMY: And then?
TODD: Just shove her down on all fours like a dog and degrade her!!
TOMMY (Shocked): No!
TODD: Yes!
TOMMY: Shouldn’t I build up to that?
TODD: If you want.
TOMMY: I do.
TODD: All right, tell her she’s pretty.
TOMMY: You’re pretty!
TODD: Thanks.
(With that, Tommy clubs Todd to the floor with a grunt. Blackout. Emma rushes into a pool of light and addresses the audience.)
EMMA: I’ve had a memory! I don’t think I saw it in a movie or a photograph. I think I remember it. Yes. It’s my birthday. I’m seven, or twelve and it’s a school day, so I have to go to school. But all the children have to make me a card in art class, and I get a cake in the cafeteria. I blow out my candles and I wish I were someone else. I wish I lived on a farm. I wish I were Pippi Longstocking.
(Arthur enters her pool of light.)
Arthur: Emma?
EMMA: Hello, Daddy. I’ve had a memory!
ARTHUR: Don’t dwell.
EMMA: Do you like Tommy?
ARTHUR: Not very much.
EMMA: Oh.
ARTHUR: But if you love him, I—love him.
EMMA: Is there something in your throat? You sound like you’re choking.
ARTHUR: I’m going to miss you very much.
EMMA: You have a picture in your wallet.
ARTHUR: It’s not the same.
EMMA: I’ll miss you too, Daddy.
ARTHUR: I have a wedding gift for you. (He hands her a piece of gum)
EMMA: It’s a piece of gum.
ARTHUR: When you were little you loved a piece of gum.
EMMA: I did?
ARTHUR: You were my little girl. (He embraces her) When I came home from work, I’d give you some gum and you hugged me.
EMMA: I did?
ARTHUR: And I stroked your hair.
EMMA (A little sick): You did?
ARTHUR: And I whispered your name, and I loved you, and I kissed—
(Emma pushes away.)
EMMA: Is it any wonder I can’t remember a thing!
(Emma’s light goes out. A light comes up on Grace.)
GRACE: My children were good children. Always well behaved and beautiful. When I had Emma, I had what’s called a postpartum depression, so my mother came to stay with us and got on my nerves. Arthur and I were devoted parents. I read all the books on child rearing. Todd cried a lot, and it upset me very much. We had an instant rapport. He had no right to get this disease. Who exactly does he think he is?
(Grace’s light goes out. A light comes up on Todd.)
TODD: It was not uncommon to see my mother in her girdle and bra. This was a natural thing. The bra was translucent and I could see her nipples through the fabric. This was considered dressed. Or maybe it was just okay to see my mother’s nipples. I never saw Emma’s nipples. I saw my father’s nipples plenty of times. I assume my mother did. And when he saw my nipples, it was strictly by chance, and not very often . . .
(Todd’s light goes out. A light comes up on Tommy, carrying a polishing rag.)
TOMMY: I didn’t grow up with these people. I’m not part of this family and I think any memories I’d have of the nuns and priests at the orphanage would be inappropriate.
(General light comes up. Tommy goes to the dinosaur skeleton, now one-third finished and standing on a platform. He polishes it. Emma enters.)
EMMA: Stop that!
TOMMY: I promised your brother—
EMMA: How can you touch it! It’s a carcass!
TOMMY: Think of it as sculpture.
EMMA (Going to him): Take me away!
TOMMY: What?
EMMA: Let’s run away. We can go to Las Vegas! They have chapels in malls.
TOMMY: What are you talking about?
EMMA: I don’t want to live here anymore!
TOMMY: What about my job?
EMMA: Quit!
TOMMY: Your mother’s been so good to me.
EMMA: You won’t help me. I hate you.
TOMMY: I thought you loved me.
EMMA: I do—I mean—I want to get away! We don’t have to get married. We’ll live in a field!
TOMMY: There are bugs.
EMMA: We’ll eat them! We’ll make them into a paste and spread them like jam!
TOMMY: I don’t care for bugs.
EMMA (Losing control): I have to get away! There’s a crack in the plaster over my bed, over my body and it’s getting worse! One night it’ll snap
