(Robert is digging a hole. Mary, his mother, enters)

Mary: Good morning, Robert.

Robert: Yeah

Mary: You’ve been out here all night, huh?

Robert: Whatever it takes

Mary: Can I get you anything?

Robert: No

Mary: Coffee, milk?

Robert: No

Mary: I could make you some oatmeal

Robert: No thanks

Mary: Warm, lumpy, at the verge of being dry, just how you like it?

Robert: Please

Mary: Really? I’ll get you some. Cinnamon and raisin? Maple and brown sugar?

Robert: No, I mean please, as in please let me work.

Mary: Aren’t you hungry?

Robert: Leave me alone.

Mary: Aren’t you tired?

Robert Whatever it takes

Mary You’re going to wear yourself out like that

Robert Isn’t that the point?

Mary Do you want some help? I bet that’s hard

Robert No.

Mary I could get you some gloves, that way you won’t get any blisters tomorrow

Robert Too late (shows blistered hands).

Mary Sweetie, that looks terrible. Come on up let me clean that up and get you some bandages. You don’t want to get an infection.

Robert I’m already infected

Mary That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. Now quit this nonsense. You’re being dramatic, for what reason I don’t know. You think everyone’s watching, like you have to make a statement, create some sort of a landmark or testament to your I-don’t-know-what.

Robert It’s the method, the action that matters. I don’t care if anyone watches. I’m expending energy, letting it flow through me. It’s a cold universe, but I’m going to fill it with heat.

Mary Digging to China

Robert I’m not fucking digging to China!

Mary You’re such a teenager

Robert I haven’t been a teenager in 5 goddamn years. Leave me alone. Please.

Mary I wish you’d let me help your hands

Robert I wish you’d go away

Mary Can I get you something to eat?

Robert Fuck off

Mary Oatmeal? You like oatmeal.

Robert FUCK OFF!

Mary (holding back tears) You know one day you’re going to feel real sorry for talking to me this way

Robert Yes, you’re right

Mary I was in labor with you for 20 hours. When my water broke, your father started vomiting out the window. Just vomiting and vomiting. So I drove myself to the hospital. I’d never been in so much pain in my life. They wanted to put me under, but I insisted that it be as natural a childbirth as could be. I wanted you to be perfect. I gave up smoking for you and didn’t touch a drop of alcohol for seven months.

Robert I didn’t ask you to.

Mary I quit my job to have you and nurse you and when I was ready they wouldn’t take me back.

Robert I didn’t sign any contract

Mary But when you opened your eyes it was all worth it. They were filled with such wonder and amazement. You never cried. You would look at me like you were always trying to figure something out. You know, your eyes never grow. From childhood to adulthood, they stay the same size. The same eyes. What changed? What have you seen that’s so terrible? The world I’ve given you isn’t so bad.

Robert We’ll see. It’s down here somewhere.

Mary Allison is coming over. (Robert looks up) she called earlier and I told her you came back here last night. I don’t know what happened between you two. You seemed so happy. Wide-eyed. And now here you are, digging a hole in my yard getting blisters on your hands. Getting an infection.

Robert I’m already-

Mary I know, sweetie, I know. (pause) You’re getting tired, I can tell. I’m going to get you something to eat.

Robert I don’t want anything. (insistent as Mary is walking back to the house) I DON’T WANT ANYTHING! (pause, continues digging)

Allison Hey sweetie. You digging to China? (Robert looks at her with contempt) Mary told me you’ve been out here all night. Aren’t you getting tired? Can I get you something to eat? (pause) I wish you’d come home. I’m sorry if I said something.

Robert You didn’t say anything

Allison Then what is it? (pause) is this where you buried your pet dog or something? Is that what you’re looking for?

Robert I don’t have to be looking for anything specific. I’m just digging.

Allison I bet that’s hard.

Robert Whatever it takes

Allison Have you been out here all night? I would think you could get more digging done than that in one night. Is that a good shovel? You want me to help? (tries to get in the hole, he holds up his hand to stop her) Oooh sweetie, you’ve got blisters all over your hands. I’m going to go get some bandages. You’ll get an infection.

Robert Will you leave me the fuck alone?

Allison Why would you say that? Are you trying to hurt me? I didn’t do anything to you. (holding back tears) You know one day I might just leave you and you’ll feel sorry for treating me like this. My daddy always told me that I’m a princess, I deserve to be treated like gold. Someone else out there I’m sure is totally willing to treat me like gold. (pause) are you digging for treasure?

Robert I’m not looking for anything.

Allison Dinosaur bones? You told me once that you always loved dinosaurs. When I met you you were in the library, reading about some new discovery that linked dinosaurs with birds. You were so excited, so purposeful. Your eyes were so wide. I wanted more than anything in the world for you to look at me the same way. (pause) We could make love.

Robert What?

Allison Make love. Do you want to right now? We could, in your hole. You look so sexy with that shovel. All dirty. I came all pretty for you.

Robert No, I’m busy

Allison Do you not find me attractive anymore? (cries) Do you think I’m gaining weight? Is that it?

Robert I don’t know

Allison Well let me tell you something- I spend a lot of money and time on the treadmill to look good for you. I just want to make you happy, but you never even notice. I could wear chain mail for all you care. Don’t you think I’m sexy?

Robert I don’t like having sex with you anymore. I hardly feel anything. It’s too easy. You let me too easily.

Allison (taken aback, can’t process it, pause) you’re just tired. do you want something to eat?

Robert No, I just want to dig

Allison What are you digging???

Robert A hole

Allison You’re already in a hole

Robert A bigger hole then. Whatever it takes to feel something, to feel life and heat flowing through me like electricity. To fill myself by emptying this space. Emptying everything.

Allison How can you be any more empty than you already are??

Robert You aren’t even listening. we’ll see. There’s still a long way to go.

Mary Is everything all right out here?

Allison Oh, Mrs. Mary, he’s being so difficult. I don’t know what to do with him.

Mary He’s just tired. Robert, I brought you some oatmeal.

Robert I don’t want oatmeal.

Mary Your favorite, maple & brown sugar. Warm and lumpy!

Robert No.

Mary Here, you’d better give it to him.

Allison Robert, you want some oatmeal?

Robert I want to dig

Mary You know, if you’re digging to China, you’re going to need your strength. You’ve got a long way to go.

Robert Why do you insist that I’m digging to China? Why can’t I just dig? Why can’t you take me seriously? You aren’t even listening! Why won’t you leave me alone? Both of you! I’m not looking for treasure or dinosaurs or some old dead pet dog. I’m not looking! I just want to dig! I want heat! I want to exercise my muscles, my free will. This world is so big, so cold. I want to do something that’s mine.

Mary Don’t mind him. He’s always been so dramatic. He gets that wild look in his eye to let you know he really means it.

Allison I don’t know, he seems really upset this time. I don’t know what it is that I’ve done.

Mary You’ve done nothing dear. He’s just grumpy. He needs a nap.

Robert I don’t need a nap!

Mary Sweetie, that is such a wonderful new dress you have on. Is it new?

Allison Well, I wore it once already last week, but I don’t think he noticed.

Mary A shame you’re getting it dirty. You ought to be ashamed, Robert! One day you’ll feel really sorry for treating poor Allison like this. You ought to be treating this lady like gold, like a princess! You’d better be looking for treasure down there, it’s going to take a lot to win this young lady back!

Robert (glares)

Allison Sweetie, will you eat some of this oatmeal? For me?

Mary You’ll feel better. You love oatmeal

Robert (abruptly grabs the oatmeal) you want me to eat? You want to fill me? (dumps out oatmeal, scoops ‘dirt’ into bowl with a shovel and begins eating with defiance) MMMMM. Good. Fucking great. Dry and lumpy, just how I like it. (spits it out) You see it doesn’t matter! The same shit comes out as goes in. I’m just another lump of flesh here, a machine. I might as well be digging my own grave here. I could be a dinosaur, a dog, or a lump of gold. It won’t matter. I don’t need to make a landmark. I don’t need to make a baby to leave behind to make me real!

Mary (to Allison) Oooh, Allison sweetie, you’re pregnant! Oh, I just knew that’s what this was all about! I can’t wait to be a grandmother!

Robert No! You aren’t listening! I just want to dig! I just want to dig this hole and then tomorrow I’ll fill it back up for all I care. Nothing will have changed except that I did it! I moved, I worked, I blistered and breathed. I felt something, I created heat!

Mary He’s such a teenager

Robert Mom, I’ve had sex with this woman. Lots of times. And I never felt a thing.

Allison (cries) he thinks I’m getting fat

Robert Why’d you let me? I’m just going through the motions. I haven’t tasted oatmeal in years. You’ve just been nursing me. Why’d you let me? Just going through the motions. And because you’re trying to pin meaning to my goddamn hole, I’m just going through the motions.

Mary That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. Are you happy now? People are finally watching you do your I-don’t-know-what and you’re hurting their feelings. Now you quit this nonsense. Give me your hands, they’re all blistered.

Allison Sweetie, don’t worry, we’ll help you

Robert I want my hands blistered!

Mary Sweetie, we know what you’re going through. You’re just tired. You get on out of that hole and let us help you.

Robert No!

Allison I’ll go get an extra shovel!

Robert No!

Mary Now you go on inside and take a nice hot shower and take a nice long nap. We’ll take care of you. And when we’re done with this hole, Allison will drive you home.

Robert This is my hole!

Allison (climbing in) Yes, sweetie, I want you back home and happy. I’ll spend more time on the treadmill for you too.

Robert Get out of my hole!

Mary My word, this is dirty. You go on out, clean off that dirt before your hands get all infected.

Robert Get out of my hole!

Allison This is a better shovel anyway. Are you hungry?

Mary Do you want more oatmeal?

Allison Are you tired?

Robert I didn’t ask for this!

Mary You should take a nap.

Robert Get out of my hole!

Mary Shoo, shoo (pushes him out of the hole)

Allison (winking) We’ll make love later!

Mary I can’t wait to be a grandmother!

Allison Oh, he’ll make a great father.

Mary Oh, I’ll bet. And you’ll make a great mother. He’ll be able to relax and you and I will take good care of it.

Robert (vomits)

Allison Treat it like gold.

Mary Treasure it.

Allison It will be an all-natural child with big wide eyes.

Mary Now I can’t for the life of me figure out why he’d want to go and dig his way to China.

Allison He’s already found what he’s looking for.

Mary All that nonsense about heat and life. He’s got plenty of warmth and love right here.

Allison We love you, Robert.

Mary We love you, Robert.

(they continue to work. Robert takes a shovel and slowly begins scooping dirt onto their heads, burying them. Curtain)