The Toy
by Arthur Simone

scene 1

 

(TIMMY is asleep in ragged clothes on a naked floor.  Enter SISSY, his older sister, in pigtails, dressed in a flowered dress.  She sees him asleep, grins, and begins kicking him violently)

 

TIMMY:

Hey!  stop!

 

SISSY:

(mockingly) Hey, stop!

 

TIMMY:

I’m up! I’m up!  Don’t!  I’m awake!

 

SISSY:

Goddamn right you’re up.  Do you have any idea what time it is???

 

TIMMY:

(whining) But it’s Monday!

 

SISSY:

That’s right, it’s Monday!  That means you have to double up on your chores before you go off to your “school.”

 

TIMMY:

What time is it?

 

SISSY:

It’s 5 o’clock.  It’s late enough as it is.  Here’s what you have to do:   First, do my laundry.  Second, I want you to polish my boots, third, you have to clean up the kitchen, and then you have to feed the chickens.

 

TIMMY:

Chickens?  But we don’t have - (Sissy slaps him)

 

SISSY:

Did I tell you you could speak?  (Timmy shakes his head ‘no.’)  Good, then go do it. 

 

TIMMY:

Yes, Sissy.  (starts to leave)

 

SISSY:

Did you forget something?

 

TIMMY: 

(reciting) My sister means the world to me.  She is my sun, my moon, my stars, my life.  I love my big sister.

 

SISSY:

 (hugging him)  I love you, you know that? (she pushes him down and spits on him)  Now get to work, you little shit. (she exits)

 

TIMMY:

(as soon as Sissy has left, Timmy happily bounces up, as if nothing just happened.  He takes a quick look to make sure nobody is around and then takes out an extremely worn out old toothbrush.  This is Timmy’s only toy, his best friend.  To him it is an airplane, a gun, a baton, a baseball bat, whatever.  Excited and happy...)  Well, today’s the first day of school, Brian.  Junior high school.  6th grade.  I’m not sure I’m ready, what about you? (listens to the toothbrush, laughs, sharing the joke with his friend)  Yeah, I’m sure.  I think it will be great.  We’ll get to meet all sorts of new people.  People that care. (pathetic, isn’t he?  At offstage sounds of stomping feet, Timmy panics and stuffs his toothbrush down the front of his ragged pants.  Enter MOMMY who promptly slaps him...)

 

MOMMY:

 What did Sissy tell you!? 

 

TIMMY:

Mommy, I-

 

MOMMY:

(slaps him again and twists his ear)  Don’t you talk to me that way!  I expect you to be ready to work in 2 minutes!  I’ll be in the living room with Daddy.  You need to change him again.

 

TIMMY:

Yes, mommy! (Mommy, satisfied, smiles and exits.  Timmy pulls out Brian the toothbrush...)  Brian, you stay in there, okay?  I don’t want you to be caught!  Okay?  Keep quiet!! (He limps offstage.  Pause.  Mommy enters, carrying a chair, a diaper bag, and a homemaker’s magazine.  She sets down the chair, sits, tries to read, but senses something missing.  She remembers, puts down the magazine, exits offstage, and returns with DADDY.  Daddy is a complete vegetable, wearing only a diaper, drooling on occasion and staring at the ceiling.  He seems fascinated by the ceiling most of the time, as if it would offer him freedom if only he could reach it.  Too bad he can’t.  Mommy drags him roughly by one arm across the stage floor and sets him in front of her chair.  Satisfied, she reads her magazine for a moment.  Timmy enters and stands like a good kid, but, unnoticed, coughs pathetically to announce his presence.)

 

MOMMY:

 (delighted) Oh, there you are, my little angel.  (blows a kiss and laughs)  Daddy’s stuff is in that bag.  Don’t you spill anything now.  If anything from him gets on MY carpet, I’ll-

 

TIMMY:

Don’t worry, Mommy, I won’t!

 

MOMMY:

(standing and screaming)  Never interrupt me!  Never!  Do you hear me??

 

TIMMY:

(terrified and visibly shaking)  Yes, Mommy. 

 

MOMMY:

(calmly)  Good.  Now, give Mommy a kiss.  I’m going to go take a shower.  I expect your chores to be done by the time I get back.  (hint of menace) If not... (Timmy nods frantically.  Mommy smiles and offers her cheek.)  Good. (Timmy kisses Mommy on the cheek.  She laughs and exits with her magazine.  Sounds of a shower offstage.  Timmy is alone with Daddy.)

 

DADDY:

(moaning, drooling, babbling...You get the idea.)  gleeaaaamrmrmrrmrrrrr

 

TIMMY:

(quietly)  Yes, Daddy.  I’ll change you up real good. (he rummages in the bag and prepares a new diaper)

 

DADDY:

(still fascinated by the ceiling.) laaaaaaadeeeeeeeehmmmmmmmjjjj

rrrrrrrrrnalllllllllll

 

TIMMY:

Yes, daddy, it’s going to be okay

 

DADDY:

(laughs until he coughs uncontrollably)

 

TIMMY:

(panicked) Shhhhhh, Daddy!  Be quiet!  Don’t let her hear you!  (he rubs Daddy’s belly, who quiets, content)

 

MOMMY:

(offstage)  Is everything all right in there??  It had better be!

 

TIMMY:

Yes, Mommy!  Daddy was just coughing. (he waits, on edge, and is met only with the sounds of the shower.)

 

DADDY:

(taking notice of the person rubbing his belly) Tmmmmmmmm,    timmmmmmmm

 

TIMMY:

Shush, daddy, I’ll take care of you. (he changes the diaper, lifts Daddy’s leg to douse him with baby powder.  Daddy giggles like an idiot)  Today’s my first day of school, daddy.  Junior high school.  You would be proud.  I’m going to be a grown up soon!

 

DADDY:

tmmmmmmmm (makes pitiful attempt to pat Timmy’s head.  Timmy, smiling, lifts his hand to help him do so.  This accomplishment makes Daddy very happy.)

 

TIMMY:

I knew you would be.  Brian’s coming with me. (pulling out toothbrush)  It’s going to be a great adventure.  We’re going to get to meet so many new people!  Lots of other kids my age! (Daddy begins to cry, even though it’s more like he’s choking)  Don’t cry Daddy!  I knew you wish you could come.  I remember when you came to my school with me first day of first grade.  We had parents’ day!  You were a fire-man!

 

DADDY:

(struggling with his limp body getting loud and almost violent)  ffffrrrrrrrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnnnddddddrrrrRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

 

TIMMY:

Shush, daddy, she’ll hear! (Daddy shuts up immediately.  Timmy finishes up the diaper in silence.)  There, I’m done.  I’ll be fine today, don’t worry, Daddy.  I’ll pretend it’s you there with me instead of Brian! (reminded of Brian’s presence, he holds him up and enjoys his presence.  Enter Sissy. Timmy can’t hide the toothbrush in time.  She sees!)

 

SISSY:

Mommy!!!!  Mommy!!!!!  Come down here, now!!!!  (to Timmy)  Ooh, you’re going to get it, Tim.  I knew you had something like that, I just couldn’t prove it.  But now I’ve caught you!  I knew it! 

 

TIMMY:

Please, Sissy, don’t tell Mommy!  I just wanted to-

 

SISSY:

(slapping him)  You want me to LIE to Mommy!?  You want me to LIE?!!  (pounds on his back as he tries to huddle for protection.)  How dare you!  How dare you!!(enter Mommy, hair wet from the shower, wrapped in a towel)

 

MOMMY:

What’s going on here, Timmy?  What did you find, Sissy?? 

 

SISSY:

He has a TOY!

 

MOMMY:

(Gasps and spins on Timmy, grabbing his ear.)  Give me the toy.  (Timmy cries, she slaps him) GIVE ME THE TOY! (she shoves him to the ground and digs around on his body until she finds the toothbrush.  She holds it up, furious)  You naughty boy.  You naughty naughty boy.  We warned you.  I told you you could never(she kicks him on the ground) ever(kicks again) EVER have something like this!  Now you can never go to school ever again!  You're staying home! (She tosses the toothbrush aside, which Sissy slyly snatches up and hides.  Mommy walks to where Daddy lies)  Do you know anything about this, Harold?

 

SISSY:

(kicks Timmy, ignoring the other two)  How dare you!

 

MOMMY:

Quiet, Sissy!  I’m talking to Daddy!  Well, Harold??! 

 

DADDY:

(terrified.  I think he knows what’s coming.  Do you?) mmmmmmmmrmr

mmrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

MOMMY:

How could you?? (she kicks him violently, almost crying in anger)  I hate you!  I hate you!  (continues kicking him)

 

SISSY:

(mimicking Mommy, kicking Timmy)  I hate you!  I hate you! (Timmy wails)

 

MOMMY:

(still glaring at Daddy)  Shut him (Timmy) up, sweetie.  Take him outside if you’re going to do that. 

 

SISSY:

(sickeningly sweet) Yes, mommy!  I love you mommy!

 

MOMMY:

I know, sweetie.  Leave us?

 

SISSY:

Yes, mommy.  (to Timmy) Come on, you!  Come on! (dragging a wailing Timmy outside)

 

MOMMY:

(all alone, to Daddy.  Her anger has become keen sexual excitement)  Well, Harold, you couldn’t just let things be, now could you?  Father and son.  A chip off the old block, huh? 

 

DADDY:

(terrified but helpless)  ttteeeeeeeeeeeee

 

MOMMY:

(she runs her fingers along his chest and thighs) Yeah, you like that, huh?  You and your son.  Best friends.  Like father like son.  You fancy yourself a buck stud, don’t you?  Your genetic successor.  Oh, father, father, father....

 

DADDY:

fffffffffkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkrrrrrrrrrppppppprrrrrrrrrrrrrkkkkkkkkkkkk

 

MOMMY:

(now that Daddy is insane with terror, the foreplay is over) Keep struggling, that’s how I like it (with her back to the audience, she kneels next to Daddy, ripping off his diaper, tossing it aside, and mounting him covering the main action with the towel that’s still draped around her.  She fucks him and screams...)  Oh, God.  Oh, God.  What do you say, you mother FUCKER??!

 

DADDY:

(wild with terror)  rrrrrrrrrrrrr    iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii   vvvvvvvvvvvvvv

 

MOMMY:

Oh, yeah, Harold, you still can do it with the best of them (she slaps his face)  OH, I LOVE YOU!  FUCK ME!!!  SAY IT!! MAKE ME FEEL IT!!!  (she keeps slapping and clawing him)

 

DADDY:

iiiiiiiiiiiiiii     lllllllllvvvvvvvvvvVVVVVVVV    UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

 

MOMMY:

That’s how I like to hear it! (she punches him)  Say it!

 

DADDY:

IIIIIIIIIII    LLLLLLLLLLLLVVVVVVVVVVVVV     UUUUUUUUUUUU

 

MOMMY:        Again, louder! (she punches him.  The lights fade.  Offstage we hear Sissy yelling distantly “Again, louder!”  Blackout)

 

 

 

Scene 2

 

 (Daddy is unconscious, facedown and naked on the floor, covered in blood.  Enter Sissy.  She looks at him in disgust)

 

SISSY:

(calling offstage) Mommy!  Daddy’s all bloody!  There’s blood everywhere!

 

MOMMY:

(offstage)  Tell Timmy to clean it up!  (sounds of a shower being started offstage)

 

SISSY:

But he’s taking a nap!

 

MOMMY:

Well, wake him up!

 

SISSY:

Yes, mommy.  (pause) Mommy?

 

MOMMY:

Yes, honey?

 

SISSY:

(sweetly) I love you, Mommy!

 

MOMMY:

Yes, dearie, I know.

 

SISSY:

(Sissy, offstage just enough to still be visible, looking down at something screams...)  Get up!  Get up!!  GET UP!!!

 

TIMMY:

(faintly, weakly)  I'm up!

 

SISSY:

(entering onstage)  Come in here!

 

TIMMY:

I’m coming!

 

SISSY:

I’ve got a present for you!

 

TIMMY:

(entering, limping, pulling on his ragged blood-stained shirt.  He hardly notices Daddy.)  Yes, Sissy?

 

SISSY:

After you clean up Daddy’s mess, I’m going to give you something. A surprise!

 

TIMMY:

(mindlessly excited) Really?  Oh, do tell me what it is!

 

SISSY:

(slaps him)  Don’t you ever order me to do something!

 

TIMMY:

I’m sorry, Sissy.

 

SISSY:

Timmy, do you love me?

 

TIMMY:

Yes, Sissy, more than the world.

 

SISSY:

Do you really, really, love me?

 

TIMMY:

(reciting) My sister means the world to me.  She is my sun, my moon, my stars, my life.  I love my big sister.  (he is proud that he remembers it all)

 

SISSY:

(satisfied) When you’re done, you can have this (she pulls out the toothbrush)

 

TIMMY:

(he jumps for joy) Brian!!!

 

SISSY:

(slapping him)  Do your work first!

 

TIMMY:

Yes, Sissy!  Yes, yes Sissy!  I’ll do my work!  I’ll do it! (he runs eagerly offstage.  Sissy, once again alone on stage, walks over to Daddy, kneels and strokes his naked body.  She rolls him onto his back as he wakes with a start, vomits up chunky blood and says weakly...)

 

DADDY:

ssssssssssssssssssss   eeeeeeeeeeee.    tttttttmmmmmmmm

 

SISSY:

Hush, Daddy, it will be okay.  (yelling offstage) Will you hurry up???

 

DADDY:

(coughing up blood)  kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk?  gggggh  gh gh guh guh (coughs some more)  iiiiiiiiiiii  (coughs)  llll-  lo-  love l -love?  you?(Sissy is dead silent.  Long pause with her just looking at him.  She makes sure nobody is around, leans over and kisses Daddy’s bloody lips.  Like a first kiss, she just leaves her lips on his, expecting something to happen.  Obviously, Daddy doesn’t know how to tongue any more than she does.  She stands back, disappointed, confused, and angry.)

 

DADDY:

sssss   s-s-sss- so son?  son?  son?

 

SISSY:

Yes, Daddy, I know.  (she calmly takes Brian the toothbrush out and strangles Daddy with it.  This strangulation should be long and painful/really funny to watch.  Daddy at first doesn’t notice anything is wrong, but as air is denied, he begins struggling, small at first, then flails around, choking and sputtering.  The longer this goes on, the better.  Eventually he stops his struggle, and Sissy, satisfied that he’s dead, sits back, exhausted from her effort, looking at Daddy, visibly angry that he had died so easily and uneventfully.  Enter Timmy with a bucket of water and the same towel Mommy was using.  It is covered in blood already.  Again, he doesn’t notice Daddy.  He has a pretty singular purpose.)

 

TIMMY:

I’ll clean up, now, Sissy!  Can I have it yet?

 

SISSY:

(still angry at not getting off on Daddy’s death) No!  No, you can never have it.  Never ever, ever!

 

TIMMY:

(wailing)  Why?  Why?  Why?

 

SISSY:

Daddy’s dead.  You have to clean him up.

 

TIMMY:

I WANT MY TOY I WANT MY TOY I WANT MY TOY

 

SISSY:

(pushing him to the ground, disgusted)  You’ll get your toy.  Just wait here.

 

TIMMY:

(walking on hands and knees like a dog, looking up at Sissy with an expression of mindless hope, also like a dog’s.)  I love my big sister.  I love Sissy!

 

SISSY:

(exiting, half grinning/half grimacing)  I know you do.  (calling offstage)  Mommy?  Mommy?  Something’s happened!  (blackout)

 

 

 

 

_______________________

author’s note:

            The play in case you haven’t guessed, is meant to be performed waaaay over the top.  Sissy and Mommy alternate between being sickly sweet and gentle and screaming and foaming at the mouth.  Changes  should be instantaneous.  Similarly, Timmy should shift between being a limping, whining pathetic thing and a brainless dog of a child.  And Daddy, well... Daddy has no real mind.

            Depending on the director’s ‘vision,’ staging can be as much over the top.  Punches and slaps can be obviously fake, with sound effects coming from offstage rather than conventional slapping noises.  Possibly even a screen with “Zap!” or “Pow!” flashing everytime a slap is made.  Blood effects can be as ridiculous.  In my staging, a stagehand walked out on stage after Scene 1 and opened with a can opener a can of stewed tomatoes and stuck it in Daddy’s mouth for “blood,” then rolled him over and announced Scene 2.  Whatever.