Fall
September 22nd, 2020
Starring: Child (30-40), Parent (65-75)
The backyard. There’s a deck jutting from the back of the house, which leads out onto a nicely sized yard. In the center of the yard, there’s a stump where a Red Maple tree should be. Child enters from the side gate, rolling in a suitcase. Parent follows, from behind. Child sees the stump:
CHILD
What happened to the...
PARENT
Thunk
CHILD
When?
PARENT
Last week. Before the leaves.
CHILD
The leaves? It’s the leaves, the leaves were the tipping point?
PARENT
They’re a pain in the ass to rake.
CHILD
So you just cut it.
PARENT
It’s been a long time coming.
CHILD
It was healthy.
PARENT
It was getting in the way.
...
CHILD
Ow.
…
That’s the sound of all my good childhood memories getting drop-kicked.
PARENT
This is why I wanted to bring you out here first. Get the conflict out of the way first thing.
CHILD
I’m proud.
You’ve finally lost all sense of what’s meaningful in life.
PARENT
Well when you get to my age, meaning divorces sentiment for logic.
CHILD
I think that’s just a you thing.
PARENT
It’s sad how bad you want to fix me.
CHILD
And it’s sad how bad you want to prove you’re unfixable.
…
PARENT
I’ll forgive your inherent flaws if you forgive mine.
CHILD
Sure. That works for now.
PARENT
Alright
Well now that we’re all psychoanalyzed
Welcome home.
CHILD
Thanks.
Parent walks into the house, leaving the door open for Child.
Child takes one more look at the stump.
CHILD
Nothing like it.
Child heads inside.