Preset
A solitary chair is onstage.
A female solo gospel rendition of ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’ starts through one verse . . .
The hymn becomes part hummed and less formed.
Fade to black.
The hymn blends, half sung, half hummed familiarly by MUM(unseen) who quietly takes over the tune.
Scene One
One chair on stage.
The hymn continues by MUM(unseen).
DAD is sitting in the chair, confidently.
DAWTA is not.
Silently she demands eye contact.
He finds it difficult.
DAWTA. Say it.
Say it.
Daddy . . .
Say it.
They make eye contact.
She gains his lost confidence.
The hymn draws to an end.
Black out.
Scene Two
Three chairs on stage.
DAWTA and MUM.
DAWTA. If yu actin like a bitch
I’m a call yu it
if yu lookin like a bitch
I’m a call yu it.
If yu lookin like a bitch as you lookin on me – I see yu and yu bitch ways – mi a go call you it again mi noh business.
Watchin yu watchin me like the bitch bitch yu is.
I’ll letcha
and I’ll say it two times.
Then two times that.
Then two times that again – for yu – yu mudda, and yu mudda’s mudda – those bitches that bred yu off before and before that – and from before that again.
From whenever your bitch bloodline started.
From whatever bitch beginnings yu had.
Bitch.
MUM. Don’t say that.
DAWTA. And I’ll call it like iss nuthin, and I’ll say it like iss nuthin like the nuthin it is like the nuthin you are like the nuthin you took a try at to mek me.
Bitch.
Cap fit.
Bitch.
And I’ll letcha look in my face now yu wanna – you wanna? I dunno what you wanna see, whatchu spectin on – whatchu spectin on – whatchu spectin on reflectin yu back – or is it you don’t got no shadow? – but I’ll letcha look –
MUM. I’m not lookin
DAWTA. letcha mek a piece a y’eye contact –
MUM. I’m not lookin yu
DAWTA. – now. Now yu feelin – how yu feelin? Now you feelin you able – look . . .
Look.
MUM. You got nothing I need to see.
MUM restarts humming her hymn.
DAWTA. Look . . .
Look it.
MUM. And never have had.
DAWTA. . . . Watch.
MUM looks at her.
Eh?
Now yu ready . . . an now yu wanna – now yu got the bottle with yu bitch self to clock me eye to eye – woman to woman –
MUM. is what yu is?
DAWTA. Never thought I’d reach it? – Woman to woman – bitch to bitch.
Si mi nuh.
I’ll letcha.
Letcha look on me.
MUM. Don’t call me that.
DAWTA. Wear your title wear yu crown
MUM. don’t call me that
DAWTA. bitch got summink to say looks like bitch can’t help herself, can’t help herself and her bitch ways – can yer...