Ringplay Productions

Relevant Excerpt:

Blanche, the grandmother, opens the front door to let in the developer who’s looking to buy the house from her daughter Ellie. In this scene, Blanche interrogates the developer, letting him know what and how he should go about making the purchase.

(Later that afternoon. NEVILLE is lurking in the house. Knocking at the front door. BLANCHE crosses from her room to the door, opens it. Enter SMITH.)

SMITH
Mrs Williams?

BLANCHE
No. I her mother.

SMITH
Oh. Hello. Is she in?

BLANCHE
She had to step out.

SMITH
I was supposed to meet with her. Hepden Smith.

BLANCHE
Oh, you the man who want buy the house.

SMITH
Yes, that’s me.

BLANCHE
I guess you better come in. Sit down. I guess my daughter ga be back soon.
(They both sit, and regard one another awkwardly.)

BLANCHE
(cont’d)
I could get you something?

SMITH
No, no, I’m fine.

(Awkward pause.)

SMITH
(cont’d)
So you live here too?

BLANCHE
(overlapping)
What that is you building cross the road?

SMITH
What? Oh. It’s a studio. For broadcast. My clients want to open up a radio station.

(Silence.)

BLANCHE
How much you want pay for this house anyhow?

SMITH
What?

BLANCHE
How much you want pay?

SMITH
I–

BLANCHE
Cause my daughter husband build this house with he own hand and it worth a whole lot more’n it look.

SMITH
I’m sure.

BLANCHE
And seeing as yinna putting up a business cross the road there, I sure you need somewhere for people to park.

SMITH
Well–

BLANCHE
Een no point you even talking to her if you’n offering what it worth to you. And I sure thas a whole lot more than this worth on paper. You better be offering a fair price else I ga tell her forget you. You hear? Offer her a good price else you may’s well walk out right now and don’t come back. You hear?

SMITH
Uh– yes. Yes ma’am.

BLANCHE
Good then. (Pause) You sure you’n want nothing?

(He shakes his head. They sit. Enter ELLIE)

BLANCHE
(cont’d)
This her now. Ellie, this Mr. Smith. From cross the road.

ELLIE
Oh! Hello. Please to meet you.

SMITH
It’s a pleasure.

ELLIE
Well. Sit down. I could get you anything?

BLANCHE
He’n want nothing. I done ax.

ELLIE
Some tea or something to eat, Mr. Smith?

SMITH
Not right now, thank you.

BLANCHE
What I tell you?

ELLIE
So what I could do for you?

SMITH
Have you thought about selling?

BLANCHE
Like I tell you. This was her husband house. It have special meaning for my daughter.

ELLIE
I could talk for myself, Momma.

SMITH
Well, let me say that we would be very interested in buying if you were selling.

ELLIE
Oh. Well. You want see the rest of the house?

SMITH
That’s fine.

(ELLIE shows him through the house. NEVILLE follows. BLANCHE waits in the front room.)

SMITH
(cont’d)
It’s very spacious.

NEVILLE
Got that right.

SMITH
I mean, it’s a lot bigger than it look from the road.

ELLIE
Yeah, it go back a way.

SMITH
I’d really like to see the back yard, if I may. Your nephew tells me the property is deep?

ELLIE
Well, we got some yard. Come this way.

(They exit through the kitchen door. NEVILLE follows them. STACEY enters through the front door.)

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