Setting: A little girl’s room. A wooden toy box sits center stage. A doll rests in front of it, half sitting, half laying. A few feet away is a chair.
[A woman enters, carrying an empty garbage bag. Her hair is slightly dishevelled and there are rings under her eyes from crying. She pauses upon entering, surveying the room sadly.]
Woman:
Oh, honey, you never did keep your room clean.
[She sighs and slowly walks around the room, looking at some of the toys and things she sees.]
Woman:
So many toys. We spoiled you pretty good, didn’t we? You were happy though. That’s what matters, isn’t it? You always loved playing with all your toys.
I’m sorry, sweetie, but I have to do this. I can’t keep walking by your room and seeing all your things here. It’s just too hard for me. I see your room just the way you left it and for a moment – just for a moment – I forget you’re gone. I expect to hear your voice, singing to your dolly, and then I remember. And it hurts so much, baby. It hurts so much. And I just can’t keep hurting like that anymore. I’m sorry, honey, but it’s time.
[She opens the toy box and begins removing toys and placing them in the garbage bag. She looks at each one as if she can physically see the memory each one evokes. As she pulls out a teddy bear, she murmurs]
Woman:
Mr. Charlie.
[She has Mr. Charlie do a little dance and then puts him in the bag with the rest. Two more items follow before she removes a music box. She closes the toy box, winds the music box, and places it on the lid. She listens to it for a moment before sliding to the floor, resting her arms and head on the toy box.]
Woman:
Oh, God. What am I going to do without you? What am I –
[She breaks into tears. She sobs uncontrollably for an uncomfortably long time.]
Woman:
Why did this have to happen? Why couldn’t you have stayed in the backyard with your brother? I told you to stay in the backyard. I was only gone for a few minutes. It was only a few minutes… [Crying again] I’m so sorry. I’m sorry.
[There is the sound of a girlish laugh – ‘Tee hee’. The woman looks up, but in her state the laugh only half registers. Her eyes come to rest on the doll laying on the floor. She wipes her eyes and reaches for the doll.]
Woman:
Oh, Miss Elizabeth. You’ve fallen out of your chair again. You’re always falling out of your chair. You were her favourite, you know that? Right from the first time she saw you at that garage sale. She couldn’t take her eyes off you. She had to have you. Heh, we spent a fortune on toys for her and a fifty cent second-hand doll turns out to be her favourite. She carried you around everywhere, Miss Elizabeth. Mmmm, I can smell her on you. That’s so nice…
[She hugs the doll for comfort, stroking its hair. She sighs.]
Woman:
I’ve got to get all of this packed away before Danny gets home from school.
[She gives the doll a squeeze and it says ‘Let’s play.’]
Woman:
You always want to play, don’t you Miss Elizabeth? I don’t have time. Danny’s going to be home soon.
[She considers putting the doll in the garbage bag but places her in her chair, giving her an affectionate pat.]
Woman:
Okay, I can do this.
[Her back to the doll, she puts the music box in the garbage bag, reopens the toy box, and starts putting toys in the bag again. The doll says again, ‘Let’s play.’]
Woman:
I told you, Miss Elizabeth, I have to get this done.
[Doll: ‘Let’s play in the front yard.’ The woman stiffens.]
Woman:
What did you say?
[Doll: ‘Let’s play in the front yard.’]
[The woman reacts, backing away. There’s another girlish giggle.]
Woman:
Oh my God…
[Doll: ‘Let’s play in the front yard. Mommy won’t mind.’]
Woman:
Did you – Oh my, G- What did you do to my daughter?
[Doll giggles again.]
Woman:
You told her to play in the front yard?
[Doll: ‘I told her to play near the cars.’]
[Woman gasps as if she had been hit.]
Woman:
What are you?
[Woman backs towards the door and turns to leave.]
[The doll’s voice changes slightly. Doll: ‘Mommy? Are you there Mommy?’]
[Woman stops dead in her tracks.]
Woman:
Honey?
[Doll: ‘It’s cold here, Mommy.’]
Woman:
Is that you, honey? Where are you honey?
[Doll’s voice changes back. Doll: ‘We’re going to play forever.’]
Woman:
No, let me talk to Becka.
[Doll giggles.]
Woman:
Let me talk to Becka. Let me talk to Becka! [shaking the doll and starting to cry again]
[Doll: ‘Maybe Danny wants to play too.’]
Woman:
What? No.
[Doll: ‘I bet Danny will play our special game.’]
Woman:
No! He’s at school.
[The woman throws the doll into the toy box, slamming down the lid.]
[Doll: ‘That’s what you think.’]
Woman [as she rushes out of the room]:
Danny!
[The room is silent for a moment. Then there is a banging noise from the toy box. The banging continues even after the lights fade to black.]