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January 15th, 2026
by Christopher Franciosa
Characters: Juliet: A middle aged woman. Malcolm: Her 18-year-old son. Setting: Their living room in Akron, Ohio. Scene: Juliet is sitting in her comfortable arm chair with her knitting untouched in her lap. The chair is facing a large picture window looking out onto her backyard. Malcolm comes into the living room and sees his mother staring into the yard. He, in turn, watches her. After a few moments of silence, Juliet senses something and turns to see her son. There is tension in the air. JULIET: Hello. MALCOLM: Hey. JULIET: How long have you been there? MALCOLM: Not long. (beat) Whatcha looking at? JULIET: Tree. MALCOLM: (laughs) JULIET: What? MALCOLM: I think we're the only family that names its foliage. JULIET: What do you mean? MALCOLM: Well, that's not "a" tree. But, "Tree". "Plant" is in the den, the thing in the front yard isn't "a" bush, it's "Bush". Et cetera. JULIET: We may be the only family that names our foliage but we definitely didn't pick original names. MALCOLM: Definitely. (Silence.) JULIET: Dad planted Tree... MALCOLM: ...on the day I got back from the hospital. Yeah, heard that story. JULIET: He thought it would be a good companion for you. MALCOLM: He thought Tree would be a good companion?! Not a dog but a tree? JULIET: You remember his allergies. (beat) MALCOLM: Actually, not really. What kind of tree is it? JULIET: You don't remember? MALCOLM: I don't think I ever knew. JULIET: Peach. MALCOLM: (laughs) JULIET: What? MALCOLM: That is not a peach tree. JULIET: Yes, it is. MALCOLM: Tree has literally been there ever since I can remember and has never ever had a peach on it. JULIET: That's not to say it's not a peach tree. MALCOLM: Yes, by definition, a tree that does not have peaches on it is not a peach tree. JULIET: Perhaps it's not ready. MALCOLM: Tree's gotta be 30 feet tall, shades the entire backyard, had kids climbing all over it, swings hung from it and never produced a fruit. Not ready? JULIET: Don't rush it. MALCOLM: (laughs) JULIET: (smiles wistfully) Tree's been a good friend for 18 years. I can't believe it. MALCOLM: It's grown some huh? JULIET: (laughs) Yeah! It was so scrawny. More like a vine than a tree when Dad planted it. Had to tie it to a stick. (beat) Just like you. MALCOLM: You had to tie me to a stick? JULIET: No silly. You were scrawny too. A week in the NICU and you still hadn't gotten enough nutrition. Now, I can't buy enough food to keep you satisfied. MALCOLM: Well, think how low your grocery bill will be now. (Silence.) MALCOLM (con't): Look, Mom, I don't wanna leave with this hanging over us. JULIET: When are you going? MALCOLM: Bill's gonna be here at 1:00. JULIET: Soon. MALCOLM: Yeah. You must have had an inkling. JULIET: No. I really didn't. MALCOLM: Really? JULIET: Bill's been your best friend since what, beginning of Junior year? MALCOLM: Actually, around Christmas of 10th grade. JULIET: Oh. MALCOLM: You never suspected? Even in middle school when I had all those "girl" friends but no "girlfriend". JULIET: No. I guess I don't have much of an imagination. MALCOLM: You love Bill. Why can't you accept that... I do too. JULIET: Those are two completely separate things. MALCOLM: Yes, but... JULIET: "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination" MALCOLM: Yeah, and that lobster dinner we had the night of graduation and the cotton jeans and wool sweater I wore and having sex with a woman on her period are also gonna send me to hell. Leviticus is awesome. (Long silence.) JULIET: You love him? MALCOLM: Yes. I love him. And have for a long time. JULIET: You know I met your father in high school. MALCOLM: I know Mom. JULIET: Everyone thought it wouldn't last. It did. MALCOLM: Thirty-two years. JULIET: Thirty-two years and then he had to get cancer and leave me. (There is a long silence before Juliet breaks down and starts to cry. Malcolm squats down and puts his arms around her.) MALCOLM: I don't know if I will ever be able to make as an amazing life with Bill as you did with Dad but I'd really like to try Mom. And I'd love to try with your blessing. (There is the sound of a car pulling into the driveway.) MALCOLM: Bill's here. I always thought that you and Dad would bring me to college but... guess not. (Again, Juliet stares out into the backyard. Malcolm looks at his mother with tears in his eyes. He starts to make his way out when Juliet stops him.) JULIET: Malcolm. MALCOLM: Yeah, Mom? JULIET: I went out and talked to Tree this morning before you got up. MALCOLM: And what did Tree tell you? (Juliet reaches behind the cushions of her easy chair and pulls out a beautiful ripe peach.) MALCOLM: No way. JULIET: Yes way. (She tosses Malcolm the peach. He catches it.) JULIET (con't): I'm proud of Tree. (Malcolm can't stop the tears from flowing. Neither can Juliet.) MALCOLM: Wanna share before I go? JULIET: Yes I do. And it's rude to keep Bill waiting. Invite him in for a slice. I'm sure he'll enjoy it too. (Malcolm's smile is wide as he starts off to the front door. Juliet calls after him.) JULIET: You think there's room in that truck of his for your old mom to help get you to college. MALCOLM: We'll make room. JULIET: Good. I'll get the paring knife. Meet me in the kitchen. (Malcolm smiles again. He runs off to get Bill as Juliet looks out at Tree again. after a bit, she reaches down behind the cushions and takes out a shopping bag full of peaches. She smiles and makes her way to the kitchen.) CURTAIN
About the Playwright
Christopher Franciosa resides in Encino, California, United States.
Read the playwright's biography and The Short Play's the Thing publications
on Christopher Franciosa's Artist Page.
Short Plays Collection
This play is also featured in
Short Plays Collection #1,
published in the The Short Play's the Thing Playhouse.
Keywords: LGBTQ+, acceptance, parenthood, mothers, sons
Previously published in Short Plays USA:
Real Issue
by Kenna McHugh
Short Plays USA is part of The Short Play's the Thing and waxpoetryart.com.
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