Pittsburgh playwright CAROL MULLEN is delighted to be included among the semi-finalists in the WOMEN IN THE AGE OF TRUMP project. Her work has been produced by theaters and festivals including the Emerging Artists Theater, 10 x 10 in the Triangle, Los Angeles Women's Theatre Project, and Stage Q.
Thanks to Carol Mullen for allowing NYCPlaywrights to publish this excerpt from her play WE GATHER TOGETHER.
VERN
Right after I quit my job. Might as well live life to the
fullest before martial law kicks in.
JENNIFER
Besides, no one's going to need a tax attorney after January 20.
MARGE
Who'll be paying taxes?
(Marge, Vern, and Jennifer laugh loudly, sharing the joke.)
JORDAN
Maybe mulled wine would be good. Or a big glass of vodka.
MARGE
Great choices - it'll be our national beverage soon, eh comrades?
(Marge returns to the kitchen, pours a glass of vodka, brings it in for Jordan.)
JENNIFER
Is Dirk coming for Thanksgiving dinner?
MARGE
Only dessert.
JORDAN
Who's Dirk?
VERN
Your mom's lover.
(Jordan chokes on a cheese puff, coughs, takes a long drink of vodka, coughs some more.)
MARGE
In through the nose, out through the mouth.
JORDAN
Your...lover?
VERN
You might know him - he works at the skate park on Highland.
JORDAN
(beat)
Have you lost your fucking minds?
VERN
Language, Jordan.
JORDAN
We're in the middle of a national crisis and you're -
MARGE
Pulling together and making the best of it.
JORDAN
You're having an affair! With someone who works at a skate
park!
MARGE
Don't be elitist Sweet Pea.
JORDAN
(to Vern)
You can't be okay with that.
VERN
We're straddling the brink of nuclear holocaust - who am I to deny your mother as many orgasms as she can handle?