Title: “Forgive me mom”.
Author: Clara Pérez
3 characters:
- Carlos: son always busy.
- Mom: Old lady, Carlos’ mother, who lives alone in a nearby town.
- Rosa: Carlos’ wife.
Setting: two rooms, one from Carlos’ house and the other from his mother’s house.
Introduction: Carlos is sitting on the sofa in his living room, reading the press when the phone rings.
ACT I
Rosa (getting up to answer the call): Hello! Hello, mother-in-law, how are you? Hold on a second, I’ll put Carlos on the phone.. Honey, it’s your mom.
Carlos (with an annoyed face and getting up to answer the call): What’s going to happen to her now?. Hello Mom
Mom (excited): Beloved son, how are you?
Carlos (answering with tedium): Very well mom, how are you, is something wrong?
Mom: No son, I called you to say hello and to know about you, the last time we talked was 20 days ago and I thought something had happened to you.
Carlos (with an annoyed tone): Mom, if someday, something happens to me you will be the first to know, I am fine but very busy, I haven´t had time to call you, I have to work, take care of my family’s things, when I have time you know I will call you.
Mom (a little sad): I know son, I didn’t want to bother you, I miss you, I feel sometimes very lonely and talking to you does me good.
Carlos (without improving his way of speaking): You have to understand that responsibilities have to be fulfilled, mom, I can’t stop working to talk on the phone, I sent you the money for the month, you’re fine, I’m fine, when I have time I’ll call you, ok?
Mom (feeling even more sad and rejected): Yes son, ok, sorry for calling you, I will wait for you to call me next time, just remember that I love you and miss you and that sometimes loneliness kills me, I love you very much, God bless you.
Carlos (still in an annoyed tone): Amen mom, I love you too.
Carlos cuts the call and goes back to the sofa to continue reading the press, while Rosa looks at him disapprovingly.
Carlos (surprised): What’s wrong with you?
Rosa (sitting next to him): When my mom was still alive, I also cut her calls many times because I thought she was too busy, the day she was no longer there, I realized how many beautiful moments I lost because of my selfishness.
Carlos (annoyed when he realized Rosa was reproaching him): What are you talking about? I’m not selfish with my mother, I support her, I give her what she needs.
Rosa (still reproaching): Everything but your attention and affection, Carlos, do you realize the excuses you use to not take care of her? You are very busy, your mother was busy all her life and even so, she took care of you, paid attention, washed and ironed your clothes. You are working, she worked all her life and always had time for you. That you have to take care of your family, she took care of hers always and you never lacked love. That you support her, she gave you a profession, she supported you half her life and that never made her despise you.
Carlos, releasing the press and getting up from the sofa, goes to the phone.
Mom: Hello
Carlos (this time in a sweeter tone): Hi mommy, I’m free now, tell me how are you? I thought that this weekend we will go to visit you, do you want me to bring you something? You know, I love you.
Mom (moved): the only thing I want you to bring me is your presence, I will be waiting for you here son, I love you too.
Carlos (with a broken voice): we will be there and I hope you can forgive me, mom.
Carlos closes the call and turns to look at Rosa who smiles happily to see his change of attitude.
THE END