Andy’s Secret

Alberto Carballo Meza

Characters

Andy: The Main’s only child (He’s a teenager, about sixteen years old)

Counselor: Earnest Good-fellow (A man in his late twenties)

Mrs. Linda Main: Andy’s mother (A woman in her early forties)

Ruth: The Main’s maid (A woman in her late thirties)

Mr. Gary Main: Andy’s father (A man in his early forties)

(At the beginning of the play Andy is in the living room of his house. It’s late at night. He’s completely lost due to the drugs he has previously consumed)

Andy: Ssshhhh, be quiet! Silent! Hush! Don’t say anything. Yes I think he’s coming. Oh, my God! Yes, he’s there! Oh no, he is going to kill me! But why? I haven’t done anything wrong. Relax, take it easy! I need to sleep, just to sleep. (Talking to himself) Oh, God; but I can’t! He’s there outside! Oh no, look again; they are just the shadows, the shadows of the night. Oh, God, I said no more and look at me! (Coming to reality) Am I going to lose my life in this way? I can hear the voices! He’s coming; they’re coming. Who the hell is there? Please, God, help me! (He leaves the living room running in despair)

(Next day in the afternoon, same living room in the Main family. Bell rings and the maid goes to open the door)

Counselor: Good afternoon! May I talk to Mrs. Linda Main please?

Maid: Sir, sorry, we’re not buying anything today? (Looking at the man’s briefcase)

Counselor: No, no, you are mistaking me. My name is Earnest Good-fellow. I am the counselor at All Saints High School and…

Maid: OK, I see, but if you don’t have an appointment, Mrs. Main is not going to receive you right now. She is a very busy woman and she doesn’t like to waste her time.

Counselor: Yes ma’am, I understand, but I called her two days ago, and she said she was going to see me today. (Looking at his watch) Maybe I came a little earlier, I know, but I’m really concerned about this matter.

Maid: Let me go and talk to her. Let’s see what she says to me. Please sit down.

Counselor: Thanks, you’re very kind!

Maid: I hope she is in a good mood today. (Talking to herself).

(Comes back after talking to Mrs. Main)

Maid: Mrs. Main comes in a minute. Would you like something to drink? We have tea, coffee, iced tea.

Counselor: Iced tea please! Today the weather is a little hot and caffeine doesn’t do me very well.

Maid: OK, good! (She leaves again)

(Mrs. Main comes into the scene)

Linda Main: Hello! Mr. Good-fellow, right? (He stands up to show respect)

Counselor: Hello, Mrs. Main. Yes, Earnest Good-fellow. Nice meeting you! And thanks for receiving me today.

Linda Main: Not at all! Please sit down again! Sorry if my maid gave you a hard time. The problem is that I don’t want to be interrupted all the time; and I am very strict on this matter. (She sits down after him)

Counselor: Don’t worry, Mrs. Main. I know you’re a very busy person, but I had to talk to you urgently. When I see that a student has a problem, I try not to waste any time and face it right away.

Linda Main: Hah, hah, hah, Mr. Good-fellow! You sound as if someone would’ve been killed, too serious indeed. You are very young, but if you worry so much about little problems caused by teenagers, you are going to die from a heart attack, let me tell you.

Counselor: No, Mrs. Main, I think you don’t understand the seriousness of this problem.

(The maid comes with drinks and snacks)

Maid: Excuse me! Here is your iced tea (Addressing Good-fellow) and this is your coffee with milk (Addressing Mrs. Main) and some sandwiches.

Linda Main: (Addressing the maid) Thanks! I’ll call you if I need anything else. (Addressing the counselor) OK, Mr. Good-fellow, what did Andy do this time? Did he cheat on an exam; did he interrupt the mass or disrespect any of the teachers?

Counselor: No, Mrs. Main, this is a more severe matter. Have you noticed any change in Andy’s personality? Has he changed his eating habits or his sports routines? Have you seen something different lately?

Linda Main: Of course not! What do you mean? Andy hasn't changed at all. He is the same mischievous boy like the other kids. He is very friendly and outgoing. He is also a very active boy. He hasn’t changed a bit! If he would have changed, I had noticed it right away. Don’t you think so?

Counselor: Mrs. Main, sorry to tell you, but Andy is not the same boy that he was in the past. All the teachers are really worried about him. He is not behaving as he used to. We all suspect that Andy is… (With hesitation)

Linda Main: (He is interrupted abruptly) Excuse me! Mr. Good-fellow, I don’t know what you are talking about! You have been in that position, for, err, two or three years? And now you want to make a case? What do you want, recognition, popularity or what? But sorry, you’re not going to get it from my child.

Counselor: (With lots of respect) No, Mrs. Main, I’ve been in this job for almost four years now. My first and only job as you may know, but I like it so much and I don’t regret what I studied. I’m not looking for recognition or popularity as you wrongly put it. I am looking for your son’s well-being; that’s it.

Linda Main: Well, I have my doubts about it. Andy has done crazy things in the past, but he has received what he deserved, one day of dismissal, no allowance, no T.V., no soccer games, etc. I think boys will be boys! There is nothing wrong with it.

Counselor: Mrs. Main, I don’t know how to tell you this without hurting your feelings.

Linda Main: Well, tell me what it is. My time is running out. I have to go back to work. (Looking at her watch)

Counselor: Mrs. Main, we think that Andy is… is (With hesitation) doing drugs.

Linda Main: What? (With anger and disbelief) Mr. Good-fellow this is unbelievable! Are you crazy? Are you out of your mind?

Counselor: Please, listen to me. I beg you!

Linda Main: You know, I can hire a lawyer and you’re going to repent what you are doing to us. This is called defamation. I promise you will remember me. You’re going to lose your job, your license and your reputation. Please, leave my house immediately.

Counselor: Mrs. Main, please don’t make a mistake. We have to help Andy. I have the proofs here that…

Linda Main: Leave my house right now or I’ll call the police!

Counselor: Mrs. Main, I understand your anger, but this is not between you and me. It is about Andy and his problem.

Linda Main: Go now!

Counselor: Just listen for a minute!

Linda Main: Go now, I said!

Counselor: OK, have a good day! I hope you make up your mind before it’s too late. (He leaves the house) (The maid comes in again)

Maid: Madam, what’s wrong? You seem confused and stranded!

Linda Main: No, I am fine! (Thinking twice) Ruth, can I ask you a question?

Maid: Sure, madam, whatever you want to ask.

Linda Main: No, no, no, this is silly. (Showing misbelief) Why should I ask you?

Maid: I don’t know madam, but sometimes it’s better to ask. My father always said, “If you want to know about something, ask. Otherwise, you will never know and you will be dumb the rest of your life”. (Imitating her father’s voice)

Linda Main: Oh, Ruth, thanks for making me laugh! I didn’t remember how funny you used to be!

Maid: Yes, madam, but things are not the same now. Well, since Mr. Main…

Linda Main: Say it Ruth. Please say it! Don’t worry about me, say it!

Maid: Since Mr. Main left the house, two years ago.

Linda Main: (With melancholy) You know, Ruth, how hard it was to be changed by another woman! That person who gave you his vows and promises, leaving you as if you were nothing in his life. To know that eighteen years of marriage was not important at all.

Maid: (Showing sympathy) No, madam, don’t feel down. Look at you. You’re so pretty and smart. He was an idiot; one who couldn’t value what he had in you. And most of all, you are a wonderful mother! You work so hard in order to give Andy what he needs.

Linda Main: Thanks, Ruth, you are so kind. By the way, Ruth, do you think Andy has changed? (With a timid look) Have you noticed something strange about his behavior? (As not wanting to listen to her answer and showing her nervousness)

Maid: Well, madam, I have to be sincere with you. Since Andy left the soccer team, he hasn’t been the same at all.

Linda Main: He quit soccer? (Like doubting). No, this is not possible! He loves it! He always said that soccer was his way to relax and have fun at the same time. I can’t believe he has done this.

Maid: Yes, madam, but Andy suffered so much from his father’s abandonment. Imagine, he was only fourteen years old and his father was his advisor, his best friend, and his hero.

Linda Main: Oh my God, Ruth, what did I do? Why did I treat Good-fellow as I did? He was right when he said that Andy… (Thinking it over what she is going to say) No, no, no, this is a nightmare! What did I do to Mr. Good-fellow!

Maid: Madam, it’s not time to blame yourself, but a time to do something to solve the problem.

Linda Main: Ruth, you’re right! I got talk to Andy. (A motorcycle is heard and then someone opens the door) Oh, my God, he is coming!

Maid: (Addressing Mrs. Main) I will leave you alone. Both of you have to talk. (Andy enters in a hurry as if he didn't want to talk to anyone)

Linda Main: Son, how are you? Please, I need to talk to you!

Andy: (He enters holding his helmet) Sorry, mom. I am in a hurry. I have to see some friends. I just came to pick up some stuff. We are going to play soccer and then I have to work on some projects from school.

Linda Main: Andy, don’t lie to me! Please, tell me what happens to you. I am your mother. Mr. Good-fellow was here and…

Andy: What the hell was he doing here? Who does he think he is? (Showing lots of anger)

Linda Main: He is a professional doing his job. He’s concerned about you. All the teachers are worried about your behavior! What’s wrong with you Andy? What did I do to you? I don’t understand!

Andy: Please, mom! Don’t act as if you really cared about me. Dad was the only one who cared for me. He always knew about my soccer games and he was always asking me about my studies. You were always working and your career was more important than your family and even your own marriage.

Linda Main: Andy, you’re being so cruel to me! I know I’ve been working hard, but what I just wanted was to give you a good life.

Andy: You want to give me a good life? (In an ironic way) Well, leave me alone!

Linda Main: Andy, don’t disrespect me! You don’t have any idea how hurt I was when your father left us. My family was the most important thing for me.

Andy: My father left you because you were never home. You behaved as if you were the center of the world! You treated dad with indifference and superiority. I envy dad because he could abandon you to start a new life without you! (Approaching her with anger)

Linda Main: (She slaps him, and then reacts sadly) Andy, sorry, I didn’t want to do that!

Andy: I despise you! You’re so different from dad. It’s your fault that he is not here. You were never a good wife, not a good mother either. (Starts leaving the house)

Linda Main: Andy, please, don’t go. We need to talk! (He leaves without paying attention) (She leaves the room crying after him)

(10 minutes later the telephone rings) (The maid answers the phone)

Maid: Yes, this is the Main’s family house. What? An accident! Oh, no! Mrs. Main, Mrs. Main!

(She leaves the scene shouting)

(Three days later, same living room of the Main’s house)

Linda Main: Are you sure he is going to be fine?

Gary Main: Yes, don’t worry! After he recovered, he insisted on living with me. I know you are not responsible for all the things Andy accuses you. You are also a victim!

Linda Main: No, don’t say that! I was responsible for Andy’s well-being. He was just a kid when you…

Gary Main: Yes, when I left you. I know, I am the one to blame. I knew how close he was to me and I didn’t pay attention to all his changes. The doctors say his addiction is not so rooted and that his condition is treatable. He will be the same boy he was before, with the same energy and passion for soccer.

Linda Main: Gary, I beg you! Don’t tell Andy bad things about me!

Gary Main: I would never say anything wrong about you. You were always a loving mother and a wonderful wife. I was the one who decided to leave home, to abandon my family. There is nothing you should be ashamed of.

Linda Main: Thanks, Gary! If we would’ve thought as parents and not as a couple, Andy’s life hadn’t been affected in such a way. (With sadness)

Gary Main: You are completely right, but I promise you, I will be the father Andy needs right now. From now on, I will be on his side. You will see he will forgive us. (She starts crying) Please, don’t cry! The three of us need to grow and learn from this experience. Please, tell Andy I am waiting for him outside. I think both of you need to have a talk. Bye! (He leaves the house)

(Andy appears wearing a cast in his right leg and with crutches) (Ruth is carrying a backpack)

Linda Main: Andy, I love you so much! Don’t forget this!

Andy: I got to go! (With indifference)

Maid: I’ll take this outside! (She leaves the house with Andy’s backpack)

Linda Main: I remember when I brought you home from the hospital, sixteen years ago. You were so small and I didn’t know how to hold you. Since that moment I knew about the connection you and I were going to have for the rest of our lives.

Andy: I have to go now! (Showing disinterest)

Linda Main: You know that the first word you said was “mom”. That day you made me the happiest woman in the world. Andy, I can’t live without you! When I finally accepted that you were in drugs, the idea of losing you made me blind. I reacted out of fear. And when you had the accident, I asked God to take my life if I were not going to see you anymore. Andy, I don’t want to justify my behavior, but I didn’t have a manual for mothers to follow. I know I have made a lot of mistakes, but having you has been the greatest thing in my whole life. You are my treasure, my life.

Andy: If you are finished, let me go now. (Showing disinterest)

Linda Main: Andy, will you forgive me someday?

Andy: I don’t know mom. I’ll think about it! (With some melancholy)

END OF THE PLAY