Hesters home. She sits in a big tin tub.
Canary scrubs her back, giving her a bath.
Canary
Am I scrubbing you too hard?
Hester
Hester
Canary
Theyre reconciled again. Word is she went to her daddy crying and he put out more money. And they spent last night together. I lay in his bed waiting and he was with her.
Oh, what money can do.
(Rest)
Warm water sweet soap and gentle scrubbing. Does it feel good?
Hester
I could cut her head off.
Canary
Inhale. Soap smells good, dont it?
Hester
Youd put sleeping powder into her bedtime snack. I’d sneak into her big house, find her room, and cut her head off.
Hesters backdoor bell rings.
Yr A is weeping. You got folks out there. 3 a minute ago but now only 2. The “Closed” signs on the door. Hester aint helping no one but herself today.
Hester
I could follow her on one of her afternoon constitutionals and jump out from behind a tree and strangle her with my bare hands.
Canary
Freedom Fund confirmed hes dead but I dont believe them and you shouldnt believe them neither. If hes dead whose been writing you all these years? Theyve just misplaced him. He’ll turn up. Yll see.
Hester
Take my knife and stab her till theres nothing left of her but wounds. Then we’d be equal.
Canary
The Fund says yr due for a full refund.
(Rest)
I dont believe hes dead. But you could take the money anyway. You could retire.
Hester
I could slit her throat.
Canary
(Rest)
Do you know how many men and women they got locked up? More thans walking free in the streets thats how many. Its a wonder they aint lost them all. Prisoners get lost all the time, I’ll bet. Sounds crazy but thats what kind of crazy world we live in. Something crazy happening every day. Like, just the other day, I seen yr mark. Not on you. On someone elses arm.
Hester
Whose?
Whose?!?!
Hester
Canary
Canary
—. Cant remember.
Hester
I’ll get back at her. Im not a mother otherwise.
(Rest)
I’ll get her. And yll help me.
Canary
Lemmie towel you off.
Hester
I’ll get her and yll help me. We’ll get her together.
Canary
We dont need to do nothing like that. We’ll take our bad luck on the chin.
Hester
Take my bad luck on my chin. No. My chin aint big enough.
Canary
Lets get you dressed.
Hester
Yll help me.
Canary
No. If I help you I’d have to give up the Mayors bed. Theyd put all the blame on me. Anyway, what can we do? Just us 2?
Hester
I’ll get Butcher to help. You and me and him makes 3. 3s the charm.
Idunno—
Hester
“Hes dead,” they said. “According to our records, hes been dead for years,” they said. “Sorry for the mix-up,” they said. “Yll get a full refund,” they said. A full refund aint enough.
(Rest)
Yll help me.
Canary
I’ll help you. Whats the plan.
Hester
I dont got one yet.
Canary
Ah.
Hester
I’ll think of something. And yll help.
Canary
(Rest)
Sure.
Hester
Good.
The backdoor bell rings.
Hester
(Rest)
Is tonight all right?
Canary
Tonight?!
Hester
Yes.
The back bell rings again. And again.
Canary
Hester
Canary
Hester
Canary
Tonights fine.
Hester
We’ll kidnap her and toss her off a cliff! How does that sound?
(Rest)
Wait here. Be ready. I’ll talk to Butcher.
Canary
I remember whose arm it was. That Monster convict.
Remember I told you I saw him at the sea lookout?
Hester
Hes an evil person.
Canary
With a scar like yours.
Hester
Which goes to show that mothers all over the world bite their sons. Boy tried to be good his whole life and now his mother weeps. I wonder what that evil Monsters mothers doing right now. Dancing, I bet.
The bell rings again and again and again.
Hester
I wont be gone for long. Be ready.
Hester leaves. Canary sits there.