© 1986 Madeleine St. Romain. Permission of the author is required before use.

***The third line from the last is a link to one of the paintings used as slides in the performances mounted by ACME Theatre. ***

Mommy, Mommy.

(This piece was written to be performed by four adult actresses as a radio play or on stage in similar neutral costumes.)

#1: Mommy. Mommy.

#2: Mommy's busy.

#1: Mommy. Mommy.

#3: That's not my baby.

#1: Wanna drinka water.

#2: I just gave you a drink of water.

#1: Wanna drinka water.

#2: All right. Here.

#3: This is my baby. My baby's a good baby. My baby's a nice baby.

#1: Mommy. Mommy.

#2: Mommy's painting. She'll be finished soon. Go play with your blocks.

#1: Don' wanna play blocks.

#2: Go play with your fire engine.

#1: Mary broke it.

#2: Go play with your elephant.

#1: Can't find it.

#2: Mommy's busy right now. She'll look for it later.

#1: I'm hungry.

#3: My baby's only three years old, and she can already read. My baby plays the viloin. She has her own computer.

#1: Mommy. Mommy.

#3: My baby's a good baby.

#2: You've got paint all over you. That's all the cobalt I've got!

#3: My baby's learning Russian.

#1: Mommy.

#3: My baby's a sweet baby.

(#2 shrieks.)

#4: No. No. That's not right.

#2: What?

#4: Hit the baby.

#2: What?!

#4: Hit the baby.

#1: You're nasty.

#4: So?

#1: I don't like you.

#3: I don't like you either.

#4: But I'm your baby.

#3: I only thought you were my baby. You're not my baby. I don't have a baby.

#4: Mommy. Mommy.

#1: Nobody wants to play with you now.

#3: (to #1) You can be my baby.

#1: (to #3) You can be my baby.

#2: (to #1) You can be my baby.

#4: Mommy. Mommy.

#1: There aren't any mommies here.

#4: Mommy. Mommy.

#2: The mommies all moved to the Yucatan.

#4: Mommy. Mommy.

#1, #2, #3: Go out and feed yourself!

home paintings art books yard art poetry/plays