REPRISE OF A CAT LADY: By Gabriel 

WOMAN/MISS HAYMITCH/ MARY HAYMITCH, blind cat lady

CHILD, daily companion/observer

ACT 1 

Scene 1

The corner of maple and grant, Highawaffa, Morning

A blind old WOMAN dressed in a faded purple scarf, a tattered blue dress, and sandals with broken tops sits on a bench petting a black cat. Near the bench is a faded blue mailbox and a curbside runs along the front stage. Various people walk past her completely ignoring her presence. Meanwhile, turning the corner, a little boy in a bright red T shirt runs along the sidewalk with his backpack slung over his shoulder. The boy trips on the old woman's left foot. 

WOMAN

Staring at the wrong part of the sidewalk

Are you ok Edward? Always told ya to be careful on your runs. You scared the living daylight out of Charles didn't ya(she turns her head down toward the cat)

CHILD

Whose Edward?

WOMAN

Very funny. And who are you today if I may ask?

CHILD

Um I gotta go.

WOMAN

Ok hun. Charles and I will be waiting for you at home

The CHILD quickly darts off stage looking behind him

Scene 2

The corner of maple and grant, Highawaffa, Morning

The CHILD re-enters the stage peering around the corner. THE WOMAN is still sitting on the bench fast asleep with the cat still in her lap. Slowly the CHILD inches his way across the sidewalk in an attempt not to wake her. Passing her bench the CHILD accidentally walks into a mailbox creating a loud metal sound. The WOMAN wakes up.

WOMAN

That’s the sound of change if I ever heard it. They'll be checked in no time and all will be seeing is green. Whatever would you do if you didn't have such a generous sister.

CHILD

I don't have a sister

WOMAN

Don't be like that you owe her one for saving us again

CHILD

Huh?

WOMAN

Oh you're just grumpy. I can smell it in your breath. You really gotta quit it.

CHILD

But I brushed my teeth this morning.

WOMAN

And probably cleared it off with one of the day lates too. Oh what am I gonna do with ya Edward?

CHILD

My name isn't not Edward, and either way it's getting super late. I'll see ya

WOMAN

Whatever you say hun.

The CHILD quickly walks off stage

Scene 3

The corner of maple and grant, Highawaffa, Morning

The WOMAN sits on the bench petting her cat, and the CHILD much older turns the corner. Slowly he walks down the curb past the woman trying not to be heard. The CHILD stubs his toe on the curbside and the woman turns toward him. In response the CHILD curses under his breath for his clumsiness.

WOMAN

Oh Edward isn't it such a lovely day.

The CHILD looks up toward the sky, it's cloudy.

CHILD

I'm sure it is Miss Haymitch.

MISS HAYMITCH

That misses Albany to you. So quickly you've forgotten and it's been what 3 months?

CHILD

Time flies I guess.

MISS HAYMITCH

You guess! You guess! Oh you old fool. Once you're done with your deliveries what do ya say about going for a picnic you charles and I?  Wouldn't that be nice.

CHILD

Whatever you say mam.

MISS HAYMITCH

And don't you dare get caught on the job again. I don't need our luck in any worse of a pickle than it already is.

CHILD

I won't.

The CHILD walks down the street on his usual pathway toward school.

Scene 4

The corner of maple and grant, Highawaffa, Afternoon

The child turns the corner and the woman sits on her bench petting her cat. The CHILD walks past silently and the woman unprompted by audible indications snaps her head directly facing him.

MISS HAYMITCH

 Where were you! Where were you!

The child jumps back frightened.

MISS HAYMITCH

Didnt you see the blaze from down the street. It was absolutely awful.

CHILD

Calm down what happened?

MISS HAYMITCH

What happened?! What Happened! The damn post office got burnt to a crisp, every bill, every coin it’s all gone, we have nothing! I told you to pick up the papers a week ago and you kept on procrastinating. Now we're broke and we're losing the house. I should've just got it myself.

CHILD

Miss Haymitch…

MISS HAYMITCH

It's hopeless. We can't afford to feed charles. He's gonna starve! We're gonna starve! What are we gonna do Edward?!

MISS HAYMITCH reaches out toward the child who swiftly dodges and runs off down the street.

MISS HAYMITCH

Edward! Edward! Edward, where are you! EDWARD!

Scene 5

The corner of maple and grant, Highawaffa, Morning

MISS HAYMITCH sits quietly stroking the corpse of her cat as though it was still living. She smiles out ahead of her, and people walk faster as they pass. The CHILD now an adult slowly walks toward MISS HAYMITCH.

CHILD

Morning Miss Haymitch.

MISS HAYMITCH

Morning darling

CHILD

And how are you doing today?

MISS HAYMITCH

Me and Charles are doing fine now that you're here. We missed you so much didn't we?

MISS HAYMITCH holds up the lifeless corpse up to the child's face all while continuing to smile.

CHILD

Miss Haymitch?

MISS HAYMITCH

What is it?

The CHILD looks straight into her two dulled eyes.

CHILD

Charles is dead.

MISS HAYMITCH stops smiling.

MISS HAYMITCH

I know.

CHILD

I'm so sorry MARY but I just had to make sure.

MARY HAYMITCH

Squeezing the cat to her chest

T-thank you Edward. 

The CHILD looks down at his watch

CHILD

Trying to cheer her up

I gotta make it to work but I'll see you this afternoon. Maybe we can have a picnic?

MARY

Eh, it's far too cloudy outside. You're a good man Edward.

Scene 6

The corner of maple and grant, Highawaffa, Afternoon

Turning the corner the CHILD walks toward Mary’s bench with a picnic basket in hand. She is nowhere to be seen. On the bench is a faded purple scarf tied in a knot.