Big Love
“I wrote this play about my parents, who met at UPS in 1996. It’s based largely in reality with some
Bird Hudson
theatrical flair.”
Characters:
HANNAH
MARY: a brunette with a lot of feelings
About Jake?
HANNAH: fiery red hair and a magnetic
MARY
energy
Nothing bad, I just need to talk to you.
KATIE: bespeckled, freckled, and happy-
Okay, I have a class now. Meet in the SUB
go-lucky
after?
PROFESSOR
COONEY:
astute
and
professorial
HANNAH (a bit taken aback, but smiling) Sure, I have a bio report due though, so
It’s
the
fall
of
1996
in
Tacoma,
you can’t distract me like usual.
Washington. We are located on the
MARY
campus of the University of Puget Sound,
I won’t! Promise.
inside Collins Library where a history
(she winks and they both laugh)
class is taking place. MARY Martin
MARY sits down directly across the
and KATIE Larkin enter from stage left
classroom from KATIE. KATIE is gazing
and right, respectively. KATIE walks
absentmindedly out the window, her chin
absentmindedly,
resting on her palm. MARY looks at her
smiling
to
herself.
MARY talks to her friend, HANNAH.
for too long, a faint smile on her lips, only jerking to attention when PROFESSOR
MARY
COONEY clears his throat.
No, I really think we should do it! After
PROFESSOR COONEY
this year we can go to Alaska— drive
Alright, everyone, I trust you found the
buses— c’mon HB, it would be so much
readings interesting last night?
fun!
(the students nod obediently, rifling
HANNAH
through their papers)
What about Jake?
The lights dim, and all the students aside
MARY
from MARY and KATIE exit the stage to
I’m sure he’ll be fine. Also, I need to talk
the wings. Silence. KATIE begins to walk
to you about that later.
towards the audience, still smiling at her
49
