Grandma’s Grandma

PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTES

Often a relationship between children and grandparents is a special one. There is a freedom to be open and carefree without the encumbrances of parenthood. Sometimes in these relationships the children appear to have a psychic ability that they, themselves are unaware of. Does this transfer of information between tuned minds force those relationships to be honest and therefore special because they can only be built on trust?

Synopsis:

This is a story of Sally, a grandmother, who reminisces about her grandmother, and of those times when they experienced psychic or subconscious exchanges. When Sally was a young girl she had an uncanny knack of knowing things she shouldn’t know. Now, she relives four major steps in their relationship, from their first encounter as independent individuals to the final, inevitable wrenching apart of two confidants.

It is also a story of a love that is lost and found via Sally.

Gran is highly volatile whereas Sally is the complete opposite. This raises the questions: why do these characters stay together? What have they in common? What feeds the bond and immense loyalty that grows between them? Is it because they are both ‘Odd balls’ within the family and so find an empathy in each other? I guess the answers must come from those who bring these characters to life.

The four scenes:

1: Sally, as an eleven year old, establishes a psychic bond with her grandmother.

2: Gran confides in and puts her trust in Sally who is now fifteen years old.

3: When Sally is sixteen, their relationship is tested over some missing money.

4: The day comes when Sally visits her Gran for the last time.

Each of these scenes is rounded enough to stand alone but dovetails with the others to create a more detailed play. The play is intended to provide material for acting in pairs.

CHARACTER PROFILES

Sally:

Sally has an easy going, confident and independent nature. She rarely gets phased or flustered and is so perceptive, particularly towards her gran, that she is considered psychic. Sally wears this psychic ability almost without recognition.

Although Sally rarely shows a temper, she usually does her own thing and gets her own way, and without compromise. She is not a selfish person, however, and, using her acute perceptions, is quick to recognise the needs of others.

She has developed a loyal and loving rapport with her gran, seeing right through the old lady’s gruff exterior to the real person within.

Gran:

Gran is volatile, has a short fuse and can’t communicate without hissing and snorting like an angry, old boiler. She and has an independence that is only mirrored by her grand daughter. She dislikes the rest of her family because of their materialistic attitudes; and is disliked by them because of her abrupt way of saying what she.

But Gran has troubles that run deep. She is ashamed of her son’s alcoholism and is riddled with guilt. Although her husband was drowned in a freak accident, years ago, she blames herself for his death.

Note: Gran speaks in her snappy way all the time. It is the only way she knows how. To anyone else it would be offensive but Sally never hears it. She sees beyond that gruff veneer to the real person beneath. It is through Sally that everyone else can see that real person too.

The key to the interest between these two women is the way the status shifts constantly from character to character throughout the story.

Scene 1:

An old woman, stooped and shuffling, fusses about in her room. She moves to a neatly organised dresser, picks up a diary and leafs through the pages. As she does the voice of her grandma, recites the words the old woman reads.

Voice over:

Sally came today, I knew she would,

And breathed new life into this sad and lonely person I’ve become.

For those precious moments I felt young again.

She replaces the diary and walks to an old chair where rests a neatly folded shawl. She drapes the shawl round her shoulders and eases herself into the chair. She reflects. Another old woman appears, carrying a tea towel and when the second old woman sees the first she gets crotchety.

GRAN: Get outta my chair!!!

The first old woman jumps up and throws off the shawl with the dexterity of a child. She has now become Sally, the child, and stands guiltily; looking as though she has been caught doing something she shouldn’t.

The crotchety old woman shuffles over to her chair and sinks slowly into it putting the shawl around her shoulders as she does. At the same time Sally fidgets and begins to walk about curiously. She fingers the diary, and then idly flips open the first page with her finger.

GRAN: Get off that!

Gran hauls herself out of the chair.

SALLY: What is it?

GRAN: (Snatches the diary and puts it back) Mind your own business.

You’re a pain in the bloody arse!

SALLY: You shouldn’t say rude words Gran.

GRAN: I’ll say what I like. It’s my house. What did you come

around here for, anyway?

SALLY: I had a dream about you.

Sally picks up a small clock and puts it to her ear. She can’t hear it tick so she shakes it.

GRAN: It must have been a bad dream. Put that down!

SALLY: It’s stopped, Gran. It’s not ticking.

GRAN: Put it down and mind your own business.

Gran takes the clock from Sally and meticulously puts it back in its position.

SALLY: Why do you want to keep a clock that doesn’t work?

GRAN: That’s my business.

SALLY: Hey look! (She picks up a photograph and studies it) This is you, Gran?

GRAN: Put the photograph down.

SALLY: Oh Gran, your hat’s wicked!

GRAN: (Offended) There’s nothing wrong with me bloody hat.

Gran snatches the photograph from Sally and puts it back in its place.

SALLY: I wish I had a hat like that.

GRAN: You just said it was wicked.

SALLY: (She laughs) That means cool, Gran. It’s ace! I love hats.

I wish I had one like it.

As they speak, Sally takes Gran’s shawl and drapes it over her head like a fashionable head scarf; then looks at herself in the mirror.

GRAN: Where do you get this strange language?

SALLY: You’re just old fashioned, Gran.

Sally wraps the shawl around Gran’s head. Gran doesn’t want to play and resists. She folds the shawl and puts it on the chair.

SALLY: (Running her hand over the diary) This is a diary, isn’t it?

GRAN: It’s personal. Keep your grubby fingers off it.

SALLY: What do you write in it?

GRAN: I told you that’s my business. If you’re so bloody interested I’ll leave it to

you when I’m dead. I won’t care who reads it then.

SALLY: I’m glad you sat with me at the wedding, Gran.

GRAN: I didn’t sit with you, I was put there.

SALLY: I know, but I’m glad.

GRAN: Glad?

SALLY: Yes, because you didn’t keep telling me to shut up.

GRAN: That’s because I couldn’t get a word in.

SALLY: No it wasn’t, Gran. It’s because you aren’t bothered about what I say.

You don’t think I’m strange.

GRAN: I might think you’re nutty as a fruit cake, for all you know.

SALLY: No you don’t, Gran.

GRAN: How old are you?

SALLY: I’m eleven.

Sally sits in Gran’s chair as Gran fusses about the table.

GRAN: Eleven going on twenty one. I don’t know why you want to hang around a

bad tempered old woman like me for anyway.

SALLY: You’re not bad tempered, Gran. Actually, you’re quite nice. You just carry

on a bit ‘cause you can’t do things you used to.

GRAN: Carry on a bit! You cheeky little pup. I’ll give you carry on a bit.

SALLY: (Puts the shawl around her shoulders) You’re only grumpy cause your

joints hurt. And ‘cause you feel young inside and old on the outside.

GRAN: What do you know about my joints; or what I feel on the inside?

SALLY: That’s what you told me in your dream.

GRAN: What dream?

Sally puts the shawl on her head again and continues to speak as she walks around the room like a super model.

SALLY: The one I told you about. I dreamt that nobody liked you but me.

GRAN: That’s not a dream.

SALLY: I dreamt I was your only friend, and you were upset ‘cause I hadn’t

come to see you: so that’s why I came today.

GRAN: Let’s hope you don’t have any more bad dreams then.

Sally stops walking about.

SALLY: It wasn’t a bad dream. There was a man in my dream too.

(Mischievously) I think he was your lover.

GRAN: Now that’s enough of that talk!

SALLY: (Picking up the photograph) It’s the same man as in the photo.

GRAN: (Putting the photograph back in his place) You’ve got a vivid

imagination.

SALLY: And he’s all wet.

GRAN: (Stunned) What did you say?

SALLY: In my dream; he’s all wet.

With this comment Gran picks up the photograph again and sits in her chair, showing uncharacteristic signs of emotion.

GRAN: This man’s my husband. I don’t appreciate you making fun of him like

that.

SALLY: I’m not. (pause) Gran, if he’s your husband that means he’s my grandad.

GRAN: Of course.

SALLY: Then how come I didn’t know about him?

GRAN: He (hesitant) died before you were born.

Now Gran reflects. Noticing her change of mood, Sally kneels beside her grandmother.

SALLY: What happened to him?

GRAN: Who?

SALLY: My grandad.

GRAN: He drown...

SALLY: ... And that’s when the clock stopped.

Gran is surprised by that comment making her become less reflective and more alert.

GRAN: Why did you say that?

SALLY: Say what?

GRAN: Why did you say that’s when the clock stopped?

SALLY: ‘Cause that’s when it did.

GRAN: I know that; but how did you know?

SALLY: Dunno; just do.

Gran hauls herself out of the chair and carefully puts the photograph back in its place. She has gone silent; moody even.

SALLY: Was he nice, my grandad? He’s nice in my dream.

GRAN: Yes he was nice.

Gran drifts into thoughts of her husband. Sally fractures the moment.

SALLY: Mum said you’re a psychic.

GRAN: No. I’m too old to ride a bike.

SALLY: (Laughs) Don’t be silly, Gran. I know what psychic means. Mum told me.

Do you think I could be psychic if you showed me?

GRAN: You don’t show people how to be psychic. Some people are

and some people aren’t.

SALLY: Everyone says I know things about them I shouldn’t.

GRAN: And do you?

SALLY: Dunno.

GRAN: They don’t know how to deal with you. It scares ‘em.

Sally goes to her gran and links her arm.

SALLY: I like you, Gran.

GRAN: I thought I was the bad tempered old witch of the family.

SALLY: I know. But you’re a nice bad tempered old witch.

Gran reaches out and touches Sally’s face, enjoying, for the first time in a long time, some genuine feelings of uncomplicated love and friendship. Gran goes to dresser and pulls out the hat she wore in the photograph.

GRAN: Here! Have the bloody thing.

SALLY: It’s the one in the photo. Oh Gran; it’s wicked!

GRAN: Yes, well I thought so at the time.

Sally puts the hat on and looks excitedly at her reflection in the mirror. Gran is pleased and smiles. The gruffness has gone out of her.

SALLY: Gran, what do you think?

GRAN: It’s wicked; cool even!

Gran takes off her shawl, folds it neatly, and places it on the chair.

SALLY: Gran, tell me about my Grandad.

GRAN: He was a man who didn’t say a lot. That’s why I liked him.

Sally looks at herself in the mirror. She enjoys trying the hat in different positions.

SALLY: I reckon I look like you, Gran.

GRAN: Oh! God help you then, that’s all I can say.

Sally begins to parade around the room again.

GRAN: Now you’ve got the hat, clear off home. Go talk your mother to death.

SALLY: Yes, Gran. (Pause) I’ll see you tomorrow.

GRAN: You’re a pain in the bloody arse.

SALLY: You shouldn’t say rude words, Gran!

Gran shuffles out of the room mumbling to herself as she goes:

GRAN: I can see I’m going to be haunted by you for the rest of me bloody days.

As soon as Gran disappears, Sally picks up the diary and assumes the posture of an old woman. She drapes the shawl around her shoulders, eases herself into the chair and begins to read. The lights dim.

Scene 2:

Sally, as an old woman, sits in Gran’s chair with the diary on her knee. She attaches a flower to her hat, so changing its characteristics and signifying a shift in time. At the same time Gran’s voice is heard reciting the words Sally reads in the diary.

Voice over:

Sally came today, I knew she would,

And gave a glimpse of the strong and beautiful woman she’ll become

For those precious moments I saw me again.

Gran appears carrying a pot of tea, covered with a tea cosy. She holds out the forefinger of her other hand, looking at it with some concern. Sally slaps on her hat, puts the diary in its place and goes over to Gran.

SALLY: Gran, what’s wrong with your finger?

GRAN: (She puts the pot of tea on the table) I’ve been picking my nose.

SALLY: Gran, you’re disgusting. (Looking at Gran’s finger) You’ve got a splinter.

GRAN: I know. I told you, I’ve been picking my nose.

SALLY: I’ll get it out for you. Where are your needles?

GRAN: In a tin on me dresser.

Sally picks a tin and begins to struggle with the lid. Gran gets alarmed.

GRAN: (Yelling) Not that one!

Gran grabs at the tin. The lid comes off, money spills out.

GRAN: Oh, you stupid girl. Get outta me way!

Gran quickly scoops the money back into the tin then slaps another tin into Sally’s hand.

GRAN: That’s the tin with the pins!

Sally begins to remove the splinter, unconcerned with her Gran’s bad temper.

SALLY: You shouldn’t keep all that money in a tin, Gran.

GRAN: Mind your own bloody business.

Sally digs deeper, making Gran yell and jump back in pain.

GRAN: OUCH!! You did that on purpose.

SALLY: Don’t be such a baby, Gran. (Gran sucks her finger) It’s out. Need your

arm in a sling?

GRAN: Don’t be cheeky. I need a cup of tea.

Gran gets cups and saucers from the dresser and pours tea.

GRAN: What have you come round here for anyway? Isn’t it your 15th birthday?

SALLY: Yes.

GRAN: So what the bloody hell are you doing here?

SALLY: I wanted to come and see you.

GRAN: That won’t have suited your mother, I’ll bet.

SALLY: It’s my birthday. I’ll spend it how I like.

GRAN: No doubt you will. What happened?

SALLY: Nothing!

GRAN: Nothing?

SALLY: That’s right, nothing.

GRAN: I didn’t come in on the last onion boat. Tell me the worst.

SALLY: (Matter of fact) Mum’s disowned me.

GRAN: Oh, yes?

Gran waits for more information but Sally isn’t forthcoming.

SALLY: That’s all, Gran.

GRAN: Well, that’s a bit of a bugger then.

SALLY: You’re swearing again, Gran.

GRAN: Am I? Oh, well strike me pink with a blue rag.

SALLY: I’m not a child any more, Gran. I can make my own decisions.

GRAN: It’s not an easy time when your children are turning into adults.

SALLY: You don’t treat me like a child.

GRAN: It’s easy for me. I just boot you out when I’ve had enough.

I won’t get the blame if you turn out to be a ratbag.

SALLY: I won’t turn out to be a ratbag.

GRAN: I’m sure you won’t.

Sally goes to the mirror and adjusts her hat.

SALLY: I’m going to get a part time job. I need some independence. I need money.

GRAN: Well, I hope you get it.

SALLY: Mum said you were a medium. She said you used to work in a fair

ground.

GRAN: Did she?

SALLY: (Teasing) Come and have your fortune read by Madam Myrtle!

(Laughs) Were you for real?

GRAN: Of course!

SALLY: Sure, Gran.

GRAN: Cross me palm with silver and all will be revealed.

SALLY: What if I don’t like what you tell me?

GRAN: Then bad luck. I might be able to see into the future, but I can’t change it.

Sally challenges Gran by slapping a silver coin on the table.

SALLY: There you are Gran, tell my fortune.

GRAN: (Looking at the coin as if she’s been cheated) Ten cents? Ten cents!

You cheap skate. (Pause for thought of a compromise) I’ll read your tea

leaves.

SALLY: Tea leaves?

GRAN: There’s a lot to be seen in the bottom of a tea cup.

SALLY: Oh, cool!

Gran puts the tea cosy on her head and goes into a trance like state. Sally laughs.

GRAN: Enough! This is a serious business.

SALLY: Yes, Gran.

GRAN: Now, take your cup in your left hand. (Sally does so) Swirl it around.

(Sally begins to swirl) Not that way! clockwise. An’ tip it into the saucer.

Gran watches Sally swirl the cup around and tip it upside down. She takes the cup and peers into it with melodramatic effect.

GRAN: Oh, this is a storm in a tea cup.

SALLY: What?