Angels in America
By Tony KushnerHannah is a Joe's Mormon mother. After her son calls her in the middle of the night to tell her that he is a homosexual, she sells her house and flies to New York City, and gets lost. She is talking to a raving homeless woman on the streets.
HANNAH:
Excuse me? I said excuse me? Can you tell me where I am? Is this Brooklyn? Do you know of a Pineapple Street? Is there some sort of bus or train or...?
I'm lost, I just arrived from Salt Lake City. I took the bus that I was told to take and I got off - well it was the very last stop, so I had to get off, and I asked the driver was this Brooklyn, and he nodded yes but he was from one of those foreign countries where they think it's good manners to nod at everything even if you have no idea what it is you're nodding at, and in truth I think he spoke no English at all, which I think would make him ineligible for employment on public transportation. The public being English-speaking mostly. Do you speak English?
I was supposed to be met at the airport by my son. He didn't show and I don't wait more than three and three-quarters hours for anyone. I should have been patient, I guess...Is this Brooklyn?
The Bronx!?! Well how in the name of Heaven did I get to the Bronx, when the bus driver said...? Can you just tell me where I...? I don't know what you're...
Shut up. Please. Now I want you to stop jabbering for a minute, and pull your wits together and tell me how to get to Brooklyn. Because you know! And you are going to tell me! Because there is no one else around to tell me and I am wet and cold and I am very angry! So I am sorry you're psychotic but just make the effort! Take a deep breath! DO IT! (Inhales with the crazy woman.) That's good. Now exhale. (Exhales with the crazy woman.) Good. Now. How do I get to Brooklyn?
A little later. Hannah has finally arrived at her destination, only to find that her son is missing and her daughter-in-law has been arrested. She is talking on the phone with an unheard voice.
HANNAH:
Pitt residence. No. He's out. No, I have no idea where he is. I have no idea. I have no idea. No idea. No. No. This is his mother.
OH MY LORD! Is she...? You... Wait, officer, I don't... You found her in the... Prospect Park? I don't... She what? A pine tree? Why on earth would she chew down a...?
(Cross.) Well you have no business laughing about it, so you can stop that right now, that's ugly.
I don't know where that is, I just arrived from Salt Lake and I barely found Brooklyn. I'll take a... a taxicab. Well yes of course right now! No. No hospital. We don't need any of that. She's not insane, she's just... peculiar. Tell her to behave. Tell her... Tell her Mother Pitt is coming. (Hangs up.)
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