OLDER CATHY. We weren’t sure, but we thought we could see into our grandfather’s bedroom window. Christopher thought a nurse was giving him something in an IV drip. How he knew this kind of thing was always a puzzle, amazing to me. He would be a great doctor, I thought.

Christopher and Cathy turn. Christopher goes to a makeshift blackboard, and the twins sit up and look as he explains something. Cathy sits in the rocker, working on some needlepoint.

OLDER CATHY. Around six o’clock each evening, Momma would show up, breathless, always in a great hurry.

Behind the scrim, Corrine enters, bearing armfuls of gifts. The twins leap up to meet her. Cathy puts her needlepoint down slowly and joins Christopher, expectantly. Corrine hands them all packages.

OLDER CATHY. She came loaded down with gifts, things for us to do, books to read. Then she would dash off. She said she couldn’t miss evening prayers.

The scrim darkens. Older Cathy stands in the spotlight.

OLDER CATHY. Evening prayers. When would our prayers be answered?

She hesitates, looks down, and then takes a breath and looks up.

OLDER CATHY. Only on Saturdays and Sundays could she spend more than a few minutes with us and sit down at our small table to eat lunch. Meals with Momma were wonderful, because they reminded us of the old days, when Daddy was alive and we would be together, a family.

The spotlight goes out, and the stage light comes up, scrim gone.

Scene 6

Corrine sits at the table with her four children.

CORRINE. I have good news today, children. My father has given me an allowance. I believe this means he is going to forgive me completely; otherwise, he wouldn’t have done it.

CATHY. Well, how much longer are we going to be locked up here, Momma? When will you tell him about us?

CORRINE. I can’t rush it, Cathy. I’ll tell him about you when the time is right. Just be a little more patient.

CATHY. Patient!

CHRISTOPHER [quickly]. How’s your computer training going?

CORRINE. Good—and my father is very pleased that I’m learning a skill.

CATHY. Why does he care if he has so much money to give you?

CORRINE. He’s old-fashioned. He wants me to be ambitious, productive. [Proudly, for a real accomplishment.] I helped feed him today.

CHRISTOPHER. What’s the IV for?

CORRINE. Oh? You can see that? I think it’s a blood thinner.

CHRISTOPHER. Then he had a stroke?

CORRINE. Something like that. I’ll see if I can get the details for you. I know how much that kind of thing interests you.

CARRIE. I want to go outside today.

CORY. Yes, Momma.

CORRINE. Soon. I promise.

She kisses both twins and then rises.

CORRINE. I’ve got to go. I have some chores to do for my father. You all just do what you’ve been doing.

CATHY. You mean vegetating? Can’t you at least bring me my iPod?