Cast of Characters

Vania: ANASTASIA's adult daughter. Generally happy and bright and good to be around. Both protector and foil of her mother.

Anastasia: Elderly woman. Good spirited. We see from where VANIA gets her positive outlook. ANASTASIA is dying... today.

Crenshaw: ANASTASIA's servant. Male in appearance, he is also an automaton, or if you'd prefer... a robot.

Playwright's Note: It is important that CRENSHAW appears as a robot, but not so much a caricature or stereotype. His appearance and actions may reflect subtly that he is not quite human, - but we still should see him as robotic. His appearance should however also be that of a butler.

SETTING: “The future.” Inside ANASTASIA's bedroom. Mid-morning. It has a bed to the right, with a chair and a nightstand left of the bed. The door to the bedroom is just up and to the left of the bed and chair and nightstand.

(VANIA ENTERS at a hurried gait. She is dressed well enough to suggest wealth, but does not flaunt it. "Proper" may be the better word. She talks as she enters.)

VANIA

Mother, I'm so sorry I'm late, but I was having problems with the automatic--

(sees empty room- stops and looks about)

Mother?

(slight panic)

Mommy?

(we hear laughter from off; she turns)

Mother?

(ANASTASIA enters, she is wearing a nightgown and housecoat, but is also barefooted, carrying her slippers; she is followed by CRENSHAW who is pushing an empty wheelchair; VANIA is relieved)

Oh thank goodness!

ANASTASIA

Hello Vania Darling. Crenshaw, put that contraption away, will you please?

CRENSHAW

Certainly Madame Anastasia.

(he moves chair over left and waits)

VANIA

Mother, where were you?!

ANASTASIA

Splashing about in the rain puddles. Why? Were you afraid that you had missed my funeral?

VANIA

Splashing in the rain-- look at your feet! They're soaking wet! Do you want to catch your death of...

ANASTASIA

(smiling, sitting at the edge of the bed)

Of what, Dear?

VANIA

(taking a towel from the foot of the bed,

she starts to dry her mother's feet)

I didn't know where you were. That's all.

ANASTASIA

It's beautiful outside now that the rain has stopped. All sunny now and warm with the smell of rain still in the air. Oh! And a rainbow! I saw a beautiful rainbow. Both ends. First time ever!

VANIA

And you Crenshaw. You allowed this little excursion, knowing what you know?

CRENSHAW

How could I not allow it Miss Vania? Your mother is a... strong willed individual.

VANIA

(smiles as she puts her mother's slippers on her)

That she is, Crenshaw. That she is.

ANASTASIA

Crenshaw, I'd like that cup of tea now. A large cup. Very strong. I want to really taste it!

CRENSHAW

Certainly, Madame Anastasia.

(starts to exit)

ANASTASIA

And a pastry! I don't really care what. Surprise me.

CRENSHAW

Of course.

(exits)

ANASTASIA

So hello to you!

(Takes VANIA's face-- kisses her cheek)

Hello hello hello!

VANIA (laughing)

Hello hello hello!

ANASTASIA

So nice of you to come see your mother off.

VANIA

Please don't put it like that.

ANASTASIA

(takes VANIA's hand)

How do you want me to put it, Darling? The fact of the matter is that I am going to die today.

VANIA

I know.

ANASTASIA

And there's no getting around it. No last minute call from the state. No miracle cure.

VANIA

But must you be so, oh I don't know, so jovial about it?

ANASTASIA

Would you rather I was morose?

(melodramatic- overly so in fact)

So overwhelmingly despondent at the thought of my inevitable demise--

(VANIA smiles, laughs a little despite herself)

--that through my despair it would be all I could do to keep from... now there's a thought.

VANIA

What's that, Silly?

ANASTASIA

Killing myself.

VANIA

What!?

ANASTASIA

Oh the irony of that. For one to commit suicide on the day one is to die anyway.

VANIA

Mother! Don't joke like that!

ANASTASIA

Oh, don't worry. I appreciate the thought far more than the act itself. Like when one looks off a cliff and wonders if one might actually fly.

VANIA

Well, your flights of fancy will one day be the death of m--

ANASTASIA

Funny how that word keeps cropping up today.

VANIA

Must it be today?