(The wake is ending, Alex has just come inside from speaking with his father. We know from the prior events that Alex has not yet stood by his mother, he hasn’t looked at her corpse. Now, Alex goes to the casket to talk to his mother. We sit in silence for a while, just watching Alex stand in front of his mother’s body. Olivia and Lydia are off to one side, Uncle John is to another. John Sullivan has not entered yet. Lights are down except for a spotlight on Alex and the casket.) 

Alex. They made you look real pretty, Ma. Real pretty, yeah, you look beautiful. (Alex goes to reach in and touch his mother’s hair. He stops himself and rests his hand on the side of the casket.) 

I dunno if you can see, you know, me, or this, or anything. 

Beat. 

I’ll just tell you, I guess. They’ve got you in your easter dress. I think it’s your favorite, I always thought it was. The blue one with the white flowers. I forget what they’re called, but I know you like them. Wildflowers, I think. I don’t know which ones. And Ma, I don’t remember the last time I saw you with makeup on but they’ve done you up really nice. Your favorite lipstick and everything, the one that only rich ladies wear. I bet Olivia picked it out. She knew you best. Another Beat. 

Dad is here. I don’t know if he’ll try to talk to you… I know it’s not my place to say, but I hope he doesn’t. And if he does… I don’t know, Ma, I kind of wish you could respond. I wish you could tell him to piss off like you used to. He doesn’t deserve to be here. 

(Mary’s hand reaches out of the casket to grab Alex’s. Alex is frozen, Mary slowly sits up, eyes closed, until she opens them, looking at Alex. Only at Alex. She is smirking.)

Mary. You didn’t think I’d tell you to piss the fuck off, too? Both of yous, drunk off your asses at my wake. Think you’d have more respect, maybe. Then again, I’m not entirely surprised. 

Alex. (looking up at the ceiling, pulling his hand away and staring at it. Absolutely bewildered.) Is this really happening? 

Mary. Are you even listening to me? You little shit, you never listen. 

Alex. (Nodding aggressively. He needs to believe this is Not Real.) 

No, this isn’t happening, Ma never cursed. 

Mary. Get over yourself. I can curse as much as I’d like in death, now that I don’t have to impress anyone anymore. 

(Alex is silent for a moment, still bewildered. He and Mary stare at each other for a moment until Alex decides that to whatever extent, this is, in fact, happening. Alex. Impress anyone? Who were you trying to impress? 

Mary. God? Our father who art in heaven? Mother Mary? St. Patrick? Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins? 

Alex. Oh, right.

Mary. (Under her breath) Little shit. 

Alex. Well, were they impressed? 

Mary. Who’s to say? Haven’t met them, yet. 

Alex. The road to the pearly gates must be real long, then? 

Mary. I haven’t seen a road. 

Alex. Then what have you seen? 

Mary. Nothing. Nothing at all. 

Alex. Oh. 

Mary. What? Are you disappointed? This is what you atheists want, anyway. Pieces of shit. Alex. I’m agnostic, Ma. 

Mary. Same thing.

Alex. If you haven’t seen anything, how did you know I was here? How’d you know I’m drunk? How’d you sit up and start talking to me like you were never dead in the first place. 

Mary. Because I know everything. 

Alex. That hasn’t worked on me since I was seven. 

Mary. I’m serious. I know everything. 

Alex. So… you see nothing and know everything. 

Mary. Precisely. 

Alex. I don’t understand. 

Mary. Well you wouldn’t, would you? You’re alive. 

Alex. I am… 

Mary. Does that matter to you, Alex? 

Alex. Well I don’t really have a choice… 

Mary. You do, though, don’t you?

Alex. I’m not about to kill myself, if that’s what you’re asking. Or what… ever… is this, fuckin rhetorical? If you know everything, why are you asking me questions? 

Mary. Language. 

Alex. Oh, please! You just said there’s no Heaven! 

Mary. No I didn’t. 

Alex. You basically did, so what does me cussing have to do with any of this? 

Mary. Dead or alive, I’ll always be your Ma. And as long as I’m your Ma, I’ll tell you to watch your language. 

(Beat. Alex looks at Mary, who is now looking at him. He is feeling something he can’t quite understand… maybe, just for a moment, he feels seen. He smiles.) 

Alex. Alright, fair enough. 

Mary. We can get along now, can’t we? 

Alex. I guess so, I think we can... maybe, but I’m never going to see you again. I don’t think this is even happening.

Mary. What do you know is happening? 

Alex. I know that you are dead, I know that I’m at your wake, I’m drunk at your wake, and I know that I’m Alex, I know… I think that I might miss you. 

(Mary is quiet. Alex is too, he is thinking.) 

Ma? 

Mary. Yes? 

(Another beat. Alex is holding back tears now, he has not cried in a long time. Certainly not since before he heard of his mother’s passing. He puts his hand on his mother’s. It is warm.) Alex. Can you tell me more? 

Mary. About death? 

Alex. Honestly, Ma, about anything. Everything. I just want to hear you. Mary. Only after death, eh? 

Alex. I’m sorry/ 

Mary. (Mary interrupts, saying this while looking at Alex, they are making eye contact and Alex is crying, but he doesn’t look away.) Well, I can tell you it was a relief. Death. It had been years,

you know. Years of pain and shitting the bed and pissing myself anytime I tried to move and sleep that wasn’t really sleep because I could still feel everything, all the sharp pains and the aches and the twitching, and I was always so, so cold. But… somehow, in the end, I couldn’t feel anything. It was like I was nothing, and I was ready to be nothing. I could hear your uncle, I could hear Olivia. They stayed with me, talked to me. I knew they were holding me, but I couldn’t feel them there. I couldn’t feel at all but I knew I was warm. For once, I was warm. 

(Mary turns to look out in front of her, now, breaking eye contact with Alex. She pulls her hand away from his. Alex leaves his hand on the side of the casket. Now, Mary is not looking up, or down, just out.) 

I wasn’t afraid. You live a life like I did, there comes a certain point where you’re not afraid… of pain, of loss, of death. So in the end, those last moments, a part of me didn’t care if I’d be going to heaven or hell, I didn’t know or care if I was going anywhere. I was just ready. When it was time, there wasn’t any light, no voice of God, no pearly gates, just a slow, enveloping darkness. Darkness that grew along with silence, until there was nothing at all. I couldn’t hear, I couldn’t see, but I knew. I knew everything. 

(Silence. Alex hangs his head, crying. Spotlight off. Lights on stage. Alex still has his head down, Mary is lying in her casket again, eyes closed and arms crossed. Olivia walks over to Alex and puts her hand on his shoulder.) 

Olivia. Alex, everything’s winding down. It’s time to go now. 

(Alex looks up, surprised, looking at his mother’s casket, seeing her lying there, same as before. He wipes his eyes, continuing to stare into the casket.)

Alex. I’m not ready yet. I’m… I was, we were talking… didn’t you see? 

Olivia. I saw, I wanted to give you a minute, but it’s really time to go. Lydia and I are going to grab some food on the way back to the hotel, you’re welcome to join us. I don’t know how you’re getting back… 

Alex. (He is childlike in this moment. Olivia sees this in him. It breaks her heart.) Can’t I have a little longer? 

Olivia. The parlor has to close for the night, Alex, I’m so sorry. 

(After a moment, Alex begins to stand. Olivia puts her arm around him.) Let’s get some food and watch a movie, ok? What about The Princess Bride? 

Alex. Yeah, that sounds good. That sounds nice. 

(Alex leans on Olivia’s shoulder for a moment, the two of them looking into the casket. We cannot see their faces. Alex speaks quietly.) 

Bye, Ma. 

(He turns from Olivia and starts for the exit, stumbling a little. Olivia stays a moment, looking at her mother. She says nothing, but turns and follows Alex. Lights down.)