BOOLIE: But she hasn’t even been inside the door for two years. I know I’m doing the right thing.
HOKE: Doan’ get me into it.
BOOLIE: I’m not going to say anything to her about it.
HOKE: You right there.
BOOLIE: By the way, Hoke, your check is going to keep coming every week—as long as you’re there to get it.
HOKE: I ’preciate that, Mist’ Werthan.
BOOLIE: You can rest easy about it. I suppose you don’t get out to see Mama very much.
HOKE: It hard, not drivin’. Dat place ain’ on no bus line. I goes in a taxicab sometime.
BOOLIE: I’m sure she appreciates it.
HOKE: Some days she better than others. Who ain’t?
BOOLIE: Well, we’d better get on out there. I guess you have a turkey dinner to get to and so do I. Why don’t we call your granddaughter and tell her I’ll run you home?
They exit and the light comes up on Daisy, ninety-seven, slowly moving forward with a walker. She seems fragile and diminished, but still vital. A hospital chair and a table are nearby. Boolie and Hoke join her.
Happy Thanksgiving, Mama. Look who I brought.
Boolie helps Daisy from her walker into her chair.
HOKE: Mornin’, Miz Daisy.
(She nods)
You keepin’ yo’seff busy?
BOOLIE: She certainly is. She goes to jewelry making—how many times a week is it, Mama? She makes all kinds of things. Pins and bracelets. She’s a regular Tiffanys.
HOKE: Ain’t that something.
BOOLIE
(Keeping things going):
Hoke, you know I thought of you the other morning on the Expressway. I saw an Avondale milk truck.
HOKE: You doan’ say.
BOOLIE: A big monster of a thing, must’ve had sixteen wheels. I wonder how you’d have liked driving that around.
DAISY
(Suddenly):
Hoke came to see me, not you.
HOKE: This one of her good days.
BOOLIE: Florine says to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. She’s in Washington, you know.
(No response)
You remember, Mama. She’s a Republican National Committeewoman now.
DAISY: Good God!
(Hoke laughs, Boolie grins)
Boolie!
BOOLIE: What is it, Mama?
DAISY: Go charm the nurses.
BOOLIE
(To Hoke):
She wants you all to herself.
(To Daisy)
You’re a doodle, Mama.
Boolie exits. Daisy dozes for a minute in her chair. Then she looks at Hoke.
DAISY: Boolie payin’ you still?
HOKE: Every week.
DAISY: How much?
HOKE: That between me an’ him, Miz Daisy.
DAISY: Highway robbery.
(She closes her eyes again. Then opens them)
How are you?
HOKE: Doin’ the bes’ I can.
DAISY: Me too.
HOKE: Well, thass all there is to it, then.
She nods, smiles. Silence. He sees the piece of pie on the table.
Looka here. You ain’ eat yo’ Thanksgiving pie.
She tries to pick up her fork. Hoke takes the plate and fork from her.
Lemme hep you wid this.
He cuts a small piece of pie with the fork and gently feeds it to her. Then another as the lights fade slowly out.
END OF PLAY
Copyright © 1986, 987 by Alfred Uhry
Preface for the New Edition copyright © 2010 by Alfred Uhry
Driving Miss Daisy
is published by Theatre Communications Group, Inc.,
520 Eighth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10018-4156.
All rights reserved. Except for brief passages in newspaper, magazine, radio or television reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that this material, being fully protected under the Copyright Laws of the United States of America and all other countries of the Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions, is subject to a royalty.
All rights, including but not limited to, professional, amateur, recording, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio and television broadcasting, and the rights of translation into foreign languages are expressly reserved. Particular emphasis is placed on the question of readings and all uses of this book by educational institutions, permission for which must be secured from the author’s representative: Jack Tantleff, Paradigm, 360 Park Avenue South, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10010, 212-897-6400.
This publication is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency.
TCG books are exclusively distributed to the book trade by Consortium Book Sales and Distribution.
Driving Miss Daisy
was first produced Off-Broadway by Playwrights Horizons, New York in 1987. It was subsequently produced by Jane Harmon/Nina Keneally Ivy Properties, Ltd./ Richard Frankel, Gene Wolsk/Alan M. Shore and Susan S. Meyerberg, in association with Playwrights Horizon, Off-Broadway in 1987.
Driving Miss Daisy
made its Broadway debut at the Golden Theatre on October 25th, 2010.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Urhy, Alfred.
Driving Miss Daisy.
1. Title
PS3571.H7D.54—dc19 88-24836
eISBN : 978-1-559-36645-8