ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER based on the film by Pedro Almodévar a play by Samuel Adamson ‘Te Aprey(Lenion Le aor ef SEs nie er (Sam sts S40: mse hen ‘SCRIPT POR EUROPEAN TRANSLATION 72 Aa 2008Seven actor playing: Rsteban, 17 ‘Manuela, his moter, fate 30s [Nina Cruz, an acess, 208 (Nina plays Stellan A Steetear Named Desire) Huma Rojo, an acess, «certain age (ona plays Blanche in Streetea) Agrado, ransvestie, 40 Sister Rosa, a nun, 26 her Mother, 50-60 And ensemble playing’ Doctor Alicia a psychologist ‘Mario del Toro, an actor, 205 (Mario plays Stanley in Stretcat) Cent Non Ales, the sage manager Gynaccologist, mate Nurse Isabel, an acres (Isabel plays Eunice in Streteat) ‘Actress (plays Matron in Sretcar) Actor (plays Doctor in Sueeteat) Lola, transvestite, 40 autotest Ship Aen‘A slash indicates the pont of nteruption in overlapping dialogue Dialogue fram other plays isn bo Dialogue in (Square brackets] is optional Note that in Act 11 Scene 8, Agrado delivers a line in Spanish, the character's ‘tee language, then ‘translates’ it into, in this case, English, the language of the ‘Actoriaudience. Fora Spanish language translation ofthe play, eu the repetition, ‘Scene munbers are given for rehearsal purposes but often scenes overlap or the action is ‘ominous: ity is Rey. The idea is that a simple or poor theatre production of this lay i perfectly possible. It could be done with a complicated set with fying wall, Projections and rai, or it could be done with afew chairs a box of props and.a company ‘thar never leaves the playing space. Samuel Adamson, April 2008 ‘Neato fb Paro Nae ‘Sota fanaaACT ONE 41. A spotlight a microphone. Esteban, 17, steps imo the light, takes the microphone, taps. Esteban One, 190, 196, | found this old photo of my moter lst night. She looks young. She's standing in froat of a shack on sme beach, and she's wearing this massive straw hat, and she's smiling ike she's tipping; my guess mescaline I ike a portal into aime Iwasa’ alive — but I'm not allowed through, because the photo's baen ripped in lf. 'm seventeen today, but [Took older, ve got the face of a boy who lives alone wih his ‘mother. Special, serious .. a thinker, a writer. I went fo her room and found piles of ld photos .. every one has piece tom ava. She has to realise, I don't give a shit ‘whut he did 9 her when they were together, need to understand who he was. “He puts the microphone down, retreats from the ight It start 0 rain. 2. Manuela, late 30s, on an ugly plastic chair, grief stricken. With her, Doctor in a white coat and a psychologist, Alicia. They ar pooled in unforgiving light Doctor Unfortunately, sfora ‘Manuela No. 1just saw him, he was breathing . Doctor The life-support. Manuela A coma? Doctor No .. the machine is pumping oxygen inside his body. Manuela Then he could pll through. He's strong Doctor Brain deat i no an easy thing fo understand, There's 0 hope, I'm sorry. Manuela’s grief overtakes her. She walls les aloe unbearable, Te Doctor becomes uncomfortable Alicia remains eal. Doctor Seniors... 4d your son ever. talk about death .. when he was alive? ‘Manuela He was «boy... why would he talk about death? Doctor Sometimes even young people make decisions about ther bodies. what shoalé huppen in the ease of an accident. Seflora, your son's organs could be used in & transplant. Manuela Someone could save him? Doctor Not quite. Vice-vese tet teeAlicia What my colleague means is that your son oould help to save the lives of other patients, But we'd need your consent Manuela You want to mutilate him? Doctor No, i's an internal operation, very simple. ‘Manuela Who would you give them to? Doctor The patents wio need them mos Manuela Moslins? ‘These filthy rch Arabs who go round buying orgens to flog on the back market? Doctor Seftor, Spin is part ofthe European Pain for Organ — Al Doctor Part of the Buropean Pan for Organ — Alicia Plan Doctor — Pian for Organ Donation. He's perspiring: he gestures o Alicia in frustration; she indlcateshe should continue. ia (corrects him, soto voee) Plan Doctor The recipient could be any rae o exeed. ‘Manuela Pa want them to stay in Made, Doctor You wouldn't have that/ choice Manuela Prove to me he's dead! Doctor ‘The National Transplant Organission has / procedures Manuela Let me se him — Doctor Please, sefors Manvela Iss et me see him! Enter Esteban, wet from the rain, n a shaft of ight, Manuela clocks Kim mid-weil Doctor Sefora? ‘Manuela I — (Seems onthe verge of speaking to Esteban, then resumes her grief) Doctor Is there someone ese we can contact”. Manuela No. Doctor ‘Then will you sign a consent? ‘os on se fin Pe sn ‘inert eeManuela You're fll of shitt Tread about the man who came to this hospital for « ‘vasectomy and left without a foreskin. Doctor What? How the bell un 1 supposed to respond to that!” Allcia. OK, (e's sop. The harsh light ts floked off, room Highs on: this isa seminar in a hospital lecture: roamihall. A Cameraman/woman has been flming them: the simulation transmuted in real time on to a monitorisreen for the lecture-room audience. Alicia picks up the microphone Alicia So, whet happened? Doctor I'm sorry, Alicia. is just. that seemed insane Allcia Perhaps. But some people are Doctor I mean... well. don't think she'd say that. Alicia Manuela? ‘Manuela She's grieving motes, we have no idea what she'd say. Sony... my son. Everyone turns 10 lok at him. Esteban Hello ia Your son? Manuele... be shonld leave, ‘Manuela (soto voce) What are you doing here. Alicia OK, everyone, le's ply It back and see whet we'd change. ‘She revinds with « remote: we now see the simulation the lecture-room secs on the Imanitonsereen. Esteban is fascinated. Manuela approaches him. Film Doctor ... the machine is pumping oxygen inside his body. itm Manuela Then be could poll through. He's song Film Doctor Brain death isnot an easy thing o understand. There's no hope. 'm sory. Alicia (pauses replay) Not bad, sofa. (Fast-forwards film) Manuela Esteban, Esteban I'm uying io watch, Mama. (Produces a notebook) Manuela You heard her Aout MaerEsteban You're amazing. That doctor can't act for sit ‘Manuela Sssshh! Hospital staff only: youl get me fred, Esteban [ve goto see this — By which point Alicia has pressed pause, ready fo recomménce. The room's attention is on them. Alicia, Manuela? Manuela Go. Go! ‘She retums tothe char. Esteban is transfixed, Alicia presses play. Film Manuela 1'€ want them o stay in Madi Film Doctor You wouldn't ave that/ choice Film Manuela Prove to me he's dead Film Doctor The Nasional Transplant Orgunisation /has procedures Film Manuela Let me see him — Film Doctor Please, /sefora Film Manuela 1 said let me soe— Alicia pauses the replay onan image of Manuela Alicia, Why do you think it broke doin? Doctor 1 got Mustered by her racism. ‘Alicia Exactly: you judged her. Manuela was clover to sti ike that — as if the relative Inude't grasped it yet. (To lecture-hall) We try to introduce the subject of donation ‘quickly .. but i's bot posible tl the death has beea understood... We'll dai again. ‘The Cameraman/woman flicks onthe flming light. The simulation — and sineltaneous DoctoriFilm Doctor We did everything we could. Manuela/Fitt Manuela 1 don't understand you Doctor/Bllm Doctor Sefera, unfortunstely ‘Manuela/Film Matuela (chokes on grief) My son... my son. please, my son ‘The real Manuela i dwarfed by her cinematic self Esteban stares at both, Esteban Mama? eon se fi a sot ‘rine em4. Boeban opens a door. Esteban Mama? ‘He sneaks into a room. A nlse, off he stars. He finds a shoebox high ona shelf o in drawer, ransnages through it. He finds some photographs, leaf through them; stops and Manuela's Voice Esteben? Esteban pockets the photograph quickly, pus the shoebox back, rushes to another room. 4 Out of the darkness, lighted candies on a birhday cake, held by Manuela. Esteban ‘quickly grabs a book, settles, pretends to read. ‘Manuela's Voice Esteban? Esteban? ‘Why did't you answer? Esteban tai Manuela Heppy birdy. Esteban e's not my birthday. Manuela t's just gone midnight. Come on quickly. Esteban (blows candles out) Sha tell you what I wished fr? ‘Manvela Of couse no. (Cus cake) What are you eading? Esteban Mama... ‘What do you thin about when you cryin thos transplant simolations? Manuela Nothing. {don't ey. Esteban You ci, ‘Manuela And you shouldnt have barged ia steban Bu where did you een tac ike that? ‘Manuela Nowhere, just doit Esteban You most think about someting ‘Manuela No, Lust empty my mind Esteban My father? “Manuela Whet makes you say that? Ate ‘iby Suna Ade