The Humans by Stephen Karam

skills—
BRIGID
ERIK
That’s not fair—I can’t get a
Hey easy, cut it out. Stop it,
break if I’m working
both of you, stop, this is on me
full-time . . .
and—
 
      (Recognizing Brigid’s distress)
 
—hey, I’m working it out, /
 
I love your mom, we’re good . . .
    Brigid isn’t sure what to do; something’s fallen apart for her, thoughts spinning . . .
    UPSTAIRS : Hearing their argument, Deirdre heads for the staircase. Richard attends Momo.
    BRIGID
    No, I’m glad you’re working it out but—
    you’re good but you’re not sleeping and Mom’s still eating her
    feelings, / it’s freaking me out—
    AIMEE
    Â Â Â Â Â  (Referring to Deirdre at the top of the stairs)
    Brigid.
    Brigid turns, sees Deirdre at the top of the staircase. She heads upstairs to apologize.
    BRIGID
    Mom . . . / I didn’t mean it . . .
    ERIK
    Stay here . . .
    Aimee goes after Brigid.
    ERIK
    Would you stay down here, please? Brigid!
AIMEE
DEIRDRE
Dad give her some space,
Go talk to your father, please, /
okay, we’re doing our best—
I know you think something’s
 
wrong with me, it’s not a news
 
flash.
    BRIGID
    Mom—I will, but—I don’t [think that]—I think something’s wrong with everyone— please don’t act like a martyr / when I’m trying to apologize . . . you think I’m wrong to not wanna get married in a church so—
AIMEE
MOMO
Hey, hey, you’re sorry, don’t
      (Barely audible)
yell at her, okay / . . . just
Nevery blacken where you come
chill out?
back do we go do we wheren
 
blezzick . . . blacken where you
 
come back do we go do . . .
    ERIK
    Can you guys come down and talk to me please!
    Thud.
AIMEE
BRIGID
Dad you’re not helping, let
      (To Richard)
me handle this . . .
Can you go up and tell that
 
lady how loud she’s being?
ERIK
RICHARD
Brigid!
I will, just relax.
    Thud.
    AIMEE
    Dad, / please shuttup . . .
BRIGID
MOMO
I’ll do it myself . . . / I need
      (Mumbled)
a breather—
Nevery blacken where you
 
come back do we go do we
 
wheren blezzick . . . nevery
 
where do we go back do we
 
never go, where do we go hole
 
you bitch . . .
    Momo’s growing agitation captures Aimee’s attention.
    Deirdre is massaging Momo’s hand, for herself as much as for Momo.
RICHARD
AIMEE
Hey, hey hey no, no—let’s
(Regarding Momo, to Deirdre)
go for a walk, okay?—
. . . is she okay?
    ERIK
    Brigid, please come talk to me.
    BRIGID
    Â Â Â Â Â  (To Erik)
    I’m gonna ask that woman to stop banging her fucking feet.
    Brigid exits. This is worse than if she yelled at Erik.
    Richard stops Erik from following her.
RICHARD
MOMO
Hey, let me . . .
. . . nevery where do we go
 
back do we never go hole you
 
bitch / . . . nevery hole
 
backenser he did thisserwe
 
go black, go black . . .
    Deirdre walks to the staircase.
    DEIRDRE
    I’ve gotta . . . [go get some water downstairs] . . . I can’t hear her now . . .
ERIK
MOMO
Yeah, I got this . . .
. . . nevery where do we go
      (To Aimee)
back do we never go hole you
Go with her? She’s okay, just
bitch . . . nevery black hole you
give us some room . . . . . .
do we you did this do we back . . .
go with Mom, okay?
      (Fixed on Erik)
 
Go hole. Go hole! Go hole! /
 
Ohhhhhh God they’re every-
 
where! They’re coming to you
 
you bitch what’s wrong with
 
you . . .
    Aimee has never seen Momo like this. Aimee heads downstairs to look after Deirdre.
    Erik tends to Momo.
DEIRDRE
ERIK
      (Descending the stairs, barely intelligible)
Hey, hey . . . shhh . . . shhhh . . .
. . . what’s wrong with me . . .
 
    Momo is having her first real fit of the day. It’s terrifying. Erik has seen it