Questions below are about the passage: Mammie  (1) Characters: ANTHONY – The young husband MANDIE – The young wife MAMMIE – Anthony's mother (2) Setting: Mammie's kitchen; the appliances are old, and a farmhouse table dominates the small room. (3) The scene opens with Mandie clinging to Anthony. They are alone in the kitchen. (4) MANDIE: Please don't leave me here with… her. She doesn't like me. (5) ANTHONY: Of course she likes you. Don't be silly. Why wouldn't she like you? (6) MANDIE: Oh, I don't know. She just doesn't. You don't know how she can be. (7) ANTHONY: Don't I? I only lived... Show more

Questions below are about the passage:

Mammie 

(1) Characters: ANTHONY – The young husband MANDIE – The young wife MAMMIE – Anthony's mother (2) Setting: Mammie's kitchen; the appliances are old, and a farmhouse table dominates the small room. (3) The scene opens with Mandie clinging to Anthony. They are alone in the kitchen. (4) MANDIE: Please don't leave me here with… her. She doesn't like me. (5) ANTHONY: Of course she likes you. Don't be silly. Why wouldn't she like you? (6) MANDIE: Oh, I don't know. She just doesn't. You don't know how she can be. (7) ANTHONY: Don't I? I only lived with her for the first twenty years of my life. (8) MANDIE: (pleading) Anthony, you can't go. Just take me with you. We can come back for dinner, just like you promised Mammie. (9) ANTHONY: (taking Mandie firmly by the shoulders) No, Mandie. You're here, and you're staying. I'll only be gone for an hour or two. I promise to be back for dinner. (10) MANDIE: But, Anthony— (11) ANTHONY: Shush! She'll hear you—Mammie! (12) Mammie enters, straightening her apron. She looks Mandie up and down. Anthony moves to kiss Mammie's cheek and Mandie reluctantly does the same. (13) MAMMIE: Hello, Anthony. Hello, Amanda. (14) ANTHONY: Well, Mammie, I'm afraid it's hello and goodbye for me. I'm off to my meeting. (He kisses Mandie.) You two girls have fun. I'll be back for dinner. (15) Anthony exits. Mandie and Mammie look at each other for several seconds. The silence becomes uncomfortable. Finally, Mammie turns her back on Mandie and begins preparing dinner. She takes pots, pans, and ingredients out of the cupboards. (16) MANDIE: (clearing her throat) So, um, what are you making for dinner? (17) MAMMIE: (without turning around) Baked chicken. Rice. Asparagus. (18) MANDIE: Oh. (Pauses) Could I help with something? (19) Mammie wordlessly takes out a large pot and a bag of rice. She hands the items to Mandie and turns back to her work. (20) MAMMIE: You can make the rice. (21) Mandie stands very still, holding the rice and the pot. She bites her lip. She looks very frightened. Finally, Mammie turns around to face Mandie. (22) MAMMIE: Well, child? What is it? (23) MANDIE: (looking at the floor) I-I don't know how to make rice. (24) MAMMIE: Don't know how to make rice? Don't be silly. Everyone knows how to make rice. (25) MANDIE: (starting to cry) Everyone… except… me! (26) Mammie sighs and wipes her hands on her apron. She comes over and takes the pot and the rice away from Mandie. She sets them on the table and gently chucks Mandie under the chin. (27) MAMMIE: Come, child. It's nothing to cry over. Hush now. What can you cook? (28) MANDIE: (sniffling) I can make brownies, I guess. (29) MAMMIE: Good. (Patting Mandie awkwardly on the shoulder) Get to work, then. (30) Mandie starts opening cupboard doors and pulling out ingredients. Mammie hands her a mixing bowl and measuring cups. (31) MANDIE: Thank you. (32) They work in silence for a while. After Mammie puts the chicken in the oven and puts the rice on to cook, she turns and watches Mandie work. Her face softens. (33) MAMMIE: I suppose it's just as well, you know. Anthony always did like brownies better than rice. (She smiles and sits at the table.) I remember that when he was little, he always used to stick his finger into the middle brownie as soon as I took the pan from the oven. He always burned himself something terrible, but he couldn't let anyone else have that soft, gooey center brownie. (34) MANDIE: (giggling) He still does that. (35) MAMMIE: (shocked) No! A big, grown man like Anthony? (36) MANDIE: Every time I make a batch of brownies. (37) Mandie pours the batter into a brownie pan. Mammie watches her intently. (38) MAMMIE: (motioning to the chair beside her) Come, child. Have a seat. Tell me more about my Anthony. (39) Mandie sits and they chat for a while. Anthony reenters and looks surprised to see them sitting together. (40) ANTHONY: (kissing Mandie) Hello, ladies. Something smells good. (He looks around.) And is that a pan of brownies waiting to go into the oven? (41) MANDIE: Yes, Anthony. Now, go make yourself comfortable in the living room. We'll call you for dinner. (42) ANTHONY: (bewildered) Well, okay… I guess. Are you sure you don't want me to stay in here? (43) MANDIE: I'm sure. We have work to do. Now, go on. (44) Anthony leaves, shaking his head and muttering to himself. (45) MAMMIE: Besides, we can't talk about him when he's here! (46) They both laugh and move to finish the dinner preparations, chatting amiably.    

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