ACT 4
It has been ten years since the Youngers moved into their new home. Travis is now 21 years old and is in his 3rd year of college. He has studied hard and was able to receive a full scholarship. Ruth and Walter had a baby girl named Hope but moved away to a different state because Walter got a new job as the butler for the same family that he worked before.The family moved and gave a choice to Walter to move also. But because Travis attended college near their house, he had to stay and become the head of the house. He now lives with Mama while Ruth, Walter, and Hope live in Kentucky and Beneatha in Africa with Asagai.
SCENE 1
Travis runs out of the house, running late to his first day of his junior year in college.
Travis: Mama, I’m heading out!
Mama: Boy, hurry up or yous gonna be late on your first day.
Travis opens the door and walks out.
Curtain Closes and Scene opens with Travis in his lecture class and bumps into a white girl named Mallory and she drops her stuff.
Travis: Woah, sorry!
Travis helps pick up the books that are on the floor and hands them to her.
Mallory: Oh thanks!
Travis: No problem.
Mallory: I’m Mallory Lindner.
Bell rings and students rush into their classrooms
Travis: Oh that’s the bell, nice meeting you Mallory and by the way I’m Travis. I’ll see you around!
The class starts and ends, and Travis goes home.
SCENE 2
The next day.
Travis goes to school again and meets Mallory again.
Mallory:(enthusiastically) Hi Travis!
Travis: Hey Mallory... (tiredly)
Mallory: How are you?
Travis: My grandmother had to go to the hospital yesterday.. I think her old age is making her more fragile and weak..
Mallory: You must love your grandmother a lot, don’t you?
Travis: Yea….She’s my rock….She is the only one that I could talk to outta my whole family. She really loves me and looks out for me.
Mallory: She sounds like a nice lady. I would like to meet her one day.
Travis: I’ll introduce you to her one day, once she gets better.
Mallory: Okay, that sounds good. But I want you to know that you can rely on me too, okay?
Travis:Okay….Thanks a lot for being so understanding Mal.
Mallory: You’re welcome Trav….See ya later!
Travis: Okay...bye!
Travis and Mallory continuing talking to each other and as each day passes grows close with each other.Travis is still overcome with sadness of Mama’s condition but he still manages the strength to go on day by day. He has promised Mama and himself that he would graduate college.
One day Travis gets invited to Mallory's house.
Travis:Are you sure that your dad would be okay with me coming over?
Mallory: It'll be fine, don't worry!
Travis and Mallory have dinner with Mallory’s father, but the displeasure in her father's face is clear.
Mallory's father: So, young man. You're name is Travis?
Travis: Yes, sir.. uh... Mr. Lindner
Mr. Lindner: I'm not sure you remember me, before your family moved into our neighborhood, I visited you people.
Travis: Really Mr. Lindner? I don't seem to recall.
Mr. Lindner: Yes, well you were about ten I suppose. Anyways, I went to your house to stop you from moving into our neighborhood. Did you know that?
There is an awkward silence in the room as Mr. Lindner fixes his gaze on Travis. Travis stays quiet for a while, then begins to answer.
Travis: Well, sir-
Mr. Lindner: My point is that I still don't really like your family, and don't want your family living in our neighborhood. We want to be a tight, good, and secure neighborhood, without any violence or crime.
Travis: Sir, I think that is a bit harsh. My family doesn't-
Mr. Lindner: And again, my point is, I want you out of our neighborhood still, even after ten years!
Mallory: Dad!
Mr. Lindner: (ignoring his daughter) I mean you're kind will just create a world of violence for this peaceful neighborhood..
Mallory: Please excuse my dad Travis...
Travis: Look Mr.Lindner, at least I know I have better manners than you, and it's okay Mallory.
Mr.Lindner: I think you should leave my house right now, I don't want to be associated with you people.
Mallory: Dad!
Mr.Lindner ignores her and points to the door.
Travis: I know the way out, no need to show me.
Mallory turns to her father with anger in her eyes.
Mallory: Dad don’t you think that was a bit too far?
Mr. Lindner: (screaming) Don’t you tell me what you think is a ‘bit too far’ young lady! I don’t want you to ever see that boy again! (softly) I don’t want you associated with people by the likes of him. I just want the best for you honey and you’ll know that by staying away from him.
Mallory: I know that dad. (sighing), Can I at least go catch up with him to say goodbye?
Mr.Lindner: Well I don’t know…(trailing off)
Mallory: Come on dad!
Mr.Lindner: Well alright, but you better be back here in less than five minutes.
Mallory: Thank you dad! I will for sure.
Mallory run off in hopes of reaching Travis before he gets homes. The curtains close and there is a new scene. In the scene they’re on a street with Travis walking away head held low and Mallory running to catch up to him.
Mallory: Travis!...Travis!….Hey!...Wait Up!
Travis pauses in his footsteps so that Mallory could reach him.It just so happens to be that Travis stopped right in front of his home.
Travis: Mallory?...What do you want?
Mallory: I came to check up on you,...I know my dad can be a little harsh.
Travis:A little? What you came to tell how much of a problem my family is too?
Mallory: What?...No! I only came to check up on you as I said but you know this all could have been avoided if your family would have just stopped moving into the neighborhood when my father tried to stop them.
Travis: What?! Are you really serious right now?!
Mallory: Yes baby, all you have to do is move out of the neighborhood and we can be together. He just wants you to move out of the neighborhood. And once he gets what he really wants, I think we can be together.
Travis: I don't know Mallory,this house means a lot to my grandma.
Mallory: I understand but wouldn't you rather be with me?
Travis: I have to go.
Travis turns around and walks home. Scenes changes with Travis and Mama in the house.
Mama: Boy were you be at?
Travis: With Mallory.
Mama: You okay?
Travis: Yes ma'am.
Mama: Well you better go to sleep, you don't want to be late to school tomorrow.
Travis head to his room and so does Mama.
SCENE 3
It is now early Monday morning, Travis is awake and is making some eggs and bacon.
Travis: MAMA! Breakfast is ready!
Travis then walks over to Mama's room.
Travis: Mama? You okay? Usually you're always awake by this time.
Travis then goes to tap her and notices that she is really pale.
Travis: MAMA! Please no!!!! This can't be happening! (Crying) MAMA....(heavily breathing) NOOOOO!!!
A week passes by and Travis returns to school. He has already called his other family members about the terrible news.
Mallory: Baby, where were you?
Travis: .......
Mallory: So did you make up your mind?
Travis:(he looks at her with fury all over his face) YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS RIGHT NOW! MY GRANDMOTHER JUST DIED IN THAT HOUSE(students look at Travis and Mallory)….DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THIS HOUSE MEANT TO HER? SHE DAMN NEAR SPENT HER WHOLE LIFE TRYING TO GET IT AND NOW THAT SHE’S GONE YOU WANT ME TO JUST UP AND MOVE AWAY JUST SO I CAN BE WITH YOU?!
Mallory: I’m not saying you have to move away now, just sometime in the near fut-
Travis: WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP!?!?
Mallory: (scarily) I...I..I’m sorr-
Travis: (screaming) NO!(softly) Just no! I don’t want to hear an apology from you….All I want from you is for you to leave me the hell alone,because there's no way in hell I’ma move outta my ‘dead’ grandmother’s house just so I could be with you!
Mallory: I thought you wanted to be with me! I can't believe you would choose a stupid house over me!
Travis: You know what's stupid? The fact that I ever wanted to be with you. If I ever knew that you would be this selfish and rude, I wouldn’t even had any feelings for you!
Mallory: Ugh! (Angrily yells) GOOD BYE TRAVIS!
SCENE 4
The same day, in the evening.
Travis sits alone, in an empty house. He is standing by the telephone in his hands, debating on calling someone. After a while of thinking to himself, Travis finally picks it up and starts to dial a number.
RING RING RING
Beneatha: Asagai! Be quiet! ...Hello?
Travis:......
Beneatha: Hello?
Travis: (clears throat) Hi Beneatha. It’s Travis.
Beneatha: Oh, hello Travis. How are you doing? Are you alright?
Travis: I’m trying to stay positive.. well as the best I can. But something did happen the other day, before… before Mama… passed away.
There is silence on both ends of the call, until Travis explains about the dinner with Mr. Lindner and the conversation about Mallory.
Beneatha: Ooh, that terrible little girl! Who does she think she is? I should go and whoop her-
Travis: That’s not why I’m telling you this, Beneatha! I’m trying to say, I was thinking about this for a while, but I think it’s time for our family to be back together again. I think that’s what Mama would have wanted; for us to be a family again, instead of living far away from each other without even talking to each other. Mama bought this house for a reason. She wanted us to be a united, whole, strong family. But how can we be it if we ain’t all together no more?
Beneatha’s side of the call is very quiet, as she thinks about what she just listened to
Beneatha: Travis.. even though I would hate to move away from my life right now, I think you’re right. Mama gave us that house for a reason but we’ve been forgetting for a while now. We’re family but I think we’ve been forgetting that for a while. That’s a great idea Travis. I think we’ll move back to our family now. I’ve been missing all of you for a while too.
Travis: Thanks Beneatha, for understanding.
Beneatha: No, thank you Travis. You let me realize what is most important. Life isn’t just about living your own life, it’s about being and sharing with others, your family. Travis, I think you’ve become the man that your daddy was trying to be for so long. You’ve become the man that Mama would have wanted you to be. You know your priorities boy! You know what’s important! Thank you so much for growing up into such a man Travis, thank you…
Beneatha exhales a sigh filled with mixed emotions.
Beneatha: Well then! I guess we should start preparing to go back! And Travis, don’t worry about telling your parents either. I’ll tell them nicely. You don’t worry at all. Just stay strong and positive until we get there, all right? Hang on, Travis. Your family is coming to you!
Curtain close.
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