Water By The Spoonful

Scene Two introduces the online community at the core of the play. Characters are referred to by their online names. The online community is for people recovering from addiction to crack, and Haikumom (Elliot’s birth mother, Odessa) is the site administrator. Haikumom and Chutes&Ladders are delighted to see Orangutan log on, because they haven’t heard from her in three months. Orangutan has ninety-one days sober and has traveled to Japan to find her birth family, who gave her up for adoption. Chutes&Ladders tells a story about almost drowning in the ocean while high, which led to him entering recovery. Haikumom closes the scene by saying, “Chutes&Ladders, I’m buying you a pair of water wings” (16).

Elliot worksat Subway, and Yaz teaches her music students about Coltrane’s jazz. She tries to explain the concept of dissonance and musical freedom: “The ugliness bore no promise of a happy ending. The ugliness became an end in itself” (18). At Subway, a ghost appears in front of Elliot and repeats the same phrase Elliot had Professor Aman translate, Momken men-fadluck ted-dini gawaz saffari? In the midst of working, Elliot and Yaz both get texts that Mami Ginny, the aunt who raised Elliot, is in the hospital and on a breathing machine. Elliot’s dad texts Yaz that they are waiting for Elliot to get to the hospital before they terminate life support.

This scene goes back to the online chat room. A new user named Fountainhead logs on and types a very long story about his substance abuse problems and asks for the group to teach him techniques to stop using crack. Fountainhead calls addiction “a psychological battle” that he can fight with “two weapons: willpower and the experts” (24). Haikumom tries to welcome and encourage Fountainhead, but Chutes&Ladders and Orangutan are very wary. Orangutan thinks he is scamming them, and Chutes&Ladders thinks Fountainhead is too egotistical to admit he’s a crack addict just like the rest of them. Haikumom tries to enforce the rules of the online community. She censors cursing and purges a rant by Chutes&Ladders. At the end of the scene, Haikumom shuts down the thread and invites Fountainhead to email her directly. 

Elliot and Yaz are at the flower shop, trying to decide on an arrangement for Mami Ginny’s funeral. Elliot asks Yaz to give the sermon at the funeral. Yaz says she will do it if Elliot does her two favors: 1) call Yaz’s soon-to-be ex-husband and tell him not to come to the funeral and 2) go with Yaz to Puerto Rico to scatter Mami Ginny’s ashes. As Elliot and Yaz wait to talk to the florist, they talk about how many people in their family have died. They agree now that Mami Ginny is gone, the rest of their family may not keep in touch.

This scene takes place in the online chat room. Orangutan is upset and chats with Chutes&Ladders. Orangutan really wants to smoke crack, and Chutes&Ladders reminds her to be proud of her ninety-six days of sobriety. Orangutan asks Chutes&Ladders to come to Japan so they can hang out and be friends in real life. Chutes&Ladders tries to talk her out of it. Haikumom enters the conversation and admonishes Chutes&Ladders for refusing someone who simply wants to be his friend. Haikumom tells Chutes&Ladders that she is going to send him a care package. Fountainhead logs on to join the conversation. He has relapsed after three days of sobriety. Chutes&Ladders goads Fountainhead until Fountainhead admits he is a crackhead. Haikumom begs Fountainhead to be open with his wife about his addiction. Haikumom, Orangutan, and Chutes&Ladders share some of their favorite recovery slogans with Fountainhead.

At the same time, Elliot appears on stage punching a bag, with the ghost watching him. The ghost repeatedly asks the same question about his passport, in Arabic, Momken men-fadluck ted-dini gawaz saffari? Haikumom/Odessa discovers that her sister Ginny has died. Elliot keeps punching the bag, although it becomes obvious that his leg injury bothers him. The stage directions say, “The Ghost blows on Elliot, knocking him to the floor” (44). The scene, and the first act, closes with the Ghost asking once again, “Momken men-fadluck ted-dini gawaz saffari?” (44).