Candy Apples ~ 3 Acts ~ Cast: 5 (4F / 1M)
Synopsis
Brenda Apple was forced to retired after 32 years of teaching to care for her ill mother, Lucy.
After an episode of Lucy wandering out of the house and getting lost, Brenda’s two sisters return to the family residence from their out-of-state homes. Lynn Apple-Taylor, vivacious, sarcastic and self-centered, is married to a successful Boca Raton, FL plastic surgeon. Jessie Apple is a psychiatric nurse in New York.
After a family dinner, liquor and a free flow of feelings, Lynn reveals her perfect family is a sham. Her successful husband has been having an affair with his physician’s assistant; her son – driven from their home – has not communicated with them in years. Jessie’s life has also been far from perfect: Her long term, 12-year relationship ended abruptly when she found out that her boyfriend, Fred, was seeing someone else…Dan.
Lynn, having consumed too much liquor, is carried to bed by her sisters.
Jessie confides to Brenda that she has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and treatments have already started. A visibly shaken Brenda does what she does when she does not want to confront a shattering issue, she begins to clean up and returns to the kitchen. Jessie follows her and continues the conversation.
While they are in the kitchen, their mother leaves the house. A frantic area wide search begins.
Lynn and Jessie enter and discuss the funeral. We all assume that Lucy has died…perhaps as a result of her late-night jaunt. Instead, an accident takes the life of Brenda.
The sisters come across Brenda’s will making provisions for their mother in the event something happens to her and she is no longer able to be her mom’s caregiver. They realize the depth of Brenda’s love for their mother and for them.
The Apple family is rebuilding their family unity. Jessie and Lynn become Lucy’s caregivers. When Lynn has had enough, however, she abruptly states that she has matters to deal with in Florida. So, she leaves. Jessie remains, never having told Lynn about her own illness.
Lynn tumultuously returns and finds a dying Jessie who has put her own health issues aside to care for Lucy.
Lynn’s only hope for a meaningful life – like Brenda and Jessie – is remaining at the Apple residence caring for Lucy. Maybe she stays, maybe she doesn’t.
Read Excerpt ~ Available on Kindle.
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