Monologue from the original script Lullaby in development by Kristin W. Untiedt-Barnett

1. Lullaby
A Monologue
By
Kristin W. Untiedt-Barnett
Characters:
Anna Beth Pruitt
Anna Beth is a 17 year old girl raised in a rural community in the American South. Her family
lives in the farm where her father works as a hand. She and her brothers were homeschooled by
their mother. Anna Beth was taught to live a very conservative lifestyle and religion has played
a tremendous role in the way her mother raised her. When she was 13 Anna started working on
the farm with her father and two older brothers. She is a hard worker who will do anything to
get her parents’ approval. She has dreams of moving away to a city, but her mother and father
strongly disapprove. For the past 6 months Anna Beth’s mother has kept her from going to the
farm to work and has secluded her in the house. She didn’t want Anna to be seen in public while
she was noticeably pregnant because it would have brought shame on their family. Anna Beth
has spent that time reading and contemplating her future. She still dreams of leaving home, but
knows that her future has become more precarious.
(SCENE: A small bathroom in Anna Beth’s home
TIME: 1930’s
AT RISE: ANNA BETH is rocking a baby that is
wrapped in a towel having just been in the bathtub.)
ANNA BETH
(Singing) Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, from the hills, from the sky. All is well,
safely rest, God is nigh. Hush now, sweet baby. No more tears little one. No more. (Wraps
towel more tightly) There, there, now. The towel will keep you warm after your bath. Momma
will take care of you and everything will be alright. (Holds the baby close up to her and rocks it
and hums while she moves around the room cleaning from the bath. Picks up a cologne bottle
and smells.) Mmmm…sweet like a rose, like you little one. And Momma’s favorite. I’m sure
she won’t miss just a little drop or two. (Opens the bottle and dabs cologne on her neck.) What
about you? Would you like some, too? Smell sweet like Momma? Just a little drop. (Softly
rubs a drop of cologne on the baby’s forehead) So soft…so soft. Soft and sweet like a baby
should be. (Leans in to smell baby’s forehead) Mmmm...you smell sweeter than ever, now.
Close those eyes…those eyes, like two dark almonds staring up to heaven. Close them now, no
more tears little one. No more tears. (Tears well up in her eyes) Momma loves you.
Everything will be alright. (Convincing herself) Yes…it will be alright. It will… Cast your
burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you...he shall sustain you. Lord, I cast my burden upon
You. Momma told me to cast my burden. She told me that You would sustain me. She said I
must…I must. I trust in her and I trust in You. Take my burden away. Let it be washed from
me. Oh, Lord. Make me clean again. Clean…(Looks to baby) Wash us all clean. (Rocks baby
and hums. Caresses baby) Baby your hands are cold. Stay tight in the towel. Stay warm. Just

2. close your eyes. No more tears little one. Momma will take care of you. (Calls out) Momma?
(Whispers) Lord, I cast my burden on You. (Singing) Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake,
from the hills, from the sky. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh…