Daddy’s Money, Ethan Chen
Characters:
Charles, the eldest son of Sir Thomas Burlington, always tries to appear noble, moral, and just
Tony, the youngest son of Sir Thomas Burlington, has always lived underneath his brother’s shadow
Setting:
England, office of late Sir Thomas Burlington at Burlington Manor
The 1910s
Lights up on Charles at his father’s desk, reading the inheritance letter his father had written before his death. He is sipping a cup of tea. It’s sunny outside. Tony comes into the room, indignation written all over his face. He stands at the doorway for a moment, waiting for his brother to acknowledge him. Tony clears his throat.
Charles: Yes?
Tony: You done reading that?
Charles: No.
Tony: It doesn’t take days to read a stupid little letter.
Charles doesn’t respond. He is leaning back in the chair, holding the letter up while taking another sip of his tea.
Tony: I know you’re trying to hide something. I can see it written all over your face.
Charles: I’m not hiding anything. I’m simply reading the letter over and over again because I miss father’s handwriting.
Tony: Bullshit.
Tony walks over and tries to take the letter from Charles, but he snatches it away before Tony can grab it. Charles stands from his seat.
Charles: You’re not ready for this letter.
Tony: Not ready? Says who, you? Does that letter say, “Charles gets to tell his little brother, Tony, what to do?” You do not get to tell me whether or not I’m ready to read a letter. Give it to me.
Charles (with an air of superiority): No. This letter is very clear in saying that I alone can read it.
Tony: Oh sure it does! Only the golden boy can read the letter! Who could have possibly expected that?
Charles: I am respecting Father’s wishes.
Tony: That’s always your excuse, innit? “I’m doing this because father said so” or “I’m doing that because father said so.” You always followed him around like he was the Messiah. You know, if I hadn’t known better, I might think that you are nothing more than his mutt!
Charles slaps Tony. There is a long moment of silence as the brother’s glare at one another. Tony is slightly hunched over, hand on his face, and Charles is standing straight, his hand still up.
Charles: An obedient dog is better than a nothing-more-than-a-disappointment child. He expected so much from you, especially because of your academic and athletic prowess. You could’ve had everything. Then, you idiotically chose to run away with a… (distastefully)girl… and abandon everything here. You abandoned your name, your future, and your family! And then you only return after you find out Father has died, hoping you get a cut of his inheritance.
Tony: That’s not true!
Charles: Either way, who do you think Father would choose to give his inheritance to? The son who’s made a name for himself after taking the reins of his father’s company, or the son who abandoned his family for a woman who could never provide anything useful?
Tony (hurt and his breathing heavier): You always did think that you were better than me. The valiant Charles, always by Father’s side and doing whatever he wanted like a pet. He always only ever championed you as a son.
Charles: I am better than you. He championed me because I lived up to his expectations and his image for me. Because of that, I am successful and continue to bring honor to our family name.
Tony (exasperated): Oh, what? I’m unsuccessful because I didn’t live up to his expectations?
Charles: Exactly.
Tony (scoffing): You’re wrong about why I came back.
Charles: Oh, am I?
Tony: Yes. I returned back to the manor to see you. To see you, Mother, and our sister, Sabrina. I knew how much he meant to you all. I came back because I thought you lot would need the support and comfort.
Charles: Well, obviously we don’t. We don’t need your support now. We have our friends and other family for that. We did need you when Father had got sick. When he fell ill, it felt like the whole family was coming apart. Where were you when this was happening? Nowhere to be seen. You didn’t send a single fucking letter. (with sudden emotion) Goddammit, Tony, we needed you!
There was a brief pause. Charles turned away from Tony, to face the window overlooking the manor’s massive flower garden. Tony stood still where he was. He looked solemnly at a portrait of their family hung on the wall.
Charles (softly): I needed you.
Tony: I’m still here for you, brother. I know that we haven’t been the same since we were kids. But, we can be that close again. Just, please let me see that letter.
There was another long pause before Charles gave Tony the letter. Tony reads the letter, a look of devastation appearing on his face. When he’s done, he collapses onto a chair, drops the letter, and puts his head in his hands.
Charles: I’m sorry, Tony.
Tony (heartbroken): If I was truly ever your brother and you love me, you won’t do this. Please.
Charles: You shouldn’t have left. Not for a woman like Ada.
Charles leaves the room, leaving Tony to his own thoughts. After a few moments, Tony picks up the letter and reads it out loud, hoping that the words that he says are different than the words he’s seeing with his eyes.
Tony: “I, Sir Thomas Burlington, under my own honest discretion, give all property, except for Burlington Manor, and financial assets to my eldest son, Charles Canbury Burlington. Burlington Manor is to be given to my wife, Adessa Sinclair-Burlington. My youngest son, Anthony West Burlington is to be wiped from the family genealogy and all records of his birth erased.”