Dave Malloy
Grendel & Mother
[ENSEMBLE]
Dee, (p)in, The bog fens...
A mother and son congregate...
A community tight...
Only two...

[DAVE MALLOY]
Three, four!

[GRENDEL]
Mam, I love you.

[GRENDEL'S MOTHER]
And son, I love you too.

[GRENDEL]
And Mam, I need you,
When I carry to bleed it through!
I really, really need you.

[GRENDEL'S MOTHER]
I know.

[GRENDEL]
I really, really need you.
[GRENDEL'S MOTHER]
I know, I know.

[GRENDEL, GRENDEL'S MOTHER]
I don't know what without I would do

[GRENDEL'S MOTHER]
I know, son,
But now be careful when carving up that man-meat!
When snipping that knife-ful from calf down to man-feet!
That last batch was fouled
By spleen and split bowel.
The urine and feces surely spoil any meat.
Even human!

[GRENDEL]
Aw, shit. You're right.
You teach me right.
But I said I was sorry,
And remember, dear Momma.
It's me that puts food on your table
Ever since I left rocking cradle.
So I am sorry but sometimes I get confused with knife.
See, I use my bare hand when I take away life.

[GRENDEL'S MOTHER]
Okay. Alright.
You'll get it eventually, son.
And I'm sorry to criticize what you have done.
It's a motherly instinct,
I just need to help.
I love you so much,
My little dragon-whelp!
But I must say - And it's a motherly warning:
Be careful when murdering
From midnight 'till morning.
There's a darkness out there
And I sense a bad air
Sweeping down
From the mountain,
And onto this
Our watery lair-
So just be careful, son.
And don't tempt fate.
Don't let me say, "I told you so,"
When the hour's too late.
[GRENDEL]
Mam, I love you!

[GRENDEL'S MOTHER]
And son I love you too!

[GRENDEL]
And Mam, I need you!

[GRENDEL'S MOTHER]
And son, I need you too!

[GRENDEL, GRENDEL'S MOTHER]
I don't know what without you I would do!