ABSTRACT
Molly Sweeney (41) has beenblind since shewas ten monthsold. She was 'an onlychild. Father ajudge. Motherin and outofinstitutions all herdayswith nervous trouble. Broughtup by various housekeepers. For some reason she had never been sent to a school for the blind. Said she didn't know why . . . She wasn't totallysightless: shecoulddistinguish between light and dark . . . But for all practicalpurposes she had no useful sight.' The authorgivesthis notefor theactor: 'Most peoplewith impaired vision look and behave like fully-sighted people. The only evidence oftheirdisabilityis usuallya certain vacancyin the eyes orthe way the head is held. Molly shouldindicate herdisability in some such subtleway. No canes, nogroping, nodarkglasses, etc.' There is noselfpity orsense ofresignation when shespeaks ofherdisability . Sheworks as a massage therapist at a localhealth cluband thiswas whereshemet Frank Sweeney, her husband of two years. They married only one month after first meetingeachother. Frank, who is unemployed and a dreamer, persuades her to visit an eye surgeon in the hope that he will restore her sight. She however is completely content with her life and finds greatjoy in her work and recreation (especially swimming). This speech opens the play.
