Version 1: 9/15/25 SM: Katie Galbreath
LIVING OUT
ACT ONE
Scene 1
I n the dark, on the main speakers, we hear an L.A. radio station, perhaps “Estrella,”
playing a Roc En Espanol song. As lights come up on Ana in her kitchen, the music comes
from a little radio there. Ana quickly fixes her hair, glances at her resume, and sticks it in
her purse. As she crosses to Santiago’s room, the lights go down in the kitchen and come
up there. She kisses her sleeping son goodbye, and the lights go down in his room, as she
leaves and heads for her interview. The music changes to transition music on the main
speakers, perhaps something percussive, as she crosses to Wallace’s living room on the
other side of town.
na rings the doorbell, and Wallace Breyer comes on to greet her. The couch is DSC. An
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ultramodern chair is DSL.
WALLACE. Zoila – ?
ANA.(Smiles; eager.)No – I’m Ana. Hernandez.
ALLACE. Well –(Surprised and pleased.)You must be – early! I’m Mrs. Breyer, come
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in.
ANA. Thank you.
WALLACE. Sit down –
ANA. Okay –(Ana starts to sit on the couch. Wallace points to the chair.)
ALLACE.(Smiles.)No, no, why don’t you sit there, Ana? So we can chat –(Ana sits,
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sliding back a bit in the ultramodern chair. Wallace takes the couch and takes out her palm
pilot.)Now, you were interested in living in or living out?
ANA. Living out.(Eager to get the job.)The agency told me –
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ALLACE. That’s all right. I’m seeing both. So. Tell me about yourself. Where are you
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from?
ANA. Do you know Huntington Park?
WALLACE. No, I meant, where are you –(Gestures.)from?
ANA. Oh. I was born in El Salvador.
ALLACE. Good God, everyone is from El Salvador these days!(Laughs.)What
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happened to all the Mexicans?
ANA. I – don’t know.
WALLACE.(Smiles.)No – of course not. Do you havea resume, Ana?
ANA. Yes. And here is references –(Wallace risesand Ana hands her the papers.)
ALLACE. Excellent.(Wallace remains standing andmotions that Ana may sit. Looking
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over the papers:)So. Let’s see. You drive … You swim… You know CPR … Excellent!
You world for the Meyers for three years … And the Reillys for four? May I ask why you
left those jobs?
NA. The children I took care of – they started school. So they didn’t need a nanny no
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more.
WALLACE. So there’s no problem with my calling for a reference?
ANA. Yes.
WALLACE. There’s a problem?
ANA. I mean – no! – if you call – is no problem.
ALLACE.(Smiles, a bit skeptical.)Alrightee … Well,I have a few questions, Ana, that I
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always like to ask …
ANA. Good.(Wallace reads questions from her palmpilot, a charming inquisitor.)
WALLACE. What do you do when the baby cries?
NA. I … go see what’s wrong. Maybe his diaper, maybe he’s hungry, maybe he just want
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me to pick him up –
WALLACE. So you would pick him up?
ANA. Yes, of course, I –
ALLACE. Every time he cried?(Ana hesitates, knowingthere’s a right and wrong answer
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here. Finally, she gives up and just says what she thinks.)
ANA. Yes.
ALLACE.(Inscrutable.)I see …(She makes a notein her palm and goes to the next
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question.)And what is your attitude towards discipline?
ANA. Depends –
WALLACE. On what?
ANA. How old is the child?
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WALLACE. Oh, say six.
ANA. Me – I like to talk to my child. I like to sit down and try to explain –
WALLACE. So you don’t use “time outs”?
ANA. Well, sometimes, it’s good to take the child to a more quiet place –
WALLACE. Like – ?
ANA. His room – or the family room maybe – or –
WALLACE. The garage?
ANA. No!
ALLACE. Do you believe in spanking, Ana?(Again, Ana has no idea what Wallace
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wants her to say. Finally, she just tells the truth.)
ANA. No. I don’t. I don’t spank.
ALLACE.(After a beat; thrilled.)Excellent! Why don’t I tell you just a little about what
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this job entails before we go on.(She sits, patting the couch, motioning for Ana to join her.
Ana does. Showing photos of her palm pilot:)I have a girl, Alex, who’s six, and a
thirteen-week-old boy, Jackson …(She calls up a few more pictures, laughing at the
images, then gets down to business.)So I would need you to come by eight.(Smiles.)Now,
I understand that different cultures have different concepts of time, so I want to be clear that
“by eight” … I mean “by eight o’clock.” Then you’d walk Alex to school, take Jackson
along with you – and on to the playground. Oh – by the way, I would prefer you speak to
the children solely in English.(Looks at Ana’s jeans.)And no Lycra, no jeans.
ANA. Okay.
ALLACE. Now, Jackson needs to be home by eleven for his nap, so that gives you time to
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fix his lunch and do a little light cleaning – just the kid’s rooms and the family room and the
kitchen … Before you go back for Alex. Now most days Alex has music or art class or
karate or ballet, so you’d just drop her off and pick her up … Then just keep them busy with
books or puzzles or an art project, and I’m usually home by five or six. How does that
sound?
NA.(Smiles.)Okay …(Beat.)But … you don't want to say a regular time – like maybe –
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I work till five?
WALLACE. No. I need someone who’s flexible.
ANA. Okay …(Beat.)Do you work near the house or – ?
ALLACE. I don’t work, Ana. But as I said, I need someone who’s flexible. Is that a
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problem?
ANA. No … Is just – I have to pick up my son at –(Wallace sighs.)
WALLACE. You have a young child?
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ANA. Yes – but he’s in the after-school program till six and –
ALLACE. I’m sorry Ana.(Exasperated.)I specifically told the agency not to send me
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anyone with a young child. I don’t know what’s wrong with those people!(She rises. Ana
rises as well.)Well, thank you for coming by.(Wallace exits. A doorbell rings, Linda runs
on, Ana turns – and we are in the next interview. Wallace’s chair disappears and Linda’s
comfy one appears downstage right, filled with toys. Linda’s a bit of a nervous wreck. She
has a baby in her arms.)
LINDA. Hi! I’m Linda! And this is Jackson!
ANA. Oh! He’s beautiful –
INDA. He’s almost asleep.(Laughs.)Finally!(Worried.)And the agency told you I also
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have twin boys?
ANA. Yes –
INDA. Well, sit down, Ana!(Ana waits for a clue as to where.)Oh just sit anywhere!
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Don’t mind the toys –(Dumps toys from chair to floor.)Just –(Points to couch.)Sit! Do
you have references?
ANA. Yes. Would you like me to hold him so you can –
INDA. Oh – would you?(Linda gives her the baby with some relief and shakes our her
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arm. Ana gives her the resume and references.)Would you like some water or something?
Juice?
ANA. Okay.(Linda goes off, reading the references. Ana coos to the baby.)
INDA. Well, this all looks great! Your last employer just loved you!(She returns with a
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kid’s juice box, opens it, and sticks the straw in, as she continues.)And you’re available to
start right away?
ANA. Yes.
INDA. Great. You see our last nanny left rather suddenly … Seems her mother needed an
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operation in Guatemala. You don’t have a mother in Guatemala do you?
ANA. I am from El Salvador.
INDA. Great!(She takes a sip of juice – then remembers and hands it to Ana.)We’ve had
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a couple of nannies from El Salvador, they were wonderful, such hard workers – they were
just like members of the family. And I’d love for you to speak Spanish to the twins. I think a
second language – in this city – it’s just well, it’s like a car really – it’s just great. My
husband speaks Farsi to the kids – he’s frmo Iran –(Laughs.)and, frankly, I don’t
understand a word he says –(Beat.)When he speaks Farsi, I mean. Gee, I’d love for you to
meet the boys. I mean – they’re the ones you really have to get along with.(Laughs.)Keep
up with, I should say. Have you worked with boys?
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ANA. Yes.
INDA. Then you know how … active they can be. Boys are – well, you know if you’ve
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worked with them, they’re … active.(Bit defensive.)That’s just how boys are.
ANA.(Laughs.)I know! That’s why they so much fun!
INDA.(Thrilled.)Right! Could you stick around for an hour or so? They’re back from the
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doctor at noon.
ANA. They sick?
LINDA.(Defensive.)No, no they’re fine!(Ana hesitates.)
ANA. Maybe I could come back tomorrow? I said I would be someplace at twelve.
LINDA. Can’t you make a call?
ANA. I’m sorry.(Beat; just admits it.)I have to pick up my son from soccer.
LINDA. Oh. You have children?
ANA. Just one in this country. My other son is in El Salvador.
LINDA.(Dying to make this work.)Well, can’t your husband pick up your child?
ANA. He’s working.
LINDA. You don’t have – a mother or something?
ANA. She’s in San Francisco.
LINDA.(Still trying.)How old is your child?
ANA. Six –
INDA. Ouch. You know what, Ana?(Distraught.)We had a nanny with a young child –
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she got sick all the time … I just can’t put myself through … I’m sorry, Ana. I need
someone who can make my kids a priority.(Feels awful and hugs Ana.)But thanks.(Linda
starts to leave. Ana gets up and starts to give back the baby.)Oh! Right!(Linda runs back
for the baby and exits. A doorbell rings, and Nancy enters with her baby.)
NANCY. Hi. I’m Nancy Robin.
ANA. Ana Hernandez.
NANCY.(Warmly.)Good to meet you. And this is Jenna. She just turned twelve weeks –
ANA. Oooh – she’s big! You just have the one child?
ANCY. Yes. She’s my first. So – I’ve never had a nanny before –(Laughs; bit awkward.)
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Well – obviously. Do you have kids?
NA. I have two boys.(Long beat.)But they are both in El Salvador.(They sit down to
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chat, as their husbands come on, and we move to the next scene.)
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Scene 2
na’s husband, Bobby, sits in the chair downstage right, reading the sports section ofLa
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Opinion.Nancy’s husband, Richard, reads the sports section of theTimeson the couch. The
scenes on the Eastside and the Westside are simultaneous, and at times overlap, but each
woman clearly speaks to her own husband.
ANA.(To Bobby.)Pues – tengo un trabajo! I got a job!
ANCY.(To Richard.)Well – I hired a nanny!(Richard and Bobby are not pleased, but
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cover.)
RICHARD. Great! BOBBY. Fantástico!
ANA. I only met the woman. She’s seems okay –
NANCY.(Positive.)She’s a little young maybe, but she seems fairly intelligent, sweet …
RICHARD. Well – great –
NANCY. I’ll put Jenna down and later we can take her to the park.
RICHARD. Okay –(Nancy exits. Richard thinks. Bobby tries to read the paper.)
ANA. Where’s Santiago?
BOBBY. Next door, playing.
NA. I promised to take him to the park to play soccer –(Ana changes her shoes and
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straightens up.)
OBBY. I already took him.(Laughs; kicks an imaginary ball.)You should see him –
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gonna be another Maradona!(Casually.)So how much you gonna make?
ANA. Four hundred. And it’s only eight hours!
BOBBY. Ten dollars an hour?(Feels awful, covers.)Great! Where?
ANA.(Hesitates.)Santa Monica.
OBBY.(Laughs.)Santa Monica? You gonna go all the way to the Westside, hour and a
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half to Santa Monica, and be back to get Santiago by six? What you gonna do, mama? Fly?
ANA.(Carefully.)Pues … Maybe I’m going to need you to pick him up sometimes –
BOBBY. Oh sí? So you could take care of somebody else’s kid instead of your own son?
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ANA. I got to go back to work, Bobby –
OBBY. Why you got to work, Ana? I work –(She nods.)Mira, I worked all last month!
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(She nods.)I work when there’s work, Ana. That’s construction. If the guy I work for got no
work, what you want me to do?
NA. Pues, maybe when you get your papers, I could get my papers – and get a different
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kind of job.
BOBBY. I told you the lawyer is working on it.
ANA. We just got to save the money for our papers.(Beat.)And the money to bring Tomás.
BOBBY. We’re going to bring him soon, baby. Can we eat something now?
NA. Pero – when?! This morning I called El Salvador and my grandmother said he went
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on a trip with his school –
BOBBY. Sí?
NA. He hit his head in the pool – my grandmother didn’t even call me! But I’m his
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mother, even if I can’t do nothing – I got to know!(Bobby goes and hugs her.)
OBBY. Okay, amor. No te preoccupes, we’re going to get your son.(Beat.)Can we eat
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something now?
NA. Sí.(Bobby goes to the kitchen table, and Ana starts to prepare something to eat.
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Nancy reenters with the baby’s laundry and stands folding it above the couch.)
ANCY. But, you know, I hate the term “nanny.” It sounds so British. Makes me feel so
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PBS.
RICHARD. Well, if you’re not comfortable …(He remains on the couch, helping her fold.)
ANCY. I heard someone in the park say “babysitter” – but that’s not really the truth is it, if
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it’s a full time job. I’ve heard “caregiver” too. That sounds warm but now, you know …
fuzzy. More like a regular job description.
RICHARD. No I meant – if you’re not comfortablehavinga – someone –
NANCY.(Lightly.)Well, I have to go back to work, don’t I?
RICHARD. Well, how do you define “have to”?
NANCY.(Laughs.)If I don’t go back I’ll get fired?
RICHARD. They can’t fire you, you’re an attorney, you’ll sue.
ANCY. Then I’ll be on the “The Mommy Track.” I won’t have a prayer in hell of making
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partner –(Laughs.)And then what have the last sixteen years of my life been for?
RICHARD. I know, sweetie. I understand.(Beat.)But you always
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RICHARD, CONT’D. say the job’s unrewarding –
NANCY. I never said it’s “unrewarding.” I said it’s unfulfilling.”
RICHARD. Oh. Sorry.
NANCY.(Smiles.)I mean – it may not be as important as the kind of law you practice –
RICHARD.(Lies.)Well, that’s not true –
NANCY. I mean, I may not be working for the “People” –
RICHARD. Well, people in Hollywood are – people …
ANCY. But I’m an attorney – it’s what I’m good at, it’s what I – do. We talked about all
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this when I got pregnant –
RICHARD. I know. I just thought we could take this time rightnowto enjoy –
NANCY. Besides, we’re going to need my salary with the new mortgage, honey.
RICHARD.(Bit tightly.)Uh-huh …
NANCY. And a good pre-school costs nine thousand a year …
RICHARD. Uh-huh …(Ana brings Bobby his food, and the two scenes start to overlap.)
BOBBY.Gracias, amor.You got a beet?(Ana gets Bobby a beer.)
NANCY. Unless you’d want to consider taking a job with a firm …
RICHARD.(Laughs.)Defending Halliburton? No thanks!
BOBBY.(To Ana.) Gorda,you got chips?(Ana gets the chips.)
ANCY. And, you know, honey, several of the studies I’ve read say it’s actually good for a
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child to see a mother do work she loves –
RICHARD. Well sure. Unless the stress is …
BOBBY.(To Ana.)Bring a little lemon too, baby, please?(Ana gets him some lemon.)
ANCY.(Laughs.)Well, that’s why we’re hiring a nanny!(Nancy sits next to Richard.
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Kisses him.)
OBBY.(To Ana.) Mira, mira,sit down a minute, mama, I ain’t gonna bite.(Bobby pulls
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Ana down next to him. Richard puts his arms around Nancy.)
ICHARD. Listen. I completely support whatever decision you make, Nance…(Bobby
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kisses Ana and bites her neck.)
ANA.Mentiroso!
ICHARD. I’m only questioning the timing.(A last attempt.)You’re still breast-feeding,
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honey …
ANCY. I’ll pump! They have pumps that look like a purse! And she had excellent
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references, Richard. Plus she has two kids of her own so she’s had experience!
RICHARD. Two kids? What if they get sick? How’s she going to take
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ICHARD, CONT’D. care of Jenna?(Nancy rises and starts to leave, passing Ana and
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Bobby.)
NANCY. They’re in El Salvador!(Ana and Bobby exit.)
ICHARD. Oh.(Richard follows Nancy off, as Wallace and Linda enter with baby
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carriages and move to the couch, which becomes the park bench.)
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