Roots In Water
by Richard Nelson

This collection includes 12 thematically related short plays: 1976, FLYER; 1977, BRIEFING; 1978, SQUASH; 1979, WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION; 1980, THE ENVIRONMENT; 1981, THE FREEZE MOVEMENT; 1982, CIVIL RIGHTS; 1983, BUYING A HOUSE; 1984, THE LAST CIGARETTE OR THEY HAVE PROBLEMS IN CENTRAL AMERICA; 1984, U.S.A. U.S.A. U.S.A.; 1986, "THE CHERRY ORCHARD"; 1988, THANKSGIVING.

1976, FLYER: A man shares his duties in the transportation and delivery of food aid.

1977, BRIEFING: A United States congressman visits Thailand and prepares a report on the human tragedy he's witnessed in the provinces.

1978, SQUASH: A married couple reflect on their opposition to the war in Vietnam.

1979, WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION: A man laments the seeming indifference of the next generation to the causes for which his generation fought.

1980, THE ENVIRONMENT: An environmentalist group learns that in order to prosper they must compromise their principles.

1981, THE FREEZE MOVEMENT: A couple begins to consider the future of their five-month-old child.

1982, CIVIL RIGHTS: A man talks to his son about the work he and his mother did in Harlem when they were younger.

1983, BUYING A HOUSE: A woman expresses her dissatisfaction with what has become an ordinary life to her close friend.

1984, THE LAST CIGARETTE OR THEY HAVE PROBLEMS IN CENTRAL AMERICA: A group of friends decide to give up smoking, an act tied to pivotal moments in their lives.

1984, U.S.A. U.S.A. U.S.A.: A couple debate the significance of their son's T-shirt, which is imprinted with the letters "U.S.A."

1986, "THE CHERRY ORCHARD": Siblings divide the estate of their deceased mother and consider whether a malpractice lawsuit against the doctor who administered her physical is warranted.

1988, THANKSGIVING: Marriages and relationships splinter among a group of longstanding friends.