The Marbles in Our Heads Ally Charleston [email protected] (508)577-8773 2 ACT I I.1 The Therapist's Room There is a couch facing the audience on stage right, placed in the center. As the lights come up, there is a single light on the couch, illuminating stage right, leaving stage left in the dark. There is a sound of a door opening, and a girl walks from off stage right in front of the couch. As she makes her way to the couch, slowly, she appears confident. As she begins to sit down in the center of the couch, she speaks. ALICE Ooh, leather. She rubs the couch. I guess the judge decided I was worthy of the best therapist that government dollars can buy. (She says sarcastically, speaking out to the audience) JANE (a voice from a person unseen to the audience, seemingly coming from the center of the theatre) Make yourself comfortable. ALICE Oh, I intend to. JANE Let me start this off by introducing myself a bit so we can get to know each other. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 3 ALICE Isn't this supposed to be about me? JANE (She laughs) Yes, of course, but our conversations will go much smoother if you get to know me, too. You know, so you're not just talking to some stranger. ALICE But that's exactly what I'm doing. JANE If you give me a chance to talk then we can fix that. Sound good? Jane has a calming tone. Even when it appears she is being short with Alice, she keeps a level of professionalism. ALICE Fine. Alice crosses her arms, leans back, and crosses one leg over the other. This position must come across cold and resistant. JANE Thank you. My name is Jane Aker, like I'm sure they told you before coming here. I graduated from the University of Michigan, majoring in Psychology. Then I stayed there and got my PhD. ALICE How'd you end up in Minneapolis, then? Alice's tone is not necessarily one of question, but it's more of a statement. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 4 JANE I met someone. Fell in love. We got married a couple years ago and then moved here. He grew up in Minneapolis. ALICE Wow, I didn't peg you for the marrying type. JANE Why not? (She laughs) ALICE Most of the therapists I've met are single, old, and they all have forehead wrinkles from asking questions so much. JANE Well, sorry to disappoint. Alice scoffs as she uncrosses her legs, seemingly becoming more comfortable. Her arms remain crossed. So, you've seen a therapist before? ALICE Oh, yeah, loads of them. But, I shouldn't have to tell you that. I'm sure everything you wanna know about me is in that file on your desk. JANE I didn't read it. ALICE (Looking surprised, then confrontational) Well, I don't feel like recounting my entire life so how about you do your job and read it so we can skip ahead to when you analyze me and tell me how I'm living my life wrong. Okay? Sound good? JANE How was your week? (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 5 ALICE My week? JANE Yeah, your week. ALICE Average. JANE Nice use of descriptive adjectives. I really feel like I know you, Alice. ALICE Funny. JANE Getting better. ALICE How about you read that file now and I can sit here and wait. JANE If that's what you want. ALICE Sure. JANE Alice Barker. Seventeen. Born July 14th, 1984 to Kathleen and Evan. This is the second time Alice has been ordered to see a therapist, but the third time she has sought therapy. The first was when she was eight years old. She had been admitted to Abbott Northwestern Hospital on the night of August 18th, 1992 after police were called to the Barker home by Kathleen Barker. Upon being admitted, the medical team at Abbott Northwestern concluded it to be a case of domestic violence and child abuse. Evan Barker was arrested, and Kathleen and Alice were moved to a shelter. Alice was offered professional help for two years while living there. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 6 ALICE "Professional", keep in mind, is a subjective term. JANE Okay. Moving on. At the age of 14, Alice was taken into police custody on the morning of September 24th, 1998. She had assaulted a teacher and under the discretion of the principal at the time, Henry Hobgood, the case was handed over to the police for investigation. Due to Alice's past history of abuse, it was required that she attend therapy for at least 6 months to clear the charge, along with 6 weeks of community service. ALICE I can explain that. Turns out "assault" is also a subjective term. JANE On the night of December 17th, 2001, Alice was admitted to Abbott Northwestern after she was found in Lakewood Cemetery by police personnel. She was ordered to seek out therapy by police in lieu of possible charges that could have been pressed against her. The next day, at around 4:00 pm, she was found passed out in her home. After examination, it was ruled an attempted suicide. Beat. Well this is remarkably unhelpful. ALICE What? JANE So you're a traumatized kid. Easy. But, I figured that out the second you walked in the door. ALICE Bullshit. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 7 JANE The cocky attitude, the "I don't give a shit" demeanor, the thick file... You couldn't be more stereotypical if you tried. ALICE Is this supposed to be therapy? JANE I'll get there. ALICE You know I just tried to kill myself, right? I feel like this is not what you're supposed to say to someone who just tried killing themselves. JANE You weren't trying to kill yourself. ALICE Are you for real? JANE Yes. I am. ALICE I downed two containers of pills. JANE You're still here, though. ALICE Yeah, not for lack of trying! JANE That's what I'm saying, though. You didn't try. ALICE This is bullshit! I'm not going to sit here and listen to you summarize my entire life into a neat little box that you can check off. You don't know anything and this is another waste of my time. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 8 JANE Why'd you do it in the afternoon? ALICE Excuse me? JANE Why do it in the afternoon? Beat. I'm assuming your mom works, right? Single mom, struggling to make ends meet. She has to have a day job. So, why not do it in the morning when she leaves for work? ALICE Thanks for the tip, I'll try that next time. JANE But seriously. Why wait until the afternoon when you know your mom is coming home? If you had done it in the morning, it would have been hours before she found you to bring you to the hospital. You'd be in the ground right now. ALICE Morbid much? JANE Funny coming from someone who just tried to kill herself. ALICE I thought you said I wasn't trying to kill myself? JANE Good point. She pauses. Now, I want to talk about your family. ALICE That was predictable. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 9 JANE Thank you, I try. Short beat. We are going to do an activity of sorts. ALICE Exciting. JANE I want you to close your eyes. I'm going to ask you to think of a memory from your childhood, I will give you a couple of minutes to think of one, and then you're going to tell it to me as if you were telling it to one of your friends. Who's your best friend? ALICE Fiona. JANE Okay, that was easy. I figured you didn't have any friends. Alice scoffs and relaxes more. Jane laughs. I'm kidding. But, let's try it. ALICE Sure. JANE Close your eyes. Alice closes her eyes. I want you to remember your least favorite Christmas. Think of why it was your least favorite. Think of who was there, what gifts you got, what the tree looked like. I can give you a couple-- ALICE Got it. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 10 JANE Okay, then. Tell it to me. Or, to Fiona rather. ALICE Okay. The light on stage right turns off, and a blue light illuminates stage left. There is a Christmas tree, presents underneath, a rug, and a rocking chair. Alice and the couch remain on stage, but can barely be seen without the spotlight. A little girl enters stage left, running to the presents under the tree in pajamas. A man follows her with a camcorder onto stage from stage left, and so does a woman. The woman is wearing a bathrobe, the man in flannel pajamas and moccasins. They stand next to the tree as the little girl stares in awe at all of the presents. The man continues to film her. YOUNG ALICE There are so many! EVAN Looks like someone was good this year. YOUNG ALICE Are these all for me? EVAN Every single one! KATHLEEN I'm going to go make some coffee. (CONTINUED) CONTINUED: 11 Kathleen exits stage left, remaining expressionless. Evan continues to film young Alice but turns to talk to Kathleen as she exits. EVAN Okay, but hurry back so you can watch Alice open them. And make me some coffee, too. YOUNG ALICE Can I open them now? EVAN Go for it! They freeze as Alice is reaching for a gift, the blue light turns off.