Cast of
Characters
Janey: A patient in a mental ward
Dr. Reid: The
doctor who tries to help her
Nurse: Assists
Dr. Reid
Place and Time
A
mental ward. Good
Friday to Easter Sunday in the present.
Scene 1
(Lights
black. A door opens R. The stream of
light from the doorway floods the stage and falls
across a young woman, JANEY, on her knees C,
hunched over. The
light bothers her. Two shadows
from the doorway loom over JANEY. The first
figure, DR. REID, speaks:)
REID
(Only a
shadow)
When did she arrive?
NURSE
(Also a
shadow)
A few hours ago.
REID
She looks like she's barely alive.
NURSE
She refused to eat anything when she first came. I did get her to eat some bread and drink a
little water though.
REID
Thank you, Nurse, that will be all for now. I'll update you later after I talk to her.
(Crosses
to Janey - REID's shadow
grows as she
enters the stage)
Hello, Janey. I'm Dr. Reid.
(No
response)
We'll be working together from now on.
(Looks
around)
What we need are some lights so we can see.
JANEY
(Meekly)
Please, no lights -
REID
Okay.
(Pause)
How are you feeling?
(JANEY
glares)
I see you're not too good today.
(JANEY
looks away)
Do you feel like doing any talking?
(JANEY
shakes her head no)
I hear you're not eating well. Can you tell me why?
JANEY
(Pause)
Bread and water suit me - I want nothing else.
REID
I can have the nurse bring something by...
JANEY
(Angrily)
I don't want anything - and I don't want to talk anymore
- can I please be by myself?
REID
I'm sorry. I
didn't mean to pry.
JANEY
That's all they've done here - poke, prop, and pry - I've
never felt so violated before - I just want to be left alone -
REID
We can try.
JANEY
(Softly)
Thank you -
REID
(Starts to leave.
Stops)
Can I give you some light?
JANEY
(Long
pause)
If you have to -
REID
(Smiles. Goes to
pantomimed window DC and opens
the curtains - light comes through - the wood that
holds the glass in place falls across JANEY)
You can see the garden from here. The flowers are in bloom just in time for
Easter Sunday.
(Turns)
I guess it's time to say good-night.
(Looks
at JANEY a moment)
If you need anything this evening my office is right
across the way.
(JANEY
is silent)
Sleep well, Janey.
(REID
starts to go, stops)
I'll be here tomorrow if you want to talk to me.
(REID
wants to say more, but decides she
shouldn't. She exits
and closes door R. Only the
light from the garden window shines in on a
motionless JANEY. The
lights slowly fade -
darkness)
Scene 2
(Lights
come up on JANEY sitting, looking out
window. REID enters -
closes door. JANEY looks
down and away)
REID
It's a beautiful day today.
(Goes to
JANEY)
Would you like to go outside?
(JANEY
shakes her head no)
Could I at least open the window and let fresh air
in? The rooms get stuffy on warm days.
(JANEY
nods. REID goes to window - opens it)
There, it feels better already. I wish the windows opened wider.
(Goes to
JANEY)
Then you could really feel the breeze come in.
JANEY
This is fine -
REID
It's Saturday. We
have a lot of fun activities planned.
Would you like to join us?
JANEY
No - I don't want to -
REID
You might enjoy meeting some new people. For most patients it's a must.
JANEY
I said no -
REID
I'm sorry, Janey. I'm just being friendly. I didn't mean to pressure you.
JANEY
I know -
REID
Would you like to come to lunch?
JANEY
(Pause)
I want to be alone - I don't like being around lots of
people -
REID
We're a pretty harmless bunch.
JANEY
I get upset when I'm in a room that's full -
(Pause. Looks at
REID, afraid)
I get really scared - I almost feel like I can't breathe
-
REID
The cafeteria is quite big. There aren't usually that many people in
there at one time.
JANEY
I just need to be alone, Dr. Reid -
REID
You can't be alone forever. With me you'll be fine.
JANEY
(Angry)
I can't be fine with anyone - you don't really care -
you're simply doing your job - once I'm "better" you'll be though
with me - then it's on to another patient - you're just like anyone else -
REID
That's not true.
JANEY
(Almost
shouting)
I know it is - you probably haven't cared about any
patient in years - that would be unprofessional - and a burden you don't need
for yourself -
REID
You know that isn't something I would do.
JANEY
Please, just go - I know what I need better than you -
REID
I don't know about that.
JANEY
You're not God, you know - you don't have the powers to
cure everything - I know what you can and can't do -.
REID
Janey, please calm down. Let's remember where we are at.
JANEY
Go on - get out now!
REID
Please, you need to relax.
JANEY
How can I will you in here bothering me all the
time? If there's another way, I'd like
to know how -
(Pause. Turns away)
Or is there anything else you wish to pry out of me?
REID
I think we have both had enough for the time being.
(Starts to go. Stops)
The garden will be free this afternoon if you want to
take a look. We're going on a short
fieldtrip...just a little countryside sight-seeing.
(Pause. JANEY looks
away is silence. REID exits
and after a moment lights fade to black)
Scene 3
(Lights
come up on a garden. JANEY is weeding
the
flower bed)
REID
(Enters)
Hello, Janey.
JANEY
(Startled,
unsure)
I thought you were leaving -
REID
I stayed behind. I
thought someone around here might need me.
(JANEY
returns to weeding nervously)
What are you doing?
JANEY
Killing weeds -
REID
Killing?
JANEY
Cultivate beauty by killing the ugly - it's an odd
practice - I do it now to know I won't do it again - in reality its weeds on
which the soil feeds -
(Stops)
But few people find the truth as fulfilling -
REID
Do you like weeds?
JANEY
Sometimes - If only you had planted something more useful
- beans, or tomatoes, then the sacrifice might be worthwhile - but flowers,
they're more difficult to justify -
REID
Don't you think they satisfy any needs?
JANEY
Frail beauty - that's all they are - cultivated for
weakness - and has very little nutritional value - in the end they never can
satisfy -
REID
Many would disagree.
I believe their beauty is food for the soul.
JANEY
Frail and weak - a light frost would snap its neck -
(JANEY
breaks the head off a flower)
REID
Janey, please, don't hurt them. We have so few flowers here.
JANEY
And so easily smitten by one little insect -
(JANEY
holds up broken bud to a weed)
They choice is so easy - yet it's not -
REID
What do you mean?
JANEY
I suppose most people don't give it much thought -
(Looks
up at sky)
I know a story of a man who had a plant which most called
a useless weed - it turned out the weed was a cure for cancer - but the weed
was nearly extinct so no one got the cure - do you believe in such a thing?
REID
I don't know. I
suppose it's possible.
JANEY
But do you believe?
(Pause)
Oh, never mind - I guess to you most beliefs are only
fables -
(Throws
both plants down - upset)
REID
I didn't mean to upset you. If you want, I can leave.
JANEY
No one really cares, do they -
REID
Of course we do...
JANEY
They pay you to care - everywhere it's the same way -
REID
I wouldn't have taken this job if I didn't want to help
people. And I wouldn't be here if I
didn't want to help you.
JANEY
Do you think you can help me?
REID
Only if you want me to.
(Pause)
Do you want my help, Janey?
JANEY
People should only fix what's broken -
REID
(Pause)
Why did you lock yourself in your house? If someone hadn't found you, you might have
died.
JANEY
(Pause)
I had to -
REID
Why?
JANEY
I - I needed to - I had no choice - I had to get away - I
couldn't live like others anymore -
REID
Why not?
JANEY
(Angry)
What do you want to know all this for?
REID
I'm sorry, Janey. We haven't been able to talk a lot.
(Pause)
But I think it's time we did.
(Pause)
Did you lock yourself in the house because of your
parents dying?
JANEY
(Furious)
I said I don't want to talk anymore! Leave me alone! I don't have to tell you anything! I'm not a little kid.
(Bends
over and buries her face in her hands)
REID
(Concerned)
Are you crying?
JANEY
(Face
still hidden)
No -
REID
You can't keep this inside you. You need to get it out in the open.
JANEY
There's so much you don't know -
REID
Please, Janey, talk to me. You'll be glad you did in the end.
JANEY
I just need to be alone -
REID
Okay, Janey, we'll talk later.
(Pause. Lingers. Leaves. JANEY remains
hunched
over and upset.
Lights fade to black)
Scene 4
(Lights
come up on JANEY in the garden sleeping.
It's
evening)
REID
(Enters
with NURSE)
How did she get out here?
NURSE
I don't know. Someone
may have left the door on her room unlocked.
I wasn't on duty.
REID
That's fine. No
harm done. How long ago did you find
her?
NURSE
Not long ago. I
just come on duty and realized she wasn't in her room. I found her pretty quickly once I realized she
wasn't where she was supposed to be.
REID
Thank you. That's all for now.
I'll let you know if there's anything else you can do.
(NURSE
exits. REID looks a JANEY a moment then
goes to her)
Janey?
JANEY
(Still
down - eyes closed)
Mother? Mother is that you?
REID
It's Dr. Reid, Janey. Wake up.
I want you to come with me.
(Touches
her)
JANEY
(Sits up
quickly - startled)
Mother!
(Breathing
hard - sees REID - moves away)
Get away -
REID
Are you okay? We
were worried about you? We didn't know
where you were?
JANEY
I don't like my room - this is where I want to stay -
(Looks
at REID)
You were worried?
Why?
REID
We thought maybe we lost you.
JANEY
Too many locked doors for that - if only I could fly -
(She
looks up at the night sky)
REID
I think the Earth is the best place for you to do things
you need to.
JANEY
No, I'm leaving all the Earthly matters to you - I belong
near a different sun -
(Points
to a star)
I wish I were that star over there.
REID
Which one?
JANEY
The little one next to Orion - that way I'd never be
lonely -
REID
Space would seem awfully lonely to me. I don't think it would be much fun.
JANEY
But it's so free - no one can touch you or hurt you - you
can simply shine -
REID
You can shine here too you know -
JANEY
People don't like it when you shine - that's why stars
are up there and not down here - humans think brightness is offensive -
(Pause -
looks and smiles at the stars)
My mother is a star now -
REID
Maybe -
JANEY
She always seemed like one to me - but stars don't like
it very well where they can't be stars anymore -
(Pause -
grows sad)
REID
Is something wrong, Janey?
JANEY
I want to be a star... stars having meaning... stars I
understand -
REID
I image we all would like to be stars sometimes, but we
know we can't. Our only life is on this
Earth. There's no where else we can go.
JANEY
Do you believe in an afterlife?
REID
(Pause)
Yes, I think so.
JANEY
Like heaven and angels and pearly gates - free of all
Earthly strife -
REID
Maybe.
JANEY
I think it's a lot less defined than that - I think maybe
we all end up a part of greater whole - a tiny molecule in a bigger being or a
little star in a vast universe - we'll return to where we came from - whether
it's God, the Great Spirit, or something else - but I know that's where we will
be -
REID
Faith can be very comforting.
JANEY
Everything around me seems to point to the same
conclusion - "ashes to ashes - dust to dust" - where we begin is
where we end - the Earth gives us life through what we eat and we give her life
when we die - the source is the finish - rain that feeds the river comes from
the sea - to each beginning there is a definable end -
REID
I'm speechless - you've been holding back.
JANEY
There's usually no one to listen - at least no one who's
willing to bend -
REID
Does someone have to change their ways to listen?
JANEY
What's the use of talking if it doesn't do anyone any
good?
REID
When you talk to someone, some change doesn't always have
to happen -
JANEY
But I would do something if I could -
REID
It doesn't always work that way -
JANEY
Then why did you become a doctor?
REID
(Long
pause)
I haven't thought about why in a long time.
(Looks
at JANEY)
When I started I knew how difficult it would be.
(Slight
pause)
But I wanted to help people. I wanted things to be better for people.
JANEY
That's good, Dr. Reid.
It;s good to remember why.
(They
look at each other in silence - the lights
fade to black)
Scene 5
(Lights
come up on REID in garden alone. NURSE
enters)
NURSE
I'm sorry, Dr. Reid.
We can't find Janey anywhere.
REID
No one saw her?
NURSE
I asked everyone on the staff. And we've searched everywhere.
REID
We've never had anyone escape from here.
NURSE
I was on duty in her hallway all night. There's no way...
REID
She's gone.
They're had to be a way. People
don't just disappear.
NURSE
I'm sorry, Dr. Reid.
We've been looking into every possibility.
REID
Then check the impossible. I want this place torn apart. She may be hiding somewhere.
NURSE
Yes, Dr. Reid.
(NURSE
exits)
REID
(Wind
blows. She shivers)
Such a cold Easter day.
(Pause)
Janey - wherever you are - I
pray that you succeed -
(Looks
to sky)
I realize sometimes we need do things our own way -
(Pause)
At times I think we all feel like Sisyphus - forever
pushing our rocks up that mountain - only to have roll back down again -
(Slight
pause)
But once in awhile we meet someone who may be strong
enough to reach the top and push their rock over - and have the courage to win
-
(Lights
fade to black)
END OF PLAY
These scripts may be used for FREE but PLEASE do NOT repost the TEXT of any script online in any way. Students, actors, teachers and student may use the scripts for acting or classroom activities and even videos, but do NOT repost them on the internet. Please link to the scripts on the website. We love that! But these scripts are published and protected by copyright (c) 2001-2021 so do not upload the entire text of a script. Thank you!
Free MONOLOGUES for 1 Actor
Free Monologues for one TEEN Actor
Free SHORT Stage Play Scripts and SKITS
Free FUNNY Short Stage Play Scripts and COMEDY Skits
Funny Comedy Monologues
Free DUOLOGUES for 2 Actors
Free Monologues for KIDS
Short Plays for CHILDREN
Small cast plays for CHILDREN