Kathleen – The beginning of her play “Orientation” – FEEDBACK PLEASE

Kathleen – The beginning of her play “Orientation” – FEEDBACK PLEASE

CHARACTERS:

502/JERRY SMITH, 30s, Black, Her fifth time to the program. Has six-year-old son. Determined to make it this time. She has her arm in a sling (knife cut) and internal bruises. Knits compulsively.

507/TERRY JONES - 20s, Latina, anger and control issues, accountant, involved with drug business, two daughters currently with mother. Face battered. Rubik's Cube, smokes.

505/IRINA NOSTICH, 20s, Ukrainian immigrant, one child - son, doesn't trust the system/s. Foot in a boot cast. Pregnant. Can do a Rubik's Cube. Recognizes 507/TERRY as part of drug dealing.

504/SUSAN MASTERSON, 30s, White, from LI, two children, new to physical violence, not aware of psychological violence. Bruises covered by clothing. Just quit smoking. Movie buff.

AUTHORITY - Leonor - Puerto Rican, 40s, Bronx, tough survivor, bored with being a social worker and this issue. Wants to be a "real" survivor.

KEEP HOUSE LIGHTS WITH NO STAGE LIGHTS TILL 502 STEPS ON STAGE AND FLIPS A SWITCH

KEEP THE OPENING SILENT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. ALL DONE WITH BODY LANGUAGE.

502/JERRY SMITH enters from the house, walking rigidly towards the stage. She carries a large tote bag and her purse is slung over her shoulder. The glaring light adds to her discomfort. She steps on to the stage and flips on the light switch. Fluorescent light fills the stage. There is some daylight through the egress windows on one wall. The house lights slowly fade through the opening.

502 puts her things on the floor and leans against the wall, takes a deep breath and looks around.

She sees the chairs, goes over and tries to pick up two. Can only pick up one. She sets it up next to her things. She goes back, gets another one. Puts it down. In pain and exhausted 502 returns to her chair, sits, reaches in her tote bag and takes out Tylenol Extra Strength. Puts two in her hands. Takes out a bottle of water. Finishes off the water and puts the bottle back in her bag and takes out her knitting. She is a compulsive knitter.

502/JERRY

“Knit 1, Purl 2. Knit 1. Purl 2, Knit 1, Pearl 2.”

She stops. Even the knitting is too much.

502/JERRY

“He wouldn't have hit and kicked me if I hadn't poured the booze down the sink. Why can he get mad and I can't? Why can he do this to me and I'm blamed because I pour booze down the sink? Booze, the fuel for abuse. Knit one. Purl two.”

502/JERRY mimicking her husband.

"You shouldn't make me so fucking angry; you know, you really do this to yourself." Fuck you. No one does this to themselves. Knit one. Purl two.

I really need to learn to shut my mouth. Why? Why do I have to shut my mouth? I want to go to school, to work at a decent job to support myself and Henry. Is that too damn much to ask?”

She stands, lets out a silent scream and starts moving. It's the kind of movement as to get the anger out of her body.

She walks to the table, pulls it out to open. A pain spasm stops her.

The US door opens up and the Authority ENTERS, followed by three women. 504/SUSAN, 505/IRENA and 507/TERRY

AUTHORITY

“Well, hi. I didn't expect you to be here so early and you're 502 this time. Good for you. Knife again?”

502 stands there, she can't let go of the table, it would drop to the floor. Authority enjoys watching the predicament.

AUTHORTY

“I'll do that. Hold it while I get another chair.”

Authority gets a chair and sets it SR and puts her pile of manila folders and note pad and purse on the chair. The other women move into the room at various speeds and with different energies.

Authority walks back to 502.

AUTHORITY

“You go sit down.”

502 deliberately steps back.

502/JERRY

“Not yet. You and I need to talk.”

AUTHORITY

“We'll talk later, during group.”

502/JERRY

“Stop with the table and look at me.”

Authority checks a cardboard box in the corner.

AUTHORITY

“Oh, there's no coffee. Shoot.”

502/JERRY

“Now, You never returned any of my phone calls.”

AUTHORITY

“As I said, later. Excuse me ladies. There’s no coffee. I’ll give you your information packets now and you can review the materials until I get back. I’ll be back by 9.”

Authority looks around at the women

AUTHORITY

“I think we could all use some coffee.”

Authority leaves.

502/JERRY says nothing. She walks to her chair, slowly sits and picks up her knitting. And watches.

507 flips the light off and heads to the table.

505 flips the light on

507 freezes and confronts 505

507/TERRY

“I want that light off.”

505/IRENA

“I want the light on. And I don't think you should be smoking in here. “

507/TERRY

“You wanna take the cigarette from me?”

505/IRENA

“And put it out on your pretty face.”

507/TERRY

“You got a mouth on you, don't you?”

505/IRENA

“Yeah, I do.”

505 holds her ground.

507 pushes the table against a wall, throws her things on it, reaches in her bag. She takes out a cigarette and her lighter. Really looks at the room. Decides that 502 isn't worth the effort. She's knitting for God's sake. She gets a chair and sets it beneath the egress window, lights her cigarette, gets on the chair and enjoys her smoke.

505 remains by the door.

502 is clearly upset by the cigarette but says nothing.

504 moves far away from 507 and finds a corner where she can watch

505 looks around the room.

502/JERRY

“Please, Señora, stop smoking. There's no smoking here.”

507/TERRY

“Shut up.”

502 gets her inhaler, says nothing, controlling her words and anger.

505/Irena sees the inhaler.

505/IRINA

“Put out the fucking cigarette.”

507/TERRY

“I’ve just about had it with you –"

505/IRINA

“She’s got an inhaler.”

LONG SILENCE - minimum 2 minutes as women carefully claim territory and observe one another.

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