Deranged
by Ashley D. from Evening Ink (Winner of the Marilyn Bianchi Kids’ Play Writing Festival)
Characters:
Samantha/Magdalene: Samantha is a patient in a mental hospital. She has schizophrenia and severe multiple personality disorder both of which require her to take pills. The pills stop her from seeing her other personalities Magdalene and Mr.Tibbs during the day, but at night her dreams are filled with the terror that is Magdalene. Magdalene can overtake Samantha if Samantha does not take her pills.
Fey/Roscoe: Fey is a patient in the mental hospital with schizophrenia and multiple personality both of which require him to take pills. Although the pills stop him from seeing his other personality Roscoe during the day, he is forced to dream about Roscoe when he takes the pills. Fey not taking the pills results in the return of Roscoe.
Nurse 1: One of the many nurses in the mental hospital Samantha and fey stay in.
Nurse 2: One of the many nurses in the mental hospital Samantha and fey reside in.
Dr.Tien: The therapist in the mental hospital Samantha and fey stay in.
Place:
The mental hospital
Time: 10 p.m. EST. time
Production notes: Deranged can be performed by 5 actors of any ethnicity. If double casting, nurses one and two may be played by the same person. Samantha and Magdalene are one person but speak at different times in slightly different voices as well as Fey and Roscoe. Magdalene and Roscoe’s black eyes can be portrayed using sunglasses with removable lenses. The scenes where Magdalene, Roscoe, Fey, and Samantha grab nothing are just Samantha and Fey’s minds imagining that they are having violent encounters with their other selves. The audience watches the play from the point of view of an outsider; therefore we can’t see the weapons that they are grabbing, the nothing that they are grabbing.
Scene 1
(A room at a mental hospital which houses one of the craziest schizophrenic patients at the hospital, Samantha. Samantha wears a pair of white flannel pajamas. Samantha is talking to her imaginary friends.)
Samantha: It’s going to be okay. We’re going to go home. Ok? Yes nice for you, goodbye. I hear her walking.
Samantha: (Talking to imaginary friends) Mr. Tibbs I know we’re going to be ok. She can’t get to us here. She can’t overtake us.
Samantha as Mr.Tibbs: We hate Samantha. Where’s Magdalene? Don’t let Samantha stay here Magdalene!
Samantha: (Stomps) I hear her walking! She’s coming, I see her looking! I watch her staring. She sees us. (Whispers)She’s here.
Magdalene: Samantha GET OUT. Never come back. I’m the only you there can be. I am you but you are not me.
Samantha: (Smacks head repeatedly) GET OUT OF MY HEAD!! STOP YOU’RE NOT ME!! GET OUT OF MY HEAD (Smacks head)
Magdalene: I’m not in your head. I’m in the head that’s rightfully mine. One way or another you’ll get out.
Samantha: NO! GET OUT!
(Reaches for nothing)
Magdalene: If you kill me, we’re done. If you kill me, I can’t help. I make you a better you. Samantha is nothing, Magdalene is in everyone. I am you, you are me. (Snickers)
Samantha: (Stabs Magdalene in the head)
Magdalene: (Falls to the ground with a thud and before dying rises up)
Magdalene: I am your mind. I am you.
Samantha: (Falls to the ground)
Magdalene & Samantha: (Both die)
End Scene
Scene 2
(Scene begins in Samantha’s room at the mental hospital. Samantha is her white flannel pajamas.)
Samantha: (On the floor unconscious with nothing in her hand)
Nurse 1: (Knocks on door) (Walks in room and sees Samantha on the floor) OH MY! Are you awake? (Picks Samantha up and puts her on the bed) Hello?
Nurse 2: (Walks into room) what’s wrong? I heard shouting! (Notices Samantha on bed) Oh god, I’ll go get help!
Nurse 1: We’ll need more help than you think! (Shows blood hands and the cut on Samantha’s head)
(Nurses and doctors rush into the room with all equipment and medicine)
Samantha: (Waking up) is this a new day? Where’s Magdalene?
Nurse 1: You are Samantha. There is no Magdalene, sweetie. (Puts band aid on Samantha’s head and leaves with everyone else)
Samantha: But I stabbed her with these scissors. Don’t you see them? (Holds up hand)
Nurse 2: Uh… (Smiles) Sweetie… There’s nothing there… I guess you just had a crazy dream again….
Samantha: (looks down at hand) But I killed her… I did. I have to tell Fey. (Runs to Fey’s room)
End Scene
Scene 3
Samantha: (Knocks on Fey’s door) (Opens door and sees Fey on his bed)
Samantha: (Sits on the edge of Fey’s bed and waits)
Fey: (Slowly wakes up) (Looks over at Samantha) Oh hey. Did your pills already wear off?
Samantha: Oh yeah. The schitzo pills are great but I think they’re making me crazier. (Looks at Fey)
Fey (Looks at Samantha and laughs) is that possible?
Samantha: (Laughs) probably not. Looks like you had quite the dream there. What’d Roscoe do this time?
Fey: This time I killed him. I stabbed him in the side. I have this feeling that he won’t be gone long though.
Samantha: I feel the exact same way. (Jumps up and down on the bed)I killed Magdalene in my dream, I died too. Maybe this is some crazy sign that we should be together and stop Magdalene and Roscoe. (Smiles Shyly)
Fey: (Gives Samantha a concerned look) I’m all for being together as friends! ) (Smiles) But how will we stop them? We can’t stop taking the pills, can we?
Samantha: Oh yes we can. There’s a way. We can do this! If we don’t dream then we can’t see Magdalene or Roscoe.
Fey: (Kisses Samantha on her cheek) I like the way you think, friend. Let’s meet later when we’re scheduled to take out next set of pills.
Samantha: (Looks into Fey’s eyes and stays frozen with a plain expression)
Fey: Ok?
Samantha: Uh sure! Yeah sounds great!
(Walks out of Fey’s room)
(Rests back on the door)
Samantha: Friend? (Giggles)
(Walks down the hall, scene fades to black)
End Scene
Scene 4
(Scene begins with Samantha’s therapy session with Dr.Tien. Samantha wears a white dress and slippers. The therapy room is a small enclosed room with several bookcases, a couch, and a coffee table. Dr Tien wears a sweater vest with an ID badge on the front of it and grey slacks. Samantha wears her white dress and slippers.)
Samantha: She always makes me seem like I’m the bad one.
Dr. Tien: Who? Who makes you seem like the bad one?
Samantha: (Whispers) you know, Magdalene! She told me she was part of me. That by killing her, I’ve killed myself.
Dr. Tien: (Taking notes) you’ve been imagining Magdalene for years, Samantha. I don’t think telling her in a dream would make her go away. She is a part of you. I don’t think that I’ve ever actually known Samantha. Magdalene has been such a big part of who you are that she is you and you are her.
Samantha: That’s not true. I’m my own person. I’m Samantha Martin, she’s Magdalene.
Dr.Tien: Take some time to think. Answer this question: Who’s Samantha? In the meantime, here’s your prescription for more pills and you can go. It was lovely having you here, Magdalene.
Samantha: (Glares at Dr.Tien and walks out of the room and into the hallway where she sees Fey at the medicine counter)
Fey: (Takes pills and pretends to swallow)
Samantha: Wait for me to take my pills then let’s hang out. (Winks)
Fey: (Nods)
Samantha: (Gives prescription to nurse)
Nurse: (Slides pills over to Samantha in a cup)
Samantha: (Pretends to swallow and walks to a nearby trashcan) YUCK! (Spits out pills)
Fey: (Spits out pills) so um, what’s the plan?
Samantha: Well, I was thinking that maybe… if it was the pills that made us have those dreams and stopped taking them then we can just relax. DUDE, WE’RE FREE!
Fey: I’ve never seen crazy and cute combined, but you somehow did it. I like that. (Leans in to whisper in Samantha’s ear) you know, I’ve always thought you were crazy.
Samantha: Wha-
Fey: And I’ve always liked it (kisses on cheek) As long as we won’t have to worry about any crazy other personalities interrupting us, I think we should-
Samantha: (Wide excited expression) DATE?!
Fey: Heavens no. I mean we’re in a mental hospital and you want to date? I honestly have no interest in telling my parents I found a girlfriend in the crazy house. (Laughs) let’s just call it being love interests. See you later. (Walks to his room)
Samantha: Love Interests, I’m sure I’ll get used to it. (Scene fades to black)
End Scene
Scene 5
(Scene begins with Fey in his room after not taking his medicine for 5 hours. Fey wears a pair of white flannel pajamas.)
Fey: (Lying in his bed staring at the opposite wall) I told you, I can’t be you anymore Roscoe! Get out! (Points to door)
Roscoe: I told you, I’m you. Taking away those pretty pills actually helped me, not you. Why don’t you say goodbye to your little love interest! From this day forward, it’s Roscoe and Magdalene. Magdalene and Roscoe.
Fey: Aaaaaaah. GET OUT! (Grabs nothing)
Roscoe: Déjà vu, much? (Fights to grab what fey has)
Fey: (Slices part of Roscoe’s arm open with nail)
Roscoe: Ow! You little-
*Fully takes over* you little, nothing.
*Eyes turn black*
Roscoe: Roscoe and Magdalene. Magdalene and Roscoe.
Nurse: (Knocks on door) (Opens door) is there a problem? I heard shouting and AHHH! YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE A WEAPON HOW DID YOU DO THA-
(Sees black eyes)
Roscoe: (Runs up behind nurse and snaps nurses neck) you saw me that was too much.
Scene Ends
Scene 6
(Scene begins with Samantha in her room 5 hours after she didn’t take her pills. Samantha wears her white flannel pajamas.)
Samantha: (Talking to self) I really wonder what’s real and what’s not. Maybe none of this is real. Like I’m a doll being toyed with and this is all fake. Dr.Tien said who is Samantha. Who is Samantha?
Roscoe: Samantha? Doesn’t ring a bell. Magdalene, now that sounds like someone I know. (Sits at the edge of Samantha’s bed)
Samantha: Oh, uh when did you get here Fey? (Smiles) I mean, love interest.
Roscoe: (Sighs) Ugh, look kid. I’m going to put this as nicely as I can. Fey really liked you. I hate your guts and I’m going to have to kill you.
Samantha: Roscoe?!
Roscoe: Well it’s not the candy man.
(Pulls nothing out of his pocket)
Roscoe: Now I’m going to try and kill you as quickly as possible but you have to cooperate too. Everything about this is personal by the way. (Laughs)
Samantha: Well okay, but first I just have to… (Grabs a pen from her bedside table)Goodbye, Fey. (Stabs Roscoe with pen)
Fey: (Eyes turn back to normal) (Dies)
Samantha: (Crying) she’s catching up to me. (Stomps on ground) I hear her walking, but she won’t be here. (Drops knife and runs into the hallway outside of her room)
End scene
Scene 7
(Scene begins in the hallway outside of Samantha’s room. Samantha wears her white flannel pajamas.)
Samantha: (Running through the hallway) if I could just get those pills.
Nurse: Magdalene sweetie, you don’t take any pills. (Smiles widely)
Samantha: I’m Samantha!
Nurse: Whatever you say Magdalene.
Samantha: (Runs to medicine counter) do you have my prescription still?
Nurse: Magdalene you don’t take drugs!
Samantha: I’m telling you now, give me my medicine. My name is Samantha!
Nurse: (Eyes turn black) Magdalene is you, you are her. Magdalene is in everyone. (Falls lifelessly to the floor)
Samantha: (Gasps) (Yells) Listen Magdalene! This has gone far enough! I’m Samantha! You will never be me! I’m not crazy! I’m a bright young woman who is amazing in every way. I’m more than you’ll ever be!
Magdalene: (Thrusts arms into chest)
End Scene
Scene 8
(Scene begins in Samantha’s room at the mental hospital which is now Magdalene’s. Magdalene wears a White dress and slippers exactly the same the outfit that Samantha wore.)
Nurse: Magdalene, sweetie, are you ready for therapy?
Magdalene: (Looks up revealing that she has black eyes) Yes.
Nurse: What a lovely young lady you’re turning out to be. Will you be bringing your doll, Samantha with you?
Magdalene: (mumbles to herself) Yeah, I’m more than she’ll ever be. (Speaks normally) Of course, we’re so close. Almost like we’re the same person. (Laughs)
End Scene