People, Places & Things by Duncan MacMillan

Author:Duncan MacMillan [MacMillan, Duncan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783199099
Publisher: OBERON BOOKS Ltd
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

ACT TWO

The music from the end of ACT ONE has been playing in the auditorium and the foyer throughout the interval. It rises in volume as the lights fade, then cuts out as:

Electric lights flicker on. The reception at the rehabilitation centre. Night. The music continues playing, faintly from the radio. MARK has just turned on the lights. He is dressed in the same uniform FOSTER wore in ACT ONE.

EMMA is lying across the chairs in reception. A hood covers her face.

MARK: Can I help you?

,

MARK approaches EMMA.

Checking in or picking up?

,

Hello?

EMMA sits up. She mumbles.

EMMA: I need help.

MARK: What did you say?

She takes off her hood. She is very badly bruised.

EMMA: I said I need help.

MARK recognises her.

MARK: Holy shit.

EMMA: Will you please / help me?

MARK speaks into a handset.

MARK: Doctor to reception please, Doctor to reception.

The DOCTOR’s consultation room. Night. A desk lamp is on. The DOCTOR sits behind her desk. EMMA sits opposite. She looks very tired. Bruised. Bleeding.

MARK is with them, standing by the door with EMMA’s bags.

EMMA: You changed your hair.

,

My name is Sarah. My name is Sarah and I’m an alcoholic and drug addict. My life is unmanageable. I am willing and motivated to change. I need help. I surrender. I surrender. I surrender.

,

DOCTOR: Sarah, do you know what went wrong last time?

,

You tried to control everything. Every part of the process. That didn’t work so you hit the self-destruct button. Addicts control everything. They fear chaos. They think they’re the broken centre of the universe.

You have to have faith that things aren’t going to fall apart. Trust the process Sarah. Let go.

EMMA: How?

How do I do that?

I’m not being difficult or controlling, I really want to know.

I want to try.

,

The DOCTOR writes on a prescription pad and puts some pills in a little paper cup.

No.

DOCTOR: Take them.

EMMA: I came here to get off drugs, not to / take more.

DOCTOR: I understand that. But

EMMA: I can do it. I need to do it. Just get everything out. / Everything.

DOCTOR: Okay, I have sympathy with that but trust me, I’ve been doing this a long time / and

EMMA: I don’t want medication. I want to feel it. I need it to be irrevocable.

DOCTOR: It’s completely natural to want to have the most vivid experience because that’s what you’re used to, that’s what you feel you deserve and that’s what will make you feel more connected with your recovery. I get that. But going cold turkey is dangerous. It can kill you. There’ll be time for guilt and punishment and connection later.

This is the easy part. Don’t be stupid.

Take the meds.

The DOCTOR gives EMMA the cup of pills.

Go to your room.

,

EMMA: You really do sound like my mother.

The room.

EMMA looks at the meds. She goes into the bathroom. She drops the pills into the toilet. She flushes the chain.

MARK puts EMMA’s bags on the bed.

MARK: You know the drill right? Need me to go over anything?

EMMA: I can’t believe you actually got a job here.

MARK smiles.

MARK: Living the dream.

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