The Little Years by Mighton John;

Author:Mighton, John; [Mighton, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 9781770911123, Math, science, Women's rights, Psychology, 1950s, Artistic genius
ISBN: 5840973
Publisher: Playwrights Canada Press
Published: 2013-12-11T00:00:00+00:00

Scene 7

Five years later. KATE and GRACE sit in KATE's room in a psychiatric hospital.

GRACE

The grounds are very nice.

KATE

Yes.

GRACE

Do you like your room?

KATE looks around the room.

KATE

Yes. It's very nice too.

GRACE

William sends his love.

KATE

Say hello to him for me.

GRACE

He would love to come and visit you.

KATE

I can only have one visitor at a time. Maybe some other time.

Pause.

GRACE

Are you comfortable here?

KATE stares ahead into space.

Kate?

KATE

Yes?

GRACE

What were you thinking about?

KATE

Nothing. I'm sorry. I have trouble focusing. I once saw the word "catatonic" written on my chart. It's very peaceful here. But there's never anything I have to do or any place I have to be. So every day seems like an eternity.

GRACE

I could come and visit you more often. If you think it would help.

KATE

Sometimes I sit in this chair and say my doctor's name over and over. It helps me feel that I'm not stuck in the present. That the clock is moving forward.

Pause.

How are you?

GRACE

I'm fine.

KATE

Really?

GRACE

Yes.

KATE

Are you still taking part in all those discussion groups?

GRACE

Most of them have disbanded.

KATE

Why?

GRACE

Everyone had a different idea of what it meant to be liberated.

KATE

And how's the state of the planet?

GRACE

The ozone layer seems to be repairing itself. But now the atmosphere is heating up from all the carbon dioxide we produce. I'm afraid you may have been right about my work.

KATE

In what way?

GRACE

You said it was a waste of time.

KATE

I'm sorry. My therapist says I like to provoke people just to see their reaction. It makes me feel real because I can produce a real effect in a real person. But I think there's a simpler explanation. I think I just like to provoke people.

GRACE

How often do you have therapy?

KATE

Twice a week.

GRACE

How's your therapist?

KATE

She's very nice.

GRACE

You actually like her?

KATE

I enjoy talking to her.

GRACE

I'm surprised. Does she make you lie on a couch? Or talk about your dreams?

KATE

She says that psychiatry has moved beyond that nonsense. It's not her role to impose any interpretations on my dreams and memories.

GRACE

So what is her role?

KATE

To help me clarify my mental processes and to create a safe environment where I can explore my hopes and fears.

GRACE

What does that mean?

KATE

That she doesn't actually know what anything I do means. What I think. What I want. What I remember. It's all a complete mystery to her. I try to confuse her whenever I can so we can't get into anything too important.

GRACE

I can see you haven't changed.

KATE

Unfortunately I don't know how. . . It's nice to talk to you. I haven't talked like this in a long time.

Pause.

How's William?

GRACE

He's fine. We're seeing a marriage counsellor. He makes us play with Lego so he can observe how we get along. Most of our friends are getting divorced. Everything is disposable now. If something gets too old or tough or inconvenient, we just throw it out. We've decided to stay together for Tanya. I wish I could bring her to see you. She just turned six. She would cheer you up. Six-year-olds still think that being a girl is the best thing in the world.

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