Visiting Edna and Good for Otto: Two Plays by David Rabe

Author:David Rabe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grove Atlantic
Published: 2017-07-17T12:40:47+00:00

ACT TWO

Lights up as the characters return to their stations. Dr. Michaels sits in one chair facing Evangeline in the other. They are immobile. Slight pause before ALEX enters through the reception area door. He peeks shyly at the audience and then he addresses them.

ALEX Hi. When I was first thinking about possibly going to the center, I thought it might be best if I wore a disguise. I was so SO nervous. I went so far as to actually create one and try it on, but in the mirror, I just looked like me with a fake mustache and unattractive clothes. So I thought, “I can’t go like this. I can’t even go out of the house looking like this.” I changed back to what I like to wear, and sat in front of the television watching Duck Dynasty and thinking, I won’t go. Or if I do go, I won’t tell them anything—which made no sense—so I thought, Well, at least I won’t tell them I’m gay, which made no sense. What would I tell them? And then, watching Duck Dynasty, I thought, “These people are crazy. They’re much crazier than I am.” So the next day I called to make an appointment and got one, and a couple days later, I had my first session, or initial whatever with Dr. Michaels . . . (Having paced about he now stands between Dr. Michaels and Evangeline) . . . and it started out okay but after a while—I don’t know what it was—but he made me uncomfortable. I wasn’t sure that he liked me. Not that he could or should like me—after all, I’d just walked in off the street and sat down and there I was, you know, talking about myself. He looked bored, or suspicious, or unhappy, or something, and the next thing I knew, I just stopped talking and he didn’t say anything for the longest time, and I got very tired, I got very very tired and just kind of this hopeless feeling came over me, and this really painful heaviness in my chest and stomach, and before I knew I was even going to speak, I said to him, in this little voice, this very soft little voice, “Could I maybe see a woman counsellor? Would that be possible or is it impossible?” His expression remained totally unchanged and indecipherable, but, after what in my experience anyway seemed maybe a week, or a week and a half, he said:

DR. MICHAELS “Of course, Alex. Do you think you’d like that?”

ALEX And I said, “Maybe.” (watching Dr. Michaels rise and take a step, facing out) And he looked out the window, so I looked out the window, so we were both looking out the window when he said,

DR. MICHAELS I think you and Evangeline Ryder might work out.”

Dr. Michaels exits, leaving Evangeline and Alex alone.

EVANGELINE RYDER Well, Alex, what is it that brings you to the center? If you can say. Can you say?

ALEX (pacing anxiously behind the chair) No.

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