A stage monologue assignment from Spring 2009 |
At Rise: A psychiatrist and his patient are in the psychiatrist’s office. The patient is lying down on the couch and the doctor is sitting on the chair in front of him. The patient is being diagnosed in typical Freudian style. Dr. Munroe Ok so tell me about these dreams you’ve been having. When did they start? Ben I’ve been having them for the past two months, but it always begins the same. I start in an empty alley way decorated in all white, nothing but doors on each side. Dr. Munroe Describe the doors, are there numbers on them, do they stand out in any way? Ben They look like doors in a hotel room. Each has a number on them, going from one through ten, five on each side of the hall. Dr. Munroe What do you do in your dream? Do you open any of the doors? What are in the rooms on the other side? Ben All of the rooms are empty except for florescent lights that keep on flickering like they need to be changed. You can hear the buzzing of the lights echo through the room. The walls are also entirely white. Dr Munroe How does this dream end, what do you feel when you wake up? Ben Each night I open a new door, sometimes there’s something inside, sometimes there isn’t. Dr. Munroe Wait I thought you said the rooms were empty. Ben No not always Dr. Munroe Explain Ben Sometimes a figure will be standing in the middle of the room. I can never make out who they are until I get close to them. Once I make out who they are, they disappear. Dr. Munroe Who do you see in the room? Ben It’s been anyone from family to friends. For the past few nights its been my mother. Dr. Munroe Your mother, what makes her stand out from the others you’ve seen? Ben My mother left me when I was very young, around 8 years old. My dad was a dirt bag, every thing about him. He would lash out and beat my mother about every little thing. One day my mom couldn’t take it anymore and just left. Dr. Munroe Where did you end up? Ben I was moved from foster home to foster home until I was 18. Then I was left on my own. Dr. Munroe Well from what you’ve told me so far, it seems you have abandonment issues as the result of your childhood Ben But why are these dreams happening now? Dr Munroe Has any one new entered your life? Ben I’ve been seeing this girl for about a month now Dr. Munroe Wait how are you dating someone? Ben I met her here Dr Munroe Well I’m impressed we need to work on keeping this relationship. Now tell me, did you get along with any of your foster parents? Ben No, I was a punk as a kid. In high school I got involved in gangs. I dropped out at 16 and took any work I could find Dr. Munroe So this woman is the first person you’ve let get close? Ben Yes, most of my relationships don’t last. I’m afraid to get too close Dr Munroe I want to work with you a few more sessions to see if we can get you to trust. However I’m afraid our time is up for today. (Munroe calls an assistant over his phone. A female nurse lets herself in) Dr Munroe Ben its time to go back to your room nurse please escort him out. (The nurse takes Ben out and they both exit) |