31 Plays in 31 Days - #19 “Be a Human Being Again”

Day #19 - “Be a Human Being Again”

SAM CAMPION, a federal agent on psychological disability leave
VANESSA DAVAN, an FBI officer
~~~

(Wearing her coat with her purse slung over her shoulder, Sam approaches a little café with outdoor seating.)

SAM: Vanessa?

(Sitting a table is VANESSA DAVAN. She is eating a croissant sandwich and reading a newspaper as Sam approaches, but she looks up at the sound of her name. She grins from ear to ear when she sees Sam.)

VANESSA: She lives!

SAM: Technically.

(She sits.)

VANESSA: It’s good to see you. I’m really glad you showed.

SAM: Yeah, well. Thought it might be good to get out a little. Haven’t done it in a while.

VANESSA: Yeah. Haven’t heard from you in a while either. I wanted to check in.

SAM: That’s nice of you.

VANESSA: So… how are you?

SAM: Ah. You know. Surviving.

VANESSA: Yeah?

SAM: Yeah.

VANESSA: Okay. Well, that’s something.

SAM: How about you? How are things?

VANESSA: Well, pretty good! I’ve actually got some good news. I just got the word from the brass that my promotion’s official. They’re giving me my own squad

SAM: Oh, wow. Nessa, that’s great.

VANESSA: Thanks. Took long enough, huh?

SAM: You deserve it. You’re going to do great, I know it.

VANESSA: Thanks, honey. That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about. Sam… how would you like to be on that squad?

SAM: Me?

VANESSA: You’re a good agent. I could use you.

SAM: I don’t know.

VANESSA: Come on. It’s a good way for you to get back into things.

SAM: I’ve never done missing persons before.

VANESSA: You’ve got a solid background in investigation, you’ll pick it up fast.

SAM: I’ve been out of the game for a long time.

VANESSA: Don’t worry, I’ll have your back.

SAM: Vanessa.

VANESSA: What?

SAM: I’m really messed up.

VANESSA: Sam.

SAM: Most days I’m lucky if I can get out of bed.

VANESSA: Doesn’t that… say something to you? That it’s time that you did something?

SAM: Did something?

VANESSA: You know, made a change.

(Pause.)

VANESSA: Don’t think I don’t get it. After what happened to you… you’ve got a right to be messed up. Hell, most people wouldn’t have survived. But it’s been a year. You can’t go on the way you’ve been. You’ve got to get your life back.

(SAM zones out as she speaks. The sound of gunshots and yelling voices gets louder and louder.)

VANESSA: Sam? Sam?

(Vanessa looks at her in horrified concern.)

VANESSA: Are you okay?

(Sam jerks to look at her. The shots and voices stop.)

SAM: No! No, I’m not okay! Do you have any idea what it was like back there? Do you know how many people I killed?

VANESSA: I know. Six—

SAM: Seven!

(Vanessa shakes her head, uncomprehending.)

SAM: If they hadn’t made me, Blake wouldn’t have died either.

VANESSA: You can’t blame yourself for that—

SAM: It doesn’t matter! He’s still dead! They’re all still dead!

VANESSA: I know.

SAM: Then why don’t you get it?

VANESSA: I get that you’re a wreck, Sam. That’s why I’m doing this. You need something to help you out of this. Or else…

SAM: Or else what?

VANESSA: Or else you’ll stay like… this.

SAM: Leave me alone.

VANESSA: I’m trying to help you.

SAM: If you got it, you’d know that you can’t help me.

VANESSA: So that’s it? You’re just… resigning yourself to this?

SAM: Guess so.

VANESSA: That’s disappointing.

SAM: Don’t judge me.

VANESSA: Sure. Call me when you’re ready to be a human being again.

(Vanessa throws some cash down on the table, gathers her purse and newspaper, and storms off.)

Biweekly Theater Writing Challenge: Dolls That Say "I Love You" on Command

I just wrote a scene and I freaking love it.

Dolls That Say "I Love You" on Command

(SAM, a troubled former FBI agent, walks down the street. She grips her purse uncomfortably and hurries along. Soon she comes across a park bench where a little girl in a frilly dress sits, holding a baby doll and smiling at her. She recognizes this as a form of SARIEL, her guardian angel.)

SAM: Oh, Jesus.

LITTLE GIRL SARIEL: Hi, Sam. I’m surprised to see you out and about. Since you think so little of these imperfect creatures God made.

SAM: Oh, save it.

LITTLE GIRL SARIEL: No, our conversation really got me thinking. It’s a good question, why God would make you all so full of sin and so prone to rejecting Him and all his love.

SAM: I’m not up for a deep theological discussion right now, okay?

LITTLE GIRL SARIEL: Okay, okay. But don’t go. Since we ran into each other, you might as well come hang out a while.

(Sam looks around nervously to see who might be watching.)

SAM: Why do you show up like this? Why a little girl?

LITTLE GIRL SARIEL: Because it means people are a lot nicer to me when I want to sit around and play with dolls.

SAM: People see me talking to you, they’re going to think I’m a kidnapper or something.

LITTLE GIRL SARIEL: Oh, don’t worry what other people think for five minutes, okay? Just sit down.

(She sits on the bench beside him.)

LITTLE GIRL SARIEL: Check this out.

(He tips the doll forward and back. Its recorded voice box says, “I love you!”)

LITTLE GIRL SARIEL: Nice, huh?

SAM: So?

LITTLE GIRL SARIEL: So, they make these baby dolls who say “I love you.” Whenever you want, they just say it to you. It’s a present for you.

SAM: For me? Why?

LITTLE GIRL SARIEL: You know, since Chris and all.

SAM: Is this a joke?

LITTLE GIRL SARIEL: Well, you were really broken up about having been left by the person who loved you.

SAM: What? Oh, Jesus!

LITTLE GIRL SARIEL: I thought this might fill the void.

(He proffers the doll, making it say "I love you" again. She shoves it back at him.)

LITTLE GIRL SARIEL: What? It doesn’t?

SAM: You’re an asshole.

LITTLE GIRL SARIEL: Oh, I’m sorry. You mean to say, a doll that’s built to say “I love you” on command isn’t worth the same as a creature of free will who loves you of his own accord?

(Sam turns to stare at him, disturbed. Little Girl Sariel makes a snotty face and spreads his hands.)