ORDEAL

 ALONE IN BED

A Play in One Act by Tamara Peachy







414 Water Street

Kendallville, IN 46755

C: 260-710-4478

sos7_10@yahoo.com



Cast of Characters




Tessa:

A skinny woman afflicted with paranoid schizophrenia. ---30’s.


Julie:

Sweet, caring nurse. Full of faith ---20’s.

Robert

One of Tessa’s hallucinations. Only represented as a voice

An attractive female--- late 40’s.
Setting Auburn, Indiana. Northeastern Center Inpatient
Time

The evening

ACT I Scene 1

SETTING: Psychiatric room 

AT RISE: TESSA is lying on the bed. JULIE is sitting on the chair.



JULIE

You need to rest. Rest will help you forget.



TESSA

It’s mental illness. Remember. My brain is broken. How can it properly rest?



JULIE

(uncomfortable laughter)

It can heal when you rest.



TESSA

Sorry, I simply can’t believe that anymore. I don’t have the capacity to know what will heal me or what will harm me.



JULIE

I understand your reaction. You don’t trust you thoughts. But, who can you trust except those who are with you. This has been traumatic for you. That is why I am here.



ROBERT

I scare you. I scare you.

TESSA

The bed is the most intimate place in the universe, and yet God allows hallucinations here.



ROBERT

Yes. Terrifying. Isn’t it?

JULIE

We can’t blame God. He isn’t the one doing this to you.



TESSA

(upset)

I took my medications. I will be asleep soon. They knock me out every time.



JULIE

Sometimes, we need medication to help us do what we can’t.



ROBERT

When you go unconscious, you are free. Might as well die then. Then you will be free of all your fears. Free of everything that haunts you. Free of darkness.

JULIE

If you need anything more, don’t be afraid to ask.

(JULIE exits)



TESSA

If my therapist taught me anything, it is not to commit suicide. Medication and therapy work together to combat your manipulation.



ROBERT

Maybe I am on your side. Maybe this hospital is taking your money and giving you me —your own personal tormentor.



TESSA

(Pulls the blanket back over her head)

I can’t speak with you anymore.



ROBERT

(seductive)

You didn’t have trouble with me last night.



TESSA

You seduced me. My body was weak.



ROBERT

It was hot. The nurses were oblivious. Those meds weaken your defenses. Psychiatry has it’s root in Freudian theory. Mothers sleeping with their sons. Sons killing their fathers. Good foundations to rape female patients.



TESSA

(loud)

Go away! Go away! I don’t want you in my room! Get out! I don’t want to hear you!



JULIA

(enters)

Tessa, you can’t yell like that. The other patients are trying to sleep. You need to calm down.





ROBERT

(laugh)

Yes, Tessa. You can’t order me out of your room because that would disturb the other patients.



TESSA

(still hysterical)

He won’t leave! I want him out! I hate him! He’s evil. He keeps chasing me. He won’t leave.



JULIA

Come out from behind the blanket. Let me see you.



TESSA

No!



JULIA

Tessa, no one is in your room. It is just you and me. I promise.



TESSA

You don’t know. You can’t hear him like I can.



JULIA

Tessa, you need to trust me. That is the only way you will overcome this illness. We both want you to get better. Trust me.



(TESSA hesitates for a moment, but slowly pulls the blanket down. Takes a few breaths, looks around the room, and then looks at JULIA.)



JULIA CONT

See. Just you and me.



TESSA

(bitter)

I’m calm now. You can leave now.



JULIA

I can stay a little longer.

TESSA

No, I don’t need you.



JULIA

(hurt)

I’ll leave. But, please no more yelling.



TESSA

No more yelling.



JULIA

Get some sleep.



TESSA



Sleep. I promise.



(JULIA exits. TESSA gives a sigh of exasperation.)



I can’t sleep. That man won’t leave me alone. He is always there.

JULIE

(peeks into the room)

I heard that.

TESSA

How can you ask me to sleep when you know the chemistry in my brain…

JULIE

I will not hear any more of your excuses. You need to sleep.

TESSA

I am not your child.

JULIE

You know sleep helps you.

TESSA

Do I?

JULIE

Are you being paranoid again?

TESSA

Every time you leave the room, he comes. That man. The man who has haunted me my entire life.

JULIE

I’ll talk to the nurse to see if we can get you more medications.

TESSA

More medications?

JULIE

We know that these meds have helped in the past.

TESSA

Sure. Why not. What do I have to lose?

JULIE

I’ll be back.

(JULIE exits)

ROBERT

I’m here. You’re never alone.

TESSA

Didn’t you hear her? More medications. Eventually, they will find a medication to…

ROBERT

Don’t say it! You know you can’t live without me.

TESSA

How do I know? I have a broken body. You have beaten me down.

ROBERT

And made you stronger. You know what is about to take place. You have felt the separation for a long time now. I am preparing you. This generation is sick and defiled. I am making you invincible.

TESSA

I know. I’ll be ready.

ROBERT

Yes, yes you will.

TESSA

You’re my constant companion.

ROBERT

Should we do something dirty?

TESSA

(laughs)

Like defecate on the floor. I am running out of clean underwear. I feel defeated when I have to tell the nurses I am out of clean underwear.

ROBERT

You know they love it. They love serving you, even with the intimate things.

TESSA

I love these white sheets. I feel like they are a boundary from all the darkness around me. Jesus will return and set us all free.

ROBERT

You are right. He will come. He is very close now.

TESSA

I believe that.

(TESSA covers herself with the white sheets. A few moments later, JULIE returns.)

JULIE

The nurse can’t raise your dosage until she speaks with the doctor. However, we can give you an anti-anxiety pill for tonight.

TESSA

I don’t need it. I feel better now.

JULIE

All right. You sleep well.

TESSA

I promise

JULIE

Don’t promise, just do it.

TESSA

(playful)

Yes, ma’am.

JULIE

I don’t work tomorrow, but if you are still here, I work again on Wednesday.

TESSA

Okay.

(JULIE exits.)

ROBERT

Do you think she’s full of herself?

TESSA

Sometimes I worry that she thinks she’s better than I am. However, she seems nice enough.

ROBERT

Nice enough? What does that mean! Are you saying there are levels of niceness! That you are the best person in the world. The only person who knows what “good” means.

TESSA

You might as well save your breath. I am over the condemnation trick. I have an arsenal of scriptures to battle your hatred.

ROBERT

You think you have the ability to discern good from the bad. You don’t. You’re a slut on minute than a saint the next. You whore. You saint. You whore! You saint! Who do you think you are!?

TESSA

I’m a saint, when I am a saint. I am a whore, when I am a whore.

ROBERT

I see what you did there. You think you are untouchable. You aren’t. I can come closer, if you’d like.

TESSA

I know, but I don’t think you are ready for a commitment.

ROBERT

You’re serious. You want our relationship to progress to the next level.

TESSA

I didn’t say that. I said you aren’t ready for commitment.

ROBERT

How dare you! You dare you tell me how I feel.

TESSA

It’s true. You aren’t ready, yet.

ROBERT

You will be patient.

TESSA

I love how the talk of marriage always gets a rise out of you.

ROBERT

I am going to bother that nurse for a while. You need to sleep.

TESSA

You’re funny.

ROBERT

(vindictive)

You know I like the nurses more. Everyone loves the nurses more. They deserve all the money, fame, and respect. Don’t they Tessa?

TESSA

(defeated)

Yes. Yes they do.

ROBERT

You are full of bitterness. You might admit they are loved more, but you don’t feel it, do you.

TESSA

I know the repercussions of their lack of faith.

ROBERT

Lack of faith? This is a hospital. We don’t speak about religion here.

TESSA

You know I am obsessed with religion. Especially when I am manic.

ROBERT

I hear a little bit of nurse in you. You’re calling yourself manic.

TESSA

I have too many voices in my head. I call myself crazy one day. Sane, the next.

ROBERT

Everyone calls you nuts!

TESSA

I have had some people believe in me. A long time ago.

ROBERT

Why did they stop?

TESSA

I don’t know.

ROBERT

And why is that?

TESSA

I don’t know.

ROBERT

And why is that?

TESSA

I don’t know.

ROBERT

And why is that?

TESSA

Now you’re just messing with me.

ROBERT

Yes, it was my attempt at humor. Apparently, I am not that funny.

TESSA

You can’t expect a laugh. I’m depressed now.

ROBERT

We are moody, aren’t we?

TESSA

I wish this place had a therapist. I feel like I just sleep here. Sleep and eat.

ROBERT

That is all you do. That and be tormented by me. How did those meds taste?

TESSA

That is what the nurse asked me yesterday. She wanted to know if my meds tasted