This month, Wayfare is delighted to present the three winners of our third annual ten-minute play competition. Congratulations to our second-place winner, Garrett Gunnell.
CHARACTERS:
ANN - Female. Late 20s. Energetic, lovely, quick to catch when things are off.
FRED - Male. Late 20s. Tall and well built. Compassionate, loving, and calm.
LIZZY - Female. Early 40s. Colorfully dressed, loud, annoying and kind of stuck up.
RON - Male. Mid 40s. Short and stout, middle-aged man. Bearded with a nasally voice.
Scene Opens with the sun rising, breaking in the morning. The light streams through the window at Stage Left. At Center Stage, ANN sleeps peacefully in her bed. There is a vanity table between the bed and the window with a sundress hanging on the chair in front of it. At far Stage Right there is a door leading to the hall of the hotel. Between the door and the bed there is an end table and a couch beside it, and a door next to the bed leading to a bathroom.
We can hear the sound of a running sink from the bathroom and a radio playing a song. The sink turns off and FRED Enters from the bathroom. He turns off the radio then kneels down to ANN’s eye level, stroking her hair.
FRED
(softly) Morning, Beautiful.
ANN remains motionless, pretending to be asleep.
Ann? Ann, are you up?
ANN
No.
FRED tickles and nibbles at ANN. They laugh then settle down as they hold each other.
FRED
How’d you sleep?
ANN
Like a baby. You?
FRED
Alright, a little hard to sleep with all the snoring.
ANN
(Offended) I do not snore!
FRED
Oh, yes you do! You sound like a broken vacuum cleaner.
ANN
Shut up.
FRED makes a snarling snoring noise in ANN’s ear to annoy her.
ANN
Shut up!
ANN gets out of bed playfully hitting FRED. They then hold each other in an embrace.
ANN
I just want to spend all day here.
FRED
Me too? Unfortunately, we can’t, we’re visiting my sister and her husband today.
ANN
Let’s just say we’re sick and not go.
FRED
They’ll know we’re lying.
ANN
Why?
FRED
They said the same thing to me on their honeymoon.
ANN
Good, they’ll know what we mean then.
They both smile, maintaining their embrace for a beat. ANN sighs.
When were we going to meet them?
FRED looks at his watch.
FRED
In ten minutes.
ANN
(Startled) WHAT!?
ANN quickly starts getting ready.
FRED
(Teasing) I thought you said you didn’t want to go.
ANN puts on the sundress.
ANN
Just get ready. We are going to be late!
FRED
They will understand if we are a few minutes late.
ANN
But your sister will never let it go. She still brings up the undercooked turkey from Thanksgiving to this day. I do not intend to give that woman fuel to her fire. Zip me up, will you?
FRED zips up ANN’s sundress. ANN takes out a brush from the drawer and brushes her hair. FRED goes into the bathroom leaving the door open. ANN puts the brush back in the drawer to apply lipstick, then reaches back into the drawer but the brush is gone.
FRED
C’mon, she’s just messing with you. Lizzy’s always been like that, even when we were kids. It’s how we bonded.
ANN
Freddy, have you seen my hairbrush?
FRED
Uh . . . yeah, it’s right here.
FRED Exits the bathroom and hands ANN the brush. He returns to the bathroom.
ANN
(Confused) Oh. Thanks.
ANN brushes her hair. She puts the brush in the drawer to check her eyelashes. She reaches back into the drawer and the brush is gone again.
FRED
If she brings it up, remind her about her hair during the rehearsal dinner. That’ll drive her crazy.
ANN
What the—? What is going on?
FRED
What’s wrong?
ANN
My brush, where did I put it?
FRED
It’s in here. Let me grab it for you.
FRED comes back out of the bathroom with the same brush and hands it to ANN. She looks at the brush curiously as FRED goes back into the bathroom.
ANN
How do you keep doing that?
FRED
Coming out of the bathroom, now fully dressed.
Doing what?
ANN
My brush. I keep putting it away in the drawer but you keep bringing it to me from the bathroom.
FRED
(Awkwardly laughs) Is this some kind of joke you’re pulling on me? Come on, they’ll be here any minute.
ANN
Wait, they’re coming here? I thought we were meeting them for brunch?
FRED
No, that was Tuesday. We said they could come visit us in our hotel room today, remember?
ANN
(Pretending to remember) Uh, right.
ANN begins to clean up the room, making the bed and clearing off the vanity.
FRED
Yeah, they wanted to say goodbye to us before they had to make their flight.
ANN
Yes, of course. When should they be here?
The doorbell rings. FRED comes out of the bathroom.
FRED
I guess that answers that question.
FRED goes to the door, but looks back at ANN before opening it.
Ready?
ANN
Just getting my shoes on.
ANN throws the last of the mess under the bed, then puts her shoes on and joins her husband at the door. FRED who opens the door. RON and LIZZY Enter. They are a joyful yet older couple wearing colorful vacation outfits. LIZZY holds a vase of flowers.
LIZZY
(Sing-songingly) Hellooooo!
FRED
Hey guys, come on in!
They all greet each other with hugs. ANN has a concerned look on her face with an occasional half smile and an attitude as though she had been caught off-guard.
LIZZY
Hello baby brother! How are you two lovebirds?
FRED
Just fine Lizzy, just fine. How was your stay?
LIZZY
Oh, just wonderful? We went on a boat tour, had dinner at the Tiki hut—delicious!—and stayed up late watching the fireworks. Well, at least I did. Someone wanted to add up the bill to the hotel bar.
RON
I thought they were overcharging us.
LIZZY
Ron thinks we get overcharged at every hotel we have ever stayed at.
RON
I refuse to be taken for a ride! That Albuquerque inn billed us for three bottles of champagne. Three!
LIZZY
Oh, would you let it go already, Ron? Ann dear, we got you some flowers. They should go well with your new place.
LIZZY hands the vase to ANN.
Oh! You guys were going to show us your photo album from the wedding!
FRED
That’s right! Ann, could you grab it, Beautiful? Why don’t you guys have a seat and we will look through it together?
LIZZY and RON sit on the couch and continue to argue. ANN places the vase on the end table and pulls the photo album from underneath the bed, still having a concerned look on her face and occasionally looking over at LIZZY and RON. FRED notices and walks over to ANN.
FRED
(Softly) Are you alright, Beautiful?
ANN
Freddy, who are these people?
FRED
What are you talking about? It’s my sister Lizzy and her husband Ron.
ANN
Frederick, I have never seen those two in my life.
FRED
What? What do you mean you’ve never seen them before? We saw them earlier this week. You’ve known them for years.
ANN
No, I’ve known Lizzy and Ron for years. I don’t know these people.
FRED
Ann, I don’t know what is going on with you today.
ANN
I’m telling you, that is not your sister! Don’t you believe me?
FRED
Look, Ann honey, just sit down and go through the album with them. You’ll feel more comfortable if you just sit and talk with them.
ANN
But Fred—
FRED grabs the photo album and the chair by the vanity, sets it up next to the couch and gives the album to LIZZY.
FRED
Here you go, Lizzy. (to ANN) Come on. Just sit for a minute and they’ll come to you.
ANN cautiously sits beside LIZZY as she flips through the book.
LIZZY
(Looking through the album) Oh, these are beautiful. Don’t they look beautiful Ron? What a handsome couple. Not sure I would have gone with that veil. I mean, it looks great on you though dear.
ANN
Yeah. Hey, let’s find a picture with all of us in it!
LIZZY
All of us?
ANN
Yeah, it’ll be fun to see what we all looked like together.
ANN takes the album and begins looking through the pages.
RON
Um, Ann? We weren’t at your wedding.
ANN
(pause) What?
LIZZY
We didn’t come to your wedding, Ann. That’s why we wanted to look through the photo album.
ANN
But, the rehearsal dinner. You were at the rehearsal dinner.
RON
Ann, we didn’t meet you and Fred until after your wedding.
ANN holds the photo album to her chest, stands and backs away slowly from them.
FRED
Ann, what has gotten into you?
ANN
I told you! I told you they weren’t who you thought they were!
ANN runs to FRED’s side, trying to get away from RON and LIZZY.
FRED
Well, who are they then?
ANN
I don’t know, but that is not your sister! They told me they didn’t even know who we were until after our wedding!
LIZZY
Freddy, what is going on?
ANN
How did you know I call him Freddy? How do you know us? WHO ARE YOU!?
FRED
Ann, it’s Paul and Janice. Our neighbors. We’ve lived next to them for over a year.
ANN
What? Fred I don’t understand, we haven’t even moved into our new house yet.
FRED
Ann, we are in that house.
ANN freezes. She walks over to the window and opens it. We hear the sounds of children playing and cars passing by. ANN watches in a daze.
LIZZY
Maybe it’s best if we go.
FRED
Yeah, I am so sorry about this.
FRED opens the door for them and RON and LIZZY walk out.
RON
Don’t worry about it, we’ll come over another time.
FRED
Alright, we’ll see you later, I guess.
LIZZY
Sounds good. (to ANN) Goodbye, Ann! (ANN doesn’t respond. To FRED) We hope she feels better soon.
LIZZY and RON Exit with FRED closing the door behind them.
FRED
Do you wanna tell me what that was all about?
ANN
(Still in a daze) I recognize this street. I’ve lived here for . . . (ANN begins to break down in tears as she sits on the bed.) What is wrong with me?
FRED runs over to comfort her.
FRED
Hey hey hey, nothing is wrong. You’re OK. You’re safe. You’re just having a rough day is all. What can I do?
ANN
(Sniffles) Water. I need some water.
FRED
Alright, I’ll get you some water, Beautiful. Just take a breath and I’ll be right back.
FRED goes into the bathroom and we hear the water running. ANN sits for a moment staring out at the window. She gets up and begins to walk towards it. FRED reenters with a glass of water.
FRED
Alright, I’ve got your—STOP!!!
FRED runs over to the window, closes it and locks it.
ANN
What are you doing?
FRED
Don’t scare me like that! You know you’re not supposed to open the windows.
ANN
Freddy, I don’t know what has gotten into you. I think I need some fresh air.
FRED
Freddy?
ANN walks over to the front door, but it is locked as well.
ANN
Why is the door locked?
FRED
Don’t ask me that. You know why.
ANN
Unlock this door!
FRED
Calm down. Everything is OK.
ANN
Open this door, NOW!!
FRED
Alright, I will once you take these.
FRED pulls out a pill bottle from his pocket.
ANN
What is that?
FRED
Just trust me, it’ll help you.
ANN
(beat) It’s you, isn’t it. You’re doing this. All of this! It all started with you!
FRED
OK, now you’re scaring me.
ANN
Make it stop.
FRED
Make what stop?
ANN
MAKE IT STOP!!
FRED
OK, OK, just calm down.
ANN
DO NOT TELL ME TO CALM DOWN! I WANT TO GET OUT!
(ANN bangs on the door)
HELP ME! HELP ME!
FRED grabs ANN as delicately as he can and guides her to sit on the bed while ANN helplessly struggles against him.
FRED
OK, I’m going to get you some help. Just please, please take the pill. Trust me it will help you.
FRED hands her the cup of water and a pill. ANN takes a pill.
ANN
(Betrayed) Who are you? What are you doing to me?!
FRED
I’ll be right back, just please stay there.
FRED Exits. ANN looks down at the pill and water, then throws them on the floor. ANN goes over to the window which is still locked and tries to budge it open. She hears voices coming from outside her door. She runs over to her flower vase, picks it up and holds it like a weapon right behind the door. The door handle jiggles. FRED reenters not seeing ANN creep up behind him.
FRED
Hello? Oh no. Where did she go?
ANN hits FRED over the head with the vase, causing its contents to spill out. FRED grabs his head in pain.
FRED
AAHHH!!
ANN
Stay away from me, you hear me? Stay away!
FRED
Ow! Please put the vase down.
ANN
I said stay away!
FRED
Please put the vase down, you are going to hurt yourself.
ANN
I don’t know what is going on. Why are you doing this to me, Freddy? Why are you keeping me here?
FRED
Did you just call me Freddy again?/
ANN
Answer me!/
FRED
You don’t understand/ Please just listen/
ANN
Tell me what’s going on/ No you listen/
FRED
MOM!
ANN freezes. All is silent.
ANN
What did you call me?
FRED
It’s me, Mom. It’s Jacob. Don’t you recognize me?
ANN puts down the vase and grabs FRED’s face with two hands, looking into his eyes.
ANN
Freddy?
FRED
Dad died eight years ago, then I took you to live here. I come to visit you every week. Remember?
ANN looks around in bewilderment. She sits at the edge of her bed.
FRED
Mom?
ANN
Looking back at FRED. Trying to recognize him.
J-Jacob?
FRED
Pausing, then forcing a smile as he sits beside her.
Yes, Mom. It’s me.
ANN
You’re . . . my son? (Realizing the blood on his head) Oh no, you’re bleeding.
FRED
(Grabbing his head and realizing he is bleeding a bit) I uh . . . just tripped and hit your vase. I’m sorry about that. I’m such a klutz.
ANN
No you didn’t I—
ANN stops, giving up on trying to make sense of things. LIZZY and RON Enter the room, now wearing scrubs.
RON
Is everything alright? We heard a commotion.
ANN walks over to where she dropped her photo album and holds it close as she sits back down on the bed. LIZZY clears up the mess on the floor.
FRED
We’re OK now. She’s just having a bad day.
RON
Are the doors locked?
FRED
Yes, thank goodness. But she did hit me with the vase.
LIZZY
We have a first aid kit downstairs.
ANN
Ron? Lizzy?
FRED
No, these are just—Just . . . old friends. They’re your friends.
ANN
Oh.
LIZZY
Do we know if she’s taken her meds yet?
FRED
No. I tried giving them to her earlier but she wouldn’t take them.
RON
OK. What’s best for her now is to rest. Did you remember to affirm what she says?
FRED
No, I should have. I’m still not used to this.
RON
It’s OK. Just remember to affirm her reality, whatever that might be. If you don’t she’s going to keep lashing out like this.
FRED
You’re right. I’ll try.
LIZZY
We’ll step out so you can help her get to bed. We’ll be outside if you need anything.
LIZZY finishes cleaning. RON Exits.
ANN
(Looking through her photo album, tearing up) Oh Freddy, you looked so handsome.
FRED
(Sitting beside her) You looked even better.
ANN
Freddy? Oh, Freddy dear, it is so good to see you. (She hugs him) Oh never leave me again!
FRED
(Affirming her reality) I’m not going anywhere. (He hugs her back) Listen, I need you to do something for me, OK?
ANN
What is it, dear?
FRED
I need you to get some sleep.
ANN
No, please don’t leave me!
FRED
I won’t. But I need you to sleep now. Can you do that for me?
ANN
OK.
FRED
Great. Let’s get you comfortable then.
FRED takes her shoes off then tucks her into bed.
ANN
Can you stay with me until I fall asleep?
FRED
I’ll stay as long as I can.
ANN begins to get tired and doze off.
ANN
I love you.
FRED
I love you too, Beautiful.
FRED kisses her head, sitting beside her as she drifts off. The song from the beginning plays faintly in the background.
ANN
Do you hear that, Freddy? It’s our song. Remember it?
FRED
Of course I do. How could I forget?
THE END.
Garrett is an actor and playwright currently working in Utah. He recently graduated from BYU where he studied creative writing and theatre arts. He has been working as an actor and playwright for over ten years, performing for theatre companies like the Parker Theatre and the Ruth.
Art by Edvard Munch (1863–1944).
