Therapy

**__ By Naira Demirchian & Davit Papoyan __** **__ Characters: __** Dr. Alyce: A 27 year old therapist, “the best in the business” Jimmy: An 18 year old car crash survivor who “sees things” and has a twitch from the trauma he suffered, the only survivor, saw his whole family die (Jimmy walks into Dr. Alyce’s office, twitches every now and then throughout scene) Jimmy: Hey, is this Dr. Alyce’s office? Dr. Alyce: Yes, it is. (Overly babyish voice) You must be Jimmy! Jimmy: Dude, I’m 18. You can quit the act. Dr. Alyce: Right, well, why don’t you sit down? Jimmy: (Sits down) Can we just get this over with? Dr. Alyce: Let me guess. You think this a total waste of time, don’t you? Jimmy: Duh. I just have to do this because it’s “regulation” or whatever. But I’m fine, there’s nothing wrong with me. Dr. Alyce: Jimmy, you were the only survivor in a car crash that killed your parents and your little brother. You need to talk about it. Jimmy: No, I don’t. I’m fine. I’ve got my own little condo, I have an ok- paying job at the supermarket, and I’m taking a couple classes at the community college. Like I said, I’m fine. I’m moving on. Dr. Alyce: Really? Because your twitch says otherwise. Jimmy: (Twitching) What twitch? I don’t have a twitch! Dr. Alyce: You didn’t have a twitch before the accident. Now, your twitch is your body’s way of showing that you’re definitely not fine. Why don’t you tell me what you remember about that day? Jimmy: I don’t know. It was a normal day. We woke up, ate breakfast and watched Sunday Football. Then, mom said we had to go visit my grandma. She’s staying at a nursing home, and Sundays are the only days we can visit. So, we got in the car, and drove off. Dr. Alyce: OK, what about the actual accident? What happened then? Jimmy: Didn’t you see it in the newspapers? A lady on the phone didn’t stop at a red light and we crashed. They all died, except me. End of story. Dr. Alyce: The newspapers said what happened in general. I want to know what you saw, Jimmy. Jimmy: Look, I don’t need some old therapy lady- Dr. Alyce: I’m not old! I’m only 27! Jimmy: How’s that not old? Anyways, I don’t need you telling me what I’m supposed to feel and junk. Dr. Alyce: I’m not trying to tell you what to feel, I want to know what you actually feel. Jimmy: (In a big outburst) I feel like betrayed my parents! Like I betrayed my little brother, Doug! Doug looked up to me, and I let him die! Dr. Alyce: You didn’t- Jimmy: YES! I did! I was thrown out of the car because I didn’t have my seat belt on! If I had listened to my mom, and just buckled up, I would’ve died with them when the car blew up, and I wouldn’t feel all this- this- Dr. Alyce: WHAT? Jimmy: REGRET! I wouldn’t regret being alive. (They’re silent for a moment) Dr. Alyce: Better? Jimmy: Yeah. A little. Dr. Alyce: If you come every week, like you’re supposed to, you’ll feel better. Jimmy: Maybe. Dr. Alyce: Not maybe, definitely. Just talking about it will make you feel good. Jimmy: Yeah, you know, I thought this would be stupid. I thought that anybody could sit down and ask me “And how do you feel about that?” Dr. Alyce: Well, I promise I won’t be like that. I think the human mind is an extraordinary thing, and I’m curious to know what’s in your mind. Now, why don’t you tell me what you remember from after the crash? Jimmy: I kept going in and out of consciousness. One minute, I’m flying out of the car. I wake up and all I can see is the big blur of yellow and red. Then I wake up and the paramedics are putting me on a gurney. The next time I wake up, the cops are telling me what happened. Dr. Alyce: And how’d you feel? (Jimmy frowns at her) Oh, sorry. I mean, what thoughts were running through your mind? Jimmy: I don’t know. I felt like I shouldn’t be the one who lived, Dr. Alyce. My parents were such happy and neighborly people with a lot of friends. And Doug, he was so young and his grades were great! He could’ve had a successful future. I was the weird teenaher who didn’t socialize. Dr. Alyce: Do you still feel that way? Jimmy: Sometimes. But I try to remember them when they were happy, and alive. Dr. Alyce: Good, you should keep trying. Jimmy: You know, this really isn’t so bad. And you’re not some old, controlling therapy lady. Dr. Alyce: And you’re not a bratty, know- it- all man- child. Jimmy: You never called me that. Dr. Alyce: But I was thinking it. Didn’t I tell you the human mind is an extraordinary thing? **__ THE END __**
 * __ Therapy __**