Dolls in the Attic

<TWO WOMEN>

(OPEN ON AN ATTIC WITH

MANY DOLLS AND TOYS,

ONE OF WHICH IS WOMAN #2)

(WOMAN #1 ENTERS, GOES

DIRECTLY TO WOMAN #2, AND

BEGINS GENTLY GROOMING HER)

(SFX: CHILDHOOD MUSIC UP AND OUT)

WOMAN #1 (SUDDENLY)

Dance, bitch!

WOMAN #2 (WEARILY)

Ah, give me a break..

WOMAN #1

Just do it, friend o' mine.

(WOMAN #2 BEGINS AN

ALIENATED, SPASTIC DANCE.

WOMAN #1 MELLOWS)

WOMAN #1 (CONT'D) (GENTLY)

I meant what I said about you yesterday.

(WOMAN #2 CONTINUES DANCING)

WOMAN #1 (CONT'D)

People don't usually take my side like that. And I appreciate it.

WOMAN #2

I'm stopping now.

(SHE CHECKS WOMAN #1 OUT,

SHAKES HER HEAD AND STOPS)

(MORE)

Dolls in the Attic page two

WOMAN #1 (CONDESCENDINGLY)

Well, that's your choice. Isn't it?

WOMAN #2 (OLD ISSUE)

As your imaginary friend, I don't really have a lot of say in the matter, do I?

WOMAN #1 (DISMISSIVE)

Why don't you organize yourself an imaginary union. Now run along. Disappear. Blow up, for all I care!

(SHE IS SUDDENLY DEPRESSED)

WOMAN #1 (CONT'D)

Look, who are you? What do you get out of this?

WOMAN #2

I'm your friend. I like being here with you. Why can't you accept that?

WOMAN #1

Bark, friend!

(WOMAN #2 ROLLS HER EYES

BUT MAKES BARKING NOISES)

WOMAN #2

Happy, now?

(MORE)

Dolls in the Attic page three

WOMAN #1

A real friend wouldn't do every stupid thing I ask.

WOMAN #2

I don't.

WOMAN #1

Yes you do.

WOMAN #2

Ask me to do something. Anything.

WOMAN #1

Oh, O.K., wiggle your behind.

(WOMAN #2 DOESN'T MOVE)

WOMAN #2

See!

WOMAN #1

Great. An imaginary friend with free will.

WOMAN #2

I'm real enough to make choices, dammit!

WOMAN #1 (RESIGNED)

I don't really care.

(MORE)

Dolls in the Attic page four

WOMAN #2

But I do. I make decisions, and I choose to stay here with you.

(WOMAN #1 TAKES A LONG

LOOK AT WOMAN #2, THEN

RUNS OVER AND HUGS HER

VERY TIGHT)

WOMAN #1

I need you.

WOMAN #2

I need you, too. And I meant what I said last night...

(WOMAN #1 IS SUDDENLY

ANGRY. SHE PUSHES

WOMAN #2 AWAY, WHO

COLLAPSES IN A HEAP)

WOMAN #1 (EMBITTERED, MOCKING)

"What I said last night!" "What I said last night!" (TO HERSELF) An imaginary friend, at my age. (PAUSE) I mean, I'm glad she's supportive, but...

(SHE LOOKS DOWN AT

WOMAN #2, WHO REMAINS

LIFELESS)

(MORE)

Dolls in the Attic page five

WOMAN #1 (CONT'D) (CHILDLIKE)

Mom says it's time to let you go. She doesn't like it when I come up here with you.

(SHE SNAPS HER FINGERS

AND WOMAN #2 COMES TO LIFE

AS THOUGH ON STRINGS)

(SFX: CHILDHOOD MUSIC)

WOMAN #1 (CONT'D)

We did have some fun, though, didn't we?

(WOMAN #1 SNAPS HER FINGERS

AGAIN, AND WOMAN #2 DOES A

BEAUTIFUL DANCE. WOMAN #1

NODS HER APPROVAL)

(WOMAN #1 STARTS TO

JOIN IN, AS)

(V.O.) (OFFSTAGE)(MOTHER)

Marlene?! Marlene, you get down here

right away! And leave that rag doll

where it belongs!

(WOMAN #1 TAKES ONE FINAL

LOOK AT WOMAN #2 WHO

DROPS HER HEAD LIMPLY)

(WOMAN #1 GIVES HER A LAST

HUG, DRAGS HER AROUND PLAYFULLY,

RUNS HER FINGERS THROUGH HER

HAIR, AND THEN COLLAPSES,

AS WOMAN #2 STANDS AND LOOKS

DOWN AT HER)

WOMAN #2

Coming, mother!

(OUT)