Stranger Days


Michael Lundring, a love struck inmate in the psych ward- Andrew (Nick)

Elizabeth Charleston, Michael‘s new nurse- Kaity

Doctor Marshall, Michael‘s main psychologist- Becca

Doctor Barnamur, the head of the psych ward and the boss of Dr. Marshall- Brandon (Nick)

Doctor Marshall and Elizabeth enter from stage left and proceed down center stage. Michael is enclosed within his room, signified by an enclosure of benches. If we had a real set the walls would be a stark white and Michaels room would be similarly colored, windowless, and filled with bookshelves.

Dr. Marshall: …So as you may have observed we try our best to soundproof the walls as to create a-

Doctor Barnamur enters from stage right, leisurely strolling up to Elizabeth and Doctor Marshall.

Dr. Barnamur: Please forgive me for the delay ladies, it appears that my watch has died once again! Hmm? And who might you be? Ah but of course you’re the new nurse we sent for aren’t you! Welcome to the Falls View Asylum!

Elizabeth: Thank you sir.

Dr. Marshall: As I was about to say!…Now there are a few things you must know about the patient that will be placed under your care-

Dr. Barnamur: Yes Michael! He is one of our more…interesting inmates. I wonder how he will react when he learns that you have replaced Doris?

Elizabeth: Was Doris his nurse before me?

Dr. Marshall: That is precisely the case!

Dr. Barnamur: Enough chit-chat for now, I think that it’s far past time you were introduced to Michael.

Doctor Barnamur walks slowly upstage, the other two follow him.

Elizabeth: All of these halls look exactly the same!

Dr. Barnamur: You just need to remember the door numbers and you’ll be fit as a fiddle. Here we are, room 27, occupant one Michael Lundring!

Elizabeth: Um, Doctor…?

Dr. Barnamur: Barnamur my dear!

Elizabeth: Doctor Barnamur, what exactly makes Michael, um…interesting?

Dr. Marshall: Well as it happens Michael is the only patient here that has developed a-

Dr. Barnamur: Doctor Marshall If you would care to shut up for a moment I believe it is best that she finds out on her own!

Doctor Barnamur opens the door to Michael’s cell, signified by a bench.

Michael: I wish I knew thy heart!

-’Tis figured in my tongue.

I fear me both are- Ah, it would appear that I have attracted an audience! Doctor Marshall, Doctor Barnamur, and who is this new arrival? More importantly, where is Doris?

-Yes, where is Doris? Answer swiftly or suffer the dire consequences!

Dr. Marshall: Doris retired the other day, we didn’t want to tell you until we had found you a new nurse. Speaking of which, Michael, this is Elizabeth Charleston!

Michael: -We need no new nurse and nor do we want one! Bring Doris back!

I’m pleased to meet you, but I’m afraid that you won’t last very long here.

Dr. Barnamur: If you haven’t guessed it yet Michael suffers from a nasty case of dual personalities. Neither one seems to be fully dominant at any given time.

Elizabeth: Okay…well which one said I wouldn’t last long?

Dr. Barnamur: The nicer side of Michael, don’t worry, he was only giving you his honest opinion.

Michael: Sad but true, it’s just the way I am.

-And we want what it owed to us! Dr. Barnamur, give us what we want!

Dr. Barnamur: Ah yes, I very nearly forgot! Here you go, Water Ship Down, collector’s edition, just as you requested.

Michael snatches the book from Dr. Barnamur.

Michael: Thank you very much Dr. Barnamur!

- It’s about time you over-relaxed cretin!

There is an uneasy silence of about three seconds, then it is broken by Dr. Marshall.

Dr. Marshall: Anyway…Elizabeth, why don’t we show you to the kitchen? You can pick up Michael’s dinner while your there.

Everyone but Michael exits stage left, Michael begins to pace.

Michael: Well…that was curious, I guess that Doris’s replacement-

-Replace Doris will they? Who do they think they are that they can just change thing up on us! We told them not to change anything! Now all we have to talk to are those two incompetent doctors…unless…

She seemed to speak very mildly, and she dresses very modestly…

-She comprehends more than she lets on…Curse them! Curse these strange new emotions that begin to infect me! I cannot change! I must not change!

Michael slumps over in the single chair in his room. Elizabeth walks in from stage left with Michael‘s dinner.

Elizabeth: How are you doing Michael?

Michael: Fine, just fine.

-Leave the food and go, I tire of your chattering mouth.

Michael freezes once Elizabeth closes the door behind her. She walks up to the apron where Dr. Barnamur enters from stage left and grabs her softly by the shoulder.

Dr. Barnamur: Elizabeth, I need to talk to you for a moment.

Elizabeth: Okay.

Dr. Barnamur: I’ve noticed that Michael has been acting a little more odd than usual when your around him, I’m not sure whether or not this is a good thing or a bad thing.

Elizabeth: I’m…not exactly sure what you want me to do with this information.

Dr. Barnamur: What I’m trying to say is that you need to tread carefully. If you do anything that might drastically upset him then his fragile mentality could shatter, do you understand?

Elizabeth: Alright Dr. Barnamur, I’ll try my best.

Elizabeth and Dr. Barnamur both exit stage right, Dr. Marshall enters from stage left. Dim the stage lights if possible to signify the passage of time.

Michael: -I don’t know what I want, why can’t you just leave me alone dagnabit!

Dr. Marshall: Michael, please! Just calm down!

Elizabeth enters from stage right carrying a tray of Michael’s lunch.

Dr. Marshall: Thank goodness you’re here Elizabeth! Perhaps you can knock some sense into him with that apple, he’s being downright unreasonable!

Elizabeth: What’s the matter Michael?

Michael: I-I don’t know! I feel so strange, I don’t know what’s wrong! I-I…

-Leave me alone! All of you just leave!

Elizabeth: Michael calm down! If you don’t then the Doctor and I will be forced to sedate you.

Michael: Okay, okay.

-I suppose your right.

Michael begins to visibly calm down.

Dr. Marshall: Well I’m sorry, but I must be going. I have other patients that need attending to. Elizabeth, I’m going to leave Michael in your capable hands. I think you’ve shown that you handle that in the two weeks you’ve been here.

Dr. Marshall exits stage left. An awkward silence ensues for about four seconds.

Michael: So, how are you doing?

Elizabeth: I’m okay, but your question would be better directed at yourself.

Michael: Touché!

Elizabeth: So, very slowly, tell me what’s the matter.

Michael: I…just don’t know. My books have lost their appeal!

-Our own philosophies ring hollow in our ears! We can’t think!
We don’t know what’s wrong with us!

Elizabeth pulls a small book out of her pocket and hands it to Michael.

Elizabeth: Well here, look at this. It’s a book that my mother gave me when I was little.

Michael: What is it about?

Elizabeth: It’s a little book of emotions, just read the description and see if it fits what your feeling. Listen, Michael, I have to go now, my ride home will be here soon.

Elizabeth exits stage right. Michael reads through the book swiftly, mumbling the occasional emotion.

Michael: Envy

-Hate

Horrified

-Loathing

Love…love, results in a confused emotional state coupled with a fluttery feeling in the abdomen and the occasional loss of appetite. It is an extreme attraction to another person, usually of the opposite gender.

-This is what we’ve been feeling!

Miss Elizabeth, that is who I feel for, but why?

-Does it matter? We must tell her how we feel!

Yes! Wait, what if she does not love me?

-We must not worry about that now, we must go!

Michael exits stage right. Enter Dr. Barnamur from stage right to stage left. He looks around, then realizing that no one is watching he dances comically across to stage left. He leaves the scene for a count of three before shuffling back on stage, noticing that Michael’s door is ajar.

Dr. Barnamur: Oh dear, this isn’t looking good at all! Michael, please be in your room!

Dr. Barnamur enters Michael’s room.

Dr. Barnamur: Fiddlesticks! I told Marshall that he was strong enough to force the lock.

Dr. Marshall enters from stage left, looking for Dr. Barnamur.

Dr. Marshall: Doctor Barnamur, where are you? We’ve just received that new shipment of food trays you ordered and we need you to sign the- Doctor Barnamur, are you in there?

Dr. Barnamur: Yes my dear, and I’m afraid Michael is not!

Dr. Marshall: WHAT!?

Dr. Marshall enters the room and moves next to Dr. Barnamur.

Dr. Marshall: How can this be? Why would he-

Dr. Marshall spots the discarded book and leafs through it quickly, stopping on the love entry.

Dr. Marshall: Look, there is a marker in the love section…Oh my God!

Dr. Barnamur: What, what is it?

Dr. Marshall show’s him the book.

Dr. Marshall: Look there , he’s circled the word love, that can only mean one thing!

Dr. Barnamur: Great Gatsby! He’s gone after Elizabeth! Come quickly now, we have to find him before he finds her!

All actors onstage exit stage right. Remove benches, the scene is now in a lush park in an open field. Elizabeth enters, talking on her cell phone, from stage right.

Elizabeth: Hi mom, yeah I’m at the park. Okay, I’ll be home by nine. See you later mom!


Michael enters tentatively from stage right. He only makes it a few steps onstage until Elizabeth notices him.

Elizabeth: Michael!

Michael: Elizabeth!

There follows a super corny scene of Michael and Elizabeth running toward each other through a field of daisies. When Michael is about three feet away from Elizabeth both Doctors appear out of nowhere from stage right and hit Michael with a tranquilizer dart from a blow gun.

Dr. Barnamur: Wow, I can’t believe you actually made the shot!

Michael starts to sway from the effects of the tranquilizer.

Michael: What the, uhnnn… Jesus Christ…Super…Star!

There is a total blackout on stage. All other actors except Michael leave on whichever stage side is closer. Michael suddenly awakes.

Michael: Whoa! That was an intense dream man! What am I doing in the park? Well, that’s the last time I eat jell-o shots before bed!

Michael exits stage left and after a second or so all cast members come out for curtain call!