play by amy lynn
a play by Amy Lynn
Play Description:
In this play, the narrator will go through the typical abusive relationship from beginning to end, pointing out the warning signs along the way and also pointing out the different types of abuse that are shown. The narrator will hold up a red flag whenever a warning sign is shown, and the actors will stop their scene when the flag is risen so that the narrator can explain the whole situation. The play will begin in high school and there will be a table of props the actors can use to quickly switch from one scene to the next. Some parts of the play will be funny, so that it will be enjoyable, but most of it will probably be pretty sad. Hopefully the ups and downs in the play will be a good metaphor to the ups and downs in abusive relationships.
Characters:
Narrator = myself
Kayleigh? = Cindy (sweet, caring, pretty girl who becomes the victim of abuse)
Daniel? = Matt (popular and handsom, yet controlling boy who abuses Cindy)
Scene 1:
setup: The story begins in high school. All blocking will be improved by the actors who will be following along with the narrator�s commentary. The actors will have some dialog along the way.
Narrator: Today was a great day for Cindy. She had just begun her junior year in high shool and she and her friends were in the hall discussing the arrangements for their usual Thursday Girls� Night Out. There was no school on Friday, which made this girls� night out extra special What made the day even better than usual though, was that Cindy had just found out that morning that a really cute guy in the senior class liked her His name was Matt. Everyone knew him. He was popular and smart and athletic too. Cindy had never spent any time with him really, but I guess she didn�t have to because he still took notice of her. She and her friends decided for their girls� night out, maybe they should accidently bump into Matt and his friends at their local hang out. All went as planned and Cindy and Matt began talking that night and then he actually asked her out Cindy and all of her friends couldn�t stop giggling all the way home. Cindy had a gorgeous boyfriend and her friends were jealous of her All was well. In fact, things couldn�t get any better
Over the weekend, Matt was unbelievably sweet. He and Cindy talked all night Friday night. She didn�t even answer the beeps from other incoming calls. She was dating a cute senior What could be more important than that?? Then, Saturday night, he picked her up to go out to dinner. He was very polite to her parents and they winked at Cindy as she walked out the door. She knew they thought he was nice too. Matt had taken Cindy to the park and they had a cute little dinner on the grass. He spread out a blanket and surprised Cindy by placing dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets on her plate.
Cindy: Wow, I didn�t know you were such the gourmet chef
Matt: My heart would be extinct without you.
Narrator: AAWWW Cindy was too amazed by how sweet this guy was being to notice it was weird that he would say something that intimate when they had only been dating for a few days. Can you blame her?? :) On Monday, her friends were dying to know how the weekend had gone. They hadn�t heard from her at all over the long weekend other than the occasional text message saying she was in heaven and that he was soooo sweet So, the girls planned to meet between classes to discuss all the fun details. Everytime they tried to talk though, Matt would show up suddenly behind Cindy, plant a big sloppy kiss on her cheek and wisk her away to his locker so they could be alone.
Matt: Baby, it feels so good and so right when we are together, just the two of us. This is how it should be forever, don�t you think so?
Narrator: Cindy did take notice this time that forever seemed like an awfully long time when they had only been together almost a week. Everything was so new and good though, she didn�t want to disrupt the magic they had going on. So, she agreed with him.
Cindy: You�re right, it�s great when we are together.
Narrator: RED FLAG
Although this seems too sweet to be harmful, quick envolvement is a warning sign of abusers. In many abuse cases, the couple knew each other for less than six months before moving in with each other, getting engaged or even getting married
Things pretty much stayed the same all week. Everyday, Matt would wisk his lovely Cindy to his locker instead of hers and eventually, she stopped going to her locker all together. They were very much in love, but hadn�t said the words yet. It was all happening very quickly and all Cindy knew was that they were happy together.
Cindy was really excited when Thursday rolled around again because she knew that she would finally get to catch up with her friends, whom she hadn�t seen practically at all since the week before.
Cindy: (Her cell phone rings and she picks it up while Matt listens closely) Hey Jenn ... yeah, I know, I really can�t wait ...yeah, okay, that sounds good. Alright, see you then Bye.
Matt: (trying to be calm, but obviously upset) Who was that?
Cindy: Oh, that was Jenn.
Matt: What did she want?
Cindy: We were just talking about our girls� night. She�s gonna meet me at my house tonight.
Matt: You�re going out tonight?
Cindy: yeah, we always go out on Thursday nights honey. You know that.
Matt: Are you all planning on going out and meeting guys or something?
Cindy: No silly, it�s just us girls
Matt: Well, that didn�t stop you last week. Besides, whenever a group of girls are out, guys are gonna look. Do you really want other guys watching you like that?
Cindy: No, but I was kinda looking forward to catching up with my friends.
Matt: Aren�t I your friend? C�mon, your friends have had you your whole life and I just got you. I have had a really bad day and all I want is to spend some quiet time, with just the two of us tonight. I really need you today. You don�t want to leave me just hanging like that do you?
Cindy: No.
Matt: Well, you are makin it seem like they�re more important than I am
Cindy: I am sorry honey, I didn�t mean it to come out like that. How about I stay with you tonight and go out with the girls some other time?
Matt: (smiling) Aww, honey... (He gives her a hug seeing her feel kinda down about the argument. Then he looks into her eyes) ...I knew you would do what was right. You are the smartest ,most beautiful girl in the world.
(Cindy smiles and they walk off together)
(then cindy comes back to make a phone call)
Cindy: Hey Jenn. Sorry, but can you all just go on without me tonight? No, really, I can�t. ... Well, Matt�s had a bad day and he really needs me. Besides, we go out every week. I�ll see you all tomorrow in school and maybe we can reschedule or something... yes, I promise Okay, tell the girls I said hello. Okay, bye.
Narrator: RED FLAG
Here, Matt made Cindy feel bad for wanting to go out with her friends. He manipulated her thoughts and feelings to get what he wanted. This is a part of emotional abuse. Emotional abuse is the basis of all forms of abuse and it is also the most traumatic, damaging part. Bruises heal, but the mental abuse is something you will suffer from years after the relationship ends. The red flags in this scene are jealousy and isolation. He has been keeping her from her friends more and more everyday and he was jealous and upset at even the thought of Cindy going out with her friends. Another warning sign is the fact that he was checking up on her. It wasn�t very bad or obvious in this scene, but if someone is constantly checking up on you or constantly asking who you talked to or what you have been doing, those are also signs of jealous behavior. Matt made Cindy feel like she had already done something horrible to him when she only spoke of going out with her friends. However, afterward, he made her feel special so she wouldn�t be discouraged from him. From here, the pattern begins repeating itself.
A few weeks later, Cindy and Matt are still fabulous and have been nominated cutest couple in school. They both obviously loved the attention from that Of course, Cindy had still been missing her girls� nights out, but she was glad to be in a real relationship, so she assumed it was an okay trade. Jenn had called her one day wondering when she was going to see her friend again. Cindy promised her it would be soon, but the promise kept being put off longer and longer. Every time she mentioned going out, Matt had some reason why she shouldn�t. Something always came up somehow or he made her feel bad for always wanting to spend time with them instead of him. He often questioned how she felt about him and made her feel she had to prove herself by doing things for him or by brushing off her friends. Well, one night in the park, he needed more proof than usual.
(Cindy and Matt are sitting on the ground in the park together )
Matt: Cindy, I can�t wait any longer, I have to tell you something.
I am in love with you. (He leans over and kisses her on the cheek)
Cindy: Oh, Matt, I love you too.
Matt: Are you in love with me?
Cindy: Yes honey, I am.
Matt: Prove it to me.
Cindy: What? How do you expect me to do that??
Matt: If you really love me, you should know what I want.
Cindy: Well, I think I know what you want, but how is that supposed to be �proving� my love?
Matt: You don�t care about me do you?
Cindy: What? No, honey, I do I mean it I just don�t see how doing that with you will prove it
Matt: (standing up boldly) If you don�t want to be with me, then why are you with me??
Cindy: I do want to be with you, I just don�t think I want to do that yet.
Matt: (very upset-possibly losing his mind or pulling at his hair)
Why are you doing this to me?? I try to be so good to you and you�re just playing with me Does it make you feel good to be like that? (He is becoming an emotional mess, rocking and kinda scary) Cindy You are making me so crazy
Cindy: Matt, you�re kinda scaring me. Do you wanna go get something to drink or something?
Matt: NO I just want you and you obviously don�t want me I don�t know what to do with you Cindy You think my life is perfect? You think I don�t have problems? You have no idea what it�s like You are all I need to be okay and I love you so much it hurts I love you so much I would die without you I can�t live without you Cindy, I can�t I start hyperventilating and shaking when I even think about it Please don�t leave me ever. I need you so bad and you don�t want to have anything to do with me Please don�t leave me Cindy. I need you
Cindy: (crying a bit herself, half from fear, half from feeling badly from him) I am so sorry honey. I really didn�t mean it like that. Don�t worry, I won�t leave. I need you too baby. I love you so much...
Narrator: RED FLAG
Once again, there are big red flags here. One of the warning signs here is pressuring her sexually. Another one is that he cant� handle his emotions. Usually this refers especially to anger. Matt also obviously has a lower self-esteem than we expected out of a popular, handsom high school senior. Low self-esteem and co-dependency, both of which were shown in this scene, are warning signs of abusers. After this dramatic event in their relationship, Cindy went back to his place and did �prove� her love to him. They felt that their argument/profession of their true feelings brought them closer together, and Matt thought they were ready. Not wanting to trigger another emotional breakdown from him, Cindy did as he wished.
A few days later, Cindy was confronted by her friends in the hall at school. They were wondering what was going on because ever since Cindy began dating Matt, they hardly saw her or heard from her. They insisted she talk to them because something was definitely wrong. They noticed that cindy didn�t fix herself up like she used to for school. That, of course, was a result of an arguement with Matt who wondered what guy Cindy was trying to impress with her makeup and nice clothes eveyday. Cindy reassured her friends that she and Matt were as happy as ever.
Cindy: (kinda like a monologue to the audience) You all just don�t understand. We really are happy I am really sorry I have been neglecting you all. I haven�t forgotten about you, Matt�s just been going through a lot and he needs me and I need him. It just feels so good when we are together. We are closer now than we ever have been before. He�s really sweet and he loves me sooo much. I really love him too I have never been able to say that about anyone I dated before It�s amazing and I wish you all could understand.
Narrator: Cindy felt at first that she was convincing herself as well, but brushed the feelings aside. Cindy�s friends insisted that something really was wrong, but couldn�t prove anything so they agreed to take her word for the time being. Deep down though, all of them knew they wouldn�t be seeing each other anytime soon. With Cindy�s friends becoming upset with her, she felt she really did need Matt now more than ever. She knew he couldn�t live without her and decided that no love or friendship could ever top something as powerful as what he felt for her.
RED FLAG
Another warning sign of an abusive person or relationship is when other people are noticing it Slowly, Matt had gotten Cindy to detatch herself from her friends, dress the way he wanted her to, and he had gotten what he wanted to out of her sexually. All of the guilt trips he used on her were not only a part of emotional abuse, they were also tactics he used to control her. Controlling behavior is another warning sign of an abuser.
Within three months of dating, Matt and Cindy were engaged. Her friends and family were all shocked, but they insisted they were really in love and promised themselves to each other forever. After Matt graduated, and Cindy turned 18, they got married in a small ceremony in
the local courthouse. Cindy lost track of her friends and only hung out with Matt�s friends when they were around. He kept her close and as soon as they were married, things went quickly downhill. His true colors began to show even more. He had unrealistic expectations of her and she drove herself nuts trying to keep him happy. She knew if she didn�t, he would get upset, and that was never pretty. One day, while making his lunch, Cindy didn�t make it quite the way he liked it. After trying the Ramen noodles, Matt�s temper exploded and he threw the bowl in front of her, making a huge mess.
Matt: Would you eat this crap?? How do you expect me to eat this? (Screaming in her face) You didn�t drain the noodles enough, so the seasoning doesn�t even touch the freikin noodles What�s the point of even having any seasoning?? I can�t eat this Are you stupid or something? Don�t you ever think?? Gosh, I just feel like blowing my friekin head off sometimes It�s so simple Cindy When are you gonna get it?? If you really loved me at all, I would think you would know how I like something as simple as noodles
Cindy: (very upset) I am sorry honey, I didn�t mean it. I forgot how you liked it so I just made them the way I always do.
Matt: yeah you are sorry Maybe I�ll just go get the chick down the street to make me something. I bet she�d make it really good
Cindy: No honey, I will fix it Don�t go. I just wasn�t thinking.
Matt: You will fix it and I think you know how I want you to fix it too
(Cindy lowers her head and leaves the scene with Matt following her)
Narrator: Obviously the relationship has gone into extreme verbal and
emotional abuse here. Even though Matt still hasn�t physically hit Cindy, the relationship is still illegal because it is still abuse Many people think they aren�t being abused unless they are getting hit. That is not the case at all.
After Cindy properly apologized to Matt, he insisted he didn�t like having to correct her all the time. He said that he knew he had a hard time controlling himself and he didn�t want her to cause him to go off the deep end. He insisted he wouldn�t try to �protect� her like that if he didn�t love her. He insisted he was still madly in love with her and couldn�t live without her. She couldn�t deny she still loved him too. She just assumed love was such a complicated thing that it would take a lot of work and adjusting.
So, she just tried harder to please him on a daily basis to avoid sending him off the deep end. She didn�t realize though, that in the end, his explosions had nothing to do with any faults of hers. It was Matt that had the problems, he just blamed her for them.
On his next explosion, Matt got so angry that he threw a picture frame across the room. Then, another time, he pushed her down and screamed in her face. Every time he got upset, he blamed her for making him upset when she knew how easily he went off. Every time this happened, Cindy felt worse and worse about herself. She became unhappy and felt trapped. She had already been isolated from her friends, but didn�t realize Matt had anything to do with it. She just assumed it was another one of the thousand things she did wrong. Matt made her feel like she couldn�t do anything right. Cindy thought she was the one to blame though, not Matt. This was all a result of his manipulating ways. He
used his words to make her think she was to blame for everything...
After every explosion, Matt would apologize and profess his undying love for her, and remind her he couldn�t live without her and he needed her. Then things between them would be back to normal for a while. He would take her out to dinner or for another chicken nugget picnic in the park. That of course always made her smile and remember why she loved him so much. Things would be great for a while after that. Cindy tried extra hard to make him happy because she knew how important it was to concentrate on the good times instead of the bad. She learned to appreciate him for only trying to make her a better wife. (Or so he often said )
About 18 months their marriage, they had a beautiful baby boy. Cindy hoped that the precious little being would soften up her husband, because she wanted him to be happy. She didn�t realize that she was sacrificing her own happiness in the process though. She thought this could really bring them together. One night however, that wasn�t the case...
Matt: Darn it Cindy, can�t you get the baby to stop crying? ?
Cindy: I am trying honey, I don�t know what�s wrong though
Matt: Feed the thing Baboons don�t even make that much noise
Cindy: (bouncing the baby trying to sooth it) I already tried that honey, he�s won�t take the bottle
Matt: (pacing in anger) I can�t take it Cindy, make it stop
Cindy: What do you want me to do?
Matt: Don�t get smart with me Cindy
Cindy: I�m sorry, but...
Matt: Give it here Don�t you know anything?
(Matt takes the baby and yells at it to stop.)
Cindy: (comes up behind him and tries to take the baby) I�ll take care of it
(Matt pushes her down and then puts the baby on the floor and throws the bottle just over it�s head)
Cindy: (Freaking out and standing up yelling) You almost hit the baby
Matt: (smacks her across the face, making her fall and gets in her face)
Don�t you ever yell at me again unless you want to see how mad I can really get (Then he storms out and slams a door)
Narrator: When Matt slammed the bedroom door, Cindy, who was still on the floor could only see three things: her keys, the baby, and the door. She grabbed the baby and the keys and bolted out the door.
Sound familiar?
The End
(Round of applause to the actor and actress of course )