20 July 2015

PROMPT:  A bad haircut, a disintegrating relationship, a confused visitor, an apocalyptic event.

Allison Gregory, playwright

Carrie, 54 year old woman, sits at the table.  Dan, 59, enters.
CARRIE
Jeez, you’re hair is getting long!
DAN
And it’s gonna get longer.  The last haircut you gave me was so bad, I decided to just let it grow.
CARRIE
You look like a hipster.
DAN
Now, you’re just trying to piss me off.
CARRIE
You’re an idiot.
DAN
(with pride)
American made.
Dan starts to sit when a knock is heard.  With a sigh, Dan exits to answer it.  He comes back a few moments later with Berta, 28.
CARRIE
Hey, Berta.
Berta goes to Carrie and gives her a little hug.
DAN
Come to check up on us.
BERTA
Umm. No.
CARRIE
Well, what brings you to our humble abode?
BERTA
CPS is getting worried.
CARRIE
About Britney.
BERTA
Yup.
DAN
We’re doing everything we can, Berta.  She’s been grounded for a month.  She’s lost her phone.  We check up on her all the time.
BERTA
I know.  They know.
CARRIE
What are they thinking?
BERTA
Residential Treatment Facility.
CARRIE
She’ll never go.
BERTA
She’s seventeen.  She can leave care if she wants.
DAN
She doesn’t want to leave care!  Where would she go?!  Back to her mother?!  Her mother is a drug addict and an alcoholic.
BERTA
I know.
CARRIE
She’ll lose all her benefits if she leaves care!
BERTA
I know.
Silence.
BERTA
There’s nothing I can do.  They are afraid that something bad will happen if she stays here.
DAN
Something bad might happen, but something bad will certainly happen if she leaves care.  She’ll end up homeless, or a drug addict, or die.
CARRIE
But it won’t be their fault.
BERTA
‘Bout sums it up.
CARRIE
(quietly)
There’s nothing we or you can do?
BERTA
Call her case worker.  I will to.
Silence.
BERTA
I have another matter I need to talk to you about.
DAN
Ok.
BERTA
I have a new placement that would be perfect for ya’ll.
CARRIE
And by perfect you mean...?
BERTA
She’s out in the car.
CARRIE
Out in the car!
BERTA
It’s an emergency placement.
DAN
(with a sigh)
Tell us about her.
BERTA
She was in a home in Temple.  There were several other girls in the home.  One of the other girls in the home accused the father of sexual molesting her.
CARRIE
Your kidding!
BERTA
Nobody thinks that there was anything going on, but the department...
DAN
CYA.
BERTA
Exactly.  All the girls were removed from the home while there’s an investigation.
CARRIE
Including the young lady out in your car.
BERTA
She’s fifteen.  Mother died in a car accident when she was eleven, father got remarried and step-mom didn’t want the young lady around. Her name is Trisha.
DAN
What kind of problems does she have?
BERTA
A month ago, she was released from an Residential Treatment Facility.  She has some anger issues, PTSD, has used drugs, depression.
CARRIE
I’ll bet.
Silence.  Carrie looks at Dan.  Dan rolls his eyes and shrugs.
CARRIE
Bring her in.
Berta gives them both a little hug.
BERTA
Thank you.
Berta exits.
DAN
Hope this isn’t a mistake.
Berta returns carrying two large, over-stuffed, black garbage bags.  Trisha follows her carrying a third garbage bag.  Berta dumps hers on the floor.  Trisha tentatively sets hers down.
BERTA
This is Trisha
Trisha doesn’t lift her head.  She keeps her gaze on the floor.
TRISHA
(barley a whisper)
Hi.
Dan steps forward and extends his hand.
DAN
Hello, young lady.  I’m Dan.  Welcome to our home.
Trisha gives him her limp hand, but doesn’t look up.
TRISHA
Thank you.
Carrie gets up and goes over to Trisha.
CARRIE
Hi, Trisha.  I’m Carrie.
TRISHA
(head down)
Hi.
Carrie puts a reassuring hand gently on Trisha’s back.  Carrie picks up one of the trash bags.
CARRIE
Let me show you your room.
Trisha looks up for the first time.
TRISHA
I have a room?
DAN
Sure.
TRISHA
Wow.
Trisha picks up the bag she was carrying and follows out  Carrie, who exits.
DAN
(nodding toward the third garbage bag)
Is that all her stuff?
BERTA
Yep.
Silence.
DAN
The finest in foster care luggage.  I hate that they come into our home with all their worldly possession in garbage bags.  I feel sick when I see it.
Silence.
DAN
If we didn’t take her, what was going to happen.
BERTA
Probably a conference room cot at CPS offices.
Dan shakes his head.
End of play.