Featured Playwright of May

 Featured Playwright of May


   Congratulations to this month's featured playwright; Steven Shapiro with his play "The Waiting Room"! 
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Mr. Shapiro is a former Corporate Executive, author, and lecturer by profession and playwright by avocation. His nine plays have spanned 13 years and have been performed by universities, local and regional theatres throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Australia, and India. Three plays have been published in the United Kingdom and the United States. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Psychology from Richmond College of the City University of New York. He is a member of the Dramatist Guild of America and The Playwrights Center. 
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     THE WAITING ROOM

By Steven Shapiro

 
CAST OF CHARACTERS  

PETER – An average looking man in his 30’s 

WESLEY – A very attractive woman in her 30’s

      THE WAITING ROOM

 SCENE 1 

LOCATION 
 A psychiatrist’s waiting room. 

TIME 
 The present. 

               THE SET 

The play can take place on a simple set but should provide for two chairs and/or a chair  and a couch with a side or coffee table for magazines and a coat stand. The entrance to  the waiting room and the psychiatrist's office should be clearly delineated. 

SYNOPSIS  

Perhaps the last bastion of medical orthodoxy, the psychiatrist’s office is a place where time as a fixed fifty-minute construct has remained true to its analytical roots. And, it is  within the small treatment room, we sometimes find ourselves, or lose ourselves under  the vale and mystery of the process, obscured from view by a narrow door and resonance  of the white noise generator in the waiting room. 
It is uncommon for two people to occupy the same waiting space prior to their  appointments. Perhaps, better the psyche left to freely associate without the burden of the  banalities of waiting room small talk, or the uncomfortable silence associated with  something so very private. But what happens when two people do break the applied  psycho-physics of occupying the same space and time? Peter and Wesley, two people  brought together with the aspiration of returning to a measure of normality, unearth that  which is messy, heartbreaking, and undeniably painful. The waiting room, the weigh  station, is an emblematic embarkation point in route to the mystery just behind the  treatment door, however it is devoid of practical theory, and unconstrained by guided  psychiatric convention as practiced by Wesley, 

                THE WAITING ROOM 

SCENE 1 

At rise, a psychiatrist’s waiting room. PETER, a  
rather ordinary looking man in his 30’s, is 
nervous and tentative, sits thumbing through a copy  
of Men’s Health Magazine while frequently  
checking his wristwatch. Enter WESLEY; an  
attractive woman in her 30’s. She removes her  
coat and hangs it next to a freshly dry-cleaned suit  
enclosed in a garment bag – presumably Peter’s.  
She then turns and moves toward the seat opposite  
Peter giving him a good looking-over, as if  
inspecting a car she might buy. As she nears, a  
quizzical expression spreads across PETER'S face,  
as he looks at his watch once again, pulls out an  
appointment card and examines it. Finally,  
WESLEY grins and speaks.  

WESLEY 

Funny. 

(PETER ignores her.) 

I said funny. 

PETER 

I’m sorry…Are you talking to me? 

WESLEY 

You mean as opposed to talking to myself? 

PETER 

Well, I just… 

WESLEY 

You’re the only person in here right? I mean I’m crazy, but…but I’m not nuts. 

PETER 

No… I just thought…you might have one of those Bluetooth sets. On your cell, you  know? 

WESLEY 

Oh God no. Those things cause tumors. A friend of mine had one the size of an  apple…I’m sure it was from her cell phone. No. I was talking to you.

PETER 

Oh, okay. So what’s funny? 

WESLEY 

About tumors?... nothing. 

PETER 

No, a minute ago you said…funny. 

WESLEY 

Oh! I was just thinking. Funny you don’t strike me as being gay. 

PETER 

Oh, okay. 

(A beat) 
I mean I’m not, but what makes you say that? 

WESLEY 

Your choice of magazines. Men’s Health is for gay guys who can’t work up the courage to look at actual porn. All those shirtless muscle men…it’s like gateway homoerotica. 

PETER 

Oh, I uh…never knew that. 

(PETER waits a second then awkwardly puts it down and quickly 
picks up another. It’s Glamour. He drops it like a hot potato and 
shuffles through the pile. He comes up with Sports Illustrated.  
WESLEY snickers.) 

WESLEY 

Relax, it’s not a test. 

(A beat) 
Although…maybe it is. Maybe the doctor is watching us right now and making notes  based on our reading choices. Like if I pick People I’m shallow and narcissistic. Popular Mechanics means I’m a closet lesbian. And, Martha Stewart Living means…Hmm…what would that mean? 

PETER 

You’re a frigid control freak. 

WESLEY 

Exactly! Better play it safe…hand me Cosmo. 

(PETER hands her the magazine. She immediately rips out a page,  
crumple,s it throws it in the trash, and then starts flipping through  
the articles.)

PETER 
What’s that all about? 

WESLEY 
Cosmo? Fashion, relationships…sex. 

PETER 

No, the thing with…ripping out the page? 

WESLEY 

Oh that! Page 13. Bad number. Got to go. 

PETER 

You’re superstitious? 

WESLEY 
Not really. But if I don’t take out page 13, I have to get up and touch the light switch ten  times. So…this is easier, even if I’m defacing someone else’s magazine. 
(PETER eyes her suspiciously then takes out his appointment card  
again and checks his watch.) 

PETER 

Excuse me. Are you seeing Dr. Hershberg or Dr. Shaw? 

WESLEY 

Sam – Dr. Hershberg. 

PETER 

Not noon I hope? 

WESLEY 

No, one o’clock. 

PETER 

A bit early. 

WESLEY 
Well, one o’clock is really thirteen o’clock, ya’ know? So I set my watch an hour back  that way when I start, it’s says twelve not thirteen. 

PETER 

(Totally confused.) 
And yet...you still show up an hour early?

WESLEY 
I know. Crazy right? Hey look at this! 

(WESLEY shows him the cover of Cosmo.) 
Seventy-Five! 

PETER 
Is that another bad number? You gonna’ rip that out too? 
WESLEY 
No, it’s just…look. Our Seventy-Five Hottest Love Techniques. Seventy-five! Doesn’t  that sound like a lot? I mean, I’ve been around the block a few times…more than a few,  actually. And I bet I could only come up with, like twenty, or thirty actual sex techniques  before I get into the weird stuff. 

(PETER nods his head, unsure of how to react. There is an  
awkward pause as he squirms in his chair.) 

I just made you uncomfortable right? What was it? Talking about sex in general or  myself in particular? 

PETER 

No. It’s just…this isn’t what I expected…from a waiting room. I thought you were  supposed to wait…you know…for the doctor And…not talk. 

WESLEY 

Oh my God! You’re a virgin. 
PETER 
What? No! I was married you know. 

WESLEY 

No. I meant first-timer. For therapy. But it’s interesting that your mind went right for  the sexual meaning. 

PETER 

What? You are crazy! You talk about gay porn, and weird sex techniques, and then call me a virgin, and I’m not supposed to assume you mean in the sexual sense?  

WESLEY 

Assume. The word “assume” starts with “ass”. And from the way you were checking  mine out when I walked in— 

PETER 

That’s it. Goodbye. I’ll come back another day.

(He gets up, grabs his garment bag and walks out slamming the  
door. WESLEY shrugs, and goes back to reading “Cosmo”. A 
moment passes and then PETER enters again.) 
No. You know what? I’m here for a noon appointment. 
(He sits as if he’s reclaiming his territory.) 

You’re the one who’s an hour early. You should be the one to leave. 

 WESLEY 

Why? Because it’s awkward? Look, I’m fine with awkward. My whole life is awkward.  Like this one time, I was in bed with two guys and— 

PETER 

(Over) 
Please don’t talk to me anymore. I just want to sit here and read this article  about… South American soccer…until it's time for my appointment. 


WESLEY 

Fine. Suit yourself. Explore your foot fetish. 

(Several moments pass.) 

Look, I’m sorry. It isn’t me…. Well not most of me, but it’s the meds. It keeps check on  the behaviors, but they make me a bit amped up and blabby. 

(PETER looks up and considers.) 

PETER 

Stabalene? 

WESLEY 

Yeah. 

PETER 

What dosage? 

WESLEY 

200 milligrams. How do you know this stuff? I thought you were a vir –a newbie? 

PETER 

I’m a pharmacist. 200 milligrams explain a lot. You might want to ease off a bit. 

WESLEY 

And spend all day counting the cracks in the wall? God no! I’m not going back to that particular level of hell. Things aren’t great, but at least I’m moving forward. 

(There is another moment of silence.)  

PETER
 
Look, I’m sorry too. Like you said…I’m a newbie to most of this. I know about the  meds…but I’m not so good with…the talking. At least not lately. 

WESLEY 

Yeah okay.

 (Beat) 
I’m Wesley by the way. 

PETER 

I’m Peter. 

(PETER has lightened up a bit.) 

I’ve seen a therapist before and it didn’t work out. 

WESLEY 

That happens. It’s like dating. You got to hop into bed with a lot of losers before you find somebody to stick with. 

PETER 

I guess that’s the way it is…for most people…I mean. 

WESLEY 

But not you huh? Don’t tell me. The wife you mentioned…she was the first? 

PETER 

No… I mean I went to college. There were girls. 

WESLEY 

But she’s the one you really loved right? And things ended badly, and now you’re here  because you think the doctor can fix things? 

PETER 
Well...my former doctor told me Dr. Hershberg is very highly regarded. 

WESLEY 

I agree. But, somewhat unconventional. 

(Beat) 
You’ll do fine.  

WESLEY 

(A pause while WESLEY looks at the coat stand.) 

What’s with the—? 

PETER 

Oh, my dry cleaning. 

WESLEY 

Funeral or hot date after your shrinkage? 

PETER 

Neither. I have an interview after the session.
 
WESLEY 

Why didn’t you just wear the suit? 

(A pause. Then reluctantly.) 

PETER 

(Softly) 
Wrinkles. 

WESLEY 

What? 

PETER 

WRINKLES. 

WESLEY 
You did say wrinkles. Those little irregular creases in your-- 

PETER 

(A bit indignant) 

(Over)
 I know what they are. This interview is very important and I didn’t want to look like I slept in my suit.  

WESLEY 

You’re losing me here. 

PETER 

Well…as you said… the doctor’s unorthodox approach has me a bit anxious. 

WESLEY 

Unconventional. 

PETER 

Ok, my precise thoughts about Dr. Hershberg’s unconventional approach was, if I need  to be on the…you know…the couch….or on the floor, or swing off monkey bars— 

WESLEY 

Monkey bars?  

PETER 

Hey. I don’t know what to expect. I thought it's best to dress casual. 

WESLEY 

Well, there isn't a dress code. That’s what Sam says anyway.

PETER 

Why do you call the Doctor Sam? It's says on the door W.S. Hershberg, MD. 

WESLEY 

Yeah? Anyone who is presumptuous enough to start a name with 2 initials should be  called a lot worse …unless…I mean you’re TS Elliot.  

PETER 

Shouldn't a doctor be accorded some professional respect?

WESLEY 

Sure.  

PETER 

Then why not Dr. Hirshberg? Or just Doctor? 

WESLEY 

I don’t know. It just seemed comfortable is all. That’s what good therapy is about. Feeling like you can say, or call anyone anything right? 

PETER 

Within reason, I suppose. I always thought that things should stay civil. It's a professional relationship right? 

WESLEY 

It's a relationship like any other...it requires give and take. Names and titles aren't really as important as making an effort to communicate. 

PETER 

(Sarcastically) 

That doesn't seem to take much effort at all in your case. 

WESLEY 

Yes, I can't shut up. We've covered that. 

PETER 
Doesn't that cause problems? Like at your job? You have one right? 

WESLEY 

Two actually. I'm an actress and a waitress. Being talkative helps with both.   

PETER 

And your other afflictions don’t get in the way? 

WESLEY 

Those? Nah.

PETER 

So you always wanted to act? 

WESLEY 

Not at first. I needed a steady job, so a waitress fit my energy level. The money is okay and they threw in letting me clean the bar and all the tables at the end of the evening. 

PETER 

And the acting? 

WESLEY 

I owe that totally to Sam

 (Sarcastically) 
Dr. Hershberg.  

PETER 

That’s remarkable. Sounds like a talented psychiatrist. 

WESLEY 

Yeah, but there’s still this…well…this thing about getting here too early and annoying patients. Needs some work. 

PETER 

May have a point.  

WESLEY 
Where was I? Oh! My acting. We were doing some role playing and came to realize that some of my…well… rituals disappeared when I became someone else. 

PETER 

Someone else? Sounds a bit-- 

WESLEY 

Crazy? 

PETER 

Well yeah?  

WESLEY 

Sometimes total emersion into a role reduces anxiety. Kind of like James Earl Jones. 

PETER 
The actor? He suffers from OCD? 

WESLEY 
Why would you assume he has OCD?

PETER 

Oh I don’t know. Train of thought maybe? 

WESLEY 

No. He’s a terrible stutterer until he gets into character. Then out of nowhere comes this marvelous baritone voice of Othello. 

PETER 

Didn’t know that. Sort of interesting. 

WESLEY 

Yeah, we developed some great techniques to use which really help a lot. Sam would make a fortune in the acting field. There are those who say that the techniques go a bit too far, though I tend to...immerse myself in the character. It can be hard to know who I am sometimes. 

PETER 

I guess that could be troublesome. Depending on whom you're pretending to be. 

WESLEY 
A couple of years ago I was in Streetcar Named Desire, in this little 99-seat place downtown. I played Blanche, of course, but when the cast and crew figured out I couldn't drop the character when the curtain came down...let's just say 

(In her best Vivian Lee accent, she sits uncomfortably close and  
caresses PETER’s arm flirtatiously.) 

I had my share of "kindness" from an awful lot of strangers backstage. Some nights I was so sore I could barely walk out and deliver my lines. 

(PETER shifts uncomfortably in his seat.) 

WESLEY 
There it is again. 

PETER 

What? 

WESLEY 

Every time the subject turns to sex, you do this little squirming thing in your chair. 

PETER 

I do not... 

WESLEY 
Oh, yes you do. That, in a poker game is what's called a "tell". So, what are you hiding  that you'll only tell the doctor? What's the dark, sexual secret? Hookers? Voyeurism? 

PETER 

No! It's not...it isn't sexual at all actually. I'm here because I have problems at work. 

WESLEY 

Oh, please. Gossipy co-workers and demanding bosses? Those aren't Dr. Hershberg's stock and trade. 

PETER 

No. My co-workers are fine, and I'm the boss. I'm a pharmacist. But...I hate it. I hate everything about it. 

WESLEY 

So, there's a career counselor on the sixth floor. 

PETER 

I know. I've seen her. She sent me to the other therapist. Then he sent me here. 

WESLEY 

So you hate your chosen career. Hate it with a passion that leads you to therapy. 

PETER 
Yes. Except it isn't my chosen career. It's just what I ended up with when I dropped out of med school. 

WESLEY 

Med school? Oh no, not another wannabe shrink! 

PETER 

No, no. A cardiologist actually. At least that was our plan? 

WESLEY 

Our plan, not your plan? 

PETER 

Ours. Me and Cynthia. My wife. You were right when you guessed that things ended  badly. But they were probably doomed from the start. Us being together was...never in the numbers. 

WESLEY 

Goody!…numbers. 

PETER 

Fours marrying fours and eights marrying eights. If you see a couple that doesn’t add up, it’s usually because of money.


WESLEY 

So, I take it you married above your number. 

PETER 

Several digits. 

WESLEY 

And she was expecting a doctor? Success? Money? 

PETER 

Yeah. 

(Beat) 
Uh, look...I'm not comfortable talking about this anymore. 

WESLEY 

Why? 

PETER 

Whaddaya mean,why, I've already told you more than I told my therapist...and I just met you. 

WESLEY 

Well, presumably, you had just met him too. 

PETER 

But he was a professional! A Doctor! 

WESLEY 
And you're not. Is that the problem? 

PETER 

Yes, I mean...NO! YOU'RE not! That's the problem!! 

WESLEY 

Ah, but you said "yes" before you said "no." Dr. Sam says the first answer is always the most honest. Dr. Sam says... 

PETER 

Shut up! I'm not here to talk to you! I'm not going to talk to you about my life...my wife!  You're just...just some dirty-talking sex crazed nut! 

(He throws the magazine to the floor. There is a pause.) 

WESLEY 
Okay...that hurt a little bit.

PETER 

Ah...Oh, jeez. I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. 

WESLEY 

You said it pretty forcefully... 

PETER 

Yeah, I know. It's just...I lost it a little because...you sort of remind me of Cynthia.  You're beautiful, like her. 

(Beat) 
The truth is...going to med school...that was what I always wanted for myself...but then later it got tied up with wanting her. In case you hadn't noticed, I'm kinda' ordinary. But doctors...even the plain ones have gorgeous wives, right? 
WESLEY 

So, you married the beautiful woman. And you
 were on your way to being a doctor. What happened? 

PETER 
Well, it sounds uncomplicated. But, we met, fell in love, I started med school, and we decided to get married. She would work in the salon while I would go to school. 

WESLEY 

She was a stylist? 

PETER 

Yeah, upscale salon.  

WESLEY 

Sounds like a nice beginning. A story you tell your grand kids. 

PETER 

Yeah, beginnings are usually wonderful. Unfortunately, middles muddy the marriage up and before you know it, the two of you are hanging from a chandelier waiting for the  marriage to collapse into a thousand pieces. 

WESLEY 

Pretty dark take on things. 

PETER 

(Amused) 
Did you ever hear the joke about never marrying a beautiful woman?

WESLEY 

No. 

PETER 

Well, it’s something like; The first guy says to the second guy, “Never marry a beautiful woman. The second guy says, why? The first guy says, because they always leave. The  second guy says, well an ugly woman can leave as well. To which the first guy says, yeah, but who cares?”  

WESLEY 

And you find this funny? 

PETER 
I
n a kind of rip your kidneys out, disemboweled, cut your nuts off kinda’ way – yeah. 

WESLEY 

Maybe it’s in the telling. 

PETER 

So, have you ever been married? 

WESLEY 

No. 

PETER 

Ever cheated on? 

WESLEY 

Depends on the ground rules. 

PETER 

Hum. Have you ever lost something precious? 

WESLEY 

And if I said yes, would it change the way you feel?  

PETER 

Probably not. 

WESLEY 

So, you feel like your insides have been ripped out. 

PETER 
Yup, I think I covered enough organs to make my point.


WESLEY 

Interesting choice of organs. You left one out...one that should be obvious to a man who was studying to be a cardiologist. 

PETER 

Ah, that. That's still there. 

WESLEY  

How do you know? 

PETER 

(Lengthy pause as he becomes emotional.) 

Because...it hurts...so.... 

(WESLEY nods) 

WESLEY 

Peter, have you ever heard the saying, "The heart wants what it wants?" 

PETER 
Yeah, sure I guess? 

WESLEY 
That's the phrase that usually leads people to show up in rooms like this one. Their heart wants something...something they never think they may ever get. 

PETER 

I guess that makes sense. 

WESLEY 

But the thing that trips people up is what the heart wants is almost never the same as what it needs. This leads to conflict...and the conflict leads people here. 

PETER 

And you know this from what? Your years as a patient? You have this incredible insight because you're nuts? 

WESLEY 

Crazy but not nuts. I thought I made that perfectly clear. 

PETER 

Yeah, well...it's a fine line. 

WESLEY 

Your tone is getting nasty again. Is it because I'm a woman? Or because I'm a woman who reminds you of Cynthia?


PETER 

I don’t know...maybe because you're crazy, or maybe I'm crazy. 

WESLEY 

You don't seem crazy to me. You seem mostly angry. Even the joke you told...it had an  edge of anger behind it. Frustration. 

PETER 

Frustration. Yes, I am frustrated... 

WESLEY 

Because? 

PETER 

Because, I failed. My wife is gone!  

WESLEY 

So she left you. 

PETER 

I...left her. 

WESLEY 

Why? 

PETER 

Things got bad. 

WESLEY 

But they started good?  

PETER 

Well, like you she is a stunner. She could have any guy...and she wanted me. You know  how that made me feel? Just some schlub studying to be a doctor, up long nights with  coursework...but I always had time to look forward to. She liked to sleep over because  my place was closer to work. So, I thought, why not take a leap. 

WESLEY 

You proposed? 

PETER 

Borrowed money, too much...to buy a killer ring. Knocked her socks off. Same with the wedding and the honeymoon. I'd figure I'd pay it back when I had a successful practice.
 
WESLEY 

But that didn't happen. 

PETER 

She...she started pulling away. 

WESLEY 

Pulling away...you mean she stopped screwing you, right? 

PETER 

Well I wouldn't say it that way, but...yeah. No sex. For a long time.  

WESLEY 

You still loved her? 

PETER 

Of course! Life isn't just sex. 

WESLEY 

That's just one point of view. But I'm kinda' of a sex-crazed nut remember? 

PETER 

I apologize for calling you that. 

WESLEY 

I know. But I think you said it for a reason. I think you needed to say it for a long time. 

PETER 

What? I just met you!  

WESLEY 

Not to me, Peter.  

PETER 

Then to whom? 

WESLEY 

Forget it for now. 

(Beat) 
So why did she stop wanting sex? 

PETER 

She didn't. She just stopped wanting it with me.  

(As he summons up the courage.) 
I had a rare day off after exams. So why not drop by the salon and surprise Cynthia? When I got there the manager says she was running a couple of errands, so I decided to get a cut and a shave while I waited.

WESLEY 

And nobody knew who you were? 

PETER 

Nope. Was only there one other time to drop her off. 

WESLEY 

And? 

PETER 

The shop wasn’t that busy so I asked for a guy. 

(Beat) 
I thought the cut anyone can do. But it takes a guy to really give a good shave. 

WESLEY 

So presumably he starts to cut your hair and something happens? 


PETER 
Well, the usual guy talk during the cut. But then right in the middle of shaving me. I’m lying back, completely exposed, and this…this guy literally has a straight razor against  my neck when it hits me that the woman he’s talking about screwing…the woman he  describes…is my wife. The blood drained from my face. He could’ve cut my throat and  not a drop would’ve come out. 

WESLEY 

So you left her? 

PETER 
No. Not right away. I blamed myself. All the hours studying...In my mind, I even  forgave her a little bit. But it was there between us, and I couldn't make it go away. My grades started to slip. I lost focus. In the end, I cobbled together enough courses to get  my pharmacist license, and then I dropped out. Things got worse from there. 

WESLEY 

Sounds pretty bad already. 

PETER 

I failed in my career, so why not my marriage as well? I filed for divorce...she didn't  fight it. I'm pretty sure she was relieved. 

WESLEY 
Yet now you want her back.

PETER 

I didn't say that. 

WESLEY 

You didn't have to. You called her your wife, not your ex. You make excuses for her, talk about how beautiful she is...all these things tell me you still love her. 

PETER 

It doesn't matter anyway. She won't talk to me...never returns my calls. She even blocked my email...like I'm some stalker. I'm not, by the way. 

WESLEY 

Hey, I'm not judging you. Just listening. But if you really want her back, the question I  ask is...why? 

PETER 

Because...she's who I fell in love with! She's who I'm supposed to spend my life with! We had a plan! We had a future! It wasn't supposed to be like this! I'm not supposed to hate my life! 

(Beat) 
You see that suit there? 

WESLEY 

Of course. 

PETER 

Every day for the last six months I bring that suit with me to the pharmacy. 

WESLEY 

And you never wear it? 

PETER 

Nope. I even have it cleaned every two weeks. 

WESLEY 
Then why? 

PETER 
Every time things get bad, I hope I can find the courage. 

WESLEY 

Courage to do what?


PETER 

To forgive myself for believing I was a failure. To put that suit on, hop in a cab and go talk to The Dean of Admissions at the Medical School. See if I can find some way of  finishing. 

WESLEY 

And what prevents you? 

PETER  

Cynthia. Her last words were I was “worthless as a husband, a man, and woulda' been a failure as a doctor.” 

WESLEY 

And what did you say? 

PETER 

When? 

WESLEY 

When she said that to you. What did you say to her? 

PETER 
I...said. I said nothing. 

WESLEY 

But you wanted to say something? 

PETER 

No. Maybe. I don't know. 

WESLEY 

Peter, you say you still love her. You say you want her back...that you want to go back to when you had a plan, and your future was still ahead of you. Okay. Go back...but go back to the exact moment when she said that to you, and tell me what you wish you could  tell her. If you want to fix things...to make your marriage work, tell me. But if there's  something else...just say it. 

PETER 

I... can't. This is stupid. 

WESLEY 

Here. I'll help. 

(Wesley lets down her hair and takes on a vampish caricature of 
PETER'S ex-wife.)

WESLEY (Cont’d) 

"You're worthless. You're worthless as a man, and as a husband. You'll never be a  doctor. You're just a pharmacist! You count pills! It's pathetic! You might as well  throw away that suit...you're too scared to put it on. You're..." 

PETER 

SHUT UP!!!! This is your fault! We had a future, and you threw it away! You fucked another man! And probably others too! You...You're a SLUT!!! 

WESLEY 

(Still in character.) 
Yeah, I'm a slut! So what? I'm the best you'll ever do! You still want me. 

PETER 

No...no I don't! I want what I thought we had...But we never really had that! 

WESLEY 

You still need me. You can't do it alone. You don't have the guts. 

PETER 

Maybe I don't...but either way...it's got nothing to do with you! I had a life...I had goals before they got all tied up with you! And I can have them again...I just need...to take you  out of it. I need to untangle it all so that I can see again, without you being a part of it. 

WESLEY 

And the future? 

PETER 

It's still in the future! I can do what I want...without you. 

WESLEY 

Because? 

PETER 

Because I don't love you anymore! And I don't want you back!!! 

(There is silence as PETER realizes what he's just said. He sits  
back in his chair as if stunned.) 

WESLEY 

Okay. Some honesty at last. Good. 

(She pulls her hair back as she checks her watch.) 

I think we used up most of your time, but if you want to come into the office, we can set  something up for next week.

PETER 

What? Set what up? 

WESLEY 

A schedule for more sessions. We've turned a corner today, but there's still a long way to go, Peter. 

PETER 

What are you talking about? 

WESLEY 

I'm Dr. Hershberg. Wesley Samantha Hershberg. 

PETER 

You? W.S. Hershberg? 

WESLEY 

You can call me Sam if you like. 

(PETER and DR. HERSHBERG slowly exit toward her office as  
the stage lights fade to black.) 

 END OF PLAY

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I hope you enjoyed this month's featured playwright! For more plays by talented writers, come back next month! ___________________________________________________________________________________

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