Scene 4

The lights come up the stage, showing ROBIN sitting alone in a chair opposite of another empty chair on the side of the stage, and EMMA and TYLER sitting at a table on center stage, playing games and drawing. EMMA is a girl whose arms are completely covered with scars, some big, some small, some new and red, some old and white/skin-colored. She is very calm, happy even, and enjoys talking to TYLER, who is quite the opposite. TYLER is filled with visible anxiety. Next, TARA, in business casual attire, walks from offstage and seats herself in the chair across from ROBIN; she carries a pen and a clipboard, on which she takes notes during the conversation.

TARA So. It’s Robin, right?

ROBIN Yeah.

TARA My name’s Tara. I use she/her pronouns, and I like dogs. Specifically big dogs. What can you tell me about yourself, Robin?

ROBIN My pronouns are they/them/theirs, and, um, I like… um. I don’t know. is very shy and doesn’t make eye contact

TARA That’s okay! Sometimes we really need time to think about the question. So, before we’re done talking today, just let me know what it is that you like! I understand that especially with people that end up here, they often don’t even know themselves or have just gone through something traumatic and can’t really focus at all times. And that’s just fine. Dan will explain more about the difference between wanting to change and being willing, but I’ll let him get there.

ROBIN Okay. Who’s Dan?

TARA Dan is another one of our therapists here, and he’s really fun. I can’t even, like, describe him to you, he’s such a character. Anyways, tell me some more about yourself! What’s going on in your life right now? I’ve read your file, so I know the basics, but I don’t know anything specific, so catch me up.

ROBIN Um, okay. Well, uh, it all started a while ago when I first realized I was transgender. I finally had, like, a word for all of the experiences I’ve been having, and it felt amazing. I was so excited, I kinda came out really quickly to, like, everyone. My super Catholic friend, Lexie, told me that I’m going to hell, and my other childhood friend, Kayla, told me to just kill myself. Um, then there was my mom, who cried and asked why I would do this to her. And then, uh, my dad, who stayed up all night to convince me that I was wrong.

TARA Wow. I am so sorry that you had to go through all of that. That is completely terrible, and no one should have to go through what you’ve gone through. Surely you’ve had some good luck, right?

ROBIN Well, my, uh, friend… Ezra. He bought me my first binder. Beat. It’s a-

TARA Oh, I know what a binder is. I have multiple transgender friends. Are you wearing it now?

ROBIN Yeah… moves their sleeve to reveal a pretty mermaid-patterned piece of cloth that they are obviously wearing under their shirt See?

TARA Oh my God, that is so pretty! That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you!

ROBIN Uh, thanks. They say with a small smile.

TARA Well, you’ve got a lot going on right now, but you’ve clearly got at least one friend, right? That Ezra kid?

ROBIN I guess so, yeah. I’ve never really thought of him before like that, but yeah, I guess he is a friend.

TARA Awesome! I want you to think more about Ezra, but I have to go now and do some therapist-y stuff. You’ve got some time now to meet the other kids here, Emma and Tyler. They both stand and walk towards the table where EMMA and TYLER are sitting together. ROBIN pulls up a chair and awkwardly sits between them, unsure. Emma, Tyler, this is Robin. They’re our newest patient here. You still have some more free time today, but lunch will be coming soon. Bye! TARA exits, and EMMA and TYLER both stare at ROBIN for a long time, smiling comfortingly.

EMMA Well, I guess I’ll say something. I’m Emma. What’re you here for?

ROBIN I, uh, I jumped off of a bridge in an attempt to, um, end it.

EMMA Me too. Well, not jumping off of a bridge. I tried to kill myself too, is what I mean. I OD’d.

ROBIN What’s that?

EMMA Overdosed.

ROBIN Oh. Long beat.

TYLER Well, since you’re probably wondering, I’m here because I’m suicidal too, but I never attempted it. I’ve also got hallucinations and severe sleeping and eating disorders. Right now, I’m still here because we can’t find a medicine that will work properly for me yet.

ROBIN Um, don’t they all work the same way?

TYLER Nope. Some work for some people and some don’t. It’s really weird. People don’t give much attention to mental health, so information about it isn’t as widely known.

ROBIN Hmm… So, when are you guys getting out of here?

EMMA Well, I’m leaving tonight, so-

ROBIN Got any advice? Any wise words? Things to consider?

EMMA Let me think about it… I guess just listen to Dan. He’s great. Once you’ve heard him speak, your life will be changed forever. Seriously. He’s awesome.

ROBIN I keep hearing about this Dan person. Who is he?

TYLER Dan is a therapist here. He’s got, well, history, let’s just say. It’s not my story to tell you though.

ROBIN What do you mean “history?”

TYLER I mean, he’s certainly had his share of misfortunes and life experiences. You’ll understand when you speak to him tomorrow. And hell, after that, you may leave the day after tomorrow at the earliest!

ROBIN Really?

TYLER I mean, assuming they don’t do something weird with your meds like they did for me. Are you already on meds?

ROBIN No…

TYLER Good. They’ll probably start you on Zoloft or Prozac or something. That’s what they do for everyone. Except me.

EMMA Yeah, Tyler’s basically tried everything as some point. Nothing seems to work.

ROBIN Huh. What’s the longest that someone’s ever had to stay here?

EMMA Well, I asked the nurses that a couple days ago, and they said that it was about nine months. But I wouldn’t assume that you’d be here anywhere near that long.

ROBIN No?

TYLER No. Most people are out within three to five days at the most.

EMMA Yeah, you seem just like everyone else I’ve seen come in and out of here so far, and they’ve only taken a few days at most.

ROBIN Huh. Well, I guess that’s good then?

EMMA Yep.

ROBIN How long have you guys been here?

EMMA Today is my fifth day, and I’m leaving tonight.

TYLER I’ve got no clue when I’m leaving. It’s probably not very soon. Anyways, today marks a week here for me.

EMMA Yeah, we’ve both been here for a while. Anyways, I heard earlier from some nurses that we have some new kid coming in this afternoon. Some girl from far away that tried to hang herself. She was in the other part of the hospital for a few days but is being transferred here. I even heard that she was only twelve years old.

TYLER Shit, that poor child… Imagine being a suicidal twelve year old kid.

ROBIN How old are you guys?

EMMA Fifteen. You?

ROBIN Seventeen.

TYLER I’m sixteen.

EMMA Anyways, you never told us too much about why you’re here. You don’t have to, but I was just curious.

ROBIN Oh, um. Well, you see, I’m transgender. I’m nonbinary. Not a girl or a boy. My pronouns are they/them/theirs. So, I told my family and friends about it and- They notice their expressions. Wait, you’re fine with that?

EMMA My friend, I’ve been through enough that believing in other genders isn’t that far-fetched, you know? I don’t really care. Just tell me what to call you, and I’m fine with it.

TYLER I’m asexual and aromantic, so I’m part of the LGBTQ+ community too. I’m not gonna be any kind of gatekeeper, so you do you, I guess.

ROBIN Really? Wow. That’s awesome. I wish that my family and friends accepted me like that. Yeah, they didn’t. Instead, they told me to kill myself and asked why I was such a toxic, manipulating person for doing this to them.

TYLER Oh, ouch. My parents told me that I just hadn’t met the right girl yet. I guess you’ve got it worse though. That would be horrible.

EMMA Yeah, I’m so sorry you had to go through that. Surely you’ve got someone on your side, though? Right? At least one person?

ROBIN shrugs I guess there’s this one kid. Ezra is his name. Apparently, he jumped in the river after me to try to save me. He’s here in the hospital too, injured because of me. They sigh and look down.

EMMA Listen. We’re not allowed to touch each other, so just imagine that I’m touching your shoulder in a comforting way, okay? Okay. Well. It looks like you’ve found your new friend. Sometimes, life is lonely, and for some people, that’s a majority of their lifetime. But! We can’t be picky when it comes to loved ones. Just because he’s injured now doesn’t mean anything. He knew the risks when he jumped in that river after you.

TYLER Yeah. He cared enough about you that he put his own life in danger because he couldn’t stand the thought of a world without you. Have you ever thought of it like that?

ROBIN I… I guess I haven’t. I mean, still. It’s all my fault that he’s hurt now.

EMMA Who cares whose fault it is? We can argue about that all day, but lunch is almost here, and we have better things to do. What matters is that you’ve found someone who, despite all of the things that make you different from your average person, cares about you enough to jump into a river after you. Maybe it’s time to stop saying sorry and start saying thank you instead.

TYLER It’s so, so hard to accept people’s help. I know that firsthand. But, if you ever want to get better, and even if you don’t, you need to learn how to do just that.

ROBIN But-

EMMA glances offstage at nurses coming on with trays of food, one for each kid. Lunch is here. Let’s eat. We’re not allowed to talk to each other while we eat though.

ROBIN Why?

EMMA shrugs Don’t ask me.

TYLER We have to sit at different tables, too.

ROBIN Hmm. Okay. Fine.

EMMA Well, enjoy your meal.

ROBIN You too.

TYLER Ooh, cheesecake today!

As these last few lines are said, sound/lights fade out into…

END SCENE 4