People Places And Things

Front 1

You staying the night?

Back 1

I was thinking I’d stay for a while actually.

Front 2

It’s your home.

Back 2

I’ve worked really hard Mom. I’ve taken myself apart and put myself back together. If you could see what I went through I think you’d be proud of me.

They tell you, in rehab they tell you: avoid people who make you want to relapse. Places you associate with using and objects that might be a trigger.

People, places, and things. That’s basically, you know, everything.

As long as you steer clear of people, places, and things you’ll be fine. Some places, some people, are more dangerous to be around.

Front 3

And you want to hibernate here until you feel safe to face them.

Back 3

No, no that’s not

This is the place. At his is the most dangerous place I can be. This town. This house. All this stuff.

You. You are the biggest threat to me relapsing. If I can be with you, here, at a time when I’m defenseless and vulnerable, if I can get through this then I’ll know definitively, that i’m okay. Forever.

Why are you smiling?

Front 4

Who are you being?

Back 4

What?

Front 5

I know you sweetheart. You think I can’t see when you’re lying.

Back 5

I’m not lying.

Front 6

That time I caught you smoking and you sat right there and /swore blind, tears rolling down your cheeks

Back 6

I was a kid! I was just a kid mum.

Front 7

And you smoked to pretend you were interesting. Because, unlike Mark, you never had a personality of your own.

Back 7

Don’t say that.

Front 8

You think you’re this chameleon, living hundreds of lives but you’re always just you. Full of certainty when you discover something but you never see it through and this will be no different.

Back 8

That’s not true.

Front 9

We’ve still got your violin somewhere.

Back 9

I can’t believe / you’d still hold that against me.

Front 10

Insisted on having a good one and then quit within half a year. Tennis gear the same. Pets. Moved school three times. Quit university four times. Evening classes. Fad diets. Exercise crazes. Just once I would like to have seen you graduate.

Back 10

I did.

Front 11

You’ll just have to excuse us if we / see this latest lifestyle decision within the context of a thousand abandoned projects.

Back 11

I do excuse you. Lifestyle decisions?

Front 12

It doesn’t suit you darling. The self righteous, pleasure denying role... The family is broken. Forever.

Back 12

I’m trying my best mum.

I really am.

Front 13

Okay good. Just don’t expect a ******* trophy for trying your best. That’s the bare minimum you should be doing.

Back 13

*scene end*