“THE INSTITUTE”
A play in one act
Act 1, Scene 1
(Lights up on two figures. One is a large, old, and tough-looking man named BRICK, who believes he is a middle-aged woman. The other is his deceased wife, a figment of his imagination. They are eating soup on a “balcony”. In all truth, the BRICK is alone in his padded, windowless cell.)
BRICK
So I hear the doorbell ring and it’s IRENE! It was Irene at the door! Would you believe it! Irene! // Yes, the one with the pearl earrings. Not the diamond ones. No, that’s Kimbralee. // Yes! // BRA!
ARDEN
NO! Her? The diamond-- //Oh, I see. KimBRA--? // Oh, my.
BRICK
Kim-BRA-lee, can you imagine? BRA BRA BRA!...Oh. Pardon my language. (Titters) Well, we had a gay old time that Tuesday afternoon. I asked how things were going with her siblings, Ariadne and Brick. She said things were fine. I noticed the way she sipped her tea: like a true professional. Just shook me to the core. Her lips were like roses surrounding a tulip of tea. Can you relate, Arden? >>
ARDEN
I’m not sure I follow….Oh….
BRICK
So then I asked how things were going with Jonah St. Valentino, her Monacan lover, and she nearly choked on the sugar lump she had been sucking on! >>
ARDEN
No!
BRICK
And five--yes!--and five Heimlich thrusts, a bathroom break, and one nap later, she told me things were going just swell with Jonah there. Irene, Irene, another afternoon with Irene!
ARDEN
Haven’t seen her in twenty years. How does she look?
BRICK
Like all other fifty-nine-year-olds. Pass the salt, won’t you?
ARDEN
(While passing the salt) What do you mean, like all other fifty-nine-year-olds?
BRICK
Oh, you know…she’s had work done, it’s obvious…facelift, Botox, the whole shebang. >>
ARDEN
Teeth whitening?
BRICK
But of course she can afford—Yes, teeth whitening, the whole production—And she has the dough for it too. So she looks like you and I and all of our friends. So cut up and nipped and tucked that it’s obvious she’s older than she looks. And so she is fifty-nine.
ARDEN
Trish, you’re only fifty seven, I thought!
BRICK
Well, give or take a couple of years, yes. You did say thirty-seven, right, dear?
ARDEN
No, I said—
BRICK
Never mind that. Care to play a game of solitaire before our walk?
ARDEN
Solitaire is a one-person game, Trish!
BRICK
I was hoping I would be able to watch you. I’m a viewer, not a doer.
ARDEN
Ha! But, Trish, you’re active in the Women’s Council. Why, the Senior Hoedown was your idea!
BRICK
So it was. Too bad I was too young to attend.
ARDEN
But I saw you there! You mixed those strange martinis and danced // with the custodian—
BRICK
I know I must have a deck of cards here somewhere. I hope Livingston didn’t eat them.
ARDEN
I’m fine, here, just chatting, Trish. No problems here. How about a slice of your famous lemon loaf? I // sure would love—
BRICK
Arden! ...Do you ever shut up! Pardon my French, but all you do is blibber on like a blubbering bubbly bobble head! Think of others for once! I don’t want to have to tolerate your tangents all day! Give me a rest! (Beat) I’m going to go draw a bath. You’re welcome to stay here and remain silent. Would you like a deck of cards? Yes, I know you do. (Beat. Arden is shocked.) You want it all, Arden. You want my beauty, my age, my life, my lemon loaf! Well, it’s mine, hear? And no one can change that! Not you, Irene, Gladys, Laverne, nor Katrina! Or any of the other ladies at the Women’s Council! I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul! Do you read me? I’ve lost too much to lose my sense of sanity! I’ve—(Realizing that Arden is not there. She was a figment of her imagination.) Oh….(He collapses and gradually begins having spasms. He thrashes about and yells.) ARDEN! ARDEN! (Shouts are heard offstage. Two white-robed medics—one male and one female—hustle in. They pull BRICK off of the floor and grab hold of him, lightly smacking his face and waving a flashlight in front of his eyes.)
MEDIC 1
Mr. Hudson? Mr. Hudson? Brick Hudson? Can you see me? Who am I?
BRICK
(Catatonic, slurred) Ahh—I—ahh, you—yahhhh—Dock-tahhh…Docktah Joe-naaah?
DR. JONAH
That’s right, it’s me here, I’m here now. Dr. Jonah. And this is Dr. Irene. We’re here now. You’re safe. You just had another…episode.
BRICK
(Regaining consciousness) Ah, ah—Arden again? Again?
DR. JONAH
Yes, I’m afraid so. Are you feeling better?
BRICK
(Beat.) Water?
DR. JONAH
Yes, yes, Dr. Irene will bring you water. (He waves his hand and DR. IRENE hurries out.)
BRICK
(Beat. He coughs, then begins to cry.) It was so real. Arden—Arden! It was—
DR. JONAH
I know, Brick. I know. But I’m here now. It seems your therapy isn’t working. We’re going to have to use this.
BRICK
(Remains limp and stoic as a rag doll as DR. JONAH puts him in a straightjacket that DR. IRENE has brought back, along with the water. BRICK sips the water from the cup with DR. JONAH’s assistance. Long beat.) Dr. Jonah?
DR. JONAH
Brick.
BRICK
I’ve lost too much.
DR. JONAH
We all have, Brick. (The two doctors escort BRICK out of his cell.)
END OF SCENE
N_q_T
