Characters (In Order of Appearance):

Nicholas (Nick) Mitchell
Sheila Mitchell
Doctor Reilly
Marilyn Forster?
Act One Scene One

[The play takes place in 1945, in the apartment of Sheila Mitchell and her son, Nick Mitchell. Sheila is a beautiful woman and young mother, looking to be about 33. She has long flowing hair and is very thin. Nick seems to be in the middle of his teenage years, about 15 or 16, and appears to be very handsome but seemingly modest.

The focus of the play never leaves Nick’s room. There are several bookcases filled top to bottom, a twin sized bed, one small dresser, and a large window with a window seat. The walls are a bright blue color. The floors are wooden and bare; the whole room is considerably empty.

The scene opens with Nick sitting on the window seat, watching the city below.

Sheila is talking quietly outside his shut door to someone on the telephone.

She hangs up and knocks lightly on his door, opening it a crack and sticking her head in.]?
Sheila: May I come in?

[Nick nods but does not look away from the window.

Sheila enters the room and looks around, seeming very out of place in the small area. Finally she looks at Nick.]

Sheila: Nick, sweetie.

[Nick turns his attention from the window to his mother. He has a solemn but curious look on his face.]

Sheila: That was Doctor Reilly on the phone. He wants to see you again. He’ll be dropping by any moment.

[Nick looks immediately at the floor, seeming very uncomfortable.]

Sheila: Oh, but honey, it’ll be good. He’s been making progress, he said. Things will be okay. You’ll be okay. [She smiles.] Did I tell you about the girl?

[He shakes his head, still looking uncomfortable but now making eye contact.]

Sheila: Her name is Marilyn Forster. A niece of a friend. She’s going to stay with us for a while. Some – complications – with her family at home. But, Nickie, doesn’t that sound exciting?

[He turns his head back to the window.

There is a knock on the door.]

Sheila: Oh, that must be the doctor! Come in!

[Doctor Reilly enters the room, appearing to be about the same age as Sheila and very tall. He has to duck slightly under the doorway.]

Dr. Reilly: Hello, Nick! How are we today!

[Nick stares sullenly out the window.]

Dr. Reilly: Don’t worry, son. We’ll have you talking in no time.
Sheila: Have his results come back yet?
Dr. Reilly: Yes, and it seems there is nothing wrong with him physically.
Sheila: How can that be so? He can’t say a single word! Something must be wrong!
Dr. Reilly: Now, let me finish, Ms. Mitchell. Don’t get yourself worked up. This is actually quite a good thing. It just means Nick is voluntarily being silent. This can happen sometimes, after tragic events.

[Sheila looks, horrified, at her son.]

Sheila: Nick, is this true? You’re choosing not to talk to me?
Dr. Reilly: Well, it isn’t just you. He won’t say a word to anyone. But we can fix that.
Sheila: Can you? [Her eyes have not left Nick, who is now staring fixedly at something on the blue wall.]
Dr. Reilly: Yes, certainly. I’ll just need to meet with him every day until we can uncover why he’s doing this or get him to stop.

[Sheila turns her attention slowly away from Nick and to the doctor.]

Sheila: Well, then, by all means. Come daily. Please help my son be well again. [She is visibly upset.]
Dr. Reilly: Children often act out in drastic ways when a parent dies. We’ll just have to force speech out of him. I’m sure we can make him crack.

Sheila: Oh!
[She is now crying and kneeling in front of Nick, grabbing on to his unwilling hands.]
Please, don’t leave me alone Nickie. I’m hurting too. But I’m here Nickie. Right here. Please come back to me.
[He continues to stare vacantly at the wall.

Sheila lets go of his hands and sobs harshly into her own.]

Dr. Reilly: There, there, Sheila. [He awkwardly rubs her arm.] We’ll have him back to normal in no time.

Act One Scene Two
[Nick lies in bed, stretched out on his back, staring at the wall. The window is open and a hot breeze is blowing through. He wipes the sweat from his forehead without looking away from the wall.

A knock on the door breaks his concentration. He glances over as Sheila enters the room, pushing a young girl ahead of her. The girl appears to be about 14 or 15, and moves with a shy manner, already embarrassed. She has long, flowing, curly brown hair and bright blue eyes. They leave the door open behind them. Sheila checks her watch repeatedly, seeming to be in a hurry.]

Sheila: Nick, I’d like you to meet the girl I’ve been talking about. This is Marilyn. Say hello, sweetie.

Marilyn: Oh. Hi. [She looks at the floor in an attempt to hide her blushing.]

[Nick nods in acknowledgement. Sheila breathes out with relief and takes Marilyn to the side, whispering.]

Sheila: Listen, I’ve got to meet with someone for a date tonight.

[Nick has a visible reaction, but the women do not take notice.]

Sheila: You’ll just have to stay in here with Nick until I get back later tonight. He won’t say anything. I’d bring your book in or go out and buy a magazine from the store, but don’t go too long. If he’s alone the Doctor says he’ll get worse. Understand all that honey?

Marilyn: Yes, ma’am.

Sheila: [Louder] All right, Nickie, I’ve got some things to do! I’ll be back later tonight!

[She hurries out of the bedroom and swings the door shut behind her.

There is a long silence as Nick moves from his bed to the window seat. He stares vacantly out the window while Marilyn looks around helplessly.]

Marilyn: I don’t think it’s good for you to be so quiet. Surely there’s something you’d like to say.
[Nick chuckles under his breath and shakes his head to himself.]

Marilyn: Well, that’s fine. You needn’t say anything to me. We could write notes, if you’d like something to do. Staring out that window must be dull.

[Nick looks at her curiously, and also as if she has a point.]

Marilyn: I’ll go get my notepad. Is that okay? [He nods slowly and speculatively. She smiles excitedly and stands.] I’ll be right back!

[She runs out of the room. While she is gone, Nick stands and touches one of the blue walls slowly. He looks deeply saddened by this.

Marilyn returns with a paper pad and a pen. Nick jerks away from the window and wipes his eyes.]

Marilyn: Here, I’ll start. [She sits back on the window seat, across from him.] “My parents were in a car accident.” [She says this while writing it and then looks up.] That’s why I’m here. [Nick stares at her for a long time. Just as it feels uncomfortable, Marilyn breaks the silence.] What?

[Nick takes the pad and pencil from her hands and scribbles something. He throws it back into her hands.]

Marilyn: Goodness. [She looks at the paper and reads aloud.] “My father died… in a car accident…” [She trails off and stares at the paper for a moment, and then at Nick. They stare at each other.]

Act One Scene Three
[Nick and Marilyn are sprawled across the window seat, legs over each other. There are papers littered all over the floor in front of them, and the pen has been tossed away beside the bed. They are laughing heartily and trying to talk over each other, only to break and laugh harder.

The front door closes audibly and Nick immediately stops laughing, a pale look crossing over him. For a moment he doesn’t move, but then starts gathering the papers hurriedly. Marilyn looks confused at first, and simply watches. Footsteps are heard, and she starts to grab papers as well. The two shove the papers beneath the bed as quickly as possible.

Sheila knocks on the door and they freeze. Nick looks at Marilyn and shakes his head frantically, as if to say, “don’t tell her.”

She walks in.]

Sheila: So, how was the night! [She smiles and looks at Marilyn expectantly, as Nick has adopted a sullen expression and is staring at the floor. The two are now standing.]

Marilyn: Oh – Well – [She glances at Nick for help, but he continues staring at the floor. She looks back at Sheila.] It was nice. We were just going out to get something to drink in the kitchen. That’s why we’re standing. [She grows in confidence with her lie.] We’re both so thirsty!

Sheila: What? Nick never leaves his room.

[A look of panic crosses Marilyn’s face. Nick has been growing in irritation and suddenly breaks out.]

Nick: We were talking. We were talking, okay? [He and Sheila stare at each other for a long time.]

Sheila: Oh. Well. [Pause] I guess we ought to call the doctor in the morning.

Nick: [harshly] No! No more doctors! No more goddamned tests! I just don’t want to talk to you!

[Sheila is very hurt and sits on the bed, holding her chest.]

Nick: [softer] I’m sorry. I just needed time. I talked to Marilyn all night. [Sheila shoots her a look.] She was very kind. We’re both going through this. You know about her parents. [Sheila nods.] We just talked and now it’s okay.

[Everyone is quiet for a few moments]

Nick: I want to paint the walls.

Sheila: [exhaustedly and quietly] What?

Nick: Dad and I painted these walls blue. I want to paint them another color. I can’t look at them another day. I’m really losing my mind.

Sheila: [nods with tears in her eyes] Yes, Nickie. Whatever will help.

[Nick sits on the bed with her.]

Nick: It’ll be okay, mom. [He signals Marilyn over, and she sits beside him.] We can all get through this. We can.

[Nick places his arms around both Sheila and Marilyn, in an embrace.]

Nick: [leaning down to look up at Sheila’s downturned face] Please don’t cry, mom. Please.

[Sheila nods and strains a smile. Nick looks at Marilyn, who has some tears in eye herself.]

Nick: Not you too. [He smiles in an effort to cheer Marilyn up. She smiles back.]

Marilyn: He’s right, Sheila. We should be happy. At least he’s talking again. [She elbows him playfully.]

Sheila: [drying her eyes] Yes, I suppose you’re right. [She sniffles.] Oh, I’m a mess. A certain mess. [She stands and walks to the doorway.] Let’s all get ourselves cleaned up. Will you two meet me in the kitchen for a snack in a moment?

[Both Nick and Marilyn nod eagerly.]

Sheila. Oh, good. [She smiles.] Nickie… [She smiles lovingly at her son.] I’m glad you’re all right. [She looks for a moment longer, then exits.]

[Nick and Marilyn pass looks and smile awkwardly, glancing at their feet. They finally hug.]

[Blackout.]