Places You Go by William Ivers
This Play is the copyright of the Author and must NOT be Performed without the Author's PRIOR consent
ACT 1
ERIK SATIE’S GYMNOPEDIE NO. 1 PLAYS AS LIGHTS COME UP ON MADDY WHO IS ASLEEP IN A HOSPITAL BED. THERE IS A SMALL BANDAGE ON HER HEAD, AND SHE IS WIRED TO A HEART MONITOR.
THE MUSIC SLOWLY FADES INTO THE SOUND OF THE BEEPING MONITOR, WHICH IS HEARD FAINTLY THROUGHOUT THE FIRST ACT. AFTER A MOMENT, DR. HUGHES ENTERS. HE EXAMINES MADDY’S CONDITION AND TAKES A FEW NOTES.
Enter, DEB.
She is frantic.
DEB
What happened? Maddy? Maddy!
Sees MADDY in the bed, rushes over.
Oh my God!
DR. HUGHES
Whips around, steps in front of DEB, but timidly.
Don’t wake her––she’s doing well.
DEB
Rushes past DR. HUGHES, goes to the bed.
You call that doing well?
DR. HUGHES
Please lower your voice, ma’am. She’ll be fine––really. She’s sleeping soundly now.
Reaches out to shake hands. DEB ignores the gesture.
I’m Dr. Hughes. Are you mom?
DEB
Yeah. She’s not in a coma, is she?
DR. HUGHES No, not at all…just a very deep sleep.
DEB
Your voicemail message was vague, Doctor. What kind of crash are we talking about?
DR. HUGHES
Two cars were involved. But I don’t know much more at this point, I’m afraid.
DEB
Noticing the bandage.
Oh my God…what’s wrong with her head? Did she hit her head?
DR. HUGHES
She sustained only a minor concussion.
DEB
What?
DR. HUGHES
Fortunately, her head impacted ground and not pavement when she was thrown from the vehicle.
DEB
Thrown from the vehicle?
DR. HUGHES
A few inches the other way, we could be in a very different situation. We should see a full recovery.
DEB
Should? What do you mean should?
DR. HUGHES
The initial scans show no internal bleeding or serious brain damage that will effect her long-term.
DEB
What about her hands?
DR. HUGHES
Her hands?
DEB
She didn’t injure a hand, break any fingers, did she?
DR. HUGHES
Uh…no broken bones whatsoever. All things considered…she’s very lucky.
DEB
I guess. What’s with the wire?
Notices cardiograph machine.
What’s with the wire?
DR. HUGHES
Her heart rate was alarmingly high earlier, so we have her on a cardiac monitor.
DEB
Where the hell’s her father? She’s supposed to be with him this weekend.
DR. HUGHES
I left him a voicemail as well.
DEB
Who’s the other driver?
DR. HUGHES
I’m sorry, but we can’t disclose that.
DEB
Why?
DR. HUGHES
HIPAA.
DEB
What’s HIPAA?
DR. HUGHES
A patient’s right to privacy.
DEB
And what about a mother’s right to know who the hell slammed a car into her daughter?
(Pause)
Was the guy drunk? I’ll bet he was drunk.
DR. HUGHES
Ma’am…
DEB
Was he?
DR. HUGHES
Mrs. Weare––I understand your feelings, but patient confidentiality is an important priority here at Sacred Heart Hospital. It’s also the law––
DEB
You’re supposed to say that, I get it. But I won’t tell. Honest.
DR. HUGHES
I really can’t. You’ll have to wait for the police to…
DEB
I’m not waiting on those keystone cops. But my husband––well, ex––he’s a detective in town. He’ll want answers. He’d better want answers.
DR. HUGHES
I understand your frustration.
DEB
Oh, you do? Do you have kids?
DR. HUGHES
No, not yet.
DEB
When you do, you’ll find lawyering up is the best way to get mad––and the sooner the better.
DR. HUGHES
Well, rest is most important now. The Alprazolam should help her stay asleep the rest of the night.
DEB
The what?
DR. HUGHES
Alprazolam. Xanax.
DEB
You gave her Xanax without my consent?
DR. HUGHES
She’s eighteen, ma’am, and she was experiencing a high level of panic. Xanax is a benzodiazepine which aids––
DEB
Takes pill bottle out of purse and shakes it.
Yeah, yeah––I know all about Xanax. Believe me.
DR. HUGHES
I see. It may be a good time to take one of those, Mrs. Weare. If you’re relaxed it will help your daughter to do the same.
DEB
Relax? You’re joking.
Calms slightly.
You’re very young, Dr. Hughes. You don’t look much older than my daughter.
DR. HUGHES
I’m sure with another year or two in the ER will take care of that.
DEB
Been a doctor long?
DR. HUGHES
Well, in full disclosure, I’m fairly new. To be specific, I’m a medical intern from Tufts working toward––
DEB
(Shocked)
What? You’re a student?
DR. HUGHES
Yes, well, it’s more precise to say––
DEB
You’re not a doctor?
DR. HUGHES
Yes, well, yes—I am, technically speaking, a doctor.
DEB
Technically speaking? What’s that mean?
DR. HUGHES
This is a teaching hospital, Mrs. Weare—
DEB
Yeah, and my daughter is not some medical school dummy!
DR. HUGHES
I can handle this, Mrs. Weare. If it helps to reassure you, please know that I’m working closely with Dr. Benjamin Samuels who has over twenty-five years of…
DEB
Go get this Dr. Samuels now.
DR. HUGHES
He’s in the ER attending to the other driver.
DEB
Are you kidding me? Why does some drunk get the real doctor?
DR. HUGHES
You’re not being fair, ma’am. And it hasn’t been determined if alcohol played any role in this whatsoever.
DEB
Wanna bet?
DR. HUGHES
You need to trust me. Your daughter will be okay.
DEB shakes her head, turns back toward her daughter and caresses her.
DEB
(Looking down at MADDY)
Never a break, Maddy. Can never get a break, can we?
DR. HUGHES
I think she got one tonight. I don’t think she was wearing a seatbelt. The young man she was with, not as lucky, I’m afraid. He’s still in intensive care.
DEB
The young man she was with? Who?
DR. HUGHES
I don’t know the details. We’re just stretched so thin.
DEB
Oh my god.
DR. HUGHES
You need to take it easy, ma’am. Please sit. Rest. There’s water and snacks in the pantry across the hall.
DEB
I don’t suppose you have any vodka.
DR. HUGHES
Uh, no.
DEB
Looking down at MADDY.
Jesus, Madeline. Why were you out so late? Was it Jacob?
Long pause. Takes MADDY’s hand tenderly.
The reason I asked about her hands––well…she’ll be attending Juilliard in the Fall. That’s been the plan at least.
DR. HUGHES
Juilliard? Wow. Very impressive. What instrument?
DEB
Violin. This came in the mail this morning. The letter. The one that means everything.
Takes an envelope out of purse.
DR. HUGHES
Congratulations!
DEB
Don’t congratulate us yet. I haven’t opened it…I guess Maddy should, as much as I want to rip it open myself.
Holds letter up to the light.
DR. HUGHES
That’s very exciting.
DEB
Gives up trying to see through the envelope.
I shouldn’t worry. She’s got this. She’s a very gifted young lady. Unlike me. My playing didn’t get me anywhere near Juilliard. I didn’t even bother applying.
Puts envelope back in purse.
Yeah, you could say those hands are important.
Enter RICK
RICK
Panting, tired from running.
Maddy!
DEB
(To Rick, irate again.)
Where the hell have you been?
RICK rushes past DEB, ignoring her, fear in his eyes.
RICK
What happened?
DEB
(Angry)
You want to know what happened? Your daughter was in a car crash, was thrown from the car, thumped her head, and nearly died. That’s what happened!
DR. HUGHES
I was just telling your wife, Mr. Weare––
RICK
Ex wife.
DR. HUGHES
Sorry. Ex wife...
(Beat)
Despite all odds, your daughter has not sustained any serious injuries, but we would like to keep her overnight nonetheless. Fingers crossed, she’ll be going home tomorrow.
RICK
Standing over the bed, worried.
My God…Maddy…
DR. HUGHES
I’m Dr. Hughes.
They shake hands.
I’m taking care of your daughter this evening alongside Dr. Samuel.
DEB
He’s a med school student.
DR. HUGHES
A medical intern, ma’am.
DEB
(To RICK)
Why the hell was she driving around in the middle of the night?
RICK
(To DR. HUGHES)
How’s the other driver?
DEB
Who the hell cares about the other driver?
DR. HUGHES
We can’t give out any specifics. You understand. He’s being treated now by—
DEB
He was probably blitzed out of his mind.
[End of Extract]