Sanctuary

Jaime goes to therapy and tells Bill how much her life sucks but when she gets back home there is a even bigger surprise waiting for her, one thing she has wanted for a long time but can she accept it

 [The scene starts in a therapy office. There is a single chair on one side of a coffee table and a small sofa on the other. There is a man sitting in the chair and a girl sitting on the sofa with her knees tucked under her chin. The girl is Jaime Simms, a girl with clinical depression that is at therapy and the man is Bill Hunter, Jaime’s therapist. The overall feel of the room is relaxed and laid back.]

Bill: So, Jaime. How’s the past week been for you?

Jaime: (Staring into the distance) Fine. Just the usual you know. Hanging out with Ollie, going to college.

Bill: You know that you’re not allowed to just say ‘fine’. Tell me what you did on Monday.

Jaime: (Sighs, sarcastically) Fine then. On Monday I got up, had my breakfast, toast actually….

Bill: (Interrupting) You know what I mean. Stop being so sarcastic.

Jaime: Ok, I had a crap day alright! Jesus Bill, you never give up do you?

Bill: No. And I don’t because I know that if I do give up I’ll never get anything out of you. OK so what happened on Monday?

Jaime: Me and my mum had an argument again.

Bill: What about? Was it about your Dad again?

Jaime: No actually. It all started when she got up… (Fades out)

[The scene changes to a messy living room. In the room is Jaime walking around picking up rubbish up and throwing it into a black bag. There are glass bottles and food cartons lying everywhere. The curtains are open and there is some music playing in the background. A woman walks in and switches the music off. She is wearing a dressing gown and slippers, has messy hair and looks tired. It is Jaime’s Mum. Jaime turns around]

Jaime: (Sarcastically) Oh, so you are alive then.

Mum: Don’t you take that tone with me. I’ve had enough of your attitude. You’re so cocky all the time!

[Jaime’s mum shuts the blinds and flops onto the only clear space on the sofa]

Jaime: Do you mind? I’ve just tidied there. It’s not like you do any work around here.

Mum: I do some work! I do loads of work actually. What was the last thing you cleaned or tidied up?

Jaime: I had to clean all the clothes the other day and I have to clean the house today! The house stinks of booze, the kitchen’s a mess, in here’s a mess and all you do is laze about! I go to college 5 days a week, come home and instead of doing coursework I have to clean up after you! You never do anything! When was the last time you cooked a decent meal!? I can’t live on fast food all the time and we don’t have the money to pay for it as it is! When will you wake up and realise that I’m a 17 year old girl that has to act like she’s 30 something and look after her own mother because her mother can’t look after herself never mind her daughter! You’re a really bad parent mum when will you realise this?!

Mum: I’m a bad parent?! You haven’t exactly been the best kid in the world. You stay out all night with THAT boy! He’s a bad influence and you know it! He’s the reason you have this problem in the first place!

Jaime: He is NOT a bad influence mum YOU are! Ollie is a decent kid and you don’t know half the reasons why I have this “problem” [makes quotations with her hands] anyway! When was the last time you sat down with me and talked to me!? I’m not 5 years old anymore! I can see why dad left! You’re such a b***h!

[Jaime leaves the house slamming the house and her mum throws something at the wall before opening a bottle of wine.]

[The scene changes back to the therapy office. Bill is sitting in the chair still looking at Jaime who is standing by the window staring out.]

Bill: Oh right. I see. Well how did it make you feel?

Jaime: How do you think it made me feel? I told my own mother that she’s a b***h and blamed her for Dad walking out.

Bill: Yea, but she did blame Ollie for your depression. I know how close you and Ollie are. That must have hit a nerve.

Jaime: (snaps) Of course it did! (Calmly) Sorry. Yea, it did hit a nerve. Me and Ollie have been friends since before I can remember and she hates him. It’s not fair.

Bill: Why does she think Ollie’s a bad influence?

Jaime: Because she blames him for my depression and because I spent a lot of time with him. It’s not my fault I prefer to be around him than my mum.

Bill: Oh right. So how’s everything else?

Jaime: Getting there. I haven’t had a fight in a month. (Looks proud)           

         

Bill: Well that’s good to hear. At least we’re getting somewhere.

Jaime: Yeah, but its cause some….issues…

Bill: What d’ya mean ‘some issues’? 

[Walks over to Jaime and hands a cup of coffee/tea which she places on her knees and blows to cool down]

Jaime: Well, even though I’ve stopped fighting, Ollie however is a different matter…. He keeps fighting my battles for me...

Bill: How does that you feel?

Jaime: Like crap… he’s my best friend and he’s trying to defend me but I don’t want him to. I just don’t want to tell him in case I upset him.

Bill: Well, what was the last fight he got into while he was trying to defend you?

Jaime: Well, you know that guy I told you about, Sam, well, he kicked off on me and I didn’t react… so Ollie did.

[The scene changes to a school playground. It is the end of lunchtime and everyone has made their way to lessons. Jaime and Ollie are walking across the playground when they are approached by 3 boys.]

 Boy 1: Oh look it’s the emo freak from year 12!

Boy 2: Ha-ha. Oi, Emo girl!

[Jaime looks up. The 3 boys make slashing motions over their wrists and start laughing. Jaime just ignores them and carries on walking. Ollie stops. During the next conversation all 3 boys are kicking a football about]

Ollie: Oi! Don’t you dare… [Jaime turns around]

Jaime: Don’t Ollie. They’re not worth it.

Ollie: (looks stunned) But why? You’ve always fought back. What’s changed?

Jaime: Just leave it ok! I don’t wanna get into another fight. It’s useless.

Ollie: So what? You’re just gonna roll over and let them walk all over you like you’re nothing? What happened to not taking any s**t from anyone?

Jaime: Because it’s childish and petty and I want to grow up!

All boys: (laughing) oooohhhhh

Boy 1: Looks like your little girlfriend has seen sense.

Boy 3: But she’s still a emo freak who cuts herself [mockingly] ‘cause she’s all upset. How attention seeking and pathetic.

 [Ollie lunges for the group of boys and a fight breaks out. Jaime walks away and when Ollie turns round and finds Jaime gone he goes to look for her. He finds her hiding in a music practice room. Jaime is crying and Ollie is standing in the doorway looking miserable.]

Ollie: Hey, are you okay?

Jaime: [looks up at him] why did you fight them? Even when I told you not to bother.

Ollie: I did it because you wouldn’t and I don’t know why. What’s changed Jaime? You used to be so different before you started seeing Bill; you never used to let them talk to you like that. I’m just worried you’re giving up the fight. 

[He goes and sits down next to Jaime. She leans her head on his shoulder and he hugs her]

Jaime: I’m not giving up the fight, trust me. I just really want to get that journalism scholarship, you know I can’t afford to pay for it myself and it’s not like my mum’s going to help me and if I don’t stop fighting then they’ll never take me on.

Ollie: Oh, I didn’t know it cost that much anyway…Exactly how much is it?

Jaime: 9,000 a year and it’s a 3 year course, so about 27 grand. [Ollie whistles] I know, it’s expensive but it’s a good course and I’m never gonna get it if I don’t stop fighting. I’m not giving up, I’m just not gonna let them ruin my life cause if I do then they really have won, besides when I’m a big famous reporter I’m going to name and shame them.

Ollie: [Starts chuckling and gives her a squeeze] that’s the Jaime I know.

[The scene changes back to the therapy room where Bill is making coffee/tea and Jaime is in his chair, curled up, hugging a pillow.]

Jaime: It practically killed me to watch him like that. I’ve never seen him that bad. It was like he wasn’t just defending me it was like his life depends on it, like it was the last thing he had left in his life.

Bill: Well, maybe to him that’s true. Did anything else happen this week?

Jaime: Not much apart from that. Everything isn’t as bad as when I first came to see you. I can’t believe it’s been nearly 2 years already. It just seems that kids my age are ignorant towards stuff like depression and stuff. They don’t understand it so they bully kids who have instead. It’s just like a vicious circle. Kid gets depression or whatever, kids at school find out and don’t understand it so they bully the kid and then the kid becomes more depressed and… Well, you get the drift.

Bill: You might be onto something there. I think you’re right. I have to ask, how do you cope with it all?

Jaime: Music. That’s what’s kept me sane all these years. Listening to music through my headphones has stopped me from listening to all the names. Emo, freak, mosher, but sometimes you still hear them and it sucks. It seems someday that I’ll never get over it.

Bill: I know. When you’re depressed, it feels like no one understands. But depression is far more common in teens than you think. You’re not alone and your depression isn’t a hopeless case. Even though it feels like depression will never lift, it eventually will�"and with talking to someone and ignoring what people say that day can come even sooner.

Jaime: How do you know? Have you got it?

Bill: Not anymore but a used to, a bit older than what you are now though. That’s what made me want to become a therapist. I saw the stuff people did to help me to recover from it and I said to myself ‘I want to do that, I want to help kids get over mental health’. So that’s what I did. I used my past experience to help me but I went to college, did my A�"levels, went to uni to do counselling and psychotherapy and then became a therapist. It was hard work but I know at the end of it I’d be able to help kids with mental health issues. It was as simple as that. And seeing you overcome so much I finally think that I’ve done it.

Jaime: Oh right…..

Bill: So music, huh. What’s your favourite song?

Jaime: Sanctuary by Paradise Fears. One secret meant to keep you safe tonight I swear that everything will be alright. The best lyrics I’ve ever heard.

[An alarm clock goes off in the corner of the room.]

Bill: Time’s up. Sorry.

Jaime: That’s OK. I’m done anyway.

[They both get up and Jaime leaves the room]

Bill: See you next week.

Jaime: See ya. Oh, and thanks for everything.

Author's Note

So this is a work in progress. Any criticism will be much appreciated.