The Asylum

A Stage Play by Abigail Smith

A play set in 1680 as we follow the story of Emilie, a mental asylum patient. This is meant to be an allegory as to how women are represented in society today.

In a public square in the small town of St. Mary, in the year 1680. There is a stage in the middle area, where we set our first scene.

Lined up left to right is have Charlotte, Emilie and Autumn. They’re said to be loony patients at Doctor Peterson’s Asylum about a mile left from the square. Each of them introduced to the hospital by their husbands, who have claimed that they have a case of “hysteria”, a commonly diagnosis term in this time period to describe someone with a mental illness. Their hair is bunched up into an absolute rat’s nests piled on top of their heads, the ragged white patient’s clothes sloppily placed on their bodies were made to make them look even more disturbed. Heavy makeup cakes on their eyes to give them a “sexy” appeal.

Doctor Peterson is standing in front of them on the stage, arms waving in the air as he tries to attract visitors to his asylum.

Doctor Peterson: (Shouts enthusiastically to the crowd.) Step right up, I’m here to bring you the finest entertainment. We have something here for everyone’s enjoyment, a picture of pure insanity. Come see these girls at our burlesque show, they’re nuts! They’re hot! (Pulling Charlotte towards him with his arms.) Look at this suicidal beauty! But you mustn’t let her fool you, this ain’t no ordinary girl and we have a whole supply! (Spins her away from him.) Tickets are cheap so don’t hold back. For just a shilling more, I’ll answer any questions! (Throws his hat on the front of the stage.)

Mr. Manchester: (Flips a shilling into the hat.) It’s purely a scientific fact that insanity is a feminine trait and I’m not doubting it for a second. But I must ask, are they born with this problem or is it something they develop over time?

Doctor Peterson: (Smiling at the easy question). It’s all to do with the natural reproductive system of the female body. Women are unstable by nature, it’s normal. We men, are of superior intellect and it’s nearly impossible for us to catch it. Women are basically designed to be crazy. It’s in their blood. (The crowd roars full heartfully laughs.)

Mr. Manchester: Imagine if our emotions were controlled by the moon cycle, what a joke! (Laughs back, slapping his knee.)

Mr. Cheswick: (Looking Emilie up and down.)

Emilie: (Blushes and giggles at the interest he seems to have in her.)

Mr. Cheswick: Is it possible for a patient to be released after hospitalization? Could she be sent home if her strange behavior lessened?

Doctor Peterson: No, of course not! Let her pretend all she wants, but she’ll never be normal. I’ll never let her out (With an air of certainty). However, with a small extra charge, I can arrange a more intimate encounter. (Winks at Cheswick.)

Tommy: (Who’s about 9.) How big is a lady’s brain?

Doctor Peterson: Oh, it’s very very small. Thinking is hard for them. It really puts a strain on them and that’s why her husband is her master. A woman should always follow orders, that’s what they’re made to do.

Tommy: (Reaching out to touch Autumn.)

Autumn: (Stares at Tommy, wide-eyed, and bends down to try to reach to touch his hand.)

Doctor Peterson: (Slaps Tommy’s hand, turns to Mr. Manchester:) Please watch your child, sir. These women are out of control and that is why they require my care.

Act Two

(In the asylum; the empty bedroom where the women are kept in virtually empty spaces except for each of the plain small empty bed with old white sheets. There are two rows of five beds lined up against both sides of the walls. Making room for each of the total of eight women and two extra spaces for the next prisoners. The other five women are crowded on Emilie’s bed, clutching pillows like excited teenagers, squealing to hear how their adventure went today. Going outside of the hospital was a rare experience for the others.)

Emilie: (Holding her head in her palms, with a dreamy look in her eyes.) You should have seen the way he looked at me!

One of the girls, Amethyst: (Giggling.) Was he attractive?

All of the girls: (Giggling)

Emilie: Maddeningly dashing. (Causing another fresh wave of laughter).

Autumn: I still can’t believe that Dr. Peterson gave us a couple of minutes to walk around in the city just like normal people. (Autumn paused, realizing what she had said.)

Emilie: (In a slightly annoyed tone, crossing her arms.) We are normal people.

Autumn: That’s not how the world sees us. They think we’re crazy. That we’re unstable. That we need to be locked up like prisoners. It was just nice to pretend, even for a little while, that I was one of them. (Looks down at her lap to hide the sadness in her face.) I just want my life back.

(All the girls winced down in thought at their old memories of the past lives they had. Forgotten faces of their families and their homes started to rush into their thoughts. Overwhelmingly putting the sadness they worked so hard to get out of their heads.)

Autumn: I used to have a caring husband, a beautiful home, and almost a beautiful baby boy on the way. (She sniffles at the floor and looks back up at the girls with tears in her eyes.) God took that baby from my womb before I ever got to see his face. I got so distraught that my husband had the doctor take me away before I tried anything foolish. I was so sad. He didn’t want me anymore, he stopped taking me to bed. I felt worthless and unloved. Then, I found out about his other women. About her pregnancy. He just threw me away like a broken tool. (Breaks down on Charlotte’s lap.)

Charlotte: (Rubbing Autumn’s back, talking in a conciliatory tone.) It’s okay, dear. That’s just how men are, heartless. Only looking out for themselves. They lock us up in these prisons for their own selfishness. You are not a broken tool. (Looks around at the girls.) Not a single one of us are. It doesn’t matter what the world thinks, we’ll show them one day.

(The sound of the door unlocking echoes in the room and the girls all turn their heads to look at their visitors. Coming into the door is Doctor Peterson with the man from the crowd, Mr. Cheswick, along with his camera. He is actually a well known photographer in these parts. His pictures are commonly used for advertising.)

Charlotte: (Looks at Cheswick and winks at Emilie, attracting the other girls to do the same.)

Doctor Peterson: (With his over-enthused emotions peeking through his words.) Good afternoon, my dears! We have a man here that would like to observe you for a few minutes. (Winks at Cheswick) He just saw how lovely you three girls looked on the stage today and just had to see more of you!

Mr. Cheswick: (Nervously twiddling his thumbs.) Actually, I was hoping to get a few photos for the newspaper. (Pauses, looking at the doctor.) If that is alright with you, sir.

Emilie: (Jumps up excitedly.) Oooooooooh, a picture? I’ve never had my picture taken before!

Mr. Cheswick: (Shyly smiles at Emilie and then turns his attention back to Autumn.) Beautiful girls like you never having their picture taken? That’s-

Autumn (Interrupting the last part his sentence.) Insane?

Emilie: (Glares at Autumn.)

Dr. Peterson: (Lowers his eyes.) Autumn, have you taken your medication today?

Autumn: (Looks down to the floor.) No, sir. I don’t like how fuzzed up it makes me feel.

Dr. Peterson: I understand, dear, but you require my care and that is what I want you to take. Come with me to the medication room and we will get you your pills.

Autumn: Yes, sir. (Subserviently walks towards the door.)

Dr. Peterson: Cheswick, if you desire, you may take the girls into the next room over to take their pictures. Just be careful to lock the doors so they don’t get out. (Follows Autumn out the door.)

Act 3

Mr. Cheswick: (Sweetly smiles at Emilie.) Thank you for letting me take your picture.

Emilie: (Nods.) Is this a camera? (Touches the lense.) I’ve never seen one before.

Mr. Cheswick: (Flattered at her admiration.) Why, yes. It is.

Emilie: (Sits down on the wooden chair in front of the window he had put in place for her.) How long does it take to take a picture.

Mr. Cheswick: Are you any good at staying still?

Emilie: Why do you ask?

Mr. Cheswick: If you aren’t, I’ll have to clamp your head in place.

Emilie: (Looks up at him with a concerned look.) You would really do that?

Mr. Cheswick: (Chuckles.) You’d be surprised how many times I’ve had to.

Emilie: (Her sadness is starting to show through.) I’ve had enough of clamps.

Mr. Cheswick: (Looks up from his camera and walks up to her.) What are these bruises from? (Softly touching her legs as he moves them into position.)

Emilie: Do you know where you are?

Mr. Cheswick: (Looks into Emilie’s eyes.) Why are you here? You don’t seem insane at all. (Nervously brushes her hair from her eyes.) Can I put these daisies in your hair?

Emilie: (Nods.) Should we hide the scar on my cheek?

Mr. Cheswick: (Slides his fingers over where she was pointing.) No, no it’s perfect. You’re beautiful. I’ve never seen a face so pretty, I want the world to look at it in awe. I’ve never seen anyone more ravishing.

Emilie: (Blushes and happily covers her face.) Do you really think so? No man has ever been this nice to me. (Her smile twists itself into a frown.)

Mr. Cheswick: (Starts putting a daisy into her hair.) I want to get you out of here.

Emilie: (Looks at Cheswick in shock.)

Mr. Cheswick: I mean it. From the moment I’ve laid eyes on you, I couldn’t get you out of my thoughts. I want to marry you.

Emilie: But, Sir! Doctor Peterson said that I’ll never get out of here, I need proper care! He’ll never let me out. Not tomorrow, not in a million years. I’m just a loon to him and everyone else in town. (A single tear flows down her cheek.)

Mr. Cheswick: (Stares intently into Emilie’s eyes.) Listen, dear, you have that show in two days, correct?

Emilie: Why, yes.

Mr. Cheswick: I can get you out then. While the men are all drunk. It’ll be easy. There’s what - eight of you? I heard there’s only five men coming that night. You can do it, Emilie.

Emilie: (Looking over to the door.) What about the other girls? Oh, God, I couldn’t leave them here in this awful place too. I couldn’t live with myself.

Mr. Cheswick: (Grabs her hands into his.) I will save them too. I will get all of them.

Emilie: You will go to jail. (Hold his face with her hands.) I can’t let that happen to you. I don’t want you to live like me.

Mr. Cheswick: It will be worth it to save you. (Kisses Emilie.)

(The sound of the lock in the door is heard. The door opens, appearing Doctor Cheswick. He looks at the couple in shock.)

© 2016 Abigail Smith

Author's Note

Any and all criticism is appreciated! I want to improve my writing skills.

My Review

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Reviews

Jeff Davis

Interesting idea. I think you're on to something with this story, this concept, and these characters. By the way, if you haven't read Woyzeck by Georg Buchner, you should. It has similar themes about society's impact on and reaction to mental health issues, and your structure of short scenes and your un-naturalistic dialogue (and there's no judgement there when I say that) come off Buchner-esque to me. Buchner's one of my favorite playwrights, by the way.