Mental Health

Two chairs are onstage. The stage right chair is empty, and is facing the audience. The stage left chair is occupied by Actor 1, who is holding a pad of paper and wearing professional attire.

Actor 1 is sitting in a chair, holding a pad of paper. Actor 2 enters cautiously.

1: Welcome.

2: Startled. Thanks?

1: Sit. You say that as a question. Why?

2: Sits. I don’t know?

1: Still asking questions. You must stop; it is my turn for questions. How are you feeling?

2: Fine.

1: Really. Interesting. Writes furiously on the pad of paper.

2: Trying to read the pad unsuccessfully. Did I say something? You lost me.

1: I see. How was your day?

2: Well, I woke up and felt great. I came here. Now I’m not so great.

1: Thank you for answering that question thoughtfully. How does that make you feel?

2: Sighing overdramatically. It makes me feel this feeling, but I’m not sure about it, because I have this other conflicting feeling about this feeling. Plus I’m feeling a hundred different other feelings about events that have occurred over the course of my life. And then, of course, I have these other feelings about the conflict of the feelings itself. Now your questions are questioning my soul, and I’m not sure I can take it.

1: Writing furiously the entire duration of the last speech. We have made a lot of progress today. I will see you next week. Reaches out to shake actor 2’s hand. Actor 2 shakes the hand formally.

2: See you. Thank you.

1: It’s what I do.

Actor 2 exits.