A Father's Legacy

Breaking the news that your child maybe mentally ill is never easy, but sometimes the hardest things are the most necessary

Characters

James � father and husband. High School Teacher. Neurotic and living with bipolar disorder

Stacy � Wife. High School counselor. Logical and calm, Knows the symptoms of a mania and sees some of the symptoms in their daughter Brittany

Brittany � 12 year old girl. Psychologist and Pediatrician are certain she has bipolar disorder.
        
Waiter - Delivers food





























                                
                                        
Act I
                                        Scene 1
(James and Stacy inside the Psychiatrist's                         office. Brittany sits quietly outside the office.
Office is two chairs and a desk. A curtain separates the inside of the office and the outside where Brittany is sitting.                 

Stacy
James, we are going to have to tell her sometimes. The psychiatrist said that she needs to know what she is dealing with so we can help her better.
(James gets out his seat and start pacing the room.)
                                 James
You know the doctors don't know for sure that it is bipolar. She is only 12 years old. Kids go through this all the time. That doesn't mean she is bipolar.
                                 Stacy
James, you admitted you experienced the symptoms when you were her age. It is better to treat it now then have to deal with it years from now when she could have possibly hurt herself.
(James turns away from Stacy and looks towards the audience.)
                                James
You can't 100% sure that it is Bipolar? If we tell her now she will think she is crazy�
(Stacy interrupts and walks up and places her hand on his back)
                                Stacy
No she will not. It is not like she is going to be on medication for it. You found out when you were 26 years old. Now look at you. You haven't a severe manic episode in 5 years. You remember when you would go days without getting any sleep and when you did get sleep it was only for three hours. Now our baby is going through that. She goes days without sleep and draw for hours on end and when she is depressed, she cries and completely shuts down.
                                (Pause)
James you don't want that for your daughter do you? You don't want her to go another 20 plus years without getting any help.
                                (James shakes his head and faces Stacy)
                                James
It's just not right.
                                Stacy
I know, but she needs to know so she can deal with it.
                                James
Well, what's a better time than now to tell her? Brittany, could you come in here?
                                (James opens the door and Brittany enters)
Sit down, your momma and I want to talk to you.
                                Brittany
I heard you and momma talking. Do I have bipolar disease?
                                (James and Stacy looks at each other)
                                James
It bipolar disorder not disease and yes sweetie the doctor say you may have it.
                                Brittany
I'm not crazy
                                (Moment of silence)
                                        James
No baby you're not crazy.
                                        Brittany
Everyone will think I'm crazy, I'm not crazy
                                        (James and Stacy at the same time)        
                                        James
No
                                        Stacy
No
                                (Moment of silences James and Stacy look at each other)
                                        Brittany
No, I don't want it; I don't want to be crazy
                                        (Stacy walks to Brittany and embraces her)
                                        Stacy
No, Baby you're not crazy, we are going to get through this together
                                        (James sits in the chair and looks down. Stacy                                                 glances at James and redirects her attention to                                                 Brittany)
It is ok, momma got you
                                        (Stage goes black)
                
                                        Scene 2
                                        (James and Stacy, in Stacy's office desk 2 chairs)
                                        Stacy
Last night was rough
                                (James stares into space frowning)
James is you ok?
                         (James shakes his head)                        
                                        James
You know she is right
                                        Stacy
She is 12 years old, she will learn to deal with it.
                                (James slams his hands against the wall)
                                 James
No, No Stacy you just don't get it
                                 Stacy
Get what, our daughter is sick and I want her to get better?
                                
James
She will never be better Stacy; she has a life to look forwards to taking this freaking Zoloft, Seroquel, Lithium and any other pill they create. You know how many drugs, I had to take before I got the right combination�
                                (Stacy interrupts)
                                 Stacy
Didn't anyone say anything about drugs? The doctors says we can deal without medications
James
Are you hearing yourself? Do you know what I've done without medication?
                                 Stacy
What James? What did you do?
                                 James
As a child, I used to roam around by myself for hours
                                 Stacy
So?
                                 James
Let me finish
                                 (Pauses and looks into the audience)
In school, I used to be in my own world. I could never concentrate because my thoughts were always racing, mood swings, and every got damn thing our daughter is going through right now
                                
Stacy
We can deal with that
(James looks at Stacy and grabs her hands)
James
Oh, I haven't even got into my teenage years
                                        (Stacy turns her head and closes her eyes)
Stacy
I don't need to hear this
                                        James
Like hell, you need to hear this because our daughter,
                                        (James pauses)
Our daughter will be going through this. As a teenager I used to walk aimlessly at all hours of the night
                                        (Stacy looks at James)
Stacy
James
                                        James
No let me finish. I didn't know what the hell was going on most of the time and now I'm taking three different medication, I've been hospitalized three times Stacy, Three times. I still forget to sleep, damn.
                                        James pauses and turns his back)
I only got my first good night of sleep when I was 28 years old. Do you know how tired I was?
                                        Stacy
Yes, I remember
                                        James
Now our baby is going through this. Stacy, I want to die knowing what my baby is going through. I can't live
                                 (Stacy places her arm around James back)
                                        Stacy
James, Brittany needs you to live. She need you to help her through all the trouble she is about to face. She needs your experience. Your baby needs you.                                                                  (James turns around and gives Stacy a hugs. Stages turns                                  dark)
                                End of Scene II
                                
Scene III
                                James and Brittany is sitting at table in restaurant both                                         facing each other. Plates, cups are on each side. Waitress                                         standing at table
                                Waitress
May I get you anything else?
                                 James
No things
                                (Waitress exits and James looks at Brittany)
How was school today
                                Brittany
Ok, I guess         
                                (Brittany Pauses)
Daddy, I'm sorry. I just don't want people to think I'm crazy
                                 James
Do you think I'm crazy?
                                 Brittany
No, But I see how people look at you when you tell them.
                                 (James Laughs)
What's so funny?
                                 James
Well baby, I didn't like people responses either at first but after a while I did it for entertainment.
                                 Brittany
You want people to think you're crazy?
                                 James
Oh God Yeah.
                                (Brittany laughs)
                                 Brittany
Why?
                                 (James smile)
                                
James
It is always good for people to think you are a little crazy. It keeps them honest. You'll learn when you get older.
                                
                                Brittany
So you like having bipolar?
                                James
No but, in life you get dealt your hand and not all the card are going to be good. You win by how you play your cards.
                                (James smiles)
You and I have the best kind of cards.
                                Brittany
What cards are those?
                                James
Crazy cards.
                                (James and Brittany laughs. Stage goes dark)
                                End of Scene III
                                
                                Scene IV
                                (Stage empty James walks out and talks towards the                                         audience)
                                James
You know sometimes, I wonder what life would have been like if my Manic-depression was caught as early as Brittany's. Who knows where I would be right now. Maybe I would have been a successful doctor and lawyer instead of a teacher.                         
                                (Stacy enters the scene and wraps her arms around her                                         James)
                                 Stacy
What are you talking about? You are the teacher that kids love to look up to. You are a great husband.
                                (Brittany enters the scene and embraces James)
                                Brittany
You are a great father and good man.
                                (James smiles)
James
I guess I made out like a bandit.
                                (Brittany and Stacy remains stills and James address                                         the audience)
I am the luckiest man on earth. I have my soul mate and my legacy in my arms,
                                (The stage goes dark)
                                The end