The Mouse (excerpt)

by Tyler Thier

CONTINUED:

The lighting here is more sterile and clinically white to evoke a hospital setting.

RITA

(off-stage)

I understand this, but she’s bleeding!

She enters into the spotlight where Natalie is seated. An ADMINISTRATOR and a DOCTOR are on either side of her.

ADMIN.

We’ll have to know the practice of the previous doctor she visited.

RITA

None would see to--

DOCTOR

She is married?

RITA

No.

DOCTOR

In the past?

RITA

I don’t think--

ADMIN.

Who performed the abortion?

RITA

She did.

DOCTOR

Hm. Je vois...

RITA

The other hospital asked us that already. Are you going to turn us down, too?

ADMIN.

Difficult to say.

DOCTOR

(to Natalie)

Où êtes-vous née?

Natalie struggles through groans, but is only able to stutter a “T” sound.

RITA

I don’t think she can--

ADMIN.

Where is she from?

RITA

Tunisia. But she grew up in...where was it?

NATALIE

(managing to say something faintly)

Poll--

RITA

(to the Doctor)

Pollionnay, that’s it.

DOCTOR

Not familiar. What region?

RITA

Um.

ADMIN.

(to Natalie)

Votre adresse là-bas?

Natalie shifts on the bench. More groans.

Now addressing Rita.

She doesn’t know?

RITA

(annoyed)

She can’t--

DOCTOR

(to Natalie, while gesturing to Rita)

Où avez-vous travaillé avant Mademoiselle Bellamy ici?

RITA

You can just ask me, you know.

DOCTOR

(impatiently)

Ok then...

RITA

(confused)

Well, uh, what did you--

DOCTOR

(coldly)

Where did she work before you, Miss Bellamy?

RITA

Another Miss.

ADMIN.

The address, please.

RITA

Well I can’t remember...

DOCTOR

(to Natalie)

L’adresse de votre dernier--

RITA

What about my address?

ADMIN.

We’ll need all.

DOCTOR

(to Natalie)

Combien d’années à votre premier emploi à--

RITA

How many in...?

ADMIN.

At her first job in Paris.

RITA

(briefly looking at Natalie)

It must have been two...

ADMIN.

(to Natalie)

Après ça?

RITA

(aggravated)

Why do you keep--

ADMIN.

(abrupt and firm)

Her next job.

RITA

How long? It must have been...two years as well.

DOCTOR

(to Natalie)

Est-ce qu’il y avait un autre travail après cela, ou était-ce le prochain--

RITA

Uh...you’ll have to repeat--

ADMIN.

Another job after that, or with you, Miss Bellamy?

More groans and shifts from Natalie.

RITA

(glancing at the feverish woman)

Maybe...another. Two years.

Natalie begins to clutch her stomach harder. She sinks further into the bench, barely conscious.

ADMIN.

(to Natalie)

Why?

Now addressing the Doctor.

Why always two years?

RITA

(irritated)

This woman is losing blood...are all these questions necessary?

DOCTOR

(to the Admin., while eyeing Rita)

Peculiar pattern.

RITA

Why all the questions?! This happened out of fear. Fear in the dark!

She motions to the Admin. and the Doctor, but they start to walk out of the spotlight while comparing notes on each other’s clipboards.

There’s a gesture of panic right here, the only answer you need, that of a mouse

falling into a trap...

She trails off when she realizes they won’t be returning.

But she is also lost in a sudden pause, thinking.

That of a mouse falling into a trap...

She is absorbed in her own thoughts, and strides over to the valise at Natalie’s side to withdraw a piece of parchment.

She pauses and looks over at the meek woman.

Natalie?

Natalie is unaware of what is happening around her, groaning quietly now and still holding her stomach tightly.

Rita turns again to the bench, but cannot locate a pen in the valise.

A gesture of panic, that of a mouse falling into a trap...

She rushes off-stage in search of a pen, the piece of parchment flailing in her grasp.

Wind tunnel echoes permeate the stage. Natalie alone, a figure bleeding out on the bench.

The ambience lingers as such, until the spotlight is shut off suddenly with the booming clap of a gymnasium switch.

The stage is left stranded in darkness.

CURTAIN