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Raised in Captivity
Nicky Silver
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eBook - ePub
Raised in Captivity
Nicky Silver
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About This Book
With sharp comic turns and absurdist twists, Raised in Captivity explores the guilt, self-punishment, and redemption in the lives of two estranged and equally odd siblings when they reunite at the funeral of their mother--whose demise was caused by nothing less than an errant showerhead.
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Topic
LiteraturSubtopic
Amerikanische DramaturgieAct One
BREAD and WATER
SCENE 1
(A cemetery. A pool of light comes up on Sebastian Bliss, seated on a bench, reading a book. He addresses the audience.)
SEBASTIAN: On Tuesday, my mother was taking a shower, when the showerhead, which was obviously loose to begin with, flew away from the wall and, propelled by water pressure, hit her in the head and killed her. Odd, as I knew her to be a person who primarily took baths. I hadnāt seen my mother in several years, although we spoke on the phone, on birthdays and Christmas. I left home when I was sixteen. I turned my back on everything and went off to pursue my education. My mother said, āGood luck,ā and my father said nothing, having died under mysterious circumstances before I was born. There were no pictures of him in our home and we never said his name. When asked about him, my mother abruptly changed the subject. Or, occasionally, feigned sudden deafness. In any event, I walked away from servants and swimming pools to live on complimentary peanuts and cashews in cocktail lounges.
(Pause. He looks over his shoulder) My sister is watching me. From behind that tree.
(He continues reading. His spot dims. A light comes up on Bernadette and Kip Dixon in another part of the cemetery. She is overwrought.)
BERNADETTE: I donāt know what to do.
KIP: I donāt think I like it here.
BERNADETTE: What?
KIP: Itās too peaceful.
BERNADETTE: Naturally itās peaceful. Itās a cemetery. Everyoneās dead. Did you expect picnicking families frolicking between graves?
KIP: That would be nice. We should have a picnic. Letās go.
BERNADETTE: What are you talking about?
KIP: Whatās the name of this place?
BERNADETTE: Pleasant Meadows.
KIP: Itās creepy.
BERNADETTE: Please donāt be disagreeable, Kip. Not today. Not now.
KIP: Sorry.
BERNADETTE: If Iām going to talk to him, it should be now. He should come back to the house. Donāt you think? People will think itās odd. People expect him. Why should I talk to him? Why doesnāt he come over and talk to me? He saw me. I know he did. Do you think I should go over to him?
KIP: I suppose.
BERNADETTE: You think so?
KIP: Heās your brother.
BERNADETTE: We never speak. I never see him. I havenāt seen him ināHe looks older.
KIP: He looks nice.
BERNADETTE: Do I look older?
KIP: Older than what?
BERNADETTE: Older than I did.
KIP: When?
BERNADETTE: Forget it. Why doesnāt he come over here!? I hate this dress. Do I look fat?
KIP: I like that dress.
BERNADETTE: What does that mean?
KIP: You look lovely.
BERNADETTE: Do I look fat!?
KIP: Youāre not fat.
BERNADETTE: Do I look fat!?
KIP: No.
BERNADETTE: I feel bloated. I feel all puffed up.
KIP: Youāre very thin.
BERNADETTE: Iāve been thinner.
KIP: When?
BERNADETTE: Of course Iāve been fatter too. I wish Iād known. I wish Iād had some warning. I wouldāve dieted. I wouldāve fasted. I hate seeing people! I hate seeing cousins and uncles and aunts. Cousin Paul was always so dashing. He looks like a helium balloon. God, Iām waterlogged. I feel like crying!
KIP: Please donāt.
BERNADETTE: Why should I be nervous? Thereās nothing to be nervous about.
(General lighting comes up, revealing Sebastian as he was. Bernadette and Kip approach him.)
BERNADETTE: Sebastian?
SEBASTIAN: Bernadette?
BERNADETTE: I was afraid you wouldnāt even recognize me. I think Iām heavier than the last time we saw each other. I have no idea when that was. But I think Iām heavier.
SEBASTIAN: You look very well.
BERNADETTE: Thank you. I seem to be eating more than usual lately. I donāt seem to be able to get the food in fast enough. I donāt understand it. Did you see Cousin Paul?
SEBASTIAN: I didnāt.
BERNADETTE: Fat. Fat. Fat!
SEBASTIAN (To Kip): Have we met?
KIP: Iām Kip.
BERNADETTE: This is my husband, Kip.
SEBASTIAN: Itās nice to meet you.
BERNADETTE: Youāve met Kip.
SEBASTIAN: I have?
KIP: I think so.
SEBASTIAN: Iām very sorry.
BERNADETTE: Several times.
KIP: Itās alright.
BERNADETTE: At Thanksgiving.
SEBASTIAN: When was that?
KIP: I donāt know.
BERNADETTE: At the wedding.
SEBASTIAN: What wedding?
BERNADETTE: My wedding.
SEBASTIAN: I was there.
KIP: Thank you for the andirons.
SEBASTIAN: Donāt mention it.
BERNADETTE: Do you remember?
SEBASTIAN (To Kip): Did we speak?
KIP: I donāt recall.
BERNADETTE: You mustāve said something.
SEBASTIAN: I am sorry.
BERNADETTE: He was the groom.
KIP (Sadly): Donāt worry about it.
BERNADETTE: Kipās a dentist.
SEBASTIAN: Congratulations.
KIP: Thank you.
SEBASTIAN: Itās nice to meet you, again.
KIP: Iām very sorry about your mother.
SEBASTIAN: Donāt mention it.
BERNADETTE: Can you believe it?
SEBASTIAN: Yes.
BERNADETTE: It seems unreal.
KIP (To Sebastian): Do you like this place?
SEBASTIAN: Pardon me?
BERNADETTE: Can I join you? I saw you sitting here, by yourself. I saw you at the funeral home, butā
KIP: The gravestones look like teeth.
BERNADETTE: Do you mind that I came over? If you do, you can say so. You wonāt hurt my feelings. Iāll understand. Sometimes people just want to be by themselves. I enjoy being by myself quite a bit. Other times I enjoy being withāKip. Itās wonderful to see you. I feel like itās been years. Has it been? May I sit down? You were reading. Maybe you just want to be alone. Reading can be a wonderful escape. My best friends are all characters in books. I wonder what that means? Are you glad that I came over, or would you just rather I went away?
SEBASTIAN: Please sit down, Bern. Youāre giving me a headache.
BERNADETTE: Iām sorry.
(Bernadette sits next to Se...