Double Diagnosis

By Alice Dale

Drama

Cast:3m 2f

Settings: Act 1 The Prothero’s Home. Act 2 Graham Prothero’s Consulting Rooms

Full Length Play

Synopsis: It’s Halloween night: a young woman arrives at the home of Dr & Mrs Prothero. She is dressed in a muddy man’s suit and appears to have lost her memory. Marjorie, who lost her daughter three years ago from a morphine overdose, immediately ‘adopts’ her, even giving her their daughter’s name. Jack is horrified and suspects her ‘amnesia’ is faked. A TV newsflash, reporting an attack in a nearby flat, from which a girl is missing, further alarms him. When his wife refuses to call the police, they ask their psychiatrist son, Graham, to give an opinion. He recognises her as a patient who is mentally disturbed but offers to treat her the following day. When he does, her memory returns and there is a shock ending when two murders are revealed and solved.

History: Originally Performed July 1997 and then this version was performed July – August 2010 at Kalamunda WA.

Reviews: WOW ... I have to say that this is one of - if not THE - most powerful performance/s of a brilliantly written and what presented as a truly authentic script that I have had the pleasure to watch. I use the word "pleasure" loosely as, and as it also seemed for every other member of the audience on the night I was there, the experience was in fact 'bone chilling'. The proverbial 'pin' could be heard dropping. CONGRATULATIONS KADS and WELL DONE Alice Dale and your cast. You must be feeling exceptionally elated to know that every person in that remarkable little theatre travelled every step of the way with you through your quite amazing script.

Denni cee

KCR 102.5fm

Transcript from Theatre Australia Website dated19/7/2010

Excerpts:

Opening music: Elgar’s ‘Sospiri’ Opus 70

A comfortable, well furnished sitting room. A corridor is seen through an arch US of the room, leading to an entry USL, and to the kitchen USR. A row of coat hooks on the wall. A door SL leads to Jenny’s bedroom. DS of it a small table with lamp. Above, a mirror. DSR a large window with garden beyond. Curtains open but dark outside. Underneath a slim wall table with lamp, phone & photo of Jenny. DSC couch. Matching armchairs R & L of couch, all slightly angled towards a TV set DSR, facing obliquely USL. A TV guide. Coffee table in front of couch. Drinks cupboard USR of arch. On top of it a variety of bottles, a silver tray, a lamp. Bottles of mixers, glasses, a small bowl and a dish of nuts inside the cupboard. A bookcase USL of arch. DBO except for light under door SL.

JACK: (Offstage) What do you want kids?

CHILDREN: (Offstage) Trick or treat! Trick or treat!

Sound of key. Door opens.

JACK: (Offstage) Come back later, kids. I’m soaking wet. And so are you. Now off you go before you catch your death of cold.

We hear sounds of childish disappointment then the sound of door closing. Light comes on in corridor. JACK appears in archway, carrying a wet umbrella, a satchel-type brief case & pulling a small case on wheels. Hangs up satchel. Shakes & hangs up the umbrella. Removes his wet coat, shakes and hangs it on another hook. He leaves the luggage against the wall R of C. Flicks a switch. Lamps & stage lights spring to life.

JACK: (Goes to door SL and taps gently) I’m home, darling. (Listens) You okay?

No answer. Crosses to drinks table. Pours a whisky and soda and a Tio Pepe {a brand of sherry}. Fetches out nuts, places them all on a small silver tray and carries it to the coffee table in front of the sofa SC.

JACK: (During drinks biz) I missed you. Missed your cooking too. Got fed up eating out.

No answer. Goes to TV. Picks up TV guide. Reads. Smiles.

JACK: (Going back to door) You’ll never guess what’s on telly tonight. A re-run of ‘Some Like It Hot’. Remember, darling? It was so funny. (Still no reply) I’ve poured you a Tio Pepe. The movie starts in half an hour and I’ve so much to tell you before then. (Pleading) I haven’t seen you for a week. Darling, please come out.

Door opens. MARJORIE enters slowly and gently closes door behind her. She looks drawn and fragile. Her hair is a little dishevelled.

MARJORIE: I’m sorry, dear. I should have prepared a meal for you. I lost track of time. (Dabs her eyes with hanky)

JACK: Doesn’t matter. I had a meal on the plane. You alright?

MARJORIE: Yes, perfectly. (Hanky away) How was the conference?

JACK: (Changing formal jacket for informal one) Quite interesting this time. Well, part of it anyway. Usual waffle from medics trying to make a name for themselves. But there was one very interesting item on the agenda. Come and have a drink first.

He puts his arm round her and leads her to the couch where they sit side by side then lift their drinks.

JACK: Cheers.

MARJORIE just smiles and they both drink.

MARJORIE: So what was so interesting? (Wipes under glass & replaces)

JACK: It was a paper given by James Mowbray.

MARJORIE: Oh? And who is he?

JACK: He’s the leading authority on the subject of Depression.

MARJORIE: (Smile fades. Takes a nut) Did you meet anyone you knew?

JACK: As a matter of fact I did. Martin Summerfield, of all people; unfortunately not until the last day. With him being a gynaecologist, we were attending different lectures up till then. As I was saying, about this talk on Depression…

MARJORIE: (Rubbing table under her drink with hanky) And how is Martin? And Zena? I do miss her.

JACK: He’s put on a lot of weight. Can’t speak for Zena, but I shouldn’t think so. Mind you, the way Martin eats, it’s hardly surprising. We had dinner together last night. They both still love the good life. Go overseas for their holidays every year. (Drinks) Speaking of which, he asked me where we’d been on our last holiday and I had to admit we hadn’t had a holiday in three years. He looked so shocked I almost felt guilty. Do you fancy one soon, Marjorie? Something completely different. How about Africa? Or, right now, it’s late autumn in the south of France – still quite good weather there.

MARJORIE: Mmm maybe. (Another nut, sips)

JACK: Let’s have the holiday of a lifetime, while we’re still fit enough to enjoy it. Maybe a cruise. You like sailing and you’d be waited on hand and foot for three or four weeks. What do you say?

MARJORIE: Oh, I think anything like that would be all booked up long ago. (Takes another nut, cleans under dish)

JACK: We won’t know till we try. (Sips drink, replaces glass) You know, I couldn’t help thinking Martin and Zena really know how to enjoy life.

MARJORIE: (A little wounded) And we don’t?

JACK: Not since Jenny died. The last three years have been all… doom and gloom.

MARJORIE: My fault. I’m sorry.

JACK: Not your fault. You’re not doing it deliberately. I know that, darling. But you’re not allowing anyone to help you either. Even when Graham gave up his practice in Melbourne and came here to support you, you rejected both the psychiatrists he recommended…..