Dolls in the attic

 (OPEN ON AN ATTIC WITH MANY DOLLS AND TOYS, ONE OF WHICH IS WOMAN #2)

 (WOMAN #1 ENTERS, GOES DIRECTLY TO WOMAN #2, AND BEGINS GENTLY GROOMING HER) 

 (SFX: CHILDHOOD MUSIC UP AND OUT)

                                              WOMAN #1 (SUDDENLY)

                            Dance, bitch!

                                              WOMAN #2 (WEARILY)

                            Ah, give me a break..

                                              WOMAN #1

                            Just do it, friend o' mine.

 (WOMAN #2 BEGINS AN

ALIENATED, SPASTIC DANCE.

WOMAN #1 MELLOWS)

                                              WOMAN #1 (CONT'D) (GENTLY) 

                           I meant what I said about you yesterday. 

(WOMAN #2 CONTINUES DANCING) 

                                             WOMAN #1 (CONT'D) 

                           People don't usually take my side like that.  And I appreciate it. 

                                             WOMAN #2 

                           I'm stopping now. 

(SHE CHECKS WOMAN #1 OUT,

SHAKES HER HEAD AND STOPS)

                                             WOMAN #1 (CONDESCENDINGLY) 

                           Well, that's your choice.  Isn't it?

                                             WOMAN #2 (OLD ISSUE) 

                           As your imaginary friend, I don't really have a lot of say in the matter, do I? 

                                             WOMAN #1 (DISMISSIVE) 

                           Why don't you organize yourself an imaginary union.  Now run along.  Disappear.  Blow up, for all I care!

 (SHE IS SUDDENLY DEPRESSED) 

                                             WOMAN #1 (CONT'D) 

                           Look, who are you?  What do you get out of this?   

                                             WOMAN #2 

                           I'm your friend.  I like being here with you.  Why can't you accept that? 

                                             WOMAN #1 

                           Bark, friend! 

(WOMAN #2 ROLLS HER EYES BUT MAKES BARKING NOISES) 

                                             WOMAN #2 

                           Happy, now? 

                                             WOMAN #1 

                           A real friend wouldn't do every stupid thing I ask.  

                                             WOMAN #2 

                           I don't.   

                                             WOMAN #1 

                           Yes you do.   

                                             WOMAN #2 

                           Ask me to do something.  Anything. 

                                             WOMAN #1 

                           Oh, O.K., wiggle your behind. 

(WOMAN #2 DOESN'T MOVE)

                                             WOMAN #2 

                           See! 

                                             WOMAN #1 

                           Great.  An imaginary friend with free will. 

                                             WOMAN #2 

                           I'm real enough to make choices, dammit! 

                                             WOMAN #1 (RESIGNED) 

                           I don't really care. 

                                             WOMAN #2 

                           But I do.  I make decisions, and I choose to stay here with you. 

(WOMAN #1 TAKES A LONG LOOK AT WOMAN #2, THEN RUNS OVER AND HUGS HER

VERY TIGHT)

                                             WOMAN #1 

                           I need you. 

                                             WOMAN #2 

                           I need you, too.  And I meant what I said last night... 

(WOMAN #1 IS SUDDENLY ANGRY. SHE PUSHES

WOMAN #2 AWAY, WHO

COLLAPSES IN A HEAP) 

                                             WOMAN #1 (EMBITTERED, MOCKING) 

                           "What I said last night!"  "What I said last night!"  (TO HERSELF)  An imaginary friend, at my age.  (PAUSE) I mean, I'm glad she's supportive, but... 

(SHE LOOKS DOWN AT WOMAN #2, WHO REMAINS LIFELESS) 

                                             WOMAN #1 (CONT'D) (CHILDLIKE) 

                           Mom says it's time to let you go.  She doesn't like it when I come up here with you. 

(SHE SNAPS HER FINGERS AND WOMAN #2 COMES TO LIFE AS THOUGH ON STRINGS) 

(SFX: CHILDHOOD MUSIC)        

                                             WOMAN #1 (CONT'D) 

                           We did have some fun, though, didn't we? 

(WOMAN #1 SNAPS HER FINGERS AGAIN, AND WOMAN #2 DOES A

BEAUTIFUL DANCE.  WOMAN #1 NODS HER APPROVAL) 

(WOMAN #1 STARTS TO JOIN IN, AS) 

                                             (V.O.) (OFFSTAGE)(MOTHER)

                           Marlene?!  Marlene, you get down here

                           right away!  And leave that rag doll    

                           where it belongs! 

(WOMAN #1 TAKES ONE FINAL LOOK AT WOMAN #2 WHO DROPS HER HEAD LIMPLY) 

(WOMAN #1 GIVES HER A LAST HUG, DRAGS HER AROUND PLAYFULLY,

RUNS HER FINGERS THROUGH HER HAIR, AND THEN COLLAPSES,

AS WOMAN #2 STANDS AND LOOKSDOWN AT HER) 

                                             WOMAN #2 

                           Coming, mother!

(OUT)