Silver - Raised in Captivity

(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 hadnt 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, Good luck, 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. (Pause. (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 dont know what to do.

KIP: I dont think I like it here. BERNADETTE: What? KIP: Its too peaceful. BERNADETTE: Naturally its peaceful. Its a cemetery. Everyones dead. Did you expect picnicking families frolicking between graves? KIP: That would be nice.

We should have a picnic. Lets go. BERNADETTE: What are you talking about? KIP: Whats the name of this place? BERNADETTE: Pleasant Meadows. KIP: Its creepy. BERNADETTE: Please dont be disagreeable, Kip. Not now. Not now.

KIP: Sorry. BERNADETTE: If Im going to talk to him, it should be now. He should come back to the house. Dont you think? People will think its odd. People expect him. Why should I talk to him? Why doesnt 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: Hes your brother. BERNADETTE: We never speak. I never see him. I havent seen him inHe 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 doesnt 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: Youre not fat. BERNADETTE: Do I look fat!? KIP: No. BERNADETTE: I feel bloated. I feel all puffed up. KIP: Youre very thin. BERNADETTE: Ive been thinner.

KIP: When? BERNADETTE: Of course Ive been fatter too. I wish Id known. I wish Id had some warning. I wouldve dieted. I wouldve 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, Im waterlogged. I feel like crying! KIP: Please dont. BERNADETTE: Why should I be nervous? Theres 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 wouldnt even recognize me. I think Im heavier than the last time we saw each other. I have no idea when that was. But I think Im heavier. SEBASTIAN: You look very well. BERNADETTE: Thank you.

I seem to be eating more than usual lately. I dont seem to be able to get the food in fast enough. I dont understand it. Did you see Cousin Paul? SEBASTIAN: I didnt. BERNADETTE: Fat. Fat.

Fat! SEBASTIAN (To Kip): Have we met? KIP: Im Kip. BERNADETTE: This is my husband, Kip. SEBASTIAN: Its nice to meet you. BERNADETTE: Youve met Kip. SEBASTIAN: I have? KIP: I think so. SEBASTIAN: Im very sorry.

BERNADETTE: Several times. KIP: Its alright. BERNADETTE: At Thanksgiving. SEBASTIAN: When was that? KIP: I dont know. BERNADETTE: At the wedding. SEBASTIAN: What wedding? BERNADETTE: My wedding.

SEBASTIAN: I was there. KIP: Thank you for the andirons. SEBASTIAN: Dont mention it. BERNADETTE: Do you remember? SEBASTIAN (To Kip) : Did we speak? KIP: I dont recall. BERNADETTE: You mustve said something. SEBASTIAN: I am sorry.

BERNADETTE: He was the groom. KIP (Sadly) : Dont worry about it. BERNADETTE: Kips a dentist. SEBASTIAN: Congratulations. KIP: Thank you. SEBASTIAN: Its nice to meet you, again.

KIP: Im very sorry about your mother. SEBASTIAN: Dont 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, but KIP: The gravestones look like teeth.

BERNADETTE: Do you mind that I came over? If you do, you can say so. You wont hurt my feelings. Ill understand. Sometimes people just want to be by themselves. I enjoy being by myself quite a bit. Other times I enjoy being withKip.

Its wonderful to see you. I feel like its 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. Youre giving me a headache. BERNADETTE: Im sorry. (Bernadette sits next to Sebastian. Kip sits on the ground.) KIP: Dont the headstones look like teeth? SEBASTIAN: What does that mean? KIP: Crooked and rotting. SEBASTIAN: Well, I dont know BERNADETTE: Forget it KIP: They look like teeth to me.

Teeth in a very old persons mouth. BERNADETTE: Please stop talking about teeth, Kip! KIP: I hate this place. BERNADETTE: Why are you sitting on the ground? KIP: Dont bury me here. BERNADETTE: Hmmm. So, what are you reading? SEBASTIAN: Helter Skelter. BERNADETTE: I never read that.

KIP: Ive read it. SEBASTIAN: Ive read it before. (Kip looks around, becoming morose.) BERNADETTE: You look well. Did I say that? Are you doing well? Financially? I read that piece you wrote in Vanity Fair. I liked it, but Im not sure I understood it. Is your health good? SEBASTIAN: I have esophageal reflux.

BERNADETTE: I dont know what that is. What is that? SEBASTIAN: Its complicated. BERNADETTE: Im not unintelligent. SEBASTIAN: I never said you were. BERNADETTE: You implied it. SEBASTIAN: You inferred it.

BERNADETTE: I didnt. Kip! Did Sebastian imply that Im stupid, or didnt he? KIP: What? BERNADETTE: Oh forget it. SEBASTIAN: Its like heartburn. BERNADETTE: What is? SEBASTIAN (Losing his patience) : Esophageal reflux. BERNADETTE: Oh. In what way? SEBASTIAN: It feels like heartburn.

BERNADETTE: I See. SEBASTIAN: I get it almost every night. It comes from sleeping on the wrong side. BERNADETTE: Of the bed? SEBASTIAN: Of your body. BERNADETTE: I meant that! KIP: When I die, Id like to be thrown into the ocean. SEBASTIAN: Pardon? KIP: Theres a group that does that, throws you into the ocean.

I cant remember their name, but I BERNADETTE: Kip please, Im talking to my brother. KIP: Sorry. BERNADETTE: It was a nice service, dont you think? Not too much God and that sort of thing. Just enough. Its important to find a balance. SEBASTIAN: I suppose.

BERNADETTE: We were lucky. It looked like rain this morning. That wouldve been terrible. I think the clouds were appropriate. SEBASTIAN: You cried beautifully. BERNADETTE: Thank you.

SEBASTIAN: Very loudly. KIP: Shes very good. BERNADETTE (Coy) : Stop, Kip. SEBASTIAN: She always was. KIP (To Sebastian) : Do you cry? SEBASTIAN: Im afraid not. KIP (Sadly) : Neither do I.

SEBASTIAN (To Bernadette) : You sang well too. BERNADETTE: Thanks. SEBASTIAN: Very audibly. KIP: She cries a lot. SEBASTIAN: What was the song? BERNADETTE: This Could Be the Start of Something Big. KIP: Did she cry as a child? SEBASTIAN: I think so.