Marius Surleac

May 07, 2008 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

Multiple Personality Disorder (screenplay)

[A room, one blue table, white walls, 3 chairs with 3 persons talking: a young boy, his mother and the doctor]

John:   Do you see that spot on the white table, on the wet shiny table, do you see it?!

John:   (with the lost look) Do you see it?

Dr. Psy:   No! I told you before that is no such thing; more than that, the table is blue and it has a table cloth laid on.

John:   (dreamingly) It was when Lady Lucy came to my house to visit my father; and while drinking their coffee, she accidentally spilled a drop on the table. It was a bright day, sun was shining, birds were singing, wind was floating softly through the rusty leaves of the trees and…

Dr. Psy:   Sorry, but who is Lady Lucy?

John:   (mature posture) She was a working assistant of my father. Did I mention that my father is a lawyer – he knows how the laws work in these hard times, when nobody gives a damn on human integrity, on the dignity state!

Dr. Psy:   Wait a minute, you have no father; you’re father died when you were ten and for sure he was no lawyer. He barely could find something to work to support you and your mother.

John:   (aggressively) I have a father!!!

John:   My mother is no longer with us. She watches us from above. You know that above, in the sky, hiding through clouds, there is God. My mother told me that last night – I met her in my dream!

Dr. Psy:   John, your mother is alive and she’s here on my right side! Who are you talking about?

Margaret:   John???

Margaret:   Who is John? – I know nobody with this name. Nobody, you understand me? Nobody!

Dr. Psy:   (surprised, thinking) Margaret?

Margaret:   Yes, my name is Margaret. My mum gave me this name when I was born; she said that is the name of a princess, so I am a princess (prideful look). I am a lovely girl, you know that!?

Dr. Psy: Do you know who I am?

Margaret: Of course! You’re my cousin Eve! Did you come to play with me? I have my dolls waiting in my room so we can play doctors. I’ll be a doctor and you’ll be my patient. You’re ill so I have to treat you to make you well.

Dr. Psy:   Margaret, how old are you?

Margaret: I am ten years old, my name is Margaret and I am in the third grade!

Dr. Psy:   (inquiringly) So shouldn’t you be at school now?

Margaret:   No, how many times do I have to tell you that I have a private teacher. He teaches me how to draw, how to sing, how to dance at special occasions…I even know what century we are! (delighted) We are in the 18th century! Did you know that?

Dr. Psy: No I didn’t. I am amazed of how much you know! But… special occasions? What kind of?

Margaret:   (twisting the fingers) When my mum and my dad organize a banquet to the castle, they let me wear the white dress and they take me with them. Then, at the castle I meet lots of children and we dance and play, and sing…all kind of lovely things.

Margaret: (insistent) Do you know that white dresses are for princesses? I know, my mum told me! Isn’t it gorgeous?

Dr. Psy:   But…

Margaret:   (a little bit surprised) …why didn’t you come at the castle? Didn’t you get any invitation?

Dr. Psy:   Hmm! Yes I did, but I had a problem so my parents did not let me out!

Margaret:   But now you are here! Let’s get upstairs to play with the dolls! I beg you!

Dr. Psy:   Ok! Ok! We will! But who are your parents?

Margaret:   How’s that? You know my parents! They are your uncle and aunt!

Dr. Psy:   …yes, but I forgot!

Margaret:   (reproachful) …you see if you’re not going to school, you’re not as smart as I am. Ok, this is the last time I will tell you, to be clear!

Margaret:   My mum…my mum is known by all people in town; even the beggars pronounce her name always when she goes out!

Margaret:   She doesn’t like beggars – I heard her speaking with my dad in the living room. She is disgusted! But let’s go to my room. Let’s play doctors. You’ll be the patient and I’ll be the doctor, so I can treat your illness.

Dr. Psy: What about your father? Where is he, what is his profession?

Margaret:   (proud, with a big smile) Ah! My father is the mayor of the city. He is a great man, also recognized by al the people in town. He is kind of doctor, but a much bigger one. He can treat the city illness. All people came to him asking for their needs, for help.

Margaret: But why you ask me all these? Didn’t you come to play with the dolls, with me?

Dr. Psy:   Hmm! Yes, I did – let’s go upstairs!

Margaret: (running in the room with one table and chairs) Hurray! I’ll be the doctor! I’ll be the doctor!

Dr. Psy:   Margaret, stay still! Be careful!

John: (hitting the table) Ouch! My head hurts! I told you before to clean that spot! Now I took a closer look and fall down from my chair!

John:   (confused) Who is Margaret?

Dr. Psy:   You’re not Margaret?

John:   Of course I am not Margaret. I am a boy, how can I be a girl. Be careful with your words!

Dr. Psy:   But you were running!

John:   (sad) Running!?

John:   I can’t run! My legs were amputated! In a day, when I was crossing the street, a car knocked me down! That’s why now I watch the splendours beyond the window from my lazy room. After my mother died, my father changed.

John:   He was no more like he used to be, especially because he was in loved with Lady Lucy; but now she’s also up in the sky, hiding through clouds with God and my mother.

Dr. Psy:   John, how old are you?

John:   I am 32 years old, I think – I can’t remember, because of the hit, because of the table, because of the spot! How many times do I have to ask you to clean that coffee spot.

Dr. Psy:   (writing some notes in a notebook) I see! And what year is now?

John: It’s September 27, 1932! Outside is such a beautiful day – sun is shining, birds are singing, wind is floating softly through the rusty leaves of the trees and I sit still in this damn chair…

[After few minutes John felt asleep, meanwhile Dr. Psy is speaking with his mom about the symptoms]

Dr. Psy:   Indeed Sigmund seems to have multiple personality disorder!

Sigmund’s mother: Now I know. I was shocked when I was speaking with him and he was acting like I was a strange person, he called me all kind of different names. He had all kind of behaviours.

Dr. Psy: I am very sorry for you!

Sigmund’s mother:   Thank you! At the beginning I thought that it wasn’t a big deal but after his third ego appeared I knew something’s wrong with him and I decided to come to you!

Sigmund’s mother:   Is there anything that can help my son to return to a normal being attitude?

Dr. Psy:   I am afraid not! These kind of mental disorders are very tough for the families but also for them. I am sorry! Only God can make him normal!

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Romania, ROU

Comments

Candlewitch

18 years ago

Marius

It is a very interesting story with only a few minor mistakes. I think that the line: she accidentally threw a drop, should be she accidentally "spilled" a drop. Always, Cat

Marius Surleac

18 years ago

thank you...

Hi Cat! No I took a look on the text passage and you're right: "spilled" is better and sounds better. Thank you for the advice! Cheers from Marius!

weirdelf

17 years 9 months ago

I don't know where you are going with this

it is good screenwriting, more playwriting, feels like an excerpt. I presume you have read Harold Pinter and Samuel Beckett, I can feel the influence, but even in context of the Theatre of the Absurd it needs more. Not a resolution perhaps more grounds for stasis. I won't comment on your use of language that is unusual because it is not any more wrong than an Irish or Scottish speaker, not wrong, just different. cheers, Jess

docmaverick

17 years 9 months ago

A story ?

No. More like a series of "one-way" interviews. I'm sorry, but I simply have to agree with weirdelf, on this one. What I think that you need is, an underlying truth, to anchor this piece. True enough, it IS interesting, (in a quirky sort of way); but where's your "anchor", man? What I mean to say is, you REALLY need some sort of underlying theme, a contrast, or Something.....otherwise, what you end up with is, some sort of Dialogical Dribble. Even in the smallest of water bodies there are sometimes, numerous underlying currents. you have but, ONE. And it's the guy that's taking notes! The "elf" gave you Pinter, and Beckett; but, I would suggest maybe throwing an "angle" that might include something courtesy of someone like, Bennett Cerf. I'm serious; at least "humor" could make your piece attractive to "humans". As it sits, now...maybe another Galaxy? Regards, doc.

Marius Surleac

17 years 9 months ago

the answer!

Jess! First of all, I haven't ever read Harold Pinter and Samuel Beckett! The basic idea of this screenplay is to be found in the title. Doc! Also I haven't heard or read about Bennett Cerf. But the idea as I said is to be found in the title. What you've both read is just the example of how this mental disease called "Multiple Personality Disorder" works. The people sick with this kind of disease are not more present in a real world; they have one or two different personalities. They are not anchored on the real life, on their families or anything else - they are stuck in their mind's tricks. So, this is just pathological psychology exposed under the shape of a screenplay. I don't need a point to hang this just to say that has a sort of idea, the hole body of the text is the basic idea and represents real facts, because many of the persons with MPD die very young and few reach to become old, and this is also a nightmare for their families. Best wishes, Marius

docmaverick

17 years 9 months ago

Marius...

....is the analyst "sick", too? Come on, adding the dimension of humor, or any other emotion is essential in anchoring this piece. Even if the person had MPD, they would have some "quirks" to make this somewhat entertaining. Without SOMETHING...this is a waste of everybody's time. It is NOT entertaining, so it belongs in a medical journal, and cannot be a play!!! Bennett Cerf is a renouned author of annecdotes, which you really aught to try and consider adding to these characters. No matter what disease someone has, they are STILL human. Make them so! I'm Manic Depressive, but I'm still human, and do humorous or odd things that make me an individual. Your characters are like androids, and I think it's wrong of YOU to make them uninteresting. Someone with more personalities should be more interesting than a normal person...RIGHT ? Your piece belittles this disease, and makes me both sad and angry. Regards, docmaverick.

weirdelf

17 years 9 months ago

I do understand your compassion and insight in taking this on

A very difficult task. I wonder if this might work as an unscripted documentary, with real sufferers of MPD. It would be a big ask of the actors involved if fictionalised. That has always been my failing as a director, I can't bring myself to ask of an actor what I wouldn't or couldn't do myself. It would be a good idea as a screen-writer to divorce yourself from the production consequences. Can you do that? That brings me back to Pinter and Beckett. Where does it go? Die very young and few reach to become old, and this is also a nightmare for their families? What about the families? What about the causes? In my readings MPD is usually associated with severe ongoing childhood trauma. Where does that put the family? You are really opening a can of nasty worms here man, are you up to it? cheers, Jess T. p.s. that's why researchers are starting to use lawyers instead of rats, there are some things rats just won't do. 8)

docmaverick

17 years 9 months ago

Jess...

....all I can say, is see my answer above. doc.

Marius Surleac

17 years 9 months ago

my final pleading

Doc, sorry to disappoint you! If you haven't observed Margaret and John are the two personalities of Sigmund. I didn't present Sigmund's personality, though you'll see that both personalities are different and have some particular moral perspectives on their own being, some characteristics that for me are more like a black humor. I am sorry that you didn't realize that. Everybody understands humor in his own way. Maybe something that for you had no humor, for me it had - so, I do not want to exchange it because I like it as the way it is and anyone else who likes it - very good, if somebody else doesn't like it - again, very good. Also, I will read the respective writers when I’ll have time. For the present moment I even don’t have time for myself. I can delete it if wipes out from the basics ideas of the webpage. This text is appreciated very much by a lot of people and some of them that are psychologists find it quite good. This was my final pleading! Best wishes, Marius

themoonman

17 years 9 months ago

Hi Marius...

to me this was a very realistic scene from a play, which was the intention.. I think you should go with it.. finish it. thanks for sharing.. Richard