by Kellie Powell

Kim: I wanted those moments - few and far between as they were. I wanted whatever time and
affection you could give me. No matter what it cost me. I felt like you found comfort in me. And
maybe I wasn't your first choice, you know? But I was glad that I was somewhere on the list. I
let it happen again and again, more times than I can even count.

You wanted to keep things casual, you wanted to keep me at arm's length. You leaned on me. I
cared about you so much. I can't explain it, but, I've seen the best and the worst of you... and I
love you. I love the way you can tell me what I'm thinking. I love the way you tell a story,
drawing me in. I love you for all the times you convinced me, with a stupid joke, or even just a
look... to stop taking myself so seriously and just enjoy my life. Nothing could ever make me
regret the way I feel about you. What I feel for you isn't a negative thing. It makes me better, it
makes my life better. That's what I've been trying to say: That love is never wrong, even when it
grows in the worst conditions, with no encouragement...

NORA: DO NOT USE NEAR FIRE OR OPEN FLAME. KEEP AWAY FROM MATCHES
AND LIGHTED CIGARETTES DURING APPLICATION AND UNTIL HAIR IS FULLY
DRY. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. AVOID SPRAYING NEAR EYES.

I memorized the side of the bottle. I wanted to be clear to myself as to what I

done and repeating that phrase to myself, reminds me of how horrible a
person I am.

I just couldnt quit the damn smoking. Had a habit of leaving my cigarettes lit
when Id put them down and forget em. My daughter, always used to play with
my hair spray bottles. She would spray and then brush her dolls hair. Ha Ha, so
cute she was.

One day she was playing in the bathroom, while I was getting ready for work.
Anyway, I was smoking my cigarettes and decided to put it down on top of the
sink in order to fuss with my hair. Then the phone rang, the babysitter and I
was distracted.

Thats when my baby daughter sprayed her hair bottle just right which caused
the cigarette and the hair spray bottle to ignite and catch fire to the bathroom
towel and to my daughters pretty face

When I saw her

I screamed

Went to put the fire outI put my hands all over her tender face while she kept
screaming my name

(sighs)
I panicked. I pulled her out of the bathroom, then back in the bathroom. I
dunked her head into the toilet to put out the flames.

She was coughing and

The rest is history.

My daughter is blind because of me. Because I smoked cigarettes, because I

was stupid. Now my baby daughter is gonna be blind for the rest of her life and
I did that. I took those beautiful blue eyes she had and singed them
forever.FOREVER

Theresa talks to her co-worker friend about what has been going on between her
and the new intern. She seeks out her advice.

THERESA: I find myself looking at other men. Its true, I do, I confess. I cant
help it. Is that wrong of me? Not only do I look at other men, but I flirt with
other men too. Ive been with my husband now for ten years. You know that.
Im ten years young though. You cant tell me you dont talk with other men.
You have to, we need to keep our sanity. Am I right?

(beat)

I did something the other day that I am having alot of trouble with. I kissed
another man. Now, wait, wait, let me explainI was in the hallway, on my way
to go make copies of this script and I bump into the new intern. You know the
new intern, Mark. This intern is the epitome of gorgeous. There isnt an ugly
bone in his body. Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, LOOK OUT! This intern wants to be a
producer but he should be an actor. Its honest to say that this intern and me
have been kind of, sort oftalking, these last few weeks. It started in the
cafeteria. Like, weve been feeling eachother out, so to speak.

I get to the copy machine and he come up behind me and he suddenly grabs
my hips and starts kissing my neck. At first I froze like a statue. All I could do
was let out a small murmur. But then, then I let myself get carried off. I
stopped him aggressively before someone saw us and told him to meet me in
the back room at two oclock. We met and we went at it for about fifteen
minutes. Not sex, nothing like that, just some good lip locking, oh and groping.
God he can gropeyeah.

It felt great. I felt amazing. My husband hasnt kissed me like that in years. I
felt like a wanted woman and Ive been walking on air ever since. I dont know
if I should go further, put a stop to it. I dont want to divorce my husband, I love
him but I just need a sexual boost. I need passion! And Ive tried with my
husband. Hes like a fart in the wind. No fire, no lust, just, justjust boring.

What should I do? Am I in too deep? Should I get out while Im ahead? What?
What do you think I should do?

DEMONS BY D. M. LARSON (DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE ADAPTED FROM A

PUBLISHED PLAY "HOLY GROUND" ISBN-13: 978-1502875990) Copyright
2014 All Rights Reserved Please do NOT repost the text of this play online in
any way.

TURK

Don't get any closer. I don't want to hurt you. I've been trying to hide them. I
wanted to protect you. I hid the truth from you. I wanted to keep you safe. But
there's no place where we can hide. Look into my eyes. Can you see them?
Can you see them looking out at you? Can you see the darkness in me? I want
them out of me. I want to rip them out of my soul. But they cling to me. Holding
on so tight... so tight that I can't breathe. Can you show me how to get rid of
them? Can you help me? You're getting too close. I don't want them to hurt you.
Please don't hurt her too. Please leave her alone. You have me... you don't
need her too. See what you've done. You've made them angry. They are
punishing me. They always punish me. They want to punish you too. I can't let
you! No! But I have to... it's the only way to make the pain inside me go away.
Lift me up... I feel like I am falling... I'm drowning inside. You feel so far away. I
feel like nothing can reach me. I'm lost. I'm so weak. Please... I can't take this
much longer. I can't do this anymore. How can I live with this pain inside me?
There's no place we can hide. We'll never escape them. Run! Run before they
find you! I am hell bound. They are burned in my soul. They are a part of me.
But there is still hope for you. Hope... there's no hope anymore... I'm too far
gone... buried... buried deep inside this tomb... lost and undone. My kingdom
has come, his will was done... I am beyond heaven and earth... there is no
deliverance from this evil. Why are you still here? Save yourself. Please... you
can't. You're not strong enough. You can't stop them. You can never take them
from me.

JAMIE
Yes, you're right. I have to toughen up theres always someone who has it worse
than me. Sorry I am so depressed all the time sorry I bring you down. I dont mean to
ruin your day... Or your life. I'd love to stop being depressed. I wish I could look on the
bright side and turn that frown upside down. I wish it were that easy.

You think its my fault dont you? You think its all in my head. Yes, we all have this
problem dont we? We all get a little blue sometimes. I get very blue all the time. Im so
blue Im purple. Dont tell me you understand you dont understand!

Do you really know how this feels? Do you really know how this grips me inside and
threatens to rip me apart? Do you know the weight that holds me down, a weight so
powerful I can hardly move.

Yes, Im using this to punish you. I am angry at you so Im acting this way to hurt you
I need to stop feeling sorry for myself Me, me, me... yes, its all about me I want
you all to drop everything and focus on me! Im sorry I even came out of my room.

Oh yeah a nice cup of tea will instantly cure me - maybe if you put some strychnine
in it. I wish I could just snap out of it like it was some kind of spell a witch cast on me.
I'm waiting for some prince to come along and kiss my tears away.

Dont worry. I wont say anything anymore. I didnt want to bring it up. I didnt want to
talk about it anyway

I bet youre sorry you asked how I was doing. How am I doing anyway? Im hurting so
bad. I wish there was something that would take away the pain. I can't handle this
much longer.

All I want to know is that Im not alone that Im important to someone. Maybe I want a
hug sometimes. Maybe I want someone to tell me Im not going crazy, thats its not
really my fault.

I need to know I didnt do this to myself and that Im not the cause of this horrible thing
thats happening to me. I want someone to be here for me and help me through this. I
need someone stronger than me Im so weak. I need someone who is strong enough
for both of us.

I need to know youll be there for me I need to know youll never give up on me. That
youll never leave me. That youll never go away. And I need someone to help me not
give up on myself. I want to know that Im important. That I matter. That Im loved. Tell
me that things will get better. It helps to have someone to talk to it helps to say
something thank you for listening thank you for not leaving me alone anymore.

END

Play Independence
Author Lee Blessing
Role Jo
Actor Unknown
What? I couldnt do that. No! I dont have to think about it rationally! I couldnt do that. Why!?
Because! I cant leave mom. What would happen to her? Tell me. What would happen? Shes never
managed alone. Shes always needed someone. At first she had her family, then Dad, and you after
Dad, and now me. Who would be here if I left?Mom would be all alone. Is that what you want? Is that
the only reason you came down!?!? Just to try and steal me away from mom? If you think that Id
move up there to be with you and that-that thing! Im sorry. Why dont you move down here. We
could find a way. Bring Susan. You could do a lot of good down here. You could do a lot of good for
mom. Who was here when she got out? You were already gone. I was the one who took here around
to say hello to everyone again. I took her into each store! But, just go ahead, leave!