Mpho Molapo

Anomaly

By: Mpho Molapo

Scene 1: Stage right in a clean white room there is only a bed with white covers, and centre stage is a small white bare dresser with a big wide spinning mirror. There is a girl with dark, curly, greasy hair covering her h is sitting in front of the dresser, on the floor. She is looking down and is holding a small radio. Its on a popular music radio station and a girl is listening intently to a song. She is rocking to the rhythm and is seemingly oblivious to all else. There is a white door at the back of the stage; it is the only way in and the only way out. It has a cat flap and when the song ends the girl looks up and turns back to look at the door. Nothing happens. Another song begins and the girl looks back to her radio and hums along to the song There are clicking footsteps approaching, high heels, and they suddenly stop. The girl turns off her radio, looks up and turns back to look at the door. Nothing happens The girl looks back to her radio. She doesnt turn it back on, but continues humming the song. The cat flap on the door moves. The girl continues humming. A tray with unidentifiable objects covered with a white kitchen towel is pushed through the flap. The girl continues humming. There is a knock on the door. (Nothing) There is another knock. (Nothing) Nurse: Anna? Anna stops humming. Turns and looks back to the door. Stands up and walks towards the door. When she is close, she stops and without even looking, bends down
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to pick up the tray. Anna: Nurse: Anna Nurse: Anna (Weakly) Thank you. Feel better. Try. Try? Yes..., Try. I do. Anna walks back to her previous position. She sits back down. Anna, When are you coming home? (Thinks to herself... then answers) When Im feeling better. Anna, When are you feeling better? (sighs) When Im looking better. Uncovers the tray, and there are a mass cosmetic on one side of the tray and scissors on the other side. Anna pushes the tray away. She starts quietly crying. Anna I want to feel better. I want to feel better. I want to feel better. I want to feel better. I want to feel better. I want to feel better. I want to look better. I want to feel better I want to feel better. I want to feel better. I want to look better! Cries even more. She grabs a lip stick of the tray, and begins putting it on. She keeps putting it on more, until it runs out and she throws the empty lipstick at the mirror. She grabs eyeliner, and starts applying it on and doesnt stop until it breaks. Anna screams as she throws the eyeliner. Footsteps are quickly approaching. Until there is a knock at the door. Anna carries on crying. Another knock. Anna Why do you knock? You always knock... when I cant even lock the door. Why would lie to me like that?

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(To herself) You behaviour like I can keep you out, when you can just come in. I cant keep you out, can I? There is a long silence. And then another knock Anna Wipes her eye-lined eyes and looks at the black marks getting all over her hands. She sits on hands. And looks back down. Come in... The door opens and a nurse walks into the room. Anna doesnt look up to acknowledge the nurse. Anna: What time it it? Is it time already? I keep waiting. Im tired. Nurse: First, Im just going to get you ready for the first part of reconstruction- the face. Do you know, your face is the story of your life- it can say beautiful but tragic, or enchanting but plotless. What do you think yours say Anna? Anna sighs impatiently. She begins shaking, like she is silently crying Look at me Anna. Anna turns to face front. The nurse holds her chin up- studying her features Anna, have you been crying? Those muddy eyes of yours are stained red... Dear girl, you dont even try. (The nurse sighs with exasperation) Anna: (without conviction) I do try... The nurse removes her hand away from Annas chin and turns away to walk out I do! Or I did. I really did!
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Nurse:

(She stops in her tracks and turns) I believe you Anna. I do That is why I want to help you. The nurse walks back to Anna, takes the knife from the tray, and gently brushes Annas face with it Im here to help you Anna. Youre hurting yourself and everyone around you... You have a chance to be like us, like everyone! - To look into that mirror and smile with perfectly shaped lips that youve been cheated out of. The nurse runs her finger around the contours of Annas lips. Shakes her head in sympathy. To look at yourself with clear and pretty eyes. Youre getting a chance to live inside comfortable clear skin. You wont even need to try anymore Anna. Anna, you getting the chance to change your story... The happily ever after. The best seller. Anna looks up to the nurse and gives her a thankful smile, the nurse replies with an acknowledging nod Now, lets get you ready B/O Lights go up back in the cheerful, bright room and the room is empty. The music is playing in the background The door into the room opens and a pretty, slim young girl walks in and heads straight for the mirror. As she approaches the mirror almost like she is under hypnotism, the music stops. She stops too. She looks around and looks shocked to see the room. The dresser is the one thing that hasnt changed.

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It stands centre stage, there is a tray of cosmetics and a knife on the dresser and the mirror is still spinning The girl approaches the dresser. Anna: Wow, arent you just something... The girl stands shocked in front of the mirror and looks to see the reflection of Anna with her unruly curls, smiling. Anna starts laughing. The girl laughs along with her. The laughing grows more hysterical until she stops abruptlyGirl: Anna: Girl: Youre laughing at me. Why are you still here? Why would I leave you? Look at you. Why are you laughing at me? I should be laughing at you... Why are you laughing at me? Why? Do you not like it? You know I dont. Whats wrong with me? When youre not laughing, youre crying at me! When youre not crying, youre wishing you could be like me! Well, here I am. Im fine- laugh all you want Continues to laugh. Laughing starts turning into hysterical crying. What have you done? Do you know whats happened? Youve painted yourself white and erased all the colours. You just look like everyone else now! Girl: Whats wrong with that? Everyone else is happy. Everyone else is perfect. Everyone else in not YOU! A dead, shocked silence. Anna stops crying. She starts breathing calmly and she smiles Anna: Youre so pretty now.

Anna: Girl

Anna:

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Girl: Anna: Girl Anna: Girl: Anna: Girl:

Yes How does it feel then? What? Pretty How does pretty feel? Yes Looks lost a minute. Looks at her hands and puts them on her face. After a while, drops them. She opens a pot of foundation, uses a brush and gently applies it to her cheeks. She takes some mascara, opens it- looks at itthe closes it. I dont know. She drops the mascara on the tray. And she starts laughing. Her hand starts moving to the tray again as she reaches out, she suddenly stops laughing. B/O

Scene 2: Lights up the restored clean, sterile white room. There is a teenage boy with a bandage covering all his face (exception to the eyes), standing still and unsure, holding on tightly to his bagwatching as the nurse moves into the room and begins to fluffing the pillows and fix the bed. She finishes and sighs. Nurse Its so pretty in here. No marks. No blemishes. No evidence there was ever anything here. You wouldnt even know. The boy looks at her inquisitively. She smiles and
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shrugs as she walks around the room It was renovated a year ago- Im glad. There were marks everywhere. There was so much bl-.(Stops and signs) Well. Its clean now. Its pretty. She walks to the dresser. Opens the first cupboard Nurse You can put your belongings in this drawer. I think this dresser is the one thing that didnt get changed, I guess there wasnt anything wrong with it Thank you. For everything. (Smiling) Well, Im only here to help. So, what is your story young man? I dont have much of a story missAah, everyone comes here to change some part of their story... To change their tragedy to happily ever after. Ha. Does everyone get the happily ever after then? Looks around the room and smiles. They all leave laughing... in my experience. B/O

Boy: Nurse

Boy: Nurse

Boy Nurse

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