by Brett Neveu
Eric LaRue
(excerpted)
Characters: Steve Calhan—male, Presbyterian Minister, late thirties
Janice LaRue—female, late forties
Ron LaRue—male, late forties
Jill Yardly—female, mid-forties
Stephanie Grazer—female, early forties
Eric LaRue—male, seventeen
Time:
present
Place:
-Steve Calhan's office at First Presbyterian Church
-the living room of the LaRue home
-A holding room at a prison
SCENE 1
(Lights up. A pastor’s office in a Presbyterian
church. JANICE LARUE sits in a large, older chair
on the opposite side of a heavy brown desk. The
desk has a few books, a picture or two, a reading
lamp and a box of tissues. PASTOR STEVE
CALHAN sits behind the desk in a somewhat
modern, high-backed chair.)
STEVE
Don’t you think it’s a little tight in here? I can’t find places for everything. I had a hard time finding a place for the trash can. I try not to throw things away in here. If I have any garbage, then I walk it downstairs to the bigger trash cans in the kitchen. Then I just end up dumping them later. Not all the time, though. We have a service that does that, a garbage service. I don’t know. It’s cramped, but it’s comfortable. How are you?
JANICE
Not well.
STEVE
I’m sorry.
JANICE
Eric’s been there for over a month.
STEVE
Have you been to see him yet?
JANICE
No.
STEVE
You should go see him.
JANICE
I try, but I can’t.
STEVE
It’ll be a good thing. You should go see him.
JANICE
I will.
STEVE
Good. And he’s doing okay?
JANICE
I’m not sure.
STEVE
You might want to be concerned.
JANICE
I am.
STEVE
I realize that. But maybe you should be more concerned. He’s up there without any family. He’s among strangers and criminals and I’m sure he’s pretty upset. It’s upsetting for him, you, and everyone concerned. You should go see him. He needs that. What would you say to him?
JANICE
In prison.
STEVE
That’s what I mean.
JANICE
I’m not sure.
STEVE
Maybe that’s why you haven’t gone yet. You should think about what you would say to him. Just thinking about that discussion would help you understand what you are thinking.
JANICE
Eric killed those boys.
STEVE
I know the circumstances.
JANICE
He shot them.
STEVE
You should think beyond the situation. (pause) How have you been?
JANICE
It’s hard.
STEVE
It is.
JANICE
It’s hard to be outside.
STEVE
What do you mean?
JANICE
It’s hard to go outside.
STEVE
You should go outside. You shouldn’t punish yourself.
JANICE
I don’t feel like I can be outside.
STEVE
You shouldn’t become a shut-in. You need to be active.
JANICE
I don’t feel like exercise.
STEVE
That’s not what I’m talking about. I don’t mean aerobics or anything. I’m just saying that you shouldn’t sit and dwell on things that happened. All of this is still fresh in your mind and you can’t think of anything else.
JANICE
I do think of other things.
STEVE
I had a man in the congregation a few years ago that wouldn’t leave his house.
JANICE
Why wouldn’t he leave his house?
STEVE
He was scared of plants or clouds and he wouldn’t leave his house.
JANICE
What happened to him?
STEVE
He finally went outside.
JANICE
Why?
STEVE
I’m not sure, but he did.
JANICE
Wasn’t he scared of plants or clouds?
STEVE
I’m not sure what he was scared of, if he was scared of plants or clouds or what it was. I am sure, though, that he finally overcame his fears and left his house.
JANICE
Oh.
STEVE
That’s right.
JANICE
I’m not scared to go outside.
STEVE
Oh.
JANICE
I’m just sad.
STEVE
You’re sad? Are you numb? Some people feel numb when tragic things occur in their lives. They go from month to month, year to year, not feeling anything. They’re numb.
JANICE
I don’t think I’m numb.
STEVE
Time can heal anything.
JANICE
I know.
STEVE
It can.
JANICE
I know.
STEVE
It’s why you’re here.
JANICE
What is.
STEVE
To heal yourself. Isn’t that why you’re here?
JANICE
Yes.
STEVE
Why are you here?
JANICE
To heal myself.
STEVE
Is there another reason we’ve been meeting?
JANICE
I don’t know.
STEVE
You seem like you have another reason.
JANICE
I said why.
STEVE
You said what I said. I might be wrong. You can give me a reason. We’re trying to get beyond the shooting and what Eric did.
JANICE
And heal.
(A pause.)
STEVE
Why are you here?
JANICE
I guess I want to understand how I’m feeling now. I want to understand what I’m supposed to be feeling.
STEVE
I’m not going to tell you what you should be feeling.
JANICE
I don’t mean that.
STEVE
You’re trying to look inside yourself and see what steps you need to take in order to feel less upset.
JANICE
Maybe that’s what’s happening.
STEVE
“Maybe” doesn’t get you past anything. You should be making some concrete decisions about things. You know what I want to do, and maybe we should talk about that.
JANICE
I’m not sure.
STEVE
I still want to set up a meeting.
JANICE
I know.
STEVE
I’m very serious about this step. I’ve talked to the principal and to a few counselors and I think we should do this soon. Especially if you feel sad.
JANICE
I know.
STEVE
What do you think?
JANICE
I don’t think I can.
STEVE
You’ve had some time to think about it.
JANICE
I know.
STEVE
We shouldn’t let these wounds get infected. We need to treat them quickly so they can heal.
JANICE
I’m not ready.
STEVE
I understand, but it would be good for everyone.
JANICE
I know.
STEVE
I don’t know if you do. I’m saying you should go see Eric, you should be there in the meeting, you should do all of it.
JANICE
I know.
STEVE
What did Ron have to say about it?
JANICE
We haven’t talked about it much.
STEVE
I know that he hasn’t been attending services here for a few months now, but I don’t want to lose touch with him or his feelings about what has happened.
JANICE
Okay.
STEVE
I know John Berman over there and he’s nice. Please tell Ron he can come to both services if he wants, he can go to Redeemer Lutheran and he can come here, too. I don’t have a problem with him splitting time between the two churches. He can come back anytime. I don’t want him to feel that I don’t think what he thinks isn’t important just because he’s over at Redeemer.
JANICE
I’ll talk to Ron again about what he thinks about the meeting.
STEVE
You should get his opinion.
JANICE
I know.
STEVE
I’m harping. I’m sorry. It should be up to you when and if you talk to him. It should be up to you what course these things take. The only problem is that there’s more than just you involved here. We’ve got three other families to think about. Three other mothers, two of which are members of this church, just like you. It’s been hard. It’s been hard for everyone, the community, of all involved. I’m just trying to reach out to you. I’m trying help you, I’m just trying to help.
JANICE
I know.
STEVE
Then we can all understand. We can understand what we’re all thinking.
JANICE
Okay.
STEVE
If you want to ask me questions about anything I’m saying, it’s fine.
JANICE
I’m sorry.
STEVE
I want you to figure this out by yourself.
JANICE
I don’t mean to sound so confused.
STEVE
You don’t sound that confused.
JANICE
I’m just not sure if I’m making any sense.
STEVE
You just said the same thing twice. You said that you “don’t mean to sound so confused” and that you’re “not sure if you’re making any sense."
JANICE
I’m sorry.
STEVE
No! It’s okay to feel that way. Us talking is a great way to figure these things out. And this meeting I’m talking about is also a great place to do the same thing. (long pause) How are you?
JANICE
I thought I said how I was.
STEVE
I’m sorry. You’re right. You’re sad.
JANICE
I’ve been back to work.
STEVE
See? You can go outside.
JANICE
I guess.
STEVE
How is work going?
JANICE
It’s okay.
STEVE
It keeps you distracted, I suppose.
JANICE
I don’t want to be distracted.
STEVE
I meant occupied.
JANICE
I can’t stop thinking about things.
STEVE
Work keeps you occupied so that you can think about other things.
JANICE
I don’t think about other things.
STEVE
Do you need some help?
JANICE
Help with what?
STEVE
Things at home. Preparing food, cleaning.
JANICE
No.
STEVE
Those sorts of home things can make you distracted, too.
JANICE
I don’t need help at home.
STEVE
I’m here to help however I can.
JANICE
I know.
STEVE
That’s why we’re talking, right?
JANICE
Yes.
STEVE
I’m here to help.
JANICE
I know.
STEVE
Have you ever played Ungame?
JANICE
Played what?
STEVE
The Ungame game?
JANICE
No.
STEVE
It’s a game where you can learn a lot about yourself. It’s a card game.
JANICE
I don’t want to play cards.
STEVE
It’s a learning game.
(STEVE opens a drawer in his desk and pulls out a
deck of playing cards.)
STEVE (cont'd)
I don’t have the actual Ungame, but I remember how it goes. I have it all written down. I just use regular cards and it’s the same thing. (pause) I just want you to see how opening up to others can help you get past tragedy in life. I just want you to understand that all human experience is the same, all sadness can be quieted. I’m here to listen and to help, and sometimes I might seem silly. I know a card game is silly but it really does help.
When I have counseling sessions for married couples, I always play Ungame with them during their second session. You would not believe how much two people can learn about each other by simple questions and varying answers. It’s like a trick, but a trick that teaches. Through learning your responses, you can learn about problems or things you may need to correct. This simple card game can give you tools for finding out how to make your life less complicated. It can bring answers to frustrating questions. I’ve seen it happen during my marriage counseling sessions. I’m no liar.
JANICE
I don’t think you’re lying.
STEVE
I didn’t mean that you thought I was lying. I’m just trying to show you how strongly I believe in interaction and communication as ways to overcome the greatest of misfortunes. So when I say, “I’m no liar,” I mean to tell you that you should believe that my motives are about using tools in order to understand our progress through life. I don’t know if it’s about trust or honesty. Maybe “I’m no liar” isn’t the right statement. Maybe I should say, “I’m not going to lie to you.” I want to tell you things as I see them and I want you to do the same.
(STEVE shows the deck of cards to JANICE.)
STEVE (cont'd)
It’s not silly. It’s just a game. Let me see here.
(STEVE removes a sheet of paper with notes on it
from a desk drawer. He then takes the cards from
their box and shuffles them. He then deals out five
cards, face down, to JANICE.)
(JANICE reaches for the cards.)
STEVE (cont'd)
Don’t look at them.
JANICE
Okay.
STEVE
Okay. Now let me see here.
(STEVE looks at his notes.)
STEVE (cont'd)
There are usually two people here to play the game, not counting me.
JANICE
Okay.
STEVE
I guess we’ll have to modify the rules. Go ahead and reveal your first card and we’ll see what to do from there.
(JANICE turns over one of the cards.)
JANICE
It’s the five of diamonds.
STEVE
The five of diamonds. (looks at his notes) Okay. The five of diamonds. Okay. “Describe how you put on your shoes and socks in the morning.”
JANICE
I should answer that?
STEVE
Yes. “Describe how you put on your shoes and socks in the morning.”
JANICE
I put on socks and then I put on shoes.
STEVE
Anything else?
JANICE
No.
STEVE
Do you sit down?
JANICE
Yes.
STEVE
Where?
JANICE
On a chair.
STEVE
Is it always the same chair?
JANICE
I sometimes sit on the bed.
STEVE
And is it right then left or the other way around?
JANICE
I’m not sure.
STEVE
Think about it.
JANICE
I guess right first.
STEVE
Not always right?
JANICE
Maybe not.
STEVE
Okay. Then what do you do?
JANICE
I stand up.
STEVE
Is it always the same shoes?
JANICE
No.
(A long pause. STEVE pokes at one of JANICE’s
remaining cards. JANICE turns over the next card.)
STEVE
The ten of clubs.
(STEVE looks at his papers.)
STEVE (cont'd)
“Describe your mate’s hair color in detail.”
JANICE
What?
STEVE
I guess this is more of a couple card.
(STEVE turns over JANICE’s next card.)
STEVE (cont'd)
The ten of hearts. “Tell the group about your favorite vacation.” There’s no group, so you can just tell me instead, okay?
JANICE
A vacation?
STEVE
Your favorite vacation.
(A pause.)
JANICE
When Eric was seven we went up to Leech Lake in Minnesota.
STEVE
That was your favorite vacation?
JANICE
Yes.
STEVE
Leech Lake was the name of the lake?
JANICE
Yes.
STEVE
That's funny! (laughs)
JANICE
Yeah. (laughs slightly)
STEVE
What was there to do at Leech Lake?
JANICE
We had a tent and we went fishing.
STEVE
How long was the vacation?
JANICE
A week.
STEVE
Why was it your favorite?
JANICE
It was fun.
STEVE
What was fun?
JANICE
The whole thing.
STEVE
The camping? The fishing? What parts?
JANICE
We went walking around in the woods.
STEVE
That must have been nice.
JANICE
We came across a giant mushroom. It looked like a little chair.
STEVE
It was as big as a chair?
JANICE
We took a picture of it. It was yellow and orange and was cupped so it had a little puddle of water in it. There was a smaller different shaped mushroom next to it that's also in the picture.
STEVE
I bet you didn't go swimming, though.
JANICE
We did go swimming.
STEVE
Were there leeches in the lake? (smiles)
JANICE
Tiny ones. You could get them off with salt.
STEVE
They bit you?
JANICE
Eric had them between his toes. He came out of the water and he had them stuck there. He cried.
STEVE
He was bleeding?
JANICE
The leeches were attached to him. He bled just a little bit.
STEVE
Oh.
JANICE
What?
STEVE
Anything else?
JANICE
Are you asking about Eric?
STEVE
No.
JANICE
Why were you asking if Eric was bleeding?
STEVE
I’m just trying to help you imagine your vacation more clearly.
JANICE
What does that have to do with Eric?
STEVE
I’m sorry if I made you angry.
JANICE
I’m not angry.
STEVE
I’m sorry. I know you’re not.
JANICE
I’m not.
STEVE
I told you that the Ungame would help you to learn about what is bothering you and that by playing it you would learn how to communicate what is going through your head.
JANICE
It's difficult.
STEVE
What's difficult?
JANICE
Thinking about things.
STEVE
Thinking about the past?
JANICE
Thinking about most things.
STEVE
It’s good that we’re talking.
(STEVE turns over the fourth card, then looks at his
notes.)
STEVE (cont'd)
I'm sorry. This question isn't relevant.
(STEVE turns over the fifth card, then looks at his
notes.)
STEVE (cont'd)
"Talk about a book you read that you liked."
JANICE
This game isn’t helping.
STEVE
They’re simple questions.
JANICE
I don't think that any of these questions are helping.
STEVE
They're really not supposed to do anything but help you think.
JANICE
I want a break from my thoughts.
STEVE
You've said that you "don't want to be distracted" and now "you want a break from your thoughts". Which do you want?
JANICE
I want to understand what I'm feeling.
STEVE
Thinking leads to understanding. Isn’t that what we’re trying to do here?
JANICE
No. It’s the opposite. You're making me think about things that aren't helping.
STEVE
It's not the same sort of thinking.
JANICE
It is.
STEVE
Your thoughts aren't the same thoughts you'd be thinking if we weren't playing this game.
JANICE
It all comes back to the same things.
STEVE
Maybe that's what we need to talk about.
JANICE
What?
STEVE
Maybe we need to talk about the same things.
JANICE
I've talked a lot already.
STEVE
Not in a different way.
JANICE
What different way?
STEVE
Let's say you'd talk about the past like you were just doing. Those images reflect positive moments. That is what the card game can be all about. Positive moments.
JANICE
I'm not comfortable with the card game.
(STEVE puts the cards and his notes away. A
pause.)
STEVE
I am attempting to show you that there can be peace.
JANICE
I believe you.
STEVE
Like I said, I'm no liar. I’m not going to lie to you.
JANICE
I know.
STEVE
It’s not about understanding these problems on your own.
JANICE
That’s why I’m here.
STEVE
What happened has affected a lot of people.
JANICE
I understand that.
I know you do.
JANICE
I do.
STEVE
It might bring some peace if you meet with the other mothers.
JANICE
I thought I’d told you my decision.
STEVE
I would set the whole thing up. We could do it right in here. It's tight in here, like I said, but I think we could fit. I could move some chairs around, or we could meet in fellowship hall. Wherever we'd all be comfortable, that is where we’d all meet.
JANICE
What would we talk about?
STEVE
How we all are doing. How things are going.
JANICE
I don't know.
STEVE
Don't be frightened.
JANICE
I'm not.
STEVE
Do you think they hate you?
JANICE
No. STEVE
Do you think they hate Eric? They don't hate anybody, I’m sure. (beat) I really believe that we could do a great deal of healing if we just open up a discussion.
(A pause.)
STEVE (cont'd)
“Talk about a book you read that you liked.”
(A pause.)
STEVE (cont'd)
Talking with Stephanie Grazer and Jill Yardly, I know that they are upset. Like you are. I haven't been able to get a hold of the Gates family, but I have left a few messages. Have you spoken to any of the mothers on your own?
JANICE
No.
STEVE
Maybe you should.
JANICE
I don't think so.
STEVE
If you’re not willing to make my meeting, I am planning on meeting with the other mothers on my own in any event.
JANICE
Are you going to tell them things I've told you?
STEVE
No.
JANICE
Are you going to talk about Eric?
STEVE
We can't avoid talking about Eric.
JANICE
I thought it was going to be a positive meeting.
STEVE
I’m not sure what kind of meeting it will be. We’ll just be playing it by ear and whatever comes out comes out. That’s how you begin healing.
JANICE
I don't know if I'm ready to talk to them.
STEVE
When would you be ready?
JANICE
I’m not sure.
STEVE
There would be no “ready”, really. How could you be "ready"?
JANICE
I don't know.
STEVE
Being "ready" implies that you've prepared yourself for things that you could predict. There's no big plan for this meeting, except that I know that we all need to talk and start healing.
JANICE
I'm sorry.
STEVE
Why?
JANICE
I don't think I'm ready for that kind of meeting.
STEVE
It'll just be the mothers. No husbands or other children. You can talk to Ron again and see what he says.
JANICE
I will.
STEVE
He can help you make your decision.
JANICE
Okay.
STEVE
I know that a little group discussion can make all the difference. It's not easy to face things in life that are tough. I've had tragedy in my life, my father was sick. Things like that happen. But life does go on, and people need to mend.
JANICE
I know.
STEVE
You don't need to decide now. How does this Sunday afternoon around two o'clock sound? I don’t want to interfere with anyone’s work schedule, so I thought Sunday would be good. Plus I’ll be down here anyway. You wouldn’t need to bring anything. Just come down. I’ll figure out where we’ll be and we’ll go from there.
JANICE
I'll let you know.
STEVE
Did you have anything else on your mind?
JANICE
I don't think so.
STEVE
There won’t be any yelling or anything, if that’s what you’re concerned about.
JANICE
Okay.
STEVE
Things should be good.
JANICE
Good.
STEVE
Do you feel better?
JANICE
I can’t tell.
STEVE
Do you feel better? Is your outlook better?
JANICE
I don’t know.
STEVE
You’ve made some steps towards something.
JANICE
I suppose.
STEVE
You said before that you weren't sure if you were numb. What do you think?
JANICE
I don't think I'm numb.
STEVE
Good.
JANICE
I'm not sure. STEVE
It’s probably just feeling better feels strange.
JANICE
I don't know.
STEVE
I strongly believe that as long as someone remains a good person, they'll be fine. (pause) Well, anyway. Let me know your decision.
JANICE
Okay.
STEVE
And don't be scared.
JANICE
Maybe I am numb.
STEVE
Don’t be scared or numb.
(Lights fade to black.)
©MMIX by BRETT NEVEU
Printed in the United States of America
All Rights Reserved (ERIC LARUE)
All inquiries regarding performance rights should be addressed to
Dramatic Publishing, 311 Washington St., Woodstock, IL 60098. Phone: (815) 338-7170.
Brett Neveu's film/TV productions include Eric LaRue (dir. Michael Shannon) with Big Indie Pictures, Brace Cove Productions and CaliWood Pictures, Night’s End (dir. Jennifer Reeder) with Shudder/AMC, the short Convo with Breakwall Pictures, and the feature The Earl with Intermission Productions. Recent theatre productions include The Malignant Ampersands with A Red Orchid Theatre, Verböten with House Theatre (Joseph Jefferson Nomination, New Work), Traitor with A Red Orchid Theatre (Joseph Jefferson Award, New Adaptation), and To Catch a Fish with Timeline Theatre. Past work includes productions with 59e59 Theatre in New York; The Royal Court Theatre and The Royal Shakespeare Company in London; The Goodman Theatre, Writers Theatre, Greenhouse Theatre, The Inconvenience, A Red Orchid Theatre, and American Theatre Company in Chicago. A Sundance Institute Ucross Fellow, Brett is also a recipient of a Steinberg/ATCA New Play Citation (Verböten), The Marquee Award from Chicago Dramatists, The Ofner Prize for New Work, the Emerging Artist Award from The League of Chicago Theatres, an After Dark Award for Outstanding Musical (Old Town) and has developed plays with companies including The Atlantic Theatre Company and The New Group in New York and The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, and Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago. He is a resident-alum of Chicago Dramatists, a proud ensemble member of A Red Orchid Theatre, a founding member of the playwright collective MC-10, an alumni member of TimeLine Theatre Company’s Writers Collective, and Center Theatre Group’s Playwrights’ Workshop in Los Angeles. Brett has been commissioned by The Royal Court Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, A Red Orchid Theatre, The Goodman Theatre, House Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, Writers Theatre, Strawdog Theatre, Northlight Theatre, and has several of his plays published through Broadway Play Publishing, Dramatic Publishing, and Nick Hern Publishing. Brett has taught writing at DePaul University, Second City Training Center, and currently teaches writing for the screen, and stage at Northwestern University.