Ray’s Story

First performed at the New Roads RTC on July 29, 2022.

STAGE MANAGER: Perry

CHARACTERS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:

·      NARRATOR: Mike

·      MOM: Nina

·      DAD: Devon

·      RAY: Tala

·      OFFICER 1: John T.

·      OFFICER 2: Izzy

·      PARAMEDIC 1: Kenny

NARRATOR: A beautiful sunny day, early summer. Two parents are driving to their son’s home to check in on him.

MOM: I’ve just been so worried about RAY lately. He’s been acting so differently around us. What should we do?

DAD: Well, let’s see how he’s doing. I know he’s been acting out of the norm, but maybe he’s doing better today. If need be, we can take him to the hospital.

MOM: I’m just so worried.

 DAD: Me too, dear, me too.

NARRATOR: Meanwhile RAY is pacing around his yard singing a song while sanding an old wooden desk.

Stage Manager: The sander stops.

RAY (talking to himself): Let’s see Ava, what colors do you think will look good on this desk?  Pink? Ok, I agree pink and purple, that’s what I was thinking too. Your parents are going        to LOVE this desk. I'm going to make it as gaudy as possible. Your room needs something colorful in it.  Don’t worry kiddo, Uncle RAY’s all over it.

NARRATOR: RAY’s parents quietly walk into his backyard and observe him singing and talking to himself.  RAY sees them and is startled.

RAY (startled): Oh, hey guys! How are you doing today?

DAD: We're good, just thought we'd stop by and see how you're doing.

MOM: I brought you some leftovers. Is everything OK?

RAY: Thank you very much. I'm doing great! Just working on this desk for Ava. Having a REALLY good day! How's your day going?

MOM: We're fine. How come you're not working?

RAY: I drove last night. Today I felt like doing this. No problem at all.

DAD: RAY we're worried about you. Is there anything we can do to help?

RAY: I'm perfectly fine. I decided not to work today. I'm enjoying my day. It’s beautiful out. There's nothing wrong.

MOM: Have you spoken with your doctor lately? Are you taking your medications?

RAY (stressed): I am COMPLETELY fine. My relationship with my doctor is private. I haven’t been able to see him because of the quarantine, and I'm not interested in video conferencing. Regardless, I am under my doctor’s care and following protocol.  I feel fine, just a little more energy than usual.  I've actually been using some coping mechanisms like singing, exercising, and talking out loud in the privacy of my own yard. I am completely fine, there's nothing to worry about.

DAD: We're just concerned RAY. You've been worrying us lately. You can't see it.

MOM: Honey, you can't see it. You need help.

RAY (stressed): Listen, YOU are what is stressing me out. I was having a completely perfect day.

DAD: We just want to help.

RAY (loses it): LISTEN, if you want to help, walk your ass across the street to the gas station and buy me some f****** cigarettes. I COULD use a  beer at the moment but cigarettes will do. If you want to help THAT'S what will help.

DAD: I'm not buying you cigarettes. You know I don't like you smoking. You don't need to yell.

MOM: You will NOT talk to us this way. We just want to help you. We've been really stressed out over you lately.

RAY (irate): I was completely f****** fine, having a GREAT day. You...are both...GREATLY stressing me out.  You two are not stressed out by me, you're stressed out because you have been under quarantine. The energy flow of the whole nation is different right now. Also, my brother Kyle has a new grandkid on the way in about three weeks. THAT'S what's stressing you out.  My life is pretty much unaffected by this whole COVID thing, my job is considered an essential service, my life is going on as normal. I'm doing fine. Now walk across the street and buy me some f****** cigarettes if you want to help. Otherwise, get the f*** off my property.

MOM (to DAD): Call the police.

MOM (to RAY): RAY you're not in a good headspace right now. You can't see it. We're going to get you help.  Your father is calling the police.

RAY (desperate): Why would you be calling the police?! I'm the homeowner, I haven’t done anything wrong. I'm completely fine, other than the fact that you two are COMPLETELY stressing me out. Now PLEASE, I need a cigarette.

Stage Manager: We hear the sirens of two police cars and an ambulance as they show up in front of RAY’s home.

 RAY (calmly to OFFICER 1 and OFFICER 2): Hello Officers, I have no idea why you have been called.

 OFFICER 1: Sir, please have a seat on the curb.

 MOM (to OFFICER 1): Hello Officer, my son is bipolar and hasn’t been acting like himself lately. We came over to check on him and bring him some pasta and he went off on us, we're very concerned.

RAY (to OFFICER 2): Officer, I was having  a great day and my parents came to check on me and stressed me out royally. I asked them to get me a cigarette, yes, I did yell because I was so stressed. Actually, I could honestly use a cigarette right now as well. This is completely ridiculous. I have no idea as to what they called you for and I know your time is very valuable.

OFFICER 2 (to RAY): I understand Sir. We've got an ambulance here. We need to get you checked out by the paramedics and make sure everything is OK.

NARRATOR: RAY folds his hands over his head and lays back on the hillside

RAY (comically): This is completely ridiculous and completely unnecessary officer. Can I just go inside my home?  I haven’t committed any crime or anything. This whole situation is very ridiculous and causing me a lot of stress. Do you have a cigarette? I could really use one right now.

OFFICER 2 (laughing): No sir I don't. Just wait here. The medical professionals will need to speak to you.

NARRATOR: RAY is calmly surveying the scene. Four officers have now shown up in three police cruisers.  The ambulance has turned its lights off and the two paramedics are talking with one of the officers. RAY’s parents are talking with the other officer.  The other two officers are talking to each other next to their cruiser.

RAY (muttering under his breath): What on EARTH is going on?  I was minding my own business having a great afternoon and  this happens. Am I nuts or something? I know I'm bipolar but this seems completely insane. I wonder how this is going to play out. Well...I might as well just go with the flow on this one.  I don’t think being difficult will help me in any way.  How the hell does something like this happen?

NARRATOR: RAY looks up across the street to see his neighbor watching the scene. RAY's neighbor happens to be black. RAY can't help but wonder how things might be different if he was of another race. Would he be in trouble somehow? Is he in trouble now? Why is this happening?  What can he do about it?  Seemingly nothing at the moment. RAY waves to his neighbor, his neighbor waves back and smiles. RAY puts his hands up in an "I don’t know" kind of shrug and laughs with his neighbor. RAY turns his attention to his MOM’s conversation with the nearby officer.

MOM (to OFFICER 1): He's been hospitalized before and we’ve been worried about him lately. We think he's off his meds and we don’t know what to do. He's been very upset with us today especially. He was even yelling at us to go buy him cigarettes.

NARRATOR: The paramedics walk over to RAY.

PARAMEDIC 1: Mr. Freeman, is there anything we can help you with today? Your parents have expressed concern.

RAY: Well, I feel fine mentally, outside of this whole ordeal. But this itself is stressing me out. I’m under my doctor’s care, following our designated plan of maintenance. I see, no reason,  whatsoever, that the  police were called, same as you gentlemen. Outside of everyone leaving and going about their day, the only thing that comes to mind that I could use right now is a cigarette.

PARAMEDIC 1: (laughs) Well, I can't help you there. But you seem fine  to me. We need you to sign off on this for us saying you refused medical treatment.

RAY: Medical treatment for WHAT!? This is ridiculous. I’m completely dumbfounded at this point.

PARAMEDIC 1: Sir, we're just doing our job. My job is to get your signature at this point. Please sign and we'll be done.

RAY: Fine, I understand you have a job to do gentlemen. I just don’t want this to cost me money.  I'm not exactly wealthy at the moment.  But I don’t want to keep you any longer.

NARRATOR: RAY signs. The paramedics get in the ambulance and take off, siren blaring.

OFFICER 1: Well, Mr. & Mrs. Freeman, there’s not much more we can do here. RAY seems fine. The paramedics found no reason for concern.  We'll be on our way.

DAD: Thank you, officers. We appreciate your help. Have a good evening.

NARRATOR: The officers all leave. RAY and his parents are standing on the sidewalk.

MOM: So now what?

RAY: You two have completely stressed me out. This was absolutely ridiculous. I LOVE YOU BOTH, but I have no idea what was going through your head.

DAD: We just love you and we worry, that’s all. We want the best for you and want to support you.  We just don’t always know what to do.

RAY: (calmly and directly) Right now....the one thing you can do....is walk across the way to the gas station and PLEASE buy me a pack of cigarettes. That’s it. Then you two, go have a great night doing whatever it is you are going to do. I am fine, I will be fine, I just need a smoke because this whole ordeal greatly stressed me out.

DAD (pauses): Fine.

NARRATOR: RAY’s MOM and dad leave and return minutes later with a pack of cigarettes.

MOM: Ok, now you’re sure you’ll be OK?

RAY: Yes, I assure you as long as you don’t call the police for no reason whatsoever. I will be fine. I can manage myself very well. I love you.

MOM: We love you too. More than you will ever know.

NARRATOR: Hugs are exchanged and RAY’s parents leave. RAY exhausted walks up to his porch and plops down on his patio chair propping his feet up on the coffee table. He notices his neighbor again and they exchange another smile and wave before the neighbor goes inside. Running through the days occurrences in his mind RAY takes a cigarette out lights it up and takes a long drag.

RAY (shaking his head and smiling): Ain’t life grand.