Bath of Solitary

Theme: A kid on the edge of suicide after dealing with his parents leaving and his depression.

(Man vs Himself)

Setting: An orphanage School, The Janitor closet. The hallway outside the closet

Characters:

Henry: A lonely grade schooler full of depression after being left by his parents and being alone in school

Ms. Erica: She is the teacher of Henry and is the only person who seems relatable to Henry

Scott: Another grade schooler who is a bully to Henry, Scott bullies people to get attention to feel above
to everyone else to hide his insecurity.

Zack: His companion who is friendly to everyone and is only seeking of the approval of Scott

ACT 1

(Henry sees the two bullies in the hallway ready to confront the kid for telling on them to the teacher)

Henry: (murmuring) Oh shoot

Scott: Hey chug face you are so dead for telling on us you little brat

Henry: (panicking) I’m sorry I’m sorry please don’t hurt me

Zack: Yeah we forgive you, but you told on us and the teacher told our parents and that’s going to cost
you

Henry: Ohh thanks I forgive you guys too

Scott: (giving a stern look to Zack) What the hell are you talking about?! We don’t forgive him, that little
cockroach got what was coming to him

Zack: (stuttering) Yeah that’s what I meant

Scott: (slowly turns his head towards the kid) I don’t want to see your face ever again, you got that chug
face (grabs the kid and throws him into the Janitors Closet.

Henry: But – but I forgive you.

Zack: Doesn’t mean we do.

Scott: (giggles) You’re so weak, no wonder Mommy and Daddy left you (loudly shuts the door)

Henry: (staring blankly at the closet door with his eyes tearing up)

Henry: (Henry in tears) This is the worst I hate my life, my parents left me, I have no friends, I’m so
useless.

(Henry sees a knife on the shelf inside the janitor closet)

Henry: He’s right I’m so weak it’s my fault they left me, I have nothing to live for, no one would even look
or talk to me.

(Henry stands up, locks the door, and grabs the knife)

Henry: (tearing and stuttering) I always knew it would end this way.

(The door started knocking interrupting the kid who is about to cut his wrist)
Ms. Erica: Are you in here? (Tries to open door but its locked) Are you okay in there? you have been gone
for 10 minutes you’re skipping class already.

Henry: Leave me alone! this is it I’m done with life, it’s a waste I want to end this suffering.

(Other students see the situation and gather with the teacher at the door)

Ms. Erica: (looks at the two bullies disappointingly) O – okay, just - just calm down, (nervously) what’s
your name?

Henry: Henry.

Ms. Erica: That’s a beautiful name Henry you have the same name as my father, he was a good man
Henry, and you are too

Henry: (mocking) Hahah yeah right, no one likes me, no one wants to talk to me, no one even knows my
name.

Ms. Erica: You are Henry even if you don’t see it, you are good.

Henry: Th – Thank you. (calming down)

Henry: (sucking in his tears) What happened to your dad?

Ms. Erica: He and my Mother died when I was 14

Henry: Oh… well I’m sorry to hear that.

Ms. Erica: Thank you, Henry, I know that this is a rough time for you, but that doesn’t mean that you
have to walk away, there is still hope even if it doesn’t seem like it

Henry: So what? Who cares about hope? Theres no point, even if I were to stop myself from doing this,
what then huh? I would just be some idiot who almost gets the opportunity to see his parents again but
blew it just to stay in school and be treated like crap?

Ms. Erica: I know that your parents aren’t here but think about it, as their child wouldn’t they want
what’s best for you?

Henry: (starting to lose the grip to the knife)

Ms. Erica: Henry, you never got the chance to be with your family, now you do.

Henry: Who? I have no family.

Ms. Erica: Well, you have us.

Henry: what about “us”? All you guys did was leave me alone and show me how much of a stranger I am

Ms. Erica: We all have a lot in common more than you think Henry, we have all been abandoned,
dumped, left alone, but we’re still here Henry.

Ms. Erica: So please Henry open the door and come out.

(Henry opens the door in tears and hugs Ms. Erica)

Ms. Erica: It’s okay Henry

(Ms. Erica kneels down and holds his shoulders with a reassuring face)
Ms. Erica: Come on now let’s go back to class

Henry: (mouthing the words) Okay

(Henry’s classmates including the bullies starts comforting him while returning to the classroom)

{END OF ACT}

{END OF SCENE}