JD DRAMA PUBLISHING

BAILEY

Dramatic

By Ed Vela
For time limit purposes, suggested cuts by editor

BAILEY:
I was one those… Purposeful babies. An ‘Okay we’ll have
the baby’ baby. A ‘Maybe this will patch things up’ baby.
In short I was created to save my parents marriage… I
utterly failed… The scope of my parent’s selfishness in
regards to me continued well into my life. My father, Gray
Eberhart, was the kind of man who never smiled, never
laughed, never seemed peaceful, even when he was praying.
The kind of man who lives his life because the only
alternative is his death, he was still my father. And, when I
was little, I followed him around like his midget shadow.
It’s amazing the loyalty you can garner from a daily push on
a tire swing. My first memories of conversing with my father
was on the day before my sixth birthday. When dear ol’ Dad
had ‘something important’ to talk to me about, before the bus
could come to whisk me off to the sanctuary of kindergarten.

(As Gray)

Bailey, where were you? I have something important to tell

you. The bus? Well, you don’t need to do that. I’ll be
taking you to school today. No, we’re not going to stop for
doughnuts, Bailey… Uh… Bailey… What do you think
about your mother and I getting a divorce? What do you

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mean what is it? Everybody knows what a divorce is…
Oh… Right… How old are you now? Oh, well, that
explains it. I really thought you were older, going to school
and all.

(As Bailey)

Like at six he thought I had graduated from Harvard already?

(As Gray)

A divorce is where Mommy and Daddy wouldn’t be living

together anymore. Where would you live? Well, you’d live
with mommy, and daddy will get a condo downtown, with-
OUT, mommy. Yes, you could visit. No, not everyday.
Uh… Well… Uh… I mean, because the house here is big,
and the condominium would be small. I know you’re small
Bailey… Look, you could probably come visit me… Every
other weekend. No… No, I wouldn’t be able to swing you
everyday anymore. Don’t cry. Crying is for babies, not for
somebody your age. Stop stuttering, slow down use your
words.

(As Bailey)

Use your words. Use your words. At that moment I had a

few choice words for him alright. I had one word in
particular that he didn’t think I knew. But, all I could ask
was…

(As six year old Bailey)

B-But, why, Daddy? Why can’t you and Mommy live

together anymore? D-Did I do something? Is that why? B-
But, I still don’t understand why? B-But, why? Why, D-
Daddy, why?

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(Bailey reacts as though having been slapped across the face)

Yes, Daddy. I’m sorry. What’s annoying?

(As Gray)

I’m sorry, son, but I told you more than once how annoying
it is when you ask, and keep on asking. It doesn’t hurt that
much. It’ll go away soon. Yes, just like I will. It’s going to
be alright, Bailey, you’ll see. Daddy’s always tried to make
things right for you, or as right as possible with Mommy
around. Daddy’s doing this for you. Trust me, this is for the
best.

(As Bailey)

Somehow, even at the age of six, I didn’t really think that my

Dad leaving was gonna be best for me. I guess my parents
cared, in their own way and sure my parents trotted me out to
show off to their friends occasionally. If I didn't look too...
How did my mother put it...? "Disheveled." If my hair was
perfectly quaffed, my clothes not terribly wrinkled, and if I
didn't smell too much like a kid... I was paraded out into the
living room, asked questions I had pre-prepared "cute"
answers for, then ushered out before I could get on anybody's
nerves. Dusted off, displayed proudly, and then put away: I
was the "Trophy Child."

(As Gray)

Now, then, we're off. We don't want to be late now, do we?

Time is our most valuable resource, you know?

(As Bailey)

Yeah, it would’ve been just tragic if he had at least tried to

answer my question, and I missed finger painting. But,
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believe it or not, for me and my Dad that was what passed
for communication. All I wanted that day, what I really
needed was reassurance, and my Dad tried, but he was never
the reassuring kind. Every other weekend turned into every
other month. Across town turned into across the country.
Finally he was nothing more than a card and a check at
Christmas, and my birthday. So, I stayed with my mother.
And before you start thinking what I lacked in a father, I
made up for in a mother... Well, guess again! My Mom,
Georgia Lefcourt. She went back to her maiden name after
the divorce. Which was really embarrassing during
parent/teacher conferences.

(More)
(Cont’d as Bailey)

She didn’t hit me as often as my Dad, but she did swing

harder. For the most part I was grounded, or forced to copy
pages from Funk and Wagnall’s Standard Desk Dictionary
until my hand cramped up, because of what my Mother
called "errant behavior." This resulted in my leaving the
house about as often as an agoraphobic, and developing early
carpal tunnel. Not that she noticed. It was a few years after
my dad escaped... Uh... I mean... Left. That my mom and I
had one of those life altering little chats.

(As Georgia)

Bailey, darling. I have something important to tell you. Sit

down. Yes, Bailey. It’s going to be a sit down conversation.
No, you're not in trouble. For goodness sake, Bailey, you act
as if that's the only time I ever talk to you.

(As Bailey, aside)

It was.

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(As Georgia)

Oh, that's not true, Bailey. Now, Bailey, don’t be difficult.

You know how I hate it when you do that. Don't talk back,
Bailey! If you continue like this, I’ll have to talk to Dr.
Giordono about increasing your medication.

(AS Bailey)

My mom seemed to think I had ADD and OCD, even though

nobody else seemed to think so. Not one teacher, not one
school counselor, not many doctors. That is until she found
Dr. Giordono "I'll say anything, as long as you can make the
co-pay" Giordono. The only thing I kinda had was the
depression Giordono "diagnosed," and that usually only
flared up after prolonged exposure to...

(As Georgia)

You are such a horrible, miserable little thing, aren't you?

Well, I'm waiting. For an apology of course. That's better.
Are you ready to listen now? Better, you remember Phil,
don't you?

(As Bailey)

Phil, another in the string of absolute losers my mom dated

after my dad jumped ship. He had a nose like a pickle, and
more hair in his ears than most people have under their arms.
He was like the world's oldest hippie. Long gray hair. Long
gray beard. It was like having dinner with Father Time. But,
he had more money than most third world countries and that
was all my mother needed to look past anything as
insignificant as age, body type, and personality.

(As Georgia)

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Yes, Phil, he's very nice. Well, he and I have gotten very
close in the past few months, and... Well... I'm going to
marry him. Bailey, don't start. His nose was not that big.
What do you mean, anteater? Bailey, Phil is a wonderful...
Enough! I said ENOUGH! (Mimes a slapping motion) I
get very tired of having to strike you, Bailey. You don't
know how tired I am of you, and your errant behavior.
Sometimes I wish you had never... Well, what's done is
done, isn't it? I know you only met him once, Bailey, it's not
how well you know him that counts here.

(As Bailey, in the moment)

Does ANYTHING I have to say count here, Mom? You're

about to marry some old nut-job, for his money. I don't want
to live with you and Phil, I barely want to live with you!

(AS Georgia)

This is exactly why Phil doesn’t care for children. And as for
your living arrangement, you needn't concern yourself. You
see one of the reasons I made the decision to marry Phil now
is because he's relocating. He has a new job out of state for
almost twice the money. Enough money to afford to send
you to a very nice boarding school on the East Coast. You'll
like it there, it's quite exclusive.

(As Bailey, still in the moment)

Great, so while you go off with Daddy Big-Bucks to start a

new life, I get boarded up with a bunch of New England
snobs. Life is so fair, isn't it?

(As Georgia)

Life is what you make it, Bailey. I've made mine the best I
can, and I'm giving you an opportunity to make yours
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whatever you want it to be. Bailey, I’ve looked after you for
years, with precious little help from your father. I’ve cared
for you. I’ve always wanted what’s best for you.

(As Bailey, still in the moment, sadly)

And, is this best for me, or just convenient for you, Mom?

(As Georgia)

Having a child like you isn’t easy, Bailey. I need a break. I

need to be taken care of for awhile.

(As Bailey)

Unfortunately, so did I… So, off I went. Still a little kid.

Barely holding it together. Barely able to cope. And, a few
years later, my parents were summoned to the school when I
had "something important" to tell them. Taking a page from
the free enterprise example of my parents, and Phil of
course, I had begun running a rather large and lucrative
operation at the school, selling all the drugs I was sent every
month by dear ol’ Dr. Giordono. I didn’t really need them
anyway, and I discovered it was a lot more profitable selling
them, than taking them. Unfortunately, I didn't get to drop
the Pusher Bomb on my parents. They had been well briefed
by the staff by the time they got to me. It was the first time
Gray and Georgia had been in the same room together since
they signed their divorce papers. It was the first time I’d
seen either of them in years... I don't know why I thought it
would be different this time.

(As Gray, angrily)

Drugs! Selling narcotic drugs! What has gotten into you,

Bailey, are you insane?! Are you taking your meds? This is
ridiculous! Do you know, do you have any idea, the deal I
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was in the middle of in California, when they called me to
come here? You stupid, selfish, little whelp!

(As Georgia)

Much as I hate to agree with your father about anything, he's

right about this. How could you do this to us? The
embarrassment, the idiocy of it all. Dr. Giordono warned me
about you getting worse in adolescence, but I never thought
it would get this bad. When Phil finds out... Bailey, I could
lose him. Have you no consideration for what your little
stunt could cost me?

(As Bailey, in the moment)

I don't care! I don't care about your deal in California! I

don't care about your worthless marriage! I had this crazy
fantasy that maybe something like this would get your
attention, for once. You think I really got caught by the
morons around here? I let them find out about what I was
doing. I wanted them to call you guys. It was the only way I
could think of to get to see you.

(As Georgia)

That is so pathetic. We gave you every opportunity, Bailey.

Opportunities very few young people have, and you throw it
away. And spit in our faces in the process. Well, I've had it
with you. No more second chances, Bailey. It's over. Your
father and I discussed it outside, and we agreed that the best
thing for you, with all your problems, is not another school,
but a hospital. Dr. Giordono will sign the papers, and...
Maybe they can help you there. We've done all we can for
you.

(As Bailey)

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She was so right. But, it wasn't "all they could for me," but
"all they could to me!" Committing me was just par for the
course for them. (Pause) You know, sometimes… You get
so… Weary. Not just tired, but worn out… And, you begin
to ask yourself… Why…? What am I doing here? Why
was I born? If I was born to save my parents marriage? I
failed… If I was born to make them better people? I
failed… If I was born to do great things in spite of them? I
failed, because I just can’t fight anymore. My entire purpose
in being… Is a mistake. A mistake on paper, you just take
out your eraser and fix. But, how do you fix a mistake that
life makes?

(More)
How do you fix it when it’s your life? Mistakes have to be
erased… They have to be fixed! Maybe if I can do that…
Then I’ll finally have succeeded at something… Maybe
then I'll finally be what my parents always wanted me to be...
Gone...

BLACKOUT

End of Play

ALTERNATE ENDING:

She was so right. But, it wasn't "all they could for me," but
"all they could to me!" Committing me was just par for the
course for them. But, if you think that was the end for me,
you reckon without the consideration of the one gift my
parents never knew they gave me, and that was my rampant
and unstoppable sense of survival. I survived the "hospital,"
the "medications" and the endless hours of "therapy" I didn't
really need. And when I grew up, and yes I did grow up,
even if it was just to tick off Gray and Georgia, I had to do
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that... Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes of it own
destruction, I made a life for myself. But, in my adult life, I
made a point of it not being all about me. But about the
people around me, the ones I grew to care about, and I
discovered that people could truly care about me, too. I
finally made connections, I finally found what I had been
missing throughout my formative years... What we all
seek... What we all need... What's worth living for...
Love...

THE END

Production Note: Both endings are equally valid, and either

one can be done to great effect, the alternative is provided
for actors and directors to be able to choose between a more
tragic and a more positive ending for the character of Bailey.

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Ed Vela is a National Award Winning Playwright, and has
written over fifty plays to date from full-length to short one-
acts. He began writing plays over ten years ago following a
long time on-stage, as an actor. His plays have been
produced in nine states across the country, as well as Canada
and Europe. He is currently published by four different
publishing houses in the United States and Canada.

This script is for the buyer’s use only. Under copyright law
this selection is not to be copied by any process.

Bailey is a work of fiction and published as a single script by

JD Drama Publishing in 2006.

JD Drama Publishing
2710 Magnolia Walk
Spring, Texas 77388
281-348-6896
WWW.JDDRAMAPUBLISHING.COM

JD DRAMA PUBLISHING
Copyright Ed Vela 2006
ISBN 978-1-4276-1007-X

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