The Reader by Deborah Kinnebrew
PRESENT DAY IN A SMALL CITY
SCENE 1 - LARGE ROOM - DAY
RUTH, A PSYCHIC, COVERED FROM HEAD TO TOE IN BIBLICAL LIKE ROBES,
KNEELS IN A CHILD'S WADING POOL WHICH IS HALF FILLED WITH SAND
SHE FOLDS HER HANDS IN A PRAYER POSITION
SHE LOOKS OVER AT ASHLEY WHO IS SITTING IN A CHAIR FACING HER.
RUTH
Ashley, come in…you must join me. This is wonderful. The sand will
bring you closer to the earth. It will ground you.
ASHLEY
I don't know…
RUTH
You do want a reading, don't you? Now, take off your shoes…
Ruth smoothes out a spot across from her. Ashley gets up slowly,
reluctantly removes her shoes and steps into the pool.
LIGHTS OUT
SCENE 2 - LARGE ROOM
A woman (Reader #2) dressed in athletic wear faces Jen and Ashley.
They are all doing jumping jacks. Jen keeps up but Ashley slows down
and stops, she leans on her knees as she tries to catch her breath.
Jen and Reader #2 continue to jump.
READER #2
Seventy-eight…seventy-nine…eighty. This is fantastic! I can see
all the little bits of energy surrounding you!!
Jen stops jumping and after a few moments, Reader #2 also stops.
JEN
Why do you need to see my energy?
READER #2
It's another way of becoming familiar with your entire being. I can
get a better understanding of who you are. I do this with all of my
clients.
ASHLEY
All of them?
READER #2
Of course, it's necessary, you know…if you want an accurate
reading.
SCENE 3 - LARGE ROOM
A woman (Reader #3) who is wearing a veil, sits in a chair. There is
a glass of water on the floor in front of her. Ashley starts to enter
the room.
READER #3
Didn't we say backwards, Ashley, dear?
Ashley quickly turns around and enters the room walking backwards.
She stumbles right before she reaches her chair. Ashley sits and
faces the reader.
READER #3
Did you bring something you want me to read, dear?
Ashley looks around.
ASHLEY
Don't you use cards?
READER #3
No, I don't.
Ashley's shoulders drop.
READER #3
Give me something you wear or carry, like a watch or a key
chain…anything. Anything you have will do.
Ashley takes off an earring and hands it to Reader #3.
ASHLEY
Is an earring okay?
The reader nods, takes it, holds it to her chest and closes her eyes.
READER #3
My guides…want to know…why you have come?
ASHLEY
What I want to know…I mean my question is…will I ever get
married?
LIGHTS OUT
SCENE 4 - BUS STOP - DAY
Jen is sitting on a bench and Ashley is standing close by.
JEN
You can't be serious. The bus will be here any minute. I thought you
were coming back to my house.
ASHLEY
I have to see Thor.
JEN
Now?
ASHLEY
He only lives across the street and he needs his cards.
JEN
Why do you have his cards?
ASHLEY
He lent them to me.
JEN
For what?
ASHLEY
To put under my pillow at night.
JEN
He told you to sleep with his cards?
ASHLEY
Yes, to pick up my vibrations.
JEN
Oh my God, he's so weird! Everything about him is weird.
ASHLEY
You just don't like him because he didn't see any money in your
cards.
JEN
I don't like him because he's creepy.
ASHLEY
He's better than any of the other readers I've been to!
JEN
They were all whackos!
ASHLEY
I like to think of them as unique.
JEN
Didn't you tell me the one who called herself Ruth, made you sit in
some little kid's sandbox?
ASHLEY
The sand helped her connect to the earth and the spirit world.
Jen gets up and begins to do jumping jacks.
JEN
Remember this?
Jen stops because Ashley won't look at her.
ASHLEY
No.
JEN
Yeah, you do.
ASHLEY
Jen, that was so long ago.
JEN
And I still remember, how I was all sweaty and worn out when she
finally read my cards. What a waste!
ASHLEY
How can you say that?
JEN
Because I'm still waiting for the busload of money she promised me!
ASHLEY
You told me that you thought she was good.
JEN
No, I told you she was better than the one who called herself Seven.
ASHLEY
But Seven predicted my new job and…
JEN
Oh yeah, she was a winner.
Jen walks backwards in a circle several times while an irritated
Ashley crosses her arms and watches.
JEN
Hi, my name is Ashley but you can't see my face because I have to
enter your room backwards. I'm here to give you my money so you can
tell me that I'm never getting married.
ASHLEY
You don't have to be so mean.
JEN
I'm not trying to, Ashley, I just hate to see you waste your time and
your money.
ASHLEY
But she still told me about the job, I didn't know I'd get it.
JEN
Yeah you did. I remember when you said you were due for a change.
ASHLEY
I always say that.
JEN
Then you worked like hell to make it happen.
ASHLEY
You don't understand. Once she told me about the job, it gave me
confidence. It motivated me to do the work.
JEN
You can pay me seventy-five dollars an hour and not only will I
motivate you, but I'll cook you dinner too.
ASHLEY
Don't you ever stop thinking about money?
JEN
Don't you ever stop thinking about marriage?
ASHLEY
That's different.
JEN
How?
ASHLEY
You don't understand…you have a husband…kids…and a house.
JEN
You have a house.
ASHLEY
But nobody's in it when I'm not there.
Jen shrugs, then looks both ways for the bus.
JEN
Did you get our tickets?
ASHLEY
No…I can't right now.
JEN
You're joking, right?
ASHLEY
No, I'm sorry, Jen. Something else came up. We can probably go in a
couple of months and…
JEN
My birthday will be over in a couple of months and I'll be way past
50.
ASHLEY
It will still be special.
JEN
We've been planning this for months. Why did you make a promise you
knew you couldn't keep?
ASHLEY
I didn't know Thor when we made those plans and…
JEN
Oh my God! I can't believe you put some fly by night reader in front
of me. Am I still your favorite cousin or did you lie about that
too?
ASHLEY
I didn't lie, Jen.
JEN
Then why don't you have the tickets?
ASHLEY
Because I need Thor's help and if I don't pay him by next week…also,
I've got to concentrate harder so I can draw Mark to me.
JEN
Is that what Thor told you?
ASHLEY
Yes.
JEN
And what happens when Mark's wife draws him back? Does he have a plan
for that?
ASHLEY
You're so negative!
JEN
I'm being realistic! I'm tired of watching you run from reader to
reader to find out if you'll meet The One.
ASHLEY
When I meet him, not if.
JEN
Whatever, you're not any closer to your so-called soul mate than you
were five years ago.
ASHLEY
I knew you would say that, but you're wrong, you are so wrong!
JEN
Why don't you follow Aunt Bridget's advice?
ASHLEY
Oh, all that positive thinking stuff? Like imagining I already have
the perfect man and he'll suddenly appear? None of that works for me,
Jen.
JEN
Then go on line and get one of those dating services to match you up.
ASHLEY
Thanks, but I don't need any of that, because right now…I have
Thor.
JEN
Like I said…
ASHLEY
You don't understand. Thor is more than a reader…he's a prophet.
Jen shakes her head and then holds out her hand to Ashley.
JEN
Let me see the cards he gave you.
ASHLEY
Why?
JEN
Come on, hand them over…just for a minute.
Ashley digs in her bag and pulls out a deck of cards. She hesitates
before she hands them over. Jen sits on the bench and examines the
cards.
JEN
Maybe you don't remember but when Aunt Bridget used to read for people
she never used cards. You know why?
ASHLEY
I don't care…she's not even alive now and…
JEN
Because Aunt Bridget had the gift.
ASHLEY
So?
JEN
So, sometimes I think I might have it too.
ASHLEY
Oh, Jeez…
JEN
Why not? Maybe we both do. We could have inherited it, you know.
ASHLEY
If I had the gift, do you think I'd be going to Thor?
JEN
I don't know, maybe you like donating money to people who dress up in
costumes and pretend they're psychic.
ASHLEY
Give me back the cards, I have to go.
JEN
Okay, but don't forget, sometimes Aunt Bridget used to let me watch
when she gave readings…she even let me do a few.
ASHLEY
You think you can read my cards?
JEN
I don't know.
(looks at cards)
Maybe with these I can.
ASHLEY
I can't let you use his cards, you need to use your own.
JEN
What did Thor tell you that you didn't already know?
ASHLEY
That Mark won't make the first move because I am sending out
incompatible vibrations. Thor said he can make me marriageable.
JEN
As usual, Thor speaks nonsense, but that doesn't seem to bother you.
Anyway, did you ever stop to think that stealing someone else's
husband could bring you bad karma?
ASHLEY
Thor already explained that since Mark is my true and natural partner,
his wife will get bad karma if she doesn't let go.
JEN
If he leaves her, he can leave you too, you know.
ASHLEY
Jeez, why are you always looking at the ugly side of things?
JEN
It's called reality.
ASHLEY
Your reality, not mine.
JEN
How much is this marriageable thing going to cost?
ASHLEY
Why do you care? I told you I'll get the cruise tickets in a couple
of months…
JEN
How much?
ASHLEY
Enough.
JEN
Don't do it, Ashley.
ASHLEY
I have to, Mark's my soul mate.
JEN
It's a big mistake.
ASHLEY
He's my destiny.
JEN
Can't you see what's going on?