Scene.
Setting: A young man sits in a coffee shop at a small table with two seats. The other seat is empty. In his hands he nurses a tall latte. His expression is melancholy.
Enter- A young woman walks in. She somewhat resembles the man. She sits down, putting her jacket on the back of her chair.
Young woman: Alan, hey! What's up? Need help again with little Maggie’s birthday?
Alan: Jane, I.. There’s something you need to know.
Jane: What's wrong?
(Alan looks uncomfortable)
Alan: Your, uh, ‘friend’.. She’s...
Jane: Oh my god..! Diane?
Alan: She’s.. in the hospital.
Jane: I cant believe this- what happened?!
Alan: She’s sick, Jane.
Jane: (exasperated) Of course she’s sick if she’s in the hospital!! But isn't it alright? They have doctors..
Alan: No, Jane. You don’t get it.. She’s sick in the head.
(Jane stops, then closes her mouth.)
Jane: .........what..? Alan, that doesn’t make sense.. I was just talking to her yesterday......
(Alan shakes his head)
Alan: I’m sorry. They couldn’t reach you so they left a message at mom’s house. She.. thought I had better tell you.
(Jane wraps her arms around herself)
Jane: No.. this cant be right. What's wrong with her? They can fix her, cant they? Right? Right?!?
(Jane is getting louder and louder. Some of the other people in the cafe are beginning to stare. Jane doesn’t notice and Alan is trying to ignore them.)
Alan: Diane is schizophrenic. I.. don't know if they can fix it.
Jane: (half crying) That doesn't make sense. No, no, no... That’s what she.. When I met her.. She was always so crazy and fun and unique. She was different and you couldn’t be sad around her because she was.. Always so bright and sunny and caring.. And I didn’t know if she liked me because she had so many other friends she would tell me about.. Lavish dinners and wild parties with famous people.. What could I offer? What.. what she would always say when you were mad at her.. What was it.. ‘Is something wrong?’ and then she would smile and apologize and she was.. Diane. I loved Diane. This cant be right. She was always so imaginative.. but that's what first attracted me to her. I’m dreaming, right? Alan, tell me I’m dreaming. I cant take this.
Alan: (grabs Jane’s shoulders) Jane, stop it! Calm down! (he shakes her) She isn't going to make it through this if you’re a mess! Damnit, Jane!
Jane: (hiccuping) I....... okay... but.. how..?
Alan: Well, uh, you know how the family feels about you and Diane.. but I know they’ll help you through-
Jane: No. I meant.. how did she get in the hospital..?
Alan: She.. attacked someone. On the corner of Maple and Broadridge.
Near, uh, the grocery store.
Jane: (silent)
Alan: Jane, are you alright?
Jane: (shakes her head, then laughs) I guess I didn’t expect anything like this. Its sort of.. a wakeup call.
Alan: ...a wakeup call?
Jane: (shakes her head again) nevermind. Can I.. visit her?
Alan: I checked. Not yet. Maybe in a week or so.
(Jane and Alan are getting up now. Jane is putting on her jacket, and Alan is paying the bill for his barely touched latte)
Jane: (long sigh) Hey, Alan? D’you think I could babysit the kids sometime this week? Get my mind off of things?
Alan: ..Sure, actually, tonight would be great.
(They are walking out the door)
Jane: Really? I’d love that. I haven't seen Maggie and Jacob for ages..!
Alan: Yeah, they missed their Auntie Jane... You know, the other day...
(Conversation is obscured as door closes behind them)
