MIND GAMES

By
PAUL ELLIOTT

Dramatic Publishing
Woodstock, Illinois • Australia • New Zealand • South Africa

FOR AUTHORIZED DIGITAL USE ONLY

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©MMX by
PAUL ELLIOTT
Printed in the United States of America
All Rights Reserved
(MIND GAMES)

ISBN: 978-1-58342-671-5

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Mind Games premiered August 30, 2009, at the Santa
Monica Black Box Theatre, Santa Monica, Calif., starring
London’s West End stars Miles Anderson and Bella Merlin
with Broadway’s An drew Boyle, Darice Richman and
Ashley Fondrevay. Original music and sound by Edward
Auslender.

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 MIND GAMES

CHARACTERS

DR. HARRIMAN (m) . . . . . . . . . . . . . psychiatrist; 35-45;

caring, professional and very wealthy

KYLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the patient; 24 years old;

rather unkempt and lost in his own world

BETH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Harriman’s receptionist; 30s;

cold, efficient

ELIZABETH. . . . . . . . . . Dr. Harriman’s receptionist; 50s;

warm, caring and nurturing

MARIAN . . . . . Dr. Harriman’s beautiful, loving wife; 30s

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 MIND GAMES

IN DARKNESS, we hear first the sound of city traffic

and then sounds of birds chirping. As the LIGHTS come
up, we find ourselves in the inner office of DR. ROBERT
HARRIMAN in his exclusive offices in Los Angeles.

The office is beautifully appointed with a sleek desk and

chairs plus the requisite psychiatrist’s couch, which
would indicate that DR. HARRIMAN and his clientele
must be extremely well off financially. The doctor is
seated at his desk dictating notes on a previous patient
into a recorder.

DR. HARRIMAN. Notes on Case 2212 for transcription:

dreams are obviously just a thinly veiled attempt at solv-
ing her own marital issues and the horse in question is
becom ing more and more fully recognizable as her
neighbor’s husband, the illusive uh… (he checks his
notes) Stanley, or transference as “stallion.” I would not
be surprised if these dreams do not recur in one form or
the other until she either meets said “Stanley” and dis-
covers he’s no more perfect than her own husband,
which begs the question: where—at what stage of her
development—did the idea of a horse being a perfect an-

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8 MIND GAMES

imal come into being for this woman? (There is a soft

knock on the door.) Come in.

(BETH, DR. HARRIMAN’s receptionist, an attractive,

though rather officiously cold woman, steps into the of-
fice.)

BETH. Your next appointment is here.

DR. HARRIMAN (clicking off his recorder and taking a
deep breath before taking out the disk and storing it in a
file folder). I guess it can’t be avoided.
BETH (laughing). No. I’m afraid not.
DR. HARRIMAN. How does he look?
BETH. As opposed to what?
DR. HARRIMAN. You know what I mean.
BETH. Well, he’s not wearing a dress if that’s any indica-
tion.
DR. HARRIMAN. I guess that’s a step in the right direc-
tion. I guess. Sober?
BETH (indicates with her hands that she’s not sure). I
don’t get that close. He just makes me uncomfortable.
It’s like there’s something always churning up inside
there. And I don’t really want to know what it is.
DR. HARRIMAN. Well, maybe I can get the churning to
stop…I think that’s the point. He’s actually an interest-
ing case and certainly a change in my day. Besides, Cen-
tral West helps me when I need it. I couldn’t really say
no to the referral.
BETH. Well, in my opinion, you may find out that payback
can be a bitch.
DR. HARRIMAN. Opinion noted.
BETH. You want me to send him in?

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 MIND GAMES 9

DR. HARRIMAN. Might as well. The sooner I start, the

sooner we can get him out of here and you can start
feeling comfortable again.

(BETH ex its, clos ing the door. DR. HARRIMAN

straightens his desk and takes out a new disk, putting it
in his recorder. He also flips to a new page in his note-
book.

BETH reopens the door and holds it as KYLE enters.

She then quietly exits, closing the door behind her.

KYLE is a surprisingly nice-looking young man, though

a bit unkempt. He’s dressed in jeans and T-shirt and
stands for a moment inside the door, just looking around
the office as though seeing it for the first time.)

DR. HARRIMAN. Well, come on in. Let’s get started.

KYLE. Okay. (But he doesn’t move.)
DR. HARRIMAN. Something wrong? (When he doesn’t
answer.) Kyle?
KYLE (still looking around). No. I was just looking at
your office.
DR. HARRIMAN. Hasn’t changed.
KYLE. But I never noticed.
DR. HARRIMAN. What?
KYLE. Everything. How it’s all so perfect.
DR. HARRIMAN. Well, thanks. I had a decorator.
KYLE. No, I didn’t mean that.
DR. HARRIMAN. Oh. (When KYLE doesn’t elaborate.)
You want to get started?

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10 MIND GAMES

KYLE. I guess. Okay. (He moves into one of the chairs op-
posite the desk.)
DR. HARRIMAN. Don’t you think you’d be more com-
fortable lying down?
KYLE. No.
DR. HARRIMAN. I mean, I really think…
KYLE. No. I’m fine.
DR. HARRIMAN (a bit thrown off guard). Okay, if that’s
how you feel. Uh… So how have you been this week?
KYLE. Whoa! Trick question.
DR. HARRIMAN. I’m sorry.
KYLE. Or maybe not. (Almost to himself.) Maybe that’s
the only question. The key.
DR. HARRIMAN. I’m not following this. I just asked how
you were…
KYLE. I was fine. I mean, it didn’t start out that way, but
then…
DR. HARRIMAN. Did you think about what we talked
about?
KYLE. Oh, yeah.
DR. HARRIMAN. And…
KYLE. And at first I thought it just a bunch of, you know,
bullcrap. Sorry.
DR. HARRIMAN. That’s okay. It’s good to express an
opinion. What was bullcrap?
KYLE. What you said.
DR. HARRIMAN. What particularly? I mean we talked
about a lot of things. I gave you a complete list of things
to think about.
KYLE. Oh, most of that was bullcrap, but that one thing.
Whoa!

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 MIND GAMES 11

DR. HARRIMAN. So let’s focus on that then. What thing

was that?
KYLE. It really wasn’t on your list.
DR. HARRIMAN. No?
KYLE. You just mentioned it as I was walking out.
DR. HARRIMAN. Okay? Kyle, come on, this is like pull-
ing teeth. You said something I said struck a nerve,
made you feel better, or at least that’s what I’m gather-
ing, but until you…
KYLE. You said I was doing all this to myself.
DR. HARRIMAN. Oh. Well, yes, I meant… We tend to
create our own problems.
KYLE. Yeah. And I got to thinking, what if you’re right?
(When DR. HARRIMAN doesn’t respond.) I mean, what
if you’re really right and I am doing all of this to my-
self? And then I have to ask why? And that leads to a
hundred other questions and… Whoa. You know, the
first couple of days, I just wanted to check it all.
DR. HARRIMAN. What do you mean by check it all?
KYLE. You know, check out.
DR. HARRIMAN. That’s not a solution and if you’re re-
ally feeling that way, I need to notify…
KYLE. No, it was just a couple of days. I mean, things re-
ally got hairy, but then I got to thinking, and I pulled out
your list and like I said, it was a bunch of crap, but it
was what you said when you handed it to me that finally
hit.
DR. HARRIMAN. Well, I’m glad something “hit.”
KYLE. At first I really didn’t understand it. I mean I
thought you were talking figuratively, and then suddenly
I asked myself, What if? What if you meant “literally”?
So I started testing it.

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12 MIND GAMES

DR. HARRIMAN. What?

KYLE. It! What you said!
DR. HARRIMAN. And how did you, uh…do that?
KYLE. Oh, on little things at first. And then bigger. And
then Whoa!!!! Holy crap. Dr. Harriman, you should have
been there. It was amazing. (Getting up and pacing.) I
was doing things I couldn’t believe and then all of a
sudden, kinda like a wave of realization sweeping over
me, I knew, all of this, I really was doing to myself.
DR. HARRIMAN (not sure he understands, but…). That’s
wonderful. A real major break—
KYLE. You don’t understand.
DR. HARRIMAN. Of course I do. But I’d understand it
better if you’d just sit back down so we could talk
calmly.
KYLE. I am calm.
DR. HARRIMAN. Well you seem pretty agitated to me.
KYLE. You would be too if you understood what I was
saying.
DR. HARRIMAN. Kyle, how many times do I have to say
I understood you. I’m a doctor. I listen. I understand.
KYLE. No, you don’t understand.
DR. HARRIMAN. Excuse me but I am sitting right here.
There is no one hard of hearing in this room. When you
speak. I listen.
KYLE. And what did I say?
DR. HARRIMAN. You said all of this I really was doing
to myself.
KYLE (sitting back down). Okay.
DR. HARRIMAN (moving back into control). That’s much
better. I’m here to help you. To listen. To understand.
And to encourage you. Now, first I want to say how

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 MIND GAMES 13

pleased I am with the growth it shows, your coming to

this conclusion, but now we need to question why at this
particular time in your life, that statement made such an
impact on you.
KYLE. Because I realized I “really” am doing all of this to
myself.
DR. HARRIMAN. Well, that’s what we need to analyze.
KYLE (slowly understanding). You don’t really understand
what I’m talking about. I don’t think you have a clue.
DR. HARRIMAN. Excuse me?
KYLE. I mean, you couldn’t, because…if what I found out
is true, it was me. I did it all.
DR. HARRIMAN. You? Okay, I’m lost. Let’s start this all
over again, shall we? For my sake? Just pretend I’m a
slow learner. Why don’t you take me through the week
step by step.
KYLE. I don’t have to. It doesn’t matter.
DR. HARRIMAN. But it does matter, Kyle. If you’ve had
a breakthrough, then we both need to understand it so
that we can take the next step.
KYLE. But you don’t understand and maybe you’re not
supposed to.
DR. HARRIMAN. I’m trying. Now you said that what trig-
gered all this was my saying that you were creating all
this yourself. Right?
KYLE. Right. You said I was creating all this myself.
DR. HARRIMAN. I just said that.
KYLE. Well, you were right. You were really right. Holy
crap, were you right.

(DR. HARRIMAN doesn’t really know how to respond at

this point and so waits for what KYLE has to say next.)

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14 MIND GAMES

KYLE (cont’d). I mean, once it really sank in, Whoa!!!!! It

was scary as hell, but then…really mind-blowing, but
still scary. The first feeling I got was Whoa!!!!! And
then Holy crap!!!! And then Oh my God. (KYLE is quiet
for a beat.) And then lonely. (After another beat.) And
then I tried to fight it, but the more I thought about it,
the more I knew it was true. And then I wanted to kill
myself again. And then knew I couldn’t.
DR. HARRIMAN. Back up a bit. We need to deal with
first things first. How are you feeling now?
KYLE. A little numb, but tingly at the same time. It’s al -
most sexual. Like the world’s best climax that goes on
and on and…you know that can be scary, too.
DR. HARRIMAN. Maybe we ought to look at changing
your medications?
KYLE. I’m not taking them.
DR. HARRIMAN. What?
KYLE. I haven’t since I realized…
DR. HARRIMAN. What do you mean, you’re not taking
them? No wonder you’re experiencing this…this. Kyle,
we’ve talked about this before. You need those medica-
tions.
KYLE. No. I don’t.
DR. HARRIMAN. Not taking them is just the same as self-
medicating yourself with nothing…and it can cause you
irreparable harm.
KYLE. I don’t need them.
DR. HARRIMAN. I’m your doctor and you’re just going
to have to trust me on this.
KYLE. I don’t even have them anymore.
DR. HARRIMAN. What do you mean?
KYLE. I never had them. They never existed.

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 MIND GAMES 15

DR. HARRIMAN. Don’t be ridiculous. You ought to have

a ninety-day supply.
KYLE. But I don’t because I don’t need them.
DR. HARRIMAN. Kyle, listen to me. I’m glad you think
you’re feeling better but that could be symptoms of your
withdrawal. We need to get you back on them as quickly
as possible. I’ll write you a new prescription.
KYLE. You can’t write me a new prescription.
DR. HARRIMAN. And why not?
KYLE. You don’t have any prescription pads.
DR. HARRIMAN (opening his desk). Of course I do.
(Searching his desk.) Around here somewhere.
KYLE. See.
DR. HARRIMAN. Well, temporarily misplaced doesn’t
mean I don’t have them. (He gets up and starts for the
door.) All I have to do is get Miss Reynolds to…
KYLE (blocking his way). No, please, we need to talk first.
It’s important.

(DR. HARRIMAN is startled and a little uncomfortable

about the closeness. He slowly backs up and then, trying
to appear in control, returns to his desk.)

DR. HARRIMAN. Okay, but you’re not getting out of here

without that prescription.
KYLE. I don’t need the prescriptions because…
DR. HARRIMAN. Okay, why not? I want to hear that “be-
cause.”
KYLE. I don’t need therapy anymore.
DR. HARRIMAN. What?
KYLE. I don’t need…

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16 MIND GAMES

DR. HARRIMAN. I heard what you said, but the fact that
you’re saying it is proof that you do. I mean just last
week…
KYLE. I didn’t know last week.
DR. HARRIMAN. One week doesn’t change the world.
KYLE. It doesn’t even take a week. Don’t you understand
there’s nothing to change. (Tapping his head.) It’s all up
here. Or somewhere.
DR. HARRIMAN. Kyle, I think we need to really slow this
thing down and take this one step at a time. I’m sorry. I
don’t see this as an improvement. I mean, you’ve been
seeing me for… (He checks his notes.) …Six sessions
now and during that time, your mood swings have been
like—
KYLE. I know. It was crazy.
DR. HARRIMAN. I wasn’t going to say crazy, but—
KYLE. But it was crazy.
DR. HARRIMAN. Let’s just say it was not within accept-
able boundaries of behavior.
KYLE. I was locked up before I came here. That’s about as
unacceptable as you can get. And that’s funny. I mean, it
made me question.
DR. HARRIMAN. What?
KYLE. Oh, it…uh… The one question I have…or had was,
I mean, once I really understood, the one question was,
Why?
DR. HARRIMAN. Well, we all—
KYLE. No. Why? Why would I put myself in that posi-
tion? Why would I do that to me? What did I get out of
it? Then I realized that even asking that question was
falling into the same pit I’d been in. I don’t need to un -

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 MIND GAMES 17

derstand “why” anything. I just have to stop. (A beat.) I

just came to tell you I’m not coming back anymore.
DR. HARRIMAN. Look, Kyle, I’m not sure that’s the best
solution. We can work this out, I’m sure.
KYLE. No. I think it’s past that. I don’t think you’ll even
be here anymore.
DR. HARRIMAN. What do you mean?
KYLE. Okay. Here’s what I learned. And you were the one
who said it. Look around this office. Isn’t it amazing?

(DR. HARRIMAN looks around, not impressed. KYLE

jumps up and crosses to the window.)

KYLE (cont’d). And look out that window.

DR. HARRIMAN. Oh come on, Kyle, I know what’s out
that window.

(KYLE looks out the window as though amazed at what

he sees.)

KYLE. Can you hear the birds? All that traffic.

DR. HARRIMAN. Well, the soundproofing is not what
they promised, but…
KYLE (wheeling back to DR. HARRIMAN). Don’t you
see? All of that. All of that outside that window and…
(Indicating the office.) All of this. I created it.

(DR. HARRIMAN turns slowly back to look at KYLE

with real concern.)

KYLE (cont’d). No, I know it’s hard to believe. But let me

show you. You know your receptionist.

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18 MIND GAMES

DR. HARRIMAN. Beth.

KYLE. Who?
DR. HARRIMAN. Beth, my receptionist.
KYLE. Oh, I guess so. But that’s not her name.
DR. HARRIMAN. Of course it’s her… Never mind.
What’s your point?
KYLE. Did you know that when I first came here, she
scared the hell out of me. I mean, she looked at me like
I was something from another planet. Like I was…
DR. HARRIMAN. I’m sure she didn’t…
KYLE. No, she did, but it’s all right. I realized that I was
creating her and her reactions, and once I realized that,
this morning when I came in, she was completely differ-
ent.
DR. HARRIMAN. Beth?
KYLE. Yeah. But that’s not her name. It’s Elizabeth.
DR. HARRIMAN. Oh, it’s Elizabeth now?
KYLE (surprised DR. HARRIMAN would ask him). Yeah. I
think the name suits her. She always makes me feel so
comfortable and taken care of.
DR. HARRIMAN. Well, I’m glad. (Punching his inter-
com.) Beth?
BETH’S VOICE. Yes, Doctor.
DR. HARRIMAN. Can you come in here a mo ment,
please?
KYLE. Elizabeth.
DR. HARRIMAN (humoring him). Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH’S VOICE. Yes, Doctor.

(The office door opens and ELIZABETH, a much more

mature, more matronly woman who radiates efficiency
and warmth. walks in.)

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 MIND GAMES 19

ELIZABETH. Yes? (When nobody speaks.) Yes?

DR. HARRIMAN. Where’s Beth?
ELIZABETH. Excuse me?
DR. HARRIMAN. Beth, my receptionist?
KYLE. There is no Beth.
ELIZABETH. I don’t understand what you’re asking.
DR. HARRIMAN (getting up and crossing to look into the
reception area). I’m asking where my receptionist is?
Beth? Where is she?
ELIZABETH. Doctor, is there something you need? I can
get it…
DR. HARRIMAN. I don’t want you doing anything. I need
Beth.
ELIZABETH. I don’t understand. I don’t know any Beth. I
mean, I guess Elizabeth could technically be Beth, but
you’ve never called me that ever.
DR. HARRIMAN. And how long has that been?
ELIZABETH (confused). Excuse me?
DR. HARRIMAN. I’m asking a simple question. I mean,
you say you’re my recep tion ist, so let me get this
straight. You’ve been my receptionist since when?
ELIZABETH. I don’t understand. Is this a trick question?
KYLE. No, he’s just asking.
DR. HARRIMAN. Since when?
ELIZABETH. You know as well as I do. Since you opened
this office six years ago. Are you okay? Can I get you
something?
DR. HARRIMAN. No.
ELIZABETH. How about you, Kyle? Would you like any-
thing?
KYLE. A gin and tonic would be nice.

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20 MIND GAMES

ELIZABETH (laughing and playfully touching him). Oh,

you are such a kidder. You better behave now. (To DR.
HARRIMAN.) You make him behave now. (She exits.)

(DR. HARRIMAN walks back to his desk and leans on it

facing KYLE.)

DR. HARRIMAN. Okay, what is this? One of those televi-

sion shows where they play somebody for a fool? Well,
it won’t work. I’m onto you. Who planned this? My
wife? Wait’ll I get home. Or is she here somewhere?
Are those cameras? (To the hidden people.) Okay, come
on out. It’s over. You got your laugh, but… (Si-
lence…nobody appears.)
KYLE. It’s not a television show. It’s just like I said, or
like you said, I created all of this.
DR. HARRIMAN. I don’t think this is funny. And I don’t
have time for it.
KYLE. I’m sorry. I guess I didn’t really think what it
would be like for you.
DR. HARRIMAN. Look, I think we’ve done about as
much as we can accomplish this week. How about I
have Beth reschedule you for next week?
KYLE. But there won’t be a next week.
DR. HARRIMAN. Well, I’ll take my chance.
KYLE. There aren’t any chances. That’s what I’m talking
about.
DR. HARRIMAN. Kyle, stop it. A joke is a joke. But you
shouldn’t be playing around like this. You’re this close
to having a psychotic break. That’s what you’re having.
Do you understand that?
KYLE. I guess it’s possible, but I don’t think so.

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DR. HARRIMAN. Well, think so. Lis ten to your self.

You’re acting like fucking God Almighty. I’m sorry, I
didn’t mean to swear, but is that who you think you are?
KYLE. I don’t know. I never thought of that. But…
DR. HARRIMAN. Well, that’s what you’re acting like. I
created the world. I created this office. Can’t you see
how crazy all of that is? And if you’re God, why are
you here?
KYLE. Because I like you.

(DR. HARRIMAN sinks back down behind his desk.)

DR. HARRIMAN. Okay, let’s try this one more time. You
say you created all of this. Be more specific. This desk?
KYLE. Yes.
DR. HARRIMAN. This pencil?
KYLE. Everything.
DR. HARRIMAN. Define “everything.”
KYLE. Everything. Everything you see…or rather, I see.
DR. HARRIMAN. So what about me?
KYLE (a beat). Yes, you too.
DR. HARRIMAN. Wow. Talk about a Napoleonic com-
plex.
KYLE. Him too.
DR. HARRIMAN. Excuse me. He’s a historical figure.
From the past. You weren’t even born then.
KYLE. Everything. It’s all something I created. Everything
I see. Everyone I meet. Everything I’ve ever read about.
The books even. Television. The shows on television.
Movie stars. It can blow your mind.
DR. HARRIMAN. Your parents?
KYLE. Yes.

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22 MIND GAMES

DR. HARRIMAN. The abuse?

KYLE. Yes.
DR. HARRIMAN. Why would you—let’s just assume for
one moment this is true—why would you create a world
in which you were tortured as a child, burned over half
your body and…
KYLE. I don’t know…but if I can create it, I can change
it…
DR. HARRIMAN. You can’t change the scars, Kyle. I’ve
seen them.
KYLE. They’re not there.
DR. HARRIMAN. Take off your shirt.
KYLE. They’re not there I tell you.
DR. HARRIMAN. Take off your shirt and let’s face reality
for once.

(KYLE slowly gets up and removes his shirt. He has no

scars on his body. In fact, his body is perfect. DR.
HARRIMAN turns him around searching.)

DR. HARRIMAN (cont’d). How? How? That’s not possi-

ble.
KYLE. Like you said.
DR. HARRIMAN (almost screaming). Forget what I said!
KYLE. You said I created all of this.
DR. HARRIMAN. I didn’t mean all of this. It’s just some-
thing you say. You create your own problems and it’s up
to you to work your way out of them, but this world is
not…I am not a figment of your imagination.
KYLE. None of it’s real. I know it’s scary, but…

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 MIND GAMES 23

DR. HARRIMAN. Listen to me: I don’t know what you’re

playing here, but I want you out of this office. I have
other patients that have real problems.
KYLE. No, you don’t.
DR. HARRIMAN (laughing as he goes to his desk planner
and whips it open). Then what do you call these? (He
stops and starts flipping through his planner seeing only
empty pages.) How? What did you do to them?
KYLE. They never were there. I just created them so…I
don’t know why I created them. Maybe so everything
would be more real. Like I had a life and everyone else
did too.

(DR. HARRIMAN rushes to the phone and starts dial -

ing.)

KYLE (cont’d). There’s no one there.

DR. HARRIMAN. My wife is always there.
KYLE (a beat). You don’t have a wife.

(The phone rings and rings and then goes to a dial

tone.)

DR. HARRIMAN. I have a wife. Her name is Marian.

We’ve been married for twelve years…and Jenny and
Marie… Where are my little girls?
KYLE. I better be going now.
DR. HARRIMAN. Wait a fucking minute. I want my fam-
ily.
KYLE. I’m sorry.
DR. HARRIMAN. Wait a minute. Stop! If, and I’m still
not buying this delusion, but if…I’m just something you

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24 MIND GAMES

created for God only knows what reason, and all of this
is…in your mind, what happens when you leave?
KYLE. I don’t know. Like I don’t know what happens to
everything when I go to sleep. Like maybe my dreams
which are wild and jumbled are just all of it trying to get
reassembled before I wake up. Maybe when I walk
down the street, there is nothing around the corners un-
less I turn them. And the people I pass just exist as they
cross my vision. I don’t know. Or maybe you stay in
some limbo world until I think of you again, but I don’t
think so. I think you disappear.
DR. HARRIMAN. So everything is your world. What
about everyone else? Me for instance. Maybe I’m creat-
ing the world and you’re the figment.
KYLE. Wow. That would be wild.
DR. HARRIMAN. And all of this…things disappearing
and all… (indicating around his office) …is just because
you made me think of it and maybe as soon as you
leave, I’ll be the one who’s creating everything.
KYLE. You know, I wouldn’t mind that, because then
none of my life would be my responsibility.
DR. HARRIMAN. Yeah.
KYLE. But I don’t think so. (Crossing to the door.) We’ll
find out, won’t we? (KYLE opens the door and starts to
exit.)
DR. HARRIMAN. Is there anyone out there?
KYLE. You mean your Elizabeth?
DR. HARRIMAN. No?
KYLE. I can make it anybody you want.

(MARIAN, DR. HARRIMAN’s wife, steps through the

door.)

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 MIND GAMES 25

DR. HARRIMAN (running to her). Marian.

MARIAN. I know you say never to visit at the office,
honey, but I was in town and…
DR. HARRIMAN. The girls? Where are the girls?
MARIAN. In school, where did you think they’d be? (Re-
alizing KYLE is there.) Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to
interrupt your session.
KYLE. That’s okay. It was over.
MARIAN. There was no one in the reception area so I just
assumed…
KYLE. No, your timing was perfect. I’ve got to be going. I
just wanted to say thanks, Doc. If it weren’t for you…I
might have been sitting in here forever. (He exits.)
MARIAN. Now that’s a nice young man. (Realizing that
her husband is barely breathing as he stares at the
empty doorway.) Is something wrong?
DR. HARRIMAN. I don’t know.
MARIAN. What do you mean, you don’t know? You don’t
look well. Can I get you…
DR. HARRIMAN. No, I’m just…uh…waiting.
MARIAN. For what? Honey, you really don’t look well.
Are you coming down with something?
DR. HARRIMAN. No.
MARIAN. Well, maybe you better sit down. You’re sweat-
ing.
DR. HARRIMAN. It’s noth ing. Ev i dently…noth ing.
(Laughing in relief.) Nothing. (Hugging his wife.) Oh
God, I really let someone do a trip on me.
MARIAN. What?
DR. HARRIMAN. Never mind. I deal with some real
weirdos here and sometimes… It doesn’t matter. It’s

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26 MIND GAMES

over. That’s all that’s important. I think I just want to

call it a day and head home.
MARIAN. It’s only Tuesday. What about your appoint-
ments?
DR. HARRIMAN. I just realized they’re not that impor-
tant. What do you say we go by and pick up the girls.
MARIAN. Oh, they’d love that. Get out of school early.
Let me just get my purse. I left it on Elizabeth’s desk.
(Exiting.) I know you always say…
DR. HARRIMAN (realizing). Elizabeth??? (Panicked…and
reaching after her.) No, don’t!!!! (He stands there with
his hand still reaching for her.) Marian? (No response.)
Marian? (He crosses to look out into the reception room,
and nobody’s there. Horrified, he staggers back, tears
streaming down his face as he slowly sinks down into
the chair behind his desk.) Now what? (We hear the
traf fic noises and birds chirp ing out side the win-
dow…and then they fade out. He swivels to face the win-
dow and watches in fear as the light outside the window
fades out and then the window itself begins to disinte-
grate.) Oh God. (The office lights begin to fade.)

BLACKOUT—THE END

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