Ripcord (TCG Edition)
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About this ebook
"A lyrical and understanding chronicler of people who somehow become displaced within their own lives…Mr. Lindsay-Abaire has shown a special affinity for female characters suddenly forced to re-evaluate the roles by which they define themselves."—New York Times
Set in the Bristol Place Assisted Living Facility, this glorious and biting new comedy from David Lindsay-Abaire centers around Abby, who takes pride in her residence in one of the most coveted rooms in the rest home. Things turn sour quickly when she must take in Marilyn, a new roommate to share her precious space. In a satirical conflict of territory and control, Lindsay-Abaire spins a benign, typically mundane setting into an absurdist, colorful battleground. This high-stakes comedy examines our expectations of what it means to grow old in twenty-first century America, and what happens when a sense of possession collides with a mania of obsession.
David Lindsay-Abaire's plays include Good People, Fuddy Meers, Kimberly Akimbo, Wonder of the World, High Fidelity, A Devil Inside, and Rabbit Hole, winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Lindsay-Abaire wrote the book for Shrek the Musical, and the screen adaptation of Rabbit Hole starring Nicole Kidman. Lindsay-Abaire is a proud New Dramatists alum, a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the Juilliard School, as well as a member of the WGA and the Dramatists Guild Council.
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Book preview
Ripcord (TCG Edition) - David Lindsay-Abaire
ACT ONE
SCENE ONE
A double room in the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility. It’s fairly homey, as far as these places go. There are two beds, a couple of end tables, two sitting chairs, and two identical dressers. There’s a door to the room stage right that leads out into the hall. A wide set of windows line the stage left wall. It’s a very sunny day. A door upstage right leads to the bathroom.
As the lights rise, we discover Abby Binder in the chair closest to the windows, reading on an iPad. Her side of the room, stage left, has a few plants and a watering can on the windowsill, and some knickknacks. Her bed is made, while the stage right bed is not. The stage right dresser has several framed family photos atop it, while Abby’s dresser has a small stack of books.
There’s a tap at the door. Scotty, a resident aide, enters, carrying a tray with a couple of covered plates on it.
SCOTTY
Hey, Abby. You didn’t want to come down to the dining room?
ABBY
(Doesn’t look up from her iPad) Am I there?
SCOTTY
That’s all right, I brought some lunch up for you. (Places the tray near her)
ABBY
Why bother? I can’t taste anything.
SCOTTY
I know, I’m sorry.
ABBY
Going on two months now. Which may be a blessing given what they serve down there.
SCOTTY
It’s very common. Losing your sense of taste.
ABBY
No, it isn’t.
SCOTTY
I’ve seen it with a lot of our residents. It’s usually the medications. Certain combinations do funny things.
ABBY
Oh, are you a doctor now?
SCOTTY
No. The plate’s right there when you get hungry. It’s shrimp marinara.
ABBY
It doesn’t matter what it is. It all tastes like sand to me.
SCOTTY
Okay.
(He makes the unmade bed over the following:)
ABBY
How long is that woman here?
SCOTTY
What do you mean?
ABBY
It’s been three weeks. And she never stops talking. How long is this supposed to go on?
SCOTTY
This is where she lives, Abby.
ABBY
Well yes, for now, but I / meant—
SCOTTY
Not just for now. Indefinitely. This is Marilyn’s room. Same as you.
ABBY
But I thought she was being moved as soon as a bed opened up. And from what I hear, that fat woman on the first floor died last night.
SCOTTY
Mrs. Moore. Her name was Mrs. Moore.
ABBY
Well I can’t keep track of everyone’s name. You knew who I meant. She’s dead isn’t she?
SCOTTY
She passed away, yes.
ABBY
Then there’s an open bed.
SCOTTY
I think Marilyn prefers this room. She said she likes the view of the park. She’s very happy in here.
ABBY
But everyone wants the first floor. It’s closer to everything. And I’ve always had my own room, Scotty.
SCOTTY
That’s not true.
ABBY
Most of the time. That Spanish lady was here for a few months, but after / her—
SCOTTY
If there’s space, we try to accommodate you, but there’s not always space. And you don’t have a private room.
ABBY
Not officially maybe.
SCOTTY
If you and your family want to pay for a private room—
ABBY
If I have to have someone in here, why can’t it be someone quiet? What about that woman without the voice box? She seems nice.
SCOTTY
So is Marilyn. You just need to give her a / chance.
ABBY
That woman is troubled, Scotty. I think there’s something wrong with her. She’s always trying to make little bets with me.
SCOTTY
What do you mean, bets? What kind of bets?
ABBY
Just the stupidest things. Guessing games and quizzes. This morning she wanted to race me to the elevator. Last night she bet me she could balance a slipper on her head.
SCOTTY
Could she?
ABBY
I don’t know, I rolled over. You have to get her out of here.
SCOTTY
I can’t force her to leave, Abby.
ABBY
Management could. Charlie Hastings would’ve done it. He always made sure I had my own room.
SCOTTY
Well, Charlie doesn’t work here anymore.
ABBY
Which is a shame. Charlie liked me.
SCOTTY
I like you too. But, I’m not in charge of room assignments. Miss Larusso is.
ABBY
Well you’re friends with her, aren’t you? I see you in her office all the time watching those cat videos or whatever they are. They must be very funny the way you two carry on.
SCOTTY
They aren’t cat videos.
ABBY
No?
SCOTTY
Not all of them.
ABBY
Can’t you talk to her?
SCOTTY
You talk to her. Be your own advocate.
ABBY
Oh that never works. Besides, Miss Larusso doesn’t like me.
SCOTTY
Because you’re mean to her.
ABBY
Her problem is, she has no sense of humor. Charlie Hastings thought I was hilarious.
SCOTTY
Because he was drunk.
ABBY
You leave that man alone.
SCOTTY
He had a terrible drinking problem, which is why he was fired.
ABBY
All I know is, he did whatever I asked him to. If he were here, that