Characters:

Dr. Isaac Horowicz, psychiatrist

Henry Richards, distraught individual

Mrs. Smith, Dr. Horowicz’s secretary

SCENE: Henry Richards is sitting in a small waiting room reading a two-year old People’s magazine. Dr. Horowicz’ office is located in the rear right of the waiting room. A small table holding magazines sits on Henry Richards’s left-hand side.

[Mrs. Smith, the psychiatrist’s secretary, enters the room.]

Mrs. Smith: [smiling] Mr. Richards, Dr. Horowicz is ready to see you now.

Henry Richards: [looking up from the magazine] Man, what a relief! I’ve been having another one of those days.

Mrs. Smith: [nods] That’s why we’re here Mr. Richards. [turns, speaking with Henry Richards as she returns to her desk near the front door] You know the way to Dr. Horowicz office Mr Richards.

[Henry Richards places the magazine on the magazine table and makes his way to Dr. Horowicz’ office.]

Dr. Horowicz: [speaks to Henry Richards with a thick German accent] Come in Mr. Richards. [flips through a few papers, reviewing previous therapy sessions with Henry Richards] How’s the wife and kids?

Henry Richards: [Hesitates slightly] We’re making—progress, kinda, I still feel angry, very, very angry.

Dr. Horowicz: Still feeling anger? [scratches his chin] Has this anger affected anything but your life at home?

Henry Richards: Yes, work. I’ve…uh…I..I’ve been slamming things down and answering my coworkers [swallows dryly as his top lip twitches] shortly.

Dr. Horowicz: [notices Henry Richards slight change in behavior, then changes the subject] Henry, do you spend a lot of time with your kids?

Henry Richards: No, I work all the time. When I get home my wife and I fight a—about [fights to swallow the dryness from his throat] about my wife’s incontinency and … and that usually lasts until we go to bed—in separate rooms.

Dr. Horowicz: Henry, you still have vacation time, right?

Henry Richards: Yes.

Dr. Horowicz: Henry, take your family out on a vacation. [Licks his lips then looks down at some sheets of paper and begins writing] Enjoy your family. Leave all of your worries behind. [Stops writing for a moment, placing the top of the pen against his lips and then continues writing] Henry, I’m prescribing you Zoloft, which will help with your depression and anger. Take this vacation; make a vow not to bring up the past with your wife. Enjoy your kids. We’ll pick up our sessions the week after you return and we will assess the progress made or lost at that time.

Henry Richards: Okay, thanks Dr. Horowicz, I feel like I can begin living my life again—like I can move on. I’ll see you then.

[Henry Richards stands, shakes Dr. Horowicz’ hand and exits his therapy room. Then, Henry Richards waves at Mrs. Smith as he exits the psychiatrist’s office.]