Hidden Exit

Scene 2 

The hospital again. April is angrily staring at a 

point on the wall.

JULIAN 

Did the doctor tell you something? 

APRIL 

Fuck you! 

Beat.

JULIAN 

I thought you didn't curse. 

APRIL 

Fuck. You. 

Julian turns away, annoyed. A long silence.

APRIL 

I've had this splitting headache since I woke up. It's 

not the one I had before I hit my head. I don't just 

feel weak; I feel like I want to break down and cry. 

Beat. I'm trying to concentrate on that spot over 

there, that off-color spot. Maybe if I focus hard 

enough, it'll go away. 

JULIAN 

Does talking help? 

APRIL 

No! Kind of! It just hurts, okay? 

JULIAN 

Did you ask the doctor about it? 

APRIL 

The doctor's the fucking problem! Feels more pain. 

Motherfucker! 

JULIAN 

What? 

APRIL 

He gave me the headache! 

JULIAN 

What did he do? 

April sighs.

APRIL 

Okay, you know how I had a concussion? 

JULIAN 

Yeah? 

APRIL 

Well you're apparently not supposed to fall asleep for 

a night if you've had one. Messes with your brain. The 

No air quotes. doctor" somehow forgot to tell me this 

and now I have fucking brain damage. 

Beat.

JULIAN 

Is it, like, permanent? 

APRIL 

I dunno. I have three weeks. If I'm still getting 

headaches after that, it's permanent. I'll be in pain 

like this on and off for the rest of my life. 

JULIAN 

But it could go away in three weeks and you could be 

fine? 

APRIL 

It could go away right now, but it's not. 

Beat.

JULIAN 

So, are you gonna, like, sue him for malpractice? 

APRIL 

My dad knows the doctor. He's telling me, "It was a 

mistake, it's not his fault." I don't give a fuck about 

money, I just don't want to live the rest of my life 

with...this! 

JULIAN 

I know what you mean. 

APRIL 

No you don't! 

Beat.

APRIL 

I mean...I'm sorry. That was wrong. 

JULIAN 

It's fine. 

Beat.

JULIAN 

So what are you gonna do now? 

APRIL 

I dunno, wait? 

JULIAN 

But what if you don't get better? 

APRIL 

I...I don't know. I'll be ruined. My life will be 

ruined. 

JULIAN 

Thanks. 

APRIL 

What? 

JULIAN 

Nothing. 

Maya, 18, enters with painting under arm. 

MAYA 

April! Are you okay? 

APRIL 

I'm fine! I've got a bit of a headache. 

MAYA 

I was so scared for you! I didn't hear what happened 

until this morning. 

APRIL 

I'll probably be fine. Did you finish the painting? 

MAYA 

Kind of. 

Shows the painting.

APRIL 

It's beautiful. 

JULIAN 

Why'd you paint yourself as a bird? 

Beat.

APRIL 

This is Julian. He's my roommate here. 

MAYA 

Hi. 

JULIAN 

Why'd you paint yourself as a bird? 

MAYA 

It's...It's kind of a metaphor for me trying to get 

out. It's about freedom. 

JULIAN 

From what? 

Beat.

MAYA 

I also wrote a poem. Do you wanna hear it? 

APRIL 

Sure. 

Takes out a crumpled piece of looseleaf. 

MAYA 

Okay, so, this is, like, an unfinished poem, so it kind 

of sucks, but, I mean, I wrote it in the middle of math 

class, so some of it might be disjointed and /maybe 

some of it 

JULIAN 

Read the poem! 

They both glare at Julian

MAYA 

When I wake up in the morning, I look at you and wonder 

how I emerged, but a pile of nothing caught up in 

growth. I didn't know of the pains involved as I 

suckled and turned into a person. As you see me, you 

don't really see me, yet I can see you with your hopes 

to turn me into some...I can't...monster of...monster 

of tradition. I may have started carefree but I am no 

longer a smaller you, I am a slave on an umbilical 

leash, trapped into tripping on obstacles I know are 

there, forced to love the unlovable, forced to be 

crushed by life. 

Beat. Maya puts down the looseleaf and looks 

around. 

JULIAN 

Um, I liked the part with the umbilical leash. 

Really...strong imagery. 

MAYA 

Thanks.