Thriller · 4 min
Sink.
A therapist with a notepad and a glass of water gently tightens control until her patient realizes he may not be able to move at all.
The roles
CORINNE BELL
Early 50s. Licensed therapist with a private practice. Warm, professional, slightly too interested. Uses clinical language the way a locksmith uses picks.
NOEL SUTTON
Late 20s. Graphic designer. Here because his girlfriend insisted. Doesn't really believe in therapy. Hasn't slept well since February.
Sink · Thriller side · memorlined.app
(A home office. Evening. Bookshelves, a desk lamp, two chairs. A framed diploma on the wall, slightly crooked. CORINNE BELL sits with a notepad on her lap. A glass of water on the side table, half full. NOEL SUTTON is on the edge of the opposite chair. His jacket is still on.)
CORINNE BELL
Water?
NOEL SUTTON
I'm good.
CORINNE BELL
You sure?
NOEL SUTTON
Yeah. Thank you.
(She writes something on the notepad. Puts it aside.)
CORINNE BELL
So. Devra says you haven't been sleeping.
NOEL SUTTON
Devra says a lot of things.
CORINNE BELL
How long has it been.
NOEL SUTTON
Few months.
CORINNE BELL
A few meaning...
NOEL SUTTON
Since February. So five.
CORINNE BELL
What happened in February.
NOEL SUTTON
Nothing happened.
CORINNE BELL
Five months of no sleep usually has a starting point.
NOEL SUTTON
Can we just— she said you do relaxation. That's what I'm here for.
(The desk lamp flickers once. Settles.)
CORINNE BELL
I do. If you'd like.
NOEL SUTTON
What does it involve.
CORINNE BELL
Nothing complicated. I talk, you breathe, you listen.
NOEL SUTTON
That's it?
CORINNE BELL
That's it.
NOEL SUTTON
Sounds like a podcast.
CORINNE BELL
It might. Jacket off would be more comfortable.
NOEL SUTTON
I'm fine.
CORINNE BELL
Okay. Close your eyes.
(He doesn't, for a moment. Then he does.)
CORINNE BELL
Breathe in through your nose. Slow.
(He does.)
CORINNE BELL
And out. Good.
(Silence. His breathing steadies.)
CORINNE BELL
I want you to picture a staircase. It goes down. You're at the top.
NOEL SUTTON
Okay.
CORINNE BELL
Take the first step. Then another.
(A clock ticks. Steady.)
CORINNE BELL
Deeper. The light is softer here.
(NOEL's shoulders drop. His hands relax on the armrests.)
CORINNE BELL
What happened in February, Noel.
NOEL SUTTON
I told you. Nothing.
CORINNE BELL
Keep your eyes closed. Keep breathing.
(He shifts in the chair. Doesn't open his eyes.)
CORINNE BELL
Another step down. You're safe.
(His jaw loosens.)
CORINNE BELL
I want you to think about the last night you slept well. Where were you.
NOEL SUTTON
Home. I was at home.
CORINNE BELL
And what woke you up.
NOEL SUTTON
I don't remember.
CORINNE BELL
Try.
NOEL SUTTON
I don't— it was a sound. A phone or something.
CORINNE BELL
Good. Stay there. Another step.
(The glass of water on the side table catches the desk lamp. CORINNE picks it up. Sets it down. Picks it up again.)
CORINNE BELL
Now. Open your eyes.
(His eyelids flutter. They don't open.)
NOEL SUTTON
I'm... trying.
CORINNE BELL
How do your hands feel.
NOEL SUTTON
What?
CORINNE BELL
Your hands. Can you move them.
(His fingers twitch. The hand stays on the armrest.)
NOEL SUTTON
I can't— what is this.
CORINNE BELL
You're very relaxed. That's all.
NOEL SUTTON
I can't move my hands.
CORINNE BELL
That's normal.
NOEL SUTTON
That's not—
CORINNE BELL
You're at the bottom of the staircase now.
(His eyes open. Wide. His body doesn't move.)
NOEL SUTTON
Something's wrong.
CORINNE BELL
Nothing's wrong. We're just talking.
NOEL SUTTON
I want to stop.
CORINNE BELL
What happened in February.
NOEL SUTTON
Let me up. I want to—
CORINNE BELL
You can talk. That's all you need to do right now.
(She sets down the glass. Picks up her notepad. Clicks her pen.)
CORINNE BELL
Start from the beginning.
Print it for class, or open it in the app: every role in this side is playable, and the other side of the scene gets a reader. Cast a voice against your part in the Audition Room, then run it until the lines are yours.
Take the Stage