The stage is set as a bathroom. It features pale pink hexagonal wall tiles, with linoleum floor tiles in a checkerboard pattern. There is a turquoise corner bathtub with a porcelain finish. The bath is full of soapy water, and a toy gun can be seen floating on the surface. Little Native American action figures are lined up on the bath’s edge. Centre stage consists of a wide vanity mirror and a sink, which is built into a pink formica countertop. A small American flag is attached to the corner of the mirror, whilst a bloody knife, a roll of white gauze and a large glass bottle labelled “CLOROX HYDROGEN PEROXIDE '' lay on the countertop. At rise of curtain, bright lights flood the stage and a woman in a bright pink and white print dress stands peering into the sink with her back to the audience, soliloquizing:

Woman:  

Would you look at that! I’ve cut myself for Christ’s sake.

Quite deeply actually.

I can feel the skin 

Beneath the skin 

And the flesh that lays

Tucked up under that

Cozy, warm and pink.

Like a foetus hiding

Inside a placenta.

Wakey Wakey Little Baby.

The lies you lay wrapped in have been

Slashed open 

For the world to see you

Naked. Cold. Shivering.

Like the loose skin on my thumb.

This is much deeper than a nick

Or a slight little scratch

Because by quick slip of hand

My thumb,

Not the onion,

Met the demand. 

Woman sighs, glances towards the toys in the bathtub, then stares at the flag in the corner of the mirror, clutching her thumb with her other hand. She freezes in action. Suddenly the stage becomes completely dark and flashing lights begin to undulate as a little girl with the same pink print dress as the woman emerges from behind the vanity, her voice a whispering echo… 

Suddenly, the stage is completely dark and flashing lights go off. A little girl with the same pink print dress as the woman emerges from behind the vanity, her voice a whispering echo: 

Girl: 

Run, run before the Indians come

They’ll bore out your eyes

And drink your blood like it’s rum!

Lights suddenly switch off, leaving the stage in complete darkness as Girl exits stage in a hurry. Lights go back to normal. 

Woman resumes action, reaching for the glass bottle on the countertop. She opens the bottle. 

Woman: 

I need a drink–

A sangria perhaps.

I want to feel 

That fiery sluice

Absolve the chambers of

My iniquitous heart.

Woman makes a pouring motion with the bottle over her injured hand. She makes a wincing sound as she stiffens her posture, visibly tightening her clutch on her finger.     

Woman: 

Jeepers Creepers, that stuff hurts!

I’ll drink to my health 

When I’m done with this.

I feel nauseous just looking at it.

Lights go down. A spotlight is placed centre stage as the woman trails off into a pensive silence, staring at her reflection in the vanity mirror. 

Woman grows frenzied and passionate in her speech and bodily gestures. 

Woman: 

I feel nauseous just looking at

The congealed fat-jelly on 

The Thanksgiving ham

That my thumb has become.

It bleeds raw red on the inside

You half-baked human

Ha

Ha

Ha 

God, you comedian. 

Like this digit

My mind throbs

Grindingpoundingsqueezing

An infinity of thoughts

Into some big, nasty slop. 

Do I vomit it through my words, 

And betray my dirty truth?

Or do I swallow and endure,

Pretend that it’s good for me 

Like the Vicodin Venom

I need to take?

Woman stops pacing and returns, as calm as before, to the vanity. With her focus completely on her reflection in the mirror, she takes the roll of gauze and begins bandaging her finger with it. 

Woman: 

To exist is like suicide–

Everything can kill you 

If it doesn’t, shoot, good for you

But eventually it will. 

Threats within threats 

Within promises. 

My blood leaks through even this thick gauze

Dying it a hellish red

Making a helluva mess.

You naughty girl!

Now everyone knows who you are.

You don’t even know yourself. 

Bright lights flood the stage again as the woman breaks her soliloquy and begins arranging the items on the countertop. As she does she calls out:

Woman: 

Nick! Your bath is ready! 

She turns to face the audience, for the first time, smoothing out her dress for a few moments. Then she exits the stage as the lights dim and the sound of pattering feet is played from backstage. 

CURTAINS DOWN