Suicide Watch

Synopsis:

Valda, the night nurse on suicide watch at a suburban psychiatric hospital, arrives to take over from Esther, who is completing the evening shift.

In the observation room, behind a one-way mirror, is Sarah – whom we never see – an 18-year-old who has attempted suicide by stabbing herself in the neck with scissors.

Finding that her car battery is flat, Esther finds that she needs to wait an hour of so for a replacement battery.

The two women get to talking about life, love, happiness, death and much more.

Esther disapproves of Valda’s attitude towards Sarah, whom Valda considers to be an entitled upper-middle-class girl with no resilience, and concludes that perhaps Valda’s anger itself might stem from depression, therein highlighting a terrible irony in the work they do.

A subtle psychological work that explores existential questions while you’re looking the other way.

Character Breakdown:

The play is a 2-hander: 2 females.

ESTHER  – Late 30s

VALDA  – Late 30s

Running-time: 70 minutes

Production History: Not yet produced.

Excerpt available for download for free.