BRENDA looks at her phone.
BRENDA (CONT.)
Brian got tickets to Hell’s Kitchen!
HELEN
He did! Tell Brian to get Jean-Phillipe’s signature for me.
BRENDA
'I' could do that.
HELEN
I know, but Brian’s gay too, so he might have a better chance..
BRENDA
I have to go. The line’s already forming.
BRENDA gets up to hug HELEN, and JEANINE sits down on the chair to rest.
HELEN
Remember to give me that number later…or not. Okay?
BRENDA
Okay.
BRENDA exits. HELEN notices JEANINE is resting.
Beat.
JEANINE
I'll go make sure Keith didn't make a mess in the kitchen. (Whispered) Lord knows I'm not paid to sit around and get my feet rubbed.
JEANINE exits.
HELEN
Keith!
HELEN exits, leaving HER glass of lemonade.
(OS) HELEN
Keith!
(OS) KEITH
Yeah, babe?
(OS) HELEN
Let the dogs run around on their own. I have some...house chores for you to do inside.
THEY enter.
KEITH
Oh really?
HELEN
Really. And can you get me another lemonade? The ice in this one has melted.
KEITH
Sure thing.
HELEN exits. KEITH picks up HELEN and BRENDA’s lemonades. Before leaving, HE stares at the chess board and ponders about the possible moves to take. HE then realizes how much time HE’s taken and exits.
Fade to black.
SCENE II
Quick lights up.
DEVEREAU enters carrying a briefcase, taking careful notice of every item in the room.
DEVEREAU’s only goal in life is to unravel the human mind and piece it back together as SHE sees fit…or as paying customers see fit. SHE has no moral insecurities about HER form of work and is very delighted whenever presented a challenge.
(OS) HELEN
Doctor?
HELEN enters.
HELEN
Here you are. I'm sorry for not coming downstairs as soon as Jeanine let you in.
DEVEREAU
It's quite alright. I believe she's preparing some sort of appetizer for me.
DEVEREAU opens a book.
HELEN
Oh. Good.
DEVEREAU
“Cognitive Psychology: The Chaos Theory Diagnosed”. Cute title. Am I correct in assuming that this was written by your late husband?
HELEN takes the book and puts it on the shelf.
HELEN
You are.
DEVEREAU
Must have been a very popular psychologist to afford him a house in Beverly Hills.
HELEN
He was. He diagnosed Hollywood stars as a hobby, and invested in insurance companies as a career. Please sit down. I’m sure you’re still suffering from jetlag.
DEVEREAU moves over to the chessboard.
DEVEREAU
Not at all. I’ve adjusted to the setbacks of flying. The ivory side clearly has the upper-hand.
HELEN
Ivory?
DEVEREAU points to the chessboard.
HELEN (CONT.)
Okay. Do you mind if we discuss what exactly are your services, Doctor?
DEVEREAU
We can, but first I’d like a question of my own to be answered. How did you obtain my phone number?
HELEN
Through friends.
DEVEREAU
Ms. Crabtree, I-
HELEN
-Ms.Crandall-Crabtree. You may call me Helen if you like.
DEVEREAU
Helen, I ask, because my services are not appreciated by most of my colleagues. Many times I’ve been lured into a trap, and I’ve become cautious to a fault as a result. So, if you wouldn’t mind…
HELEN
I have a connection at The Canyon Rehabilitation Clinic, and my friend said you do very impressive work.
DEVEREAU
That I do. Who was my patient at The Canyon…oh, I remember. Yes. That one session worked too well if I’ve heard correctly. Hmm. Did I talk to your connection personally?
HELEN
Doctor, tell me what you can do for me.
DEVEREAU
Very direct. You’re a driven woman destined to succeed at any cost.
HELEN
Is that a compliment?
DEVEREAU
It means you’ll pay my fees.
DEVEREAU opens HER briefcase, puts on some reading glasses and takes out a document. After reading to make sure it’s the right document, SHE hands it over to HELEN to read.
HELEN
What is this?
DEVEREAU
A confidentiality agreement for you and your significant other to sign.
HELEN
Mr. Crabtree has passed on.
DEVEREAU
No, I mean whom I’m going to have my session with.
HELEN
I’ll sign, but Keith doesn’t have to before you tell me what you do.
DEVEREAU
Understood. Go ahead and sign please.
DEVEREAU hands her a pen.
Beat.
HELEN signs and hands one of the documents to DEVEREAU. SHE files it in HER briefcase.
DEVEREAU
Thank you very much, but be sure to have “Keith” sign one as well before I leave.
HELEN
I’m listening.
DEVEREAU
Helen, how much do you know of hypnosis?
HELEN
Well, I-
JEANINE enters with a plate of elegant finger foods.
JEANINE
Here we are, doctor. I hope you enjoy them. My own recipe.
DEVEREAU
Thank you, but we were-
JEANINE
-Oh! I forgot the wine. I'll be right back.
JEANINE puts the plate down next to DEVEREAU and then exits, but comes right back.
JEANINE (CONT.)
You needing anything, Ms. Crabtree?
HELEN
Some time with the doctor alone, thank you. And it's Ms. Crandall-Crabtree.
JEANINE
Right. (Whispered) I'm glad she finally getting some help from someone other than me.
JEANINE exits. DEVEREAU examines the plate of food, trying to find the more visually compelling morsels.
HELEN
What do I know about hypnosis? Not much. I once saw a hypnotherapist in Las Vegas with my friend. She swore she remembers nothing even after watching the video of her pretending to be a cat. Is that what you do?
DEVEREAU
Cheap tricks. I can do much more than that. Picture yourself at a young age. Innocent, carefree, and thinking about the simpler things of life. Then something grave happens. Your dog is run over on the street. You lose your mother's favorite necklace that you borrowed when she wasn't looking. Your friends make fun of you for your new haircut. Suddenly, your world has been changed, and you must change with it. Exactly how you change is completely up to you. You can rise above the situation and better yourself, or you can allow yourself to be crippled by it. In either case, you are capable of becoming a completely new person, each choice being as unique as a snowflake.
DEVEREAU (CONT.)
It is simply personal choice that dictates whom becomes what. We have the chance to become whoever we wish to be. The problem is that we rarely chose to be the person others want us to become.
HELEN
So…you can change a person into whoever you want them to be?
DEVEREAU
For the purposes of this meeting, I can change a person into whomever you want them to be.
JEANINE comes back with a glass of wine.
/> JEANINE
We're low on wine, Ms. Crabtree. Had to go to the back of the cellar to find one good enough for doctor company.
DEVEREAU
Although I appreciate the effort, it wasn't absolutely necessary.
JEANINE
Nonsense! Treating company right is the right thing to do, especially when it's a doctor. Why, my brother Curtis once had a proctologist come over for dinner, and all he offered was some stale potato chips and cheap American beer. Needless to say Curtis' next visit was...rougher than the ones before. That's why I always say, "Don't give the doctor the shaft, and he won't shaft you."
HELEN
Then maybe you should go get some better wine. Use my credit card. You know where to find it.
JEANINE
Right, right. I'll go to the market right away. It was a pleasure, Dr. Devereau.
JEANINE hands the glass to DEVEREAU.
DEVEREAU
I'm finished with your personalized snack foods too. They were...delectable.
JEANINE
Thank you, kindly. Well, I'm off.
JEANINE exits.
DEVEREAU sips the wine.
HELEN
So, if I wanted Keith to become the world famous mathematician, you could make that happen?
DEVEREAU laughs.
DEVEREAU
I cannot instill intelligence. I can make him interested in mathematics and create the desire to become the world’s greatest.
HELEN
Alright. For example, let’s say I want Keith to be a little more interesting to talk to. What would you do for that?
DEVEREAU
In what way do you mean ‘interesting’?
HELEN
Someone I can have a conversation with.
DEVEREAU
Would you like him to have similar interests to you?
Beat.
HELEN
If you can’t immediately make him an expert, then no. I don’t care to talk someone who doesn’t know anything more than I do.
DEVEREAU
It would be unwise to have him interested in something you find boring.
HELEN
Right.
DEVEREAU
Then what do you find interesting that you don’t know anything about?
Beat.
HELEN
Astrology?
DEVEREAU
Astrology?
HELEN
It’s a guilty pleasure of mine. I’m completely fascinated by the stars and solar systems, but I couldn’t stand the classes in college. It’d be nice to have a friend explain it to me.
DEVEREAU
Are you meaning Astronomy?
HELEN
Yes, Astronomy. That’s what I meant. Of course.
DEVEREAU
I could accomplish that.
HELEN
How?
DEVEREAU
Through deep hypnosis combined with a unique technique of subliminal suggestions. An interest in astronomy. Is there anything else you would like to change?
HELEN
I really haven’t given it much thought. I might have if you'd told me what you do a week ago on the phone.
DEVEREAU
I apologize, but my services are on the borderline of illegal.
HELEN
Illegal?
DEVEREAU
What I am capable of doing might seem like “brainwashing” to outsiders and to some politicians. Hence my high fee.
HELEN
How illegal?
DEVEREAU
Have no fears. I would be the one to suffer, not you or Keith. Besides, the only way in which I could be found out would be if either of you broke your confidentiality agreements, thus removing the both of you as valid witnesses.
Beat.
HELEN
Do you promise satisfaction?
DEVEREAU
Of course. In the event that you find my work unsatisfactory, I will return and perform another session with Keith.
HELEN
Do you give refund sessions often?
DEVEREAU
Yes, but mostly because I find that people rarely know what they want from others. Now, do we have an agreement?
HELEN
I’m not-
(OS) KEITH
-hey, babe! Where are you? I’m sorry I’m late, but I won a medal at the swimming championship today. You should have been there. I was awesome!
HELEN
How much do you charge?
DEVEREAU gets another document from his briefcase and hands it over to HELEN. SHE gets out a checkbook, writes in the information, and hands it over to DEVEREAU.
KEITH enters.
KEITH
Hey, babe.
KEITH and HELEN kiss.
HELEN
Keith, this is Dr. Devereau.
KEITH
Hey. I’m sorry I didn’t see you there.
KEITH and DEVEREAU shake hands.
DEVEREAU
It’s a pleasure.
KEITH
Wait. A doctor? Helen, you okay?
HELEN
I’m fine, Keith. Dr. Devereau isn’t a medical doctor. She’s a hypnotherapist.
KEITH
Really? So what do you do, Dr. Devereau?
DEVEREAU
I actually am a medical doctor, but I practice mostly in psychiatrics. Specifically, hypnosis.
KEITH
Oh, hypnosis! Cool. Yeah, I’ve seen that on TV before. I’m not sure if I believe it or not. No offense.
DEVEREAU
None taken.
KEITH
Hey doc, you need something to drink?
DEVEREAU
I have an unfinished glass of wine here, but if it’s not too much trouble, some water please.
KEITH
Helen?
HELEN
I’m fine.
KEITH
Cool.
KEITH takes the wine glass and exits.
DEVEREAU
So is he to be aware of the changes?
HELEN
If I can choose, then no. Is that a problem?
DEVEREAU
As you wish.
KEITH enters with the water and hands it to DEVEREAU.
KEITH
Here’s your water.
DEVEREAU
Thank you.
KEITH
So are you friends with Helen?
DEVEREAU
I’m-
HELEN
-she is. Dr.Devereau came over, because I want to see if hypnosis is real or not.
KEITH
You…(to DEVEREAU) You’re not going to make her cluck like a chicken or anything, are you?
DEVEREAU
No.
KEITH
Man, that would have been funny!
HELEN
Keith...honey, I’m afraid to admit this, but I asked Dr. Devereau over here to hypnotize me and I’m too nervous to go through with it. Do you think…if you don’t mind…could you do it for me instead?
KEITH
Get hypnotized?
HELEN
Please?
KEITH
I guess so. (to DEVEREAU) What are you going to make me do?
DEVEREAU
Oh-
HELEN coughs.
DEVEREAU
…the usual stuff. Cluck like a chicken and whatnot.
KEITH
I’m game, just don’t film me or anything. I’ve got a reputation to keep, and my buddies would never let me hear the end of it if they saw me on the ground barking like a dog.
DEVEREAU
Agreed. Now, if you would please sign this confidentiality agreement right in front of you?
KEITH
Why?
HELEN
She’s very good. So good that other hypnotists try to steal her work.
KEITH
Really?
>
DEVEREAU
I’m afraid so.
KEITH
Sounds fair. Where is it?
HELEN hands the document and pen over to KEITH, and HE signs. HELEN hands it over to DEVEREAU.
DEVEREAU
Thank you. Now Helen, if you don’t mind leaving the room?
KEITH
Wait, I thought she was watching.
DEVEREAU
Before I can have you perform tricks, you need to be calm and rested and without any interruptions.
HELEN
I have some mail to organize anyway. I’ll be back in a minute.
KEITH
Okay, but don’t take forever. I don’t want you to miss the show!
HELEN
I won’t. I’ll be back in a moment doctor.
HELEN exits.
KEITH wanders around the room.
KEITH
So…what do we do?
DEVEREAU puts the glass of water aside and gets a notepad out.
DEVEREAU
First tell me a little about yourself.
KEITH
What do you want to know?
KEITH goes back to the chessboard and again tries to figure out the moves.