2023 Playwriting Every Day in November - Day 26

MALLORY

I had been estranged from my family and most of my friends. I thought that’s just what happens when you get married, all your other relationships kind of fall away.

LAWYER

But you realized that wasn’t normal?

MALLORY

No, it was the other stuff that woke me up. Like, the negging and mean jokes were just jokes, right? I could brush them off but, um… he grabbed my wrist once so hard it left a bruise the exact size and shape of his hand. And he started threatening violence, and being violent… towards me.

LAWYER

So what did you do?

MALLORY

At first nothing. I felt like I deserved it because I didn’t see it and I let my other relationships go and I made the bed so I have to sleep in it.

LAWYER

So what changed?

MALLORY

Hana. She called. She wanted to make sure I was okay and it all came flooding out of me and she said, okay, let’s make a plan.

LAWYER

And the plan was?

MALLORY

To get out of there before he killed me.

LAWYER

But instead you ended up killing him.

MALLORY

What? No! As far as I know he’s still out there! I’m scared every day he’s going to show up at my door and make me regret being alive. I’m terrified of him and I couldn’t have killed him even if I wanted to. You’ve seen his picture, you see me. How would I even manage it?

2023 Playwriting Every Day in November - Day 27

2023 Playwriting Every Day in November - Day 25