Younger Dorothy Scenes

Act 1, Scene 2

Lights up, both Chris and Dorothy get up and prepare for the day

leave, music is played from the previous scene. Chris is about to

pick up some of the clothes but sees Dorothy’s face and leaves them

where they are. She kisses Chris goodbye, he leaves, the music fades

she looks at her laptop and then types. She is confronted again by

her younger self.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Dorothy.

Dorothy looks around the room.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Dorothy, Dorothy!!

OLDER DOROTHY

I need to stop smoking weed.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Dorothy, Dorothy, Dorothy

DOROTHY

I need a drink.

(She pours a glass of whiskey for herself and then gets her laptop

and starts typing).

OLDER DOROTHY

“She walked through the crowd, but her mind was far removed from

where she was....”

YOUNGER DOROTHY

You’ve forgotten about me.

Dorothy pauses and then puts her ear phones into her ears.

OLDER DOROTHY

Anyway, “she approaches the door with haste.” (Older Dorothy looks

at her younger self). Holy shit it’s you! I mean me…ten years ago.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Are you listening to me?

OLDER DOROTHY

…Trying to ignore you.

(Younger Dorothy moves Dorothy’s laptop aside and sits directly in

front of Older Dorothy)

OLDER DOROTHY

Why are you here?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

I don’t know.

(Younger Dorothy picks up the book the Wizard of Oz and the diary).

YOUNGER DOROTHY

My book, my diary.

OLDER DOROTHY

What about it?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

For some reason I thought it was lost. I got worried.

OLDER DOROTHY

My, I mean our folks had it.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

And they gave it to you now.

OLDER DOROTHY

Well yeah mom gave it to me.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Maybe that’s why you’re seeing me now.

OLDER DOROTHY

This is crazy how can a book and a diary bring a younger part of me

back?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Why wouldn’t it?

(She throws the cushion over at the Younger Dorothy and puts her

laptop back in place on the table).

OLDER DOROTHY

As I was saying: “when she saw this girl she stopped suddenly.”

(Younger Dorothy throws the pillow back at Older Dorothy and stares

over at her).

OLDER DOROTHY

Why can you just disappear?

(Younger Dorothy slams the laptop shut).

OLDER DOROTHY

Look that’s what happens when you grow older and you have to live in

the real World. And don’t sit on that side of the bed that’s my

side!

(Younger Dorothy gets up and stands in front of Older Dorothy).

YOUNGER DOROTHY

So growing up means forgetting and avoiding who you really are?

(Dorothy rearranges the sheets on the bed).

OLDER DOROTHY

What?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Do you like living here?

OLDER DOROTHY

I suppose, well I have no choice I have to live here.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

You could live in OZ?

Dorothy laughs.

OLDER DOROTHY

OK yeah and what would I do in OZ?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

You could be happy.

DOROTHY

I am perfectly happy staying here.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

No you’re not.

DOROTHY

Would you please leave me alone!

(Older takes Younger Dorothy by the hand).

YOUNGER DOROTHY

It’s going to take more than that to make me disappear. Dorothy,

Dorothy!!

DOROTHY

Go away!!!!

(Older Dorothy puts younger Dorothy in the bedroom wardrobe).

YOUNGER DOROTHY

I can still shout from here you know, Dorothy, Dorothy, Dorothy!!

(Dorothy gets frustrated puts a belt over the door handle on the

wardrobe and throws a pillow at the bedroom door that she locked

Younger Dorothy into).

DOROTHY

Good riddance!

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Dorothy, Dorothy, Dorothy!

OLDER DOROTHY

What!!

YOUNGER DOROTHY

What are you doing?

DOROTHY

What do you think I’m doing? Get the Hell away from me! Irritating

voice in my head.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

I’m not just in your head.

(Older Dorothy puts her hands over head).

OLDER DOROTHY

Leave me alone!

(Younger Dorothy breaks out of the Wardrobe, wind comes out of the

wardrobe into the room, lights flash).

OLDER Dorothy

What..what do you want?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Just let me in.

OLDER DOROTHY

Why do I need to let you in?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Because it looks like you’re stuck in a rut.

DOROTHY

GO-A-WAY!!

(Older Dorothy looks at Younger Dorothy and tries to smack her but

there is a brief black out on stage and Younger Dorothy disappears.

Older Dorothy she closes her laptop and then takes out her bong and

smokes it, lights out).

Act 1 Scene 4 – Scarecrow returns

(Lights up, Chris gets out of the bed, gets into his work clothes

and exits stage left. Scarecrow comes up out from under Dorothy’s

bed. He searches around her room, looks at her photographs and then

picks up the photo of when she was younger. Younger Dorothy enters).

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Be quick.

SCARECROW

Wait what, it’s you!

(He hugs Younger Dorothy).

SCARECROW

But then who?

(He points to Older Dorothy in the bed).

YOUNGER DOROTHY

It’s me…10 years older.

(He looks at the two Dorothy’s questioningly).

SCARECROW

Talk to her? How?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Don’t worry, she’s me, you liked talking to me.

(YOUNGER DOROTHY exits).

SCARECROW

But she’s you as a woman! Ugh…I don’t know how to talk to women.

Dor…Dorothy, Dorothy! Gosh what do I do?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Don’t worry, you’ll charm her…eventually.

(Older Dorothy wakes up and screams and jumps out of bed)

OLDER DOROTHY

Who the Hell are you?

SCARECROW

I um well, funny story...

OLDER DOROTHY

How did you get in?

SCARECROW

Oz.

OLDER DOROTHY

Oz?

SCARECROW

Yes from Oz…under your bed.

(Older Dorothy looks under the bed).

OLDER DOROTHY

There’s only wooden floor boards.

SCARECROW

Please Uh come on, don’t you remember me?

OLDER DOROTHY

What do you mean remember you?

SCARECROW

Oz? Do you remember me when you came to Oz? Scarecrow?

OLDER DOROTHY

I need a hit.

(She sits downs lights her bong and blows out smoke. She closes her

eyes, opens them, looks toward the Scarecrow and then turns her face

back).

OLDER DOROTHY

Shit he’s still there!

SCARECROW

Shit, I don’t know what to do or say. So…how’s life here in ehhh..

OLDER DOROTHY

San Diego? Pretty chilled...well not right now. God this moment

feels so strange.

SCARECROW

What made you want to stay here?

OLDER DOROTHY

Well, after the first two jobs didn’t work out I finally got a job I

stuck with and then things worked out with Chris so I just stayed

here in SD. I can’t believe you’re here. How are you here?

SCARECROW

She wanted me to talk to you.

OLDER DOROTHY

Who’s she?

SCARECROW

You...Younger you I mean.

OLDER DOROTHY

Christ she won’t leave me alone.

SCARECROW

She wants you to talk to me.

OLDER DOROTHY

She wants you to talk to me? Chris wants me to talk to him, that’s

too much talking. I can’t handle that!

SCARECROW

I don’t know I just know she asked me to talk to you.

OLDER DOROTHY

I don’t have much to discuss, now if you’ll excuse me I have some

work to do.

(Older Dorothy puts her bong down and then returns to her bed and

continues to type).

SCARECROW

What are you writing?

OLDER DOROTHY

It’s a script, about this girl who is….who has autism and the

issues she faces that others don’t understand.

SCARECROW

What issues does she have?

OLDER DOROTHY

Certain patterns in her life have to be a certain way, there must be

silence when she’s deep in thought…I need to work on it.

SCARECROW

When will it be finished?

OLDER DOROTHY

I don’t know I have to figure out what she wants.

SCARECROW

Didn’t realise you were a writer?

OLDER DOROTHY

I’m not.

SCARECROW

Why are you writing this?

OLDER DOROTHY

There’s a number of reasons. It started when my mom gave me this bag

of stuff from high school. This is my year book which reminded me of

my miserable days at high school. I found a log book, listing the

sessions I attended with my psychologist. My parents thought I was

depressed or something, I hated those sessions. I had to open up

about my feelings and thoughts and I didn’t know how express myself.

Then I came across my favourite book, The Wizard of Oz. I would read

this book, believing I was Dorothy from Kansas who escaped to a

World where people admired her for being imaginative, her

appreciation for colour coordination and her demand for soft sounds.

They did not judge me.(To Scarecrow) You did not judge me.

SCARECROW

I was alone, left to the crows in a field. You were my first friend.

OLDER DOROTHY

You know something you were mine too. That’s why throughout high

school, and a bit after that, I compared guys I was with to you.

SCARECROW

Really?

OLDER DOROTHY

I didn’t have to pretend who I was with you because you were from

another World.

SCARECROW

Well you must be the same around your boyfriend?

OLDER DOROTHY

Oh Chris, sometimes. He sometimes makes faces at me when I want the

chairs to be aligned with the table, or when I assemble food on the

dinner plates because I want the colour of the food to look a

particular way. I’m rambling, I always have memories of you when I

was sad or lonely. Why was that?

SCARECROW

Sorry Dorothy I can’t remember that far back. No brains remember?

(Scarecrow exits).

OLDER DOROTHY

Right, how long are you…

(She looks back and finds out he’s left. She continues to type on

her laptop.

OLDER DOROTHY

I guess you’re not staying for long.

(Lights out).

Act 1 Scene 7 – Researching Autism

(Older Dorothy enters wearing the blue dress. She sits on her bed

and types, then stops typing, puts her laptop aside and speaks.

Younger Dorothy enters).

OLDER DOROTHY

God you’re still here.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Where else would I be?

OLDER DOROTHY

In Oz right?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

What are you writing?

OLDER DOROTHY

Nothing.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Has to be something.

OLDER DOROTHY

OK, so I’m trying to write this story about a girl with autism.

She’s having difficulty connecting with people in her society so she

is trying to find some form of escape.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Yes! You used to do that!

OLDER DOROTHY

Create your own form of escape to Oz.

OLDER DOROTHY

Yes Oz. I guess it was. (They look at each other understandingly and

give each other a slight smile).

OLDER DOROTHY

I think we created our own safe space, where no-one could hurt us.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

The other kids didn’t understand us.

OLDER DOROTHY

No, no they didn’t. My parents wanted to understand me though. I had

to grow up. My parents brought me to a psychologist and I would have

a session with her once a week. We played games where she wanted me

to open up about how my day went and my thoughts on sexuality which

made me very uncomfortable. Anyway, the sessions became too

expensive for my parents so they ended my sessions with her. I was

grateful although…

YOUNGER DOROTHY

What?

OLDER DOROTHY

I always wanted to go back and talk to her because I know there’s

something about me that’s….different. Remember, we would get fixated

on the patterns…

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Yes, the patterns of lines on roads the lines I created in my art

books, everything had to go into a particular order.

OLDER DOROTHY

And if anything obstructed that order I would scream bloody murder.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Yes life was a bit of a struggle.

OLDER DOROTHY

It still is. It’s just that now I’m an adult I care too much about

what other people think.

YOUNGR DOROTHY

What are you looking up?

(Older Dorothy shows Younger Dorothy the information she’s looked

up).

OLDER DORORTHY

This is what I found, all these parents not sure if their child’s

autistic or not, saying the same stuff I’ve been talking about with

you; their child has tantrums, gets into trouble at school with

their teacher, doesn’t socialise and finds it difficult to socialise

with other kids.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Sounds familiar.

OLDER DOROTHY

I can relate to this and want to portray it on stage, in public.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

You should.

OLDER DOROTHY

How?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Find out, you have a computer.

OLDER DOROTHY

I’m scared.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

If you ignore this gut feeling you could miss an opportunity.

OLDER DOROTHY

An opportunity?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

An opportunity to spread awareness about a particular condition.

OLDER DOROTHY

I don’t know.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Stop running away from the things you know and belong to.

(Dorothy starts to light up her bong).

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Why do you have to smoke that now?

OLDER DOROTHY

Inspiration? Creativity?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

You’re wasting time.

(Older Dorothy blows a big puff of smoke after inhaling the bong,

Younger Dorothy exits. Older Dorothy then puts down the bong and

then goes to her laptop and looks up more information about autism.

She quotes what she sees online).

OLDER DOROTHY

“My child’s behaviour at school is getting out of hand, I think he

might be autistic, I don’t know what to do could someone please give

advice?”

(Dorothy continues to type, lights out).

Act 1 Scene 8

(Dorothy is asleep on her bed, wearing her blue dress. Scarecrow

climbs out from under her bed. Once he has climbed out he looks at

her and then puts his hand on her forehead. Dorothy wakes up).

OLDER DOROTHY

Shit!

(They both stand up).

SCARECROW

Sorry!

OLDER DOROTHY

What are you doing here?

SCARECROW

I don’t know why but after the other day being here, I wanted to

return to this room…your room. You OK?

OLDER DOROTHY

I’m a bit confused right now.

SCARECROW

Yeah, you and me both.

OLDER DOROTHY

I’m going insane. You’re in my head.

SCARECROW

Well I must have returned for a reason.

(Older Dorothy shakes her head).

OLDER DOROTHY

I had a bad dream

SCARECROW

About what?

OLDER DOROTHY

When I was younger my mom was preparing my dinner.

(Younger Dorothy enters and starts to act out what Older Dorothy

says in the corner).

OLDER DOROTHY

I have thoughts, about my behaviour, my mannerisms. When I was a

child I didn’t want to mingle with the other kids. I spoke to

myself, pretending there was someone else with me, because it was

easier to talk to an imaginary character than to interact with a

human being.

SCARECROW

What things?

OLDER DOROTHY

Objects...colours…objects and colours being out of place. I remember

one of the times my mom cooked dinner and it was all wrong.

(Dorothy’s mother enters and re-enacts the scene with Younger

Dorothy).

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Mom, why is the broccoli on the left hand side of the plate?

MOTHER

Oh sorry honey I forgot.

OLDER DOROTHY

The mashed potatoes should be in the centre and they’re not.

MOTHER

Jesus Christ Dorothy I’m sick of this just eat your dinner.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

I can’t it’s all messed up.

MOTHER

Dorothy its just food.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Its confused me the colours are all wrong.

(Younger Dorothy throws the food to the floor, knocks the chair

over, screams and then storms off).

(The mother cries, picks up the mess, starts to cry, stops and then

picks up the phone).

MOTHER

Hello I’d like to speak with one of the school guidance councillors,

it’s about my daughter. Yes...yes, that’s fine, tomorrow at 11am is

perfect…thank you um goodbye.

(The mother exits).

OLDER DOROTHY

Poor mom she had to put up with a lot but even to this day. Just..it

frustrates me to have simple things out of place.

SCARECROW

Then what happened?

OLDER DOROTHY

The councillor advised I see a psychologist that was horrible. Too

many questions, I was so only young and felt as though I was being

dissected like an insect.

SCARECROW

How are you getting on with your story?

OLDER DOROTHY

I’ve stopped writing and decided to do some research instead.

(She shows the Scarecrow what she’s looking at on her laptop).

SCARECROW

“Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability that can

cause significant social, communication and behavioural challenges.”

What made you look this up?

OLDER DOROTHY

I don’t know…my experiences as a child. I just think the spectrum is

so broad and it’s a growing issue because there’s not enough

resources in place to support kids…people with this condition.

SCARECROW

I’m gonna hit the hay, sorry about the pun. You gonna be OK?

OLDER DOROTHY

Oh yeah I’m gonna continue with this.

(Scarecrow crawls under Dorothy’s bed. Older Dorothy continues to

type. Lights out).

Act 1, Scene 10 - Past Psychologist, Teacher and Daniel

(Glinda enters out of the wardrobe and looks at Dorothy’s computer screen from behind her).

GLINDA

Wow you’ve come pretty far with that.

(OLDER Dorothy sees her and is startled).

OLDER DOROTHY

God you came in from nowhere.

GLINDA

That’s how I normally make my grand entrance. How are you doing?

OLDER DOROTHY

Lost and confused, seeing my old stuff again has made me realise I suppressed some unresolved issues. I just ignored

it.

(The psychologist enters; the teacher and Younger Dorothy enter).

OLDER DOROTHY

It wasn’t right, no-one should have moved that chair! Now there was an odd number of chairs left by that table. It was

annoying, frustrating to look at.

TEACHER

Such an ‘unusual’ girl, I wasn’t sure what it was. I thought she was just asking for attention but that day I spoke with

the principle and advised her parents to take her to a psychologist.

PSYCHOLOGIST

She found it difficult to talk; she became upset the further I probed her. I put out puzzles and crosswords, they seemed to

cheer her up, until I tried to interact with her.

OLDER DOROTHY

Christ why wouldn’t people just leave me the fuck alone!

YOUNGER DOROTHY

She asked me too many questions that day.

PSYCHOLOGIST

Dorothy way don’t you play with the other kids?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

I don’t know; I just…don’t…

PSYCHOLOGIST

Do you prefer to hang out by yourself?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

I don’t know…I guess.

PSYCHOLOGIST

Do you think it’s OK to scream and shout the way you do in class?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

(She starts to cry)I don’t know…just leave me alone.

OLDER DOROTHY

I was an adolescent, a kid trying to figure out puberty, trying to figure out my own shit. I mean, she was expecting me to open up about my life? She wasn’t one of my girlfriends or

my mother. It was none of her business.

(There’s a noise in the background that disturbs both Younger and Older Dorothy).

PSYCHOLOGIST

I think the sessions helped her open up, we would play word games and I would ask her to discuss her week. Sometimes she opened up, sometimes she remained closed. I told her parents that it was best to complete the 10 therapy sessions and then see how Dorothy got on by herself. Just so we could see if she

could overcome these issues.

DANIEL

You’re smiling at me too much, I don’t like it.

TEACHER

Dorothy can you concentrate, please stop staring out the window, this is math! You need to concentrate.

PSYCHOLOGIST

Why don’t you play with the other kids?

(The teacher, councillor and Daniel walk around Older Dorothy in a circle saying the following lines, the noise becomes

louder).

DANIEL

I’m not attracted to you in that way.

TEACHER

Stop acting up in class Dorothy, concentrate!

PSYCHOLOGIST

Why don’t you play with the other kids Dorothy?

(They repeat these lines until Older Dorothy breaks out of it).

OLDER DOROTHY

Stop! Stop! Stop! Just stop! Why am I being tortured like this? The noise is too loud.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

I can’t stop the noise.

OLDER DOROTHY

Why won’t the noise stop!

(Older Dorothy screams and throws her laptop onto the ground and then Younger Dorothy comes to the front and Glinda comes out from the wardrobe. The Teacher, Psychologist and Daniel

stand at the front of the stage, frozen).

GLINDA AND YOUNGER DOROTHY

What’s wrong?

GLINDA

I heard shouting?

OLDER DOROTHY

This is too much.

GLINDA

Your laptop!

It’s embarrassing!

GLINDA

What is?

OLDER DOROTHY

My past; I remember my teacher, Mrs Morris couldn’t stand me.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

I wanted to be her best student, calculate numbers fast, have the correct answers that were on the tip of my tongue but I

just wasted her time.

OLDER DOROTHY

I spoke out of turn, could never articulate my sentences in a way she could comprehend and my eyes escaped to the windows

searching beyond for…something, a land that could get me outta class. Anyway, her eyes always searched for the straight A

math students.

And, God there’s Daniel. I felt his awkwardness become more intense when I stood next to him. His voice was silent when he

spoke to me, his words were short and eyes always avoided mine.

And the psychologist, asked too many questions; questions that interrupted my thoughts, my daydreams. I hated when she

questioned…

PSYCHOLOGIST

Why do you not hang out with the other kids Dorothy?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

I…I don’t know. It’s easier not to.

OLDER DOROTHY

I preferred my own space, my own World because I created what I wanted to appear and happen. I felt safe and happy in my own World, in my Land of Oz. It put a smile on my face because I

was day dreaming about a place far away.

GLINDA

Do you want to go back there Dorothy?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Yes come back with us?

(Older Dorothy looks at her laptop on the ground).

OLDER DOROTHY

Oh shit!

YOUNGER DOROTHY

What’s wrong?

(Older Dorothy tries to switch on her laptop but it doesn’t come on, she shakes it but nothing works).

OLDER DOROTHY

God what have I done! It’s gone, all of it, my precious work!

Everything that goes on up here (she points to her head)

fucking gone.

GLINDA

You could probably get it back.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Or you can start over.

(Older Dorothy ignores them and gets her bong and smokes it).

GLINDA

(Whispers to Younger Dorothy)We should leave, (they both exit

into the wardrobe lights out).

Act 2, Scene 1 - Scene with Scarecrow

(Dorothy enters, the broken laptop is on the floor, she

paces up and down her room and then sits by her bed and

then the scarecrow comes out from underneath).

OLDER DOROTHY

Holy shit!

(She jumps up).

SCARECROW

Sorry. Sorry about your…

(He points to her laptop).

OLDER DOROTHY

Me too, it’s gone… Why are you here?

(She sits on her bed).

SCARECROW

I get a sense remember?

OLDER DOROTHY

Right yes.

SCARECROW

Where’s?

OLDER DOROTHY

Chris? He hasn’t been around lately and…

SCARECROW

What?

OLDER DOROTHY

He might have had enough.

SCARECOW

Of?

OLDER DOROTHY

Living with me.

SCARECROW

He doesn’t like living with you?

OLDER DOROTHY

Well I guess so, I can be difficult to live with. I’m

particular about certain things.

SCARECROW

Such as?

OLDER DOROTHY

My clothes have to be in a certain order of colour, in my

drawer and in my wardrobe. All my kitchen utensils have

to be in the exact order I left them, and he struggles

with that. Jeez I’m surprised the guy hasn’t left me

already. To be honest I was afraid this would happen,

that’s why I was afraid of us moving in together.

SCARECROW

Intimacy can be tricky.

OLDER DOROTHY

It’s like the closer I get to someone the further I push

them away. Maybe that’s why you’re here. When I wanted to

escape from dealing with relationships in the past,

you’ve always been by my side.

SCARECROW

Like I said I get a sense you need me.

(Scarecrow bends down to her level).

SCARECROW

So what’s going on between you guys?

OLDER DOROTHY

I sometimes think he’s found someone else. Someone who

doesn’t have a colour fixation, who can watch late night

sports with him and actually have a clue and concentrate

what’s going on in his life. I didn’t think living

together makes talking to your other half more difficult.

You remind me of someone?

SCARECROW

Who?

OLDER DOROTHY

A boy at school, I was really into him. He was quiet,

kept to himself. He was a bit of a misfit like you.

SCARECROW

Thanks.

OLDER DOROTHY

I tried to talk to him a couple of times but I always

felt as though I was disturbing him. Sometimes he would

speak to me. If I brought up anything about Lord of The

Rings or an equation I was stuck on, he loved numbers and

the sequence they came in. I’m pretty sure he was on the

spectrum actually.

SCARECROW

Did you end up with him?

OLDER DOROTHY

No. We didn’t turn out that way.

SCARECROW

So you were attracted to him?

OLDER DOROTHY

I was fond of him because we shared similar interests and

rituals. I was never into guys in high school, primarily

because they made fun of me.

SCARECROW

Why?

OLDER DOROTHY

I…I kept to myself and spoke to imaginary friends. When

people catch you out on that, it doesn’t attract company.

SCARECROW

This boy at school, what was his name?

OLDER DOROTHY

Daniel.

SCARECROW

And I reminded you of him?

OLDER DOROTHY

Yeah.

SCARECROW

Why?

OLDER DOROTHY

You were a lonely person who didn’t socialise with

others, and you’re dark and unusual looking. You both

share the same traits.

SCARECROW

So you’re attracted to someone who is dark, unusual and

lonely.

OLDER DOROTHY

Jesus, forget I said anything.

SCARECROW

Ask yourself why you are attracted to that.

(Scarecrow takes off his hat and straw, takes off his

straw hat becoming the teenager, Daniel. Younger Dorothy

enters).

(Daniel is doing maths equations with Dorothy).

DANIEL

16000 divided by 52 is 307.69, 25000 divided by 365 is

68.49. So you wanted to talk?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Yes. Daniel in the past couple of weeks, well maybe a bit

longer…there was that moment you looked at me when I

dropped my pencil in class and you picked it up.

DANIEL

Did I give you a weird look? Sorry I didn’t mean…

YOUNGER DOROTHY

No, no sorry I’m rambling on, I feel like we’re...

DANIEL

Yes?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Very close.

DANIEL

OK.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Like we have a connection, a very strong connection.

DANIEL

Right, we’re good friends.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

More than that.

DANIEL

What do you mean?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

I really like you. I think I’m in love with you.

DANIEL

What the Hell?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

I’m in love with you Daniel. I like the way you support

me with my maths homework, how you considerately listen

and talk to me about Lord of the Rings. We share things

in a way I could never share them with any other boy at

school, no other person spends time with me the way you

do.

(Daniel laughs).

DANIEL

This doesn’t sound right.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Doesn’t sound right, did a say it in a weird sound?

DANIEL

Is this a joke?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Why would it be a joke? Why is this so hilarious?

DANIEL

I help you out with numbers because you asked me to and

well, I like numbers, I can figure out the equations

easily. I discuss Lord of the Rings with you because it’s

my favourite book of all time and you share that interest

with me. You’re not the girlfriend type.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Oh. Right. That’s… that’s…honest. Truly honest.

DANIEL

I’m sorry but it wouldn’t be fair to lie to you and allow

you to believe something that would never happen. Not in

a million years.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Oh, OK I miscalculated, misinterpreted the situation. I

thought you liked me, seemed you really liked me?

DANIEL

Dorothy no. It’s just a coincidence we both share an

interest in Lord of the Rings. I helped you out with your

maths homework because I wanted to solve the maths

equations, that’s all. I’m gonna go, this moment has gone

awkward.

(Daniel exits).

YOUNGER DOROTHY

I thought he liked me.

OLDER DOROTHY

I know.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

I thought he liked me because we were the same. It’s

confusing.

OLDER DOROTHY

I’m never going to love anyone again. I obviously love

people I shouldn’t, what’s wrong with me?

(Younger Dorothy exits off stage. Scarecrow enters and

talks to Older Dorothy).

SCARECROW

What made you change your mind about Chris?

OLDER DOROTHY

I met him when I worked at Walmart. He was a friend of a

friend and we’d hang out after I finished work. We

discussed things that got us down, about our jobs that

kinda thing. Whenever I brought up my problems or

discussed something serious, he’d crack a joke, I’d laugh

and it worked at the time but now I realise… he just

avoided getting serious. When we first got to know each

other he mentioned his mom, she died when he was

thirteen. He got emotional talking about her and cried in

my arms. I know this is hard to believe but I did listen

to his pain and console him. I have done that anytime he

needed a shoulder to cry on. But now I have my own shit

to sort out and I need to work on that.

SCARECROW

He cracks jokes to avoid getting too serious, seems he

has issues too.

OLDER DOROTHY

He’s suffered with depression in the past, he’s got a lot

better though.

SCARECROW

Do you talk about them?

OLDER DOROTHY

We used to. We used to support each other a lot but now

that we live together, the gap between us is bigger.

SCARECROW

Seems the two of you have issues you need to figure out

on your own.

OLDER DOROTHY

Why?

SCARECROW

How long has it been since you spoke to him?

OLDER DOROTHY

Last night.

SCARECROW

Where is he now?

OLDER DOROTHY

I don’t know, out?

SCARECROW

How often did you speak before he moved in?

OLDER DOROTHY

Everyday.

SCRECROW

Is there room for him in this space?

(Silence).

SCARECROW

Because you may need to figure a few things out before

you can let another person in.

(Scarecrow exits. Dorothy takes out her bong and starts

to smoke it, light dims until they’re completely out).

Act 2 Scene 8 – Drunk Scene

(Dorothy’s mother exits, the lights dim, Dorothy puts on

“Somebody to Love” by Jefferson Airplane. She then pours

a glass of whiskey and smokes her bong and sits at the

foot of her bed. Glinda and Younger Dorothy enter and sit

on either side of her).

GLINDA

Dorothy.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Dorothy.

OLDER DOROTHY

Yep. (She says in a frog throat way).

GLINDA

You OK?

YOUNGER DOROTHY

You don’t seem OK?

OLDER DOROTHY

I’ve messed it up.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

What

(Older Dorothy is heavily drunk and turns to Younger

Dorothy).

OLDER DOROTHY

I’ve fucked things up for you kiddo.

(Older Dorothy gets up drunkenly and stares at Younger

Dorothy as if she’s staring into a mirror, Older Dorothy

then gets sick in her dust bin Glinda tries to help her

but she pushes her away and cries).

OLDER DOROTHY

I’m a fucking mess.

(Dorothy passes out, Glinda puts the Mother’s contact

card for the psychologist beside Dorothy. Dorothy then

wakes up, looks at the card).

OLDER DOROTHY

John Albert psychologists, with a phone number and email.

How thoughtful mothers are.

(Dorothy picks up the phone and dials the number).

OLDER DOROTHY

Hi I’d like to book an appointment to see one of your

psychologists, uh Tuesday if possible? OK cool OK yeah

that’s fine, 2pm is good. Oh my number is 619 292

4156.Cool thanks.

(Lights out).

(Younger Dorothy, small part at the end of scene)

Last Scene – Act 2 Scene 10

This scene will capture three weeks to begin with, the

psychologist is sitting on his chair writing his notes.

Dorothy enters with a rolled up poster in her hand.

The psychologist stands to greet her.

PSYCOLOGIST

Dorothy.

OLDER DOROTHY

Hey.

PSYCHOLOGIST

Please take a seat. How are you?

(She hesitates)

OLDER DOROTHY

I am…confused, just things have been going back and forth in

my head.

PSYCHOLOGIST

That’s OK. It just means you’re working out issues that you’ve

put to the back of your mind.

OLDER DOROTHY

I thought about our conversation, why these characters from Oz

are now present in my life, and why I repainted my room. It

was to make sense of what’s going on in my life.

PSYCHOLOGIST

Would you like to talk me through it?

OLDER DOROTHY

I painted a rainbow on my wall, it has many colours which I

like but I also saw it as a diagram to show the scale of high

functioning and low functioning autism spectrum. The wings

represent Glinda, the fairy. I see her as my guidance when I’m

lost or unhappy. And the bleeding poppy is passion in my life

that bleeds because I’ve done something to mess things up.

PSYCHOLOGIST

Mess what up?

(Chris and Amber enter at the back, behind the back drop

holding hands, then kiss and then walk off stage). – Might

take this out.

OLDER DOROTHY

My relationship with Chris, my previous jobs that let me go

because I was too irrational or could not keep on top of

things, opportunities missed because my anxiety held me back

from taking them on.

PSYCHOLOGIST

And these images are also associated with The Wizard of Oz.

OLDER DOROTHY

Yes.

PSYCHOLOGIST

An all-time classic, why did you like it personally?

OLDER DOROTHY

It’s about a young girl who escapes her hometown where she’s

misunderstood and travels to another World and meets

characters she identifies with and has adventures that that

instil meaning to her life.

PSYCHOLOGIST

That’s very interesting. Dorothy as part of your assessment I

am going to ask you to complete a form. There are a number of

questions on it but just complete the form as best you can and

if you need any assistance, just let me know.

OLDER DOROTHY

OK.

(The psychologist writes in his notes and the characters from

Oz come out and pull over the curtains slightly, Glinda walks

towards Dorothy).

GLINDA

You OK?

OLDER DOROTHY

I don’t know, he seems cool but I’m worried he’s gonna

diagnose me as crazy.

YOUNGER DOROTHY

Or just be like the previous psychologist and say we’re just

seeking attention.

(Older Dorothy starts to write on the form and the gets up.

It’s the following week and the change of time is reflected

through the change of light and music).

PSYCHOLOGIST

Hi Dorothy, I read through your notes and completed an

assessment.

(Wind comes through again, Glinda, Scarecrow and Younger

Dorothy creep up behind the psychologist to look at Dorothy.

Dorothy has a stunned look on her face).

PSYCHOLOGIST

What’s wrong?

OLDER DOROTHY

Eh nothing, it’s nothing, you were saying?

PSYCHOLOGIST

Hi Dorothy, I can do the assessment for you.

(The Oz characters pull their chairs up behind the

psychologist).

OLDER DOROTHY

Assessment?

(The characters form Oz pull up their chairs closer to

the psychologist and put their hands to their chins at

the same time).

PSYCHOLOGIST

There’s new research found in psychology that some

people, women to be specific, have now been diagnosed

with autism who are high functioning. This is a major

finding in the research.

(The characters from Oz lean back on their chairs and

take a deep breath out to represent a release of

anxiety).

PSYCHOLOGIT

Dorothy, you OK?

OLDER DOROTHY

Yes sorry, go on.

PSYCHOLOGIST

The results of your developmental and cognitive tests

tell me that you have high functioning autism, to be

specific you have Pervasive Developmental Disorder, also

known as PDD-NOS.

OLDER DOROTHY

PDD-NOS?

PSYCHOLOGIST

Sorry I should be more clear, it’s also known as

Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise

Specified . It’s the diagnosis they use for someone who has

some but not all characteristics of autism or who has

relatively mild symptoms. You have significant autism

symptoms in one core area such as social deficits, but

mild or no symptoms in another core area such as

restricted, repetitive behaviours.

OLDER DOROTHY

Oh right.

PSYCHOLOGIST

Are you OK Dorothy?

OLDER DOROTHY

It’s just strange I’m only diagnosed with this now as an

adult.

PSYCHOLOGIST

This diagnosis only been discovered in the past 15 years.

OLDER DOROTHY

Oh right.

PSYCHOLOGIST

I understand this must be a lot to take in right now but

this a brief copy of your result. I will send another

copy of the report and evaluation in the mail. I know a

lot must be going through your mind right now, but there

is a very high ratio of women to men who have not been

diagnosed with autism and when they went to psychologists

as children, the reason being that a lot of young women

have been known to mask their autistic traits.

OLDER DOROTHY

So I am one of those children?

(The psychologist shakes his head).

OLDER DOROTHY

So what now?

PSYCHOLOGIST

You continue with your everyday life except now you have

an awareness of your condition.

If you need assistance or need to discuss this further

you have my card so just give me a call and we can

arrange to meet up again. (He takes out a leaflet).

You’ll find many support groups will provide you with any

information you need for people with or who know someone

diagnosed with autism.

(He passes her a list of organisations she can get in

touch with).

PSYCHOLOGIST

If you ever need to discuss any issues, you come across

you can get in touch.

OLDER DOROTHY

What about work will I be treated differently?

PSYCHOLOGIST

They shouldn’t, by law if you provide paperwork from a

clinician then they should support you. (He checks his

notes) you work as an admin so they will have awareness

of your situation and I will write a letter so if they

have any questions they can contact me or a member of my

team. OK?

OLDER DOROTHY

Yeah OK.

PSYCHOLOGIST

If you do have any questions you have my number, just

call and I can arrange to meet up with you.

(The psychologist puts his hand out to shake her hand and

Older Dorothy shakes it, the psychologist leaves, Glinda,

Scarecrow and Younger Dorothy stand, Older Dorothy gets

the poppies, rips the petals onto the floor, covers the

rainbow with a black curtain and pulls down the purple

sheet from the wardrobe and pulls over the curtain over

the wardrobe. Half of her room is exposed.

All Oz characters then try to exit the room).

OLDER DOROTHY

Wait where are you going?

(They continue to exit).

OLDER DOROTHY

God, I might as well be invisible.

(Older Dorothy looks around the room).

OLDER DOROTHY

It is the atmosphere of this room where which prompts her to it is the atmosphere of this room that prompts her to grab her

bag, get up, storm out and find someone or something new.

OLDER DOROTHY

(She takes her bag, a poppy and exits. Glinda comes out of the wardrobe, the scarecrow comes out from under the bed and Younger Dorothy enters from the wing, they all put their

fingers to their mouths).

ALL

Shhh.

(Lights out).