The Missing Case of Dean Norman

Scene Fourteen

Another few days' pass, scene changes to the kitchen, early morning. Arthur heads downstairs in his pyjamas whilst Sandra is sitting down with a cup of coffee, contemplating to herself and looking at the letter that The Doctor had given her a few days ago

Dean: Morning mum

She quickly hides the letter

Sandra: Oh, morning sweetheart. What are you doing up so early in the morning?

Dean: This may sound weird but I want to go back to school

Sandra: Sweetie, you don't have to go you know, it's completely fine. You can stay here and-

Dean: Mum, I want to go back to school

Sandra: But what about those bullies?

Dean thinks

Dean: I'll figure out something

Sandra: Oh but... I don't want you to get hurt by those bullies or have another one of those nightmares, you know what the doctor said about-

Dean: MUM! I'm fine, I... am... completely... fine... I am not ill. I just want to go to school

Sandra thinks and then sighs

Sandra: Okay, if you want to

Dean: Thank you

He kisses her on the cheek

Sandra: Go on and get dressed, do you want some breakfast?

Dean: Yes please

Sandra: Okay, I'll prepare it for you

Dean exits, Sandra looks back at the letter, Dean looks back at his mother

Dean: Mum, what's that?

She notices he hasn't left yet

Sandra: Oh, nothing dear. Just some bills I need to pay

Dean: Oh ok...

Sandra: Come on then! Change, time's getting on!

Dean exits. Sandra looks at the letter again and then folds it in two and places it in one of the cupboards. She then goes and prepares breakfast. Fadeout. Fade back in to the kitchen, Sandra has finished preparing Dean's breakfast, Dean comes downstairs in his school uniform

Sandra: Here you go sweetpea

She places a bowl of cereal on the kitchen cereal

Dean: Thank you

As he sits down he notices a piece of paper hanging out from one of the cupboards. He tries to look and see what it is, but can't read or see any of the contents of the letter. Sandra looks at the other cupboards and sees that they are running out of stuff

Sandra: Oh shoot, I think we're running out. Damn, I'll need to see how much money is left in the bank. Listen, I'm going to the bank, can you walk it to school?

Dean: Yeah I suppose so

Sandra: Or take your bike?

Dean: I could do

Sandra: Okay and I'll head to Tesco's afterwards and buy some stuff

She gets ready to go out. She grabs her scarf, her jacket, her wallet and her car keys

Sandra: Right, I'm off

She kisses Dean and proceeds offstage

Sandra: Be a good boy and have fun at school

Dean: I will, bye

Sandra: (Offstage) Bye

Door closes, he quickly stands up and goes by the door to see if his mother has driven off. He comes back to the kitchen and opens the cupboard. He sees a piece of paper and takes it out and reads it. Slowly, he starts to become upset with the contents of the letter and throws it on the kitchen table, a quiet high frequency sound can be heard, lights start to fade, only one beam of light is on Dean. The Shadow appears from behind Dean

The Shadow: Oh dear, what's this? Dean all upset

The Shadows slowly approached Dean

The Shadow: What's wrong hmm?

Dean ignores him

The Shadow: Oh, you're not speaking to me now? That's very rude, but, a person like you can't control his rudeness, can you?

Dean slowly clenches his fists. The Shadow notices the letter on the table and picks it up. Dean still ignores him

The Shadow: Oh, what's this?

He reads the letter

The Shadow: Transferral of patients to Nethercott Passage Asylum

The Shadow looks surprised and starts laughing

The Shadow: So, your mother is finally giving up on you is she? Well, I don't blame her, after all, who can take care of you? Your father was first, now it's your poor mother. At least she's taking a stand and doing something about it. Maybe it's for the best. After all, your... not... normal

Dean looks at The Shadow

Dean: You're not normal

Dean then stands up, gets his bag and exits, slamming the door. Leaving The Shadow alone, he grins

The Shadow: We'll see

Fadeout