Drug Abuse Duet Scene

(MOM AND HAYLEIGH SIT FAR APART, LOTS OF AWKWARD,PAINFUL TENSION. WAIT ABOUT 10 SECONDS AFTER THE SCENE STARTS TO SPEAK, MEANWHILE BOTH CHARACTERS ARE FIDGETING)

MOM
So,uh...how's college going? Do you like your classes?

HAYLEIGH
(COLDLY) They're fine...I guess.

MOM
(CONCERNED) Are you sure?

HAYLEIGH
I guess...I mean, what do you want me to say? (ANNOYED) I hate it here.

MOM
(CLEARLY UNCOMFORTABLE)...I didn't know you, uh, felt that way. How have you been coping?

HAYLEIGH
(DEFENSIVE) What's that supposed to mean?

MOM
Hayleigh...don't make me... (HAYLEIGH GLARES) ok.have you been...you know...

HAYLEIGH
(ANGRY, BORDERLINE LAUGHING)Using?! Have I been using? Is that what you're trying to say?!

MOM
It's not supposed to be an attack. I'm just worried. You know you haven't made it easy to trust you.

HAYLEIGH
Whoa okay. So it's my fault the deacon at the church YOU took me to gave me drugs when I was 15? It's my fault?! I swear, you're insane! And to answer your question, I'm not using.

MOM
(RAISING VOICE) Are you sure? Because this definitely doesn't seem like sober Hayleigh!

HAYLEIGH
God! You don't even know me! I'm doing fine, mom! I'm in college, I'm passing. I have a really nice roommate. Just stop assuming for once!

MOM
So you're fine then?

HAYLEIGH
Yes. I'm fine. I just...I need some money. (QUICKLY) Only a couple hundred bucks, not a lot.

MOM
(CALM BUT ANGRY) Okay. So THAT'S what this is about.(HAYLEIGH LOOKS CONFUSED)I should've known you didn't call me here to talk. You're using again and you need money to buy more.

HAYLEIGH
That's not completely true! You always assume things that you don't know anything about!  I just need the money, mom!

MOM
Welcome to the real world, Hayleigh! You can't ask for money every time you run low on drugs!

HAYLEIGH
(YELLING, CRYING) Oh my God! You never make me feel good enough for your "real world". Well you know what? I don't want your real world! You world is time cards and responsibilities and chores and darkness and empty but my world is full! Full of love and light and joy that you'll never experience! So please, keep me out of your real world!

MOM
(UPSET,SIGHS) This isn't you. This is your disease- your drugs- talking, just try to cal-

HAYLEIGH
I don't have cancer, mom. It's not Alzheimers or Diabetes. It's a choice. A choice I made at 15 and a choice I haven't stopped making. (YELLING)I chose to do this to myself so why won't you understand that I don't want your help!? You are killing me! You're smothering me! You are driving me crazy, mom/dad! You are going to kill me! What is your problem?

MOM
(QUIETLY) What is my problem? (SLOWER BUT LOUDLY) What is my problem? (YELLING) Hayleigh, I single handedly raised you! For 15 years I put my life on hold to give you the best possible future! I went to so many softball games. So many spelling bees and bounce-house birthday parties! For 15 years I did everything for you, until you went to your first rehab. And guess what? I paid for that. And the second rehab. And the third. And fourth. And you never got better! You were supposed to get better! I love you SO much Hayleigh, and it's so difficult to live with the fact that my only daughter will probably die before she blows out her next birthday candle!

HAYLEIGH
You make me feel like such a liability! If you couldn't handle parenting, you should've just left me at a fire station. Clearly you're not capable.

PARENT
(QUIETLY, HURT AND TAKEN ABACK) Why would you say that? Where did I go wrong, Hayleigh? Where did we go wrong? Why did you have to do this to us?

HAYLEIGH
I don't know why...I'm drawn to dark paths full of thorns and speed bumps. I'm not your gifted daughter anymore. This is me, mom. I'm right here. Your rehab failure. Your drug addicted daughter. Sorry to disappoint again.

MOM
(SOFTLY) You don-You don't disappoint me, Hayleigh. I came here to check up on you, but I can see that you're not ready for that conversation. Later I'll call your sponsor but for (STARTS GRABBING BACKPACK OR PURSE, DEPENDING ON GENDER) now I'm going to give you sp-(CUT OFF BY HAYLEIGH GRABBING HER ARM)

HAYLEIGH
(ABSOLUTELY, 110%, TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY DESPERATE) Wait! What about the money? I need it! I need your money mom!

MOM
(ESCAPES HAYLEIGHS GRIP, CALMLY BUT EMOTIONAL) I'm not going to fund the very thing killing you. (WALKS OUT AS HAYLEIGH SAYS HER NEXT LINE)

HAYLEIGH
(CALLING AFTER PARENT) Please! I need it mom! Mom! I need the money! Please! Please! Don't you love me!? I need the money! What about the money? (SITS DOWN, PUTS KNEES UP TO CHEST WHILE SOFTLY SAYING) I needed the money...