HYPER
By Robert Knight

Characters
Soupy - a young man who is diagnosed with obsessive compulsive behavior, attention disorder and hyperactive disorder.
Wella - The sister to Soupy. She is fighting the addiction to the drug Methamphetamine.
Glenny - The boyfriend to Wella. He deals in the Methamphetamines.

Setting
A filthy studio apartment.

knighty@theatre194.com

Soupy enters with an over stuffed binder. He flicks the light switch several times. He goes to the table and places the binder down. He goes back to the door, locks it and checks it more than once. Going back to the table he opens the binder. Separating clean paper from paper he has written on. Then takes out six sharpened pencils, lines them between the two piles of paper. He observes the table, making sure it is right. He goes back to the door, unlocks it, only to re-lock it. Soupy then flicks the light switch again. Wella enters. She has awakened from a sedated sleep.
WELLA
Soupy is that you?
SOUPY
Yes.
WELLA
What are you doing? It’s three in the morning.
Soupy sits at table.
SOUPY
I’m sorry.
WELLA
You have to stay home. Tomorrow the woman is coming from Social Services. We have to be on our best behavior.
SOUPY
I know, tomorrow.
WELLA
Do you remember the last time she came here?
SOUPY
She was nice and smiled a lot.
WELLA
That’s right. So we have to make sure she smiles a lot this time. Okay?
SOUPY
Okay.
WELLA
Have you eaten?
SOUPY
Yeah.
WELLA
When?
SOUPY
Sunday morning.
WELLA
That can’t be right it’s Tuesday.
SOUPY
You were busy. You have been sleeping a lot.
WELLA
What do you want?
SOUPY
Tuesday is tomato.
Wella goes to the kitchen area and looks for a clean pan. Soupy chooses a pencil and begins to write slowly. Wella opens a can of soup, pour it into a pan and places it on a hot plate.
WELLA
Have you written any more in your book?
SOUPY
It’s not a book it’s a letter.
Wella stirs the soup, then retrieves her party tray from the cupboard. She then pulls out a length of tin foil and puts what’s left of her speed on it. She places a straw in her mouth and lights her lighter underneath to cook the speed. Soupy goes to the door. He unlocks it then re-locks it. He flicks the lights again.
WELLA
Will you stop with the lights!
(Soupy goes back to his seat. He uses a new pencil on a new sheet of paper)
Our electricity bill is too much as it is.
Wella looks at Soupy.
SOUPY
You are sick, aren’t you?
She puts down lighter and rolls the tin foil into a ball, throwing it away.
WELLA
I’m sorry. I am not going to yell at you anymore. Things are going to change. Okay?
SOUPY
Okay.
Wella finds a dirty bowl and wipes it clean with a dishtowel. She then pours the soup into it.
WELLA
Okay. Soups on then.
SOUPY
Soups on. Mama said.
WELLA
Soups on. Mama said.
SOUPY
Soups on.
Wella tucks a towel around Soupy’s neck.
WELLA
Okay. Are you ready?
SOUPY
Ready.
WELLA
(placing bowl in front of him)
Okay, go ahead but slow. You remember what Mama told you about fast.
SOUPY
Soups on.
Soupy picks up the bowl with hands and drinks like a beverage.
WELLA
Soupy slow down. You’re gonna swallow it down your windpipe or something.
Soupy finishes the soup.
SOUPY
Soups gone.
WELLA
All right sit still.
Wella takes away the towel and bowl wiping his mouth. Soupy goes back to pencil and paper routine.
WELLA
What’s the letter for?
SOUPY
So when we move away we will have a place to go…
WELLA
Move? Away from here? That would be a dream. Who are you mailing it to?
SOUPY
It’s to Uncle Billy.
WELLA
Uncle Billy? He is somewhere in Texas. I don’t even know his address.
SOUPY
The lady will help.
WELLA
Not the kind of help that would get us in trouble, is it?
SOUPY
No trouble.
WELLA
This place is a mess. Are you gonna still help me clean? I’ll go start on the bathroom. You can start out here.
SOUPY
HHummmmmm.
WELLA
I am serious. Once that Social woman comes and goes then you can write all the letters you want in whatever mess you like to live in.
SOUPY
It’s not my mess.
WELLA
I don’t care whose mess it is. Your check should be here on Thursday. Then we will start over. I’m changing things around here. You’ll see.
Wella exits to bathroom. Soupy begins to tackle mess. He folds up a dirty blanket and places neatly somewhere. There is a knock at the door. Soupy hears the knock and recognizes it.
SOUPY
Go away!
GLENNY
Come on buddy. Open up it is dangerous out here.
SOUPY
Go away.
Wella enters.
WELLA
Who is it?
SOUPY
Jerkface!
Wella goes to the door as Soupy goes back to the table.
WELLA
Come on Soupy. Be nice.
Wella unlocks the door. Enter Glenny. Wella relocks the door and gives Glenny a big hug.
GLENNY
Eeeeasy baby.
WELLA
I’m so glad you are here.
GLENNY
Yeah, yeah, I missed you to. Let me catch my breath.
(goes to table)
You should see what I scored tonight.
WELLA
I want to talk.
GLENNY
Talk. Talk. Hold your horses.
WELLA
I am serious.
GLENNY
Where are the baggies?
Glenny pulls out a sandwich bag with an amount of Speed.

WELLA
Should be right where you left them.
GLENNY
In the?
WELLA
(going for them)
Counter cabinet.
GLENNY
Check this out.
WELLA
Tomorrow the social service woman is coming by…
GLENNY
Look at this! I’m gonna make a fortune.
WELLA
It looks yellow.
GLENNY
This is rocket fuel.
Glenny begins to cut up the speed.
WELLA
How much was this?
GLENNY
More than I had. I got it on the cuff.
WELLA
I need to pay bills this month or the utilities and the phone will be cut. I can’t be doing this anymore.
GLENNY
I don’t want to stand in your way. You’re my number one gal. You know that. If you don’t need me around then that’s cool.
WELLA
No. But…
GLENNY
But nothing. I will make a killing off this, this weekend.
WELLA
The woman from social services is coming. I need to have a straight head.
GLENNY
Come on baby. Your head is always straight. That’s why you are my favorite.
WELLA
I, I, I…I’m sorry.
GLENNY
Sorry nothing. You’re my girl. We will make a bundle baby.
WELLA
I need to tell you something.
Glenny begins to fill baggies from under the counter, quickly and with expertise. Tying each baggie off producing a little gumball shapes. Glenny pulls a length of tin foil and prepares to cook her up a sample of the new stuff.
GLENNY
Just try this out and you will see what I mean. I need to know.
WELLA
This is the last time. Things are changing around here.
GLENNY
(holding up foil with a lighter)
Sure. Sure.
Wella uses a pen casing and inhales the smoke then coughs.
GLENNY
Good shit huh?
WELLA
It’s strong.
GLENNY
That’s what the guy said. Rocket fuel.
(to Soupy)
How about you pal?
SOUPY
No.
GLENNY
Come on. Wella likes it.
Glenny finishes packaging the rest.
SOUPY
I’m busy.
GLENNY
With what?
SOUPY
I am writing a letter.
GLENNY
Who do you know?
SOUPY
My Uncle Billy!
GLENNY
You two have an Uncle?
WELLA
He is somewhere in Texas.
SOUPY
Mama used to say he was a cowboy.
GLENNY
A cowboy, huh?
SOUPY
I’m going to learn to ride a horse.
Glenny puts away packaged product and goes to Wella.
GLENNY
Come here baby. How do you feel?…What’s on your mind?
WELLA
I don’t feel good.
GLENNY
What do you mean?
WELLA
You are never around. Things are changing.
GLENNY
Come on. Quit thinking about it. What is going to change?
WELLA
I am Glenny.
GLENNY
Only if you want to baby. Now we are in a good position to make some serious money.
WELLA
Will you listen to me?
GLENNY
Listen to what? You worry too much.
WELLA
Glenny, I’m pregnant.
GLENNY
With what?
WELLA
It’s yours.
GLENNY
What’s mine?
WELLA
It is five weeks old Glenny.
GLENNY
Okay, you know something. You are a real charmer. But it can’t be mine. So, why don’t you fix that problem and I’ll call you in a couple of weeks.
WELLA
Glenny please don’t run out.
GLENNY
Nobody is running. I’m walking baby. You just get ready for your big day tomorrow. Okay? We will be in touch.
WELLA
Glenny please stay.
GLENNY
Hey buddy.

WELLA
I feel sick.

GLENNY
(Glenny unlocks door and flicks the lights as Soupy had before)
Lock this door behind me.
SOUPY
HHummmmm.

WELLA
My heart is racing.
Glenny exits. Soupy then goes to door and does the lock routine followed by flicking the lights.
WELLA
Soupy.
SOUPY
Yes, Well.
WELLA
Are you here?
SOUPY
Okay.
WELLA
Soupy I am cold.
(Soupy puts the dirty blanket on top of Wella)
Is the place clean enough?
SOUPY
It will be.
Soupy begins to pick up best he can.

WELLA
Is the place clean enough?
SOUPY
I’ll clean after I finished my letter.
(Wella goes into shock from the drugs)

Wella Texas will be warmer for both; I mean all of us.

Soupy consoles Wella by holding her.
End of Play