THE MADNESS SESSION

THE MADNESS SESSION Excerpt - written by Gordon Blitz

Tagline:  When a court‑ordered therapy session spirals out of control, a modern-day therapist must navigate the volatile confessions, dark humor, and escalating threats of a delusional Hamlet—who insists his Elizabethan tragedies are real, his girlfriend has drowned, and everyone is out to kill him.  

INT. OFFICE-THERAPIST OFFICE.

Hamlet (35, dressed in an Elizabethan costume) is pacing while the therapist, DR. ANNA FREUDMAN(30’s, dressed in modern professional clothing) is sitting in a chair.

   DR. ANNA FREUDMAN

Please sit down. . . You're making me nervous.

Hamlet continues pacing.

HAMLET

This is a waste of time.  It's my stepfather getting back at me because I said, “I could kill you.”

DR. ANNA FREUDMAN

Well, is that so surprising?

HAMLET

It was a joke! ­Look, this is a court ordered therapy session.  Let's just get this out of the    way so I can get on with my life.

The doctor's iPhone rings. She answers it. Hamlet looks annoyed with the interruption.

DR. ANNA FREUDMAN

Hello.  I can't talk now.  I'm with a patient.  Who is this?  The police?  Okay, I'll tell him.

HAMLET

That was rude.

Hamlet sits down.

 DR. ANNA FREUDMAN

Do you know someone named Ophelia?

Dr.Freudman begins tapping her leg.

HAMLET

She's my girlfriend… Now you’re making me nervous. Stop tapping.

Dr. Freudman ignores his request and starts knocking her knees together.

DR. ANNA FREUDMAN

The police want you to go down to the morgue and identify her body.

HAMLET

What? She's dead?

DR. ANNA FREUDMAN

Apparently she drowned.

HAMLET

I told her to take swimming lessons. Damn! I can't believe this is happening.

DR. ANNA FREUDMAN

We could end the session now if you want to see her.

Dr. Freudman tries to stop her legs.

HAMLET

No. I want this to count as one of my sessions.  I only need five.  What's the rush?  It's not like her body is going to be moving anywhere.

DR. ANNA FREUDMAN

You don't seem very upset.

Hamlet stands up; begins circling the office.

HAMLET

Look, I've got too much going on with the court and all this political stuff. I'm sure I'll   have a delayed reaction.

DR. ANNA FREUDMAN

Can you sit down? (beat) You don't think this was suicide?

Hamlet sits.

HAMLET

Could be.  She was mad half the time anyway.  And she really went off when I told her to “Get thee to a nunnery.”

DR. ANNA FREUDMAN

Why would you tell her that?

HAMLET

I was only joking.  Can't anyone take a joke anymore?