KAREN HARTMAN WRITER
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  • Shows
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    • Op-Ed/Memoir
    • Musical Book and Libretto
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    • Monologues for Women+
  • 100 Day Reckoning
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NO SECOND TROY (Unpublished)

Polyxena tries to talk her sister Cassandra out of a delusion that they are in Ancient Troy, facing ruin at the hands of men. But Cassandra might be right.

POLYXENA
 

Cassandra, I've been seeing a counselor, a woman.  She's helped me to move on. My world is bigger than this place.  You can't live anymore in this place. Her office is far away, near the ocean.  I can see trees through her windows. We can take my car and then a bicycle.
 
I can bring her here.  Would you like that? Or we can stay a while, just us.  I'm not going to rush you. I've told her about you: my extraordinary sister.
 
Cassandra, you look tiny there.  The nightmares are over now. We're grown women who drive shiny cars.  I have a red convertible. You can go for a ride.
 
It has seatbelts.  We're safe. 
 
It takes a long time to reach her.  By car and then by bicycle I go. The journey does me good.  I used to stay inside so much, Cass. I understand how scared you are.  I used to curl in my home; I too drank tea until I ran out. I ate and drank until I ran out, and then I thought I would waste away inside like you said.  I thought I would starve and I wouldn't care, that anything was better than what you said. I knew you were right and I knew it and I knew it until I got so hungry that I didn't know anything anymore.  So I bought a red convertible. Now I drive and look at men when I like. I eat mountains of beef and dessert. I see a woman in the woods near the sea at the end of a bicycle path and I've promised to bring her my sister.  My sad and brilliant sister, will you please come with?
 
                        (Silence)
 
I have lunchtime reservations.  I have tickets for the opera. I have a day planned full of things you love.  I have people you can meet. I have a favorite café. There's a movie we could see, about sisters.  You might like a movie, Cassandra. We could go afterwards to a bar and drink vodka.
 
You believe this is Troy.  You believe you are Cassandra of ancient Troy.
 
I'll change the appointment.  Can you ride a bicycle?
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