Mary and Myra
Rent from DeepDyve- Mary and Myra
to ed herendeen
Cast of Characters
Mary Todd Lincoln, fifty-six; widow of President Abraham Lincoln; has a Kentucky accent.
Myra Bradwell, forty-four; America’s first woman lawyer; prominent figure in the Woman Suffrage Movement; comes from a sterling New England background.
Setting
Bellevue Place, a private insane asylum in Batavia, Illinois, in the year 1875.
Act One
Prologue
Mary Todd Lincoln is bathed in red light as she enters her small room, wearing long widow’s weeds, an intricate veil / bonnet with flowers, and a large ribbon at her throat. The door slams and she rushes to try the door, which is now bolted shut. From above come the horrifying shrieks of a woman. Mary hurries to the barred window, clutching herself. A slot in the door slides open, and eyes watch her from the other side. Mary ducks as the red light fades.
Scene One
July 29. It is afternoon as Mary dusts a black bonnet; she hears loud, consistent pounding on the ceiling. Her room has a ragtag writing desk, a bed that appears higher than usual, and an unusual number of carpet-covered footstools. The set is framed and constructed with steamer trunks.
mary todd lincoln [calling toward the room above] Mrs. Wheeler, I can hear you! There’s nothin’ I can do. The nurse’ll bring you some chloral, but I’d be careful! Better perhaps to accept the Bellevue remedy . . . Mrs. Wheeler, dear, I can hear you . . . [End Page 60]
There is a knock on the door. Before Mary can open it, Myra Bradwell, statuesque and elaborately coifed, storms into the room carrying her briefcase.
Pray God! My dear Myra, never has a soul been happier to see you . . .
My poor, dear girl, how are you? How are they treating you?
[starts to kiss Myra’s face, then begins to hit her] Why have you not come earlier? I have written and written. Where have you been?
Your son, Robert, forbids all visits, intercepts all letters.
[anguished] What has happened to my son?
Robert has taken the popular recourse of Men of our Age. He has locked you away so you won’t annoy him. A deep injustice has been done to you. James and I know you are not insane, and we will get you out.
Oh, how is your dear and gentle husband, James?
Occupied at the court today, but I assure you he will help in any way he can.
[acting the hostess] I do apologize. Sit, there is not one acceptable chair. Do you know they had the audacity to give me a rocker? [softly, to herself] Red. [looking at Myra’s dress] You are beautifully arrayed—the fallin’ leaf color was the rage of the Continent. Shall I ask my attendant to bring a small collation?
We hardly need a small collation in an asylum. Now, look at me. Dr. Patterson has allowed us only ten minutes. [trying to look at Mary’s eyes] Be still.
[embarrassed] Oh, my great bloat! I am quite an exuberance of flesh. [hides]
Come out of there. I only worry that you are on fire in that wool dress. Are they giving you medicine?
I have ordered a lawn dress from town. The crepe . . . [finds a fabric sample] Feel, abysmal . . .
Mrs. Lincoln, am I speaking to a woman under the influence of strong medicine?!
No, rest assured, I accept nothin’ but “the Bellevue remedy.”
“The Bellevue remedy”?
Eggnog with two teaspoons of whiskey. [looking to the slot, lowering her voice] But I hear Dr. Patterson killed a patient with one hundred and ten grains chloral hydrate. I never go near it!
Very wise.
At most, a little beer . . .
Your eyes, they do not look well. [End Page 61]
I blink too often. [rubbing her eyes, red from crying] You stopped writin’ to me long ago, Myra. You ceased to invite me to your illustrious dinners.
Now, let me tell you my plan!
Did you not hear me?
I will induce the public to have your...
