Talk with Johnny (Shannon's Room)
Johnny comes in and makes himself at home...and I try not to roll my eyes..again. He's going around my room, touching things, picking up this and that... going into my closet and looking at my clothes. He's rifling through them and making side comments about how my style has changed and that he sees this is where all of my free time (and money) is being spent...noticing the stack of catalogs on my side table. I bat his hands away and try to block him as he sees something else that has caught his attention.
J: Secret admirer, Babe? (He's fingering some of the petals on the flowers and I try to play it cool, the gig shouldn't be up yet...at least not to Johnny.)
S: None of your business...Babe.
J: (smirks) Yeah...that tracks...I did see a few potential victims around here... someone clearly has been sucked in by your "charms" ...you work fast.
S: Shut up...asshole (slight chuckle...I missed our banter) So what's with you...still banging your ex-lover's ex-wife? And they say I'm the one with the problems. (Pulls the cards away from Johnny's hands. I don't know what kind of a brain he's grown but he shouldn't get any ideas...my last words clearly hit a sore spot)
J: Leave it alone, Shan... we're good now...you need to give her a chance... we've been through a lot of crap and all of that is water under an old bridge...she doesn't deserve your scorn.
S: (thinking) *Every encounter I've had with the woman hasn't been pleasant...I dunno...I can't even bring myself to feel jealous anymore...we all have been through some changes over the past three months...I concede.* I'll think about it, Johnny...who knows she may just be the one you need to sort your business and make you a better man...from the looks of it, she still has a long way to go. GIVE ME THAT! (grabs purse that Johnny was going through)
J: (Ruffles hair) That's all I ask, Babe.
S: Johnny...why is she here? You know how I feel about her more than anyone...even Robby. When you left us it became a nightmare again...she practically paraded me out to anyone who she thought had the financial means to take care of me and Robby...but most importantly herself!
She blamed the hell out of me for running you off...it was my fault for your leaving after SHE worked so hard to get Robby and you back into good graces with your mom and Sid...she hated failure...and boy did she let me know. That's when she went to work on Robby making sure he stayed in good with them until I got away from her again...you know I left a bad taste in everyone's mouth at the time and I was only trying to survive.
J: You know you don't need to tell me...I changed my number five times in the beginning and somehow she always found me... spewing her rage and hatred at me for dumping you...I know we had our own shit and battles we went through, Shannon...but I'm convinced you were just a mouthpiece for her...(hand on her shoulder)
S: I couldn't help it, Johnny..it was just so much...too much...I was so tired all the time... trying to protect Robby...but he just kept slipping further and further away from me...I started thinking who gives a damn what happens and started living my own life pushing him further away. I'm so so sorry that happened. It took being here to figure that out. Ohhh...Johnny...he's our son... we've done him so wrong... (sobs quietly)
J: (wraps arms around and just holds letting her hug her hurt out...she needed human contact) I know we did, Babe...but we have the chance to make it right! I've gotten along better with him than I have in years...and he loves you. (Lifts chin to look her in the eyes) He loves you...and right now, he's doing his best to protect and provide for you...he's got so much going on, but I guarantee you're top priority. (Stands hugging her for a minute more)
S: I wish he would hurry and be here now...I need to go out and find him... Johnny..he can't...he shouldn't...
J: Shhh...the Doc's handling it...let him... he's the pro at dealing with batshit crazy. Robby will be here as soon as he can. We're here for you today...I'm just sorry we couldn't handle her sooner.
Karen comes back in with someone behind her...both catching Shannon and Johnny quickly pulling back from the hug and Shannon wiping her eyes.
S: ROBBY!! *runs to hug her son, pulling him close and forgetting the world for just a moment*
I pull back from Robby and look at him for a moment. His face clouding with worry...worry over how I’m handling things. Worried that he knows how I feel and how I react and how I respond when I’m in the same breathing space as she is...wondering if I’ve calmed down and not knowing the ordeal I’ve just been through. I look at his eyes. the way he holds his brows...pinched together...wondering if I’ll lose it again. He’s not too far off.
“Robby....HOW could you? How COULD you let her be here? How could you let her be in that house? Were you TRYING to get some kind of points with her? I know you were hoping and wishful thinking with his old man...” I say nodding in Johnny’s direction who I can tell is already sensing my build up. “But she’s NEVER going to treat you like anything BUT his son...” I say leveling Robby with a look that he knows I’m not going to change my mind on the matter. “Did you think she was honestly going to have an ounce of sympathy for you? Compassion? She’s looking for her window of opportunity!! You know that!!”
I turn my back on him...tears welling up again. Now I’m facing Johnny and I really don’t want to see him either. I’m feeling trapped in the small room. Trapped between the two men who THINK they know what’s best for me. TRAPPED because I can’t even turn to the man who I WANT advice from. He’s probably out there making her a board member because she’s giving a hefty donation to this place.
“I need to see Dr. Charlie!!” I suddenly burst out. Karen is blocking the door still leaning against the frame with her arms folded. “I need to see him! Johnny takes a step towards me. “Don’t you dare...” I frown and almost extend my claws at him. “As far as I’m concerned. You’re ALL in on this!!”
This was supposed to be MY DAY!! And here I am participating in what? Some sort of “Trauma Therapy?” Well I don’t need this shit!! I give Robby one last accusing look and push past all of them...even Karen...hoping that MY therapist would be in his office. I didn’t know where else to turn.
@drcharliebell @robby-l-keene @drlivingstoneipresume @everyonesfavoritegoldenboy
“Miss Keene, It’s family day. Aren’t you supposed to be with your family?”
So much for introductions...I had stormed off to his office and didn’t bother to knock...it was only on a whim that he would have been there in the first place. Family day prob was the last thing on his mind. I looked at him with a mixture of panic and anger and frustration and not really well restrained temper....’Oh you’re asking for it, Buddy!!’
“Family day??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? Is that all you have to say??!!” My fists and clenching and I’m leaving nail marks in my flesh. “FUCK your FAMILY day!! What kind of JOKE are you trying to play here?? I bet you get your rocks off seeing a woman in distress! You need to learn how to read your patients, Doc!”
I am breathing hard...about to hyperventilate...I feel a panicked sensation in my chest like I’m not going to be able to catch my next breath. I don’t know whether to pace or run or throw something at him. He just sits at his desk...looking at me...
“This was a mistake...”
“Look, Shannon, I just walked through the door. Do you want to tell me what this is about? Or do you want to have another incidence and go back to square one again? The choice is yours.”
