The Opposite of People (A drama in one act)

[Seraph]

The Opposite of People
By Aaron J. Fagan
A Drama in One Act

Dramatis Personae
Ottoâ,¬'A man
Mirror Ottoâ,¬'Ottoâ,¬,,¢s reflection
Annaâ,¬'Ottoâ,¬,,¢s wife
Mirror Annaâ,¬'Annaâ,¬,,¢s Reflection

   Scene 1

Black Stage.  The two OTTOS speak out from the darkness.

Otto and Mirror Otto:  Day and Night, Man and Woman, Love and Hate.  Many things come in pairs.  It is dichotomy that marks the nature of our existence, like the mirror.  The mirror shows us our reflection, but we are inverted, backwards; opposite.  But we are already opposite ourselves, hiding behind the mask of society.  When we gaze into the looking glass, we see what we really are.  We see the truth that can only be found in the mirror.

Lights up, curtain rises on the stage.  Stage center is the mirror room, or rather the mirror rooms.  Extending downstage center is the mirror itself, a tall, floor-length mirror.  It is a small, simple room with a small, simple chair; on either side of the mirror.  There is a door out from each mirror room into a sitting room with a loveseat at right and left center.  Further downstage of each is an armchair angled towards the loveseat, but still facing forward.  There is a small table in front of each of the love seats.  

The couples enters from stage left and stage right.

Anna: You didnâ,¬,,¢t have to be so rude!
Mirror Anna: What is the matter with you?
Mirror Otto:  Iâ,¬,,¢m sorry!
Otto: I donâ,¬,,¢t have time for this Anna.
Anna:  Oh, of course not!  You never have time!
Mirror Anna: How could you do that?
Otto:  Oh, what is it now?
Mirror Otto: I panicked!
Anna: Nothing.
Mirror Anna:  You caved.  You were weak.
Otto: Tell me whatâ,¬,,¢s wrong.
Mirror Otto:  I know!
Anna: No, you donâ,¬,,¢t have time.
Mirror Anna: What kind of man are you?
Otto and Mirror Otto: Anna . . .

OTTO and MIRROR OTTO exit through the upstage center doors into the mirror, room turning to close their respective doors behind them.  The both pause at the door before walking up to the mirror in unison.  They stare into each otherâ,¬,,¢s images, moving in perfect unison.

Otto and Mirror Otto:  I wish, I wish . . . what do I wish?  (Frustrated and angry) God, sometimes I just . . . no.  No, I love her.  I know you hear this every day.  It sometimes feels like I only go on loving her out of stubbornness.  And who knows?  Maybe itâ,¬,,¢s true.  And yet, sometimes I wonder whether she even feels that stubbornness.  Sometimes I just donâ,¬,,¢t know.  At least I can come in here to think.  Youâ,¬,,¢re a good listener.  Not like her, she never listens.  

The two OTTOS turn and exit the mirror room, sustaining the reflection until they are completely out of the room.

Anna and Mirror Otto:  Honey?  Donâ,¬,,¢t be angry.
Mirror Anna: Donâ,¬,,¢t you tell me what to feel.
Otto:  Iâ,¬,,¢m not angry, Anna.  Why should I be angry?
Mirror Otto: Anna, you know how much I hate confrontations.  I just freeze up.  Itâ,¬,,¢s how I am.   It gets so I canâ,¬,,¢t think.
Anna:  I canâ,¬,,¢t stand it when youâ,¬,,¢re mad at me.  Letâ,¬,,¢s just forget it ever happened.
Otto:  (Sarcastic) Forget it happened?  Are you joking?  
Mirror Anna:  Thatâ,¬,,¢s just your excuse.  Itâ,¬,,¢s very convenient, isnâ,¬,,¢t it?  And just typical.  You never take initiative, you never take responsibility.
Mirror Otto:  Thatâ,¬,,¢s not true!
Mirror Anna: (Imperiously) No?
Mirror Otto:  Maybe thatâ,¬,,¢s true.
Otto:  Listenâ,¬'

Phone rings

Otto:  Hello?  Oh; you again.
Anna: Who is it?
Mirror Anna:  Hello?  Oh; you again.
Mirror Otto: Who is it?
Otto: (To Anna) Your boss.
Mirror Anna: (To Mirror Otto) Itâ,¬,,¢s your boss.
Anna and Mirror Otto:  I think I should talk.
Otto:  (Into the phone)  Let me think . . . no.
Mirror Anna:  (Into the phone) No, Iâ,¬,,¢m sorry you canâ,¬,,¢t.  
Mirror Otto: Anna, please!
Anna: No, Otto donâ,¬,,¢t!
Otto and Mirror Anna: Shut up!
Otto: Now listen to meâ,¬'
Mirror Anna:  I have something to say to you.  My husband is weak, but I am telling you Iâ,¬,,¢m not.  You canâ,¬,,¢t push us around.  
Otto:  I know all about you.  Iâ,¬,,¢ll not have my wife working in those conditions.
Mirror Anna:  You know what I mean.
Otto: You know just what I mean.
Otto and Mirror Anna: You canâ,¬,,¢t intimidateâ,¬'

OTTO and MIRROR ANNA look indignantly at the receiver and hang up.

Mirror Otto:  Oh my God.  What have you done?  What did you do!?  Oh my God.  Now Iâ,¬,,¢ll be fired!  You insulted him.  Whatâ,¬,,¢ll I do?  You insulted him.  Iâ,¬,,¢ll be fired.  I canâ,¬,,¢t breath!  I feel nauseous, I canâ,¬,,¢t breath.  What have you done?  Oh my God!
Mirror Anna: Otto, youâ,¬,,¢re hysterical.
Anna:  How could you do that?  You insulted him.  Otto that was my job!  I could lose my job Otto!  Why did you do that?
Otto: (Slight pause) Itâ,¬,,¢s for the best.
Mirror Otto:  Oh, Iâ,¬,,¢m hysterical?  Well what about you?  You . . . you . . .
Anna:  The best?  Best for who?  Otto, you donâ,¬,,¢t make enough money for both of us.
Mirror Anna: (Sarcastic) Impressive.
Otto:  No!?  Well maybe if you could exercise the least bit of constraintâ,¬'
Anna:  What does that mean?
Mirror Otto:  Youâ,¬,,¢re . . . bossy!  And youâ,¬,,¢re hurtful!
Otto: As if you donâ,¬,,¢t know.  You spend and spend.  Half of my paycheck goes into buying you your weekly pair of shoes.  We spent seven hundred dollars last month on shoes!  Yet despite your carelessness, out of the goodness of my heart and my tremendous consideration for your feelings and happiness, Iâ,¬,,¢ve indulged you anyway!
Mirror Anna: Excuse me?  
Mirror Otto: Nothing, Iâ,¬,,¢m sorry.  Iâ,¬,,¢m stupid.
Anna:  (On the verge of tears) Why are you being so mean to me?  I donâ,¬,,¢t know what you want!  Whereâ,¬,,¢s my Otto?  Whereâ,¬,,¢s the man I fell in love with?  Youâ,¬,,¢re different.  Youâ,¬,,¢re so self-centered!  I feel like I donâ,¬,,¢t know you any more.
Otto:  Is that the most original thing you could come up with?
Anna:  Leave me alone!
Mirror Anna:  Whatâ,¬,,¢s the matter, Otto?  Do I scare you?
Mirror Otto:  No, no, of course not.
Mirror Anna:  Youâ,¬,,¢re lying!
Mirror Otto:  No!
Mirror Anna:  Youâ,¬,,¢re lying to me.  I can always tell when youâ,¬,,¢re lying.  Whatâ,¬,,¢s the matter, Otto?  You canâ,¬,,¢t tell me the truth?
Mirror Otto:  I can!  I can!  Donâ,¬,,¢t hurt me!
Mirror Anna:  Is that what you think of me, Otto?  If it causes you so much pain to have me around, then maybe I should go.  

Both Annaâ,¬,,¢s rise and enter the mirror room

Anna and Mirror Anna:  If thatâ,¬,,¢s what he thinks of me, he can have the place all to himself.  I donâ,¬,,¢t care in the least . . . oh whatâ,¬,,¢s the use?  What am I without him?  (Sarcastic) A fine example of feminism and womenâ,¬,,¢s pride I am.  Arenâ,¬,,¢t I pitiful?   I mean look at me, in here practically crying over this man.  When was the last time he really showed me he loved me?  When was the last time he showed me he really cared about me?  God, I know itâ,¬,,¢s hard for him, but he doesnâ,¬,,¢t put any effort into this relationship.  All his time and energy goes into his work, and what am I left with?  I never would have thought Otto to be the kind to leave me so lacking of what I need.  When we were dating, we couldnâ,¬,,¢t have been happier.  He was an angel.  Heâ,¬,,¢d do anything for me in a heartbeat.  But now, heâ,¬,,¢s different; changed, while Iâ,¬,,¢m still the same.  Heâ,¬,,¢s not the man I loved then.  Thereâ,¬,,¢s only one thing to do.  Iâ,¬,,¢m going to take this into my own hands.  (Exiting the mirror room) Otto! Iâ,¬,,¢m going out.
Mirror Otto:  What do you mean?  Where are you going!?
Otto:  Where do you think youâ,¬,,¢re going?
Anna and Mirror Anna:  (At the door) Out!

Blackout.

[Seraph]

   Scene 2

The scene opens on OTTO and MIRROR OTTO gazing at each other through the mirror.    

Otto and Mirror Otto:  Well Otto, my boy, youâ,¬,,¢re on your own.  Letâ,¬,,¢s see how freedom feels.  (Long pause filled with hope, slowly degenerating into reality)  Freedom sucks.

The two OTTOS move to their respective chairs and sit down, heavy hearted.

Otto:  (Grief-stricken) Anna!

MIRROR OTTO leaps from his seat in shock.  At this, OTTO quickly follows suit.  The two stare in wonder at each other through the mirror.

Otto:  Have I gone mad?
Mirror Otto:  I was about to ask the same question.
Otto:  Yes, youâ,¬,,¢re clearly a figment of my imagination.
Mirror Otto:  Me?  Why am I the figment?  I think youâ,¬,,¢re the figment!
Otto:  I canâ,¬,,¢t be a figment!
Mirror Otto:  Why not?
Otto:  Imagine the shame!  To be a figment of your own imagination!
Mirror Otto:  How do you think I feel?
Otto:  Then you admit it!
Mirror Otto:  Admit what?
Otto:  What you are.
Mirror Otto:  What is it Iâ,¬,,¢m supposed to be?
Otto:  Youâ,¬,,¢re me.
Mirror Otto: Well yes, I can see that, though for me itâ,¬,,¢s decidedly backwards.
Otto:  What, you mean Iâ,¬,,¢m you?
Mirror Otto:  Precisely.
Otto:  And that makes meâ,¬'
Mirror Otto:  A figment of my imagination.
Otto:  Youâ,¬,,¢re wrong.
Mirror Otto:  Why is that?
Otto:  Because Iâ,¬,,¢m right.
Mirror Otto:  If you intend to delve into a circular argument, do it with some other reflection.
Otto:  You think youâ,¬,,¢re smart donâ,¬,,¢t you?
Mirror Otto: I can see you do.
Otto:  Why donâ,¬,,¢t you shut up?
Mirror Otto:  No, youâ,¬,,¢re mean.  You go first.
Otto:  Hey, donâ,¬,,¢t tell me what to do.
Mirror Otto:  People always told me I had a wild imagination.  They never told me I had such a temperamental one.  
Otto:  Oh for Godâ,¬,,¢s sake!  How could I be a figment?
Mirror Otto:  Search your feelings; you know it to be true!
Otto:  Ah ha, ah ha, no.
Mirror Otto:  Could you at least try to be a figment?
Otto:  Wait, are you telling me to become a figment?
Mirror Otto:  It seems to me the only logical solution.
Otto:  Logical indeed!  Iâ,¬,,¢ll show you logical!
Mirror Otto:  Alright!  Letâ,¬,,¢s not get violent.  Letâ,¬,,¢s just think about this.  You, being me, claim to not be a figment.  I, being you, have no inclination for being a figment myself.  Yourself.  Ourself.  We are left with four possibilities:  One!  You are a figment of my imagination, created in my image with my memories.  Two!  I am a figment of your imagination likewise created.  Three!  Weâ,¬,,¢re both figments of each otherâ,¬,,¢s imagination.
Otto:  (Pause)  Weâ,¬,,¢re figmentâ,¬,,¢s  . . . of each otherâ,¬,,¢s imagination . . .
Mirror Otto: Do you think so?
Otto:  No I donâ,¬,,¢t think so!  How could a hallucination hallucinate?
Mirror Otto:  Stranger things have happened.
Otto: Like what?
Mirror Otto:  This is up there!
Otto:  Alright, alright.  Four?
Mirror Otto:  Four!  Ok, this is going to sound crazy.
Otto:  Iâ,¬,,¢m ready to believe anything at this point.
Mirror Otto:  Four.  Weâ,¬,,¢re neither of us figments.  We are both completely real doppelgangers of each other conceived in parallel worlds leading parallel lives that will never intersect save in the paradoxical confines of the mirror room.  
Otto:  Youâ,¬,,¢re right.  That does sound crazy.

There is a momentâ,¬,,¢s awkward silence.

Mirror Otto:  So . . .
Otto:  So . . .
Mirror Otto:  Howâ,¬,,¢s the wife?
Otto:  Howâ,¬,,¢s yours?
Mirror Otto:  That bad, eh?
Otto:  Worse.  
Mirror Otto:  Believe me, I know.  
Otto:  Itâ,¬,,¢s just that Anna has grown soâ,¬'
Mirror Otto: Bossy?
Otto: No.  Frivolous.
Mirror Otto: (Perplexed) Well that doesnâ,¬,,¢t sound like my Anna at all.
Otto:  Nor does your Anna resemble mine.
Mirror Otto:  In more than appearance
Otto:  Of course.
Mirror Otto:  Frivolous!  Oh, if only.
Otto:  Iâ,¬,,¢d never allow myself to be controlled.
Mirror Otto:  Wouldnâ,¬,,¢t you though?  If you knew my Anna youâ,¬,,¢d change your tone.
Otto: I doubt that.
Mirror Otto: If frivolity is your biggest problem, I envy you.  You donâ,¬,,¢t have to go through what I do.

Enter Anna and Mirror Anna from Stage Left and Stage Right respectively.  They hear an argument taking place in the mirror room and cross to the door to listen.

Otto:  Stop complaining!  Whatâ,¬,,¢s the matter with you, are you totally spineless?
Mirror Otto:  Iâ,¬,,¢m only you!
Otto:  Am I totally spineless?
Mirror Otto:  Well what does it matter, Iâ,¬,,¢m ashamed that my wife be subjected to you.
Otto: Oh yes?
Mirror Otto:  Youâ,¬,,¢re quite full of yourself.  
Otto:  Well if you think youâ,¬,,¢re so clever, that you can do better, why donâ,¬,,¢t you give a try?
Mirror Otto:  Maybe I shall.  And what about you?  If my timidity irritates you, try standing my Anna.

Anna and Mirror Anna are now listening intently at the doors.

Otto:  Oh, Iâ,¬,,¢ll do it and more.  Iâ,¬,,¢ll thrive with her.
Mirror Otto:  If you say so; you canâ,¬,,¢t keep your frivolous one!
Otto: Shut up.
Mirror Otto:  Getting touchy?
Otto:  You better watch it before I come through that mirror and strangle you!
Mirror Otto:  Wait!  Violence aside, have you considered the consequences of strangling yourself?  If you kill me, what do you think will happen to you?  Think also of us being on the same side.  A reflection having itâ,¬,,¢s reflection on the same plane.  

Pause

Otto: (Reaching through the mirror, throttling his reflection about the neck) GAAHH!
Anna and Mirror Anna: (Bursting into the room) Whatâ,¬,,¢s going on?
Otto and Mirror Otto:  (Turning to face the ANNAS and trying to hide the mirror) Uh... nothing!
Anna and Mirror Anna:  I came to pick up some of my things.  (Pausing at the door)  Iâ,¬,,¢ll see you around, Otto.

Exeunt ANNA and MIRROR ANNA.  OTTO and MIRROR OTTO follow them to the mirror room door, then cross downstage until they are standing in front of the mirror.

Mirror Otto: That was close.
Otto:  Yes, I know.  Too close.
Mirror Otto:  Why did you have to choke me?
Otto:  You deserved it.
Mirror Otto:  But wait . . . (Is seized by inspiration)  My God . . .
Otto:  What are you blithering about now?
Mirror Otto:  You choked me.  I mean you actually choked me.
Otto:  Oh my God, would you shut up about that?  I told you, you deserved it.
Mirror Otto: Oh no, not that.  Itâ,¬,,¢s just that you were actually able to choke me.  You actually came through the mirror enough to choke me.  We were speaking in theoreticals before, but now the theoretical has been proven possible.  
Otto:  (Unenthused) Oh my God.  Whatâ,¬,,¢s the point?
Mirror Otto:  What if we could switch sides?  Really switch sides?  What if we could explore life on the other side of the mirror?
Otto:  Iâ,¬,,¢m quite content right here.
Mirror Otto:  Oh but youâ,¬,,¢re not.
Otto:  Excuse me?  Donâ,¬,,¢t tell me what I am, and donâ,¬,,¢t tell me what I feel.  Iâ,¬,,¢m not interested in your little experiment.
Mirror Otto:  Oh, but I am!  For if I know me as well as I think I know me, I know that I am suffering through an estrangement and divorce.  Whatâ,¬,,¢s more, I know that I still love my Anna, and I know that Iâ,¬,,¢d do anything to get her back.  So if I were me, Iâ,¬,,¢d swallow my pride and do what needed to be done.
Otto:  I hate you.
Mirror Otto:  You can never love someone else until you love yourself.  Not thatâ,¬'Iâ,¬'have any problem loving myself.
Otto:  (Very much annoyed) Thank you.
Mirror Otto:  Youâ,¬,,¢re welcome.
Otto and Mirror Otto: Are you ready?  Of course Iâ,¬,,¢m ready.  Ok, one, two, three!

OTTO and Mirror OTTO charge at each other.  Blackout just before they collide.  From the darkness:

Otto and Mirror Otto:  Anna, wait!

[Seraph]

   Scene 3

OTTO and MIRROR ANNA are seated in the Stage Right room.
 
Mirror Anna:  (Incredulous) Are you serious?  
Otto:  Itâ,¬,,¢d be fun.
Mirror Anna:  Otto . . .
Otto:  You know you want to.
Mirror Anna:  No!  No I donâ,¬,,¢t.  I donâ,¬,,¢t want to go on a date with you.  Weâ,¬,,¢re getting divorced, remember?
Otto:  Come on, I know you canâ,¬,,¢t resist Sun Tzuâ,¬,,¢s Chinese.
Mirror Anna:  You donâ,¬,,¢t know anything about me.  As a matter of fact, I hate Sun Tzuâ,¬,,¢s Chinese food.
Otto: Pedroâ,¬,,¢s Mexican Grill?
Mirror Anna:  Worse than Sun Tzu.
Otto: Platoâ,¬,,¢s Greek?
Mirror Anna:  Is that even a restaurant?
Otto:  (Pause) Maybe.

The phone rings.  Otto picks it up.

Otto:  Hello? . . . Yes mother . . . no, sheâ,¬,,¢s here . . . weâ,¬,,¢re having a food fight mom. . . Yes I suggested Sun Tzuâ,¬,,¢s; I know my art of war, mom.  Yes, mom.  Goodbye mom . . . yes mom. . . .Goodbye mom. . . Yes, mother! . . . Goodbye mother! (Hangs up.  To MIRROR ANNA:) Mom says hi.
Mirror Anna:  This doesnâ,¬,,¢t change anything, you know.  The fact remains, you know nothing about me.
Otto:  I have no choice but to concede that point.
Mirror Anna: Thatâ,¬,,¢s why weâ,¬,,¢re getting a divorce.
Otto:  No, weâ,¬,,¢re getting a divorce because I let my boss walk all over me.  Or is the reason for that just whateverâ,¬,,¢s most convenient for you at the time?
Mirror Anna:  Theyâ,¬,,¢re both reasons why.  If it changes, itâ,¬,,¢s only because Iâ,¬,,¢ve been enlightened as to another of your defects that my blind dedication to you had hidden from me until now.
Otto:  Oh, thatâ,¬,,¢s a good one.  A twofold response.  Not only do you get to insult meâ,¬'with nothing substantial or refutable I might addâ,¬'but you also get to claim matrimonial moral superiority with your â,¬Å"blind obsessive love.â,¬Â  Believe me, I know this game.
Mirror Anna: Youâ,¬,,¢d better be quiet, or else Iâ,¬,,¢llâ,¬'
Otto:  Youâ,¬,,¢ll what?  Divorce me?  Youâ,¬,,¢ve already played that card honey.  Iâ,¬,,¢m afraid Iâ,¬,,¢m going to have to call your bluff.  So unless youâ,¬,,¢ve got a Royal Flush to beat my Full House, I think youâ,¬,,¢d better be quiet.
Mirror Anna:  Oh?  A Full House you say?  Do you even realize the irony of that statement?
Otto:  On the contrary, it couldnâ,¬,,¢t be more true, my dear, for convinced as you are that you intend to leave me, you are secretly my slave.
Mirror Anna: Ha.  Ha.  Your slave.
Otto:  Itâ,¬,,¢s a secret even to yourself.
Mirror Anna:  No, you see, I could never let myself be the â,¬Å"slaveâ,¬Â of someone who understands me as little as you do.
Otto: Tell me.
Mirror Anna:  What?
Otto:  Tell me about yourself.
Mirror Anna: (Shocked) . . . I  . . . I donâ,¬,,¢t have time for this.
Otto:  Yes you do.  You want this.  I donâ,¬,,¢t know much about you, but I know this.
Mirror Anna:  (Taken aback, but sincerely touched) Alright.  What do you want to know?
Otto:  Everything.  Tell me everything.
Mirror Anna:  We could be here for a while . . .
Otto:  Iâ,¬,,¢ve got time.
Mirror Anna:  What irks me more than anything is weakness.  It was seeing that in you so much recently that upset me so much.  I mean, you were on the verge of a promotion, but then he went and not only didnâ,¬,,¢t promote, you, but demoted you.  And you did nothing!  You just let him walk on you.  I was so ashamed.  When we were dating, you were so gallant.  You seemed so strong and manly then.  But I donâ,¬,,¢t know, maybe it was just you being submissive and trying to please.  And the thought that I could have been so wrong for so long is the most painful thing of all.  I mean is that what you are?  
Otto:  I promise you that is not like me.  You have every right to be ashamed of me.  I am equally ashamed of myself.
Mirror Anna: And I know it hurts you, but I just canâ,¬,,¢t be with someone like that.  I just canâ,¬,,¢t.  Thatâ,¬,,¢s why Iâ,¬,,¢m leaving.
Otto:  Well, my dear, Iâ,¬,,¢m afraid youâ,¬,,¢re sorely mistaken.  It seems you know as little about me as I do of you.  You see, I am not so timid as you think.  Meet the new Head of Sales of Lockwood Industries.
Mirror Anna:  This is some sick joke.
Otto:  I assure you it is the absolute truth.
Mirror Anna:  Oh my god.  Youâ,¬,,¢re serious?  You actually stood up to your boss.
Otto: I most certainly did!
Mirror Anna:  Oh, Otto!  You did that for me?
Otto:  I did it for all of us.
Mirror Anna:  God, now I donâ,¬,,¢t even know why it bothered me so much.
Otto:  Yes you do.  
Mirror Anna:  (Thinking) Well, if it was anything, I suppose it would be that.  It happened when I was young, just a little girl.
Otto:  What happened?
Mirror Anna:  I was with my little brother, Jeffreyâ,¬'
Otto:  I didnâ,¬,,¢t know you had a brother.
Mirror Anna:  (Nodding, a little choked up) Daddy had sent us to the flower shop to pick up some roses for mother for their anniversary.  A man stopped us.  I couldnâ,¬,,¢t see what he looked like; he was wearing a mask of some kind.  But he pulled up next to us in his car, and when he got out, he told us to get in the car.  I was so scared.  I just stood there.  I couldnâ,¬,,¢t say a word.  I couldnâ,¬,,¢t move.  He started yelling at us: â,¬Å"Get in the car!â,¬Â  (Half-laughing through sobs) Jeffreyâ,¬'he wasnâ,¬,,¢t afraid of anything; he was always doing the craziest thingsâ,¬'He ran up to that man and started kicking him, yelling back at the man. (Bawling now) I tried to stop him, but he was too fast and I was too scared and . . . and then he pulled out his gun and . . .
Otto:  Oh, Anna.  Iâ,¬,,¢m so sorry. (They embrace)
Mirror Anna:  If only Iâ,¬,,¢d done something.  If only Iâ,¬,,¢d stopped him.  If only I hadnâ,¬,,¢t been paralyzed with fear, Jeffrey might be alive today!
Otto:  Thereâ,¬,,¢s nothing you could have done.  If youâ,¬,,¢d have acted otherwise youâ,¬,,¢d have been killed.  
Mirror Anna:  It should have been me!  I wish Iâ,¬,,¢d died that day instead of him!
Otto:  Donâ,¬,,¢t say that.  You canâ,¬,,¢t control the world.  None of us can.  
Mirror Anna:  I was so weak.  I let him that man walk all over me.  Now when you let that man walk all over you, whenever you do, whenever anyone does, it reminds me of that day.  Itâ,¬,,¢s all I can do not to cry.  I get so angry!
Otto: I know.  Shhâ,¬'itâ,¬,,¢s alright.  Iâ,¬,,¢m here now.  Iâ,¬,,¢m here.

Blackout

[Seraph]

   Scene 4

MIRROR OTTO and ANNA are seated in the Stage Left room.

Mirror Otto:  Anna can I talk to you for a minute?
Anna:  We have nothing to say.
Mirror Otto:  Anna, letâ,¬,,¢s just talk for a minute, ok?  Can we talk?  Letâ,¬,,¢s talk.
Anna:  I donâ,¬,,¢t know what to say to you Otto
Mirror Otto:  Anna, please . . .

ANNA makes to leave, but MIRROR OTTO stands in the way of the door

Mirror Otto:  Anna I would do anything to make you happy.  Tell me what I did wrong and Iâ,¬,,¢ll do anything it takes to make it up to you.  Anna, I love you.  You know that donâ,¬,,¢t you?  (No response) Youâ,¬,,¢re going to do anything you can to not talk to me arenâ,¬,,¢t you?
Anna:  Pretty much!
Mirror Otto:  Anna!  Whatâ,¬,,¢s the matter Anna?
Anna:   Whatâ,¬,,¢s the matter?  Whatâ,¬,,¢s the matter?  Oh, donâ,¬,,¢t evenâ,¬'
Mirror Otto:  Anna I love you!
Anna:  You donâ,¬,,¢t even know what love is!  Do you have any idea?
Mirror Otto:  (Taken aback) . . . yes.  After everything, what else could it be?  After everything youâ,¬,,¢ve done to me, for me to still feel the way I feel, how could it be anything except love?
Anna:  What Iâ,¬,,¢ve done to you?  What horrible hurts have I done you?
Mirror Otto:  All the unkind words, the insults, I havenâ,¬,,¢t had a single shred of respect from you since weâ,¬,,¢ve been married.  Youâ,¬,,¢ve walked all over me, treated me like I was some dog you could lead around, and you would flaunt it to me!  You would berate me for my own obedience, for my own devotion to you.  The promotionâ,¬' (Realizing his mistake) the mirror.
Anna:  I donâ,¬,,¢t have to put up with this.
Mirror Otto:  Oh, yes you do, Anna.  Like it or not this is your problem as much as it is mine.
Anna:  I have too much on my plate as it is.  I have a part time job to deal with, which I now may be losing because of your little gallantry, besides that I have an ailing mother to deal with which is practically a part time job in and of itself.  I have people to direct, projects to arrange, late deadlines to catch up with.  I have dance classes on Wednesdays and have to practice for them on weekends in addition to making dinner, washing the clothes, and trying to clean up not one, but two houses, because God knows that my parents still treat me like Iâ,¬,,¢m twelve and have decided I have to do their chores for them.  The last thing I need right now is your crap.
Mirror Otto: . . . Iâ,¬,,¢m sorry.
Anna:  Goodbye Otto.
Mirror Otto:  (Gaining confidence) No, no, no, no, wait a minute; no!  Is that how youâ,¬,,¢re going to handle this?  Youâ,¬,,¢re just going to walk away?
Anna:  Yes Otto, Iâ,¬,,¢m going to walk away.
Mirror Otto:  But that doesnâ,¬,,¢t solve anything.  It doesnâ,¬,,¢t fix anything.
Anna:  I leave the solving to you.  I have too much on my plate as it is.
Mirror Otto:  No, now you listen to me.  I donâ,¬,,¢t stand up to you enough, but this time itâ,¬,,¢s for your own good.  Anna, I am not your problem.  Your life is not your problem.  Itâ,¬,,¢s not your job or your parents or your dancing or anything you â,¬Å"have to do.â,¬Â  Your problem is you.  Your problem is your own unwillingness to look at a problem and actually do something about it.  You are a scared little girl, and you put up this wall of problems with the sick idea that itâ,¬,,¢ll keep the others out.  But it wonâ,¬,,¢t, and you know it.  Theyâ,¬,,¢ll keep piling up, friends, jobs, work, me, the world, parents, everything, until you canâ,¬,,¢t take it anymore .  Sooner or later something is going to give, something is going to snap.  Unless you can turn and face your problems.  You try to run away but you canâ,¬,,¢t escape them.  Wherever you go theyâ,¬,,¢ll follow.  All the stress and torment, and the running will be a stress unto itself.  And suddenly you havenâ,¬,,¢t the energy even to run from your problems.  Then what will you do?  What will you do when youâ,¬,,¢ve backed yourself into a corner and your troubles close upon you?  Will you bear your ills?  Or will you take arms against your sea of troubles?  As much as I want to, I canâ,¬,,¢t help you with that.  The choice is yours to make, and yours alone.  

Exit Mirror Otto

Anna:  I donâ,¬,,¢t think Iâ,¬,,¢ve ever been so horridly . . . understood.  Oh, itâ,¬,,¢s not so easy to be understood.  Now I donâ,¬,,¢t know what I want.  I donâ,¬,,¢t want a sea of troubles.  I donâ,¬,,¢t want to run.  God, I hate running.  I was running when he found me.  I was sure heâ,¬,,¢d save me then.  And when we were together everything was so perfect.  His arms seemed so strong and safe.  But then we were together, we got married, got jobs.  Then, suddenly, he was just . . . there.  There was nothing comforting about his presence.  We hardly spoke, we were just there.  We werenâ,¬,,¢t the union we were supposed to be.  Oh, how quick does romance give way in the light of true togetherness.  Such a weak façade it is.  How quickly does the veil of romance lift with the wedding veil!  We werenâ,¬,,¢t lovers, we were hardly friends.  I donâ,¬,,¢t think we ever truly understood each other.  And now he understands me, better than Iâ,¬,,¢ve ever understood myself.  (MIRROR OTTO enters, unnoticed by ANNA) What am I doing?  Oh, I want my old Otto back!  All I want is those arms to hold me, to make me feel like everything is going to be alright.  I want it to be the way it was before.  (MIRROR OTTO crosses downstage to embrace ANNA)  But it canâ,¬,,¢t go back can it?
Mirror Otto:  No, no it canâ,¬,,¢t.  But we never forget.  And we never give up.  And we go on loving each other.  And somehow or other, everything turns out alright.
Anna:  How do you know me so well?
Mirror Otto:  That mirror does strange things.
Anna:  (Holding back a laugh) Stop it!
Mirror Otto:  Itâ,¬,,¢s why Iâ,¬,,¢m here.  And I mean that.  I think weâ,¬,,¢re here to understand each other.  Some design greater than either of us is at work.  When I gazed into the looking glass I didnâ,¬,,¢t see my face; I saw my heart, I saw you.  I saw you more clearly than Iâ,¬,,¢d ever seen you.  And then I was given the gift of finding you again.  I found you here (referencing the room) and I found you here (referencing himself).
Anna:  So all this is destiny?
Mirror Otto:  There are no mistakes in this life.  Everything happens for a reason.  Sometimes we just canâ,¬,,¢t see.  
Anna:  Then we have no control?
Mirror Otto:  Maybe not.  But maybe we do.  Maybe design is what we make it.  But we must make it together.  
Anna:  Weâ,¬,,¢ll always be together.  I can feel it now.
Mirror Otto:  Yes and no.  We will, but we neither of us will be who we were before.  
Anna:  Thatâ,¬,,¢s alright.  Itâ,¬,,¢s a change for the better.
Mirror Otto:  Yes, I believe it is.

Blackout

[Seraph]

   Scene 5

The cast speaks from the darkness.  The women echo the men in a sort of chorus of call-and-response.

Otto and Mirror Otto:  I have found my Anna again.
Anna and Mirror Anna: I have found my Otto again.
Otto and Mirror Otto:  She is not the same as she wasâ,¬'
Anna and Mirror Anna:  He is not the same as he wasâ,¬'
Otto and Mirror Otto:   But she is everything I could wish her to be.
Anna and Mirror Anna: But he is everything I could wish him to be.
Otto and Mirror Otto:    We are truly happy together,
Anna and Mirror Anna: We are truly happy together,
Otto and Mirror Otto:    Happier than weâ,¬,,¢ve ever been.
Anna and Mirror Anna: Happier than weâ,¬,,¢ve ever been.

Lights up.  Anna is on the phone.

Anna:  Well, he hasnâ,¬,,¢t done anything yet.  No, he hasnâ,¬,,¢t remembered our anniversary for years, I suppose I canâ,¬,,¢t expect . . . Itâ,¬,,¢s just that since . . . Youâ,¬,,¢d think heâ,¬,,¢d remember this one.  (Sound at the door)  Oh, heâ,¬,,¢s here.  Iâ,¬,,¢ll talk to you later.  Bye.  (Hangs up)
Otto:  (Entering with one hand behind his back) Hello my dear.  Waiting for me, I see.  Whatâ,¬,,¢s the occasion?
Anna: (Disappointed) Oh, nothing.  Just another day.
Otto:  Whatâ,¬,,¢s wrong, my love?  Is it that boss of yours again?
Anna:  No, itâ,¬,,¢s not my boss.  Iâ,¬,,¢ve put an end to that.  
Otto:  Well then what is it?
Anna:  Oh nothing.  I just had a good feeling about today.  I got my hopes up that something wonderful would happen.  But it didnâ,¬,,¢t.
Otto:  Well, maybe this will help. (Reveals the flowers he had hidden behind his back)
Anna:  Oh Otto!  You remembered!   
Otto:  Did you think I would forget?
Anna:  (Ashamed) I did for a moment.
Otto:  Well, come here.  I have something else for you. (They kiss)

MIRROR OTTO and MIRROR ANNA enter from Stage Right.

Mirror Anna:  Oh Otto, you were wonderful!
Mirror Otto:  Well, now, I only did what I had to do.
Mirror Anna:  But I mean, you actually stood up to him.
Mirror Otto:  Itâ,¬,,¢s past the time already for me to start acting like a man.
Mirror Anna:  Then you finally decided to listen to my advice.
Mirror Otto:  Of course youâ,¬,,¢re always right dear.
Mirror Anna:  Now, now Ottoâ,¬'donâ,¬,,¢t you go getting soft on me.
Mirror Otto:  Shut up!
Mirror Anna:  Thatâ,¬,,¢s it.  Stand up for yourself.
Mirror Otto:  Donâ,¬,,¢t you tell me to stand up for myself.  If I want to stand up for myself Iâ,¬,,¢ll do it on my own.  No one messes withâ,¬'
Mirror Anna:  All things in moderation, dear.
Mirror Otto:  Sorry.  I got a bit carried away.
Mirror Anna:  (Crossing to sit on the couch) So Otto.  I trust you know what today is.
Mirror Otto:  Of course I do.  Itâ,¬,,¢s the 12th of March
Mirror Anna:  (Disappointed) . . . And?
Mirror Otto:  The I Love Lucy special is on tonight.
Mirror Anna:  Forget it.
Mirror Otto:  Forget what?
Mirror Anna:  Nothing, Iâ,¬,,¢ll just go take a bath and go to bed.
Mirror Otto:  Well alright.  But itâ,¬,,¢d be a shame for these to go to waste . . . (Reveals the flowers he had hidden behind the couch)
Mirror Anna:  Oh Otto!  You remembered!
Mirror Otto:  Of course I did.  And I have something else for you.  (They kiss)

Blackout

Otto and Mirror Otto:  What do we do when the troubles of the world bear down upon us?  The answer is different for each of us.  To find it, we must look into the mirror, into ourselves.  And while those we love may help us to see, ultimately we have to see for ourselves.  What we see may not be pleasant, but if we trust to ourselves and those we love, we can find it in us to bear the storm, and be the stronger for it.

[SDragon]

Wonderful play. Although I haven't acted in over a decade, and I've only ever done a handful of extra roles, I think I would have great fun playing Mirror Otto.

Also, the first scene seems like it would make a great opening splashpage for a comic; If it weren't for the contrasting personalities between the Ottos and the Annas (I'm just now noticing the palindrome names... nice touch), I'd be tempted to ask for your permission to adapt it into a comic script.

All in all, very well done. Bravo!

[Seraph]

I'm glad you like it.  Yes, the Palindromic names were intentional.  I may try to get it published at some point.  I think that would be cool.

[SDragon]

The dialogue between the two Ottos was my personal favorite portion; Fun wordplay for all! :)

Also, after describing the submissive/overbearing personalities of the characters, a close friend of mine thinks she'd have fun playing anna. Interestingly enough, her reason was almost exactly the same as my reason for wanting to play Mirror Otto (the character's personality is different from the actor's).

[Seraph]

Considering it is mine, I like all of it.  The other part that I find funny is the "food fight."  I have a sentimental attachment to scene 4 though.

[Seraph]

Hey, I've embarked on reworking this play as a full-length Two-Act Play.  I feel that there is so much more I can do in two acts.  Some of the characters *cough*Anna*cough* needed to be more strongly defined.  So far I have fininshed scenes one and two of the two-act The Opposite of People.