Piece by Fragment - An audio play
Project Overview
Similar to past project, The (Almost) True Story of Hope Winter, Piece by Fragment is an original and published play that is seeking voice actors to complete a full audio play of the show. The play focuses on Dissociative Identity Disorder and should be treated respectfully.
The script is readily available online on iBooks, Amazon, and other websites. If you would like to read the script before auditioning or becoming involved in the project, the free download of the script is available here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/803128
Plot Synopsis:
Daphne is a 16-year-old girl with Dissociative Identity Disorder, meaning she has multiple people in her head. A story of family, honesty, and hurt unfolds as Daphne confesses that she is thinking about integration.
As each of her alters begin to process their own mortality, they question what love and family mean to them.
Seeking talented actors with a wide spectrum of emotions - include extreme sadness, fear, and anger.
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[DAPHNE] Female, 16, an overwhelmed and anxious teenager, suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder.
Must be comfortable with adult language. Must have strong acting capabilities. Must be able to realistically portray a teenager. Must be comfortable talking about mental illness.
DAPHNE: Oh my god, guys, really?! Can I live for five minutes without you both babysitting me? I’m sixteen, I think I can manage without advice from the voices in my head.
DAPHNE: Anna got drunk, and Jordan drew on the carpet. I’m not in control of my body anymore,
and I’m ruining my house because I don’t have control. I need control.
DAPHNE: No, no. It’s okay to be angry sometimes. It’s okay to be scared.
[KATHERINE] Female, an overprotective alter in Daphne’s brain. She wants to do what’s best but can become blind to other people's needs
Must be comfortable with adult language. Must have strong acting capabilities. Must be comfortable talking about mental illness.
KATHERINE: Daphne, I know this is hard for you. I know sharing your body isn’t fun. I get that, but you also must understand that we share this body with you too.
KATHERINE: I don’t understand why this is happening to me. I’ve only ever been kind to her. I’ve only ever taken care of Daphne. (Beat. She begins talking as if directly to DAPHNE) I’m supposed to protect you. I have protected you for years. I’ve given up my life to making you happy. I have fought for you every day. Every day, Daphne.
KATHERINE grabs a bottle of nail polish from the dresser.
KATHERINE: How could you do this to us? How could you do this to me?!
KATHERINE hits the bottle of polish against the dresser, smashing it. She raises it to throw on the ground. MAX runs in upon hearing the smash.
KATHERINE: I have spent every day protecting you.
KATHERINE: I know what Bethany said. But I also know how it feels. And it feels like I’m going to die. I don’t want to die, Valerie. I’m not ready to die.
[VALERIE] Female, a headstrong and opinionated alter in Daphne’s brain. She’s guarded, but she has a lot of love for Daphne and the other alters.
Must be comfortable with adult language. Must have strong acting capabilities. Must be comfortable talking about mental illness.
[Only read VALERIE's lines]
VALERIE: And I don’t go to team meetings because it’s only ever fighting. It’s always about putting some dumb rule in place.
KATHERINE: You never follow the rules we put in place…
VALERIE: Because I don’t go to the meetings.
[Only read VALERIE's lines]
VALERIE: Katherine, you’re the older one here. You shouldn’t be attacking Daphne like this.
DAPHNE: I told you that-
VALERIE: Daphne, if something upsets Katherine that much, you shouldn’t bring it up constantly. If you really need to talk about it, wait until you can give a full perspective. This isn’t a casual conversation for anyone, and you should know that.
DAPHNE: But Valerie-
VALERIE: No. I love you, kid. But you have to understand that we have feelings too. This hurts. You have to think about us sometimes too.
VALERIE: I don’t know, really. I think I just hope that one day, Daphne will feel all of those things. That even though I’m not there, that I’m not conscious, that Daphne will know that I would’ve loved it. I just hold on to a hope that I will be alive in Daphne. Just in a different way.
[ANNA] Female, 16, an impulsive and reckless alter in Daphne’s brain. She’s determined to be a teenager, despite the strenuous circumstances.
Must be comfortable with adult language. Must have strong acting capabilities. Must be able to accurately portray a teenager. Must be comfortable talking about mental illness.
[Only read ANNA's lines]
CHARLIE: You just used bitch in two entirely separate ways.
ANNA: Charlie, welcome to 2016, open your eyes to the possibilities.
CHARLIE: How- How is saying bitch in different ways futuristic.
ANNA: Linguistics and the morphology of syntax.
CHARLIE: None of that was right.
ANNA: Open your mind, Charlie. Open your soul.
[Only read ANNA's line]
ANNA: (Slightly slurred) You’re boring.
CHARLIE: Jesus, Anna. How are you drunk?
ANNA: I’m not drunk. I’m good.
CHARLIE: Oh?
ANNA: Yes, I am so good. I can handle my liquor. (Calling out) Another one, my good sir.
[MAX] Female, 16 - 19, a friend of Daphne and her alters, she does her best to help everyone. A wise and strong-willed friend. A fun person and a normal teenager, but can help the alters and Daphne with her maturity.
Must be comfortable with adult language and be able to accurately portray a teenager.
[Please only read MAX's lines]
MAX: I just...I just worry about her, sometimes.
CHARLIE: I know.
MAX: There’s a new alter, you know.
CHARLIE: What?
MAX: I met her a couple weeks ago. Daphne got really upset over her Geometry grade and then switched out. It was someone new.
MAX: Daphne wants to be like the other girls her age. She wants to be independent. She wants to feel sane sometimes. It’s not you. You’ve protected her, I know that. She knows that. Maybe it’s time for her to protect herself. Don’t you trust her?
[Please only read MAX's lines]
MAX: You said Daphne was a sad kid. What happens if being different becomes too much for her? What happens next time people call her crazy? What happens when her college friends treat you like a party trick?
KATHERINE: No one is going to treat us like a party trick?
MAX: Really? ‘Cause I’d love to show you the YouTube comments on DID documentaries. I’m sure lots of people who love to see a college kid morph into a six-year-old.
[BETHANY] Female, 13-15, an anxious and intelligent young alter in Daphne’s brain. She’s new and neglected by most, but she wants what’s best for everyone.
Must be comfortable with adult language and be able to accurately portray a teenager.
[Please only read BETHANY's lines]
BETHANY: I’m sorry I’m here, it’s not that I want to be, and it’s not like I’m trying to ruin your life.
DAPHNE: I’m not saying you’re trying to ruin my life. That’s not what I’m saying at all.
BETHANY: I heard you and the others talking yesterday.
BETHANY: Look at what happened last night. You can’t expect to go out into the real world with a
6-year-old drawing on your carpets.
[CHARLIE] Male, 17 - 19, A loving and supportive friend of Daphne and her alters. Kindhearted and dedicated to his friends.
Must be comfortable with adult language and be able to accurately portray a teenager. Must possess strong acting skills.
[Please only read CHARLIE's lines. CHARLIE is talking to JORDAN, a child]
CHARLIE: Can you do something for me
JORDAN: Mmhmm!
CHARLIE: Can you clean up your markers?
JORDAN: No, I am using them!
CHARLIE: I know, but if you want to play on my iPad, you can’t have markers near it.
[Please only read CHARLIE's lines]
CHARLIE: Don’t worry too much about it. It’s coming out, and it’ll be awhile before she drives. It’ll
probably be Valerie or Daphne.
MAX: Unless she caught wind that Jordan drew on the carpet.
CHARLIE: Hey, don’t worry. We’ve got this.
[JORDAN] Female, 6, the only child alter in Daphne's mind.
Must be able to realistically portray a child. Must possess strong acting skills.
JORDAN: Look what I got! I got them all right!
JORDAN: Yes, please! There are seven and I counted them all!
[Stage Directions] Actor to read the visual things onstage. Subtle emotion, enough to convey urgency and tone while still seeming neutral.
ANNA continues to demand the door to open, and eventually falls asleep in the backseat
The lights dim, and DAPHNE exits. The lights rise on KATHERINE, ANNA, and VALERIE spread across the stage. They overlap, seemingly begging the Universe, and pleading with any force that could listen.
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