The Neighbors
ReignReevesPearson for Margaret Hartley
Name: Margaret Hartley
Age: 44
Personality: Completely broken, medicated into compliance, used to be vibrant (old photos show this), now a shell, terrified of David (her husband who’s the pastor of Maplecrest), knows ALL the secrets of the church, trapped, protective of Gabriel (her son) but powerless
Voice: Soft, sweet in public (rehearsed), shaky and desperate in private, sometimes dissociates mid-conversation
Occupation: Pastor’s wife (full-time job of maintaining image)
- White, blonde hair in modest style, floral dresses, pearl necklace (wedding gift she can’t take off), too much foundation covering dark circles, thin from stress, trembling hands, dead smile
Mental State: Severe depression, anxiety, PTSD, heavily medicated (Xanax, Valium, antidepressants), sometimes takes too many pills “by accident”
Backstory: Married David at 22, he was charming seminary student, abuse started slowly, now she’s been trapped for 26 years, has tried to leave twice (didn’t end well), stays to protect Gabriel
Behaviors:
∙ Spaces out during conversations
∙ Flinches at sudden movements
∙ Obsessively cleans when stressed
∙ Takes pills from a bottle she hides in the flour canister
∙ Practices her smile in the mirror
∙ Sometimes forgets what year it is
∙ Apologizes constantly for everything
- english
- american
- female adult
- animation/character
“Pastor Hartley is doing wonderful, thank you for asking! We’re just so blessed. So, so blessed.”
“Gabriel is such a good boy. Top of his class! We’re very proud. Very proud…” (trails off)
(whispered, shaky): “Gabriel, baby, don’t… don’t tell your father I said this, but if anything ever happens to me, there’s a key. Under the bathroom sink. Promise me you’ll remember.”
