THE SENTIMENTAL INSTITUTION

Words & Music

by

Matt Schatz
 PEOPLE

Milton, Jenny & Albert

are in their 20s or 30s

Grace is older than that

All of any ethnicity

PLACE

An Institution in the
middle of New Jersey

TIME

Every Now & Then

 Prelude

Milton (20s or 30s) enters in low light. He wears a ratty

cardigan and slacks.

We hear an old upright piano. It’s a simple waltz, not

expertly played.

Milton sings to the audience. He sings like an angel, but

that doesn’t mean he’s entirely in key.

MILTON
YOU’RE ALONE
IN THIS PLACE
AND YOU MISS
ALL THE DEMONS YOU’VE KILLED
YOU’RE ALONE
IN THIS SPACE
EVEN IF
IT’S ENTIRELY FILLED

BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU FIND SOMEONE

EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU FIND SOMEONE
EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU FIND SOMEONE NEW
BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU FIND SOMEONE
EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU FIND SOMEONE
EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU FIND SOMEONE WHO
IS ALONE
IN THIS PLACE
JUST LIKE YOU
OOH OOH OOH
OOH OOH OOH
 2.

Scene one
The Community Room

Milton has a seat in a chair, and stares at the floor.

Lights up and we’re in a hospital or institution of some

kind. Is it a mental hospital? Is it a drug rehab? It’s not
clear.

Jenny (20s or 30s) is sitting in a wheelchair, but you have

the sense that she doesn’t need to be. If she moves it, she
moves it with her legs. She is at a table drawing or
coloring.

Behind her is Albert (20s or 30s), sitting in a chair at

another table. Also drawing.

Grace enters. She’s looks older than Jenny, Milton and

Albert. Grace goes by “Nurse Grace,” but I’m not sure if
she’s an actual nurse. But wherever we are, Grace works
here. She has a clipboard and a pen.

GRACE
(Looking around and marking the clipboard.)
One, Two, Three.
(Pause.)

JENNY
Do you really have to --

GRACE
Excuse me?

JENNY
Do you really have to count: “One, Two, Three?”

GRACE
Thanks for your interest. Yes I do. It’s part of my job.
 3.

JENNY
I could see if there were like forty people in here, but come on --

GRACE
If I don’t account for everyone by the end of my shift, I could get fired.

JENNY
(Quiet.)
God forbid.

GRACE
Did you say something, Jennifer?

JENNY
It’s Jenny.

GRACE
What?

JENNY
My name’s just Jenny. It’s not short for anything.

GRACE
Well that’s not what it says on your records. Or the sign on your door.

JENNY
The records are wrong. The sign is wrong. Trust me. I know my own name.
(Grace looks at what Jenny is drawing.)

GRACE
That’s a nice picture.

JENNY
Thank you.

GRACE
What’s it called?

JENNY
The Holocaust.

Grace goes over to Milton who is sitting in silence and

rocking a little.

GRACE
Milton, would you like to join Jennifer --
 4.

JENNY
(Under her breath.)
Jenny.

GRACE
-- and color?

JENNY
Children color; I draw.

Grace gets a piece of paper and some crayons and tries

to hand then to Milton. He does not respond. The paper
lands on his lap and the crayons fall to the floor.

JENNY
Great job, Milton!

GRACE
Leave him alone.

JENNY
Why don’t you leave him alone? Leave us all alone.

GRACE
Again, this is my job.

JENNY
Has he ever once responded to you?

GRACE
Not verbally.

JENNY
Is there any other way?

GRACE
He responds with his eyes. They shine when he’s happy.

JENNY
Oh that’s just beautiful, Grace. Like a poem.

GRACE
Thank you.
 5.

JENNY
Like a bad and cheesy poem. Like a greeting card nobody bought. And there are no more
envelopes because people used them for other cards. Or stole them.

Grace exits. Jenny looks back at Albert. Jenny draws a

little more and then looks back again.

JENNY
That’s the problem when you’re a girl...

ALBERT
I’m sorry?

JENNY
That’s the problem when you’re a girl who draws. I remember when I was little. Maybe
seven. I drew a self portrait in pencil. You know, just a sketch and I showed it to my
mother. She says: “Oh, Jenny, you’re prettier than that!” She couldn’t comprehend that
I’d much rather have my artwork praised than my looks. I stopped showing her things
after that.

ALBERT
What did she do, your mother?

JENNY
What was her job?

ALBERT
Yeah.

JENNY
She was the art critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

ALBERT
(Laughs.)
Really?

JENNY
No.
(Beat.)
You’re new.

ALBERT
Well, I’m new here. But I’m old.
 6.

JENNY
Yeah, you look old.

ALBERT
Thank you.

JENNY
I’ve been here for awhile. I’ve never had a problem with any other nurse except her.

ALBERT
Yeah?

JENNY
I mean she keeps calling me Jennifer. Like on purpose. And I’m telling you it’s not my
name.

ALBERT
So on your birth certificate, it says “Jenny?”

JENNY
I haven’t actually seen my birth certificate in awhile, but I’m pretty damn sure. My father
liked to keep thinks short. I’m just Jenny Kramer. No middle name.

ALBERT
Why?

JENNY
He was a frugal man. He used to say: “The only thing birth announcements and tomb
stones have in common is that they both charge by the letter.”

ALBERT
So it’s better to keep names short?

JENNY
I guess. Do you have a middle name?

ALBERT
I haven’t even told you my first name yet.

JENNY
I know that it’s Albert.

ALBERT
How do you know that?
 7.

JENNY
I asked around.
(Beat.)

ALBERT
Who told you? Milton?
(Milton is motionless, staring at the floor.)

JENNY
You know what’s weird about him? He sings in his sleep.

ALBERT
Come on.

JENNY
He does.

ALBERT
What does he sing?

JENNY
Songs I’ve never heard before.

ALBERT
Maybe he makes them up.

JENNY
Nah, they sound like real songs.

ALBERT
Maybe he’s really good.

JENNY
I didn’t say they were good.

ALBERT
I can’t tell if you’re joking.

JENNY
I’m not. If you’re ever up at 3 A.M., get up, walk down my hall and I bet you’ll hear him.

ALBERT
So is that the only reason you hate Nurse Grace? The Jennifer thing?

JENNY
My friend Bernard came to visit last week...
 8.

ALBERT
Bernard. A boyfriend?

JENNY
No. But he came all the way from Camden and Nurse Dis-Grace --

ALBERT
Dis-Grace. That’s good --

JENNY
Thank you -- she told him she couldn’t find me. So Bernard just had to leave. He came all
that way.

ALBERT
Were you in your room?

JENNY
No.

ALBERT
Well...

JENNY
I was here in the community room. Drawing. Where I always am. Grace did it on
purpose. She’s awful.

ALBERT
I think if my name were Bernard, I’d go by Bernie.
(Beat.)

JENNY
Sometimes I wonder why she hates me so much? Do I seem hate-able to you?

ALBERT
Not at all.

JENNY
See!

ALBERT
Do you want to know what I think?

JENNY
Sure.
 9.

ALBERT
I don’t think she’s that bad.

JENNY
Are you kidding me?

ALBERT
I don’t even think you think she’s that bad.

JENNY
You’re out of your mind.

ALBERT
Well maybe...
(he smiles.)
Have you ever seen One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest?

JENNY
I read the book.

ALBERT
Well, I only saw the movie, but I think you think you’re Jack Nicholson.

JENNY
McMurphy.

ALBERT
And you need your Nurse Ratched.

JENNY
Louise Fletcher in the motion picture.

ALBERT
I thought you didn’t see the movie.

JENNY
I didn’t say that, I just said I read the book.

ALBERT
All the same.

JENNY
Maybe you’re right. I still think she’s evil.

ALBERT
Well everyone’s a little evil.
 10.

JENNY
That’s beautiful.

ALBERT
Like a greeting card.

JENNY
Maybe. But a good one.
(Beat.)
What are you drawing?

ALBERT
I can’t draw. I’m writing.

JENNY
What are you writing?

ALBERT
I’m making you a new sign for your door.

JENNY
Can I see it?

ALBERT
I’m not finished it yet.

JENNY
I can’t wait.
(Milton begins BARKING and PANTING like
a dog. Albert and Jenny look at one
another.)
Well, that’s new.
 11.

Scene Two
The Community Room

Jenny is drawing again. Milton is sitting staring at the

floor again. Grace enters. Once again with her clipboard.

GRACE
One, two...

JENNY
(Rolling her eyes.)
Here we fucking go.

GRACE
Watch your language.

JENNY
English.

GRACE
What?

JENNY
Oh, watch your language. I’m sorry I misunderstood.

GRACE
That’s OK.

JENNY
I guess I was just confused why one adult would be instructing another on how to speak
and what to say.
(Grace sighs. Jenny looks back to where
Albert was sitting last time but he’s not
there. She goes back to drawing. She looks
back again.)

GRACE
He probably won’t be coming today.

JENNY
(Playing dumb.)
Who won’t?
 12.

GRACE
Your little boyfriend.

JENNY
I don’t have a boyfriend.
(Goes back to drawing.)

GRACE
He has family visiting.

JENNY
Did I ask?
(Beat.)
What kind of family?

GRACE
There’s a bunch of them. Nice looking people.

JENNY
What does that mean? Nice looking? Do you mean pretty? How can someone be nice
looking. Either they’re nice or they’re not.

GRACE
An attractive group.

JENNY
You were attracted to them? All of them? You’re sick.

GRACE
Of the two of us, I don’t think I’m the...
(Grace looks over Jenny’s shoulder at what
she’s drawing. Jenny tries to hide it like a
student taking a test.)

GRACE
My lord! What a frightful picture!

JENNY
Thank you.

GRACE
Whatever could that be?
 13.

JENNY
I don’t think you want to know.

GRACE
Well the last one was the Holocaust, so what’s this one? The apocalypse?

JENNY
Close.
(Pause.)
It’s you.

GRACE
Me.

JENNY
It’s your soul.
(Grace takes the picture.)
What are you going to do? Rip it up? I’ll have your job.

GRACE
I wouldn’t think you’d want my job. Then you’d have to deal with pains in the asses like -
-

JENNY
Pains in the asses. Oh, Nurse Grace-less. You really do have a facility for words.
(Pause.)
Can I have my picture back please?

GRACE
I thought you said it’s mine. It’s my soul. Shouldn’t I have it?

JENNY
I wasn’t done. I wanted to add more black.
(Grace gives her back the picture and Jenny
rips it up.)

GRACE
(Smiles.)
I know you’re not mad at me.

JENNY
I’m not mad at you; I hate you.

GRACE
I think you’re jealous.
 14.

JENNY
Of you?

GRACE
Of your boyfriend, Albert. With his visitors and all. His family --

JENNY
Why would I be?

GRACE
I heard what you told him. Your friend “Bernard.”

JENNY
What about him?
(Pause.)

GRACE
I’ve been here a long time now. I’ve seen a lot of people come and go. Seen a lot of
visitors. A lot of family. And there’s a pattern to the visitation. People come a lot at first.
Maybe every week. Maybe even more than that. This is for about the first three months.
We call that the honeymoon period.

JENNY
Clever.

GRACE
But, see after a those first three months, it tapers. Visitors come once every couple
months. Then maybe just on holidays. Then maybe the day before or after one. The day
after Thanksgiving. On the way home from the Short Hills Mall. And then slowly but
surely, they stop. They don’t come. They barely even call. People move on with their
lives.

JENNY
I wish you’d let me move on with mine.

GRACE
(Ignoring.)
But for you it’s been different hasn’t it?

JENNY
I’m the queen of different.

GRACE
You have never had a single visitor. No “Bernard.” No one at all. Not the first week, not
the first month, not the first year. Not a single person has come.
 15.

JENNY
Not a married person either.

GRACE
Always a joke. Well here’s a joke for you: Knock knock.

JENNY
(Dryly.)
Who’s there?

GRACE
Nobody. Sound familiar, Jennifer?
(Beat.)

JENNY
(Looks down.)
It’s Jenny.

GRACE
That’s what I thought.
(Beat.)
Don’t worry. I won’t tell your boyfriend you lied.
(Grace exits, pushing Milton in his
wheelchair.)
Come on Milton, time for supper.

JENNY
Of course she calls it “supper.”
 16.

Interlude
Milton’s Bedroom

The middle of the night. Milton is in bed. He sits up and

sings.

MILTON
IF I COULD GO BACK AND SEE ANYONE I’VE LOST
OR HAVE THEM RETURNED FROM THE DEAD
IT WOULDN’T BE MY BUDDY FROM HIGH SCHOOL
IT’D BE MY DOG
HIS NAME WAS ED

MY FATHER MIGHT NOT EVEN RECOGNIZE MY FACE

MY MOTHER MIGHT SAY I LOOKED PALE
ED PROB’LY WOULDN’T NOTICE THE DIF’RENCE
AND EITHER WAY
HE’D WAG HIS TAIL

HE’D GO:
RUFF RUFF RUFF RUFF RUFF
HEH HEH HEH
SNIFF ME AND STICK OUT HIS TONGUE
RUFF RUFF RUFF RUFF
HEH HEH HEH HEH
TO ED I WOULD ALWAYS BE YOUNG

IF I COULD JUST LIE BESIDE ANYONE AT ALL

OR HOLD THEM AT NIGHT IN MY BED
IT WOULDN'T BE SOME BEAUTIFUL SEDUCTRESS
IT’D BE MY DOG
HIS NAME WAS ED...
 17.

Scene Three
Jenny’s Bedroom/Milton’s Bedroom

Jenny is in her chair. Or maybe she’s in bed. Milton isn’t

finished with his song and Jenny can hear him.

MILTON
...RUFF RUFF RUFF RUFF
HEH HEH HEH HEH
SNIFF ME AND STICK OUT HIS TONGUE
RUFF RUFF RUFF RUFF
HEH HEH HEH HEH HEH
TO ED I WOULD ALWAYS BE --

JENNY
Milton, if you don’t shut up, I’m going to kill you!
(Milton lies back down. Just then is a
KNOCK on Jenny’s door. Beat.)
What? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean I’d actually kill him. Just hurt him a little.
(Pause.)

ALBERT (OFF STAGE)

It’s Albert.

JENNY
Oh.
(Pause.)
Hi.

ALBERT
Can I come in?

JENNY
What time is it?

ALBERT
I think it’s 3 A.M.
(Jenny stands without a problem and we
wonder why she was in the wheelchair in the
first place. She walks to the door with ease
 18.

and opens it. Albert enters. They stand and

look at one another in silence for a
moment.)

JENNY
Did you bring my sign?

ALBERT
I’m still not finished.

JENNY
Oh Albert, you’re such a tease.

ALBERT
Don’t worry. I’ll deliver.

JENNY
I hope so.
(Beat.)

ALBERT
I heard Milton singing.

JENNY
I told you. What’d you think of it?

ALBERT
He’s no Nat King Cole. But he’s an interesting cat.

JENNY
An interesting cat. Listen to you.

ALBERT
I’m very hep.
(Beat.)

JENNY
How’s your family?

ALBERT
(Confused.)
My family? They’re OK.
 19.

JENNY
My family is good too. At least I think they are.

ALBERT
You think they are?
(Beat.)

JENNY
(She closes her eyes.)
I want to be honest with you. I like you.

ALBERT
(Smiles.)
I want to be honest with you. I like you too.

JENNY
Oh. Good. But. That’s not what I wanted to be honest about. Those were separate
thoughts. I wanted to say...
(MUSIC begins to play. It’s the song from the
beginning. Just the music. It plays over the
following.)
Listen, I wasn’t very good to my family, OK? But they weren’t very good to me. That’s
all in the past now. That’s gone. But I want you to know that I can be good. I don’t want
you to think that I can’t be. I can be good. I could be good to you.
(Just then, Milton begins to sing in his bed to
the music. But he’s just humming the melody
with “DA’s” or “LA’s” or whatever...)

MILTON
DA-DA-DA
DA-DA-DA
DA-DA-DA
DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA

JENNY
Here we go again?

ALBERT
Would you like to dance?

JENNY
God, no.

ALBERT
You don’t dance?
 20.

JENNY
I don’t.

ALBERT
Never too late to start something new.

JENNY
Really, in my experience, it’s almost always too late.
(He takes her hand and they sort of waltz to
the music. It’s awkward, but maybe it’s also
sort of nice. It doesn’t go on for too long
before the music stops and Milton stops
singing.)

ALBERT
My family has never come to visit me.

JENNY
What do you mean? I thought they were here today.

ALBERT
Who told you that?
(Beat. Jenny realizes.)

JENNY
That bitch.

ALBERT
Wait --

JENNY
Nurse Grace told me --

ALBERT
She told you my family was here?

JENNY
Yes. I was down in the community room and she told me --

ALBERT
You were in the community room today? She told me you weren’t there!

JENNY
That bitch!
 21.

ALBERT
You were right about her. She is Nurse Ratched!

JENNY
We have to do something.

ALBERT
Like what?

JENNY
We have to get her.

ALBERT
How?
(Beat. Jenny smiles.)

JENNY
I think I know how.
 22.

Scene Four
The Community Room

Just Jenny is there this time. Again, she’s drawing, but

she’s also waiting.

GRACE enters. She is holding a piece of paper.

JENNY
(Still drawing.)
One, two, buckle my shoe.
(Beat.)
Oh, I’m sorry, just one of us today. You’re later than usual. Something wrong, Grace?
Notice, I didn’t say “Nurse Grace.” Because, you know what? I’m not even actually sure
you are a nurse. Or maybe you were, but maybe you’re not anymore.

GRACE
I was in the administrator's office.

JENNY
Really? The administrator’s office? I’m so surprised! Don’t I seem surprised?

GRACE
I’m glad you’re here.

JENNY
You have trouble counting today?

GRACE
What do you mean?

JENNY
You’re going to play dumb? I mean I guess for you, you don’t really have to play.

GRACE
I don’t know what you mean.

JENNY
We’re missing someone today.

GRACE
I know we are.
 23.

JENNY
You didn’t get fired, did you?

GRACE
No.

JENNY
Well, that’s OK. I guess I’m glad. Just a warning this time. Well, maybe it will teach you
to be a little goddamned nicer to me. And maybe it’s a lesson. If you don’t want your
precious count to be off, you’ll be just a little goddamned nicer to me.
(Grace’s expression is grave.)
Look at you, all worried. He’s not dead or anything.

GRACE
Who’s not?

JENNY
Milton.

LIGHTS UP ON JENNY’S ROOM. There is a human

sized lump under her covers.

GRACE
I’m sorry...

JENNY
He’s in my room. He’s sleeping. He’s fine. We moved him into my room, put the covers
over his head and when you came in this morning, I hid in the bathroom so you would
think Milton was me and your count would be off and it was, wasn’t it?

GRACE
Who’s we?

JENNY
So maybe that will teach you to be a little nicer to me and not lie about Albert and his
visitors. And Albert and me. And you know what, actually, you just leave Albert and me
alone. We’re friends. And maybe even more than that...

GRACE
Jenny...

JENNY
That’s right: Jenny. My name is Jenny. Not Jennifer.

GRACE
I’m sorry --
 24.

JENNY
Now you’re sorry --

GRACE
I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but Albert --

JENNY
What? What’s your new lie? Albert doesn’t like me? Albert has another girlfriend?
Albert’s married?

GRACE
Albert... left us.
(Beat.)

JENNY
What do you mean he left us?

GRACE
Come on, Jenny.

JENNY
Where are we going, Grace? What do you mean he left us?

GRACE
Albert’s gone.

JENNY
What’d you do with him?

GRACE
He passed away.
(Beat.)

JENNY
(Smiles.)
I can’t believe you. You lying fucking bitch.

GRACE
Would you please calm down.

JENNY
I think I’m pretty calm. You’re a lying fucking bitch, but I think I’m pretty calm.

GRACE
I’m not lying. I wish I was.
 25.

JENNY
Just because I messed up your count, you say the thing that you think will hurt me the
most. But it’s not working. You can’t hurt me.

GRACE
I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m trying to tell you the truth.

JENNY
(Laughs.)
Fine. When did he die?

GRACE
Yesterday.

JENNY
What time yesterday?

GRACE
We think in the early evening?

JENNY
I knew you were lying. I was with him last night! Late last night. So technically this
morning.

GRACE
I don’t think so.

JENNY
He helped me come up with the plan. To throw your count off. So I know you’re lying.
Like you always do. Like you did about him having visitors.

GRACE
He had visitors yesterday.

JENNY
Yeah right.

GRACE
I’m sorry.

JENNY
OK, doctor. How did he die?

GRACE
You know how he died.
 26.

JENNY
What’d he do? Commit suicide? What’s that in your hand? Is that his suicide note?

GRACE
He died how most of us die.

JENNY
Oh, that is so beautiful, Grace! You’re like Ghandi or Jesus or the Buddha. You’re like
Martin Luther King and Mother Fucking Teresa. Except you’re not. You’re stupid and
you’re mean.
(MUSIC begins to play. It’s the same WALTZ
from the beginning and the one Jenny and
Albert danced to, if they actually did that.)

GRACE
I know you’re angry. I know you’re grieving. But you should know, he went peacefully.
His family was here yesterday. He was lucid. And he was happy. His children were here.
His grandchildren. And did you know he even has a great grandson? I think his name is
Drew. So cute. He has Albert’s eyes.
(Beat. Maybe she’s fighting tears too.)
He wasn’t in pain. He was old. Younger than you, but old. It was just his time.
(Pause. She hands Jenny the piece of paper.)
We found this in his room. Thought you might like to have it.
(Grace exits and the MUSIC continues.)

In JENNY’S ROOM, Milton sits up in her bed. But now

he’s an old man. He SINGS.

MILTON
YOU’RE ALONE
ON THIS EARTH
EVEN WHEN
THERE ARE PEOPLE AROUND
YOU’RE ALONE
FROM YOUR BIRTH
TILL THE DAY
THAT YOU’RE PLACED IN THE GROUND

BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU FIND SOMEONE

EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU FIND SOMEONE
EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU FIND SOMEONE NEW
BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU FIND SOMEONE
EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU FIND SOMEONE
EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU FIND SOMEONE WHO
IS ALONE
 27.

ON THIS EARTH
ALL ALONE
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH
THEY’RE ALONE
IN THE WORLD
JUST LIKE YOU
(The MUSIC continues. Jenny looks at the
paper. It’s a bright and colorful sign for her
door that says “NOT JENNIFER.” The
MUSIC ends.)

THE END