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Vegetable

Simon Brett

Genre: Comedic Drama

Cast size: 3

Duration: 45 mins approx

Simon Brett | Comedic Drama | One Act | 1m, 1f

Short synopsis

Alan lies in a hospital bed fed by a drip and seemingly in a Persistent Vegetative State. Becky, an agency nurse, and Carolyn, his estranged wife both have reasons to hate the man who is a serial philanderer - he's cheated on his wife and on his latest-but-one bit-on-the-side. Alan is a research doctor and developed a drug to simulate PVS and when Becky and Carolyn strike up a mutual dislike of Alan, Becky persuades Carolyn that it is this that has been administered to him. Should they administer a lot more and let him die? They both seem like this idea, but maybe a wronged woman's machinations will triumph over the plans so recently concocted?

Alan is a doctor, but lies in a hospital bed with a drip, in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). He's been there for a few days, and whilst Becky, an agency nurse, is tending to him, Carolyn, his wife arrives. She is separated from Alan and now lives in the USA, and is also a doctor. Alan had apparently 'played away' a lot during their marriage (mostly with young nurses) and, when Becky has left, Carolyn speaks to him with a glint in her eye - he's an expert on PVS, and Carolyn is happy to think that he's getting retribution for all his philandering. Their marriage was never a success, and Carolyn is seeking revenge.

Things take a strange turn, when Carolyn overhears Becky speaking to Alan also in terms of revenge and retribution. He's obviously done the dirty on both of them! Carolyn is amazed that Becky has taken steps to get her a Lasting Power of Attorney over Alan's affairs and she gets Becky to admit that actually, she (Becky) put him seemingly in the PVS state with a special drug he developed to simulate the condition during his research period. They develop a bond - two women wronged - and proceed to plan his demise.

Will they both succeed and live happily without Alan, or will some unforeseen incident allow Carolyn to triumph in the overall contest of wife vs husband and lover?

(1m, 2f)

  •   Alan - 60s, hospital patient, stubbly chin
  •   Becky - 30s, dressed as a nurse
  •   Carolyn - 60s, Alan’s wife, smartly dressed
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Vegetable

Free
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