SYBIL
Chapter 6: The New Teacher

BENJAMIN: a senior high school student at an all-boy school

TEACHER: a young female, first year English teacher at the school

(BENJAMIN is wearing a long-sleeved solid color dress shirt and the school tie, the

TEACHER is wearing “teacher” attire.)

Setting

A high school classroom. The year is 1963. As the play opens, it is the first day of the

school year. In November, John F. Kennedy would be assassinated.

Notes

J.D. Salinger’s short story, A Perfect Day for Bananafish was first published in 1948. His novel, THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, was published in 1951. Vladimir Nabokov’s novel, LOLITA, was published in 1955.

Scene 1

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

In the fall of 1963, I was a senior high school student just waiting to graduate. But in my English class on the very first day, everything changed. When she walked through the door the silence was so penetrating, it was almost audible. Everyone’s eyes were upon her. In a school of all boys, any woman was a welcome blessing. But a young, attractive woman was more than we could have imagined. This English course would be like no other. Every boy in the class was already in love before she ever said a word. When she did, we were all lost forever.

TEACHER

Good morning. My name is Ms. Carpenter. Welcome to our course in Modern English Literature. In this class, we will explore love, adventure, intrigue, passion and even death.

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

I was in.

TEACHER

We will read some of the great writers of our time: Conrad, Hardy, Salinger, Joyce, Hemingway and Nabokov.

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

Nabokov. (beat) It had to be Lolita. (beat) My heart stopped. She didn’t actually say it, but she might as well have for all I heard. We were going to read about an English professor and his love for a young girl. Had she included sex in our exploration topics? I was sure that she did.

TEACHER

After you have read these classics of literature, we will discuss them and you will write critical responses about your experiences.

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

There was nothing she could say to dissuade our enthusiasm or excitement. We were the Lost Boys. And of course, she had come to save us. She would have our attention forever. We would follow her anywhere. She could have been Joan of Arc. To die for. It would have been enough for us just to look at her. Did I tell you how pretty she was? She was so beautiful that it took your breath away. Her long hair. Her slender figure. Her eyes. Oh my God, her eyes. And, when she spoke, she became even more beautiful.

TEACHER

But first, I want to get to know you all. When I call your name, please tell me why you enrolled for this class. After all, this course is an elective.

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

I tried to pay attention as she read the names on her list, but I was only aware that I was staring. Then, she came to mine.

TEACHER

Benjamin. (beat) How do you pronounce your last name?

BEN

It doesn’t matter. Ben is fine.

TEACHER

So, Ben without a last name. Why did you sign up for this course?

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

Why did I sign up for this course? I couldn’t have known she would be the teacher. That wasn’t the reason. (beat) Even though it was now, I couldn’t say that. Say something, but don’t sound stupid.

(BEN to the TEACHER)

BEN

THE CATCHER IN THE RYE has always been my favorite book, I blurted out.

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

God. Why did I say that?

TEACHER

Mine too. But, is that why you took this class?

BEN

No. (beat) No. I don’t know why I said that.

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

I could hear the class laughing. But, it didn’t matter. I could only see Ms. Carpenter.

(BEN to the TEACHER)

BEN

I took this class because I have always been interested in literature. All kinds of literature. But, I have been especially interested in J.D. Salinger. It’s not just his famous novel. I like all his work. I think his portrayal of the Glass family is particularly intriguing. Some of those stories came out before the Holden Caulfield novel, and I have always related to them.

TEACHER

Any in particular?

BEN

Yes. “A Perfect Day for Bannafish.” The story is about Seymour Glass.

TEACHER

That one is a little sad, don’t you think? It’s about suicide.

BEN

Not to me. I think that it’s about relationships.

TEACHER

Really? Between Seymour and his wife?

BEN

No. Between Seymour and Sybil, the girl on the beach.

TEACHER

Interesting.

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

That was all she said. “Interesting.” And, she went on the next student. How could I have been so lame? “I take it back,” I blurted out in my mind. “Please, call on me again. I can do better.” But, she didn’t.

So, that’s how the semester began. That day in the cafeteria, she was all we could talk about. “Did you get the hot new English teacher? Do you think she is married? There was no wedding ring. She can’t be much older than us. This is going to be a better year than I thought.” We could talk of nothing else.

(Lights fade out and back in.)

Scene 2

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

Weeks passed. I assumed the role of the invisible student in her class. But then, this happened. (beat)

Ms. Carpenter was handing back our papers. When she got to my desk, she paused.

TEACHER

Ben. Could I talk to you after school?

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

This can’t be good.

(BEN to the TEACHER)

BEN

Yes. Sure.

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

That is all that I could get out. The rest of the day was painfully long. Finally, the last bell rang and I headed for the English classroom.

(BEN to the TEACHER)

BEN

Ms. Carpenter?

TEACHER

Yes. Come in Ben. I wanted to talk to you about your last paper.

BEN

Was there something wrong with it? I could re-write it. That wouldn’t be a problem. I know I could have spent more time on it. Were there formatting issues? I sometimes don’t proof read as well as I should. Or, was the writing just awful?

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

I couldn’t shut up. Finally, Ms. Carpenter interrupted me.

TEACHER

Ben. It’s fine. Not to worry. I just wanted to discuss what you said.

BEN

O.K.

TEACHER

I thought you took a provocative stand on the Lolita novel. Most people find the English professor’s advances upon his step-daughter inappropriate at best. Many feel it’s reprehensible in any context. But you take a sympathetic view? Tell me why.

BEN

Well. It’s not easy to explain. I guess that I just felt bad for him. Like all of us, he was looking for love. Sometimes, we don’t get to choose who we fall in love with.

TEACHER

Don’t you think that their age difference and her being a minor should have stopped him?

BEN

Yes. Of course. But, are there ever any exceptions?

TEACHER

I suppose so.

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

And then, the conversation took a turn that I didn’t expect this.

TEACHER

I think that your writing and analysis are always very good. I can see your potential and if you like, I would be happy to work with you further on a number of student writing contests that are coming up. Would like some mentoring on them? I am generally always free after school. We could even meet somewhere off campus, if that suits you better.

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

For a moment, my heart stopped. Could I be hearing what she said correctly? This beautiful, young teacher wanted to spend some time with me outside of class. I was sure that I was dreaming.

(BEN to the TEACHER)

BEN

Yes. I would be honored.

TEACHER

Great. Let’s set up a time in the near future.

(BEN turns to the audience and smiles.)

(Lights fade out and back in.)

Scene 3

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

The next few days, I was living the dream. I made certain that my grooming was at its best when I came to class. I smiled whenever she said something, letting her know I understood the importance of her every word. I volunteered answers to most of the questions that she presented to the class. I was trying the best I could to make an impression. Then, our first meeting outside of class came.

(BEN and TEACHER are sitting at a coffee shop.)

TEACHER

I haven’t had a chance to read your last paper, but I wanted to meet with you. I apologize that it has taken me so long. I know that I said I would help you with your writing, but my life has taken a turn. There was a man that I used to date before coming here. We split up just before I left, but now he has come back into my life. So I am afraid I won’t be able to keep my promise to you. I wanted to tell you that I will be moving soon, back to where I came from and back to him.

BEN

Now?

TEACHER

No. Not immediately. I will stay until the end of the semester before leaving. I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be able to help you get ready for those writing contests, but I believe in your talent. Please keep writing.

BEN

Sure. O.K. I understand. You must be busy.

TEACHER

I’m sorry, Ben.

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

That was it. My fantasies were crushed. As I often did, I had read more into the situation than was actually there. The reality eventually set in. Why would this attractive young woman be interested in me anyway? There was our age difference. And, I wasn’t the most handsome or intelligent guy in class. But for a brief moment, I imagined I was. I had hoped that she was more interested in me than my writing. I kept imagining that one day I would receive a letter from her that would say, “It wasn’t just your imagination. Love, Ms. Carpenter.” But of course, that didn’t happen.

(Lights fade out and back in.)

Scene 4

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

The semester would eventually come to an end. I smiled less and volunteered fewer answers. The elation I had felt disappeared. I became just another one of the endless adoring boys in her class. I no longer was special.

On the last day, Ms. Carpenter came over to my desk. She leaned over and whispered to me, “Can you stay after today?” I nodded, yes.

At the end of the day, I once again walked back to the English classroom. Ms. Carpenter was already there.

TEACHER

Hello, Benjamin. Please come in.

(Ben sits down in a chair across from her desk.)

Do you remember when you said you liked the Salinger story, “A Perfect Day for Bannafish,” on the first day of class?

BEN

Yes, of course.

TEACHER

As you might have noticed, I was surprised when you said it wasn’t about suicide but relationships.

BEN

I remember. It was about the relationship between older man and a younger girl. I always wondered if Sybil had known that Seymour was going up to his hotel room to shoot himself, if she would have tried to stop him?

TEACHER

But she was just a young girl?

BEN

True. But somehow, despite their age difference, they had made a connection. Maybe, in the same way Lolita related to the English professor.

TEACHER

Do you blame the girl in Bananafish for not doing more?

BEN

No, not at all. I guess that’s how it often is with suicide. That nobody knows until it happens. I just wish she could have known.

TEACHER

Me too.

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

Ms. Carpenter got up and I knew the conversation was over.

TEACHER

Ben. I’ve enjoyed having you in class.

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

I told her the same, shook her hand and walked out of the classroom.

(Lights fade out and back in.)

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

Wait. (beat) Don’t go to blackout.

(Ben gestures to the lighting technicians above.)

I can’t let it end here. (beat) I didn’t tell you everything. There was something more that happened before I left. (hesitating) It seems unbelievable, even to me, but perhaps you should know this…

(TEACHER slides an envelope towards BEN.)

TEACHER

I want you to have this.

BEN

What is it?

TEACHER

It is something I wrote when I was younger. Please read it later.

(BEN to the audience)

BEN

We said our goodbye’s and I left with the letter in my hand.

(Lights fade out and back in.)

Scene 5

(BEN stands in the middle of a dark stage with only one light on him. He opens an envelope and reads the enclosed letter.)

BEN

“Dear Mr. Glass. It’s me, your young friend. I know that it has been years since our days at the beach, but I still remember them as if they were yesterday. I have been meaning to write to you for a long time. I so enjoyed the time we spent together and I think you did as well. I wanted to tell you that. I was only a little girl, but you always made me feel special. And in the end, I guess that’s what relationships are all about. I just wanted to let you know how much you meant to me and that I needed you. On that last day, I will always wonder if there was something I could have said to get you to stay. At least, I wished I would have tried. I hope that you have found peace. Love, Sybil Carpenter.”

(Lights fade out)

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