Characters: Staff Member
College Student
Scene: Staff member's office, and on a phone
Time: 4:59 pn Friday

(It is 5:00 on a Friday. Staff member is just about to leave on a much deserved weekend trip when a call comes in from a student, who asks for someone he knows is already gone.)

STAFF MEMBER
Hello, undergraduate advising, how may we help you?

STUDENT (On the telephone)
I need to talk to Karen Paige, is she still there?

STAFF MEMBER
No.. ah, there's no one here just now. I can take a message…?

STUDENT

I just wanted to talk to her to say goodbye. Would you just give her a message for me? She was always nice to me, but I'm not going to be around anymore, so I just want her to know I said goodbye before I left. Maybe you could thank her for me.

STAFF MEMBER
I can give her the message, but why don't you call back on Monday and talk to her directly. I'll just take your number, and she can call you, if you like….

STUDENT
That'll be too late. I'll be gone by then

STAFF MEMBER
Here, let me give you our toll-free number. It's…

STUDENT
I'm going to be gone for good. As in dead. (pauses for effect as Staff Member reacts) I just took a bunch of pills. I wonder -- how long does it take to take effect? 25 extra strength Tylenol. Do you think that's enough?

STAFF MEMBER
That, ummm, sounds like a lot. You know, I'm really concerned about you. Maybe I should send someone over to help you. Where are you?

STUDENT
You don't even know me, do you? Why do you care?

STAFF MEMBER
If you took those pills… to kill yourself… things must be feeling pretty awful for you. But, ah, part of you wants to live and decided to call here. Even though I don’t know you, I don’t want you to die. Problems that can seem overwhelming now can be resolved or feel manageable later on. (pauses, gets no response) Has… has something bad happened to you?

STUDENT
My whole life has been bad. I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to keep on going.

STAFF MEMBER
Right now you don't want to talk about it, but we need to get you some help so you can be safe. Can you tell me where you are? I….

STUDENT
No, I don't want to.

STAFF MEMBER
But I can….

STUDENT
Goodbye. (Student hangs up)

(END)