Lexi-crises: Neurodiversity
Script by Lotous
Michalopoulou
Characters:
Neurotypical
ADHD
Autism
You can find previous Lexi-crises stories here:
https://dearfuturehistorians.blogspot.com/2022/01/lexi-crisis-ii-empathy.html
INSIDE / LONDON TAVERNA BATHROOM / NIGHT
Fade in.
The door opens and Neurotypical comes in.
We hear smooth music from the Taverna till the door shuts back. She is walking
towards the tabs, and she is playful with the water and the mirror. Smooth
sensory experience.
The door opens again. We hear people music and clatter
mixing overwhelmingly. Autism enters. Lights on stage get brighter.
She makes a couple of steps with her hand shutting her ears, till the door
shuts back and the noise from the Taverna stops, and Autism stops when she sees
Neurotypical, as if she got jumped-scared.
Neurotypical
Hi. Nice party! Boy, am I drunk.
Autism replies with a shy nob.
Neurotypical*
Did you see that boys can come in here now? When I was little
and thinking 2024, I was dreaming of flying cars, or al least skateboards, like
in back to the future. But, a mix gender bathroom? This I did not imagine. Not
that I mind. No.
As Neurotypical* talks, Autism
walks towards the loo, opens the door with her sleeve, and realises there’s
nowhere to hang her stuff. She comes out stressed and confused what to do. She
takes her coat off.
Neurotypical is just
finished talking, and she is looking in the mirror. She sees Autism
frozen and turns to her.
Neurotypical
Are you OK?
Autism
I’m OK.
The door opens. ADHD’s music.
ADHD enters. We hear his music
from his headphones. He sees girls and gets confused. He takes his headphones
off.
ADHD
Sorry. Wrong...
Neurotypical
No. It’s a mix gender bathroom. We were just talking about that
actually.
ADHD smiles politely. He goes to
put his headphones back, and heads to the toilets, but sees Autism
in stress, holding her coat awkwardly.
ADHD
Do you need help?
Autism
There is no hook in there! No hook. Nothing to hang my staff or
something.
ADHD
I could hold your coat for you if you like.
Autism
Thank you SO much. Could you also hold this...
Pointing her purse to him. She’s going towards him to pass
him the coat and purse, but Neurotypical starts playing with the
hand-dryer. It’s way too loud. Autism gets jump-scared, drops her
coat, and freaks out, breathing way too fast.
ADHD
Don’t worry. We can fix this. I have a solution. But first,
focus on breathing. Inhale, hold for a bit, exhale. (He takes something out
of his backpack). Antibacterial spray! Just for occasions like this.
ADHD picks up
the coat and sprays it. Then he uses an antibacterial gel hanging from a hook
of his backpack. Then he puts the spray back and zipps the bag. He takes the
antibacterial off its hook and offers it to Autism.
Autism takes some antibacterial.
Neurotypical (Inner
dialogue)
What on earth are those two are doing? What is that spray? Did he
say antibacterial? Did no one tell them the pandemic is gone? Have I entered a time portal? And, if she did need help, why she didn’t accept
mine? Rude!
Neurotypical
I thought you said you are OK. Why didn’t you ask me for help?
Autism
I can’t explain. People don’t understand.
ADHD
I think she is struggling to explain to you at the moment, as
she is overwhelmed. (Towards Autism) I get
non-verbal too when I am stressed.
Autism nobs affirmatively.
Neurotypical
Oo, sorry. I didn’t realise you two know each other. What
happened to her? Can I help?
Autism
No. No. No.
ADHD
No. We haven’t met before. And, I don’t think anything happened
to her other than what we both know already. (He turns to Autism for
confirmation).
Autism
Germs. Germs. They’re everywhere. And, their favourite place must
be public bathrooms. Is that not enough?
Neurotypical laughs hysterically
and drunk.
Autism withdraws with a step back
and stays frozen till ADHD addresses her.
ADHD
Hey. That wasn’t very nice. Was it?
Neurotypical
Oo. You ARE serious. Lol. Sorry. I though she was kidding. I am
quite drunk let me remind you. But, I did not mean to offend her. I sincerely
apologise. I just want to understand. All this stuff are very new to me.
ADHD to Autism
I am sorry this happened to you. But, it’s OK now. I will keep
your staff safe. You can go.
Autism goes in one of the toilets,
opening the door with her sleeve.
ADHD turns to Neurotypical
Most people are what is called ‘neurotypical’. Self-explanatory.
They have a ‘typical’ brain. But, some people are neurodiverse. Their brain…
our brain, is wired differently. We experience the world, everything around us,
in a different way than most you… well, most people do. I don’t want to assume
your neurons.
Neurotypical
Hahahahahaha. I guess you can’t assume either gender or neurons
now days.
ADHD
You DO sound drunk. Imagine how you’ll be tomorrow morning.
Imagine a perpetual hungover, without even having the previous night. Our
everyday experience, every moment, is too loud and too bright, and too
overwhelming.
Autism comes out of the loo, and
she walks to wash her hands counting 20. She rinses thoroughly. Overwhelming sound
effects of water falling in metal sink. She then goes back in the loo and grabs
some toilet paper and wipes her hands. She then bins the paper. Then, takes her
staff from ADHD, who is waiting patiently.
Neurotypical Inner
dialogue
Why did she choose the sink further away from me? Is she
counting? 17, 18, 19, 20. Hmmm. I had a nephew who got eczema during Covid for
doing that after seeing it in on the tele.
Autism to ADHD
Thank you.
ADHD
You’re welcome.
Neurotypical walks
towards Autism to dust something off her shoulder.
Autism takes another step back.
ADHD
Remember what we said? Different and overwhelmed? It’s better if
you warn and ask consent before you touch someone. Watch the ‘cup of tea’ video
on YouTube.
Neurotypical
Oo. Sorry. I just wanted to dust this petal off of your
shoulder. It must be from the Taverna party. Did you see them throw flowers on the
live-music stage. They even smash dishes today. May I? Dust the petal?
Autism
OK.
ADHD
Happy holidays and a happy New Year to you both.
ADHD puts his
headphones back and walks towards the toilets. Walks off stage.
Neurotypical and Autism start walking to the exit.
Neurotypical
So, what do you think of the party today?
Neurotypical opens the
door. Autism following. We hear the Taverna music again.
Neurotypical and Autism walk out, off stage.
Fade out.
Festive music from the taverna.
The End
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