Suppressed Desires

by Susan Glaspell

Genre: Comedy, Drama
Setting: America
Format of Original Source: Play
Recommended Adaptation Length:

Candidate for Adaptation? Promising

EXCERPT:

MABEL

[Rushing to her.] Henrietta, he’s found it!

HENRIETTA

[Aloof.] Who has found what?

MABEL

Who has found what? Dr. Russell has found my suppressed desire!

HENRIETTA

That is interesting.

MABEL

He finished with me today–he got hold of my complex–in the most amazing way! But, oh, Henrietta–it is so terrible!

HENRIETTA

Do calm yourself, Mabel. Surely there’s no occasion for all this agitation.

MABEL

But there is! And when you think of the lives that are affected–the readjustments that must be made in order to bring the suppressed hell out of me and save me from the insane asylum–!

HENRIETTA

The insane asylum!

MABEL

You said that’s where these complexes brought people!

HENRIETTA

What did the doctor tell you, Mabel?

MABEL

Oh, I don’t know how I can tell you–it is so awful–so unbelievable.

HENRIETTA

I rather have my hand in at hearing the unbelievable.

MABEL

Henrietta, who would ever have thought it? How can it be true? But the doctor is perfectly certain that I have a suppressed desire for–

[Looks at HENRIETTA, is unable to continue.

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