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Psychotic USA

A dramedy.. A twisted view of the ineptness of modern day psychiatric treatment as seen through the lens of four patients in an asylum. An Angel saves the day! Funny and engaging . Imagine "Girl Interrupted + One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest + Running With Scissors + Touched By An Angel = Psychotic USA" (Based on book Psychotica, USA on Amazon) (Could be pilot script for possible mini-series based on vignettes in book) (Copyright Wash DC)

Previous quarter-finalist in Nicholl Fellowship contest.

Psychotic USA is the story of four suicidal desperadoes. They just can't cope. Eliza is an angel sent from the Heavens. She disguises herself as a patient, Lily. The story is told in flashbacks. It is weaved with present time in their twisted spiritual demise. Einstein, the all-so-perfect Momma's Whiny Boy has a family history of suicide. Hillary, the proverbial upper-middle-class Barbie-Doll mother thought her life would be utterly "perfect" all the time.

Marva, the epitome of the Black Matriarch had a Mom who bludgeoned Marva's biological father to death. She was raised by her GrandMoma. Now she's married to a man who lies, cheats and steals from her.

Jessie, is a pharmacist who is married to a man who is about 30+ years older than her. His name is George. She grew up in the foster care system. She was smart enough to snag a scholarship despite her dysfunctional upbringing.

The Fab Four know each other from prior hospital admissions in Psychotic USA. They form this engaging bond with each other. Comrades. Friends. Soulmates, of sorts.

The story satirizes the shrinks - Dr. Ritch and Dr. Penny. Their ineffective treatment plans are grossly satirized. Dr. Kung Fooey is an Acupuncture Psychologist. Dr. Luv heads the CYBER PSYCHO BABBLE LAB. Dr. Shock heads the SHOCK TREATMENT LAB. And of course, there is the countless pills that seem to do more harm than good.

The Angel, Eliza disguises herself as Lily, a patient. She acts anyway she wants to. Lily is "labeled" as a "delusional psychotic". She is a persona who wears all types of outfits to satisfy her theme for the day. Her many guises allow her permeability in Psychotic USA. After all she is a delusional psychotic, n'est pas?

Eliza is in Psychotic USA because she wants a promotion in Heaven. Archangel Michael instructs her that this was her next assignment in the Cosmos. With cynical reluctance, she takes on the mammoth task. She's ticked because she has to go to Planet Earth, "where they all have such pointless little lives, anyway".

The story blends Einstein, Hillary, Marva's and Jessie's interpretation of their spiritual dance in life. Why is it that others can transcend the conditioning for pain while others cannot seem to etch their way out of a paper bag? Ah, the sweet mysteries of the mind!

The film satirizes the various tried and failed treatment modalities that each agrees to in Psychotic USA. In the end, they are truly "Touched By An Angel". Three decide to stay alive, with insight. One does the ultimate act. Eliza transfigures and transforms and goes back into the galaxy.

***The film is loosely based on the book, Psychotica USA, published by iUniverse. ***

Script Excerpt
Written by:
Format:
Screenplay
Starring Roles For:
Winona Ryder/Kate McKinnon/Chloe Fineman
Regina King/Margaret Cho/Julia Stiles
Bowen Yang/Marcello Hernandez/Michael Longfellow
In the Vein Of:
Girl Interrupted/Running With Scissors
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Touched by an Angel
Posted:
06/13/2024
Updated:
11/10/2024
Author Bio:
Micheline is a freelance writer and a produced playwright. (Dominican University, Marin County, CA.) She's a skilled comedic improvisor. She has performed stand-up comedy on both the East and West Coasts. "I love to create comedic satire because I can't think of anything else better to do." She's had numerous articles published in various publications. One was in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series (2017) where she described her encounter on meeting Robin Williams in the 1990's.

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