Didi- Raising the Stakes exercise by Characters

New Draft Raising the Stakes Exercise

Main Characters: Lena, Dan, Fifi, Lena, Nancy

Character List with stakes and actions.

Lena

Organizing party for sister.

Stake - wants sister’s appreciation.

-wants to assuage her guilt (for quietly loving her sister’s husband)

-wants mother’s approval

-wants to have a good time and feel good about herself as the organizer

- Anxiety, spending problems and debt. Overweight with binge disorder. Secretly enamored with her sister’s husband, Dan. Obsessive, introvert/extravert

Shown by:

-anxiety to get it right. Over the top with concern about invite list.

-slips out how dog loved her sister more than her- jealousy.

-making an awkward attempt to lead the “get to know each other game”, repeatedly introducing herself for attention- gatekeeping, controlling.

-difficulty leaving Dan (sister’s husbands) side after affair reveal.

Dan

Terry’s husband, cohosting the party with Lena.

-Wants to support and please wife with surprise party

- wants to save face after affair reveal and get through party without drama.

-hidden addiction- Porn, introvert

Shown by:

-co-organized and paid for party

-primary care for young son

-joins in game despite preferring not to- for party spirit

-acts calm throughout, until breakdown near the end- when people have gone.

Nancy (Terry and Lena’s mom)

-wants her daughter’s to be happy and to love her

-worries that her secret affair was harmful to them growing up

-wants to feel good in her own skin (searching for answers in self-help jargon)

Addictions- self help, prescription pills, extravert

Shown by:

Efforts to help with party spirit and participate in game

Need to be alone and break down upon hearing about affair (toilet scene).

Concern for her grandson. Willingness to help out.

Fifi

-wants to be a devoted friend to Terry

-wants to be seen and appreciated as a flamboyant gay man

-Excessive drinking, use of party drugs (mdma etc.), extravert

Shown by:

-over the top, entertaining words and actions

-engaging in conversations in support of Rusty

Tessa

-wants to use the party as an opportunity to practice skills gained in therapy

-wants to change – connect with people and be happier

- sexual abuse survivor, OCD- fixation with elephant figurine, George, intravert

Shown-

-willingness to participate in game and efforts to socialize

-is slow to grasp what is happening in the room

-makes assertive efforts towards Rusty

Rusty

-wants to be accepted by Terry’s circle, though it is a stretch to his introversion

-wants to do the right thing after affair reveal – should I stay or should I go

-wants to leave – forces himself to engage in conversations, tell Terry off

Introverted, sexual abuse history, people pleaser.

Shown by:

-pushing himself to participate while being called to the bar

-accepts conversations, even support, before leaving

-maintaining concern for others at this difficult time