Last school year, I was given the opportunity to write a short play for a theater company in Hollywood. A
representative from “Theatre of Note,” the company, came by and gave us a quick writing workshop. From there, our class was given the chance to write a ten-minute play and submit it for the 2025 Young Writers’ Project. After submission, my play was chosen to be showcased. Here is an edited excerpt from the play I wrote, Underneath It All.
JULIETTE: (pushing her hands away)Why didn’t you tell me, Casey?
CASEY: There was nothing to tell; it wasn’t supposed to happen again. But he promised it wouldn’t happen again, and he apologized.
JULIETTE: But you said that this had happened before. He probably apologized that time, too, and then did it again, which means he’s a liar, and you should leave him.
CASEY: It’s not that easy.
JULIETTE: But it IS that easy. The school year is ending soon, you’ll have two months where you’ll never have to see him, and by the time senior year starts, nobody will remember any of it. Now is the perfect time to get out! You aren’t living together, and you aren’t knocked up
CASEY: I don’t expect you to understand.
JULIETTE: Oh, believe me, I understand. You’re wearing a turtleneck in June. (Juliette pauses, wondering how she didn’t notice anything sooner) And based on your wrist and what I’ve heard, I think I understand perfectly.
CASEY: You don’t know him like I do. Yes, yes, he gets angry, and yes, sometimes it gets bad, but underneath it all, underneath all the anger is this kind boy who makes me feel like I’m on top of the world.
JULIETTE: Underneath it all, you are a teenage girl who shouldn’t be bruised up and down her body. You are being delusional!
CASEY: That’s so easy for you to say. You’ve always been jealous of me. You-
JULIETTE: Clearly, your relationship isn’t something to be jealous of. I mean, look at you!
CASEY: Ryan is right. You aren’t a good friend.
JULIETTE: (hurt on the verge of tears) Cas.
CASEY: You’re a narcissist, and you don’t support me.
JULIETTE: Casey, this is me supporting you; he’s hurting you, you deserve better. I am your friend, and I can’t stand by and watch this. What he’s doing to you is not love. (Ryan comes back neither of them see him he’s far enough where he can’t hear but he’s watching) Please, Casey, listen to me.
CASEY: You don’t get it. (the lunch bell rings)
JULIETTE: (sees Ryan walking over to them) I hope I never do. (grabs her bag and her tray turning away and then turning back to Casey after taking one step) Leave him. (Juliette opens her mouth making a sound as if she was going to say more but just shakes her head instead. Casey stands there as Juliette throws her trash away and walks off).
CASEY: (Casey’s arm reaches out a little she wants to go with Juliette but her heart has her feet frozen place. Juliette is gone Casey grabs her bag she finally sees Ryan and offers Ryan a weak smile) Walk me to class?
RYAN: What did you tell her? (stepping closer)
CASEY: That I fell.
CASEY: I told her the truth. (Ryan’s grip tightens, and before he can say anything) That it was my fault and I made you mad and- she understands.
RYAN: I don’t want you to speak to her anymore.
CASEY: She didn’t mean-
RYAN: Did she see your neck?
CASEY: No, but almost, this stupid turtleneck is so itchy and-
RYAN: (A sigh of relief pulling Casey in) You’ve got to be more careful. I could’ve gotten in trouble.
CASEY: (Casey looks at him and then to where Juliette was standing, for a moment almost letting herself feel betrayed by him blaming her but stops herself) Right. I’m sorry.
RYAN: It’s okay we just can’t let it happen again. I love you.
CASEY: I know you do. (hugging him).
The play is about a young girl, Casey, who is being abused by her boyfriend, Ryan. Her friend, Juliette, finds poorly covered bruises along Casey’s body, and as any good friend would, she begs Casey to leave him.
When discussing domestic violence, people often ask, “Why didn’t you leave?” or “Why didn’t you tell anybody?” As easy as it seems to just walk away, often it isn’t. Domestic violence is defined by Oxford Languages as “Violent or aggressive behavior within the home,” and it can involve a spouse, partner, or parent. About 10 million people in America experience domestic abuse each year. If it truly were that easy to walk away, there wouldn’t be this many victims.
This is a topic that needs to be discussed. Victims are often manipulated by their abusers to the point that their own brains betray them. The abuser often first portrays themselves as a kind and warm person, sometimes even engaging in love-bombing to make the victim feel safer and build trust.
Soon after, the abuser begins to shift, starting with little comments to belittle the victim, becoming more controlling of their language or even their clothing. Finally, the yelling and physical abuse often follow. Because the victim remembers how great their partner was at first, they don’t let go; they hold on to those good pieces.
In the play, Casey ultimately has to choose between Juliette and Ryan. She chooses her boyfriend, Ryan, but with remaining uncertainty. She knows what he is doing is wrong, yet she allows herself to take the blame and justify the abuse instead of holding him accountable. The play ends there with the intention of forcing the audience into Casey’s shoes to wonder what she will do. It makes them look at her perspective and weigh the options from her standpoint.
As a society, we need to stop blaming victims for not speaking up sooner or for not stopping things. Instead, we should allow ourselves to see their view and empathize with what they’ve gone through. If we come to understand these stories and the reasoning behind them, we can better prepare others not to fall into the same traps. That is why I wrote this piece.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a time to promote awareness and educate the public. Survivors share their stories and highlight resources to help prevent domestic violence and provide a lifeline for those in danger.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are resources available:
The National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text “START” to 88788.
AMs Brother • Oct 25, 2025 at 9:58 pm
What great article, moved me emotionally.