Mad to Be Normal

---

["Season of the

Witch" by Donovan]

When I look out my window

Many sights to see

And when I look

inside my window

So many different people to be

That it's strange

It sure is strange

You've gotta pick

up every stitch

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Must be the

season of the witch

Must be the

season of the witch

Must be the

season of the witch

["You Really Got

Me" by The Kinks]

Girl, you really got me going

- Hi.

- Hi.

You got me so I don't

know what I'm doin' now

Hello, I'm Jim.

- Hi, Angie.

- Jim Roberts.

- So nice to meet you.

- Nice to meet you.

Are you a doctor yourself?

- Well, kind of.

- Yeah.

I have an academic interest--

Oh wow.

- In the field, yes.

- I can tell.

Yes.

I can, I can introduce

you to him if you'd like.

Me?

- Yeah.

You really got me.

You really got me.

Let me tell you about Julie.

Ah, by the time I'd met her,

she'd been in a,

a mental hospital or

a bin for nine years.

She was mostly mute.

She was labeled a

chronic schizophrenic.

When she did speak,

she spoke in what's

called schizophrenise

which is a language which is

apparently nonsensical,

but if anyone does

actually look,

care to look, it does

actually make sense.

Anyway, she had

a very difficult

relationship with her mother,

who only responded positively

when Julie behaved perfectly,

so Julie never had

any difficulties

with eating or

sleeping or teething,

potty training,

walking or talking.

She was like an automaton.

But she felt that her true

self was being murdered.

"I wasn't mothered,

I was smothered.

"She wasn't a mother,

she was killing me,

"she was cutting out my tongue."

Because her mother

didn't let her develop,

to become independent,

Julie saw her as a

destructive black sun

blocking out all life.

- Freak!

- Give me the knife.

Put it down.

Raymond, put it down.

Raymond put it,

drop it!

Come on.

Alright?

You alright?

Yeah

Shall we?

Come on, good man, let's go.

That's it.

Well we're all here

to support each other,

so that, you know, but

that also means you can,

you can decide to engage or

not engage as you see fit.

Everyone has their own space

which they can retreat to.

You have your

own private space

that you can get away?

Everyone does, everyone

here has their own space.

Mm, that's nice.

I think that's important,

to give that sense of security.

We're very much

one community, one,

one group of people

living together

as best we can.

But sometimes you need to,

you need to be able

to be by yourself.

I think that's important.

Why did you say mothers

make their

children schizophrenic?

I get angry when

people misquote me.

I never said all mothers

make their children

schizophrenic, I never

said all families are bad,

despite what those f***ers say.

Which f***ers?

Those f***ers out to get me.

Raymond is enjoying

some role play.

He's Jesus, I'm Pontius Pilate.

He thinks I am going to

wash my hands of him,

which I won't do.

What's wrong with him?

Ask him.

There are many

people like Raymond

claiming to be the messiah

and they are

incarcerated, electrocuted,

drugged, restrained,

imprisoned against their will.

Why was he in prison?

Nah, it's not prison

it's a hospital.

Oh.

It's meant to be a

cure not a punishment.

I had no idea.

Is it true you don't

prescribe any drugs?

No tranquilizers,

no, no sedatives of any kind

designed to deaden the mind.

And her?

She does have a name you know.

Maria?

Maria, do you want to come

talk to our friend here?

Maria gave birth to a wee boy,

and what should have

been a happy time

became something very unhappy

and she descended into darkness

and she was diagnosed

with what we call

postpartum depression.

Bless you my child.

Maria is a high priestess.

What do you do with

someone like Raymond?

What would you like me to do?

Well, he frightens me.

So he should be locked

up because you're afraid?

He's banishing your demons.

You need to come visit us again.

Oh, I'd like that.

It was very interesting.

Is that good interesting

or bad interesting?

Interesting's a very

interesting word.

I found it quite humbling.

Truth be told.

Well that's alright.

Come on then.

Hello?

- Yeah.

Is this Dr. Laing?

Speaking.

Hi, erm, my

name is Angie Wood.

Mm hmm.

Jim Roberts

gave me your number.

Does Jim think you

need to come see me?

No, I was at

your lecture actually.

Will you be coming to

any more of my lectures?

Erm, I, I don't know.

I, I was so impressed

by, by what you said.

I'm a postgraduate student

of psychology at Columbia.

- Mm hmm.

- In New York.

I know where it is, yeah.

Of course you do,

it's in New York.

I'm so stupid.

No not at all,

you sound charming,

you sound like someone I should

probably be having lunch with.

Yeah,

Jim said you'd say that too.

You know Lexington Street?

Yeah, sure.

So tired, tired of waiting

Tired of waiting for you

You must be Angie.

Hi. Oh.

What, are you made

of electricity?

You want me to answer

that as a scientist

or a psychiatrist?

Sorry, I'm just

a little nervous.

Something to drink?

- Just some Chianti.

- Very good.

So why are we here?

Well I was so

impressed and just amazed

at your lecture, and Jim said

you'd meet me if I asked, so.

I guess you already

know that part.

Would

you like to try?

I'm sure that's fine.

First of the day.

How well do you know Jim?

Oh, he's the first and

only time I've met him

was at your lecture.

My PHD is on gestalt therapy

and that kind of thing.

And I've just, I've read

so much about your work

and your books.

But not actually

read any of 'em?

Well, I've

been meaning to, I just...

Well at least you were

impressed, amazed at my lecture.

You're not taking me

very seriously are you?

We won't be eating.

- Here.

Here, here?

Aye, this is home.

I thought you

just worked here.

Well, that too.

A little girl of 17

in a mental hospital

told me she was terrified

because the atom bomb

was inside her.

That is a delusion.

The statesmen of the world

who boast and threaten

that they have doomsday

weapons are far more dangerous

and far more estranged from

reality than many of the people

on whom they label

psychotic is affixed.

Not wrong though am I?

Normal f***ing man

has killed 100 million

of his fellow normal man

in the last 50 years.

Whatever happened to her?

Long time ago.

I don't know, she

might still be there.

Couldn't she come here?

I mean, maybe she could

get some help here?

Hang around, you'll find out.

Oh I bet you say

that to all the girls.

Aye, I do.

Sorry, I'm already late.

Patient?

No, my kids are

down from Glasgow.

Children?

I didn't, I didn't

realize you were married.

You didn't ask.

So your wife...

If it makes you feel any

better we're gettin' divorced.

No, doesn't.

What, you'd rather sleep

with a happily married man?

Please don't twist my words.

So, why are you

getting divorced?

Because we don't

love each other

or even like each other anymore.

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