everybody else. Dr. T. gave me this big red book and told me to read it. I did read it and objected to all the stuff about God. Slowly and grudgingly I concluded that I there may be a God and I am not It.
Shortly after that I was in a rage and page 63 of Alcoholics Anonymous revealed to me that I could not live with anger any longer. Through no action of my own I had a spiritual experience that shook me to the foundation of myself and the desire to drink was removed from me. With the help of this book and Dr. T. I have concluded that no human power could have relieved my alcoholism.
This was met with stunned silence by the group. Everyone recognized that she had had a spiritual experience of a very profound nature.
M.M.
I want to add this one thing so that the wives here will know that I am here for sobriety. I am a Lesbian with a capital L. I would not have been a threat to your husband when I was drinking and a drunk. I am not now a threat to them and while I want to be treated with respect like a lady, you do not need to worry about me messing with your man.
Clapping all around.
B.W. standing up and leaning on the fireplace. Tall and skinny, wearing hand me downs suit with a tie. The coat sleeves and pant legs are at least an inch too short and his white socks show between his pants and shoes.
B.W.
My name is Bill and I am an alcoholic.
Group:”Hi Bill”.
B.W.
Most of you know that we adopted that introduction from our friends at the Oxford Group. I might add that we are no longer affiliated with them because our focus is on the individual alcoholic and their focus is on God. We alcoholics need God but simple folks that we are we need a lot more direct instructions on how to live sober.
Now I want to welcome Mrs.. Mann to our fellowship. I met Marty through Dr. T. at Blythewood. Dr. T. you know is one of our greatest supporters in the Medical Field and he was complimented with a copy of the Big Book mimeographed edition to see if we are on track medically. He read it and gave the copy to Marty to read. That is the copy she has in her hands now. Trust me folks, she is a rummy just like us. Don’t be fooled by those fine Madison Avenue clothes she is wearing.
Laughter and applause.
Holding up a copy of the published Big Book.
B.W.
This is a great and glorious day for us in AA. This is the first copy of the first edition of the book Alcoholics Anonymous published by Works Publishing Company. I met our great and wonderful friend Dr Bob in Akron in 1935. On June 10, 1935 Dr Bob took his last drink and that is the date Alcoholics Anonymous was founded.
Dr Bob and I knew we had a way to stay sober by finding other alkies and helping them get sober. While in Akron we got two or three and I came home to New York and got a few more. Two years later I visited Akron again and when we added them up there was more than 100 of us. Dr Bob and I agreed that we needed a book to keep us on track. Now, two more years have passed and we have The Book.
That is all the time we have for the meeting tonight. I know that some of you have to go to work early in the morning so please stand and join me in closing in the usual manner. Our Father .
At the end of the Lord’s Prayer most of the group stand around and talk and drink coffee for a few minutes and then one or two at a time drift out the door until there are only four or five left including Marty, Lois, B.W., and two others. The lights fade and when they come back on there are five people sitting in a small room with living room furniture, sofa, a love seat and two easy chairs.
B.W.
Well Mrs.. Mann or can we call you Marty?
M.M.
Whatever you are comfortable with, my friends call me Marty and others call me Mrs. Mann. I just want to be a part of AA and stay sober and help others. I hope that is possible!
B.W.
Well Marty. Calling you Marty feels more comfortable to me. One of the first things most of us have to deal with is resentment. This is the number one offender for alcoholics. In step four we identify our resentments and get rid of them once and for all.
M.M.
I have read that in the book and I worked out a chart of people I have been angry with and to be honest, I don’t have any resentments. I hate a lot of people but resentments, I don’t have any. Round of laughter of identification. I don’t think I am being funny when I say that.
B.W.
We all laugh because we have been where you are with that one. Let me ask you this. Have you ever been angry or mad at someone in your entire life?
M.M.
Of course I have. Lots of times.
B.W.
What did you do and think when that happened?
M.M.
Well I just thought about it a lot. Relived the incident over and over. Planned the dismemberment or death of the offender. Wished they would die.
B.W.
That is resentment. Reliving the incident over and over and wishing for the punishment of the person we are angry with.
M.M.
Well in that case, I guess I do have a few resentments that I need to get rid of, especially if that is going to cause me to drink.
B.W.
OK folks, that is about all the time we have tonight. It is late and we ought to catch a little sleep before tomorrow starts over. We have plenty of extra places to sleep. Marty you can have the bed in one of the extra bedrooms upstairs. Anyone else who wants to stay can sleep on a couch or floor or where ever you can find a soft place to lie down. We will have breakfast in the morning about seven, morning devotional and then be on our way to do our own things. One more thing, especially Marty, you don’t have to get all of this by Thursday.
Scene III
Drat’s Office Blythwood
Dr. T.
Tell me about the meeting.
M.M.
Well it was not what I expected. There were no old unshaved men in trench coats and the women there did not look and act like hookers. Lois, Bill’s wife was just as gracious as could be. When I cried she held me and comforted me until I could regain control. She sat by me and when I needed support, she gave it. But I really fit in. When I told them that I am a Lesbian, no one reacted. Maybe they do not know what a Lesbian is or does.
Dr. T.
Sounds good. Go on.
M.M.
You know, I could finish the sentences of the men who shared. They could have been where I have been. I may have even been on a drunk with some of them. Thank Goodness for black outs. I felt like I had come home. I definitely belong to this group.
Dr. T.
Go on. Tell me more.
M.M.
They questioned me about my drinking and said that for someone who looks as good as I do they found it difficult to believe that I had suffered enough. I told them about my black outs and drunks in Europe and when I finished, they said, OK, you are one of us. Welcome aboard.
Dr. T.
Go on, please continue.
M.M.
Then the meeting ended and I stayed and talked with Bill and a few others about resentments. I sure have a lot of work to do. B.W. is my sponsor. He is so charismatic. So is Lois.
Dr. T.
Tell me about your resentments.
M.M.
Well ! I have acted as though all I have to do to get back at someone for offending me is to hate them enough and plan their punishment in my head and they will suffer. Turns out, I am the only one who suffers for this. ‘B.W. says it is like me drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.’ I don’t know but I am willing to try to give up my resentments and see what happens.
Dr. T.
I don’t see how it can hurt anything or make it worse.
M.M.
I have one of the first copies of the new book Alcoholics Anonymous that just came off the press. It is the same as the Red Book you gave me.
Lois and Bill know all about the High Watch Farm that NON talks about and B.W. and Lois and all of us are going up for a few days of spiritual nurturing. Then I need to fin
d a job. I want to find a place to live in the city so I can meet with my sponsor and work on carrying the message.
Dr. T.
All of that from one meeting. AA did in one meeting what I have been trying to do for People Like You, Alcoholics, for years. Who am I to question the results?
M.M.
One more thing. Bill and Lois have been living in the home that once belonged to her family but their mortgage got behind and they were foreclosed on and are being evicted. Bill’s group has been meeting there but they have to find a new place. I am hoping that we will be able to start a group of AA here at Blythwood Sanitarium for the alcoholics here and in this area.
DR. T
I will request the management for an AA Meeting. They have approved a six months extension of your residence to give you time to get some sobriety and find a job and save a few dollars to get started over with. This will provide you with a total of almost three years here at Blythewood.
Scene IV
Hi Watch Farm, B.W. and Marty
B.W.
This place feels like sacred ground.
M.M.
I know what you mean. I feel it too. My sister and Grennie, her husband shared their
feelings about it with me last night.
B.W.
I have been surprised by Mrs.. X who owns the farm. She wants to give it to Alcoholics Anonymous so we can use it as an AA retreat and recovery training center. What do you think?
M.M.
Spectacular! I had this vision in my dream the other night. We can bring drunks here, sober them up, teach them how to practice the program and train them to carry the message. You know we need a plan of action to spread the word faster than the one to one we have had up to now.
B.W.
Ummmm! How does that work? It concerns me that we have been working for five years and have only reached a little