Lo, Kenny
Susan Giosa Acting Class
03/2021
Rabbit Hole Script Analysis
* DO NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS
Assigned Character: Howie
Time in Story: Present
Play Published: 2007
Location: Larchmont, New York
Script Analysis Criteria:
1. What the author says about the character?
2. Profound I’s
3. What do the other characters say about the character?
4. What does the character say about the other characters?
5. What is the character’s philosophy about the world?
6. What are the facts?
About Howie:
● Age range is from 30-40
● A husband to Becca
● Was a father
● Has a brother
Profound I’s
● Does not want to move and loves this house
● Wants to try again for another baby
● Misses the dog and wants him back
● Blames himself for Danny’s Death
○ Buying the dog
○ Left the gate unlatched
● Believes he only needs a real estate agent for their problem of selling the house
What Characters Say About Howie:
Izzy (Sister In-Law)
● Thinks Howie is a lucky man
● Thinks Howie should redo Danny’s room (after he hosted an open house) and that is why they aren’t
having any lucky selling the house
● Doesn't think her family nor Howie support her in her pregnancy
● Wants to protect her sister by letting Howie know that he should be honest if he is having an affair
○ Does not think that having an affair with another woman will help Howie cope
Becca
● Thinks Howie makes her feel guilty about disconnection
● Becca thinks that Howie is insensitive to her feelings
○ Thinks Howie is insensitive or does not consider the situation a serious one
■ Thinks he is naughty and is always thinking about sex
○ Thinks Howie is too soon with sexual advances or talks of another child
● Thinks it is easy for Howie because he gets to work all day, while she is at home reminded of their
tragedy
● Wants Howie to sell the house so they could move
● Thinks Howie should lie to her mom about her not going to therapy sessions
● Thinks Howie is not in a better place, but in a different place (when it comes to grief about Danny’s
death)
● Thinks Howie is not up for hearing what Jason has to say, but she does not care what Howie thinks
about this
○ So, she speaks to Jason without consent/consideration from Howie
Jason
● Wants to apologize to Howie about the accident and him going over the speed limit which killed Danny
What Howie Says About The Other Characters:
● Believes Becca should reach out to Debbie
● Believes that a baby can “wake” a person up or be good for Izzy
● Thinks that they will never be ready and go back to where they once were before they lost their child
● Thinks Becca lacks intimacy
● Wants to have another child with Becca
● Believes that Becca erased the tape on purpose because she is coping by removing Danny’s memories
in a forceful manner
● Wants Becca to bring their dog, Taz, back into their life
● Thinks Izzy misconstrued his friendship with another support group member as infidelity
● Does not want to see or talk to Jason, or absolve him of his guilt
● Hopes Izzy is ready for being a mother
Philosophies (Howie):
● Thinks they need to go away for vacation to destress
● Thinks therapy and a support group is a good idea for process of grieving
● Thinks they should try again for another child
● Finds comfort in viewing videotapes of Danny
● Believes that a baby can “wake” a person up or be good for a person
● Howie later decides the grief counseling is no longer helping him and wants to work on his feelings on
his own time
● Howie is hopeful for their future
What are the facts:
● Danny, the four year old son, died in an accident by chasing his dog
○ The vehicle struck Danny and was caused by Jason
● There is a lack of intimacy between Becca and Howie
● Arthur, Becca’s Brother, was a heroin addict that killed himself
