Domestic Violence, Break the Chain, a Play

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Break the Chain is a play I authored about domestic violence and the associated cycles of behavior for both victim and perpetrator. This play was especially well-received by an audience at a shelter housing homeless people. Unknown to me, that audience included individuals who were both the abusers and the abused in domestic violence situations. They came up to me afterward with tears and warm hugs. These folks said they now could understand what they were doing and thought, for the first time, that they might be able to change their behavior patterns! Frankly, there could be no better compliment than that for this play.

At the end of this post, I’ll provide current statistics about domestic violence, spousal, and child abuse for those who are interested. But first, let’s talk about the play. The playbook is available to educational, civic, non-profit, and governmental agencies that wish to stage it to raise awareness and/or funds for those who help people escape dangerous conditions.

Little girl crying in corner; hand with strap in front - victim of domestic violence

Child Abuse

Care Worker Mistreating Elderly Woman elder abuse can happen in the home from family members also committing domestic violence

Elder Abuse

 

 

 

 

Abused Woman Trapped In Home victim of domestic violence

Abused Woman Trapped In Home

Woman Abusing Man domestic violence is perpetrated by both men and women

Woman Abusing Man

A One-Act Play About Domestic Violence

BREAK THE CHAIN

I copyrighted the script, and the cast first performed this play in 1990. However, it is a timeless story and very easy to stage, as you will see in the descriptive material below.

“Break the Chain” Script Summary

The title of this play refers to the chain of violence transmitted from generation to generation. It features a mother whose son appears at school with bruises and has many absences. This pattern causes the school counselor to believe there is domestic violence in the household, and she tries to intervene.

As the mother struggles with feelings of being trapped and having no way out, she starts to overcome her denial that the situation is dangerous. One can also see the cycle being perpetuated, as her daughter begins to “act out” with a doll.

A narrator follows the actors’ performance in each scene of the play. The narration provides education about the cycle of violence. Additionally, it describes when, in the cycle, it is most likely that people can Break The Chain.

The script does mention actual locations in Virginia and nationally where help can be found for “battered women” and their children. However, it is intended to be updated with current statistics and the names and contact information pertinent to the local area where the play is being performed. For that purpose, I have included some links at the end of the script, where additional current information can be found.  The script contains subtleties that revisionists might not understand. Consequently, please do not alter it, other than to incorporate helpful resources for domestic violence issues in your area.

Break The Chain Scene Settings

The four scenes are minimal:

  • Scenes 1 & 3 take place in the family’s living room.
  • Scene 2 takes place in a school counselor’s office. It contains a phone and two chairs facing the counselor’s desk/chair.
  • Scene 4 can be performed on a bare stage (preferably with a podium) or with the narrator standing in front of the darkened backdrop of the last scene.

Break The Chain Script Options (Number & Type of Copies)

  • I can email or “snail mail” the script(s) upon receipt and clearance of your payment.
  • For Break The Chain, the minimum number of copies you can order is six (6). You’ll need 5 for 5 cast members plus 1 for the Director.  In addition, you may need more to include copies for a Stage Manager, Production Assistants,  etc.
  • I will impose a $15 charge for shipping and handling for hard copies.

Details follow below, but the price, generally, is $10 per script.

I prefer you make an electronic funds transfer to a phone number I’ll provide to you. I use Zelle, but other systems may also work. However, you may use cash, a Cashier’s Check, or a “regular” check.

Under copyright law, you may not copy or otherwise reproduce the material. Accordingly, you need to purchase the number of scripts you will need for a performance.

    • There are 5 characters in the play (2 women, 1 boy, 1 young girl, and a narrator).  Remember that the Director, Stage Manager, and any Production Assistants, Lighting, and other staff also need scripts.
    • A 10%  discount may be given to non-profits. To qualify for the discount, the owner must provide a copy of the IRS letter confirming nonprofit status and the current business license.

Pricing & Payment Options for Break the Chain of  Domestic Violence

You may pay by electronic funds transfer using Zelle, by check, or by cash. You will need six scripts, one for each actor and the director.

Click Here to See More Publications by Nancy Wyatt


Break The Chain 6 script minimum

 

Break The Chain 6 script minimum

Thank you for your interest!

By raising people’s consciousness about how domestic violence works, I hope we can help BREAK THE CHAIN!

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Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Statistics

Here are current, commonly cited U.S. statistics that align with your categories, drawing on the CDC’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), BJS, and major advocacy organizations.

Overall impact (current)

  • Each year, over 10 million adults in the U.S. experience domestic or intimate partner violence.​

  • Intimate partner violence alone affects more than 12 million people every year when sexual violence, physical violence, and stalking are combined.​

  • On average, 20–24 people per minute are victimized by an intimate partner in the U.S. (physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking), equating to roughly 10–12 million victims per year.​

Women

  • About 1 in 4 women in the U.S. experience sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.​

  • Nearly 47% of women have experienced physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime when broader “contact” and psychological forms are included.​

  • About 1 in 4 women (around 24%) experience severe intimate partner physical violence in their lifetime.​

Men

  • Roughly 1 in 10 men experience sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.​

  • About 1 in 7 men (around 14%) report experiencing severe physical violence by an intimate partner.​

  • Some advocacy summaries describe this broadly as “about 1 in 9 men” experiencing severe intimate partner physical violence, depending on how categories are grouped.​

Psychological aggression

  • Approximately 48–49% of women and 48–49% of men in the U.S. have experienced at least one psychologically aggressive behavior (e.g., name-calling, humiliation, coercive control) by an intimate partner in their lifetime.​

  • This translates into tens of millions of women and men—often summarized as “nearly half of all women and men experience psychological aggression from a partner over a lifetime.”​

In Summary:

In the United States, more than 10 million adults experience domestic or intimate partner violence each year, and over 12 million people annually are affected by intimate partner violence alone. Every minute, approximately 20–24 people are victimized by an intimate partner, adding up to roughly 10–12 million victims per year. About 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men experience sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Nearly 47% of women and almost half of men have experienced some form of physical, sexual, or stalking violence and/or psychological aggression by an intimate partner. Roughly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men experience severe physical violence from an intimate partner over their lifetime, and nearly half of all women and men report psychological aggression from a partner.”

Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Statistics

Child abuse cases (CPS investigations & victims)

  • In federal fiscal year (FFY) 2022, child protective services received about 3.1 million referrals involving approximately 5.5 million children; about 2.1 million of these referrals were screened in for investigation or alternative response.acf+2​

  • In FFY 2022, states reported an estimated 558,899 child victims of abuse and neglect, down from roughly 600,000 victims in 2021, with a victimization rate of 7.7 per 1,000 children.cwla+2​

Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs)

  • In 2023, Children’s Advocacy Centers served about 381,000 children nationwide (381,364 children served by 961 CACs, per National Children’s Alliance).ojjdp.ojp+1​

  • National Children’s Alliance reports that more than 380,000 children were served by member CACs in 2023, with over 3 million hours of therapy provided.nationalchildrensalliance​

Child fatalities from abuse/neglect

  • For FFY 2022, the national estimate is 1,990 children who died from abuse or neglect, a rate of 2.73 deaths per 100,000 children, up from about 1,930 fatalities in 2021.acf+2​

  • Many advocacy organizations continue to express this for the public as “on average, 5 children die every day in the United States from abuse or neglect,” which is consistent with a yearly toll near 1,900–2,000 child deaths.imprintnews+2​

Children exposed to domestic violence

  • Research syntheses now commonly state that about 15.5 million children in the U.S. each year are exposed to domestic or intimate partner violence in their homes.case+2​

  • Estimates also suggest that more than one‑third of U.S. children have been exposed to domestic or intimate partner violence by age 17, and that 15 million children are currently impacted, with an additional 40 million U.S. adults having experienced childhood domestic violence.dvsn+2​

Demographics of child abuse victims (by sex and age)

(These figures are for FFY 2022 and come from Child Maltreatment 2022.)

  • Of the 558,899 child victims in 2022, girls accounted for slightly more than half of victims and boys for slightly less than half; nationally, HHS does not publish a simple male/female split in round numbers like “263,599 boys and 293,358 girls,” but the data show a modest female majority.ojjdp.ojp+2​

  • The youngest children remain at greatest risk: children younger than 1 year have the highest victimization rate, and children under age 3 collectively represent a disproportionate share of victims.ojjdp+2​

If you want to keep an age‑focused sentence that mirrors your earlier language, you can accurately say:

  • “In 2022, infants under age 1 had the highest rate of victimization, and children under age 3 made up more than a quarter of all child abuse and neglect victims.”acf+1​

Types of child abuse (latest distribution)

From Child Maltreatment 2022:

  • In FFY 2022, approximately 76% of child victims experienced neglect, 16% experienced physical abuse, and about 10% experienced sexual abuse (categories can overlap, so totals exceed 100%).nationalchildrensalliance+2​

  • Other forms, including psychological or emotional abuse, were documented in a smaller but still significant minority of cases (generally under 8–10% depending on how states code multiple maltreatment types).cwla+2​

Again, although these statistics represent reported cases, they are likely underestimated. Unsurprisingly, many instances of domestic violence and child abuse go unreported. As we know, the data shows that domestic violence and child abuse remain significant public health issues affecting millions of Americans annually.

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