The (Almost) True Story of Hope Winter (A Musical)

by Persephone Litchfield



  Characters

  Hope- 14 year old, mentally ill, freshman in high school, confused about herself and the world around her.

  Happiness- The emotion of happiness in Hope’s brain

  Depression- Depression in Hope’s brain, gradually taking control.

  Liz- Incredibly sweet member of the royals, cares about people and grades

  Ally- Manipulative, jerk member of the royals

  Bree- Leader of the royals, mentally unstable

  Cynthia- A sweet girl that wants to be Hope’s friend. Despises the royals

  John- Sweet, nerdy, Hope’s crush and Bree’s ex

  Alice- John’s girlfriend. Possessive of her relationship.

  Young Hope- Hope's younger self

  Jaydin- Hope's Crush. Genderfluid

  Original Production

  The original production was done online through various mediums, through Skype and Soundcloud. It was done this way because the show largely revolves around social media, that Persephone felt it should be done with people online throughout the world.

  Cast and Crew

  Director… Persephone Litchfield

  Assistant Director…Lillian Starling

  Album Manager… Adele Levy

  Hope Winter… Rose Messenger

  Liz Smith… Madison Griego

  Bree Flandel… Christine Kaufmann

  Ally Colcone… Jane McCaffrey

  Happiness… Emma Ashton

  Depression… Gillian Snyder

  Cynthia Budd... Madisyn Reeve

  Alice Santiago...Malina “Lulu” Sanchez

  John Wollons… Sophie Choo

  Jaydin Pallet… Sophia Baker

  Young Hope… Annie Porter

  Song Order

  All songs are bolded.

  -For Forever

  -Raise the Bar

  -Royalty

  -Jaydin

  -He is Mine/I am His

  -Dolled Up

  -Maybe She’s Born With It

  -Crumbling

  -Numb

  -AP Calculus

  -My Turn

  -Confrontation

  -Fluent

  -I’m Fine

  -Grievances

  -Are you Okay?

  -Let the Girl Burn

  -Me-just me/For Forever (Reprise)

  Scene 1

  Richland, Oregon. August 26th, 2015. HOPE stands center stage, grabbing her backpack. She stops. She looks at her feet and then out. She takes a deep breath.

  Hope: I can't believe it. High school. I never thought I'd make it here. I've been looking forward to this day since...since 3rd grade!

  YOUNG HOPE runs on stage. Excited. She begins to jump up and down as she sings.

  Young Hope: One day, I'll be the girl who gets picked on, the kickball team, I don't get picked now.

  Who cares, I'll be the girl in the new blue jeans or maybe pink ones. I guess I'll choose later

  One day, I'll be the girl who's understood, finally understood

  All the boys will want me, because I'll be 14, and that's practically an adult

  Mom says that in high school, I'll blossom to a rose, whatever that means

  One day, I'll be the girl who gets to play, till 10 pm on my DS

  One day, I will get a pulitzer prize, I'll shine in the boys' eyes

  Like I say I will

  One day people won't be so cruel, and I'll have my own pool, to swim in when I please

  And I'll have all this by high school

  Can't wait till high school

  Hope: For forever, I've waited for this day

  And forever I've wished for it to be great

  And forever, I will remember this day

  For forever

  I wonder what the people will look like

  I wonder if they'll be like me

  I wonder if the people are wondering

  Just like me

  Just like I've been

  For forever

  For forever

  My mother has warned me

  Lower your expectations or it won't be as lovely

  But I know I know that

  I won't be as lonely

  Or as hurting

  Like I've been

  for forever

  (Two people, HAPPINESS and DEPRESSION go to opposite sides of the stage, they stay there for the rest of the show, preferably on a platform.)

  Happiness: Yes I wonder, if she'll be okay

  And I wonder what will she do if it's not great

  Depression has taken over, but now it's my time to shine

  To show her she can be happy

  For forever

  Depression: High schools hell, everybody knows that

  She doesn't stand a chance if I have a say

  Happiness thinks she's got this is the bag

  She'll have hell to pay

  For forever

  (The lights blackout, and the scene opens on Hope in a class, sitting behind her is CYNTHIA. CYNTHIA taps her on the shoulder)

  Cynthia: Hey! Um- I don't know if you remember me but we were in Mr. Johnson's class last year, and I just thought you seemed a little lonely so I-

  Hope: I remember you! Cynthia, right?

  Cynthia: Yeah! That's me. (Cynthia laughs)

  Hope: So how's your first day?

  Cynthia: Good, great, actually. And yours?

  Hope: A little less great than expected but not horrible.

  Cynthia: Glad to hear it. Hey do you have a phone?

  Hope: Yeah. 845-656-7689.

  (CYNTHIA enters the number into her phone. The bell rings.)

  Hope: Well, I should-

  Cynthia: Yeah me too, see you around?

  Hope: Definitely.

  (They go their separate ways. Hope bumps into LIZ in the hall)

  Liz: Oh sorry! I didn't mean to-oh hi! I'm Liz.

  Hope: Hope.

  Liz: I was just talking about you with Bree.

  Hope: Bree Flandel?!

  Liz: Yeah, duh. We were thinking you could hang with us after school?

  Hope: With you? Is that some kind of joke. I'm nobody, and you're-I mean, queens of this school! Since like the 5th grade

  Liz: We call ourselves the royals now. Re-branding.

  Hope: Ahh, gotcha.

  Liz: So are you in?

  Hope: Yeah, of course I'm in.

  Liz: Awesome! We'll meet you at 1134 Yadsten Boulevard right after school. Oh and bring a change of clothes.

  Hope: Um! Of course! Yeah, cool! (calming down to seem cool) Yeah psshh whatever.

  (LIZ exits and HOPE does a little dance, mouthing “OH MY GOD”. The scene switches to Bree’s living room. The royals, ALLY, BREE, and LIZ sit on a couch)

  Bree: So...Haley, is it?

  Hope: It’s Hope. Hope Winter.

  Ally: Cool.

  Liz: I think you’d make a great addition to the royals.

  Ally: I disagree.

  Bree: And why is that?

  (ALLY gets flustered)

  Ally: Nevermind.