They hang up. HOPE exits. ALLY texts JOHN.
Ally: Hey can we talk?
John: I guess.
Ally: Hope wants to break up.
John: What?
Ally: She’s dragging you along for popularity. She told me.
John: Why would she need me to be popular?
Ally: Because you’re the captain of the robotics club, and robotics is the new hip thing.
John: It is?
Ally: Duh.
John: Things have been going so well between us.
Ally: That’s what she wants you to think.
John: When was she planning to break up with me?
Ally: As soon as robotics season is over!
John: Are you sure?
Ally: One hundred percent.
John: What do I do?
Ally: Well you could teach her a lesson.
John: A lesson on what?
Ally: On who not to mess with John. She’s a lying little-
John: Why are you so invested in my relationship with Hope?
Ally: I- uh. (realizing how to hurt HOPE the most) Because I’m in love with you.
John: What?!
Ally: I can’t bear to see Hope use you anymore. I want to be with you John. More than anything.
John: I-uh. I don’t know what to say.
Ally: Say you’ll date me.
John: I mean-
Ally: Please.
John: (too awkward to say no) Yeah I guess.
Ally: Perfect! How about I come over and help you break up with Hope.
John: Sure I guess.
JOHN and ALLY sit in a bedroom. HOPE is on the opposite end of the stage at a store shopping.
Ally: I wrote this. It’s exactly what you’ll say to Hope.
John: She’s my girlfriend, shouldn’t I break up with her?
Ally: Not if you want it to make her learn her lesson. You want her to learn her lesson, don’t you?
John: I- I guess.
Ally: Call her.
HOPE’s phone rings. She smiles when she sees it’s JOHN.
Hope: Hey love! I was actually just thinking about you.
JOHN reads from the paper.
John:
Hi.
Or should I say bye.
It doesn’t pain me at all
To hope that you fall
Down a well of despair.
Bye.
Or should I say good riddance
I’m glad that you’re gone
Ally turns me on
So I’ll be with her.
Hope: What?
John:
You’re probably wondering why
Our love has got to die
And here’s the answer right here
Ally
Has stolen my heart
You of all should've know
My heart has grown
Since I met her last fall
Ally
Has buckets of love
From me
All from me
There’s none left for you
You’re probably mad at me
You probably want to scream
But you can scream all you like
I’m not going to fight
That we are through
I’m done with you
Fluent
Is what we are
We’re fluent in love
A gift from above
Is what we’ve been given
Fluent
Is what you and I weren’t
I’m sorry to say
That I cannot stay
Unhappy with you
Fluent
Is what I will be
I’ll be with Ally
For the rest of my years
Here at Nova Hills
Ally has my heart
Ally has my soul
Ally will be mine
And I am not yours
Goodbye.
Goodbye Hope Winter
It’s been so nice
But I have tried twice
To get closer to you
Goodbye
Goodbye to our love
We were not right
To start dating that night
Up in Bree’s room
So goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
Fluent
Is what we are
We are not far
From the light of the stars
Something you and I weren’t
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
JOHN hangs up the phone
Hope: Oh my god. I-
HOPE texts LIZ.
Hope: Emergency.
Liz: Present.
Hope: John just broke up with me.
Liz: What?!
Hope: He just called me saying he’s madly in love with Ally now.
Liz: That make absolutely no sense.
Hope: I’m fully aware of that.
Liz: I thought things were going so well.
Hope: They were, at least I thought they were.
Liz: Where are you?
Hope: I’m at a Hall’s Market getting pens.
Liz: That sounds lame.
Hope: It’s even more lame to get dumped whilst shopping for pens.
They laugh
Liz: Are you gonna be okay?
Hope: Yeah, I mean. I wasn’t head over heels for him or anything.
Liz: And now you have more time to pursue Jaydin.
Hope: Oh my god, shut up.
Liz: You love them.
Hope: Do not. Wait. Oh my god.
Liz: What?
Hope: Bree’s checking out.
Liz: Go talk to her! Maybe if you apologize she’ll come back and set Ally straight.
Hope: Going.
HOPE approaches BREE. Bree seems incredibly off kilter. Something is definitely up.
Hope: Hey.
Bree: Hey Hope! How are you!
Hope: I’m fine, and you?
Bree: I’m (pause) fine.
Hope: It’s like 90 degrees aren’t you burning up?
Bree: What? Oh the long sleeves, yeah I’m just cold.
Hope: What are you up to? Whatcha buying?
BREE throws the bags behind her back
Bree: Nothing. Just personal stuff.
Hope: Oh, okay.
Bree: Yeah.
Hope: Hey, are you okay.
Bree: I said I was fine!
Hope: I know, I know you did, you just seem...off.
Bree: It’s just an off day, ya know.
Hope: Well if you ever need anyone, I’m here.
Bree: I-um. Thanks. I appreciate it.
Hope: Well, I’ll see you later.
Bree: Maybe.
Hope: What?
Bree: Hey, um. I’m sorry I was so mean to you. Take this as a-uh-an apology, I guess.
BREE takes the necklace she wears everyday and hands it to HOPE.
Hope: I can’t accept this.
Bree: I have no use for it anymore.
Hope: Where are you going?
Bree: I...I don’t know.
Hope: Are you sure you’re okay.
Bree: Positive!
Hope: Okay, if you’re sure.
BREE looks down at the floor and then hugs HOPE.
Bree: Goodbye, Hope.
Hope: Where are you going? Please tell me.
Bree: Home.
Hope: Then where?
Bree: Hopefully to sleep.
Hope: I could use some sleep myself.
They laugh, BREE less than HOPE. BREE exits, head down. HOPE exits the opposite directions.
Blackout.
Scene 5
BREE stands center stage. She reaches out of her bag from Hall’s Market to reveal a pack of razor blades. She then pulls out pain relievers from her bac
kpack, presumably from her father’s medicine cabinet. She pulls out a piece of paper.
Bree: I- I am so sorry mom and dad. I didn’t mean to let you down. I didn’t mean to be a bad kid, but I was one anyway. I’m sorry Hope, I shouldn’t have dragged you into this. I shouldn’t have let you into the monster of the royals. The royals destroyed me. It consumed me. It was a demon that broke me into razor thin pieces and then left me to rot on the ground. Hope, I didn’t quit because of you. I quit because I thought I could pull myself back together. But I couldn’t, I can’t. I’m tired of breaking. And yes, I’m even tired of being put back together. So now, I don’t have to anymore. Now I’m just- non-existent. Please don’t tell the kids at school how I died. Tell them I overdosed. Let me die beautifully. If there is any beautiful way to die.
Bree:
The end of her bed
Is soaked in blood
Cause it’s 2 am and she’s fighting a war and it’s tough
On the top of her thighs
There’s straight battle wounds
But her scars don’t seem to match her outward facing attitude
But everytime her friends ask she says
She says
I’m fine
I’m cold
No I’m not hungry I already ate
It’s just an off day
I’m fine
Oh I’m fine
But inside she’s breaking
Her anxieties spiking
She doesn’t wanna be alive she’s already dead
To her
She’s already dead
She’s lonely and hurting
At 4 in the morning
And her hands are shaking
With pills on her palms
And she leaves a note
From the very last time
She picks up her phone
I’m fine
I’m cold
No I’m not hungry I already ate
It’s just an off day
I’m fine
Oh I’m fine
But inside she’s breaking
Her anxieties spiking
She doesn’t wanna be alive she’s already dead
To her
She’s already dead
No I’m not fine
No I’m not cold
Yes I was hungry I’m starving myself
I’m gone
Oh you can’t save me I’m gone
The end of her bed
Is soaked in blood
Cause it’s 6 am
And she’s not alive anymore
(Bree steps back into darkness)
Blackout.
The (Almost) True Story of Hope Winter (A Musical) Page 4
