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

  (Hope’s phone buzz’s and we see CYNTHIA on the corner of the stage, saying what’s in the text)

  Cynthia: Hey, I uh-look, I’m sorry to bother you but I heard you were at Bree’s house with Liz and Ally and I um, okay look. I know that you haven’t been around them much, but they’re awful. Actually I take that back, Liz and Bree are minor annoyances, it’s Ally you need to be worried about!

  (The royals freeze and Hope answers the text out loud, the conversation continues like this)

  Hope: They invited me to be a royal, Cynthia! Isn’t that great?

  Cynthia: NO! Are you kidding me, you’re so much better than they are. You’re kind and sweet and caring. You’re not like them, you’re so-

  So you think you’re an equal

  That you’re something they are?

  Can’t you see they’re monsters, hidden well within the stars.

  They’ve taken girls, and ripped them apart.

  Don’t you see Hope, that you’ll be done from the start.

  You like (is there another word here maybe?) they are different?

  Some special kind of breed.

  Like something from a movie

  Well now you’re the lead

  This story is different

  Because you don’t have to take their hand

  You’ve got to do something

  Or they’ll have you on demand.

  You’ve got to raise the bar

  Show them you’re not who they are

  C’mon Hope you’re better than you know

  I’ll pick you up let’s go!

  Hope: No!

  Cynthia: So fine you’re an equal? That’s it?

  Now you’ve decided the match is lit.

  You’ll burn down this whole town when you go

  Cause you’re determined you’re equal

  When you said no.

  So now you’re evil, you’d go that far?

  To make sure you get to be who they are

  Hope you’ve got to be kidding me

  This is all a lie

  You’ve got to be joking

  You’d rather die?

  You’ve got to raise the bar

  Show them you’re not who they are

  C’mon Hope you’re better than you know

  Please don’t make a new foe

  Cause you’ve got to raise the bar

  That’s the only way to go so far

  Please Hope Winter, come with me

  You’ll be better off you see

  Hope: Leave me alone.

  (Lights blackout on Cynthia, and she exits. BREE, LIZ and ALLY all turn to HOPE.

  Ally: So, you wanna be...one of us?

  Hope: (moment of resistance occurs, but she fights it) More than anything.

  Bree: Well...

  If you wanna be a royal you gotta give up all your senses

  Gotta be the girl to do as I say.

  Ally:

  Can't give up on the team when there's too many expenses

  The team is loyal no matter how much you have to pay

  Liz:

  Royals have a reputation and you have to uphold it

  You can't cave in when the pressure gets too steep

  Bree:

  So you, you got to see this through

  Can't look for something new

  When you've already joined

  Liz:

  And You, you have to get in line

  Bree comes first, and you're behind

  Royals:

  Fresh blood is always the reddest

  Fresh meat is always the bomb

  But is she the finest of the apples

  Something about her seems wrong

  Is she the hottest of the hottest

  Is the the girl that we want near

  Is she the brightest of the bunch we choose from

  Or is she the girl we've always feared

  Bree:

  She's a little firecracker

  Is her bite more than her bark

  I don't want someone too fiesty

  It'd be bad from the start

  Ally:

  I don't like the looks of this chick

  She seems a little too new

  I think she needs more time

  Before she joins the chosen few

  Liz:

  I think that she's lovely

  A special kind of girl

  Why don't we try her out

  Let's give her a whirl

  Hope:

  Will I lower the bar

  Show them I'm exactly who they are

  Is it worth it to me

  For some popularity

  Royals:

  If you wanna be a royal get on your feet

  Come with us

  And you'll see

  Royals are a different kind of species

  A different kind of life form on this earth

  If you wanna join us, sign our contract and we'll leave

  (ALLY pulls a thick packet of paper out of her backpack and hands it to HOPE)

  Ally:

  Sign over your life and we'll give you a new one

  Who cares about the life you knew?

  A one with us is bigger and brighter!

  One that not everyone can choose.

  Liz: So what do you say?

  Hope: Okay!

  (Hope signs the contract)

  Blackout

  Scene 2

  (All girls stand on stage together, talking)

  Liz: I’m sure that’s not true

  Ally: I’m serious, you should see the way that she looks at him.

  Liz: Them.

  Ally: Excuse me?

  Liz: They use they/them pronouns.

  Ally: Okay whatever, the way she looks at them.

  Liz: I’m sure she has a reasonable explanation…

  Ally: I’m sure.

  (ALLY goes around and whispers in the girls ears)

  Girls:

  Jaydin. Jaydin. Hope’s in love with Jaydin (Oh my god)

  Jaydin, Hope’s in love with Jaydin (oh my god)

  Jaydin. Hope’s in love with Jaydin.

  Ally:

  Can you believe it?

  Girls:

  I can’t believe it.

  That’s Bree’s ex.

  Who will be next

  First she becomes a royal

  Now she’s in love with-

  Hope:

  Jaydin. Jaydin I look in your eyes and I see the universe in whole.

  Girls:

  Oh my god.

  Hope:

  Oh Jaydin, do you see me too?

  Inner Voices:

  Do you see us too?

  Hope:

  Do you see me too?

  Oh, dang. I see you across the hall. And I’m like woah

  The rumours were true. You’re just as beautiful as you lead on.

  Wow. You light up the room when you walk in.

  It’s a shame you don’t know my name

  That’s it!

  I’ll tell them my name.

  Hi. Hello. Hi nice to meet you, I’m Hope. Hope Winter. Are you good you seem fine.

  Damn you’re fine.

  Oh- I uh.

  Hi. I’m Hope.

  No.

  Why is this so hard it should be easy.

  Their just a normal kid

  With killer abs

  Hi. I’m Hope. You’re

  Jaydin

  You’re Jaydin and I like you.

  But you would never notice me no matter how I try

  So I’ll stand here, in the hallway

  Pretending that you’re mine.

  Jaydin.

  I like you so.

  Alice: Hey, Hope right?

  Hope: Yeah. I’m sure you’re here to ask me about Jaydin, right?

  Alice: What, no!

  Hope: Oh that’s a relief.

  Alice: I’m here to ask you about John.

  Hope: John?

/>   Alice: About 5’4”, cotton green jacket?

  Hope: Okay?

  (ALICE is burning with anger and HOPE is incredibly confused)

  Alice: Okay? You’re not going to apologize?

  Hope: What? Apologize for what?

  Alice: For being a- a jerk.

  Hope: I’m sorry I’ve never seen me before in my life and you think I’m a-

  Alice: You kissed my boyfriend!

  Hope: I’m sorry what?

  Alice: John. You kissed John.

  Hope: I didn’t kiss anyone, let alone your boyfriend.

  Alice: That’s exactly what someone who kissed my boyfriend would say.

  Hope: I didn’t kiss your boyfriend!

  Alice:

  Honey, you’re on the wrong path

  I can tell by the way you looked at him that you’ll never have him

  Cause he is mine and I am his

  And I love him with every bone in my body

  I love him

  And he loves me

  It’s perfectly healthy and not obsessive at all

  I love him and he will love me forever

  So girl don’t walk around me, like I’m nothing

  Like he’s a free man cause he’s not

  Honey you picked the wrong girl to mess with

  He’s all I got and I’m his only girl

  So don’t tell me that you’re just a friend when clearly you have these feelings

  But I know

  But I know that you don’t mean to cross me

  Honey, I know it’s not your bad intentions

  But honey, you gotta know you cannot have him

  Cause he’s my boy

  And I’ve loved him since the fourth grade

  And now I have him, which is totally absurd

  So I’ve been wondering is he mine completely

  And you come around and answer that for me

  And I’m disappointed but frankly I knew the whole time

  That he’s not always mine

  So did he flirt

  Did he ask you to date him

  I wouldn’t be surprised if he did

  Cause he’s a cheater

  But I love him

  And I am his and he is mine

  For now

  This is not a shitty love song

  It’s the one that I have written on my own

  With my life

  And it’s not a silly love song

  It’s the one that I have written with my heart and soul and mind

  Please don’t take the boy

  Even though you know you have him

  Please don’t take the boy

  Even though you know you know he’s yours

  Cause right now I am happy when he lays in my arms

  Please don’t take him from me

  Hope, Please don’t take him from me

  Hope, Please don’t take him from me

  Even though you can take him

  Cause he is mine, and I am his

  Please just let me have this moment with my boy

  Please

  He is mine and I am his

  For now

  Hope: Look, Alice, I swear I didn’t kiss John.

  Alice: Cross your heart?

  Hope: Cross my heart.

  Alice: He said you kissed him.

  Hope: I’ve never even spoken to him, I’m sorry I-

  Alice: He’s trying to break up with me isn’t he?

  Hope: Like I said, I’ve never even spoken to hi-

  Alice: I knew it. I’m a terrible girlfriend. He’ll never love me, ever. I hate everything Hope, I hate everything.

  ALICE cries, and hangs onto HOPE. HOPE is visibly uncomfortable

  Alice: Everyone hates me.

  Hope: I’m sure that not true.

  Alice: You think so?

  Hope: Uh- yeah.

  Alice: You promise?

  Hope: Sure.

  (ALICE’s phone rings, it’s JOHN, she immediately stops crying and answers the phone)

  Alice: Heyyyyy baby.

  (HOPE looks out, confused)

  Blackout

  Scene 3

  HOPE arrives at a party in shorts and a t-shirt. The music is blaring as she enters. She walks around, grabs a drink from someone and walks around some more, clearly out of place. Everyone is dressed up. JOHN approaches her.

  John: Hey cutie

  Hope: Uh- I. I- uh. You told your girlfriend I kissed you. I didn’t kiss you.

  John: Maybe it was a wish.

  Hope: A wish?

  John: Yeah, like I said I kissed you in hopes I could kiss you now. (JOHN laughs wildly)

  Hope: You’re drunk.

  John: And you’re here

  Hope: I’m here?

  John: No one asked you to come. You need to be dolled up.

  Hope: Bree did. And nobody told me that.

  John: Ohhh. Okay. (He laughs again)

  Hope: I should go, I need to find Bree anyway.

  HOPE starts to leave but JOHN grabs her arm

  John: I heard you like a boy.

  Hope: Well not actually a boy they actually go by-

  John: Do you like him?

  Hope: Them.

  John: (He laughs while speaking) Do you like them.

  Hope: I do, very much so.

  John: So if they asked you’d out you’d say-

  Hope: Yes! A million times yes!

  JOHN smiles, and he now thinks he and HOPE are a couple.

  Hope: Well I actually better go and y’know. Find Bree. So I’m just gonna-

  HOPE leaves, in a hurry. JOHN makes a “cha-ching” motion with his arm

  BREE enters and is shocked by HOPES outfit and grabs her arm.

  Hope: What the hell are you-

  Bree: I said dress nicely!

  Hope: I did! These are nice shorts!

  Bree: Are you kidding me?

  Hope: I’m sorry, I misunderstood.

  Bree: You’re lucky. I have dresses upstairs.

  Hope: Um, okay. Thanks, I guess.

  BREE drags HOPE upstairs. The scene shifts to a bedroom.

  Bree: Here take this.

  BREE throws HOPE a black, off the shoulder dress. HOPE doesn’t catch it and picks it off the ground. HOPE goes behind a structure and changes.

  Bree: Oh, hey so my boyfriend thinks you’re cute.

  Hope: Oh cool. Do all royals have boyfriends or something.

  Bree: Ah! Perfect segway, you actually need to get a boyfriend, like now.

  Hope: A boyfriend?

  Bree: Yeah. Or a girlfriend or like whatever. It’s like an unspoken rule, but I’m speaking it.

  Hope: How soon.

  Bree: Like. I don’t know, but very soon. Or you’re out.

  HOPE exits the structure, looking absolutely stunning. You can see the terror of losing her popularity.

  Bree: Aw cute.

  Hope: You think so?

  Bree: I know so.

  Hope: Oh- uh- about that boyfriend thing-

  Bree: Go! Go downstairs and meet one.

  BREE exits. Seconds pass before JOHN enters.

  John: Wow.

  HOPE turns around, surprised to see him there

  Hope: Yeah.

  John: You look-

  Hope: Dolled up?

  John: Yeah.

  JOHN gets close to HOPE, almost too close.

  John: And to think you’re all mine.

  Hope: Um-I beg your pardon.

  John: You. All mine. Remember?

  Hope: No, no I don’t remember.

  John: You said if that person, that special someone asked you out. You’d say yes.

  Hope: No, no, I was talking about Jay- (She pauses remembering she has to have a boyfriend to be with the royals) YOU! I was definitely talking about you!

  John: You’re silly. (He moves closer)

  Hope: You’re really drunk.

  John: Am I?
r />   Hope: Yes- you are.

  John: So.

  JOHN pulls on the shoulder of her dress

  Hope: Are you freaking serious?

  John: (giggling) What?

  Hope: We started dating 5 minutes ago and now you think I’m going to- do you think I’m THAT easy?

  John: Mmmhmm.

  Hope:

  Give me a chance

  Give me a break

  Tell me the all this was never a mistake

  Tell me why, John, tell me why, you want me this bad

  Give me a way

  Give me a day

  Don’t spring this on me cause it’s something you crave

  Tell me why, John, tell me why it’s all this mad

  John: A minute ago-

  Hope:

  A minute ago you told me you wanted me all dolled up

  You wanted me here, now you’re telling me

  You want me lying beside you in bed

  Is that what you want John, is that what you want?

  John: Here me out, I-

  Hope:

  No, John enough with the chances you want me for things I will not give

  John:

  Hope, we’re fluent in the language of-

  JOHN kisses HOPE, and HOPE pushes him off of her

  John:

  Love.

  Hope: Are you serious? I’ve known you 5 minutes and you love me? You’re sick.

  John: (giggling) LOVESICK!

  JOHN kisses HOPE again and the door swings open as BREE stands in the door. HOPE pushes him off again.

  Bree: What the hell.

  John: Bree! Baby!

  Hope: What?

  Bree: You’re making out with my ex?!

  Hope: What?! No he kissed-

  John: We’re in love.

  Hope: We are not in love.

  Bree: I cannot believe this. Hope you could’ve had anyone.

  Hope: I know I-

  Bree: I’m going.

  Hope: Where? This is your house?

  Bree: I don’t know. Anywhere. Screw off, Hope. Just leave me alone.

  BREE leaves the party, but stays still. Everything else fades away. The stage is now empty. She reaches in her purse and pulls out a bottle of pills. She takes 2. She sits down on the floor and begins to cry. In tears, she begins to sing.

  Bree:

  She’s a girl who only wanted something more

  Boss after boss closing the same damn door

  So she’s the one looking for pain

  Using prescriptions to make her goddamn day

  Crying for help

  Crying for me

  Crying just please

  She’s trying to scream

  She needs someone’s help

  Maybe she’s born with it

  Maybe it’s the price she was born to pay

  Maybe she’s born with it

  Maybe she’s born with it

  Searching for everything for everything she never had

  Boy after boy telling her she’s nothing but bad

  Looking for a needle that’s lost in the hay

  Using syringes to help her find her way

  Crying for help

  Crying for me

  Crying just please

  She’s trying to scream

  She needs someone’s help

  Maybe she’s born with it

  Maybe it’s the price she was born to pay

  Maybe she’s born with it

  Maybe she’s born with it

  I’m trying to scream

  I need someones help

  Crying just please

  I’m trying to scream

  I need someones help

  Crying just please

  Maybe she’s born with it

  Maybe it’s the price she was born to pay

  Maybe she’s born with it

  Maybe she’s born with it

  Maybe I’m born with it

  BREE pulls out her phone. HOPE, LIZ and ALLY all appear far away on stage, on their phones.

  Bree: I’m sorry

  Hope: I’m sorry too.

  Bree: I can’t do this anymore, I can’t.

  Liz: Do what?

  Bree: I can’t be a royal anymore. I’m done.

  Hope: What? Is this because of me?

  Bree: It’s because of everything and I-I just can’t do it anymore. Goodbye.

  HOPE, LIZ, and ALLY join onstage.

  Hope: I- I can’t believe it.

  Ally: I can. She was never strong enough to be with us. She was the weak link.

  Liz: I don’t think that’s true.

  Ally: It’s true because I said it’s true.

  Hope: That’s not how facts work.

  Ally: Don’t test me, Hope Winter.

  Hope: Why are you using my last name?

  Ally: Because I can.

  Liz: I don’t think you’re the boss of-

  Ally: Oh I am, now. I was Bree’s second in command. And you know what happens to the second in command when the captain quits? C’mon Liz, even you can figure that out.

  Liz: I’m not stupid.

  Ally: Sure.

  Hope: Who said you were second in command.

  Ally: I did. And I’m the leader now.

  Hope: But that’s not fair.

  Ally: Okay newbie, listen up. You’re the baby of the group. You got initiated a week ago. I’ve been with the royals since 7th grade.

  Liz: I’ve been Bree’s friend since 6th grade-

  Ally: Say another word and you’re out.

  Hope: Don’t treat her like that?

  Ally: What are you gonna do about it?

  Hope: I don’t know, but you’re-you’re a fake. You aren’t our leader, you’re just a jerk! You don’t even belong with the royals!

  ALLY’S face turns red and she slaps HOPE across the face. HOPE puts her hand to her face.

  Ally: Get out.

  Hope: No, I-

  Ally: GET OUT!

  Blackout

  Lights rise up on HOPE, alone on stage, rocking back and forth. She sings and gets more worried and angry and afraid as she sings until the end.

  Hope:

  I used to be a funny girl that everyone held dear

  Now I'm trapped inside a world that isn't mine

  Bree wants me to be someone who I'm not sure why'd I'd be

  And John is dating someone, he's mine

  I wanted to grow up so fast and now I'm feeling lost

  The world is spinning faster than I know

  The stars look down and don't like what they see

  It's only high school c'mon hope how hard can it be?

  But now I'm being hit with sharper blows

  Chorus:

  Who am I? Now that the world is crumbling.

  And where were you, when I was feeling lost.

  Maybe you thinking you had me

  It the reason that I got away from you

  I used to be the innocent girl, that everyone made seemed to like

  Now I'm just the bitch (chick) who flips off boys

  Ally said that I was fine, but I'm acting pretty shitty (silly)

  For a girl who used to be so good

  So good.

  I wanted to grow up so fast and now I'm feeling lost

  The world is spinning faster than I know

  The stars look down and don't like what they see

  It's only high school c'mon Hope how hard can it be?

  But now I'm being hit with sharper blows

  Who am I? Now that the world is crumbling. I am crumbling

  And where were you, when I was feeling lost.

  Maybe you thinking you had me

  It the reason that I got away from you

  The reason that I had to get away from you

  Blackout

  End of Act I