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

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.