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

Scene 6

  The lights open as we hear the ensemble sing. They all stand still on stage. LIZ and HOPE slowly walk on stage to the beat of the ensemble singing acapella.

  Ensemble:

  Grievances, Condolences, I’m sorry for your loss

  (repeat through the entire song)

  Liz and Hope:

  Bree Flanders died last night

  She took a handful of pills from her father’s drawer

  And she is in heaven

  Rejoicing with the better lives

  We had no clue that this would be her end

  And now we stand in the distance

  Liz:

  Wishing for her to return to where she was

  Hope:

  I miss you Bree

  I’m sorry

  I wish I could have you back with me

  Liz:

  Yet we know that she’ll never return again

  If she could be here, that’s what I would want

  She will live on in the hearts of us for all time.

  Liz and Hope:

  Am I at fault

  Am I to blame

  For Bree’s wanting to die alone

  Should I have called

  Should I have texted

  Would that have changed a thing at all?

  What did I do?

  What did I do?

  What did I do?

  Grievances, Condolences, I’m sorry

  Ensemble exits, leaving LIZ and HOPE alone on stage.

  Hope: I don’t understand.

  Liz: We aren’t supposed to understand.

  Hope: What do you mean?

  Liz: Suicide isn’t understandable. Never has been, never will be.

  Hope: She said she wanted to die beautifully.

  Liz: Too bad for her.

  Hope: What do you mean?

  Liz: Suicide isn’t friggin’ beautiful. Ever. It’s awful. And it hurts everyone you know and it kills people. It friggin’ kills people, Hope. And that’s all a product of media.

  Hope: Media?

  Liz: Movies, TV shows, Books, every time you see suicide it’s some hot depressed girl who is so beautifully sad that she just can’t take the world anymore, so she kills herself. Because she’s some sort of hero, or rebel. But you know what I think, I think suicide is the most un-heroic thing you can do. It’s selfish, and cowardly. You’re running away from a problem instead of fixing it you- I don’t know, I just- I can’t believe she’d do something so irrevocably stupid.

  Hope: She said the royals consumed her. Or the popularity did. Something like that.

  Liz: And then what? Maybe she was consumed, but then she consumed herself. She chose to die. She murdered herself, Hope. Murdered herself. Okay, I take it back, maybe it’s not selfish and cowardly, but it’s stupid. It’s so stupid. I can’t believe she would do something like that, and I can’t believe she would hurt me like that and I-

  LIZ starts balling. She sits down on the floor, head in her hands.

  Liz: I don’t know how to feel or who to be, or how to react. I’m just so hurt, I feel betrayed.

  Hope: You have a right to whatever you’re feeling, Liz.

  Liz: I know this is so stupid, but can I be alone. Just for a little bit?

  Hope: Of course. If you need anything let me know.

  LIZ nods.

  Blackout