Lights com on to a bedroom. It has a door center, a bed and a lamp left, and a closet door right. For a moment the room is empty, then KACEY walks in. She's a nondescript teenager with normal build and coloring. She's dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and is carrying a backpack. She leaves her backpack on the ground and jumps onto the bed, giggling.
KACEY: (Looks toward audience as if looking at a mirror.) Well, Kacey, you've done it. Two years you've been out of that madhouse and living normal. Two years and look where you are: Flirting with Carter Brown across the bleachers at the football game. (Sits up and fluffs hair.) He really noticed me, didn't he? (She smiles primps more energetically, still using the audience as a mirror.) Cute basketball stars don't flirt with crazy people, do they? Thank heavens I got out of Cliff's when I did, or he would never have noticed me. (A high, maniacle laugh echos around the room. KACEY looks around, scared. After a moment she continues, slightly shaken.) Like I said, good thing I got out of Cliff's... (Laugh sounds again.)... Institution when I did. So, no need to be imagining him again. Look where it got me the first time! Five years in the "Funny Farm"... (Laugh sounds again. KACEY covers her eyes and rocks back and forth.) ... So don't bring him up... don't remember him... don't remember... (Laugh sounds again, but this time you see who's laughing: a man who enters right. He is dressed in a plumb suit, carries a walking stick, and has an evil grin.) Jasper! (KACEY looks at him.)
JASPER: Hello, Kacey. Miss me?
KACEY: (Crawling backwards on her bed, away from him.) No... no... you can't... you can't be here! (She curls up again and resumes rocking.) You're not real... he's not real... when I open my eyes, he'll be gone! (She opens her eyes, and JASPER grins.)
JASPER: Not real, am I?
KACEY: Why are you here?
JASPER: I missed my favorite haunt. (He steps toward her.) You spent five years getting rid of me, and two years more I've stayed away. I figured I'd been gone long enough. (He inhales as he looks around.) It's good to be back!
KACEY: (Standing up.) I don't want you back! You ruined my life last time. I don't need you here again! (She closes the distance between them.) You don't exist. You're a figment of my imagination. If I say you'll be gone, you'll be gone.
JASPER: (Giving a mocking bow.) As you wish. (He walks out. KACEY collapses onto her bed, looking relieved. The maniacal laughter sounds again, and the lights black.)
Good dialogue! It gets the message across AND sets the mood. Kinda creepy.
ReplyDeleteWell, I love it all, except some of the dialogue seems too... conventional? They seem like words you always think of when you think of crazy people. More interesting words could give even more insight, and Kacey more depth. But I like the great information you give. And the setting seems good, too. It's like Hayden's back from the dead.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking "You ruined my life" has got to go... yes?
ReplyDeleteYeah. By her saying she had to be in an Asylum for five years, we call all assume her life was ruined.
ReplyDeleteAnd it makes him look more like a ex-boyfriend than a poltergeist.
ReplyDelete