Set in 1911, Claire and Winnie have to handle their consequential relationship of being roommates in a mental institution. With no outside support, they are forced to lean on each other, but can two people who are mentally unstable really help each other?
**Trigger warning: mental health problems, suicide, abusive relationships, self harm.
Let’s Play a Game
A One Act
Written By: Joey Coleman
Story By: Joey Baumgartel and Jenny Taylor
Edited by: Jenny Taylor
Characters
Claire – 18 years old. Resident at the asylum.
Winifred (Winnie) – 19 years old. Resident at the asylum.
James – 21 years old. The security guard who patrols the halls after lights out.
Nurse Stevens – 27 years old. The young, new, naive resident nurse who brings the clients their medication and takes care of them when needed.
Sam – 16 years old. Resident at the asylum. Could be male or female.
Mary-Anne – Can be any age, but is younger than Claire and Winnie. Resident at the asylum.
Setting: October, 1911 in Maine, America. Autumn weather and the whole play is set within Claire and Winifred’s room in The Dubois Home for Mental Wellness.
Scene 1
Claire is sitting in her room in the asylum alone. The room is relatively big, there’s a big bay window (with black metal bars covering it) between the two beds on the far walls. There are small white steamer trunks at the ends of each single bed filled with extra sheets and random personal items. Two square bedside tables sit beside each bed on the outer ends, closest to the walls. On top of each bedside table are small wrought iron lamps that don’t emit a lot of light. There is an armoire for clothes somewhere in the room and a flat wooden book shelf filled with books (selected by the staff of the asylum). In the left corner there’s a small table with chairs surrounding it. There’s a big wooden door beside one of the beds at the end. The door has a small thin slot at eye level to look through; there’s also a lock on the outside of the door. Residents have to ask permission from the staff in the hallways at night if they wish to leave their rooms to go to the bathroom.
There are no personal effects except one small, black case (a music box) on top of the wardrobe/armoire. There is no mirror located anywhere in the bedroom. All the furniture is bolted to the floor and the lamps are bolted to the end tables, except for the steamer trunks at the ends of the beds. Overall, the room has a feeling of confinement.
CLAIRE (addressing the audience): The Dubois Home for Mental Wellness. A place where no one is thought to exist. A place where your family doesn’t visit, where they don’t care. A place where the rich can throw a human life away and never have to concern themselves with it again. Let me ask you, have you ever seen something that wasn’t there? Something that is just out of reach and once you are about to finally reach it, it disappears? And then you realize that it was never actually there to begin with? Have you ever been so miserable and lonely that you cannot take it anymore? That you feel that every breath you let go you just have to scream because it gives you the sweet release until the agony of the next breath? Well, this place is full of people who feel like that. We scream, we reach for what’s not there, we live. But I wonder if no one outside these walls believes you are alive, do you really exist?
WINIFRED enters the room carrying a small plate of food.
WINNIE: Why’d you miss lunch?
CLAIRE (still addressing the audience): Winifred Hughes- my roommate and only friend here. Being in such a confined space you have no choice but to befriend your roommate.
WINNIE: Are you going to miss dinner too? You can’t keep skipping meals.
CLAIRE (addressing the audience): I met Winnie fourteen months, three weeks and thirteen days ago when I was diagnosed and sent here to The Dubois Home for Mental Wellness. That’s how long I’ve been here; Winnie was here when I got here though. She still won’t tell me when she was admitted.
WINNIE: Hello? Claire? Are you even listening to me anymore?
CLAIRE (audience): We have a plan, a plan to be together forever. A plan to disregard everyone and escape—
WINNIE (grabs CLAIRE’S face and turns it towards her.): I asked if you were listening to me. So are you listening to me now?
CLAIRE nods her head and WINNIE lets her go.
WINNIE: You really make me mad when you don’t listen to me, you know that?
CLAIRE (quietly.): Sorry.
WINNIE: No, I’m sorry! My poor Claire. Why do you find the need to forget about your food? Please, eat something; for me?
CLAIRE: The cutlery?
WINNIE: Yes, sorry. You know the rules. They barely let me take the plate out to you at all. You should be grateful.
CLAIRE: I am.
WINNIE: You don’t seem like you are.
CLAIRE: I don’t deserve to eat…
WINNIE: Oh, great, here we go again. Claire, you deserve to eat, you’re a swell person, I forgive you, now eat.
CLAIRE grabs a piece of the food with her hand and eats it.
WINNIE: That’s better.
(The door opens and NURSE STEVENS enters carrying a tray of small cups with pills in them.)
NURSE: Medication time ladies. (She hands each of them a cup.) Hurry, hurry, I have more rooms to get to.
WINNIE: We’ll take them in a few minutes.
NURSE: I’ve been given strict orders to stay in the room and watch each resident take the medication.
WINNIE: Well, ours need to be taken with food and Claire here has not finished her meal. And I’m not feeling well from lunch so I don’t need pills to make me feel worse.
NURSE: I’m sorry Miss Hughes, but rules are rules.
WINNIE: Okay, but let Claire have some time, I’ll make sure she takes her meds, I promise. (She puts the pills into her mouth.)
NURSE: Open please.
WINNIE opens her mouth for NURSE.
NURSE: Thank you. I’ll see you later tonight. Exits with the tray.
WINNIE spits out the pills that she hid under her tongue and goes over to the dresser/armoire and takes out a hidden box full of pills. She puts her box away and puts the empty container by the bedroom door.
WINNIE: What a terrible nurse, she really should have looked under my tongue. She must be new, she looks young enough. So naïve.
CLAIRE (beat.): Winnie?
WINNIE: Yes, dearest?
CLAIRE: Are you… are you happy here?
WINNIE: Of course. Because I’m with you. And I’ll always be with you.
CLAIRE: I’m not sure if I even know what ‘happy’ means anymore…
WINNIE: Well, aren’t you happy when you’re with me?
CLAIRE: Yes, well. Yes, of course I am, but I don’t know…
WINNIE: You’re just upset because you’re not taking your meds. Here, give me yours, I’ll put them away for you.
CLAIRE: No! I mean- sorry. No. I can do it. You know I don’t like anyone touching my things.
WINNIE: Right. Sorry. I guess I forgot. It does that sometimes.
CLAIRE: What does that?
WINNIE: My brain- my mind- my memory. You know. It.
CLAIRE: Alright. (CLAIRE takes a small black pouch from her music box and puts the pills in it.) Winnie?
WINNIE: Mmm?
CLAIRE: Do you ever think about them?
WINNIE: Who…?
CLAIRE: Them.
WINNIE: Why would I?
CLAIRE: I don’t know…
WINNIE: Well, don’t. They left us here, Claire. They abandoned us.
CLAIRE: I know… I just don’t understand why they won’t visit me…
WINNIE: Come on, look at you, Claire. You’re way too shy, you don’t ever speak your mind, it’s like you’re not even here.
CLAIRE: I’m… not here?
WINNIE: That’s not what I meant. I meant… because they don’t care for you. Only I do.
CLAIRE: You do?
WINNIE: Of course I do. No one will ever care for you like I do, Claire.
CLAIRE: I guess.
WINNIE: What brought this on anyway? It’s been over a year- who cares about them? You have me now.
CLAIRE: You’re right.
WINNIE: Of course I am.
CLAIRE (quietly.): Thank you.
WINNIE: Well, I think I’ll go to the common room and play some checkers. Or chess-or cards. Maybe cards. Cards sound good. Remember to finish your dinner, sweetie. She exits.
CLAIRE goes back to her secret container of pills and pulls them out. She grabs a glass of water that’s on her bedside table and takes her medication. She then goes and grabs her plate of food and takes it outside the door with the empty containers for their meds. She then goes to her bedside table and produces a small journal from the drawer and sits on her bed and writes in it.
CLAIRE: Winifred Hughes. My roommate, my friend. She’s the only one I have, the only person I have left. Do I love her? Of course.
Fades.
Scene 2
A few days later. It’s a nice Autumn day and Claire and Winnie are inside their room playing cards at their small table.
WINNIE: Gin.
CLAIRE: What?
WINNIE: That’s what we’re playing, right?
CLAIRE: Are we?
WINNIE: I thought so…
CLAIRE: I don’t think I even know how to play gin.
WINNIE: Ah, me neither.
NURSE STEVENS knocks and enters the room with another set of pills on a tray.
NURSE: Girls, I have your pills.
WINNIE exchanges a smirk towards CLAIRE as if telling her something. CLAIRE gets it and smiles back.
WINNIE: So, Nurse… Stevens, is it?
NURSE: Yes.
WINNIE: You’re fairly new here, right? I was just telling Claire here that I noticed an error in our medication.
NURSE: An error? Are you not feeling well? I can call the doctor.
WINNIE: Oh, don’t worry- it’s not about the medication itself, but with the labels on the bottles. You see, (WINNIE picks up the bottles from the tray.) this says “Winifred Hughes” and hers says: “Claire Daniels”. That’s not correct now, is it, Claire?
CLAIRE: No, it’s not, in fact! That’s very upsetting. You see, Miss Nurse, my name is actually Claire Hughes. We’re sisters. Twins, actually.
NURSE: …Twins…?
WINNIE: Yes, twins. We both like the colour blue.
CLAIRE (simultaneously.): Blue!
WINNIE: We both like mashed potatoes.
CLAIRE (simultaneously.): Mashed potatoes!
WINNIE: And we both like drawing!
CLAIRE (simultaneously.): Writing!
WINNIE: See? We-we’re practically the same person!
NURSE: Alright, well you two have your fun, but you need to take your pills.
WINNIE: No- really, we are! We just don’t look alike because we’re not identical twins.
NURSE: The records say you have different birth dates.
CLAIRE: Those are incorrect too. You people really need to fix your records or check the person who does the records because he’s not very reliable!
NURSE: Really? Well… I guess that it may be a mistake… But—
WINNIE: It really is. CLAIRE: Please have that fixed and come back to us then.
NURSE: …A-alright… Take your medication, girls. I’ll see you later tonight.
NURSE exits flustered and WINNIE and CLAIRE burst out laughing. They go back to the table with their cards.
WINNIE: It’s fun to play with the dimwitted nurse. (Pause.) It’s your turn.
CLAIRE: What are we playing?
WINNIE: Gin, remember?
CLAIRE: We don’t know how to play!
WINNIE: So?
Fades.
Scene 3
The next day. WINNIE is sitting at the table reading a book before bed. CLAIRE enters holding a white handkerchief that is bunched up in her hands. She holds it as if something is in the handkerchief.
CLAIRE: Winnie! Help me, please.
WINNIE: What’s the matter, darling?
CLAIRE: I was outside in the garden and I saw this little bird on the ground- I think he’s hurt!
WINNIE (examines the handkerchief.): Hmm… Claire? This little bird is in pain. He is wounded and if we try to save him now he will only be rejected by the other birds because he’s different. We should put him out of his misery.
CLAIRE: Misery?
WINNIE: He’s hurt Claire. He longs for relief. For freedom. Freedom from pain, from us, from life. Here, give him to me. I’ll take care of him, it’s okay.
CLAIRE: No! Don’t touch him! He’s scared and alone and just wants life back to the way it was!
WINNIE stares at CLAIRE looking a bit hurt.
WINNIE: Things can’t go back to the way they were, Claire. You know this and I know this. Did you physically touch the bird?
CLAIRE: Yes. When I picked him up I had to touch him to put him into the handkerchief.
WINNIE: Then his parents won’t take him back.
CLAIRE: Why not?
WINNIE: That’s just the way the animal world works. He smells like us now and they won’t accept him.
CLAIRE: But if we get him back right away—
WINNIE: I’m sorry, Claire. It’s too late.
CLAIRE: He can go back!
WINNIE: He can’t ever go back! Claire, give me the bird. Now.
CLAIRE reluctantly gives WINNIE the handkerchief. WINNIE puts it on the floor gently and stamps her foot on it aggressively while CLAIRE gasps and starts to cry. WINNIE grabs her and pulls her in to comfort her.
WINNIE: Oh, it’s okay. Shh, shh, sweetheart. I’ve got you. I’ve always got you. (Beat.) Are you okay now?
CLAIRE looks up and then nods.
WINNIE: Good. Now, let’s go to bed.
CLAIRE (composing herself): I have to go to the bathroom. Go to bed without me.
WINNIE: Alright, I’ll see you in the morning. Good night, dear.
CLAIRE: Good night.
CLAIRE grabs the handkerchief genty and goes to the door as WINNIE turns off the lights and gets into bed. CLAIRE knocks softly on the door. JAMES the security guard calls from behind the door.
JAMES (from off.): Would you like to be directed to the bathroom?
CLAIRE: Yes, please.
Blackout on WINNIE as CLAIRE moves into the hallway where JAMES is. The hallway can be a section of the stage or an upper level if possible. They walk a few steps in silence, both able to be seen by the audience, and then CLAIRE breaks the silence.
CLAIRE: Are… are you new here?
JAMES: Yes, ma’am.
CLAIRE: May I ask you your name?
JAMES: Of course.
CLAIRE: Well? What is it?
JAMES: James. James Hawkins.
CLAIRE: That’s a nice name… Would you like to know mine? No, of course you wouldn’t; who would want to know the name of a nobody?
JAMES: We are not authorized to be familiar with the residents.
CLAIRE: Right. Of course.
JAMES (noticing the handkerchief): What do you have there, ma’am?
CLAIRE: Oh. It’s a dead bird.
JAMES (laughs): Really?
CLAIRE (laughs): Yes, really. It’s ridiculous, I know.
JAMES: Should I even ask?
CLAIRE: I wouldn’t.
JAMES: Alright.
CLAIRE (beat): How about we pretend we’re just people? Not like we’re patient and security guard. We don’t need to be anyone in particular.
JAMES: Excuse me?
CLAIRE: You’re James. I-I’m Claire. Claire Daniels. That’s it.
JAMES: … That’s it?
CLAIRE: That’s it.
JAMES: I am unauthorized—
CLAIRE: I won’t tell anyone if that’s what you’re worried about.
JAMES: We’ve reached the destination.
CLAIRE: Oh. Well. I will see you in a few moments. Exits.
JAMES waits outside the bathroom door for CLAIRE. While out there, he fixes his hat, his badge, ties his shoe, things that one would do if they were waiting for someone. He hears the toilet flush and the sink going and he immediately stands straight up as CLAIRE re-enters.
CLAIRE (salutes JAMES.): Mission complete! … Sir! (She clears her throat and tries to remain calm.)
JAMES laughs.
CLAIRE: So, how long have you been working here?
JAMES: Just over a month now.
CLAIRE: And we’ve never crossed paths? Hm. I must not go to the bathroom a lot. Well… thank you very much for… directing me.
JAMES: You’re welcome, ma’am.
CLAIRE: Good night, James. Exits.
JAMES (smiles.): Good night, Claire.
Fades as CLAIRE re-enters the bedroom.
Scene 4
Two weeks later, just after dinner. WINNIE and CLAIRE come through their bedroom door and make their way towards their beds during the conversation.
WINNIE: So, you just talked to him? You never talk to anyone.
CLAIRE: I know! I have no idea why I did it. I usually have such a hard time, but it was something about him that made me want to talk to him… or maybe I didn’t want to walk to the bathroom in silence? I don’t know…
WINNIE: It took you two weeks to talk to me.
CLAIRE: I- I’m sorry. Are you upset?
WINNIE: No! Of course not. Why would I be? Now, what was his name? Wait- no! Don’t tell me. I want to guess. Was it… Eugene?
CLAIRE (giggles.): No!
WINNIE: Peter?
CLAIRE: No.
WINNIE: Noah? Timothy?
CLAIRE: No.
WINNIE: Alright- tell me!
CLAIRE: James.
WINNIE: Just James?
CLAIRE: James Hawkins.
WINNIE: That’s a nice name.
CLAIRE: It is, isn’t it?
WINNIE: You look really happy.
CLAIRE: I really am.
WINNIE: Mmm.
CLAIRE: Is that alright?
WINNIE: Of course, dearest.
CLAIRE: Good, because I think I am!
WINNIE: That’s… excellent.
WINNIE is fumbling around the room while CLAIRE speaks.
CLAIRE (to audience): James and I have actually been talking for two weeks now. Well, eleven days. I get up every night now to go to the bathroom, but after the fourth night, I found that I didn’t even go to the bathroom. James and I just sat in the hallway and talked for over an hour. Winnie has no idea. She doesn’t have to know. (Beat.) Oh! I’ve found out that James’ favourite colour is green, and that he’s twenty-one years old and he has one younger sister who is sick. He’s working here to help pay for her doctor’s bills. He doesn’t have a mother and his father tends not to be home a lot. He didn’t tell me why though. I wish I could talk to him more… or during the day. But it’s always nice to have someone to talk to. I think I finally feel like a person who’s recognized. It’s a wonderful feeling.
NURSE enters with another set of pills.
WINNIE: Ah, if it isn’t our good friend, Nurse Christians.
NURSE: Stevens. Here’s your medication, girls. I was also strictly told not to listen to any of your nonsense and to watch you take the pills. You two almost got me fired.
WINNIE: They don’t believe we’re twins? Shame.
NURSE: Just take the pills, please.
WINNIE: Now, now. No need to get snippy with us. Here, Claire. (She hands CLAIRE her bottle of medication. They clank the bottles together and put the pills in their mouths.)
NURSE: Open.
They both open their mouths and show her, the pills are hidden under WINNIE’S tongue but CLAIRE has secretly swallowed hers.
NURSE: Thank you. Have a nice evening. Exits.
Once NURSE is gone, WINNIE spits out her pills and CLAIRE pretends to spit hers into her hand since she has already swallowed hers.
WINNIE: Well, she’s rather annoying now, isn’t she?
CLAIRE: I don’t think she means to be. She’s always seemed very sweet.
WINNIE: Sweet? Did you see how she was basically forcing those things down our throats? Animalistic is more like it. Here, give me yours, I’ll throw it in the garbage.
CLAIRE: I already threw mine in there.
WINNIE (pause.): Are you sure? Alright. I trust you. Do you want to come to the common room with me before bed?
CLAIRE: Um… no thank you.
WINNIE: What are you going to do then?
CLAIRE: Read? Write maybe.
WINNIE: Alright. I’ll see you in a few hours. Exits.
CLAIRE waits for a moment until she knows WINNIE is gone and then rushes out into the hallway to a certain spot where JAMES is waiting for her.
JAMES: Whoa there. In a hurry, are you?
CLAIRE: Sorry. I was sneaking past Winnie.
JAMES: Why are you so afraid of her?
CLAIRE: You don’t know what she can do.
JAMES: Maybe if I met her—
CLAIRE: No! Please.
JAMES: Alright. I won’t ask again…
CLAIRE: Thank you.
JAMES: So what did you get up to today?
CLAIRE: Not much. Winnie convinced one of the other residents that she’s Queen Victoria.
JAMES: And they just believed her?
CLAIRE: Yes! She waited on Winnie the whole day!
JAMES (laughs.): Winifred must be an excellent liar.
CLAIRE: Yes… I guess so.
JAMES: So… how do you like it here?
CLAIRE: This place? Where do I begin? I was admitted here almost a year ago. My parents still haven’t come to visit me. I think it’s because they are too focused on my younger brother, Louis. He’s always been the star of the family, the child who had the talent, the attention. And me, I’m just the nobody of the family who never did anything special and went crazy. I hate him… And my parents are constantly fighting- well, at least when my dad was actually home from work.
JAMES: Is that why you’re here? Because you want to be away from your family?
CLAIRE: No. Do you really want to know?
JAMES: Only if you want to tell me.
CLAIRE (pause.): I tried to kill myself just before I came here. I couldn’t take it anymore so I took all the pills that I could find in my bathroom. My parents found me in time and brought me to the hospital. Two weeks later I was here. It just proves that even when I’m a danger to myself that they can’t spend the time to watch me and make sure I don’t hurt myself again. (Beat.) I don’t see how people can come into this place and expect to get better. I feel suffocated here. I can’t stand it, it’s too restricting!
JAMES (pause.): Come with me.
CLAIRE: Where?
JAMES: Outside.
CLAIRE: What?
JAMES: You said you felt suffocated so let’s go for a walk outside!
CLAIRE: But we’re not allowed out after hours.
JAMES: Don’t think! Just come!
Fades.
Scene 5
A few days later. WINNIE enters with a random resident- MARY-ANNE.
WINNIE: Claire! Claire- look! Look what I found!
CLAIRE: Who’s this?
WINNIE: I don’t know. What’s your name?
GIRL: Mary-Anne.
WINNIE: Mary-Anne! Mary-Anne here wants to be our friend!
CLAIRE: You do?
WINNIE: She does! So I was thinking that she could do us a favour and maybe we’ll allow her to be our friend.
CLAIRE: What did you have in mind?
WINNIE: Doesn’t Mary-Anne have the most beautiful hair? So long and silky.
CLAIRE: Winnie, stop.
WINNIE: Do you want to be our friend?
MARY-ANNE: I guess.
WINNIE: Well, if you want to know something about me, you should know I hate long hair.
CLAIRE: Winnie…
WINNIE: Now, how do we cut your lovely hair without any sharp objects?
CLAIRE: Don’t—
WINNIE: You know the funny thing about hair? It pulls out fairly easily.
MARY-ANNE: I don’t think I want to be your friend anymore… (MARY-ANNE tries to escape but WINNIE blocks her way.)
WINNIE: Don’t be ridiculous! Of course you do!
CLAIRE: Stop this, Winnie.
WINNIE: Now, come here so I can relieve you of that gorgeous hair of yours.
MARY-ANNE screams as WINNIE lurches towards her. CLAIRE pushes WINNIE away from MARY-ANNE violently without realizing it until after the fact.
CLAIRE: Stop it!!
MARY-ANNE sees her chance and exits.
WINNIE (pause.): Are you out of your mind?
CLAIRE: I-I’m sorry.
WINNIE: What the hell is wrong with you? I was just having a little fun!
CLAIRE: I didn’t mean it!
WINNIE: Get out…
CLAIRE: What?
WINNIE: Get out!!!
CLAIRE exits.
WINNIE: What…?
Focus to CLAIRE who is running into the hallway to try to find JAMES. She looks around a bit before finding him. WINNIE slowly follows CLAIRE and listens in on her conversation without her knowing.
JAMES: Claire, you’re out early, dinner isn’t for another half hour. What’s wrong?
CLAIRE: I pushed her! I- I never push her!
JAMES: Whoa, whoa- calm down. Start from the beginning.
CLAIRE: I just got so angry so I pushed her…
JAMES: Winifred?
CLAIRE: She’s mad. Oh God, she’s mad. What should I do?
JAMES: I’m sure it’s alright.
CLAIRE: No! No, it’s not! She’s going to do something really terrible!
JAMES: What? What do you think she’ll do? What can she do?
CLAIRE: I don’t know—she can do a lot! She can hurt me—
JAMES kisses CLAIRE.
JAMES: I won’t let anything happen to you.
CLAIRE: What about you?
JAMES: What do you mean?
CLAIRE: Nothing. It’s nothing. I should go.
JAMES: Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow night?
CLAIRE: Yes.
JAMES: Sleep well.
CLAIRE: You too.
CLAIRE makes her way back into the bedroom without noticing WINNIE scurrying into their room and into her bed again.
Fades.
Scene 6
Late afternoon. CLAIRE is writing in her journal and WINNIE is sitting at the table fidgeting with her hands.
CLAIRE (CLAIRE breaks away from her journal.): Are you cold? It’s pretty cold in here… Winnie?
WINNIE: Hmm… I found something of yours today.
CLAIRE: What?
WINNIE produces an empty pouch where CLAIRE was supposed to be keeping her medication.
CLAIRE: Oh.
WINNIE: Who do you think you are?
CLAIRE: I didn’t think that you would ever find—
WINNIE: Consequences!
CLAIRE: What?
WINNIE: I was trying to think of that game we used to play when you first got here, remember? It was truth or- and I couldn’t remember the word- consequences!
CLAIRE: What are you talking about?
WINNIE: You have to pay the consequences.
CLAIRE: Why would you go through my stuff? I told you I don’t like people touching my stuff! I’m really beginning to hate you, Winifred.
WINNIE: Do you now? Go with that feeling. How much do you hate me, Claire? I mean really, how much?
CLAIRE (tries to slap WINNIE.): This much!
WINNIE grabs her hand before she slaps her and squeezes it until CLAIRE falls to the floor.
CLAIRE: You’re hurting me!
WINNIE: I’m sorry… So, Claire, are you ready to accept the consequences or the truth?
CLAIRE: I’m sick of this and I’m sick of you! Let’s end this game!
WINNIE: You think this is a game?!
CLAIRE: What’s it going to be, Winnie?! Truth or consequences?!
WINNIE: Truth!
CLAIRE: You want to know?
WINNIE: Yes!
CLAIRE: Really?
WINNIE: Yes. So tell me, why have you been taking these?
CLAIRE: I don’t know—
WINNIE: Oh, I think you do, Claire. I think you know exactly why.
CLAIRE: Do you remember the deal we made when I first got here?
WINNIE: How could I forget?
CLAIRE: Do you also remember how much of a mess I was?
WINNIE: Betrayal.
CLAIRE: What?
WINNIE: It’s funny. I actually asked someone today what they thought betrayal was. They told me it’s when someone has stopped loving you.
CLAIRE doesn’t know what to say.
WINNIE: The little bird you found would never have been able to go home, you know that, right?
CLAIRE: I know. But he could at least have tried!
WINNIE: No he couldn’t! He never would have made it, Claire!
CLAIRE: You don’t know that!
WINNIE: But I do! I do know that, Claire, because I’ve tried it!
CLAIRE: What?
WINNIE: I tried to leave and go back just before you got here. They said I was stable enough to go back out there. And you know what I found? Hate. Hate and misery. My parents were still the heartless creatures they always were. Don’t you see, Claire? We don’t fit in out there! We smell too much like us to be accepted back in the real world. Just like the bird.
CLAIRE: I think you’re wrong.
WINNIE: You can’t change the world! You can’t change people!
CLAIRE: I can try. She exits quickly, leaving WINNIE to think about the situation.
Fades.
Scene 7
CLAIRE is sitting in the hallway with JAMES a few nights later. They are mid-conversation.
JAMES: Have you two talked yet?
CLAIRE: No, not yet. It’s been four days, James. What do I do?
JAMES: I’ve told you this before, Claire. You have to stand strong.
CLAIRE: Right. It’s my turn to win.
JAMES: Why do you see everything as a game?
CLAIRE: It makes this- life I have more fun (she notices JAMES is staring.) What?
JAMES: You’re a very interesting person.
JAMES and CLAIRE smile at each other.
JAMES: Oh! I have a present for you. Close your eyes.
CLAIRE closes her eyes and JAMES takes out a piece of paper from his pocket and puts it in her hand.
CLAIRE: “December 13th, 1927. Miss Hughes has developed schizophrenic tendencies which cause her to lash out and see objects and/or people that don’t exist”—what is this?
JAMES: You said you always wanted to know when Winifred came here and why.
CLAIRE: Oh my God… how did you get this?
JAMES: I am good friends with the security guard who has a key to the residents’ files.
CLAIRE: Are you mad?
JAMES: What do you mean? Do you… not like it?
CLAIRE: No! This is an invasion of people’s privacy! Do you just go through everyone’s records and laugh at their mental illnesses?
JAMES: No, of course not! I didn’t—
CLAIRE: Did you look at mine?
JAMES: What?
CLAIRE: Did you look at mine?
JAMES: I-… you are terrible at accepting gifts.
CLAIRE: I can’t believe you. You know how much I hate people touching my things. But I guess you know everything about me now!
JAMES: I- I didn’t think—
CLAIRE: No, you didn’t think, did you?
JAMES: I just wanted to know more about you.
CLAIRE: You could have just asked. You didn’t need to break into resident files to find out more about me!
JAMES: You wouldn’t have told me.
CLAIRE: Excuse me?
JAMES: Oh, please, Claire. You never tell me anything about your past. I’ve told you everything about me. I told you about my sister for God’s sake!
CLAIRE: I told you about Louis—
JAMES: That you hate your brother? Oh, that’s a real secret. Everyone hates their siblings. Do you know how hard it was for me to talk to you about my little sister?
CLAIRE: Why?
JAMES: “Why” what?
CLAIRE: Why did you tell me all those things?
JAMES: Because I care about you! (Beat.) I care about you, Claire. Don’t you care about me?
CLAIRE: Of course I do.
JAMES: Then why can’t you be open with me?
CLAIRE: I’m scared.
JAMES: Scared?
CLAIRE: I’ve only really shared my life with Winnie and we’ve both seen how that turned out.
JAMES: But you know I’m not going to hurt you.
CLAIRE: Do I?
JAMES: You don’t trust me.
CLAIRE: Well, you haven’t given me much reason to trust you. (Pause.) I should go.
JAMES: I’ll see you tomorrow night?
CLAIRE: Good-night, James.
JAMES: Good-night.
CLAIRE exits. WINNIE enters from the other end of the hallway.
JAMES: Oh. You scared me.
WINNIE: I’m extremely sorry. James Hawkins, am I correct?
JAMES: Who-?
WINNIE: Surely I have no need to introduce myself.
JAMES: Winifred Hughes.
WINNIE: Indeed. (She moves slowly towards him.) It’s very… wonderful to meet you.
Blackout.
Scene 8
The next morning. WINNIE is very enthusiastic and happy.
WINNIE: Good morning, Claire!
CLAIRE: You’re speaking to me?
WINNIE: Of course I am! Why wouldn’t I be? Oh, right- because you were secretly taking your medication and in turn betraying my trust and our pact to remain together forever? No, I’m not mad. (She outstretches her arms indicating she wants a hug.) Come here. (CLAIRE hugs her hesitantly.) Excellent! Now, come along! Let’s go to breakfast! I have someone I wish you to meet. Exit.
Blackout. After breakfast, WINNIE returns with SAM, a kleptomaniac resident.
WINNIE: How did you manage to get the extra oatmeal?
SAM: Theft.
WINNIE: Theft?
SAM: If you want things in this world, you can’t wait for them to come to you. You have to take them.
WINNIE: I like this girl!
CLAIRE (sarcastically.): She’s a real peach.
SAM (pulls out a peach from her sleeve.): Peach?
WINNIE: I’ll have that! So Sam, how long have you been here?
SAM (pulls out an apple and starts to eat it.): About three years now.
WINNIE: Do you play cards?
SAM: Depends. What game?
WINNIE: Gin?
SAM: I don’t know how to play.
WINNIE: Damn. I was hoping you could teach us.
SAM: Well, I should be heading out anyway. I’ll see you at dinner?
WINNIE: What about lunch?
SAM: What about lunch? Exits.
WINNIE: Isn’t she wonderful?
CLAIRE: I guess.
SAM re-enters.
SAM: Oh, Clarissa! Here’s your book back! (CLAIRE looks in her bedside drawer and notices her journal is missing. She rushes to SAM and grabs it back.) See you tonight! (Exits)
CLAIRE: I can’t believe her!
WINNIE: I know! She’s great!
CLAIRE: That’s not exactly the word I would use…
WINNIE: People just don’t see her the way she should be viewed.
CLAIRE: And how should she be viewed?
WINNIE: As a person.
CLAIRE (pause.): Maybe she doesn’t deserve to be treated that way.
WINNIE: Everyone deserves to be treated as a person, Claire.
CLAIRE: What about when they’re crazy?
WINNIE: Don’t call me crazy, Claire.
CLAIRE: I wasn’t talking about you.
WINNIE (pause.): You’re still taking your meds, right?
CLAIRE: Yes.
WINNIE: Then you’re not crazy… did you hear that?
CLAIRE: Hear what?
WINNIE: Did you call my name?
CLAIRE: No—
WINNIE: There it is again! You can’t hear that?
CLAIRE: Let’s go outside, Winnie.
WINNIE nods and CLAIRE tries to lead her away but WINNIE screams.
WINNIE: What do you want?!
CLAIRE: I didn’t ask you for anything…
WINNIE: Can’t you hear it? Stop saying my name! Shut up!
CLAIRE: You’re scaring me…
WINNIE: Make her go away!
CLAIRE: There’s no one else here!
WINNIE: Are you sure?
CLAIRE: Yes.
WINNIE: Okay. Let’s go outside then.
CLAIRE: Are you sure?
WINNIE: No… yes. Yes. Yes, I’m sure.
CLAIRE: Okay. Let’s go. (She reaches out her hand and WINNIE takes it.)
They both exit.
Fades.
Scene 9
CLAIRE is in the room alone a few days later.
CLAIRE (to audience): Loneliness is the strangest thing- it’s like you feel cold all over and no matter what you do, you can’t get warm. Winnie was asked to see the doctor two days ago and hasn’t been back since. It started as a routine “checkup”, but they figured out that she has progressed with her illness. They haven’t found her hidden medication yet and don’t understand why she isn’t getting better. They are doing tests on her now, but she’s supposed to be back today some time. I haven’t seen James since that night we fought either. They even replaced him with a fat old guard. I think he’s so upset with me that he quit. I always expect him to show up at my door saying he cares for me again…
SAM enters.
SAM: Hello, Clarissa.
CLAIRE: It’s Claire. Don’t you knock?
SAM: Not usually.
CLAIRE (pause.): What do you want?
SAM: Calm down, do I need a reason to be here?
CLAIRE: Since this is my room, I would like one, yes.
SAM: I was just coming to see if Winnie was back yet.
CLAIRE: No, she’s not. So if you wouldn’t mind—
SAM: Did you hear about that security guy? It’s the talk of the place right now.
CLAIRE: What?
SAM: He’s dead. They found his body in some bushes in the courtyard a few days ago. They say its suicide- that he jumped off the roof. Apparently he had a sick sister and couldn’t handle it anymore. (She takes out a knife from the cafeteria and puts it among CLAIRE’S things without CLAIRE noticing.) A real tragedy. So, Winnie’s not back yet?
CLAIRE: Oh my God.
SAM: I’ll take that as a no. You okay?
CLAIRE: Please leave.
SAM: Are you sure?
CLAIRE: Get out!!
SAM: Okay, there’s no need to yell. I guess I will check back later. See you, Clarissa. Exits.
CLAIRE is left for a moment letting the information sink in. Fades as she gasps for air.
Scene 10
A few days later. CLAIRE enters the room leading WINNIE in the next day. They both look like a mess.
CLAIRE (disconnected.): Sam is coming by soon.
WINNIE: Of course she is. Why wouldn’t she want to come see me?
CLAIRE: I am glad you’re feeling better.
WINNIE: What are you talking about? When was I not?
CLAIRE: Never mind.
WINNIE: Do you want to play a game until Sam arrives?
CLAIRE: Okay. Which game?
WINNIE: Truth or consequences. I like that one. She likes that one.
CLAIRE (pause.): Alright. It’s my turn.
WINNIE: Truth or consequences?
CLAIRE: Truth. I want the truth.
WINNIE: To which question, darling?
CLAIRE: Did you kill James?
WINNIE freezes on the spot.
CLAIRE: Come on, play the game, Winnie. Don’t you love games? Don’t we love to play games together? So tell me the truth. Did you kill James?
WINNIE: No.
CLAIRE: Do not lie to me. I can tell when you’re lying, Winnie. James would not have just killed himself! He cared about me!
WINNIE: He did, didn’t he? He really cared about you. He loved you, didn’t he? Did he love you like I love you? Was he always with you? Protecting you? Making you feel safe?
CLAIRE: I have not felt safe with you in a very long time.
WINNIE: I knew you were sneaking out every night to see him. Every damn night! You couldn’t sleep without seeing him! What did he do for you that I couldn’t? Besides break into private records and steal personal information.
CLAIRE: Don’t you dare—
WINNIE: Did he do that for you, Claire? Did it show you that he cared for you when he stole my files and found out everything about us? Isn’t it wonderful when the last conversation you have with someone is an argument?
CLAIRE: I hate you! I hate you so much!
WINNIE: Of course you don’t. How can you hate someone that you are going to be with forever?
CLAIRE: We are not going to be together forever.
WINNIE: But we will. You don’t see it yet, but we will. I am not going anywhere.
CLAIRE: No!
CLAIRE and WINNIE stare at each other for a moment until SAM enters.
SAM: Win! You’re back! Let’s go outside. (Beat.)
WINNIE is still staring at CLAIRE.
SAM: Did I interrupt something here?
WINNIE: No. No, let’s go. I’ll see you soon, Claire.
SAM and WINNIE exit. CLAIRE goes to her drawer and pulls out her journal. She tries to write but gives up and throws her journal down, screaming in frustration. She gets up and fumbles around the room, throwing things and letting out her emotions when she finds the knife SAM left. She pauses and slowly picks it up and looks at it intensely. She runs it slowly and lightly across her wrists and looks up. Blackout.
Scene 11
WINNIE is in the room cleaning up CLAIRE’S mess later that day. After a moment, SAM enters.
SAM: Whoa. What happened here?
WINNIE: I have no idea. Do you know where Claire is? She’s going to be in real trouble when I find her.
SAM: Claire… Claire…
WINNIE: Where’s my Claire?
SAM: Oh, Clarissa- she’s in the hospital.
WINNIE: What?
SAM (louder.): She went to the—
WINNIE: I heard you. Why is she there?
SAM: She cut her wrists open.
WINNIE: She what?
SAM (louder.): She cut—
WINNIE: I heard you!
SAM: Whoa, don’t get mad at me! I only did what you asked. I put the knife from the cafeteria into her stuff.
WINNIE: But she was supposed to get caught with the knife so she would get in trouble, she wasn’t supposed to hurt herself!
SAM: I did my job. I planted the knife and told someone she had it, it’s not my fault what she decided to do with it.
WINNIE: God-damnit! When is she back?
SAM: I think tomorrow?
CLAIRE enters the room with a neutral face and bandages on her wrist.
SAM: Or right now.
CLAIRE goes silently to her bed, finds her journal and opens it. She begins to read and write in it.
WINNIE: Sam. Leave.
SAM: What?
WINNIE: Out! Now!
SAM: I should go. Exits.
WINNIE goes over to CLAIRE and sits down on her bed. CLAIRE does not face her or bring her attention up from her journal as WINNIE talks.
WINNIE: Claire? Claire? Are you alright? Claire? Claire, look at me. (She grabs CLAIRE’S journal. CLAIRE does not react.) Will you give me this thing? Jesus, you are so obsessed. Will you just talk to me and tell me you’re okay?
CLAIRE does not react.
WINNIE (frustrated.): Okay. Well, if you won’t talk to me, then maybe you won’t say anything when I do this! (She rips a page from CLAIRE’S journal.) Or this! (She rips another and another.) Talk to me!!
CLAIRE (quietly.): Did you do it?
WINNIE: What?
CLAIRE: Did you do it?
WINNIE: Do what, pet?
CLAIRE: Don’t act all innocent! Did you push James?!
WINNIE: Not this again. Look, I don’t know what you’re—
CLAIRE: How could you?! (She shoves WINNIE.) He was the only thing good in my life! (She shoves her again.) And you just took him away! You couldn’t let me have one thing of my own, could you?! I was happy! For once in my life, I was happy! You got so damn jealous! I can’t believe you!
WINNIE grabs CLAIRE aggressively to stop her from shoving as CLAIRE cries.
WINNIE (pause.): Do you want to play a game?
CLAIRE: A game?!
WINNIE: Well, you said you wanted to- how did you put it? – “end the game”? I believe I have won this game, so would you like to start another?
CLAIRE: You—
WINNIE (grabs CLAIRE’S wrists and squeezes.): Do you give up, Claire?! Don’t you see? I will always win.
CLAIRE looks up at WINNIE terrified and in pain.
WINNIE (smiles.): Always.
NURSE STEVENS enters with the tray of medication.
NURSE: Medication time girls!
WINNIE and CLAIRE don’t move.
NURSE: Girls? Is this another prank? Because I’m not falling for it this time.
WINNIE goes over the NURSE and grabs her medication, again taking it and putting it under her tongue as she opens her mouth to show NURSE.
NURSE: Miss Daniels.
CLAIRE goes to the tray and does the same thing as WINNIE does, putting the pills under her tongue as she shows NURSE her “empty” mouth.
NURSE: Thank you girls. I’ll see you later. Exits.
WINNIE spits out her medication and puts it in the usual space. She watches in disbelief as CLAIRE spits her pills out too and puts them in her pouch.
WINNIE: What are you doing?
CLAIRE: I don’t want these stupid things anymore.
WINNIE: But you said they made you feel better. How many do you have in here? (She grabs CLAIRE’S pouch and sees days of medication stuffed in it.) Claire.
CLAIRE: Isn’t this what you want, Winnie? For me to remain sick until we leave together?
WINNIE: I want you to be happy.
CLAIRE: And you think that’s with you?! You already destroyed my chance for happiness.
WINNIE: I- I—
CLAIRE: Don’t you dare apologize. You don’t deserve forgiveness.
WINNIE: I wasn’t going to apologize.
CLAIRE: Good. Exits.
WINNIE is left in disbelief and is trying to say something but can’t quite do it.
Fades.
Scene 12
It is lunchtime a few days later. CLAIRE has prepared WINNIE’S favourite meal in the residence. The meal is sitting on the table. She hears WINNIE talking to herself outside and rushes to her bedside drawer and pulls out a bottle of pills. She quickly takes out two pills and puts them into the sandwich. The door opens and WINNIE enters. Her hair is disarray and she looks extremely tired and pale.
WINNIE: What’s this?
CLAIRE: Oh, I thought you may be hungry. So I asked the nurse if I could bring your lunch back to our room, and they made your favourite!
WINNIE: It does look delicious. But she doesn’t want me to eat.
CLAIRE: Who?
WINNIE: No. I can’t.
CLAIRE: Winnie, who is telling you not to eat? Is she here right now?
WINNIE nods.
CLAIRE: Winnie, look at me. I’m asking you to please eat something. Please. I just want you back to how you were.
WINNIE: How I was? What do you mean?
CLAIRE: Nothing. Please, eat.
WINNIE looks at CLAIRE for a moment and realizes something isn’t right. She takes off the bread on the sandwich and finds the pills. She picks one up.
WINNIE: What is this? (throws the pills at CLAIRE.) How dare you! You think everyone wants to be under their control? You’re not taking your pills! Why do you think you can’t be happy without the pills, Claire? Do these little vials of powder really control your happiness? You know it’s all up here, Claire, in your head. I rather like being- being- being—
CLAIRE: Crazy?
WINNIE: I am not crazy! (She slaps CLAIRE.) Don’t ever call me crazy! I have just finally realized who I am. Who I am supposed to be. You may not remember what you look like, but I do. This is me, Claire, this is the real me.
CLAIRE: I don’t believe that.
WINNIE: God, I hate this place! These walls, that goddamned window with those bars! I hate it all! (She grabs the chests at the ends of the beds and throws them and collapses on the bed.) I- I—…
NURSE STEVENS enters.
NURSE: What is going on here? What happened?
WINNIE: Well isn’t it just our best friend in the whole goddamn world?
NURSE: Miss Hughes, did you do this?
WINNIE: She told me to.
NURSE: Miss Daniels told you to throw those chests?
WINNIE: No, not her. Her. (She points to a random spot in the room where nobody stands.)
NURSE: I’m afraid you’re going to have to come with me, Miss Hughes.
WINNIE: She doesn’t like that idea. She doesn’t like you or this place. She says this place is a prison.
NURSE: Now we both know that this place is far from a prison. You should feel lucky to be in such a lovely environment.
WINNIE (laughs.): Lucky? You hear that, Claire? We should feel lucky.
NURSE: Please come with me, Miss Hughes.
WINNIE: She doesn’t like that idea. She says this place is—
NURSE: Miss Hughes…
WINNIE: Claire?
CLAIRE: Yes, Winnie?
WINNIE: Can we play a game?
CLAIRE: No, Winnie. You have to go.
WINNIE: Oh. Will you come with me?
CLAIRE: No, Winnie. I won’t.
WINNIE: Why not?
CLAIRE: Because I am going to clean up and wait here for you.
WINNIE: You’ll wait? Really?
CLAIRE: Yes, of course.
WINNIE: I love you, Claire.
CLAIRE: I will see you soon.
NURSE: Come along, Miss Hughes. (She leads WINNIE out of the room. Fade as CLAIRE begins cleaning up the room.)
Scene 13
A few weeks later. CLAIRE is sitting on her bed writing in her journal.
CLAIRE (to audience): Winnie was taken away again, this time for almost a week. They locked her up somewhere, but no one would tell me where. She returned yesterday in cuffs around her hands; the doctor told me to report any unusual behaviour with her and he untied her. But with Winnie, everything is unusual behaviour.
NURSE STEVENS interrupts with the tray of pills. She goes to the table and puts them down without noticing CLAIRE. She looks up and is surprised to see CLAIRE there.
NURSE: Oh, Miss Daniels. I’m surprised to see you here; I thought you would be with Miss Hughes outside. Oh, I’m supposed to ask you if you wanted to update your request for the elimination of contact with your parents that you submitted last year.
CLAIRE: Elimination?
NURSE: Yes. We processed your request to eliminate contact with them every month to set up their visits. I’m supposed to ask if you wanted to change your mind about that decision and have your parents’ contact information put back into the files now that it has been a substantial amount of time. Think about it and let me know within the next few days.
CLAIRE: Yes… thank you.
NURSE Exits.
CLAIRE: What…?
WINNIE enters.
CLAIRE: Winnie, do you know anything about the institute contacting my parents?
WINNIE: Yes. This stupid place tries to contact our families every month to schedule times for them to come visit us—
CLAIRE: Yes, yes I know that part. But the nurse just said I filed to have that stopped. My parents’ information has been stricken from the records for months now. And I never filled out any paperwork on that.
WINNIE: Oh yes, I did that a long time ago.
CLAIRE: You what?
WINNIE: I filled out the paperwork in your hand to have your parents’ information stricken from the records a while ago. They haven’t been contacted for over a year to come and visit.
CLAIRE: What is the matter with you? You know how much I want to see them! They could have visited every month if someone phoned them!
WINNIE: Calm down, Claire. If they really wanted to visit, they could have. Truth is, they haven’t come to visit you because they don’t really want to see you. I mean, look at you, Claire; you can’t even look at yourself in a mirror. When was the last time you actually saw yourself?
CLAIRE: Don’t change the subject, Winnie! I haven’t seen my parents in over a year and it’s all your fault!
WINNIE: Oh, Claire. Don’t worry. You have me—
CLAIRE: No! I- I don’t want you, Winnie! I want my mom and my dad! I want James back! I want my old life in a home! Not this place! We are in hell, Winnie! This place is a living hell! (Beat.) You’re not going to stop, are you? Don’t you understand that you can’t control my life forever?
WINNIE: What are you trying to say?
CLAIRE: I need to leave, to get out of here.
WINNIE: You can’t do that.
CLAIRE (packing her things.): Don’t tell me what I can’t do.
WINNIE: We had a deal! We’re leaving together!
CLAIRE: We’re not though! I can’t take it anymore, Winnie. (She tries to continue packing, but WINNIE grabs her suitcase and throws it out of the way. She viciously takes hold of CLAIRE.)
WINNIE: You’re not allowed to leave without me, Claire! You don’t need your family, or James, or anyone else. You only need me!
CLAIRE tries to get away but can’t.
WINNIE (forcefully.): You’re not going anywhere, do you hear me?
CLAIRE: You can’t stop me.
WINNIE (lets go of CLAIRE.): Fine. Try! Go ahead, try it! I will tell every guard here that you’re leaving!
CLAIRE and WINNIE stare at each other for a moment until SAM enters.
SAM: Come on, let’s go, Win! (Beat.) Win?
WINNIE is still staring at CLAIRE.
SAM: Why are you two always in a stare-down when I come?
WINNIE quickly exits.
SAM: You okay, Clarissa?
CLAIRE: Just leave, Sam.
SAM exits. CLAIRE goes to her journal again. As she writes, she realizes what she should be writing. She rips out the page she was writing on and starts writing something else. She finishes and pauses for a moment to reconsider what she wrote.
CLAIRE: It’s only a game.
CLAIRE closes her journal and puts it down on her bed. She exits. Fades.
Scene 14
Later that night. WINNIE enters with SAM; they are laughing.
SAM: He fell right in front of me!
WINNIE: Did he say anything when he got up?
SAM: He said that the stairs were slippery! It hadn’t rained for three days!
They laugh. WINNIE notices CLAIRE isn’t in the room. All of CLAIRE’S journal pages are ripped out and thrown around the room.
WINNIE: Did you see Claire anywhere outside?
SAM: No. She’s probably in the common room. What’s with all the paper?
WINNIE: I don’t know. I feel like something is wrong…
SAM: Don’t worry! I’ll go find her for you. Exits.
WINNIE looks around the room and notices what’s left of CLAIRE’S journal on her bed. She goes over to it and opens it. All the pages are ripped out except one. WINNIE reads the page. CLAIRE is standing on the other side of the stage, reading out the letter.
CLAIRE: Dear Winnie, I have been thinking a lot about this place. I don’t understand much about our lives here, about the games we play. They might play with your head, distort your imagination and even warp your sanity. But I think it may be the games that we play that keep us sane; that help us determine reality from what our minds create. I don’t think James played enough games but I don’t believe that’s what caused his death. I know you won’t admit it, but you know you did it. I don’t really know what to say to you but I cannot forgive you. I am very sorry to have gone without you though. I hope some day you will forgive me.
Before I left, I was able to look at myself in a mirror in the staff bathroom; I think I looked the way I did when I was younger- happy. I don’t believe I ever really told you this, but I loved you. I really did. The games are finally over, Winnie. I mean, isn’t life just one big game? You either win or you lose, it’s that simple. You lost. Good-bye, Claire.
WINNIE finishes the note and pauses for a moment to let the words settle in. She clutches the note tightly.
WINNIE (whispered.): No.
Blackout.
The End.