**Trigger warning: suicide, self-harm, abusive relationships
Let’s Play a Game:
Alternate Ending & Added Scenes
A One Act
Written By: Joey Coleman
Story By: Joey Coleman and Jenny Taylor
Edited by: Jenny Taylor
ALTERNATE scenes can replace the original script. Non- alternate scenes can either come before or after the numbered scene.
Scene 2
Night, a few days later. Claire and Winnie are lying in their beds trying to fall asleep. Winnie is more asleep than Claire- Claire is wide awake.
CLAIRE (pause.): Winnie?
WINNIE (sleepy.): Mmm?
CLAIRE: Do you ever think about them?
WINNIE (still sleepy.): Who…?
CLAIRE: Them.
WINNIE: Who?
CLAIRE: Them.
WINNIE (sits up, now fully awake.): Why would I?
CLAIRE: I don’t know…
WINNIE: Well, don’t. They left us here, Claire. They abandoned us.
CLAIRE: I know…
WINNIE: What brought this on? 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: Come here.
CLAIRE gets out of her bed and crawls into WINNIE’S.
CLAIRE: Good night, Winnie.
WINNIE: Sweet dreams, love.
Fades.
Scene 6 (Alternate)
Late afternoon. CLAIRE is writing in her journal and WINNIE is sitting at the table frozen until CLAIRE is done speaking.
CLAIRE (to audience): Winnie and I haven’t spoken much since that day with Mary-Anne. She still seems very upset about it. Every time I see her, I feel like either shouting “I’m sorry” or yelling at her at the top of my lungs. I don’t understand sometimes, I feel like I’m drifting again. Things don’t seem to be real- I’m more paranoid now. I feel like my things keep moving around by themselves. My hair brush moved from the right side of my dresser to the centre about three hours ago. And my journal turned from facing me in my drawer to facing away from me. Winnie just says I’m crazy. I hate it when she says that. She’s much crazier than I am since she’s not taking her pills.
CLAIRE: 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?! What’s it going to be?
WINNIE: Truth!
CLAIRE: You want to know?
WINNIE: Yes!
CLAIRE: Really?
WINNIE: Yes.
CLAIRE: Okay. I’ve been taking my meds. I feel better when I’m on them and I don’t think it’s any of your business.
WINNIE: Thank you.
CLAIRE: No problem.
WINNIE: You bitch.
CLAIRE exits the room upset.
Scene 7.2 (Alternate)
CLAIRE is sitting in the hallway with JAMES. While she speaks, JAMES is shuffling about as if there is an awkward silence that he wants to break. He opens his mouth to speak a few times but nothing comes out until CLAIRE is done talking.
CLAIRE (to audience): It’s been four days since Winnie and I have spoken. For four nights I haven’t slept fully. Those four nights I’ve spent talking to James. Four nights that I’ve finally felt safe. Winnie has begun playing with my head. She’s been moving my things again to make me second guess my sanity. Well, I’m not falling for it; I won’t give in. James says I need to stand up strong and not let her win this game. 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 (opens the folded paper and reads it.): “December 13th, 1905”. I don’t understand.
JAMES: You said you always wanted to know when Winifred came here.
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 and invading my space. 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. 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 myself 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 9
CLAIRE enters the room, WINNIE is clutched on her bed humming and talking quietly to herself.
CLAIRE: Where were you at dinner? Sam was asking for you.
WINNIE continues without CLAIRE noticing. CLAIRE does random activities in the room while she talks.
CLAIRE: She stole extra dessert and accused another resident of it! She’s impossible. Winnie? Winnie, what’s wrong? (CLAIRE touches WINNIE and she moves away.) Winnie, talk to—
WINNIE: Will you get the Goddamn phone?!
CLAIRE: We don’t have a phone, Winnie…
WINNIE: Don’t you hear it? Ring! Ring, ring! Shut up!!
CLAIRE: Are you okay?
WINNIE: No, I am not okay! But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you? Since you’ve been taking your damn medication!
CLAIRE: You’re scaring me…
WINNIE: Just get the phone!
CLAIRE: There is no phone!
WINNIE: I need to get out of here. I need to go out- outside. Outdoors.
CLAIRE: I don’t think that’s such a good idea.
WINNIE: Don’t touch me!
CLAIRE: You need help.
WINNIE: I don’t need anything! Especially from you!
CLAIRE: Help! Nurse!
WINNIE grabs CLAIRE.
WINNIE: I just need to go outside. Alright?
CLAIRE: Okay.
WINNIE lets CLAIRE go.
WINNIE (pause.): Will you come with me?
CLAIRE: Okay.
WINNIE grabs CLAIRE’S hand and they both exit. Fades.
Scene 11 (Alternate)
WINNIE enters the bedroom and sees that no one is there. She looks disappointed and exits. She re-enters as if expecting someone to be there this time. She exits and does this once more. When she realizes no one is going to be in the room, she enters and fixes up the room a bit from CLAIRE’S mess. After a moment, SAM enters.
SAM: You’re back. How’s your brain?
WINNIE: It’s alright. They are just making my medication stronger. Not like I am going to take it anyway. Do you know where Claire is? I come back and there’s no one here to welcome me!
SAM: I’m here.
WINNIE: Where’s my Claire?
SAM: Who? Oh, Clarissa- she’s in the hospital.
WINNIE: What?
SAM (louder): She went to the—
WINNIE: I heard you. Why is she there?
SAM: Oh, 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 in 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: Get out!!
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: 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. WINNIE gets angry and grabs CLAIRE’S shoulders.) Talk to me!!
CLAIRE (quietly.): Did you do it?
WINNIE: What?
CLAIRE: Did you do it?
WINNIE: Do what, pet?
CLAIRE (shakes WINNIE off her.): 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 for my own, could you?! 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? Isn’t that what life is to you, Claire? Just a game? Something to make life more fun?
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.
Fades.
Scene 12
CLAIRE is alone on stage, her wrists are still bandaged up.
CLAIRE (to audience): Winnie has gotten worse. There is not a moment where I feel safe around her now; she’s always calling out to somebody who’s not there, or is humming or whispering to herself. She’s stopped eating completely. All she does now is drink water and smoke – she says it helps her feel calm for one brief moment. Sam steals the cigarettes for her and they smoke secretly behind the building where the guards cannot see them. She’s also started screaming in her sleep- she won’t tell me why. Maybe she doesn’t remember or she just won’t tell. I feel like she isn’t telling me anything at all anymore, like everything her mind produces is a secret which cannot be touched, not even by her. Maybe that’s why she’s upset all the time. I want to help her, but I can’t. I just can’t, not after what she did to James. She still won’t admit it, but I know- I know it was her. I think she’s losing it, and I know how much she hates to lose.
WINNIE enters scratching her arms profusely. CLAIRE makes no effort to look at or speak with WINNIE.
WINNIE (pause.): You’re not even going to ask if I’m okay anymore?! God, you’re just the worst.
CLAIRE: What’s the point? You’re just going to say “no, I’m not okay” and yell at me for a while.
WINNIE (laughs.): You know me too well. (She continues to scratch. Addressing her arms.) Why are you so itchy? (Beat.) Did Sam come?
CLAIRE: You were just with her.
WINNIE: No I wasn’t. I am pretty sure I would have… would have-would- would have—
CLAIRE: Remembered?
WINNIE: Yes! I would have remembered if I was—wait. Was I with her? (She stops scratching.) I think I was… (Beat.) Claire, did Sam come by today?
CLAIRE: No, she hasn’t, Winnie.
WINNIE: Oh. Okay. Claire! Do you want to play a game?
CLAIRE: What game?
WINNIE: Gin.
CLAIRE: We don’t know how to play gin, Winnie.
WINNIE: Yes, we do… do we? (Whispers.) No, we don’t. No, wait, yes, we do. Maybe. (Normal voice.) Claire, do we know how to play gin?
CLAIRE: No, we don’t.
WINNIE: Oh. Okay. I think I’ll go out for a walk.
CLAIRE: It’s after hours. You can’t go out, you’ll be caught.
WINNIE: No, I won’t! A nice midnight walk sounds lovely. Would you like to join me?
CLAIRE: No, thank you.
WINNIE: Alright, I’ll be back soon.
WINNIE exits. CLAIRE goes to the dresser and brushes her hair before bed. She sighs and sits back on the bed, waiting for WINNIE to return. After a moment, WINNIE is shoved back into the room.
VOICE (offstage.): Residents are not allowed out after dark!
WINNIE composes herself and spits angrily at the door. She turns around and sees CLAIRE sitting on the bed staring at her. She clears her throat and makes her way towards her bed.
WINNIE: Good night, Claire.
CLAIRE: Good night, Winnie.
Fades.
Scene 12.2 (Alternate)
It is lunch time. CLAIRE has prepared WINNIE’S favourite meal in the residence—cucumber sandwich with the crusts cut off and slices of oranges on the side with iced tea. 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: God-damnit. Where the hell is Sam?!
CLAIRE: Have you not seen her at all today?
WINNIE: No and I need some damn cigarettes! Has anyone called on the- on the phone for me?
CLAIRE: We don’t have—no. No one has called.
WINNIE (notices the food.): What’s this?
CLAIRE: Oh, I thought you may be hungry since you haven’t eaten in almost – a – a while.
WINNIE: That’s not true. I’ve eaten a few pieces of bread.
CLAIRE: So I asked the nurse if I could bring your lunch back to our room. And they made your favourite!
WINNIE (sits at the table.): 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?
CLAIRE: I’m not sure- what is it?
WINNIE (throws the pills at CLAIRE.): How dare you! You think everyone wants to be under their control just like you? (She gets up and throws the plate to the floor. She moves towards CLAIRE slowly.) 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. 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 tries to throw things about but everything is bolted to the floor. She then grabs the chests at the ends of the beds and throws those and collapses on the bed.) I- I—…
NURSE 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. We should feel lucky to be trapped within these walls! To have pills shoved down our throats three times a day! To not being allowed to leave this damned “lovely environment”!
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 14 (Alternate Ending)
CLAIRE is alone on the stage with her journal in her hands. She looks around the room for a moment before speaking and opens her journal and begins to write.
CLAIRE (to audience): Games can play with your head, with your imagination and even your sanity. Winnie has been gone now for twelve days and I do not think that she’s—. Winnie saw things that weren’t there, she spoke to people that no one else could see. I wonder if she truly believed that they existed or if she always knew and it was just another game for her, something to keep her entertained in this place. I guess you need just about anything to keep yourself in high spirits. I don’t think James played enough games… 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 mean, isn’t life just one big game? You either win or you lose, it’s that simple. I’m really not sure anymore if Winnie won or lost, or if she’s even happy anymore. She seems to be completely lost inside her head now. I’m not sure what’s going to happen here next, if I’ll be getting a new roommate or if Winnie will ever return to me, but it’s all just a part of the game, right?
CLAIRE looks up and closes her journal and puts it back in her dresser drawer. She smiles and looks at WINNIE’S bed before she leaves the room.
The End.