Musical Chairs was submitted into the SHU Theatre Arts Program’s TheaterFest of 2016-2017. It got up to the second round and semi-finals.
Characters:
Maine Protz: Our hero of the story (not really); average normal girl
Isabella: The popular girl at school; Dating Alex
Alex: Dating Isabel; a tough and aggressive individual who’s into sports
Jonah Garcia: Bubbly and (mostly) optimistic. The comic relief of the story; can easily get emotional
Brayden: Peculiar and sometimes philosophical in nature; thinks he’s a salmon (not really)
Natalie: Phone savvy; Friends with Isable; Sounds drowsy all the time
_____________________________________________
1. INT. Room 206 - 10pm
Isabella and Brayden are the only ones within R. 206. Isabella is managing and looking through the script while Brayden is on his phone. Maine suddenly runs in hastily.
Maine
Oh my god I’m so sorry if I’m late!
Isabella suddenly looks up at the tired looking Maine.
Isabella
Hm?
Maine
Um. I’m here for the scripting!
Isabella
For the scripting? Well, you’re certainly in the right place. Your name is…
Maine
I’m Maine. Maine Protz.
Isabella
Oh, you’re one of the freshman, correct?
Maine
Yes, absolutely!
Isabella
Calm yourself. You sound like you’re in a rush.
Maine
Well, I was-
Isabella
You were running late. No need to rush yourself. Why don’t you sit down, relax, and take your time to manage. Besides, the writer—as well as the other actors—have yet to arrive.
Maine
You’re the director, correct?
Isabella
Why, yes I am!
Maine
Isabella is your name?
Isabella
Indeed.
A silence emits for a brief moment until Maine breaks it.
Maine
So, um.
Isabella
Hm?
Maine
You’re the vice president of the theater program, correct?
Isabella
Vice president, chairman of the fundraising committee, chairman of the advertising committee, owner and member of the Upsilon Kappa sorority, and organizer of many outside charity events.
Maine
That… sounds like a lot to do.
Isabella
Well, I’d rather spend a life of putting effort into everything than spending most of it doing absolutely nothing.
Natalie walks into the scene with her eyes glued to her phone and takes a seat.
Maine
I guess that makes sense. But, what’s wrong with taking a break every now and then?
Isabella
Don’t misjudge me. I have a lot of friends I talk to, a boyfriend, a family to support, a bunch of pets, my fans on social media. I can manage my time with everything I have.
Jonah walks into the scene and stops at the sight of Isabella with his mouth and arms wide open.
Jonah
Izzy~!
Isabella
Oh my god, Jonah!
Isabella runs up to Jonah and gives him a hug.
Jonah
I’m sorry that I came late, and I felt super bad for it. But to make it up, I brought you some of your favorite-
Jonah takes out a coffee of some sorts
Jonah
pumpkin spice latte from Double-D’s!
Isabella
With creme in it.
Jonah
You bet!
Isabella
Ahp! … Soy creme?
Jonah
Girl, I know not to disappoint!
Isabella
GIMME!
Jonah literally throws the latte at Isabella as she successfully catches it!
Jonah
So-
Jonah takes a seat.
Jonah
Tiffany was going on about the new Stranger Things episode and-
Isabella
Hold on! Don’t spoil it for me.
Jonah
Oh, I’m so sorry. Um. *ahem* I’m very late anyways, so let’s not waste anymore time as get this done. So, Izzy!
Isabella raises her hand
Isabella
Here!
Jonah
Maine!
Maine raises her hand.
Maine
Here.
Jonah
Brayden!
Brayden looks over to Jonah.
Brayden
Here.
Brayden turns his head back to his phone.
Jonah
Natalie!
As Jonah says Natalie’s name, he points over to her. She doesn’t respond but Jonah keeps pointing to her, which leaves him in an awkward position.
Jonah
[Much louder] NATALIE!
Natalie is shocked from Jonah’s loud call
Natalie
Y-Yeah?!
Jonah
Put your phone away, please.
Natalie
*sigh* Okay.
Natalie puts her phone away.
Jonah
So, everybody, take out your scripts and let’s get-
As Jonah is talking, Alex walks into the scene. Jonah is interrupted by Alex’s presence. He takes a long pause looking at him confused.
Jonah
Who are you?
Alex
Alex?
Isabella
[gleefully] Oh, hi Alex!
Jonah
Izzy, who is that?
Isabella
My boyfriend! He’s cute, isn’t he?
Jonah
[Sarcastically] Mhmm. He’s as cute as a… bulldog.
Alex
Well… puppies are pretty cute. Why, thank you.
Jonah
A-Anyways, You can’t be here!
Isabella
Why does it matter?
Jonah
Well. He’s not supposed to be here.
Alex
It’s not like I’m going to interrupt anything. I’m just here to visit. I mean, I’m curious about your little theater group. After all, you need new members.
Jonah
Well…
Alex
You wouldn’t deny such an opportunity. I mean, you are the president after all.
Maine
It’s not that he wouldn’t deny the opportunity. It’s just that-
Alex looks over to Maine
Alex
Are you one of the theater staff?
Maine
Well.
Alex stands up.
Alex
I don’t think so. So I believe it’s best that you don’t intervene.
Isabella stands up to stop Alex
Isabella
Alex, don’t.
Alex looks at Isabella
Alex
I mean. I’m sure the vice president wouldn’t mind me being here.
Jonah stands up in rage.
Jonah
I’ll have you know that while she is the vice president and is someone that I love to death, I’m [while pointing to himself] the president! Which means I have full dictation over everything that happens within the program, under the approval of the Theater Arts chairman, of course.
Alex
The chairman?
Jonah
Mr. Larry Gehringer!
Alex
But is he here?
Jonah
He… Well MAYBE HE IS HERE!
Isabella
Com’on, Jonah. Alex maybe a bit… smug, but it’s not like him being here is really going to be the worst thing ever.
Jonah walks up to Isabella.
Jonah
Okay. Izzy. I love you oh so very very much and I know that you’re a really great friend of mine and I absolutely have full respect in your position as the vice president of our theater program BUT COME ON! You know that this won’t work out it never doooooeeeees.
Maine stands up to try and stop everything
Maine
Lets just get to scripting!
Isabella
She has a point.
Alex
Yeah, Joey-
Jonah
Jonah.
Alex
-Jonah. [Sarcastically] We have a script to read through. I pwomise to be a good widdle boy.
Jonah looks away for a brief moment before saying-
Jonah
Fffffiiiiine! I think it’s best if we get started anyways. Amiright? Hmhmhm~.
Everyone takes a seat and looks at their scripts, excluding Alex who just sits next to Isabella.
Jonah
So. Frrrom the top, Izzy!
Isabella
It was a late night within Lucy and Rebecca’s dorm room as they were studying for the next test, when suddenly-
A blackout has occurred within the room
Isabella
-okay a blackout.
Jonah
A blackout?!
Brayden
What if that actually happened in the script?
Natalie
It’s alright! I can just use my phone as a flashlight.
Natalie takes out her phone and turns on the flashlight feature, which blinds Jonah
Jonah
Will you point that light away from my face or so help me-
Natalie listens and turns the light off
Natalie
Sorry.
Maine
Wait. Turn it back on, we need to see what’s going on.
Natalie
Ok… Oh…
Maine
What is it?
Natalie
It died.
Maine
I’ll just use my phone.
Maine turns on the flashlight
Maine
Is everyone alright?
Maine walks over to the side and points the light towards everyone in the room.
Maine
Alright, we have Jonah, Alex, Izzy, Natalie, and…
Maine points to Brayden unable to remember his name
Maine
…yyyyyou.
Brayden
Brayden.
Maine
Brayyyden. I’ll remember that next time.
Jonah stands up to Maine.
Jonah
Alright. Next time, I’m the only one who refers to Isabella as Izzy!
Isabella
Oh, I don’t mind.
Jonah
W-w-w-w-w-w-w-WHAT!?!
Alex stands up with arms cross and says…
Alex
You heard her. Izzy—doesn’t mind.
Jonah
Oh, you’re just asking for trouble, Mister. I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class in the Na-
Maine walks towards the door to try and open it, which interrupts Jonah’s speech. The door is locked.
Maine
Oh no.
Jonah
*gasp* don’t tell me that we’re locked inside. If I have to spend another minute with…
Jonah points to Alex trying to think of an insult
Jonah
…[some sort of celebrity name], I think I’m going to lose— my— s-s-shamrocks!
Maine
Don’t freak out. Even if we’re locked in here, somebody will come to get us. I’m 100% sure of it.
Alex
Yeah. I mean, we have our punching bag.
Alex raises his hand towards Jonah which disgusts him. Alex wraps his arm around Jonah’s back.
Jonah
Do not… TOUCH me!
Jonah, enraged, pushes Alex’s arm away as he says “touch.” Alex faces the palms of his hands towards Jonah as to say that he will stay away from him, sarcastically.
Isabella
Even so, I think we should probably work on our scripts.
Jonah
I would love to do that. Although, the power is out and it’s really dark. I don’t want to have to use my phone and hold it up over my script.
Maine
Aren’t you the writer, though?
Natalie
My phone needs to charge anyways, and the power needs to be on.
Brayden
Did you bring a laptop.
Natalie
Yeah.
Brayden
Use that to charge your phone.
Natalie
Oh, thanks.
Natalie takes out her laptop.
Natalie
Oh… I forgot to charge it.
Natalie shrugs and goes back to sitting around.
Alex
Aww man. And you were so persistent to getting into that script, weren’t you, Jonah?
Jonah
I-It’s just really dark! It would we really weird to work on something in the dark. Especially if there’s, like, five other people in the same room. Alright?
Maine
Listen. I think the power should will go back on soon anyways.
Natalie
But if the power’s out, shouldn’t it be lightning?
Silence emits for a bit.
Brayden
Do you think maybe there was an accident somewhere?
Maine
An accident?
Brayden
That’s the only other explanation I could think of.
Maine
Like, a car crashing into a building or something?
Brayden
Definitely.
Maine
Alright.
Maine realizes something about the doorknob.
Maine
Wait a minute. This door locks, correct?
Jonah
Well, yeah. To keep people from getting in, obviously.
Maine
But, what about from people getting out?
Jonah
Oh! You do have a good point.
Isabella
Do you think that the door is jammed?
Maine
Oh no. That would be bad.
Alex
You really don’t have to hold out the phone like that.
Maine
But-
Alex
It’s getting in my eyes anyways.
Maine
Oh!
Maine lets her arm down
Alex
Just put it down on the floor, I think we can get a decent view of everyone around here.
Maine
Alright.
Maine puts the phone face down on the floor so the light can express everyone around.
Alex
If it’s jammed. Why don’t I try to break out?
Jonah
You knooow, that could be considered property damage, right?
Alex
Well, we’re stuck. What else could we do?
Isabella
Alex. I think we should stay here. There’s no need to-
Smoke suddenly appears, filling up the room
Alex
What the hell is happening?!
Isabella
Uh! Uhhh!
Jonah
Izzy! I’m scared! Are we being infiltrated?
Alex
No, dumbass! A gas leak is happening!
Everyone but Alex and Natalie
A gas leak?!
Jonah
Not a gas leak! Anything but that! I have to be back for my aunt’s baby shower!
Isabella
Oh god, we’re going to die!
Maine
Don’t panic! Listen up everyone, let’s hope it’s nothing major. We just need to stay calm and relax.
Everyone starts to feel weak at the knees as they all begin to fade into unconsciousness from the gas.
Alex
I don’t know. I’m starting to-
Jonah
I have too… Aunt Abby.
Natalie
…I’m tired.
Maine
Just… Just… I…
Everything fades out to black as the scene transitions to the same room, with everyone unconscious. Everyone wakes up from the gas as Maine notices that she’s wearing a brace on her wrist.
Maine
Wha- What is this?
As everyone is up on their feet, Maine takes visual interest in this bracelet she’s wearing.
Maine
What is this?
Isabella
Hm? This is the same room.
Alex
Sooo. Did we just get knocked out? Weird. I’ve had hangovers before but stuff like this is just…
Alex notices something on his wrist, which is the same brace Maine has.
Alex
What’s this?
Maine notices and walks up toward Alex
Maine
Oh my god! I’m wearing the same thing. Wait a minute. Is everyone here wearing a black brace?
Everyone checks to see if they have the same brace on their wrists.
Isabella
Um. Yeah.
Brayden
Yeah.
Natalie
Same here.
Jonah
Oh my god, what is this ugly thing doing on my arm?
Jonah tries to get it off.
Jonah
I can’t get it off. Wait a minute. How long have we passed out for?!
Natalie
I dunno. I’ll just check my pho-
Natalie feels her pockets to dig out her phone but can’t seem to find it.
Maine
Well, at least the lights are back on. I wonder if the door unl-
Natalie
WHERE IS MY PHONE?!
Alex
You probably dropped it somewhere. No need to freak out.
Maine and Brayden dig for their pockets to try and recover their phones, but fail to find anything.
Maine
Wait. My phone is also missing.
Brayden
Same here. Come to think of it, some of our baggage is also missing.
Jonah
WHAT?!
Natalie runs over to Maine.
Natalie
DID SOMEONE STEAL OUR STUFF!?!
Maine
Well, let’s hope not.
Natalie runs over to the door and tries to escape, but it’s still jammed. Brayden starts to inspect the walls as if they’re missing something.
Natalie
WHY ARE WE STUCK IN THIS ROOM?! WHERE IS OUR STUFF?! WHY AM I WEARING THIS STUPID BRACE THAT I CAN’T TAKE OFF?!
Natalie starts trying to take it off in desperation but can’t seem to do so. She starts to hyperventilate out of fear.
Alex
Jeez, Natalie, a second ago, you were careless but I guess without your phone, you’re just-
Maine
Alex, we don’t need your help. Okay. Maybe it’s nothing. Let’s just all calm down and relax about this.
Isabella
Yeah, I wouldn’t be saying that when our stuff has gone missing as well as us being stuck in here.
Maine
Listen. If we start freaking out about everything, we’re never going to get anything done. Let’s just take this one step at a time and-
A beeping sound comes from a room speaker up on the upper right corner of the room, which takes everyone’s attention.
Isabella
What was that?
Shortly after, Maine collapses on the floor, in which everyone runs towards her body. Brayden doesn’t, but stops what he’s doing in shock to look over Maine.
Isabella
Maine!
Jonah
Are you alright? Maine?
Natalie, tries to feel a pulse out of her. Natalie puts her hand towards her mouth in fear.
Natalie
She’s… passed.
Alex
You mean, dead?
Jonah
Are you kidding me? You mean…?
Isabella
[about to cry] Oh my god… OH MY GOD!
Isabella runs towards the corner cowering as Alex notices and runs over.
Alex
Isabella!
Alex tries to comfort her hoping to calm her down.
Alex
It’s okay. Natalie’s trying to scare you!
Natalie
It’s true, though. I’m being serious right now! Why would I joke about something like this?!
Isabella
Hold me.
Alex
Com’on, Bellie. Just be strong. We’re all together in this.
As Brayden is inspecting, he finds a note on a podium and goes over to it.
Brayden
This note. It reads the names of everyone in this room.
Alex
What note?
Brayden
To Maine, Isabella, Jonah, Alex, Natalie, and Me.
Brayden opens it up and reads it out loud.
Brayden
Congratulations. the six of you have been selected into this fine game of Musical Chairs. The goal of this game is to expose the mastermind.
Alex
What the hell are you reading?
Brayden
It’s a note. It might explain to us what’s going on.
Brayden looks back to the script and reads…
Brayden
Each time the beep plays, someone at random will die.
Everyone besides Brayden gasps.
Isabella
Are you kidding me?
Natalie
So that’s what happened to Maine?
Brayden
However, you can counter this beep for another period of time… if you kill someone. If you manage to expose the mastermind, each of the remaining players will be set free. Good luck.
Alex walks up to see the note.
Alex
Let me see that note!
Alex snatches the note from Brayden’s hands and reads it. After so, Alex rips it up.
Alex
So. Some asshole puts us through this and wants us to find clues that will expose the mastermind? Is that what this stupid note is telling us?
Natalie
What if the note is fake?
Brayden
Well. I doubt it. It confirmed one thing, which was as to why Maine died. Because of these braces.
Isabella
No. It has to be a dream. Everything has to be a nightmare!
Alex runs back over to Isabella to try and comfort her. While that happens, Jonah finds a knife from under the podium and picks it up. He puts it under his shirt.
Alex
Belle. Please. Don’t be scared.
Isabella
I don’t know if I can’t. I don’t know, Al- *sniff* Al-
Natalie
So, we have to expose the mastermind? What does that note mean by mastermind?
Brayden
It means that someone is behind this entire game.
Natalie
Someone from outside of the room?
Brayden
…I’m not so sure.
Alex
What are you saying?
Brayden
Well. I checked the walls and ceiling and didn’t find any sort of camera, not even small tube-like ones.
Isabella
You were inspecting the walls?
Brayden
I just wanted to make sure.
Natalie
But doesn’t the camera usually appear on the ceiling of several classrooms?
Brayden
I was going to get into that. There isn’t one here, there’s not even some sort of indication that a camera would be here. Usually, there would be some sort of gap with wires sticking out or maybe a lid, but none of that is here.
Alex
What are you going on about?
Brayden
One. The fact that this isn’t the same room that we were in before. That same room had a camera, correct?
Alex
Well, yeah.
Brayden
Two. The supposed mastermind we’re expected to find… is one of us.
Isabella
One of us… Is the mastermind?
Alex
Well, who the hell would it be?
Jonah
[Quietly] What am I doing?
Natalie
Jonah?
Jonah
What am I doing here?
Alex
You mumbling something to yourself? Did you… Did you set this up?
Jonah
Don’t. Talk.
Alex
Jonah. You best give me an answer. Did you put us through this mess?
Jonah turns away and starts to shake.
Alex
Listen up! It’s obvious you’re trying to hide something from all of us. It’s not worth it. This whole thing you’re trying to set up? It’s nothing!
Brayden
Wait. I don’t think we should suspect him as the mastermind.
Alex
Dude. Take a look at how clearly suspicious he is. It looks like he obviously knows something that we don’t. Turning his back away from me when asked a question. Shaking and covering himself up as if he’s hiding something.
Brayden
But, I don’t really see him being the mastermind.
Alex
Com’on, Jonah. Why don’t you fess up? It’s obvious that you’d want to murder a group of people. After all, you’re the one who planned out the meeting time and place.
Natalie
But. How exactly would he be able to move us to a different room. You didn’t forget that, right?
Alex
Well. He could’ve gotten some friends involved, and ma-
(ponders)
He would be ab-
(ponders)
He cou-
(ponders)
Natalie
What are you thinking about?
Alex
Anyone know which room number this is?
Brayden
I was about to say. This is a really weird room, as there’s no security camera within it, not even a hint of one ever being installed. Do any of you know the year this University was opened to the public?
Natalie
1902. The University always displays the year it was founded at the top of it’s name.
Brayden
Precisely. The school was founded about 114 years ago.
Alex
Well, what the hell does that have to do with anything?
Brayden
Since the university existed before the common usage of security cameras, it’s possible that the room we’re in doesn’t seem to be apart of the school itself.
Alex
How many crazy ideas can you come up with from the top of your head?
Brayden
I’m saying that Jonah wouldn’t drag us all the way into a room that he doesn’t know about?
Isabella
And why would it be outside of the school? Maybe this is a room where the university forgot to install a security camera?
Brayden
I doubt that. I don’t think a school that has existed for over a century would just forget to add a security camera to a room, especially if it existed before the popularity of high tech surveillance equipment.
Isabella
I see.
Brayden
Although, you did bring up an interesting point. This room could be located anywhere. Probably not just outside the university. Maybe a secret compartment. If so, how would you access it from the school? Underground?
Alex
You know, it’s weird waking up after witnessing the death of a fellow freshmen to suddenly hear you jump to the conclusion that we’re trapped within a really weird room. I feel if you’d know so much about this room, you’d have to-
Jonah
be the mastermind, Brayden? It was you. Wasn’t it?
Brayden
Understandable. I take note about a lot of things and it’s easy for me to notice. Some people… don’t really want to talk to me because of that.
Jonah
Interesting. You don’t have any friends.
Brayden
…Rude. Also, it’s not like I don’t have friends our anythi-
Jonah
Do you just want to watch people suffer?
Brayden
Hey. I’m not the mastermind, okay?
Jonah
Well then, who else? I don’t think anyone else would notice or think up some crazy stuff like us being trapped in a room outside of or underground the school, being forced to kill eachother!
Natalie
But, we don’t have to. We could jus-
Jonah
Watch each other die one by one from the beep? Is that what you want?!
Natalie
[About to cry] I-I don’t want that. Of course I don’t want that!
Jonah
Of course I don’t want that, but this is how life is, isn’t it? This is what I have to deal with. I just wanted to write up a script about the good things in life—only to be forced to murder someone who I suspect to be a mastermind.
Jonah holds out the knife to Brayden. Jonah’s tone also becomes more aggressive.
Brayden
You can suspect me of being the mastermind as much as you want, but that will not get you out of this mess.
Jonah
OH! The one who knows the most about this place isn’t the mastermind! Like that’s going to convince me.
Natalie
Jonah. I trust him.
Jonah
Oh! The mastermind?!
Natalie
I-I trust in Brayden that he’s not the mastermind, so just don’t attack anyone. Let’s work this out because I don’t want anyone else to die anymore!
Jonah falls down and hyperventilates, after so, he starts to cry.
The beep suddenly plays. Everyone pauses in anticipation as to who will die, which turns out to be Jonah. He collapses on the floor, which gets the attention of everyone in the room.
Isabella
Jonah!
Isabella runs over in fear and tries to wake him up by pushing his body.
Isabella
Jonah! Please! Get up!
Natalie collapses onto her knees and holds at her chest.
Brayden
Natalie?
Natalie’s breathing becomes heavy.
Brayden
Natalie!
Natalie
I can… *gasp* I can- I can- Icanicanicanicancain I-! I-! I-!
Natalie falls to the floor desperately gripping at her chest. Brayden comes down to try and comfort her.
Brayden
Natalie! What’s happening? I-
Alex
Oh my god, what’s happening now?!
Brayden
You can do this, Natalie!
Natalie stops breathing as she finally collapses.
Brayden
…Natalie?!
Isabella walks over towards Natalie and tries to feel a pulse. Isabella’s hand starts to shake.
Brayden
Don’t tell me she-
Isabella gives Brayden a saddening nod, as she puts her hands over her face.
Brayden
You gotta be kidding me?
Alex
I can’t eve- Are you kidding me? Two people die?
Isabella
One of you…
Alex and Brayden look over to Isabella.
Alex
Belle?
Isabella
[Tearfully] The mastermind. One of you is the mastermind! And it’s DEFINITELY NOT ME!
Isabella stands up enraged
Isabella
So, go ahead! Go ahead and just KILL ME! You know you want to!
Alex
I-It’s not me! It has to be Brayden! He’s the one who’s been giving out his little history lesson about the school! It has to be you! I can’t see any reason as to why it can’t!
Isabella
Arguably, a conspiracy!
Alex
And once we kill you, we’ll be free to go.
Alex runs over to grab the knife from Jonah and charges at him, grabbing his shirt collar.
Alex
So, Brayden, before I end your miserable life, you wanna explain to us as to why you PUT US THROUGH THIS?
Brayden pauses for a bit.
Brayden
[Monotone] So, you’re right. I’m the mastermind behind this entire game. It was kinda obvious, but why don’t I explain myself before you kill me? If you don’t mind.
Alex
…Alright. Explain yourself. I think it will be interesting to listen to.
Brayden
My grandfather, Professor Roy Edinburgh, is one of the head deans. Because of this, he has access to many of the school facilities, even some of the areas that are usually restricted. Heavily restricted, in fact. Because I’m very close to him, he gave me access to this specific underground room.
Alex
So, we are in an underground room.
Brayden
He didn’t know that I would run this killing game, in fact, he didn’t seem to care all that much. You know, a college student just walking around heavily restricted territory and setting up this psychopathic excuse of a game.
Alex
Where’d you get these braces?
Brayden
Did you know that I was a child prodigy? I was gifted in computer science so I spent my life making devices and such via coding and building. At the age of nine, I was on the news quite a bit.
Alex
So tell me. What was your motivation into starting a killing game?
Brayden
I’m not exactly sure myself. Maybe I wanted to test out my new braces. Maybe something snapped in me and I-
Alex
What do you mean you’re not sure? For a mastermind, you don’t seem to have much of a direction.
…
Something’s not right.
Brayden
What’s not right?
Alex
I mean. I’ve never even heard of a child prodigy that made computers before, especially one my age.
Brayden
Let me give you one final piece of info. Brayden isn’t even my real name. My real name… i-
Brayden falls over and collapses on the floor unexpectedly.
Alex
What the? Brayden?
Alex kneels down to try and feel for a pulse.
Alex
But… the beep it- it didn’t go off!
Isabella
He was annoying anyways.
Alex turns his head towards Isabella.
Alex
Yeah. He kinda was. I have to say, he was a pretty terrible mastermind let me tell ya. Let’s get out of here.
Alex walks over to the door and tries to open it, but it’s still locked.
Alex
Are you kidding me?
…
Well, maybe the mastermind was a flat out lying scumbag.
Alex turns over to Isabella
Alex
Belle. You once said this to me. “Life takes you wherever, no matter your social position. But breaking out of whatever social norm you live by will end up with a big reaction.”
Isabella
I wonder if that’s why Brayden did all of this. To get a reaction.
Alex
But something bothers me. I’ve never even heard of the fact that he was a child prodigy, or is related to one of the deans. I’ve never even heard people reference the fact that he had those attributes.
…
I realized something.
Isabella
What is it?
Alex
You once told me a story of how you were setting up Upsilon Kappa. You said that in order to set it up, you needed approval from one of the deans.
Isabella
What about it?
Alex
One thing you said in particular… you said that… you were related to him.
Isabella
Me and Brayden being related to a staff member does sound like a huge coincidence… Almost as if it was the same exact dean. Roy Edinburgh.
Alex puts his shaking hand in front of his mouth.
Alex
What did you say?
Isabella
One more thing. All of that stuff Brayden said… was false. He was talking about the true mastermind.
Isabella does a heart symbol with her hands and tilts her head to the side.
Isabella
Me!
Alex
A-are you kidding me?!
Alex points to Isabella
Alex
Y-you!
Isabella
Costed the lives of four innocent beings? Know about one of the school’s darkest secrets? Used this room with my computer science prowess to create this game? And now you know who it is.
Alex
Why? No… Who- What are you?!
Isabella
[Cheerfully] Why, your cute, loving girlfriend, of course! I mean, I’d never kill you out of all people.
Alex
Don’t call yourself my girlfriend! HOW DARE YOU! YOU TRAUMATIZED ME! PSYCHOLOGICALLY DAMAGED ME!
Isabella
[Overdramatic Sadness] But. At least you’re alive. After all, the school will turn you into a martyr.
Alex
What are you… What are you talking about?!
Isabella
[Deepened voice of authority] Allow me to explain.
Isabella goes to the marker board and draws out everything she explains.
Isabella
[Formal]In order for my plan to work, I needed a few test subjects to participate in my little game, which include you, me, and the four other students. Because I knew about the school’s underground class rooms that they were testing, it was the perfect spot to run the game. Realistically, I’d call it more of an experiment, because I designed it so that the only two survivors were you and me. And that is where we are currently at.
After finishing up her drawing, Isabella puts the marker back and turns back to Alex in a stiff stance with her hands stretched down and with a smile on her face. She giggles a bit.
Alex
Did you really felt that you had to do this. If so, explain!
Isabella
[Cheery] Well, it’s simple. To make you decide between two choices. You can either, one, stay here until the SWAT team comes barging in to save you. [Seductive] Or two, go through an underground subway, leading all the way to a nice cottage I bought in Canada.
Alex
The SWAT team is coming?! Also, h-how can I believe in the last option you said?!
Isabella
[Cheery] Well, Grandpa Roy does have a lot of money from all of the students he conned out of textbooks and food, so anything goes. Besides, there’s quite a bit of jobs I have that pay me a fortune, so I won’t run out of finance any time soon.
Alex
But. Aren’t you busy with other things?
Isabella
[Shy] I mean, even within the other things I do, I’m a really good multitasker. After all, many people would die for the kind of life that I’m offering you to live with. I mean, you told me before that you don’t live in the most comfortable of households, right?
Alex
Yes. I don’t like my family.
Isabella
I’m sure you would want to escape from them. Wouldn’t you?
Alex
Well that’s why I’m working my ass off with all of the scholarships that I have. Besides, I was planning on renting a place with a couple of friends, anyways.
Isabella
[Creepily] But you know. Struggling to live out a decent life isn’t exactly the most desirable decision when you can-
Alex
Don’t try to persuade me. Because I’ve made up my mind. I don’t need to live a life with you.
Isabella
Well. Life won’t be easier for you if that’s the case. [Fake tears] *Sniff* And I just wanted to live out a domestic lifestyle with the one I love.
Alex
Well, sorry. Because after what you did, I- I don’t lo-
Isabella
[Monotone] You don’t love me anymore? Is that what you want to say? *sigh* And I thought you couldn’t be anymore annoying than Brayden. He may be nosy to the point of shockingly knowing about the school, but at least he doesn’t bring me down.
Alex
What?
Isabella
[Fake tears] And I set up an entire life we can live together. You’d never have to work again, we could’ve traveled the world, you would’ve made new friends. And you choose to abandon me.
Isabella takes out a device of some sort with her finger on the button.
Alex
Belle?
Isabella
You call me by my nickname, even though you’ve said you made up your mind? But it’s too late, because I’ve already made up mine as well.
Isabelle presses the button as she collapses on the floor.
Alex
BELLE!
Alex runs over to Isabella’s body. Alex is starting to cry.
Alex
God dammit! You better be joking, Belle! You better be joking. WAKE UP!
Alex puts one hand over her body and another over his face. He starts to cry for about a few seconds.
Alex
I’m horrible. I’m so goddamned horrible!
As Alex cries, he finally hears running footsteps becoming louder and louder. And he knows who it is.
Fin