21STCENT.

dr
amai
nfo&scr
ipt

ROLES

j
enny(
ast
er)-
--
--ki
l
ler
,sci
encecl
ubpr
es.
,wr
it
er

kar
yn(
cal
l
i)-
--
-ast
er'
sdor
mmat
e/r
oommat
e(di
ed)

chel
sea(
renee)-
--
-ast
er'
schi
l
dhoodf
ri
end(
died)

al
thea(
yor
u)-
--
--bookpubl
i
sher

hannah(
ophel
i
a)-
--
--bul
l
yofcal
l
i(di
ed)

br
ian-
--
--sci
encecl
ubv
p.(
died)

my
kah(
angel
)--
--
-cal
l
i'
sfr
iend

meachan(
chan)-
--
--cm.
,ophel
i
a'sf
ri
end

char
lyn(
lyn)-
--
--cm.

j
anna-
--
--cm.
,ophel
i
a'sot
herf
ri
end

kr
ishane(
ms.kr
is)-
--
--homer
oom t
eacher

edzi
el-
--
--ast
er'
svi
olentf
ather
,pr
opsset
up

khi
an-
--
--pr
opsset
up
wenci
e--
--
-pr
opsset
up

r
yan-
--
--pr
opsset
up

kc-
--
-scr
ipt
wri
ter
,di
rect
or

(edzi
elinser
tsandshowssignsofbeat
ingupl
it
tl
east
ermaki
ng
herfal
ldownt othegroundbutl
it
tl
east
erremai
nedsi
l
entand
unbothered;forast
er'
sbackst
ory.
)

unt
ilt
henextday
,

(l
it
tl
easterwasint heplaygr
oundplayi
ngwithherpaperandpen,
i
tvisual
lyl
ookedlikeshewaswr it
ingsomethingonherpaper,
she
l
ookedcheerfulandengagedi nheract
ivi
tywhenrenee,her
chi
ldhoodfr
iendinterr
uptedherbycall
inghernamewi t
ha
contagi
oussmileonherf ace.
)

renee:
asterr
rr,
it'
smeeee!
!!
!!i
'
m heree!
!~hehe...
.(wav
esataster
andasterwavesbackenthusi
asti
call
y)hi
i
i!
!!
!(comesclosert
o
astert
ogetabet terv
iewofwhatshewasdoing)wow! !ohmy
gooood!!
!you'
resogoodatwr i
ti
ng!!
!!

aster:
youthi
nkso?(
shegi
ggl
edandsmi
l
esbr
ight
lywhi
chcaught
renee'
satt
enti
on)

r
enee:
andy
ou'
reev
encut
erwheny
ousmi
l
e!!
!aaaaahhhh!
!(she
r
unsaroundhappi
l
y)buti
betyoucan'
tcat
chme.
.tagy
ou'
rei
t!
(
shechuckl
esandstar
tsr
unni
ngaway)

ast
er:
nof
airr
enee!
!!l
etmef
ini
sht
hisf
ir
st.
.

r
enee:(
shecomesbacktoherbutthi
sti
meshet
ookherpenand
r
anplayf
ull
y)t
hatcanwai
t,hehe.
..

(asasterwasleftwi
thnochoice,shef
inal
lydecidedtoplaytag
withreneeanddelayedherwri
ti
ng.astheywerebot hrunni
ng
aroundincir
clesandastert
ryi
ngtoret
rievet
hepen, theywere
enjoyi
ngthei
rt i
meforthebi
tofthewhileunti
l.
..)

r
enee: (
sheaccident
all
ybumpsi ntoastermakingbothofthem
f
alli
ntotheground)thatwasfun!!
!~hehe...(
asterandreneeboth
l
aughedateachot herforacoupleofsecondsuntil
asterstopped
l
aughing)

ast
er:
thi
sfeel
sfami
l
iar.
..

r
enee:
hmm .
.?t
ell
meabouti
t.

ast
er:
theagony.
..

r
enee:h-
huh!.didyouhur
tyoursel
f!
?...l
etmehelpy-(
asrenee
wasaboutstandbackupasterstoppedherandslowl
yreached
f
orherneck)a-ast
er??.
.

aster
:(shest
aredatr
eneeforabi
tandti
lt
edherhead)i
remembernow. .(
ast
ersai
dasshestar
tedchoki
ngrenee)
renee:a-aster..
.s-st
op!!
!!!!
!!(reneet r
iest opul laster
'shandbut
shejustt i
ghtensthegripmor ewi t
hev eryscr eam andy ell
)nno!!
!
...i
-i
,ithurts!
!!
!a-ast
er...please! !ah!..
..(butast erdidn'
tbotherto
stopatanymoment )i-
i..can' tbreathe. .
.(asr enee'sbreat
hing
slowlyfadesawayf r
om t hest ruggle,shest andsupandwat ches
renee'
sdeadbodywi t
houtf eeli
nganyr emor se)

PREFACE

(
showi
ngall
student
sincl
assar
chai
cint
eract
ingwi
theachot
her
i
nachaot
icmanner)

i
naboar di
ngschool namedr avenwooduni versit
y,ther
e'sbeen
report
sr el
atingtotheoccasional
lydisappearanceofst udent
sin
classarchaic.al
thoughstudentsinthatuniversit
yjustseemedto
hav el
ookedatt hisoccur
renceasasuper naturalevent
.

ther
ehasbeenaninvesti
gati
ongoingonandthepoli
cear esti
l
l
fi
ndingt
racesofev
idencerel
ati
ngtothemissi
ngstudents,att
he
momentt her
ehasbeennosignsofsupernat
ural
i
tyorpresence
ofthebodyit
sel
fwhetheri
tisal
iveordead.

andt
hust
hebegi
nni
ngoft
hest
orycommence,
❝BEHI
NDTHEVI
SAGE❞
genr
e:angstandgor
e

ACT1(
"fi
rstmeet
ing"
)
(
ms.kr
iswal
ksi
ntot
her
oom)

ms.kr
is:
goodmor
ningmydear
estar
chai
c!

al
lar
chai
cst
udent
s:goodmor
ningms.kr
is!

ms.kris:okayso. .
.( ms.kr
is'eyestr
avelaroundther
oom unt
il
sheplacesherey esonast er)ms.aster,
y ouhaveanew
roommat ev i
sit
ingy ourdor
mt oday
.ihopey oubothgetal
ong
well
,andpl easetreatherwell.

ast
er:
(shenods)don'
twor
ryabouti
tmi
ss.
,

ms.kr i
s:thanky oums.ast er.(ms.kri
ssway sherattent
iont othe
whol ecl
assaf terthesmall convowithaster
)psa.thewhol e
teachersandst affmember sofr avenwooduniversit
ywillbe
havingani mpor t
antmeet i
ngconduct edtoday.youmaydi smiss
yourselv
esaf terigo,andwheny oudoy oumustl eavetoy our
assigneddor ms.understood?

al
lcl
assar
chai
c:under
stoodms.kr
is!
ms.kr
is:
i'
ll
bet
aki
ngmyl
eav
enow,
lookaf
tery
our
sel
ves.

al
lcl
assar
chai
c:y
esms.kr
is!

(
asms.krisleftt
heclassr
oom,t
hewholeclassar
chai
cst art
edt
o
t
akethei
rleave.ast
erisal
somakingherwaybacktoherdormto
meethernewr oommat ewhi
chms.kri
shadmentionbefore)

aster:(ast
ersearchesforherkeysinherpocketandopensher
dormr oom surpri
singl
ywithoutfr
ight
eninghernewr oommat e.
andt hereshefoundher,busyunpackingandorganizingher
thi
ngsi ntheroom)hi t
here!(herr
oommat ewasst art
led)i
apologizeforstart
li
ngyou,youmustbemynewr oommat e?

ast
er'
sroommate(
cal
l
i):
(shet
urnsandl
ooksar
ound)ah!h-
hel
l
o..
i
t'
sokay..andy
es!

aster:
(ast
erwalksclosert
oher)cani
sither
e?(
ast
ersai
dasshe
touchesherot
hersideofthebed)

aster
'sroommate(cal
l
i):
y-y
es!pl
easesi
tdown...(
herr
oommat
e
scoochedoverandpatsontheposi
ti
onforast
ertosi
ton)

ast
er:
(ast
erhappi
l
ysatdown)i
'
m ast
er,
mayi
knowy
ourname?

ast
er'
sroommat
e(cal
l
i):
(looki
ngal
i
ttl
eti
mid)i
-i
'
m cal
l
i..

aster
:(ast
ernot
icedthi
s)whatalov
elyf
it
ti
ngnamef
ora
charmingper
sonlikeyour
sel
f..
.

cal
l
i:oh.
..(
cal
l
ichuckl
esabi
t)t
hat
'st
oof
lat
ter
ing.
.
ast
er:
(ast
ersmi
l
es)doy
ouhav
eanypl
ansf
ort
oday
?

call
i:
ohyes!y
-yes.
.i'
m meeti
ngwi
thafr
iendt
odayand.
.i'
l
l
probabl
ycomebacklate.
.she'
spr
obabl
ywait
ingf
ormenow..
.

aster:mm!okay !(
sheslowlystandsupwhi l
etal
ki
ng)y oushoul
d
startprepari
ngnow,ial
sohav esomemat t
erstoattendto,
butit
wasni cemeet i
ngyoucall
i.(ast
erlooksbackatheranddoesa
smal lgestur
eofwavingwhilecall
idoesthesamet hingbef
ore
asterhasl ef
tther
oom)

ACT2(
"t
yrant
")

(i
nt hehal
lwaysatni ght
,asterwalksar
oundsmear edwit
hbl ood
onhershirtandabi tofitcamet oherface.asshesl
owlyleaned
ont hewall
,shewi peddownt hebloodonherl i
psandfi
xed
herselfabi
t,yetshesmi rkedli
keitwasnothingbutamere
experiment.
)

aster:ah.
.confli
cti
ng..(
asshewasabouttoleave,
herphone
start
edv i
brat
ingandwhenshecheckedit
,itwasacallf
rom t
he
bookpublisher,
yoru.shesi
ghsandanswer
st hecal
l)

phoneconv
ersat
ion

y
oru:
i'
m gl
adt
oheary
ou'
rest
il
lup.(
shesay
sthatasshef
iddl
ed
wi
tht
hebookpagesshe'
sreadi
ng)

ast
er:
(shest
art
sadmi
ri
nghernai
l
sbef
oret
alki
ng)y
oucal
l
ed?

yoru:i
want edt oyoutoupdatemeabouty
ourbook,i
haven'
t
heardfrom itinawhil
e..andsoical
l
edyou.(
yor
uclosesthebook
befor
ef i
nishing)

ast
er:
(ast
ercr
ossesherot
herar
m)wor
kingi
npr
ogr
ess.
.

yor
u:goodtohear
!inanycase,l
et'
sdi
scussthi
smattert
omorr
ow
morni
ng,7am,att
henearestcaf
éofravenwooduni
versi
ty.

ast
er:
mm .
.i'
l
lmeety
out
her
e.

y
oru:
don'
tbel
ate,
ast
er.

ast
er:
(ast
erchuckl
es)t
hatwon'
tbeapr
obl
em .
.

(af
terast
erendedthecallonherwaytotherestr
oom toclean
hersel
fup,shenot
icedanoisecomingoutsi
deoft hecampus'
parki
nglotsoshewentandmadeanobser v
ationbutatt
entiv
ely
thi
st i
me,sheiswell
-awar
eofthebloodstai
nsonhershirt.
)

ophel
i
a:(shepushescall
i)WHATTHEHELLDI DYOURLITTLE
GODDAMNCHEAPLOOKI NGREARFRI ENDANGELJUSTSAI D
ABOUTME?HUH? ?!
!...y
-you.
..YOUTHI NKYOUCANJUSTTALK
DOWNONUSHUH? ?!!(j
annaandchanst oodbehi
ndophel
iawith
theot
heronelaughi
ngandt heotheronekeepingast
rai
ghtface)

cal
l
i:i
-i
'
m..s-
sor
ry.
..(
cal
l
ist
utt
erswhi
l
etr
embl
i
ngandi
ndi
str
ess
butophel
iaslappedheronthefaceandki
ckedheri
nthest
omach
makingherfalldowntothegr
ound)

opheli
a:(
ophel
ial
aughsinfi
trage)MAYBETHI SISWHYYOUR
DADLEFTANDABANDONEDYOU.YOU' REBETTEROFFTHE
STREETSWI THYOUANDTHATI RONI
CANGEL' SDISGUSTING
MOUTH.TELLHERTOPI SSOFFANDYOU. ..(
point
sather
for
eheadinfor
ce)stayawayfr
om us..
.BEFOREILETMY
IMPULSIVETHOUGHTSGETTHEBESTOFME.( ophel
iathr
ows
cal
li
'sbagonthegroundandrages)

j
anna:opheli
a,l
et'
sgobeforeweattr
actsomeone'
satt
enti
on.
(
jannaholdsagripofophel
i
a'shandandpull
sheraway)chan,
l
et'
sgo,mov e.

chan:(
laughs)youhear
dwhatshesai
d!!
!~(
kicksherbagand
fol
lowsopheli
aandjannaout
)

(cal
l
iwassi l
entthewhol et
ime,
inpai
nandintorment
,she
coul
dn'tdefendhersel
f,shewashur
t.shecoul
dn'
thel
pbutweep
andtremblehelpl
essly
.)

(asterwasjustobserv i
ngitfr
om thedistance.wat chingcall
iand
mosti mportantl
ywat chi
ngopheli
a.noexpr essivereacti
oncanbe
seeni nherface,noteveninherey escany oupr edict
.asterkepta
strai
ghtfaceforthewhol eargumentlikeitwasnot hi
ng,andleft
thescenel i
kenot hi
ngintensehadoccur edinfrontofher.)
ACT3(
"pr
ogr
essi
vewr
it
ing"
)

(mor
ningcame,suni
sup,
andast
eri
smeet
ingwi
tht
hebook
publ
i
sheryor
utoday.
.)

ast
er:
(ast
ert
akesaseatf
aci
ngy
oru)l
ovel
ymor
ningi
sity
oru?

yor
u:(
asshesi
psanother'
roundofhercof
fee)i
tis,
indeed.so.
.
whatwoul
dyoul
iket
o-

ast
er:(
ast
eri
nter
rupt
s)noneedt
oor
derany
thi
ngf
orme,
i'
ll
be
gonenotf
orl
ong.

y
oru:
ver
ywel
lthen,
tel
lmeabouty
ourpr
ogr
ess.

aster
:cl
osetotheresol
uti
on(sheslowl
yslipsherbooktoyor
u)
youdothehonors,
feelfr
eetogivenecessarycr
it
ics.(
shesay
s
thatassher
estsherheadonherhand)

yoru:(yorulooksthrought hebookforacoupleofseconds
nodding,acknowledgingt hedetai
ls,andgi
vinganimpressedl
ook
toit)..
.gruesomey etfascinati
ngpieceofwor k.may
beaddmor e
rel
ationshipdepthintoitfortheti
erofdevelopment,
forusto
real
lydelveintheemot ionallydr
eadfulout
come.

ast
er:
whatagr
eatj
udgement
!i'
l
lmakegooduseofy
ourv
erdi
cts.

yoru:pl
easedo,i
'
mlookingf
orwardt oyourof
fi
cial
book,j
ust
comet omeifyoudeci
dedtopublishit
.morepeoplei
nthe
organiz
ati
onhavebeencont
inuouslyaski
ngforanupdat
efrom
you,doy
ouknowhowexhaust
ingi
tisast
er?j
ustt
hinki
ngabouti
t
giv
esmeaheadache.

aster:
(shenods)iunder st
and..i'
ll
givethem anupdat
eonmedi a.
yoru:(y
orusi
pshercof feeonceagai n)youmustbeinahurr
y,i'
l
l
l
eav eyoutoitnow.(asterslowl
yst andsupandwalksawaythen
stoppedforabitandlookedbackaty oru,
theybot
hnoddedin
agreementandasterfinall
yleaves.)

ACT4(
"fr
uitni
nja"
)

(anot
hernighthasfall
en,
asteri
sonherwaytoherdorm.once
shefi
nall
ygott her
e,sheopenedthedoorwi
thherkey
sandwent
i
nsidebutfrozewhenshesawcal li
doi
ngsel
f-har
m)

call
i:
(acci
dentallydropstheknife.tri
estoholdbackhertearsand
hidherarm outofast er
'ssight
)i-i..
.y-
you'r
ehere..
.(cal
l
i sni
ff
les)
aster
:(ast
erwal ksclosertocall
i andli
ftsherchi
nupbyusi ngone
fi
nger)showmey ourarm.(cal
lili
ftsherarmtrembl
ing)theother
one.(cal
lihesi
tatesbutgivesinany ways)

cal
l
i:i
-i
t'
snotwhaty
out
hink.
..(
sheav
oidsey
econt
actandsobs)

ast
er:
(ast
erl
etsgoofherot
herarm gent
lyandsatdownnextt
o
her
)whydoyoudothis?(
ast
erlooksatcall
i
)

cal
li
:i
-idon'
tkn-
..
.(bef
orecal
l
icoul
dev
encont
inue,
ast
er
i
nter
rupts)
aster:whydoy ouinfl
icthar m ontoyoursel
fwheny oucani mpose
thi
spai ntootherpeople?( cal
libecomesqui etandsoast erslowl
y
approachesherandcar essescalli
'scheek)don'thurtyoursel
f.
(cal
lisobsinpain)wheny ou'r
einpain,you'
renotpl easi
ng
yourself
.(ast
ercomf ortscallimakingherleanont oherandsob
onceagai n)

cal
l
i:i
-i
thur
ts.
..

ast
er:
iknow..i
know..andi
t'
snotyourf
ault..shh.
..(
cal
li
hugs
ast
erti
ghtandt
rembl
eswhil
event
ingherpainoutontoast
er)

ACT5(
"rumor
")

(adayint
heclassr
oom wher
eev
ery
oneseemst
obebusyt
alki
ng
aboutsomet
hing)

chan:o-ophel
i
a...(sni
ffl
es)i
-ican'
tbeli
eveit.
..(
jannaseemsto
onlyputupast r
aightfaceandmer el
ypatti
ngchan'sbackto
comforther)

j
anna:
(jannasi
ghs)acci
dent
shappen.

chan:.
..w-
welll
...i
tdoesn'
tseem tol
ookli
keanaccident!!
!(she
pushesthetabl
eandr unsoutofthecl
assr
oom cry
ing.janna
breat
hesheavil
yandshowsal it
tl
egestur
eofpit
ysoshef ol
lows
chanout)
l
yn:(l
yngasps)mygod...!t
hatwast
ragi
c,i
feel
li
kemyhear
tis
bei
ngeatenup..(
lyngr
aspsonherheart
)

br
ian:
thisisthefi
rstt
imei
'
vehear
darecor
dofsomeonedy i
ngi
n
cl
assarchaic.(
bri
anseemstobel
ooki
ngskept
ical
abouti
t)

l
yn:wedon'
tev
enknowift
heotherst
udent
sreport
edmissi
ngar
e
al
iv
eordeadsoiwoul
dn'
tsayi
twouldbethefi
rstt
ime.
.

br
ian:
youhav
eapoi
nt.
.

(call
iwal
ksint
otheclassroom conf
usedandscar
edasshehad
seenchanleavetheclassr
oom cryi
ngaminut
eago.angel
,her
closestf
ri
endapproachedcall
iasshesawher)

angel
:hav
eyouhear
d??

cal
l
i:(
cal
l
ilooksupt
oangel
)what
'shappeni
ng?.
..i
-i
'
m qui
te
ner
vous.
..

angel
:(angel
escort
scalli
toherseatandangel
wai
tsf
orcal
l
ito
beseatedbefor
etal
king)chel
seadied.

cal
li
:h-huh??
!(cal
liexcl
aimedinshock,
shecoul
dn'
tbel
i
evewhat
shejusthear
d,itwasallsosudden)

angel:
youknowi'
veactual
lyhadsomesuspi
cionsonaspeci
fi
c
personher
einourcl
assroom,event
hopeopl
esaiditwasfr
om a
caracci
dent.
.idon'
tbuyi
t..(
shesay
sitwhi
l
est
ari
ngatast
er)

cal
li
:(cal
l
ilooksatthedir
ecti
onangelgazedat)n-
no..
.angel
..
youmustbemi staken..(
angelpl
acesheratt
enti
onbacktocall
i
)
ast
erwouldnev erdosuchathing..
.

angel
:(angelbeggedt
odi f
fer
)justl
ookather.
.howcomey
ou
thi
nkthatfacecanbetrust
ed?

cal
l
i:y
oudon'
tknowher
..

angel
:andy
ouknowhercal
l
i?y
ouj
ustmet
,she'
snewt
oyouand
you'
renewt
oher.

cal
li:.
..
.(cal
lipausesbefor
etalki
ng)she'
sdi
ffer
ent,i
thi
nkshe'
sa
goodper son..
.i-
i.
.chel
seadiedinacaracci
dent.
.notbysomeone
personall
y..
.

angel:
(angelscof
fed,shesof
thi
tscal
l
i'
sel
bowandchuckl
es)i
'
m
ki
dding,don'
tworry!

cal
l
i:(
cal
l
isi
ghs)now'
snott
het
imet
omakej
okesangel
..
.

angel:
well,
hopeful
l
yshedoesn'
ttakehergr
udgeandenv
yunt
il
death,t
hatwouldbeahassl
e.

cal
l
i:angel
..

angel
:okay
-okay
..
.i
'
llst
op,
sor
ry,
noonehear
dusi
thi
nk!
!

ACT6(
"t
het
rut
hunt
old"
)
(asti
mepassesby,i
t'
sfi
nal
l
ynightt
ime,
anaf
ter
-cl
ass,
angel
accompani
escal
li
toherdorm)

angel
:ifi
buyy outhatonethingyouputasyourwi
shl
istinthat
onl
ineshoppingappy ouhave,woul
dy oust
opover
thi
nkingabout
i
t?(angelsay
si naplayf
ultone)

cal
l
i:don'tber
idi
cul
ous..
.(astheyfi
nal
lyarr
ivedtocall
i'
sroom,
cal
l
iturnedtofaceangel
)thi
sisit,
thankyouf oraccompanyi
ng
me..

angel:somodest,we'
veknowneachotherf
orawhileyetyousti
ll
actl
ikethi
s.(cal
l
ichuckl
es)seey
ouaroundthen.(angelwavesat
cal
ligoodbyeandbacksupslowl
ythenstar
tstotakeherleave)

(sur
prisinglyasteri
salsoonherwayt otheirdor
m,soherand
angel cr
ossespat hbutnoneoft hem madeanycontact
.angelsti
l
l
feel
ssuspi ciousofherandgetsuncomf ort
ablewit
hherpresence
despitetell
ingcalli
itwasajokesoshespr i
ntedoutofherway
from aster.asasterarr
ivedatherdorm shemeetscal
li
.she
openst hedoorbef orenoti
ci
ngast er
.)

cal
l
i:l
et'
sgo.
.

ast
er:
ah,
ifor
gotsomet
hingi
nthesci
encecl
ub,
yougoi
nfi
rst
.

cal
li
:okay
!i'
l
lwai
tfory
ouher
e..(
cal
l
iwenti
nsi
deandcl
osedt
he
door)
(ast
erhur r
iedlyrushedtoleaveandstoppedi
nthemi ddl
eoft he
hall
way ,l
ookingar oundmenacinglyhopi
ngtost
il
lgetinsightof
angel,hopingandpl anni
ngt oki
ll
herbutther
ewasn'tanysignof
her,notasi ngl
et r
ace.)

aster
:skept
ical
andswi
ft
,isee.(
ast
erchuckl
esabi
tandcl
enched
herfi
st)

(astergav euponsear chi

ngforangel
andmadeherwayt othe
sciencecl ubinstead.asshearri
vedatthesci
enceclubroom,she
openedt hedoorandsawbr i
an,thevi
cepresi
dentofthesci
ence
club.itlookslikehewasbusywi t
hasomepaper worksandstil
l
hasn'tlefttheclubroom)

bri
an:(
asheheardacreakont
hedoor
,het
urnedar
oundandsaw
ast
er)oh,
pres.
!it
'sy
ou!

ast
er:
whatar
eyoudoi
ngupsolat
e?youshoul
dhav ebeenout
now.(
shesai
dasshesl
owl
yshort
ensthei
rdi
stancetoget
her
)

bri
an: i
didn'
twanttogi
veyoumor eburdenasthepr esi
dentoft
he
sci
encecl ubsoiwentanddidtheworkforyouinsteadbutdon'
t
wor r
ypres.i'
m al
mostdone!(hesai
ditent
husiasti
call
yand
fi
nisheddeali
ngwithhi
swor k)

ast
er:
thanky
ou,
(ast
ert
ookt
hescal
pel
outofherpocketand
placesherhandsonbri
an'sshoul
der)deputypr
esi
dentoft
he
sciencecl
ub,you'
veworkedhardenough..

bri
an:(bri
anpausesandlooksather)r
eal
ly?(asternodsandsl
its
hi
sneckwi deopenmakinghi mfal
ltosuf
focati
on.astertooka
dangerouslabor
ator
ymixtureandmadehim drinkitmaki
nghim
drooloutblood)

(asshewasaboutt ocov erbri

aninclot
htodissecthimlat
er,
asterhearsanoise,
agaspandasoundofaf al
li
ngobjectbehi
nd
herandsoshet urnsaroundandt her
e..
.shesaw...cal
l
i,dr
opped
herflashl
i
ght,
trembli
nginf earandshock.
)

aster
:(asterpull
shersel
ftogetherandst
oodupslowlyonher
knees)ididn'
texpectyoutocomeandf i
ndme,curi
osit
yal
ways
ki
ll
sthecatbuti woul
dli
ket odiff
er,may
becur
iosi
tydoesbenef
it
youandi .
..i
'm curi
ousaswel l
..
.

(cal
li
wasbreat
hingheav
il
yandcoul
dn'
thelpbutjustf
leet
he
scene,r
unni
ngaway,away.
..
.awayf
rom ast
er.
.)

ast
er:
whyareyourunning?ther
e'snor
easont
obeaf
rai
d,i
'
m sur
e
youwoul
dunderst
and,call
i.
..

(
shet
ri
ppedwhi
l
erunni
ngt
oherdor
m butshest
oodup
nevert
helessandquickl
ylockedhersel
finherr
oom.sheswiftl
y
wenttoherbed, f
rozeinthoughtandstar
tedhuggi
ngherknees,
cry
ing,tr
embling,
fri
ghtenedandtraumati
zed)

(asterdidn'
truntocatchupt oher,shesimplywalkedherwayt o
wher eshewasgoi ngandt hensawherl ockinghersel
fintheir
dorm, asteri
sastonishedbyt hef
actthatshet hi
nksshewon' tbe
ablet ocomei nknowingtheybothhav eindi
v i
dualkey
st otheir
dorm andsosheunl ockedi tandopenedt hedoor,wentinside,
andl ockeditonceagain.
)

aster:i'
m sur ewecant alkt
hisoutcalli
..(
asterslowlyappr oaches
herbutcal li
couldn'tbaretomakeey econt actwithaster.ast er
reachesf orherhandbutcal l
ipull
editawayandmov eddi stance)
youmustbet ir
ed,youshouldgotosl eep..
.(astercoverscal l
i wi
th
asof tblanket)i'
ll
gocleanmymess. .(ast
erst oodup)getsome
rest.(cal
lididn'
tbothertotal
kandwai t
edforast ertoleavet he
room)

(asasterl
eftt
heroom,call
i star
tedsobbingandblamingher
self
foropheli
aandbri
an'sdeath,shestartedtobel
ieveangel
was
ri
ghtwhenshesaidopheliapr obabl
ydi dnotdi
einacaracci
dent
butamer eli
etocoverupast er'
sdoings.)

cal
l
i:.
..
i-
ifi
coul
d'
veb-
been.
..t
her
esooner
..
.m-
..
may
be.
..t
hey
weresti
l
lali
ve..(
call
isnif
fl
es)i-
idon'
thaveevi
dence..i
n-need
evi
dencetoreporther.
..(
cal
li
'svoi
cestar
tstobreakandpasses
out
)

ACT7(
"endl
i
nk"
)

(cal
l
iawakesf
rom ast
ersi
tt
ingnextt
oher
.cal
l
iwasf
ri
ght
ened
andsit
supqui
ckl
y)

aster
:easy..youfellasl
eep,i
t'
s3am now.( call
ichecksonher
phoneandl ooksatt heti
met oconf i
rm,asterwasr i
ght)i
wantto
showy ousomet hingattherooftop..(
call
ilooksdownandl et
sgo
adeepbr eathbeforenodding)reall
y????(asterwashappythat
cal
liagreedandhel dherhandtol eavetheirdorm)

(astheybothlef
tthedorm,astercheerful
lydancedthroughthe
hall
way sandcal
liwasjustt
herewat chingher,st
il
lbot
heredbut
remainedcomposed.whent heyfinall
yarri
vedattherooftop,
astersatonthecloseedgeofther ooft
op.)

aster
:lookabov
eyou,
thest
ars.
.(asterr
eachesf
orthest
arsf
ora
fewseconds)mesmeri
zi
ngi
sn'ti
t?(call
il
ooksupandsmil
es,
forgett
ingasterisnotwhatshet hinkshei s,sheshakesherhead
andsi t
sfivefeetapartfrom aster)doy ouknowt hatstarscan
comebackf rom thedead?wheni tdiesitcreatesagi ant
supernovawhi chengulfssubst ancesf r
om itsneighbour i
ng
stars?.
..t
heni tcomesbackal ive.(asterchuckles)starsare
beautif
ul butthey'
redangerouswhencl oset othelivi
ng, i
'
m afrai
d
theymaydest royl
ives.
.(ast
erl ooksatcalliandgr i
ns)doy ouli
ke
stars?(asterswaysherat t
entionbackatt heni ghtsky )enjoyi
ng
thev i
ew?

call
i
:(cal
liwhohasbeenr esi
sti
nghersel
fonnotr espondi
ng
tr
ansit
ionstohernotbei ngabletoholdi
tanymor e)w-whatdo
youwantf r
om me. .
.w-whyar eyoudoingthi
s!!
..p-pl
ease.
..
.st
op..
.
stopit
!(cal
lishowsangerbutst i
llwasnotabl
et oholdhercryso
shegripsonhertrousers)

ast
er:whatdoyoumeancall
i
?(gi
vi
ngheraconcer
nedl
ook)i
don'
twantanyt
hingf
rom y
ou..

cal
li
:then...whydi dy oukil
lbrian??!
!.
..
.h-
hedi dn'tdoany t
hing
wrong!!ihear dhim, iheardyou...hewas..hewas. .soniceand
consi
derat etoy ou!!!whatdidy oudo!!
!!
?!
!!y-y
ou. .youprobably
ki
ll
edophel i
atoo, didn'
tyou!!ishouldhavetrustedangel '
s
i
nsti
ncts...a-angel wasright.
..(cal
liy
ell
satast erwhilebreaking
downi ntearsandsobbi ng,shewasnotabl etohol ditanylonger.
)

ast
er:(
ast
erdoesnotmakeanyey
econtact
)ophel
i
ahur
tyou,
did
shenot?i
wassimplydoi
ngyouafav
or.
.cal
li
..

cal
l
i:i
-idon'
tknowhowyoufoundoutbut.
..k-
kil
l
ingsomeone
i
sn'
tri
ght..
.y-
youdi
dn'
thavetodothat
!!
!.
..(
shesnif
fl
esand
cont
inuest
oweep)

aster:andtry i
ngt okil
lyoursel
fisright?(asterdr awsherbr eath
andcal l
iwassi lentaf
terthatbutwasst illgaspingforair)you
knowcal liigrewupi naninspiri
nghousehol dthattaughtmet o
neverletmy selfgethurtandthatimposi ngt hi
spai ntoot her
peopleispr eciselytheonlythingthatcansav eourlivesandi t'
s
quiteentertainingtoseepeopl esufferinsteadofi tbeingy ou,
yourself,
thatwoul dbepitif
ultowat ch.doy ounott hinksocal li
?
i
'vetoldy out hatbefore.
.i t
houghty oufinall
yopenedy ourey es.
.

cal
l
i:y
-younevercareddidyou?.
..(
cal
l
ist
oodupandl
ooksat
ast
erwitht
hatdejectedstar
e)

ast
er:(
ast erstoodupaswel landl eanscl
osertocall
ihol
dingher
l
eftar
m whi lebrushingast er'
srightarmtocall
i'
scheeks)idi
d..
andist
illdo..(call
iremov esaster'shandfr
om hercheekand
movesaway .asteraccidental
lydropsherscalpeli
nherpocket,
ast
erpicksi tup,andsmi les)didyouknowt hatthest
arsgrant
youawi sh,calli
?andt henameast erdenot
esthewor dstar
.do
youwantmet ograntyouawi sh?..

cal
li
:k-
kil
lme.
.(cal
l
imovescl
osert
oast
erandmadeherpoi
nther
scal
pelt
oherstomach)

aster:.
..
.(ast
erpausesf
orabi
t)doy
our
eal
l
ywantt
hat
?you
stutt
ered.

cal
l
i:(
cal
l
ilooksast
eri
ntheey
es).
..
kil
lme.(
cal
l
icoughs)

aster
:ift
hat
'swhatyouwant
..
.ihopetomeetyousomedaycal
l
i.
..
(sai
dassheslowlyspear
edt
hescalpeli
ntocal
l
i'
sstomach
makingcal
li
spewbloodoutofhermout
h)yourwishhasbeen
grant
ed.(
astert
henpushedcal
l
iofft
heedgeoftheschool
'
s
rooft
op)

ACT8(
"chi
l
dhoodf
ri
end"
)

(amont
hhaspassedandast eri
sinherdorm al
onewri
ti
ngonher
not
epadint
ranqui
l
ityunt
ilsomeoneknockedonherdoor)

ms.kris:aster?it
'syourhomeroom teacherkri
s,i
hopeyou'
re
heali
ngpr ogressi
v el
yaft
erthati
nci
dent,it
'sbeenamonthandi'
m
heretointroducey outosomeone,yournewr oommate!

ast
er:
lett
hem i
nmi
ss,
thedoori
sopen.

ms.kr
is:
okaaay
!!i
'
llbel
eav
ingy
out
wonow,
ihopey
oubot
hget
al
ongwell
!

newr oommat e(renee):(

ast
er'
snewroommateopenedt hedoor
andent husi
asti
call
yintr
oducedher
sel
ftoast
er)hii
i
!!!
!!
~i '
myour
newr oommat eee!!
!it
'sni
cetomeetyouagai
n..ast
er.(andshe
resembl edl
i
ker enee)

THEEND.