1 Act Play

Question 1

SKYLAR: (kindly) Yeah, we are. You seem confused, are you okay? Should I call someone? I –
HARPER: (putting her hands out) Just STOP!!
Skylar freezes in place. Two monochromatic figures, grey and pink, respectively, enter the room:

Answer 1

I think that went well. Lots of potential there. I’m sure you’ll become the best of friends.

Question 2

AFFECTION: (condescendingly) Don’t be condescending. She doesn’t know.

Answer 2

RESENTMENT: You’re acting like she’s never had a dream before. (waves arms) Hey, Earth to HARPER!

Question 3

HARPER: What the—what? Who are you?

Answer 3

RESENTMENT: We’re your internal monologue…s.

Question 4

HARPER: Pinch me. Hard.

Answer 4

RESENTMENT: No can do. The Limbic System wants you to fix things. We’re not here ‘cause we want to talk to you.

Question 5

HARPER: What? You guys don’t want to talk to me? (she turns to AFFECTION, who looks at the floor.) You’re literally my internal monologue! How is that even possible?

Answer 5

RESENTMENT: You suck. Hard.

Question 6

AFFECTION: Maybe go interact… nicely with her?

Answer 6

RESENTMENT: Act like you did when you first met — you’re a weirdo, I know you remember. But you can even have a script — whatever’ll make you not go ballistic on her.

Question 7

HARPER: I’m not going ballistic on her!

Answer 7

RESENTMENT: Prove it.

Question 8

SKYLAR: Yeah. See you!
At that, SKYLAR leaves. RESENTMENT and AFFECTION enter. (Time 2)

Answer 8

RESENTMENT: That went surprisingly well. No ballistics, nada. Should we applaud?

Question 9

HARPER: I thought you didn’t want to talk to me.

Answer 9

RESENTMENT: I did say that. But I’m still here. And even a conversation as stable as that didn’t help.

Question 10

HARPER: What do you — ? Oh… I get it. You’re like —

Answer 10

HARPER & RESENTMENT: The metaphysical embodiment of your resentment of Skylar? Yeah.

Question 11

HARPER (looking at AFFECTION): And you’re…

Answer 11

RESENTMENT (making flamboyant hand gestures): Love~! Friendship~!

Question 12

AFFECTION: Yup. And I think we should keep trying to fix this relationship. (finger guns) Emotional development, allons-y!

Answer 12

RESENTMENT: You want another script, Harper?

Question 13

HARPER: No, I don’t want another script. I can start a conversation, you know!

Answer 13

RESENTMENT: Well, the you from eight years ago couldn’t. That sad loner. The one hidden under your current class clown act.

Question 14

SKYLAR: Cool. See you next time, Harper.
HARPER doesn’t reply, as she watches SKYLAR close the door behind her. RESENTMENT and AFFECTION enter (after asking for her name)

Answer 14

RESENTMENT: She didn’t even bother giving you her name.

Question 15

HARPER: You’re making me sound like a creep.

Answer 15

RESENTMENT: You’re roleplaying yourself while lucid dreaming about your weirdly detailed memories. It’s close enough.

Question 16

SKYLAR: I didn’t really mean that. We could definitely be something.
With that, SKYLAR gets up and leaves, waving as she goes. HARPER hesitates, and waves back. HARPER puts guitar down. HARPER is touched, and she sadly looks down at her guitar. She sighs heavily, looking melancholic. (After band scene)

Answer 16

RESENTMENT: First of all, that band name sucked. Second of all, both of you suck.

Question 17

AFFECTION: Well, that was unnecessary.

Answer 17

RESENTMENT: I’m just saying she doesn’t need to develop emotions over this. Look at her, she’s like a puppy soaked in water.

Question 18

HARPER (agitated): I’m right here, you know. (First time)

Answer 18

RESENTMENT: Unfortunately. I’m actually starting to sympathize with you — Skylar’s awful.

Question 19

AFFECTION: No, she isn’t. You’re awful.

Answer 19

RESENTMENT: You can’t say that! Why are you so obsessed with her, anyway?

Question 20

HARPER: I can still hear you!
RESENTMENT whips around to face HARPER, hostile.

Answer 20

RESENTMENT: You. You need to get your outbursts under control.

Question 21

HARPER: It was one time!

Answer 21

RESENTMENT: Twice. And that was more than enough. Don’t you know what’ll happen if you start interfering with your memories? With your mind?

Question 22

AFFECTION: That can’t be good.

Answer 22

RESENTMENT: Maybe it can be. Harper, try waking up.

Question 23

HARPER (dazed): What? No

Answer 23

RESENTMENT: What?

Question 24

HARPER: I… don’t want to risk it. It’d be better to wait.

Answer 24

RESENTMENT: For what? Our deaths? Your entire mind’s collapsing —

Question 25

AFFECTION: Whatever, we’re not leaving you, even if your dream collapses. And maybe, I don’t know, we shouldn’t be at each other’s throats all the time —

Answer 25

RESENTMENT: At each other’s — are you serious right now?

Question 26

SKYLAR: Okay. Well, I’ll…see you around.
HARPER nods curtly, face blank. SKYLAR leaves, and HARPER watches her go. She follows after a notable pause. (Time 3, after the fight

Answer 26

RESENTMENT: She’s. So. Obnoxious. ‘Actual places’? What was that supposed to mean?

Question 27

AFFECTION: You’re overthinking this.

Answer 27

RESENTMENT: Am I? Then tell me. Why are you so defensive of her?

Question 28

HARPER (snapping): Can you guys SHUT UP??
The lights go out. Silence. They slowly flicker back on. RESENTMENT and AFFECTION are staring at HARPER, something like concern written on their faces. HARPER stares at the floor.

Answer 28

RESENTMENT (slowly): Listen. You can’t stay here. The dream is falling apart, you’re going to get stuck.

Question 29

HARPER: No one’s getting stuck! This isn’t even real!

Answer 29

RESENTMENT: And you’re forgetting that. You’re falling in too deep.

Question 30

HARPER (desperately): Because it wasn’t my fault!
AFFECTION, frustrated, opens their mouth to retort. RESENTMENT stops them.

Answer 30

RESENTMENT: Look. Just…deal with what you need to deal with, and get out of here. Please.

Question 31

ARPER: You know what? Walk off, Skylar! I — I never liked you anyways!
SKYLAR doesn’t turn back. HARPER is dumbfounded. She balls up her hands into fists, then rewinds the memory.

Answer 31

HARPER & RESENTMENT: I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU! You’re a completely selfish ASSHOLE!

Question 32

HARPER: Oh. Wow. I’ve… never had a dream like this before. (pause) I still don’t get it.

Answer 32

RESENTMENT: Well, that makes three of us. We’re minding our own business in the world of abstract concepts, and suddenly, we’re stuck in this stupid place. I’d guess it has a lot to do with how much you-know-who’s bullcrap messed you up, though.

Question 33

AFFECTION: But making peace with it will fix it! All that built-up negativity? Gone!

Answer 33

RESENTMENT: In other words, get over it.

Question 34

AFFECTION (forced enthusiasm): It’ll collapse. That’s what will happen.

Answer 34

RESENTMENT: And we’ll all die here. All because Miss I’m Over It decided now was a good time to change reality.