Someone You’re Not

By
David Raygoza
 Cast of Characters
John: The Lead in the School Play,
has trouble memorizing lines
Emily: Lead Actress in the School
Play, dating John
Thomas: Supporting Role in the School
Play, old friends with Emily
Sarah: Also a Supporting Role in the
School Play, very bitter
Director: Directing the School Play
 ACT I
Scene 1
In this play the stage is just that, a stage.

Currently, the stage is being used for a rehearsal

of the School Play.
EMILY stands a little left of center stage, her
arms crossed. Next to her stands JOHN. Together
they’re running through a scene.
EMILY (RUNNING LINES)
And what if we weren’t meant to be?
JOHN
Then we’ll just have to take the risk, but it will be
worth it. I promise.
EMILY
Promises are easily broken.

JOHN
Then I’ll work harder than ever before! You have to
trust on this. No harm will come to you, not if I can
help it. And... crap what’s my line...
Out in the audience the DIRECTOR of the play sits
and shouts.
DIRECTOR
Stop! Is there something going on between you two?
Because right now, I’m not feeling it. It’s just not
believable. I’m going to go check on all the techs and
make a few calls, meanwhile, you two need to work on
this scene. Work it out.
The DIRECTOR leaves the theatre. Be it through the
main entrance or a side door, it doesn’t matter.

EMILY puts her arms down and takes a seat at the

edge of the stage. JOHN lets out a big breath,
both of them seem irritated.
JOHN
What?
She turns and looks at him, that annoyed look on
her face.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.

EMILY
You know what John.
Turning back to the audience we start notice that
there are more hints of sadness than anger in her
face and voice.

JOHN
No, I don’t. You told me you didn’t care if I went to
the movies with them.

EMILY
I didn’t care about you going to the movies, I care
about you cuddling with Sarah behind my back.
JOHN
What? Who told you I was...cuddling with Sarah.

EMILY picks herself up and glares at him.

EMILY
Thomas. Thomas told me.

EMILY storms off Stage Left

JOHN (UNDER HIS BREATH)
Damn it
JOHN pulls a coin out of his pocket and begins to
flip it in the air. He catches it and looks at the
outcome in his palm and whistles. He runs off
after EMILY.
The stage is empty of a few beats before THOMAS
comes in Stage Right.

THOMAS
Ha. Man, I go to the restroom for 2 minutes and
everyone gets distracted. God forbid we rehearse our
play.

Putting his hands into his pockets he whistles a

tune and paces around the stage.
SARAH storms in Stage Left

SARAH
What the hell Thomas, what are you telling Emily?!
THOMAS
Good Evening to you too Sarah!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

SARAH
It’s the afternoon asshole. What lies are you feeding
Emily now?
THOMAS
Who says I’m lying?
SARAH
Well I doubt you told her the truth.
THOMAS
Hey I just told her what I heard.
SARAH
Which is?
THOMAS
That You and John were getting it on at the movies.
Sarah punches Thomas’ shoulder
SARAH
Seriously John! What the hell! We didn’t even kiss!

THOMAS is smiling
THOMAS
Hey, that’s not what I heard

SARAH
No, shut up. You know why you told her. You need to
grow up. What’s between Me and John is between Me and
John. No matter how much you want them to break up you
can’t do this to them. You can’t just lie. Their
relationship is between John and Emily.

THOMAS
The girl gets around faster than gossip at a hair
salon, yet she preaches honesty.

SARAH
This is exactly what I’m saying. Stay out of our
relationships. Mine, John’s, Emily’s, none of it’s your
business.
THOMAS
Don’t worry, I think I’d need volumes upon volumes to
keep up with yours.
SARAH
Oh yeah? Want to hear an insult then? Think about how
low you think I am.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.

SARAH inches closer and closer to THOMAS

SARAH
You got it? Are you picturing it in your head.
THOMAS nods his head and SARAH get’s closer.

SARAH
Thomas?
Closer

THOMAS
Yeah?
Their noses are practically touching.

SARAH
You don’t deserve me.
SHE punches him in the gut.
As THOMAS staggers backwards, SARAH leaves Stage
Left.
THOMAS
Ouch
THOMAS fumbles his way off Stage Right

JOHN holds EMILY’S hand as they run in Stage Left

JOHN looks out into the audience
(*When talking about the director, it
can be a He or a She, depending on who
is cast for the opening scene, in this
Script it is a He)
JOHN
Yeah, He* must be checking on the techs or filling out
paperwork, come on.

JOHN pulls her towards him and SHE ends up

touching his chest in an almost intimate position,
were it not for her mood.
EMILY
I really don’t want to talk to you right now.
EMILY tries to pull away but JOHN holds her tight.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.

JOHN
Hey, no, listen.
JOHN looks into her eyes and EMILY looks into his.
JOHN
Do you believe what he says?
EMILY
I don’t know. We haven’t been the same lately.

JOHN
Well, do you think I would do that?
EMILY
No. Well, I would hope not.

JOHN
Em, it’s Thomas, he’s been out to break us up from the
moment we started dating.
EMILY puts her head down.

EMILY
He’s still my friend though.
JOHN
Friends don’t lie.

JOHN grabs her chin delicately and raises her

head.
JOHN
Neither do boyfriends.

They kiss.
THOMAS fumbles back in, still slightly holding his
stomach. HE notices JOHN and EMILY.

THOMAS
Really?! Really?!
JOHN and EMILY stop kissing. They’re embrace
breaks as JOHN heads for THOMAS.

THOMAS
Emily, after what happened you still take the guy back?
Really?! You’re a lost case!
JOHN reaches THOMAS and pulls him by his shirt.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.

JOHN
Don’t talk to her that way! And where do you get off
lying to her in the first place!
THOMAS starts to laugh

THOMAS
I’m lying? I’m lying? How about you bub?
JOHN lets go of THOMAS and goes to EMILY

JOHN
Em, could you leave us alone for a bit? Go talk to
Sarah, she’ll tell you the same thing I did. Or you can
go talk to the girls working in the makeup room, just
for a sec ok?

EMILY
Ok.
EMILY walks off Stage Left
JOHN turns toward THOMAS

THOMAS
You know, I really don’t know why she likes you so
much.
JOHN
What’s your problem?
THOMAS
In fact, I don’t see one good thing...

JOHN (INTERRUPTING)
No really? I want to know! What’s your problem?!
THOMAS
I love her!

Silence for a few beats

JOHN
What?
THOMAS
I love her.
JOHN
Are you serious? You don’t know the first thing about
her. Me, I love her, not you.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.

THOMAS
What do you know? I was her friend since 5th grade. Six
years I’ve known her, and you think you know her better
than I do? Keep lying to yourself. I know plenty. I
know about you too. You’re an ill-mannered, short
tempered, jerk. You treat Emily like crap, that’s for
sure. You go to the movies without her and make out
with Sarah. Then you come to rehearsal, not knowing
your lines, lying to Emily, and threatening me.
JOHN
What? When have I threatened you?
THOMAS just sort of stares at him for a few beats
THOMAS
Alright, whatever you say man

JOHN
No, look, I don’t mean to threaten, at least, not right
now I don’t. I just want you to quit with all this crap
where you try to get between Me and Em.

THOMAS
Alright. No more of that. I promise.
With jarring noise, a door slams open. Quickly it
slams shut again. SARAH runs in Stage Left. She
tries to explain her rushed nature, but she’s too
out of breath to be understood.
SARAH
I...the Director...Oh god...Everyone

JOHN walks over to SARAH and offers his hand to

calm her.
JOHN
Sarah, it’s ok, calm down, what’s wrong?

SARAH quickly hugs him and stammers the words out

SARAH
The director, he’s outside, dead, he’s dead, and
everyone else, they’re all on the ground, goddamnit
John, everyone’s Dead!

A few beats of silence as they take this in.

THOMAS
Wait, what?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.

JOHN
Emily...

THOMAS inches closer

THOMAS
Sarah, tell us what’s going on.
SARAH
I told you, no one’s moving , everyone’s just laying
there and...
JOHN holds SARAH farther apart now
JOHN
Sarah, where’s Emily
THOMAS walks closer
THOMAS
But you don’t know they’re dead right?

SARAH
I don’t...know I just I...
JOHN shakes SARAH in desperation

JOHN
SARAH! WHERE’S EMILY!
SARAH loses it and starts to cry as she pulls
herself away from JOHN

SARAH
I don’t know John! I don’t know!
SARAH is Up Stage weeping as JOHN walks Stage Left

THOMAS
Where are you going?
JOHN turns to him
JOHN
Where do you think I’m going? I’m going to get Emily.
THOMAS
If what Sarah says is true and everybody’s dead out
there, you could be next.

JOHN
Look, I’m not saying I don’t believe Sarah, but why the
hell would everyone out there be dead?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.

THOMAS
I don’t know, I’m just saying

JOHN (INTERRUPTING)
I know what you were saying, and I’m saying I have to
get Emily. If there is someone out there killing left
and right, I need her safe.
JOHN runs out Stage Left, we hear a door open and
close.
THOMAS looks around unsure of what to do. SARAH
has quieted down by now, and is holding herself
Center Stage

We hear a door slam open and JOHN stumbles in

Stage Left. HE bends over and vomits on the stage.
JOHN
CALL THE POLICE! Call the police!

JOHN runs out Stage Left and THOMAS looks at the

throw up
THOMAS
Come on John! What the hell is that!

THOMAS exits Stage Right for a little before

coming back with a roll of paper towels and a
spray-bottle.
THOMAS cleans up the vomit and looks over at
SARAH.
THOMAS
Look, Sarah, I know we don’t like each other or get
along very well, and I know you’re a bit traumatized
right now, but feel free to help out at any time.

SARAH crawls over, rips a paper towel off the

roll, and helps THOMAS clean up.
When they finish THOMAS goes off Stage Right with
the used paper towels, the roll, and the spray
bottle. SARAH lies down in a curled position.
THOMAS comes back and lays down next to her.
THOMAS
I’m not going to try to be the manly man here. That was
gross.
THOMAS turns his head to SARAH and speaks in a
hushed tone

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 10.

THOMAS
Sarah, are you ok?
SARAH
Getting better.

THOMAS turns away from SARAH and looks out into

the audience, staring off into the distance.
THOMAS
What the hell is going on?

THOMAS asks this in a rhetorical manner. Confused

and bewildered by what’s happened so far
A door bursts open and slams shut

Clothes covered in blood, JOHN enters Stage Left

carrying an unconscious EMILY. JOHN puts her down
gently and lays down. The main cast all on the
ground, all very confused. THOMAS, the only one
who has yet to leave the Theatre, stands up.

THOMAS
I repeat. What, the hell, is going on!
JOHN
Thomas, calm down.

THOMAS
How can you say that?! Look at us! You’re covered in
blood! Not to mention that you threw up all over the
stage. Emily’s dead! Sarah’s having a total breakdown!
And no one is telling me what’s going on!

JOHN stands up and explains

JOHN
Em isn’t dead Thomas! She’s got a pulse. I found her
passed out in the hallway.

THOMAS
Why is there blood on your pants? Is everyone really
dead?!
JOHN
The hallways are smeared with blood everywhere, but I
didn’t see any bodies. The blood has to be recent, none
of it has dried.
THOMAS takes all this in

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.

THOMAS
You seem pretty calm about all this.
JOHN
Well the police should be on their way by now don’t you
think?

THOMAS
John, you know there’s no signal in here. You also know
that there isn’t signal until you get outside.

JOHN hurriedly digs into his pocket and takes out

his phone. He pushes a few buttons. Stares at it
for a few beats. Then throws it across the stage.
JOHN
DAMN IT!

JOHN begins to pace frantically.

THOMAS
John, let’s leave.

JOHN stops pacing

JOHN
What?
THOMAS
Let’s leave. You take Emily, I’ll take Sarah, and we’ll
just get out and go get help. Who knows what happened
to everyone out there, right now, we need to focus on
our safety.
JOHN
Right. Yeah, you’re right.
JOHN heads to EMILY to pick her up and THOMAS
heads toward Sarah.

SARAH won’t let herself be picked up though.

SARAH
No! No!
THOMAS
Sarah, we have to leave.
SARAH
No Thomas! They were there! The bodies! If they aren’t
there anymore than the guy could still be out there!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 12.

THOMAS
What?

SARAH
The guy who killed them! He hasn’t left!
THOMAS
Then we need to leave!

SARAH
No! We need to stay in here!
JOHN
Sarah, that’s not a very good idea.

JOHN holds SARAH

JOHN
Look, I’ll show you. Know one is out there.
JOHN takes SARAH and exits Stage Left

They open the door and...

We hear a wretched scream, shrill and loud. But it
doesn’t come from JOHN or SARAH

SARAH runs back in and hugs THOMAS

JOHN enters wrestling what looks like a corpse to
the ground.
The CORPSE is thrashing around wildly and JOHN
beings to punch it. The CORPSE continues to make
that shrill screech we heard earlier as JOHN
pounds it.
When the CORPSE finally lies still JOHN gets up,
out of breath and knuckles bloodied.
JOHN
It’s the director. What the hell is going on.
THOMAS
We need to leave. We need to leave now
JOHN staggers over to EMILY and holds her hands in
his.
JOHN
I need to stay here. I’m not taking Emily out there and
I’m sure as hell not leaving here alone. Thomas, you
need to go out there and get help. You can handle that
right? Take my truck.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 13.

JOHN tosses keys to THOMAS

JOHN
There’s a gun in the glove box and ammunition in the
trunk.

THOMAS
You have a gun in your car and live ammunition in your
trunk?
JOHN
My dad’s a gun nut. Why does it matter? Just go!
THOMAS hesitates a little, takes one last look,
and leaves.
SARAH
John...
JOHN
Yes Sarah?
SARAH
Your father hates guns.
JOHN
I know.
SARAH
Why did you tell him it was his? John, what the hell is
going on?
JOHN
I don’t know. I’d be lying to you if I said I had the
smallest idea what’s happening. The gun is just...for
protection. He didn’t need to know it was mine.
SARAH walks over to JOHN and hugs him firmly
SARAH
I’m scared John.
JOHN pulls himself away from her hold
JOHN
Sarah, don’t.

SARAH
Don’t what?
JOHN
You know what I’m talking about!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.

SARAH
What about..
JOHN (INTERRUPTING)
Don’t!

SARAH
You lied to me?
JOHN
I didn’t know what I was thinking. I...I wasn’t myself
that day.
SARAH
You weren’t yourself the movies, or you don’t want to
be that guy anymore?

JOHN changes tones to one more threatening

JOHN
I’m not that guy and I won’t ever be that guy!
SARAH
Oh cut the crap John! Who knows what the hell is going
on, for all we know everyone out there is dead! And
you’re in here, lying to yourself?!
JOHN
Sarah! This isn’t the time!

SARAH
We might not have much time left John. Make up your
mind.
EMILY begins to cough, JOHN goes to her and sits
by her side
JOHN
Em...Em can you hear me? Are you okay?

EMILY slowly wakes up

EMILY
John?
JOHN
I’m right here Em, you’re going to be fine.
EMILY is speaking, but she doesn’t sound well at
all.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 15.

EMILY
John...The people out there are...they’re going crazy.
I saw them...eat each other. John you have to leave.
You have to get out. And you have to leave me here.

JOHN
No! No way Em! I’m taking you to a hospital!
EMILY
No John, leave me here.

EMILY goes limp.

JOHN
Em, I love you. I’m not leaving you here. Em? Emily!
Emily talk to me!

SARAH’s voice cuts through the air

SARAH
She’s dead John.
JOHN picks EMILY up and carries her Off Stage
Right
SARAH
I’m sorry.
JOHN walks back in

JOHN
No you’re not. You know you’re not.
SARAH walks over to JOHN

SARAH
Yes I am.
JOHN spins on his heels to avoid her. SARAH now
stands Stage Right and JOHN stands Stage Left

JOHN
No you’re not and you know it! You always hated her!
SARAH
John, I really am sorry!

JOHN
Liar!
EMILY charges in Stage Right and grabs SARAH.
Growling viciously.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 16.

JOHN
Emily?! What are you doing?!
EMILY bites into SARAH’s shoulder, SARAH screams
from the pain

SARAH
JOHN! THIS ISN’T EMILY! JOHN! HELP!
JOHN
Emily...what are you doing?

SARAH
JOHN, HELP ME!
JOHN runs over and pulls EMILY off SARAH. EMILY is
thrashing around.

JOHN
EMILY! STOP!
SARAH
Oh my god she bit me. She bit me.

SARAH falls to the ground and EMILY continues to

flail around as JOHN holds her back.
SARAH
Kill her...kill her, you have to.

JOHN
What?!
SARAH
John, that’s not Emily.

Blinding light flashes three times, as three loud

shots ring out. EMILY stops moving. So does SARAH.
THOMAS walks in holding a gun. JOHN drops EMILY.

THOMAS
Let’s go.
JOHN
You killed them.

THOMAS
John, everyone out there is going nuts, we can’t stay
here long. The radio says...

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 17.

JOHN (INTERRUPTING)
You killed them!
THOMAS
I had to! Are you coming with me or not? I’m taking
your truck.
JOHN falls to his knees.
JOHN
You killed them.

THOMAS hurries over to JOHN and kneels by him.

THOMAS
John, that wasn’t Emily, and very soon that wasn’t
going to be Sarah either. Out there we can get help.
But they won’t come to us. We have to go to them.
JOHN finally looks up at THOMAS
JOHN
Kill me.
THOMAS
Snap out of it! You can’t be you right now! You need to
go into survival mode and realize that we need to get
the hell out of here!

JOHN tries to take the gun out of THOMAS’ hand

JOHN
KILL ME THOMAS! DO IT!

THOMAS drops the gun and backs away

THOMAS
I can’t make you come with me. Take the gun. Keep
yourself safe. Last chance.

JOHN takes the gun and stares at the ground

THOMAS sighs.
THOMAS leaves.

JOHN gets up.

HE walks over to the Stage Curtains and closes
them.
We hear the explosion of a shot.

Hear it resonate.