Day fifteen of 29 Plays Later asked us to write a set in complete darkness and my mind immediately went to sleepwalking, sleep paralysis, and night terrors. All of which are themes in my Emma project.

Thus far I have been amazed at how much I have grown as a writer. I have learned so many new things about writing plays, and what the Grand Guignol is. But first I wanted to share my script from day fifteen titled:

When Dreams Become Nightmares.

Act One, Scene One

The stage is completely dark and a silhouette of a bed sits center stage and a clock can be heard ticking in the background. Soft breathing can also be heard. 

Emma: (takes a deep breath in and opens her eyes) Who’s there? 

Silence except for the ticking clock. 

Emma: (attempting to move, but cannot) What is happening and what is that? 

Silence again. Nothing can be seen. A whirring noise joins the ticking clock.

Emma: (taps the lamp on her nightstand) Why won’t the light turn on? 

Footsteps.

Emma: (takes a sharp breath in) Daniel is that you? 

Footsteps stop. 

Emma: Please stop. You’re scaring me. 

Heavy breathing can now be heard. 

Emma: (in a high pitch whimper) Daniel? Please…

Footsteps can be heard and they are louder this time and seem to be going up steps. 

Emma: (bolts up and rolls of the bed creating a thud sound) Ouch! 

Footsteps stop.

Emma: (crawls on her hands and knees towards the bedroom door knocking over a coat rack on her way creating another thud noise) What was that? 

Footsteps seem to be getting closer and louder. 

Emma: (stands up and runs back and jumps into the bed) 

The bedroom door opens creating a creaking noise. Thunder booms off in the distance.

Emma: (screams) 

The bedroom door slams shut. Another boom of thunder this one appears to be closer. 

Scratching noises can now be heard and a silhouette of a tall man with a cap appears in the corner of the bedroom. 

Emma: (in a whimper, voice shaky) Who are you?

The silhouetted man appears to be floating towards the bed.

Silhouetted Man: (booming voice) Your worst nightmare! 

Emma: (screams) 

Curtains close. 

The End!

I hope that you enjoyed reading that as much as I enjoyed writing that. This challenge has really started to push me out of my comfort zone starting with the above and then moving on to today’s brief which was to write a horror script inspired by the Grand Guignol.

What is the Grand Guignol?

In short: A theatre that showed mainly naturalistic horror plays full of guts and gore. This was probably one of my favorite briefs to write (scary, right?) I was super proud of the final product and I hope you enjoy it as well :

The Dinner Party!

 Act One, Scene One

Setting: Curtains open to reveal the inside of a home portioned off into living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom, and a bathroom. Each room is cleanly decorated. Wife, Arlene is in the kitchen making dinner, and the husband, Allister, is sitting at a small table in the kitchen reading the paper and tapping his foot.

Allister: (checks his watch) What time will they be here? They are running late.

Arlene: Oh, you know Eadie is always running late. All that hair. Besides dinner won’t be ready for another hour at the very least.

Allister: What about the hors d’œuvres?

Arlene: (opens the fridge) They are ready to be brought out as soon as our guests arrive.

Allister: (checks his watch again) Well, I am getting hungry. Place out the appetizers. I am sure they will be here any moment. May as well have them out.

Arlene: Well…alright then. (Arlene takes out the trays of hors d’oeuvres and takes them into the dining room carefully placing them on the banquet table. Before returning to the kitchen she fluffs the flowers just a bit) 

Allister: How’s that pie coming along and those brownies?

Arlene: They seem a little flat. 

Allister: Well they smell good. Make sure you set one aside for me. No chocolate for me tonight or I will never sleep.

(car lights can be seen through the front window. Doors can be heard opening and closing before a knock can be heard at the front door.)

Allister: (doesn’t move) Well aren’t you going to grab that door.

Arlene: Why…(walks to the front door and opens it up) Come in, come in. Here let me take your coat.

(Two couples walk in, Harold (a mailman), Eadie is Harold’s wife (housewife); Hank (Retired), Winni is Hank’s wife (housewife) They are all talking amongst themselves as they walk in. Taking off their coats and handing them to Arlene as they walk by.)

Winni: (Takes Hank’s coat) Hello. You look amazing tonight. I can help with the coats. You just lead the way.)

Arlene: Thank you, and you as well. (Looks over Winni’s outfit with a big smile and then heads toward the bedroom)

Winni: Dillard’s, on sale last week. It was the last one on the rack. Can you imagine? 

Arlene: That color looks stunning on you. (lays the coats on the bed and then grabs the remaining coats out of Winni’s arms.)

Winni: That’s what Hank said. 

(The two women walk back to the dining room to find the rest of the group standing around the banquet table talking and eating cheese.)

Arlene: Grab a plate of hors d’œuvres I need to finish up with dinner and desert. 

Eadie: Here, Winnie and I can help in the kitchen. Let the men talk shop. 

Allister: (can be heard as the ladies leave the dining room) So, Harold. I hear that you have a new route that takes you through our neighborhood?

(The ladies enter the kitchen. Arlene heads straight for the stove while Eadie and Winni begin to grab out plates, napkins, and silverware from the cupboards.

Arlene: Al keeps going on and on about how Harold has a new route. He keeps asking me if I have seen him as he delivers our mail.

Eadie: So, have you seen him? He is loving the new route since it’s so close to home.

Arlene: I have not yet seen him. I will keep an eye out next week so that I can hand him a plate of cookies. 

Eadie: I am sure that would make his day.

Arlene: Dinner should be ready in less than 10 minutes. Help me pull this stuff out so we can get it plated and onto the dinner table before Allister starts to complain.

Lights dim.

Act one, scene two.

Lights come back on to the group sitting at the dining room table. They have already finished dinner and have moved on to desserts. Arlene is plating the pie and brownies.)

Allister: Now make sure everyone gets a little bit of everything.

Arlene: I heard you the first time, Allister. (Arlene sets down the last plate in front of Hank and then sits down)

Eadie: Well, aren’t you going to have any, Al?

Allister: I can’t have sweets this close to bed. I’ll never sleep. 

Eadie: Well, alright then. (takes a bite of the brownie)

Winnie: Everything was absolutely delicious tonight, especially those brownies. Are you using a new recipe?

Arlene: No, same recipe as always. Mom’s recipe card never lets me down.

Hank: (coughs a bit before taking a sip of his coffee) If you’ll excuse me. I seemed to have developed a bit of indigestion. (Hank gets up and heads to the bathroom) 

(Everyone finishes up and is sitting back chatting)

Allister: Arlene, why don’t you get these plates cleared while I go and check on Hank. 

Eadie: (looking a little flush) I am not sure what is the matter, but I am going to go sit in the living room and lie back for a moment. 

Arlene: Allister can help you to the couch. I will get these (clutches her stomach a bit) dishes cleared and then be back in a moment to check on you.

Winni: I am not feeling the greatest either. Is it possible to lie down in bed?

Allister: What did you all do before you got here? Stop at some fast food joint? 

Harold: Well, it’s quite the drive, and the ladies were hungry so we stopped at Mc. Donald’s for a burger and some shakes.

Allister: Well, now that explains it. Come now Eadie let me help you to the couch. (Allister stands up and helps Eadie get up and then leads her into the living room before heading down the hall to the bathroom)

(Arlene heads into the kitchen, closing the door behind her.Harold gets up and takes a seat in a armchair that sits by the window in the dining room, and Winni gets up and heads out and then down the hall into the bedroom.) 

Lights dim.

Act One, Scene Three

The lights come back on and are focused on the bedroom door at the end of the hallway. Allister is perched outside of it with his ear cupped up to the door. After a moment when everything seems silent, he slips into the room to find Winni curled up onto the bed moaning.

Allister: (walks quietly over to his dresser and pulls a straight blade out of the top drawer. He walks towards the bed with the blade behind his back.)

Winni: (whimpering) Have you brought some water? My stomach hurts so bad.

Allister: (Leans close to her, covers her mouth) This will help. Nothing is going to hurt anymore.

 (Allister shoves the knife into her stomach multiple times. Winni’s eyes go wide and then after a few moments they close. Allister takes his hand away from her mouth, and then walks away. Winni’s blood flows down to the floor as Allister leaves the bedroom closing the door behind him. Heading down the hall and stopping just outside of the bathroom door. The water is running as Hank fills up the tub. Allister heads to the living room first to find Eadie writhing in pain.)

Allister: (pulls his tie from around his neck and leans over the couch and whispers into her ear) I’m so sorry. (He then slips the tie around her neck and pulls tightly as Eadie attempts to fight him off before taking her last breath and slouching into the couch. Allister drops his tie and heads back to the bathroom. The water is no longer running so Allister opens the door slowly peeking inside. Hank is lying in the tub with his eyes closed. Allister rushes in closing the door behind him and then pushes Hanks head underwater and watches as Hank struggles to hold onto life. After a few moments Allister steps back and all that can be seen is a bloated Hank floating face up with his eyes wide open. Before leaving the bathroom, Allister stops to wash his hands and then looks into the mirror and laughs maniacally.)

Lights dim.

Act One, Scene Four

Setting: Lights are now focused on the dining room and kitchen. Harold is slouched over the side of the armchair and vomiting onto the carpet.

 Allister: Hello, Harold. Old pal. (grabs some rope from the banquet table drawer and heads over to Harold, pulls him straight up, and then ties him to the chair. Allister then grabs a dinner napkin and ties it around his mouth before Harold can cry out. )

Harold: (looks up at Allister with a look of confusion and fear in his eyes.)

Allister: Well, you thought I would never find out. Word travels fast when you have friends in all the right places. Hand on tight. I’ll be right back. (before heading into the kitchen Allister pulls a dining room chair out from beneath the table and places it facing Harold.)

Arlene: (Throwing up into the kitchen sink) 

Allister: What a fabulous dinner party. Can I grab you a drink for the final act?

Arlene: (wipes her face and turns to look at Allister) I…I am so sick. I couldn’t even think about having a drink. 

Allister: Oh, honey. I am sure you can choke one down. For our guest, maybe? (Allister heads to the fridge and grabs a bottle of champagne and takes it into the dining room and sets it down on the table. He grabs two glasses and sets them down as well before heading back into the kitchen, straight to wear Arlene is standing. Allister turns the water on, quickly washes off Arlene’s face, and then grabs her from behind and carries her into the dining room. Allister places Arlene into the dining chair facing Harold, and then quickly ties her up with another conveniently placed rope)

Arlene: (squirms and tries to get out of the chair almost toppling over) Now you just let me out of this rope!

Allister: (steadies her chair) Now, now, dear. I can’t have you falling over and getting hurt before I take care of good old, and faithful Harold. Now can I?

Arlene: Whatever do you mean, Al? Have you completely lost it?

Allister: (Pulls a switchblade out of his back pocket and snaps it open.) You know, there was a time many years ago that I thought you were my one and only. Now I am not so sure. To find out I am going to start with Harold’s thumb, and then I will cut off each finger until you confess your infidelity. (grabs Harold’s free hand and holds the knife to it) Tell me the truth now.

Arlene: Harold? Why, we never. Where did you get an idea like that?

Allister: (quickly cuts Harold’s thumb and forefinger off and then tosses them away.)

Now as you were saying?

Arlene: Stop it. Just stop this nonsense, Al. I would never cheat on you, never!

Allister: (starts cutting into Harold’s wrist, blood starts to gush out, Arlene screams, Harold is now struggling. Allister keeps going.)

Arlene: (screaming) Stop it, please, Al. I am begging you. What can I do to get you to stop?

Allister: (cuts Harold’s hand off and tosses it away.) You must confess your sins. That’s all. Nothing more. Nothing less.

(Harold is now vomiting and choking at the same time) 

Arlene: (seems to be thinking while tears are rolling down her face) Fine. I confess. Now let us go. I promise not to say anything! To anyone, I swear it! 

Allister: (takes his switch blade and plunges it into Harold’s neck and twists it in and around until finally Harold stops moving and slumps over. Arlene is screaming the entire time, and eventually falls over onto the ground) Now see what you made me do? (picks Arlene’s and the chair back up, straddling over her. Running the blade down both cheeks, creating a trickle of blood.) I said that you needed to confess your infidelity, and you did not, so Harold had to die. Now what do you think I should do with you?

Arlene: (pleading)Please, please let me live. I will never leave your side, I promise. Please, Al, I just want to live.

Allister: Well. I could do that, but now that everyone else is dead there is only one thing left to do. (Allister leans over and opens the bottle of champagne and pours some into each glass and then sets the bottle down. He picks up one of the glasses and pours it down his throat before taking the switchblade and shoving it into Arlene’s neck. He twists it in and out until she slumps over. Blood is dripping all down the front of her beautiful white dress. Allister steps back and admires his handiwork, drinks down the other glass of champagne before heading into the kitchen and washing his hands. He then walks to the front door, takes a look behind him before heading out into the night, never to be seen again.)

The End!

Seriously, that was the end of this truly long post. Let me know what you think in the comments below. Share with your friends and family. All constructive comments are welcome and appreciated.

**Keep in mind that I am not a playwright nor have I ever been. That’s all. Happy Thursday 😁