Columbinus PDF Full Show
Columbinus PDF Full Show
Columbinus PDF Full Show
CHARACTERS:
Freak/Eric Harris
Loner/Dylan Klebold
The following characters play everybody else:
MEN:
AP (Advanced Placement)
Jock
Prep
WOMEN:
Faith
Perfect
Rebel
SCENES:
Scene titles should be projected at the top of each scene.
From a fictional high school in suburban America to Littleton, Colorado, days prior to and including April
20, 1999.
ACT I
(As the audience enters, houselights and stagelights are up. The space is stark and exposed.
The stage floor evokes a gymnasium. On the back wall is a giant, functional chalk slate,
which can also have images or words projected onto it. There are eight school chairs and
two tables.
The actors enter the space carrying their first act costumes and props. They prepare the
space, then gather downstage and address the audience.)
ACTORS: Good evening (afternoon).
ACTOR (FREAK): The story we will share this evening (afternoon) is based on true events, and inspired
by actual people, writings and records.
ACTOR (REBEL): The characters were created from interviews and conversations with teenagers from
across the country.
ACTOR (LONER): We appreciate you coming to the theatre tonight, and if you have a cell phone…now
would be a great time to turn it off.
ACTORS; Thank you.
(An actor writes on the slate: COLUMBINUS. In their own time, the actors remove their
clothes and strip down to their undergarments, throwing their clothes offstage. They lie
down throughout the space, except for the ACTOR PLAYING LONER. He goes to lie down,
then hesitates. He stares at the audience as the lights fade to black.)
MORNING RITUAL
(Alarm clocks ring. In unison, the actors swing their arms round to the floor with a thud,
silencing the bell.)
FATHER’S VOICE (AP) (pre-recorded): Hey, get up, get out of bed.
(Sound of door slam. Blackout. Actors sigh and bitch a bit. An alarm clock rings, and then
everyone in unison smacks the floor. Lights up.)
(The rhythm stops. Actors sing a contemporary song while washing themselves, getting more
and more exaggerated until they suddenly stop and step out of the shower into the following
actions:)
ALL: Oh!
REBEL (looking at her pants): They’re wide.
PERFECT: Skort.
FAITH: Or skirt.
PERFECT: Or short, short shorts…
PERFECT/FAITH: Or…
JOCK, FREAK, LONER, REBEL: T-shirt.
AP, PREP: A ‘n F.
JOCK: F-‘n A…
AP, PREP: Button-down fits well.
JOCK: …it smells. I smell.
REBEL, FREAK, LONER: Just black.
FREAK & AP: Backpack.
FAITH (overlapping with “pack”): Pack lunch.
PREP: Hang on a sec.
AP: A quick e-mail check.
REBEL & PREP: I strap it on.
JOCK & FREAK: And slap it on.
(Everyone changes place on stage.)
PERFECT: Wait!
(Everyone stops, annoyed. PERFECT finishes dressing, moves downstage, zips the fly on her
skirt, then…)
AP: Gone.
ALL: Homework?
FAITH, PREP, PERFECT: Some.
ALL: Homework?
AP & FREAK: Done.
ALL: Homework?
LONER: None.
ALL: Go, go, go, go.
FAITH: Vitamin…
AP: Claritin…
PREP: Ritalin…
JOCK: Creatin…
REBEL: Mescaline…
FREAK: Pop a pill…
PERFECT: Pop “the pill.”
(A car horn honks.)
FAITH: My cell?
PREP: My stash?
REBEL: My Crosby, Stills and Nash.
(Actors ad lib, confused on who she is talking about, i.e., “What?”, “Crosby who?”
PERFECT: (The Caf) or the lab or the gym (by the door)
REBEL: By the north side of commons (the corner)
PREP: The gate so let’s (wait)
JOCK: (Wait in the spot) in the back parking lot where it’s (paved) and I’m
ALL: (saved) by the…
(School bell rings. The actors dash offstage, as if they were late for class. Music: “Mad
World” by Gary Jules begins to play.)
SELECTION
(Six props descend from above: a white baseball cap, a make-up compact, a pair of
eyeglasses, a pack of cigarettes, a beaded leather choker and a cross necklace.
LONER enters, examining his new surroundings, and the choices he can make. He wanders a
bit farther downstage.
LONER hides as FREAK enters. He watches FREAK wander among the various props dangling
above his head. FREAK examines the baseball cap. PERFECT, REBEL and FAITH cross down,
ignoring FREAK. FREAK crosses to the edge of the stage and sits. LONER, unnoticed by the
others, sits to the side and watches the following.
FAITH crosses down and joins PERFECT and REBEL who are standing around the make-up
compact. After a moment, they all three go for the compact, but PERFECT grabs it first.
REBEL wanders away. FAITH follows. REBEL picks up the cigarettes and gestures to let FAITH
have one. FAITH, a bit uneasy, moves away and grabs the cross necklace, blesses herself.
REBEL, indifferent, pulls out a cigarette.
AP and JOCK cross into the light. AP immediately approaches the white baseball cap, and
jumps, but it is out of his reach. Seeing AP’s struggle, JOCK approaches and swiftly grabs
the baseball cap on his first try. PERFECT is impressed.
PREP crosses down, determined. He walks around and observes while waiting for the right
moment to choose the most coveted prop. He picks up the glasses as AP picks up the choker.
Unhappy with his choice, PREP crosses to AP and grabs the choker; AP is taken aback. As an
afterthought, PREP hands the glasses to AP.
In unison, AP, PREP, PERFECT, REBEL, FAITH and JOCK use their props to assume their
identities. FREAK and LONER, not sure of where they should be, wander among the students.
FREAK and LONER find each other. There are no props left.)
IDENTITY
(The characters are unaware of one another during this section, with the exception of unison
text. Bell rings. Light goes to PERFECT.)
REBEL: A jock.
FAITH: Hardworking. Very determined.
AP: Yeah, he’s a jock but he’s different from what you would think.
PERFECT: He’s really cool, very friendly with everyone. Sweet.
PREP: One of my best friends.
FREAK: Shining star of our school. Shining.
LONER: We spoke once in the sixth grade.
(Lights on AP.)
JOCK: Smart.
PERFECT: Very smart.
LONER: Helluva Doom player.
FAITH: Really nice kid.
REBEL: Loser.
FREAK: A little obsessed with school.
PREP: Don’t know much about him.
(Lights to REBEL.)
FAITH: Smart.
JOCK: Computer…dude.
REBEL: Intense.
PERFECT: Insane.
PREP: We don’t hang out. I don’t know if he hangs out.
LONER: Crazy, anal, fucked-up sense of humor…and a good friend.
(Lights to PREP.)
PERFECT: Nice.
AP: Nice.
REBEL: She’s nice.
JOCK: Smart. You know…
FREAK: I sit next to her in chemistry.
LONER: Dull. Boring and dull.
PREP: Needs to loosen up.
(Lights on LONER.)
AP: People say I do well in school. I get along with everyone. You know, pretty average.
(AP exits. Lights on PREP.)
PREP: People say I’m cool. Likes to party. Friends with everyone. Average guy.
(PREP exits. Lights on PERFECT.)
PERFECT: People say I’m nice. Friendly. Social. Make people feel welcome. I don’t know…
(PERFECT exits. Lights on REBEL.)
REBEL: People say I’m different. Goth even. Maybe even druggie. Yeah, I get a lot of that.
(REBEL exits. Lights on FREAK.)
JOCK: People say I’m a jock, I’m sure. But I really hate that. When people get to know me, they forget
about that.
(JOCK exits. Lights on FAITH.)
FAITH: People say I’m nice. Friendly…I don’t know. Like everyone else?
(FAITH exits. Lights on LONER.)
GUIDANCE: PART I
VOICE (PREP): Okay, we’ll start with the big question: what do you want to do with the rest of your life?
LONER: Hum?
VOICE: What are your interests?
LONER: I dunno.
VOICE: You don’t know? (Throwing an idea out there.) You’ve run sound for the drama program.
You clearly have a creative side.
VOICE: Well, I know you’re good with electronics, wise guy. I’ve seen you in the computer lab after
school a bunch of times.
LONER: Yeah… (He laughs.)
VOICE: What?
LONER: Nothing.
VOICE (back on track): Thought about getting a job in computers?
LONER: I don’t know. It’s kinda difficult to find a technician job when I’m only sixteen years old.
(Seeing if he’s paying attention.) It’s a tough market for inexperienced, untrained hackers.
VOICE: What?
LONER: Nothing.
VOICE: You’re not keeping secrets, are you?
LONER: Well, actually…
VOICE: C’mon, you can tell me…
LONER: Okay…
(Lights and sound change, showing we are in LONER’s mind. He shifts his position to get a
better look.)
(Bell rings.)
CAFETERIA
(FAITH enters, leading a tour.)
FAITH (to the audience): Okay, is everybody here? Is everybody listening? Come on, I need to know
if you are with me. (Makes the audience respond.) Super awesome! Now…we are about to enter the
cafeteria. In eighth grade you probably have closed lunches, but here you can leave if you want. It’s a bit
crowded in here today ‘cause of the rain. A lot of these people usually eat outside. (LONER enters with
a tray; looking for a place to sit.) So let’s see…where that kid is coming out (points to LONER
carrying the tray) that’s where they serve the lunches. (LONER moves to get out of the way.) Oh,
and over that archway is our school motto…
REBEL: Segregation?
FAITH: Yes. (Thinks about this, then…) No. (LONER returns to the space.) Hey, (pointing out
an empty seat) there’s a spot over here.
(She points to a table with PREP and PERFECT. Not wanting to make a scene, LONER sits.)
LONER: Thanks.
FAITH: Anyway…here are the new restrooms. They’re pretty awesome. They actually have sinks that
you don’t have to turn on the water, you just… (Indicates putting hands under the faucet, making
a water noise.) I’m gonna make a quick stop and I’ll be right back.
(FAITH crosses downstage, as lights change to the restroom. PERFECT applies make-up,
studying herself in the mirror. REBEL smokes a cigarette off in the corner.)
FAITH: Hey. (PERFECT looks at FAITH, then returns to applying her make-up.) You won’t
believe what happened. I just added a new part to the tour, completely off the cuff. It was crazy.
PERFECT: You know, you would be really pretty if you straightened your hair.
FAITH: Thanks. I like your shirt.
PERFECT: I like yours too. Did you make it?
FAITH: No, I just… (realizing the insult) oh, no.
REBEL (referring to PERFECT’s shirt): Do you think cigarette burns would complement that color?
FAITH: Thanks—
(REBEL ignores her and walks away. FAITH takes a beat, then walks to the audience. Lights
change, we’re out of the bathroom.)
FAITH (regaining her composure): Okay. Next stop, the heart and soul of school: our gym. (FAITH
exits.)
LONER: Yeah. (Appreciating the kindness.) Thanks. (PREP signals again, as LONER takes a
bite of food. Another packet hits LONER. This time both PREP and JOCK laugh. To
PREP.) There’s much easier ways of impressing him, faggot.
(JOCK pulls out the seat as LONER gets up causing him to fall, dropping his tray and food.
The cafeteria bursts out in laughter then freezes.)
PREP: You asked for that, faggot. You act like I disgust you? Fuck you, you disgust me. The greasy
hair, this combat grunge, all of this. If this is truly who you are, then good for you. Congratulations on
being yourself. (Beat.) I’m sorry your life sucks, but you chose this, right? You wanted to be you, and I
want to be… (Looks at JOCK, then back to LONER.) You know, someday you’ll remember high
school as the sick feeling you got every day around noon trying to find a place to eat lunch and I’ll
remember it as the best years of my life…even if it’s not me, the real me. (Leans into LONER.) Oh,
which me am I talking about? Who is the real me? (PREP looks around the group. He kisses
JOCK.) No one. He doesn’t exist.
(Unfreeze.)
REBEL: Sticks and stones…come on. (REBEL moves closer to him.) What’s in a name? (LONER
abruptly stands, and starts to go.) Hey, you dropped this. (She throws a copy of Romeo and
Juliet at him. He picks it up.) I could use some help next period going over my lines…if you’re free.
(REBEL exits. LONER reads poorly.)
DRAMA
LONER: But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! It is
my lady; O, it is my love! Juliet enters from above.
REBEL: Um…just the lines.
LONER: Oh, yeah. Right. (REBEL puts on a rehearsal skirt.) It is my lady; O, it is my love!
(He looks at REBEL, and she freezes. He reads with genuine feeling.)
O that she knew she were! She speaks, yet she says nothing. What of that? Her eye discourses; I will
answer it. I am too bold; ‘tis not to me she speaks.
(LONER freezes, as REBEL unfreezes.)
REBEL: Yeah, well, it’s probably this play, and that thing that happens when you’re on stage, not being
yourself…but I look at you, and let’s face it, you’re not my first choice—maybe not anyone’s: the long
baby face with the Jay Leno chin, and—but when I look at me…I see someone too familiar staring back
at me. I see the overpriced life she lives in. I see all that spelled out in every fat bulge, or frizz, or nose
that’s uncoverable…I’m uncomfortable with me. So I look away…to something else, someone else and
you’re not so bad…you are possible, obtainable. If I don’t look at you and see that, then there’s not much
left, but some weed, and another episode of Friends, and my pathetic antisocial fucked-up life. So hey,
it’s your chance…climb the balcony…give me a plastic rose…and we’ll pretend that we’re actually
beautiful people. Come on, it’s easy to escape.
(REBEL kneels on two chairs which function as the balcony. LONER unfreezes, and looks to
her.)
REBEL: O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name! Or, if
thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
LONER (crossing to her, addressing her): Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
(Awkward pause. The bell rings. JOCK, AP, PREP, FAITH and PERFECT enter, and voice the
thoughts in LONER’s head. During this session, REBEL packs props in her backpack, runs lines,
going over blocking, occasionally glancing at LONER. She is going through her own decision-
making process.)
ACTOR (FAITH): Think of the sex. Feeling it after I was finished. A space in her juicy—
ALL (looking away): Oh God.
ALL: Wait…
ACTOR (FAITH): Maybe if I
ACTOR (AP): Say that I
ACTOR (PERFECT): Wonder if you
ACTOR (PREP): Now while I’m walking by.
ALL: Casually…
ACTOR (FAITH): Seize it. Talk to her. It’s not even talk. It’s a…
ALL: Hi.
ACTOR (JOCK): “Hi” is gay. That’s all I need is to sound like a fag.
ACTOR (PREP): But if I just say something.
ACTOR (AP): Saying one thing could change everything.
ACTOR (JOCK): Go ahead.
ACTOR (PREP): Come on!
ALL: WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
(Bell rings. REBEL exits. LONER looks away. Lighting changes as students change the space
into a classroom.)
ACTOR (PERFECT): And what would we talk about? Nothing. Not a fucking thing. What would a
snotty little cunt like her say to a piece of shit like me?
ACTOR (AP): What was I thinking?
ACTOR (PREP): She’s a bitch.
ACTOR (FAITH): Bitch.
ACTOR (PERFECT): And I am not stupid enough to fall into her trap.
ACTOR (JOCK): Let her tell the whole school what the freak did.
ACTOR (AP): One thing after another…
ACTOR (FAITH): Leading to more
ACTOR (PREP): And more…
ACTOR (PERFECT): No way. No fucking way.
(REBEL returns and sits next to him. The space is now a classroom.)
REBEL: What?
LONER: I liked the play.
REBEL: Thanks, but I didn’t write it.
LONER: Yeah, but it was a good play… (They laugh.) It’s 1:15…6th period.
JOCK: I thought you were gay. (REBEL exits. LONER turns to JOCK.) What?
CREATIVE WRITING
(REBEL’s voice amplified from offstage throughout this scene.)
TEACHER: Okay, let’s critique the last of the narrative assignments. I’ll follow along with your essay
and share my comments. You’re up.
(LONER stands in front of the class. His essay is projected. The TEACHER’s corrections
appear as she critiques his essay.)
LONER (uncertain, in a low voice): The town, even at 1:00 a.m., was still…
LONER: In the midst of the nightlife in the center of the average-sized town, this man walked, fueled by
some untold purpose, what Christians would call evil.
TEACHER: New paragraph.
LONER (turns and looks at the shadow): His face was entirely in shadow, yet I could feel his anger,
cutting through the air like a razor. He noticed my presence but paid no attention as he kept walking
toward a popular bar, The Watering Hole. He stopped and waited. ”For whom?” I wondered, as I saw
them step out. A group of college-preps…the second-largest spoke up:
LONER & PREP: Nice trench coat, dude. That’s pretty cool.
LONER: The man in black said nothing but I could feel his anger growing.
LONER & PREP: “You want a fight? C’mon, put the guns away, fuckin’ pussy!!!”
TEACHER: Please…
LONER: Other preps could be heard muttering in the background…
LONER & AP: “C;mon, man, you wouldn’t shoot us. We’re in the middle of a public place.”
LONER: Yet the comment I remember the most was uttered from the smallest of the group, obviously a
cocky, power-hungry prick.
TEACHER: I thought I said…
LONER & JOCK: “Go ahead, man! Shoot me!!! I want you to shoot me!!! Ha, ha. You won’t.
Goddamn pussy…”
TEACHER: And I’ve stopped commenting…
LONER: It was faint at first but grew in intensity and power as I heard the man laugh. (Kids start
laughing; under their laugh…) For almost half a minute this laugh, spawned from the most powerful
place conceivable, filled the air, and through the entire town, the entire world…
(As the laugh gets unbearably intense, LONER pulls out an imaginary shotgun and fires on the
students. Real gunshots are heard. All of the students fall to the ground, dead. The
TEACHER’s voice remains unaffected.)
TEACHER: Why?
JOCK: Are you serious? What do you want me to say? It sucks.
(PREP laughs.)
JOCK: What? You’re going to kick me out? Are you serious? This piece of shit writes about walking
around the town shooting people for no reason, and you want me to what…to give constructive criticism?
How about “throw this maniac out, and get him some fucking help”? Was I supposed to feel sorry for
him or something? Look at him. What has he done to earn anyone’s respect? What time did he wake up
this morning? Seven? Seven-thirty? Try five a.m. I ran four miles before he even got out of bed this
morning. And while he’s home after school circle jerking to Lara Croft with his faggot-ass friends, I’ll
still be here, serving the school you teach in. Whether I feel like it or not, I’ll show up and work. What
does he do? Nothing. So, that’s what he is: nobody. And, you know what, Teach? I’m valuable, and you
should show me the respect I deserve.
(The bell rings. Lights shift back. JOCK hesitates, waiting for LONER as the rest of the class
gets up to go.)
TEACHER: We’re going to talk about this at the beginning of class tomorrow. Do you understand?
JOCK: Yeah. I understand.
TEACHER (to LONER): Stay here for a second. (LONER crosses downstage, and JOCK glares at
him as he slowly exits the stage.) Can you come by my office after school? I’d like to talk to you
about your story before I give you a grade.
LONER: Why?
TEACHER: You are an excellent writer, but I have some problems with this one.
(Students at lockers, in the hall. LONER leaves with new confidence as he passes FREAK.)
LONER: Hey.
FREAK: Hey.
(JOCK shoulders LONER to the ground. PERFECT and PREP notice. All freeze. FREAK helps
LONER up. Projected on the slate are the English translations.)
(To PERFECT.)
FREAK: Not as good as… Sie ist eine Schlampe. (She’s a sloppy whore.)
LONER & FREAK: Ich will dich toten! (I want to kill you!)
LONER: Later.
FREAK: Later.
(All exit as FREAK sits.)
GUIDANCE: PART II
VOICE (JOCK): So what are your interests? (Beat.) You must have something. Looks here like you
played soccer, is that right?
FREAK: Yeah.
VOICE: What did you enjoy about soccer?
FREAK: I don’t know.
VOICE: Come on, tell me more than “I don’t know…” You’re a bright kid. Your grades are excellent.
What about the future? Any post-graduate plans? (FREAK goes to talk; he interrupts.) Come on…
VOICE: Your transcript shows you’ve been to a bunch of different schools in the past few years. (Beat.)
FREAK: Uh-huh.
VOICE: Why is that?
FREAK: Because I’ve been to a bunch of different schools in the past few years.
VOICE: You’ve moved around a lot?
FREAK: Yup.
VOICE: That couldn’t have been easy.
FREAK: Is that a question or a statement?
VOICE: What?
FREAK: My dad’s in the military, so we went where the work was.
VOICE: That explains the interest in the Marines, huh? Yeah, well, good. Good. But like I said, even the
Marines would like to see an extra-curricular activity. Shows commitment, discipline. Picking up a sport
could take care of all that.
(Sound and lights shift. FREAK begins to speak his thoughts. The counselor takes no notice.)
FREAK: Would it take care of the fact that I get pissed off so easily? That I freak out at almost anything?
VOICE: Two years on a sport can fix up your Marine application.
FREAK: How do you fix up the fact that I’m pigeon-chested, or that my dosage has been increased?
VOICE: I don’t know why someone as bright as you isn’t involved in more activities?
FREAK: I don’t know why you keep glancing at my shirt.
VOICE: Do any of your friends play soccer?
FREAK: FRIEND, but thanks for asking, you little fucked-up man, with your bachelor’s degree in
business on your wall next to the three-day certificate in counseling. You are not equipped to handle
what’s going on inside of me. You want me to open up to you in one conversation? I don’t think I’ll be
telling you anything today, sir, because I’ve just been humiliated. But I’ll let you in on a little secret…
(leans in) I’m looking at a man, who is disgusted by me, sir, by the way I dress, by my choice of
silence. He’s looking right at me and actually thinks that I can’t see right through him. But see, sir, I
actually can see the sports page opened under my file. But see, he thinks I can’t see that. I wonder why
he would think that? (Beat.) No. No. I’ve decided that in our little ten-minute session I don’t think
we’re going to be friends…because I’m smarter than you are, and I have something you don’t have: self-
awareness. You want to help me figure out the next eighty years of my life, why don’t we start with
today, or what’s going to happen when the bell rings ten minutes from now? Tell me why I have a short
temper and get angry at almost anything I don’t like, like people I have no respect for trying to tell me
what to do. Or why I have too many inside jokes or thoughts to have very many friends. You tell me
why. And then we can talk. Okay? (FREAK reaches back and swings wildly at the invisible wall
and punches it. Sharp sounds of a wall shattering, glass breaking. Lights and sound change.)
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
(A basketball is thrown at FREAK from above. Whistle blows. A scoreboard is projected on
the screen, onto which the two teams, Shirts and Skins, are indicated. PREP, AP and JOCK
enter. AP and JOCK are shirtless and move to one side. PREP and FREAK are on the other.
JOCK takes the ball from FREAK.)
(PREP shoves the ball into AP’s stomach. AP turns to JOCK, anxious and confused.)
JOCK: Time out. (He pulls AP aside, puts his arm around him.)
FREAK: Time out? We have like two minutes. (JOCK glares at him; FREAK gets pissed.)
JOCK (aside, to AP): All right dude, here’s what we’re gonna do, I’m gonna throw it in bounds to you,
they’re both gonna try and attack you…
AP: Is pivot, is it what it sounds like, I mean, do you want me to— (tries to pivot)?
JOCK: Dude, yes. Just… (He pivots, his back to FREAK and PREP, mimes passing.)
PREP: C’mon…
(They set up for the play. Whistle blows. JOCK tosses the ball to AP and performs a quick
move to get away from PREP. He motions to AP.)
(AP focuses on the shot, takes a big breath, and flings it offstage. Buzzer sounds.)
AP: Shit.
JOCK: You’ve got another shot.
AP: Oh good.
JOCK: Focus, breathe, see the shot, and shoot.
AP: Focus, breathe, see the shot, and shoot. (AP focuses on the shot, takes a big breath, and preps
the ball; he hesitates.) I can do this. Focus, breathe, see the shot, and shoot. (AP focuses on the
shot, takes a big breath, and preps the ball; he hesitates.) I see it. But I see much more than the
shot: (looks at JOCK) I see this guy who I shared Oreos and Power Rangers and the occasional Sonic the
Hedgehog level with…look at me like a stranger because I can’t get a stupid ball into a stupid hoop. So,
what do I do? What can I do? Nothing, so just toss the ball and hoe that they’ll grow up and realize that
all this will mean nothing. Great, I sound like my dad. ”It’s just a phase and when school is over
everything will change.” Makes sense, but how the fuck is that helpful to me NOW…with these people
—yes, stupid people—who won’t go away. (He lifts the ball to shoot, trembling.) Focus. Definite
4.2. Breathe. Information technology with a minor in artificial intelligence. See the shot. I see all that
so far away from me. Shoot… (He tosses it offstage. Buzzer sounds. He got it in.)
JOCK: What?
PREP: Oh God…
JOCK: Pathetic.
(Bell rings. AP buries his head in his knees, as the kids laugh/mumble comments as they
leave. We hear the sounds of AP fighting back tears as the lights shift to FREAK on a bench,
changing out of his gym clothes. FREAK hesitates, waiting for the right moment to take of
his shirt unseen. PREP and JOCK notice.)
(JOCK goes for FREAK and his shirt gets pulled off in the struggle. PREP and JOCK stare at
his chest.)
JOCK (keeping the shirt from FREAK): What do you call this sick shit?
PREP (tossing FREAK’s shirt): Let him get dressed. He’s making me sick. (A pill bottle falls out of
FREAK’s shirt pocket. PREP picks up bottle.) Pharmaceuticals…
AP: Thanks.
(Bell rings. FREAK glares at AP, as a classroom scene now surrounds him. The students face
the direction of the TEACHER, whose voice resounds from the back of the theater.)
HISTORY LESSON
TEACHER (FAITH): Who wants to tell me about Natural Selection? (All groan.) Survival of the
fittest? Who did their reading last night? (FREAK continues to pick up the pills. AP raises his
hand.) Yes?
AP: The theory of natural selection, or survival of the fittest, has replaced creation stories like Adam and
Eve in the Garden with a different, though equally questionable creation story we refer to as evolution.
TEACHER: Very good. Who would care to elaborate? Anyone? (AP raises hand.) Anyone else?
FREAK (an outburst): Survival of the fittest doesn’t always mean survival of the biggest. (All “huh?”
reaction.) Sometimes…anything can make you the fittest in the right situation. (All “oh” reaction.)
TEACHER: Your theory could best be expressed through the Biblical story of Cain and Abel.
FREAK: My thought exactly.
TEACHER: Which is exactly why I had it.
AP: Which was the author’s point.
FREAK: Shut the fuck up.
(Beat indicating “Did he say that?”)
FREAK: …misunderstood…
TEACHER: Exactly—and actually possessed some fucking brains… (all laugh) but in the end…Cain
killed Abel. (All “oooh.”) None of Abel’s “fit” qualities helped him. In the end it was Cain who lived
on…
FREAK: Presenting the man who Nature selected: Cain. The first murderer…
CAIN (REBEL): You’re impressed.
FREAK: What did you use? A knife, a club, what?
CAIN: You want details?
FREAK: That’s why you’re here.
CAIN (calling offstage): Abel… (Back to FREAK.)
ABEL: Yes?
FREAK: We’re about to hear how you got your fuckin’ head smashed in.
CAIN: I fuckin’ smashed his head in. Shown here:
(Projected: A picture of CAIN holding ABEL’s head up. All react. Projected: ABEL’s spine still
attached to his now-severed head. The group reacts, grossed out.)
LOEB: Pre-Noah’s Ark, perhaps. But let’s talk about the trial of the century…
CAIN: Who are these assholes?
(Projected are slides of the famous trial photos.)
TEACHER: On May 21, 1924, in Chicago, Nathan F. Leopold, Jr., 19, and his friend Richard A. Loeb,
18, kidnapped 14-year-old Bobby Franks from his schoolyard and bludgeoned him to death. (All
“oooh.”) Their motive:
FREAK: Ubermen?
LEOPOLD: …better and smarter than normal humans. (Introducing himself.) …Leopold.
LOEB (suggesting CAIN): Because history is full of lone-wolf psychos…we were a team.
LEOPOLD: We were able to do together what we never would have done apart.
LOEB: Murder.
FREAK: Yeah?
LEOPOLD: The perfect murder.
CAIN: Except you were caught.
LOEB: As were you.
CAIN: I was caught by God. You idiots were nabbed by the police. This one dropped his glasses at the
crime scene!
FREAK: What?
LEOPOLD: Details…
FREAK (to CAIN): So I should work alone?
FREAK: Why did you do it? Go all the way. End someone’s life.
LOEB: The perfect crime demands murder. It is a necessary element.
FREAK: How did you actually…I mean, actually follow through and…
LEOPOLD: And kill someone and stuff their body in a concrete drainage culvert?
FREAK (“not quite what I meant but…”): Sure…
LOEB: You have to believe you are superior…that you are above the law and its consequences.
FREAK: Yeah, that’s right.
TEACHER: Most interesting of all is the bizarre relationship of the two killers, who were widely
regarded to have been…
LOEB (attempting to interrupt): Brilliant.
LEOPOLD: Handsome.
TEACHER (correcting them): Lovers.
TEACHER: The Hitler Youth movement was a major force in rallying support around Hitler’s vision of
his own Aryan nation, his own attempt at Natural Selection…
FREAK (saluting with the wrong hand): Heil Hit—
HITLER YOUTH (stops him): The young man who only studies philosophy and in a time like this
buries himself behind his books or sits at home by the fire, he is no German youth! I call upon you!
(The Hitler quotes are projected on the screen as the Youth speaks them, ending with: “—
Adolf Hitler 1933.”)
HITLER YOUTH: Get the fuck outta the way or I’ll bring a friggin’ sawed-off shotgun to your house and
blow your snotty-ass head off!
CAIN: You know what I hate?
FREAK: When people mispronounce words! And they don’t even know it too. Like often, or acrosT, or
eXspreso, or pacific.
CAIN: I wanna get pacific witch-you.
FREAK: You know what I hate?
LEOPOLD: People who don’t believe in personal hygiene.
ABEL: For the love of God, CLEAN UP!
FREAK: I hate everything unless I say otherwise, hey, don’t follow your dreams or your goals or any of
that shit, follow your fuckin’ animal instincts. If it moves, kill it, if it doesn’t, burn it. Kein Mitleid!!!
(Industrial heavy metal music now sounds from back of the theater surrounding audience.)
WORK
FREAK: Hello, Pizza Parlor. Please hold?
JOCK: Gimme a sausage, double cheese and—
FREAK (to JOCK): Hang on… (On the phone.) Hello, Pizza Parlor. Please hold?
PERFECT (to JOCK): I was here first, sorry. Can I have half pepperoni and half mushroom?
MANAGER VOICE (AP): Hey, when you get a chance I need a cheese and a pepperoni…
FREAK: Okay. (On the phone.) Hello, Pizza Parlor. Please hold?
PREP (enters): I’m here for a pick-up. Three cheese pizzas— Helloooo?
(Everyone clamors for attention with ad libs, trying to get FREAK’s attention. This overlaps
with the MANAGER’s voice becoming prominent as FREAK stares straight ahead, ignoring all
of the commotion. The MANAGER’s speech becomes a “countdown” for FREAK’s cue to be
“on TV.”)
FREAK: Hello and welcome. So…let’s get started, shall we? You do not want to have the length any
longer than eight inches. Diameter should usually be between three-quarter inch and two inches. Pipes
are about as easy to purchase as a CD. The way I bought most of mine is by going out and getting all of
the caps one day, then getting the pipes a few days later, or at a different store.
PERFECT: What if I want to save time and get the caps and pipes all at once?
FREAK: You can, but I wouldn’t recommend it. You don’t want to look too suspicious.
PERFECT: Thanks.
FREAK: You really don’t have to spend a day making the perfect powder. If you’re eighteen you can buy
this shit at almost any store. Start pouring your—
PREP: Can I do this at home?
FREAK: Yes, but when in your bedroom be sure you have plenty of newspaper down because accidents
do happen and if you have a big stain on your carpet, Mom and Dad might ask some questions. (General
ad libs, “I hate when that happens…” “that’s my mom…,” etc.) The ingredients used are very
important if you want to kill and injure a lot of people. From broken paperclips to two-inch nails to
solder…
MANAGER VOICE: We’ll deal with this later. Put it away and take her order.
(FREAK waits until he goes. He starts to pace and freak out.)
FAITH: I’d like a (looking down from menu) …oh, hey. Hey. I didn’t know you worked here. I’m—
you know, from fifth period…
FAITH: Okay…okay. (At a loss, starts to tear up. Directs the following to God.) I just don’t
understand. Jesus, tell me, is this normal? Is this healthy? Because they, they…love their lives. They
are smiling, laughing, happy people. Those faces, those photos are on the cover of my Teenage
Spiritual Guide from youth group. Those faces…not this face. Look at this face. Why isn’t it on your
book? (Beat.) I’m sorry but this feeling of being saved…this knowing that at least I will be saved…it’s
making me sick. If this is what You went through, I understand, suffering. But why torture me? Because
they tortured You? Then take me now. Take me right now. It seems death on a cross, a few hours of
suffocation, is nothing next to four years of looks, and smirks and “fuck-off’s.” I don’t know, Lord. You
tell me. Maybe that’s why Your teenage years are such a mystery. You didn’t want anyone to know.
(Beat.) Will You respond? I already know the answer to that, but I wonder…will I ever see Your face?
What will it feel like looking in Your eyes…or any man’s eyes? The reassurance of “It’s all right” from a
voice you can actually hear. Nothing imagined or blindly trusted. His kiss…what would he taste like…?
(FREAK unfreezes.)
FREAK: Hey…
FAITH: Oh God…gosh…
FREAK: Hey, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.
FAITH: No, it’s…I’m not feeling well.
FREAK: Do you want some Coke?
FAITH: Uh…no… (Beat.)
FREAK: Yeah…can I get you a Coke? My mom says Coke settles the stomach.
FAITH: So does mine…like who even knows if that like actually works…
FREAK: It also takes the paint off certain cars.
FAITH: What?
FREAK: Um…listen (awkwardly) …are you going to the prom?
FAITH: Oh, I just have to ask. I’ve got to run it by my mom, okay? Sorry, is that—
FREAK: Yeah, that’s fine.
FAITH: Can I e-mail you?
FREAK: Sure, no problem. E-mail me. Just let me know.
FAITH: Okay. I’ll e-mail you. (He kisses her.) Bye. (As FAITH leaves the store, she looks up to
God and freezes.)
FREAK: All I want is to be surrounded by the flesh of a woman…someone who I wanted to fuck like
hell. Who can I trick into my room first? I can tell them what they want to hear, be all nice and sweet,
and then tear their throat out with my teeth like a pop can, like a fucking wolf, show them who is God, oh,
the lovely sounds of bones cracking and flesh ripping, Ahhh…
(FAITH unfreezes and exits.)
FREAK: What?
MANAGER VOICE: Explain to them that I caught you at work…
FREAK: Jesus, no!
MANAGER VOICE: …shoving a pipe bomb up your ass. Now what would they say about that?
(FREAK stops, realizes the MANAGER has been teasing him.)
(MANAGER exits. ”You’ve got mail” is heard. FREAK takes his apron off and goes to his
computer.)
FREAK: Sweet!
(Projected is the e-mail. It slowly scrolls out.)
Hey, Pizza Man…I’m really sorry about this. I can’t go. My Mom said no. She thinks we don’t
know each other, and she’s probably right. Plus, I probably should be going with this guy
from youth group. I kinda told him yes already…It would have been fun. But let’s hang out,
okay. Call me…
FREAK: Okay, I’ll call you…you stuck-up little bitch, you fucking little Christianity godly whore.
(He slams the keyboard as a sound of an I.M. is heard. Lights up on LONER, sitting at a
computer with a large metal mixing bowl of cereal. Nothing is spoken unless otherwise
indicated. The following dialogue is projected:)
FREAK: Video?
(They look behind them. Projected is a title card: REBEL MISSION, on fire.)
MISCHIEF
(Energizing music sounds. While JOCK narrates, PERFECT and FAITH dress FREAK. All of the
actors narrate the scene as if they were sportscasters.)
ACTOR (PERFECT): Just look at Reb penetrate the outer perimeter and station himself on the shed of
Target #1.
FREAK: A punk motherfucker who thought he was a bad-ass today…
ACTOR (FAITH): One move and the Reb-man might ruin everything. But the patience. (Watching
FREAK.) You just don’t see this kind of disturbed intensity in today’s youth.
ACTOR (FAITH): Vodka seems to be hesitating. This kind of uncertainty may prove costly.
ACTOR (REBEL): The weapon:
LONER: A rock.
LONER: Is anyone coming…?
FREAK: Clear.
ALL: Smash!
LONER: Whoa! Oh God!
ACTOR (JOCK): Reb is shaking!
FREAK: Like hell I am!
(LONER quickly runs to gather up what he can find in the car.)
JUDGE (PREP): To the charge of first-degree criminal trespass, theft and criminal mischief. What is your
plea?
FREAK: Guilty.
LONER: Guilty.
JUDGE (PREP): First time out of the box and you get caught? I don’t believe it. It’s a rare occurrence
when someone gets caught their first time. It is the verdict of this court that the defendants serve one year
in the juvenile diversion program. I hope your parents’ eyes are finally open.
(Sound of a gavel smashing down.)
DINNER
(The actors cross to tables upstage. Lights on FREAK’s dinner table. REBEL is his mother,
JOCK is his father. FREAK’s father is severe and implacable. His mother is cautious and
compliant.)
(FREAK enters. He is cautious and respectful with his father, loving with his mother.)
(MOTHER exits.)
MOTHER: Here.
FREAK (welcome relief): Thanks. (Beat.)
FREAK (genuine; realizing the massive amount of trouble he is in): I’m sorry.
FATHER (Do you think you have any say in this?): Where?
FATHER (back to his dinner. He’s doing what I want): Let him go.
(FREAK pushes his chair under the table and exits. Lights up on LONER’s family, R of
FREAK’s: FAITH is his mother, AP is his father. LONER’s father is introverted, hesitant and
slightly distant. His mother is organized, efficient and driving her husband. LONER enters.
He says the bare minimum and avoids the problem.)
MOTHER (letting her son know that things aren’t all right): Hi.
FATHER (checking with his wife; this seems fair): Two months.
FATHER (looks to his wife; I don’t have the words to explain this to him): NOTHING!
LONER (biting; at his mother since she put his father up to this): My room.
PERFECT: If I told you…what would you say? (Beat.) Maybe you know. Maybe you don’t. Maybe
you should…
MOTHERS (spoken by the boys’ mothers frozen at the dinner table): Something.
PERFECT: Remember Steve? You loved him. You loved how he smiled and sat across from you at this
very table. Do you know that Steve laughs at you?—laughs that you drive a bus? I heard him laugh one
night about the white-trash school-bus driver…and even I laughed. Do you know he spent the night? I
was in bed and he knocked on my window…I knew you were upstairs. Yeah…I thought about waking
you but, c’mon what would I have said? Could you imagine, me sitting on your comforter naked, his beer
on my breath, asking you, “Is this the right time to do it?” Yeah…what would you have told me?
MOTHERS: Something.
PERFECT: So, Mother, it just kind of happened. He was so into it and I don’t think he heard me…I said
no, but he said it was all right, so I guess it was okay, but…it hurt and I asked him to…but he looked at
me really like intensely…and after a while he put his clothes on and left…and… (Beat.) I mean it can’t
be, Mom, if he’s my boyfriend, and we love each other, I mean it’s not like he can…If he’s my
boyfriend…I mean it’s not his fault if I let him in the window and…well, you could have heard him?
Maybe you did, but you didn’t want to bother me…wanted to give me my space. You are always good
about that, Mom…
MOTHERS: Something?
PERFECT: It was fine…next time it will be better. I know that. You’ve gotta experience these things to
know. Yeah…
(Music fades in.)
ALONE
(The action set out below should be underscored and consistently punctuated by the song
chosen to underscore it. The effect of ALONE, which moves from character to character, is
that of a music video. In the original production, “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve was
used, and the lyrics corresponded to the actors’ actions as they were each illuminated—so
much so that the cast sung the lyrics in their respective moments. However, should the
producing theatre company be unable to obtain permission to use the song, an effective
substitute should be chosen. What’s critical is that the lyrics of the song reflect the
emotional state of each character and continues to tell the story of their personal strife.
The actors never acknowledge each other throughout.)
Moment 1: A tableau of all of the adolescents, alone, having just closed their bedroom door.
Moment 2: Adolescents travel to their bedroom and begin their respective activity.
Moment 3: Lights to LONER who sits beside his bed. He writes in his journal. After a
moment of writing, he pierces the journal with his pencil in frustration.
Moment 4: Lights switch to AP, sitting at a desk with a huge SAT practice book in front of his
face. He sets the book down and stares at a clock timer. He picks up his pencil. Staring at
the clock, hits the top to start it ticking, and then starts to write.
Moment 6: Lights out on AP. REBEL takes out an Exact-o knife She turns away as she begins
to make little cuts in her arm.
Moment 7: Lights switch solely to JOCK, who tosses his shirt. He stares at his body. He goes
into a sit up position. He starts a long series of sit-ups. Faster and faster and collapses.
Moment 8: Lights switch to PERFECT, looking in a mirror (the audience). She lifts her shirt
enough to expose her stomach. Then pulls her stomach in and releases. She lifts a toilet
seat.
Moment 9: FAITH is lit, on her knees with a rosary blessing herself, as PERFECT drops to her
knees. Lights out on PERFECT as she starts to vomit.
Moment 10: FAITH stands and picks up her prom dress, places it against her body.
Moment 11: As she lets the dress drop, lights switch to PREP, at a mirror. He is looking at
himself, as he messes hair. He stops and stares, disgusted by what he sees.
Moment 12: Lights switch to FREAK, sitting in front of his computer. He is wildly playing a
video game.
Moment 13: As FREAK tosses the joystick, lights come up on everyone moving around their
rooms in frustration.
Moment 14: Lights switch to REBEL who has just cut her arms several times in self-
mutilation. She hangs off her bed, as blood runs down her arm.
Moment 15: Lights switch to LONER, as he tears up his journal and takes out a pipe bomb
from his backpack. He looks to be sure no one is entering the room.
Moment 16: Lights switch to FAITH, dancing with her prom dress as a partner.
Moment 17: Lights switch to PERFECT looking at a pregnancy test. She waits, and then
discovers she is pregnant.
Moment 18: Lights switch to AP who writes, checks the clock, writes, checks the clock,
writes. This increases in speed, until he tears his practice test.
Moment 20: Lights switch to FREAK, standing on a chair panning the room with a TEC-9
semiautomatic.
Moment 21: Lights switch to PREP looking in the mirror, as he is putting on black eyeliner.
Moment 22: ALL are lit. FREAK and LONER jump off their chairs, AP flings the book off his
desk and throws the timer, PREP throws the eyeliner and wipes his make-up off, JOCK
collapses, PERFECT throws the pregnancy test, FAITH tosses the dress, REBEL throws the
knife. All of them crawl into fetal positions facing downstage. They all experience a
moment of pain and loneliness.
Moment 23: FREAK and LONER slowly stand across the stage facing each other.
(The music should be at its climax. They acknowledge each other, then turn upstage and out
of light.)
Moment 24: All actors except FREAK and LONER come downstage hiding FREAK and LONER as
they lay their signature props in their original positions and exit.
Moment 25: FREAK and LONER cross downstage into the light. They are now wearing black
trenchcoats. As the music starts to fade, they look to each other, then look to the audience
and smile. Blackout. The music trails off…
END OF ACT I
ACT II
(Stage and houselights are up. Laid out on two chairs are the second-act costumes for the
roles of ERIC HARRIS and DYLAN KLEBOLD. DYLAN’s costume: a black T-shirt with the word
“Wrath” written in red, a Boston Red Sox hat, with the “B” only on the backside, a small
silver ring with a black oval, and a trench coat. ERIC’s costume: a white T-shirt with the
words “Natural Selection” written in black, a digital watch, black webbing for ammunition,
and a trench coat. These were the actual clothes of the two killers on the day of the
shootings.
On a table are laid out two guns: a TEC-9 and a sawed-off shotgun, a prescription bottle of
Luvox, a 1998 camcorder, and a bottle of Jack Daniels. On the other table are the following:
a computer keyboard, a can of Coke, a stack of pipe bombs, Molotov cocktails, crickets, a
black toolbox [containing pliers, three black dual bell-and-clacker alarm clocks with
removable backs, and extra wiring], ERIC’s day planner and a pencil, and the camcorder case.
All the props are replicas of the actual props found in ERIC’s bedroom.
The actors playing FREAK and LONER enter and lay down on the deck. Music: “How to
Disappear Completely” by Radiohead is heard. Lights fade to black.)
Projected in the darkness are the graduation photos of DYLAN KLEBOLD and ERIC HARRIS.
Lights come up on the actors playing FREAK and LONER as they stare at the photos, then look
to each other and cross to the clothing. They contemplate putting on the clothes, then turn
to the props. They examine the guns and pipe bombs. As they pick up a pipe bomb and a
gun respectively…
Projected: Photos of DYLAN and ERIC from the day of the shootings. The actors look to each
other, put down their weapons and begin to dress.
Once completed, they look to each other, move to their chairs, and lights and sound cut out
as they sit on opposite sides of the stage from each other. They face the audience, and
never acknowledge each other. Their transformation is complete.)
JUVENILE DIVERSION
(“Session 1: April 14, 1998” projected.)
DYLAN (looks at the sheet and checks as he reads off): Finances and jobs.
ERIC: Anger, anxiety, authority figures, depression, disorganized thoughts, homicidal thoughts, jealousy,
loneliness, mood swings, obsessive thoughts, racing thoughts, stress, suspiciousness…oh, and… (a final
check) …temper.
(They move closer but still do not acknowledge each other. DYLAN is resisting the counselor;
ERIC is now playing the game.
VOICE (PREP): And tell me again why I am seeing you together today?
DYLAN: I thought my dentist’s appointment was in the morning—
ERIC: But it wasn’t. Dylan messed up the time, so I told him to come to my two-thirty appointment.
VOICE (PREP): Ah, ha. In the future, I’d prefer to see the two of you apart.
ERIC & DYLAN: Oh yes. Of course, right…
DYLAN: You’ll note my grades are improving…
VOICE (PREP): Except that D in calculus and an F in gym…
ERIC: Yes, but look at my three A’s…
VOICE (PREP): I see…
DYLAN: I’m working for my next-door neighbor doing yard work and landscaping…
VOICE (PREP): Good. Very good.
ERIC: And I’ve changed my meds…my mood is improving and I feel better.
DYLAN: Most importantly…
ERIC: I am truly sorry for what I have done.
DYLAN: I know what I did was wrong.
VOICE (PREP & REBEL): I placed a call to your parents to discuss early termination, and they have no
problems with my decision.
DYLAN: Thanks. Thank you very much.
ERIC (overlapping): That’s great—I really appreciate that. Thank you.
(ERIC and DYLAN look to each other and smile. Lights to black. Projected are the final
reports of the Diversion counselors, as they are read.)
VOICE (PREP): Eric did a very nice job on Diversion. He is a very bright young man who is likely to
succeed in life. Seems responsible and remorseful. He suffers from depression but has changed his meds
and feels better. He says he has difficulties handling stress, but says he has a good handle on it now. He
impressed me as being very articulate and intelligent.
(Lights on ERIC, sitting on a table holding a video camera. This is a video journal entry.)
ERIC: Well, folks, today was a very important day in the history of Reb. Today I got a double-barrel 12-
gauge shotgun, a pump-action 12-gauge shotgun, and a 9mm carbine. It’s all over now; this is point of no
return. Well, I’ve gotta get that Marine application out before they start with me. (Beat.) It’s weird, I
don’t feel like punching through a door anymore.
DYLAN: I just got back from Arizona. Can you believe it? Touring a college with my dad…it was cool.
But they have no clue. Days from now the judgment will begin. It’s interesting knowing I’m going to
die…everything has a touch of triviality to it.
(Projected: “March 3, 1999: File Closed.”)
(On the slate is projected the display of a video camera. It is dated March 15, 1999.
Standby symbol flashes.)
ERIC: Ready?
DYLAN: Ready.
(Standby goes to Record, as the lights snap up. DYLAN is recording ERIC. They are in his
bedroom.)
DYLAN: Yeah…
ERIC: And a certain girlfriend of a certain mass murderer—
DYLAN: A prom date does not constitute a girlfriend.
ERIC: —who bought us these little babies. Dylan will see to a very personal thank you…
DYLAN: Fuck you.
ERIC: Anyway, guys, we hope you don’t get any shit for buying us these.
DYLAN: Yeah, we’re sorry about that. But it was our choice, our doing.
(ERIC puts down the camera in front of him to free his hands.)
ERIC: And for you other motherfuckers, don’t blame the gun shows or any other stores for selling us shit
because it’s not their fault.
DYLAN: Yeah, I don’t want no fucking laws on buying fucking PVC pipes.
ERIC: Go ahead and change the gun laws—
DYLAN (interrupting): How do you think we got ours?
WHAT IF
(Lights fade up on DYLAN, lying on the table next to the Jack, playing with the TEC-9. ERIC
is sitting at his computer typing. His e-mail is projected, as we hear his typing. He does not
speak this aloud.)
By now it’s over. If you are reading this, my mission is complete. Your children who have ridiculed me,
who have chosen not to accept me are dead. Surely you will try to blame it on the clothes I wear, the
music I listen to—but no: parents and teachers, YOU have taught these kids to be gears and sheep. I may
have taken their lives and my own—but LET THIS MASSACRE BE ON YOUR SHOULDERS UNTIL
THE DAY YOU DIE. I did not choose this life, but I have indeed chosen to exit it. You may think the
horror ends with the bullet in my head—but all that I will leave you with is to decipher what more
extensive death is to come. Reb.
DYLAN: So this is a bizarre question, but how do you really think it will end?
ERIC: Well, we’re not getting out of there alive—not with all those cops out there. So, the best way to go
is a shootout.
DYLAN: And then?
ERIC: Then what? We’re dead. We’re history…the greatest school shooting of all time.
DYLAN: And after that?
ERIC: What do you mean, “after that”?
DYLAN: Oh, come on…like you haven’t thought about this?
ERIC: What is there to think about?
DYLAN: We’re going to be dead in two days.
ERIC: Yeah, it’s weird knowing you are going to die.
DYLAN: Weird? It’s terrifying.
ERIC: Yeah, that’s the best part.
DYLAN: Oh, yeah…like you’re not a bit scared.
ERIC: Look, why are we even talking about this?
DYLAN: Dude, why are you so sensitive?
ERIC: Okay, Dylan, let’s talk about death. The afterlife, if there is one, is like the final level of Doom,
okay? Destroying, killing—
DYLAN: Fucking Doom?
ERIC: It’s blackness. It’s nothing. It’s just over.
DYLAN: How do you know?
ERIC: I know.
DYLAN: No. You can’t know. No one knows. You just too scared to think about it?
ERIC: Look, we have always been set on this. We put guns to our heads and count one, two, three. That
is the plan. It is what I will do. And I need you to do it, too. Like we planned. Over and over, now what
the fuck?
DYLAN: You just think you’re going to be able to kill yourself just like that? Bang and that’s it?
ERIC: There’s no thinking. You’re gonna have blood on your hands from these guns. The kickback is
going to destroy your hands. You won’t be thinking about anything. Your heart will be pounding and the
gun will be the only thing you can do.
DYLAN: Okay, I hear you. You’re in my face here.
ERIC: Good, because you don’t have a choice. Gun in hand, I will end my life and you will end yours.
End of discussion.
DYLAN (beat): What if I don’t?
DYLAN: You are fucked, man. Fucked. (ERIC turns away.) Why would you do that? Why would you
fucking do that to me?
DYLAN: What—
ERIC: What do you want, Dylan? You want to live this fucking life? I’m done. Okay? I want one last
memory. One I’ve been planning more than trying to finger your little girlfriend at the prom…
DYLAN: She’s not my girlfriend, you fuck. She is a friend that went to the prom with your friend who
happened to buy us these guns. What’s your problem?
ERIC: I wouldn’t know, Dylan. I sat here stuffing pipe bombs all night. Tell me what prom was like. I
don’t know. (ERIC jumps right back to previous discussion without a beat.) Go on. You can lick
smelly ass until the day we throw our little caps in the air and sing “Columbine, oh Columbine”? And
Miss Valedictory gives her prize-winning speech about how wonderful it was at Columbine High School,
all the friends she made…when you and I and maybe four others out of a class of what, 350, actually
talked to her? I’m not going to sit there to listen to bullshit spew from what is supposed to be the smartest
person in the class…fuck me. No way. They don’t deserve that day. They don’t deserve one more day
past Tuesday. I want them to feel they almost got away with it. One last prom. One last yearbook
picture…
(ERIC punches him. DYLAN throws ERIC to the ground and eventually punches him in the
face.)
ERIC: Stop. Stop. FUCK!
DYLAN (full of rage mixed with pain. Seeing ERIC’s nose bleeding.): Jesus fucking Christ, Eric.
Why do you have to push this? You keep pushing…
THE PARENTS
(Lights come up on ERIC’s and DYLAN’s parents, situated as in the dinner scene. ERIC and
DYLAN circle them during the following…)
ACTOR (PERFECT): I have been asked by the family of Eric Harris to assist them through the aftermath
of the tragic events at Columbine High School. I am requesting that the media respect their privacy and
refrain from contacting any family member.
ERIC: Don’t blame my family, they had no clue. They’re the best fucking parents I have ever known.
ACTOR: We want to express our heartfelt sympathy to the families of all of the victims for this senseless
tragedy.
ERIC: Good wombs hath born bad sons.
ACTOR: Please say prayers for everyone touched by these horrible events.
ERIC: My dad is great. I wish I was a fucking sociopath so I didn’t have any remorse, but I do.
ACTOR (PERFECT): The Harris family is devastated by the deaths of the Columbine High students and
is mourning the death of their younger son, Eric.
ERIC: There is nothing you could’ve done to prevent what will happen.
(Lights focus on the Klebold dinner table.)
ACTOR (PREP): From a New York Times interview with the parents of Dylan Klebold…
DYLAN’S FATHER (AP): When we first heard about the shootings, it didn’t occur to us that Dylan could
be to blame.
DYLAN: Why would it?
DYLAN’S MOTHER (FAITH): When we found out, we ran for our lives…went into hiding. We
couldn’t even grieve for our child.
DYLAN: There’s nothing you could have done.
DYLAN’S FATHER: He was hopeless. We didn’t realize it until after the end.
DYLAN: Hopeless?
DYLAN’S FATHER: A week before we were picking out dorm rooms for college…
DYLAN: I didn’t want you to know. What could you have done?
DYLAN’S FATHER: The next is like a hurricane…a rain of fire…
DYLAN: What could I have said?
DYLAN’S MOTHER: Dylan didn’t do this because of the way he was raised. He did it in contradiction
to the way he was raised.
DYLAN: They gave me my fucking life. It’s up to me what I do with it.
DYLAN’S MOTHER: Somebody said, “I forgive you for what you’ve done.” I haven’t done anything
for which I need forgiveness.
DYLAN: No. You didn’t do anything.
DYLAN’S FATHER: Our lawyer said, “Dylan isn’t here anymore for people to hate. People are going to
hate you.”
DYLAN: This is going to tear them apart.
DYLAN’S MOTHER (FAITH): I think he suffered horribly before he died.
DYLAN: Mom…
DYLAN’S MOTHER: For not seeing that, I will never forgive myself.
DYLAN: They’ll never forget it.
ERIC (yanks DYLAN out of the dinner scenes): And neither will those who survive. You’ll never
forget what you put us through. (To the masses.) GODDAMNIT! DO YOU HEAR ME? Do not
blame anyone but me and V!
ERIC: You all better hide in your fucking houses because I’m coming for EVERYONE soon, and I WILL
be armed to the fucking teeth and I WILL shoot to kill and I WILL fucking KILL EVERYTHING!
(The clock projects 11:17.)
DYLAN: GO!
ERIC: GO!
DYLAN & ERIC: GO!
(Blackout. Three horrific gunshots are heard.)
911
(The following sequence is projected onto the slate as a recording of the actual call is
heard.)
DISPATCHER: Okay.
TEACHER: I have something in my shoulder.
DISPATCHER: Okay, we got help on the way, ma’am. (Large bang.)
DISPATCHER: Okay…I just want you to stay on the line with me. We need to know what’s going on.
TEACHER: Okay. I am on the floor.
DISPATCHER: Okay, you’ve got the kids there?
TEACHER: In the library…and I’ve got every student IN THE LIBRARY ON THE FLOOR. (To
students.) AND YOU GOTTA STAY ON THE FLOOR!
THE LIBRARY
(During this scene, the actors sit among tables and chairs recounting the events of April 20,
1999. ERIC and DYLAN face the chalk slate, their backs to the audience. They never directly
interact with the other actors, even in real time. The gunshots and explosions are achieved
by ERIC and DYLAN slamming their hands against the slate. They do not use guns in this
scene. The actors should resist emotion and ultimately are frustrated that they have to
participate in this scene. The retelling never gets indulgent, emotional, or anything like a
recreation.)
ERIC: God, this is so much fun. I’ve waited my whole life for this.
DYLAN: Anyone with a white hat, stand up or I’ll shoot everyone.
(All the male ACTORS slowly “remove their hats” from an impulsive memory rather than a
recreation.)
ACTOR (PREP): Makai Hall, Patrick Ireland and I were all hiding together under a table. We were all
wearing hats.
ACTOR (JOCK): I hid my hat. And then Dan started to stand up. I grabbed his shoulder, whispered not
to move.
ACTOR (PREP): I wanted him not to shoot everyone under the table. I knew Dylan over the years. I
looked him directly in the eye, hoping he might—
DYLAN (raises his gun): Today is your day to die. (DYLAN shoots.)
ACTOR (PREP): Makai and I both were hit with buckshot. His leg was gushing blood. Patrick tried to
stop the bleeding with his hands—
ACTOR (JOCK): —But Makai warded off any help.
ACTOR (PREP): Then Patrick raised his head high enough above the table… (DYLAN shoots.) He
dropped after being hit twice in the head.
ACTOR (FAITH): I was hiding under a computer table in a little cubicle. Kacey was in the one next to
me.
ACTOR (REBEL): There was a boy named Steven Curnow next to me. (Looks R.) On the other side
was Amanda.
ACTOR (FAITH): He bent down right next to the chair I had been sitting in…
ACTOR (REBEL): I turned around, plugged my ears and shrugged my shoulders. (ERIC fires.) Steven
died.
ACTOR (REBEL): With a 12-gauge shotgun at close range, he had shot a three-inch hole in my shoulder.
I was moaning.
ERIC: Quit your bitching.
ACTOR (REBEL): I thought I was going to get shot again…so I leaned over the cubicle and pretended to
be dead.
ACTOR (FAITH); He moved away.
ERIC: Don’t worry, you’re all gonna be dead in a couple of minutes.
ACTORS: Why are you doing this?
ERIC: This is payback.
DYLAN: This is what you deserve.
ERIC: Who’s going to be next in line to die?
ACTOR (PERFECT): I was out in the open. There was no room under any of the nearby tables.
ACTOR (REBEL): One of them walked past Cassie and I. We were shaking. Then Cassie started
praying out loud.
ACTOR (PERFECT): She kept saying, “Dear God, Dear God, why is this happening? I just want to go
home.”
ACTOR (REBEL): I immediately buried my head in the floor as he passed. He banged on the table.
ERIC (knocks on the chalk slate): Peekaboo.
ACTOR (REBEL): He took a closer look at Cassie, as she put her hands over her head. (ERIC
shoots.) He shot her point blank in the temple. Cassie looked at me, bewildered, then slumped to the
floor and died.
ACTOR (PERFECT): I never took my eyes off of him. He was so close to me. He looked disoriented. I
saw blood streaming down his face.
ERIC: I hit myself in the face.
DYLAN: Cool.
ACTOR (PERFECT): He was on the balls of his feet. He swung his gun back and forth in front of us.
Then it pointed directly at me. He said:
(Lights isolate ERIC and ACTOR PLAYING PERFECT. This moment goes into real time.)
DYLAN (looks to his hands and on his body): Look at this black kid’s brains! Awesome, man!
ERIC: Man, I never knew nigger brain could fly that far.
(DYLAN shoots.)
ACTOR (JOCK): In a fury of shooting, Matt fell dead. I was covered in his blood, so I rolled over
immediately, and played dead.
ERIC: Is he dead? I wanna know if that nigger’s dead.
DYLAN: Yeah, he’s dead.
ACTOR (PREP): They whooped in celebration.
ERIC: WHOO-HOO.
ACTOR (PREP): They were having the time of their lives.
DYLAN: I can’t believe I did that. (Pause.) Cool.
ACTOR (PREP): It was a small CO2 cartridge. It was sizzling under the table. I saw it. I grabbed it. I
threw it.
(DYLAN and ERIC create an explosion by banging on the board.)
ACTOR (AP): Then he did the craziest thing. He started jumping on bookshelves, shaking them back and
forth. Cursing wildly. Firing his gun, shooting books. (ERIC walks away from the group. He kneels
behind a table, unseen.) Then he disappeared. I couldn’t see him. He was behind the bookshelves—
alone.
(DYLAN shoots.)
ACTOR (FAITH): He had blasted the display cabinet to pieces. It was full of sports trophies. Then he
spotted Mark Kintgen. I knew it was Mark because his cerebral palsy made him move slow. (DYLAN
fires twice.) Two 9mm bullets: one to his neck, one into his head.
ACTOR (PERFECT): It was me, Lauren, Valeen, Lisa and Jeanna, cramped under one table.
ACTOR (FAITH): He wouldn’t stop shooting. Shooting.
(Company shudders with each shot.)
ACTOR (PERFECT): In that moment all you could do is pray that they won’t shoot you. Pray that you
won’t die.
DYLAN (rages): AHHHHHH!!! (DYLAN stops.)
ACTOR (PERFECT): I was alone under a table. I asked John Tomlin if I could join him under his. He
motioned me over. I started talking to him. He calmly put his hand over my mouth and said, “Shhh,
shhh.” Then we saw the legs coming. He held my hand.
ERIC: Watch my back. (ERIC fires.)
ACTOR (PERFECT): We were hit. John crawled out from the table to get away. (DYLAN fires. ERIC
turns around and fires immediately.) He shot him. I felt his legs shake against mine.
(Lights restore.)
ACTOR (AP): I remember if he said “yes,” I would have said, “Then make it quick. Just put a bullet in
my head and get it over with.” But he let me go.
ACTOR (PREP): We were about one desk over and one back from Daniel Mauser. Brittany and I were
getting really worried. I tried to block her with my shoulder and back. All I could think of was in Lethal
Weapon, or one of those action movies, they said it’s hard to kill somebody if they’re looking you in the
eyes. (ERIC fires.) But then he shot Daniel, who tried to push chairs at him and tried to grab his legs…
anything to make him stop. But he only shot again, and again. (ERIC fires.) Then Daniel was still.
ACTOR (PERFECT): Corey gripped my hand. ”Stay tight, the cops will come,” he said. Jenny was on
the other side of us. I looked up and right into his eyes. (ERIC and DYLAN fire.) Jenny screamed in
pain. Corey’s back was covered in blood. His head was… (Looks at her hands.)
DYLAN: Hey, you know I always wanted to kill somebody with a knife. There’s more blood with a
knife.
ACTOR (PERFECT): I closed my eyes. I played dead. I was playing dead when I felt him…his body
stopped moving…breathing.
DYLAN: You all better get up and leave. We’re gonna blow up this library. (ERIC moves around
upstage. DYLAN stops and notices the JOCK.) Well, look what we have here.
(Lights isolate DYLAN and ACTOR PLAYING JOCK. This moment goes into real time.)
ERIC: What?
DYLAN: Just some fat fuck. (DYLAN slowly points the gun at JOCK.) Are you a jock?
ACTOR (JOCK): I don’t wanna get into trouble. I don’t want to get into trouble.
DYLAN: Trouble? You don’t know what fucking trouble is.
ACTOR (JOCK): That’s not what I meant. I mean I don’t have a problem with you guys, I never will and
I never did.
DYLAN: I’m going to let this fat fuck live, you can have him if you want to. (Lowering his gun.
Lights restore.) Let’s go to the Commons.
GOODBYE
(The following is heard. It is the audio from the boys’ goodbye video.)
ERIC: Yeah…Everyone I love I’m really sorry about all this. I know my mom and dad will be just like
just fucking shocked beyond belief. I’m sorry all right. I can’t help it.
DYLAN: We did what we had to do.
ERIC: Morris, Nate, if you guys live I want you guys to have whatever you want from my room and the
computer room.
DYLAN: Yeah, take whatever you want of mine.
ERIC (beat): That’s it. (Long beat.) Sorry. Goodbye.
(ERIC slowly puts the shotgun into his mouth. DYLAN slowly raises the TEC-9 to his left
temple.)
DYLAN: Goodbye.
(Blackout as two shots are heard.)
AFTERMATH
ACTOR (REBEL): They were bringing the kids to Leawood Elementary as they were rescued from the
school. At the beginning, we were looking for John but he was just never showing up. I was getting
envious of parents who were finding their kids, or those that kept screaming out their kids’ names. I had
no enthusiasm to jump up and look for him. We just sat in the back of the room.
ACTOR (PREP): You don’t want to jump to any conclusions. So, as every bus arrived, you’re hoping
that your kid is on that bus.
ACTOR (REBEL): Then the sheriff came around to us and said most of the kids that are dead are in the
library. He always went to the library. That’s where he did his homework. I felt like I was going to pass
out. I told the officer, “I have to go home. I have to be with my other children.” When I got there, I went
up to the shower and prayed with every part of my being, “Lord, thank you for the sixteen years I’ve had
with John. Let his death not be in vain.”
(Lights to FAITH and JOCK.)
ACTOR (FAITH): The police weren’t giving us any information, so we finally gave up and went home—
we don’t live far from the school. I couldn’t sleep. I was laying there thinking, “Cassie’s over the fence a
hundred yards away and they won’t let us get to her.”
ACTOR (JOCK): It was three a.m. We decided to walk to the school. We ran into a police officer and
said we just wanted to know what the truth is, if there is anyone left alive in there. He paused and said,
“No,” I said, “Thanks, we appreciate your honesty.”
ACTOR (FAITH): It was two a.m. Thursday when we finally got the official call.
ACTOR (JOCK): They were going to start the autopsy that afternoon, but I said we wanted to see her
right away…before you do anything to her. We heard she was shot in the head so we expected the worst.
I went in first…and surprisingly, she looked pretty good, considering. It was our Cassie. I kissed her
toes, her cheek. She was cold.
(Lights on AP.)
ACTOR (AP): That night, one of the other pastors said, “We better go back to our churches. People will
be coming soon.” A background theme kept playing in my head, “Who were the dumb parents of this
mess?” As I was handing out Eucharist, “Body of Christ” (with PERFECT: Amen) “Body of Christ”
someone says (with FAITH: “Klebold”), I say “Body of Christ” I get (with the OTHER ACTORS:
“Klebold”). I suddenly recognize the name. I said, “If they need me, have them call.” On Thursday, I
get the call, “Would you do a funeral for my son?” When I arrive, I met Sue. She was shaking. I held
her, but could feel…nothing. Then, there was Dylan…lying in a casket, around his neck was this ring of
Beanie Babies. He had grown since I last saw him. I stand there thinking, “How do I commend this boy
—this mass murderer—to heaven?” Tom says, “How could this happen? Who the hell gave my son a
gun?” The mother says, “How could he be anti-Semitic, he is half Jewish.” All I could say was that a
parent’s love is as faithful as God’s. We die many times and we experience many forms of grief but
love…it never fails.
ACTORS: 15.
ACTOR (PREP): I was in Florida when a friend called asking me to build fifteen crosses for the victims
at Columbine. When we got there, there were all kinds of people sitting there on the hill behind the
school. So me and my son, we went up there but I remember him saying, “Dad, don’t put those crosses
up for those two. You’re going to get in a lot of trouble.” But I wanted to honor the request.
ACTORS: 13.
ACTOR (JOCK): I couldn’t believe it. I contacted the park service to take those two crosses down, and
when they stayed, I took care of it myself. You don’t build a monument to Adolf Hitler and put it in a
Holocaust museum—and it’s not going to happen here.
ACTORS: 15.
ACTOR (FAITH): We have a prayer garden in the back of our church, and our pastor was talking about
planting trees for the victims. Before the issue was settled, the nursery brought over fifteen trees. We
thought it through and decided to plant fifteen.
ACTORS: 13.
ACTOR (REBEL): That Sunday fifty picketers showed up carrying signs and as services continued
indoors, a few of the victims’ parents sawed down the two trees that stood at the pinnacle of the
semicircle. I remember one of them saying, “I was getting all my anger out on that tree. It felt good.”
(Projected: “One Year Later.”
Lights to JOCK.)
ACTOR (JOCK): Well honestly? We’re tired. Tired of picking up the newspapers or turning on the TV
and hearing about the shootings. It seems like every move we make is under a microscope. Columbine is
no different from any other high school in the United States. We just want to move on.
(Lights to REBEL.)
ACTOR (REBEL): There is no such thing as closure. It’s our kids, and we don’t want to put them behind
us. But everyone wants to know why it happened, if it could have been prevented, and, most important,
what can we do right this minute to keep it from happening again?
(Projected: “Three Years Later.”)
ACTOR (FAITH): What I don’t understand is that they heard the 911 call…for twenty minutes they knew
exactly where Klebold and Harris were…for twenty minutes they listened to them murdering children,
and they just stood outside. If someone had radioed that a cop was down, they would have stormed the
building. There isn’t one parent who wouldn’t have gone in that school that day.
ACTOR (AP): We did what we did. We don’t make any apologies for it. We have communicated
extensively with the families at every turn. The fact is we don’t have anyone to prosecute for these
murders, so this community has turned to attack the very people who have tried to help them.
(Projected: “Five Years Later.”)
ACTOR (PREP): It is a proven fact that the police had fifteen points of contact with Harris and Klebold
prior to the shootings. But those reports, the boys’ videos and other evidence, have been kept from us, or
in some cases, destroyed. The public needs access to the facts—not just bits and pieces of the story, but
the whole ugly package. That hasn’t happened with Columbine.
(Projected: “Seven Years Later.”)
ACTOR (PERFECT): I don’t know what to say. I think this community is permanently wounded. Ever
since that day we’ve been obsessed with moving on, or getting back…so we’ve gone to gun control…
ACTOR (PREP): the music…
ACTOR (AP): computer games…
ACTOR (JOCK): the school…
ACTOR (FAITH): the police…
ACTOR (REBEL): the parents…
ACTOR (PERFECT): …looking for someone to blame. But we always find ourselves back where we
started asking the same question…
ACTORS: Why?
(Lights come up on full stage. ACTOR PLAYING JOCK stands center.
Projected: “Today.”)
ACTOR (JOCK): It’s been a few years now, and just the other day, I was driving past the school and I
stopped at the stoplight and I looked at the kids yelling at each other on the sidewalk, guys on the court,
the normalness of it all. And then I saw a kid get out his car…he had on baggy pants, a lot of chains,
combat boots and a long black trench coat. My God! I had to pull off the side of the road. Now, what
was in my head, must have been in everyone’s head from that day until now…like that look, those clothes
meant “evil.” Evil was present. But Christ, how the hell would I know that kid is evil unless I actually
talk to him? (Beat.) So how do I think differently about someone? For days after yeah, we all treated
each other differently, but time passes and we still make judgments, call people shit, and continue on, just
as before. Even after living through your friends dying and those sounds of gunblasts and the fear of
walking down those halls again…all of that. Who knows? Maybe I have changed, a little. For the
moment I’m different? But is that enough?
(The actors, lead by the ACTORS PLAYING DYLAN and ERIC, write the victims’ names on the
slate. When finished, they turn to the audience.)
END OF PLAY