NOVEMBER PLAYWRITING CHALLENGE

November 4: 

Infinite hall of mirrors

Who doesn’t love a hall of mirrors?  Whether it’s Versailles, a funhouse or a horror movie, halls of mirrors get quite a workout in culture. This can of course, be literal or metaphorical.  Also, just playing around with the idea of a mirror, mirroring behavior or mirror image might lead to something as well.

SCENE

(The setting is a cocktail bar. Not quite a dive bar but it has the ambiance of one. There are no other customers at the bar and only the bartender, BRIAN is there. At the top of the scene LYDIA enters. She’s mid 30s, dressed simply but stylishly. She has on jeans, a button down shirt and a tan trench coat.)

BRIAN

Welcome Back!

LYDIA

(Confused.)

What?

BRIAN

You said you were going home?

LYDIA

I’ve never been here in my life.

BRIAN

(Giving in)

Yeah…sure thing. What’ll it be miss?

LYDIA

Whiskey sour please.

BRIAN

So the same as before?

LYDIA

I don’t know what you mean and I really do not want to play this game anymore. My head is killing me.

BRIAN

Sure thing.

LYDIA

Thank you.

BRIAN

How’s your night been so far?

LYDIA

Oh…the usual. The strange thing is that I can’t really remember what I did. Or who I am?

BRIAN

You don’t know who you are.

LYDIA

I know the facts, I have my ID. My name is Lydia O’Conner and I live just around the corner. But the rest seems foggy.

BRIAN

Well…what about your parents, do you have any siblings?

LYDIA

A brother, Brett. Older. I know these facts but I can’t remember what they look like.

BRIAN

Maybe look in your wallet?

LYDIA

(Looks in wallet. She looks relieved)

Here he is, here’s Brett. 

(She shows him her wallet.)

BRIAN

And here’s your drink. I’ll ID you while I have the wallet. 

LYDIA

Thank you. Oh darn, I seemed to have lost an earring. So this other girl. This other “Lydia” what was she like?

BRIAN

Well…she was pretty like you. 

LYDIA

(blushing)

You know all about me but I don’t know your name.

BRIAN

I’m Brian. Yeah there’s not much to say she kept to herself over in that booth over there. 

(He points)

She didn’t really say anything to me, so she must have been a different person, you’re much friendlier. She seemed nervous about something. 

LYDIA

This Lydia feels nervous as well. I feel like I’m all askew and I don’t know why. 

(She gets up and wanders around)

What kind of deranged person can’t remember their own parents. It’s like someone wiped  the contents of my head. Maybe I’ll try changing the view. 

(She sits in the booth)

Maybe something will come to me. 

(She looks shocked. She pulls out the matching earring to the one she has on.)

How is that even  possible? 

BRIAN

Miss I told you you had been here before.

LYDIA

But I haven’t! I don’t remember anything. Nothing at all. 

BRIAN

Calm down! I can call someone! Someone who can help you.

LYDIA

No! No one can help me! I’m beyond help. 

(She takes cash and throws it on the bar and runs out)

BRIAN

Miss I just want to help you!

(Turns back to the bar)

Strange lady. Strange day. 

(In comes another man. We hear sirens in the background.)

MAN

Hey Brian, did you hear? They found a lady dead in her apartment around the corner. She had apparently been there a few hours before someone called it in. 

BRIAN

Something like that happening in this neighborhood!

MAN

Yeah I’m friends with the woman who owns the building. Said the girl’s name was Lydia something.

END