The Voice

(Lights lift up in hallway, WINNIE and BEA step out stage right while Rebecca comes out stage left)

WINNIE

Hey ‘Becca you wanna come to my place after school?

(THE VOICE from offstage)

THE VOICE

You know your parents will say no. You know what they think.

Rebecca

Umm… Not today, maybe another time?

WINNIE

Oh yeah! That’s okay!

THE VOICE

They think you are a goody two shoes, you NEVER do, like, anything with them.

(REBECCA starts to look around, concerned)

BEA

Becca? (Snaps in her face) Earth to Becca?

(REBECCA immediately looks at them)

Rebecca

Sorry, thought I heard something. Nevermind probably just my imagination

BEA

My mom’s starting to think you don’t like us! Like you never come over!

WINNIE

Yeah, you’re always busy with something!

THE VOICE

See, told ya.

REBECCA

C’mon I do like you guys!

BEA

It’s ‘kay, we were just messing with ya.

REBECCA

oh.

(BEA AND WINNIE walk out)

THE VOICE

They weren’t

(Scene fades. Lights go up on REBECCA, back in the hallway… but it seems a lot more empty, a less schooly feel, scary almost.)

THE VOICE

You know, they're probably talking about how you never hang out with them after school. They’ll never want to stay your friends.

Rebecca

Who said that?

THE VOICE

I did. I am THE VOICE inside your head that makes you believe you aren’t good enough. 

(REBECCA turns and faces THE VOICE)

REBECCA

But, I’m not, to begin with. My friends probably hate me… They probably never liked me to begin with…

THE VOICE

That’s me. Me doubting you. Remember when you got that poem on the Young Writers Project?

REBECCA

Now, let’s not bring that up. That… I don’t think it was really, actually good.

THE VOICE

Again, Who was that?

REBECCA

I thought it was just… Wait…  you ARE the voice in my head!

THE VOICE

Who else would be?

REBECCA

Wait, so when I’m doubting myself, it’s not me actually… It’s you?

THE VOICE

YES! Jeez. It takes you so long to understand. It’s so sad. 

(THE VOICE makes a sad, face than laughs.)

REBECCA

Why are you laughing? Do I have something on me, do my clothes look weird? Is my hair okay?

THE VOICE

Again it’s me.

(REBECCA freezes, the room seems to feel smaller, lights are now only on REBECCA)

REBECCA

So… When I feel like I’m small, annoying, awkward… not good enough…

THE VOICE

Yup. Me. If you feel small, they can’t reject you. If you feel like you're failing, you can’t feel worse. If you never feel like you're good, you’ll never be disappointed.

REBECCA

But… That’s not protecting me… That’s only hurting me…

THE VOICE

PUH-LEASE. Without me, you are-

(REBECCA cuts THE VOICE off)

REBECCA

I could be good enough. IF you let me try.

THE VOICE 

If you try. You get hurt. And if you get hurt, you would never try to get over it. You KNOW how emotional you get.

REBECCA

That’s what's ruining me.

THE VOICE

Without me, What ARE you?

REBECCA

Brave.

THE VOICE

A Liar.

REBECCA

Strong.

THE VOICE

Overrated.

REBECCA

Actually, I am enough.

(THE VOICE stops.)

And you’re not me, you’re the thing keeping me down, the reason I feel not good enough.

THE VOICE

You KNOW you’ll be back. And I know (To the tune of the song “Hips don’t lie”) That's not a lie!

REBECCA

Maybe, but I know how to get rid of you next time.

(The lights start to fade, but not fully.)

THE VOICE

WAIT!

(The light comes back up fully)

You think they don’t notice every time you hesitate? Or the way you are always second-guessing every word?

REBECCA

(In a small voice)

A lot of people hesitate…

THE VOICE

Not like you. You rewrite every sentence in your head. You overthink. A LOT. You still are overthinking things, 7th-grade!

REBECCA

So maybe I do…

THE VOICE

You are still overthinking about the guy you asked to the dance as friends. You are overthinking how you told him you liked him. You’re overthinking how when Winnie tried to get you both to ask each other to dance, and you got too scared and kept walking away when he came over to you. You overthink how much you wish you guys actually did dance. And the photos. DON’T GET ME STARTED!

REBECCA

I overthink it because I fantasize about it, and what happened. The only reason I overthink it is because I wish that could be my entire life. I was happy.

THE VOICE

(In a snappy way)

AS IF! You know why you really overthink it. You know why you stress over EVERYTHING. You know you seem to always make things worse.

REBECCA

But I know I can always make it better. SO STOP BOTHERING ME!

(Rebecca is now on the ground, sitting in a ball with her head in her hands)

I just wish I could be a better person. For my family, for my friends, for everyone.

THE VOICE

See? You always will come back to me. No matter what you do. And you know what? I love it. I LOVE feeding you lies that would never hap-

(There is a slapping sound, like the voice put their hand over their mouth. Then a sound, almost as if they were hitting their forehead.)

Shit!

(REBECCA stands up and looks around her, as in looking for the voice)

REBECCA

Wait… What? Every time I feel worthless, awkward, and annoying… That’s a lie you're feeding to me?!

THE VOICE

Duh. Hun, that's how I get paid, I’m afraid. By feeding you lies, I get my MON-AY

REBECCA

You only do it to get paid… literally nothing?! 
You’re a voice. You don’t actually exist! So WHY do you bother me? I wish you knew how it felt.

THE VOICE

SHIT! I knew it! You just had an epiphany!

(THE VOICE faces the audience)

An epiphany is just a light-bulb moment. 

(THE VOICE goes back to facing REBECCA)

REBECCA

You aren’t worth anything.

THE VOICE

But I am.

REBECCA

You aren’t real.

THE VOICE

I’m real to you. 

REBECCA

You have no power.

THE VOICE

OHHHHHH yes I do.

REBECCA

You have no control over me.

THE VOICE

You know that I DEFinitly do.

REBECCA

Then try. Try to make break down. TRY to make me weaker. When you try, it only makes YOU weaker.

THE VOICE

I can and I will.

REBECCA

(Bracing herself)

Go on then.

THE VOICE

(circling around REBECCA. THE VOICE is talking slow and every word looks like its about to cut her.)

Your friends only pity you, they aren’t real. No guy will ever like you, your ugly. You’re not smart, only attempting. You have terrible grades. You suck at math. Everyone hates you! You will never have any real friends. You will struggle with everything forever. No one actually knows who you are, AND THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT YOU!

REBECCA

Well, some, you think may have cut me deep. But I know that I won’t listen. I know what I think. And I know not to listen to you. I don’t want to be doubting myself, I wanna know what I can do without you.

THE VOICE

MHMMMMMMMMM

REBECCA

Belive it or weep it.

THE VOICE

By the end of this conversation, YOU’LL be the the one weeping, and I will have a non-existent crown for my non-existent head. 

REBECCA

Why do you even exist.

THE VOICE

Well, what a wonderful question! Thank you class!

REBECCA

(Arms crossed)

Not a class. Explain.

THE VOICE

You created me, in about fourth grade. Your friends didn’t like you. And you thought for sooooo long that they did. And that when you starting doubting yourself. So I made sure you never got hurt. And I did that by making YOU doubt yourself.

REBECCA

I want you to stop. I want you to let me get hurt. I want to be able to grow from that. I had already once. Maybe twice. 

THE VOICE 

Fine. But see what happens and you’ll come crawling back.

(Lights faded out. Lights go up onto REBECCA, WINNIE, and BEA)

REBECCA

(Saying as she is typing)

I need to text Winnie and Bea. Hey… guys… Do… you… wanna… hang… out… after… school… tomorrow?

WINNIE

(Also typing)

OMG! Finally… I’m… so… freaking… excited!

BEA

(Again, typing)

YES… Do… y’all… wanna… come… to… my… place?

REBECCA

I knew it. I proved I could. Now I can actually live moments without actually doubting myself. Because of that voice. I hated listening to it, and i love being free from it’s control! 

(Scene fades out on REBECCA smiling and typing response)