Editor's Note: This is the original script, as shared by the author.
This play contains occasional strong language.
Each of the four girls is in her own distinct environment at home. They each could be in bed, sitting at a desk, laying on the couch, standing in front of the refrigerator. The important thing is that they are each alone and speaking all of their lines to the audience.
RITA
Nobody knows why it’s happening.
GIANNA
It started last Tuesday.
PENELOPE
We were in pre-calc, and Tina Russo just passed out.
AMBER
At first, I thought she was joking, so I laughed. I feel really bad about that now.
PENELOPE
Her eyes rolled back in her head and everything.
RITA
We got dismissed from class early to go to the cafeteria while the paramedics came.
GIANNA
Then it was Bella two days later.
AMBER
At cheerleading practice. She was about to step into her big stunt, but her body just crumbled in my arms.
PENELOPE
We thought it was just exhaustion from all the long practices.
AMBER
But it was such a weird coincidence.
GIANNA
Friday, two girls from the soccer team.
RITA
Monday, Alyssa Olsen in chemistry, Tara Lazarczyk in AP U.S. history, Ursula Henningsen in bio, and Vanessa Weaver during a varsity debate match.
PENELOPE
Tuesday, three more.
AMBER
On Wednesday morning, they called every girl in school down to the gym.
PENELOPE
The school nurse took our temperature, blood pressure, shined a light in our eyes.
AMBER
Principal Ramirez kept asking us if there’s some kind of weird eating disorder pact or something.
PENELOPE
Or if we knew if anyone had mono or whatever.
RITA
I was standing in the thermometer line with my best friend Katie, joking about how we shouldn’t have stopped for Taco Bell breakfast before we got weighed. And then she just...fell. Mid-laugh.
GIANNA
I had never seen someone pass out in real life before.
PENELOPE
There was a lot of screaming and chaos happening.
RITA
I totally froze. I just kinda stood over Katie’s body. I don’t remember what happened after that.
AMBER
They sent us all home.
PENELOPE
All the passed-out girls are in the hospital. Still passed-out. But alive.
AMBER
The local news is calling them the Sleeping Beauties.
RITA
Nobody knows why it’s happening.
GIANNA
So now it’s been two and a half weeks since we’ve been quarantined.
AMBER
I’ve never been so bored.
RITA
Only the girls at South Ridge High School are required to stay home since the epidemic has only affected girls. The boys have the option.
AMBER
Most of the boys are staying home.
GIANNA
I’m kind of okay with it. I was really stressed about final exams.
AMBER
I’m really stressed about this situation. And scared.
GIANNA
I don’t want to die. I mean, nobody’s died yet, but still.
RITA
The parents are all really worried.
PENELOPE
My dad didn’t know what to do, so he left a huge bottle of hand sanitizer outside my bedroom door.
RITA
At first, we were supposed to do our classes online. But then someone suggested that the fainting might actually be caused by the blue light from our phones and computers, so now we’re not supposed to use them at all.
AMBER
I’m losing my frickin’ mind.
GIANNA
Now the teachers are live streaming classes, but just the audio.
AMBER
I have to write my assignments with a pen and paper. I mean, what even?
PENELOPE
I think it’s all bullshit.
GIANNA
Mr. Hunt assigned a research paper on the first day, and we were like, “Um, the girls can’t use the internet.” And he was all like, “Back in my day, we used books.” And we were all like, “WE CAN’T LEAVE THE HOUSE, IDIOT.”
RITA
She actually called him an idiot.
AMBER
It was impressive.
PENELOPE
It’s not like she can get detention or anything.
RITA
But the worst part…
AMBER
The worst part.
PENELOPE
The worst part.
GIANNA
Tonight was supposed to be our spring fling.
RITA
I know it’s so stupid to be thinking about a dance when our friends are in the hospital and we’re in quarantine, but I was really, really excited for that dance.
GIANNA
After eons of feeling like a total loser, I finally got a boy to ask me to a school dance.
AMBER
This year, I was supposed to be in charge of photos. The actual dance is in the gym, but we always set up a nice backdrop on the stage in the theater. Now I can’t stop thinking about the empty gym and the empty theater.
GIANNA
The boy sent a rose to my house, so that was nice.
PENELOPE
I worked at my mom’s bakery for an hour before school every morning for a month to pay for my dress and shoes and jewelry and nails, and now I have nowhere to wear any of it.
RITA
So all the moms started talking on Facebook—
GIANNA
As moms are known to do.
RITA
— and they felt so bad for us, they decided that maybe it would be okay for us to be online for just a couple hours.
PENELOPE
Virtual spring fling!
RITA
Even though nobody knows if the blue light has anything to do with this whole thing, we’re taking a big risk by doing this.
AMBER
We can’t have every single kid at school on one Facetime call. That’s way too many.
GIANNA
So someone shared the Spotify playlist they were gonna use for spring fling—
RITA
And at exactly 8pm, we’re all gonna press play—
PENELOPE
— and we’ll all do a Google Hangout with as many of our friends as we possibly can.
GIANNA
Most of us are probably just gonna wear our pajamas and dance around our rooms.
PENELOPE
F#@k that. I’m going all out in my dress and my heels and a full beat, and I’m taking over our whole living room for my dancing pleasure.
ALL
I have it all planned out.
GIANNA
At some point, right before a slow song, I’m gonna FaceTime the boy by himself. And I’m gonna turn all the lights out in my room except for one romantic candle.
ALL
It’s gonna be so—
GIANNA
Romantic.
RITA
Fun.
PENELOPE
Weird.
AMBER
Good for us. It’s hard being alone with your own thoughts for so long. Scary, even.
RITA
I don’t think I realized how much I’m on social media.
GIANNA
I’ve been begging my mom to read me every tweet on my timeline. She always stops and clicks her tongue when there’s anything vaguely sexual, so it doesn’t usually last very long.
RITA
One of the greatest joys has been my dad trying to describe different TikToks to me. I’ve never laughed so hard in my life.
AMBER
I really hope those girls are gonna be okay.
RITA
Nobody knows why it’s happening.
PENELOPE
I wish we could go visit them.
GIANNA
I wish they would wake up.
AMBER
The Sleeping Beauties. I guess that makes it sound less terrifying.
GIANNA
I miss my phone
PENELOPE
I miss cheerleading.
AMBER
I miss school. Never thought I’d say that.
RITA
I miss my best friend. I don’t know what I would do without her. She has to be okay. She has to. I don’t know what I’ll do.
PENELOPE
It’s starting!
Penelope takes off her bathrobe to reveal her spring fling dress. She slides her high heels and jewelry on.
GIANNA
I’m so excited.
AMBER
My body is ready.
RITA
My snacks are ready.
Rita pulls out a bag of chips and some dip.
GIANNA
I know it’s just a stupid dance.
AMBER
It’s just a dance, but we need this.
RITA
We need connection.
PENELOPE
We need escape.
GIANNA
We need each other.
PENELOPE
And I need to see some hot guys so let’s go!
RITA
Nobody knows why it’s happening.
AMBER
The doctors are trying to figure it out. We have to trust them. Even though shit is really f#@king scary right now, we have a choice. We can choose to not live in fear. At least for this one night.
GIANNA
Alright, here we go!
RITA
It’s time,
ALL
To press PLAY.
Blackout.
