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GOOSEBUMPS THE MUSICAL: Phantom of the Auditorium

Book and Lyrics by John Maclay
Music and Lyrics by Danny Abosch
Adapted from Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium by R. L. Stine
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GOOSEBUMPS THE MUSICAL: Phantom of the Auditorium

Book and Lyrics by John Maclay
Music and Lyrics by Danny Abosch
Adapted from Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium by R. L. Stine

Cast of Characters
6 actors: 3w, 3m, plus additional ensemble as desired. (10 actor version available)

Brooke Rodgers

Zeke Matthews

Tina Powell

Ms. Walker

Emile

Brian Colson

The actors can/should double as additional students when needed.

Musical Cues
1. GOOSEBUMPS COMPANY
2. A SUPER SCARY PLAY BROOKE, ZEKE, ENS
3. THE LEGEND MS. WALKER, TINA
4. WATCH YOUR STEP EMILE
5. BABBLING BROOKE BROOKE, BRIAN
6. THE STORY OF THE PHANTOM BROOKE and COMPANY
7. UNDERSTUDY BUDDY TINA
8. WHODUNIT? ZEKE, BROOKE, BRIAN
9. MY HOME SWEET HOME EMILE
10. MY STORY THE PHANTOM
11. GOOSEBUMPS REPRISE/CURTAIN CALL COMPANY

Thoughts on production from John and Danny:

First- Thanks for producing the show. You’ll be so glad you did because…well, it’s really great.
And you’re really great. It’s a nice fit. The premiere productions were smash hits for First
Stage and Oregon Children’s Theatre and we are thrilled you are now part of the history of
this show. Here are some things to consider as you sally forth with making the show a reality
for your theatre.
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It’s GOOSEBUMPS. Let it be scary. Let it be startling. The script allows for a director to find the
balance between scary and funny that works for their production. But please resist the urge
to camp it up to the point that there is no tension. It’s Goosebumps! It should be scary, right?

It’s a mystery. We know that seems obvious, but do all that you can to obscure the ending for
as long as possible. Sure, some clever folks will figure it out before the final moment but you
must do all that you can to try to trick them. This means Emile and Zeke and Brian want to
look identical when in phantom costumes. even shoes. Even height. Even facial hair. Identical.
They also want to sound as identical as possible. This is perhaps trickier so let’s all be grateful
that we live in an era of microphones, recording and the ability to alter and modify voices. If
you need to make the final song (My Story) less pretty to disguise the owner of the voice,
you have our full support and encouragement to do so.
As for design, do what works for you with two considerations: The elevator will be most
effective if the actors remain in place and lights and sound transform the worlds and travel
around them. As for costumes, there is not a lot of time between scenes so a simple look with
minor modifications will be preferable to full changes. You don’t want Brooke or Tina gasping
for breath after running from a quick change right before they have to sing. ☺
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1. Goosebumps – Opening
(The setting for the opening theme song is a graveyard or other such spooky locale. It
should be dark. It should be spooky. There is probably some valid reason you wouldn’t
use a lot of fog in this scene. But we can’t imagine what that reason would be.)

DO YOU SEEK OUT THE SPARK

OF DANGER IN THE DARK
WHEN SOMETHING COLD AND STARK’S AROUND THE CORNER?

DO YOU THRIVE ON THE THRILL

OF THAT FAMILIAR CHILL
WHEN SOMEONE’S DOOMED AND STILL YOU CANNOT WARN HER?

DO YOU CRAVE TALES OF CREATURES

THAT RECOIL FROM THE LIGHT?

THEN FOLLOW IF YOU DARE.

BUT ALL WHO DO, BEWARE—

FOR YOU MAY FIND A SCARE THAT FILLS YOUR SOUL WITH FRIGHT
AND GIVES YOU GOOSEBUMPS IN THE NIGHT!

YOU FEEL A FLASH OF FEAR--

YOU THINK “IS SOMEONE HERE?”
YOU TELL YOURSELF YOU KNOW THAT YOU’RE ALONE.

BUT THEN YOU FEEL A SUDDEN JOLT,

YOUR SKIN STARTS TO REVOLT,
YOUR FEAR BEGINS TO GROW, AND THEN
BEFORE YOU EVEN KNOW IT, YOU’VE GOT

GOOSEBUMPS!
GOOSEBUMPS!

YOU’RE COVERED HEAD TO TOE IN

GOOSEBUMPS!

AND YET, YOU FEEL A STRANGE DELIGHT! (evil laugh)

SO FOLLOW IF YOU DARE.
BUT ALL WHO DO, BEWARE--
FOR YOU MAY FIND A SCARE THAT FILLS YOUR SOUL WITH FRIGHT
AND GIVES YOU GOOSEBUMPS IN THE NIGHT! (evil laugh)
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WHAT’S GOT YOU CRAWLING OUT OF YOUR SKIN?

IS IT KNOWING SOMETHING’S OUT THERE, AND IT’S TRYING TO GET IN?
WHAT’S GOT YOU LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER?
WHAT’S GOT YOU FROZEN IN YOUR TRACKS AND FEELING EVEN COLDER?

IT AN ANGRY GHOST OR
MAYBE JUST A HAUNTED TOASTER?
DOES SEEING BLOOD SEND YOUR HEART RATE UP A ROLLER COASTER?

IS DEATH THE THING YOU FEAR OR

MAYBE SOMETHING IN THE MIRROR?
OR THE THOUGHT OF SOMEONE CHASING YOU AND GETTING NEARER?

WHAT KEEPS YOU UP?

WHAT FILLS YOU WITH DREAD?

WEREWOLVES OR VAMPIRES?
SOMETHING UNDER YOUR BED?

MONSTERS? SPIDERS?
HEIGHTS? THE DARK?

CURSES? CATS?
THE CLOWN IN THE PARK?

OR IS IT POSSIBLE THE THING YOU FEAR MOST

IS MEETING UP WITH A GHOST?

DO YOU SURVIVE ON SCREAMS?

SEE DEADLY GNOMES IN DREAMS?
HEAD FOR A HOUSE THAT SEEMS IT MIGHT BE HAUNTED?

DO YOU BEGIN TO BURST

WHEN CAMERAS MIGHT BE CURSED?
WHEN VAMPIRES START TO THIRST, ARE YOU UNDAUNTED?

DOES A DEMON-LIKE DUMMY

MAKE YOU SCREAM IN DELIGHT?

THEN FOLLOW IF YOU DARE.

BUT ALL WHO DO, BEWARE--
FOR YOU MAY FIND A SCARE THAT FILLS YOUR SOUL WITH FRIGHT
AND GIVES YOU GOOSEBUMPS IN THE NIGHT!
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YOU DREAM A DREAM OF DREAD

THAT DRIVES YOU FROM YOUR BED.
IT’S NOTHING BUT A NIGHTMARE, THIS YOU KNOW.

BUT THEN YOUR STOMACH STARTS TO FALL,

YOUR SKIN BEGINS TO CRAWL,
YOUR FEAR BEGINS TO GROW, AND THEN
BEFORE YOU EVEN KNOW IT, YOU’VE GOT

GOOSEBUMPS!
GOOSEBUMPS!

YOU’RE GOING NUMB AND GROWING

GOOSEBUMPS!

YOUR BLOOD RUNS COLD, YOUR FACE TURNS WHITE.

SO FOLLOW IF YOU DARE.
BUT ALL WHO DO, BEWARE—

FOR YOU MAY FIND A SCARE THAT FILLS YOUR SOUL WITH FRIGHT

AND GIVES YOU GOOSEBUMPS IN THE NIGHT!

AND GIVES YOU GOOSEBUMPS IN THE NIGHT!
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2. A Super Scary Play

BROOKE
On a fall day this year, Ms. Walker, our esteemed drama teacher, announced there would be
auditions for the Woods Mill Middle School fall show. And that it would be quite different than
last year’s production of Guys and Dolls… though equally excellent.

MS. WALKER
This year’s show will be… scary.

BROOKE
And though no one had actually seen the ghost that was rumored to haunt the school, it made
some students a little freaked out to be doing a scary play…in a supposedly haunted school.

BRIAN
SCARY? SUPER SCARY?
IS IT MONSTERS, GHOSTS OR CREATURES?
SCARY? LIKE, HOW SCARY?
WILL WE SCARE THE OTHER TEACHERS?

BROOKE
THE MOOD WAS GETTING TENSE,
THE BUS WAS BUZZING WITH THE NEWS.

BRIAN
WOULD WE GET PARTS?

EMILE
HOW WOULD SHE CAST?

TINA
WHO WOULD BE LEADS?

BROOKE
HOW WOUD SHE CHOOSE?

MS. WALKER
Yes, this year’s show will be scary. The soft and the weak and the overly sensitive and of course
the superstitious among you need not apply. There will be chills and thrills and suspense.
And…a Phantom.

BROOKE
ZEKE! LET’S AUDITION! WHAT DO YOU SAY?
IT’S OUR CHANCE TO DO
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ALL
A SUPER SCARY PLAY!

BROOKE
It’s perfect! No one knows more about scary shows than us. It’s our big shot.

ZEKE
Hold up, Brookie. We like scary books. And scary movies. I don’t even know what a scary middle
school play would be. Will it have vampires? Or possessed dolls? Or are we doing Mac-

BROOKE
It’s called the Phantom. So I’m guessing it’s a … ghost story.

ZEKE
Totally. I’m auditioning for the ghost. The part will be mine!

MS. WALKER (spoken);

Audition Time!
(the other students ‘audition’ for MS. WALKER in the background while BROOKE sings the next
verse)

BROOKE
I USED TO GET THE FRIGHTS
WHEN I TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS.
SO MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
I TRIED TO BRAVE IT.

BUT CREEPY STUFF THESE DAYS

IS LIKE, MY BIGGEST CRAZE.
NO MATTER MOVIES, PLAYS,
OR BOOKS, I CRAVE IT.

ZEKE
SCARY IS OUR FAVORITE

BROOKE
SCARY IS THE BEST

ZEKE
AND NOW WE’RE DOING A SCARY PLAY

BROOKE
AND I’VE NEVER BEEN MORE STRESSED!
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MS. WALKER (spoken)

Thank you very much, all who auditioned. I’ll be posting the cast list at 2:20 this afternoon.

STUDENTS
IS IT UP YET?
IS IT UP YET?
IS IT UP YET?
IS IT UP YET?
IS IT UP YET?
IS IT UP YET?
IS IT UP YET?
IS IT—

ZEKE
NOT YET!

STUDENTS
IS IT UP YET?
IS IT UP YET?
IS IT UP YET?
IS IT UP YET?
IS IT UP YET?
IS IT UP YET?
IS IT UP YET?
IS IT—

ZEKE
NO, NOT YET.

BROOKE
I can’t take it! I’m so nervous! When is she gonna put up the cast list?

ZEKE
Brooke! Look! There’s a note for you posted on the call board!

BROOKE
Let me see!
(reading)
“Brooke Rodgers. Please report to Principal Kirkham’s office. You have been suspended from
school.”
Oh my go-But I - What is happening? Aaaah! Zeke- What do I do????

ZEKE cannot control his laughter.

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BROOKE.
Wait a second! Did you write this and post it here?

ZEKE
Of course! Don’t be such a donut. Just a harmless prank to cut the tension.

BROOKE
Very funny, Zeke. (Beat) Why is this taking so long?

BROOKE
LAST YEAR WE DID GUYS AND DOLLS
AND ZEKE AND I BASICALLY HELD UP THE WALLS.

ZEKE
NOW DON’T GET US WRONG
THE ENSEMBLE’S NICE

BOTH
BUT THIS YEAR WE’RE GONNA
WIN OUR SLICE
OF THE JUICIEST ROLES
OF THE STARRIEST PARTS
WEVE HOPED AND WE’VE PRAYED WITH ALL OF OUR HEARTS
THAT THIS IS OUR TIME, THIS IS OUR DAY
‘CAUSE WE’RE FINALLY DOING A SUPER SCARY PLAY!

BROOKE
Ms. Walker said she would have the cast list up by 2:20.

ZEKE
Well, what time is it now?

BROOKE
2:21

ZEKE
Oh, come on! This is unacceptable!

BROOKE
Oh man, what if we get good parts?

ZEKE
Who cares?
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(Brooke stares at him, eye brow raised)

I mean of course I care. But the main thing is it’s scary! We can scare the whole school! With a
play! And don’t get your hopes up. Remember Guys and Dolls. I was Man 4. It’s not even in the
script.

BROOKE
I remember. I was Woman 6. But this is different. This is The Phantom! It’s supposed to be
terrifying. And we have seen every scary movie there is. If Woods Mill Middle School is doing a
scary show, we are needed. We are required. (dramatically) WE ARE THE ONES WHO ARE
UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCARY!

ZEKE
And you were great as Woman 6. It was a definitive performance. But try to relax. A lot of
people want to be the lead. I hear Tina may go nuts if she doesn’t get it. Like crazy, insane nuts.

BROOKE
I can’t take the anticipation! She could cast me so many ways. And I’d be happy to do anything
of course. But it would be fun if you and I were the leads in something truly terrifying and-

ZEKE
Brooke! You’re my best friend since kindergarten. You’re like my sister. But you’re making me
crazy.

BROOKE
I FEEL NERVOUS
I FEEL SCARED
AND COMPLETELY UNPREPARED
AND WHILE THIS FEELING’S RATHER THRILLING
THIS NOT KNOWING IS JUST KILLING ME.
WELL… NOT LITERALLY KILLING ME.
BUT THIS ANXIOUS ANTICIPATION
CREATES THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE SENSATION.

(In the background, MS. WALKER has appeared and put up the cast list. ZEKE and BROOKE fail to
notice her and continue to sing as the rest of the ensemble joins in)

ALL
AND THIS IS OUR TIME, THIS IS OUR DAY
‘CAUSE WE’RE FINALLY DOING A SUPER SCARY---

MS. WALKER
Does anyone want to know who’s playing what in the show? The list is up.
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Beat
All slowly look at each other and then rush the call board.

ZEKE
C’mon!

BROOKE
I can’t do it, Zeke! Will you go for both of us? You’re my best friend! You can do this.

ZEKE (LAUGHING)
Ok. Wait here.
(ZEKE goes to the board and edges his way in. He yells excitedly.)
Woo Hoo! I’m the Phantom! Brooke, is that a good part?

BROOKE
Zeke! The play is called ‘The Phantom’! So the Phantom is probably a good part. Oh, you’re
kidding.

ZEKE
And you’re Esmerelda!

BROOKE
THIS IS OUR TIME!

ZEKE
THIS IS OUR DAY

BOTH
BECAUSE WE’RE THE LEADS

ALL
IN A SUPER SCARY PLAY!!!

(end song)

(Tina enters and goes to look at the callboard)

TINA
Understudy?? Understudy??
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MS. WALKER
Yep! And I want you to build the set! And do the lights!

TINA (sinisterly)
Oh, I'll build your set. You bet I will. I'll get right on that.

MS. WALKER
You just said that in a really creepy voice. Are you aware that you did that?

TINA (sweetly)
Why, Ms. Walker! I don't know what you mean! Bye Ms. Walker! See you at rehearsal, Ms.
Walker! (TINA exits)

(cue underscore)

(MS. WALKER looks around, points a shout out to the sky and her dead Great Grandmother,
wheels out a ghost light, and finally exits. A masked person, the full disguised PHANTOM, of
middle school student size enters from the place TINA just exited. Angrily. How someone enters
angrily is up to you and the actor, we suppose. But upon his or her angry entrance, he or she
looks about with menace- again your call on how to execute that, no pun intended takes the
cast list down and crumples it in his (or her) hand, and with a wave of his or her arm, the stage
goes to black.
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Scene- First rehearsal

(Tina, Brooke and other students played by EMILE AND BRIAN arrive for rehearsal)

MS. WALKER
Hello all and welcome to our first rehearsal of The Phantom! .
(Zeke enters in the Phantom’s costume with mask We need to ACTUALLY think it’s the phantom
for a moment, or the whole thing doesn’t work.)

ZEKE
RAAAAAAAAAWR! BEWAAAAAAAARE!!!

ALL
AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!

ZEKE (taking off the mask)

Gotcha!

MS. WALKER
Glad to see you are getting into the role, Zeke. Now sit down and let’s get to work. Tina is here
as Stage Manager.

TINA (to BROOKE)

And in case we need to replace you for some reason.

ZEKE
Ms. Walker, I have a question.

MS. WALKER
Of course, Zeke, what is it?

ZEKE
My question is… there’s always been this story that this school is haunted. Like there’s a ghost,
or a phantom or whatever. Like, everyone knows this.

MS. WALKER
I am aware. What of it?

ZEKE
But in the cafeteria today, Coach Grundman said that this play, this actual script, is haunted.
Like… cursed. And if Coach Grundman says it, it must be true because he’s an international
mixed martial arts champion. Which is true because he won a match in Canada, which is, in
fact, another country.

BROOKE
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Wait- the play is cursed?

TINA
Ms. Walker, if Brooke is afraid to be in our cursed play, I would be happy to step up and play
the part.

BROOKE
I’m not afraid.

MS. WALKER
Thank you, Tina. But I need you to just be her understudy and help with the set and lights. And
maybe the props. And the play is not cursed.

TINA
Oh, I know the play is cursed. And I love it. My older brother told me all about it. And he heard
about it from my uncle. This isn’t the first time the school has tried to do this play, is it? Ms.
Walker?

MS. WALKER
Well…actually no. This play was attempted once before.

BROOKE
Attempted?

MS. WALKER.
It’s a long story. Not important. What matters is that we are doing the play. Not the tragic
circumstances of the original attempt. Now let’s talk about the rehearsal schedule-

ZEKE
Um. Rewind. Tragic circumstances?

TINA-
I don’t usually agree with Zeke, but, you gotta tell them.

ALL
Tell us! Tell us! Tell us!

MS. WALKER
I’m not sure it’s an appropriate story.

TINA
I’ll tell them if you don’t.
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MS. WALKER
Oh, all right. Seventy-three years ago, a young teacher named Abigail Walker sought to produce
this version of The Phantom as performed by students in this very auditorium.

BROOKE
Abigail Walker?

MS. WALKER
Yes. Walker. Abigail Walker was my Great Grandmother. And after the troubles with the
original production, she was let go by the school. They blamed her.

ALL
And???

ZEKE
What happened???

TINA
I know what happened.

MS. WALKER
Tina! Oh, all right fine! I’ll tell you!

ZEKE
Yes! Is this gonna be scary?

TINA
Oh yeah.

MS. WALKER
It’s just a story.

Song 3. The Legend

MS. WALKER
THE LEGEND BEGINS AT THIS VERY SCHOOL,
FOUR SCORE MINUS SEVEN YEARS AGO.
LEGEND HAS IT THAT THERE ONCE WAS A BOY
WHO FOUND A SCRIPT IN THE BASEMENT BELOW.

THE PLAY WAS CALLED “THE PHANTOM”

IT WAS THE SCARIEST OF SHOWS.
IS THAT HOW IT STARTED? NO ONE KNOWS.
BUT THAT’S HOW THE LEGEND GOES.
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TINA
LEGEND HAS IT THE BOY SHOWED HIS TEACHER,
AND THE STORY CAPTURED HER SOUL.
SHE VOWED THE SCHOOL WOULD PERFORM IT,
WITH THE BOY IN THE TITLE ROLE.

BUT BEFORE THE PLAY COULD OPEN,

A DISASTER FORCED IT TO CLOSE.
IS THAT THE TRUTH? WELL, THERE ARE THOSE
WHO SAY THAT’S HOW THE LEGEND GOES.

MS. WALKER
IT’S A STORY, NOTHING MORE.
JUST THE STUFF OF LEGEND AND LORE,
THE KIND THAT ALWAYS FOLLOWS SCARY SHOWS.

SOME SWEAR IT WITH CONVICTION,

OTHERS SAY IT’S ONLY FICTION.
JUST A RUMOR, BUT A RUMOR ALWAYS GROWS.
AND THAT’S HOW THE LEGEND GOES.

MS. WALKER
LEGEND HAS IT THAT WHEN ABIGAIL ANNOUNCED THE SHOW,
ADMINISTRATION THREW A TANTRUM.
BUT ABIGAIL BRAVELY HELD HER GROUND,
RESOLVED THAT THEY MUST PERFORM “PHANTOM”.

BUT ON THE NIGHT THE PLAY WAS TO OPEN,

WELL, THE CURTAIN NEVER ROSE.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT, I CAN’T DISCLOSE.
BUT THAT’S HOW THE LEGEND GOES.

BROOKE
You can’t end the story there!

ZEKE
Yeah! Tell us! What happened next?

MS WALKER
I’m not sure I should

TINA
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Well if you won’t tell them, I will.

TINA
THE BOY PLAYING “PHANTOM” HAD VANISHED!
THEY SEARCHED, BUT HE COULDN’T BE FOUND.
AND WHEN MS. WALKER TRIED TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT,
SHE WAS STOPPED BY A FRIGHTENING SOUND--

THE MOST TERRIBLE SCREAM RANG OUT,

EVERY FACE IN THE AUDIENCE FROZE.
WAS IT HIM? WELL, NO ONE REALLY KNOWS…
BUT THAT’S HOW THE LEGEND GOES.

MS. WALKER
THE PRINCIPAL CLOSED THE PRODUCTION
AND DEMANDED THE SCRIPT’S DESTRUCTION.
BUT ONE SURVIVED, RIGHT UNDERNEATH HIS NOSE.

AND THOUGH IT WAS FORBIDDEN,

MS. WALKER KEPT IT HIDDEN,
AND WHEN SHE DIED, IT WAS FOUND BESIDE A MASK AND ROSE--
OR SO THE LEGEND GOES.

TINA
Ms. Walker, tell them the reeeeally scary part! About the boy!

MS. WALKER
Oh, I don’t know…

MS. WALKER
JUST REMEMBER,
IT’S A STORY, NOTHING MORE.
JUST THE STUFF OF LEGEND AND LORE,
BUT SOME SAY HIS SOUL REMAINS HERE IN REPOSE.

TINA
NOW HE HAUNTS THE SCHOOL WHERE HE VANISHED,
TO MAKE SURE THE PLAY STAYS BANISHED.

MS. WALKER
THAT’S WHY SOME SAY IT’S CURSED, THIS PLAY I CHOSE.

ZEKE
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Is it true??

MS. WALKER
WELL, I SUPPOSE
THAT NO ONE KNOWS,
NOT EVEN THOSE
WHO SWEAR THAT

MS. WALKER, TINA

THAT’S HOW THE LEGEND
THAT’S HOW THE LEGEND
THAT’S HOW THE LEGEND GOES!

ZEKE
Whoa. A real ghost story! (aside) You ok, Brooke?

BROOKE
Yeah. You okay?

ZEKE
It’s weird for sure. But awesome.

BROOKE
Yeah. Completely awesome.

TINA
Ms. Walker? I have a question about this script, though. It says this Phantom rises up from
below the floor? How do we do that?

MS. WALKER
It seems I have forgotten to mention the best part of the play. We have…. An elevator! Or
rather a platform built on an elevator. It functions a bit like a trap door. When ‘The Phantom’
was first supposed to be performed, this platform was built so that the Phantom could
disappear or rise up from below. You put in this lever- (Ms. Walker inserts a large lever, akin to
the brake on a hand car into the floor by the platform.) and you can rise or descend. It was a
very impressive special effect for its day.

BROOKE
Cool! It’s been here the whole time just hiding in plain sight. Where does it go?

MS. WALKER
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I’m not sure. It was built for the first production of the Phantom and it hasn’t been used until
now!

ZEKE
Wait! You mean I get to ride on that? Yes! Yes to that! Can I try now?

MS. WALKER
I don’t think so.

ZEKE
Ok. (beat) Can I try now?

MS. WALKER
Sorry, Zeke. Not until I’m sure it’s safe. It will be getting looked at this week and then we can all
take a turn. (school bell rings) Oh dear, with all of this legend business, we’ve used up all of
rehearsal. All right cast, let every student look o’er their parts. And we will meet here tomorrow
and begin blocking. Dismissed!

Transition. Everyone exits but Zeke. Brooke returns

BROOKE
Zeke, Where are you? We’re going to be late for the Creature Feature marathon. What are you
doing?

ZEKE
Come on – aren’t you a little curious?

BROOKE
Maybe. Ok.

(ZEKE stands on the platform. BROOKE joins him.)

ZEKE I am the Phantom! Feel my Power! Kneel before me! Let’s try it?

BROOKE
Totally.
(He pulls on the lever. It doesn’t budge. He pulls again and it miraculously moves and they are
in motion. If the platform actually descends a bit…or the stage around it rises, great. But lights
and sound should accomplish the elevator travel. Imaginary forces will fill in the rest)

BROOKE/ZEKE
AAAAAAHHHHH!
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BROOKE
What did you do?

ZEKE
I pulled the lever. You were there.

BROOKE
I can’t see anything!

ZEKE
Me neither! Where is this taking us???

(The elevator stops. The scene around them has transformed to the ‘sub-basement’)
BROOKE
What is this place? The basement?

ZEKE
No way! I’ve been in the school basement. So have you. It’s where we store the old scenery and
props, remember?

BROOKE
Right. Well, let’s look around.

(they wonder about, exploring but it is too dark to see much)

ZEKE
So where do you think we are?

BROOKE
We’re about a mile beneath the stage.

ZEKE
No kidding, Sherlock.

BROOKE
Well where do you think we are, smart guy?

ZEKE
It’s too dark to tell. But I think this is below the basement.

BROOKE
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Wait… Can you see the way back to the elevator?

ZEKE
Um…No. But it must be along that wall at some point. We’ll find it. And next time, we’ll bring
flashlights.

BROOKE
Next Time? Next time? There isn’t going to be a “Next time.”

ZEKE
Wait. I’ve figured out what this place is.

BROOKE
What?

ZEKE
I think it’s pretty obvious, actually. I’m a little surprised you haven’t figured it out by now.

BROOKE
Just tell me, you donut.

ZEKE
Obviously, we are in…the lair of the Phantom! The Phantom who haunts the school.

BROOKE
Will you stop it, already? This is crazy. Why would they have a trap door go from the stage to all
the way down here?

ZEKE
I don’t know. Maybe so the Phantom can get home quicker after he haunts the school.
Seriously though…If there was a Phantom, this is where he would live. (A shadow, the
PHANTOM?, runs across the back of the stage) What was that?

BROOKE
Did you see something move over there?

(a creepy noise sounds. Is it an animal? A monster? It sounds like they are not alone…)

ZEKE
Maybe we should go.

BROOKE
Yeah. Good call.
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(they make their way back to the platform. Zeke pulls on the lever. Nothing. It won’t budge.)

ZEKE
Um… it won’t budge. That’s not good.

BROOKE
Not good? This is our only way out of here. We are gonna be stuck down here forever. So yeah,
not good!

(another noise, closer and louder)

BROOKE
Also not good.

ZEKE
Help me!!!

BROOKE
Pull!

ZEKE
I am pulling!

(They pull together and eventually the lever gives way and they “ascend”)

BOTH
AHHHHHHHHHH!

BROOKE
We are never doing this again.

ZEKE
I don’t know, it’s kinda fun

BROOKE
Zeke!
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Scene: BACK ON STAGE

BROOKE
Ok, we are not going back there. I thought we’d never get that lever to move.

EMILE
What are you kids doing?

BROOKE/ZEKE
AAAAAHHHH!

BROOKE
Who are you?

ZEKE
It’s Emile

EMILE
How do you know my name?

ZEKE
It’s on your coveralls.

EMILE
Hmm. You think you’re clever, huh? So yeah, I’m Emile. I’m… the night janitor. I should be here.
You shouldn’t. The school is closed! What are you two doing here?

ZEKE
We were here late for play rehearsal. And…I was just looking for my jacket…and…

EMILE
What are you doing messing around with that platform?

BROOKE
Ms. Walker showed it to us earlier-

EMILE
And did Ms. Walker tell you how dangerous it is? You didn’t go down there, did you?

BROOKE
Yes!

ZEKE
No!
 27

BOTH
Maybe?

EMILE
You went down there? What did you see?

BROOKE
Nothing, really. It was too dark. What is that place?

EMILE
Just old tunnels under the school. Nothing for you to be concerned about. You should be more
concerned with minding your own business.

Song 4. Watch your Step

EMILE
THIS AIN’T NO PLACE
TO BE SNEAKING AROUND
YOU COULD FALL UNLESS YOU
WATCH YOUR STEP
YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT MAY LURK UNDERGROUND.
FOR REAL! YOU BETTER
WATCH YOUR STEP

YOU KIDS TODAY

THINK YOU’RE SO DARN TOUGH.
MESSING AROUND
YOU THINK YOU GOT IT ROUGH
WELL, YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT ROUGH IS.
AND UNLESS YOU WANNA
WIND UP DEAD OR WORSE
THEN YOU BETTER

WATCH YOUR STEP

OR YOU GONNA GET SUCH A FRIGHT
MARK MY WORDS, KIDS.
MIND YOUR BUSINESS
DON’T BE A WITNESS
TO THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT.

SO YOU WANNA KNOW

WHAT’S BEHIND THAT DOOR?
OR WHAT MIGHT BE LURKING
 28

UNDERNEATH THE FLOOR?

TRUST ME, YOU’RE BETTER OFF NOT SURE.
YOU BETTER WATCH YOUR STEP.

And I’m dead serious.

UNLESS YOU WANNA BE CAUGHTCHA BETTA

DO WHAT I TAUGHTCHA--
YOU BETTER WATCH YOUR STEP.

WATCH YOUR STEP.

EMILE
Now you kids go home. And I don’t want to see you here again. (pulls lever out) Ever.

(EMILE exits)
ZEKE
That man wasn’t trying to warn us. He was trying to scare us.

BROOKE
Maybe. And how come we’ve never seen that janitor before.

ZEKE
Because…he’s not a janitor at all. He’s the Phantom!

BROOKE
Will you stop?
(strange noise sounds)
Let’s just get home.
Lights

NEXT Scene-In a hallway at school

(The next school day. BROOKE opens her locker and the phantom is staring at her. A scary
moment of a face staring at her and us. No wait. It’s just a mask. Not an actual face at all. Silly
BROOKE. It was nothing. But after a beat she notices that there is also a note. She reads it to us.
Because we are in the audience. We can’t see what that note says. It’s a lovely tradition in the
theatre. Though I’ve never actually seen a person read a note out loud the first time they look at
it. Theatre is weird.)

BROOKE
“Stay away from my Home Sweet Home” Zeke!
 29

Next Scene- Later that day

(Later that day at school. A boy is sitting in Brooke’s chair.)

Song 5. Babbling Brooke

BROOKE
OH, HELLO.

BRIAN
HELLO.

BROOKE
YOU’RE IN MY CHAIR…

BRIAN
NO, THIS IS MY CHAIR.

BROOKE
EXCUSE ME?

BRIAN
OH I’M SORRY, I MEANT….
I THOUGHT MS. WALKER SAID, “SIT ANYWHERE”.

BROOKE
OH! YEAH, SHE PROBABLY MEANT ANYWHERE OVER THERE.
I’VE SAT HERE NEXT TO ZEKE ALL YEAR.
BUT THERE’S AN EMPTY SEAT RIGHT HERE,
ON MY OTHER SIDE.
YOU COULD SIT THERE.
NEXT TO ME. I’D LIKE THAT. I MEAN…
IF YOU WOULD LIKE THAT,
I WOULD BE TOTALLY FINE WITH THAT, BUT UP TO YOU…
I MEAN, CAUSE I DON’T CARE WHERE YOU SIT, OF COURSE…

(BROOKE aside)
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BOY
UNLIKE ANYTHING
I’VE EVER SEEN

THOSE EYES…SO GREEN…

 30

(Snapping out of it and turning back to BRIAN)

BROOKE! MY NAME IS BROOKE! BROOKE!

BRIAN
ARE YOU BROOKE RODGERS?

BROOKE
Yessss….

BRIAN
I HEARD YOU GOT THE STARRING ROLE.

BROOKE
HOW DID YOU HEAR THAT ALREADY?
AND HOW DID YOU KNOW MY NAME?
I MEAN, ARE YOU, LIKE,
STALKING ME?
CAUSE THAT’S CREEPY.
SUPER CREEPY.
I MEAN….

BRIAN
No….I just overheard some kids talking on the bus…

BROOKE
Oh my gosh, I’m sorry.
I DON’T KNOW WHY I JUST SAID “STALKING”.
WHEN I GET NERVOUS I START TALKING.
I CAN’T HELP IT. NOW YOU’RE GAWKING.
Please stop gawking?
AAAAAAAND IT SEEMS THAT I’M STILL TALKING.
Yeah.
MAYBE YOU COULD DO SOME TALKING.

BRIAN:
Well- I’m Brian.

BROOKE
Hi Brian. I’m Brooke.

BRIAN
Yes. You said. Brooke Rodgers.
 31

BROOKE
Yeah, So Brian, you’re a double knot kinda guy.

BRIAN
What?.

BROOKE
Your shoelaces. They’re double knotted. That’s cool.

BROOKE
OH MY GOSH WHAT’S GOTTEN INTO ME? Stupid Brooke, Stupid.
I ALWAYS HAVE THE WORDS TO SAY
BUT EVERY TIME HE TURNS MY WAY, WE SHARE A LOOK,
AND I TURN INTO A BABBLING BROOKE.

(turning back to BRIAN trying to play it cool)

BRIAN
Sorry, what was that?

BROOKE
Uh, nothing! Nothing. Nothing at all.

SO, BRIAN, ARE YOU NEW?

BRIAN
AM I NEW?
OH, YEAH—I’M NEW.
OLD AND NEW.

BROOKE
SORRY, WHAT?

BRIAN
SORRY, I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M SAYING.
FIRST DAY JITTERS. HAPPENS EVERY TIME.
I MEAN EVERY TIME I’M NEW, WHICH IS PRETTY HAIR.
I MEAN PRETTY RARE!
You know what? I’m gonna try that again…

(BRIAN aside)
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
 32

THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS GIRL

UNLIKE ANYTHING
I’VE EVER SEEN

(accidentally out loud)

YOUR EYES…

BROOKE
My eyes?

BRIAN
OH! SORRY I JUST MEAN…
I CAN SEE THEM REALLY WELL CAUSE YOUR GLASSES ARE SO CLEAN?

Just ignore me.

WHEN I GET NERVOUS I START RUSHING,

BEFORE I KNOW IT I AM GUSHING,
THEN I SWEAT AND I START CRUSHING.
NO! NOT CRUSHING, BLUSHING!

CLEARLY I’M NO GOOD AT HUSHING.

(Urgently) You should talk now. Please talk.

BROOKE
Sure. Where are you from?

BRIAN
Indiana.

BROOKE
Gross!

BRIAN
What?

BROOKE
I mean… Hey, I’m sorry about that. I don’t actually know anything about Indiana. I’m sure
you’re lovely. I mean… I’m sure IT’S lovely! Oh my gosh.
BOTH
I’M NOT NORMALLY LIKE THIS, PROMISE.
 33

BROOKE
I GET MIXED UP AND THEN I PUT
MY BIG MOUTH INSIDE MY FOOT. I, I mean…

BOTH
I DON’T NORMALLY DO THIS, HONEST.

BRIAN
AFTER YEARS OF ALL THIS YAP,
YOU’D THINK I’D LEARN TO SHUT MY TRAP.

BOTH (aside)
WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME?
WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME?
THE MORE I TRY TO STAY CHILL,
THE MORE I SPILL,

BRIAN
AND THE MORE THAT THEY SEE RIGHT THROUGH ME.

(back)

BROOKE
Sorry. You may have noticed that sometimes when I get nervous I talk a lot.

BRIAN
That’s probably good if you’re an actor.

BROOKE
Why’s that?

BRIAN
You know. Actors get nervous a lot. And then they have to talk a lot. It’s a good fit.

BROOKE
Is that how acting worked at your old school?

EACH TIME I BLURT THINGS I DON’T MEAN TO,

I THINK “WHY CAN’T I JUST STAY CUTE?”
I MEAN “MUTE”!
I MEAN, SHOOT!…

(BROOKE aside)
 34

OH MY GOSH WHAT’S GOTTEN INTO ME.

(BRIAN aside)
OH MY GOSH WHAT’S GOTTEN INTO ME.
BROOKE
THIS IS SO NOT BY THE BOOK.
BRIAN
PLEASE TALK AND GET ME OFF THE HOOK!

BROOKE
SOMETHING ABOUT HIM’S SO APPPEALING
BRIAN
SOMETHING ABOUT HER HAS ME REELING
BROOKE
BUT I MUST CONTROL THIS FEELING.
BRIAN
BUT I’VE ALREADY BEEN FAR TOO REVEALING!

BOTH
I MUST CONTROL THIS GABBLING,
THIS JABBERING, THIS RATTLING,
THIS PANICKED PRATTLING-UP-A-CREEK-WITHOUT-A-PADDLE-ING
BEFORE THIS STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS
BECOMES A FULL-ON BABBLING… BROOK!

BROOKE
I MUST CONTROL THIS BABBLING BROOKE!

End.(By all means let the actors get up and move during the song. But however the
choreography plays out, the song should end with them in their original positions, with BRIAN
back sitting in BROOK’s chair.)

BROOKE (turning back to BRIAN)

So anyway… You are actually in my chair.

BRIAN
Sorry. I didn’t realize there were assigned seats.

BROOKE
It’s cool. So… you’re new here?

BRIAN.
 35

Um, yes. My family just moved here. From Indiana.

BROOKE
Yeah. I’m sorry I said that Indiana is gross. That was totally unfair. I’ve never even been to
Indiana.

BRIAN (dryly)
Oh, it’s pretty exciting. Never a dull moment in Indiana.

BROOKE
Are you here for drama class?

BRIAN
Yes. At my old school, I was in all the plays. I was hoping to get into this one.

(Enter MS. WALKER with the rest of the students)

MS. WALKER
Hello Brian! I see you found a seat.

BRIAN
Hello.

BROOKE
Brian wants to be in the play, Ms. Walker.

BRIAN
Yes. Very much.

MS. WALKER
Oh, I’m so sorry. I love your enthusiasm, Brian, but I’m afraid that all of the parts have been
assigned.
(BRIAN slumps dejectedly. Which is really the only true way to slump. So ‘slumps dejectedly’ is
probably redundant) But Tina could certainly use some help. Tina runs everything backstage
from scenery to lights to…well just about everything. Would that be interesting to you?

BRIAN (perking up. Again, up is probably the only way to perk. But we were afraid if we just
wrote “perking” you might be confused. We should probably give you more credit)
Oh, yes, ma’am.

MS. WALKER
Oh! A student who calls me ma’am. How lovely! You didn’t mean that sarcastically, did you?
 36

BRIAN
No ma’am.

MS. WALKER
How lovely! Tina!

TINA
Yes?

MS. WALKER
This delightfully polite young man is Brian. He has volunteered to be your assistant.

TINA (to BRIAN)

Do you know how to do anything?

BRIAN
I can draw and paint a bit.

TINA
Ok. Maybe you can help with the back drop. Don’t touch the lights. Or the set. Or the props.
You don’t have the training.

BRIAN
Okay.

TINA
Meet me here tomorrow at 4.

MS. WALKER
Where is Zeke? Not a lot we can do without him.

VOICEOVER
Ms. Walker, please report to the office. There’s a package for you.

MS. WALKER
Really? It’s here? All right, students, I’ll be right back. In the meantime, make this time
productive. Learn. Your. Lines.

(Ms. Walker exits)

BRIAN (to BROOKE)

So… What do we do now?
 37

BROOKE
I do need to get to work on learning my lines. I have a lot so I guess I’ll do that until Zeke gets
here. I wonder where he is.

BRIAN
Zeke? Oh. Is that your boyfriend?

BROOKE
Zeke?

BRIAN
I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.

BROOKE
No, Zeke is my best friend but he’s not my boyfriend. Not that I’m against having a boyfriend.
It’s just that-
(ZEKE enters, sneaks up on Brooke and intrusively sits between them)

ZEKE
Brooke!

BROOKE
AAAAHHH! What is wrong with you? By the way, I got your note and mask.

ZEKE
What are you talking about?

BROOKE
You’re lucky you’re my best friend.

ZEKE
I have no idea what you are talking about.

BRIAN
Well, maybe I will talk to you again sometime.

BROOKE
Ok.

TINA
Brian! Come with me. I’ll show you the paint area.

BRIAN
Sure. Ok.
 38

(TINA exits followed by BRIAN)

ZEKE
Who’s that?

BROOKE (In a daze of new love)

New kid. (recovering) Look, let’s just run lines.

ZEKE
Totally. What’s this play about anyway?

BROOKE
What?

ZEKE
I mean I know it’s about me as the Phantom but…

BROOKE
You didn’t read the play?

ZEKE
I totally meant to read it. And I absolutely planned to get the album and listen to it.

BROOKE
Album?

ZEKE
Of the Phantom of the Opera. Obviously. It’s a famous musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. And
he wrote Cats. Which I saw. I do know some things you know.

BROOKE
Yeah. That’s totally NOT the musical we are doing.

ZEKE
It’s not?

BROOKE
Ok. Sit down. The Phantom of the Opera was a novel by Gaston Leroux.

ZEKE
Gaston? Like in Beauty in the Beast.
 39

BROOKE
Yes. Exactly like him. Except Gaston Leroux was a real person who wrote novels, not a villain in
a Disney movie. Now our musical is a little different than the novel. Our story is about a young
girl named Esmerelda-

ZEKE
Like in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. How many Disney movies are we ripping off in this
thing?

Music

BROOKE
Ok. Put on your listening ears for five minutes. Got them on? Good. Now just LISTEN.

6. The Story of The Phantom

(As this song moves along, we see the story play out upstage. The cast comes together to act
out the story with BROOKE or behind her in some creative way.)

BROOKE
LONG AGO THERE LIVED A MAN
HIS NAME WAS CARLO AND HE RAN
AN ANCIENT THEATRE WHERE HIS DAUGHTER WAS THE STAR.

With me?

ZEKE
Karla’s the star, yeah.

BROOKE
NO, HIS DAUGHTER’S NAME IS
ESMERELDA, AND SHE’S FAMOUS,
PEOPLE COME TO HEAR HER SING FROM NEAR AND FAR.

ZEKE
Got it.

BROOKE
Good.

NOW, THERE’S A RUMOR GOING ROUND

THAT IN THE TUNNELS UNDERGROUND
THERE LIVES—
 40

ZEKE
Wait, I know, can I guess?

BROOKE
SURE, IF YOU CAN.

ZEKE
A mysterious phantom! Me! Right?

BROOKE
RIGHT, WELL, MOSTLY,
BUT THE TWIST IS THAT THIS GHOSTLY
EVIL PRESENCE ISN’T MONSTER, BUT MAN.

NOW, THIS MAN HAD BEEN BLESSED

WITH A GIFT HE POSESSED:
MUSICAL TALENTS COMPLETELY UNMATCHED.

BUT AS YOU OFTEN WILL FIND

IN EPIC TALES OF THIS KIND,
THIS GIFT CAME WITH A CURSE ATTACHED:

A FACE THAT WAS HIDEOUS

AND SO JARRING,
HE WORE A MASK TO COVER ALL THE SCARRING

ZEKE
Cool!

BROOKE
AND LIVED UNDERGROUND INSIDE A HOLE.

ZEKE
Wait, a hole? Why a hole?

BROOKE
ALL HIS LIFE HE’D BEEN TORMENTED, TEASED AND TAUNTED,
BUT NOW HIS HUNTERS WOULD BECOME THE HAUNTED.
THE WORLD THAT ALWAYS MADE HIM FEEL UNWANTED WOULD HEAR THE TOLL--
THE SOUNDS OF A TORTURED SOUL.

ZEKE
Ok, so I was born with a lightning scar, got it.
 41

BROOKE
No, no. Your typical, everyday scar.

ZEKE
Oh, Scar like Lion King!

BROOKE
You know, you are actually the worst. Now, listen up, you’re gonna need to know this.

BROOKE
ONE DAY AT HIS PIANO,
DISTANT SOUNDS OF A SOPRANO
DRIFTED TOWARDS HIM FROM THE THEATRE ABOVE.

ZEKE
K, so this hole has a piano?

BROOKE
SWEETER THAN A BIRD,
IN ALL HIS LIFE HE’D NEVER HEARD
A SOUND LIKE THIS—AND HE WAS INSTANTLY IN LOVE.
THE VOICE, OF COURSE, WAS CARLO’S DAUGHTER,
AND THE PHANTOM WENT AND SOUGHT HER
TO BECOME HIS SECRET STUDENT, AND HIS MUSE.
AND IF YOU THINK SHE FOUND THIS OH-SO-
ENIGMATIC VIRTUOSO
KINDA CREEPY, THEN I’VE GOT SOME SHOCKING NEWS:

BECAUSE SHE FELL, AND FELL HARD.

HE WAS BATTERED AND SCARRED,
BUT SHE COULD SEE THAT INSIDE THERE WAS MORE.

SOMETHING ALLURING SHE’D FIND

IN THE SADNESS BEHIND
THAT TERRIFYING MASK HE WORE.

ZEKE
Wait a minute, I’m your boyfriend? Are we gonna have to kiss? That’s gross, you’re like my
sister.

BROOKE
Zeke, it’s called acting.
 42

AND THOUGH HE WAS HIDEOUS

AND SHE WAS PERFECTION,
THROUGH MUSIC THEY FOUND THEIR CONNECTION,
A BOND BEYOND THEIR OWN CONTROL.

ZEKE
You better not get sick; I am NOT kissing Tina!

BROOKE
AND THOUGH HIS FACE TORMENTED HER AND CHILLED HER,
HIS COMPOSITIONS HAUNTED HER AND THRILLED HER.
HIS MESMORIZING MELODIES FULFILLED HER, MADE HER WHOLE—

ALL (minus ZEKE)

THE SOUNDS OF A TORTURED SOUL.

ZEKE
She was beautiful, and he was hideous…ok so this IS Beauty and the Beast?

BROOKE
Zeke, less talking. More listening. Cause here’s where it gets interesting.

BROOKE
EZZY HAS ANOTHER MAN, SOME
GUY NAMED RAOUL WHO’S TALL AND HANDSOME
AND NOT ALL THAT PLEASED ABOUT HER LATEST BEAU.

ZEKE
Ah, always a triangle.

BROOKE
ANGRILY RAOUL TRACKS HIM
TO HIS LAIR, WHERE HE ATTACKS HIM
AND THEY BATTLE IN THE PASSAGEWAY BELOW.

ZEKE
Awesome!

BROOKE
AND WHEN HE TOOK HIS LAST BREATH,
THE PHANTOM WELCOMED HIS DEATH;
HE’D RATHER DIE THAN LIVE APART.
 43

WHEN IT WAS OVER AND DONE,

RAOUL HAD KILLED HIM, HE’D WON,
BUT HE’D LOST ESMERELDA’S HEART.
CAUSE THOUGH HE WAS PRETTY, YES, AND A KEEPER,

BROOKE
THE PHANTOM’S LOVE WAS SO MUCH DEEPER.
A LOSS THAT NOTHING COULD CONSOLE.
NO MORE SHE’D SEE THAT FACE THAT ONCE HAD CHILLED HER.
NO MORE SHE’D HEAR THAT MUSIC THAT FULFILLED HER,
AND PEOPLE SAY THAT THAT’S THE THING THAT KILLED HER, ON THE WHOLE.

She ran away and was never seen again. But get this:

WHEN THEY RETURNED TO FIND THE PHANTOM AND UNMASK IT,

BROOKE
THEY NEVER FOUND A BODY FOR THE CASKET.
THEY SAY HE HAD
DEPENDING WHO YOU ASK IT-
ONE LAST GOAL…

ZEKE
One last goal?

BROOKE
TO THIS DAY, INSIDE THAT THEATRE, OR NEAR IT,
IF YOU LISTEN VERY CLOSELY YOU CAN HEAR IT—
THE SONGS OF A TORTURED SPIRIT’S FINAL ROLE.
THE SOUNDS OF A TORTURED SOUL.

BROOKE
That’s the basic plot, anyway.

ZEKE
So it’s about a person who died at a theatre and then haunts it forever.

BROOKE
Yes.

ZEKE
Brooke! That’s just like the story Ms. Walker told! This play is just like the story of our school.
That is so… Meta. Man.
 44

NEW SCENE
(Emile enters to look at the platform/elevator. Because he is a credible employee of the school.
Not a guilty bad guy who is up to no good. He’s a helpful janitor. Play him as such. However, he
sees Tina working and decides to come back later. What a guy! BRIAN then enters as TINA is
attempting to focus the lights. BRIAN’S partially finished backdrop is visible. Tina has a special
focused on the trap/door/elevator area…which BRIAN actively avoids standing on. Makes sense.
MS. WALKER said she wasn’t sure it’s safe and he’s a careful young man from Indiana. Of
course it is not helpful to draw any overt or undue attention to these ‘Brian Easter Eggs’. They
exist for people who see the play multiple times. They are not there as obvious clues. That Brian
is just a regular kid. But you knew that.)

BRIAN
Hey, Tina, Ms. Walker said you needed help.

TINA
I said I needed a body. You’ll do though. I need to check all these lights. Go over there and
stand in your light.

BRIAN
Here?

TINA
No. In the light.

BRIAN
Here?

TINA
No. In your light. Brian, is it? It’s a thousand-watt bulb pointed at you. You should be able to
feel it.

BRIAN
Sorry. We didn’t have this much equipment at my old school.

TINA
Hey, what is that in your hand?

BRIAN
It’s cool right? It’s a really old book. I found it on a table over there.
 45

TINA
Brian, that’s a prop for the show. What did I say about touching props?

BRIAN
To, um…don’t?

TINA
That’s correct, Brian. That is not your prop. Put it back. You know what. I think I’m good here.
Thanks for your help.

BRIAN
Of course. Sorry I wasn’t more helpful.

(enter MS. WALKER and BROOKE and the rest of the cast minus ZEKE)

BRIAN (continued)
Hi Brooke!

BROOKE
Oh, hi Brian!

BROOKE/BRIAN (in unison)

So were you- oh, sorry. No, you go. No, really you. Aaahhhh!

MS. WALKER
All right, quiet you two. Everyone gather round. A couple of announcements before we begin.
Tina, report!

TINA
Everything is going pretty well. Scenery is coming along. When Brian isn’t touching props he
shouldn’t, he is painting the backdrop (Tina references said backsdrop) and I’m working on the
lights and the trap door. I’ll be sorting out a few light cues while you rehearse today.

MS. WALKER
Excellent! Now, let’s get to work! Has anyone seen Zeke? Brooke?

BROOKE
I don’t know where he is, Ms. Walker.

MS. WALKER
Well we can’t wait all day. Now, Brooke, Let’s work top of page 46, the scene with Raoul. Ok,
let’s try it. With spirit!

BROOKE
 46

Ok. Let’s see. “I can not tell you for would not believe me! You have lost faith in me, Raoul; it is
finished!"

(blackout)

MS. WALKER (in the dark)

Tina!

TINA
Sorry! Going to black!

(lights come back on)

MS. WALKER
Ok. Let’s start again.

BROOKE
“I came to tell you, dear, but I can't tell you now...you would not believe me! You have lost
faith in me, Raoul; it is finished!"”

(another blackout)

MS. WALKER
Tina!

TINA
That wasn’t me!

(a single spot light comes on upstage, above the actors. The phantom is there)

THE PHANTOM (in an ominous, altered voice)

Stay away from my home sweet home! Stay away from my home sweet home!

(Ms. Walker screams and runs out first. Because Adults getting scared is fun. Then the students
follow suit and scream and exit.. Blackout )

Optional Intermission break

Next scene- The next day

ZEKE (practicing his lines)

“I hear every performance. Your singing was magical tonight”.
 47

(Enter BROOKE)
ZEKE (cont)--Hey, how was rehearsal yesterday?

BROOKE
Terrible. Thanks to you.

ZEKE
What do you mean, thanks to me? (Innocently) What did I do?

BROOKE
You didn’t scare me. Not one bit. But you did manage to get in big trouble with Ms. Walker for
what you did at rehearsal.

ZEKE
How can I be in trouble when I wasn’t even there?

BROOKE
You were there long enough.

ZEKE
Brooke, I WAS AT the dentist. I told Ms. Walker that I wasn’t going to be there. AND WHY.

BROOKE
Ms. Walker said she didn’t know where you were.

ZEKE
She must have forgot. You know how she is.

BROOKE
So it wasn’t you? Was it you? Everyone thinks it was you. Tell me the truth.

ZEKE
I told you. I was at the dentist.

BROOKE
Were you really?

(ZEKE just smiles his toothiest grin at her, showing all the great work that dentist must have
done. BROOKE doesn’t buy it.)

BROOKE
You did do it, didn’t you? You did it and then hurried off to the dentist?
 48

Ms. Walker Enters.

MS. WALKER
Zeke! Come practice your final song!

BROOKE (following)
Zeke! Tell me the truth!

ZEKE
I’m sorry, Brooke. I need to go practice. I’m a very serious actor.

(Brian enters)

BRIAN/BROOKE
Hi Brian- Hi- how are- no you go- Aaaah.

BRIAN
You go.

BROOKE
So how’s it going with Tina?

BRIAN
Pretty good. She’s pretty bossy. And not that nice. But she’s letting me design the backdrop
pretty much by myself. So that’s nice. Did Zeke work things out with Ms. Walker?

BROOKE
I don’t know. He said he was at the dentist the whole time.

BRIAN
Do you think he did it? Disrupting rehearsal with that creepy stuff yesterday?

BROOKE.
Yep.

BRIAN
Really?

BROOKE
Zeke has always liked scaring people. Even when we were little. But I don’t scare so easily.

BRIAN
And how are you feeling about the play?
 49

BROOKE.
Oh, I don’t know. I’m not sure I’m getting it.

BRIAN
I think you’re amazing. I could watch you all day.

BROOKE
Oh, um… Thank you. That’s actually really nice to hear.

BRIAN
So… I was wondering

BROOKE
Yes?

MS. WALKER
I need Brooke and Zeke on stage please. For blocking.

ZEKE (re-entering)
Right. Blocking. What’s that again?

TINA
Where we move! Is this your first play?

ZEKE
No. It’s my second play. It’s just my first play where I’m paying attention. Also I have seen a
whole lot of plays.

TINA
Like what?

MS. WALKER
Students could we get back to work, please.

ZEKE
I saw Cats. And Grease. And last year my parents took me to an awesome creepy Shakespeare
play called Macbeth.

TINA
AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH
What is wrong with you?????

ZEKE
What?
 50

TINA
We are in a theatre! You can’t say the name of that play in a theatre.

ZEKE
What play? Macbeth?

TINA
Please make him stop!

BROOKE
You’re supposed to say “The Scottish Play.”

ZEKE
Ok, ok. I’m sorry. Let’s just rehearse. I won’t say Mac-

TINA
Zeke!

ZEKE
Sorry. The Scottish play. This is really stupid, you know.

MS. WALKER
I’m afraid it has a long tradition in the theatre. Just say the Scottish Play and avoid the drama
when doing the drama.

ZEKE
Do you believe this, Brooke?

BROOKE
No way, but most theatre people are easier to scare than I am. In real life there’s always an
explanation.

TINA
I’m so glad you aren’t actually superstitious. Good luck, Brooke!

MS. WALKER
Tina! We never say ‘good luck.’ Saying good luck is bad luck.

ZEKE
Ms. Walker! I thought you didn’t believe in superstitions and curses.

MS. WALKER
 51

I don’t. Curses and superstitions have no basis in fact and are likely silly. Except for these. These
are real. May we get back to work now? Zeke and Brooke come here. Tina as well. As Brooke’s
understudy, you need to know the blocking. Zeke’s understudy is at the dentist. Seems we can’t
have one rehearsal without someone being at the dentist. It’s all that soda you drink. Rotting
your teeth. In any case let’s go to page 50. Brooke you are here. You will say your line on my
mark….and Begin.

ZEKE
Ms. Walker?

MS. WALKER
What is it, Zeke?

ZEKE
May I go to the bathroom?

MS. WALKER
Now? It’s all that soda you drink. I swear it is! Oh, all right. Zeke first, but hurry. This is the scene
where the Phantom appears.

(BROOKE moves upstage while ZEKE exits.)

BROOKE (sensing something strange)

Um…

TINA
“Is somebody down there” That’s your line.

BROOKE
I know. It’s just…

(The Phantom appears above the stage.)

BROOKE
How did you do that?

MS. WALKER
That’s very close Brooke. But the line is “Is somebody down there?”

TINA
That wasn’t close at all.

BROOKE
 52

No. Really. What are you doing up there?

(Everyone turns to look. Lights flicker and everyone looks up…and the Phantom swings down- on
a rope as your theatre allows- and speaks directly to Brooke)

THE PHANTOM
Stay away! Stay away from my Home Sweet Home!

(Lights flicker and everyone looks up…and the Phantom disappears. Brooke collapses to the floor
and all rush around her)

ZEKE (re-entering)
Brooke!

MS. WALKER
See what you did with all of your Scottish play talk.

TINA
Real mature, Zeke!

ZEKE
What are you talking about? What happened?

TINA
Ms. Walker, I am prepared to go on for Brooke right away. I know all the lines.

BROOKE (waking)
What happened?

MS. WALKER
I think you must have fainted. Are you dehydrated? Have you been drinking a lot of soda?

BROOKE
Zeke, was that you?

ZEKE
No, I was in the bathroom.

TINA
That’s very convenient, Zeke.

ZEKE
What’s that supposed to mean?
 53

TINA
You leave and then The Phantom appears; The Phantom disappears and you show up. Admit it!
It was another one of your stupid pranks!

MS. WALKER
Hmmmm.

ZEKE
I didn’t do anything.

BROOKE
Then who was that yelling?

MS. WALKER
I don’t know. But I am going to find out. Zeke! Did you do this?

ZEKE
I didn’t do anything! I swear!

TINA
Maybe he didn’t. Maybe it’s the real ghost. The ghost of the school. And he’s trying to stop the
show. Just like the legend says.

BROOKE
Maybe it was. There was something creepy about him.

MS. WALKER
Everyone! Listen up! Rehearsal is cancelled for today while I take Brooke to the nurse. Everyone
look at your lines and we will meet back here tomorrow. (as she exits) Great Grandmother, I am
trying. I swear.

(lights fade to black as an ominous laugh echoes in the distance)

 54

7. UNDERSTUDY BUDDY
TINA:
HEY BROOKE
JUST CALLING TO SAY
I’M SO SORRY YOUR BEST FRIEND TRIED TO RUIN THE PLAY.
YOU LOOKED SPOOKED ABOUT THAT PHANTOM THING,
SO THOUGHT I’D GIVE YOU A RING TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY.

JUST CAUSE, I’M LIKE A REALLY GOOD FRIEND.

AND I CARE ABOUT YOU, BROOKE,
SO DON’T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY,
I DON’T MEAN TO OFFEND,
BUT IF YOU FEEL AS BAD AS YOU LOOK, THEN:

TAKE YOUR TIME. DON’T RUSH BACK.

I CAN COVER ESMERELDA’S TRACK WHILE YOU’RE GONE.
AND I’LL SEND YOU GOOD VIBES WHILE I TAKE THE LEAD. (Ha ha…literally!…just kidding…)

DON’T WORRY, BROOKE—I CAN HANDLE IT.

AND EVERY NIGHT, I’LL SAY A PRAYER AND KEEP A CANDLE LIT FOR YOU.
YOUR COVER’S GOT IT COVERED,
SO TAKE ALL THE TIME YOU NEED.
LIKE A WEEK.
OR A MONTH
OR A YEAR
OR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
JUST KIDDING!
(Enter Ms. Walker. In her bag or in her hand is the content of the package she received earlier in
the play. Remember that moment? What was that all about? It seemed odd at the time. It is a
stuffed or plastic fish. I guess she is a collector or something. Also the fish is red. And probably a
herring.)
TINA
Hi, Ms. Walker. Tough rehearsal, huh?

MS. WALKER
Oh Tina. I just don’t know what to do.

TINA
I know. Brooke’s just not cutting it. Don’t worry. I’m ready to take over.
 55

MS. WALKER
No, Tina. It’s Brooke’s part. Brooke is Esmerelda and you are the understudy. And it’s not her
fault that…someone is disturbing rehearsals.

TINA
But-

MS. WALKER
No, Tina. Now, where’s Zeke?
(Ms. Walker exits)

TINA
HEY BROOKE,
HOPE YOU’RE DOING FINE.
FIGURED I’D DROP A LINE. (Not literally, ha-ha…cause I totally know all your lines.)

HOW’RE YOU FEELING, BROOKE?

THE RUMOR BACK STAGE IS YOU CAUGHT THAT CONTAGEOUS
NEW FLU… something swine? I don’t know…

WELL, HOPE YOU’RE GETTING SOME REST.

IT BREAKS MY HEART THAT YOU’RE NOT WELL, YOU
KNOW, CAUSE I’M NICE. AND PRETTY MUCH THE BEST.
WHICH IS WHY I SHOULD PROBABLY BE THE ONE TO TELL YOU:

TAKE YOUR TIME. YOU LOOKED AWFUL.

YOU NEED SLEEP. STAY HOME AND HAVE A WAFFLE (OR TWO).
LET ME KNOW IF I SHOULD TELL MS. WALKER YOU QUIT. NO ONE WOULD BLAME YOU A BIT!

NO NEED TO SAY THANK YOU. THE ADVICE IS FREE.

BESIDES, I KNOW YOU’D DO THE SAME FOR ME, AND MORE,
CAUSE HEY, WHAT’S AN UNDERSTUDY BUDDY FOR?

(Enter Ms. Walker)

TINA
Hi, Ms. Walker!
 56

MS. WALKER
No, Tina.

TINA
I am so ready!

MS. WALKER
No, Tina.

TINA
But-

MS. WALKER
No, Tina.
(Ms. Walker exits)

BUT SERIOUSLY,
TAKE YOUR TIME. WATCH YOUR BACK.
I mean…DON’T RUSH BACK.
I mean… you know what?

DON’T COME BACK! LIKE, AT ALL.

I’M SURE THEY’LL DO ANOTHER PLAY NEXT FALL.
BUT IF YOU CARE ABOUT THIS SHOW, DON’T COME BACK! YOU’RE NOT READY!
STAY IN BED WITH YOUR TEDDY!
BROOKE, I’LL MISS YOU. I REALLY WILL.
CAUSE YOURS ARE LITERALLY REALLY BIG SHOES TO FILL,
NO OFFENSE.
(NOT TO MENTION SO LAST YEAR AND KINDA SWEATY.)

SO SINCE YOU’RE FEELING UNSTEADY,

AND I KNOW YOU HAVE THE PLAY’S BEST INTERESTS AT HEART,
LET ME DO YOU A FAVOR AND TAKE YOUR PART.
AND IF I STINK AS YOUR STAND-IN FOR THE PHANTOM’S LOVER,
AT LEAST NO ONE’S GONNA JUDGE YOU, BROOKE, BY YOUR COVER!

BUT I’LL BE GREAT, OF COURSE, TO MAKE YOU PROUD.

AND I VOW TO THINK OF YOU EACH NIGHT WHEN I BOW TO THE CROWD
AND I’M WOWED BY JUST HOW DARN LOUD THEY ROAR!
 57

CAUSE HEY, WHAT’S AN UNDERSTUDY BUDDY FOR?

OH, BY THE WAY….

THIS IS TINA.
GOODBYE.
 58

Next scene: The next day

BRIAN
How are you feeling?

BROOKE
Fine.

BRIAN
That was pretty creepy. Do they know who that was in the Phantom costume?

BROOKE
No.

BRIAN
Are things always this weird at this school?

BROOKE
No. I mean there’s always been the legend of a ghost in the school. But I’ve never heard of
anything actually happening. Well, the show must go on. I’m playing that part. No one is going
to scare me off. It’s my time.

BRIAN
There ya go. Want to see the backdrop for the show? I finished it last night.

BROOKE
Sure!

(ZEKE enters)

BROOKE (continued)
Hey Zeke! Brian’s going to show me the backdrop he painted.

ZEKE
Um…Cool.

BROOKE
What’s wrong?

ZEKE
Nothing. I promise. Let’s see it.
 59

(BRIAN lowers or swings out the backdrop as your production allows. Painted on the backdrop is
‘STAY AWAY FROM MY HOME SWEET HOME’)

BROOKE/ZEKE/ BRIAN
Whoa! What the- Nooo!

BRIAN
Do you think this is funny? I put a lot of work into that backdrop.

ZEKE
I didn’t do it!

BRIAN
Oh yes, I’m sure.

ZEKE
Brooke, look me in the eyes. I swear I didn’t do this. Or any of it.

BRIAN
Brooke?

BROOKE
I believe him, Brian. Zeke loves to scare people, but he would never do something like this.

(MS. WALKER and TINA enter)

MS. WALKER
What in the world? What happened to the backdrop? “Stay away from my Home Sweet
Home?”

TINA
Oh gee, I wonder who did this… Any thoughts Zeke? “Stay away from my Home Sweet Home?”
Isn’t that what you yelled at rehearsal?

ZEKE
Tina, why are you here?

TINA
Um, I don’t know, maybe because I run back stage? The real question is why are you here?

BRIAN
I was showing it to them.

MS. WALKER
 60

Zeke, do you have something you’d like to tell me?

ZEKE
Whoa- I wouldn’t do something like this!

BROOKE
It’s true, Ms. Walker. He wouldn’t.

TINA
Look! A trail! Little drops of red paint. I bet it leads to whoever did this!
(they follow the ‘trail’ invisible to us or effect by lights around the stage until they arrive at the
bank of lockers) Locker 172

BROOKE
172? Oh. boy.

BRIAN
What is it?

TINA
Yeah, what is it… Zeke?

ZEKE
172 is my locker.

MS. WALKER
Zeke Matthews! Open this locker immediately!

ZEKE
No way! I have rights!

MS. WALKER
Yes, you have the right to remain silent and open this locker.

(ZEKE complies. Inside his locker is a can of red paint)

TINA
I knew it!

BROOKE
Zeke!
 61

MS. WALKER
Zeke Matthews! This time you’ve gone too far.

ZEKE
I didn’t do it. I don’t know how that got there. I swear!

MS. WALKER
Well if you didn’t do it, who did? And how did this paint can get into your locker?

ZEKE
Why not ask Tina? She’s the one with access to the paint. Or Emile! He’s probably got keys to
everything!

MS. WALKER
Who?

ZEKE
Emile, the Night Janitor.

MS. WALKER
What? There is no night janitor.

(Brooke and Zeke exchange furtive glances. They need to be furtive or the moment just doesn’t
work. Like, at all)

So Zeke, care to explain how this can of paint ended up in your locker?

Song: Whodunit?
ZEKE
I don’t know! You have to believe me!

MS. WALKER
Frankly I don’t know what to believe. Zeke, you are out of the play till further notice.

ZEKE
But?

MS. WALKER
No buts! Principal Kirkham and I will be discussing this with your parents. And deciding if we
have to cancel the play.

BROOKE
Cancel the play? No!
 62

MS. WALKER
I may not have a choice. And, Zeke, we will also discuss what other punishments might be
appropriate. If it is proven that you did this, you’ll be lucky if you don’t get suspended. Or
worse.

Exits with Tina

ZEKE:
Suspended? Or worse? What’s worse than suspension? Expulsion? Jail? I mean… What the
what?!?

ZEKE
I’VE GOT TO TAKE A STAND
BEFORE THIS GETS ME BANNED!

BROOKE
IT’S GETTING OUT OF HAND—I MEAN, LIKE, VERY.

ZEKE
THE STORY’S GOTTEN SCARY.
MY OUTLOOK’S GOTTEN WARY.

BRIAN
TO PUT IT KIND OF BALDLY,
YOUR CONUNDRUM’S GOTTEN HAIRY!

ZEKE
NOW THERE IS BUT ONE SOLUTION
TO PREVENT MY PROSECUTION

BRIAN
RIGHT NOW, ALL ARROWS POINT TO YOU!

BROOKE
IT’S TRUE.

ZEKE
SO WE’VE GOTTA THINK IT ALL THROUGH
AND SOLVE THE MYSTERY!

BROOKE
REVEAL THE PHANTOM’S HISTORY!
 63

BRIAN
I KNOW! LET’S MAKE A LIST TO RECONSIDER EVERY CLUE.

ALL
SOMEONE’S BEHIND IT ALL--
BUT WHO?

(during the following sequence, they should generate sketches of the three suspects)

BROOKE
Brian’s right. Let’s analyze the suspects. Number one: Emile, the scary fake night janitor.

HE’S CREEPY, WEIRD, AND VICIOUS,

AND WHAT’S EVEN MORE SUSPICIOUS IS
HE LIED RIGHT TO OUR FACE.

BUT WHAT COULD BE HIS MOTIVE?

AND WITH ACCESS TO A LOAD OF
CLEANING STUFF, WHY LEAVE A TRACE?

ZEKE
To frame me!

HE MIGHT NOT BE INVOLVED.

THE EVIDENCE IS SLIM.
BUT UNTIL WE HAVE A BETTER SUSPECT,
ALL ARROWS POINT TO HIM!

BRIAN
He does seem like a likely suspect.

BROOKE
Yes he does, Brian. But let’s not forget about Tina.

BRIAN
I admit that Tina is a little high strung. And obsessive. And mean. But she’s also very-

ZEKE
Brian is right! Tina is all of those things!

BRIAN
But I also think she is rather committed to-
 64

ZEKE
Good call, Brian. I think it could be Tina.

BRIAN
But-

ZEKE
Tina! Yes, it’s totally possible.

SHE’S ANGRY, NOT OUR BUDDY.

DOESN’T WANT TO UNDERSTUDY,
AND SHE’S GOT A VICIOUS STREAK.

BRIAN
IT FITS UNTIL YOU FACTOR
THAT TO BE THE LEADING ACTOR
SHE’D NEED BROOKE KICKED OUT, NOT ZEKE.

ZEKE
SHE MIGHT NOT BE INVOLVED.
IT’S LESS PROOF THAN I’D PREFER.
BUT UNTIL WE HAVE A BETTER SUSPECT,
ALL ARROWS POINT TO HER!

BROOKE
Okay. So we have two suspects. Emile and Tina.

ZEKE
Yes, Brooke dear. But you’re forgetting one important fact.

BRIAN
What’s that??

ZEKE
In stories like this, it’s always the one you least suspect!

BROOKE
But in real life, I think we should probably investigate the person we most suspect.

ZEKE
But who is the person we least suspect? Ms. Walker? She’s been acting pretty strangely.
 65

BRIAN
Brooke!

BROOKE
What?

BRIAN
Brooke is the one I least suspect. She has no reason to do it and there is lots of evidence that
she couldn’t be the Phantom. And I can’t imagine she would want to frame you.

ZEKE
That’s true. You make a good point, Brian. Maybe it could be Brooke…

BROOKE
Zeke!

ZEKE
Brooke, Brooke, Brooke!

STRANGE AS YOU MAY FIND IT,

OFTEN TIMES THE ONE BEHIND IT
IS THE ONE YOU LEAST SUSPECT.

SHE SEEMS SO SWEET AND INNOCENT

WHILE SCHEMING, DEEP WITHIN, A SECRET
PLAN TO HAVE ME WRECKED!

SHE MIGHT NOT BE INVOLVED.

SHE’S LIKELY NOT A CROOK.
BUT UNTIL WE HAVE A BETTER SUSPECT,
ALL ARROWS POINT TO –

No, this is stupid, it’s not Brooke.

BROOKE
Thank you, Zeke. That’s very big of you.

ZEKE
But I need to clear my name. Right now.

BRIAN
But how can you do that?

ZEKE
 66

Investigate!

BROOKE
So…? Who should we investigate? What should we do?

BRIAN
I think the most obvious suspect is this Emile character. He is beyond suspicious.

BROOKE
There’s one other possibility.

ZEKE
A real phantom? Hmmm.

ZEKE
Somebody is “haunting’ this school. And it isn’t me. We need proof. And I think I know where to
start looking.

BROOKE
You don’t mean-

ZEKE
Yep. This all started when we went down the elevator. We need to go back down the trap door.
And get proof that there's a Phantom

ZEKE
TO PREVENT MY PROSECUTION,

BRIAN AND BROOKE

AND PROCURE YOUR ABSOLUTION,

ZEKE
I HAVE NO CHOICE
IT’S CRYSTAL CLEAR WHAT I MUST DO.

BROOKE
IT’S UP TO YOU.

ZEKE
I GOTTA GUM MY OWN SHOE
TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY!
 67

BROOKE
PROVE THE PHANTOM’S HISTORY!

BRIAN
BRAVE ANY TWIST OR EVIL PLOT THAT MIGHT ENSUE

ALL
TO PROVE THE PHANTOM TALE IS TRUE.

SOMEONE’S BEHIND THIS—

AND WE’RE GONNA FIND OUT WHO!

End
 68

New Scene-Platform/ In the sub-basement

BRIAN
So you guys want me to stay here and stand guard?

BROOKE (installing the lever)

We’re all going down. See what we can find that might clear Zeke.

ZEKE
C’mon Brian.

BRIAN
I don’t know about this. I’m not sure I’m comfortable-

BROOKE
Hey... Come on-for me? I mean us. For us.

BRIAN
Ok. For you. (steps onto platform)

ZEKE
Seriously? (pulls the lever and down they go)
Lights shift as the elevator “descends”

BRIAN
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

ZEKE
Don’t worry, Brian. First time’s the hardest. Feel free to scream some more if you need to.

BROOKE
Zeke!

BRIAN
I’m fine.

BRIAN (as the elevator comes to a stop)

What is this place?

BROOKE
This is where the elevator platform goes. Zeke and I came down here once.

ZEKE
Now to find this Phantom.
 69

BRIAN
But the Phantom, if there is a Phantom, is a ghost. How do we find a ghost?

ZEKE
We’ll find him. Or her.

BROOKE
Her?

ZEKE
You never know.

(The trio, armed only with flashlights, shine their lights around the stage.)

ZEKE (as though calling for a dog)

Here, Phantom, Phantom, Phantom. Here, boy! Come out, come out wherever you are!

BROOKE
You’re making jokes?

ZEKE
Just trying to keep you two from getting too scared.

BRIAN
Hey- look at that!

(BRIAN’s light is pointing at a table and chair, where someone has recently been eating
breakfast. Specifically there is a box of Cheerios. We aren’t sure why audiences love seeing a box
of Cheerios on a table in the spooky subbasement…but they LOVE it. A tattered jacket hangs on
the back of the chair. BROOKE moves to the table to inspect)

BROOKE
Someone’s been eating cheerios. Recently. Do ghosts eat cheerios?

ZEKE
Yeah. They’re cereal killers. (whispering)

(Emile approaches behind them. Any earlier kills the joke.)

BROOKE
But, seriously, this is really strange.

BRIAN
 70

Indeed.

EMILE
You just couldn’t leave it alone.

BRIAN/BROOKE/ZEKE
AAAAAAHHHHH

EMILE
What are you kids doing here? I told you to stay away! This is my home!

ZEKE
Yeah? Well, you also told us you were the night janitor.

BROOKE
And Ms. Walker told us there is no night janitor.

BRIAN
Are…are you the Phantom?

EMILE
You kids. There is no Phantom. I just thought I could use that old legend to keep you away from
my home. But I guess it didn’t work. Why are you here after all my warnings?

BROOKE
What warnings?

EMILE
The note. The painting on the backdrop. Can’t you kids take a hint?

ZEKE
Everyone thinks that was me! I could be in a lot of trouble!

EMILE
I can’t help that. I needed you to stay away from my home.

BRIAN
You keep saying that: “Home”

EMILE
I live down here. Have for years. School laid me off for budget cuts. But I knew about this place.
I know everything about this school. (ominously) Everything. I got nowhere else to go. Got no
real home. Except this. Then you kids start snooping around, fit to ruin everything.
 71

Song: My Home Sweet Home

EMILE:
ALL I EVER WANTED WAS A QUIET PLACE,
WHERE I COULD BE ALONE IN MY OWN LITTLE SPACE.
BUT THEN I LOST MY JOB, COULDN’T PAY MY RENT,
I LOST MY HOME AND HAD BARELY A CENT.

I WAS OUT ON THE STREET.

HAD NOTHING TO EAT.
THOUGHT I’D COME AND LIVE HERE TIL I GOT BACK ON MY FEET,
KEEP TO MYSELF AND STAY
OUT OF EVERYBODY’S WAY.
BUT THEN ONE DAY YOU KIDS RUINED IT ALL WITH YOUR PLAY.

NOW JUST LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE!

THIS PLACE ISN’T MUCH, BUT IT WAS THE ONE
THING LEFT THAT I COULD CALL MY OWN.
WHY COULDN’T YOU LEAVE IT ALONE?
NOTHING TO SEE HERE, JUST A DIRTY OLD COT.
BUT IT’S MY HOME,
MY HOME SWEET HOME,
AND IT’S ALL THAT I GOT.

EMILE
Now what am gonna do with you? Can’t have you tellin’ people I’m down here.

ZEKE
We won’t tell a soul.

EMILE
No. I don’t imagine you will.

(Emile takes a step toward the trio)

BROOKE/ZEKE/BRIAN
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

BROOKE
Run!
(The trio run away)

EMILE
Wait! Wait! I didn’t mean…
 72

( An underscored chase ensues. During the chase, Zeke takes a break to eat the cheerios. Emile
finds him. ZEKE hands the Cheerios to EMILE which he decides to eat. ZEKE runs. EMILE realizes
the folly of this and chases ZEKE, who rejoins BRIAN and BROOKE)

Blackout
 73

New Scene:

MS. WALKER
Well, students, the police searched the sub-basement.
, if Emile or anyone else was living down there, they didn’t leave any evidence.

BROOKE
What about the Cheerios? Did they find the Cheerios? Or any of that other stuff? (MS. WALKER
shrugs)

MS. WALKER
If anything was down there, it has all just…disappeared.

BROOKE
I swear we saw him. Twice.

MS. WALKER
As all three of you have the same story, I am inclined to believe you.

ZEKE
I can’t believe that all this time the ghost sabotaging the play was just---. I was almost starting
to think there was a real ghost.

BROOKE
Me too.

MS. WALKER
In any case, Zeke, you are in the clear. And, yes, back in the play…Although

BRIAN
Yes?

MS. WALKER
Maybe we should just cancel it. I just thought it would be a nice thing, finish what my ancestor
started.

BROOKE
No, Ms. Walker. The show must go on. Ms. Walker?

MS. WALKER (seeing the earnest need to do the play on BROOKE’s face)
The show will… proceed. For now.
 74

NEXT SCENE: Opening Night

(The scene begins with the mad chaotic energy of Opening Night as students enter and exit the
backstage area. Perhaps students are practicing sword fighting or fake deaths…terribly. Perhaps
a student is doing a series of large physical and vocal warm ups Perhaps Tina enters to stop all
of these activities. Or perhaps you have an even funnier idea. The above are just some fun
options for you to consider should you need to cover BROOKE’S costume change or accomplish a
scene change. But most important, it will help to return the play to a state of middle school
whimsy. Ya know, now that the whole Phantom story line is resolved. We realize that it seems a
little early for that to be over and done with but… that is just one of the many things that makes
this script so original and neat.)

TINA
All right everyone! You should have done this already, but if you didn’t this is your last chance.
So check your props! And only your props. Don’t touch other people’s props. You hear that,
Brian? Ok, people. This is your five-minute call.
(BROOKE enters, in costume)

BROOKE
Thank you, five.

TINA
So…break a leg, Brooke.

BROOKE
Thanks, Tina. I’m actually a little nervous.

TINA
Don’t be. You’re… really great in the show.

BROOKE
Really?

TINA
Yeah, I mean ever since all that drama stopped, the last few weeks of rehearsal have actually
been... sort of normal. And you’re doing a good job.

BROOKE
(beat) Why are you being so nice to me?

TINA (consideringthis)
Hmmm. I don’t know. It’s opening night. And I did a lot of work on this show. I want it to be
good.

BROOKE
 75

Well…thanks. Have you seen Zeke?

TINA
He was the first one here. When I got here he was already in full costume, mask and all. I guess
now that an audience is coming, he’s suddenly some kind of serious method actor.

BROOKE
Um, ok. Well, see you after the show.

TINA
Sure. (looks at her watch) And that’s places!

BROOKE
Thank you, places. Ok… (to herself) I can do this.
(They exit. ZEKE enters in Costume. The PHANTOM enters, grabs ZEKE and drags him off stage.)
 76

NEW SCENE- The Performance

FATHER (voiceover)
Be careful, child. There is a terrible Phantom who haunts this theatre.

ESMERELDA
I do not believe you father. You are only trying to scare and control me.

MS WALKER
This one’s for you, Great Grandmother!

Transition and passage of time

ESMERALDA
Phantom, is that you? Are you coming to see me?
(The Phantom enters in a mass of fog. There is applause from the audience)
Oh, Phantom! Did you hear tonight’s performance?

PHANTOM
I hear every performance. Your singing was magical tonight.
(Again…Alter this voice all you need to. Keep the mystery alive. We believe in you.)

ESMERALDA
Thank you for your inspiration.

BROOKE (in stage whispers) Who are you? Where’s Zeke?

PHANTOM
(also in stage whispers) Please trust me.

(The PHANTOM extends his hand. BROOKE considers, slowly nods, and takes his hand. The
PHANTOM returns to his stage voice)

BROOKE
Oh, Phantom! Why do you hide your face? I wish to see you.

PHANTOM
My music is my gift. My face, my curse. I prefer you only see my gift.

Transition and passage of time. Cut to the wings.

TINA
 77

Is it me, or has Zeke gotten a lot better?

MS WALKER
It’s… remarkable.

ESMERALDA
Phantom, is that you? Are you coming to see me? Oh, Phantom! I… love you. And now we can
be together at last!

PHANTOM
But what of Raoul?

ESMERALDA
I only love you, Phantom.

TINA
Even Brooke is good. It’s like a theatre miracle.

MS WALKER
Tina! Shush.

ESMERALDA
Why do you haunt this theatre? Please tell me your story. I will not be afraid.

PHANTOM
My story is a sad one. You might even call it tragic, my dear Esmerelda.
Are you certain you wish to hear it?

ESMERELDA
Please, continue.
 78

11. My Story
(One last time: a disguised voice here is preferable to a pretty voice. Even the composer begs
you to act with this in mind. And that dude LOVES pretty voices)
PHANTOM
MY STORY IS A SAD ONE.
TRAGIC, ONE MIGHT SAY.
IT BEGINS LONG AGO, WHEN I, LIKE YOU,
WAS CAST IN A SCARY PLAY.

THE PLAY WAS TO BE ON THIS VERY STAGE.

I WAS TO LEAD A FIRST-RATE CAST.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE!
INSTEAD, IT WOULD BE THE LAST!

FOR MY TRAP DOOR WAS LEFT AJAR,

AND IN THE DARK I STEPPED TOO FAR.
AND I PLUNGED DOWN A DEEP AND NARROW HOLE.

I BECAME A REAL PHANTOM,

BUT NEVER WANTED
TO MAKE THIS PLACE SEEM HAUNTED--
JUST MY CHANCE TO PERFORM MY STARRING ROLE.

AND NOW I’VE

DONE WHAT I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR,
YET I’M TORN ONCE MORE,
FOR I DIDN’T EXPECT TO FIND
SOMEONE WHO MAKES ME FEEL
THE WAY YOU DO.
ALL AT ONCE,
I’M OLD AND YET BRAND NEW,
DEAD BUT SO ALIVE,
AND IT’S ALL BECAUSE OF …YOU,
Esmerelda.

CAUSE YOU’RE KIND AND SMART AND SILLY,

AND WHEN YOU SMILE, EVEN A REALLY
GHOSTLY WIND SEEMS NOT SO CHILLY.

SO MANY LONELY YEARS IT TOOK UNTIL WE MET, AND YET,

MEETING YOU, MY ESMERELDA,
WAS WORTH THE TERRIBLE PRICE I HAD TO PAY.
AND THOUGH I WISH THAT I COULD STAY,
 79

I FEAR I REALLY MUST BE GOING.

I’VE FOUND MY PEACE AT LAST, JUST KNOWING
I’VE FINALLY PLAYED THE PART THAT I WAS BORN TO PLAY,
SAID THE LINES I’VE WAITED YEARS TO SAY.
AND UNTIL YOU AND I MAY
MEET AGAIN SOME DISTANT DAY,

THANK YOU,
FOR GIVING ME AN ENDING
TO MY TRAGIC PLAY.

(To BROOKE alone) Goodbye, Esmerelda.

(Thunderous applause. The Phantom backs off the stage and disappears in a burst of smoke and
fog. Brooke stands there, stunned. Blackout as applause rises)
 80

MS. WALKER
Well done, everyone! Brooke dear! You were transcendent. My great grandmother would be so
proud. I know where ever she is, she must be so proud of us all.

BROOKE
Have you seen, Zeke?

MS. WALKER
No, I haven’t. He was rather remarkable tonight. But when you see him, let him know we are
going to have a little talk about re-writing the play on opening night.
(Exits. ZEKE enters in his Phantom costume, holding his head.)

ZEKE
Brooke!

BROOKE
Zeke! Where were you?

ZEKE
What? When?

BROOKE
Just now! During the show!

ZEKE
The show already happened? What? I was knocked out.

BROOKE
Well someone did your part in the play!

ZEKE
Do you know who it was?

BROOKE
I think so. But it couldn’t be. The song he sang? I think it was him. The boy from the first
production. I think it was… the real Phantom.

ZEKE
Oh, man.

(The Phantom ominously appears upstage and faces them.)

BROOKE
Hey!
 81

(BROOKE runs up to The PHANTOM and unmasks him. It’s Brian. You didn’t really think it was
Emile, did you?)
Brian?

(The lights flicker… and go to black. Lights up. Brian is gone. ZEKE and BROOKE are standing
there alone on stage, BROOKE holds BRIAN’s mask. Lights flicker as Brian’s ghostly voice over
fills the theatre)

BRIAN (recorded voiceover, just loud enough to be heard)

Goodbye, Brooke.

(Brooke instinctively grabs Zeke’s hand as the stage fades to black)

 82

12. Goosebumps (Reprise) / Curtain Call

DO YOU SEEK OUT THE SPARK

OF DANGER IN THE DARK
WHEN SOMETHING COLD AND STARK’S AROUND THE CORNER?

DO YOU THRIVE ON THE THRILL

OF THAT FAMILIAR CHILL
WHEN SOMEONE’S DOOMED AND STILL YOU CANNOT WARN HER?

DO YOU CRAVE TALES OF CREATURES

THAT RECOIL FROM THE LIGHT?

THEN FOLLOW IF YOU DARE.

BUT ALL WHO DO, BEWARE—

FOR YOU MAY FIND A SCARE THAT FILLS YOUR SOUL WITH FRIGHT
AND GIVES YOU GOOSEBUMPS IN THE NIGHT!

YOU FEEL A FLASH OF FEAR--

YOU THINK “IS SOMEONE HERE?”
YOU TELL YOURSELF YOU KNOW THAT YOU’RE ALONE.

BUT THEN YOU FEEL A SUDDEN JOLT,

YOUR SKIN STARTS TO REVOLT,
YOUR FEAR BEGINS TO GROW, AND THEN
BEFORE YOU EVEN KNOW IT, YOU’VE GOT

GOOSEBUMPS!
GOOSEBUMPS!

YOU’RE COVERED HEAD TO TOE IN

GOOSEBUMPS!

AND YET, YOU FEEL A STRANGE DELIGHT! (evil laugh)

SO FOLLOW IF YOU DARE.
BUT ALL WHO DO, BEWARE--
FOR YOU MAY FIND A SCARE THAT FILLS YOUR SOUL WITH FRIGHT
AND GIVES YOU GOOSEBUMPS IN THE NIGHT!

GOOSEBUMPS!
GOOSEBUMPS!
 83

YOU’RE GOING NUMB AND GROWING

GOOSEBUMPS!

AND YET YOU FEEL A STRANGE DELIGHT!

SO FOLLOW IF YOU DARE.
BUT ALL WHO DO, BEWARE—

FOR YOU MAY FIND A SCARE THAT FILLS YOUR SOUL WITH FRIGHT

AND GIVES YOU GOOSEBUMPS IN THE NIGHT!

AND GIVES YOU GOOSEBUMPS IN THE NIGHT!