Open Wardrobes

After going into detail on the process for the festival, I thought I should post my play here as well. I still want to do some additional work on it before sending it out anywhere else, but for the time being here is the festival version of Circus of Fate.


(Lights up. CASSANDRA, wearing a jester's hat, winds up a music box and starts it playing. She then starts to juggle.)

CASSANDRA
Fate's a funny thing. It takes so little for our lives to change course, a chance word, a momentary whim, being in the right place... or the wrong one. How much do we really choose, and how much do we simply act upon the circumstances of the moment?

(DIANA enters, upset. CASSANDRA stops juggling and catches two balls, letting the third fall to the ground. DIANA looks up and sees her.)

DIANA
Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you. I suppose I shouldn't be back here.

CASSANDRA
If you're here, then you're supposed to be.

DIANA
Are you with the circus?

CASSANDRA
Name's Cassandra. Juggler, clown, and prophet.

DIANA
Prophet? Funny.

CASSANDRA
Not really.
(She picks up the music box.)

DIANA
What's with the music box?

CASSANDRA
It tells the future. Care to give it a try?

DIANA
I get it, you're the fortune teller. I suppose every circus has one.

CASSANDRA
Fortune telling? That's just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo for the superstitious. I'm the real deal.

DIANA
Sure.
(She starts to walk away.)

CASSANDRA
What's the hurry, Diana?

DIANA
Should I be creeped out you know my name?

CASSANDRA
Does fate creep you out?

DIANA
I don't believe in fate.

CASSANDRA
Why did you walk this way?

DIANA
What?

CASSANDRA
Why did you go left behind the tents instead of right, towards the bearded lady?

DIANA
I don't know. Why not? Why were you back here juggling?

CASSANDRA
Because you went left.

DIANA
I don't get it.

CASSANDRA
If you had gone right, where do you think I'd be?

DIANA
I don't know, over by the bearded lady?

CASSANDRA
No, actually I'd still be right here, because then we weren't fated to meet.

DIANA
So I'm here...

CASSANDRA
...because you need help. Because you went left, and found the two of them together.

DIANA
Troy and Minerva, I'm going to kill them both. She broke up with him, you know, but now that we're dating she can't keep her hands off him.

CASSANDRA
Is that what you saw?

DIANA
Her giggling and his goofy smile was all I needed to see. If she thinks I'm giving him up without a fight... What do I do?
(CASSANDRA offers her the music box.)
The fortune-telling music box?
(CASSANDRA nods.)
All right, why not.

CASSANDRA
Just one catch.

DIANA
How much?

CASSANDRA
Not that. You see, I'll tell you your fate, but you won't believe me.

DIANA
Why not?

CASSANDRA
You just won't.

DIANA
Then what's the point?

CASSANDRA
Do you want to know or not?

DIANA
Fine. Sure. Whatever. I don't believe in this stuff anyway.

CASSANDRA
Then wind it up.
(DIANA takes the music box and CASSANDRA starts juggling.)

DIANA
Why do I have to do it?

CASSANDRA
It's your future.
(DIANA winds up the music box. She lets it play and CASSANDRA begins her prophecy.)
What you now think, the opposite is true. Trust them both and it'll be just him and you. But if you become her enemy, you'll lose them both through your jealousy.
(CASSANDRA catches two balls and lets the third drop. Pause)

DIANA
That's it?

CASSANDRA
That's it.

DIANA
That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

CASSANDRA
Told you so.

DIANA
Of course I don't believe you. I saw them together, and now I'm supposed to pretend nothing happened?

CASSANDRA
What did happen?

DIANA
Oh knowing Minerva I can imagine. And you want me to believe that if I let it go Troy and I will live happily ever after?

CASSANDRA
That's the gist of it.

DIANA
But if I make a big deal of it, then I'll lose him.

CASSANDRA
That's right.

DIANA
I don't know why I'm even talking to you. I just need some time to figure this out, OK?

CASSANDRA
OK.

DIANA
I'm really confused right now and I don't want to lose him, but...

CASSANDRA
Right.

DIANA
But he cheated on me! And... and... and you're not a very funny clown!
(DIANA goes off to think while CASSANDRA practices some prat falls or something else clownish. MINERVA enters, talking to someone offstage.)

MINERVA
No, I'll be right back. I've got a craving for some cotton candy, that's all.
(Slight pause)
Because I don't want her to see me, what would she think?
(MINERVA starts to cross the stage and stops when she sees DIANA.)
Oh. Hi, Diana.

DIANA
You.

CASSANDRA
(Still practicing)
I'm telling you, Diana, walk away, and leave it for another day.

MINERVA
Diana, look, it's not what you think.
(DIANA grabs MINERVA by the hair.)
Ow! Stop it!

DIANA
You little flirt!

MINERVA
You're hurting me!

DIANA
Give me one reason why I shouldn't rearrange that pretty little face of yours.

MINERVA
Nothing happened!

DIANA
You expect me to believe that? How many has it been, Minerva? How many guys have you stolen from me?

MINERVA
I... I don't know.

DIANA
Too many to count, huh? I could never have a boyfriend without you flirting with him. Next thing I know he's run off with you.
(MINEVERA pushes DIANA away.)

MINERVA
Look, I know I've been stupid before, but I would never try to take Troy away from you. We were just talking.

DIANA
You with a guy is never just talk.

MINERVA
Is that what you think of me? Diana, please, we've been friends since the fourth grade.

DIANA
And why's that? You couldn't get enough guys on your own?

MINERVA
Troy and I broke up. In fact, I broke up with him, remember? He wants to be with you.
(DIANA pushes MINERVA.)

DIANA
What, losing your touch?

MINERVA
Are you even going to hear me out?

DIANA
I'm not in the mood for your excuses, Minerva. This is the last straw.
(She pushes MINERVA again.)

MINERVA
Stop it.

DIANA
What's the matter? Don't have the guts to stand up to me on your own? You can only go behind my back, is that it?
(MINERVA slaps DIANA.)
I hate you.

MINERVA
You know what? If you weren't so crazy jealous all the time your boyfriends wouldn't keep running to me looking for a little sympathy.

DIANA
Is that what Troy did? Run to you for sympathy?

MINERVA
Sort of... I mean, no... Look, if you'll just let me explain...

DIANA
Ahhh!!!
(DIANA goes after MINERVA and they struggle. CASSANDRA starts the music box playing and then juggles again.)

CASSANDRA
Stop!
（They do.)
What did she do to earn this hate? Make peace, Diana, it's not too late. Or else your fate may lead to blood, and you'll lose them both. Perhaps you should.
(She catches two balls and lets the third one fall.)

MINERVA
What?

DIANA
The music box tells the future.

MINERVA
What?

DIANA
She's a prophet... juggler... clown-person.

MINERVA
What?

CASSANDRA
You can still make it right, Diana. Be happy ever after, be best friends for life.

DIANA
With her? I don't think so.

MINERVA
It wasn't what you think! Troy just needed a friend.

DIANA
How convenient.

MINERVA
He's sick of your stupid jealousy. But you're good together, most of the time. I told him how much you care about him. I was trying to help you both.

DIANA
Are you kidding me? After all the times you've gone after my boyfriends you think that I –

CASSANDRA
Who wants to hear a joke?

MINERVA
Yes! Let's all just calm down and hear a joke from the clown.
(CASSANDRA starts juggling again.)

CASSANDRA
There was this guy. He married a woman who was beautiful but crazy jealous. So one day when he went out without telling her she followed him. When he secretly met her best friend she was convinced he was unfaithful and in a fit of rage she stabbed them both. Turns out they were just planning her birthday party.
(Pause)

MINERVA
How is that funny?

CASSANDRA
I guess it's not. I never was a very good clown.

DIANA
You're not much of a juggler either. What's the point, Cassandra?

CASSANDRA
Fate likes to test us, make us show our true colors. Will you trust your best friend, or assume the worst? Right or left?

DIANA
Why don't you tell me, O Instrument of Fate? Or do I need to wind up the music box of destiny again?

CASSANDRA
Trust me, this'll all look better in the morning.

DIANA
So I should just walk away and let her run off with my boyfriend?

MINERVA
Just because we used to date doesn't mean –

DIANA
I know you want him back.

MINERVA
That's all over, Diana. But I couldn't blame him for leaving you after the way you've treated him.
(DIANA slaps MINERVA. MINEVERA shoves DIANA.)
I am so sick of you! You're so jealous of everyone you don't see what a great thing you've already got.

DIANA
I saw you with him. I saw the two of you... I saw...
(DIANA unconsciously reaches for a weapon and CASSANDRA tosses an umbrella into her hand.)
I'm not letting you steal Troy away from me!
(DIANA prepares to use the umbrella like a sword and stab MINERVA, but CASSANDRA has a second umbrella and blocks the blow.)

CASSANDRA
It's too late now. You've lost him. He'll go back to her now.

DIANA
I knew it. The two of you, behind my back. I'll bet you never really left him. You've been making a fool of me this whole time.

CASSANDRA
(To MINERVA)
You should go now. You and Troy will be very happy together.

MINERVA
But why?

CASSANDRA
Because she went left.

DIANA
This is all your fault. You and your stupid fate.
(She attacks CASSANDRA and they "sword" fight with the umbrellas.)

MINERVA
Diana, stop, we can work this out. We'll go back to Troy and –

DIANA
Shut up! I don't ever want to see you again!

MINERVA
Diana, we're best friends, please...
(MINERVA gets in the way of the fight as DIANA lunges with her "sword." CASSANDRA takes the blow instead and is stabbed by DIANA.)

DIANA
Oh my God...

MINERVA
What did you do? You killed a clown. Troy's right, you are nuts!
(She runs off and exits.)

DIANA
Minerva, please... I'm sorry...

CASSANDRA
You know, I saw this coming.

DIANA
Go right, and everything would have been fine...

CASSANDRA
...go left and... Fate's a funny thing.

DIANA
I didn't believe you.

CASSANDRA
Yeah.

DIANA
Now what?

CASSANDRA
It's funny, I don't know.
(DIANA picks up the music box, winds it, and lets it play. Blackout.)