The Ghost of a Song
Written by Mabel Seyler
SAGE A senior in high school, preparing to go to college. They want to become a
lawyer and don’t have time for having fun.
WYATT The ghost of a senior named Wyatt Dunnrol who died over winter break.
Really into music and wants to be the DJ for prom.
SETTING: The high school library.
TIME: Present day.
START OF PLAY
Sage is sitting at a desk in the school library, taking notes on a big book. Wyatt is sitting at the other end of the same table, listening to rock music with headphones, but it is loud enough to be audible to the audience. Sage is visibly irritated by the sound.
SAGE
Excuse me… Hey, um, hello?
He can’t hear them. Sage waves their hand in Wyatt’s direction, but he doesn’t notice. Out of patience, Sage leans over and pokes him with their pencil. It goes right through his shoulder as if he isn’t there, surprising Sage. They try to poke him a few more times, then hesitantly stick their hand directly into his shoulder. They pull back, shaking their hand and shivering, but it gets his attention.
WYATT
Hey, what was that for?
SAGE
Why aren’t you- what’s wrong with-
WYATT
Wait, you can see me!?
SAGE
Of course I can see you! Why can’t I touch you?
WYATT
Because I’m dead!
SAGE
What?
WYATT
I’m a ghost. Obviously.
SAGE
……..right……
Sage gets up and gathers their books.
WYATT
Hey! Where are you going?
SAGE
Somewhere else.
WYATT
(gets up and follows them)
Wait up! I’m coming with you.
SAGE
(stops walking, turns to confront Wyatt)
Are you aware that stalking is classified as a Class A Misdemeanor in Oregon?
WYATT
Um… no?
SAGE
Under Oregon statutes, Title 16, Chapter 163.732, Stalking is a Class A Misdemeanor. In Oregon, that is punishable by up to a year in jail, up to a fine of $6,250, or both.
Pause. Wyatt seems taken aback, and Sage looks smug.
WYATT
Uh… Two things. One, I’m not sure if that applies to ghosts. It’s not like I have money or even, you know, a solid body to stick in a jail cell. Two, why the hell do you know that?
SAGE
I’m studying to be an attorney. (at Wyatt’s blank look) Attorneys are lawyers that are licensed to practice law privately and in court.
WYATT
…..Okay.
SAGE
Who are you anyway?
WYATT
My name’s Wyatt Dunnrol. But you might know me better as… (dramatic pause) DJ Drumroll!
Pause. Wyatt watches Sage expectantly. They look blank.
SAGE
…Am I supposed to recognize that name?
WYATT
You never listened to my playlists?
SAGE
What?
WYATT
DJ Drumroll? The music genius? The spotify account with the best playlists in the school?
SAGE
Not ringing a bell.
WYATT
(genuinely shocked and indignant)
How- Do you even listen to music?
SAGE
Nope.
WYATT
You DON’T!?
SAGE
(amused)
You’re acting like I just said I don’t breathe, or something. I just don’t really like music.
WYATT
YOU DON’T LIKE MUSIC?!?!
SAGE
Jeez, calm down. It’s a sensory thing, I prefer silence to unnecessary noise. Anyway, you didn’t tell me why you’re following me.
WYATT
What? Oh- oh right. Dude- isn’t it obvious? You’re the only person who can see me.
SAGE
Really?
WYATT
Yeah.
SAGE
I’m the only person who’s seen you in- How long have you been… um…
WYATT
…I died in December. Winter break car crash. (tries to sound casual) Ice, am I right?
SAGE
Oh. But it’s April now- What have you been doing for the past four months?
WYATT
I dunno. Existing, I guess. I listen to music, I get to hear all the school gossip. But it’s lonely.
SAGE
Why don’t you- um… pass on, or… reincarnate, or whatever?
WYATT
I don’t know. I can’t yet. I feel like I’m not finished. Like, there’s so much I never got to do! I wanted to take a gap year, travel to other countries, see the world. I was even going to DJ for prom! It was going to be my big break, I was so hyped…
Wyatt trails off sadly. After a pause, Sage straightens.
SAGE
Maybe you can!
WYATT
What?
SAGE
Maybe you still can DJ for prom!
WYATT
Um… how? For one thing, I’m not solid, so I’d have a hard time operating the mixer. And people can’t see me, which-
SAGE
No, no. Look, a few people in my family can see ghosts. It’s not a totally new thing for me, I’ve just never met one myself before so you surprised me. But according to my parents, my great-grandfather hung around for a really long time after he died, and sometimes he would use my grandfather to pass on messages, advice, that kind of thing.
WYATT
What do you mean? How?
SAGE
He would possess him, obviously. (quickly) Not in a bad way, my grandfather wasn’t hurt or anything, it just let my great-grandfather communicate with people who couldn’t see him.
WYATT
(Still unsure but getting excited)
So you’re saying that I could… like, politely possess someone?
SAGE
Yeah. You’d just have to get someone’s consent, and figure out some way to prove to the principal that you are who you say you are.
WYATT
Really? You think it would work?
SAGE
Sure.
WYATT
Will you do it?
Sage reacts with total shock, it hadn’t occurred to them.
SAGE
What? No! Absolutely not.
WYATT
Why not?
SAGE
I don’t have time! You were planning to take a gap year, I’m trying to get into Yale or Stanford. Do you know how hard that is? I don’t have any time for- for school dances.
WYATT
Please, bro?
SAGE
No!
WYATT
But what if this is it? If this is what I need to pass on?
SAGE
Look, I hope you find someone who’ll help you, but it’s not going to be me.
Long moment of silence. Then Wyatt has an idea.
WYATT
What about a bet? Part of a DJ’s job is to read the crowd, figure out what song to play next. If I can find a kind of music you like- I mean REALLY like, then you’ll help me.
SAGE
That’s not going to happen. I told you, I don’t like music.
WYATT
Then there’s no reason not to, right?
A pause while Sage considers. Wyatt waits impatiently.
SAGE
Okay.
WYATT
Sick! Thank-
SAGE
But there have to be conditions. I’ll give you… two weeks. If you haven’t succeeded by then, the deal is off and you leave me alone.
WYATT
As long as you promise that when I find a song you like, you admit it.
SAGE
Okay. And you can’t follow me everywhere. Like not when I’m asleep, because that’s just weird.
WYATT
Right.
SAGE
Okay. Wow, I’ve never made a deal with a ghost before. Do we need to shake on it?
WYATT
Not solid, remember?
They pretend to shake hands, then laugh.
The actors walk offstage or behind some set piece, then come back on. It is two weeks later. As they enter the audience can tell they are much more comfortable with each other.
Sage is reading a large book as they walk, Wyatt leans against the wall and scrolls on his phone.
WYATT
Hey Sage, how about this song? It’s one of my favorites.
The song “Horse With No Name” by America starts, LOUD.
SAGE
(irritated, raising voice over music)
PLEASE turn that off. I am trying to study.
WYATT
(turns down volume to a normal level)
Come on, lots of people listen to music while they study. Anyway, that book looks so boring.
SAGE
It’s Landmarks in the Law, by Lord Denning. It’s kind of boring, yes, but I really do need to do this homework for Criminal Justice, since I couldn’t concentrate in my last three classes.
WYATT
(laughs awkwardly)
Oh, right… Maybe I didn’t pick the best class to test out heavy metal.
They sit in silence for a moment before Wyatt changes the subject.
WYATT
Did you hear half the chocolate milk was expired today? It was like, chunky!
SAGE
(making a gagging face)
Ugh, school food is awful. That’s why I bring food.
WYATT
I agree. When I was alive, I would get Subway pretty often, or Taco Bell. Mmm, I love Taco Bell. (Has an idea) Hey, you should put together some lawyer-y argument to make the schools give us better food.
SAGE
Hmm… Well, according to the US Department of Agriculture, fluid milk is a requirement of school meals. Was it kind of chunky, or-
WYATT
Trust me dude. It was really chunky.
They laugh, then Sage looks serious and motions Wyatt to a chair Wyatt pauses the music, sitting down and also looking serious.
SAGE
So… today is the last day.
WYATT
Right. Well. In the last two weeks we’ve gone through rock, jazz, pop, hip-hop, blues, country, heavy metal, classical, disco, k-pop, various indie types, lofi, rap, and random combinations of all of those. I’ve got one last thing to try. If that doesn’t work, then I’ll leave you alone.
SAGE
Okay…
A guitar appears in Wyatt’s hands and he sits, tuning it.
SAGE
What are you- Where’d you get that?
WYATT
(sad but trying not to show it)
I had this when… when I died. It was in the car. I’ve figured out that I can use anything that was with me in the crash. Like my phone, and this guitar. (making an effort to cheer up) Anyway. Here we go.
Wyatt starts plucking the strings, setting the beat. Wyatt starts to play and sing We’re Going To Be Friends by The White Stripes.
Throughout the song, Sage starts to smile, maybe singing along on the repeating lines. The song finishes and there is a moment of silence. Sage and Wyatt look at each other.
WYATT
Vóila! My last attempt. What do you think? It’s kind of a mix of punk and indie. But that’s not the point. I figured it out. You don’t really have a type of music that you like- which is, like, really weird, by the way. You only like songs that are personal, songs that have meaning to you.
SAGE
…Maybe you’re right. I like it. I really do.
WYATT
(punches the air)
Yes!
SAGE
Well, we do have a deal, and I’ll keep it. You can possess me in order to DJ for prom.
WYATT
Sick! Thank you!
They try to high-five each other and laugh.
SAGE
Now we need to figure out how to convince the event coordinators.
WYATT
We can do anything with the power of music!
SAGE
(eye roll)
If you say so.
The two grin at each other as they walk offstage, Wyatt maybe doing a couple dance moves. Blackout.
Lights stay off. Spotlight on Sage as they come onstage, walking oddly, more like Wyatt. They stop down center, and examine their hands like they’ve never seen them before. Sage looks up slowly and grins widely, a different expression from their usual smile.
SAGE
(in a voice that sounds like Wyatt)
Hell yeah. I’m back, baby.
Blackout.
The End