One of the most challenging situations for teenagers in the present time is suicide. Preteens and teens are killing themselves or attempting to kill themselves at alarming levels. In this scene we meet Kameron Beck, a teenage girl who has walked into her high school with a knife in one hand and a gun in the other. As she walks blankly down the hall she clearly has a purpose, to find the dark hall closet. She walks into the closet and the scene begins. This is not another school shooting, this is a suicidal teenager who feels safe in the one place that looks how she feels, dark and alone. The scene travels through different interactions in her present life: with her best friend who recognizes something is wrong but wants her to “get over it,” her mother who loves her and sees her sadness. She tries to help her by listening and supporting her, but to no avail. Finally, we hear from Kameron who shares what she is feeling as her “voice” tries to push her to get the job done. This is a story that shows us the power of depression. It’s not just about the suicide or the fear of a school shooting, it’s trying to find the words to explain these feelings and why asking for help is so difficult. Kameron is left with a choice: she can either choose life or death. As we hear Kameron’s voice, the voice that lives within her as well as the reporter outside all of their emotions are real and present. (This scene comes with two endings for the performer or director to choose from.)
