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An Alternate Ending by

Dan Simcock Kenny Figuerado

Casey O’Leary Isabelle Fiore

Cast:Nick (Narrator): DennisGatsby (Lead Actor): KennyDaisy: AmandaTom: DavidMyrtle: Casey OWilson: DanJordan: IsabelleNurse:Pammy:Doctor:Policeman:Myrtle’s Father:

Costumes:TaylorAmandaEmmaCasey O.

Music and Video:David Arron BruceAlexia Caitlin Cory

Food:Alexis Nicole Rachel A.Destinei Casey Rachel B.

PART ONE: DREAMS

Stage is darkened as soft dramatic music plays. Suddenly a gunshot is heard. Daisy

screams. Then another gunshot is heard. The light falls upon the bodies of Daisy

and Mr. Wilson who are dead. Nick Carraway, the narrator enters from up left

stage, walks between the two bodies and down to down center. Music begins to

fade. He narrates.

Nick: It’s tragic isn’t it? To watch a person’s hopes rise so high just to be

crushed by the world’s harsh realities. As if they thought they could possibly fulfill

those dreams. (He sits down in the chair casually.) You know what it’s like... It’s

like receiving a bad paycheck. You work so hard to earn your money just to find out

your work resorts to nothing. I see it happen all the time. (He laughs then realizes

his analogy was really bad.) Pardon the bad analogy, I’m an accountant you see. I

deal with things like that. Simple, straight-from-the-book business. (He stands and

looks upon the bodies once more.) Of course, what has happened here is far more

complicated… And can you believe that all if it started with a dream… (At the word

‘dream’ Daisy and Mr. Wilson rise and the essential characters line up side by side

facing the audience.) What are dreams? And why do we have them? Is it our minds

playing games with us with conjured fantasies or is it just a curse from God for our

negligence. What possesses us to cling to the most unattainable dreams as if they

were able to be pursued… Look at these fellows (He walks between Mr. Wilson and

Daisy and Myrtle. Nick says their names and points.) George Wilson, Myrtle

Wilson, and Daisy Buchanan. Look where their dreams got them. (He playfully

pretends to shoot them all with his finger. He makes sound effect. They all fall

down, dead.) And this guy over here (He walks over to him and points at his face.)

Mr. Jay Gatsby (he says mockingly and does a sarcastic bow.) The big honcho. The

big dreamer. Look where it got him! Look where it got all of these people! This

man’s dream got them ALL in a heap of trouble. Funny thing is, his dream died

with the death of them all. For who would ever tell of the tragic and romantic story

of his presence here in East Egg without them. (He looks disgusted, and then looks

back to the audience almost as if he forgot about them.) My apologies AGAIN, -my

friends. This whole incident just sets my teeth on edge. So back to my story, this

whole thing started with a dream. A beautiful, tragic and selfish dream…

Mr. Gatsby and Daisy walk past him laughing, and Nick stands frozen.

Daisy: Oh James, I am going to miss you so much during your time away! Will

you write to me?

Gatsby: Every time I have a chance!

They kiss and then Daisy walks away. Gatsby sits down at the chair onstage and

begins to write.

Gatsby (aloud): Daisy, Daisy, Daisy. Such a beautiful, sweet name is Daisy. I

can’t believe I have gotten so lucky to find a girl so beautifully rich and not to

mention, she is gorgeous too. I can’t believe she thinks I’m rich. Maybe one day I’ll

tell her the truth….Nah. I won’t. Can’t see why I would. She’d probably just leave

me and move on with her life….But I won’t let that happen. Not this time around.

I’m going to do it differently. I’m going to strike it big while I’m away. That’s it!

That way I don’t have to lie to her. No harm done, right? Oh, If only I didn’t have to

leave. I just want to stay here and swim in her deep beautifully rich pools of her

eyes….

Nick: (dumbfounded) How curious, dreams! These altered states of darkness

that plague the resting mind in which reality knows no boundaries. Such beautiful

possibilities exist in these reveries of the night. (Pause and looks downright at

Gatsby and Daisy who are sharing an intimate moment embracing) Of Passion and

Love…Such great hope can be realized by the simplest of dreams…

He watches as Gatsby and Daisy gaze and smile at each other tenderly and lean

into kiss. At that moment, the light fades off of them. Light falls upon a bed in

which lie Tom and Myrtle sleeping. Myrtle is squirming as if having a nightmare.

Nick stares upon them.

Nick: And yet, dreams may also be terrible specters of the haunting past as

well…

Cue soft eerie music. Light Fades off of narrator and now onto Myrtle who arises

from her bed. She walks to down center and looks around confused. Then, the

voices of some old school bullies shout out at her and her reactions are similar to

those of a child. She is emotionally hurt and fights off tears. The VOICES start to

speak.

Voice 1: Myrtle, Myrtle smells like a turtle. Myrtle, Myrtle, smells like a

turtle!!..........

Voice 2: Nobody likes you! Nobody likes you! Nobody likes you!........

Voice 3: You’re so ugly. You’re so ugly. You’re so ugly. You’re so ugly……

Voice 4: Chubby Myrtle. Chubby Myrtle. Chubby Myrtle……

Voice 5: Go die! (loud, above all the rest of the voices)

All of the voices then speak simultaneously, the crescendo growing. Myrtle looks

around, childishly and then sits down and curls into a ball and cries. She covers

her ears. Abruptly, the noise stops. The music stops. She looks relieved at first.

Then a spotlight shines upon her drunken father who stands at center stage. He

comes up behind her and grabs her as she becomes startled.

Myrtle’s Father: Now what happened to my good little girl! Why do you keep

running away from your daddy like that? You don’t want to make daddy mad, do

you? Myrtle spits in his face and tries to escape but he is so angry that he grabs

her by the shirt collar forcefully. Listen to me! You’re going to do what I say.

You’re not going to pull anymore funny business. You hear! ‘Cause if you do, I’m

going to kill you!

Myrtle struggles still. In anger, he pins her to the bed that she was sleeping on. He

raises his fist. She cries out and screams. He disappears. She continues to scream

in the bed. Tom tries to wake her. Lights come up.

Tom: Myrtle. Myrtle. Wake up! Wake up!

Myrtle wakes up. She realizes she was dreaming.

Tom: What happened?

Myrtle: (Panting) Nothing Tom. It was just a nightmare… I’m okay. You should

get back to sleep.

He rolls back to bed. Myrtle hangs over the side of her bed, staring at audience.

Lights fade. Light shines upon the narrator again at center stage.

Nick (Disgusted): Dreams! Awful blessings that breed ingenuity in the minds of

men. Beautiful omens that plant the seeds of longing in their hearts. Joyful terrors

which fill men with unsatisfying thirst. Logical insanity which poisons men’s minds.

These ugly attractions that seduce men into an endless passionate doom. Such a

repulsive enchantment befalls those who conjure up these beautiful nightmares…

Yet, it seems that no matter how trivial, everything must start with a dream…

Stage darkens

END SCENE

PART TWO: CHILD’S FATHER

Myrtle is at the doctor’s office. She’s wondering why she is having some strange

symptoms. She speaks as the doctor writes.

Myrtle: So like I was saying doc, I’ve been getting these shooting pains in my

stomach. Whenever I eat, I can’t seem to keep anything down.

Doctor: (writing everything down) I see. If you would wait just a few minutes

Mrs. Wilson, I need to go consult a specialist for a second. Could you wait for a few

minutes?

Myrtle: Sure.

He walks out. Myrtle watches as he walks offstage. She sits still, not breathing,

examining herself. She pities herself for how sick she feels, and she begins to tear

up. The doctor and a specialist walk in. She composes herself.

Specialist: Hello, Mrs. Wilson. I’ve heard you’re having some pains at the

moment. Hopefully I can find out what is wrong with you.

Myrtle: Hopefully.

He takes out his stethoscope and puts it to her chest and then to her stomach. She

looks confused.

Specialist: please, Mrs. Wilson. Could you hold your breath for a moment…

Myrtle: Okay…

Specialist continues to listen. Eventually he pulls out buds from ears and nods to

the doctor.

Specialist: Okay, Mrs. Wilson. The doctor will take it from here. (Walks out.)

Myrtle (confused): Okay doctor. So what’s wrong with me? What do I need to

do?

Doctor: Well, we don’t know for sure Mrs. Wilson, but we think it may be early

signs of pregnancy.

Myrtle: What? I think you’re mistaken. I can’t be pregnant.

Doctor: Well, your symptoms seem to be indicative of early pregnancy. Like I

side, we don’t know for sure. It’s a little early to tell but the specialist feels as if

you are with child.

Myrtle is speechless

Doctor: Do you want me to bring your husband in now so you can tell him?

Myrtle: No!...No thank you doctor. I uh, I want to keep it a surprise.

Doctor: Okay. Understandable. Now you’re going to want to go home and rest

for a while. I’ll keep in touch.

Myrtle: Thank you, doctor.

She gets up and makes her way outside into the waiting room, and her husband

jumps up to help her.

Wilson: Do you need help, Myrtle?

Myrtle: No, I got it!

They walk outside. He helps her into the truck, and she reluctantly accepts his

help.

Wilson: So, what did they say, Myrtle? What’s wrong?

Myrtle: Nothing, George. They just told me to take it easy for a while and rest.

That should make it go away.

Wilson: That it? Well, I could have told you that myself. (He scoffs. Light fades.

Myrtle stands alone, speaking to the audience.)

Myrtle: I’ve always dreamed of having children. A little girl, that’s what I’ve

always wanted. I want to just hold one in my arms and give all my love, and for

once feel as if I matter. As if I’m here for a reason. I never dreamed of it like this

though…The child cannot be my husband’s. He’s unable to bear children…it’s

Tom’s-- Tom Buchanan’s. My sweet and affectionate lover’s . We’ve always

dreamed of running away from this city. Away from the troubles, away from the

people….away from the past… (recalls flashback but shakes it off.)I should talk to

him. But how am I supposed to tell him? And what if my husband finds out? What if

Tom doesn’t want to leave? What if he doesn’t want this child? (She begins to look

extremely worried.) What then? How will I get by? I’d rather die than face my

husband if he finds out. And what will I say? I can’t blame it on Tom. That will get

us both in trouble. Oh, I am so conflicted! Why does everything have to be so hard

for me…

Lights fade.

END SCENE

PART THREE: NOW IT’S A PARTY…

Nick: And so it was. A dream was formed. But so fragile and weak was the

structure of that dream, that its very existence could be crushed by any threat. And

then that day came…Mr. Jay Gatsby and I had been invited to the Buchanan

household for a small gathering. We arrived hours before the dream was destroyed

once and for all…

Lights go up. Tom stands talking to Gatsby and Nick.

Tom: Mr. Gatsby! I’m glad to see you could make it. And you too, Nick. Come in! I

see you saw my stables out back! What did you think of them?

Gatsby: Oh. They were…lovely.

Tom: Of course they were. Ah, hello there, darling. (spying Daisy) Look who just

stopped in-- Mr. Gatsby and Mr. Carraway.

Daisy comes out onstage with open arms. Tom opens his arms, but she runs up to

Gatsby and hugs him and then Nick. Tom looks amazed, and then straightens up

again, ignoring the blow.

Daisy: Hello, why how long it has been since all five of us have been together.

Oh, this is going to be a lovely time!

Nick: Five?

Daisy: Oh yes, of course Nick I forgot. I invited Jordan to our little party tonight. I

know how much you two have gotten along. (Nick grimaces and she scowls at him.

She then readjusts into a happy state again and looks at Gatsby as she says:) Come

on into the great room you two. (She watches as they make their way.) And you,

Tom, go make us some cold drinks. He looks stunned. As they walk offstage. He

watches them as they make their way. He shakes his head, and grimaces as he

walks the other way offstage. Jordan enters sitting down with a glass of wine.

Daisy, Gatsby, and Nick make their way back onstage. Daisy and Gatsby are

entangled, kissing one another, and Nick looks uncomfortable.

Jordan: Well looks as if it didn’t take long for you two to get acquainted again.

(They seem unmoved. She huffs.)

Nick: (Uncomfortable): Hello, Ms. Baker. You look nice today!

Jordan: Don’t flatter yourself kid-

Nick: (quickly) okay…

Jordan (In an annoying loud voice): Is this how you say hello to all your

men visitors, Daisy?

Daisy draws back and speaks:

Daisy: Oh, don’t be a grouch. You kiss Nick too.

Jordan: (standing) What a low, vulgar girl!

Daisy: (restarting to kiss again) I don’t care!

She begins to kiss Gatsby again, but her daughter comes whistling into the room.

Daisy draws back, and her daughter stares back at her.

Daisy: Hello, Pammy…What are you doing running around the house all alone

and in here?

Pammy: I play game with Mrs. Kay. She come find me. (smiles)

Daisy: Okay, deary. Hey, look, Pammy, come over here and meet some of

mommy’s friends.

Gatsby looks bewildered. Daisy points out her friends to Pammy.

Daisy: And here is Mr. Carraway. But we all call him Nick. And you remember

Ms. Jordan right…And here is Mr. Jay Gatsby.

Pammy: Hi! (waves)

Gatsby: (incredulously) Hi. (He waves back slowly, not understanding what he is

seeing.)

Daisy: How do you like mother’s friends? Do you think they’re pretty?

Pammy: Where’s Daddy?

Daisy: She doesn’t look like her father. She looks like me. She’s got my hair and

shape of the face.

Nurse walks in. breathlessly. She spies. Pammy.

Nurse: Oh, there you are, you little imp. I thought I lost you. Come on, Pammy,

time to take a bath.

Pammy: Bye, mommy. (kisses her)

Daisy: Good-bye, sweetheart!

Pammy looks back at nurse and runs offstage. Nurse chases after her breathlessly.

Tom walks back into room with the butler carrying the cold drinks.

Tom: Here we are. The cold drinks you requested.

Daisy: Thank you, dear, but we are really not thirsty anymore. (She glances at

Gatsby) We’ve come up with a good idea. We all want to go to town.

They all look at her with incredulity, Tom especially.

Tom: Do you know what time of the day it is? It’ll be hot as hell out there right

now!

Daisy: I know, Tom, that’s why we have to go. We wanted to rent out a cool room

at our favorite hotel. Oh, come on, Tom. It’ll be fun.

She walks up to him and strokes him.

Tom: All right… I’m perfectly willing to go to town. (suddenly cheerful) Come on then— we’re all going to town.

They all rise and Daisy waits for Gatsby and they walk offstage together. The reenter.

Gatsby: Shall we all go in my car? (feels the hot leather of the seat) I ought to have left it in the shade.

Tom: Is it standard shift?

Gatsby: Yes.

Tom: Well, you take my coupe, and let me drive your car to town.

Gatsby: I don’t think there’s much gas-

Tom: Plenty of gas. And, if it runs out, I can stop at a drug-store. (Before Gatsby can chime in he says:) Come on, Daisy. (He opens the door.)

Daisy: You take Nick and Jordan. We’ll follow you in the coupe.

Tom: On second thought….How about we all just take the coupe.

Daisy: Are you serious, Tom? There isn’t any room for all of us.

Tom: Sure there is. There is plenty of room if we squeeze.

Daisy: What about Gatsby’s car? It’s big enough for nine people.

Tom (indignantly): What about Gatsby’s car? His car has been baking in the sun all day while mine is shaded. Now stop making a big fuss. I’ll drive.

They all go to get in the car, but the nurse runs out.

Nurse: Mr. Buchanan, you’ve got a phone call.

Tom: Tell them I will call back later.

Nurse: Mr. Buchanan,. It’s urgent.

He stands, aggravated, and heads toward the house mumbling. He grabs the phone.

Tom: HELLO!

Myrtle: Tom. It’s me. I need to talk to you-

Tom: I don’t have time for your silly games, so make it fast.

Myrtle: Tom, I was hoping I could see you privately. It’d be a lot easier-

Tom: Like I said I don’t have time. What’s the problem? Do you need money again?

Myrtle: No, Tom, it’s not that….Tom. I’m pregnant.

Tom: Good to know. And this concerns me how?

Myrtle: Tom….It’s yours.

Tom: No…You’re wrong. You’re mistaken! It can’t be mine. I know it’s not mine.

Myrtle: It is, Tom. I know.

Tom (cruelly): Well you’re wrong. It’s someone else’s. It has to be seeing the way you go sleeping around! Me get you that way…What a filthy idea! No sir! Not me! ...I can’t talk anymore.

Myrtle: Tom…

Phone clicks. He has hung up. She looks at the phone and begins to cry again.

Lights Fade.

END SCENE

PART FOUR: BROKEN DREAMS

Nick: And then it snapped. Like glass, smashing. A dream was crushed. Poor Myrtle Wilson’s hopes for a new life with Tom and a child…gone. So what? No big deal? People are resilient, right?... Not in such a circumstance. You see, many failed to recognize it. She herself failed to recognize it. Depression, developed from a traumatic childhood seeped into every crevice of Myrtle’s young life. And it played a key part in Myrtle’s demise…

Light goes up. Myrtle is seen crying where she remained in the last scene. Voices come back to her as she continues to weep.

Voice 1: Who would ever love you?

Voice 2: He never loved you!

Voice 3: He hates you!

Voice 4: He wants you to die!

Myrtle: (Crying) STOP!

She continues to cry. Mr. Wilson is downstairs and hears her and goes upstairs, with a letter addressed to Myrtle. He hurries to her bedroom and goes to comfort her.

Wilson: Myrtle? What’s the matter? What’s wrong?

She doesn’t respond.

Wilson: Please, tell me… I can help. Don’t shut me out…

Myrtle: Leave me alone. You can’t help me!

Wilson: I can try, Myrtle-

Myrtle: (still crying) You never help! You never do! You just make things worse!

Wilson: I can only help you if you let me help you, Myrtle!

Myrtle: You don’t get it! You never will! I hate you! Go away!

He looks at her, stunned that the truth has come out.

Myrtle: LEAVE!

He goes to walk out. He turns around remembering the letter and turns back and hands it to her. Then he walks out and shuts the door. Myrtle looks at the letter and stops crying. She is curious what it could be. She opens it slowly. Scene Fades. Next, we see Mr. Wilson at the dining table, looking forlorn. He is upset by Myrtle’s recent comments. Then, a gunshot is heard. He stiffens and yells to her.

Wilson: Myrtle?!

Lights fade. Then lights go up again. We see Myrtle lying on the ground, dead. Mr. Wilson comes running in. At the sight of his wife’s body, he cries out. He

approaches the body, and cries over it. He whimpers and shouts out her name. This moment of grief is mournful and we feel terrible for Mr. Wilson. Lights fade.

END SCENE

PART FIVE: PARTY IS CRASHED

Nick: So, we made it to the hotel after a painfully uncomfortable ride in Tom’s vehicle. It was all fun and games until the heat got to all of our heads. Then, an argument ensued…

Daisy: (whiny) Open another window, Tom!

Tom: There aren’t any more!

Daisy: Well, we’d better telephone for an axe —

Tom: The thing to do is to forget about the heat! You make it ten times worse by crabbing about it.

Gatsby: Let her alone, old sport. After all, you’re the one that wanted to come to town too.

Tom: Excuse me, old sport! That’s a great expression of yours, isn’t it?

Gatsby: What is?

Tom: All this ‘old sport’ business. Where’d you pick that up, in a movie or something?

Gatsby: Oxford!

Tom: Oh, yes! I’ve heard this story many of times before from my wife. But please…enlighten me!

Gatsby: It was an opportunity they gave to some of the officers after the Armistice. We could go to any of the universities in England or France, and I elected to go to Oxford for a few months-

Tom: A pig’s ass you did!

Daisy: Tom!!! Stop it! If you’re going to make personal remarks, I won’t stay here a minute.

Jordan: (drunk) Ugh!!! You are all so irritable! Have some wine and shut up already, will you!

Tom: No actually, I have another question for you, Mr. Gatsby!

Gatsby: Go on, then!

Tom: What kind of row are you trying to cause in my house!

Daisy: He isn’t starting a row, Tom! Have a little decency will you! You’re embarrassing me!

Tom: DECENCY!!! I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife….Yes, that’s right. I know what has been going on around here. While you shoved me away, you two were out having your own little tryst, as if I would never find out! But I did.

Jordan: (drunk) Woops. Looks like that cat is out of the bag.

Daisy: (harsh) Keep quiet Jordan!

Gatsby: I’ve got something to tell YOU, old sport!

Daisy: No, Jay!

Gatsby: Your wife never loved you. She loves me. She never loved you, do you hear? She only married you because I was poor, and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but, in her heart, she never loved anyone except me!

Tom: You’re crazy, and you are too! (points at Daisy) Do you even know who this man really is? What he does?

Gatsby: Don’t.

Tom: I found out what your ‘drug-stores’ were. He and this Wolfsheim fellow bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I was right!

Gatsby looks ashamed. Daisy gasps.

Daisy: Gatsby?

Gatsby: It’s true.

Daisy: How could you?!?

Gatsby: I did it for you. All for you! I needed a way to make money fast, a way to impress you. That’s why I got into the business.

Daisy: And to think I trusted you…

Jordan: (drunk) What’s the big deal. We’re all drinking alcohol here.

Daisy: Well see, that’s beside the point… Gatsby how could you! You never told me! (She begins to cry)

Tom: Well, looks as if now’s a good time to leave. Come on ,Daisy! Nick, Jordan! Let’s go! This party’s over!

Reluctantly they all get up and leave, leaving Gatsby to himself-- alone. Lights fade.

END SCENE

PART SIX: SUICIDE AFTERMATH

Lights go up. Myrtle’s body is covered by a blanket as a policeman stands taking note of a cause of death. He speaks to Mr. Wilson, who is looking blankly at the wall.

Policeman: Mr. Wilson,we are so sorry for your tragic loss. If there’s anyway possible that we can help, the community is willing to do whatever it can.

Wilson: We were going to move…

Policeman: Pardon?

Wilson: We both dreamed of moving away from this town. Somewhere out West. We were going to have our own cottage, with a nice lawn. We were going to have a little garden, just enough food for us…That was our dream.

Policeman: I’m sorry, Mr. Wilson…I’ll be right back. Just have to talk to the guys outside and ask them to help me in here. Are you going to be okay by yourself?

No response. He walks away. Wilson looks around. He finds a crumpled up letter and begins to read. He looks out at the audience, angrily. Lights fade.

Policeman: Mr. Wilson? Can you just sign this for me… (Lights go up. Policemen realizes that Wilson is gone.) Where’d he go?...

Lights fade.

END SCENE

PART SEVEN: THE END

SECTION 1: THE KILLING

Wilson knocks at the door of the Buchanan’s. The butler opens the door. As soon as

it is open Wilson shoots. The butler falls to the floor. Wilson is overcome with

shock but continues inside.

Nurse: (walking in) What on earth is going on--?

She sees the body first and puts her hand over her mouth. She then sees Wilson

and freezes, petrified.

Wilson: Don’t move. (Pointing the gun at her.) Where’s Tom?

Nurse: I don’t-

Wilson: WHERE IS HE-

Tom (from above): Mrs. Kay, is everything all right down there?

Wilson: (to nurse) Tell him to come down here.

Nurse: Mr. Buchanan. Come down here!

Tom (from above): In a minute!

Wilson jabs the nurse with the gun.

Nurse: NOW!!!!!

Tom’s loud footsteps are heard. He stomps down the stairs. He enters from stage

left.

Tom: What the hell is going on down here-

Wilson: Don’t move!

He points the gun at Wilson from behind him. He lets go of the nurse who goes

running.

Wilson: IT WAS YOU! ALL ALONG! YOU HURT MY MYRTLE!

Tom: What? What do you mean?

Wilson: SHE’S DEAD! YOU KILLED HER! YOU MADE HER DIE!

Tom: Dead? What do you mean dead?

Wilson: YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN! YOU USED HER! IT’S YOUR FAULT!

Tom: George, I-

Wilson: I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ALL ALONG YOU WERE USING HER! YOU

SICK BASTARD!

Tom: Please, George, put the gun down-

Wilson: NO! I WON’T PUT IT DOWN! All along, you’ve been using her behind my

back! But now you’ll pay, you’ll pay.

Daisy runs into the room.

Daisy: Tom!

She sees the gun and stands still, frozen. Wilson looks at her. He wants to kill her.

Tom can read his face.

Tom: Please, George. I didn’t do anything. I would never hurt your wife-

Wilson: LIES! WHAT ABOUT THAT LETTER, HUH? WHAT ABOUT THAT? YOU

THREATENED TO KILL HER!

Tom: What letter George? I never sent any letter!

Wilson: THIS LETTER.

He throws a letter in Tom’s direction. Tom picks it up carefully and reads it. Both

Tom and Daisy look at the letter. Daisy looks awestruck and looks back at Wilson.

Tom continues to read it, then reevaluates what he is about to say.

Tom (calmly): I know what this looks like, George, but I never wrote this! You

have got to believe me!

Wilson: For what reason, Tom? Because you used and threatened my wife,

forcing her to--(gets choked up) No, I won’t believe you. All this time you lied to

me. Now you’ll pay. (Moves the gun at Daisy. Daisy remains motionless. She looks

frightened.)

Tom: No, no! Don’t do it, George!

Wilson: I wonder, Tom. I wonder if you really know pain. Know loss. You took my

wife from me…Now it’s your turn! (Gun clicks)

Daisy: No! (Starts to cry)

Tom: NO! Please, George, I will do anything, just put the gun down!

Wilson: You don’t understand Tom, I have to do it.

Tom: No, George, you don’t. What happened to Myrtle was a mistake. Let’s not

make it twice. Put the gun down….Please….Put the gun down.

Wilson struggles with his conscience, but he cannot find the nerve to shoot the

woman. He puts the gun down and starts to weep. Tom looks relieved. He stares

into Wilson’s face. Daisy weeps too while looking at Tom. She goes to hug him, but

his eyes have now refocused on the gun. He goes to snatch it.

Daisy: NOOO!!!!

Wilson and Tom struggle over control of the gun, a gunshot is fired. Daisy screams

and falls to the ground. Another shot goes off, and it hits Tom in the arm. Tom is

forced back and tries to go for Wilson himself. He is too late. Wilson puts the gun

to his mouth and fires. He falls to the ground too. Tom stands alone, holding his

arm. He walks over to Daisy’s body and parts her hair, crying softly. Then he takes

off.

Lights fade. Police sirens are heard, and then funeral music. Lights go up. Gatsby

is kneeling at Daisy’s casket. There is a crowd of people in the room with him. He

is at her wake. He weeps over his lover’s body. He begins to pray aloud.

Gatsby (In shaky voice): I’m sorry, Daisy…I am so blessed to have met such a

beautiful person such as you…I love you….Honey, I don’t what else to say….I’m so

sorry (crying) It wasn’t supposed to happen like this….

Lights Fade. A strange face, paced song continues to play.

SECTION 2: MEMORIES

Flashback occurs. Lights dim. Strange, fast-paced music is heard. Daisy rises from

her casket and sits in a chair. Lights go up. Gatsby rises.

Daisy: Was I right, Jay? Are my suspicions correct?

Gatsby: (Hesitant) I think you already know the answer…

Daisy: (looks forlorn and broken) I knew it! I knew that man would betray me!

And with that- that whore! (She cries)

Gatsby: It’s okay, dear. None of that matters now.

Daisy: It matters to me, Jay. To know that my husband would be with another

woman. I can’t stand to think of it.

Gatsby: It’ll be okay, dear. You have me, and I have you.

Daisy: I hate them! Both of them! (She cries. Gatsby tries to comfort her.)

Gatsby: We can leave! Together! Just you and I! That way, neither you nor I have

to think about them!

Daisy: And leave my Pammy? And leave everything we have here? Jay, you and I

couldn’t possibly leave now. We have lives here.

Gatsby: Let’s start a new one, Daisy. Just you and me! We’ll move out West. We

won’t have to bother with the hustle of the city. We’ll have our own farm and a

family.

Daisy: (disgusted with his primitive dreams) What-on-earth are you talking about,

Jay? I quite like the city. Keeps me sane to know that I’m part of something bigger

than just myself…

Gatsby looks hurt. He just realized now that Daisy and he do not share a common

dream.

Gatsby: Then, what do you think we should do? (His face is still pained.)

Daisy: I don’t know, Gatsby. Let me think for a while.

He holds her, stroking her while she thinks. She finally comes up with an idea.

Daisy: I know what to do now!

She gets up and turns around to face Gatsby. Gatsby looks shocked at her

abruptness.

Daisy: We’ll do something that will see to it that they never come in contact

again?

Gatsby: (Not understanding) What do you have in mind?

Daisy: Simple. We’ll write a letter. We’ll send it to the Wilson’s, and the letter

will just break her heart.

Gatsby: (still not understanding.) I still don’t understand.

Daisy: We’ll send a letter. The letter will be from Tom to Ms. Wilson. In the letter,

we’ll make it seem as if Tom never wants to see Myrtle again. That ought to do it!

Gatsby: And you’re sure that this will work.

Daisy: Of course. The way I hear it, Ms. Wilson is a nut job. She’ll just die once

she sees that Tom no longer loves her. (She looks around and grabs a piece of

paper and a pencil and hands it to Gatsby.) Here, write?

Gatsby: Wait, why me?

Daisy: Because, your script is most similar to Tom’s. Now write. I’ll dictate…

Myrtle, this is not working. It has never worked. How could I have thought I would

ever love you? I was wrong! I was in mistakenly wrong. I never loved you, and you

never loved me. That is the truth….

Lights fade. Light shines on Myrtle reading her letter, crying.

Myrtle: The truth is…We’ve been using each other, and it is wrong. It’s

disgusting. Therefore, I must send my apologies for ever starting this thing with

you, but we must end it. I never loved you, and never will. Don’t expect me to

change my mind. My mind is resolute. Tom….

She cries. Tom’s voice is heard.

Tom: I hate you! I never loved you! Go kill yourself…Kill….kill….kill….(voice

continues to repeat until after she does kill herself)

She crumples the letter and throws it against the wall. Her face is pale, as she

weeps. She holds her stomach, thinking of the child that she and her lover will

never get to take care. She turns around and sees a gun. She holds it in her hands

and debates what to do. Crying, she holds it to her head. Before shooting herself,

she cries out:

I love you!

She shoots herself and falls to the floor. Lights are fading as Mr. Wilson comes in

crying over the body in silence. Stage is completely dark. Flashback is over.

SECTION THREE: IN CONCLUSION

We are back at the altar with Gatsby crying over Daisy’s body. He makes the sign

of the cross and walks away. Lights fade. Soft music is heard. It is sad, but also

peaceful. Then a voice:

Nurse: What will become of the child, Mr. Gatsby?

Lights come up. The Buchanan nurse is speaking with Gatsby.

Gatsby: Does she have no other family?

Nurse: None that I know of, Mr. Gatsby.

Gatsby: And the whereabouts of Tom?

Nurse: Still unknown.

Gatsby stares blankly.

Nurse: Perhaps she would be safest with someone her parents trusted.

Gatsby: What are you suggesting, Mrs. Kay?

Nurse: I am suggesting that you take care of the child, Mr. Gatsby.

Gatsby: Why would you suggest that? I barely know the child. How do you expect

me to take care of her myself?

Nurse: All I know, Mr. Gatsby, is that you have become close with the

Buchanan’s in the past few months. I hesitate to say you were their closest friend,

but you are her closest link to her parents. Only you knew them well enough to

actually understand her situation. (Pauses) If a guardian is not arranged for her,

then she will be forced into a state house, Mr. Gatsby, and you know how terrible

those places are. All I am asking is for you to think about it…

Gatsby: (In deep thought) I’ll think about it.

Nurse: I’ll give you some time for yourself.

She walks out while Gatsby thinks. Pamela skips into the room, humming, and

Gatsby looks up. His gaze catches the attention of the child and she stops. She

walks over to him.

Pammy: Mister, why sad? (In child voice)

Gatsby: I’m not sad, darling, I’m just thinking.

Pammy sits on the floor in front of Gatsby.

Pammy: What of?

Gatsby: (stares at her face) Of how much you look like your mother.

Pammy (looks upset. She says): Mommy?

Gatsby: Yes. Say, Pam….I was a friend of your mommy’s before she went to

heaven. I knew her real well. She was the prettiest, kindest, and most beautiful

woman I knew. Always lovely, no matter how miserable she felt…(smiles) How

would you like to come live with me at my house?

Pammy: Where?

Gatsby: Not far…He walks her over to the window. He points. See my home is

over there across the water. Right over there…

Pammy: Wow. Pretty! (Excited)

Gatsby: Yes. It is. It’s really big, and it would have plenty of room for you and

me.

Pammy: And my toys?

Gatsby: And your toys. (Laughs. He becomes entranced by this new dream.) We

can live all alone, just you and me. And we can go on my boat, go in my airplane,

do anything you want. Would you like that? (looks at her hopefully, wanting her

approval.)

Pammy: Yes!

Gatsby and Pammy hug. They remain frozen while narrator Nick walks in for his

final comment.

Nick: So why have I recalled such a complicated story for you all tonight. I don’t

know. Someone has to recall those events of the past. But, I will leave you all with

this-- everyone is fueled by a dream. The dream of more that we all reach for! But

when does too much reaching become harmful to your happiness? And when does

dreaming become too much? Does one have to die to finally realize that their

dreams were filled with empty prosperity, or will someone be there to tell you

before it is too late… Just something to keep in mind.

He walks off. Lights fade.

END OF PLAY