Content Warning: Darlings contains themes of gun violence, strong language, and simulated trauma. Reader discretion advised.

CHARACTERS (In Order of Appearance)

Justine Parker: Female. Forty-five. Tough-as-nails mother. Grieving, though not weak. Plotting revenge on the system that wronged her daughter, Josephine. Appears stable enough to hold it together while revealing vulnerability.

Jubilee: Female. Twenty-seven. Bubbly, high-energy party planner with a magnetic personality. Serves as a direct foil to Justine.

Brian: Male. Forty-eight. A profane cop good at his job with a poor filter. Blends grit and grace seamlessly. A family man.

Blazer: Male. Thirty-two. A broke, slightly dim stoner- hustler reluctantly roped into Justine's scheme.

Casting Note: Diverse casting encouraged for all roles.

Costuming Note: Costuming is left to the designers' discretion, reflecting each character's emotional state and arc. The sole requirement: Justine wears the same outfit in Scene Two as in Scene Four. Black for grief or vibrant irony—whatever serves the vision.

SCENE ONE

Monday, November 10, 2025.

Stage Right, JUSTINE’s living room, is sparse. A couch sits beside a low coffee table holding a half-filled bourbon glass and a near-empty bottle. A framed photo of a young girl, Josephine, is visible on or near the table. The lighting is dim and warm, creating a muted atmosphere.

Stage Left, JUBILEE’s workspace, is clean and functional. A desk holds a laptop, headset, and notepad, and may be adorned with colorful desk items or simple personal décor if desired. The lighting is bright and balanced, evoking a tone of everyday normalcy.

Lights up. JUSTINE sits on the couch. She is on the phone and swirling a glass of bourbon.

AUTOMATED VOICE

Thank you for calling Cloud 9 Entertainment! When you plan your event with us, you’re on cloud nine. Please hang on the line until a representative is available.

Cliché waiting music plays. JUSTINE inaudibly mutters, taking a swig from her glass.

JUSTINE

(Frustrated) For fuck’s sake.

She leans back on the couch, glancing at Josephine's photo.

Suddenly, there's ringing from the other end. JUSTINE jumps slightly and straightens herself out.

JUBILEE

(Bubbly) Hello, and thank you for calling Cloud Nine! This is Jubilee speaking, how may I help you with your party planning needs?

JUSTINE

(Not believing her ears) Hello...your name again?

JUBILEE

(Cheerful) Jubilee!

JUSTINE

Jubilee...as in...celebration?

JUBILEE

Exactly!

JUSTINE rolls her eyes.

JUSTINE

(Swirling glass) Is that...your real name?

JUBILEE

Real, I swear! Says so on my birth certificate!

(Beat.)

So, what kind of party are we planning?

JUSTINE

A...birthday memorial. Unusual, I know.

JUBILEE pauses. She fidgets with her headset and clears her throat awkwardly.

JUBILEE

(Somber) Oh...I...didn’t realize.

(Beat.)

When and where will the “memorial party” be?

JUSTINE

December 14 in the Willow Creek Elementary School auditorium.

JUBILEE

And...how many are we planning for?

JUSTINE

Six, including myself.

JUBILEE

Intimate...got it. Only a few more questions, uh/

Justine Parker.

JUSTINE

JUBILEE

Only a few more questions, Mrs. Parker.

(Beat.)

Would you like the event to be formal? Casual? Somewhere in between? We can even put together a program if you’d like.

JUSTINE pours more bourbon, glances at the photo, and sighs.

JUSTINE

Make it bright. Definitely not dull. There should be streamers, balloons, a cake...the whole works. A vanilla cake - purple icing...her favorite color.

(Beat.) I’ll handle the rest.

JUBILEE

Not dull. Noted.

(Beat.)

Any flowers or keepsakes?

JUSTINE

Flowers. An assortment.

JUBILEE

And the name to appear on the invitations?

JUSTINE

Josephine Parker. And invites are for the memorial only.

JUSTINE stares at the photo. Tears form but are promptly blinked away.

JUBILEE

Oh...my. Okay. I’m sorry.

(Beat.)

JUSTINE

You’re just doing your job.

(Beat.)

(Matter of fact) Anyway, I like that you treat me like any other client and don’t kiss my ass.

JUBILEE

Happy to assist. Will that be all?

JUSTINE

(Plain) That’s it.

JUBILEE

(Hesitant) ...If you get a chance...would...never mind.

JUSTINE

How can I help? Don’t start treating me differently now.

JUBILEE

I hate to ask...but...would you leave a performance review? It'll only take a few minutes.

JUSTINE

Sure.

JUBILEE

Great! I'll send it via text.

(Beat.)

Thank you for choosing Cloud 9! Have a great day...and again, my condolences. We’ll be in touch.

The call ends. JUSTINE gulps the last of her drink and leans her head against the back of the couch.

LIGHTS FADE. END OF SCENE

ONE.

SCENE TWO

Late evening on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

The scene takes place in a small police interrogation room. Center stage is a rectangular table with two hard-backed chairs facing each other. On the table are two Styrofoam cups of coffee; one for BRIAN and one for JUSTINE, which the actors can sip from throughout the scene. Lighting should be bright, with a pale, bluish-white tone that emphasizes the clinical atmosphere of the room.

JUSTINE is wearing the same attire she wears in the final scene.

BRIAN

(Stern) You’re goin' in. Might as well cough up what happened...save us the time.

JUSTINE

(Apologetic) Brian...I only meant to/

BRIAN

You threatened them with a gun.

JUSTINE

(Defensive) No one got hurt. The intention was never/

BRIAN

They could have. The "intention" doesn’t matter. A crime is a crime. You'll be booked and processed.

JUSTINE

For?

BRIAN

For starters, brandishing a firearm, solicitation, endangerment...

JUSTINE

(Technically speaking) I didn't endanger anyone.

BRIAN

(Bringing her back to reality) This is serious. You're facin' years in lockup.

I’d like an attorney.

JUSTINE

BRIAN

We’re gonna play that fuckin' game? Really?

JUSTINE

Real professional. We’re past this.

I never threatened them.

BRIAN JUSTINE BRIAN

What? You’re gonna tell me/

JUSTINE

(Insistent) I. Never. Threatened them.

BRIAN

You personally? No. Sorry...should’ve been more specific.

(Beat.)

You can't blame it all on your buddy Blazer, you know, so let's cut the shit. He already outed you anyway.

JUSTINE

How'd you find him?

BRIAN

His high ass peeled out of the parkin' lot so fast he curb- checked the median...twice. Fucked up his car to the point it came to a halt. Then he bailed...but we'd already ID'd his plates from the 911 calls floodin' in...was only a matter of time before we rolled up on him.

Dumbass.

JUSTINE

(Beat.)

Whatever. Point is - details matter.

BRIAN

So set the record straight.

(Beat.)

Who is he? Who?

JUSTINE BRIAN

Frosty the fuckin' Snowman.

JUSTINE

Talk to me like that again and I’ll have the mind to knock some goddamn teeth out.

BRIAN

(Slowing his roll) Listen...I want to go home and see my kids before they take their bath. I don’t need to be here all night filling out more paperwork for your rap sheet.

JUSTINE

Fuck you. You can be a real cunt, you know that?

BRIAN

(Brushing it off) Eh...I’ve been called worse.

JUSTINE

I’ll bet you have.

BRIAN

I’m not here to bust your balls. I know you might not think that, but I have better things to do...other balls to break.

JUSTINE

(Embarrassed) ...I found him on Facebook Marketplace.

Brian pauses, then starts laughing. The laughing grows out of control - like he just watched the funniest stand-up routine of his life.

BRIAN

You’re shittin’ me.

JUSTINE

(Trying to sound reasonable) I put a listing up that said I needed an...unnamed service in exchange for cash...and I had a taker.

How much?

$150.

Why'd he do it? Never said, really.

BRIAN JUSTINE BRIAN JUSTINE

Brian laughs even harder.

BRIAN

He’s going to prison...all over a measly 150 bucks? The hell’s wrong with people?

The laughing continues.

JUSTINE

If you don’t wanna listen to what I have to say, I’ll just shut myself up.

BRIAN

Calm down, Justine. I’m just playin'. You know how this sounds, right?

JUSTINE

I’m starting to get the picture.

BRIAN

(Back to business) Okay...so you find Blazer on Facebook Marketplace. Then what?

JUSTINE

Then we meet at a Holiday Inn and/

BRIAN

Jesus. You bangin’ this guy or tryin’ to get him to carry out a hit?

You’re a pig.

JUSTINE

BRIAN

(Amusing himself) In a way, yeah, I am.

JUSTINE

And it wasn’t a hit.

BRIAN

Yeah, yeah, nobody got hurt/

JUSTINE

That has to count for somethin’.

BRIAN

It would’ve been worse if you massacred them, sure, but/

JUSTINE

Don’t. What?

BRIAN JUSTINE

Don’t say that. I fucking hate that word. Massacre.

JUSTINE stares blankly ahead. Memories come flooding back. She tries to shut them out but can't.

JUSTINE

The day of the...that’s what the headlines read. “Massacre at Willow Creek.”

I didn't/ I know.

BRIAN JUSTINE

I feel/ No need.

BRIAN JUSTINE

BRIAN

Listen. I know I can be a tight ass, but...

(Beat.) I won't use it anymore.

Thanks.

JUSTINE

BRIAN

(Sincere) I don’t agree with what happened to you. To your daughter.

Yeah, well...

JUSTINE

BRIAN

(Blunt) Off the record - and I mean totally off the fuckin' record - I applaud what you did. If it were me...I don’t think I would’ve been so nice.

JUSTINE

They need to live with their lack of action. Wallow in it.

BRIAN

Like a kid in time out.

JUSTINE lightly chuckles.

JUSTINE

Kinda like that.

(Beat.)

Speaking of which...go home, Brian. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. It’s not like I’m going anywhere. It’s bath time anyway.

LIGHTS FADE.

END OF SCENE

TWO.

SCENE THREE

December 7, 2025.

Come in. It's unlocked.

A hotel room. Center stage is a bed with a neutral comforter and two pillows. The space around the bed is empty, leaving room for action.

Lighting should feel natural and practical, like typical hotel room lighting.JUSTINE is pacing the room with an envelope in hand. Suddenly, there's a knock on the door.

JUSTINE

BLAZER peeks his head in and ENTERS.

BLAZER

Hey. Should I take my shoes off or anything?

JUSTINE

No...no, that's okay.

BLAZER

Name's Blaze. My friends call me Blazer. You can call me Blazer.

BLAZER extends his hand. JUSTINE hesitantly shakes it.

BLAZER

(Nonchalant) I guess we can cut the small talk and get down to business.

BLAZER unbuckles his belt and starts to unbutton his pants.

JUSTINE

(Shocked) Don't! Stop! What the hell are you doing?

BLAZER stops dead in his tracks, dumbfounded.

BLAZER

What?

JUSTINE

Don't go any further. Zip your pants back up.

BLAZER

(Confused) I thought/

You thought wrong.

JUSTINE

BLAZER

Your listing said you'd pay me $150 for an "unnamed service."

JUSTINE

And you thought that meant I wanted to fuck you?

BLAZER

Kind of, yeah. What else is it supposed to mean?

JUSTINE

Have a seat, Blazer.

BLAZER sits on the edge of the bed.

Do you know who I am?

No clue. Justine Parker.

BLAZER JUSTINE

BLAZER

(Thinking hard) Not ringin' any bells.

JUSTINE

If I disclose who I am...what I want...I'll need reassurances.

Like what?

That you won't rat.

BLAZER JUSTINE

BLAZER

(Insulted) Who the hell do you take me for?

JUSTINE

And that if you aren't up for the job...you'll leave quietly and forget this happened.

What if I don't?

BLAZER

JUSTINE

I can't stop you. I guess then I'm S.O.L.

BLAZER raises an eyebrow.

Shit outta luck.

JUSTINE

BLAZER

I don't know...this sounds real bad.

JUSTINE points offstage.

JUSTINE

There's the door.

BLAZER

I didn't mean... (Caving) just tell me what you want. I need the cash.

JUSTINE

Josephine Parker...my daughter...

JUSTINE pulls a crumpled wallet print of Josephine from her pocket.

JUSTINE

This girl here.

(Beat.)

Died in the Willow Creek shooting.

BLAZER

Fuck, man. How old?

Five.

(Beat.)

JUSTINE BLAZER

Come to think of it...I think I remember seeing your face in the news somewhere.

JUSTINE

I don't blame you for not remembering.

(Beat.)

Everyone remembers Anthony Burke's name...ask them about the twenty-six victims...they don't have a fucking clue.

BLAZER

(Looking down) The world's not right...priorities are messed up.

How can I help?

(Beat.)

JUSTINE

Need a drink or anything?

I'm good.

BLAZER

JUSTINE

Yesterday, I bought a gun.

(Beat.) And I want you to use it.

BLAZER hops off the bed and heads for the exit.

BLAZER

Oh hell no. Sorry lady...I ain't no killer.

JUSTINE

Don't freak out. Nope...I'm out. Blazer, let me/

BLAZER JUSTINE BLAZER

You're not explainin' nothin'.

JUSTINE

Just/

BLAZER

I thought you were gonna ask for drugs or somethin'...maybe some weed or a little coke...but this? This is/

JUSTINE perks up at the idea of marijuana.

JUSTINE

Do you have any on you? Weed, I mean.

BLAZER

What? You're losing it, you really are. Are we gonna blow past the fact you just asked me to kill someone?

JUSTINE

I never said that. Now you're putting words in my mouth.

BLAZER

(Offended) And it's kinda shitty...you just assumin' a guy like me has drugs on him.

Well do you?

JUSTINE

BLAZER

Yeah, but that's not the point.

JUSTINE

What are you waiting for?

BLAZER

You're serious?

JUSTINE nods her head in compliance.

BLAZER

Fine...who am I to judge?

BLAZER pulls a dab pen from his pocket.

Here.

You take a hit first. Why?

JUSTINE BLAZER JUSTINE

Just do it. Shit could be laced.

BLAZER

I don't wanna.

JUSTINE

It'll dull the nerves. Just do it, you pussy.

BLAZER

Afraid of the China White, huh?

BLAZER takes a big hit of the pen and starts coughing.

BLAZER

There. Happy?

JUSTINE signals for the pen with her hand. BLAZER hands it over. She takes a hit - a bigger one that expected - and immediately starts coughing violently.

JUSTINE

Shit! I'm a lightweight.

(Beat.)

I think I took too much. This should be fun.

BLAZER

Can we focus now?

JUSTINE

(Collecting herself) A week from today will be my daughters birthday. She would've been fifteen years old.

(Beat.)

It's also the tenth anniversary of the shooting.

BLAZER

Your daughter died on her birthday?

JUSTINE

Can't make that shit up.

JUSTINE is in pain but stays strong.

JUSTINE

I'm having a party of sorts for her in the school auditorium. Cake...flowers...balloons.

BLAZER

(Lost) Things aren't addin' up.

JUSTINE

The event will also serve as a memorial. The guests don't know about the party...yet.

BLAZER

I'm assuming you're expectin' a lot of people to show up to this thing?

JUSTINE

No. The only people in attendance will be the principal, chief of police, our state representative, and Mrs. Burke... along with you and me, of course.

BLAZER

The shooter's...? Mother, yes.

Why them specifically?

JUSTINE BLAZER

JUSTINE

I'm not spelling that out for you.

BLAZER

This still doesn't gel.

JUSTINE

You'll be behind the scenes.

BLAZER

Doing what?

JUSTINE

I'll welcome everyone...shake hands and play nice. That's when you sneak in. Then, I'll give a speech...at which point you gear up and wait outside the auditorium.

BLAZER

Which entails...?

JUSTINE

Putting on your face mask and readying the gun.

BLAZER

I follow you. I think.

(Beat.) No shooting...right?

JUSTINE

The gun won't even be loaded.

BLAZER

I'm just...scarin' them.

JUSTINE

Right.

(Beat.)

At the end of my speech, I'll light the candles on the cake and sing "Happy Birthday." That's your cue.

BLAZER

Cue for...?

JUSTINE

The main event. You'll storm the place...threaten them... wave the gun around...shit like that. They should be so paralyzed with fear they piss themselves. Understand?

BLAZER

Alright. Then what?

JUSTINE

Leave. Have a getaway car ready outside.

(Beat.)

If you make them feel even a semblance of what my daughter felt on her last day alive, you've done your job.

BLAZER

How long do I stay for?

JUSTINE

Three minutes...maybe less. It seems quick, but for them it'll feel like a fucking eternity.

BLAZER

(Considering) I need a raise. What you're offerin' is chump change for a job like this.

JUSTINE

I don't have a lot to offer...I know. But you won't get caught. You'll be in and out. Nobody gets hurt.

BLAZER

I understand, but/

JUSTINE

You have kids by chance Blazer?

BLAZER

I'm too high for this.

JUSTINE

Do you?

BLAZER

I have a boy. Lost custody...I rarely see him.

JUSTINE

So you know what it's like to lose someone you love. If you were me, you'd do the same.

BLAZER

You don't know that.

JUSTINE

I never ask for anything. I'm too prideful...but I need this.

Whaddya say?

After a moment, JUSTINE extends her hand to give BLAZER the envelope.

Fuck it.

BLAZER takes one more hit of his pen and resignedly takes the offer.

BLAZER

SCENE FOUR

Early evening on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

A school auditorium. A podium sits center stage, facing the audience. Decorations, cake, and party details can be suggested or added if desired. The party guests are not seen. Perhaps they are in the audience. Perhaps they are complicit. Perhaps not.

JUSTINE

(Coolly approaching the podium) Hello, cunts. Thank you for attending. No, don't get up. Sit down and hear what I have to say.

(Beat.)

Sorry for calling you cunts. It's just that when you're kind, no one pays attention.

(Beat.)

You're probably confused as to why this looks like a birthday party. That's because it is one. A memorial, yes, but a party too. As you know, my daughter, Josephine Parker, died, along with nineteen other sweet, innocent darlings and six staff members on December 14, 2015 in the building in which we stand. On her birthday.

(Beat.)

(Taking a moment before recounting the details) Anthony Michael Burke fired two shots into her with an automatic assault rifle. One in the back; the other in the face. A classmate said Burke asked Josephine if she believed in God before firing the fatal shot. She said yes, with the kind of faith only a child could have. That was the day God and I stopped talking.

(Beat.)

We're here to celebrate her life together. Memorials are too...public for my liking. Birthdays are much more intimate. And don't the best parties take you by surprise?

(Beat.)

Before I continue - is anyone familiar with Aesop's fables? Specifically The Farmer and the Stork. No? Well, in the story, a farmer plants traps in his field to catch cranes and geese that are stealing the seeds he's sown. When he

(MORE)

JUSTINE (cont'd)

checks the traps, he finds - among the other birds - a stork, who pleads to be spared because it is harmless and has taken no part in the theft. The farmer replies that since it's been caught in the company of thieves, it must suffer the same fate.

(Beat.)

It’s funny how life often works the same way. Sometimes, we’re judged not for what we’ve done...but for the company we keep.

(Beat.)

I see some of you getting nervous. I won't hurt you...I promise. I'm not the farmer. Not really.

(Beat.)

Nobody leaves until I cut the cake anyway. Let me light the candles, and you're free to go.

JUSTINE dims the lights until the room is almost dark. She places all fifteen candles in the cake and begins lighting them one by one, her face glowing in the light. The process takes an uncomfortably long time.

When the last candle is lit, JUSTINE begins to sing softly, then looks to the audience, inviting them to join her.

JUSTINE

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Jo Jo, Happy Birthday to you.

A moment of silence. Then, jarring sounds: a door kicked in, followed by screams. No gunshots, but BLAZER is yelling—“Get on the fucking ground!” and other ab-libbed threats that make it clear he could kill them. He doesn’t.

JUSTINE appears startled at first, but as BLAZER continues his charade, a slow change comes over her. Her alarm softens into contentment, then grows into happiness. She smiles, satisfied, as if justice is finally being served.

When the chaos settles, she leans forward and blows out the candles.

BLACKOUT. END OF PLAY.