(SEAN stands in a spotlight.)
						SEAN
Have you ever been someone's favorite? I mean, I'm sure you have.. but for so long, this 
theatre department has been about Ben and me. Sean M. Marshall, stage manager, and 
surrogate son of the spectacular Mac, and Bennnett J. Thurston, star of all that parades 
across this stage. Sean Ben Sean Ben Sean Ben. It was about us.. now we're graduating. 
And it's not going to be about me here. Not about me anymore. Now, now it's all about 
Cris. I watch her show her damn scripts to Mac.. and Mac drools all over them. It's not 
that I crave the spotlight or hate Cris or any of that.. I just don't want to be 
replaced. Cris is replacing me, as Mac's new best friend. Nobody likes their understudy. 
(freeze. A spotlight comes up on CRIS.)

						CRIS
I wish I didn't have to replace anyone. It's not that I want to be the first or the best 
or even be remembered. No, I could live without all of that. But the way Sean watches 
when I show Mac my latest scribbles.. he gets this "That used to be me," look on his face 
and turns away or leaves the room. Ben is weird that way about Owen, too. Maybe it's a 
star thing.. they don't want to meet the next them. It's like the way your daddy never 
wants to meet your boyfriend. But then again, not everyone is weird that way. I know I 
wont be. I refuse to hunt my replacement the was Sean has me. I know that I might break 
that promise, but it's a goo one to have made, anyway. (Pause) Maybe.. Maybe it's not a 
psychological thing. Maybe it's just that.. (pause) No one likes their understudy? 
(freeze. A spot comes up on KYE.)

						KYE
I never dreamed of being an actress or of fame. I never bothered to learn voice or dance 
or even basic acting. I only tried out for "Dracula" because Cris dared me to. When Mr. 
MacNeal cast me, I almost died. I couldn't believe it. I was always the type to go to a 
school dance and watch the other people having fun. (Pause.) I guess that's the reason I 
don't like Owen romantically. He's one of my best friends and all that, but I just can't 
stand the way he always stirs up attention and trouble. He crusades against all that this 
Nation rests on.. like the words "Under God" in the pledge of allegiance. He can't stand 
that. He's a lot like Devon.. Devon our star. Devon who hates me. Devon, whom I want to 
be.. nobody likes their understudy. (Freeze. Spot on OWEN.)

						OWEN
I wish Kye felt differently about me. It's not fair.. the way she walks, half-hunched 
over, you'd think she had a deformity, but no. She's been broken. There's something in 
her that draws you to her, like the way you can't stop poking that annoying cold sore 
with your tongue. You have to poke it, just to see if it's still there. Kye is somewhat 
like the epitome of that thin line they always tell you about. The line between love and 
hate or war and peace or pain and pleasure. You're never sure which one Kye is, until 
it's way too late. I probably should love Cris, whom I have a better chance of 
reciprocation from. I know I should.. but nobody likes their understudy. (Freeze. The 
stage lights come up, revealing the four, still in their ending poses.)

						SEAN
It's not that I hate Cris.

						CRIS
I wish I didn't have to replace anyone.

						KYE
Why can't I love Owen?

						OWEN
I should love the people who can love me back.

						SEAN
(Crossing to, and yelling at CRIS.) Nobody likes their replacement.

						CRIS
(Crossing to, and yelling at SEAN.) Nobody likes to replace the people they respect.

						KYE
(Crossing to, and yelling at OWEN.) Everyone wants to be loved.

						OWEN
(Crossing to, and yelling at KYE.) Everyone wants to love.

(Enter DEVON.)

						DEVON
Nobody likes their understudy.

(blackout)