In the dim glow of a backstage dressing room, Jester, a weary clown, wrestles with more than just his painted smile. As an unseen voice challenges his every move, he confronts the blurred line between performance and authenticity. In this haunting tale of identity and survival, masks slip away, revealing the fragile truths hidden beneath. Can one truly escape the role they’ve been cast to play—or is the mask all there is?
A dimly lit dressing room, cracked mirrors reflecting the faint glow of vanity lights. The room is cluttered with makeup, costumes, and an old, worn clown suit hanging in the corner. A single chair sits in front of the mirror.
INT. DRESSING ROOM – NIGHT
(A worn-out clown, JESTER, sits in front of the mirror. His face is painted with an exaggerated smile, but his eyes reveal exhaustion. The reflection in the mirror shifts—an UNSEEN VOICE emerges, echoing from within his mind.)
UNSEEN VOICE
Don’t smile like that.
JESTER (Adjusting the paint, forcing a grin)
I have to. They like me for doing that.
UNSEEN VOICE
Do you really have to do whatever they like you to do? That’s dumb.
(Jester pauses, his hand trembling slightly. He stares into his own eyes, lost in thought. A flicker of frustration rises within him.)
JESTER (Quiet, simmering)
I pondered… and was furious.
(Turns sharply to the mirror, addressing the voice directly)
Now, don’t you ever call me dumb. That isn’t a nice way to address me.
(Silence. The air grows heavy. The voice chuckles, low and mocking.)
UNSEEN VOICE
I am a clown.
JESTER (Leaning closer to the mirror, eyes narrowing)
Indeed… you very are.
(He smears the painted smile on his face, blending it into a grotesque mask. The lights flicker, casting long shadows on the walls. The unseen voice fades into eerie laughter, echoing through the room as Jester sits, motionless, staring at his reflection.)
FADE OUT.
Prompt: Write a scene where a character confronts their reflection, but the reflection responds with thoughts and truths the character isn’t ready to face. Explore the tension between what is seen and what is hidden, using symbolism and dialogue to reveal the character’s deepest fears.