Lives We Leave Behind

By: Nandene Chandrakesan, Jaspreet Singh, Ivana Thuruthel

Introduction scene:

Scene A:

August 4, 2009

“Why..?” Tom said quietly. 

The cool breeze drifted through the apartment. Sitting in his armchair, Tom stared out the window for sometime. He closed his eyes as tears streamed down his face. The apartment that was once filled with laughter and joy was now filled with pain. 

He thought that Autumn would be the one. The girl that he would be happy with. The girl who he would spend the rest of his life with. He thought that at least this time, he would be happier. But everything came crashing down. 

She came over to the apartment yesterday. She was wearing a brown dress with her curls hanging loosely over her shoulders. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was beautiful. And I couldn’t help but think She’s my girl. She was mine. 

Tom’s eyes shot open. The pain seared through his arm as the blood poured out. As the last tear rolled down his cheek, Tom looked out the window one more time. He looked at the bright moon and whispered “I guess this is how it ends.”

With that, his pulse went cold. 

Scene B:

August 4, 1922

Gatsby stood beside his pool. Numb. He looked and saw that Wilson was still there. A gun in his hand, ready to kill him. But Gatsby wasn’t afraid. Instead his eyes filled with despair. He realized that Daisy was going to be too far away.

Without hesitation, Wilson pulled the trigger. With a loud bang, it pierced through Gatsby. The pain was obliterating through his body. He looked over across the bay and saw the light. With a soulless smile, he crashed into the still water of his pool. 

Endless memories flooded his brain as the water was slowly enveloping him. He remembered how Daisy would smile looking at him. He remembered how Daisy had once loved him. How much he wanted her to be his.

Looking up at the moon, his empty eyes now filled with tears and despair, Gatsby whispered “I guess this is how it ends.”

As the water flooded over his cold body, his last breath left his lips and his eyes closed as the sound of the world died out. 

Narrator:

Now, this isn’t the end. These two love sick idiots are being dramatic. Trust me love doesn't hurt like…well this. I can’t believe them. 

Gatsby, you spent your whole life chasing the shadow of someone who didn’t love you. Did you really think that a green light would be able to guide you to her heart? Tell me, what are you going to do now that the parties are over and the music has stopped?

 Oh and Tom, don’t even get me started. You thought she was the sun, didn’t you? But tell me this Tom, how could anyone shine brightly enough to warm someone as cold as you? Maybe it’s time you learn how to live in someone else’s shadow. 

You’ve both made a mess of what love really is. You held on too tightly and strangled it before it had a chance to breathe. Now, you’ll have to walk in each other’s shoes. Maybe then you will finally be able to see what I see. 

Act l

Scene A:

The morning echoed with the calming chirp of birds and the sound of the water in the pool. Slowly, Tom opened his eyes, blocking the light with his hand, he exclaimed “Is this what death feels like?”

“No sir Gatsby. You have just woken up. Would you like me to fetch the morning paper for you sir?” A voice came from the foot of the bed. Sitting up, Tom finally got a good glimpse of the room around him. 

The walls were tall with the chandelier looming over his head. Tom’s eyes widened. He looked around once more. But this time, with a confused franticness. 

“WHERE AM I?!” Tom screamed at the butler. 

“Sir Gatsby, you are in your room. Is everything alright?” The butler said back with a calm expression that carried an uneasy feeling.

Without hesitation, Tom stepped out of bed. He pulled up his sleeve and saw that his arm didn’t have a wound. He looked back at the butler and asked “Why do you keep calling me that name?”

The butler looked at Tom and let out a chuckle. “Well what else do I call you other than ‘sir Gatsby’ sir?” 

Tom looked bewildered. He spotted a mirror in the corner of the room and bolted for it. When he saw his reflection, the colors from his face drained. His once confused expression was now replaced with an appalling fear.

“What…what happened to me? Why do I look like that?” He said pointing to the reflection in the mirror. The butler looked at him like he had gone insane. Tom stared back waiting for a reply. The butler chuckled and said “Sir, stop joking around and get ready.” With that, he left the room leaving Tom all alone.

Tom stood there for a second looking at the mirror then back at his surroundings. Still confused, he began pacing around the room. While panicking he stumbled across a box full of newspaper clippings. 

All the clippings were of a woman. “This man must have been an absolute psycho. A rich one at that too.” Tom muttered under his breath. Looking at her pictures, Tom felt a strange sense of familiarity. Without knowing, the name Daisy slipped from his mouth. 

Tom looked at the picture with a piercing gaze. She was beautiful. From her blonde hair to her hazel eyes. Everything about her was beautiful. 

How could a man not fall for her, Tom thought to himself. 

After what felt like hours, Tom finally changed into a clearly expensive suit and walked out. “Sir Gatsby! Finally, now come sit. We shall serve you breakfast.” 

Tom smiled and walked down the hall. It was as if he had already been here. As if he had lived here his whole life. “Sir, would you still like us to prepare the events for tonight?” 

Tom looked up. His face half shoved with food. “What event?” Tom muffled out while chewing. The butler sighed deeply. “Your party sir. Everyone is coming.” Tom shuffled uncomfortably. The thought of just being at a party scared him. Let alone host one. 

“Oh…yea….sure. Start preparing.” As soon as Tom said that, he wanted to slap himself. But he thought it would be a good change. Maybe he needed this, he convinced himself as he finished his breakfast. 

Scene B:

Hours passed and the evening fell upon the town of West Egg. Tom looked at himself in the mirror. His white suit and slicked hair made him look pois. Voices of people began to fill the house. It was time. Gatsby walked down the long, winding stairs. Everyone's eyes slowly turned towards him to appreciate his lavish party. But Tom could sense an unease in the air. 

No one actually came up to him to talk. It then suddenly hit Tom that no one really cared about Gatsby as a person. All they ever saw was the lavish party, drinks and a rich man who provides it all for free. Tom felt a slight pang in the heart. 

He is an idiot. Tom thought. How could he not realize? 

As Tom was conspiring to himself, he suddenly spotted a woman. Her all too familiar aura filled the room. Before he knew it, he was walking over to her.

“Daisy!” He said with eager surprise. “I didn’t think you would come.”

“Well now, you can’t miss a party thrown by the Great Gatsby can you?” Daisy said with an awkward smile. 

Just as he was about to invite Daisy to dance, a tall man stepped in between them. “Mr. Buchanan…what a pleasure to see you here on this fine evening.” Nervous sweat was running down his spine. He could feel Tom Buchanan’s cold gaze on him. “What a fine evening indeed.” He replied sternly. “I hope you're not trying to make my wife all too comfortable now.” He said while looking at Daisy. 

Tom looked up with an empty smile and excused himself. He walked into the mansion and found solace in his library.

Ok. Gatsby, you are officially insane. How could you still hope for a woman who is married?! 

As Tom’s thoughts took over his mind he heard a voice calling for him. He turned his head only to see Daisy standing at the doorway.

“You ok Gatsby?” Daisy asked with a calming presence. 

“Yes Daisy. I just….needed to catch my breath. It's very crowded out there.” Tom replied, trying to hide the concern that was splattered on his face. Her face relaxed as she let out a small sigh of relief and joy. 

“Daisy, if I may, can I ask you a question? A very important one at that?” Tom asked with a questioning desire in his voice. “Of course Gatsby. What is it that you would like to know?”

Tom hesitated for a moment. He knew that he needed to ask her this but was this really what Gatsby wanted? “ Did you ever really love me Daisy?” Tom asked, looking at her with the same love he looked at Autumn and Summer with. 

Daisy hesitated. She looked up at him. “I did Gatsby. I did love you. But that was when we were younger. When you left to fight in the war, I was afraid. And then I met Tom Buchanan. And I knew it. I was sure of what I wasn’t sure of with you. So yes Gatsby. I did love you but I love him now.”

With that, Daisy waved one final goodbye and left. 

Tom stood there, unable to move. The realization hit him harder than any knife or bullet. He could feel the pain from deep within Gatsby’s heart. As if the world which he revolved around had suddenly stopped. He felt suffocated and decided to step out of the house. 

As the cool breeze wafted over him, he spotted the flickering green light and began walking towards the dock.

Act II

Scene A: 

The morning light poured into the tiny apartment, grey walls with unfinished blueprints and cheesy greeting cards plastered from top to bottom. It was a peaceful feeling, to be in a warm bed with the sun shining into the room, but it didn't last long. 

Gatsby shot up like the dead rising from the grave, his heart going 100 mph. His eyes wide as he gasped for air, hands clawing at the spot where he had gotten shot.

“What the…” Gatsby trailed off as he took a few calm breaths, looking around at his new surroundings. His hands massaged at his chest where he had felt the bullet enter, but the bullet wound was gone, no pain, no blood. He looked down to see different clothes, almost like a different person.

“Who is this? Who am I?” He stumbled to the mirror as his mind reeled at the sight of a very different and not-so-Gatsby looking man. But he was rather oddly calm about this predicament he was in.

Peering through the window, he takes in the vast buildings, loud noises, and the smell of the city air. 

This isn't home. 

“What is this place!?” He said out loud as his hands went to his hair. He tries to wrap his mind around the outcome, when suddenly the door barges open. “AH! WHAT IN THE NAME OF- DO YOU KNOW WHAT A DOORBELL IS FOR, OLD SPORT?” Gatsby’s startled voice rang out. 

“WHAT! WHAT! WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING! OMG Chill man, it's just me. And what's with the Old Sport?”  McKenzie exclaimed, sighing as he put up his hands in a yielding gesture.

Gatsby straightens up as he clears his throat. “And who are you?” 

McKenzie gives him a side eye as he frowns. “What do you mean ‘who are you?’ Have you lost it man!? Did that Autumn girl really affect you so much that you lost your memory?” 

Who is Autumn? And why does she sound familiar…

As McKenzie mutters something and starts yapping about work and life, it's as if time stills for Gatsby as he realizes he is in a different universe. He takes in the sight of the blackboard—smudged chalk covers the once drawn building sketches. The messy room, the desk and walls covered with pictures and greeting cards, and somehow the room seems to resonate a very dull and lifeless living space. 

“Tom? Tom!?” Gatsby snaps out of his daze as Mckenzie’s voice becomes clearer. “What?” He asks. “Nothing, it’s just you looked like you were traveling in space or something, are you really okay man?”

Gatsby looked at Tom’s friend, really looked at him. “Yes I'm alright…” He muttered. But all that was running in his mind was a question: why does he feel a hole in his chest, an emptiness, but strangely it wasn't from the bullet?

Suddenly his phone rang, he picks it up examining the type of phone with curiosity as he sees the call is from a person named Autumn. McKenzie scowls as he sees the name of the girl that hurt his friend. “Don’t pick up.” He whispers to Gatsby. Gatsby looks at McKenzie and then back down at the phone when a pang of longingness spreads through him and without even realizing he picks up.

“Tom?” Her sickeningly sweet voice hits him like a ton of bricks. Emotions run through him, memories of Tom and her together flooded along with the misery and heartbreak. A tear rolled down his face as he wiped it away in confusion. McKenzie sighs as he pats Gatsby’s shoulder.  

“Stay strong, Tom… and call me if you need anything.” He whispers as he waves bye and closes the door behind him. Gatsby is in a state of almost numbness and frenzy at the same time from all the changes that he is feeling. 

“Hello? Tom, you there?” Autumn asked. His thoughts all snapped back to place as he hesitatingly answered back. 

“Hello?” He said rather quietly. Autumn’s voice peeked on the other end as she tells him that she is coming over to grab all her stuff and to make sure he is alright. He nodded absently as he was still reeling from the strong emotions that seemed to be coming from Tom’s memories. 

Scene B:

Soon that evening, Gatsby blankly agrees to the invitation to go to the bar with Autumn. Then after pondering on how to survive through the night in this unknown place, Gatsby decides to invite McKenzie without telling him Autumn is going to be there too. 

As Gatsby got ready, he wore a tank top with a red flannel and stood in front of the mirror as he saw the sharp jawline and fit build of the body that belongs to Tom. He took a breath as he steeled himself in his resolve. A resolve to understand Tom’s life and why he has been placed in it. 

At the bar, he waits for Autumn with a strange feeling of longingness and desire. He spots Mckenzie first as he makes his way to him. “Hey man! You know I was surprised to see your invite! You didn't come out of your apartment for like weeks, it's good to see you brother. Welcome back!” Mckenzie put his arm around Gatsby’s shoulder, but Gatsby gave him a small nod as he was distracted waiting for Autumn. 

McKenzie noticed this and frowned “Who are we waiting for?” Just then Autumn appeared and Gatsby could feel his heart starting to race again. 

Why is my heart racing? Tom is so down bad for her huh?

Mckenzie on the other hand wasn't as thrilled as he was, he covered his eyes with his hands and groaned loudly. “Tom! Tell me that you weren’t the one that invited her, and that she just has some good timing to show up whenever you’re around.” Mckenzie death glares at Gatsby and then at Autumn as she approaches closer.

Gatsby is too stunned to speak as he looks at the women standing in front of him. She had beautiful eyes, as she looked up at him. McKenzie broke the silence with a stern cough. The tension soon dissipated as Autumn sang on stage and Gatsby watched her with the same care he had for Daisy. Entranced by her presence, Gatsby’s thoughts wonder.

She is such a wonderful girl, how can he have failed so bad? Oh I feel bad for you, Old Sport.

Soon after hours of joyful smiles and rounds of memories with drinks, McKenzie retires for the night as drunk as ever as usual and Autumn and Gatsby stand in front of the bar taking in the view of the park and the feeling of cold, fresh night air against their skin. As they walked in silence, not wanting to start up a conversation that would inevitably end with the same outcome. 

Finally they sat down at the same park bench which they often came to when Tom and Autumn were dating.

Happy times.

Now the same bench which felt like a safe space felt more of a place to sit on, one made with metal and not love. Gatsby sighed as Autumn started to point out meaningless things in the night to ease the uncomfortableness, but Gatbsy turned to her as he stopped her. 

“Can I ask you something, Autumn?” He looked at her within Tom’s lens, and saw the girl that Tom really loved and felt a pinch in his heart. Autumn nodded solemnly. 

“If we had another chance, would you want to try again?” He looked at her with sadness as he could feel Tom’s heart trying to heal. Autumn looked at him with pity as she spoke. 

“What we had was precious, but not all relationships were meant to be, in the future you will find someone that is the one for you, Tom, and I will still be here to support you!” With that Autumn kisses Gatsby’s cheek, a kind gesture, and leaves the park bench.  

Gatsby sits alone as he sighs in relief and agony, he can feel Tom’s soul aching, but he just looks up at the skyline. 

Act III

Scene A:

Tom stood at the edge of the dock of his house. Weirdly enough, he felt connected to it. Something about the light in the future felt very familiar, but he had not been here before. At least, not physically.

Tom looked out at the dock and what he saw was a light. But not just any old light: it was a green light coming from the Buchanan’s house. He stared out at it and realized something.

Gatsby must have been a fool.

Why else would someone pine over another for years and many years to come? Only a fool could do that. And Tom—he’s not a fool. At least, he doesn’t think he is. After moving on from Summer, he felt like he was on top of the world. He was finally thriving. He was with Autumn and he was working on what he loved: architecture.

But what did Gatsby have? No one other than himself and his empty house. His empty giant house. Instead of having someone to spend the rest of his days with, the “love of his life” lived with the “love of her life.” How could he ever think he would win the girl if she never loved him?

Tom paused for a second.

“How different really am I from Gatsby?” Tom uttered aloud, slightly intimidated by the weight of his own words.

Tom lived with Autumn. Now he lives alone. But he always comes back to the same place: the bench in the park. The same place where he and Summer traced the skyline. The same place where he and Autumn had picnics. So really, how different is this green light from that park bench?

“Maybe this romance thing wasn’t made for me.” Tom says after thinking back on how every attempt he’s made has failed. No matter how good anything’s going, it shatters before his eyes.

But there. In the green light, he sees something. A vision from the past: in every desired outcome of his life, Tom and Autumn get back together. But he never thinks long enough to realize what she would like.

“Oh god. I’m the problem.”

Scene B:

Gatsby traces the skyline and looks back at Tom’s drawing. Apparently these are meant to be his, but he hasn’t even the slightest clue as to what this concrete jungle is. West Egg—sure it was torture, but it was also home. This is an unknown maze with the name of Los Angeles.

The zigzags of the tops of the buildings looked like something he would never see back home. Maybe the Californians were busy working hard on their cities while those in New York were too busy ignoring what was meant to be “improvement.”

So much for “improvement.”

Gatsby worked hard to improve himself, and what did he get? He died. But he couldn’t even die in peace! He had to transport his soul into someone else that was truly miserable.

Not only did Tom’s girlfriend leave him, but both of his girlfriends left him. At least Gatsby had Daisy. Everything was for her, and if she didn’t love him back, at least she did at some point. So really, he’s better off than Tom.

After all, Gatsby is rich, and sometimes wealth is more important than love.

But that’s not what Gatsby believes. If he never were to become rich, that would be because he never met Daisy. What would his life be if he never met the one person that loved him at his lowest.

As hard as the truth is to swallow, she met someone else and she chose him. Even though they aren’t happy with one another, Daisy would never be happy with the likes of Gatsby. Gatsby was just another “wealthy” man trying to win over the love of his life, who is also the love of everyone else’s lives. 

Why would she choose him?

Seeing a clear downtown Los Angeles was something Gatsby never thought he would see. The lack of dust. The lack of suffocation. He would love to bring Daisy here. After bringing her to a time that she hadn’t experienced before, she would come back to him.

That Tom fellow—now, he was someone that didn’t have even a semblance of hope. And to make matters worse, he had some sort of a penchant on people with seasonal names. He’s heard about a Summer and an Autumn. What’s next? Winter?

Tom got the chance to be a good companion, but he blew it all away: not only once but twice. Now, if Daisy and Gatsby were allowed to be together in this world, the two would love each other without any care for the world. Maybe if Gatsby were able to go back to the 1920s, he would bring Daisy along with him. Surely she would change her idea about staying with Buchanan then.

Was that all that Gatsby cared about? Shouldn't he be happy with what Daisy chooses?

Gatsby thought long and hard about this. He knew that Daisy, the only person of importance in his life, should be doing what she chooses. Even though she may not be happy, she knows that she is doing what’s best for her.

What kind of a lover was Gatsby meant to be if he couldn’t even support someone he “loved?”

Thinking back on Tom, Gatsby laughed to himself. 

“Old sport, you and I may be more similar than I thought.” 

Conclusion

Gatsby and Tom both walked to their homes, disoriented with the revelation of being the reason why their romantic relationships never worked.

Synchronously, the pair’s manners paralleled each other: walking at the same pace, opening the door of their homes at the same millisecond in time, getting inside, and seeing a visage that resembled the figure that got them into this mess in the first place.

“What are you doing here?” Gatsby and Tom spoke in unison.

Narrator:

“You have finally learned your lesson. I just have one question left.” The way the figure spoke made it feel like he was speaking through people, rather than at. Almost like he was speaking to more than one person at a time.

Tom and Gatsby are rather tired than mad at this point. To be stuck in another person’s body is tough work, at the end of the day. But alas, they were human, and it is in human nature to be curious.

“What did you want to ask?”

Narrator:

“Would you like to go back to your own life?”

Tom and Gatsby had been preparing for this moment for as long as they had been in each other’s bodies. Could anything prepare them for the moment they get the option to return? Not anything in the slightest.

On one hand, to return to the lives Gatsby and Tom once had—it would give them the chance to make things right. But on the other hand, this world that Tom and Gatsby switched their lives into is exactly what they believed they needed. To be alive in a time where all their past problems didn’t exist seemed like a dream.

Perhaps the figure was correct. Tom and Gatsby had learned their lessons. And one of the lessons they learned was that, even if things seem as though they are irreversibly horrible, there’s always a way to fix it.

“I do. Send me back.”

(Five months later.)

Given a chance to live again, Tom and Gatsby immediately implemented change into their identities.

Gatsby began to host more intimate groupings at his house. These were the best course of action after the elimination of large parties in the need to find and attract Daisy.

Interestingly enough, after coming back into his world, Gatsby noticed that the green light started to dim little by little each day. At this point, the light is nothing but a view across the water.

Tom opened his own studio for architecture, in which he creates designs for companies in need. In every turn of the season, he devotes himself to something that he truly loves and can always depend on.

Sometimes Tom returns back to the park bench. When returning back to his body, he noticed that the bench was displaced from where it was originally. In this version of his life, the bench is under a tree, protecting him from the heat of the Summer and Autumn sun.

Narrator:

Maybe this wasn’t about the girl or the dream. It was about you. If you can let go, maybe—just maybe—you’ll find that the person you’ve been searching for has been there all along.