The Library

by Scott Z. Burns

After Caitlin Gabriel survives a deadly shooting at her high school, she struggles to tell her story to her parents, the authorities, and anyone who will listen. But there are other narratives that gain purchase in the media and paint her in a different light. Renowned Hollywood screenwriter Scott Z. Burns returns to the stage with this bold and chilling play that asks us to examine our relationship to the truth and the lies that claim to heal us.

Genres: Plays

45 pages, Script

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Nick K · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a play that examines the motives of a mass shooter and the life they lead, this piece will let you down. HOWEVER, how many times have we read that story? Now, what this play does so wonderfully is that it does NOT present the victims of the tragedy in an unrealistic honorable light. They are undeniably human, full of faults, fears, selfish behaviors and anger. But they are all the more relatable because of that. What this piece does is examine with an honest lens the aftermath of a tragedy and the victim's perception of reality. It asks whether it's more noble to tell the truth or lie to appease the masses, who are suffering and need some good to cling to. It asks what is reality and is it relative? I enjoyed it very much

[Michael Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The play takes place after a school shooting. We follow Caitlin and her parents as she gets surgery and deals with the aftermath of the shooting. Caitlin is accused of telling the gunman where the other children are hiding before being shot herself. She claims it was not her and says it was a girl who was killed but is now famous for praying loudly. The town is upset with her accusing such a brave hero and she is even denied relief funds for survivors. It all comes to a head when the 911 call is cleaned up and enhanced. She was telling the truth but does the truth really matter and will it reach the inner ear of others. The mother of the girl who was praying loudly has already written a book, gotten a movie deal, and started a foundation. This play says a lot about how we look at these tragedies, how we place blame, how a media storm can sweep people up in a frenzy, and how recalling a chaotic incident incorrectly can ruin someone’s life.

[Calinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This play was one of the most intense reads ever and I loved it. It portrayed media inaccuracies, the lies we tell ourselves, and so much depth that is incredible to see in a play format.

[Edward Cheer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've really digested The Library, even though it's been a couple months since I've seen the play actually produced before me and to be honest, I was let down. I was told that it was about school shootings and that it would be very depressing, but it seemed very artificial. That could be the way it was directed, but I also feel like it comes from the script.

For one, the majority of the characters are just not interesting. We get to know about the victims and their problems after the shooting, but the shooters themselves are just two-dimensional monsters who went on a killing spree for vague motivations that we never go that in depth with. And on top of that, the massive arc of wondering whether Caitline told the truth or not is kinda already spoiled, since we immediately side with her as the protagonist. We want to root for her being right, and while it's brought into question, it doesn't really go anywhere with having the audience doubt the main character's thoughts.

I walked away from The Library the same way I walked in- knowing that school shootings are bad. It wasn't an in-depth look at them, it just looked at them from a very uninteresting lens. There are certainly some good moments in this play, but it could honestly have been so much better.

[Alexander Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading a bunch of scripts this summer, and this is the first that gave me goosebumps. Excellent writing tells the story of Caitlin, a survivor of a deadly high school shooting, and her attempts to tell the truth while other students and the media paint her as a co-conspirator in the event. Following Caitlin as she struggles to convince others and try to piece together her own memory as well is a great emotional trip. Definitely an interesting read!

[Melissa Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

chilling.