🌈 CAST

●​ RILEY (Zoya) – The mind they all live inside. Rarely appears, but her voice echoes
softly as thoughts.
●​ JOY (Arleen) – Bright, positive, sometimes overbearing.
●​ DISGUST (Zainab) – Stylish, sarcastic, protective.
●​ ANGER (Diya) – Fiery, loud, passionate.
●​ FEAR (Mariam) – Anxious, jumpy, dramatic.
●​ SADNESS (Bhuvi) – Gentle, honest, sensitive.
●​ ANXIETY (Jannat) – Always planning for the worst, talks fast.
●​ ENVY (Avanitha) – Insecure, always comparing.
●​ EMBARRASSMENT (Minaal) – Awkward, fidgety, constantly mortified.
●​ ENNUI (Arya) – Bored, monotone, detached.

🌟 ACT ONE — THE OVERLOAD

(Lights rise on a vibrant control room — “Headquarters.” A colorful console with glowing buttons
stands center stage. Each emotion has a distinct space: JOY at the console, DISGUST
checking imaginary mirrors, ANGER pacing, FEAR twitching, SADNESS sitting quietly,
ANXIETY organizing papers, ENVY peeking over shoulders, EMBARRASSMENT hiding behind
a pillow, and ENNUI sprawled on a beanbag.)

JOY: (cheerful) Okay team, big day! Riley’s first week of high school. New classes, new friends,
new opportunities for joy!

DISGUST: (rolling eyes) Or new opportunities for bad cafeteria food and worse social
interactions.

ANGER: (grumbling) If anyone looks at her the wrong way, I’m flipping a desk.

FEAR: (panicking) Please don’t! Destruction equals detention! Detention equals— (gasps)
—social humiliation!

SADNESS: (softly) I kind of miss middle school. Everyone was shorter… and nicer.

JOY: Come on, guys! We’ve got this! Let’s start with some positive energy. Riley’s walking into
class right now— (presses a button on the console) —and… smile!

(All freeze as if feeling through Riley. Then:)

EMBARRASSMENT: (squeaks) Oh no. She just tripped on her backpack strap.

ANGER: What?! Who put that there?!

DISGUST: (groaning) That was tragic. We’re officially the clumsiest freshman on Earth.

ENVY: (wistful) Look at Ava and Mia— they walk like they own the hallway. Why can’t we be like
that?

JOY: It’s fine! Totally fine! Everyone trips sometimes. (trying to fix it) Okay, big smile— recovery
pose!

SADNESS: (sighs) She laughed it off, but… I can feel it. That little sting.

ANXIETY: (scribbling in notebook) Mental note: avoid walking near backpacks, eye contact, and
humans. Ever again.

JOY: (gently nudging) Anxiety, sweetie, maybe ease off the “avoid humans” part?

ANXIETY: (dead serious) No promises.

(Laughter from the audience if performed.)

ENNUI: (stretching) Ugh. Why does any of this even matter? School, friends, emotions—it’s all
just... exhausting.

ANGER: (snaps) You’re exhausting!

JOY: Okay! Deep breaths! Riley’s in her seat now. Let’s just focus on—

(A sudden buzz from the console.)

FEAR: (screams) Presentation alert! PRESENTATION ALERT!

JOY: Wait—today?!

ANXIETY: (hyperventilating) Oh no, oh no. She didn’t practice! The teacher’s calling on her first!

SADNESS: (worried) She’ll panic. Everyone will stare.

JOY: (trying to stay calm) Okay, everyone, listen up! We can handle this. Just breathe, smile,
speak—

ANGER: Or we could flip the projector and fake a power outage!

DISGUST: Honestly, that’s not the worst plan I’ve heard.

ANXIETY: (frantic) Words! We need words! What if her voice cracks? What if her brain forgets
how to brain?!

FEAR: I can’t watch! (covers eyes)

(All chaos — overlapping voices. Riley’s “thought voice” echoes through the chaos.)

RILEY (V.O.): “Hi, um… I’m Riley, and today I’ll be presenting—”

(Sudden silence. Everyone freezes.)

EMBARRASSMENT: She just said “Hi, um.” Oh no. Oh no no no. She’s stuttering.

JOY: It’s fine! She’s fine! Just—

RILEY (V.O.): “—on… um… social structures in…”

(Pause. Awkward silence fills the HQ.)

DISGUST: …That’s it. We’ve died. We’ve socially disintegrated.

SADNESS: (softly) Poor Riley. She feels small. Like everyone’s watching.

ANXIETY: (breathing fast) They’re definitely watching.

ANGER: (slamming fist on console) Enough! I say we run! Get her out of there!

JOY: (firm but gentle) No. We stay. She can do this.

(Riley’s voice continues shakily.)

RILEY (V.O.): “…and… uh… social structures in animal communities show cooperation and…”

(The console flickers. All emotions pause, listening. Slowly, Riley’s voice steadies.)

JOY: (soft smile) There. She’s finding her rhythm.

SADNESS: Because she’s brave. Even when it hurts.

(All watch in quiet awe. The moment holds.)

DISGUST: …Okay, fine. That was kinda inspiring.

(They all share a look — a fragile peace — before the lights shift slightly.)

ANXIETY: (checking notes) Okay, but now she’s thinking about what everyone thought about
her thinking about her speech—

JOY: And we’re spiraling again.

(Lights fade on laughter and chatter as they regroup.)

🌧️ ACT TWO — THE BREAKDOWN
(Lights rise dimmer. HQ looks messier — papers scattered, console blinking erratically. Riley’s
mind is overloaded.)

ANXIETY: (frantic, pacing) Heart rate up. Breathing irregular. Catastrophe probability:
ninety-eight percent!

FEAR: Ninety-eight percent of what?!

ANXIETY: Failure. Rejection. Existential dread. Pick one.

JOY: (trying to keep calm) Okay! Okay! We’re just… having a little post-school stress. We’ll
clean up, relax, think happy thoughts—

ANGER: (snaps) She just got a C on her essay! You call that relaxing?!

DISGUST: (snorts) And the group chat ignored her meme. That’s, like, social death.

SADNESS: (quietly) She worked so hard on that essay…

ENVY: And Sarah got an A. Again.

JOY: (strained smile) Grades don’t define happiness!

ANXIETY: (mocking) Tell that to her GPA, Arleen.

(The console starts flashing red and blue.)

FEAR: System overload! She’s overthinking!

JOY: (panicking) Everyone, hold positions!

(The lights flicker; the room shakes as the emotions stagger.)

ANXIETY: It’s happening—Overthinking Mode! We’re spiraling!

(All freeze, voices echo like overlapping thoughts.)

RILEY (V.O.): “Why am I like this? Why can’t I just be normal?”

(Silence. The emotions slowly turn toward SADNESS.)

SADNESS: (softly) That… hurt.

JOY: (heartbroken) Oh, Riley…

ANGER: (low, gruff) I hate hearing her say that.

SADNESS: (standing) Maybe she doesn’t need us to cheer her up. Maybe she needs us to
listen.

(JOY looks unsure, but slowly nods. SADNESS sits at the console. Everyone watches as she
presses a blue button.)

SADNESS: (gently) Remember when she moved away from her old town? How she cried in the
car but smiled for her parents? That was strength.

JOY: (realizing) Sadness gives meaning to her happy memories… doesn’t it?

SADNESS: (smiling faintly) Every smile means more when you’ve cried before it.

(The tension softens. Even ANGER exhales. Then—)

ANXIETY: (interrupting) Wait! She’s still spiraling—she’s scrolling social media!

ENVY: Oh no. That’s my territory. (looks guilty)

(She glances at the screen — imaginary — and flinches.)

ENVY: Perfect people. Perfect lives. She’s comparing herself to them again.

JOY: Envy—hey, look at me. It’s not your fault.

ENVY: (voice breaking) But I made her think she’s not enough.

JOY: You were trying to protect her from feeling left behind. We all were.

(They share a quiet group look — vulnerable, real.)

DISGUST: (sniffling) Ugh, gross. Feelings.

ANGER: (gruffly) Shut up, you’re crying too.

(They laugh through the emotion. A rare moment of unity.)

FEAR: (hesitant) So… what do we do now?

SADNESS: (looking up) We stop trying to control her.

JOY: (softly) And start trusting her.

(Beat. The console hums gently, calmer now.)

ANXIETY: (slowly lowering her notebook) Maybe… maybe it’s okay if not everything’s perfect.
ENNUI: (yawns) Wow. Emotional breakthroughs. How… thrilling.

DISGUST: (snorts) Admit it, you’re feeling something.

ENNUI: (shrugs) Mild curiosity.

(All chuckle lightly.)

(Lights fade as the team sits quietly, breathing together — the storm slowly subsiding.)

ACT THREE — THE BALANCE

Inside Riley’s Headquarters. The console glows dimly — red, blue, and purple lights flicker like
stormy emotions colliding. The emotions look tired, scattered, and defeated. The hum of the
mind is quieter, slower.

Scene 1 – After the Storm

(All emotions gather in silence. Joy stands at the console, staring at it, flicking buttons that
barely respond.)

JOY​
(softly)​
I used to think my job was to keep Riley happy. That if I smiled hard enough, everything else
would fall into place.

(She glances around at the others — their faces heavy.)

JOY (cont’d)​
But maybe… maybe I’ve been doing it wrong.

SADNESS​
(stepping forward gently)​
You were never wrong, Joy. You just didn’t know there was more than one right way.

FEAR​
(arms wrapped around himself)​
Does this mean… we’ve been scared for nothing?

DISGUST​
Please. I’ve always been scared for nothing — especially when you’re around, Fear.

(Laughter bubbles faintly. The tension eases just a little.)

ANXIETY​
(quietly, twisting her hands)​
She’s changing. Riley’s growing up. Maybe that’s why everything feels so… loud.

JOY​
Yeah. I can’t tell what she needs anymore. One minute she’s fine, the next she’s—

ANGER​
(snapping)​
Crying? Shutting us out? Slammin’ doors for no reason?

JOY​
(defensive)​
She’s human! It’s called feelings! You wouldn’t know much about that!

(The air shifts. ANGER steps forward, jaw clenched. The others exchange nervous looks.)

Scene 2 – “Joy vs. Anger”

ANGER​
Happy? You mean pretending everything’s fine while the world’s on fire? News flash, Sunshine
— sometimes things aren’t fine!

JOY​
(snapping back)​
Oh, and what’s your solution? Scream until everyone leaves? Real mature.

ANGER​
At least I don’t fake a smile when she’s falling apart!

JOY​
(voice rising)​
I’m trying to help! You think it’s easy keeping her afloat when all you do is explode?

ANGER​
You don’t get it! You think happiness fixes everything — but sometimes she needs to break
before she gets better!

(The HQ lights flicker — red and gold hues flash across the stage. The emotions freeze, the
room trembling from the tension.)

JOY​
(voice trembling, breaking)​
Of course I’m delusional! Do you know how hard it is to stay positive all the time? It’s
exhausting!​
(beat, voice softens)​
I keep smiling even when everything inside me hurts.

(She sinks to her knees beside the console. The golden light fades to a dull yellow.)

(Beat of silence.)

ANGER​
(quietly, stepping forward; his tone softer, sincere)​
Joy… you’ve made a lot of mistakes. A—A lot.​
(pauses)​
And you’ll make a whole lot more in the future. But if you let that stop you, we might as well lie
down and give up now.

FEAR​
(warily)​
Well, actually… that does sound kind of nice.

(DISGUST smacks him.)

DISGUST​
Not helping, Fear.

ANGER​
(offering his hand to Joy)​
Come on. We’ve all messed up. But we don’t quit on Riley — or on each other.

(JOY hesitates, then takes his hand. A faint glow returns — a blend of yellow and red, turning
warm orange.)

JOY​
(softly, realizing)​
Maybe this is what happens when you grow up. You feel less joy… but more everything else.

SADNESS​
And that’s okay. That’s what makes her real.

(The HQ console slowly powers back up, glowing in multiple colors — blue, yellow, green,
purple, red — like all emotions in harmony.)

Scene 3 – The New Balance

ANXIETY​
(voice trembling, but steadier now)​
So… we just accept that Riley’s growing up? That things will keep changing?

ENNUI​
(yawning)​
Change, don’t change… same difference.

EMBARRASSMENT​
(blushing)​
I mean, it’s not so bad. She’s learning. I mean, sure, she still trips in front of people and wants
to disappear —​
(glances down)​
—uh, not that I’d know.

ENVY​
(half-smiling)​
I think I get it now. We all want a little piece of her attention. But she needs all of us — not just
the happy parts.

JOY​
Exactly. Every feeling matters. Every one of you keeps her human.

ANGER​
(gruff, but proud)​
Guess even I have my uses, huh?

DISGUST​
Don’t let it go to your head, Hothead.

(They all laugh softly — even Fear manages a nervous chuckle.)

SADNESS​
(looking at the console)​
She’s feeling again. Not perfect. Not constant. But real.

(Lights shift to soft pinks, purples, and gold — balanced hues representing emotional harmony.)

JOY​
(standing taller, smiling with tears in her eyes)​
Riley’s not the same little girl anymore. She’s messy, complicated, wonderful. And so are we.

SADNESS​
(teary, smiling)​
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
(JOY gently places a hand over SADNESS’s, then looks around the circle of emotions.)

JOY​
We’ve all got work to do. But this time… we’ll do it together.

(The console glows brighter — steady, strong, all colors swirling together.)

Scene 4 – Epilogue: A Mind in Balance

(The stage lights warm to a sunrise glow. The background hum steadies — the heartbeat of
Riley’s mind returning to normal.)

JOY​
(softly, to everyone)​
You know… maybe it’s not about always finding the light. Maybe it’s about letting the shadows
dance beside it.

SADNESS​
(smiling)​
Now you sound like me.

ANGER​
Great. Two of you.

(Everyone laughs. FEAR jumps as the laughter echoes loudly.)

FEAR​
Could we maybe not be so loud about emotional growth?

DISGUST​
Relax. It’s called bonding, not breaking.

ANXIETY​
(looking out into the distance)​
She’s thinking about her future again. College, friends, life… it’s scary, but kind of exciting.

JOY​
(grinning)​
Then let’s give her a reason to feel everything.

(They all gather around the console, each emotion placing a hand over it — a symbol of unity.
The light brightens into a full, warm glow.)
FINAL LINE

SADNESS​
They say growing up means losing your joy.​
(beat)​
But maybe… it just means learning to share it.

(All lights merge into a radiant gold-white as the emotions freeze in unity. Curtain closes.)