Stage Plays by Ian Hornby

Mind Games
Disturbing play - single set - 1m 1f or 2f

Synopsis
This short play has one woman as Ann, and a Police Inspector who can be either sex.

Ann's lover Andrew has died in mysterious circumstances, and the Police have come to the conclusion he died of fright. In an off the record interview, Ann finally admits she killed him, and that it was his belief that she was able to do it that scared him to death. The Inspector doesn't believe that's possible at first, but is finally convinced. And, in an ironic twist, when he finally believes her, his life becomes just as dispensable as Andrew's had been. 

Author's notes
The idea here came from my daughter Angela, who put forward the idea some time previously that if someone was able to believe in something completely, it would actually happen. Getting to this stage of complete faith isn't easy, though, as my consistent failure to win the National Lottery demonstrates.

This version is a lot more sinister than Angela ever imagined, though, because the basis of Mind Games is that someone believed Ann could kill him, and (for no other reason than because he believed it), he died. This leaves our policeman/woman with a problem. If he/she believes Ann's explanation, does that mean he/she will die too?