B-Sides: Track Three

Scene Three of Eleven. "A twenty-seven year old despondent writer and a sixteen year old musician form a profound attachment to each other through their love of David Bowie."

 

 

 

TRACK THREE

[Sarah is in the apartment setting up for her and Clive’s movie night. She places a blanket on the couch and lights a couple of candles on the nightstand. Clive walks in.]

                   CLIVE

Valentine’s Day wasn’t changed this year, was it? Because Jon Stewart said nothing about it on his show and I would think…

                   SARAH

It’s our movie night.

                   CLIVE

Oh, s**t.

                   SARAH

You don’t have plans do you?

                   CLIVE

I do. I wish you would have told me.

                   SARAH

I wanted to surprise you.

              [Clive walks over to her and starts to kiss her.]

                   CLIVE

It’s perfect. You’re perfect. I am such an a*****e.

                   SARAH

I wanted tonight to be romantic.

                   CLIVE

I should have told you, I know. I’m such an idiot. Josh and I got tickets to see Blood Red Shoes tonight at the Rickshaw, and, I don’t know, my minds just been all over the place, I completely forgot to tell you.

                   SARAH

This is the second time you’ve blown off our movie night, Clive.

                   CLIVE

I know babe, I’ll make it up to you. I promise. I really promise this time.

                   SARAH

You’re lucky I’m such an awesome girlfriend-

                   CLIVE

The best.

                   SARAH

Or you would be out on the street.

                   CLIVE

I would make an incredible hobo.

                   SARAH

Have a dog follow you around, carry all your clothes in handkerchief tied to a stick.

                   CLIVE

Grow a big ol’ beard.

                   SARAH

Oh god, don’t remind me of that disgusting beard you grew last year.

                   CLIVE

It wasn’t disgusting. I looked like…

                   SARAH

You didn’t look like Hemingway, dear. I’m sorry. You looked like John Lennon had become a rabbi.

                   CLIVE

It wasn’t that bad.

                   SARAH

It really was.

              [pause]

                   CLIVE

I have to go. Thank you for all of this. It was incredibly thoughtful of you. I’m gonna start thinking of awesome ways to make it up to you right now. It’ll blow your mind. I love you.

              [Clive starts to leave]

SARAH

Clive.

              [Clive turns to face her.]

I love you too. You know that, right?

                   CLIVE

Of course.

                   SARAH

Okay. I just want you to know. And also…you don’t have to act cool around me, okay? I mean, if I was unhappy about anything or thinking about stuff…you know?

                   CLIVE

Sarah?

                   SARAH

I would be able to talk to you. Right?

                   CLIVE

Of course. What are you-?

                   SARAH

And the same would go the other way. If you ever felt that way, I mean. 

                   CLIVE

I’ll see you tonight.

              [Clive leaves]

[Sarah remains silent for a moment. She takes out her phone. Spotlight stage right. Josh answers his cell phone. He is holding two open beers in one hand and another closed one under his arm.]

                   JOSH

Yo! Sarah, what’s up?

                   SARAH

Hey, Josh. How have you been?

                   JOSH

Pretty good.

              [To someone on his end]

Hey, what’s up man?

SARAH

Are you drunk?

                   JOSH

Yes. Yes, I am.

                   SARAH

It’s like seven o’clock.

                   JOSH

Yeah, I know. It’s my mother’s birthday today.

                   SARAH

So you’re wasted?

                   JOSH

Well, yeah. My family knows how to put on a party. What do you need?

                   SARAH

I talked to Clive.

                   JOSH

Did he say anything?

                   SARAH

No…I don’t know. I don’t know how to engage him enough to just talk.

                   JOSH

Give him time.

                   SARAH

But what if he-

                   JOSH

Just give him time. Everything’s gonna be okay. Okay?

                   SARAH

Yeah, I know. He seemed like he had a lot on his mind. When you see him tonight…just…try to cheer him up.

                   JOSH

I’m not seeing him tonight.

                   SARAH

What?

                   JOSH

Oops.

                   SARAH

He told me he was going to a concert with you. Why would he lie to me?

                   JOSH

I don’t know.

                   SARAH

Oh my god, what if he’s going to-?

                   JOSH

No, Sarah. He’s okay.

                   SARAH

I’m just worried.

                   JOSH

He’ll be fine.

                   SARAH

He shouldn’t be alone right now.

                   JOSH

He’s probably just with Mayya. It’s okay.

              [Long Pause]

                   SARAH

Who’s Mayya?

                   JOSH

Oh, shi-

[The spotlight cuts on Josh as Sarah hangs up her phone. She stands in the room horrified.]

[Lights up on the makeshift stage upstage. A mic stand and an amp are on the stage. An emcee goes up to the mic and speaks to the audience.]

     EMCEE

All right, guys. That was The Green Hotel, give it up for them. Next up to the stage is Mayya. Mayya everybody.

[Mayya steps onto the stage as the lights go out on Sarah. Mayya plugs her guitar in the amp and begins to play Moonage Daydream]

                   MAYYA

“I’m an alligator; I’m a mama-papa coming for you

I’m a space invader; I’ll be a rock’n’rollin’ b***h for you

Keep your mouth shut

You’re squawking like a pink monkey bird

And I’m busting up my brains for the words”

[Clive walks in and quickly sneaks into a chair at a table facing the stage. He watches Mayya perform.]

“Keep your electric eye on me babe

Put your ray gun to my head

Press your space face close to mine, love

Freak out in a Moonage Daydream, oh yeah!

 

Don’t fake it baby, lay the real thing on me

The church of man, love

Is such a holy place to be

Make me baby, make me know your really care

Make me jump into the air

 

Keep your electric eye on me babe

Put your ray gun to my head

Press your space face close to mine, love

Freak Out in a Moonage Daydream, oh yeah!”

[Mayya finishes the song and Clive applauds her. Lights go down on the upstage as a spotlight comes back up on Josh stage right.]

     JOSH

Hey, man. I…fucked up. How are you doing? We should hang out sometime, you know? Grab a couple of beers over at Summer Place. Oh, so it turns out that Marion does have a boyfriend. But it’s like off and on so what I’m hoping for is that they’ll break up and I’ll just swoop right in. That’s not an a*****e thing to do, is it? I mean, I would be an a*****e if I just tried to sleep with her while she still had a boyfriend. Then I would be an a*****e. But if she broke up with him and I’m like “He did what now? That’s not fair. You’re too good for that,” then it would be okay, right? Whatever. I like her, I would be down for an actual relationship with this girl which is why I’m pursuing it so valiantly. I want it to start off on the right foot. Anyways, I’ll keep you updated on how that goes and also…I accidently told Sarah about Mayya. Sorry dude.

              [Lights cut on Josh.]

Author's Note

This is a very rough first draft of the full length I just finished; I would be tremendously grateful of any opinions or suggestions for it; it's a story I'm rather passionate about and would like to know just how much work I have left to do on it; more scenes to follow