Pigeon feed - the story continues

JULIE

"D'ya mind if I share this bench with you? If it's a problem I can sit at one end and you can sit at the other. We don't have to talk to each other. Some people are weird about speaking to strangers but not me. Uh-uh! I enjoy the give and taking of sharing ideas with new people. Are you a people-person?"


A while back, maybe ten years or so, came across a site that was calling for submissions to a video competition. Having recently completed a new short play, it seemed like a perfect vehicle for the competition in spite of being written in playwriting form. After a short communication with the producer/director, he told me to send it along anyway and he'd give it a look over. The long and the short of it as they say is that even though it wasn't the winner, it achieved a second honorable place, plus it had the distinction of being converted into a short film script.

The plot always intrigued me and over time and frequent read-throughs, it always struck me that there was more to the story then was told. I'm a big believer in timing and what was deemed a finished play can suddenly take on new possibilities when viewed in a new light. Such is the case with "For the Birds."

A comedy/drama, the story focuses on the accidental meeting of two lonely souls whose encounter in a park turns out to be an eye-opener, in more ways than one. At present, the two main characters are getting to know each other with overtures of friendship being more one-sided. How and why this "shorty" play has suddenly taken on a new life is a mystery but as mentioned, timing is everything in life.

STORM WARNING - SCENE 11

One more scene from one of the plays I'm working on. Actually, I see this more as a film script but we'll see where it goes as it progresses. Quite pleased so far.

STORM WARNING  - SCENE II

 

LEONARD
What is this? Move away and let us pass

CONDUCTOR

Please don’t create problems for me

LEONARD

All we wanna do is stretch our legs. Nothing more and for whatever reason, you won’t let us

CONDUCTOR

No can do

 LEONARD

This is absolutely ridiculous. You can't force us to stay here without a good reason. I’m going to walk, like it or not

MARY

Me too!

CONDUCTOR

(bending over and speaking softly)
I strongly advise you to stay put

LEONARD

Or what? Sorry pal – you gotta provide more information than vague hints and warnings

CONDUCTOR

Don’t ask me more questions that I can’t answer. Look - lemme see what I can do but you gotta wait 'til I get back

MARY

My knees are really painful. Can an old lady at least stand up and take a few steps? Arthritis and all

CONDUCTOR

A few steps but no long walks

MARY

Promise. Anyway, where d'ya think I'm gonna go?

LEONARD

I got news for you, bud. I ain’t got any intention of staying put. You’re really over-reacting to a simple request of taking a small walk through the train

CONDUCTOR

Okay...keep this to yourself. You didn't hear it from me but rumor has it that a passenger has died

MARY

What does this have to do with us? These things happen all the time. We promise we’ll stay away from wherever they’re keeping his body

CONDUCTOR
I mean, could be just a rumor but even if it was true, I wouldn’t be allowed to say, Company rules and all that. They entrust employees to be tactful when the need arises

LEONARD
You do realize you make no sense, whatsoever. Why even tell us in the first place?

CONDUCTOR
Like I said, can't really...

LEONARD
...we know. Share any information...

LEONARD
Why all the mystery? You'd think there was some VIP travelling on the train or something

(Conductor stays quiet for 10 seconds)

LEONARD (cont'd)
Seriously? Somebody important on board, travelling by train no less?

CONDUCTOR
Look - I was told that we'll be delayed in Timmersville. That's all I can tell you right now.

(CONDUCTOR hurries off)

LEONARD

Weird. The guy was really nervous. Kept wiping the top of his lip. If it was a heart attack or normal causes, he wouldn’t bother telling us

MARY
Trying out detective skills, are we?

LEONARD
(staring out of the window)
That’s what you get from hanging out with reporters.  Kind’a rubs off on a person.  Well…well… police are getting on now. This is more than a heart attack for sure.

MARY
Could be you’re right

LEONARD
We're never gonna find out anything sitting here. Don't know 'bout you but I hav'ta use the bathroom and it just so happens to be located down at the end of the car...

MARY
My old knees are stiff and a little walk works wonders for them. They wouldn't stop an old lady with arthritis from a short stroll. I

LEONARD
And if we both happen to overhear something...

MARY
Right...

A new day - a new play. First scene of "Storm Warning"

Sometimes, when all the stars are in alignment and conditions are right, a play writes itself. This was the case with "Retribution" and it seems it's repeating itself in my latest project, "Storm Warning." I'm toying with the idea of possibly making it a dinner theatre piece but will wait to make a final decision, depending on how the story progresses. The character, Linda Stevens, introduced in the next scene, is instrumental in helping to scrutinize some strange goings-on. More characters are added in later scenes. Fun undertaking and an interesting challenge, having never written a mystery-type piece before. Comments both pro and con always welcome

SCENE: Interior of a train. LEONARD WILSON stares out of the train window, his eyes transfixed on the sky. Sitting next to him is, GRANT SCOTT, another passenger, who is absorbed in reading a book.

LEONARD WILSON – NERVOUS PASSENGER

GRANT SCOTT – WEATHER PERSON, KMJO TV

MARY WILLIAMS – SENIOR WITH AN AGENDA

LINDA STEVENS – REPORTER, TODAY’S NEWS MEDIA


LEONARD
(softly to himself)
Snow sky. Just what I need

GRANT
Sorry?

LEONARD
I was talking to myself that it looks like snow

GRANT
It's February.  Gotta expect the white stuff

LEONARD
They called for sun - not snow. Then again , they have an accuracy rate of maybe 25%

GRANT
Actually...statistically, they get it right 50% of the time

LEONARD
Maybe  but never when you need an accurate forecast

GRANT
People think that we have an inside track with  the big guy upstairs. We interpret changing weather systems and fronts. Even then, Mother Nature likes to play tricks on us

LEONARD
By "we" does that mean you're one of them?

GRANT
If you mean do I predict the weather, I work for KMJO. Does that mean we stop talking to each other, now?

(GRANT laughs)

LEONARD
So I’m sitting next to a media personality?

GRANT
Nobody ever called me that but I'll take it

LEONARD
Are you on-camera? I mean, would I recognize you?

GRANT
If you watch the weather at the end of our news and sports broadcast, my face might strike a familiar chord

LEONARD
So...like...how'd you end up doing this? Did you go to weather college or something? Wind is picking up. Not good…not good…

GRANT
Relax, pal.  Ain’t nothing you can do about it. I have a degree in meteorology. As a kid, I was fascinated how heat and cold affect people and animals. Went tornado hunting when I got older and almost got swept away by one.  There’s something about the rawness of nature – you know - the unpredictability that has always interested me. Anyway, now I'm the official excuse for not going into work on snow days or cancelling picnics when it rains. You'd be surprised how many nasty phone calls we get when we're wrong. People take their weather predictions very seriously.

LEONARD
(staring out of the window looking up at the sky)
Your guess would be snow?

GRANT
Most likely. Don't take this the wrong way but you seem very tense about the possibility of a storm on the way. Guess you have an important appointment

LEONARD
(distracted)
Uh-huh...

GRANT
Wouldn’t worry too much. We're travelling by train. Never heard of a train getting stuck in a snow storm, at least not in these parts

LEONARD
But I am. Snow could cause a delay and I can’t afford that

GRANT
You might as well take it easyand enjoy the trip. Worrying won't make things go any faster or better. A teacher once told me that

LEONARD
Look - don't wanna be rude but I don't feel like talking anymore

GRANT
No problem-o. Got’cha loud and clear. It’s my media background that makes me gabby. I'll go back to reading my book

(silence for a few minutes)

(Cont'd. GRANT)
Really looks like we're in for some kind of bad weather for sure

LEONARD
Shoot! Really don't need this!

GRANT
Sorry. I'm blabbering again, aren't I? Not one more word will come out of my mouth

LEONARD
...hadn't counted on snow... Changes things...

GRANT
Look. You're working yourself up for nothing. It's gonna snow whether you like it or want it. The worst that can happen is that we'll arrive late. I'm Grant by the way and you are...

LEONARD
Pissed off. Like I told you, not in a talking mood

(LEONARD pulls at his shirt collar and wipes his forehead with the back of his hand)

GRANT
Really man - you're gonna give yourself a heart attack if you keep on like that. I was only trying to pass the time

LEONARD
Who cares! I gotta get out’ta here

(LEONARD stands up and pushes his way past GRANT and storms down the train aisle
An elderly woman, MARY, seated in the seat on opposite side of the aisle, watches and listens to their conversation)

MARY
Hostile, isn't he?

GRANT
(stretching the upper part of his body, watching LEONARD disappear)
You better believe it!

MARY
You were only trying to make small talk

GRANT
Obviously picked the wrong person to sit next to

MARY
Rude too! Some people have no manners

GRANT
Never mind manners. How about plain, old civility

MARY
Did I hear you say you're a weatherman on TV? Am I sitting next to a gen-u-ine celebrity?

GRANT
(laughing)
Wouldn't go as far as to call myself a celebrity but I do forecasts on TV

MARY
I'm a weather forecaster too, y'know

GRANT
You don't say. Which station?

MARY
Not a fancy prognosticator like you, of course, but when my legs ache, it's a sure sign there's gonna be something

(MARY rubs her knees)

GRANT
And is it gonna snow?

MARY
Major snow I would say by all the pain I’m feeling. Mr. Crazy Man there is gonna freak out for sure

GRANT

The guy’s obviously got somewhere to be. Tough luck. Mother Nature has other ideas

MARY

You know what they say: y’can’t mess around with mother nature! I’m Mary, by the way. Darn! Dropped a stitch. Now I’m  going to have to unravel this and try to pick it up. Oh well. Lots of time to do it
 

GRANT

Leonard.... Leonard Wilson. Friends call me Lenny.  The people that watch me call me a lot of other not-so-nice names when we make mistakes on the forecast. That’s a lot of scarf you’re making there

MARY

People have such high expectation of each other these days.  No room for errors or leniency. You make one mistake and… Listen to me go on. There. Found it.  Not a scarf. An afghan. It’s a cover for a bed

GRANT

You travelling alone? There I go being nosy again. That’s what I get from working in the media. How about the two of us continuing our conversation over a coffee? Maybe we'll meet up with our up-tight friend along the way

MARY
Unless he jumped off the train...

(Conductor interrupts their conversation)

CONDUCTOR

‘Scuse me...sorry folks but I'm going to have to ask you not to leave your seats

MARY
(staring out of the window)

It’s starting to snow. I really hope we’re not delayed… Have to be somewhere by tonight. People are waiting to meet me at the other end. Delay is not acceptable at all… Not at all… Why do we have to stay seated, by the way?

CONDUCTOR (INTERRUPTING)
They’re calling for a major snow fall but it  has nothing to do with the weather

GRANT
Don't tell, me, the state police have come aboard looking for bank robbers....

MARY
…or an axe murderer …

CONDUCTOR

(nervous)

Pesky mechanical problems is all.
 

GRANT

Sorry but I don’t get why we have to stay put. How does our moving around affect repairing the train?

CONDUCTOR

We need to stop over in Timmersville for a spell to get a part. Not sure how long it’s gonna take. What with a storm on its way, it would be better if you don’t wander around
 

GRANT

Say what?  You expect us to sit here for who knows how many hours while a spare train part is found? Ridiculous!  We’re not planning to leave the train or anything

(starts to get up)

(GRANT cont’d)

I need to stretch my legs

MARY

Me too…these old legs can’t stay in one position for long

CONDUCTOR

(blocking them leaving)

Can’t let you do that

GRANT

Let us pass, please. You have no right to stop us

CONDUCTOR

No can do
 

GRANT

Why not?

 CONDUCTOR

Look – they told me to do this and that’s what I’m doing

GRANT

They would be, who?

MARY

You better level with us if you want us to stay put

CONDUCTOR

For your own safety, don’t ask questions

Another day, another play

As the title of the blog indicates, another day...another play almost finished. In playwriting 'almost' is a tricky term since endings are usually hard to come by.

"So give us an update on your playwriting efforts in general these days, Eleanor."

As mentioned ad nauseum here, finished "Old Soldiers" and entered it in this year's edition of the BBC International Playwriting Competition. Now comes the really hard part in waiting to hear back one way or the other. Being in this mental and physical state of being means a slight case of nausea when opening my e-mail in anticipation of receiving "the" word. Suffice it to say that waiting is not half the fun.

I'm "that" close to finishing my latest project, "Neighbors", which is turning into a great two-act play. As my mom used to say, "close" is only good when playing horse shoes. It had its origins as a short play and over the years as is my habit, it has been tweaked to death and  sort-of atrophied in my filing (or none-filing) system. Recently, after reading it over for the zillionth time, I decided that it has the meat and bones (can a play have meat and bones one wonders...) for expansion. The story line, which is loosely based on facts, focuses on a row of shrubs that separate the back gardens of two neighbors, one of which believes that their placement encroaches on to his property. The end result is that it has caused a feud that has lingered and grown over the years. The dialogue is entertaining and the story is moving along to a natural conclusion, following which it will be put to bed for a while and re-read at a later date for changes. There are always changes in my world.

Interesting how the creative process works. As an artist in addition to being a writer, it seems that my best work is done at the cost of the other. To be more precise, when I'm in the midst of creating a new writing piece, my artistic output tapers off and vice-versa.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking about but not yet in the writing mode of my next play focusing on a young girl's experiences growing up after moving into a new neighborhood.. Not sure whether it will be a one act or full play but then I never know how it will work until consulting with the characters. Meanwhile, my blank canvases are calling me.

A play-ful taste of "The Lemon"

As shared in a previous blog, I'm working on tweaking or re-writing one of my current short plays, "The Lemon."  A comedy, I've always liked this play-ette and it's for this reason I'm providing an excerpt. As always, comments welcome.

The story focuses on a woman (PENNY), whose newly acquired more-than-gently used car is stalled and her saga to get it moved out of a busy intersection. Her cell phone dead and unable to contact the car dealer, she is forced to use a public phone that is otherwise in use by a female, and a verbal battle of wits ensues between them.



THE LEMON
by Eleanor Tylbor


CAST OF CHARACTERS

PENNY FLOWERS, Owner of “the lemon

FEMALE PHONE USER, (‘F.P.U.’) user of public phone stand

 

THE TIME: The present. Mid-afternoon. Hot summer day

 

SETTING:  A public telephone stand at a busy intersection.

 

AT RISE:   A female, (PENNY) paces outside a public phone stand, waiting for person using the phone to leave. She is holding a cell phone in one hand and repetitively hits it against her leg, then puts it to her ear. She is tense since her car ("the lemon") is stalled in the middle of a busy intersection

 

PENNY

I don’t believe this! How many more things can go wrong, today?
Aside to Female Phone User: 'Scuse me, lady, but I gotta use that phone!’

 

SOUND: CAR HORNS

         PENNY looks off into the distance and makes obscene gesture with finger

 ‘Blow it out your nose, idiots! You'll get more out of it!' This is so typical. Finally, I get a cell phone and forget to charge the battery.

SPEAKING TO PERSON USING PHONE:

‘Scuse me? Are you going to be much longer?’

FEMALE PHONE USER (F.P.U.)

Do you mind? I’m almost finished. Why don’t you use your cell phone?

PENNY

Uh duhhh! Don'cha think I would if I could? It's broken –just like your fingers could be if I can’t use that phone like… now

F.P.U..

Are you threatening me with bodily harm? Oh gawd – a nut case! I attract them all!
ASIDE TO PERSON ON PHONE: ‘I think somebody wants to hurt me, Chloe!’

PENNY

I’m merely venting, silly lady, at least for the time being but things could change if I don’t get to use that phone! Perhaps I should explain so you’ll be sympathetic to my dilemma. D'ya see that car over there?

F.P.U.

Like, who cares, you crazy woman!
ASIDE TO PERSON ON PHONE: “Chloe, if anything happens to me, call my parents and tell them that I love them. Oh and you can tell my sister she can have my Manolo Blahnik Shoes.’

PENNY

Humor me for thirty seconds. Over there – see the car?

F.P.U.

You mean that orange-colored wreck? That’s - yours? I’d keep it to myself if I was you

PENNY

I bought the rusting chunk of junk a week ago and it died on me, today. There’s a sucker born every minute and the dealer saw a big red “S” right here on my forehead

F.P.U.

Okay. I see your car. Now can I finish my conversation? The more you interrupt – the longer it’ll take

           F.P.U. turns away. PENNY taps her on the back

PENNY

Perhaps I’m not making myself clear. I'm not a violent person by nature - not at all but you’re pushing my buttons! Wait – I made a joke - get it? Public phone stand? Push the buttons? In my personal angst, I still manage to find humor. I’m a survivor alright!

F.P.U.

(talking into phone softly)

‘Chloe? Don’t hang up on me, yet! I want proof if this nut case attacks me.’

PENNY

You strike me as a relatively sensible person…um…um… You do have a name?

F.P.U..

Like I would tell it to a weirdo like you, who not two minutes ago threatened me with bodily harm

SPEAKS ON PHONE: ‘Are you still there, Chloe? I might need you to call the police’

PENNY

Do you appreciate how much time that has been wasted? Precious time I could have spent speaking to my car dealer but you insisted on staking out your territory here

F.P.U.

SPEAKS ON PHONE: ‘Get ready to call 911! I mean it!’

PENNY

There's no need for that. Ask any of my friends and they’ll tell you that I'm normally a sane person who rarely loses my temper, but my back’s against the wall!

           PENNY reaches over and grabs phone

PENNY SPEAKS ON PHONE: ‘Hello Chloe? She’ll call you right back.’

There! Your conversation is now over

F.P.U.

How dare you!

PENNY

How dare I? How dare I, you ask? How many times did I tell you that I hadda make a desperate phone call, but did you listen? Nooooo! Your phone conversation took precedent over my needs, so I took things into my own hands in the true sense of the word. If you don’t mind, I’d like some privacy so block your ears and turn away. Better still, go away

F.P.U.

Excuse me? After the way you interrupted my conversation? I think not

PENNY

Let me see here…where’s my phone directory? This purse is so big, everything gets lost inside… So this is where my salami sandwich went. Phew! Kind’a stinks. Then again, it is two weeks old. Would you mind tossing it into the trash can over there?

FPU

I think not! Why don’t you go throw it in yourself? It’s only mere few feet away. Wouldn’t take you long

PENNY

You think I’m an idiot?

FPU

The thought did cross my mind in addition to being insane

PENNY

I take one step away from here and you jump in and take over control of the phone, again. I think not! I’ll just put it back in my purse and toss it later on, when you’re not around

FPU

That is like, so disgusting! You’re gonna contaminate the phone! I’m gonna vomit!

PENNY

Don’t let me stop you. Let’s see here…where is the number of my dealership. I should’a filed it under “losers”. Here it is

          PENNY pushes buttons        

PENNY

TALKS ON PHONE:

‘Tony please. Tony Mozarelle. He what?’

ASIDE TO F.P.U.:

This is just my luck! They’re telling me my salesman has disappeared. Flown the coop. Taken wing as it was

F.P.U.

Oh well. Tough luck. Is it my turn, now?

PENNY

Not yet but soon. Oh the angst of it all!

          PENNY continues her phone conversation

PENNY

TALKS ON THE PHONE: ‘I'm a client of that place you laughingly call a dealership. Oh they warned me not to buy anything from you but did I listen? Nooo! Instead I go ahead and end up with this…this…clunker blocking the middle of a busy intersection! I-demand-satisfaction! Hello? Hello?’

ASIDE TO F.P.U:  Do you believe she hung up on me? People are so rude these days                                                                            

PENNY

(softly and politely)

ON THE PHONE: ‘Please don’t hang up. It’s been a day in hell and I’m asking for your indulgence and forgiveness. Now, would it be possible to speak to your wonderful manager? And his name would be…? Mr. Anthony Blackburn. Would this helpful Anthony person be free to talk to me now? Thank you so much… Miss…Miss…Jenkins – and you have a good day. ‘Ciao bella.’ Mr. Blackburn? Hi there...my name is….’

VOICE OVER: “Hello. You’ve reached my voice mail because I’m too busy selling people cars at the most unbelievable bargain prices! Every hour on the hour, we lower the prices of our gently used ve-hi-cles so that our customers can save their bucks to pay for gas. Leave me a message and I’ll get back to you…whenever.”   

I can’t take it! This…this… woman transferred me to an automated answering system! What ever happened to live conversation with a real person? Gone with the wind just like service in general!

F.P.U.

Why don’t you just march right over there and give that manager a piece of your mind, right now! I would.

PENNY

I’m distraught and demoralized and all you can think about is to continue your stupid, insipid conversation with Chloe! On top of it all, the automated machine spat out names and phone locals and I don’t even have a pencil! Is there no end to the frustration I must deal with?

ASIDE TO F.P.U.:(genteel sweet voice:) _­ Um - friend? I feel we’ve gotten to know each other in the short time we’ve both been standing here - two travelers on the super phone highway, dialing to communicate our needs. I’m wondering here if I could, like, ask a little fa-vor? It's not a biggie or anything that could put you out. Do you - would you… by any chance have a pen or pencil I could borrow? I don’t seem to have anything to write with 

F.P.U.

After the way you treated me? You really have nerve!

PENNY

Just desperate. Check in your purse. Perhaps you’d like me to check in there for you?

F.P.U.

You wanna rob me, don’t you? That’s it, isn’t it? Ohmygawd! I'm hyperventilating...

PENNY

Look, whatever-your-name-is - let's start all over and pretend we just met. Isn’t that a good idea? Make believe I'm a close but needy friend who happened along and is asking you to - nay – begging you to please check for a pen or pencil that I could borrow. D'ya think you could do that? As one sister to another? All you hav’ta do is open that bee-u-ti-ful designer pocketbook, stick your hand inside and feel around. I'll even take an eyeliner or eyebrow pencil…anything with lead will do…