Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Writing Challenge - Audience of One (not really)


Challenge: Write for an audience of one. It can be someone you know. It can be someone in power. It CAN'T be yourself. Try to connect to ONE PERSON with ONE MESSAGE that you need them to know.

Bonus- send it to that person
Bonus- name that person in the play if you know them
Bonus- post it and tag them on twitter

(Author’s note: If I applied this challenge to the script I’ve been working on, they’d probably file a restraining order :)  In any case, yet again, another new scene from the characters that keep on talking to me since the Treat Yourself challenge back on 11/13.  Thanks, Aaron.)

TV BOYFRIEND

The diner.

KEN and his friend JAMIE, trans woman, 40s.

KEN has the ESPN magazine with Jake on the cover.

                          JAMIE
All right.  Out with it.

                          KEN
Well, you know how since last fall I’ve seemed a little – happier?

                          JAMIE
You’re getting laid regularly.

                          KEN gives JAMIE a look.

                          JAMIE (cont’d)
Oh please.  You’re not that hard to read.
I just figured since you weren’t saying anything it had to be a Republican senator.  Or better yet, his son.

                          KEN
Well, he is younger.

                          JAMIE
Good for you, sweetie.
The next generation should be benefiting from our experience.
I’m assuming since you scheduled this little confab specially, you are about to reveal his identity.

                          KEN
Yes.  In fact he’ll be coming to pick me up in just a bit.  You can meet.  Here’s a big hint.

KEN puts the magazine with Jake on the cover in front of Jamie.

                          JAMIE
Ooo, someone sporty.  Good for you.

JAMIE opens the magazine and begins leafing through it.

                          JAMIE (cont’d)
Well, at least this will assure your regular attendance at the gym for as long as it lasts – just to keep up.
OK, so where is he?  What page am I looking for?

KEN reaches out and closes the magazine.

                          JAMIE (cont’d)
So, he’s not sporty?
Why did you give me the magazine if you didn’t want me to look at it?
Is he a journalist?

                          KEN
He’s on the cover.

JAMIE scans the headlines, still not quite getting it.

                          JAMIE
So it’s the soccer player helping build an orphanage in Central America?

                          KEN
Jamie.  Right in front of you.

KEN points to the cover image of Jake.

                          KEN (cont’d)
Cover boy.  Coming out story.

JAMIE laughs.
Then sees that KEN is serious.

                          JAMIE
Oh honey.  We’ve talked about this.
The line between fantasy and reality.
It gets fuzzy for you writer types, I know.

JAMIE places her hands on the magazine.

                          JAMIE (cont’d)
But there’s your very rich inner life of fiction.

JAMIE gestures back and forth between herself and KEN.

                          JAMIE (cont’d)
And then there’s re-al-i-ty.

JAMIE refers to the magazine again.

                          JAMIE (cont’d)
The Goddess is rarely this kind to people of our advanced years.

                          KEN
I know.  Yet all the same –

KEN pushes the magazine toward JAMIE.

                          JAMIE
I see we’re going to need some type of intervention here.

JAKE appears, beaming.

                          JAKE
Hey, Ken doll!

                          KEN
We need to discuss the nickname thing.

                          JAKE
Absolutely.  Just so you realize you’re going to lose that little battle.

JAKE leans down and gives KEN a quick kiss.

                          JAKE (cont’d)
Hey.  That’s new.  I’ve never done that in public before.

                          KEN
Welcome to the other side of the closet door, buddy.

                          JAKE
Let’s try that again.

JAKE kisses KEN again.

                          JAKE (cont’d)
Well, whattaya know.  The world didn’t end.

JAKE takes KEN’s hand in his.

                          JAKE (cont’d)
Wow.  This is –

JAKE can’t find the words.

                          KEN
It’s new for me, too.  With you.  Baby steps.

JAKE thinks that’s a cue to remove his hand from Ken’s.

                          JAKE
Oh, do you not want me to – ?

KEN holds fast to Jake’s hand.

                          KEN
Not a chance, buster.
You go as fast or as slow as you want but you never have to apologize for wanting to hold my hand in public.
Not to me anyway.

JAKE brings Ken’s hand to his lips and kisses it.
Then JAKE turns to a slack-mouthed JAMIE.

                          JAKE
I’m sorry.  I’m being incredibly rude.  Forgive me.  I’ve been out of the closet for less than 12 hours.  It takes some getting used to.

                          JAMIE
OK.  Cute.  There’s a camera somewhere.  You’re going to post a jokey little video to his Instagram account.  Ha, ha.  Stop making fun of the old lady.

                          JAKE
C’mon now.  You’re younger than my man, here, obviously, and I’d hardly consider him old.

JAMIE and JAKE speak this next bit at the same time.

                          JAMIE and JAKE (cont’d)
You’re only as old as *who* you feel.

JAMIE and JAKE look at each other.

                          JAKE (cont’d)
So you’re who he got it from.

                          JAMIE
     (to KEN)
Stealing my best material, I see?

                          KEN
I never take full credit.

                          JAKE
He said it was a friend.  Just didn’t say who.

                          JAMIE
Uh huh.
                         
KEN tries changing the subject.

                          KEN
Your man.  I like that.

                          JAKE
I’m gonna be trying out all sorts of labels til I find a few I like.  Brace yourself.

                          JAMIE
You’re serious.

                          KEN
I swear on my dearly departed grandma’s grave.

                          JAMIE
Well.  This *is* a development.

                          JAKE
Pleased to meet you, Jamie.  I’m Jake Gilmore.

                          JAMIE
Yes.  I gathered that.

                          JAKE
Ken talks about you a lot.  I’m glad we can finally meet.

                          JAMIE
Yes, about that –

                          KEN
Jamie.

                          JAMIE
No, sweetie.  No worries.  Jakey here and I are just getting to know one another.  That was the whole point of this meet and greet, right?  I mean, now that he’s finally allowed you both to emerge from the shadows of his very spacious and well-appointed closet.

                          JAKE
I’m sensing you’re not a fan of the half-pipe.

                          JAMIE
Oh, I like me a snow bunny, don’t get me wrong.  But if you don’t mind my asking, where the hell were you a year ago when we needed you?

                          JAKE
Excuse me?

                          JAMIE
Pick an injustice.  Any injustice, really.  Doesn’t have to be a year ago.  I just use that as a marker since that’s when you started ritually sodomizing my best friend here, all the while not abandoning a lick of your straight white male privilege to reach out and help any of your queer brothers and sisters with a little of the light your visibility might shine on their own living conditions.

                          KEN
Jamie.  Seriously.  Claws in.

                          JAKE
No, that’s OK, babe.  I should hear this.  She’s not saying anything I haven’t berated myself with over the years.

                          JAMIE
Yet it didn’t seem to prick your conscience into action, now did it?

                          JAKE
No.  It didn’t.  I’ve been a coward.  You’ll get no argument from me on that score.

                          KEN
But he’s out.

                          JAMIE
Now.

                          KEN
Yes, the world only spins forward.  Now, and hereafter, is all we have any control over.

                          JAMIE
Were you not getting enough attention anymore?  Life after the Olympics a bit of a let down for you?  Figured you’d slap on a shiny new label and polish up your brand?

                          KEN
What is wrong with you?

                          JAMIE
You’ll forgive me.  “It takes some getting used to.”  After all, I haven’t been lurking in the darkness playing with his penis for a year, so all this is brand new for me.

                          KEN
Could you at least look at it as something about which to be happy for my sake, maybe?

                          JAMIE
Oh sweetheart.  You were his training wheels.
He’s a big boy now.  Out and proud.
He’ll be able to mount any ten-speed ride he wants from here on out.
Don’t get too attached, he’ll be leaving the tricycle behind any day now.

                          JAKE
Hey.

                          JAMIE
Strike a nerve?

                          JAKE
I love this man.

                          JAMIE
Me, too, sugar.  The difference is I was here before you came along, and I’ll be here long after you’re gone.

                          JAKE
I’m not going anywhere.

                          JAMIE
You’re adorable.  Clueless.  But adorable.  I can see why he’d want to ride around on you as long as he could.

KEN has been squeezing Jake’s hand a little too hard.

                          JAKE
Ow!  Dude.

                          KEN
Sorry, didn’t realize I was –

                          JAKE
That’s quite a grip you have there.  I think I need to talk to your trainer about dialing back on the free weight work.

                          KEN
Wait, why aren’t you squeezing my hand so hard it hurts?

                          JAKE
I’ve kinda earned what Jamie here is dishing out.

                          JAMIE
You need to understand, this isn’t penance.  I am not your absolution.

                          KEN
     (to JAMIE)
How much more convincing do you need?

                          JAKE
I am now a little worried about all future hand jobs.

JASPER appears.

                          JASPER
Brah!

Bro hug from JASPER to JAKE.

                          JAMIE
Oh my god, they travel in packs.

                          JASPER
     (to KEN)
Get over here, dude.

KEN’s still getting used to the bro hugs, but he submits good-naturedly.

                          KEN
Japser, my friend Jamie.
Jamie, this is Jake’s best friend and teammate Jasper.

                          JASPER
Pleased to meet you.

                          JAMIE
And you.
OK, boys, if you’ll excuse me, I think I should retreat until I regain my wits, and my manners.

                          KEN
Sounds like a plan.

                          JAMIE
All this testosterone is just a bit much for me.  I thought I’d transitioned away from all this.
Kenny, I love you, but this isn’t done, sweetheart.
Jake, you treat him right.

                          JAKE
Yes, ma’am.

                          JAMIE
You think you’ve seen me angry.  There is another level.
Jasper, you have a nice day.

JAMIE leaves.

                          JASPER
Whoa.  Dude.
She’s hot.

JAKE gives KEN a look.

                          KEN
Jasper, we should have a little talk.
But after that, I say have at it.  You may be just the ambassador we need.

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