Saturday, November 19, 2016

Writing Challenge #18 - Water, Wind, Earth and Fire


NWC #18- "Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire" DUE Nov 19th at 8am

Put the elements on stage!
Stage something around a bonfire, inside a swimming pool, or underground in a cave. Have some fun with the elements. Have your characters be connected to these elements in some primal ways.

Thoughts: Use the elements to define character conflicts. A "water" character vs a "fire" character?

Bonus: Use a Greek chorus

(I like this one, too, particularly since I once did an adaptation of the Native American legend of how the coyote stole fire, but today I've got another one of those Love Potion #9 scenes on my mind, so I figure I better jump on the impulse while it's there...)



LOVE POTION NUMBER 9

(another scene)
(a week or so before the whole "dosing Auggie with a love potion and its aftermath" stuff happens)



Sound of a busy neighborhood dive bar.

MICAH enters, guitar strapped around his shoulders.

AUGGIE and SARAH are close behind him.

Everyone is smiling, excited, MICAH just a bit sheepish.

AUGGIE is in full-on cheerleader mode.

                          AUGGIE
You.  You!  Seriously, you.  I don't even know what to do with you, man.

                          MICAH
It went OK.

                          AUGGIE
OK?  That was not just OK.  That was great.

                          MICAH
I'm hardly at your level.

                          AUGGIE
We're not making comparisons right now.  You have been taking guitar lessons for five years and you've gone from basic notes and chords to regularly performing songs.

                          MICAH
It's just a student showcase.  They make us do it.

                          SARAH
But you do it.  And you're good.

                          AUGGIE
You're definitely leagues ahead of some of the other folks in the line-up.

                          MICAH
I thought we weren't making comparisons.

                          SARAH
Take a compliment.

                          AUGGIE
I am so proud of you.  C'mere.

                          MICAH
The guitar.

                          AUGGIE
Take off the guitar.  Sarah, hold the guitar.

                          SARAH
Got it.

AUGGIE grabs MICAH in a big bear hug.  Maybe he picks him up and twirls him a little before he puts him down again.

                          MICAH
You really liked that song.

                          AUGGIE
I'm just kind of excited that we speak the same language now.

                          SARAH
Seriously, save me.

                          AUGGIE
You understand more than you think you do.

                          SARAH
I can't carry a tune with a bucket.

                          AUGGIE
Hey, no one talks about my lady like that.

                          MICAH
Not even your lady?

                          SARAH
Your lady knows her limitations.  And when did this conversation turn so possessive?  This lady belongs to no one.

                          AUGGIE
That ring on your finger begs to differ, my darlin'.

                          SARAH
You got a ring, too, buddy.  This is a contract between equals, and I have just as much right to change the terms or cancel it altogether as you do.

                          AUGGIE
Oh my.

                          SARAH
The wedding wasn't an end point, it was a beginning.  So you better stay on your best behavior.

                          AUGGIE
Then the same goes for you, m'dear.

                          SARAH
I'm always on my best behavior.

                          AUGGIE
She has me there.

                          MICAH
I can take the guitar back if you want.

                          SARAH
Oh, right.  Sorry.

                          MICAH
No, I just didn't want you to think I was treating you like my roadie or something.

                          SARAH
It was this guy who shoved it at me, not you.

                          AUGGIE
I better be careful about letting the two of you tag-team me, I see.

                          SARAH
Hey, he's not just your friend anymore.  He's community property.

                          MICAH
Now who's getting possessive?

                          SARAH
Hey, it's clear I'm going to need some help managing this guy over the long haul.

                          AUGGIE
Let me see your hands.

                          MICAH
What?

AUGGIE takes MICAH's hands in his.

                          AUGGIE
Your hands.  I want to see how the callouses on your fingertips are coming along.

                          MICAH
Oh.

                          AUGGIE
Nice.  Good progress.  See, I told you practicing every day makes a difference.

                          MICAH
My teacher agrees.  Just took me a while to prioritize it, since it feels like something "extra" rather than serious day to day work.

                          AUGGIE
You deserve something extra.  Everybody deserves music.

                          MICAH
You're biased.  Music *is* your day job.

AUGGIE hasn't let go of MICAH's hands.  MICAH isn't exactly fighting it.

                          AUGGIE
You should sit in with me and the band sometime.

                          MICAH
I don't want to waste their time.  You guys have actual music to perform.

                          AUGGIE
OK, me, then.  We need to jam sometime soon.
Or ditch that teacher of yours and I'll give you lessons.

                          MICAH
We'd just sit around talking and I'd never learn anything.  If I'm paying a stranger, there's more incentive for both of us to take it seriously.

                          AUGGIE
I wouldn't take your money.

                          MICAH
That's kinda my point, Auggie.
Beside, my teacher's kind of cute, so there's added incentive to be a good student.

AUGGIE starts playfully messing with MICAH's hair.

                          AUGGIE
Oh really?  Do I need to meet this guy?  Screen him for suitability?

                          MICAH
Nothing like that.  He's engaged.  To a woman.

                          AUGGIE
Lot of that going around.

                          SARAH
Something in the water, I guess.  Or maybe guys are all starting to grow up at the same time.

AUGGIE throws an arm around MICAH's shoulders and pulls him in.  MICAH squirms just a bit.

                          AUGGIE
When I inevitably end up in the dog house, you'll take me in, won't you?

                          MICAH
My couch is your couch.

                          SARAH
Honey, can I talk to you for just a minute?

                          AUGGIE
Uh oh.

                          SARAH
No "uh oh."

                          AUGGIE
Better get the couch ready, man.  I have transgressed and need a talking to.

                          SARAH
Stop being juvenile and get over here.

                          MICAH
Do you want me to - ?

                          SARAH
No, you're comfortable.  Stay put.  It's your night.  I don't want you to go.  I just need a word.  Honestly, now it's a much bigger deal than it warrants. 
     (to AUGGIE)
If you were gay, you'd clearly be a drama queen.

                          AUGGIE
I am chastened.

                          SARAH
Get over here, you clown.

                          JEFFREY appears.

                          JEFFREY
Hey, Micah.

                          MICAH
Jeffrey!  You made it.

                          A hug.

                          MICAH (cont'd)
Thanks for coming, man.

                          JEFFREY
Place is packed, I couldn't get up close to the front, but you sounded great.

                          MICAH
Thanks, man.  It means a lot to me that you came out just to hear my play one song.

                          JEFFREY
That's one more song than I've ever played in public, so it's a big deal.  Congrats.

SARAH and AUGGIE, off to the side.

                          AUGGIE
So what's up?
Oh, did you want to tell him about the - ?

                          SARAH
The - ?

                          AUGGIE touches SARAH's stomach.

                          AUGGIE
You know.  The -

                          SARAH
No.  That's not what this is about.

                          AUGGIE
I really want to tell him.

                          SARAH
And I really want to be sure I'm not gonna miscarry, OK?

                          AUGGIE
Just because your family -

                          SARAH
There's a history, Auggie, OK?

                          AUGGIE
OK.

                          SARAH
I just want to be further along.  Another month, maybe, tops.

                          AUGGIE
OK.  So if it wasn't that - ?

                          SARAH
Don't take this the wrong way -

                          AUGGIE
That's never a good start to any conversation.

                          SARAH
I think you touch him too much.

                          AUGGIE
Micah?

                          SARAH
It makes him uncomfortable.

                          AUGGIE
What are you talking about?

(to be continued)



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