Monday, November 06, 2017

November 2017 Writing Challenge - #6 - A Ticking Time Bomb


Write a scene where a literal match lights a fuse that ignites a bomb

Use special effects and cinematic conventions. 
Let the director and actors figure it out 
No fourth wall

Bonus all female characters 

********

That one actually looks like fun but I'm on the hunt for another scene in the love potion play, so...

Flashback.

********

MICAH working the merchandise table for one of Auggie's music gigs.

SARAH approaches.

                          MICAH
Hi.

                          SARAH
Hi.  CDs?

                          MICAH
Absolutely.  He's got three right now.  Fourth is in process.

                          SARAH
I'd never heard him before but a couple of my friends thought I'd like the sound.  They were right.

                          MICAH
He has a great voice, doesn't he?

                          SARAH
Very smooth, very easy to listen to.

                          MICAH
Never get sick of it.

                          SARAH
Well, it's a good thing, I guess.  You must hear him a lot.

                          MICAH
They say voices can run in families.  If he had a gay brother, we'd probably disappear, I'd have him sing to me all the time, you'd never see me again.

                          SARAH
So, not a member of the family.

                          MICAH
Nope, just a friend.

AUGGIE appears.

                          AUGGIE
"Just a friend," listen to you.
     (to SARAH)
The guy's almost my entire support system.  He's practically my roadie.

                          MICAH
Only when you're in town.

                          AUGGIE
Which is half the time.

Some brief guy rough-housing.

                          MICAH
     (back to business)
Customer, dumbass.

                          AUGGIE
     (extends a hand)
Absolutely.  Totally rude.  My bad.  Auggie.

                          SARAH
Sarah.

                          MICAH
First-timer.

                          SARAH
New convert.

                          AUGGIE
I'm flattered.

                          SARAH
You should be.  I don't always go for the singer-songwriter type.
Not that I'm "going for you."

                          AUGGIE
The music.

                          SARAH
Right.

                          MICAH
He's single.

AUGGIE swats MICAH.

                          AUGGIE
All the subtlety of a bull elephant.

                          SARAH
You know what, I can't decide.  I'll take one of each.

                          MICAH
Good first impression.  Well done, Auggie.

                          SARAH
Lyrics in the liner notes.

                          AUGGIE
Else what are liner notes for.

                          SARAH
Congrats on not cranking out a whole bunch of songs about a woman's body parts or trying to get her in bed.

                          MICAH
Oh he's got those.

                          AUGGIE swats MICAH again.

                          MICAH (cont'd)
Just not on the CDs.

                          AUGGIE
College.  I grew up.

                          SARAH
I like that you see a wider world outside yourself.  All the nature stuff.

                          MICAH
Don't get him started on camping.

                          SARAH
And you've had your heart broken.

                          Pause.

                          AUGGIE
Once or twice.

                          SARAH
But you're not angry.

                          AUGGIE
At myself, maybe.

                          SARAH
You play the harmonica like you know what melancholy means.

                          MICAH
What is it about the harmonica anyway?

                          SARAH
I know, right?

                          MICAH
It seems like it should be so old-timey, like Depression era stuff.

                          SARAH
But when you hear it -

                          MICAH
Especially in conjunction with the guitar.

                          SARAH
And that voice.

                          MICAH
You have absolutely no defenses against it.

                          AUGGIE
And the blush has started at my toes and worked its way up my entire body at this point.

                          MICAH
He actually does blush over his entire body.

                          SARAH
Seen it, have you?

                          MICAH
Well, not everything, obviously.

                          SARAH
College.

                          MICAH
Different P.E. electives, different locker rooms.

                          AUGGIE
Standing right here.

                          SARAH
So there's a whole set of the harmonicas.  Are they each a different key or something.

                          AUGGIE
Yup.  You nailed it.  That's how it works.

                          SARAH
Juggling all of that in your head - the guitar, the singing, the harmonica - the logistics of it baffle me.

                          MICAH
Same here.

SARAH, of the CDs she just bought.

                          SARAH
Thanks, for the music.

                          AUGGIE
No, thank *you*.
Check out the website.
My contact email's on there.

                          SARAH
Maybe I'll do that.
First I've got some listening to do.
OK to pester you with questions.

                          AUGGIE
I look forward to it.

                          SARAH
Have a nice night.

                          AUGGIE
You as well.

                          MICAH
Good meeting you.

                          SARAH
And you.

SARAH goes.

                          AUGGIE
Oh man.  I am in such trouble.

                          MICAH
You're adorable.  Stop it.



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