In many of my efforts, I didn’t think I would continue this so soon, but to put a certain daydream to rest I felt the need to continue sooner than later, especially with the approaching start of year four, the start of the fall semester, my return to work. The not so surprising that a feeling I’ve had about the last article. Will I be able to do it? Looking at this section and those to follow I am not so sure since, right now, but something will change.
COMMENTARY:
By far, this is my favourite section. This is a real insight into Kay’s character, but it is also a look into the aftermath of a bad decision. Granted, I never made the decision that is examined in this scene. This scene plays not only to the conflictions of the past and the future but what both efforts task on the present. And through that, out of love and/or a misplaced view of morality and dedication, which I am sure I would have made, regret and confusion would stem.
This is a vague explanation, but once you read the scene it will make sense. So without further ado, here’s part three…
“THE NEXT COUNTER”
(pt. 3 of 7)
SCENE III:
RAISE LIGHTS:
PRESENT:
Kay is standing in front of the PDQ as he was before.
KAY
Shows what I know.
Marley walks up.
MARLEY
New release?
KAY
I’m afraid so.
She picks up a copy of the movie.
MARLEY
A horror movie?
KAY
Yeah.
MARLEY
Is it scary?
KAY
Not sure...
(Sighs)
I could probably tell you the ending if you like. (If he hasn’t changed it.) Save you the twenty-five bucks.
MARLEY
Christ!
(Scoffs)
Kay, you don’t like the same movies I do. You think “Fast and the Furious” is stupid... I think it is the greatest movie ever made... You like to dwell on sappy crap like “The Shawshank Redemption”.
KAY
Excuse me... I haven’t spoken about the Shank in years.
MARLEY
Yeah, whateve’... You cling to it.
KAY
I do shed a tear every time it shows up in the value bin... Then again my opinion is a bit outdated and bias.
MARLEY
They’re your addiction, darling.
KAY
That they would, be it another day, but I haven’t seen a movie in a while.
MARLEY
What a week?
KAY
Try years.
MARLEY
You mean in the theatre, right?
KAY
In the theatre, on TV, on the net or on DVD.
MARLEY
DVD? You don’t have a Blu-Ray?
KAY
I didn’t see the point of upgrading.
MARLEY
Okay, you’ve been lazy. How does that make you biased?
KAY
It doesn’t...
(Puts away the movie he’s holding)
I tried making these things.
He heads towards the open floor.
Flabbergasted, Marley is taken aback.
She follows him out.
MARLEY
A movie? You tried to make a movie?
Kay shakes his head.
MARLEY (CONT’D)
Where? When?
KAY
Locally in Delusional, of course... but that was another life, another time.
MARLEY
(Scoffs)
You spend far too much time thinking about the past. You remind of a goddamn history class.
Kay is perplexed.
KAY
I don’t follow.
MARLEY
You know how they talk about people and places and like they matter... Who gives a shit how people died in some time in some country that doesn’t exist anymore, speaking a language that no one understands?
KAY
That’s ancient history. There are more current events.
MARLEY
Like what?
KAY
Both world wars... they happened last century...
Marley shakes her head.
KAY (CONT’D)
The Vietnam war... both Gulf Wars.
MARLEY
Oh my god. Is that all?
KAY
Well there’s the Emancipation Proclamation...
She continues shaking her head.
KAY (CONT’D)
Women’s Suffrage... The Holocaust... The Civil Rights movement... The Fall of the Berlin Wall...
(Sigh of defeat)
(flat)
Nine-Eleven?
MARLEY
Of course I know about Nine-Eleven... I started working for the company the day before.
KAY
Of course you did.
MARLEY
I don’t remember all that stuff happening then.
KAY
Not really. They happened mostly over the course of the last century.
MARLEY
Nuh-uh... the didn’t happen in the last ten years.
KAY
The past ten years?
MARLEY
The past century.
KAY
You mean decade.
MARLEY
No century.
KAY
No... a decade is ten years. A century is a hundred.
MARLEY
No... a century is ten years... A millennium is a hundred.
KAY
A thousand... a millennium is a thousand years.
Jim walks up.
JIM
Hey Marley, it’s quitting time.
MARLEY
Yay... I can’t wait to leave... I can’t stand hearing the professor’s lecture here.
JIM
What are you bugging her about, now?
KAY
I’m not bugging her--
MARLEY
--Yes you are! Talking about wars and the last millennium.
KAY
Last century.
MARLEY
See.
KAY
I can’t help correcting grievous errors.
MARLEY
Who cares?
JIM
Don’t mind the professor, Marley; he likes to think of himself as a smart guy.
KAY
Well I am.
MARLEY
Oh yeah... If you’re so smart, then why are you working here?
Kay is taken aback.
JIM
Oh snap. She got you.
MARLEY
C’mon Jim let’s go clock out.
JIM
Yeah. Night, boss.
KAY
Night.
Marley and Jim exit.
Kay rubs his face in exasperation. He doesn’t notice a woman around his age, RACHEL, standing at the counter.
RACHEL
My father use to ask that same question.
Kay opens his eyes. He’s surprised.
RACHEL (CONT’D)
Although I never had a problem with what you did for a living. “A job is a job after all.”
KAY
Yeah well...
RACHEL
I know you only said that because you were hoping for bigger things.
KAY
I hadn’t planned on making a career of this.
RACHEL
Do you still write?
KAY
As always... I eventually finished my book.
RACHEL
How well did it sell?
Kay sighs.
RACHEL (CONT’D)
Dumb question... I know, sorry.
KAY
No worries.
(Sighs)
Did you need help with something or...
RACHEL
You know why I’m here.
She holds up a card.
KAY
Right, my birthday. How could I have forgotten?
RACHEL
But it’s you’re birthday, you can’t forget your birthday.
KAY
Birthdays and holidays are you thing, not mine.
RACHEL
The only holiday I made you celebrate was New Years.
KAY
I preferred Halloween.
A young child, DAISY, walks up.
DAISY
I do, too.
KAY
(to Daisy)
You like Halloween?
DAISY
Oh yes I do. That’s when Mommy let’s me wear a costume.
KAY
(Looking to Rachel)
Really?
(To Daisy)
Do you go out as a princess?
DAISY
No way! I go out as a vampire.
KAY
(to Rachel)
A vampire?
Rachel shrugs her shoulders.
KAY (CONT’D)
(To Daisy)
Well I’m sure you’re a cute vampire.
DAISY
Oh no. I’m evil.
KAY
Ye-ah... Evil or not, you’re probably pretty cute.
DAISY
That’s what my Mommy says.
KAY
I see.
DAISY
(to Rachel, pulling her)
C’mon, Mommy, there’s a game I want to show you.
RACHEL
Sure, Baby... But you go ahead and play one of the games and I’ll join you there in a few. Okay?
DAISY
Okay.
RACHEL
(to Kay)
It’s okay if she plays?
KAY
Sure.
Daisy runs off towards the games.
KAY (CONT’D)
You’re really a Mommy.
RACHEL
Yeah, I’m really a Mommy.
Rubs his arm)
I’m still looking for her Daddy.
Reluctant, he catches her hand.
KAY
I know...
(He looks to Daisy)
She’s very beautiful... She takes after her mother.
RACHEL
Oh, I think she’s got some good attributes from her father.
KAY
The hair and the eyes, maybe.
RACHEL
She likes weird stuff.
KAY
Looks who’s talking.
RACHEL
Touché... She likes things that should be beyond her age... old movies, old music, old shows, old plays, old books, the BBC, the CBC... she really likes thrift shops and she definitely get her dark side from him.
KAY
Yet you named her Daisy?
RACHEL
I thought it would brighten her disposition.
KAY
I’m sure it does for those around.
RACHEL
I’m sure she’ll grow out of it.
(Scoffs)
She’ll probably go by Daze as a teenager.
KAY
Don’t think that way.
RACHEL
I’m not, but I know you are.
KAY
You got me there, Love.
RACHEL
Do I, sir?
Both stare at one another and sigh out of exasperation.
She hands him the card.
She nods to him to open it.
He opens it carefully. The card is rather plain.
He reads the card to himself.
He takes a breathe, closes the card and puts it back in the envelope, carefully setting it down. He turns to her.
KAY
I still do... I never stopped... but I’m still not sure... I still have to think about it.
RACHEL
It has been how long?--
KAY
--I know, I know--
RACHEL
--A girl can only wait so long.
KAY
--I know.
RACHEL
Isn’t that enough of a reason?
KAY
Yes but I want it to be the right one.
Rachel sighs, resting herself on the counter.
RACHEL
That’s probably why I’ll wait some more.
She pulls him forward, kissing him for a spell on the forehead, as to say: “I Miss you, I love you.”
RACHEL
Happy Birthday, Kay.
She releases him and heads to Daisy.
The two exit the stage.
KAY
Happy Mother’s Day, Rachel.
He walks out of the podium.
CURTAIN.
CLOSING COMMENTARY:
Although I am not too particle to how the scene starts my attachment is to the implied mistake. Just to clarify, I don’t have an estranged ex-wife and child, although it does share a parallel with my own existence and as the old statement goes, history has a way of repeating itself. When I wrote it I knew there was an inherent strength to it—when I shared this with Beka, she nearly teared up. I cry just reading it myself thinking about the decisions I could’ve made and the ones I might have made for something as trivial as a story—hell I did it for a number of scripts. Knowing how I was, I might have done something selfish in place of being a responsible spouse or parent—it was similar feeling I had when I started my transition/ascension, especially when I considered the actions of those before me. From draft to draft, this scene changed very little, except I removed the dialogue that obvious abundantly clear.
TEASER:
On the next installment of “The Next Counter”, it is less about the past and future and more of a joke of the present. How serious is Kay’s back trouble? And what happens when he is caught in the middle of an injury? Find out in part four of “The Next Counter”.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
August 15th, 2010 – 5:38 PM PDT – (“The Next Counter” pt.2)
Part two, wow, I didn’t think this series would actually go on, considering all the attempts seem to fall on their face (okay, because I get bored of the effort required behind them). It is funny that would be the section that would follow my previous post—the conversation of my ill-fated would-be film career to V. This is definitely one for the ages.
COMMENTARY:
Responsibility is kind of my Achilles Heel and for Kay it proves to be his motivation, or at least he perceives it as such in this section. In reality there was a real “Forlorn” being produced by a colleague (the real Rich). Throughout the time I knew him, on and off he was working on his short horror film. It wasn’t really what you would call a friendship, if not more of a self-imposed rivalry—I wound up making “Idlewild Park” as a competing idea. The irony being, I would never finish it because I don’t know if he ever finished his. Now we met from a mutual friend Lisa and then later he would introduce me Groggy-Ego and through Groggy-Ego I would hear periodically of his progress.
Now the conversation in this piece never happened. It is really just an amalgamation of a number of conversations he and I had over our tenure. Though I did see him before I gave up on film and this conversation is made up (possibly one I imagined having during my time in the archive), at the back of my head I did have the fear that he would finish his film or it would become something bigger. The reality of this scene: a flashback in the play and a fantasy/nightmare in my Delusional.
So without further ado, here is “The Next Counter” Part two….
“THE NEXT COUNTER”
(pt. 2 of 7)
SCENE II:
MORE THAN HALF A DECADE AGO:
LIGHT is focused on the computer aisle.
Kay is in everyday clothing and his hair is out. He is walking down the aisle with a short man wearing a handmade Forlorn T-Shirt. This man is RICH, the one with a produced film in the present.
Kay is reading through a script, pretending to listen to Rich.
RICH
...So I think it would be great to have Cole stand in front of a mirror and see his reflection...
KAY
Uh-huh.
RICH
...And then have the glass shatters to the many overtones of the ghost’s voices...
KAY
Uh-huh.
RICH
...Then I think it would be great for him to spread his arms like he is being crucified.
KAY
Crucified, yeah that’s real... original.
Rich realizes Kay isn’t paying attention.
RICH
Then Richard Nixon and Optimus Prime will duke it out reffed by Kevin Smith in Vietnam.
KAY
Kevin Smith the ref... It’ll be pretty hot in Nam with that coat... That’ll be a hell of a dream.
RICH
(Stops walking)
Dammit Kay! You’re not listening.
Kay stops and turns to him.
KAY
No, I’m not.
RICH
What the hell? I haven’t seen you in over a year, you have me meet you here and then you act like you don’t care.
KAY
Well...
(sighs)
I don’t.
RICH
Dude!
KAY
Don’t dude, me... Christ, Rich--
RICH
--Hey! Don’t use the Lord’s name in vain.
KAY
Seriously... Not my god, man.
RICH
Atheist!
KAY
Yeah and?
RICH
(Scoffs)
Nothing.
KAY
Exactly, nothing.
(Short Pause)
Rich you have been working on that movies for what? Five years now?
RICH
Four!
KAY
Four years... wow, that’s...
(mulls over)
RICH
What?
KAY
Stupid.
RICH
Stupid?
KAY
For something as insignificant as a movie... a single movie.
RICH
You feel that way about your stuff but I don’t feel that way about my films.
KAY
Four years is a great waste... a waste of time, a waste of effort, a waste of everything... So much has happened... and so much could have happened.
RICH
I’m sure you’re right, but I’m also sure taking this long happened for a reason... God has a plan for me, Kay, a plan for us all... I’m sure he has a good reason for all that has happened. I don’t care if it takes ten years to finish my film, come hell or high water I will finish it.
KAY
Well... “God” Bless you, man... you have a level of tenacity I don’t think I ever had.
RICH
That’s not true.
KAY
I think it is. I can’t put off growing up forever.
RICH
You think I’m not an adult?
KAY
Doing ghost stories are--
(Changes his train of thought)
Look, man, you and Lisa want to be kids for the rest of your lives... She wants to take classes towards no end and you want to make movies. Which is great for you guys, but I feel like I have to be responsible.
(sighs)
And that’s kinda why I’m here today, not just to meet with you, but to swallow my pride and get a job... an actual job.
RICH
Well good luck with that, dude... just don’t grow up too fast, otherwise you might grow old before your time.
KAY
Yeah...
(Scoffs)
We’ll see.
(short pause)
And, man, good luck with the movie. I’m sure something will happen with it.
RICH
Even if it is stupid?
KAY
What do I know, man? You might be right.
RICH
Thanks for saying that.
KAY
Yeah.
RICH
(Extending his hand)
Good luck, Kay.
Kay shakes his hand. The two hug as brothers.
KAY
You too, Rich.
Kay pats Rich on the back and the two part offstage.
LIGHTS FADE.
CLOSING COMMENTARY:
Re-reading this myself, I am actually surprised by how good-natured I made the conversation. The way Kay is admitting to “swallowing his pride” is how I felt at the time when I went to get a job at the Enemy. Rich really was someone who believed God was guiding him—I’m not sure about that, but you never know. I don’t really have much to say about the technical of this, except that I took out most of Kay’s dialogue and allowed Rich’s character to speak more. In fact, what I do remember from the handwritten draft was a bit with a Clerk but I took it out to contain it to just the Kay and Rich. After all was said and done, at the time I wrote it, I figured it was the best means of facing a fear, even if there was a chance of it coming true.
TEASER:
Back in the “present”, Kay will comfort more layers of his past, but this time another desire that went downtrodden. Stay tuned for Part III of “The Next Counter”.
COMMENTARY:
Responsibility is kind of my Achilles Heel and for Kay it proves to be his motivation, or at least he perceives it as such in this section. In reality there was a real “Forlorn” being produced by a colleague (the real Rich). Throughout the time I knew him, on and off he was working on his short horror film. It wasn’t really what you would call a friendship, if not more of a self-imposed rivalry—I wound up making “Idlewild Park” as a competing idea. The irony being, I would never finish it because I don’t know if he ever finished his. Now we met from a mutual friend Lisa and then later he would introduce me Groggy-Ego and through Groggy-Ego I would hear periodically of his progress.
Now the conversation in this piece never happened. It is really just an amalgamation of a number of conversations he and I had over our tenure. Though I did see him before I gave up on film and this conversation is made up (possibly one I imagined having during my time in the archive), at the back of my head I did have the fear that he would finish his film or it would become something bigger. The reality of this scene: a flashback in the play and a fantasy/nightmare in my Delusional.
So without further ado, here is “The Next Counter” Part two….
“THE NEXT COUNTER”
(pt. 2 of 7)
SCENE II:
MORE THAN HALF A DECADE AGO:
LIGHT is focused on the computer aisle.
Kay is in everyday clothing and his hair is out. He is walking down the aisle with a short man wearing a handmade Forlorn T-Shirt. This man is RICH, the one with a produced film in the present.
Kay is reading through a script, pretending to listen to Rich.
RICH
...So I think it would be great to have Cole stand in front of a mirror and see his reflection...
KAY
Uh-huh.
RICH
...And then have the glass shatters to the many overtones of the ghost’s voices...
KAY
Uh-huh.
RICH
...Then I think it would be great for him to spread his arms like he is being crucified.
KAY
Crucified, yeah that’s real... original.
Rich realizes Kay isn’t paying attention.
RICH
Then Richard Nixon and Optimus Prime will duke it out reffed by Kevin Smith in Vietnam.
KAY
Kevin Smith the ref... It’ll be pretty hot in Nam with that coat... That’ll be a hell of a dream.
RICH
(Stops walking)
Dammit Kay! You’re not listening.
Kay stops and turns to him.
KAY
No, I’m not.
RICH
What the hell? I haven’t seen you in over a year, you have me meet you here and then you act like you don’t care.
KAY
Well...
(sighs)
I don’t.
RICH
Dude!
KAY
Don’t dude, me... Christ, Rich--
RICH
--Hey! Don’t use the Lord’s name in vain.
KAY
Seriously... Not my god, man.
RICH
Atheist!
KAY
Yeah and?
RICH
(Scoffs)
Nothing.
KAY
Exactly, nothing.
(Short Pause)
Rich you have been working on that movies for what? Five years now?
RICH
Four!
KAY
Four years... wow, that’s...
(mulls over)
RICH
What?
KAY
Stupid.
RICH
Stupid?
KAY
For something as insignificant as a movie... a single movie.
RICH
You feel that way about your stuff but I don’t feel that way about my films.
KAY
Four years is a great waste... a waste of time, a waste of effort, a waste of everything... So much has happened... and so much could have happened.
RICH
I’m sure you’re right, but I’m also sure taking this long happened for a reason... God has a plan for me, Kay, a plan for us all... I’m sure he has a good reason for all that has happened. I don’t care if it takes ten years to finish my film, come hell or high water I will finish it.
KAY
Well... “God” Bless you, man... you have a level of tenacity I don’t think I ever had.
RICH
That’s not true.
KAY
I think it is. I can’t put off growing up forever.
RICH
You think I’m not an adult?
KAY
Doing ghost stories are--
(Changes his train of thought)
Look, man, you and Lisa want to be kids for the rest of your lives... She wants to take classes towards no end and you want to make movies. Which is great for you guys, but I feel like I have to be responsible.
(sighs)
And that’s kinda why I’m here today, not just to meet with you, but to swallow my pride and get a job... an actual job.
RICH
Well good luck with that, dude... just don’t grow up too fast, otherwise you might grow old before your time.
KAY
Yeah...
(Scoffs)
We’ll see.
(short pause)
And, man, good luck with the movie. I’m sure something will happen with it.
RICH
Even if it is stupid?
KAY
What do I know, man? You might be right.
RICH
Thanks for saying that.
KAY
Yeah.
RICH
(Extending his hand)
Good luck, Kay.
Kay shakes his hand. The two hug as brothers.
KAY
You too, Rich.
Kay pats Rich on the back and the two part offstage.
LIGHTS FADE.
CLOSING COMMENTARY:
Re-reading this myself, I am actually surprised by how good-natured I made the conversation. The way Kay is admitting to “swallowing his pride” is how I felt at the time when I went to get a job at the Enemy. Rich really was someone who believed God was guiding him—I’m not sure about that, but you never know. I don’t really have much to say about the technical of this, except that I took out most of Kay’s dialogue and allowed Rich’s character to speak more. In fact, what I do remember from the handwritten draft was a bit with a Clerk but I took it out to contain it to just the Kay and Rich. After all was said and done, at the time I wrote it, I figured it was the best means of facing a fear, even if there was a chance of it coming true.
TEASER:
Back in the “present”, Kay will comfort more layers of his past, but this time another desire that went downtrodden. Stay tuned for Part III of “The Next Counter”.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
August 8th, 2010 – 1:21 PM PDT – (“The Next Counter” pt.1)
Saying goodbye to an old friend is never easy. From what I’ve found out, saying goodbye to an old ambition is losing a part of yourself. Saying goodbye to my love of movies, art and creative writing in general is like closing a door to who I was. When I was Kevin I dreamt about being a filmmaker—I wanted to be a filmmaker. But as time went on, like being Kevin, that wasn’t my future. I had thought of putting up a series of video blogs as a way of saying farewell and posting the films themselves, but the amount of work was unrealistic to do it (considering how little free time I usually have—right now would be different but you never know). So before the ignition of Year Four, I’ve decided to post my last work, no not the children’s novel, but the play “The Next Counter”, in Seven parts.
Now in seven parts because it is really seven scenes, even though it is over seventy pages. Even though I wrote these under the name of Keira Lewis, I still feel that they are part of Kevin’s works; therefore, a formal farewell is in order. Before and after each part I will provide my little commentary. So without further ado, here it is… my last written work, “The Next Counter”….
COMMENTARY:
What you’re about to read is part one, the opening of the play, which takes place in the future, or a depressing future of sorts. My place of mine at the time was more or less hopeful. I set the play on my actual thirtieth birthday (May 8th, 2013), however, I wrote this one year and two months (March to April 2008) before my mental thirtieth birthday (May 8th, 2009)—that whole four year thing. So I was feeling the end of my twenties coming and I felt that youth was at an end. And, to me, what would be more depressing than still working at the Enemy at age thirty and on top of that, my birthday gift being the announcement of an element my youth being ripped apart by Hollywood like every other piece of garbage they’ve released lately. As you probably know, “Back to the Future” (1985) and its following movies made the trilogy that made my life, so a radio announcement of the remake starring Hannah Montana as Marty in Alternate reality version to be released on the movie’s thirtieth birthday is more insult to injury. I guess it really shows what I cared about, even though at the time my love of movies was on life support. (Of course, as you know, even after “The Dark Knight” (2008) the plug was still pulled.) Anyway, there are other jokes I can mention, but I’ll let the work speak for itself.
"THE NEXT COUNTER"
(pt. 1 of 7)
SCENE I:
RAISE CURTAIN:
...to a dark stage, spotlighting a BOOMBOX rested on a table in the centre. The Ghostly echo of the future through the sound of DJ VOICE delivering events to possibly come broadcasts over the device.
DJ VOICE
...Tensions have risen as the war continues on all fronts... Congress will appropriate fifteen trillion for the continued effort.... In local news, the Aces lost 7-6 against the Cubs in the Ninth inning in Chicago, placing our team in last and pushing the Cubbies to first... The Mayor said this becoming the fifth consecutive losing season for the Aces may jeopardize Delusional’s chances for the Olympics in 2028... And finally in entertainment news, Universal confirmed a July 3rd, 2015 release for “Back to the Future: Parallels” which will be thirty years to the day from the 1985 original. Universal is claiming that the new movie is not necessarily continuation or a remake, but a reimagining wherein Marty McFly was originally played by the late Michael J. Fox, in this version Marty will be Marcia McFly portrayed by former Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus... and the Doc will be slightly younger and played by John Torturro of “Transformer” fame as Marcia journey’s back to the eighties.... And that’s news in a minute for KSHT your source for music from the 1990’s, 2000’s and now on this May 8th, 20--
A hand reaches down and presses the off button.
Lights raise to reveal an electronics department within a sandbox store (i.e. Wal-Mart, K-Mart or Target) and thirty-something man wearing sunglasses at night and pulling a pallet jack. This is KAY, and this just so happens to be his birthday and the start of his night at his place of work.
He pulls the cart towards the HALF PODIUM, the central hub of the department, where SIN, a short woman in her early fifties, is ringing up a Customer.
SIN
...Here you go, you have a nice day.
The Customer exits.
SIN
(to Kay)
You on?
KAY
Afraid so.
SIN
You look stressed.
KAY
Why do customers with small cars buy big TV’s?
SIN
Is that what happened to that fifty inch-er?
KAY
Into the frail hatch of a Mazda.
SIN
Christ.
KAY
Like watching a woman give birth in reverse--
SIN
--Only without the stretch marks.
Kay grimaces.
KAY
Chuck is out there smoking to acknowledge that delivery.
SIN
I didn’t think he smoked?
KAY
I didn’t say it was tobacco.
Another associate, JIM an elderly greaser with a obnoxious southern twang, arrives as if he was passing through.
JIM
Right on. I’ll go join him.
KAY
(to Jim)
Back from you break?
JIM
Nope, headin’ to it.
He continues to exit on the other side.
SIN
God he takes a lot of breaks.
KAY
Tell me about it.
SIN
The only two things I ever seen him move are his mouth and his fat ass to the break room.
KAY
The other one is no help. All she ever does is stand around whining, the other half of the time she spends complaining about having to work between pregnancies.
SIN
She takes after him.
KAY
Same big gut and bloated feet... minus the child, of course.
SIN
Yeah I saw that.
(Hands Kay the keys)
Well now that you’re here, I’ll head to the front and--
She spots something offstage.
SIN (CONT’D)
You might want to ditch the jack.
MIKE, a medium height middle aged Hispanic man, a Store Manager accompanied by a younger, yet roughed up assistant, DAVID, walk up.
SIN (CONT’D)
Too late.
DAVID
What the hell are you doing with pallet jack, boy?
MIKE
Boy?
SIN
I admit I’m confused by that one.
KAY
Did we regress two centuries?
DAVID
Hey its been a while since I worked overnights. Gotta get back in the groove.
MIKE
(Rolls his eyes)
Okay,
(Brain fart)
Boy?
SIN
You got stuck on that one.
MIKE
I know... It was just so out of left field.
KAY
(to Mike)
Well if it puts your mind at ease, sir, you’re the only one with the tenure to deliver disparaging and potentially racist remarks.
MIKE
(to Kay)
Damn right, brother...
(raises his hand)
Give me some, love.
Kay high-fives him.
MIKE
Before Master David’s capitulation... Where was I?
DAVID
The pallet jack.
MIKE
Right... I thought we had an agreement... Nothing heavy... No big freight... no big sales... you need to leave the big ones to David or a cashier... leave your empties for the pallet collectors at the end of the night... Under normal circumstances you would be doing go backs or some minor register jockeying... but you’re the only one certified to be here at this hour. (Not to mention, the only one who knows where any of this shit goes.)
DAVID
That goes ditto here.
KAY
(to Mike)
I-I understand that, sir... and I assure you I am following your orders to the Tee.
MIKE
Then explain the jack.
KAY
I was just doing a favor for a fellow associate on my way back from the front. Chuck took out a big TV for a customer.
DAVID
So where is Chucky?
SIN
The same place you’d be if you just pried a fifty-inch into a hybrid.
DAVID
Again?
MIKE
Damn.
SIN
Yeah that was our general consensus.
MIKE
Well you know you’re being watched right now... You know you’ll be under review soon.
KAY
I know, I know... sorry sir.
MIKE
Well watch your ass... you know what I’m saying?
KAY
I know, I know.
MIKE
‘Cuz unemployment isn’t the birthday present you don’t want.
DAVID
Today’s your birthday.
KAY
Uh yes?
DAVID
Ooh...
KAY
(mumbles)
Oh crap.
David walks over to the Podium, picks up the phone for a page and...
DAVID
(speaking into the intercom)
Attention all customers and associates... We have a birthday amongst our happy time group... Our favorite curmudgeon in electronics, the androg we all know and love, Overnight’s very own Electronics Sales Associate... Kay Lawson is growing a year older.
(Calling Kay over)
Say a kind word to your public.
KAY
No thanks.
David pulls him over, pushing the phone into his face.
KAY (CONT’D)
Hi.
DAVID
So Kay, may I call you Kay?
KAY
Sure.
DAVID
Kay... these are questions well all have and I promise not to get too personal.
KAY
Yeah, I’m sure.
DAVID
So Kay... what is that short for?
KAY
Nothing... It is just Kay.
DAVID
That’s it? You’re parents said okay and dropped the “O”?
KAY
That’s about it.
DAVID
Yeah... So what’s with the Sunglasses?
KAY
I’d rather not.
DAVID
Are you sure?
KAY
No comment.
DAVID
Fair enough.
KAY
Thanks.
DAVID
Final question... How old are you today?
KAY
Uh no.
DAVID
C’mon... today has gotta be a monumental number.
KAY
No, no it doesn’t
DAVID
I’m sure it is.
KAY
I assure you it’s not.
DAVID
Come on.
KAY
No.
DAVID
Well you can’t blame a girl for trying... But you heard it here first that it’s Kay Lawson’s birthday today... when you see him wish ‘em a happy birthday Kay... Happy Birthday Kay.... Happy Birthday Kay... and for all your electronics needs--cellphones, ipods and TV’s---see Kay in electronics and wish ‘em a Happy Birthday... Now you may return to you regular scheduled shopping and stocking... Good night and good luck.
He hangs up the phone. Embarrassed, Kay sighs...
KAY
Edward R. Murrow, you are not.
DAVID
Who?
KAY
Never mind.
DAVID
Well Happy Birthday, Kay and I mean it with love.
He hugs Kay squeezing him.
KAY
Thanks.
He slouches his head.
MIKE
(to David)
You done turning him red?
DAVID
I wanted to make ‘em rosey.
MIKE
After that you could at least get him his freight.
DAVID
Aye-aye.
David takes the pallet jack and exits.
MIKE
(to Kay)
Stick to what we said and don’t let the night get to you.
(pause)
Happy Birthday, man.
KAY
Thanks.
Mike exits.
SIN
That was some announcement.
KAY
Yeah.
SIN
You couldn’t be redder.
KAY
Oh I definitely could.
SIN
Oh I don’t know...
(Singing)
Happy Birthday to you, you live in a zoo, you smell like a--
KAY
--Okay. Thank you.
SIN
Hey, I’m just trying to cheer you up.
KAY
That’s a given. But don’t you have a front to attend to?
SIN
Oh, all right... I’ll talk to you later.
KAY
Later.
Sin exits.
Jim returns with a bit of glee on his face.
JIM
So today’s your birthday?
KAY
Oh crap...
(sighs)
Yes, yes it is my birthday.
JIM
Another year older.
KAY
Yeah.
JIM
The big... what?
KAY
None of your business.
JIM
Ah c’mon give Jim a chance.
KAY
(Sigh)
Fine... I’m entering my mid-thirties and another year closer to forty and let’s leave it at that.
JIM
I thought you were older.
KAY
Yeah most people think so.
JIM
It’s the way you talk.
KAY
Speak.
JIM
See... but you still look like a kid--
David returns, grabbing Kay by the cheeks.
DAVID
--And a beautiful one at that.
KAY
Ouch... thanks
(Looks around)
No freight?
DAVID
Didn’t get it yet... Mike forgot to hand you this.
He holds up two envelopes.
DAVID (CONT’D)
He told me to tell you you’re not supposed to receive personal mail here.
He hands Kay the envelopes.
Kay looks.
KAY
One’s a card from the company.
DAVID
The other isn’t.
JIM
Whose it from?
KAY
(flat)
A publishing company.
JIM
Aren’t you gonna open it.
KAY
Uh...
(crumbles the envelope)
No.
He throws it away.
DAVID
Hey, that could’ve been the one.
KAY
I doubt it.
JIM
You’ve been rejected that much?
KAY
Enough not to bother.
JIM
Ouch, man, that’s cold... even on your birthday?
KAY
Yes, even today... on the day that is today as Mister Subtly here pointed out.
DAVID
Anything to get the word out there.
KAY
Don’t you have freight to fetch?
DAVID
Hey! I’m your boss.
KAY
Not until my freight materlizes on the floor.
DAVID
Who says?
KAY
Mike... so if you’d please... the clock is ticking, after all.
David exits.
KAY
So where were we?
JIM
You’re birthday
KAY
Yes, yes that is today.
JIM
So what you got planned? Going out to get blitz and get laid with some hot chick?
KAY
Hardly.
JIM
Some guy?
Kay grimaces at him.
KAY
Another Mister Subtle.
JIM
Well you never talk about your personal life or being with a girl.
KAY
So you go straight for the jugular and chastise my sexuality?
MARLEY, a short Hispanic woman in her twenties, enters.
MARLEY
It’s not hard you’ve always been a bit gay.
KAY
Thanks.
JIM
And what’s his name?
KAY
Thanks, thank you, you’re no help.
MARLEY
Oh I bet it’s the new guy in pets under Matt.
JIM
Yeah, he’s definitely Kay’s type.
KAY
And this is payback for what exactly?
MARLEY
It is just birthday humor. Lighten up. You take things way too seriously.
David brings out a pallet.
KAY
(under his breathe)
Freight, thank god.
He walks over to the pallet that is half covered by a PDQ.
DAVID
Here you go chief.
Kay looks at it...
KAY
This is a new movie release.
DAVID
Yeah?
KAY
Today’s not Tuesday.
DAVID
The movie lady said to bring it out.
KAY
Okay, fine... Then set it here and take the old one.
DAVID
The empty one?
KAY
That’s the one.
DAVID
So we’re replacing it with this?
KAY
That’s the general idea.
DAVID
Sweet.
David swaps out the two PDQ’s and leaves.
KAY
Thanks.
(Sighs)
Time for the unveiling.
JIM
I thought you weren’t allowed to lift anything heavy?
KAY
A thin piece of cardboard won’t kill me, Jim.
JIM
Suit yourself.
(Reaching out)
Can I get the keys?
Kay removes the keys from his belt and hands them to Jim.
JIM (CONT’D)
Thanks, Boss.
He walks off. Kay salutes him.
Kay takes out his box-cutter and cuts off the top, tossing it to the side. He takes the cardboard by the sides, pulling off the remains in one piece.
He folds it and looks back.
He’s taken out of himself from the sight of the release.
In big bold red letters the side panel of the PDQ reads: “FORLORN”.
KAY
No... no way.
He picks up a copy of the movies and reads the cover.
KAY (CONT’D)
Holy shit.
(short pause)
He did it.
LIGHT FILTERS DOWN.
TO BE CONTINUED…..
CLOSING COMMENTARY:
So there you have it, part one. A few changes did occur. Originally Sin didn’t have as much dialogue early on and Jim spoke more, but I thought it made more sense to establish Kay and Sin’s relationship as soon as possible. Other elements that changed were the mentioning of Kay’s actual age. David’s dialogue got significantly cut down, if you can believe it, and Mike wasn’t as vocal, but apart from those, this is what scene one was like throughout all the drafts. As for the opening, I didn’t write that until the very end.
TEASER:
In part two, what happens when we see a piece of Kay’s past? What was “Forlorn”? Will we know how he lost his mojo or will it prove a greater mystery? Find out in Part Two of “The Next Counter”.
Now in seven parts because it is really seven scenes, even though it is over seventy pages. Even though I wrote these under the name of Keira Lewis, I still feel that they are part of Kevin’s works; therefore, a formal farewell is in order. Before and after each part I will provide my little commentary. So without further ado, here it is… my last written work, “The Next Counter”….
COMMENTARY:
What you’re about to read is part one, the opening of the play, which takes place in the future, or a depressing future of sorts. My place of mine at the time was more or less hopeful. I set the play on my actual thirtieth birthday (May 8th, 2013), however, I wrote this one year and two months (March to April 2008) before my mental thirtieth birthday (May 8th, 2009)—that whole four year thing. So I was feeling the end of my twenties coming and I felt that youth was at an end. And, to me, what would be more depressing than still working at the Enemy at age thirty and on top of that, my birthday gift being the announcement of an element my youth being ripped apart by Hollywood like every other piece of garbage they’ve released lately. As you probably know, “Back to the Future” (1985) and its following movies made the trilogy that made my life, so a radio announcement of the remake starring Hannah Montana as Marty in Alternate reality version to be released on the movie’s thirtieth birthday is more insult to injury. I guess it really shows what I cared about, even though at the time my love of movies was on life support. (Of course, as you know, even after “The Dark Knight” (2008) the plug was still pulled.) Anyway, there are other jokes I can mention, but I’ll let the work speak for itself.
"THE NEXT COUNTER"
(pt. 1 of 7)
SCENE I:
RAISE CURTAIN:
...to a dark stage, spotlighting a BOOMBOX rested on a table in the centre. The Ghostly echo of the future through the sound of DJ VOICE delivering events to possibly come broadcasts over the device.
DJ VOICE
...Tensions have risen as the war continues on all fronts... Congress will appropriate fifteen trillion for the continued effort.... In local news, the Aces lost 7-6 against the Cubs in the Ninth inning in Chicago, placing our team in last and pushing the Cubbies to first... The Mayor said this becoming the fifth consecutive losing season for the Aces may jeopardize Delusional’s chances for the Olympics in 2028... And finally in entertainment news, Universal confirmed a July 3rd, 2015 release for “Back to the Future: Parallels” which will be thirty years to the day from the 1985 original. Universal is claiming that the new movie is not necessarily continuation or a remake, but a reimagining wherein Marty McFly was originally played by the late Michael J. Fox, in this version Marty will be Marcia McFly portrayed by former Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus... and the Doc will be slightly younger and played by John Torturro of “Transformer” fame as Marcia journey’s back to the eighties.... And that’s news in a minute for KSHT your source for music from the 1990’s, 2000’s and now on this May 8th, 20--
A hand reaches down and presses the off button.
Lights raise to reveal an electronics department within a sandbox store (i.e. Wal-Mart, K-Mart or Target) and thirty-something man wearing sunglasses at night and pulling a pallet jack. This is KAY, and this just so happens to be his birthday and the start of his night at his place of work.
He pulls the cart towards the HALF PODIUM, the central hub of the department, where SIN, a short woman in her early fifties, is ringing up a Customer.
SIN
...Here you go, you have a nice day.
The Customer exits.
SIN
(to Kay)
You on?
KAY
Afraid so.
SIN
You look stressed.
KAY
Why do customers with small cars buy big TV’s?
SIN
Is that what happened to that fifty inch-er?
KAY
Into the frail hatch of a Mazda.
SIN
Christ.
KAY
Like watching a woman give birth in reverse--
SIN
--Only without the stretch marks.
Kay grimaces.
KAY
Chuck is out there smoking to acknowledge that delivery.
SIN
I didn’t think he smoked?
KAY
I didn’t say it was tobacco.
Another associate, JIM an elderly greaser with a obnoxious southern twang, arrives as if he was passing through.
JIM
Right on. I’ll go join him.
KAY
(to Jim)
Back from you break?
JIM
Nope, headin’ to it.
He continues to exit on the other side.
SIN
God he takes a lot of breaks.
KAY
Tell me about it.
SIN
The only two things I ever seen him move are his mouth and his fat ass to the break room.
KAY
The other one is no help. All she ever does is stand around whining, the other half of the time she spends complaining about having to work between pregnancies.
SIN
She takes after him.
KAY
Same big gut and bloated feet... minus the child, of course.
SIN
Yeah I saw that.
(Hands Kay the keys)
Well now that you’re here, I’ll head to the front and--
She spots something offstage.
SIN (CONT’D)
You might want to ditch the jack.
MIKE, a medium height middle aged Hispanic man, a Store Manager accompanied by a younger, yet roughed up assistant, DAVID, walk up.
SIN (CONT’D)
Too late.
DAVID
What the hell are you doing with pallet jack, boy?
MIKE
Boy?
SIN
I admit I’m confused by that one.
KAY
Did we regress two centuries?
DAVID
Hey its been a while since I worked overnights. Gotta get back in the groove.
MIKE
(Rolls his eyes)
Okay,
(Brain fart)
Boy?
SIN
You got stuck on that one.
MIKE
I know... It was just so out of left field.
KAY
(to Mike)
Well if it puts your mind at ease, sir, you’re the only one with the tenure to deliver disparaging and potentially racist remarks.
MIKE
(to Kay)
Damn right, brother...
(raises his hand)
Give me some, love.
Kay high-fives him.
MIKE
Before Master David’s capitulation... Where was I?
DAVID
The pallet jack.
MIKE
Right... I thought we had an agreement... Nothing heavy... No big freight... no big sales... you need to leave the big ones to David or a cashier... leave your empties for the pallet collectors at the end of the night... Under normal circumstances you would be doing go backs or some minor register jockeying... but you’re the only one certified to be here at this hour. (Not to mention, the only one who knows where any of this shit goes.)
DAVID
That goes ditto here.
KAY
(to Mike)
I-I understand that, sir... and I assure you I am following your orders to the Tee.
MIKE
Then explain the jack.
KAY
I was just doing a favor for a fellow associate on my way back from the front. Chuck took out a big TV for a customer.
DAVID
So where is Chucky?
SIN
The same place you’d be if you just pried a fifty-inch into a hybrid.
DAVID
Again?
MIKE
Damn.
SIN
Yeah that was our general consensus.
MIKE
Well you know you’re being watched right now... You know you’ll be under review soon.
KAY
I know, I know... sorry sir.
MIKE
Well watch your ass... you know what I’m saying?
KAY
I know, I know.
MIKE
‘Cuz unemployment isn’t the birthday present you don’t want.
DAVID
Today’s your birthday.
KAY
Uh yes?
DAVID
Ooh...
KAY
(mumbles)
Oh crap.
David walks over to the Podium, picks up the phone for a page and...
DAVID
(speaking into the intercom)
Attention all customers and associates... We have a birthday amongst our happy time group... Our favorite curmudgeon in electronics, the androg we all know and love, Overnight’s very own Electronics Sales Associate... Kay Lawson is growing a year older.
(Calling Kay over)
Say a kind word to your public.
KAY
No thanks.
David pulls him over, pushing the phone into his face.
KAY (CONT’D)
Hi.
DAVID
So Kay, may I call you Kay?
KAY
Sure.
DAVID
Kay... these are questions well all have and I promise not to get too personal.
KAY
Yeah, I’m sure.
DAVID
So Kay... what is that short for?
KAY
Nothing... It is just Kay.
DAVID
That’s it? You’re parents said okay and dropped the “O”?
KAY
That’s about it.
DAVID
Yeah... So what’s with the Sunglasses?
KAY
I’d rather not.
DAVID
Are you sure?
KAY
No comment.
DAVID
Fair enough.
KAY
Thanks.
DAVID
Final question... How old are you today?
KAY
Uh no.
DAVID
C’mon... today has gotta be a monumental number.
KAY
No, no it doesn’t
DAVID
I’m sure it is.
KAY
I assure you it’s not.
DAVID
Come on.
KAY
No.
DAVID
Well you can’t blame a girl for trying... But you heard it here first that it’s Kay Lawson’s birthday today... when you see him wish ‘em a happy birthday Kay... Happy Birthday Kay.... Happy Birthday Kay... and for all your electronics needs--cellphones, ipods and TV’s---see Kay in electronics and wish ‘em a Happy Birthday... Now you may return to you regular scheduled shopping and stocking... Good night and good luck.
He hangs up the phone. Embarrassed, Kay sighs...
KAY
Edward R. Murrow, you are not.
DAVID
Who?
KAY
Never mind.
DAVID
Well Happy Birthday, Kay and I mean it with love.
He hugs Kay squeezing him.
KAY
Thanks.
He slouches his head.
MIKE
(to David)
You done turning him red?
DAVID
I wanted to make ‘em rosey.
MIKE
After that you could at least get him his freight.
DAVID
Aye-aye.
David takes the pallet jack and exits.
MIKE
(to Kay)
Stick to what we said and don’t let the night get to you.
(pause)
Happy Birthday, man.
KAY
Thanks.
Mike exits.
SIN
That was some announcement.
KAY
Yeah.
SIN
You couldn’t be redder.
KAY
Oh I definitely could.
SIN
Oh I don’t know...
(Singing)
Happy Birthday to you, you live in a zoo, you smell like a--
KAY
--Okay. Thank you.
SIN
Hey, I’m just trying to cheer you up.
KAY
That’s a given. But don’t you have a front to attend to?
SIN
Oh, all right... I’ll talk to you later.
KAY
Later.
Sin exits.
Jim returns with a bit of glee on his face.
JIM
So today’s your birthday?
KAY
Oh crap...
(sighs)
Yes, yes it is my birthday.
JIM
Another year older.
KAY
Yeah.
JIM
The big... what?
KAY
None of your business.
JIM
Ah c’mon give Jim a chance.
KAY
(Sigh)
Fine... I’m entering my mid-thirties and another year closer to forty and let’s leave it at that.
JIM
I thought you were older.
KAY
Yeah most people think so.
JIM
It’s the way you talk.
KAY
Speak.
JIM
See... but you still look like a kid--
David returns, grabbing Kay by the cheeks.
DAVID
--And a beautiful one at that.
KAY
Ouch... thanks
(Looks around)
No freight?
DAVID
Didn’t get it yet... Mike forgot to hand you this.
He holds up two envelopes.
DAVID (CONT’D)
He told me to tell you you’re not supposed to receive personal mail here.
He hands Kay the envelopes.
Kay looks.
KAY
One’s a card from the company.
DAVID
The other isn’t.
JIM
Whose it from?
KAY
(flat)
A publishing company.
JIM
Aren’t you gonna open it.
KAY
Uh...
(crumbles the envelope)
No.
He throws it away.
DAVID
Hey, that could’ve been the one.
KAY
I doubt it.
JIM
You’ve been rejected that much?
KAY
Enough not to bother.
JIM
Ouch, man, that’s cold... even on your birthday?
KAY
Yes, even today... on the day that is today as Mister Subtly here pointed out.
DAVID
Anything to get the word out there.
KAY
Don’t you have freight to fetch?
DAVID
Hey! I’m your boss.
KAY
Not until my freight materlizes on the floor.
DAVID
Who says?
KAY
Mike... so if you’d please... the clock is ticking, after all.
David exits.
KAY
So where were we?
JIM
You’re birthday
KAY
Yes, yes that is today.
JIM
So what you got planned? Going out to get blitz and get laid with some hot chick?
KAY
Hardly.
JIM
Some guy?
Kay grimaces at him.
KAY
Another Mister Subtle.
JIM
Well you never talk about your personal life or being with a girl.
KAY
So you go straight for the jugular and chastise my sexuality?
MARLEY, a short Hispanic woman in her twenties, enters.
MARLEY
It’s not hard you’ve always been a bit gay.
KAY
Thanks.
JIM
And what’s his name?
KAY
Thanks, thank you, you’re no help.
MARLEY
Oh I bet it’s the new guy in pets under Matt.
JIM
Yeah, he’s definitely Kay’s type.
KAY
And this is payback for what exactly?
MARLEY
It is just birthday humor. Lighten up. You take things way too seriously.
David brings out a pallet.
KAY
(under his breathe)
Freight, thank god.
He walks over to the pallet that is half covered by a PDQ.
DAVID
Here you go chief.
Kay looks at it...
KAY
This is a new movie release.
DAVID
Yeah?
KAY
Today’s not Tuesday.
DAVID
The movie lady said to bring it out.
KAY
Okay, fine... Then set it here and take the old one.
DAVID
The empty one?
KAY
That’s the one.
DAVID
So we’re replacing it with this?
KAY
That’s the general idea.
DAVID
Sweet.
David swaps out the two PDQ’s and leaves.
KAY
Thanks.
(Sighs)
Time for the unveiling.
JIM
I thought you weren’t allowed to lift anything heavy?
KAY
A thin piece of cardboard won’t kill me, Jim.
JIM
Suit yourself.
(Reaching out)
Can I get the keys?
Kay removes the keys from his belt and hands them to Jim.
JIM (CONT’D)
Thanks, Boss.
He walks off. Kay salutes him.
Kay takes out his box-cutter and cuts off the top, tossing it to the side. He takes the cardboard by the sides, pulling off the remains in one piece.
He folds it and looks back.
He’s taken out of himself from the sight of the release.
In big bold red letters the side panel of the PDQ reads: “FORLORN”.
KAY
No... no way.
He picks up a copy of the movies and reads the cover.
KAY (CONT’D)
Holy shit.
(short pause)
He did it.
LIGHT FILTERS DOWN.
TO BE CONTINUED…..
CLOSING COMMENTARY:
So there you have it, part one. A few changes did occur. Originally Sin didn’t have as much dialogue early on and Jim spoke more, but I thought it made more sense to establish Kay and Sin’s relationship as soon as possible. Other elements that changed were the mentioning of Kay’s actual age. David’s dialogue got significantly cut down, if you can believe it, and Mike wasn’t as vocal, but apart from those, this is what scene one was like throughout all the drafts. As for the opening, I didn’t write that until the very end.
TEASER:
In part two, what happens when we see a piece of Kay’s past? What was “Forlorn”? Will we know how he lost his mojo or will it prove a greater mystery? Find out in Part Two of “The Next Counter”.
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