I haven’t really felt like sharing, but then I thought, fuck it, I got nothing to lose (except for my 14 views–don’t go!).
Anyway, I was trying to think of what scene to post to round this off. There’s one where Ella is teaching Jamie how to be seductive, that one’s good. Or another that’s Joe and Jamie admiring the stars. I never thought I’d pick this one, but after reading it again, I was like, “yeah, I’m okay with this.”
Sure, there’s some formatting things I’d do — like Rob Handel and a couple others convinced me not to write (beat) anymore, so I’d take that out. I like the look of open space on the page. I wouldn’t feel the need to describe what Ella and Jamie and Joe– how they should react. Because I could leave that open. That would be better.
But here it is, unedited, for your enjoyment. Then I’ll go onto the next thing maybe or linger around with this play, who knows.
If you want to read the whole thing though, send me a note.
barbara dot jwan at gmail
SCENE TWELVE:
Bakersfield, California
(JAMIE and ELLA sit at a table in a cafe. A stranger wearing sunglasses, JOE, listens at the next table over. He strums a guitar.)
JAMIE
I’m saying it’s not realistic.
ELLA
What makes it not real?
JAMIE
Well, for one, everyone’s gonna know what it is.
(ELLA plays with her lighter.)
ELLA
Who’s gonna know?
JAMIE
Everyone.
ELLA
Who?
JAMIE
Everyone!
ELLA
Who?
(A beat. JAMIE gives up.)
ELLA
No one knows we’re here. Look at me. Hey!
(JAMIE looks.)
ELLA
No one knows we’re doing this. No one even follows the Tour of California.
JAMIE
People follow it.
ELLA
Who?
JAMIE
People!
ELLA
They don’t matter. And if they did, they’d be too busy watching the races anyway.
JAMIE
Stages.
ELLA
How much money you got?
JAMIE
Less than you.
ELLA
Okay, fine.
(ELLA takes out a wallet from her purse and counts how much money she has.)
JAMIE
What makes you so sure anyway?
ELLA
I got a guy.
JAMIE
A guy? What do you mean – like someone to buy this bike? What the fuck does that mean?
ELLA
Exactly. Just chill, Jamie, you’re raising your voice.
(ELLA looks over at JOE. She smiles, eye-flirting with him.)
JAMIE
You trust him?
ELLA
Who?
JAMIE
Your guy.
ELLA
Of course. He says we can sell it in TJ for 18.
JAMIE
18.
ELLA
Yep.
JAMIE
Are you fucking serious? How long you gonna keep this up?
(ELLA flicks her lighter on the table in a sort of “fuck you” motion. JAMIE sits back.)
JAMIE
You are.
ELLA
(Whispers – leaning in)
Of course I am, Jamie. What do you think? That this is some type of joke? That I don’t know what I’m doing? Of course I know. I’m planning this whole thing, remember? You’re just along for the ride, right. Or are you in. It’s not a fucking game anymore. This is it. You gotta make some decisions.
JAMIE
(Shaking her head)
Wow.
(ELLA looks at her cell phone.)
ELLA
You got ten minutes. I’m gonna use the toilet. Think about it. Think about whether you’re in or out.
(ELLA leaves the table. JOE watches her go; he tries to scribble something down in a notebook in front of him. His pen doesn’t work.)
JAMIE
(Mutters to herself)
Fuck…
(JOE leans over towards JAMIE’S table.)
JOE
Got a light.
JAMIE
Huh?
(JOE points to the lighter on the table.)
JAMIE
Oh…
(JAMIE pushes ELLA’s lighter across the table. JOE lights the tip of his pen. He smiles at JAMIE then begins to write again. The pen works.)
JOE
Never seen that?
(beat.)
If your pen’s not working but you can see it still has ink in it, you can put the tip in a flame. It’ll heat up the ink and start flowing again.
(JOE hands the lighter back to JAMIE.)
JAMIE
Oh… thanks
(JOE nods. He plucks a few chords on the guitar.)
JOE
That’s a trick that comes in handy.
(The sound of wind.)
JOE
Where you from?
JAMIE
What?
JOE
It’s like I don’t speak English or something. Where You From? Here?
JAMIE
No.
JOE
There we go. Didn’t think so. Up north , right?
JAMIE
Yeah… That’s right.
(JOE nods.)
JOE
Ukiah?
JAMIE
Santa Rosa.
(JOE nods. He plucks a few more chords.)
JOE
Where you headed?
JAMIE
South. You always talk to strangers?
JOE
Yep. Mexico?
JAMIE
Were you listening to us just now?
JOE
Sure was.
JAMIE
I’m not sure yet. Where we’re headed.
JOE
What’s your name?
JAMIE
(Sings, experimenting with different notes)
Jamie. Jamie. Jamie.
JAMIE
What’s yours?
(beat.)
Hey, what’s yours? You gotta name? Everyone has a name. What am I supposed to do, call you Joe Schmoe?
JOE
Sure, you can call me Joe.
(beat.)
I don’t mind. Good as any other name.
(beat.)
You know, if I were you, I’d part it out.
(JAMIE looks at him blankly.)
JOE
The bike. You’d get more money that way. Plus who’d be able to tell what it was originally?
(JAMIE goes white.)
JOE
Don’t worry. I’m not going to tell. I could care less really. You want to hear something? Hold on.
(He tunes the guitar. Plays a couple cords. He hums the melody then sings, accompanying himself on guitar.)
Let me have my memories without
Those lavender tinted dreams curved
Around my nighttime bed I’d be like
Pigeons wandering the streets aimlessly
Striving to simplify my life with wishes
I envy those who can make their beds
In soft feathers lining nests warmed
By carefree times gold glinting sideways
And back-alley paths near Lake Tahoe
I’d be free to lightly trace their
Silhouettes and shadows upon my eyes
Forgetful the next morning watching
Traffic wind silky paths of stars
Before the sun rises to greet me
Could my smile twinkle forest green
Solemnity and sever the bond
With an ambivalent shrug?
JAMIE
Huh.
(JOE continues to strum and hum.)
JOE
What are you afraid of?
JAMIE
What? I’m not afraid. Who said that?
JOE
People who are defensive are always afraid of something.
JAMIE
You think so?
(JOE nods, then looks at her and smiles.)
JOE
Yep.
JAMIE
Okay, so I’m scared.
JOE
Told you.
JAMIE
Why’m I telling you about it?
JOE
I don’t know. Maybe you need someone to talk to? She doesn’t seem like the confiding type…
JAMIE
Maybe…
(beat.)
Hey, what if I told you something?
JOE
I’d listen. That’s what I do.
JAMIE
(Whispers)
This girl. That girl I was just with. We’re friends, right? And she’s gonna sell- something and it could be worth a bit of money. We’ve been all around the state making videos. Posting them. We blew up. We’re this big thing now.
JOE
Sounds like fun. Like trouble.
JAMIE
It is. A whole mess of trouble. We’re not gonna wiggle out of this one. I can tell you that right now.
JOE
You think so?
JAMIE
I know so. It’s all over the internet.
JOE
Ah… the bike banditas. I’ve heard of you.
JAMIE
Yeah? You have?
JOE
Everyone has.
JAMIE
See that’s what I’m saying. That’s the problem.
JOE
Is it?
JAMIE
Cuz we’re gonna get caught eventually.
JOE
Not if you ditch it.
JAMIE
We’ll see. That’s what Ella wants to do. I’ve wanted to all along, but she keeps holding on til the last second. I’d never tell her, but I actually kinda enjoy it. The journey that is. But at the same time, I have to be the voice of reason. Ella thinks too grandiose. Too big picture. She forgets the details. Like that this is a felony. Like that we could end up in jail. Like that 18,000 dollars is a lot of money and where do you get that kinda money outta nowhere anyway?
JOE
People make money in weird ways.
JAMIE
Tell me about it.
JOE
So what are you gonna do?
JAMIE
(Sighs)
Keep on going along for the ride, I guess. See what happens.
JOE
Even though you know what does?
(JAMIE shrugs.)
JAMIE
What else am I gonna do?
JOE
Oh, I don’t know. There’s a lot of things you could do.
(ELLA enters. She stands behind JAMIE, looking at JOE, who smiles at her.)
ELLA
Who’s this?
JAMIE
Oh, hey Ella.
(beat.)
Wouldn’t say his name.
ELLA
Why not? Is it so scary we can’t handle it?
JOE
Something like that.
ELLA
Must be a pretty terrible name… Well, I’m Ella. And you’ve already met Jamie, I see. We gotta run. Right, Jamie?
(She stares at JAMIE who returns her gaze.)
JAMIE
Uh… right.
JOE
Where you guys going?
ELLA
LA. Disneyland. Maybe Mexico.
JOE
Can I join you? Trying to get back home.
JAMIE
Where’s that?
ELLA
Yeah, sure… you can come.
(beat.)
What’d you say your name was again?
JOE
You can call me Joe.
ELLA
Okay, Joe Schmoe, should we go?
JOE
Yes, we should.
***
The Dynamics of Groove 