Episode 3 – Stage Fright
Prologue
Keith White’s Garage – Keith White, Brian Danvers, Gregz Mitchell and Alex finish rehearsing a song
Keith: (puts the guitar down) let’s take five, guys
Alex: Five what?
Keith: You know...A five
Alex: Right, five what?
Brian: What Keith is implying is we should take a “break”
Alex: Okay, so where’s the five come from?
Gregz: (upset) How can you be so dumb!?
Brian: By the way Keith, we have been here for half an hour, where are your parents?
Keith: (shrugs) Hm, I don’t know. My mom said something about going shopping
Brian: Where? In Mexico?
Alex: (gets excited after reading a text message from his phone) guys! Guys! We finally have a gig!
Keith: What? Really!?
Alex: My cousin Jerry is having a back yard party next week and he’s looking for a live band! When I told him that I’m in a band he said to get our asses over there!
Keith: Wait, isn’t your cousin Jerry the guy who was in the army years ago?
Alex: Yep! The same!
Keith: Dude! We have an anti-war song remember? “War can suck it”
Alex: Aw man! I forgot. We don’t have to do that song
Gregz: But it’s the only original song we have
Alex: Crap!
Keith: We can make up a new song this week (both Alex and Gregz groan loudly)
Brian: This “gig” is there going to be people?
Alex: Of course, it’s a back yard party
Brian: H-h-how many?
Alex: I don’t know, like 20 or maybe 40. I hope they’re all girls
Brian: I’m sorry I can’t do it
Keith: Do what?
Brian: I can’t perform in front people (starts packing his book bag, getting to leave)
Keith: Why not Bri?
Brian: (puts book bag on) I have stage fright (leaves the garage)
Alex: (everyone is stunned and speechless until) whoa
Keith: I know
Alex: “stage fright”…that should be the name of our band!
Keith: (excited) I know right!?
ACT ONE
Scene 1
Modern tech high – hallways – Brian is closing his locker, Keith walks over to Brian
Keith: Hey, Bri! We need to talk
Brian: (sighs) there’s nothing to discuss. Keith (closes his locker)
Keith: Look, me and the guys “googled” stage fright, we know what it means
Brian: Really? You didn’t know what stage fright meant before?
Keith: Um. (thinking) I used to know but totally forgot
Brian: (covers his face with his hands)
Keith: Dude, we can help you beat this stage fright!
Brian: You don’t understand, I’ve had stage fright ever since I was a child. My therapist theorizes it must have been an event that occurred to me when I was young
Keith: You go to therapy?
Brian: Keith! I can not perform in front of people, especially a mass audience. You don’t understand (looking at his hands) all those people…those eyes…those dreadful looking eyes….stabbing you with those looks…everyone of them…looking…and…looking…and looking…and look… (staring into empty space)
Keith: (Yells) BRI!!!
Brian: (screams) Ahhh! (shaking his head) I’m so sorry! I must have blacked out. But like I’ve stated before, I’m not doing it!
Keith: Aw come on! We will help you!
Brian: I surely doubt you’ll make me overcome my stage fright (closes his locker) if my therapist failed what makes you think I can succeed?
Keith: You still go to therapy?
(Lisa Small walks up to the boys, she’s upset)
Lisa: (Clutching a paper in her hands) I can’t believe this, I just can’t!
Brian: Lisa, you appear to be in a state of distress
Keith: He means you look upset
Lisa: Oh I’m just mad at the school’s newspaper!
Keith: The school has a newspaper?
Lisa: Yeah, the “Daily Tech” I’m one of the journalist, I did this piece (shows the boys a paper) how this school hasn’t recycled lately. They didn’t even print it!
Keith: Oh boy
Lisa: I’ve spent all week on this piece and it gets cut! I just don’t get it I know it’s a great piece!
Brian: You have to uncover the answers!
Keith: (chuckles) I’m sorry, can’t believe this school has a newspaper. But seriously, Bri is right. You have to take your butt to their offices, if they have an office…
Lisa: Yeah they do have an office
Keith: You’ve got to be kidding! Anyways, go out there and go face to face with the editor about this! Find out why your piece got cut!
Lisa: Yeah! You’re right!
Keith: Remember go over there and kick some ass! Show no mercy to those pen pushers
Lisa: Yeah! I’m going over there right now! (marches off)
Keith: Um, did you know that the school has a newspaper?
Brian: Absolutely not
Scene 2
The offices of the Daily tech – A small office with only two computers, one huge desk takes the space in the room. The desk is piled up with photos and papers – Two boys; William and Baxter are sitting around the desk sorting out photos – Lisa enters the office and slams the door behind her; making the two boys jump up from their seats
William: (wearing reading glasses and is shorter than Lisa) Lisa! (clutching his chest) what are you doing here?
Baxter: (Bald but taller than William) Yeah, you scared us out of our puberty!
William: We haven’t gone thru puberty yet, Baxter
Baxter: Shutttttt-uuuup! (snaps William a look)
Lisa: Why can’t I be here? Don’t I work here?
William: (to Baxter) she didn’t get the memo
Baxter: Nobody ever does
Lisa: What are you guys talking about!? My peice has been cut from the new issue! And I demand to know why, where’s the editor!?
William: You should have read the memo
Baxter: Listen Lisa. Last week the daily tech has gone thru a major transformation. A lot of us has been let go to make way for new freshman journalist and columnists. A lot of our piece has been cut because of the new editor
Lisa: A new editor? What happened to Rupert? (William and Baxter shrug)
William: (smiling) yeah, a new editor. She’s going to change the way the school views the newspaper. With her on board someone will finally read an issue!
Lisa: “She”? Who’s she?
Baxter: (points to the door that says “editor”) just walk right in, she has been waiting for you all day
Lisa: Alright! (marches to the door, opens it and walks into the office)
(Cut to the editor’s office - The entire office is covered in pink and red. The office resembles more of a beauty salon than a newspaper office. Vicky Green sits behind the desk, grinning)
Vicky: Hello, Lisa Small
Lisa: (shocked) no it can’t be…you can’t be the editor!
Vicky: (laughs) oh guess again (stands up and walks over to Lisa) I’m in charge now
Lisa: How did this happen? I-I don’t get it…
Vicky: My daddy is in the board of Ed. When I told him I wanted to do this he talked to the principal. And here I am.
Lisa: Oh no, but why?
Vicky: I care about the school, when I heard that you were writing a piece on how this school doesn’t recycle I know I had to step in and take charge. I won’t allow you of all people to harm this school
Lisa: But you don’t care about this school! Just the other day, you said this school needs to go up in flames!
Vicky: True, and I still say it needs to, I just can’t find someone who’s willing to do it
Lisa: So you killed my piece because…?
Vicky: Because it sucked and its not “newsie” stuff
Lisa: And what do you know about journalism!?
Vicky: Oh Lisa (laughs then puts her hand on Lisa’s shoulder) I know about everything
Scene 3
Keith’s garage – Keith, Alex and Gregz are rehearsing – then enters Brian
Brian: Hello band members (they all stop playing)
Keith: Bri
Brian: Is that a new song?
Alex: Yeah, it took us about 20 minutes to do it
Keith: Want to know the name of the song buddy?
Brian: Not necessarily…
Keith: (interrupts him) “Over come your fears”
Brian: Oh, that’s brilliant. Let me guess the song is addressed to me…
Keith: (points to Brian) The song is about you buddy!
Gregz: I wanted to call the song “How much of a big scared nerd can you be?”
Keith: I decided against it
Alex: I have to admit that was pretty catchy too
Brian: I have to apologize for my behavior; I promise I will get over this stage fright
Keith: Alright! Here (hands Brian the bass guitar) want to practice the new song?
Brian: (smiles) sure (takes the bass and begins to play with the others. After a minute or two of playing the band stops)
Keith: Wooot! We have a winner with this song! Hey Bri I have a surprise for you buddy!
Brian: What is it?
Keith: (picks up a remote controller and presses a button) while all this time we were playing…(the garage door rises up) we were not alone
Brian: What!?
Keith: (the door rises to reveal two boys and one girl screaming) we had a audience
Guy #1: Woooot!
Guy #2: That was awesome!
Girl: More! Come on more!
Brian: (stunned) a-a-audience (feeling dizzy)
Alex: You alright?
Brian: They..were…look… (faints and falls to the floor)
Gregz: (everyone is shocked and stunned. The silence is broken by) the nerd has landed!
ACT TWO
Scene 1
The hospital – Brian is resting on a bed wearing the hospital gown – Keith, Gregz and Alex are standing beside him
Keith: Hey buddy, are you okay?
Brian: (embarrassed) Do I like ‘okay’!? I, I can’t not believe this, to faint in front of my friends and a live audience! I feel so much as a fool!
Alex: (bursts out laughing) DUDE! You just had to see yourself fall down! (imitating Brian’s fall landing to the floor) BOOM! (gets up) Classic! (laughing)
Brian: (upset) very amusing!
Keith: Don’t worry Bri, it was funny at first but now it’s just sad (cracks a smile) no wait, it’s a little funny
Brian: Arrrgh!
Keith: Buddy, don’t worry about this we’re going to fix your problem. We’re going to make it work I promise you! When you joined our band…
Gregz: (cuts in) “stage fright”
Keith: …yeah, “stage fright” when you joined “stage fright” you did not only joined a band you joined a family
Alex: That was beautiful dude
Keith: (nods) I know
Alex: But not as beautiful as Brian’s fall! (bursts out laughing again) BOOM!
Scene 2
Modern tech high – cafeteria – Vicky is sitting in her table with her friends; Shelly and Debby. Lisa walks up to them
Lisa: Vicky, we need to talk!
Vicky : Good morning, Mrs. “Smalley-Small” (both Shelly and Debby laugh)
Shelly: (laughing) totally!
Debby: What a lame name
Vicky: Simmer down my pets (looks at Lisa) what do you want?
Lisa: We need to talk about my piece; I won’t let this lie down!
Vicky: Hell-oo! It’s too late to do anything, the issue is already out. Everybody is reading all of the columns that everyone in my staff wrote, except yours of course (smiles)
Lisa: (sighs) how can you do this to me?
Vicky: Very easily (smiling)
Shelly: Totally
Debby: Bye-bye “Smalley-Small”
Lisa: (upset) this is not over Vicky, you’ll end up putting my piece on the next issue! You’ll see! (walks away)
Scene 3
The hallways – Brian and Alex are walking down the hallways
Alex: One the tricks to beat stage fright is how you to treat the audience
Brian: How I treat the audience?
Alex: Trust me, I’m a singer. So all the spotlight is on me right?
Brian: Unfortunately
Alex: If you’re friendly with them they’ll treat you friendly. If you’re just messed up, they’ll throw you some boo’s over your way
Brian: So it depends on my attitude?
Alex: Word! If you give them a good first impression they’ll forgive you if you mess up on stage
Brian: Hmm there is logic to what you say, Alex
Alex: You see? I’m smart!
Brian: I suggest you don’t jinx yourself
Alex: Oh! You’re right!
Scene 4
Gymnasium – Brian and Gregz are sitting at the bleachers while everyone in class is playing a sport
Gregz: When I’m on stage I only think about one thing
Brian: And what is that? Or is it a mistake to ask you?
Gregz: I think I have power. That’s right, power that I use to make them look at me. I have that power. When I perform on stage, all their idiotic attention is focused on me instead of their pitiful lives. I like to think that I’m one of the reasons they forget about dying because they focus their hopeless energy on me. I enjoy that feeling
Brian: (scared, gets up)
Gregz: Where are you going?
Brian: I-I-I think I’m going to play some basketball now
Gregz: But you don’t play basketball
Brian: I know (walks away)
Scene 5
Mr. Jay’s math class – The students are doing their work except Keith who is talking to Brian; quietly
Keith: You know what I do when I perform on stage?
Brian: What?
Keith: In my head, I picture everyone in my audience are naked!
Brian: (shocked) what!?
Keith: Shsssh!, yeah everyone is naked, the boys, the girls; especially the girls!
Brian: My lord!
Keith: I even picture you guys naked!
Brian: But why!?
Keith: It would be kinda odd if we’re not naked with the crowd
Brian: But that’s horrific!
Keith: (loud) what’s so bad about naked people!?
Mr. Jay: (comes from behind their table) to the principals office Mr. White!
Scene 6
Daily tech offices – Vicky’s office – Vicky is sitting on her desk texting and laughing, until Lisa barges in
Vicky: (laughing) and you’re back!
Lisa: For the last time Vicky, will you put my piece on the next issue?
Vicky: Oh sweetie, of course not
Lisa: Fine! I didn’t want to do this but you left me with no choice (reaches into her back pack)
Vicky: What are you going to do?
Lisa: (shows Vicky a series of photos) this was you weeks ago in the morning; I took these photos by accident. You see what you’re wearing?
Vicky: (looks at the photos closely; face turns ghost white) no! no!
Lisa: That’s right, that’s the day you were wearing that polyester coat and you didn’t even go to school
Vicky: My mother made me wear that garbage to meet her friends!
Lisa: If you don’t include my piece on the next issue, I will gladly post these pics over the internet for everyone to see!
Vicky: (loud gasp) you wouldn’t dare!
Lisa: Try me!
Vicky: Fine! (gets up) but this is not over yet! Oh (laughs) its not over!
Lisa: I know, I’m ready for anything
Baxter: (comes in the office) Um, I like really am sorry to interrupt this epic showdown moment but Um, what letter coloring you would like for the front page?
ACT THREE
Alex’s cousin Jerry’s backyard party – Keith, Brian, Alex and Gregz finish their last song – everyone in the party goes wild
Jerry: (30 something year old man, very built with short blonde hair; shouting) now that’s what I call a performance! Good work soldier! (punches Alex’s arm hard)
Alex: Ouch!
Jerry: Now drop down and give me 50!
Alex: No way Jerry!
Jerry: NOW!
Alex: Okay, okay! (starts doing pushups)
Keith: That was awesome Bri!
Brian: Thank you
Keith: How did you do it? You didn’t even faint
Brian: Let’s just say I overcame stage fright (smiles)
Keith: (high fives Brian) awesome! Plus we’re changing our band name. No more “stage fright”
Brian: Thank goodness, let me use the bathroom. I’ll be right back
Keith: Cool
(cut to – Inside Jerry’s empty house)
Brian: (takes out a bottle and drink two pills) Hmm, oh medicinal drugs, you have done a young man wonders this evening (takes one more pill)
END
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