Closing Night

We just closed Counting The Ways... actually, we had our last performance several hours ago but then went out for a celebratory drink. It was whirlwind experience. We had about as many rehearsals as we did performances: 4. I met some really cool people, got to act out a few scenes onstage with my talented wife, and even got a brand new awesome monologue for future auditions. Now if only I could get that damn Bette Midler song out of my head!

Counting The Ways Opening Night!

The lights fade. The lights come up. I enter carrying a newspaper. Something catches my eye and I call for my wife. Sara enters the stage and sits down opposite of me at the table. Two more lines are exchanged and the power goes out.

Darkness. Silence.

The monsoon ranging outside momentarily caused a power outage while Sara and I are onstage doing our first scene together ever. Luckily the auxiliary lights came on and within seconds the power was restored to the building. We picked up the scene exactly where we had left off and the audience seemed to appreciate our poise.

After the show several people commented on the power failure but we blew it off, continued to mingle and sip cocktails with a slowly dwindling crowd.

The Short Version

So I'm not sure what time period it was supposed to be but the ramshackle dwelling was filled with a small family wearing dirty nightshirts, rags, and such. There was a general sense of unrest. Sara figures out the code. Letters and numbers she deciphers! We'll be able to contact the rebels. The code says, 'Wipe Your Windows'. The windows are caked with filth. So we grab what ever cloth is handy and wipe the glass clean. (For some reason there is a translucent image of Al Capone on the aged pane.)

A knock at the door!

I rush everyone else out of sight and open the door. Several young men stand there with rifles. They want to examine the dwelling. I ask for identification. They seem disappointed and start to leave. Sara comes out of hiding and invites them in. The men look around. I believe they were expecting a trap. We are invited to join the revolution but must pick up immediately and leave our lives behind; one by one fleeing into the night with only a few essentials.

The decision has already been made. I start to look around what is now my childhood home - hoping to find something important. I can't leave without evidence of who I am. Pictures, mementos, or even brick-a-brack. There's a slow sense of panic creeping over me.

Two of my students, twin girls, are also in the house. They are altered from reality... normal. They are telling a guerilla film crew -where did they come from?- that they are not afraid. We are all tired of living an oppressed existence, and they hope one day that their children will be able to hold their heads up high as they remember the struggle that others went through for freedom.

The door is opened and the moon beats down on a barren landscape as shadows scramble towards a new life. It's my turn. I need to escape.

!!!!!! THE ALARM RINGS!!!!!!! I drift awake.

I don't have to like every student.

FADE IN:

INT. Classroom -- Afternoon

STUDENT sits alone at a desk guardedly writing in his 'journal'. Other students interact with each other, play UNO, and are busy with the business of being young men and women. Not this STUDENT. He's special...

He THINKS he's special. He THINKS he thinks special thoughts.

A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER stares absentmindedly out the window. The SUB sighs and turns back in towards the classroom. The day is winding down. He contemplates the STUDENT alone at his desk for a moment then inquires...

SUB: What do you write in that journal of yours?

SPECIAL STUDENT: What? (Then with annoyance.) Why?

SUB: Just curious.

SPECIAL STUDENT: (Bitterly) What do you think?

SUB: (Casually) I was just wondering if you might possibly be writing a book on manners! (Cough, Cough) Prick.

SUB goes back to contemplating life outside the window. STUDENT pauses in his writing. He is unsure if this is what he wanted to happen. Maybe he should've let the curious adult read his musings. No one understands him because he's so special.

Fade Out:

I Was Surprised...

...His first answer to the 'Top 5 Famous People You Would Like To Be' was:

Ritchie Valens!

The rest of the group was clueless. The 10 year old says, "He was a famous Rock n Roll Star and he was awesome."

I turned to him and said, "Ritchie Valens? You know he was only 17 years old when he died?"

He replied, "Wow, that's young."

"Looks like you better make the most of your next 7 years, my friend."

I Was In A Rush!

I was running errands. I needed to hurry, pick up dinner, and get home to walk the dog before heading out to rehearsal. I saw the whole thing happen.

2 employees of the Chinese restaurant left a case of Coke out in a shopping cart. They must've run over to the grocery store for supplies. They wheeled the cart up to the front door and took in as many cases as they could carry leaving 1 lone cases in the cart.

A thought flashed through my mind; briefly. Maybe I should help carry in the last case. I kept walking as I looked around. The only other people nearby was a teenage son and his mother walking some distance behind me. I didn't stop. I figured the waiter would be right back out for the case.

I opened the door to the another restaurant where I was picking up my to go order and I heard the teenager squeak, 'Take it ma. Take it!' I glanced up and saw the mother and son pausing around the cart. The mom saw me and started walking again.

I went in to get my dinner, and looked back out the storefront. The teenage boy is now walking next to his mother... carrying the case of soda. I shook my head and rolled my eyes as I watched them scurry to their car all the while looking back at the Chinese restaurant to see if they'd get caught. They got into their Subaru and sped off with their boosted caffeine.

I paid for my hot wings and walked out the door. The Chinese waiter was standing at the curb scanning the parking lot with a unbelieving grin on his face. I felt partially responsible but I didn't stop to explain.

A Life Lesson Learned While Walking The Tooter

Sometimes you're just meandering along at your own pace. Minding your own business. When a squirrel scurries by and you're off on a mad dash! You pull and pull against the leash. Suddenly, you get a whiff of something completely different, veer radically off course and almost trip over yourself all in a frantic attempt to sniff around some bushes that someone else pee-peed on!

Not sure how it all works together but it's kinda like life... sometimes...

My Birthday Dinner.

Went out with the family for a belated birthday dinner.
Had a delicious burger, some beer and goofed off with the kids.
It was a fun night. We laughed alot. (Next time I have to remember to get pictures of my big brother and sister, too.)