Scene 9 – Hard Times
Scene 9
Hard times
Set: Exterior street setting, bench, streetlights, storefront, A busker is playing slide trombone with his case open. Pedestrians passing by, going about their day.
Scene: With the business closed he finds himself looking for work; going on a series of interviews. Tommy is sitting on the bench talking with his friend Ian.
Ian “Tennis. Who tears their rotator cuff playing tennis? How’s your shoulder?”
Tommy “Waiting for surgery. I can’t even get a consult with a surgeon for at least 6 months. I’ll grow a new arm before then.”
Ian “How long has it been since the business closed?”
Tommy “eight months, that next career is proven to be much more challenging than I expected. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. Look at all these people. It’s a normal day for them. For me it’s not a normal day; hasn’t been for some time now”
Ian “Crazy. You live a life of giving and where is the payback?”
Ian “What do you want to do? “
Tommy laughs
Tommy “Beth asked me the same thing”
Tommy ”I said, you know what I want to do. But I’m not going to do it.”
Ian “Why?”
Tommy “for starters I’m not good enough, and even if I was that ship sailed long ago. It’s a young person’s world. I have bills to pay, responsibilities. I can’t just run off chasing a dream.
Ian “It’s never too late”
Tommy “whoa. No Cliché zone!”
Ian “How are you holding up?… financially. “
Tommy “It’s tough and getting tougher. We may have to sell the house.”
Ian “and your mind set?“
Tommy “I’m getting fragile. What if Allison leaves me? I feel like I’ve disappointed everyone.”
Ian “Where’s this coming from”
Tommy “The signs are there. Allison, the girls they deserve more.”
Tommy “I wake up every day and put on a front. Then I have to take that show on the road. Everyone loves a winner. You have to keep promoting that image. Business opportunities are starting to feel like dating, the dream ones you want to be with don’t want to be with you and the ones you don’t want to even consider keep calling. It’s like falling in love. I’m waiting for the magic to happen.”
Ian chimes in ”but like dating you have to deal with rejection”
Tommy “and self doubt. Sometimes it feels like no one even remembers that I’m still here”.
Ian “It’ll all work out”
Tommy “That’s what people keep saying.”
Ian “It will. Good things happen to good people”
Tommy “Stop please. You know the clichés are really staring to piss me off. If I wasn’t here tomorrow do you think anyone would even notice?”
The two of them stand. They do the one shoulder man hug. Tommy turns to leave.
Cue the music
The trombone starts to play and Ian begins to sing.
Song -Measure of a man
No one came, a sparsely attended funeral was his last show
No one spoke, except for the clergy in his quirky monotone
Sign the pages, stand and chat
And it’s over just like that
Return to your day, but do recall the past.
Walk with me, please tell me what is the true measure of a man.
What is the, mark that we, leave on this whole world when we are done.
Tell me why we’re put on earth.
Should we care what someone’s worth?
Tell me what is the true measure of a man.
Mortality, acts as a wake up call, the questions flood the mind
What have we, done to improve this world and those we leave behind.
How long do we have to live?
How much do we have to give?
Tell me what is the true measure of a man.
Pass the torch and carry on
Tell his story, short or long
Tell me what is the true measure of a man.