Scene 2.08 - A Favor
EST: INT. Parking lot./EXT. VFW Post and N.G. Armory - Day.
(The bus is parked. PANDORA has gotten word from a roadie and joins the group.)
PANDORA
Hey, Festus, are you kidding me? Is this for real? I’m not gonna sing for a bunch of drunk old men. I’m played out.
FESTUS
Look, they're not old men, they're soldiers. I told you about this days ago, it’s on the itinerary.
(And he’s got a clean copy right here... no one looks at it. They believe him.)
PANDORA
The only thing I remember was an internet gig and then a penthouse suite. I’m not up to it, Fess.
SHARON
Yeah, I thought we were gonna go to the hotel. I need a shower.
FESTUS
Relax, the hotel’s just down the road, but I need someone to sing for these guys. They’re big fans-
SARAH
Then why don’t they just buy a ticket and see the concert?
FESTUS
(Shakes his head:) They’re mobilized intransit or something, shipping out to fight, they have to stay sober and within fifty yards of the armory until their convoy moves out. Just a song or two, three tops. Is that too much to ask? They’re big fans and could use a good send-off. They’ve agreed to service our vehicles at the armory next door, and heaven knows the vans need it --and they’re even willing to feed you and give you an open tab at the canteen to get as drunk as you want.
PANDORA
Hey, I’ve already played for the “IT” girl today, and I’m tired, grumpy and need to get into some fresh clothes. I don’t care if I’m the one they want, pick someone else.
(FESTUS looks to SHARON.)
SHARON
Hey, Festus, don’t look at me, I’m just the drummer, what good would I be solo? Now, which way was that hotel? Nine hours in a van with a crazy, Kansas, Indian-Summer, temperamental A-C and rubbing-up against goat-smellin’-roadies who haven’t bathed in who-knows-how-long is certainly enough to give me that not-so-fresh feeling.
(The girls nod in agreement.)
FESTUS
(Pulls BOBBY aside:) Bobby, you’re a veteran, you know how this is, you know what they’ve been through ... it’s great public relations, just like what you did earlier-
BOBBY
Earlier? Did you see it? Didja hear me ramble? They ran the sto-
FESTUS
I know, it’s okay. Good or bad, I book what works, and she’s got the ratings. It was fine, really. Really, Bobby, you did good. And this will be better, alot friendlier. More fun, your kind of people -- fellow veterans --they know you’ve been to war, you’re one of them --these guys will love you. As a favor, for me, ok?
BOBBY
Fifty guys, three or four songs and all the free beer I can drink, right?
FESTUS
Right, I’ll squeeze the girls into the car and drive them to the hotel, the roadies will stay with the vans at the armory, and you can meet us all at the motel later, it’s just down the road a few blocks. (Points. Turns, assuring:) Come on, the troops would really love it.
BOBBY
No cameras? No media?
FESTUS
Camcorders, maybe, but no media. (Pause) Please, Bobby. I don’t want to lock horns with Pandora. You know she’s stubborn-
BOBBY
Okay, but who’s gonna play? I haven’t done a cappella since the Star-Spangled-Banner at Wrigley Field. And you know how that went.
(He spits and scratches an area near his scrotum.)
FESTUS
I’ll get a spare acoustic from the E-V and get Pandy to autograph it, she owes me. I’m sure somebody there will wanna play it to keep it, and nobody will care if it sounds rough or out of tune, they just want to see someone... you’ll do great, and you can meet us in an hour... oh, and take a stack of the signed group photos and raffle off a few T-shirts, okay?
BOBBY
Sure. Hey, give me another copy of the itinerary so I know where I’m going from here. (Beat:) I used my copy as a placemat when we hit that greasy spoon this morning.
FESTUS
Thanks, Bobby. (Hands him a piece of paper.) I don’t care what everyone says, you’re still all right.
(Socks BOBBY’S arm playfully.)
BOBBY
Good. I’m glad. That means you can bum me a pack of smokes. (Fakes socking him back, instead, with other hand, takes cigarettes from FESTUS’ shirt pocket.) I chain-smoked mine all the way down, and I’m out.
(The band loads up into FESTUS’ car, one roadie gets in the tour bus to follow. PERCY slides up to BOBBY.)
PERCY
Hey Stranger, don’t I know you?
BOBBY
(Joy:) Hey! (Pause. Puts the square behind his ear.) Hey, ain’t you that girl that keeps following me around? You a stalker or something?
(BOBBY starts to kiss her.)
PERCY
Easy, Cassanova! I’ve been in a hot van all day, I’m pretty ripe.
BOBBY
Ohhh! A rain-check on the kisses now! Is there someone else I need to know about?
PERCY
If there was, I wouldn’t tell you.
(Kisses him.)
DISSOLVE TO: A closed, radium-green eyelid, the eye moving swiftly underneath, caught in a REM state. Opens a small fraction, then closes.
DISSOLVE TO:
ECU: PERCY and BOBBY’S kiss
BOBBY
I love you.
PERCY
(She smiles.) I know you do. (She steps back, holding both of his hands:) So how’d it go on I-T?
BOBBY
You didn’t see it?
PERCY
Nope, I was stuck riding in the equipment van, remember?
BOBBY
It was okay, I guess. Next time, we’ll do it in a studio so my baby doesn’t have to be squashed in with a bunch of sweaty roadies.
(Leans in to kiss her, she leans back, away from him.)
PERCY
Next time, I’ll ride with you and we’ll just pull over, K? (Watches the equipment van pull into the armory parking lot next door, an out-of-focus roadie carrying a guitar, photos and T-shirts approaches from the same direction.) I won’t ride in there again. I was stuck between an amp and bass drum. My leg’s still asleep.
BOBBY
(Grabs her butt, pulls her in, close.) Maybe I could help wake it up...
PERCY
Hmmm... I think I’m not the only one who needs a cold shower...
(Teases a kiss.)
BOBBY
I love you, Perce. (Pause, smiles, pats her butt.) We’ll take care of all that shower business when I get to the hotel. Until then, you just think about what part of you I’m gonna kiss next.
MS: BOBBY’S POV
PERCY
Break-a-leg, honey.
(Blows him a kiss as a roadie quickly dumps the autographed guitar, photos and T-Shirts into BOBBY’S outstretched arms from OFF. She jumps into the car, where FESTUS drives and SHARON rides shotgun. PANDORA is in back, but a wall of luggage obscures a clear view of her. The car is cramped with luggage and petite PERCY barely fits in -- it’s a tighter fit than endured in the equipment van -- but it’s only for a few blocks. After getting in with gym bags on her lap, her face is nearly pressed to the closed window -- closed so nothing falls out -- she presses her lips to the window and kisses it as the car speeds off.)
DISSOLVE TO: