The Band are practicing in the garage. They've left the door slightly open at the bottom. They dont seem to be having trouble, but Triplet lifts a hand up to stop them anyways.
Triplet: This is good. Really good. But I don't know I feel like its missing something? Something deeper. Lower. Something that gives it more impact maybe? Fortissimo, any chance you could tune to a lower octave while keeping key?
Fortissimo: I could try some thicker strings maybe? I cant lie though Triplet, it's kinda awkward generally. If I play the bass part, I feel off tune and off time on my singing. If I play the main melody, it's overly complex and I cant concentrate on both. It would be nice if we could have both guitars layer the melody and then split the work.
Triplet: Give me a minute. Ill adjust it.
Triplet scribbles some notes down and hands them off to Forte and Fortissimo. They nod and try again. They play it perfectly but they still all agree it's missing something.
Triplet: I think this is the closest we're going to get to the sound we want gang. Sorry its not all the way there.
Forte: It's no problem Triplet! You've done your best to accommodate everything. It's amazing work.
Fortissimo: Yeah, you made it sound awesome, even with just the 3 of us. Don't be down about it!
Triplet: Thank you guys. Lets run through it one more time, okay? From the Top.
Although Triplet is appreciative of the compliments she doesn't seem confident. She counts them in. Outside the garage, Viola is walking by. She hears the music and immediately sets down her bag, takes out her bass guitar and starts listening. After the first verse and chorus she starts playing along perfectly with the band. During the instrumental...
Fortissimo: WHAT THE HELL.
Forte: That isn't me.
Triplet: Don't stop, keep playing. Finish and then we investigate okay? I want to see what this adds.
Fortissimo: Are you crazy? We could be getting raided right now!
Triplet: If they're playing along with us, it's probably a friend, not a foe. They're also super good to just figure it out by ear like that.
Forte nods. Fortissimo grumbles. They finish off the song and immediately run outside.
Fortissimo: Are you a cop?
Forte: Are you going to ask this every time we meet someone new? Nice playing with you by the way. Your name is...?
Viola: It's Viola darling. I like your music. A lot. It felt like it needed something. I was just passing by. Wondering I guess. Trying to get to anywhere that serves food or a train station. I don't have a map and no ones around. Ended up here. Heard music. Started playing.
Triplet: Well that saves us asking for an explanation. Amazing you figured it out by ear like that. You've been doing this for a long time right?
Viola: The music thing, yes. The running away from home thing? No.
Fortissimo still seems suspicious.
Fortissimo: For someone running away from home, you look awfully good. When we all left, we weren't as cleaned up as you. And that dress. Its designer right? Your hair seems too perfect to not have had it done like, yesterday. You're from money aren't you. They probably let you get away with playing music all you want just because your family has contacts. This is your acting out phase, but no cops are going to look your way anyways, your family has probably already told them to lay off you because you'll go back home in like a week.
Forte: Fortissimo, that's...
Viola: Who said that the music I'm allowed to play is the music I WANT to play. That isn't me. This isn't a phase. I've been out here longer than you think. Yes I have money. I've been living okay. But I heard your music. Your lyrics. That's what I feel too. Don't doubt my resolve on that.
Fortissimo seems satisfied with this answer. Despite this, Viola takes out her phone, starts playing a video and turns it towards them. The events of "Melodic Differences" play on the video. The band all crowd around and watch it all in silence.
Triplet: Glad you took that video, otherwise Fortissimo here wouldn't have believed you.
Fortissimo: I was more than convinced already. Forte could tell. And hey, screw you Triplet, for not letting me introduce myself.
Forte: Triplet, she's right, she was already there. I can only tell because she's my sister though! I guess none of us get to introduce ourselves huh.
Triplet and Fortissimo somehow start an argument about something. Forte, shrugs, smiles and sighs at Viola, shaking his head. Viola looks like she's about to burst out laughing, but she holds it in.
Viola: (giggling) okay, okay, I got it. Triplet, Forte and Fortissimo, right? You two just said you were siblings and I think... Triplet you're the one that writes the songs right? You seem to be the type.
Forte: Well, it isn't just your ears that are amazing huh? Your powers of observation are good too.
Viola: shrugs You get that from meeting a lot of people. They say don't judge a book by a cover, like me I guess but there's a lot you can learn from someone at a first glance. Fortissimo knows that too I think.
Fortissimo seems surprised by the compliment. All three band mates look at each other and something seems to pass between them.
Forte, Fortissimo and Triplet: You want in?
Viola seems to start tearing up. She composes herself and nods.
Viola: Yes. Yes I would.
Forte: Well, come on in already. Join our practice. You're going to be a massive help.
Fortissimo: We don't do that by the way. Hold our emotions in. If you have something to say, you say it. If you want to cry you cry. We make it through together. Simple as.
Viola nods. Triplet furiously scribbling notes on her notepad and passes them out to everyone
Triplet: Here let's try this. It should fix everything. Don't ever call me Trip by the way.
Viola: Wouldn't dream of it.
The Band play through the song. It sounds perfect, the way it was intended to. Viola seems to have integrated herself into the band just fine and the next few days are a mess of restructuring songs in time for the next show.