Get Over It are in the garage. They are about to take a break from working on their newest song.
Forte: Hey, y'all can head out, I want to keep working on this solo if that's okay.
Fortissimo: You sure?
Forte: Yeah, all good. Don't think I've got it just right yet, so I want to see what I can do.
Fortissimo: Alright.
Piano seems disappointed Forte isn't coming with them. However they do all leave.
Triplet: Fortissimo, he's okay right? That uh... didn't seem like Forte there.
Viola: Yes, normally he's the most excited to hang out.
Fortissimo: …
Fortissimo sighs.
Fortissimo: Look you can go back in there but I wouldn't recommend it. When he gets fixated on something like this, it generally diesnt end that well and when it doesn't end well, he prefers being by himself. He doesn't like showing himself upset to others. He thinks him being upset will make other people upset and that just makes him MORE upset. It's why he's so cheery 99.9% of the time, he knows his actions affect other people and he wants other people to be positive, so he is too. I really think we should just go. I've kinda said more than I should have said realistically.
Crotchet: I mean you're the sister. You know him the best. I trust you.
Everyone apart from Triplet starts walking away. Fortissimo stares at Triplet who is hanging back.
Triplet: I'm staying.
Fortissimo: Look, I've said what I said. If you upset him even more, I'm not forgiving you and at that point it's your funeral.
Triplet: I can at least help with the music part of it. The rest... no promises.
Triplet and Fortissimo seem to have come to an understanding. They both nod at each other and Triplet walks back towards the garage while everyone else goes for their break.
Triplet walks back into the garage and shuts the door. Forte doesn't seem to notice her come in, seeming too involved in the moment. She stays silent as Forte is playing. Forte finishes and stares at the ceiling.
Triplet: FORTE, HEY. IM RIGHT HERE. The answers to the secrets of the universe aren't on the ceiling ya know?
Forte: (Shocked) Holy shit Triplet, you gave me a scare. What the fuck was that for? Why did you come back and why didn't you say anything?
Triplet: You just snapped our of a trance dude, oh my god! (Laughing) I wanted to listen in and help out. I was silent because you were still playing and I didn't want to distract you. That sounds great Forte, I don't really know what you could have done much better.
Forte: It's missing like... the emotion I want to put into it. It's harder to convey what I want to say with notes rather than lyrics. But the lyrics of this track mean something to me, so I want to show that... somehow.
Triplet: Good to hear that the lyrics resonate. Let me grab my notepad, maybe we can find some different chords or speed to say what you want to say.
Triplet and Forte work on it for a while and then Forte starts playing.
Triplet: Hey, that sounds real good!
Forte: It sounds good. But it's not there for me. Not yet. I'm executing the idea well but just... something with the way Im playing it is wrong.
Triplet: I cant see what could be...
Triplet gets cut off by Forte trying the solo again.
Triplet: That had more depth to it that time for sure.
Forte: I'm not sure if depth is exactly what I'm looking for.
Triplet: What is it you're looking for then? What are you trying to say, to get across to the listener? Understanding that will help. Certain tones evoke certain feelings and stuff ya know?
Forte seemingly ignores this and tries again.
Triplet: This is great. I still don't get what could be...
Forte cuts her off by trying again. He tries the solo again and again seemingly getting more frustrated each time. Triplet tries cutting him off on each attempt but Forte keeps playing through it anyways.
Triplet: DUDE STOP. Stop now. That's it. Enough. I cant see what's wrong with this. It sounds great.
Forte: Look Triplet, I don't understand why you didn't just dip when Fortissimo probably told you to. But you wont get this.
Triplet: I didn't leave because I didn't want to leave you on your own with this. I want to help because unless all of us are satisfied this song isn't getting played alright. I don't even know what you're trying to get across with this. You refuse to tell me. I cant help unless I know what you're trying to put into it. And clearly nothing is going to be good enough for you here no matter how good you're actually doing. So why don't we have a chat about what you want from this.
Forte grabs his hair to the point where he is almost pulling it out. He curls up into a ball, forehead to his knees, arms wrapped around his legs locking himself in. He starts making sounds of frustration and then starts weeping.
Triplet runs over and puts an arm around him. Forte starts to try to shake her off and then eventually falls into Triplets shoulder.
Triplet: Nope, I'm not going anywhere. Hey, hey. It's alright. You don't have to talk or nothin'. Just give yourself your time.
The rest of the band come into the garage coming in off of a break. Piano immediately runs to Forte, giving him a massive hug, almost slamming into him. Fortissimo walks slowly to him, kneeling down and putting an arm around his other side. Viola and Crotchet gather around and Viola puts her hands on his shoulders. Forte seems to slowly calm himself by rocking back and forth. He eventually emerges from the position he put himself in and sits cross legged surrounded by everyone. His eyes are red and puffy and cheeks wet.
Forte: Everyone, I'm so sorry. You had to see me like this and...
Viola: Shut the fuck up. Right now. You've done nothing wrong and you haven't affected us in any way. We're here for you.
Fortissimo: So, what's up? If you want to talk that is.
Forte: Look the lyrics of this track just remind me of, you know. Losing people. Them. Our parents. I wanted to be able to, you know. Honour memories or something. But I'm not good enough for that. Its just not good enough. And it wont ever be.
Forte starts looking upset again.
Crotchet: This is why you shouldn't bottle shit up. It always manifests like this. It eventually gets too much and you're bound to explode. You're with us now. Remember how we said we weren't keeping shit hidden? We're always okay with whatever you want to talk about. No matter what. We will always be here.
Fortissimo: And you don't get to decide what's good enough for our parents or not. You self deprecate, and you think nothing you do will be good enough. Objectively, I'm the only person that can tell you if its good enough or not. Because if its good enough for me, then it should be good enough for you. Simple as. No arguments.
Piano: Play it.
Forte gets to his feet slowly and plays the solo. It sounds better than any other time he's played it. Filled with emotion and acceptance. Fortissimo and Viola are tearing up and everyone else is watching with wide eyes.
Fortissimo: And that is more than good enough for me. That is perfect.
She gives Forte a quick hug.
Triplet: I think I understand what you thought was missing now. That emotion. I think you just needed to accept that that was what it was in order to play it like that.
Forte: Yeah. Yeah. That's the one. Thank you for being here guys. Y'all are the best.
Forte wipes away a couple of tears.
Piano: Play it like that every time.
Forte: I will. From now on. I understand it. I accept it. I actually think... it'll help. It let's it out.
Triplet: I think that's the song complete if everybody is happy with it. I also think its our best one yet. Does anybody want to run it through a couple times?
Everybody rushes for their instruments to play, all excited to be in a song with an amazing solo. Forte seems back to his usual, big smile on his face. Later after practice is finished, Fortissimo gestures Triplet outside and she follows.
Triplet: Well, I thought this was coming.
Fortissimo: No. I'm not upset actually if that's what you were thinking.
Triplet: Oh?
Fortissimo: I'm actually really glad you were there. You helped him. A lot. We had a chat and yeah, he said you helped. So I have nothing to complain about. Normally when that happens he's stuck in that ball for like 30 minutes. And even after that he still wont tell me what's wrong. Everyone helped him open up and get it out of him. But you were there in the first place and he said he definitely wouldn't have said anything if you weren't there. So Yeah. We're all good. Don't you worry. Stay with him alone more often if you want, I think you're good for him. You help him out more than he thinks silly stuff. I don't really know how to react the best. You're good at that stuff. So yeah we're all good.
Fortissimo puts her hand out for a high five which Triplet accepts.
Triplet: This band is fucking awesome and I'm glad we all have each other. Everyone's amazing.
Fortissimo: You got that right. I'm glad we all found each other. Its really good for everyone I think.
Triplet and Fortissimo walk back into the garage, grab some snacks and start chatting away with the rest of the band late into the night.