59) JIM: I received a call from George Harris about fifteen minutes ago, and as of
(GROANS OF DISAPPOINTMENT AND SEVERAL PEOPLE ASKING QUESTIONS AT ONCE. JIM HOLDS HIS HANDS UP FOR EVERYONE TO BE QUIET)
I just wanted to say it’s been an honor working with all of you, and I wanted to thank all of you that have stayed this long. I am going to do everything within my power to help you find other positions. A lot of you are like family to me, and I...(SIGHS) Well, that’s all I’ve got, other than let’s make this Christmas program the very best we can make it. If this has to end, then let’s at least have them remember us for it.
(EVERYONE NODS IN A SOLEMN AGREEMENT, BUT ALLISON IS THE MOST VISIBLY UPSET. EVERYONE ELSE SLOWLY WALKS AWAY, LEAVING ONLY JIM AND ALLISON LEFT)
60) ALLISON (TRYING TO FORCE HERSELF INTO NOT SEEMING UPSET): I’ll be back in a couple of hours. I need to pick up my kids. Would it be all right if I brought my family here tonight to watch the show? Josh is in kindergarten now, and I think with my parents here they’ll both sit still. I think they’ll enjoy this. (FORCES SMILE)
61) JIM: (FEELS HORRIBLE THAT HE’S MADE PROMISES TO HER THAT EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT ) Allison, I meant what I said. Everything is going to work out—I promise.
62) ALLISON: I know you didn’t know this was going to happen, but please—just stop making promises you can’t keep. I’ve had enough of that in my life. (STARTS TO LEAVE BUT HESITATES) I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I’m just—hey, what’s she doing?
(JIM TURNS AROUND TO SEE WHITNEY LEAVING WITH A SMALL ROLLING SUITCASE)
63) JIM: You bailing on us now, too? (STARTS TO CHASE AFTER HER) You do realize we’ve already paid for you to be here. You’ll need to contact your agent if you’re going to break contract and—
(WITHOUT SAYING A WORD, WHITNEY REACHES INTO THE BAG AND THROWS A WAD OF CASH AT HIM)
64) WHITNEY: That’s double what you paid me to be here. You want to know why I’m leaving? Talk to your cleaning lady. (TURNS AROUND AND WALKS PAST ALLISON) It’s no wonder this place is shutting down (LOOKS AT ALLISON WITH DISDAIN) probably doing the world a favor.
65) ALLISON: (HAD ENOUGH) How in the world can you just go through life caring about no one else but yourself? It amazes me that you’re able to sing all of these Christmas songs and not even understand the meaning behind them whatsoever. Just go—we’ll find somebody else.
66) WHITNEY: Trust me, you’re not going to have to tell me twice.
(JUST AS WHITNEY REACHES THE EXIT DOOR, SHE IS BLOCKED BY ALLISON’S MOM KATIE AND DAD STEVEN COMING INSIDE, ALONG WITH HER DAUGHTER BRITTNEY AND SON JOSH. THE KIDS RUN UP AND GIVE ALLISON A HUG, AND KATIE GIVES WHITNEY A WARM SMILE)
67) KATIE: (ADMIRING WHITNEY’S DRESS) You look so beautiful in that dress, young lady. I’ve seen you before, but I can’t quite place you. Do you work here at the station?
68) WHITNEY: (GLANCES AT ALLISON WITH KIDS—AND THERE’S SOME INDICATION THAT THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IS HITTING HER—THEN LOOKS BACK AT ALLISON’S MOM) Not exactly. If you’ll excuse me, I was just on my way out.
(WHITNEY SLIDES PAST ALLISON’S MOM AND DAD AND LEAVES STAGE. THEY TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO ALLISON, WHO HUGS AND GREETS THEM)
69) ALLISON: Wow, this is surprise. I was just on my way to your house.
70) STEVEN: We thought that with the day you’ve had that this would be easier. Everything looks great—we’re not too early, are we? (WALKS OVER TO JIM) Nice to see you, Jim. Merry Christmas.
71) JIM: (SHAKES HIS HAND) Merry Christmas, Steven. Hey I know Allison doesn’t, but do either you or Katie sing? We’re one person short for the show tonight.
72) STEVEN: (LAUGHS) You let me sing, and they’d probably shut the station down.
73) JIM: Not a problem at this point. I’ll let all of you catch up, and I’ll be right back. I need to find where Amy went. I hope she didn’t leave, too.
(JIM CROSSES STAGE TO DRESSING ROOM AREA, WHERE AMY IS SITTING ON STOOL WITH HER BACK TO THE DRESSER/MIRROR)
74) JIM: You all right?
75) AMY: Yeah…(SIGHS) I take it she overheard the station was closing.
76) JIM: Yep.
77) AMY: Is she coming back in here soon?
78) JIM: Didn’t look like it. (SMILES AT HER) Do you want to do it?
79) AMY: (SHAKES HER HEAD AND LAUGHS) Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve done anything like this?
80) JIM: Long enough. You’ve got a great voice, and besides we have a new rule around here—you run somebody off, you have to replace them.
81) AMY: (STANDS UP) So does that mean you’re the new sound crew, lighting crew, camera crew, and the director? Who else am leaving out?
82) JIM: (LAUGHS) That’s not funny—don’t even joke about that. (HESITATES JUST BEFORE HE LEAVES) Hey, Amy?
83) AMY: Yes?
84) JIM: Thank you—not just for doing this, but for what you said before. I’m going to try to make it to the Christmas service, and we’ll see what happens from there. I just don’t want you to feel discouraged—Whitney may not have listened to what you had to say to her, but I did. Anyway, thank you for caring. I’ll let you get ready.
ANOTHER SONG CAN GO HERE TO ALLOW TIME FOR SET CHANGES/CURTAIN TO RISE/ETC.
No comments:
Post a Comment