Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Writing a Musical in April

As part of the April Script Frenzy program, I've decided to adapt one of my fledgling novel manuscripts into a musical. Think of it as 'The Stand' meets 'Glee.' The goal is 100 pages of script by the end of the month--I've reached 23 (which is just behind pace). In the spirit of the frenzy, below is an excerpt from 'The Brief Immortals,' a song called 'Fountain of Youth.' Enjoy!


(ALIBI returns to the partition door and leans downstage.)

ALIBI
Sheila! If you will, love, es tiempo.

ISAAC
Listen, I used to be a lawyer…

ALIBI
I am well aware, Mr. Greystone.

ISAAC
This is a pretty heavy no-fault waiver-

(ALIBI taps impatience waiting for Sheila.)

ALIBI
Omelets and eggs, Mr. Greystone.

(ANDI reads the packet. Alarmed, she steps to the doorway.)

ANDI
What the hell is this? ‘I the below signed, hold Infinite Chemical Enterprises, its employees and subsidiaries as well as Doctor Iago Alibi, his employees and associates free and clear of any liability…’ What the hell?

ISAAC
I agree.

ANDI
Are we guinea pigs?

ALIBI
The other human trial has shown no ill effect—Sheila! Now!-Our scientists have identified the molecular mechanisms which control the marching of our internal clocks. We’ve engineered a substance which winds down that march—a simple toxin—

ISAAC AND ANDI
Toxin?!

(Sheila finally appears in Room A, gum smacking.)

ALIBI
Sheila, if you’ll attend to Mr. Greystone, I’ll handle Ms. Hartwell.

(Sheila nods and walks to the desk to retrieve vial and syringe.)

ALIBI
Yes. A toxin.

(SONG: FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH)

ALIBI
The air which you breathe
Is rife with disease:
Methane, carcinogens galore.
Alcohol, cigarettes,
Black coffee, chocolate,
The trolleys you push at the store.
Everything’s poison to a certain degree,
Lethal in specific dose.
So why try to fight it?
Let’s harness and ride it
Immortal on death’s pale horse.

ISAAC
(spoken)
I don’t know…

ALIBI
I present to you,
The Fountain of Youth!
Nectar o’ the Philosopher’s Stone.
A topical injection
Of glowing complexion—
Serum to make the old young.

ANDI
(spoken)
But a waiver?

ALIBI
Like Botox who shares
A few—genetic pairs?—
Heir to a virulent strain.
So our two-oh-five’s
Big sibling is time,
Suffering, aging and pain.

And with it rides
Some effects on the side.
Trifles! Mere annoyances, most.
But for verity’s sake
(If you will) I’ll now take
A breath to prattle the host.

There… may… be

Topical pain, swelling, staining,
Itching and redness with tingles.
There’s numbness and blindness,
Dementia, arthritis,
And just a slight chance of the shingles.
Cramping and nausea, vomits, glaucoma,
Both near and far sightedness.
Osteoperosis, thoracic thrombosis,
Epilepsy and light-headedness.
Bleeding, seepage
(Both anal and oral)
Erectile dysfunction and gout.
Fibromyalgia, limerance, nostalgia,
Bruising both inside and out.
Diminished grey matter, the green apple splatters,
Testosterone deficiency, Chrons,
Megalomania, clap, nymphomania,
Gallbladder and kidney stones.

And finally, we shant omit the big three:
Stroke.
Cancer.
Heart disease.

ISAAC
(Spoken)
Anal seepage?

ANDI
(Spoken)
Cancer?!

(ALIBI throws his hands.)

ALIBI
But… don’t you see?
The fountain of youth!
History and Myth manifest!
‘Hartwell’ on an Oscar,
‘Greystone’ oval office,
The stars are within you grasp.

(ALIBI again takes the wavers and thrust them to ANDI and ISAAC.)

ALIBI
Side effects are ephemeral
But fame’s flame burns forever
Immortality I offer to you!
Flourish and sign
Your X on the line!
And gain…
The Fountain of Youth!

(Song ends with a flourish. Beat. Faces pinched, ISAAC and ANDI sign the wavers. ALIBI swipes them and holds them to his bosom with a squeal.)

ALIBI
You’ll not regret this, I promise! Exciting days head, indeed. Sheila, if you will, love?

(SHEILA forces ISAAC into his seat as ALIBI settles ANDI in hers. They take the needles and serum, and in synchronization, fill and flick away any air bubbles. The lights dim as ALIBI and SHEILA advance on their patients.

ISAAC
…Is she—

ALIBI
(Shouts)
Perfectly qualified, I assure you!

(The needles draw closer. ANDI and ISAAC tense. ALIBI caresses ANDI’S cheek.)

ANDI
Creep.

ALIBI
(Whisper)
Let’s not, love.

(Fade to black as needles pierce skin.)

No comments:

Post a Comment