Airport Sparrows Act 1 scene vii

Sorry 'm a little behind schedule.  The last couple of days were rather hectic and I was away from my computer.  Shall we continue?

So here is one of the revised scenes from the reading we all did.  One of the comments I received was that it wasn't completely clear just what Marc's problem with the town, and what the town's problems with itself, were.  I hope this helps, and that you enjoy the changes.  As a bonus treat, posted after this 'final' draft version, I have also posted a the same section (two scenes) of an early draft.  It has much in common with the reading draft, but also sigificant differences.  

Act 1 scene vii 

a street/an airport

enter MARC

Marc- I wish I could tell whether or not mem'ry 

Paints this town in hues of such fell colours, 

Or if the town itself, through corruption, 

Can no longer hide her ample trackmarks. 

I wish I could blaim memory's insult, 

But clearly, things are far worse than I knew, 

And I cannot doubt my brother's own hand 

Has wrought at least half of all the trouble. 

Even the scant recollections of youth; 

Plentiful in mind, and thin on pleasure 

Have been eroded by time's slow passing 

enter LAURA, unseen by MARC 

The tall tales and bold fictions of boyhood

Are now but pale and ghostly overleaves,

Faded transparencies against a screen 

Torn and altered by a far harsher truth...

There's naught left that my memory would know. 

Airport Sparrows Act 1 scene v and scene vi

Scene v is so short, I decided to double it up, so here's scene vi too!

Act 1 scene v 

a hotel room 

lights up.  MARC is in bed.  enter SARAH, dressed in her uniform.  Her entrance wakes him. 

Sarah- I know it’s here somewhere; gimme a break,

I've got no time for this –  Marc, you’re awake. 

Marc- Good morning to you too; what time is it? 

Oh Christ, my head; Jesus, I feel like shit. 

Sarah- Sorry Marc, I didn’t mean to wake you; 

Have you seen my flight pass?  It’s white and blue. 

Marc- [takes pass from around his neck] 

You slipped it around my neck ere boarding.

Did I something rather offensive do

That you’d elope without e’en a “See you?” 

Sarah- Sorry Marc, but I’ve really gotta go. 

Stay if you’d like; check out’s at eleven.

See you around Marc, I’ll give you a call.

exit SARAH 

Marc- Oh, fuck me, it’s far to early for this…

What the hell just happened?  What did I miss? 

[throws himself back on the pillows] 

blackout 

Airport Sparrows Act 1 scene iv

Act 1 scene iv 

the Blue Canary

lights up. JASON and LAURA are doing lines off the bar 

Jason- Jesus Christ woman! where'd you get this shit.

Come on, tell me, You know that I'm no rat.

enter LYNDON

Laura- Never mind about my sources Jason,

Just call me when you want a little fun.

Lyndon- Laura, what the fuck are you doing here? 

You know you're not welcome within my bar. 

Laura- Come off it Lyndon, don’t be such a jerk, 

Can’t a sister come see her brother work? 

Lyndon- No she can't. Not when she still snorting coke.

Jason; this is your only warning, see?

If your gonna do something dumb, least think

And wipe your nose ere you’d serve another drink. 

Jason- Sorry boss, it’ll ne’er happen again. 

Don’t know what I thought, she just came in... 

Lyndon- Go home; don’t argue when I’m forgiving,

But know, if this happens again, you’re through.

exit JASON

So what is it this time Laura, need dough?

You know I will not fund your need for blow.

Airport Sparrows Act 1 scene iii

Act 1 scene iii 

an airport 

enter MARC 

Marc- What madness is this that I should dawdle

And wait upon vanity’s wayward hope? 

What delusion gives that passing humour

Might find greater joy in my company

When I am, to all other eyes, a fool?

It's as if good sense has given away

My expectation of the bold demise

Usually found when I’d endeavour so.

Now, instead, it baits me onward to act

As though through some measure might gain vict’ry.

Yet what call can be made to the restless

Except to bear patience against fell fear

And wage bold wars upon his temitry.

Airport Sparrows Act 1 Scene ii

Act 1 scene ii

an airplane

lights up.  MARC and PASSENGER are seated.  Behind them is SARAH.  All are unaware

Captain- [over the intercom] Unto the attendant attention pay,

For your safety as we get underway. 

Sarah- [comes to the front for preflight] 

The seat belt sign is illuminated,

And such as the situation will be,

Bid of you fasten your seat belts tightly.

aside

Passenger- Man; I don’t like these puddle hopper flights: 

More than any other, they give me frights.

Marc- They may not have been designed for comfort, 

But they are the shorter, safer legs.

Must admit that I hate these flights too,

Though it's not the flight that really gets me:

But the fact that they oft carry me back

To the places I left long ago...

Oh, shit. I do that flight attendant know!

Sarah- Several exits exist for escape: 

Upon this craft, front and to either side

Will find such doors as do service this end.[sees MARC and smiles]

Pray, spy that to which you would closest bend.

aside

Passenger- Seems to me she recognizes you too.

God’s turned the hot seat on upon you. 

Marc- Yeah; great; an hour’s worth humiliation. 

Behold you my joyous excitation.

Sarah- Fit the mask o’er nose and mouth, then secure, 

Pull the elastic bands to tighten full

And breath normally, as though all were well.

Though the bag may not inflate, air dost flow.

Be sure to mask yourself ere else bestow.

aside

Passenger- Nay man, I don’t think you’ll have such troubles.

She seems more amused than anything else.

I tell you young man, should advantage take,

And with her some wild mile-high lovin’ make

Marc- Think, old man, clumsy is not attractive, 

And that the love felt for such fools as I

Is that light kind of affection that’s held

By all for simpletons the world over.

Her attention is merely amusement

That fate has twice my feet ‘cross her path sent.

Sarah- Please turn off all portable devices. 

We shall alert when such electronics

As have been identified and approved

May be activated, if you are so moved.

aside

Passenger- You are a young fool, just look at her smile.

Clumsy you might have been, but thinks your cute.

Have some courage boy: be resolute.

Sarah- Any questions we’ll answer with delight, 

But for now, sit back and enjoy the flight.

aside

Marc- I do no think the matter’s so easy...

Passenger- Some things are rather simple to change friend, 

‘Pends alone on your desire for that end.

Sarah- Mister Coffee, I see you're flying with me; 

I'll thank you now to have little more care,

I don't have any more uni's to wear.

Marc- My feet are the article of disgrace, 

But being seated, should ease you of fear;

I assure you that I shall remain here. 

Sarah- This is the final leg for us tonight, 

So perhaps I'll accept your offer

And join you for that drink after we land. 

Marc- It would be my pleasure to make amends. 

My name’s Marcus, or Marc to my friends. 

Sarah- My name tag does my name as Sarah brand. 

Wait for me in the terminal when land. [she moves on]

Passenger- Perhaps there’s more to you then meets the eye, 

But you cannot, that she likes you, deny.

blackout

Airport Sparrows Act 1 scene i

So I decided it's time I started putting my plays up here to try and make them more accessible to people.  But, I'm not going to post the whole thing all at once, cause that would be too easy, but I will put them up scene by scene.  I'm going to start with "Airport Sparrows."  As some of you know and participated in the reading last year, this play is mostly set in a rural town a commuter flight away from LA, Marc is returning to a home he never wanted to return to and finds love along the way.  This version is the slightly reworked version based on the critical reviews I received after the reading, so those of you who were there can look forward to seeing those edits.

Airport Sparrows
Dramatis Personæ
Sarah- a flight attendant
Michelle- likewise, a flight attendant
Marc (aka Marcus)
Lyndon- Marc’s best friend, owns the Blue Canary
Laura- Marc’s ex, Lyndon’s sister
Paul- likewise, a flight attendant
Jason- bartender at the Blue Canary
Michael
Betty- Marc’s mother

also passengers, bar patrons, a pilot(over intercom)

scene 
an airport, an airplane, a street, a bar, a hotel room


Act 1 scene i 
an airport

Trebuchet

How about we sidle into the personal for a little while.  I can't actually remember when this was written (which just goes to show I need to date my work) nor can I remember the specifics behind it.  I have a few hunches, and it's possible a few people will see themselves within the thoughts.  I call myself a poet, and this tends to go into the realms of the personal vent that I don't often give myself leave for.  I traditionally consider it a priority to put my pen to paper only when seeking to create, and not so much to vent, but even then, sometimes the mood strikes me.  "Trebuchet" was probably written during one of my long spells of single-dom, but it also echoes things people have said to me; things which I began to see as true even when I wrote it.  In any case, I hope you enjoy it.

Trebuchet

here I look into my soul...

too deep...

A place I cannot yet see

for my heart stands in the

way

How long has it been since I allowed it to feel?

How long have I labored in sacred vanity

o'er the conceit of a broken heart?

I opened the gates to my heart so long ago

let myself be tethered to a dream

that was in fact a trebuchet

that launched my heart away.

What siege was I but fodder for?

I know not.

Nor know who won,

though I know it was not I.

Once, I was selflessly selfish,

but that all changed

til now I stand

still selfish

Trying to remember how to give.

How many loves have past me by

Because giving my all was not enough

when there was not much left to give?

It has hurt every time, in my mind's eye;

and though my heart feels,

How much does it give.

Til now I see reflections of myself in other's lives

making the same mistakes I've already made

and wishing I could teach them.

I have lost great things because I could not let them in,

though I could let them

go.

Trapped in a glacier

Yet visible for all to see:

The great thaw has yet to come to me.

But it is no one else's work,

but mine

to shun the pain, and the fear

to melt the ice

til the path lays clear

again.