[MARK] How do you document real life When real life is getting more Like fiction each day Headlines — bread-lines Blow my mind And now this deadline “Eviction — or pay” Rent! [ROGER] How do you write a song When the chords sound wrong Though they once sounded right and rare When the notes are…
TUNE UP #2 MARK Tell the folks at home what you’re doing Roger ROGER I’m writing one great song — MARK The phone rings. ROGER Yesss! MARK We screen. ROGER & MARK’S ANSWERING MACHINE “Speak” … (“Beeeep!”) (Lights fade up on the street: the front-door area of MARK and ROGER’s building. Nearby is a battered…
VOICE MAIL #1 ROGER & MARK’S OUTGOING MESSAGE “Speak” … (“Beeeep!”) MOM That was a very loud beep I don’t even know if this is working Mark — Mark — are you there Are you screening your calls — It’s mom We wanted to call and say we love you And we’ll miss you tomorrow…
MARK December 24th, Nine PM Eastern Standard Time From here on in I shoot without a script See if anything comes of it Instead of my old shit First shot — Roger Tuning the Fender guitar He hasn’t played in a year ROGER This won’t tune MARK So we hear He’s just coming back From…
KIM now Tam, my brave boy our long wait has ended smile Tam for you have a father at last he has come to take you home all I dreamed for you he’ll do you’re still mine but I can’t go along don’t be sad though I’m far away I’ll be watching you this is…
(In KIM’S room she has dressed TAM in his best clothes. She lights candles at her family’s shrine, then picks up the photo of her parents.) KIM from this picture I keep you, my parents, look out and your smiles show no scorn I am happy today for I know what to do and my…
My father was a tattoo artist in Haiphong but his designs on mother didn’t last too long my mother sold her body, high on Betel nuts my job was bringing red-faced monsieurs to our huts selling your mom is a wrench perfume can cover a stench that’s what I learned from the French then it…
Engineer: Come on, come on, your recitation Describe your reconciliation I hope before his stimulation He bought our little group vacation Kim: In all his dreams he saw our baby And he’s teaching him to fly Paper dragons in the sky Engineer: Yes, papers, what’s the situation? We’ll need our cards for immigration No tricks,…
CHRIS we could not find her anywhere honey, what’s wrong? ELLEN Kim was here the one who had to tell her was me JOHN oh, my God, it’s my fault CHRIS I knew we were gone too long! ELLEN no, I think it’s exactly what I had to see you said you lived with her,…
ELLEN I don’t want this don’t want to fight her what did I do I didn’t come here to meet a girl who loves my husband Chris has a son he has to see him but if he does she’ll be there with him I came here to help, but what do I do? now,…