(JOANNE’s loft. In blackout another phone rings. We see MAUREEN in silhouette.) MAUREEN Hi. You’ve reached Maureen and Joanne. Leave a message and don’t forget “Over the Moon” — My performance, protesting the eviction of the Homeless (and artists) from the Eleventh Street Lot. Tonight at midnight in the lot between A and B. Party…
[ROGER] What’d you forget? [MIMI enters, holding a candle and looking for a match;] [her electricity is down, too.] [MIMI] Got a light? [ROGER] I know you? — You’re — You’re shivering [MIMI] It’s nothing They turned off my heat And I’m just a little Weak on my feet Would you light my candle? What…
[ROGER] One song Glory One song Before I go Glory One song to leave behind Find one song One last refrain Glory From the pretty boy front Man Who wasted opportunity One song He had the world at his feet Glory In the eyes of a young girl A young girl Find glory Beyond the…
(Lights come up on loft.) ROGER Where are you going? MARK Maureen calls… ROGER You’re such a sucker! MARK I don’t suppose you’d like to see her show in the lot tonight? (ROGER shrugs.) Or come to dinner? ROGER Zoom in on my empty wallet. MARK Touche. Take your AZT. Close on Roger His girlfriend…
[A HOMELESS MAN] Christmas bells are ringing Christmas bells are ringing Christmas bells are ringing Somewhere else! Not here [The HOMELESS MAN exits. ANGEL gets a good beat going on the tub,] [but is interrupted by a moan. He starts to drum again and sees] [COLLINS limp to downstage-left proscenium.] [ANGEL] You okay honey? [COLLINS]…
[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…
Some of the most memorable songs are the painfully honest ones. The ones that never apologize for being honest, they seep right into our consciousness and stay there until we outgrow them. The last part doesn’t usually happen once you get to read the lyric sheet. I am referring to Rent’s “Take Me or Leave…