Act I, Scene I
(Beige house with a wooden door. A man in a coat and
jeans walks up to the door and searches for the doorbell. He notices there
isn’t one, and so uses the brass knocker on the door instead. A girl in
her late 20s opens it, wearing casuals)
Man: Good afternoon, is Boots… err, is this Sid Botsliner’s
residence?
Girl: (raises her eyebrows) Yes.
Man: Well, hi, my name is Vincent. Is he in?
Girl: (leans against the doorframe and moves her hand
to her face) Sid passed away last October.
V: Oh fuck! I’m sorry. I… I used to be in college with
him. H… How did it happen?
Girl: Why don't you come in? Where are you coming from?
V: Yeah, thanks. I just drove down from Houston. (They
move in)
Girl: Can I get you something to drink… a coke, a fenny
or something?
V: Yes thanks, I wouldn't mind a Pepsi… err… (Stops
for her name).
Girl: (passes him a can from the icebox) Suzanne.
V: Suzanne… I got your address from a friend of ours,
Mack Denver. I didn't know Sid was married.
S: Oh we aren’t…weren't… never felt the need.
V: You have a lovely place out here. He always said he’d
wanted something like this. We all do I suppose, just that Boots was the
only one who had the guts to do something about it. Haven't seen him in
years. I still can't believe it.
S: That’s Sid for you. We used to talk about it in college.
V: You were in Berkley? Guess I didn't mingle much. Never
really knew too many people outside the boarding house.
S: I know what you mean. This all really started back
in college, but it wasn't until we all met in Jamaica 5 years after college
that we actually decided to make it happen.
Act II, Scene I
(Two young men and a girl, all in their early 20s are
sitting on a beach. Sid is lying down on one Umbrella Armchair, Penelope
is sitting on the corner of another, looking up at Hugo, who is walking
slowly, making patterns in the sand and looking out into the distance.)
B: Well, who the fuck would have thought we’d manage
to pull it off?
H: We did. We knew we would.
P: Actually, You think we’ll be the only ones?
H: If I know Mack he’d want to be here.
B: He said he would. I bumped into him at The Hilton
in Boston, a few months ago. And Ally’ supposed to be flying in too.
P: When did you last hear from her?
B: I got a mail form her 3 days ago. She seemed pretty
excited about it.
H: I think that’ll be the lot. Nobody ever really took
it seriously.
P: We’ll soon find out.
B: We are the only ones who followed our passions.
H: Ah! Back to our ‘oh-so-superior’ selves. But seriously,
our real dream still lies ahead.
P: Isn't this supposed to be the test? The test of your
resolves. (in a glorifying manner, with an ever so subtle hint of
sarcasm)
B: We still know all that we did then, perhaps more.
Nothing’s really changed. We’ve just lived a little more.
H: And that little was enough to strengthen my resolve
thank you.
B: Is your life really that mundane? You are doing what
you thought you wanted to.
H: Yes, but after some time you realise that all the
world’s really a stage, and all the men and women merely actors. Especially
the ones in the theatre circles.
B: It is their business.
P: Yes, but they make it their lives. Everything is so
over-dramatised.
H: Rather pseudo, if you ask me. Everyone is leading
such unreal lives.
B: And no one knows how the play ends.
H: What was that line from our college play? “That fool
stage manager said we can’t leave till we’ve finished the play”.
B: Are we talking about the lord, thy God here?
P: Hey look… is that Ally? (Points into the distance)
H: Yeah, but who’s with her?
(Ally and MC enter stage)
P: Look’s like… hello, it is… Maggi Chester!!!
M: All 55 kilos of her.
(Heard above the volume of voices)
H: Well, we’re here, somebody say something.
A: Roger, you’re so cute (pinches his cheeks).
R: (makes a face) Bartender! Get me a beer.
B: And get me drunk.
M: And can I have some sex on the beach?
Curtain