Writings of a Writer

So if anyone has read my three previous posts, you will have finished act 1 of Crush. I would love some feedback on how it reads, etc. I tried to keep it interesting while introducing the premise of the story and getting the characters established. The play is meant to be for a 20 minute studio short, possibly a TV short as well. Let me know what you think and i hope anyone reading enjoys it.

Scene 5:

Sam: So James I hear, god knows how, you did really well on that last essay. Now how did you manage that?

James: Oh come on it wasn’t that hard

Sam: Right… See I heard you help

James: Who did you hear that from then

Sam: someone I know.

James: Ok so Mr. MI5 how did I get help?

Sam: I hear Charlotte Morgan helped you on it, over a coffee at first.

James: Right… and?

Sam: Aren’t you with her?

James: No, she is a bit of a freak.

Sam: You told her you not into her yet?

James: No, no need, she only helped right a sodding essay

Sam: Ok, ok, ok, just watch out bud.

James:  yeah cheers

Sam: So what are your…

James: Sam… Who is that at the bar?

Sam: The hot one?

James: Well yes obviously

Sam: That’s Katie Jones, year above us, nice lass.

James: Nice ass too.

Sam: heh cant deny it.

James: Damn, just hot.

Sam: She may be hot but she is dating the rugby team captain.

James: Dating means shit these days, watch this…

Sam: Be careful, and if you’ve got the time another pint would be welcome

James: Sure bud whatever, oh say hi to the gf for me would ya?

Sam: Yeah sure, oi my drink!

(James sits next to Katie at the bar)

James: Hey, what you drinking?

Katie: Oh…er…hello… JD and coke thanks for asking.

James: Its James, James Smith, and good choice

Katie: Hello James, what are you drinking?

James: Abbots Ale, a proper pub drink?

Katie: Rather… old? For a student don’t you think?

James: Not overly, some of us just have a taste for the finer things in life is all.

Katie: Really? I see.

James: Barkeep?

BK: Sir?

James: A double jack and coke for the lady and a pint of abbots for myself

BK: 7.20 sir

James: There

Katie: James you shouldn’t have

James: Why not? A pretty girl such as yourself deserves to be spoiled!

Katie: Oh, well, im just not used to that kind of hospitality

James: Well sadly these days there are far too few gentlemen around

Katie: I suppose, well to you, James the Gentleman

James: Oh you flatter me so

(drink)

James: So you like whiskey then?

Katie: I prefer bourbon but whiskey isn’t bad

James: A woman after my own heart.

Katie: So what do you like to do

James: Woo gorgeous women, and well, it’s a secret really.

Katie: Oh you can tell me

James: Fine, im writing a book

Katie: That’s amazing! Whats it about?

James: It’s a Napoleonic novel about naval warfare. Nerdy I know

Katie: Hardly, id love to read that

James: well your welcome too if you really want to.

Katie: I can help with editing too if you want.

James: that would be good! Want to come back and read it?

Katie: Oh… im not sure see ive got a…

James: Ive got monkey paw bourbon there.

Katie: Ok you sold it

James: Shall we?

Katie: Why thank you… Gentleman James

(charlotte enters by another door as they leave)

Char: Was that…

(she goes to sit with Sam)

Sam: Um, hello?

Char: Its Sam right?

Sam: Yeah,Charlotteright?

Char: Yeah, who was James just with?

Sam: Im not sure, I wouldn’t worry about it.

Char: He hasn’t called me scince he saw me last, it was a week ago

Sam: Ah, im sure he will call soon

Char: Sure?

Sam: Yeah, don’t you worry about him

Char: Thanks Sam, hey want a drink as thanks?

Sam: No thanks, but its my pleasure to help

Char: Ok, well thanks Sam, see you in lectures.

Scene 6

Katie: I think its really good James

James: Thank you! Top up?

Katie: Oh go on then, its damn good

James: Which bits did you like?

Katie: The really intimate scenes with the captain and the officers wife, seemed very vivid and real, seemed to speak of experience from the writer.

James: Maybe… Im glad you liked it though

Katie: I really did. Kiss me James

James: Gladly

(sex)

Katie: That was amazing

James: Yes it bloody was!

Katie: Want to come to mine tomorrow and do this again?

James: Hell yeah!

Katie:Illthrow in dinner, just because I like you.

James: Great, call it a date?

Katie: I don’t know there’s …

James: Screw him.

Katie: I suppose

James: Now come here

Katie: Again?

James: If you want?

Katie: Of course.

Scene 3

(The Red Lion)

Char: That was a really nice meal James thank you.

James: My pleasure, I cant say I had you down as a steak person though.

Char: What did you have me down as then?

James: I don’t know really… a fun person?

Char: Im glad you think im fun.

James: You defiantly are.

Char: Great I would hate for you to think of me as boring.

James: I don’t that’s for sure, now can I get you another drink?

Char: Oh yes please

James: Same as before?

Char: Defiantly, I never thought vodka and lime would be so nice together.

James: The oddest things are usually the best

Char: True, I suppose.

(James fetches the drinks)

James: There we go

Char: Why thank you kind sir.

James: My pleasure madam

Char: Heheh thank you.

James: Well you certainly are gorgeous.

Char: I am not!

James: You are, trust me, im a gentleman.

Char: I do trust you.

James: Thank you

Char: No thank you James, your always lovely to me.

James: It is my absolute pleasure to do so.

(they drink)

James: So what do you do for fun?

Char: Not too much really, you?

James: I like to just enjoy myself and go with what comes naturally I suppose, its exciting that way.

Char: That sounds spontaneous

James: It is, you don’t know what could happen.

Char: It sounds fun

James: It is, you should try it

Char: I like the sound of that

James: Well want to come with me tonight?

Char: I don’t see why not

James: Great, well, ive got some drinks in my bag and the woods are great at this time of night.

Char: The woods?

James: Yupm its good up there, your all alone, no one to tell you what not to do, its fresh and free.

Char: Oh, ok, I trust you to look after me.

James: Don’t you worry I will

Char: thank you James.

James: No worries, now shall we finish these and get going?

Char: Yeah, im kind of excited!

James: That’s good!

(they get up and leave, as they are leaving James pulls out a bag of green and begins to roll)

Scene 4

(through this scene charlottes voice is played recorded as if down a phone, Set is James’s flat)

James: there we go ready to hand in on Friday as promised

Jenna: I cant believe it was that easy in the end

James: It is because you already knew, you just didn’t realise it.

Jenna: Thanks James you’re a star

Char: You wont believe what happened last night.

James: What are you doing tonight then?

Jenna: Why?

James: Want to go out for a night with me?

Jenna: What like a date?

Char: Yeah, yeah we went up to the woods and he had like a bottle of vodka, yeah was really nice, oh oh oh and then we…

James: Yeah

Jenna: Sure why not

James: Awesome

Jenna: So got anywhere in mind?

James: I have… yeah

Char: I cant ebleive I let myself take that stuff yeah, but it kinda made everything so damn awesome, and oh Rach the stuff he does! Its amazing, yeah like…

Jenna: The woods sound fun, got anything good for the trip?

James: Are you saying what I think your saying?

Jenna: Maybe, depends what you think im saying doesn’t it.

James: I think you are defiantly my kind of girl.

Char: It was utterly amazing. I think im in love! He said he couldn’t wait until we do it again as well, oh its perfect!

Jenna: Shall we go, ahahah I think you’re my kind of guy too

James: Hahaah right ive got the green, you got the baccy?

Jenna: Yup and the rizla

James: Right lets go!

Crush

Scene 1

(a lecture theatre the audience play the role of the lecture audience. Lights come up and Mr Harwood enters and stands at the front and motions for silence. James and Charlotte are sitting amongst the crowd)

M.Hw: Ok now what can we learn from this book? Several things really. It is n insightful take on the role of women in society and how they do, in fact, have some power within the social spheres, as layed out by Meyer in the late 19^th Century. Most of all though, and this should be discussed in your essays, is a rather fitting statement, which in this novel turns out to be justified, ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’ Now off you go, it’s a reading week next week so I expect no late essays. Now off with you lot, I think you will be wanting lunch just as much as I do.

(M.hw, exits, James and Charlotte come down onto the stage and move to leave)

James: HeyCharlotte

Char: Oh hey James how are you?

James: Yeah good, just wondering, you free for a coffee later, didn’t really understand what that old geezer was wittering on about.

Char: Mr Shoebak? He isn’t that bad.

James: Yeah but I still don’t understand what he was saying.

Char: Its really simple!

James: Explain it to me over a coffee then.

Char: Ok, sure, when were you thinking?

James: Is now ok?

Char: Errrm? Ok.

James: Costa?

Char: Sure…

James: Right im buying, lets go.

C: Cool, lead on.

Scene 2

MrS: Okay time to turn in these essays, on my desk please and there better be no excuses.

Jenna: Excuse me sir I forgot mine, can I hand it in tomorrow?

MrS: Jenna again? This is your last chance, do it again and I will have to tell the academic board and review your continued presence on this course.

Jenna: Thankyou sir it wont happen again.

MrS: It better not. Any more excuses? … No? … Ok then essays on desk please!

(Jenna and MrS exit James and Char move to the desk)

James: Thanks for the help Char, I couldn’t have managed that without all your help.

Char: You could have, you knew it all you just didn’t realise.

James: Your far too modest you know? Your great to just be around too.

Char: Yeah, I had a lot of fun this week.

James: Im defiantly going to miss spending time with you, almost makes me wish we had another essay to do.

Char: Heh. Me too, well…

James: Well what?

Char: We could always go on a…

James: Date?

Char: Yeah!… If you want.

James: Char…

Char: Yes?

James: That would be great.

Char: Great, where and when?

James: Tommorow night at the Red Lion, they do a good steak there.

Char: Sounds lovely!

James: I shall see you tomorrow then at 7pm.

Char: Ok… thanks James… Bye!

(Char exits)

Jenna: Damn where did I leave it (she searches under seats)

James: Looking for this?

Jenna: Yeah, thanks, uh… who are you again?

James: Im James, your Jenna right?

Jenna: Yeah, er, sorry, ive got to go get that essay done.

James: You haven’t done it yet?

Jenna: No im rubbish at essays.

James: Want a hand?

Jenna: Oh, er thanks, but ill be ok, I think.

James: Sure? We can get a coffee and make a start on it for you?

Jenna: Sure, thanks, you shouldn’t.

James: It’s a pleasure

Jenna: Costa ok?

James: Just what I was thinking

Jenna: Thanks, heh, you must be one of the only actual gentlemen left in the world to do this for me.

James: Hah! I do try.

(exit)