Week 45, Day 314 - "Held Up"

“Held Up”

Written by Joe Janes

11/28/09

314 of 365

Cast:

Floyd, 50s

Annie, 50s

Tammy, 50s

(Lights up on Floyd waiting outside his car. We hear the sounds of a bus stop, let someone off, and pull away. Annie walks up carrying a small, beat up suitcase.)

ANNIE

Floyd?

FLOYD

Annie!

(They hug very quickly and awkwardly. They step apart and look at each other.)

FLOYD (continuing)

Oh. Let me take that.

ANNIE

No. That’s okay.

FLOYD

You look good.

ANNIE

You’re full of shit. You look good, though.

FLOYD

I look fat.

ANNIE

Yeah. That’s what I meant.

FLOYD

Hey, get in. Let’s get you away from this place.

ANNIE

Yeah. Still feels weird to be outside.

(They get in. Floyd behind the driver’s seat.)

FLOYD

Where do you want to go?

ANNIE

I don’t know.

FLOYD

We could just drive around.

ANNIE

Okay. That sounds good.

FLOYD

Twenty years is a long time. Lots of stuff has changed.

ANNIE

Where you living?

FLOYD

I’ve got a room above Merle’s garage. He’s till in business. I clean the place; he lets me stay there. Really just a cot in a storage room.

ANNIE

This your car?

FLOYD

No. Merle loaned it to me for the day. He’s a good guy.

ANNIE

I ain’t got no place to stay.

FLOYD

There’s the Motel 8 near route 2.

ANNIE (looking out window)

Yeah. There’s that. Where is everybody?

FLOYD

Downtown’s dead. A lot of shops have closed. Want to go see the new Super Wal-Mart? The place is huge.

ANNIE

No. That’s okay. The bank’s still here. Guess I didn’t put them out of business.

FLOYD

Yeah. That and The Tin Lizzie Bar and Grill are the only things still thriving.

ANNIE

Pull over.

FLOYD

You want to get a beer?

ANNIE

I need to make a withdrawal.

FLOYD

Annie. That’s what got you sent away.

ANNIE

I won’t shoot anybody this time. (Floyd sighs and pulls the car over.) Couldn’t if I wanted to. I don’t have a gun. (Floyd stops the car and rolls down the window.) What’s this?

FLOYD

It’s Saturday. The only thing open is the drive-through.

(Tammy appears far stage left. She is in the drive-thru window. She speaks into a microphone.)

TAMMY

Welcome to Capital Savings and Loan, how may I help you?

FLOYD

Hi, Tammy.

TAMMY

Oh, hi, Floyd. That a new car?

FLOYD

New to me. (Tammy and Floyd laugh.) Merle loaned it to me. I picked up my sister Annie from the bus station.

TAMMY

Annie? Annie’s in there? Annie lean in so I can get a look at you. (Annie does. She waves.) Well, don’t you look good.

ANNIE

Thanks, Tammy. Sorry I shot your husband.

TAMMY

Oh, no need to apologize. You know, it’s been so long, I forgot. You know, Annie, just between you, me and Floyd’s borrowed wheels, that was the best thing anyone has ever done for me. Nathan wasn’t exactly a peach. I should be thanking you. I still haven’t spent all the life insurance money.

ANNIE

That’s really great to hear, Tammy.

TAMMY

Well, what can I do for you two, today? Did you want to rob us, again? (They all laugh.)

ANNIE

Stick ‘em up! (They all laugh.) Seriously, Tammy, can you put all the money you have and put it in that air tube thingy?

TAMMY

Annie, I can’t do that. I’m behind bulletproof glass. There are security cameras on me and on you. No one will believe it’s a robbery. You’ll have to come back during our regular hours do it the old-fashioned way.

ANNIE

So, you’re not going to let me rob you?

TAMMY

I’d lose my job and we’d all probably go to jail, even Floyd.

ANNIE

Okay. Okay. I just don’t know what to do with myself. I don’t have any money and I need a place to stay. Came home because Floyd is the only family I got.

TAMMY

Annie, you can stay with me.

ANNIE

You mean that?

TAMMY

Sure. Beau’s off at college. I got this big old house to myself. I insist.

ANNIE

If you don’t mind-

TAMMY

I don’t mind at all. I always felt you were a good person who just made a bad mistake.

ANNIE

Well, okay then.

FLOYD

Hey, Tammy, what time do you get off?

TAMMY

About half an hour.

FLOYD

Meet us over at the Tin Lizzie. We’ll all have a beer and get caught up.

TAMMY

Sounds good. I’ll see you over there.

ANNIE

Thanks, Tammy.

TAMMY

Thank you for coming to Capital Savings and Loan.

(Floyd and Annie pull away. Lights go down on Tammy.)

ANNIE

She’s nice. Ever try to date her?

FLOYD

Tammy? She’s out of my league.

ANNIE

Maybe I’ll give it a try.

(They laugh. Lights fade.)

Week 35, Day 241 - “Ain't That Love"”

“Ain’t That Love”
Written by Joe Janes
“Ain’t That Love” written and composed by Ray Charles
9/16/09
241 of 365


CAST:
Whitehorn, 30s

(Lights up on a large man in a blue shirt and denim pants. He sits on the edge of a single bed. He is singing “Ain’t That Love” by Ray Charles. He sings very well.)

WHITEHORN

Now, baby when you sigh
I wanna sigh with you
When you cry
I wanna cry some, too

Now, ain't that love
Oh, ain't that love that I feel
In my heart for you

Welcome to the block. My name is Alexis Durango Whitehorn. People round here call me Whit. You can call me Whit. Welcome to the block. First timer?... Don’t sweat it too much… You scored in the cellmate lottery. I’m a good guy. Not gonna go through your things. Not gonna rub up against you in your sleep. I expect the same courtesy in return. Do not misinterpret my friendliness with a seduction. I don’t seduct. I am not a seducter. If I wanted you, we wouldn’t be talking right now. Well, I might be. You wouldn’t be able to. But you’ve got nothing to worry about. This ain’t much, but it’s my home. And I care about my home. But out there. Out there is where you’ve got to watch your back, and your front.

When your friends
Turn their back on you
I'll be here
Just to see you through

Now, ain't that love
Ain't that love
Ain't that love, ooohhh now
Ain't that love
That I feel in my heart for you

Out there, keep your game up. Lay low, stick to your business, do your work. Most of what we do here is kill time. And you know how that goes. Man gets bored, he do stupid things. Pick fights, grinds his hips up against things he shouldn’t. Makes noise. Keep busy. That’s the best thing I can tell you. Keep busy. Read. Write. Work out. What are you in for?... Armed robbery… You know, I ain’t never touched a gun. Never.

Now when you walk
I wanna walk with you
When you talk
Wanna talk some, too

Now, ain't that love
Oh, ain't that love that I feel
In my heart for you

You know what I dream about? Riding a bicycle. I don’t even own a bicycle. Did when I was a kid. Used to hop on that bike and peddle my ass off. For miles. I guess, I don’t know. Seemed like miles. Something about that. Going somewhere on your own power, Feeling the wind against you, feeling the road under you. Poppin’ wheelies. I haven’t ridden a bike in ten years, but didn’t know how much I missed it until I was locked up in here. I miss riding. I miss taking myself somewhere with my own muscle.

If you ever
Ever need a friend
I'll be with you
Yes, until the end

Now, ain't that love
Ain't that love
Don't you know, baby don't you know, I
Ain't that love, baby that I feel
In my heart for you

I killed a dude. Just one. Real asshole. Know what I used? Started with my fists. But it’s amazing. As soon as you have it in your mind to kill someone, everything around you becomes a potential weapon. Lamp, lamp cord, Chair. That book you’re holding. A toy Godzilla. One of those hard rubber ones. Belonged to my wife’s ten year old, Howie. Just grabbed the tail and clubbed the fucker to death. Bashed his skull in with a toy. Bought Howie a new one, but Tricia says she threw it away. Didn’t want it around. No offense, but guns are for cowards. If you’re going to kill someone, the only fair way to do it is with your hands. And you get a lot of aggression out. After the, I don’t know, tenth swing, I didn’t care anymore. But he was fucked up pretty bad and I felt I needed to finish the job. I’m like that. Always finish what I start.

Baby, won't you let me hold your hand
I want to squeeze you as tight as I can
Baby, don't you need me by your side
To protect you and be your guide
Baby, I'm so in love with you
I'd do anything you tell me to

Now, ain't that love
Ain't that love
C'mon now, ain't that love, now
Ain't that love, baby that I feel
In my heart for you

Didn’t even know the dude. Some European fucker who was banging my wife. A client of hers. Sunglasses and a goatee. He was wearing sunglasses while sticking it to her. Who does that? I don’t even think blind people do that. So, here I am. Tight quarters, three squares a day, regular exercise and I have a new hobby. Reading. Just finished Huckleberry Finn. Good book. Just started Robinson Crusoe. The guards are okay. Treat them with respect and they cut you some slack. Treat them like shit and they’ll treat you worse.

You know what’s fucked up. I wasn’t even mad at my wife. I was mad at him. You don’t touch another man’s wife. Kyle from Argentina. He knew she was married and it didn’t stop him. That’s disrespectful. She wears her ring all the time. Still does. We’re still married. Like I said, I finish what I start.

All right, you need to stop flapping your jaws. I’m going to do some reading. Don’t be shy about using the toilet. You get used to it.

Oh, that I feel in my heart for you
Oh, that I feel in my heart for you
Oh, that I feel in my heart for you
Oh!

(Whitehorn lies down and starts reading and humming “Ain’t That Love” to himself as lights fade.)