The Magic Circus

The Magic Circus - Scene 10

Monday, 08 December 2008 22:21

In van, Nel’s driving, Bud’s in passenger seat, he hears an unrecognizable (to audience) song on the stereo.

Bud – No. We’ve heard enough Cap’n music for one night.

Bud turns stereo to radio, the Rolling Stones come on, “I can’t get no satisfaction…”

Nel (looking ahead, driving) – What’s up with Monkeyboy?

Bud (sighs, turns down volume) – He didn’t want me to tell you guys…

Bilge (leaning forward from second row of seats, where he sits next to Kent) – But you are…

Bud – Yes, that’s the kind of friend I am.

Nel – Noble.

Bud – He was fired four months ago.

Nel – Oh.

Bud – Yeah, he’s kind of goin’ through a rough patch.

Nel – Ah.

A female voice comes from the GPS.

Gloria – Left turn, 200 feet.

Bud – What the hell?

Kent – That’s Gloria, our GPS Sheila.

Bud – Why didn’t you call her Sheila?

Kent – Kind of obvious, that, don’ ya’ think?

Bud – I suppose.

Squeeze comes on the radio, Cool for Cats.
They all listen, quiet and thoughtful for a moment.

Bud – It’s cool. The Monk always lands on his feet.

Nel – Like a cat.

Bilge – Or a kitten.

Kent – In a French maid’s uniform.

Bilge – With tassles.

End scene

The Magic Circus - Scene 9

Monday, 08 December 2008 22:20

At front door of house, which is now quiet inside as the Australians are outside at the van. Monk talks to Bud at the front door. From Monk’s perspective we see the Aussies horsing around, switching music, flipping through bits of songs on the radio. From Bud’s perspective he sees Monk and the now quiet, empty house.

Bud – You’re sure you don’t want to come?

Monk – Yeah, I’m sure, I’m kind of tired, all this sunlight, you know, the squinting’s worn me out.

Bud – It’s not the money? I’ll spot you…

Monk – No, no. I’m beat. And I have to call Mary.

Bud - Oh. Well. Have fun with that.

Monk – Thanks.

Bud turns and screams at the top of his lungs at the Aussies.

Bud – Turn that GALDARNED Music DOWN! People LIVE here, ya know!!

Monk shakes his head, looks down, laughs softly, then turns and shuts the door. He pulls his phone out of his pocket as he walks through the house back to the kitchen table where he sits down, sets phone next to his drawings, which are static. He stares at the phone, he stares at his drawings. He picks up a pencil and spins it on his finger. He looks at the phone. He slams the pencil down, picks up the phone and pushes buttons.

Phone rings in Redmond home. Junior answers.

Monk – Hey, Mookie.

Junior – Hey Dad.

Monk – How ya’ doin’

Junior – I’m fine.

Monk – How’s Mom.

Junior – She’s not happy.

Monk – Yeah, I know. Can I talk to her.

Pause

Junior – I don’t think she wants to talk to you right now.

Pause

Monk – Really?

Junior – Yeah. Really.

Pause

Monk – OK. Tell her I called.

Junior – OK.

Pause

Junior – Dad?

Monk – Yeah.

Junior – When are you coming home?

Monk – I’ll be home soon.

Pause

Junior – Dad?

Monk – Yeah.

Junior – You better be.

Monk – That bad?

Junior – Yeah.

Monk – OK. You be good.

Junior – You, too.

Pause

Monk – I love you.

Junior – ‘Love you, too.

They hang up. Monk goes back to his drawings.

End scene

The Magic Circus - Scene 8

Monday, 08 December 2008 22:19

Back at the house, it’s dark. Camera pans through house. Bilge lies on couch, flipping through channels. Kent is in the living room messing with his guitar. Monk is at the kitchen table drawing his Magic Circus characters while Nel and Bud talk to each other across the kitchen island from Monk.

Nel – Best. Sportsman. Ever. Full stop.

Bud – Babe Ruth?

Nel – Please…

Monk without looking up, shouts.

Monk – Barry Bonds.

Bud – Very funny. You go to school to get so funny, take funny classes from Professa’ McFunny…

Nel – Donald Bradman is the greatest cricket player of all time, his records dominate still. Untouchable. No other athlete in any sport so far exceeds all other competitors in their field.

Bud – No one gives a shit about cricket.

Nel – So American. You disappoint me. I would have thought our arrival on American soil 15 years ago would have hearkened a new era of global consciousness in you sorry lot.

Kent walks in strumming guitar, switches to “Glory, Glory Hallaleujah”

Nel – An era where puerile, myopic, self-absorbed high school students from the sprawling metropolis of Lodi, when exposed to the brilliant, open-minded, free-spirited whimsy imported from our Sunburned Country to yours…

Bilge has turned off TV and joined Kent swaying and humming along…”the truth is marching on…”

Nel - …that you somehow, some way could have expanded your world-view. Alas, no, it appears my fine American friends…

Bud walks across kitchen to stand near Monk who continues to draw, the page now shows the elephant looking a bit like Nel as he motions to other Magic Circus characters with his trunk.

Nel - …that our efforts in that regard have failed utterly. And miserably. Cling to your parochial pastimes, ignore the stunning array of cultural opportunities more enlightened lands have to offer.

Bud – Like Kylie Minogue.

Monk – Paul Hogan.

Bilge – Hey, hey, no need to be like that…

The room is divided into two camps. Americans on one side, Australians the other. Kent riffs a little Men at Work, “I come from the land Down Under…” walks the room playing guitar as Monk keeps drawing. Bilge now goes to the fridge for a beer. Kent switches to AC-DC’s Back in Black. Bud goes to the fridge for a beer, as well. Bud and Bilge stand together watching and listening as Kent rocks the room, plays some Paul Kelly. Monk, still sits at the table drawing, the page now shows a koala looking like Kent playing guitar. Kent breaks into a new, unrecognizable song, puzzled looks from Bilge and Nel. Nel shouts at Kent.

Nel – What’s that there, Cap’n?

Kent smiles, still playing.

Kent – Dunno. Somethin’ new, been makin’ it up.

Nel approaches, waving his arm.

Nel – Ladies and gentlemen, this is cre-A-tivity in ACTION. Rest your eyes on this striking hunk of humanity! Nel puts his hands on Kent’s shoulders causing Kent to fumble on the guitar.

Kent – Ahh, bugger.

Kent stops and takes off guitar.

Kent – Give us a beer, Bilge.

Bilge pulls a can of beer from the fridge and tosses it to Kent, then says to the room.

Bilge – Speakin’ of CULTCHA’ what say you boys to absorbing a bit of the local Va-RI-It-EYE?

Nel – What’d you have in mind?

Bilge – Oh, I dunno, maybe a peak at some native dance.

Looks at Bud

Bud – That can be arranged…

End scene

The Magic Circus - Scene 7

Monday, 08 December 2008 22:17

Outside an In-N-Out Burger, all eat with gusto except Monk who is picking at fries, dipping them in a huge mound of ketchup. Monk looks at Bilge.

Monk – You wanna tell him?

Bilge – No, you do it. You fucked her first.

Bud (mumbles with mouth full) – Dude, you ruined the ending…

Bilge (laughing) – Yeah, but he (points at Monk) ruined the beginning.

No talking. Street noise. They all continue eating except for Kent who looks from each to each.

Kent – That’s it?

Nel – What more do you need?

Kent – Heaps! Who is she? Where’s she from? How did you two meet her…heaps, there’s heaps more I need to know.

Bilge – What, are ya’ writin’ a book?

End scene