...FOR THE NINTH TIME...
SCENE - BACKSEAT OF A LIMO
DEAN and JESSE are sitting in the backseat of a limo in deep
discussion.
DEAN
It's obvious what ending we should
go with. We go with the ending that
won the musical five Tony Awards
back in the 80s.
JESSE
Why is that the obvious choice
though.
DEAN
Because it was the original choice.
JESSE
What's wrong with Luisa forgiving
Guido for his past..
DEAN
His past? You mean his life as man
whore?
JESSE
She forgives him. I think
forgiveness is a good message.
DEAN
It goes against her character and
what she has learned throughout the
show. More importantly, it's not in
the script we received.
SCENE - OUTSIDE OF THE THEATER
The limo has park and JESSE and DEAN exit to enter the
theater space.
JESSE
I already wrote the rights holders
and we can change the ending to the
forgiveness ending, as so many
other productions have done so in
the past.
DEAN
I like banging to the beat of my
own drum. That's why I'm "director"
and you're "co-director." Remember
that was our deal? You pick the
musical, I'll direct, no matter how
horrid I think it is.
JESSE
See, you don't even like Nine.
DEAN
What I don't like is how you
decided to pick it just because
it's our ninth show together.
JESSE
I think it's cute.
DEAN
I think you should've put more
thought into it.
JESSE
Nine is one of my favorite
musicals.
DEAN
The movie was bad.
SCENE - THEATER HALLWAY
JESSE and DEAN stand at the closed doorway that leads into
the rehearsal space.
JESSE
Then it's a good thing we're not
doing the movie, we're doing the
stage show, with the new ending.
DEAN
We shall see about that.
DEAN opens the door, revealing the huge rehearsal space.
Inside are MISS HOOPS by the piano, GUIDO, LUISA, CLAUDIA
and CARLA. Tape is lined on the floor to indicate the stage
space. Two chairs are a good distance away from the stage
space to indicate the house.
SCENE - REHEARSAL SPACE
DEAN
Hello cast and crew of Nine. Today
we're going over the staging and
blocking for the song "Only with
You."
LUISA
Can we go over "My Husband Makes
Movies?" I feel it's much harder
than I remember.
DEAN
Sure.
CLAUDIA
Oh I think you sound amazing.
LUISA
Thank you.
CARLA
You get better everyday.
GUIDO, CARLA, CLAUDIA and LUISA head towards the stage
space. GUIDO is confused.
GUIDO
Do I stand here.
JESSE
No. More to your...
JESSE motions to the right.
GUIDO
Here?
JESSE
okay yes right there.
JESSE
Miss Hoops, hit it.
MISS HOOPS starts to play "Only with You" as JESSE and DEAN
sit at what would be the house. They whisper and talk to
each other as they observe the performance. GUIDO sings to
LUISA.
JESSE
Look how he sings to Luisa. How can
we not have her forgive him in the
end.
DEAN
This song is not a good example for
that. He's singing this song to all
of them.
JESSE
But look how he sings it to her.
GUIDO is very suave with LUISA. He then moves onto CLAUDIA
and he's just as suave.
DEAN
Look, how he sings to her.
JESSE (TO CAST)
Okay, wait cut.
MISS HOOPS stops playing. Actors hold to listen.
JESSE
Guido, keep in mind that this song,
when you sing it to Luisa, it's
real. To anyone else, it's just an
act.
GUIDO
So you want me to act as if I'm
acting.
JESSE
Yes.
GUIDO
How do you...
JESSE
You'll figure it out. Just do it.
GUIDO
Yes sir.
MISS HOOPS starts playing and actors return to their spots
on stage. DEAN and JESSE go back to whispering to each
other.
DEAN
Was that really necessary?
JESSE
We are using the forgiveness ending
and that's that.
DEAN
Oh is it? (to cast) Cut.
MISS HOOPS stops playing, the cast holds to listen.
GUIDO
Yes?
DEAN
Okay that wasn't working. Remember,
this man is a womanizer. These
women are just objects to you.
JESSE
But one of the objects is a trophy
of desire and honesty - Luisa. So
seperate Luisa from the rest.
DEAN
Let's have the cast input what they
think.
CLAUDIA
I don't it's really for us to say
though...
LUISA
This is the vision of yours.
DEAN
We're having a slight disagreement
about how the play should end.
CARLA
Oh not this again.
LUISA
Can I say something?
DEAN
Yes please.
LUISA
This man, has cheated on this woman
with countless women. Should she
really forgive him?
JESSE
Yes, she should.
DEAN (TO JESSE)
It's not real.
JESSE
It's theater. We're not supposed to
make reality, we're supposed to be
better than reality.
LUISA
I think it weakens her if she does
that. I wouldn't want to send the
message that one should easily
forgive something so heinous.
CARLA
I think Jesse's right. We're in a
grand setting. We should do grand
actions. I find forgiveness is not
about how Guido feels, but how
strong Luisa will become when she
let's go of all the hurt and pain
and forgives him. Isn't that when
you can truly move on?
CLAUDIA
Look, the point is, the guy is a
dog and he should be treated as
such. Yes he's the hero of the
play, but he's an anti-hero. No one
wants to praise a player.
LUISA
Not onstage at least. For years man
has been praised for sexual
conquests while women were called
whores for showing a little
affection to the wrong guy. Here's
a moment to really punch that in
and shame a man slut.
DEAN (TO GUIDO)
How do you feel about this?
GUIDO
I feel dirty, and confused.
JESSE (TO DEAN)
Don't ask him. Don't ask any of
them. This is up to us okay.
DEAN (TO CAST)
Thank you cast. Back to places.
GUIDO
From where?
DEAN
Miss Hoops, from the top.
GUIDO
Oh, from the top. Okay.
MISS HOOPS continues playing. The cast continues on with the
song. DEAN and JESSE go back to whispering to each other.
DEAN
Even the cast want the original
ending.
JESSE
Not one of them. Carla likes the
new ending. It takes one person to
make change.
DEAN
Really?
JESSE
Change begins from within.
DEAN
Yes. Yes it does.
JESSE watches the rehearsal for a moment.
JESSE
You know I love you Dean.
DEAN
Not again.
JESSE
I'm trying to change.
DEAN
This is the ninth show we've done
together and the ninth time you've
done this to me and it's always the
same with you. You won't ever
change. People don't change.
JESSE
Yes they do. I know I've hurt you.
I've hurt you real bad, but you and
I always find ourselves together.
DEAN
Of course we do. We're directing
partners. We work well together.
JESSE
You know it's not just that. You
love me too.
DEAN
I don't know how I feel about you.
I know you can't commit.
JESSE
It's scary okay? But it's because
I've never met anyone like you
before. I'm afraid of what will
happen if we completely commit and
.... no I'm not ready. But I love
you. I will do anything to make you
happy.
DEAN gets loud.
DEAN
Then why did you cheat on me?
MISS HOOPS stops playing, the cast listens to their
escalating argument.
DEAN
You can word it anyway you want,
but that's what you did. You
betrayed me. I can't forgive you.
You're going to have to do
something major to get with all of
this.
JESSE
Fine. You say it's always the same?
Here's something that's never
happened.
JESSE gets on his knee and takes out a small velvet block.
DEAN
What are you doing?
The obvious. JESSE reveals a ring to DEAN.
JESSE
Dean, will you marry me?
The cast start to "ooooh" and "ahhh" and everyone but MISS
HOOPS is surprised.
DEAN
The fuck!!! Oh this is unfair. He
cheated on me.
CLAUDA
Girl look at that diamond.
CARLA
That must've cost so much.
LUISA (TO CARLA AND CLAUDIA)
What did he have to sell to get
that?
JESSE (ANSWERING)
Everything.
DEAN
Everything?
JESSE
Yes.
DEAN (CONFUSED)
What? What did you sell? Books?
Computer? iPad?
JESSE
Yes.
DEAN (CONCERNED)
DVDs? Blu Rays?
JESSE
Yes.
DEAN (REAL CONCERNED)
Even the criterions?
JESSE
Especially the criterions.
DEAN (FINALLY)
Did you sell The Apple TV.
JESSE
Yes. As of now, I have a very
minimal shack. Because I love you.
DEAN is touched. But is not weakened.
DEAN
Look, I'm not going to marry you.
CLAUDIA (ANGRY)
What?
LUISA (WAVING AT HER)
Shhh...
DEAN (TO JESSE)
What we're going to do is, as soon
as rehearsal is over, we are going
to try to get all of your things
back. And then we're going to go on
a date, and have a really long
talk. No sass, no sarcasm, just two
people on a date, enjoying each
other's company.
CLAUDIA (TO LUISA AND CARLA)
Is he going to return the ring?
LUISA (TO CLAUDIA)
Shut up okay?
JESSE
Dean I love you.
DEAN
You're crazy.
JESSE kisses DEAN and the cast applauds.
END
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