The
Diner of Love
3503 Angel Square Court
Llanview, PA
"Nothin' Could Be Finer Than Some
Lovin' In the Diner"
"There ain't no lovin' like some diner lovin', hey ho"
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"Nothin' Could Be Finer Than Some
Lovin' In the Diner" |
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What can I get you?
Coffee's a dollar
I hope you like whip cream.
I just love the Voice of the Night. We have this special connection. |
MARCAL SCENES PAGE 7
Scene 11 A Kiss in the Night
May 1 Setup: Al is curled up around Marcie’s pillow on the bed fast asleep, obviously worn out from the withdrawal. Marcie is sitting on the floor with her back against the couch writing in her diary: "He's quiet now. Must be exhausted. Maybe the worst is over -- the physical part anyway. Today was the turning point. I know it. He's going to make it, and he'll work hard and just be really together. I'm so proud of him. We did it, Marcie. I think, just maybe, we pulled it off." Marcie looks over at Al and smiles. Al wakes up. Marcie has fallen asleep on the floor with her diary open. He walks over to her and gently removes the diary from under her hand and reads. "I have to admit, Al surprised me. There's this gentle side to him, this appreciation for things I didn't even know was there. I'm not even sure he sees it. But I think he's learned something from all this about himself. I don't think he'll run from his life anymore. At least I hope not.” Al seems touched by what he read and nods his head. He smiles at her. He places the diary back and then touches her and brushes her hair off of her face. He strokes her gently. (I can’t even type this without going awwwwwww. The gesture was so sweet and loving.)
Marcie wakes up and panics when she doesn’t see Al. She races around the room and then checks the bathroom. Just as she is about to lose it, Al strolls in the door carrying a load of packages. Al: Hey. I found a 10 in my sock. Got some Chinese food here. I'm starving. How you doing? Marcie: (smiles broadly) Oh, don't you ever scare me like that again! Marcie rushes forward and throws herself into his arms. They hug. He is very happy to see her reaction.
Marcie is sitting at her desk with a plate of food in front of her and fiddling with the radio. Al is sitting on the bed with a plate on his lap, watching her. Al: Good luck finding a station. Most of the radio stations around here have signed off by this time of night. Marcie looks over her shoulder at Al. Marcie: I was hoping that the Voice of the Night would be back on. I miss him. I hope he's not too sick. Al: (knowingly and softly) Actually, he's much better. Marcie: How would you know? Al: (smiles) Just a hunch. Marcie: (smiles) I hope you're right.
Gabs walks into Capricorn and spots Max. Gabrielle: Max -- Max: Hey, meeting somebody for lunch? Just give me a minute, I'll have a nice table set for you. Gabrielle: Marcie called me, and she wanted me to meet her here, so -- Max: That's odd. She called me and asked if I would be around today. Hmm. When I asked her what it was about, she said that I -- Gabrielle: She wouldn't tell you over the phone, right? Max: No. Marcie walks in and sees Gabs & Max. Gabrielle: That's exactly what she said to me. So this has got to be about Al, don't you think? Max: Well, what else would it be? Oh, damn. It's about his grades. Marcie walks over to them. Gabrielle: Marcie. Okay, we're here. What is it? It's about Al, isn't it? Now, his courses were fine. Has something happened? Max directs them to a booth to sit down. Max: Well, come on. Marcie: Well, before I say anything, I need you both to promise that you'll just listen and that you'll do what I ask. Gabrielle: I can't promise you that because we don't know what it is that you're going to ask. Max: Gabrielle -- Gabrielle -- Gabrielle, please. Okay, sure. Go ahead. Marcie: Al's in trouble. Or he was. He's been on drugs. Max: Drugs? Gabrielle: That's impossible! Marcie: Amphetamines. He was using them to study at first, but then things got out of hand and he was falling into a pretty bad addiction. Max: No, I don't believe this. We would have noticed. Marcie: He got good at hiding it. Gabs walks past Marcie and heads toward the door. Gabrielle: All right, okay, so now we go to his place and take him to the hospital. Max follows behind Gabs. Max: I know a guy that runs a rehab -- Marcie: No, no, no, wait. Please, let me finish. Gabs and Max stopped and turned toward Marcie. Marcie: There's no need. Al's done it himself. Cold turkey. I've been with him the last few days, and he's been completely clean. Max: You? Marcie: The worst of the withdrawal is over. It was rough, but he's incredibly brave, a really strong person. But he's going to need your support now more than ever. Gabs turns toward the door again. Gabrielle: Well, yes, of course he does, but we need to go and see him. Marcie: No, that's the reason I came. Gabs stops. Marcie: I'm asking you not to confront him. Let him come to you and tell you himself. I know he will. The best thing you can do is just be there and love him. In the meanwhile, back in Marcie’s dorm room, Al emerges from the bathroom fully dressed and in fresh clothes. He straightens his clothes, rubs his hands together and then exhales. He walks to the door and out into the hall. He pulls the door behind him, then pauses, takes a deep breath, closes the door shut and walks away.
May 2 Setup: Max looks out of the front door of Capricorn. He glances around then walks back into the club. Gabrielle: All right, there's no sign of him. He should've been here fifteen minutes ago. Max: He'll be here. Gabrielle: Well, perhaps Marcie was completely wrong. Maybe she saw something, heard something, and she jumped to the wrong conclusion. Perhaps it had nothing to do with an addiction problem. Max: She said she was with him for days. Look, just do what she said. Just listen. Al appears. Max: Oh, wait. Look. Max directs Gabs to a table and they sit down. Al walks over to them and sits across from them. Al: Hey. Sorry I'm late. Max: Hey, no problem. Al: I -- Gabrielle: Hi, sweetheart. Al: I had to pick up a couple books at the library. (Pauses) You know what, that's a lie. The reason I'm late is because -- well, I almost didn't come at all, actually. Gabrielle: Al, is there -- is there a problem? Al: Yeah. Yeah, there's a problem. There's a big problem. I got myself hooked on drugs.
Marcie walks in, sees them, smiles and walks toward the bar. Gabrielle: How could you? Al: Mom, I didn't set out to become an addict. Gabrielle: Drugs. You -- you of all people know where that can lead to. Al: Yeah, I know where that can -- you know, (stands up) I don't think this was a very good idea. Max jumps up and holds Al back. Max: Al, Al, please, please. No, judgments. We're here to listen. Please. Gabrielle: Your father's right. I'm sorry. Al sits down. Al: It's okay. It's okay. Gabrielle: I just -- how did all this start? Al: I was trying to get my grades up. And before that, I just couldn't cope with life, you know? With everything that's gone on -- I mean, Jen dumping me, being pregnant with my kid, and then the kid dying. By the time I got over that, I just -- I was so far behind, you know? So I started taking pills to stay awake so I could pass my courses, you know? And it worked. I mean, it really did at first. It just kind of got out of hand. Max: (listens to Al leaning forward with his hands tented over his mouth.) Why didn't you come to us? Al: I couldn't go to you. Max: Why not? Gabrielle: Because we're part of the problem. Of course you couldn't come to us because we were applying so much pressure. (grabs Al’s hands) I'm so sorry.
Marcie is standing next to the bar watching Gabs, Max and Al. Rex is working as a bartender and eases behind her. Rex: Well, I haven't heard your heartthrob Voice of the Night lately. Has he got permanent laryngitis or something? Rex pours Marcie a drink. She turns toward him. Marcie: I don't know. I'm really worried about him, though. You know, I wish I had some way to reach him, but I don't even know who he is, really.
In the meanwhile, Al continues to try to explain what happened to his parents. Al: It wasn't your fault. This was my responsibility. Thanks to a really good friend, I've been able to stop. Max: Al, it is also important to understand what got you started on this in the first place. That way you don't make the same choices, go down the same road again, and I also think that this is partly my responsibility and partly my fault. Al: No, I really -- Max: Al, I'm an addict. With me it's gambling, it's not drugs, but the behavior's the same. When I hit bottom, I hit the bottom of a bottle, too. Remember? You tried to get me to stop. (Al nods) But fortunately, you -- you got your wake-up call early in life, and you stepped right up to that plate, and I am so proud of you for that. Gabs reaches across and touches him on the arm. Gabrielle: I also feel that I carry some blame here because I was applying a lot of pressure to you for your grades and pressure to your personal life. I just wanted everything to be perfect. I wanted you to be perfect. Al: You know, I'm sorry to tell you, mom, but I'm about as far away from perfect as you can get. Gabs gets up and hugs Al. Gabrielle: That's just not true. You are you, and that is perfect in my eyes. Max: That is damn right. Whatever it is you're going through, we are there for you. You can't shake us loose, ever. (reaches over and touches Al’s arm) Marcie is very moved by what she sees happening between Al and his parents. Rex: What you crying about? Marcie: Who's crying? I'm just a sucker for happy endings.
Joey comes into Capricorn. Marcie drifts from the bar closer to Al and his family. She leans against the back of a circular booth and watches them. Joey approaches her. Joey: Hey, Marcie. How you doing? Marcie: Hi. Ok. Joey: Are you sure? Marcie looks over at Al and his family again then turns back to Joey. Marcie: Um -- hey, Joe, you remember when -- I'm really embarrassed to say this -- but do you remember when you said I was a good person, a good friend? Joey: Yeah. Because you are. Marcie: Well, it kind of gave me the courage to do something. Anyway, you're a good friend of Al's, aren't you? Joey: Yeah. Long time. Marcie: Well, I thought maybe, you know, you could make sure that he knows that today. He could use a good friend. Joey looks over at Al. Joey: Ok. Will do. Thank you. Marcie shifts her focus back to Al and once again drifts closer to him but pauses some distance away. Joey follows her. Joey: Hey, I'm glad you feel like you can talk to me about stuff like that. Marcie: (smiles and looks at Joey) Well, at least I didn't throw myself at you this time, right? (laughs) Joey: Forget about that. Marcie: Well, I will if you will. Marcie focuses on Al. She slides into a booth and continues to watch him. Joey: Deal. Hey, you know, last time we talked, you said something about a new guy in your life. Marcie: Well, not exactly. He's, you know, just more of a fantasy guy, a voice, really. The Voice of the Night. Joey: Oh. Marcie glances over toward Al. Marcie: But I've been thinking about him less and less lately.
In the meanwhile, Al is standing with his parents near a palm tree. Al is struck by his parents reaction. Al: Well, I have to say you guys are dealing with this incredibly well. You know, I thought you guys were going to freak out on me. It really does mean a lot, you know, especially after all the worry I put you through and all the money I spent. Yeah -- I spent some of the money that you guys gave me for books and things on drugs. But I promise I'm going to pay you back, pay every cent back, ok? Gabrielle: It's all right. You don't have to. Al: No, I do have to, okay? It'd make me feel a lot better about myself and a lot better about what I've done. Max and Gabs looks uncomfortable. Gabs touches his shoulder and guides him back to the table. Gabrielle: All right, then good. Pay it back. The three of them sit down again. Al: All right. Well, again, I have to say you guys are being really cool about this. It's almost like you knew what I was going to say. Al looks over at Marcie who is talking to Joey.
Later, Gabrielle and Max lean on a the back of a booth and watch Al and Marcie, who are sitting in another booth together some distance away. Gabrielle: We are very, very lucky, aren't we? Max: Yes, we are. And Al is very lucky to have a friend like Marcie. Al and Marcie are sitting in a booth together. Al: I told my parents I was a drug addict, and they didn't freak out. They didn't give me a hard time, nothing. They just accepted it, accepted me. Marcie: That's wonderful. I'm glad. Al: Yeah, but it was a little weird, you know? It was a little too easy. It was almost as if they knew what I was going to say. I just can't figure out how – Marcie looks worried and takes a deep breath. Marcie: I'm sorry. Al: Sorry for what? Marcie: It's my fault. I told them. I know that you didn't want anybody to know, but I wanted them to wait for you to come to them. You hate me? Al smiles at her and leans forward. Al: How could I possibly be mad at you, Marcie? You saved my life. Marcie: I was just trying to help. You know that, right? Al: Yeah, I do. And I think I have an idea why. Marcie: I was just trying, you know, to make sure your parents didn't come down on you too hard so that you'd all get freaked out, and -- Al: And take a pill? Marcie: Well, yeah. Al: Yeah, well, you're right. That definitely could've set me off. So I guess I should thank you for saving my life all over again. Marcie: (smiles and chuckles softly, nervously) You've thanked me enough. Al: No, I could never possibly thank you enough. All right, I'm going to try, you know? I'm going to do my best to prove myself to you. So from today on, no more drugs.
May 5 Setup: Capricorn is busy. People have come to see the new band RJ hired. Unfortunately the lead singer, Flash, has not shown up. Gabs approaches Marcie and Al, who standing in the crowd. Gabrielle: So, know anything about this band, Midnight Logic? Marcie: Yeah, they rock. Gabrielle: Oh Al: Yeah, they're a garage band. Small, but very solid. Marcie: The singer's dynamite. Gabrielle: Good. Max walks up to them followed by Joey, who has a portable CD player in his hand. Max: Well, she better be on her game tonight, because if this band bombs, R.J.'s going to have a fit. Joey: Trust me, they're going to be terrific. I actually just heard some of their new songs. Al: Well, have they laid down any tracks? Joey: No, no, it's just -- it's just Flash solo. Vocals only. Al: Oh. Joey: It sounds great. Joey hands the player to Al. Al: Cool. Joey walks over to Riley. Joey: Excuse me. Hey, man, I know you said Flash was on her way, but -- Riley: No, no -- I know. This is even late for her.
Later, Al watches RJ confront Max about Flash not showing up. He had left all of the plans in Max’s hands and now it seems things are about to fall apart. Al tries to intervene but RJ waves him off: “Excuse me?” Al backs off. Gabs expresses her concern that if Max has to make good on the returned cover charges and expenses that it will ruin his chances to invest in RJ’s new club. Al looks worried. Joey: You know, maybe Flash needs a ride. I'm going to go down to the garage and see if she's there. Riley: Tell her we're ready to go. Joey: Yeah. Marcie and Al are standing at the bar. Marcie: Still no Flash. Al: Yeah. I'm kind of worried, you know? R.J. Has put all the responsibility for tonight on my dad. Marcie: Al, don't put pressure on yourself. Al: Why? What, do you think if tonight doesn't come off, I'm going to pop another pill? Marcie: No. No, I don't. You're strong. I'm just a worrywart, okay? (rubs his arm reassuringly) Al: Marcie, it means a lot to me that you trust me. The crowd begins to turn ugly. Man: Hey, what's the story with you guys? Second man: Where's the damn music? Patrons: Yeah! Gabrielle: Any word yet? Max: Nope. Gabrielle: Boy, it looks like a lot of people are starting to leave. Max: Young people have no patience and no mercy. Sort of like my partner, who may not want to be my partner. Al and Marcie are leaning side-by-side against the back of a booth. Al juggles the CD player and turns to Marcie. Al: You know what? I -- I got to go take care of something, ok? Marcie: Ok. Al: All right. (touches Marcie’s arm) Al walks over to a table where his jacket is hanging on the back of a chair. He feels around in the pockets of the jacket. Al: Phone, phone. Where is my phone? He finds a small bag with one amphetamine pill in it. He studies it for a minute. He balls the bag in his fist. He finds the phone and looks at it and the bag in his hand. He lays the bag on the table and slams a glass down on it the pushes the bag far away from him. Marcie, who has been watching him, smiles and shifts her gaze from him. Al: (talking to someone on the phone) Hey. Yeah, listen -- I got to ask you a huge favor. Yeah.
Al returns to where Marcie is still leaning against the booth and brings Marcie a drink. Al: Here you go. Marcie: Thanks. Al: No problem. Marcie: Al, I saw you smash that pill. Al: You know, it wasn't half as hard as I thought it was going to be. Marcie: (she smiles and nods) I knew I was right. I'm proud of you. Al: Thanks. Means a lot to me. Al notices someone. Al: Whoa -- I have to go do something. Marcie: What? Where? Al: It's no big deal. I just have to go and do a little favor for my father. (shakes the CD player in his hand) Marcie: Okay. Al: No worries. Marcie: Okay. Al walks away and heads toward a back hallway. In a storage room at the back of Capricorn, Al watches Slick fiddle with a control console that has been set up. Al: Gordo must've thought I was nuts having you come to the storage room of a nightclub. Slick: Hey, engineers do whatever's needed, man. Al: Well, looks to me like you got me all set up here. Hey, are you positive I'm hooked into the sound system? Slick: Yes. So, good luck. (gets up and walks to the door) If you're a
hit, we'll all be geniuses. If you bomb, we'll all be fired. But don't feel
pressured or anything. (walks out of the room) Al rushes to the door and looks down the hall. Al: Hey! Ugh.
In the meanwhile, after trying to toss the duty of informing the club patrons that Midnight Logic won’t perform to an unwilling Max, RJ walks to the front of the club. R.J.: Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry, but it seems the band that was scheduled to perform this evening, Midnight Logic, has let us down. Patrons: Oh! R.J.: But I'm sure if you visit the bar, order some food, you can still have a good time. Man: Hey, I'm leaving here and never coming back. Second man: What a waste! Al: Hey there, boys and girls, don't go away mad. Matter of fact, don't go
away at all. The night's young, Capricorn's cool, and I'm back. Marcie: That's the Voice of the Night! Al: Tonight's going to be special. So let's have some fun, huh? Are you
ready? I am. You see, I've been away to a place where -- where the nights are
darker, the dreams are stranger, and the dawn is a long way off. But
everything's coming back to life. You can feel summer coming. You can feel the
heat. Gabrielle puts her hand on Max’s arm. Gabrielle: Saved by the voice. Gabrielle laughs then looks over at Marcie, who’s grooving to the music and smiling.
Later, Marcie is leaning on the bar and Jen is sitting on a bar stool next to her. Marcie is thrilled to be listening to the Voice of the Night. Al: Ok, night people, question -- are we afraid of the dark? Answer -- no
way. We're actually afraid of the light. Marcie: This is so exciting! The Voice of the Night is somewhere in this building! Jen: Big deal. Marcie: I wonder where he is. Jen: I came to hear a band play. I can't believe Flash has the nerve to even play diva like this. I'm out of here. Rex: Hey, whoa. You leaving because the band didn't play or because a certain someone already left? Jen glares at Rex and then walks away. Marcie moves away from bar and once again leans on the back of a close booth. She is ecstatic as she listens to the broadcast. Al: Know why we fear the light? Because that's reality, man. So the trick
is to find a way to face your fears, not to run and hide in the dark. If you're
lucky, someone who's not afraid to tell you the truth will step up and help you
find your way home. I found somebody like that, somebody who listened when I
needed to talk, somebody who talked when I couldn't say anything. Somebody who
believes in me, trusts me, is proud of me. Marcie looks down and smile in recognition then walks toward the back hall. Al: And that's something special. Maybe even more than I deserve. I mean,
she saved my life, and that's more than anybody can ask for. I get this pain.
Al turns and sees Marcie standing in the door of the storage room. He looks away, worried. Marcie walks into the room and Al stands up and faces her. Al: So -- now you know. Big disappointment, huh. I mean, I know you thought the voice was cool, you know, knew all the right things to say. You kind of made him into this hero, and -- well, I'm sorry about that. Marcie: (she shakes her head) You were my hero when you were at the dorm, Al, when you took back your life. Al: You showed me how to do that. Marcie: No. No, you did it all by yourself. You wouldn't give up until you won. And, no, I'm not disappointed. Just the opposite. (looks up and smiles) Al leans close to her, cups her face in his hand and kisses her. They stare at each other both encased in the magic of the moment. Al pulls back slowly. Marcie stares at him then looks down and smiles shyly.
Later, Al is back at the console and Marcie is sitting at the table but cattycorner to him with her hands folded and resting on the table. She is watching him was obvious love and admiration. Al: Crazy stuff's been happening tonight. Stuff nobody ever would've
predicted this morning. The type of stuff that can change your life as you head
out into tomorrow. Sometimes it doesn't even make sense. You notice that? Al reaches over and cups Marcie’s hands in his. Al: It's like it has its own weird logic -- Midnight Logic, which happens
to be the name of the band that you came here to hear tonight. Well, there's no
sense in going out disappointed. You see, Flash, the lead singer -- well, she
couldn't swing it tonight. Al places the CD with Flash’s vocals in the player. Al: But -- she's here, anyway. Recording of Flash singing: You ache so alone, afraid to show your heart. You think you're strong but she's tearing you apart. I never knew I could feel the way I feel for you. I never dreamed there could ever be you and me. I try to hide from the fire inside of you but my desire makes me a hero or a fool. I never knew I could feel the way I feel for you. I never dreamed there could ever be you and me. Marcie: How'd you do that? Al: Joey Buchanan. Man, he really came through for Flash tonight, even if she doesn't know it. Recording of Flash singing: I never knew I could feel the way I feel for you. I never dreamed there could ever be you and me.
What a great sequence of scenes! And the kiss was so sweet and loving, I just swooned. The MARCALS decided that from now on we will refer to May 5th as MARCAL Monday! MARCAL will be-e-e-e-e-e!
SCENES
MARCAL
All Snappies courtesy of Cataz's Daily Pics. Thank you, Cataz, for letting me use your beautiful snappies.
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