After the Show
By
Clinton A. Johnston
Setting
Backstage of some theater in Cleveland, Ohio; 3:00 a.m. during BuddyMons tour in support of his latest album.
Characters
Gillian Marsh freelance writer on assignment for Rolling Stone; starts with will-I-ever-get-this-interview attitude
Susan Carnegie manger for BuddyMon; starts with a mellow, end-of-the work day attitude
BuddyMon up and coming reggae singer; starts unconscious
[Darkness.]
["A Piece of My Heart" sung by Janis Joplin starts to play.]
[Lights up]
[Sue and BuddyMon sit at a table. Sue sits SR, relaxed, sipping a beer. BuddyMon is collapsed and unconscious C. There is another chair and beer SL for Gillian]
[Enter Gillian from SR door. As she enters, she looks at BuddyMon to see if the music has caused him to stir.]
Sue
No need to hurry, Ms. Marsh. Hes still out cold.
Gillian
[Crossing and sitting down SL to her beer.]
Great. Any idea when the mighty giant will wake up?
Sue
Aww, dont be like that. Tonights a good night.
Gillian
Susan, an hour and a half ago he finished his concert, took three encores, threw up twice, drank a hot tubs worth of booze, and vanished for forty-five minutes. When we finally found him, the roadies were using him as a tool bench. This is a good night?
Sue
At least I know where he is. Plus, its 3:00 a.m., and he hasnt threatened to quit yet tonight. All of the band is still talking to each other. Thereve been no fights, no cops to pay off, nothing ingested that cost over $30 to get, and no potential paternity suits that Ive had to pull off of him in mid-copulation. And until I have to drag his increasingly valuable carcass off to the bus, all I have to do is sit here, drink my beer, and make sure he doesnt drown in his own vomit.
[Pause] See? It just takes the right perspective [Notices Gillian is staring at her] What?Gillian
Im sorry. It was nothing. I thought
Sue
What?
Gillian
Like I said, Im sorry. Its just are you married?
Sue
[Slight pause]
Oh, things arent that desperate, sister. Youre gonna get your interview; youll just have to wait around for it.
Gillian
No, no, its not that. Its was your name always Carnegie?
Sue
[Slightly cautious]
No, actually, it used to be Fennell.
Gillian
"Susan Fennell?" Oh my God. Youre Seizure Sue.
Sue
Aww, Fuck.
Gillian
I knew it! Youre Seizure Sue from The Banshees!
Sue
Fucking rock writers. I dont suppose youll let me get out of this.
Gillian
Let you get out of what? Man, The Banshees were great! And you you and Carrie King were The Banshees. You didnt chart as well, but youve out sold The Runaways and The Gogos. In 85, people were calling you "Punk Rocks Keith Richards." Randy Rhodes said you were one of the most exciting new guitarists playing.
Sue
Yeah, but that was after I blew him.
Gillian
But Rolling Stone said that on Bitches In Heat, you played with wait "the ferocity and passion of a jungle cat thats been locked in your daughters bedroom, unfed, for the past sixteen years."
Sue
Oh come on, tell me that wasnt written by some guy who wanted someone to blow him.
Gillian
God Seizure Sue. I Ive wondered about you for years. What happened to you? Why didnt you ever do a solo career?
Sue
[Slight pause]
Its all her fault really?
Gillian
Whose, Carries?
Sue
No.
[Indicating Janis Joplin] Hers. You know, I actually saw her in concert. I was three. She must have made a great impression, because when I heard her records seven years later, it was like your mothers voice or sisters or your cousins. Hell, she was your whole goddamn family. It was like coming home. You ever see footage of her perform? You wanna talk about passion, that woman was like a heart released. And everyone fell in love with her. I wanted that so badly. I wanted to be just like her.Gillian
Yeah, but why are you here? Why didnt you
Sue
I cant sing. I cant hold a tune with pliers, and you just dont get solo careers when all you can do is play guitar. I mean, maybe if youre Jeff Beck, but who the Hell listens to Jeff Beck?
[Suddenly fears Gillian pities her.] Anyway, its not so bad. Im still in the business, and taking care of this one is like baby sitting compared to just one month on the road with Carrie. You should have seen the things I pulled off of her. [Snapping back] But who cares, right? Hey, Im not your story. I dont wanna be in your story. He wakes up, you talk to him and only about him. Thats why youre here. Dont you forget that.Gillian
I wont. You dont have to get all huffy. Its all your fault anyway.
Sue
What do you
[BuddyMon stirs. Gets up. Looks around and stumbles off through SR exit]
Gillian
No matter how much I tried, I was never any damned good at the guitar.
[Music changes to Bob Marleys "Three Little Birds." BuddyMon stumbles in back to his place.]
BuddyMon
Hey, girl. Whatd ya change da tape for?
[BuddyMon collapses again on the table.]
Sue
[Pause]
Yep its a good night.
[Blackout]
"After the Show" IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE DOWNLOADED, TRANSMITTED, PRINTED OR PERFORMED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR
"After the Show" debuted April 12, 2002, performed by Annaliese Moyer, J.D. Ruelle and Clinton Johnston.