Peaks of a Heart Monitor

Writing:  You’ll work on a dialogue exercise, in which you fictionalize two relatives with distinctive speech patterns… and then put these characters in a situation that comes with built-in tension:  a wedding, a funeral, a birth, a graduation, a sporting event, etc.
Think about where the mid-point of this is (or would be, if you wrote more than 5-8 pages.)
 
 
ACT 1
 
Scene 1
 
SETTING:
A 1940s divorce court. The stage is level with the audience, as if they are actually in the court proceedings. In front of the audience is a meter high fence which extends down the sides of the stage. It is wooden with vertical supports. Above the fence is a second story with the same type of fence overlooking the stage. There are high wooden struts and columns supporting the balustrades. In the center is an oversized wooden desk flanked by doors and flags.  
 

AT RISE:
A judge is situated behind the desk. In front are the two couples spread evenly in a semicircle around the judge: BELLE-ANN, TEDDY, BEA and CARL. BELLE-ANN is dressed in a tiered yellow ball-gown. She is a famous actress and is treating the divorce like another promo-show. She speaks in light southern lilt. TEDDY is in long pants, suspenders, a button up shirt and a flat cap. He is the epitome of nonchalant. He speaks with a New York accent. BEA is plain and dowdy. She looks tired and speaks in a way that you can tell she is not well educated, but she is smarter than people give her credit for. CARL is portly and pasty. He is constantly sweating and seems a little bit out of the proceedings at all times. He is very dumb, but thinks he is much smarter than his wife, BEA. There are court room attendees planted throughout the audience and along the sides of the room behind the balustrades.

 
 
BELLE-ANN
(with a slow Louisianan drawl)
A Monday morning. Now let me think about it what do ah do on a Monday morning. Well, first things first ah have to be up and down at the motion picture studio to get my hair and make done all big. Y’all know about my latest release.
(She smiles a soft but winning smile at the crowd to subtle looks of idolisation, lust and admiration.)
 
BELLE-ANN (CONT’D)
Well, I’m getting ahead of my horses. I spend the rest of the day filming chase scenes where I get trussed up in the woods.
(winks at the audience seductively)
 
BELLE-ANN (CONT’D)
And, of course, Teddy saves me before it’s all too late. I go back to the makeup tent and then it’s time to go home.

​
JUDGE
And you, Mr Southbark, what is your Monday like?
 
 
TEDDY
(interrupting and also flirting with the audience in a cocky way. It is all a show.)
You know what it’s like. I have my scenes to do during the day. Riding, fighting, shooting, just another days work. Then I take myself to the tavern and have a couple of pints to get myself a little bit loose from carrying this production. You can’t be too worked up when you’re wrangling stallions all day.
 
BELLE-ANN
(Trying to hide her annoyance)
Carrying the production? I think you’re forgetting who your leading lady is, sweetheart.
 
TEDDY
Leading lady? Sure. Leading dish, maybe, but I’m the lead.
 
BELLE-ANN
(trying even harder to repress her anger)
Darling. I am sure all these wonderful people here come to my movies for much more than to just ogle. They don’t need to be hearing your silly little jokes right now.
 
JUDGE
(interrupting)
Yes, yes. Thank you, Mr and Mrs Southbark. We’ll come back to that.
(to BEA)
Mrs Smith? Your Monday?
 
BEA
(meekly)
Oh nothin too crazy sir. The same as every other day. I get up early to fix the supper for the day. Carl goes off to work and I do my regular chores around the house sir. After lunch I may go down to the town to get some more fabric or pick up some milk for the afternoon. Is that all sir?
(JUDGE nods)
Thank you, sir.
 
JUDGE
And finally, you. Mr Smith.
 
CARL
Well. Uh. I gotta go to work. Uh. Did you ask me about uh work? I’m at the office, you know.
(wipes sweat off his brow)
I do paper and stuff. Writing them. Like the numbers all down right. They need me to check that they’re done good. I come home and uh my old lady gets me a beer. And supper. Meat. Potatoes.
 
BEA
(with a forced smile)
Yes, sir, every day, meat and potatoes. The same thing every day.
 
CARL
We don’t need you talking right now, wife.
 
JUDGE
Thank you, Mr Smith.
(gesturing at TEDDY and BEA)
I’d like to go into that a bit more. Where did you two meet?
 
TEDDY
Down at the tavern.
 
CARL
What were you doin’ at the tavern?
 
BEA
It was down at the shops, sir, not down at the tavern. I’m not no floosy or nothin’. I just needed to get out.
 
BELLE-ANN
(with a slightly mean laugh)
Well then, darling. What exactly did you have to go out for?
 
BEA
You don’t understand, ma’am. I needed to get out of the house. I can’t do it anymore. Every single day. The same thing. I wake up, I clean, I cook, I clean, I fix supper, and then…
(embarrassed)
he takes me to the bedroom. Again, and again and again.
 
CARL
(Stupid and not understanding why he’s here)
Wait one damn second. What’s going on here? You go down to the tavern on your days off? No good woman goes down to the tavern by herself.
 
BELLE-ANN
(with slight glee realising she can be the one to break the news)
Oh yes, my sweet, Bea. Who did you find down at the tavern? Because I happen to recall my darling husband was there too.
 
BEA
No ma’am. Your husband is a movie star. I just meant to go help ‘im out with his hat. He dropped it you know. That’s all it was. He was just so nice. And handsome. Just a little bit of light in my day.
(the audience has slight murmurs of agreement with her comments of his handsomeness and gasps at her tryst)
 
BELLE-ANN
Is that right Teddy? She just helped you with your hat?
 
TEDDY
What’re you tryna do here B-A? Are you trying to ruin my reputation? Because you know who will go down first?
 
BEA
(overlapping)
Ma’am, seriously. I didn’t do nothin. Just some harmless flirting is all.
 
CARL
(getting sweaty and bothered)
Flirting?! You?! I’m not going to stand here and hear about you flirting with some other man!
 
BELLE-ANN
(to Teddy, overlapping)
This isn’t your show anymore, sweet. I’ve had just one girl too many.
 
CARL
(to TEDDY)
How do you do it? How do you find a wife who uh treats you right? I do it all. I treat her good. I have a job. She stays home and she can do whatever she wants. I don’t know sewing or cooking or uh something else she likes.
 
BEA
I don’t like those things!
 
CARL
(to BEA)
You don’t know how good you’ve got it. Haven’t you seen their photos in the print? They’re so happy and caring.
 
BELLE-ANN
In the print, maybe. All I want is someone who is kind to me. Who doesn’t try to undermine my every move. I walk on eggshells around Teddy, but then, when he’s nice, it’s so good. I can’t do it anymore. The ups and the downs. I’m constantly waiting for the good times to end.
 
BEA
You see. Ups and downs. Gimme an up. Anything.
 
TEDDY
Belle, baby. What are you saying? We are happy. It’s passion that makes us behave the way we do.
 
BELLE-ANN
Of course, sweet.
(to JUDGE)
Can we have a break please? This is getting to be a little much.
 
JUDGE
Everyone out.
(everyone leaves except the main four)
 
BELLE-ANN
(dropping her sweet demeanour)
This is it. I’m telling you Teddy. This is truly it. We’re only together for the camera, but it doesn’t work if you pick up every piece of trash along the street.
 
TEDDY
I can do what I please, B-A. I will always love you, but it’s always the same thing again and again. Getting mad at every pretty lass that catches my eye. I am young. I can’t be stuck with you all the time.
 
BELLE-ANN
Do you know how many people would kill to be me? Would kill to be you, just because you’re with me. 
(gestures at BEA and CARL)
She would. He would.
 
TEDDY
You’re right. They would kill to be me. You’ve never been anything without me there, no audience wants to see a dame who doesn’t get rescued.
 
BELLE-ANN
Looking at you, people would think you’re the one who needs to get rescued. Wearing your dirtied shoes and slacks and strutting about like a rooster who just crowed for the first time.
 
CARL
(In shock to see BA talking back)
Don’t you talk back to your husband, missy. I don’t care who you are.
 
BELLE-ANN
(her anger suddenly directed away from TEDDY. All three characters angle to face CARL, staring him down)
And who are you. A boring, nobody honky tonk who drives his wife into a stranger’s arms from the mere look of your face?
 
BEA
Won’t you have one original thought in your life. Belle-Ann is finally speaking. Rather than letting it all bottle up inside
 
TEDDY
(giving will smith :D)
Don’t speak to my wife like that. Get her name out of your fat mouth.
 
BELLE-ANN
At least he knows my value. He cares when he’s not being a right needle head.