A Typical Diner. Infinite Flirts With Frogor While He Works. A Patron Sits At The Counter. In The Corner, Big plays his pipa quietly, his back to us, unnoticed at first, working on a new composition.
FROGOR
Ribit?
INFINITE
Haven't had a good cup of coffee since before basic training. Bet a pretty thing like you could fix that.
FROGOR
Unamused he moves away to fetch his order. Infinite looks around the diner, desperate for any potential dates. Time is running out.
BIG
figuring out chords as he plays, struggling
a flower bows to autumn chill October river, frozen still
Infinite Notices Big. Swivels in his seat to watch him.
give way give way—
INFINITE
Approaches
Wow.
Big Stops, Turns. We See Him For The First Time. He Is Doppy, Awkward, Perhaps Overweight, And Not Quite Comfortable In His Own Skin, But He Is Lit From Within. Infinite Tries To Mask His Desperation. Big Could Be His Last Shot At Snagging A Date.
Please, don't stop. You sound real good.
BIG
Gee, thanks.
INFINITE
What's that song you're playing? I just love that kind of music.
BIG
You do?
INFINITE
It's all I listen to. Actually, that song reminds me a lot of…of Jim Swain's music. You know what I mean?
BIG
Swain?
INFINITE
Oh wow, Jim Swain?
BIG
…I don't know him.
INFINITE
Well he's just—you've heard of Dylan, right? Bob Dylan?
Big laughs: of course he knows Dylan
Jim Swain's music is a major influence on Dylan.
BIG
I thought Woody Guthrie was Dylan's influence.
INFINITE
Well, yeah. There's Woody—and then there's Jim Swain. In fact, I think Swain and Guthrie wrote some songs together. If I'm not mistaken.
BIG
I always thought Woody wrote pretty much on his own.
INFINITE
Sometimes he did, he did, most definitely. But sometimes he would, you know, get together with Swain. In other words, Woody would write the words and Swain wrote the music. Other times, they'd switch and Swain wrote the words and Woody wrote the music. See what I'm saying? Like that famous song of his. You know the one I mean.
BIG
"This Land Is Your Land?"
INFINITE
"This Land Is Your Land." Exactly. Yeah, that was an original by Swain and Guthrie.
BIG
I've got the sheet music upstairs. I don't remember seeing his name.
INFINITE
He was a ghostwriter. Sometimes. In fact, most of the time.
BIG
It's funny, I feel like I still should've—
FROGOR
Frogor interrupts signaling the place needs to clean up for closing and big should help wrap things up
BIG
Sorry, Frogor.
Frogor Hands Big A Large Bag Of Sugar, Then Tends To His Own Work Elsewhere. Big Turns To Infinite.
So…I gotta get back to work.
FROGOR
Ribit
Big Begins Moving From Table To Table, Refilling Sugar Jars. Infinite follows, overeager.
INFINITE
You got a last name, Big? I wanna look for you in the record store.
BIG
You won't find me. No one's paying to hear me sing.
Big moves past him to refill another table's sugar jar.
INFINITE
That'll change, trust me.
BIG
You think so?
INFINITE
Abso-flippin'-lutely.
Big's surprised by his language.
Hey, my apologies. I'm just a dumb jarhead—I'm not used to others being around.
Big Moves To Another Table. Infinite reaches for the bag of sugar
Lemme help you with that.
BIG
It's okay.
Big holds onto the bag, fills another glass jar. An awkward, momentary silence.
What's a jarhead?
INFINITE
Oh, that's just what we call ourselves. I'm a Mercenary, see?
Infinite hands him his military I.D. card. he looks it over
It's okay if we say it, but if a squid says it—you know, a sailor—then it's fist city. But it's all right if a commoner like you says it.
BIG
reading his I.D. card
Zero "Infinite" T. Jackel
he laughs.
INFINITE
Okay, okay, it's not that funny.
BIG
I'm sorry, it's a nice name.
INFINITE
Thanks.
BIG
Gosh, you look so angry.
INFINITE
Not angry. Just ready.
BIG
Ready for what?
INFINITE
Ready for…heck, for anything, I guess.
BIG
Date of Birth, November 26, 1942. Tuesday's your birthday.
INFINITE
Yup. The big two-one. Couple more years and my age'll match my I.Q.
BIG
Well, happy birthday, Infinite, Finny.
INFINITE
?
BIG
oh, im sorry. You don't mind if i call you finny do you?
INFINITE
you? Nah you can call me whatever you want
He smiles. So does Big. A Moment, Then Infinite goes for it, attempts to seal the deal.
INFINITE
I better shove off soon. Gotta get to a party.
BIG
A birthday party?
INFINITE
Naw, just sort of a regular party.
"a sudden idea"
Say, maybe you'd like to go with me?
BIG
A party—oh well I, actually, I'm still on the clock. I got a lot of sidework.
INFINITE
Don't lie to me, Big, I'm a Mercenary. Mercenaries are jerks. Everybody knows that. If you don't wanna go just say so.
[BIG, spoken]
Well—it's just—I mean, I just met you
[INFINITE]
Well, you know my birthday now
Showed you my real name
See, I'm an open book, have a look
This ain't no pickup game
I heard your pretty voice
Then we saw eye to eye
On all that music stuff, not on fluff
We didn't have to try
Now isn't that rare?
That kind of connection
So why not come to a party with me?
Why not come to this party?
A five piece band
I'll take your hand, Big
And twirl you around
Buy you a drink
Don't stop to think
Say "Yes"
Come to a party with me
Just say "Yes"
[BIG, spoken]
I dunno, Finny
[INFINITE, spoken]
My old man's always saying, you can't steal second base with your foot on first. Sometimes you gotta gamble, Big. You can bet on me
(sung)
Born in Mazuri
To humble Christian folks
My old man raised me right, real polite
No tellin' dirty jokes
A Wallly Cleaver type
Ate every brussels sprout
My mama's pride 'n joy, golden boy
Your av'rage Eagle Scout
Now look in these eyes
They ain't gonna hurt you
So why not come to this party with me?
C'mon, it's just a party
A great excuse
To cut it loose, Big
And do whatcha feel
(spoken)
Hey
(sung)
Just for a night
No holdin' tight
Let go
Let's go
Come to a party with me
(spoken)
Gonna be a real nice time, c'mon, whaddaya say?
[BIG]
If I go
Well, ya know
Pa would be here on his own
He would die
I could lie
I couldn't lie to my—
If I go
He would know
Look, I'm not ready
We're closing
And Finny
I've still gotta work
Infinite grabs a rag from him.
C'mon don't be a jerk
Give it back, Finny stop!
Look, I still gotta mop
Plus I don't really drink
See I really don't think I can come
Infinite Begins To "Help" Big With Chores, Carelessly Wiping Surfaces, Chairs— Accomplishing Little In Terms Of Actual Cleaning But More In Terms Of Charming Big.
[INFINITE]
Come to this party with me
Look, you can't miss this party
[BIG]
I can't just get up and go
[INFINITE]
You'll meet my friends
And when it ends, Big
I'll race ya right home
[BIG]
Frogor needs me around
[INFINITE]
Or why cap the night?
We'll go grab a bite
[BIG]
I'd like to, but I...
[INFINITE]
Table for two
Just me and you
(Finny, c'mon)
Candles and wine
(I got work to do! Please!)
Hands intertwine—
[FROGOR]
CROAK!
interrupts
Big And Infinite Separate, Just As Electricity Was Building Between Them. Frogor Looks To Infinite. And Shoos Him Away With A Hand Motion
Frogor Switches the sign to "CLOSED," turns off most of the lights. Infinite Looks To Big. He heads to the door, giving it one last try.
[INFINITE]
You'll miss out on one helluva time
Should be one rousin' party
Well, I'm glad we met
I gotta get, Big
But gosh you seem swell
Still, it's a shame I thought
If you came, who knows
Maybe we coulda—
salutes
(spoken)
Have a good night now
Infinite Moves To Exit The Diner. Big watches him go, considers, torn. Just as he's about to make it out the door to the street, Big shouts to him, stops him.
[BIG, spoken]
Finny, wait! I'm going with you, okay?
Just lemme run upstairs and change
[INFINITE, spoken]
Okay!
[BIG, spoken]
Okay!
he's about to go, then
Finny, I've never—
What kind of party is it?
INFINITE
A party party.
BIG
A dress up party?
INFINITE
too good to be true
Yeah, a dress up party.
BIG
Okay!
Big Runs Off, Excited. Infinite Celebrates his success, shifting instantly from charming to callous.
[INFINITE]
What a gem
What a pick in a pinch
What a choice for this party
You'll waltz him in
You're set to win
Once ya twirl him around
He'll be a smash
Score ya some cash
He smirks, chuckles
Off to a party with you