By Misti Velvet Rainwater
Date: 28 January 2000

SCENE 19

SCENE 19- INT.- Becca's bedroom. Night.
Music: "Lump" by the Presidents of the United
States of America. Becca is dancing around her room
with wild abandon, her hair flying as she sings along
to the song. Derek is standing in the doorway watching
her with a smile on his face. When Becca finally realizes
that she is being watched, she throws herself on her bed
and hides her face in a pillow. Derek enters the room. 
Turns off the stereo and sits down beside Becca on the
bed.
Derek: Hey, you. I brought you a surprise.
Becca sits up.
Becca: Oh, wow.
Derek hands her a bouquet of daisies.
Becca: I'm not always like this, in case you're
wondering.
Derek: You put on quite a show. I'm seriously
impressed.
Becca: Good. Then I won't kick you out of bed.
They kiss. Becca pulls away.
Becca: So did you find a job?
Derek: I start work at Pedro's Taco Hut tomorrow
morning at ten o'clock sharp.
Becca: That is so gay! Are you shittin' me?
Derek: I'm serious. Aren't you excited? It's 
only minimum wage and I have to wear this 
atrocious neon purple polo, but hell, it's a 
job. It's better than welfare, right? And think
of all the free tacos we'll get!
Becca: Oh, Derek. I'm proud of you. You have the
best attitude!
Telephone rings. Becca grabs it off the bedside table.
Becca: Samantha's House of Sex, Drugs and Rock-n-Roll-
can I help you? Oh, hey, Trad. Yes. No. I'll get online
tomorrow and fill you in. 'Kay. Bye!
Hangs up the phone. Smiles guilessly at Derek.
Derek: What kind of name is Trad?
Becca: I don't know. That's just the name his 
mom gave him.
Derek: Who is this guy?
Becca: A friend, duh! We met on the Internet a few
months ago. 
Derek: Oh, in one of those cyber sex chat rooms or
whatever?
Becca: You speak like a man of experience. Do you
cyber, darlin'?
Derek: I have before. I think it's kinda lame and pathetic,
though.
Becca: Oh, I agree. No, I did not meet Trad in a chat room.
We frequent the same website. It's called Nutso. We submit
wacky stories and anecdotes and poems and lame jokes. There's
this place in there called the Wall of Shame where we can 
actually leave grafitti. I met Trad when I left a message at 
the message board complimenting his grafitti. He wrote,"Hi! My
name is Trad! I'm 23, HIV free, and in love with a Cameron Diaz
lookalike."
Derek: What a guy.
Becca: Don't be jealous! He knows all about you and he's so happy
for me.
Derek: Becca, you haven't seen me since breakfast. Aren't you curious 
about where I've been all day? It's ten thirty at night.
Becca: I never look at the clock. Look, I'm not going to be a
typical girlfriend. I trust you. I like you a lot. And you're 
here now. So what's the big deal?
Derek: Cool. 
Derek places two pillows against the headboard and leans back.
Becca places her head in his lap and he plays with her hair.
Becca: So where were you?
Derek: You really want to know?
Becca: Yes.
Derek: The whole truth and nothin' but?
Becca: Absolutely. Bring it on, baby.
Derek: Okay, you asked for it. I got the job right away.
Then I went to Ingram Park mall and shoplifted some CDs
from Hasting's. Then I ate a couple of slices of pizza.
Becca: What kind?
Derek: Pepperoni. With lotsa parmesan and pepper. Then I
went to the dollar cinema and watched "House of Yes." Then
I went to a bakery and bought some day old bread and hung out
downtown by the river feedin' the pigeons. Gave five bucks
to a homeless guy. Went to Sharky's and hustled some pool.
Met this guy named Trevor who wanted me to go into business
with him.
Becca: What kind of business?
Derek: He caters. Has a chef's hat and business cards. The
whole nine yards.
Becca: You're lying!
Derek: I swear to God!
Becca: Okay. Then what?
Derek: Went to the nursing home and visited my grandfather.
He's a cool old guy. Has Alzheimer's, though. Doesn't always
know who I am. Today he told me I was a snake.
Becca: I'm sorry.
Derek: I don't take it personally. He gets lonely and I'm the only
one who ever visits him so he takes it out on me. My grandmother
died a couple of years ago.
Becca: No, I meant I'm sorry that he has Alzheimer's. Where's
your mom?
Derek: Last I heard, livin' in Tucson, Arizona with a trucker
named Benny. My dad died in Vietnam and I don't have any brothers
or sisters. So, basically, it's just me and Papaw against the world.
Becca: I want to meet him.
Derek: You will.