By Misti Velvet Rainwater
Date: 7 February 2000

SCENE 37

SCENE 37-INT.-The basement/rec room. Night.
Becca is sitting at the bar talking to Curtis,
the bartender. She's pretty far gone, but she's
still nursing a Jack&Coke. 
Music: "Wild, Wild Life" by Talking Heads.
Curtis: You need to slow down, girl. You're gonna
pass out and swallow your own puke.
Becca: That would be cool, right? No, the cool age
to die is 27. I still have four years to go.
Curtis: Listen to you. Here you are, this beautiful
wet dream of a woman, and you're talkin' about dyin'.
Girl, you're crazy, I swear.
Becca: Is he still sittin' with that slut on the couch?
I can't look.
Curtis: He's still there. Want me to kick his ass? I'd
do it.
Becca: I don't need chivalry. I don't need charity, either.
You're just talkin' to me 'cause you have to.
Curtis: I don't have to do nothin'. Have you looked in the
mirror lately? I'd take you upstairs right now if you said
the word.
Becca: You'd take advantage of a drunk, morose woman? Curtis,
that's so tacky. And you're the bartender. You can't abandon
your post.
Curtis: You're the only person who has been drinkin' since
midnight. Everybody else is up in smoke.
Becca: So I'm the loser alcoholic and they're all cool because
they smoke weed and eat shrooms and drop acid and see the face
of God in the candle flames and shit.
Curtis: You don't see me playing pin the tail on the donkey
with 'em do ya? No. I'm here talking to you.
Becca: Do you really like me or do you just think I'm an easy
target?
Music: "Edge of the World" by Faith No More
Curtis: Both. Here he comes. Finally. How fuckin' noble of
him.
Becca: Carry me upstairs and see what he does.
Curtis: Don't tempt me.
Becca: That's why I'm here.
God, I love this song. I had the cassette when I was a
senior in high school.
Derek sits down beside Becca and stares at her.
Derek: Whatsup.
Becca: Oh, nothin' much. I'm just sittin' here gettin'
drunk off my ass so that Curtis can take advantage of
me.
Derek glances at Curtis. Curtis stares daggers at him.
Derek clenches his jaws.
Derek: So we're playing games now, is that it?
Becca: You sound pretty damn self-righteous for a guy
who's been smoking weed with a skank for the past hour
while your girlfriend sat alone at the bar.
Derek: You weren't alone. Curtis here kept you company.
And this is a party. Excuse me for mingling.
Becca: Mingling, he calls it.
Derek: What the hell do you call it?
Becca finishes her Jack&Coke.
Becca: Fill 'er up, my good man.
Derek: No, you're through. I'm taking you home.
Becca: There's no place like home. Ignore him, Curtis.
One more for the road.
Curtis: You've had enough.
Becca: This is bullshit! I thought you were on my side.
Curtis: I am.
Derek: You don't even know her. Come on, Becca. Let's go
home.
Derek stands up and puts his hand on Becca's shoulder.
She shrugs it off. Derek wraps his arms around her waist
and picks her up. Carries her up the stairs. Becca blows
kisses to Curtis. Curtis waves.