The Scar Boys: First Draft (3B)
Scene 1: Rewind
(The stage is set up with the rock stage upstage or middle stage left. There is a sign saying:
“Help the Scar Boys finish their tour. Rock and roll fundraiser at 810 Hill Street this Friday.$10 to get in, larger donations accepted. Live music, cold brew, and riding the pipe. We start tapping the keg at 9p.m. Spread the word.”
There are many people in front of the rock stage some-what loud and drinking. There are some people with flashlights, waving them around. Harry is fully dressed in his Scar Boy getup- glasses, hat, and denim jacket with the collar up. The band members Harry, Cheyenne, and Richie are on the stage and begin to play. Cheyenne and Richie start and Harry begins to really get into the music by tapping his foot and then moving his whole body. Then he starts to pump his fist in the air and the crowd claps along.)
HARRY
On the drums, give it up for the skateboarding prince of the groove, Richie McGill!
(Richie takes this as a cue to do an extra drum fill.)
On the bass, we have the princess of pounding rhythm, Cheyenne Belle.
(The people with flashlights wave them around and point them to Cheyenne and the audience screams.)
And I’m Harbinger Robert Francis Jones-
(At this point Harry throws his hat out to the audience and a girl catches it. The scene freezes with the hat held up in the air. Spotlight on Harry and the surrounding lights are slightly dimmed.)
…but you can call me Harry for short.
(Beat. Harry looks around the frozen scene briefly)
Well, you know we should just start at the beginning…(Lights out.)
(“Younger” Harry stands downstage right minding his own business as a group of seven boys come walking around him.)
BOY 1
Who the hell are you?(The group of boys surrounds Harry in a football-like huddle, looking for trouble. Harry stands there frozen, not sure what to say.) Who the hell are you?
HARRY
I don’t know.
BOY 1
You don’t know who you are?
BOY 2
What are you stupid or something?
HARRY
I’m Harry Jones.
BOY 1:
Well then you, Harry Loser Jones, have been caught by the Sharks-
BOY 2:
-that’s our team-
BOY 1:
-and you’re our prisoner. (The other boys stomp in approval.) And what’s worse, you little air head, you’ve been caught cheating.
HARRY:
I wasn’t chea-
BOY 1:
Shut up.
HARRY:
Honest, I wasn’t- (The boy punches Harry in the shoulder.)
BOY 2:
Whaddya think we should do with him?
BOY 1:
I think we should put him in jail.(All of the boys laugh, hoot and howl at this remark. They take Harry and back him into a small but sturdy dogwood tree. Some of the boys get out some nylon cord and tied Harry to the tree with it. They pull the cord too tight for it to be anywhere close to being comfortable. The sky gets darker and a storm quickly approaches. Its starts to rain and quickly becomes a harsh thunder/lightning storm. The group of boys begin to run off and leave the stage, leaving Harry all alone.)
HARRY:
Wait, you guys…Guys? (Beat.) Guys?!? (Lights out as several lightning strikes are seen)
Scene 2 (from 4th Period)
(Entire ensemble comes onto stage and meanders around. Harry starts downstage right and progressively moves to center stage then downstage left)
HARRY:
People talk about the resiliency of children, but those same people have never tied those same children to a tree during a thunderstorm to test the theory. In a lot of ways my life would’ve been easier if I’d received a direct hit. To be the boy almost struck by lightning was like finishing second in the big race. You ran, but no one cared.
BULLY 1:
Freak!
BULLY 2:
Loser!
BILLY:
Almost struck by lightning? Ha!
HARRY:
I was even incapable of caring. Or doing just about anything. I went from doctor’s appointment (Lights come up on doctor who steps out of ensemble) to psychologist (Harry starts to the left. Doctor steps back, lights come up on psychologist who steps out of ensemble) to witch doctor (Harry continues to the left. Psychologist steps back, lights come up on witch doctor who steps out of ensemble) to treatment (Harry continues to the left. Witch doctor steps back, lights come up on nurse who steps out of ensemble) to hospital (Harry continues to center stage left. Nurse steps back, lights come up on coughing patient who steps out of ensemble) to neurologists (Harry continues to the left. Patient steps back, lights come up on neurologist who steps out of ensemble) and plastic surgeons (Harry continues to the left. Neurologist steps back, lights come up on plastic surgeon who steps out of ensemble); anything that could work really. I moved in a haze. Never really hearing or understanding what any of these faceless people said to me (Continues to downstage left). They had no effect. None of them. Until I met Lucky strike. (Lucky strike walks from ensemble to downstage left.)
LUCKY STRIKE:
(Ensemble brings on chairs and sits around Lucky Strike making a presentation) The concentrated surge of energy eviscerates the nervous and autonomic systems. Our brethren, those souls fortunate enough to survive a lightning strike, often suffer terrible maladies such as headaches dizziness and vomiting. Sometimes much worse ailments. Many of which we will cover in the next session. Thank you for joining me for today’s session. I will be at the booth in the main lobby in fifteen minutes to answer any of your questions. (Crowd begins to disperse with murmurs and whispers)
HARRY:
So of course I stayed to talk to the one man (Lucky moves to downstage right where a table has been set up) who might actually understand what I had been through. (Arrives downstage right) He explained what would have happened had I been directly struck. Now if you remember, I was only eight years old at this time. Most of the words he spoke went over my head, until he told this one story…
LUCKY STRIKE:
Do you know, young man, what can happen when one little butterfly flaps its wings in China, all the way on the other side of the world? (Harry shakes his head.) When those little wings flap, (begins to flap his arms) they move little molecules in the air. Do you know what molecules are? (Harry nods.) Good, good. Now picture those molecules moving and bumping into other molecules, which bump into other molecules, and so on and so forth. All these molecules affect the course of those that surround them, changing them, moving them in different directions, just because a butterfly flapped its wings. (Pauses to see that Harry understands. He doesn’t.) …So a butterfly flapping its wings in China in April can cause a thunderstorm in New York in July. One little thing can cause so many other things to happen. All these things that happen, if you don’t control them, will control you. (Harry nods. Lights fade as Harry walks to downstage center.)
HARRY:
I don’t remember much else that he said. But I thought about that story a lot. And I still do. Was Lucky trying to tell me that my thunderstorm was caused by a butterfly in China? Or was he telling me that things like thunderstorms are so random there’s no point in trying to make sense of them? I’m not sure even to this day. I never saw him again. But that one phrase has always been in the back of my mind, waiting for its chance to come to the forefront again: ‘One little thing can cause so many other things to happen. All these things that happen, if you don’t control them, will control you.’ Lucky Strike was the last magic fix my mother tried before opting for more logical solutions to a problem that seemed to bother her more and more and bothered me less and less. (Lights fade.)
Scene 3 (from 4th Period)
HARRY:
(crosses down stage center, Dr. Kenny's office set up in the behind Harry.) So here's how my first session with Dr. Kenny went.
DR. KENNY:
Hello Harry, I'm Dr. Kenneth Hirschorn. (HARRY stares at DR. KENNY, standing still at the door) How are you feeling today Harry?
HARRY:
Can I call you Kenny?
DR. KENNY:
How about Dr. Kenny? (HARRY nods)
HARRY:
(DR. KENNY freezes) Session 120
HARRY:
I don't like it.
DR. KENNY:
Why not?
HARRY:
Because it's stupid.
DR. KENNY:
Why is it stupid?
HARRY:
(Stands up, DR. KENNY freezes) We never really talked about the real reason I was here: Lightning. (Harry sits back down, scene continues)I don’t know. It hurts people.
DR. KENNY:
Okay, Harry, the best way to avoid getting hurt by something is to understand it.
HARRY:
(DR. KENNY freezes) Session 204
DR. KENNY:
A lot of grown-ups use little tricks to calm themselves down. Sometimes they count to ten. How about you try making a list?
HARRY:
List?
DR. KENNY:
It’ll help you forget whatever’s bothering you.
HARRY:
That works?
DR. KENNY:
Just try it.
HARRY:
(paces)Intracloud Lightning….Cloud-to-cloud Lightning….Heat Lightning….
Ribbon Lightning…Streak Lightning….(DR. KENNY freezes) Session 284. (Flips through magazine)
DR. KENNY:
How would you describe other people, Harry?
HARRY:
Describe them?
DR. KENNY:
Things they have in common, put them into groups. You know, kids in sports, or adults that yell too much. That sort of thing.
HARRY:
(to audience, center down stage)I made categories based around my scar. I guess he meant how other people see them. Nazis: They saw my scars as a way to torment me.Faints. Faux Saints:
They pretend not to judge me by my scars, but they do. Freaks: They enjoy looking at my scars, like they get some sort of pleasure out of it.Then the really rare breed, like Johnny Mckenna, he doesn’t seem to notice my scars at all, a friend.(Scene changes behind Harry’s narration, scene starts down stage right.Harry is eating a cupcake, bully snatches cupcake from Harry)
Scene 4
-Harry meets Johnny- mom and dad largely involved-combined meeting and parent scene- transition between playground & parent
Setting
(Harry is sitting on a courtyard/picnic table outside as Billy approaches him. Billy snatches Harry’s lunchbox, and begins messing through his things, Harry reaches for it and it fails)
Billy: Let’s see what we have here. Juice, banana, (pause) here we go, cupcake (Billy takes the cupcake and throws the lunchbox at Harry) thanks freak. (Billy takes a bite of the cupcake, turns around, realizing he didn’t respond. Harry looks down, waiting anxiously for Billy to walk away)
Billy: I said thanks, freak (A bit more emphasis the second time) I said….. (Johnny approaches Harry from behind)
Johnny: Alright Billy, that’s enough, give it back (Harry looks at Johnny analyzing him as in the book)
Billy: (Rolling his eyes, he is moving away from Johnny and Harry) Whatever, I didn’t want it anyway (Billy walks away, and blindly throws the cupcake. The cupcake ends up in the palm of Johnny’s hand)
Johnny: Don’t pay him any attention, he’s harmless. I’m Johnny (Johnny motions to sit down, as he extends his hand for a handshake. Harry, oblivious to what just happened, shakes his hand)
Scene:The Halloween party
Everyone is having fun, talking . Music is playing. Harry meets up with his friends at the party, Gabrielle is with them and they get introduced to each other and they talk all night.
The next day: Johnny comes up with idea to start a band and they began daydreaming on the bedroom floor. They began to play music on a record player. They were also reading album covers for ideas. Harry came up with name “Scar Boys” and Johnny liked it.
Script:
Harry: This party is awesome!
Johnny: I know! I'm glad you could make it.
*Gabrielle walks in*
Gabrielle: Hi Johnny!
Johnny: Hi Gabrielle! Hey Everyone I want you guys to meet Gabrielle.
Everyone: Hi Gabrielle!
Harry: H..... Hi.
*Gabrielle is staring at Harry*
Johnny: I'm going to talk to the other guys, I'll be right back.
*Gabrielle and Harry talks the rest of the night and start to like each other*
The next day
*Harry knocks on Johnny's door. Johnny opens the door*
Johnny: Hey Harry! Come on in.
*Harry enters*
Harry: Hey! Are you hanging with Gabrielle today by any chance?
Johnny: Yes! Actually I am she's on her way over.
*Johnny looks at Harry with a smirk on his face*
Harry: Why are you looking like that. We are just friends.
Johnny: Okay! If you say so.
*Moments later Gabrielle arrives*
Johnny: Hey Gabrielle
Harry: *excited to see her* Hi!
Gabrielle:*staring at Harry* Umm Hi.
*They talk for a while then Gabrielle leaves. Gabrielle and Harry barely talk*
Harry: She doesn’t like me anymore.
Johnny: I'm sorry Harry.
Harry: Its fine im used to it.
Johnny: Hey lets not think about Gabrielle, lets do something else.
Harry: Ok
*They sit in silence for a while*
Johnny: Lets start a band!!!
Harry: A band?
Johnny: Yes! A band!
Harry: Ok well what will we call this band?
Johnny: Um I'm not sure!
Harry: How about Scar Boys!
Johnny: I like that!
*Harry and Johnny sit and listen to music on a record player the rest of the evening*
Scene: Family meeting
The mom calls the family down for dinner, Harry begins eating while his parents stare at him. He noticed that they aren’t eating and that they are staring at him. He mentions that he knows what’s going on and that all of this was because of his grades and he doesn’t mind talking about it. His parents give him the floor to explain himself before they complained. They eventually talk it out and the Mom brings up the bad.
Script:
Mom: Time for dinner!
*Everybody comes to eat*
Harry: What's for dinner tonight? *Looks at food* Ahh my favorite!
*Mom stares at harry *
Harry: This is so good mom! … What? … Ohhhh.. I know what this is about.. Let me explain.
Mom: Your going to explain yourself alright! We had to talk to your principle because your grades are so bad!
Dad: Do you know how embarrassing as a parent that is!?
Harry:*Sighs* I know I know im going to do better, I started not to care a little...
Mom: Not to care? I guess you don’t care if your a high school drop out?
Harry: I do care!
Dad and Mom: Well act like it!
Harry:Okay!
Mom: So hows the band coming along?
Harry: Its going good
Dad: I hope that’s not your main focus...
Harry: Its not
Mom: Good, I don’t want that to get in the way of school. Just stay focused okay? and if you need any help with the band let me know.
Harry: Thanks Mom! Dinner was great by the way! (Mom smiles)
Scene 6
(THE STAGE OPENS UP ON THEM IN HARRY’S BASEMENT . They are playing their
instruments)
harry- i think we should make up a name for the band
Johnny-what should the name be
Richie-the boyz
harry - nah
johnny - what about the strikers
richie-thats lame
Harry- what about the scar boys
johnny- hey that is a perfect name harry
richie-yeah
harry- thanks
Johnny - now what about our gig at CBGB’s
harry- we need new clothes
richie- yeah we do
harry- when are going to go its tomorrow night
johnny-(johnny is thinking with a puzzling face) i know what we can do we can skip school and
go shopping
harry-i don't know johnny
richie- we won't get caught calm down
johnny - just trust me we will be fine
harry- ok, we can skip school
johnny-great
richie-yeah
( they leave off stage and light dims down)
(The scene opens up on Johnny, Richie,and Harry walking down a street when johnny spots a
store.)
Harry- It was a good idea to skip school.
Johnny- Yeah it was but we are on a mission to find some rad clothes for our gig. This is our
fifth store. We need to find one.
Richie- Yeah.
Johnny - Hey you guys come look at this a store. I think we found the one .
Richie and Harry- (NODS and says yeah)
Johnny- Lets go in
(They walk off stage, the lights dim)Jarrell Patterson
(the lights fade up on johnny,richie,and harry looking at clothes.)
harry- I found some clothes.
johnny -let me see them. (johnny face is surprised and shocked ) I don’t like it, but i did find
something that would be good for you.
harry- What?
(Johnny pulls out his preferred outfit for Harry; Harry is disgusted by what he sees)