"Angel Faces"

“Angel Faces”

 

Scene 1

(The year was 1981. Temperatures had dropped below minus in New York City. The snow was belting down. A thick layer of snow hid the pavement, cars were completely covered in it. Young children from different blocks meet up on the street to have snow ball fights. The blistering cold has not deterred them from launching large snow balls at each other. They squeal in excitement as they skid down the pavement. Brian chuckles at their mischievous behaviour. He walks past a hardware store. There is a 30 inch TV in the window. The image of Ronald Reagan’s stern face was on the front of the monitor.)

Ronald Reagan: Drugs are menacing our society. They are threatening our values, under cutting our institutions and killing our children. From the beginning of our administration we have taken strong steps to avoid this horror.

(Brian continued to laugh as he bought a copy of the New York Times)

Shopkeeper: That will be 80 cents sir.

(Brian hands over a 5 dollar bill)

Brian: Keep the change.

Shopkeeper: Woah! Thank you Sir.

(Brian smiles and skips joyfully through the snow. Christmas carols can be heard from passing cars and open house doors and windows. Bright lights illuminated the streets. A tall tree stands in front of the mall, at almost 15ft tall, decorated with dazzling gold and silver lights. A mother drags both her children from a nearby toy store. Both of them are dressed as reindeers. They laugh as they devour their dripping toffee apples. Both of them hop into the car. The mother jumps into the passenger, the father who is seated in the driver’s seat waiting turns on the engine and speeds off. Brian stares longingly into the distance. He was always excited about the holidays, but this one was particularly special. He had been with Helen for 3 years and intended to ask her hand in marriage. Everything was set up, he had his ring, and booked time off to take her to Canada, to his parents’ home to celebrate. He reaches into his pocket and clutches onto the ring. He enters his apartment and heads to the cassette player and presses play. The sounds of Barry White fill the room.)

Cassette Player: I just want to hold you baby!

(Brian closes his eyes and mouths the lyrics to the song. He goes upstairs to light the scented candles. He places rose petals on the stairs. The smell of mint and vanilla serenade the room generating an ethereal atmosphere. The front door opens, he strides over still mouthing the lyrics to the song. Helen walks in smiling, she begins to blush. Brian leads her to the sofa.)

Brian: I love you. You’re the woman of my dreams, you deserve the best.

Helen: (Covers her face) Oh Brian.

Brian: It’s true you’re amazing, I wanted to ask you something. (He reaches into his pocket)

Helen: (Turns away, her voice trembling) Brian I need to tell you something as well.

Brain: I know its ladies first but on this occasion I could make a good case for men first! Haha

Helen: You’re making this hard from Brian. Please. (Her face still turned away)

(Brian sits back, he gently squeezes her shoulder)

Brian: Let me guess, another long day? I have the right mind to go to your work place and tell your manager he can shove his job right up his…

Helen: I’m leaving you Brian. This isn’t going anywhere, me and you. I’ve felt like this for the last few months. I know you’re a good boyfriend but we can’t be together.

Brian: But Helen, I was going to ask you to…

Helen: Look Brian, I feel bad enough as it is. You’re a nice guy, a good guy, but you just can’t be my guy.

End Scene

Scene 2

 

(2 weeks later, Brian is in deep depression. He is sat on the floor of his apartment by his answer machine, dressed only in his vest and drawers. The room is dark, a cloud of smoke hovers close to the ceiling blocking any light. The room reeks of cigarettes and vodka. He takes another drag of his cigarette as he presses play on the answer machine.)

Answer Machine: Hey Brian! It’s Mom! We missed you during the holidays! Hope you’re ok and not working too hard. Send Helen my love! Mwah! Beep! You now have a new message. Brian! Where have you been? Man, that Helen girl has you under her thumb dude! You on house arrest! I thought you was coming to Canada for the holidays home boy!? You better holla at me dude!

(Brian presses skip and deletes his messages. He gets up and opens the curtains. He watches the thick heavy snow fall from the sky. He stares at his reflection in the window. His face is unshaven and his eyes are bloodshot. He quickly showers and changes. He heads out just in time to make the early morning train. He has already had a week off for when he was meant to take Helen to see his parents. He had also taken an additional week off sick on top. He walks into the office and grunts at his colleagues. He sits at his work station and logs on. All the graphs and numbers he had been familiar with since he was a college boy now seem foggy and misty. It is like trying to read hieroglyphics. He looks up to see a pair of blue eyes staring back at him.)

Brian: Hi Tracy.

Tracy: Hey! Your back! Here’s your latte! Did you get my get well card? Do you feel better?

(Brian swallows it whole and smacks his lips.)

Tracy: Woah! That was a strong latte. Maybe I should have given you a heads up. I was going to ask you if you wanted to come…

(The office doors swing open and Donald walks into the room straight to Brian’s table.)

Donald: Brian! Brian! Your back to make me some more money!?

Brian: Yes Sir.

Donald: I need you on deck Brian, we are on a roll don’t mess it up

(5 minutes before the end of his shift Brian logs out and speeds to catch the elevator. As he is about to enter he bumps into a tall black lady and knocks her files out of her arms. He helps her to pick them up)

Brian: Sorry Pandora

Pandora: Oh you know my name (Giggles)

(She is wearing gold bangles and big hoop earrings. She has thick lips and hazelnut eyes. He notices her piercing beneath her lip, and is memorized by her beauty.)

Brian: (Blushes) Yeah, I’ve seen you a lot and our offices are in close contact.

Pandora: Oh, I never knew they had such handsome men in Donald’s office. (Giggles) I’m not usually this forward let me take your number, we should hang out.

(Brian stands frozen on the spot.)

Brian: Maybe that’s not such a good idea. Mixing business with pleasure…

Pandora: Take mine sugar (She slips a card in his front breast pocket and blows a kiss at him)

(As Brian walks away he checks his phone and sees a message on his phone from Alex)

Alex: Bro! I told you that Helen girl was no good! I’m at the airport in Chicago and she just boarded a plane with this tall player. Dude looks like an NBA sports star. Big ass beard and about 10ft tall. They were holding hands and everything, boarding the plane to Paris. Don’t worry brother, just keeping making that money, there is plenty more fish in the sea.

(Brian trembles with rage as he rereads the message.)

Brian: (He mutters under his breath) Bitch!

(He takes out the card that Pandora gave to him and dials her number)

Brian: Pandora! You free tonight? Dinner at 7? Ok, it’s a date!

End Scene

Scene 3

(Over the next few months Pandora and Brian are going on dates regularly. He never thought he would be happy so soon after Helen.)

Pandora: Thank you so much Brian!

Brian: Sometimes it’s good to know people in higher places.

Pandora: They told me that I would have to take at least two years out and go back to college to get the qualification before they even consider!

Brian: I’ve been there for five years, there are several loopholes babe.

(Pandora leans over and plants a kiss on his cheek.)

Pandora: Michael from human resources has been pulling some strings for me as well,

Brian: That guy thinks he is slick, a bit too confident.

Pandora: Hmmm. A bit of ego never hurt nobody. Haha

(She pulls out a small mirror and begins to adjust her make-up and applies her red lipstick)

Brian: You don’t need all that stuff, your too beautiful. Natural beauty, they don’t make them like you anymore.

Pandora: Thanks Sugar! You’re such a nice dude

(Her phone rings)

Pandora: Hey Mikey! Ok. Yeah sure, I’ll be outside sugar.

(Brian’s mouth drops open)

Brian: Mikey?

Pandora: Yeah, he’s been asking to take me out for a while so I thought why not.

Brian: I thought we were dating

Pandora: Um, yeah, just keeping my options open baby!

(She takes out some dollar bills and puts them on the table. She gets up and walks outside, the sound of her heels tapping the floor echo throughout the bar. She hops in the black Mercedes and speeds off into the night.)

End Scene

Scene 4

Radio Host: So Gary Webb, what your saying is that the C.I.A and the government are pumping drugs into the United States?

Garry Webb: I’m saying that they are turning a blind eye to the supplies being pushed into the ghettos of Los Angeles. Maybe Los Angeles have to suffer for America to survive this war on drugs. It is cut throat, everyone is out for themselves!

(Brian switches off the radio and looks at the time. He reaches over and takes another swig of vodka. The night is still young. The allure of staying in to drink his sorrows away is enticing but he rejects this notion. He opts for fresh air. He slaps on some cheap cologne and leaves. As he walks down the street many people are speeding in their flashy cars, windows wound all the way down, pumping their loud music. Guys are out in their freshest outfits hoping to find a woman for the night or a woman forever. Girls roam around in large packs, dressed in tight bodycon dresses hoping to attract fresh attention. They are wearing their highest heels and brightest colours. As Brian turns the corner, he sees a bunch of guys talking to a group of girls. He notices Tracy with her arms folded and her face screwed up. Her face lights up when their eyes meet.)

Tracy: Brian! Oh my God! (She embraces him)

Brian: Hey.

Tracy: You’re never out hunny! I didn’t expect to see you out.

Brian: I just wanted some fresh air.

Tracy: We’re headed to a bar around the corner. You’re welcome to come and join us.

Brian: I’ll think about it. I just wanted some me time.

Tracy: Oh. Is it because of Helen?

Brian: What?

Tracy: No, I mean’t…

Brian: Enjoy your evening Tracy. Goodnight.

(Brian storms off. He hears one Tracy’s friend exclaiming, “Girl I don’t know what you see in that guy. That dude is tripping”. He turns the corner and enters the nearest bar “Angel Faces”.)

Brian: Excuse me sir, can I have a brandy and coke. Make it a double.

Bartender: No problem I’ll sort you out brother. It’s happy hour, you came at the right time. (He presents him with two glasses filled to the brim. The atmosphere is buzzing. Groups of guys, groups of girls, many couples, people on double dates. People from different back grounds of all different shapes and sizes.)

DJ: We got all the hits people. Make some noise!

Crowd: Whoop!

DJ: Ok hear goes! (He presses a button and Madonna “Like a Virgin” blares out of the speakers. At this point everyone seated makes their way to the dance floor. Brian however, remains seated. He feels somebody tap his shoulder. He spins round and is faced by a fresh faced oriental woman. She resembled a geisha; her bone structure is perfectly chiselled. She pouted her thin lips. But not even her alarming beauty can sway Brian to pay attention.)

Brian: Excuse me, I’m here by myself, I’m not here to entertain anyone.

Lady: My name is Nadia. (She smiles revealing her perfect set of teeth.)

Brian: Nadia, I’m doing my best to be polite. Could you respect my personal space?

Nadia: Oh, you’re a challenge. Life is nothing without a challenge, makes the reward much sweeter. Wouldn’t you agree (She winks. She reaches for the full glass and takes a sip of his drink. He yanks it from her.)

Brian: What the heck is wrong with you?

(She cackles.)

(Brian storms to the toilet in fury. Five minutes later he returns to see Nadia sitting on his chair.

Brian: Listen missy, you’ve got the wrong guy!

(He feels a tap on his shoulder and turns around. To his shock another beautiful woman faces him. To his horror she looks exactly the same as Nadia. Twins. She smiles in his face, licking her bright red lipstick.)

Nadia: This is my sister Andrea

(Brian’s head is spinning from the liquor, the vodka he had in his apartment combined with the brandy and coke he had in the bar.)

Brian: But…

Andrea; Yes double trouble. (She smirks at her sister.)

Dj: It’s like that! Yeah! (Run DMC’s “Its like that” blares from the speakers.)

Nadia: Let’s dance baby! This is my song!

The twins drag Brian to the nearest booth and close the curtains behind them. They both sandwich him, dancing to the music. Andrea runs her hands through his hair. Brian’s head is spinning uncontrollably. But he does his best to stay in time with the beat.

Nadia: Easy tiger! You need some water. Somebody has had a little too much to drink! Haha!

(Brian grabs the water and swills it down without question. The room begins to spin faster.)

Brian: What’s happening? Nadia? Hello?

Andrea: Quick! Take his wallet, let’s bounce!

Brian: Huh? (Blacks out.)

End Scene

Scene 5

Waiter: Get out you bum! Hey! Sleeping beauty, wake up! This ain’t no hotel!

(Brian stirs and opens his eyes. He has double vision, he can see two irate fat white men in front of him.)

Brian: (He mumbles.) Twins?

Waiter: No just one of me sunshine.

(Brian uses the sofa as support to get up. He rubs his eyes and slowly walks out of the club, he looks at the clock above the bar. It is 9.00am. He walks onto the street and vomits freely.)

Tramp: Haha. I thought I was the bum. When you meet them Angel Faces you will never be the same again. Watch out for them wolves in sheep’s clothing.

(Brian reaches in his pocket to give him change. To his horror he cannot find his wallet or his cell phone. He kicks a can in frustration.)

Tramp: Haha!

(He runs across the street, a car flies across him. The driver sounds his horn and hurls some inaudible profanities. Once he reaches the end of the street he can hear his name being called out. He looks down the street and can’t make out the person calling his name, his vision is still blurry.)

Tracy: Brian! (She bounds up to him and gives him a tight hug. Her sweet smelling perfume soothes him.)

Brian: I’m sorry Tracy. I was out of line last night. I’m sorry. Your always nice to me but I just…

Tracy: That’s ok hunny. How was your night?

Brian: Um. I’ve had better.

(They both laugh.)

Tracy: I can relate. You up for that cup of coffee?

(Brian nods his head. The hold hands and walk down the street)

End Scene