Sweet, here we go.



( Mercury and Saturn aren't correct anymore. )

I made this for class and I'm posting it here so my friend can review it.  @.@


“Tattoo”

Marianne: Philip’s girlfriend.  An immature, sweet woman who cares too much of what
                 others think of her.  Loves Phil but thinks of herself first.

Philip: Marianne’s boyfriend.  Usually kind, but tired and at the end of his patience after      
            Marianne refuses to marry him. Loves her but can’t understand her sometimes.

Tattoo Artist: An older man who tattoos people for a living.  He doesn’t know the couple
                      but watches their conversation with mild interest.

[The scene opens on a deserted but pleasant street. There is an unlit shop stage right and a couple enters stage left.  They walk in arm and arm, but then the woman pulls away..]

Marianne:  I don’t know Phil, what will people say…

Philip: [sighs] Mary, they’re not gonna say anything.

Marianne:  But I dunno…and tattoos are really serious…

Philip: That’s the point.  

Marianne: But what if there’s talk? Sarah said—

Philip: We’ve been together for three years. We should be sealing it with something permanent by now.

Marianne:  But—

Philip: People expect it that way, Mary. You do too.  You just told me yesturday—

Marianne:  Sarah said it sounded exciting.  And I thought it’d be romantic.

Philip: Is it still romantic?

Marianne: Yeah, of course.

Philip: Then why do you have a problem with it now?

Marianne: [shifts] I dunno Phil, it…it just feels weird because it’s going to be permanent and all…

Philip:  Look, it was your idea. And I can’t think of a better way to make it official. [pauses] Besides, you know…getting married.

Marianne: [nods guiltily]

Philip: Good. I’m glad we worked that out.

Marianne: [allows herself to be led to the tattoo parlor]

[The tattoo parlor is illuminated.  An older, gruff man is seated inside cleaning.  When  Marianne and Philip enter, a bell jingles and he looks up. As soon as she passes the threshold, Marianne clutches Philip’s arm to get his attention.]

Marianne: [whispers]Phil, Phil wait, I don’t know.  Are you sure I should do this?  Is it going to hurt Phil?  I really don’t want it to…will it hurt?”

Philip: No, no Mary it won’t hurt.

Tattoo Artist:  [cleaning again]  Yeah it will.

Marianne:  Oh Philip, noooo, I don’t want it to hurt.  

Philip: Why are you bringing this up now?

Marianne: You know how I get about just stubbing my toe! I don’t think I can do this.

Philip: What are you…you stepped on a tack last month!  You were fine!  

Marianne: But—

Philip: I had to clean up all the damn blood while you—

Marianne:  But this is different!

Philip:  Different?!  How the hell—

Marianne:  Sarah said it’ll be noisy!

Tattoo Artist: She’s right.

Marianne:  See? I don’t want to do it!

Philip: [exasperated] You really don’t want to?

Marianne:  [shakes head]

Philip:  Fine.  If we leave now and we can get back home before the game. [begins to leave]

Marianne: [hesitates] Wait!  

Philip: [stops]

Marianne: I changed my mind.

Philip: Again?!

Marianne:  Well…yeah.  Yeah, I want to do it now.

Philip:  For God’s sake Marianne, this is the last time!  Are you going to get the tattoo?

Marianne:  Yes. I’m sure.  

Philip: [looks skeptical]

Marianne: I love you Phil. I want to do this.

Philip: [sighs] I love you too…[leads her over to the chair where she’ll get her tattoo] Let’s get it over with.

Tattoo Artist: [stops cleaning and begins preparing tools]

Marianne: [sits in chair] This isn’t comfortable…[fidgits]

Philip: There’s nothing I can do about that.

Marianne: Will you stand next to me?

Philip: Yes, Marianne.

Tattoo Artist: [tests tools and they make a buzzing noise]

Marianne:  Oohhh, will you hold my hand?

Philip: Yes, Marianne.

Tattoo Artist: Not the arm I’m workin’ on.

Philip: [switches sides]

Marianne: Please Phil!

Phil: [already at her left side] I’m here.

Marianne: [clutches his hand painfully]

Tattoo Artist: What do you want?

Marianne: His name.  Philip, P-H-I-L-I-P [points to upper right arm] Right there.

Philip: I’m paying.

Tattoo Artist: [nods and prepares area for tattooing]

Marianne: Oh Phil, this is great! They’ll all see how much I love you~

Phil: [glances at bare ring finger] Well, they’ll see my name on your arm.

Marianne: I know!  Then everyone will know how in love we are.

Phil: [silent]

Marianne: Sarah was just saying yesterday, ‘Why don’t you two do something special?’  You know, like when she and Mark got engaged.

Phil: [freezes and stares at her]

Marianne: So I thought, ‘Well, this’ll show her how much better Phil is!’  A tattoo.  It’s a little scary—

Tattoo Artist: [about to begin]

Marianne: —But I know I can be brave for you!

Phil: I see…

Tattoo Artist: [begins]

Marianne: OwowOW! Ow that hurts, ow! [squeezes his hand]

Philip: [lost in thought]

Marianne: [squeezes hand harder] OW Ouch ow, Phil, it hurts!

Philip: Does it.

Marianne: Yes, owowowowwwww.  Ow!  Look at me, I can’t believe I’m doing this for you…

Philip: [looks] You can’t, can you?

Marianne: [excited] No!  Haha, this is crazy. OW. But I’d do anything for—OOOWWW—you!

Philip: [takes his hand away] Three years, Marianne.

Marianne: [not paying attention]  What?

Philip: [louder] Three years Marianne.  Three years!  

Marianne: [surprised] What’s wrong?

Philip: You promised me last Christmas we could be married on the New Year. But then Sarah needed help moving.

Marianne: But she did and I—

Philip: And you only went to brag about how much bigger our house is!

Marianne: [aghast] Philip!

Tattoo Artist: Hold still.  [working]

Philip: And then for our anniversary you held a concert in our back yard.

Marianne: I was thinking of you!  I thought it’d be speci—OW, watch it!

Tattoo Artist: Sorry miss.

Philip:  [continues his rant] Like hell you were thinking of me!  We agreed to just have a quiet dinner, but then you heard your friends had a goddamned banquet for their birthdays.

Marianne: Phil—

Philip: [furious] You just had to outdo them, didn’t you?  Good god Marianne, you even made the cake three layers thicker!

Marianne: [tries to speak but is overpowered]

Philip: [yelling] And now when I propose, with a ring, on one knee, in front of my entire family, you say no.

Marianne: Phil, I wasn’t—

Philip: [interrupts] You say no because your friends weren’t there.  Because I couldn’t afford a ring bigger than Sarah’s. Because you’d rather get a flashy tattoo that you don’t even want than be outdone!  

Tattoo Artist: [stops working finally]

Philip: Shit Marianne, I just—I just can’t believe you.

Marianne: [verge of tears] Oh Phil no, please I—

Philip: Shut up, Marianne.  Just shut up.  [tired] It’s over.

Marianne: [chokes] Over?

Philip: Over. [reaches into his pocket, grabs his wallet and pulls out some money] [walks over and slams it on a counter in the shop] [looks at Tattoo Artist] Here. Thank you for the work.

Marianne: [sits up] Wait, Phil!

Philip: [ignores her] [leaves and slams door behind him]

Marianne: [stunned silence]

Tattoo Artist: [glances at the money]…It’s on the house.  [resumes work]

Bah, I've decided to start updating my journal.

So...what's happened.  I've joined an RP and got into a musical.  But I also have too much homework from classes that I shouldn't have to take but I'm required to sit through anyway.  Which sucks.  I'd much rather spend my free time with something constructive and interesting like let's say...writing some stories.  Or learning an instrument.  Or creating my own language.  Or brushing up on my drawing, damnit.  >[

But alas I am instead stuck analyzing the US constitution.  This is silly, since I've already taken a very intense US History/Government course and I don't have any interesting in pursuing the field in college.  The class gives way too much homework too.  I mean I love the teacher and all but really, the busywork isn't needed or welcome.

Ah but journals aren't only about complaining.  I'm not very good at writing entries but I'll change topics now.

I want to start doing something.  Somewhere along the way I lost the will or ability to take control of myself and develop my skills.  Many an idea have gone unfinished because of some bastard desire to smother my plans at birth.  I'm very sick of sabatoging myself.  So starting now, I'm going to actually do things.  I'll pick up old projects or scrap them for something new.  And I'll pursue the secret desires I have despite my fear of people knowing too much of how I think.  It's a bit late for a New Year's resolution I suppose, but I don't think I need a New Year to take a new step in my life.  Cheesiness aside, I've decided to begin my future.  It's time to make myself into something more than just a straight A student.  :]

-Ellie