Left Long

Feelin' It (Scene II)

(The scene is a billiards hall that is murky with stale cigarette smoke and smells of flat beer and dank, seldom-cleaned faux carpet.

There are two pool tables, one upstage and one down. The downstage table is closer to center stage than the other.

A few Puerto Rican drug dealers are at the upstage table playing for money. They each wear a few gold chains over their A-shirts. Wads of cash that no one goes near sit on the rails and ledges nearby. The grips of .9mm pistols are visible in their waistbands.

The downstage table is empty.

JAMES REILLY is behind the bar, polishing a glass with a worn cloth best described as not clean. Below a floppy, stringy mop of hair, HE has three days worth of scruff and a mole on his neck that has hairs poking out at random angles. A cigarette protrudes from his fat lips in flagrant disregard for the city's bar ban on smoking. HE nods at GERARD as GERARD swings open the glass door, ENTERS, and walks over to the bar.)

JAMES

Gerard.

GERARD

Whutup, Jimmy Jo?

(GERARD nods toward the cigarette with his chin.)

GERARD

(continuing)

Ain't you s'posed to take that outside?

(JAMES shakes his head sadly.)

JAMES

I wish you wouldn't call me that.

GERARD

It's all love, JJ. All love.

(GERARD leans on the counter conspiratorially. HE looks at FRANKIE and VANESSA and then back at JAMES.)

GERARD

(continuing)

Lemme get a table for three.

(JAMES stops wiping the glass and holds it up to the light with one hand. HE rotates it, lets out a puff of smoke, and sees enough to place it in the cupboard. HE ducks down behind the counter and sets a tray of balls and chalk on the counter. HE jerks a thumb toward Vanessa.)

JAMES

Table for two – 22, over in the corner.

(GERARD claps him on the shoulder.)

GERARD

Good looking out, JJ.

(JAMES grunts, turns around and takes another glass out of the sink. GERARD opens the door and lets in FRANKIE and VANESSA. GERARD points at their table.)

GERARD

(continuing)

We're over there. Let's go.

(FRANKIE grabs the tray and heads over to the table. GERARD offers VANESSA an elbow.)

GERARD

M'lady.

(VANESSA rolls her eyes and slips her arm in his. GERARD is beaming as THEY walk over to the table.

FRANKIE rolls a stick across the felt until he's satisfied with the balance before popping it up into his hands. HE nods toward the wall-mounted cue rack without looking up.)

FRANKIE

Sticks is over there.

(FRANKIE slides wraith-like around the table, running his fingers along the underside until he found the triangle. HE brings it up onto the table and quickly loads the balls in. HE swaps two, and then two again. HE rolls the triangle forward, back and forward again before stepping back.

HE eyes the setup, body angled slightly backward. The cue is resting in a loosely clenched fist, stood up on end. HE looks up at VANESSA and GERARD.)

FRANKIE

(continuing)

Your break.

(VANESSA chalks her cue.)

VANESSA
( innocently )

Let me go first?

GERARD
( swooping in )

I can help ya out if ya need it.

VANESSA
( considering the offer )

I'd like that.

(GERARD comes around to VANESSA's right side as SHE leans over the table into a hitting position. GERARD rests his left hand on the small of her back and hunches down to line himself up with the cue ball.)

GERARD

You're aiming right …

(He rotated her aiming hand slightly. She stayed intensely focused on the spot.)

GERARD

(continuing)

… there. Now ease back slowly, and then come forward and hit it right in the middle.

(GERARD shifts back slightly to watch VANESSA. It borders on staring. FRANKIE waits casually on the other side of the table. VANESSA brings her cue back shakily and then explodes on her follow-through, sending the balls careening around the table and sinking two stripes.)

VANESSA
( naively )

Was that good?

GERARD
( smirking )

Something like that. ( a beat ) Go again.

(VANESSA puts her hands on her hips and purses her lips.)

VANESSA

Which one should I go for?

(GERARD shifts around the table and gets behind the 13.)

GERARD
( pointing to the 13 )

This one. Aim here.

(GERARD places his forefinger on the front left of the ball. VANESSA bends down and focuses. SHE draws back and her shot glances off the ball, causing it to roll harmlessly away from the pack. HER face scrunches up in displeasure.)

VANESSA

Darn.

GERARD

It's all good.

(He shoots FRANKIE a smarmy look.)

GERARD
( to VANESSA )

(continuing)

My boy here's got nothing.

(FRANKIE shakes his head and leans into place.)

FRANKIE

Whatever, G.

(FRANKIE lines up his first shot and sinks it. GERARD shrugs.)

GERARD

Ain't no thang. ( winking, to VANESSA ) 'S Luck.

(FRANKIE goes on a run. HE looks up at GERARD, laughs to himself and gives GERARD a cocksure nod.)

FRANKIE

Whutup now?

(GERARD struts around the table.)

GERARD

You gonna watch the master go to work, that's what.

(FRANKIE rolls his eyes and roots around for his pad. VANESSA laughs.)

VANESSA

Oh will we?

(GERARD sinks a few easily, as VANESSA watches on and FRANKIE keeps polishing his verse. GERARD looks up at Vanessa, winks and nails a shot.)

GERARD
( cocky )

All in the wrist.

(GERARD tries too hard to be slick on the next shot and misses. VANESSA raises an eyebrow.)

VANESSA

Now what happened to the master?

(GERARD pops his collar.)

GERARD

He ain't go nowhere. He just wanted to keep Frankie in the game. ( to FRANKIE ) You're up, Stut.

(FRANKIE, who is finishing a rhyme, fishes for his cue without looking at it, gets his hand around it and stands up.

Ideally, HE closes out the game.)

FRANKIE

C'mon, G. You n… you need… you need to gimme a challenge here.

GERARD

All in good time, Stut. Lemme get a practice round first. You could work on your shit.

(FRANKIE looks at VANESSA and then back over at Gerard.)

FRANKIE

Yea, he said. Aight. I can do that.

(FRANKIE goes over to a nearby chair and gets the pad out of his pocket with one hand and uses the other to place the headphones atop his head. The beat can be heard slipping out from beneath the padding. HE is lost in it immediately. GERARD goes over to VANESSA.)

GERARD

'S just the two of us, now.

VANESSA

So it would seem.

GERARD

You mind if I break?

VANESSA

Go ahead.

(GERARD leans in and lines up his shot. HE begins breaking it down to no one in particular.)

GERARD

See, when you break, you want to aim between the first and second balls on the same side as your shooting hand. That'll give you the best split.

(HE shoots and hits the spot. A ball should drop. HE looks up at Vanessa.)

GERARD

See? It's that simple.

(GERARD lines up his next shot and continues clearing the table throughout the following dialogue.)

GERARD

(continuing)

So you in school or somethin'?

VANESSA

Yea. NYU. I'm in the drama department there.

GERARD

Daayuum… Cool down, hot stuff. ( a beat ) ( another ) 'S that like?

VANESSA
( shrugs )

It's okay, I guess. ( a beat ) It's just school.

GERARD

Nah, c'mon – it's college and shit. It's gotta be a little interesting.

(VANESSA begins absentmindedly playing with the zipper on her sweater.)

VANESSA

I guess… ( a beat ) I mean, there's class all day and then rehearsal. And we've gotta do all this reading.

(A beat. SHE slowly exhales and the breath pushes a loose hair out of her face.)

VANESSA

(continuing)

I just kind of wanna crash at the end of the day, you know?

GERARD

Yea. I hear that. You almost make it sound worse than the grind.

VANESSA

It's a grind in its own way. Same thing day after day – you can get kind of drama-ed out, you know?

(A beat. SHE zips the hoodie all the way up and rubs her arms as if to warm them.)

VANESSA

(continuing)

But I love it, so it's all worthwhile, I guess.

GERARD

Sheeeit. ( a beat ) You should hear yourself. Straight trippin' when you're makin' moves and whatnot.

(A beat. HE looks up at HER.)

GERARD

(continuing)

You cold?

(SHE shakes her head.)

VANESSA

Nah. I'm all right. ( a beat ) You ever go to school?

GERARD

( a beat ) ( another ) Yea. I went to City College for a few semesters. Shit cost too much and took up ill amounts of time. ( a beat ) Couldn't hold down the job like I needed to.

VANESSA

( a beat ) That's too bad. What did you study?

(GERARD looks up from his shot with a self-serving smirk and shakes his head.)

GERARD

You ain't gonna believe me if I tell you.

VANESSA

Psh… whatever. Hit me, mister bigshot.

(A beat. GERARD thinks it over.)

GERARD

Naah… It's all good.

VANESSA
( frustrated )

Come on.

(SHE walks over to him, tugs on HIS jacket sleeve and leans sideways in order to look him in the eye.)

VANESSA
( pouting )

Tell me.

(A beat. GERARD rolls his eyes and backs up slightly.)

GERARD

(continuing)

Aight, aight. You don't gotta go all puppy-dog on me and shit. ( a beat, not really annoyed at all ) Damn.

(A beat. VANESSA waits expectantly.)

GERARD
( feigning innocence )

What? ( a beat ) Oh.

(A beat. HE grabs the sides of his jacket and settles it into place.)

GERARD

(continuing)

Drama. ( a beat ) I studied drama.

VANESSA
( total disbelief )

Yea. ( a beat ) Right. ( a beat ) You. Went to college. And studied drama.

GERARD
( coolly )

( a beat ) I shit you not.

VANESSA
( skeptically )

Come on. ( a beat ) That's a little much of a coincidence, don't you think?

GERARD

It is, isn't it? ( a beat ) Told you, you wouldn't believe me.

VANESSA

Well, if you were me, would you?

GERARD
( casually, but somewhat condescending )

After I told you that I was feeling Bertold Brecht, I would. He was trippin' on some ill shit. Get at people with images and sounds and shit. Take ‘em outta they zone and whatnot.

(A beat. HE looks up at HER nonchalantly.)

GERARD

(continuing)

That work?

VANESSA
( taken slightly aback )

Y… yea. ( a beat ) Yea it does.

GERARD

( laughs ) Now you sounding like my boy Stut over here.

VANESSA

I was just surprised is all.

GERARD

I'm a surprising kind of guy. ( a beat ) What's say we kill the game and bounce to this party I know about. At this guy Joe's house. My man and them. It'll be good times.

VANESSA

I'm sure it –

(The cell phone in HER pocket rings. VANESSA slides it out just enough to see the number on the display. A slight frown plays across her lips.)

VANESSA

(continuing)

Just lemme take this call.

GERARD

Yea, no prob.

(VANESSA makes her way to the door and EXITS.

GERARD goes over to FRANKIE and stands in front of him until FRANKIE notices. FRANKIE does a slight double take and then slides the headphones down around his neck.)

FRANKIE

I… I'm wor… I'm workin', G.

GERARD

Yea, yea, I got you. Listen. You wanna check the party over at Joe's? I know I said I ain't wanna go and all, but I'm kinda feelin' it right now.

FRANKIE
( impassive )

Aight. Whatever.

(A beat. FRANKIE starts to go back to his pad, but GERARD places a hand across the pad, getting FRANKIE's attention.)

GERARD

Hey, your cousin's kinda cool.

FRANKIE

Yea. ( a beat ) And?

GERARD

And nothing. I'm just saying, is all.

FRANKIE

G, she's got –

GERARD
( finishing the sentence )

Got some brains on her. I know. We already ran that game. I fed her that shit I learned at City. It's all good.

FRANKIE

Yea… all good.

(FRANKIE shakes his head and slides the headphones back into place.)

FRANKIE
( under his breath )

Whatever, G.

(VANESSA ENTERS. SHE comes over to GERARD.)

VANESSA

Hey.

GERARD
( smiling wide and easily )

Hey. Who was that?

(VANESSA begins to speak and stops herself before uttering a sound. A beat before she starts again.)

VANESSA

Just my boyfriend checkin' up on me. ( a beat ) He's all worried ‘bout his little lady being in big, bad Brooklyn.

GERARD
( raising an eyebrow )

Boyfriend, huh? ( a beat )

VANESSA

( thrown )

Huh? I mean… ( a beat ) Yea, I have a boyfriend.

GERARD

So it's like that now. ( an uncomfortable beat ) So how long y'all been gon' out?

(VANESSA begins playing with her zipper again. SHE answers without looking up.)

VANESSA

Uhmm… ( a beat ) It'll be seven months on Wednesday.

(GERARD slams the cue ball and sends the balls careening wildly around the table. HE smiles at her sweetly.)

GERARD
( flatly )

Very nice. ( a beat ) That's great. I'm glad for ya both.

(A beat. GERARD leans over the table and begins clearing the balls off the table.)

GERARD

He have to know everything you do?

VANESSA

Excuse me?

GERARD

Does your boyfriend need to know everything you do? ( a beat ) Cuz I think you should come out to the party.

VANESSA

( a beat ) I don't think that would be such a good idea.

GERARD

Oh?

VANESSA

I just…

GERARD

Just what?

VANESSA

Nothing.

GERARD

Right. ( a beat ) Nothing. ( a beat, cockily ) You know you wanna kick it with me.

VANESSA

I don't want to go to the party, that's all.

GERARD

So you do wanna kick it.

VANESSA
( frustrated )

That's not what I meant. ( a beat ) Listen, I think you're cool and all –

GERARD

Exactly – you think I'm cool. So let's go.

VANESSA

It's not that easy –

GERARD

Sure it is.

VANESSA

Can we stop this? ( a beat ) Please?

GERARD

I'm just asking you to come to a party.

(VANESSA regards him skeptically.)

GERARD

(continuing)

Don't gimme that look. You can't even play like you haven't been at the speed of the game.

VANESSA

It's not that –

GERARD

Then what is it? Hmmm? ( a beat ) I'm listening.

VANESSA

I like this. I mean, you're cool and this is fun and all. But I don't think it's in my best interest to go.

GERARD

You say this now. After three hours of jock riding.

VANESSA

That's not fair.

GERARD

Sure it is. You been leading me on the whole time. I figured I'd run with it.

VANESSA

Well, maybe I thought you were mature enough to handle it.

GERARD

So how come I didn't hear about your boy until just now?

VANESSA

I … I …

GERARD

Yea. That's what I thought. ( a beat, then muttering ) Trick-ass bitch.

VANESSA
( perking up, stunned )

What did you just say?

GERARD

If you heard it, you don't need to ask.

VANESSA

I think I should get going.

GERARD

Maybe you should.

(VANESSA walks over to FRANKIE as GERARD hunkers back over the table and continues playing. and places a hand on his arm.)

FRANKIE
( without losing his focus )

One second.

(SHE tugs on his sleeve and HE looks up.)

FRANKIE
( annoyed )

(continuing)

What?

VANESSA

I think we should go.

(A beat, SHE looks in GERARD's direction with a scowl.)

VANESSA

(continuing)

I've gotta be up early tomorrow to get to that casting call.

(FRANKIE almost asks her which one before seeing the look on HER face telling him not to. FRANKIE looks over at GERARD, who is shooting on the far side of the table.)

FRANKIE
( trying to piece things together )

Yea. ( a beat ) We should be out. ( a beat ) Got your stuff?

VANESSA

Yea. I've got everything.

FRANKIE
( to GERARD )

We gotta jet, G. V's got an audition to go to early. We'll catch you.

GERARD

( a beat ) Aight. I'ma check that party, though – let you know how it went and shit.

(GERARD gives FRANKIE the pound/guy hug.)

GERARD
( to VANESSA, coolly )

(continuing)

Vanessa.

(A beat. HE nods at HER.)

GERARD
( coolly )

(continuing)

It was nice meeting you.

(SHE half-turns and hesitates a second before walking briskly to the door. SHE EXITS. FRANKIE watches HER exit and turns back to GERARD.)

FRANKIE

Thi… This… This is…

(A beat. FRANKIE squeezes his palms tightly to get the stutter under control.)

FRANKIE

(continuing)

This is fucked, G.

(FRANKIE goes after VANESSA and EXITS, leaving GERARD standing there, cue in hand.)

GERARD
( to himself )

Or not. (a beat) As the case may be.