Left Long

Feelin' It (Scene III)

(GERARD is seated at one of the stools of the short-order counter at a local bodega. It is dingy, but sunlight shines through the windows.

HE is slightly hung over and wearing a well-worn sweat suit that he is comfortable in, to the point of not caring how he looks when he's wearing it out.

HE is reading a newspaper and slowly picking apart a plate of eggs and sausage. After a short time FRANKIE barges in, making GERARD look up.)

GERARD

Frankie, my man. What's gon' –

FRANKIE

Th… That wa… That was fucked up what you did yesterday, G.

(GERARD hunches back over his plate and turns a page in the paper.)

GERARD

Whatchu mean?

(FRANKIE slaps his hand down onto the paper and glares at GERARD until GERARD looks up.)

FRANKIE

What you said to Veezy.

(GERARD turns back to the paper.)

GERARD
( outwardly unfeeling )

Oh.

FRANKIE

Man… don't… don't gi… don't gimme that shit.

(FRANKIE mocks GERARD's feigned lack of knowledge, leaning back with eyes wide and lips pursed.)

FRANKIE

(continuing)

Oh!

(FRANKIE begins to turn around and stops himself. HE looks at GERARD.)

FRANKIE

(continuing)

Sh… She… She thought you were cool, G. She wanted to meet you for a long time.

GERARD
( bitterly )

So? ( a beat ) Bitch had a boyfriend.

(FRANKIE shoots GERARD an uncompromising glare.)

FRANKIE

I'ma let that slide cuz I know you're heated.

(GERARD snorts in response. FRANKIE grabs GERARD at the shoulder and turns him so they are face-to-face. GERARD displaces FRANKIE's hand and turns back to the paper.)

GERARD
( annoyed )

Dag… What's your problem, Stut? Just let a nigga grub.

FRANKIE
( utter disbelief )

What's my problem?? Th… Th… That's a question? V's my cousin. You just jerked my cousin cuz you let your dick lead you around.

GERARD

I ain't do shit.

FRANKIE

Don't go there, G.

GERARD
( challengingly )

And what if I do?

(FRANKIE pushes him off the stool. GERARD's fork sails out of his hand and his plate clatters around before coming to a stop.

A beat. GERARD, emotionally hurt, looks up at FRANKIE from his position on the floor. FRANKIE stares down and away, upset with himself. HE collects himself.)

FRANKIE

My bad, G.

(FRANKIE offers GERARD a hand. GERARD swats his hand away, stands up and brushes himself off. FRANKIE turns, walks halfway to the exit and pauses. HE looks over his shoulder at GERARD.)

FRANKIE

(continuing)

D… Don't… Don't think that means I'ma let this go. I'ma remember.

(FRANKIE has one hand on the bar, pushing the door open slightly when he turns back again.)

FRANKIE

(continuing)

Yo, I finished that verse, too.

(GERARD takes a fork from a nearby setting and pokes his eggs around the plate.)

GERARD
( spitting out the words )

So spit if you wanna spit.

(FRANKIE takes a few steps toward GERARD. FRANKIE reaches down as if to get the paper out of his pocket, but stops himself.)

FRANKIE
( with venom, triumphantly )

I speak with silence; stuck behind a stutter –
C…c…can you hear me now? Listen to every word that I utter.
Friends always knock you, down into the gutter
when you least expect it, and redirect it –
the course of your friendship – making the casual hectic.
The small things stay small, but begin to add up
never talking at all makes you wanna stand up, scream and shout
about every one of the things
that gets you twisted because it straight stings
to the core of your soul and makes you feel old,
gnarled up and twisted.
Just listen, I want it to end
get away from it all and never repent,
let people know where they stand and never relent
It's pent up inside of the core of this guy
who lets many things slide, but now it's enough
it's time to stand tough and it's alone that I ride.

(FRANKIE turns and EXITS. GERARD slumps on the stool.)

GERARD
( to himself )

( a beat ) Well fuck.

(HE picks up the fork, shovels in a mouthful of eggs and starts reading the sports section.)

Curtain