Aftertaste Page #7

Season #1 Episode #1

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TONY:

Yes. They’re free tickets, so does it

really matter where we sit?

MELODY RAE:

No. True. Good point.

Just as they sit down two animated guys run up in front of the bleacher section holding microphones. They start chanting, their voices booming through the massive speakers propped next to them. Everyone sitting stands, except for Melody Rae and Tony. Tony and Melody Rae look at each other and decide with their eyes, they should stand as well. The animated guys shout out rhythmic cheers and the entire section chants back well-rehearsed cheers. Then, unexpectedly, one of the chants becomes repetitive; accompanied by a clapping rhythm.

THE CHEER SECTION

Take off that RED shirt! Take off that RED

shirt! Take off that RED shirt!

Melody Rae and Tony are clapping and chanting along. Until Melody Rae notices that everyone is chanting, staring and pointing at her. Everyone, including Tony. Red being the color of the opposing team and U.C. Berkeley school colors being blue and gold, the chants became aggressive. She looks at her sweatshirt, and then mortified, screams at Tony.

MELODY RAE:

There is no way in hell I am taking off

this sweatshirt!

A more understanding guy from several bleacher rows above them tosses Melody Rae a blue sweatshirt to wear over her red one. She glares at Tony, who only smiles in amusement.

SUPERIMPOSE:

Fishbone #1

INT. THE PUNCH LINE, WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA

SUPERIMPOSE:
DECEMBER 1988

Melody Rae and Tony are at the Punch Line comedy club sitting near the front stage at a small round table. The show hasn’t started. Melody Rae is being looked at with interest by various men. Tony is talking to strangers. She has to pull her own chair out to sit down. He acts like she’s not even there. She is looking around at all the people when she spots Mister S. He is sitting with an assemblage of guy friends at a table in the upper mezzanine. They make eye contact moments before the lights go down and the announcer enters the stage. Mister S spills his drink when he sees her. At which time everyone in the audience hears someone yell: “Dude!” The waitress approached his table. He looks chagrin, and scrambles to wipe up the mess with a cloth napkin. Tony doesn’t notice any of this.

LATER:
At the end of the show, once the headliner’s monologue concludes and the lights go up, Melody Rae glances around looking for him, and even cases the parking lot on their way to her jeep. Tony is oblivious to Melody’s distraction as he is more concerned with his own image, talking to strangers, stopping to notice his own reflection in the hall mirror, and lingers, and ignores her as they preamble through the crowd.

SUPERIMPOSE:

Fishbone #2

SUPERIMPOSE:
ONE YEAR LATER

EXT. NORTH BEACH PIZZA, SAN FRANCISCO - EVENING

Tony and Melody Rae are standing in a long line on a steep sidewalk waiting to get into the sought after popular North Beach Pizza Parlor. The waitresses are frequently walking up and down Telegraph Hill to the corner of Grant Avenue serving wine to the patient habitués waiting in line. Precisely as Tony and Melody Rae reach the top of the hill and are at the door entrance, Melody Rae sees Mister S sitting in the restaurant near an open window facing Grant Avenue. He is not alone. He is with a different lady than the last one she saw on his arm. She is a petite and demure looking woman with bronze skin and thick, straight, shoulder-length, black hair, and noticeably pregnant. As Tony and Melody Rae walk closer to the entrance door, she can see Mister S and this pregnant woman holding hands, and she has a wedding ring.

Then Melody Rae proceeds to lean forward and sees he has a wedding ring on. Then, when she leans a little too far forward, she trips over a small crack in the sidewalk,

loses her balance and bumps the couple in front of her,

nearly spilling her glass of wine. The lady she falls into gasps loudly enough to cause others to look.

MELODY RAE:

Oh my gosh, I am so-o-o sorry. I’m so

sorry.

Mister S and Melody Rae make eye contact. Then Mister S begins to assist his wife out of her chair. He flusters with his wife’s jacket which in turn knocks down a glass on the table. It was mostly empty and doesn’t break. Melody Rae turns away, embarrassed. He leaves the restaurant with his wife, only glancing back once. He shakes his head and smiles.

The entire time Tony is talking with strangers in line clueless to Melody Rae’s experience.

SUPERIMPOSE:

Fishbone #3

INT. MELODY RAE’S APARTMENT – MORNING

SUPERIMPOSE:
THREE YEARS LATER

REVEAL:
Melody Rae is walking about her apartment picking up Tony’s socks, briefs, worn shirt, etc., and putting them in the clothes hamper. Tony is scrambling about, wearing a U.C Berkeley sweatshirt, and searching for his keys. Melody Rae finds them under a sock near the couch. She hands them to him. He smiles, kisses her on the cheek, and then looks back at her.

TONY:

It won’t always be like this.

(beat)

You, taking care of me. I have plans. You

know that, right? Once I graduate, it will

be your turn to go to college full-time.

I’ll be cleaning up your mess…and paying the

Bills. . .and making you dinner every night.

Melody smiles. He kisses her on the cheek.

TONY:

(yells, walking out the door)

This is only temporary, Mels!

EXT. U.C. Berkeley Campus – Sunset

REVEAL:
College graduates are having pictures taken outside Sproul Hall. Large Sign: GRADUATION CLASS of 1993!

Melody Rae is taking a picture of Tony, wearing graduation cap and gown, with his mom by his side. She is adjusting his tie and fixing his hair.

INT. MELODY RAE’S APARTMENT – Evening

Tony has bags packed near the front door. Melody Rae is sitting at the dining table, Tony is standing in the kitchen near the hallway.

MELODY RAE:

I’m confused.

TONY:

It’s just temporary, so I can pay of my

college debt. I’ll call you when I get to

my mom’s. In no way, shape, or form does

moving in with my mother to pay off my

bills affect our relationship.

MELODY RAE:

Okay.

Tony swings a carrying bag around his shoulder, gives her a half hug and then leaves.

SUPERIMPOSE:

Fishbone #4

EXT. REDDING, CALIFORNIA

AARON GERALD MURPHY, SR.—(Melody Rae’s father) 54, Irish-Swedish, tall (Six-Foot-Five), larger than average build, entertaining, construction supervisor/radio DJ Q97

INT. MELODY RAE’S NEW PARENTS HOUSE - EVENING

Melody Rae is standing around the aisle in her parent’s new house, pouring herself a glass of wine. Her dad walks in from the garage carrying the rest of her bags, wearing a Q97 Radio DJ hat.

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