Bebout

Robby Bebout “Old Friends”

(December 2003, in the heart of Madison Square Gardens in New Your City. Back in his dressing room an extremely nervous Paul Simon is sitting and thinking to himself. He is slouched over in his chair, bobbing his head up and down, fingers intertwined resting in his lap. Nothing can be heard but a faint humming coming from down the hall. Then comes from over the loud speaker “Now the moment you’ve all been waiting for”. The lights turn off, its completely pitch black dark.) What am I doing? It’s been so long. I can’t believe that I’m going to be out on this stage again with this man, this man who I once called my friend. This man who I once called my partner. The cause is great but is it worth the sacrifice? After all he has done can I really take the stage with him once again? Can I truly put our differences aside for this one night? Yes… I believe that I can. (The outline of two figures can be seen walking out onto the stage. One from stage left and one from stage right. Paul is so nervous his hands, which are resting on the edges of his guitar, are shaking uncontrollably. The audience can almost hear his teeth rattling as the cold brisk wind sweeps across the crowd and stage.) No turning back now. I have no choice but to play and sing till my hearts content. What if I forget the words? What if I forget what notes to play? No… I have to think positive. I have to think about the Katrina victims. I have to think about how badly they need the money from this benefit concert. I have to think about the thousands of people that are homeless. With this concert I can truly make a difference. (A spotlight shines onto the stage and there for one last time are the two men. Art standing with his microphone in his right hand, wearing his signature black vest with all the buttons undone, his curly blond hair going in every direction. Paul is seated to his left, with his guitar in hand, a microphone propped up on a stand resting in front of him, looking nervous as can be. It seems almost as if the two men were actually happy to be together for one last time) “What do you say old friend? Let bye gones be bye gones? Can the past stay as the past?” (With a simple nod of the head from Art Paul feels almost as if the past had never happened.) “Time to give these people what they’ve been waiting for all this time. What we’ve been waiting for all this time.” (Slowly the shaking hands of Paul start to play an oh so familiar tune. Strumming the shimmering strings with his right hand, pressing them to the neck of the guitar with his left. His head is slowly swaying from left to right as each string is individually plucked. Tapping his right foot against the top right peg of the stool, as his left stays firmly planted into the stage. His eyes are closed every muscle in his body is completely relaxed. Not a tone is out of place. Art slowly brings the microphone to his shivering lips.) One… Two… Three… (Then in the most amazing display of harmony any human ear could imagine, they sing.) “Old Friends… Old Friends… sat on the park bench like bookends…”

Courtney- I think that this is really good, there are a few spelling errors though. I think you could probably give a little more insight about the past event that happened between the two people. But overall it's good. (Bebout - i fixed the spelling corrections)

Olivia- Where it says '...a microphone propped up on a stand resting infront of him, looking nervous as can be.' it sounds like you're talking about the microphone stand or whatever looking nervous... so I guess it should be '...a microphone propped up infront of him, he looks as nervous as can be.' Anyway, but yea, and when you say 'oh so familiar' it should be 'oh-so-familiar.' I really like it, it's cool and it provides awesome imagery. Sweet paper DUDE.

JULES- tell a little more on what has happend in the past. like why they aren't friends, what went wrong! Otherwise great!

Miranda- I think it's really good. But I also agree with Jules and think you should maybe add a little something on why they weren't friends.