So more backstory on character interiority MARINA and TRENT before we move into DANCE SCENE.
For MARINA
(wise, wounded by love)
ARCHETYPE = The Wounded Feminine
(wary)
For character interiority MARINA listen here
TRENT
Trent has been very wounded by women. He is willing to take another chance but his heart is set up for disappointment. Nevertheless – he remains the STRONGER of the two. Willing to take the lead and take a chance.
For TRENT many of his girlfriends did not want him to father their children. In his marriage, his ex-wife cheated on him, under his nose, and so he was humiliated.
ARCHETYPE = The Wounded Masculine
Character Interiority TRENT listen here
Character interiority for BOTH listen here
PLAY VANILLA SUEDE
ACT ONE, SCENE TWO
“Moonlight Serenade”
SETTING: TRENT APARTMENT
Look: EMPTY STAGE, only a table with a portable record player. There is a opened wine bottle and two empty glasses. Trent has invited MARINA over before they are both about to go to Halloween Party together, for a drink. This will be liquid courage for Trent. He has invited her in friendship.
AT RISE:
TRENT paces around his empty apartment nervously awaiting MARINA’S arrival. This is shown in PANTOMIME perhaps with “Sugar Mountain” playing. For instance he could MIME himself as brushing his hair, he keeps checking his looks in the mirror. Both TRENT and MARINA live in a small town, and so some of the MOURNERS will also be at the PARTY they plan to go to. They have been friends in the way that they have known each other across many years and even in their marriages at parties and social events. They had not seen each other in many years, until the funeral.
I love the imagery in this one for TRENT inner state.
WE HEAR A KNOCK AT THE DOOR (sound of knocking)
MARINA
Trent I’m here
TRENT
Just a second, I’ll be right there Marina
MARINA
(entering from stage left)
TRENT
(warmly)
You look beautiful
MARINA
(smiles softly, turning to show him a tilt of her new shoes)
TRENT
(smiling)
Let’s have a glass of wine, shall we?
MARINA
(glances around apartment and heads over to bookshelf – this can be pantomime and she says)
I can’t believe you have read e.e. cummings, he is one of my favorites
TRENT
I have a favorite one
MARINA
(smiles softly at Trent)
So do I
TRENT
Another glass?
MARINA
(nods, smiling, hands her glass to him so he can refill it)
TRENT
(Pantomimes looking through records til he finds it)
Moonlight Serenade have you ever heard that?
MARINA
I don’t think I have
TRENT
I’ve got it around here somewhere
MARINA
(to opening of the song)
It’s beautiful
TRENT
Want to dance?
MARINA
I’m not sure I know how
TRENT
You just relax and let me lead
MARINA
What if I trip you?
TRENT
You won’t
TRENT
(very gently and softly, with great male confidence, places her hands into a position for a slow dance to Moonlight Serenade, they begin to move every slowly)
My hand goes here and yours goes there, now we’ll just sway a little in place before we start moving
MARINA
(slowly starting to relax, in a slow whisper)
That’s nice, like this
TRENT
(nodding softly against her)
Your hair smells so wonderful
MARINA
Does it?
TRENT
You’ve always smelled like that
MARINA
I’m afraid
TRENT
Of what?
MARINA
The past and the future
TRENT
Don’t be.
MARINA
I can’t take any more death
TRENT
This is the worst decade isn’t it?
MARINA
I think it is
TRENT
You know what we have to do?
MARINA
(spoken very softly, against him, she almost exhales at the word and the feeling of relief as she says)
No
TRENT
Try and love
MARINA
What if that’s not possible?
TRENT
It is. Put your head on my shoulder
MARINA
You’re so warm
TRENT
Am I?
MARINA
Strong. You feel so strong. Stronger than me.
TRENT
Maybe
MARINA
What did you do after Janine?
TRENT
Rambled
TRENT
(pauses for some time, softly says)
What did you do after Evan?
MARINA
Folded up
TRENT
You don’t seem folded to me
MARINA
I don’t?
TRENT
No
MARINA
Our grandparents, they lived in such a different time
TRENT
1929
MARINA
All those years they were together
TRENT
Yes, mine too
MARINA
They knew about love
TRENT
(nods, slowly, pressing her more tightly)
They did. I’ve made so many mistakes
MARINA
I feel like that too at times. Maybe it’s this era we have lived
TRENT
Shhhhhhhhh
MARINA
That feels good Trent. Having your arms around me.
TRENT
Good
MARINA
You’re warm. It’s like you are solid
TRENT
(rubs his stomach)
I’m solid, as solid as can be. Feel
MARINA
You big silly. I wasn’t expecting a washboard
TRENT
Yes you were
MARINA
No, I wasn’t
TRENT
Let me hold you?
MARINA
What do you mean?
TRENT
It’s been years since I’ve touched anyone
MARINA
Trent?
TRENT
It would feel good Marina
MARINA
I haven’t since Evan
TRENT
Janine cut me off at the end
MARINA
She did?
TRENT
The last ten years. It’s been so long
MARINA
I can barely remember Evan, Trent. I never thought I could go fifteen years without sex, you know?
TRENT
Me neither
MARINA
How did we do it?
TRENT
I don’t know. Love’s a funny thing
MARINA
After marriage?
TRENT
Yeah. Let me put that song back on.
MARINA
Okay
END SCENE FADE TO BLACK
Next scene will be Balcony Scene (edited from Original to be more PG)
Next scene will have them reading EE to each other – the fave poems.
On METHOD ACTING – handy tuck in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_MhhxXSGmo
On Method and Realism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE0prIjgmMY
MARINA
Yes
Adrienne Wilson 