HIDDEN PASSION Written by Robert Boyd
READING COPY 2/25/20
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HIDDEN PASSION
CHARACTERS: MICHAEL MELISSA
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SCENE: (Michael is walking home from the park listening to Sade’s “Sweet Taboo” after playing some basketball, and accidentally bumps into Melissa. A girl he hadn’t seen in over 10 years, but he has always liked her. Michael being shy when they were younger never had the balls to approach her. Now that they’re older and he has grown into what he thinks a man is, he won’t let this chance slip away again.) MICHAEL I’m sorry I didn’t see you coming this way. (To himself.) Man, I gotta stop wearing these damn headphones. MELISSA Don’t worry about it, it’s time I got some new contacts anyway. (To herself.) I can’t see shit. MICHAEL Shit, my bad, let me help you with those books. MELISSA No problem and thank you very much. MICHAEL Damn. These some heavy ass books. So, how far are we going and if you don’t mind my asking, where are you coming from? MELISSA Well, I just came from the library 4 blocks back that way on Jackson Street, and I’m going 7 more blocks this way towards North Avenue. MICHAEL What’s on North Avenue?
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MELISSA Home. MICHAEL You look familiar, have you always lived around here? MELISSA I did when I was younger, then my family moved to Seattle. MICHAEL How long ago was the move, and why Seattle? MELISSA Well, because my – Damn you ask a lot of questions. MICHAEL My ol’ man always told me that if you want to know something to ask questions, and read books. By the way I’m Michael, and you are? MELISSA I know who you are, you think I’d just let anybody come home with me? MICHAEL First, I hadn’t really focused my attention on your face, and more importantly I’m going home with you? MELISSA First, I bet you hadn’t, and most importantly not in the way that just sounded. (She laughs.) MICHAEL So, why the move back after all this time? MELISSA My dad still owned the house and his job stopped moving him around, so we came home. MICHAEL I like the sound of that. (Melissa looks at Michael with a receptive glance.)
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So, y’all staying here now and what class has you carrying all these damn books? MELISSA Yeah, we’re staying. This is it for me until college. Also those heavy ass books you’re carrying and complaining about is what’s helping me get a full-ride scholarship to study psychology. MICHAEL Yo, you know that the internet was made to put an end to this kind of torture. (He laughs.) MELISSA I stay a few more blocks that way. MICHAEL You do? MELISSA I told you I lived around here before. MICHAEL Where did you used to live? MELISSA Over on Connection Avenue. The big blue house with the large windows and small front porch. MICHAEL Get the hell outta here. MELISSA Yep, that be me. MICHAEL Yo name is Melissa, right? MELISSA Yep, I be her. I can’t believe it took you that long to recognize me, you sure know how to make a girl feel unattractive. MICHAEL
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That was not my intention, and you being unattractive isn’t possible. MELISSA What? Why do you keep looking at me like that? MICHAEL No reason, just thinking it’s funny the way life tends to play itself out sometimes. MELISSA Yeah. (Pause.
Michael is still looking at her.) MICHAEL
Damn you done grown up. MELISSA That tends to happen when you live, you grow up. (Beat.) What took you so long to notice me? MICHAEL Oh, I noticed you. Just between holding these heavy ass books, talking, and “noticing you” I forgot to notice you. MELISSA Here you go again, what is that look you just gave me? MICHAEL What look is you talking about? This is just my face. MELISSA Alright, if you say so. MICHAEL What? MELISSA Why you getting all quiet on me? MICHAEL I’m not getting quiet, just enjoying my company. MELISSA Boy please, you’re still acting shy like when we were kids. (She laughs.)
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MICHAEL I don’t recall that. MELISSA I just bet you don’t. (She smiles at Michael.) MICHAEL Why you gotta bring up the past? MELISSA Because, when I look at you that’s what comes to mind. MICHAEL I can’t believe you remember me from back then. MELISSA How could I not, you used to just watch me until I turned in your direction then you would put your head down and walk off. MICHAEL I didn’t think you noticed me. MELISSA Why is that? MICHAEL Cause, I wasn’t part of the group you use to hang with. MELISSA I did, and I was hoping one day you would at least come say hi. MICHAEL I couldn’t, everything just froze up on me. MELISSA Why? MICHAEL Because. (Beat.) Why didn’t you say something? MELISSA Because I wasn’t the one stalking somebody.
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Stalking? MELISSA Yeah, stalking. MICHAEL Man, that’s rough. MELISSA Well, stop being sneaky. MICHAEL Sneaky, I like that. (Michael surprises Melissa with a kiss.) MELISSA Why you do that? MICHAEL I just felt like I was suppose to. MELISSA You felt like I OK’d that? MICHAEL Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking. MELISSA You made a move, don’t coward up on me now. MICHAEL Nah, it ain’t that, I just took my chance at the plate and struck out. MELISSA I don’t know if you missed or hit or fouled. MICHAEL So, do I stand a chance? MELISSA We’ll find out.
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MICHAEL Do you have a lot of schoolwork to do today? Hence these books. MELISSA I believe that all the extra book carrying helps keep me focused, plus I’m an old school kind of girl. MICHAEL (Smiling.) Strong as hell also. MELISSA What have you been up to since I’ve been gone? MICHAEL Just school and becoming a better basketball player. I’m hoping to transfer to a university next year and maybe play there. MELISSA Which one? MICHAEL I’m trying to stay close to home, so maybe Memphis, Alabama, LSU, or Georgia. MELISSA That’s crazy, I got a scholarship to Bama. MICHAEL I guess Bama it is then. (Melissa smiles at Michael and he lowers his gaze feeling shy again.) MELISSA You were on a roll, what happened? MICHAEL (Looking at Melissa.) What do you mean? MELISSA You know what I mean. MICHAEL
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Okay next time I’m a 10 year old kid I’ll just come right out and say I like you. MELISSA Oh, so you like me? (Michael puts his head down again.) MELISSA Stop being soft. Cute, but soft. MICHAEL Soft, only for you. MELISSA I like how that sound. MICHAEL Well, if you like that what about the sound of me asking you out as well as for your phone number? MELISSA Hello, thank you. I was starting to wonder if I was going to have to ask you. Here’s my number. MICHAEL Nah, I was just taking the training-wheels off. MELISSA So, now you got your big boy pants on? MICHAEL Yeah, you know I’m like an old Chevy. You gotta let it get warmed up first before you pull off. MELISSA Okay old Chevy, I hope you’re driving something else when we go out. MICHAEL When it comes to that, I’m a little more up-to-date. MELISSA That’s good to know. MICHAEL Okay well time, date, and place?
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MELISSA Well, since I’m home here would be fine. Date, next Friday and time 8:30. I should be through with all my schoolwork for the moment. MICHAEL I’ll see you then. MELISSA Well, thank you. MICHAEL Alright, bye. MELISSA Hey? MICHAEL Yeah, what’s up? MELISSA Can I have my books back please? MICHAEL Shit, my bad I had them so long it felt like they were mine. MELISSA Thanks again and see you Friday. MICHAEL Alright, I’ll call you tomorrow. Later. End of Play