Uptown Boys: The Beginning Of A Dream Book 1
Page 10
A hubbub of attraction and reminiscing the last performance of the four friends, BOYO, CASANOVA, LIHANDA, and OBAN, erupts as they take center stage with the Karaoke Girls who do not hesitate to welcome them too by having a hug and a warm handshake. They assemble within the girls, and what we can see is a proper lineup.
The invited B-C-L-O family is wearing athletic clothing that is making them look so formidable and energetic, and they are striking in appearance with their short haircuts. Now we are waiting for the outcome of the combination on stage.
GIA [looking at the ensemble]
I already feel something good coming out of this line-up!
[There is murmuring of having the same view]
GIA [to the MC]
Please lead us into the groove!
And at once, an African pop song by T.Z Junior known as ‘Are You Ready for Love’ comes through from the karaoke machine whose projecting sounds are now being filtered through the speakers for everyone to hear. Our freshmen make the dance moves as the Karaoke Girls get ready to start and lead the vocals, which force some of the people to get up on their feet and begin to nod their heads as well as shaking their bodies to the danceable beats of the song hovering over the entire space inside the night club. And once the girls release their voices through the two pairs of microphones available on stage now, the whole crowd begins to join in.
There is an exchange of vocals so that the boys also get a chance to lead the girls in the karaoking and that they can be seen dancing out as back-up artists. At the point of reaching the fade up part of the song, the dynamic duo of the Karaoke Girls and the B-C-L-O family combine their voices amid hard cash being thrust out onto them by the manager of Vespar night club who is decked in white clothes, which sends total fun and rave atmosphere inside the night house into the dancing crowd already including Mc DADDY FLASH who doesn’t hesitate to join the crew on stage until the climax of the song when there is a delirious noise of endless joy and yearning for more but with no success as the performers are led away from the stage by some individuals who are likely to be stage-managers tonight.
SCENE 6
[BACKSTAGE LATER ON]
[We are in the dressing room now found within the night club]
[It is a room made of mirrors, make-up, and some drawers for fixing in clothes]
[Only one can be seen when the passerby checks in]
There is an instrumental version of ‘African Dance’ by Richard Siluma playing in the background, and it can be heard though it is not so loud to cause any distraction. It is a sign that the karaoke night theme is over, and it is time for people to relax to some more music coupled with more beer, meat, and food. Our freshmen are dressing up out of there outfits they have been in during the performance as well as the Karaoke Girls, and the only thing separating them is a curtain. We can hear one of the girls, KELLY, trying to rhyme to the song, and there has been an ugly moment of silence that GIA seizes up to say something to their new company.
GIA [peeping through the curtain]
Where are you boys heading after here?
CASANOVA
Sneaking back to school and then go to our beds.
[The Karaoke Girls laugh with some folly]
CHRISTIE [claptrap-like]
School! Oh, school!
KELLY [indifferent]
One kind of human bondage that makes one forget what they are and meant to be!
CHRISTIE [nonchalant]
Who used to tell us that statement?
KELLY
I, girl!
[And the girls laugh out again]
CASANOVA
What is going on here together with that statement?
GIA [peeping at the boys again]
Follow your dreams; that is it!
[She swipes back the curtain]
CASANOVA
So, where are you ladies heading to?
KELLY [cutting through the curtain]
You want to join us?
CASANOVA
I don’t know!
KELLY [let down]
It seems you’re not ready for the world, boys!
CASANOVA [uptight]
Can we be given some time to think it over?
KELLY
You have all the time to think, as long as you’re not thinking of going back to school and make love to your pillows!
[She draws back the curtain, and there follows a moment of silence]
CASANOVA and his colleagues are quite lost on what to do, go back to school, or continue with the spring of night happiness in the company of the Karaoke Girls who are not new in this lifestyle. The girls are only into this game every other night, perhaps, and they would love to have company with the boys who, in a rush, decide to speak in whispers to avoid being heard by the mathematical girls. They are now trying to do some round of puffing using a windpipe as they apply more make-up onto their faces without sharing a word amongst themselves.
CASANOVA
So, who has a plan for this request, nwa?
BOYO
I cannot tell you that I have any, nwa.
CASANOVA
And you, Lin?
LIHANDA
I am equally blank like BOYO, nwa.
CASANOVA
OBAN, and you?
OBAN [perturbed]
I want to experience the night out of school and how it feels like –
CASANOVA
Okay, but?
OBAN
We escaped from school, and we don’t know how we’ll get back when it is past 5 am, nwa.
CASANOVA [peering]
Good. Then we’re going out with the ladies.
[BOYO and LIHANDA try to object, but CASANOVA silences like he owns the moment right now amongst them]
CASANOVA [audible to the Karaoke Girls]
We are joining you, ladies!
[A sound of excitement draws from their side as]
KELLY [peeping out to them]
Wow! You are going to have bitter fun tonight!
CASANOVA [geared up]
We cannot wait!
GIA
Alright. Boys and girls –
KELLY and CHRISTIE
Yes, lil’ momma!
GIA [excited]
Follow my lead!
And the cohort adheres while wearing their casuals, with BOYO and LIHANDA feeling reluctant, but they have no option of backing out to go back to school alone and abandon their colleagues out in the night that already seems to present itself with a ray of happiness.
SCENE 7
[OUTSIDE YARONA BAR]
There is a busy road by Yarona. It has no street food stalls together with no traffic jams, and there is minimal hustle and bustle as well.
On one side of the road cutting through to another town or village, there exists a night club with neon lights embracing its name tag hang above the wall, and it reads ‘YARONA BAR.’ The place is graced with a couple of party people who are waiting to get inside. And among the party people is a clique of four men who are in great conversation with one another as they receive warm greetings from whoever knows them, a sign that they are really a house-hold aspect. They are fashioned in an unkempt hippie-look and over-dressed disco style.
One of these formidable men is holding an eye candy guitar of an EVH striped series made of black, red, and white, which he manages to let their fans touch and feel as well as sharing hugs. In common, the gang has one type of big hairstyle – made of jheri curl styles, which makes them look the kings of the night and the street as well. Not so long, however, a huge man comes up and shares a light word with the gang, and it follows him to somewhere exclusive before entering the building using a free-like entrance.
As soon as the clique is ushered inside the club upon receiving an escort to lead them from the outside, our Karaoke Girls and the escapades cheer-led by CASANOVA arrives at the venue and falls in a queue with the other disco-goers who are ready to mix and mingle inside the club. All their faces are glitt
ering with excitement having made it here, and they are buzzing already
GIA
I hope we’re all ready to watch the Four Brothers tonight, girls and boys!
CHRISTIE
Of course, girl!
KELLY
Eh! Why not!
CASANOVA
Who are the Four Brothers?
KELLY [standing next to CASANOVA]
They are the best performers in town!
GIA
And never challenged!
KELLY [to CASANOVA]
Would you like to see them?
CASANOVA
I do; so much.
BOYO [pleased]
We would love to see them all of us.
KELLY
I am happy that you all want to see them.
GIA [pulling BOYO over]
Would you mind watching them on stage with me?
BOYO
Okay. Sounds a good deal!
KELLY [as GIA and BOYO stand next to each other]
So, it is hook-up time?
[She jumps right next to CASANOVA]
CHRISTIE
Come on, girls. We ought to stick together –
Girls together, boys together, isn’t it?
GIA
But we’re still together. And it is not that we’re giving up on you, girlie!
CHRISTIE
So, what is going on now?
LIHANDA
You can have me and OBAN, CHRISTIE, if you don’t mind.
KELLY
Yes, CHRISTIE. It is a good deal for you to have two doing for one person like you.
[KELLY and GIA laugh]
CHRISTIE [reluctant]
I wish I saw this happening first!
By now, the cohort is almost at the entrance, and they have company at their back of other party people who are as eager as a gathering waiting for the arrival of a royal gallery down a busy street while also talking with excitement about the performers who are almost famous.
GIA
Mind your wallets, boys, and girls!
[She is checked in together with her colleagues all at once as a result of being known by the men on guard outside the night club]
[INSIDE YARONA CLUB]
[There is a stage designed for a live performance]
It is one that can easily attract you into doing what a talented musician can do. It is also well decorated and suited for heavy live performance.
[And there are elaborate lights to expose the darkness out of sight now which keep swinging back and forth from the stage to the dance floor which is now grazing with club goers]
At this point, we see a man wearing a classical business suit of blue imprint stepping on the stage to give fun to the Electro-Voice RE-15 mic on a tripod stand. He is looking august and highly attractive to the audience who show him respect over his presence on the stage with a soft handclap. His face is beautiful to watch like the tulips in early sunset. And he doesn’t hesitate to speak to the audience
GENTLEMAN [impressive tone]
Yes, tonight is a night of blues!
[The audience fancies with excitement]
GENTLEMAN [doleful]
I know some of you have had good times with the previous performances. And if you’re still single tonight, I have no solution for you, my friend –
[A few murmurs of understanding and mixed reactions]
GENTLEMAN
So, I am the only single person tonight still standing, and you can try me, ladies.
[And there follows laughter and talking]
GENTLEMAN [joking]
But make sure you’re right on time before I change my mind to meet my wife after here, please.
[Another moment of laughter]
GENTLEMAN
Alright, ladies and gentlemen like me, I guess we’ve had some relaxation time, and it is time to usher in our next act on stage.
[Some people agree and cheer up]
GENTLEMAN [pleased]
Oh yeah.
[He wears a pair of Elton John glasses]
GENTLEMAN [as some people laugh]
Do I rock you on the floor now?
[There develops a mixed appreciation]
GENTLEMAN
If I don’t get any positive reply, I’m excusing the next act from performing.
[The audience replies with mixed reactions]
GENTLEMAN [smiling]
Now I see you are all no single!
[And there is a little handclap for such a trickster]
GENTLEMAN
So, let us all join our hands and welcome on stage – The FOUR BROTHERS!
A joyous and assembled handclap arises from the party people as lights fade out with the gentleman who has been present over the stage and the dance floor save for a flashlight dancing around the microphone on a stand. As the handclapping ceases slowly into soft silence, a man holding the EVH striped series guitar appears out of the darkness on stage and stands next to the microphone as the flashlight now settles on him perfectly. There is a huge whisper from the audience as the guitarist arranges himself, and he begins to pluck his instrument with ease.
The notes developing out bring to understanding the nature of the song, and it is by the Chi-Lites known as ‘Have You Seen Her.’ The notes are followed by an assembly of organized voices in the background though we cannot see their owner as the guitarist begins to take us through the lyrics of the song so chosen. It is a moment of blues indeed as the lead vocalist, as well as guitarist, gets joined by his peers who get revealed by single flashlights falling over their sizeable bodies sharing the same microphone and wholly projecting through their adoring voices.
This cannot leave the people alone as they join in by clapping with the rhythm of the song being performed. Those who want to dance slowly do so. And when the performance is cut off with the voices, the guitarist explores his artistic talent over his instrument to orchestrate the lyrics of the song until the climax when he bows low together with his peers, thereby receiving a bigger appreciation from the listeners on the dance floor.
[The lights soon go off over them one by one until the stage is bereft of any activity again]
GIA [as everyone waits]
This is really gluing!
BOYO
I now believe they are the best in the game.
GIA
I wish we’d a chance of performing too, tonight.
BOYO
I doubt if such a chance can exist with such a crew!
We hear the sound of the guitar being plucked, and it is introducing us to the sounds of Boney M known as ‘Jimmy.’ There is loud applause from the audience on the dance floor already before the performers get revealed, first with the lead vocalist on this song who is not the guitarist as it was on the first act, standing lonely on the stage amid a bright blue light falling on him and some rising smoke from the ground beneath him which is exhilarating. And once he projects his voice through the microphone, he receives a strong cheer from everyone as he steadies through his task already. He only receives back up on the words ‘Jimmy’ by his colleagues still out of sight, which is admirable. And when the chorus of the song is picked up, the three remaining colleagues get revealed by the same style as the one which exposed the first act on stage, and it is an everlasting eye-candy moment.
Those who have hard cash are already throwing it over the stage despite the fact of nobody helping to pick it up on behalf of the performers who are serious with their task of ensuring that the crowd inside the night house doesn’t divert its attention to something else away from them. The audience is kept engaged all throughout the performance, with those who are drunk trying to put on a show as well but without success until the climax of the song when they shower their performers with a heavy ‘thanks’ full of cheers and whispers and words of appreciation and they bow out into total darkness over the stage again. The people are now hardly patient for the next edition as
KELLY
You are making me feel
younger better than I am myself right now!
CASANOVA [blushing]
How could that be?
KELLY
Things happen at the least you expect them to.
CASANOVA
How old are you then?
KELLY [instantaneous]
Nine and ten. And you?
CASANOVA
I am making six and ten in a few months from now.
KELLY
If age was to be inspected right now, you would be thrown out of here and charged together with the rest of us.
CASANOVA [laughing]
So, I am here illegally?
KELLY
Absolutely. But you’re safe with me, worry not.
And suddenly, four bright green lights fall over the stage once again in a way that excites the party people who cannot help it but scream out with stimulation and electrifying whispers. Those who are next to the ones they admire through the dancing lights are talking amongst themselves and then
KELLY [thrilled]
I hope we get to dance!
CASANOVA
Always and forever.
[They both share deep laughter]
On the stage right now are the FOUR BROTHERS, looking detonating and ready to take the audience by storm, but they are still letting the happiness fill the dance floor until it is subsidized into waiting to hear from them. One of them is in charge of the drum set now whilst two of the wagon members are in charge of the small piano and a guitar. Only one is gracing the microphone now, and he doesn’t hesitate to speak right through it, “You’re the only man.”
The party people grow wild with enjoyment already, especially those who know the song, and upon echoing the words, the beats are kicked off into the rhythm of Sweet Desire known as ‘Do Me Boy,’ and the dance is almost opened. Our lead vocalist of the moment ushers into the performance with a perfect voice already that is so exhilarating that one might feel he owns the song. As he gets joined by his peers, the lights system does its best by enlightening the fun inside the club into different lights of primary colors. The dancing is one of the best things that solely matches with the performers on stage and their voices. CHRISTIE can afford much ado about nothing but to get jiggy with OBAN and LIHANDA, though not to the very best experience like that shared between the pairs of KELLY and CASANOVA and GIA with BOYO, who are already preoccupied with each other’s cabin for as long as the music still comes through.