What a Beautiful Night for Love
SCENE ONE
Jenna: (Entering garage and turning on light) Ah, that’s better. it was a bit dark in here. (Looking around) Buzz? Oh Buzz. (Laughs when she sees him under the car)
Buzz: This is a rebuilt chaise.
Jenna: Well I should hope so for what it cost.
Buzz: (Getting out from under car looking at Jenna) Is the body original? Um, did it come with fenders?
Jenna: Yes, and they were preserved by the dry western climate I was told.
Buzz: Oh, yeah I bet some cattle barring just drove it to the stockyard and back on Sundays.
Jenna: I think this is a good car and so do you. You just don’t want to admit it.
Buzz: It’s a good car. It’s what a car should be. (She laughs) A good car you should be able to sit in it through a tornado in comfort. You should be able to drive past a stray dog on the side of the road and the dog should be able to lie down and sigh or a stray cow. May I look inside?
Jenna: I knew you’d like it. (He opens the hood) Oh yeah. Men. No sooner do you introduce and they want to look under your bonnet.
Buzz: Ms. Bradshaw, you don’t have to sizzle, I’m not Mr. Thorpe.
SCENE TWO
(Buzz and Jenna are sitting in the back seat of the Excalibur; Buzz with his arm around Jenna)
Jenna: So, the same alleyway where I saw you last?
Buzz: Yeah, the very same. That’s the spot where I turned down that shot to go to Wyoming. The place is cursed.
Jenna: So, this boy. Did you know him?
Buzz: I went to school with his father.
Jenna: I’m sorry.
Buzz: I went to school with him. We didn’t go to the Pocanos together. He made fun of the way I talked.
Jenna: And how did you talk?
Buzz: Well, like my dad until I learned not to. He had an accent-like you.
Jenna: I don’t have an accent.
Buzz: Then I told him it was good for business and he dropped his accent. Now the accent’s gone. Father’s gone and Rocky Morrison’s son is gone. You know what would be a really good idea? If people everyplace could just die in their beds. (Jenna laughs) You know? The horrible ones we’d punish them by putting out our cigarettes in their blankets. Life, liberty and the right to die in your bed. I mean, I would enlist in that army.
Jenna: You were a Vietnam War hero.
Buzz: No, I was a grub, they lied. (He moves in to kiss her)
Jenna: You don’t talk about it much.
Buzz: I do. I thought I did. I think I talk about it a lot.
Jenna: Not to me you don’t.
Buzz: How much did you learn on that ranch?
Jenna: Entirely too much about rope.
Buzz: Rope?
Jenna: Coiling. Uncoiling. Tying. Untying. But, the food was good. Grits. I like grits. I think they should be served across the counter like panty hose. There’s only one problem with grits.
Buzz: What?
Jenna: You have to eat them very quickly otherwise they’re indistinguishable from your plate.
Buzz: I bet you left a trail of broken hearts across that prairie, didn’t you?
Jenna: I didn’t meet anyone. Everyone thought I was from Hollywood. I guess you can look and sound like anything and be from Hollywood. They all wanted to give me a picture of themselves leaning on one hand. I didn’t stay there as long as I had planned.
Buzz: How come?
Jenna: Well, (pulling him close) I guess I wanted to show you this car.
Buzz: I bet you didn’t drive it yet.
Jenna: No, but I was driven in it and it was like having your whole life rushed by the windows.
Buzz: I’ve had that feeling. As a matter of fact, I have never not had that feeling.
Jenna: Do you have it right now?
Buzz: Less so.
Jenna: So do I. (They come together in a long lingering kiss Buzz laying her down on the backseat, then suddenly he pulls away)
Buzz: Don’t do that.
Jenna: Do what?
Buzz: I’m not going to have a backseat thing with ya.
Jenna: Well, you wanted one with me in Roger’s car no less.
Buzz: You didn’t. Why’d you change? What is it about me then that isn’t there about me now? I can remember what I thought about you. I didn’t want to be out of your sight. Probably because I thought you’d change your mind—which you did. But, I just didn’t want to see anything else no matter where we were. Maybe you didn’t want to do that to Roger I guess. Maybe the difference is—now you do.
Jenna: Roger has nothing to do with anything anymore.
Buzz: Oh? Listen, getting it on with a guy from a diner in the backseat of a white Excalibur is something I think a lady in your position should be able to do. In fact, I applaud it, but not this guy and not that diner. See, I’ve been in the backseat of my kid’s car and in my country’s backseat for twenty years. Next time I get out of a backseat I don’t want the car to drive away without me. I want the lady to be on my arm, turn and smile at me and say “what a beautiful night for love.”
Jenna: (Pulls him close) That’s exactly what we’ll do then (they kiss tenderly)
SCENE THREE
(Buzz is in one of the rooms in the mansion after taking a shower; he is looking around the room picking up flowers in vases when Jenna knocks on the door)
Buzz: Ah!
Jenna: Are you decent?
Buzz: Ah! Ah! (Putting on a towel) Wait! Where are my clothes?! (Jenna enters)
Jenna: I think the clothing fairy must have taken them.
Buzz: I-oh, it’s not that gruesome of sight, believe me.
Jenna: Aww. (She laughs) But, look what she brought you instead. (Holding up a clothing bag)
Buzz: Look, listen. All you left me was my socks. So, uh, since we’re not making French postcards right now I’d like my clothes back.
Jenna: (In a baby-like voice) Oh, what’s the matter?
Buzz: If you think I going to be prancing around in Roger’s clothes I can say goodnight right now.
Jenna: You are so touchy.
Buzz: I am so naked!
Jenna: Here. Aren’t I allowed to get you a present from Wyoming? (Handing him bag)
Buzz: (Reading label on bag) “Something shining and splendid for you from shining and splendid Wyoming.”
Jenna: That’s right. Now, you couldn’t go and it was your idea to. So I brought this back. Now that is a 40 and there is a 42, and a 44 and a 38 because I wasn’t sure. And uh, let’s see...Donna’s downstairs trying to hem your trousers that’s why I needed your other pants to test it. Your shoes though, they weren’t much good so I brought you a 9, 9 ½, 10 ½.
Buzz: What? This is outrageous! (Holding the jacket up to himself and going to the mirror to see how it looks) I was born to wear this suit.
Jenna: I’m so glad you like it. Wait till you see it on. I’m going to get some things from my closet and change in the guest bedroom so that I am not in your way. (He grabs her and kisses her passionately) You’re getting me all wet.
Buzz: You’re changing the demography of my towel. (He almost knocks something off table)
Jenna: You’re awful clumsy today.
Buzz: Well, since I’m finally here on invitation I don’t want to break anything.
Jenna: You’re such a good boy. You’re wet though. (She leaves room)
SCENE FOUR
(Donna is helping Buzz with is suit while he tries on different hats, Jenna is looking on walking about the room)
Buzz: (looking in mirror) Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. (Looking at arms) The cuffs are crooked.
Donna: No your eyes are, you’re squinting.
Jenna: (Laughing) I think Donna did a wonderful job considering she only had a few minutes. I think they look perfectly straight.
Buzz: Maybe it’s the aerial view.
Donna: (going over to Jenna) Oh, Mistress I almost forgot you had two phone calls from a Ms. Melinda Lewis at the Lakeland Country Club. Two because I hung up on her the first time something to do with forbidden subject, Mistress.
Buzz: Roger Dodger?
Jenna: I tell you what if she calls back you can tell he that she can keep him. How’s that? Better yet, we will tell her ourselves. In fact, we’ll show everybody.
Buzz: (smiling, “Hey Good Looking” playing in the background) We’re going to the country club? (Jenna laughs)
Jenna: I think you would look splendid behind the wheel of my new old car.
Buzz: You look nice to.
Jenna: Oh? Really nice of you to notice I do think I can hold a candle to you though.
Buzz: Oh, you do you look nice. White though stay away from things like coffee and red wine.
Jenna: Yeah.
Buzz: Have I thanked you for this? I mean, this is like Roy Rogers eat your heart out.
Jenna: Why don’t you stop looking in the mirror and look at me. (Pulling him away from mirror) It’s difficult, I know. I want to tell you something. Do you understand just a little bit how I felt when this whole mansion, the company was dropped into my lap? Just because of Roger, you know. I felt gratitude, I felt debt. I don’t know how I felt exactly except I didn’t feel this.
Buzz: I’ve been telling you that. You don’t have to convince me. (He holds her and kisses her)
Jenna: Maybe we should stay in.
Buzz: Oh no.
Jenna: Why?
Buzz: I’ll let you know when I’m ready to take the coat off. (Admires himself in the mirror)
Jenna: Hmm, pink…matches the outfit. (Winks at him and then walks off)
SCENE FIVE
(Jenna and Buzz have arrived at the country club, Buzz extends his hand to assist Jenna out of the car, and she takes his arm, turns to him and smiles)
Jenna: It’s a beautiful night for…how did it go again? (Turns to face him, smiling)
Buzz: What a beautiful night for…love (They smile at each other and then turn to go into the county club, they hear arguing and then see Ed hit Roger and Roger falls to the ground)
Jenna: (With a worried look on her face) Roger!
The End