Lullaby

by

Tarl N. Telford

FADE IN:

EXT OUTDOOR STAGE - EVENING

Excited fans crowd the ampitheater. Up on stage, BRITTANY ANGEL (22 yrs), a pretty blonde country singer, performs.

Brittany finishes her final song, "Redeeming Love", and the crowd goes wild. Brittany bows before their adulation. She runs off the stage.

INT BACKSTAGE - CONTINUING

Brittany reaches for a towel to mop her face. An attendant hands her a towel.

PHILEMON "PHIL" MACGREGOR, Brittany's road manager and aspiring producer, steps forward to congratulate her.

PHIL MacGREGOR

Great show, Brittany. You were wonderful.

Brittany brushes past Phil to be swept up in the arms of her husband, MICHAEL OTERO (26 yrs).

MICHAEL OTERO

Great show, babe.

BRITTANY

I missed a couple of notes on "Be Mine Forever".

MICHAEL OTERO

No one noticed.

INT BACKSTAGE - DRESSING ROOM - CONTINUING

Brittany and Michael head back to the dressing room. He helps her pull off her leather jacket. She rubs her slightly bulging belly.

BRITTANY

I'm going to need some bigger pants soon.

MICHAEL OTERO

Just two more shows and we can go home.

Brittany sits down in her chair.

BRITTANY

That'll be nice. I want to see Mama again.

Phil MacGregor sticks his head in the door.

PHIL MacGREGOR

They're calling for you onstage.

Brittany looks up to Michael. He answers for her.

MICHAEL OTERO

Not tonight, Phil. Brittany's tired.

Brittany squeezes Michael's hand in thanks.

EXT OUTDOOR STAGE - CONTINUING

Phil goes out onto the stage. He raises his hands to quiet the excited crowd.

PHIL MacGREGOR

Brittany sends all of her love and best wishes to you, her fans. However, just between us,

He lowers his voice conspiritorially.

PHIL MacGREGOR

She's expecting. And she's a little tired tonight. But let's give it up for Brittany. Let her hear it in her dressing room.

The crowd erupts in congratualatory and adoring cheers.

INT BACKSTAGE - DRESSING ROOM - SAME TIME

Brittany looks up as she hears the cheers. She looks back at Michael. She touches his hand on her shoulder.

MICHAEL OTERO

That's all for you. They love you.

BRITTANY

And I love you.

Michael kneels down next to Brittany. They look at each other in the mirror.

BRITTANY

How did I get so lucky to get you?

A gleam of mischief comes into Michael's eye.

MICHAEL OTERO

Well, you know what they say about electricians.

BRITTANY

No. What do they say about electricians?

MICHAEL OTERO

They've got all the power.

Brittany smiles and pulls Michael close. They kiss tenderly.

CUT TO:

EXT OUTDOOR STAGE - CONTINUING

Another band, LONESOME HIGHWAY, sets up on stage. Phil talks briefly with the lead singer, and then turns back to the audience.

PHIL MacGREGOR

You've been a great crowd. To finish up our show tonight, we've got the swinging sounds of Lonesome Highway. Let's give it up for them!

The crowd cheers appropriately. The band launches into their first number.

Phil steps back, just off stage. He looks back toward the dressing room and scowls.

CUT TO:

EXT PARKING LOT - NIGHT

The tour bus waits for the stars of the show to emerge from the building. A small crowd of fans waits for Brittany. They buzz excitedly.

The door opens. Michael leads Brittany out by the hand. The small crowd cheers. Pictures and pens immediately fly out towards the singer.

Brittany smiles, exhaustion evident on her face, but she signs a few pictures.

Phil exits, tapping his watch right in front of Michael's face.

PHIL MacGREGOR

We've got a schedule to keep.

MICHAEL OTERO

We'll make it. Just let her be.

PHIL MacGREGOR

Just remember, I run this show, not you.

Michael takes hold of Phil's shoulder and leads him away from Brittany. As soon as they are beyond the crowd, Michael squeezes tightly, drawing a grimace from Phil.

MICHAEL OTERO

And you remember, she's my wife.

Michael pats Phil on the back.

MICHAEL OTERO

Have a good trip, Phil. We'll see you in Farmington.

Phil glares at Michael as he walks back to his wife. Phil boards the bus. It closes its doors and pulls away.

Michael hugs Brittany from behind. He whispers in her ear.

MICHAEL OTERO

(continuing; whispering)

You're exhausted.

Brittany keeps smiling and signing autographs.

BRITTANY

Mm-hmm.

MICHAEL OTERO

What do you say we go find a nice quiet place, so you can get some sleep?

BRITTANY

Sounds nice.

Brittany hands back the photo she just signed. Michael pulls her away from the crowd.

MICHAEL OTERO

Sorry, folks, but we've got to get going.

There are audible groans from the fans.

BRITTANY

I'll be back again. I promise.

Brittany blows them a kiss.

BRITTANY

I love you all.

The small crowd cheers for her. ("We love you, Brittany", etc.)

Michael opens the door of his vintage Ford Mustang for his wife.

They pull out of the parking lot, with a honk goodbye. Both Brittany and Michael wave goodbye to their fans.

CUT TO:

INT TOUR BUS - NIGHT

Phil angrily talks on his cell phone. The bus driver occasionally glances back at him in the mirror and shakes his head.

PHIL MacGREGOR

Yeah, totally ignored me. No, I didn't say anything. What does she think she is, a diva? I don't think so. I've made divas, and she is no diva. At least not yet.

Phil digs in the refrigerator amd mutters under his breath as he finds only nutritious foods and water.

PHIL MacGREGOR

And another thing, there's nothing in this fridge. Just carrot sticks and water.

Phil pulls out a glass bottle of water. He twists the cap, but can't get it off. He pounds the lid on the top of the fridge, but it still doesn't loosen.

LOU, the Bus Driver, glances back at him.

Phil balances his phone between his shoulder and ear as he tries vainly to get the cap off the bottle.

PHIL MacGREGOR

Lid's frozen on this bottle.

LOU, THE BUS DRIVER

You want me to get it for you?

Lou extends his hand back to take the bottle.

PHIL MacGREGOR

You shut up. Just keep your eyes on the road.

Phil opens a cupboard and pulls out a cup. He breaks the bottle neck off on the top of the fridge.

At the sound, Lou looks back sharply. He shakes his head and chuckles to himself.

PHIL MacGREGOR

Ouch! Dang bottle. Dang everything!

He sticks his finger in his mouth, then looks at it. A drop of blood wells from a small cut on his fingertip.

PHIL MacGREGOR

No, I'm all right. I'm just sick and tired of having her do whatever she wants. I'm the one who got her this tour. And she's headlining. You'd think I'd get a little respect.

Phil pours the water into the cup. He takes a drink and almost spits it out.

PHIL MacGREGOR

Yecch! What is this?

(looks at bottle)

Apple water?

Lou just laughs.

PHIL MacGREGOR

So, you coming to the concert in Farmington? Yeah, Friday. Got two days to play in the four corners. Whoop-de-doo. All right. See you then.

Phil turns off his phone. He looks at Lou's reflection.

PHIL MacGREGOR

(continuing; to Lou)

What're you laughing at?

LOU, THE BUS DRIVER

Nothing. You need a band-aid, or something?

Phil growls at him, and sits sullenly on the couch, staring at the broken bottle.

CUT TO:

EXT HIGHWAY - NIGHT

Michael drives down the highway. Brittany sits in the passenger seat, her eyes closed.

On the radio, the DIXIE CHICKS song, "Wide Open Spaces", comes on.

Brittany stirs a little, she opens her eyes halfway and reaches out to turn up the volume.

BRITTANY

Mmm. Turn it up.

MICHAEL OTERO

Sleep at all?

BRITTANY

A little. Where are we?

MICHAEL OTERO

Just outside Moab.

BRITTANY

Moab? How long was I out?

MICHAEL OTERO

About two hours.

BRITTANY

It sure doesn't feel like it.

MICHAEL OTERO

We'll find a place to sleep in town.

Brittany looks out the window at the stars.

BRITTANY

There's sure a lot of stars out here.

MICHAEL OTERO

Yep. That's life in the desert.

BRITTANY

Do you miss it?

MICHAEL OTERO

Sometimes. I grew up just east of here. In Hurricane.

Brittany giggles at his pronunciation. Michael pronounces it "Hurri - kun".

BRITTANY

Hurricun?

Michael smiles at her.

MICHAEL OTERO

It's what it's called.

Brittany opens the glove compartment.

BRITTANY

Anything to eat in here?

MICHAEL OTERO

What do you want?

BRITTANY

What've you got?

Michael fishes around behind his seat. His face shows pretty clearly what he's feeling. Cellophane crinkles as he sorts through is variety of snack foods.

His nose wrinkles as he finds something unpleasant.

MICHAEL OTERO

Eeew.

BRITTANY

What?

Michael pulls up a black banana peel.

MICHAEL OTERO

That's where it went.

Michael rolls down his window and tosses it out.

MICHAEL OTERO

I've got chips, some jerky, and maybe some M&M's.

(finding M&M's)

Yeah. Here they are.

Brittany takes the M&M's and slowly eats a few.

BRITTANY

Have you thought about names?

Michael stares thoughtully at the road ahead.

MICHAEL OTERO

Some.

BRITTANY

Which ones?

MICHAEL OTERO

Depends. If it's a boy, I was thinking Mulch.

BRITTANY

"Mulch"? That's an awful name for a child.

MICHAEL OTERO

(laughing)

Okay, maybe not Mulch.

BRITTANY

What if it's a girl?

A half-smile unconsciously forms on Michael's face.

MICHAEL OTERO

I've always liked the name Brittany.

BRITTANY

Lucky for you.

MICHAEL OTERO

Rachel. Natalie. Martine. LeeAnn.

BRITTANY

(thoughtfully)

LeeAnn. I like LeeAnn.

MICHAEL OTERO

Good. So do I.

The lights of Moab twinkly as they exit the canyon.