Lights up. Riley Kendall and his band members, Christopher, Conner, and Max, are practicing in the studio. It’s the night before their concert. Christopher is the drummer, Conner is the lead guitarist, Max is the bassist, and Riley is the lead vocalist. All band members are exhausted. They have been practicing nonstop for twelve hours straight. The time is midnight. The room smells like Papa John’s pizza. Riley is sitting on a stool in front of the other band members, and he is obviously about to keel over, although he is trying to hide his tiredness. Moments later, he hears that Christopher has stopped banging the drums and cymbals. A minute later, the song is over, and Riley coughs into his arm. Then he hangs his head to the right and places his hand to his tired throat. Conner is worried.
Conner: Riley.
Riley forces his eyes open and lifts his head. He peers back at Christopher. His head is on his drum set. Riley smiles feebly and hops down from the stool. He approaches Christopher and shakes him by the shoulder.
Riley: (Feebly) Christopher.
Startled, Christopher snaps up his head.
Christopher: (Half asleep) Who?
Riley: (Small chuckle) Up you go. (He turns to the other band members and claps his hands together to grab their attention.) Alright, boys, next song!
Christopher, Conner, and Max groan. They want to go to bed.
Riley: Oh, don’t give me that. We have much to do before the concert tomorrow.
Max: (Complaining) It is tomorrow. (He takes a sip from his water bottle. He puts it down and picks up his pick. His fingers are sore. He waits.)
Riley returns to his stool and sits down. He picks up Reggie, his guitar, as a sign that he wants to practice “Surrounded” next.
Riley: (Yawns.) Whew, we sure have been busy boys.
Riley laughs, but his band members don’t. Instead, they’re merely glaring at him.
Riley: (His smile diminishes. He is confused. His voice is hoarse.) Why-why are you glaring at me like that?
Christopher throws down his drumsticks. Like the others, he is not in a good mood.
Christopher: Riley, we’re tired. We want to go to bed, and you need to rest your voice for tomorrow.
Riley’s cheeks flush. He refuses to rest! He has an addiction to get their first album, One and Eight, perfect. He swallows a painful breath but ends up coughing. Christopher reaches behind him and picks up a water bottle. Riley needs it more than him. He stands and approaches the lead singer.
Christopher: (He offers the bottle to Riley.) Riley, listen to yourself. Your voice is exhausted. Here’s a water bottle.
Riley puts down Reggie. He stands, glares, and smacks the bottle out of Christopher’s hand. It flies across the room and bounces off the wall. Christopher shoots Riley an angry look.
Christopher: Hey! (He rubs his wrist.) That was unnecessary! For Pete’s Sake, Riley, I’m trying to help you! You need some water!
Riley: (Raises his voice. He is now yelling.) Since when did you become my mother, Christopher? (Sweat starts trickling down his temples. He’s feeling hot.) I’m the leader here, and as the leader, you are required to listen to my orders! We are not stopping!
Conner and Max become nervous. They hate seeing best friends fight. They put down their own instruments and jump from their stools. They approach the arguing friends.
Christopher: (To Riley. Yelling) Let me give you some advice, Hotshot! If you don’t rest your voice, you’re going to destroy it! Riley, you’ve got to break free from your addiction to get this album perfect! One and Eight already is! Just because you’re the leader, it doesn’t give you the right to boss us around and treat us like slaves!
Max grabs Riley’s shoulder. Conner grabs Christopher’s. They’re trying to break them up.
Conner: Break it up! You’re making us nervous! Stop fighting! Stop fighting right now! You two are best friends!
Riley and Christopher ignore them. Both young men are looking for a fight. They shove Max and Conner off of them. Every second that passes, their yelling grows louder. Riley heads over to Christopher’s drum set and stands in front of it while Christopher stands in front of him.
Riley: (Face sweaty and boiling red) It’s a free country, Christopher! I have the right to make you my servants!
That did it! Christopher has had enough of his attitude! He reaches out and shoves Riley into his drum set. He storms away.
Christopher: I’m going to bed! (He opens the door.) Go ahead and kill yourself, Riley! See if I care!
Christopher storms out of the room and slams the door so hard that the entire studio shakes. Riley is cowering against the drum set, cradling his arm. He is reminded of the time his abusive father purposely dropped him into a desk when he was ten years old. His anger boils inside of him like lava. He is trying to hold back tears. Conner and Max help him up.
Conner and Max: Are you alright, Riley? Are you alright?
Riley: (Shoving them off) I’m fine! Don’t you dare touch me!
Conner and Max retreat away from him. They remain calm.
Conner: Christopher is right, Ri, we’ve had enough. Come on, Max.
Conner and Max return to their instruments and put them up. They head for the door and open it.
Riley: (To Conner and Max) Oh, so now you two are turning against me?
Conner and Max ignore him. They’re in no mood for another argument. They step out of the room, and unlike Christopher, they shut the door softly. Riley is left alone in the studio, and he is furious! His bandmates just ditched him! Trying to conceal his anger, he hurries to Reggie and picks him up. He remains calm for a few seconds, and then, the volcano erupts from his head! He screams. Lifting Reggie high over his head, he stands on his tiptoes, and a bit of his belly shows. Bringing his guitar forward, he smashes it against the ground! SMASH!! Guitar pieces fly in every direction, and all Riley holds is the neck of it. He hurls it into the wall and falls to his elbows and knees. He punches the ground and starts to sob. He is severely depressed and homesick. He has been on tour for six months and wants to return home to Clarissa, his wife, and Mallory, his daughter. Eventually, after a full hour, he calms down. He sits on his heels. He feels like he’s in a sauna, despite how hot and dehydrated he is. He’s a mess! Riley crawls to the water bottle that he had slapped out of Christopher’s hand earlier and picks it up. He jumps to his feet, rubs sweat from his forehead, and unscrews the cap of the water bottle. Riley tries to drink the water, but it gets caught in his throat, and he can’t swallow. Due to his damaged vocal cords, he has difficulty swallowing. Riley gags and coughs up a storm. His throat is on fire. A moment later, he catches his breath and stares at the broken guitar. Then his eyes roll over to his stool. He’s got an idea.
Riley: Christopher, Conner, and Max may have ditched me, but that’s not going to stop me from practicing!
Fortunately for him, he’s brought a spare guitar. It’s leaning against the wall, and Riley hurries to it. He picks up the acoustic guitar and returns to his stool, taking his seat. Riley tunes the instrument. Then he begins to strum. For the rest of the night, he practices, practices, and practices. He does not put the guitar down. His eyelids become heavy, and he sounds like he has swallowed a train, but he keeps on singing. 5 am comes, and he can do no more. He collapses off the stool and lands on his front. The guitar lands next to him, and just like that, Riley Kendall falls fast asleep. Lights down.
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and then Add to home screen.