workshopping this

PROLOGUE:

the difference between the lived experience, and the opportunity to experience the world emotionally, separate from the lived experience, aware of the full story, would be a superpower.


SCENE BAR THEN

he says, the heart lives by breaking and breaking

that's hemingway.

i don't know. i think some poet.

EARLIER.

the day starts great and he is hopefull until the open sign goes on.

a sequence of real life tbs customer interactons well told.

after a break up with his girlfriend is confirmed and then when he goes to the roof to bbq there is a party of young people. its a pandemic so he cant go to his bar... or can he.... he goes to the alley behind the bar and one old timer remembers him. he gains entrance and there can be memories or just impressions here.

SCENE BAR NOW

but there is an arguement about his bona fides. which he solves with alomb. except for being punched in the face and no one agreeing with him.

eventually we have 2 conversations. one discusses misfortune, milch, and what life doesnt owe us. the second is practical and involves the fact that he has lost his front tooth and has a staff meeting tommorow a.m.

eventually we come to this:

he offers to replace the tooth. i am skeptical.

he says, what choice you got, son? (from tarantino)

so i follow him back behind the bar, down the graffiti alley

he keeps looking back at me, like im going to run, but i'm in so much pain and i keep trying to imagine how the staff meeting will look in.... 4 hours.

we get to this door, some buttons are pushed.

its downstairs

he has this weird array of teeth and dentures and molds from where i dont know. it's scary. but cool.

he says, can i get you something?

i ask for a beer and then im sat and a beer is there i can even taste it's cold deliciousness but it's just in my hand.

he bends an arm silently over me and a click and i'm lit but it doesnt hurt.

there is a steel rattle that sounds dull and not clean but that's just my paranoia?

so he says, i will find a close match.

he moves away with i feel was excitemtent or a kind of pep.

sidelong i can see a sliver of him canvassing jaws and dentures and molars, biscuspids, and i dont know anymore teeth except wisdom and they take those away from you when you're young, so they cant be a choice right?

he's saying as he looks, you smoke alot.

i get the point but vanity so i say ya i drink black coffee. it gets a little huff.

i will have to stain this. he demonstrates this tooth to me. we havent talked price and that strikes me.

i say, so...

 tk

where do you get teeth?


what is the doctors purpose?

how does he change his appearance?

it cant be the same location each time.



next day.

im up and its awful. the first thing i think is her. and then my face, i touch it and the adrenalin of feeling it's swollen almost softens the onrush of the hangover which is like the opposite of an orgasm.

staff meeting in 20 minutes.

there is always a moment like this in your life.

thank you all for coming

i know it's all really really bad.

but i wish there was more.

sorry.

how well do we know each other

bill was surprised when i referred to him as a good person.

typical day at the shop.

the new kid comes in early with his brand new designer safety boots. i offer him a coffee and he says no he brought his own blend. so he proceeds to take the kettle, walk over to the first till counter, reach down to where we stash the plastic gallon jug of industrial disinfectant, and fills up the kettle. i put down the two cases of short hills i have been holding in the moment and take a step towards him, but then i wait.

he stands up and i say, what's up there fella?

he looks at me and i see this puzzled look, and he i guess maybe then notices the smell or something and he looks at the kettle and then at me.

i say, that's poison. don't poison yourself. i need you on till.

he goes, oh man.