(INT.- a dark room with a single dangling lightbulb casting a cone of light on a man, GERALD, 40-something, blond, a buttoned-down shirt rolled up at the sleeves, tied to a chair with rope. Another man, PERCY, also 40-something and also wearing a buttoned-down shirt with rolled up sleeves, stands in front of GERALD, a cigarette clutched loosely in his fingers as he rests his elbow on his other hand and leans his head against the fist with the cigarette. GERALD looks down, seemingly surveying the rope around him and his hands behind his back for the first time.
GERALD:
Well, this is interesting.
PERCY:
I don’t know why you assume I did that.
GERALD:
Well, (he looks around theatrically) do you see anyone else here?
PERCY:
No. No, I don’t. Still, I didn’t tie you up like that.
GERALD:
Well, maybe we can debate the physics of rope somehow winding tightly around a man’s body by itself after you untie me.
PERCY:
I don’t know if I should do that. Don’t you think it’s some kind of message?
GERALD:
Well yes, Percy, I do think it’s a message, and a very strong message indeed. It says, (shouting) get me out of this chair before I get up and fucking kill you!
PERCY:
Well I don’t think we need to approach this from an ultimatum kind of standpoint. I’m just saying that perhaps we’re meant to work from this position?
GERALD:
Jesus. Are we seriously going to do this? Meant by who? What are you talking about?
PERCY: I don’t mean to be cryptic. It’s just that, it’s not always like this when we see each other, right? And it’s not like it’s always terrible when we do, I mean, you’ve enjoyed things with me before, at least I think?
GERALD:
Yes. I have. I’m not now, though. This rope is kind of tight. And if this is your idea of a fun existential debate I’d rather do that on equal footing. This isn’t exactly…that.
PERCY:
(Somewhat lost in thought). Well, maybe that’s it.
GERALD:
What’s it? It’s what? Percy, I’m serious, come over here and untie-
PERCY:
Equal footing. We’re not on equal footing. Look, if I untie you, you’ll run away, right?
GERALD:
Um, I don’t…ok, I promise-
PERCY:
No, I just mean (looks around the room, into the dark) I’m not sure there are walls here.
GERALD:
(looks around) Oh. Maybe you’re right. But still, does it really matter?
PERCY:
If there are walls?
GERALD:
If I run away. Every time I do that, I arrive somewhere new, and there you are. Maybe not right away, but eventually. I try and strike out on my own, there you are. I thought with Helen maybe I’d try something different, we’d do things ourselves, go somewhere you’d never go, and still, there you are. Here you are. Here we are.
PERCY:
Well don’t blame me for that. For this.
GERALD:
I’m not overflowing with other people to blame right now.
PERCY:
You know, I used to have a friend. He was pretty wild and crazy. Fun. But crazy! When I met him, he had just moved in with someone. It was great, they got along, wonderful. Then things went south, the other guy was crazy, my friend said, and I believed him, of course. A month later, the same thing happened. Whirlwind relationship with a great guy, then everything fell apart when it turned out the guy was, you guessed it, crazy. This happened 2 or 3 more times, and then I finally put it together.
GERALD:
Your friend was nuts?
PERCY:
Well in his case, yes. But what I’m saying is, what was the common thread? It wasn’t the other people. It wasn’t anything external. It was him. He was the thread. What’s our thread? There is no one else, is there?
GERALD:
Well yeah, there’s, I mean, ok, not really at the same time…Percy, I don’t really-
PERCY: I’m saying you and me. We’re not…we’re not external.
(The lightbulb goes out.)
END SCENE
DIALOGUE
You sit there looking like you're under your shell
try and hide it like I don't know you well
One day I tell you you will miss what you get from me,
you'll see
Remember when you thought you left me behind?
Drawers were empty like a lake that's bone dry
struck out on your own just to have me inside your mind,
you'll find
I've heard it all so loud before
I'm reaching past you and I'll soar
Every time I find a new home of mine
I have to check behind the curtains, the blinds
never know if you are watching behind my back,
in fact
I can't remember if I've ever been free
free from the chatter that you broadcast to me
I'm blowing up the transmitter inside of me,
you'll see
I've heard this all from you before
I wish you'd wait with me some more
I'm no different than you
might not like it but it's true
@tukayandryan Mar 2022
This is super atmospheric. Absolutely love the use of double bass. Definitely a cinematic quality to this. Fab progression within the track, Your liner notes are brilliant too. #tit4tat
@chipwithrow Mar 2022
Such a cool song - like late-night jazz/blues club, film noir soundtrack cool.
I want to know more about Gerald and Percy. And I want an upright bass.
@pugetive Feb 2022
I love this catchy and rhythmic melody and the whole vibe/arrangement of the recording. Great guitar fills and solos as a bonus. Nice work!
@hanley Feb 2022
Such a great vibing track!
The double bass holds down the groove and those guitar solos are the tasty icing on top! Lovely progression and sparse use of percussion, so very tasteful
@andyt13 Feb 2022
Ummm belly dancing vibes
@guatecoop Feb 2022
Oh man, I just never know what you are going to do....except that I'm going to be amazed--again. This has such nuance and feel. Just love this. Your ideas are so complete and they come from every corner of your mind. So good...Well done!
@unkept Feb 2022
Super cool and smooth mood, love the way the guitar sits in the back, and the little accents of percussion you have. Nice job all around!
@bachelorb Feb 2022
Your liner notes really set up the song and put me in the right frame of mind to listen to it. I loved the simple beginning and end with it building in the middle. I’m looking forward to listening to all your stuff this year.
@thedutchwidows Feb 2022
Wow, where to start with this? Firstly, the music is great. Lovely playing, super production - it has a real cinematic quality. Sounds soundtrack-quality rather than FAWM-y (although perhaps I shouldn't apply my own shockingly low standards). The music is brilliant was my broad conclusion. But the liner notes as well. Is this going to be a thing? Like a story evolving over your FAWM22? If it is, I'm right up for hearing/reading that! I've not quite worked out whether Gerald and Percy are the same person and that is internal dialogue, or a dream, or real... I'll be so gutted if this is a one-off and there's no pay-off. No pressure.
@evinwolverton Feb 2022
Ooo-wee this arrangement *really* does it for me. So soft, so well ornamented. The interplay of the percussion / guitar / voices on the chorus is really unusually refined compared to what most of us are doing this month. Listening to you is gonna give me good ideas. Thank you.
@spazsquatch Feb 2022
Well you are definitely the odds on favourite for taking the "Best Liner Notes" at the end of FAWM. I'm a little confused about if the song and notes are directly connected. I'm not seeing it, but the concept is great.
Anyway, I like all the parts, just might be missing the whole.
@cseversin Feb 2022
Super cool concept! Love the arrangement, too.