Based off of dinoraye's pic of The Girls rocking out. This one ended up shorter than I wanted. Could have run a double header for the two songs. And, yeah I really telegraphed that punchline.

High Guard Sound, EP 9

INT – THE TOUR BUS MID MORNING

BEHIND THE DRIVER ARE FIVE ROWS OF FOUR SEATS, TWO ON EACH SIDE. THE REST OF THE BUS CONTAINS A KITCHENETTE, SOME OFFICE SPACE AND A BATHROOM.

THE BUS PULLS UP TO THE FRONT OF A HOSPITAL. A TRIO OF HOSPITAL STAFF IS STANDING AT THE FRONT. DRETCH STANDS UP.

DRETCH

Alright. Amaryllis and Snap, this is your stop. Parnelle and Slimeboy will be working with you to set things up. The rest of you will be heading off to the hotel.

DRETCH STARTS OFF THE BUS. AMARYLLIS, SNAPDRAGON, PARNELLE AND SLIMEBOY STAND UP AND HEAD FOR THE FRONT.

ROSEMARY (as PARNELLE and SLIMEBOY walk by)

Hey. You guys mind if I give you a hand?

PARNELLE LOOKS AT AMARYLLIS, THEN AT SLIMEBOY. SLIMEBOY SHRUGS.

PARNELLE

Okay… Just don’t start anything.

ROSEMARY

I’m won’t. I just want to see how these things play out. We’ve never gotten one of them and I’m curious.

FADE OUT

 

EXT – THE TOUR BUS. MID MORNING

DRETCH, AMARYLLIS, AND SNAPDRAGON WALK UP TO THE HOSPITAL STAFF. TWO ARE DRESSED IN STANDARD DOCTOR’S COATS, THE THIRD IS WEARING A SUIT. PARNELLE, SLIMEBOY AND ROSEMARY STAND BEHIND THEM.

ECHINACEA

I’m Doctor ECHINACEA. (She gestures to her right.) This is doctor CALENDULA. (She gestures to her left.) And GANDHA, head of pediatrics. Thank-you for coming.

AMARYLLIS

Glad to. It’s always good to make time for the fans.

SNAPDRAGON

Anything we need to be aware of?

GANDHA

No. We’ve scheduled treatments around your visit. Barring any excitement, things should go smoothly. We’ll show you to the lecture theatre and you can get things setup up.

FADE OUT

INT - PEDIATICS WARD ENTRANCE, LATE MORNING

THERE IS A NURSE’S STATION. THE WALLS ARE PAINTED IN BRIGHT COLOURS, WITH SOME CHEERFUL DECORATIONS. SEVERAL PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE MILLING ABOUT THE HALLWAY.

AMARYLLIS BURSTS THROUGH THE DOOR. SHE IS DRESSED IN FULL STAGE DRESS AND MAKEUP. SHE STRIKES A POSE WITH ONE FOOT FORWARD.

AMARYLLIS (SHOUTING)

Alright. Which of you have the good taste to be my fans?

A COUPLE OF THE CHILDREN CHEER. A FEW PARENTS DASH BACK INTO THE ROOMS AND COME OUT WITH CHILDREN PULLING IV POLES, WITH SQUEAKING WHEELS.

AMARYLLIS (CONT’D, POINTING TO THE CROWD)

Good. The rest of you are about to find are about to find out why they have good taste. Now, how about we get out of this drafty hallway. We’ll go somewhere you all can find out how awesome me and Snapdragon are.

GANDHA STEPS AROUND AMARYLLIS

GANDHA

The family lounge is at the end of hall. This way.

GANDHA LEADS AMARYLLIS AND SNAPDRAGON. THE CROWD PARTS AS THEY WALK ALONG. PEOPLE FOLLOW BEHIND THEM. ROSEMARY STEPS THROUGH THE DOORS AND STANDS NEAR THE ENTRANCE. SHE WATCHES AS THE CROWD FOLLOWS AMARYLLIS AND SNAPDRAGON. CLEMATIS STEPS UP BESIDE ROSEMARY HOLDING AN IV POLE, THE WHEELS DON’T MAKE ANY NOISE. CLEMATIS IS DRESSED IN A TRACK SUIT. HER DARK HAIR IS BRAIDED WITH A LARGE BRAID ON ONE SIDE OF HER HEAD AND TWO SMALLER ONES ON THE OTHER. THEY ARE BRAIDED TOGETHER AT THE BACK AND GO HALFWAY DOWN HER BACK.

CLEMATIS

She certainly knows how to make an entrance.

ROSEMARY (CHUCKLES)

Yes, she certainly does.

CLEMATIS

You, though. Too old to be a patient. And look too young to be one of the parents.

ROSEMARY

I’m on tour with her. Figured I’d see what this kind of fan visit is all about.

CLEMATIS

Is she as bombastic off the stage as on?

ROSEMARY

Not quite as loud. You look like you’re too old for this floor yourself.

CLEMATIS

Yeah, I’m from one of the other wings. Too sick to go home. Too well to stay in bed. And, I like to help out here. Besides, I’ve got to take my pet pole Brucie for a walk twice a day.

ROSEMARY

I hope you get well enough soon.

CLEMATIS

So do I. Waiting for that day, that’s the hard part. (PAUSES) I’ve seen some of the clips of the two of you dueling. I think you’re both holding back. Beyond what’s expected of a middle act in a show.

ROSEMARY

Perhaps…

AMARYLLIS’S LAUGHTER ROLLS DOWN THE HALL.

ROSEMARY

But, there’s no show tonight…

CLEMATIS

I think the bus has rolled back in to pick you guys up, when you’re done.

ROSEMARY

Thanks.

ROSEMARY DASHES OFF THROUGH THE DOOR.

CLEMATIS

You’re welcome. I know the kids will love it.

FADE OUT

 

INT – LECTURE HALL LATE MORNING

THE LECTURE HALL HAS A STEEP SLOPE DOWN TO THE STAGE. THERE IS A PAIR OF SMALL OFF STAGE ALCOVES ON EITHER SIDE. THE PODIUM HAS BEEN MOVED TO ONE SIDE. A PAIR OF LARGE SPEAKERS HAS BEEN STEP UP. AMARYLLIS AND SNAPDRAGON ARE FINISHING THE LAST SONG OF THE SET.

PARNELLE AND ROSEMARY ARE AT THE TOP OF ONE OF THE FLIGHTS OF STAIRS. ROSEMARY IS IN FULL STAGE DRESS AND MAKEUP. SHE IS CARRYING HER GUITAR. A SMALL SPEAKER IS BEHIND HER.

PARNELLE

I don’t know about this.

ROSEMARY

If this goes wrong, you can blame me.

PARNELLE (CHUCKLES)

Don’t worry about that part.

AMARYLLIS AND SNAPDRAGON FINISH THE LAST SONG. THE CROWD CHEERS. AS THE CHEERING FADES, ROSEMARY STRIKES A POWER CHORD. EVERYBODY LOOKS UP AT ROSEMARY. DRETCH FROWNS. SNAPDRAGON GLANCES AT AMARYLLIS, HER FACE IS CONCERNED. ROSEMARY DISCONNECTS THE GUITAR AND HANDS THE CABLE TO PARNELLE. PARNELLE DASHES DOWN TO THE STAGE WITH THE SPEAKER. ROSEMARY STRIDES DOWN THE STAIRS.

ROSEMARY

Amaryllis. I’ve been talking to some of your fans. They think you’ve been holding back in our duels. I think they’re right. But, in fairness I have been too. So by the code I challenge you. Show me your true skill.

ROSEMARY STEPS UP ONTO THE STAGE. PARNELLE HANDS HER THE CORD. ROSEMARY PLUGS IT INTO HER GUITAR WITHOUT LOOKING. SNAPDRAGON HEADS OFF THE STAGE.

AMARYLLIS

By the code I accept. You will see the true level of my skill. No interference.

ROSEMARY

No games.

AMARYLLIS

Pure music.

ROSEMARY

Pure skill.

AMARYLLIS PLAYS THE OPENING TO “DUELING BANJOS”. ROSEMARY PLAYS THE OPENING ROCKED UP A BIT. AMARYLLIS PLAYS AN EVEN HARDER ROCK VERSION. ROSEMARY RESPONDS WITH A STRONG POWER CHORD. ROSEMARY AND AMARYLLIS LAUNCH INTO A ROCK VERSION OF “ANYTHING YOU CAN DO (I CAN DO BETTER)” FROM “ANNIE GET YOUR GUN”. MULTIPLE GENRES OF ROCK AND GUITAR TECHNIQUES ARE COVERED. A PART OF THE SEQUENCE AMARYLLIS AND ROSEMARY SWAP GUITARS WITH I CAN PLAY A FENDER AND GIBSON BETTER THEN YOU RESPECTIVELY. AT THE END OF SONG ROSEMARY AND AMARYLLIS CLASP EACH OTHER FOREARM TO FORM.

ROSEMARY

‘RYLLIS, you’re pretty good.

Amaryllis

You’re alright yourself ROSE.

ROSEMARY (TO THE CROWD)

Well, everyone. I think she won… this round. What do you think?

THE CROWD CHEERS WILDLY. DRETCH WALKS UP TO ROSEMARY AND AMARYLLIS.

DRETCH

You took a bit of chance Rosemary.

ROSEMARY (SHEEPISHLY)

Yeah… (ROSEMARY LOOKS AT AMARYLLIS) I should have asked first.

AMARYLLIS

Yes, you should have. (AMARYLLIS LOOKS AT THE CROWD, AND SMILES.) I’m not going to argue it to much given the results.

GANDHA, ECHINACEA, AND CALENDULA WALK ON TO THE STAGE.

CALENDULA

That last bit was a surprise. But, I can tell the kids really liked it.

FADE OUT

 

EXT – THE TOUR BUS. EARLY AFTERNOON

SLIMEBOY CLOSES THE DOOR IN THE LUGGAGE SECTION OF THE BUS AND WALKS TO THE DOOR OF THE BUS.

ROSEMARY, AMARYLLIS, GANDHA, ECHINACEA, AND CALENDULA ARE STANDING BY THE DOOR.

CALENDULA

Thank-you again for coming. Good luck on the rest of your tour.

AMARYLLIS

Anytime. And if we need to come through again. We’ll try. But, at worst it’ll be a video call.

ROSEMARY

And when you see Clematis, tell her thanks for the nudge.

GANDHA, ECHINACEA, AND CALENDULA FACES BLANK.

ECHINACEA

Clematis… dark hair, two thin braids on one side, a thick one on the other.

ROSEMARY

Yeah, that’s her… What?

ECHINACEA

She died –

ROSEMARY

She didn’t look that sick. I mean some people never do—

ECHINACEA

No. She died a hundred and thirty years ago.

FADE OUT