Act One: Drums and Heartbeats
It is the late 1930's, New York. Big band and swing music are the rage. Ben "Blue" Miller is a struggling trumpet player in his 30s. He wears a used tuxedo and carries a well-worn trumpet case. Ellie Grace is a well-educated music fan in her very early 20s, tastefully dressed for a New Years Eve party.
THE BAND is "The Band," playing at a formal society party at a downtown Manhattan hotel (during preshow as the audience is seated).
HOUSE LIGHTS DOWN.
STAGE LIGHTS FULL
MUSIC: "Dreamscape" (uptempo, melancholy)
BAND
LEADER
That was our last song of the evening, and the first song of the new year of 1939 ... Thanks for joining us at the beautiful Fieldston Manhattan Hotel, and on behalf of the band, we
wish you a lovely evening and a happy new year...
The gig finishes and the Band says goodnight to BEN and leaves the stage
Blue is left alone in the ballroom, packing up. ELLIE walks into the room, humming a song. She doesn’t see him as she looks for her coat. He stops and watches her approach.
BEN
The first time I laid eyes on Eleanor Grace, I had no idea what I was looking at. I'd never seen anything like Ellie before in my life. Still haven't. (He watches her for a moment)
That’s a mighty pretty tune you’re humming, Miss.
ELLIE
Oh! I, I'm — sorry … I didn't see you ...
BEN
Didn’t mean to startle you, Miss. I was just saying what a nice tune you were humming there. I'm Ben Miller. They call me Blue.
ELLIE
Yes, I saw you playing with the band. Eleanor Grace. Everyone calls me Ellie. And Happy New Year.
BEN
Happy New Year to you. And which Grace is the fair Eleanor ... Peace or Beauty?
ELLIE
Happiness, I'd like to think, on a good day. Why Blue?
BEN
There seems to be some debate about that ... never played the blues in my life, a jazzman by trade, don'tcha know.
ELLIE
The trumpet. Perhaps it's really "blew," as in past tense?
BEN
I hope it's some oblique reference to my current musical abilities. I'd hate to think people consider me "past tense."
ELLIE
Well, perhaps it's your talent ... that came out of the "blue"?
BEN
Sure wasn’t for the color of my blood. Maybe it means crab legs ... I am abso-tively in favor of crab legs as food.
ELLIE
"If music be the food of love, play on."
BEN
Who said that?
ELLIE
Shakespeare.
BEN
Who’s he play with?
ELLIE
You know the Graces and oblique but not Shakespeare? Mr. Miller, I do believe you're mocking me. Do I appear to be a naïve child of whom you can make fun?
BEN
Miss Grace ... from where I'm standing, you don’t appear to be any sort of child at all. But I will admit I've been around this world just a little longer than you, and perhaps seen
more things than are dreamt of in your philosophy. I was born in the year nineteen-hundred and four, started walking soon after that and haven't learned to settle down since.
ELLIE
Oh my, 1904 — what a very long time ago that was, Mr. Miller.
BEN
You shoulda seen it from in here. Yes ma'am, born the very same year as Count Basie, Glenn Miller and Coleman Hawkins. Not that I am puttin' myself in the same league, mind you, but it
certainly was a vintage year for cats.
ELLIE
Whatever league you do put yourself in, Mister Ben Miller, I've enjoyed hearing you play. I must say you are very good.
BEN
Just good? Not wonderful? Hmm, I must be slipping ... most beautiful women of my acquaintance proclaim me as wonderful.
ELLIE
There might be some debate about wonderful — but definitely good. You know who is wonderful?
BEN
To an educated lady like yourself? I couldn’t begin to guess ... Mozart?
ELLIE
No. Ellington. Ellington is wonderful.
BEN
Ah, yes. You're right. And where did you hear Sir Duke?
ELLIE
Oh, here ... the band played on that stage. Last year.
BEN
In this hotel? Never heard about Duke playing a gig at the Fieldston, now why on earth ...
ELLIE
It was a private party, a birthday. (pause) My mother's birthday. My family ... owns the hotel.
BEN
This particular hotel.
ELLIE
Yes.
BEN
Not some distant, leafless branch off the tree, but your family, as in your mom and pop?
ELLIE
Yes.
He turns to close his case.
BEN
Nice of you to take time to talk to the hired help, Miss Grace, I'm sure you have other things to do. I'll jes' be moseyin' along.
ELLIE
Pardon me, it's not like that at all ... I came in here to get my coat, for one, I didn’t know you were still in the room. And my family worked very hard for what they have ... my
grandfather arrived in this city with the clothes on his back and five dollars in his pocket.
BEN
I suppose it just depends on how big the pocket gets, now don’t it? Oh, hey, don’t be all stompin' your feet and getting outraged over there. I was only half serious.
ELLIE
Well ... I was only half outraged. Tell you what, if you don't hold my family against me I won't hold the fact that you're the hired help against you.
BEN
I will take that as a deal.
©2008 Joseph Hayes
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