Fanciful & Unfounded VI

Journal Assignment #6: Manface

Focus on dialogue between two or three people in a play format.

- Professor Brink

Scene: A dormitory hallway, most of the doors are shut and the music of the Backstreet Boys can be heard faintly. Alexa’s door is open and a yellow star on the outside proclaims the name of the resident within. The door opens into a typical college dorm room. There is a bed neatly made against one wall. On the opposite wall is a desk with a computer. Seated in a wooden chair facing the computer is a girl of nineteen. She is wearing sweat pants and tee-shirt. A book rests on her knees as she stares intently into her computer screen. Near the desk is a chest of drawers and a closet. In the opposite corner of the room is a chair and windows. Seated on the chair is a young man in his twenties. He is reading.

Sylvie: Skids to a stop in Alexa’s doorway. She twitches. Alexa! I need a manface!

Alexa: Looks up from computer. You could try the internet.
Sylvie: Emphatically No! It must be from life!
Jameson: Hey Sylvie. Sylvie’s eyes lock on Jameson’s face.
Sylvie: You! She points her pencil at his nose.
Jameson: Wait…
Alexa: Shrugs at Jameson. The artist has spoken.
Sylvie: I just need a manface for my figure drawing class.
Jameson: Do you need any other man-
Sylvie: Horrified No! Sylvie bustles around Jameson Now you just stay right there.
Jameson: Unbuttons his jacket and pushes his dark hair away from his forehead, to Sylvie So you’re really into art.
Sylvie: Beginning her sketch Uh-huh.
Jameson: When did you get into that?
Sylvie: Mutters unintelligibly.
Jameson: Undeterred What kind of art do you do?
Sylvie: This kind?
Jameson: Right. What artists do you like?
Sylvie: Could you just not maybe talk so much – It kind of screws up your jaw line.
Jameson: Chastised Sure, I’m sorry.
Sylvie sketches. Alexa works on her computer. Jameson sits, silent and unmoving.
Sylvie: Stops drawing. Turns to Jameson. Keep your manface still!
Jameson: My nose is itchy.
Sylvie: Fine slams down pencil, itch your nose! A beat. Okay, you done now?
Jameson: Obediently Yes.
Alexa: Turns from computer to face Sylvie Whoa, easy dictator.
Sylvie: Threatening No you talk too.
Alexa: In mock confusion What was that?
Sylvie lifts her pencil in a menacing stance, her eyes gleam and her face clenches.
Alexa: Okay – no talking. Lifts hands in surrender.
Jameson: Casually So. How long does it usually take to do one of these?
Sylvie: Forty-five minutes – I’m making a few…
Jameson: I’m getting kind of hot. Pulls on shirt as if to remove it.
Sylvie: Tersely Too bad. Keep it on. I’m drawing that part.
Jameson: Defeated Okay
Sylvie bites her cheek as she finishes her sketch and packs up.
Sylvie: Done. Sylvie lifts up her hands with finesse. Bye Alexa! Thanks, Jamie.
Jameson releases his tense stance and proceeds to give his nose a thorough scratch.

Exit Sylvie.
Jameson: To Alexa I think I’m going to head out too.
Alexa: From behind her computer Yeah, sure – see you later!

Scene changes to the original hallway

Jameson: You’re pretty scary when you do art. Are you always that intense?
Sylvie: Pretty much.
Jameson: It’s cool to be that passionate about something.
Jameson and Sylvie freeze, enter Alexa.
Alexa: Aside to the audience You see Sylvie’s face? Yeah, it usually goes red like that when guys talk to her. But this motions to the frozen Sylvie’s face is a whole new level. You see, this is more of a freshly boiled lobster, as opposed to her usual flamingo. Interesting, isn’t it?

Curtain

I think this is a good start. I’ve never done this much dialogue before and I think it helps the story progress. It’s cool to learn about characters from what they say.

Based on a true story. The true story: Sylvie's face was its usual alabaster tone. Pale, like snow.

Regards,

Sylvie