"Handsome" (Scenes 0 - 7)--a one act romantic comedy, 11/16/12

"Handsome", Scene 0 - 3 (PG-13): Elaine And Rodger Plan her Date

“Handsome”, Scene 0 -- Prologue

As crushes go, Elaine Marshall’s romantic crush on her best friend Rodger Calendar is a doozy—and doomed!     Forty year old Rodger is tall, dark, and handsome—naturally befitting the six foot two and a half inch muscular leading man hunk of an actor that he is.   Elaine is forty five years old, 160 pounds, and five foot four inches tall—very nicely womanly curvy—with long silky brunette hair that she usually styles up and out of the way in a loose twist.  But, Elaine knows that she is older than Rodger is, she is not as pretty as Rodger is, and she is not British like Rodger is.  So it’s three strikes and you’re out—in Elaine’s mind--to use one of her American idioms. 

But, Elaine is grateful for Rodger’s close friendship forged from them working on different artistic projects together and becoming best friends over the past few years.  Elaine just needs to move on with her life so that she can find romance for herself—especially since romance is supposedly her writing genre.  And, Elaine has an attractive face and a pleasing disposition.   So, Elaine has hope in her quest to find love for herself.  She just doesn’t expect to find love where she does.

To be continued with Scene 1

“Handsome”, Scene 1 (R rating) -- Elaine has Saturday Morning Coffee with her Best Friend Rodger

It is a typical Saturday morning for Elaine Marshall.  Elaine showers and puts on a light blue soft weave jeans dress with a scoop neckline and a full skirt.  She walks around the corner from her London flat to a little coffee shop where she plans to meet her best friend, Rodger for breakfast.  Rodger is the Rodger Calendar—“England’s Heartthrob”, dramatic actor nonpareil, action hero adventure guy, and the drop dead gorgeous desire of women around the world.  So, Elaine should be grateful to be his best friend, right?  Well, she decides to view it as such as she meets Rodger for their regular breakfast coffee date this cool Spring Saturday morning.  But Rodger is late--as usual--as he slowly strolls toward her. [(3) right]

Elaine:  “Hi Rodger.”  She says waving him over to her table.   “You know Handsome, I’m not getting any younger waiting here for you.”  She says with an impish grin while tapping her shoe impatiently on the pavement and sipping her latte al fresco.

Rodger:  “Sorry Elaine, I over slept.”  He says apologizing while leaning down and kissing her cheek.  “No studio driver banging on my door to wake me up on the weekends.”

Elaine:  “You know Handsome, there is this new fangled invention called an alarm clock?”  She says amusingly but pointedly.

Rodger:  “I know, I know, Elaine.”  He whines sheepishly and rolls his eyes.  “I just haven’t needed one with the driver from the studio picking me up most days.”

Elaine:  “Handsome, you are just way too pampered.  Ha ha ha ha ha!”  She shaking her head bemusedly.

Rodger:  “Well, look at my long hours on the set. I don’t have a life.  I work, I work out, I sleep.  That’s it.” He unconsciously bobs his head while he talks--like an inadvertent heartthrob bobble head doll.

Elaine:  “Poor baby.”  Elaine [(4a) right]  says teasingly.  “I seem to also recall that you also get to make out with beautiful women all day long, wear custom tailored designer clothes—some of which you get to take home with you, I might add.”  Rodger raises his eyebrow mischievously.  “I meant the clothes and you know it.”  She rolls her eyes. “And, you’re adored by millions, which also puts millions in your bank account.”

Rodger:  Laughing and leaning back in his chair laughing [(4b) right], obviously quite pleased with himself, he admits cheekily. “Yes, it’s a rough life, but someone has to live it.”