Crossed Lines

Act One, Scene 1

VERN, otherwise known as Vernacular, of African American decent slouches against the street wall. Flea (Bubbles bro) approaches looking smug like. Unwittingly they ‘talmbout’ or talk about quotes in their gangsta lingo.

Vern: “Watcha catch Flea. Look like ya come from a flapper party.”

Flea: “Hell you talmbout.”

Vern: “Look at you like a gold digger in glad rags, so I say “To be or not to be and that is the question.”

Flea: “Hell Vern you crazy man.”

Vern: “H’m talmbout da big question like what we be Flea?”

Flea: : “Ah, that deceit should steal such gentle shape, and with a virtuous vizor hide deep vice!”

Vern “Heck you talmbout Flea?”

Flea : “Hell Vern talmbout dim brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”

Vern: “Heck you be careful now remember, “I am the street so you’d better look both ways before crossing me. You either at the table or on the menu.”

Production Director: “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here. This is the war room.”

Flea: “Vern quit lollygagging now.”…“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”

Vern: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

Flea: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”

Vern and Flea exit the street arm in arm. Together they chant, “Life is what happens when you’re making other plans.”

Quotes in order of appearance: Shakespeare in Hamlet Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet Dr. Suess Al Capone Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove Mother Teresa Nelson Mandela Winston Churchill John Lennon

Production Director: Note that we are working on Scene 2. We will get our act together in due course.