Sing Song · 30 April 2010
int.diningroom.day
A high school student, JEREMY is sitting down to breakfast with MOM. He is eating cereal with milk. Mom is sipping tea and humming a song. [The song is any song that can be easily stuck in a person’s head. Jingles or TV series songs would be the best. Gilligan’s Island will be used but there are probably other choices.] Jeremy starts to hum along.
int.bathroom.day
Jeremy finishes breakfast and goes to brush his teeth. He is still humming the song.
int.foyer.day
Jeremy kisses Mom on the cheek. He is not humming the song but as his mother closes the door, she starts to hum again.
MOM
(humming before and after she speaks)
Good-bye Jeremy.
Jeremy
Bye Mom.
Mom closes the door and Jeremy starts to hum the song again.
JEREMY
Argh. Doggone song.
ext.busstop.day
Jeremy walks to the school bus stop. He is still humming the song. As he waits, he thinks that he hears others humming the song too. He stops humming to just listen. The humming stops. Everybody gets onto the school bus.
int.bus.day
Jeremy boards the school bus and is humming the song again. People seem to be engrossed in their own activities. People are mostly listening to their personal listening devices. Some are talking to each other. Others are holding hands and mooning over each other. A couple are sleeping and a few are doing their homework to the dim light of the dawn. Jeremy seems to hear them all humming the song. Then some even break out in song but nobody’s mouth moves.
Jeremy sits next to his best friend, CARL. Carl is engrossed in his music but acknowledges Jeremy with a smile and a nod. Jeremy sits down and pulls out Carl’s near headphone ear piece.
JEREMY
(whispering)
I can’t get this dumb song out of my head. What should I do?
Carl
Just sing a different song.
Carl hands Jeremy one of his headphones. Jeremy closes his eyes.
int.classroom.day
Jeremy enters the classroom with Carl and Carl gets his ear piece back with a little tug. Jeremy immediately starts to hear the song again. Everybody in class is singing the song but nobody’s mouth is moving.
Carl sits down in front of Jeremy. Jeremy sits down and leans forward to talk to Carl. Class is almost ready to begin.
JEREMY
(whispering)
Carl. It came back.
CARL
(whispering without looking back)
What? The song?
JEREMY
(whispering)
Yeah. The song.
(desperate)
What do I do?
CARL
(whispering but almost laughing)
You gotta give it to some one else man.
JEREMY
(confused)
What?
CARL
(laughing out loud now)
You gotta get somebody else stuck on the song.
Carl gets the teacher’s attention. MR. K is standing in front of the class ready for school to begin. He goes over to Carl expectantly.
Mr. K
Yes, Carl.
CARL
Mr. K. Jeremy has a problem.
MR. K
(looking at Jeremy)
Then why doesn’t Jeremy tell me what that problem is.
CARL
It is sorta embarrassing.
MR. K
Okay.
CARL
He has a song stuck in his head.
MR. K
(chuckling a bit)
Did he try singing another song?
CARL
(also chuckling but trying to get a serious composure)
Yeah. But that didn’t work. He’s gotta give it to somebody else.
MR. K
(gravely but still chuckling)
Yes. I see.
(to the whole class)
Everybody pay attention. Jeremy has something to tell you all.
JEREMY
(pleading to Mr. K)
No.
Mr. K ignores Jeremy and directs him to the front of the room. Jeremy reluctantly complies. Carl puts on his headphones and closes his eyes.
JEREMY
(quietly but singing)
Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale. A tale of a fateful trip.
The whole class joins in the song.
jeremy (and class)
That started from this tropic port aboard this tiny ship. The mate was a mighty sailing man. The skipper brave and sure. Five passengers set sail that day for a three hour tour. A three hour tour.
Jeremy relaxes and goes to sit down. The class (including Mr. K) continues singing the song. The bell rings and everybody quiets down.
JEREMY
(to the whole class)
Thank you. I got rid of the song.
Chloe
But now it’s stuck in our heads.
Several people chime in and some throw soft stuff at Jeremy. Even Mr. K throws an eraser at Jeremy. Carl is laughing. His headphones are still on. Jeremy is smiling despite the projectiles being thrown his way.
CARL
(whispering)
Better be careful.
JEREMY
(whispering)
What?
CARL
(whispering)
For the replacement.
JEREMY
(whispering)
Replacement?
CARL
(whispering)
You know. The replacement song. It is bound to be more annoying that the first one.
JEREMY
(whispering)
Yeah right.
Mr. K has already started lecturing and the class is attentive. Jeremy and Carl are taking notes. Suddenly, Jeremy cries out.
JEREMY
Argh!
MR. K
Is everything alright?
JEREMY
I just got another song stuck in my head. And its worse than the first one.
MR. K
Very good. Just don’t share it with the rest of us.
Everybody laughs and goes on with class. Mr. K continues lecturing and the class continues taking notes. Now the song playing in Jeremy’s head is the theme from The Flintstones.
© 2010 Michael T. Miyoshi
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