BY WIZARD OF OZ

Chapter 2

Exterior: Outside front entrance to Rossi’ Cafe’.

A new white utility van and a red beat-up (battered) V.W car had just collided. At the street corner, a few kids were laughing and playing double-dutch. The two Officers ordered the crowd to stand away from the cars as both drivers alighted from their respective vehicles unhurt.

Busy sidewalk favoring Trenton “Todd” Myles 15 yrs:

He hurries from the direction of Bay Market towards home from school carrying books on his left hip whilst dribbling a basket- ball with his right hand. He stumbles on the cobble pavement and dropped his books. As he was picking up his books, a bearded Priest brought him his basketball that had rolled towards a trash bin at the street corner.

Todd Myles (Slowly looking up at the slender seven 7 ft 9 tall stranger): Thank you Sir! How tall are you?

Bearded Priest Father Pilgrim (The Priest tilts his hat and smiles before walking away slowly):  You’re welcome. About ten feet.

Todd turns and shouts at the departing Priest towering over each and every pedestrian. His black suit and matching felt hat added to his peculiar presence and stature.

Todd (Shouted at the departing Priest):  Sir! Do you play basket-ball? There’s… there’s a big Basket Ball game on tonight. It’s about time Kareem, uh ughum! I mean…. Lebron gets some eye to eye contact on the B-ball court!

A few pedestrians turn heads briefly from the accident scene and looked at Todd. Feeling embarrassed by the pitch of his own voice, he hurried towards the front entrance of the upper floor residences at Camana Bay facing the North Sound. Kids were playing joyfully in the rain, showering water fountains jets that spout haphazardly patterns of fun.

Captain Cleveland Myles, an Indigenous Caymanian, highly successful Dive Master and a well-known Skipper who took thousands of tourist to Stingray City in the North Sound sand bar. He is decorated with donkey years of experience as Sea Captain and sports a low manicured Santa Clause beard, sports expensive tobacco pipes and owns a small fleet of Mercedes Benz. He walks fly like smooth daddy and dresses classy even whilst fishing. Everybody calls him “Skippy”

Interior Cleveland Myles’ File Living Room:

Captain Cleveland ‘Skippy’ Myles is resting on a comfy sofa. Both eyes closed.

Todd (Burst into the living room, slamming door behind him): Hello…. afternoon Dad!

Skippy (One eye blazed open then both as he sat upright, alert): What’s your hurry… son? You can’t just come barge in here…. slam my door, wake me up from a good dream in Hawaii, dancing ladies and you got the nerves to bless it off with hello Dad! You got one thing right. It’s not a good afternoon because you spoil it. It’s just plain afternoon as you said. I was sleeping. WHO’s been in that accident down stairs? It nearly woke me up!

Todd: I don’t know the people. Just a car and a utility van, no one hurt… Hey…but Dad….? But, but I’m….but how do you know there was an accident if you were sleeping?

Skippy (Slowly rose to his feet): I’m not deaf! And don’t give me No buts! Yes, come to think of it, it’s your butt! Get your butt OUT by departing through the same medium that you just ENTERED…….. Then, you come back but this time…, you adopt the way decent citizens of these here Islands and civilized people…..and…. and and and especially the way your father enters his house. Got it?

Todd: Yes Dad!

Skippy: Good! Now split! Off you go!

Trent puts down his books and basket-ball then stepped out through the front door. He quickly returns, this time, mimicking his father’s walk and general behavior. He pretends to take off his sweater, hat and ‘Cool Daddy’ sunglasses.

Todd (Deep toned father- like voice): Hello son! How was your day at school? I see you got home early. Why are you lazing yourself around?

Skippy (Surprised, quickly adopted, followed the roll playing, made his point): Can I have some money to go to the movies tonight….Dad!?

Todd: That’s all you kids think about. Back in my days we had it hard son. You don’t even care to know if I had a hard day fishing or taking tourist out snorkeling at Stingray City. Anyway….I don’t have any pocket change at this time but if I were you…I would go to the Basket ball game tonight.

Skippy: Ha! Really Dad! Who’s playing?

Trent: You know your father isn’t up to date with these games but it could be Scranton Rangers playing Jumping Tar-heels. Hey! Lebron James…..style!!

Todd makes a fake fade-away jump shot and almost collided with the grand-father clock in the far corner. Skippy tried to contain himself from laughing and being angered at the same time seeing his son clumsily, almost destroyed his prized furniture. He almost dropped the mimicking prank.

Skippy: Woooooo! Flippin’ Bulls eye, huh Dad? I think that game and girls will cost too much. So, because I love you and care about your money, I think I will sleep out this game or watch it on TV. FOR FREE! How about that? Dad?

Todd (Puzzled by his father smiling as he laid back on the sofa)

Todd became serious. He quit mimicking abruptly. He sits on the sofa and tries to wake his father who pretends to dose off:  Let’s talk seriously Dad. I’m going upstairs to shower and get dress for tonight’s basket-ball game.

Skippy (Permanent smile, snorted a long hard snore)

Todd shakes his father to get his attention. No response. He then tugged him playfully by his feet.

Skippy (Jumps up and pretends he was awaken): Monsters! Earthquake…Godzilla just pulled my leg! Oh! I must have dozed off. Sorry, what is it?

Skippy rubbed his eyes and Todd laughs at him. Skippy yarns.

Todd: Dad, you weren’t sleeping. OK, you won the pretend game. You’re the great pretender, like the song says. Now, let’s get back to me being your son and you…my father.

Skippy: What’s so unusual about that? I’ve had a day dream but that shouldn’t change things, did it?

Todd (laughing): No Dad. Dr. King had a dream too. I just want to let you know that I am sorry that I slammed the door earlier.

Skippy (Sits upright in sofa and hugs Todd): And almost murdered MY Grand Father’s clock. My boy! And you promise not to slam doors again you said? That’s reasonable, but! Why were you in this big rush?

Todd: You see Dad, I don’t want to be late for the basket-ball game tonight. Like I said earlier Dad….Scranton will do battle against Tar-heels. You know, our guys be slam dunking and stuff… Wooo. Like Kobe Bryan, we got Kenny Bryan. Like Scottie Pippin, we HAD Scottie from Nicaragua but he dead now so….may the Lord bless his soul and may he rest in peace. He was Tar-heel’s best jumper and three point master Dad. Heard he use to dive and catch Lobster, turtle and conch with his bare hands and no dive tank; swim like fish. I’ve got to wear my stone washed jeans and I got news for you Dad.

Skippy (Lower jaw drops): Bwoy you could tell it though. You could belch a story.

Todd: You mean embellish a story Dad. It’s all true….. I heard. True true true Dad, Scotty use to supply this whole Island with lobster from Honduras. I heard he swam from Nicaragua to Cayman a few times.

Skippy: George W said it best. Fool me once, shame on you… fool me twice and…. you’ll never get the chance to fool me again.

Todd (Laughs): That’s not what George W said dad?

Skippy: You don’t believe me? Gargle it on YOUR tube.

Todd (Laughs louder and rolls on the wooden floor): Dad, Dad, you mean Google it, right?

Skippy: Yes! On your tube.

Todd (Shook his head. Tried unsuccessfully to suppressed laughter): Dad, you know well it’s not my tube. I’m tubeless but let’s leave it there.

Skippy (Smiled mischievously): My-tube, you-tube, inner-tube or tube-top, I’m ole school, son. You do the math and figure it out like Reganomics.

Todd (Switched subject and boasted): Dad, you won’t believe that the two most gorgeous dolls on this block are coming over at six. (Coughs) That’s if you don’t mind…..Dad.

Skippy (Pause then clears his throat purposely): Firstly, I don’t believe it for a minute; don’t you think that two Santa- Clause dolls are too early for Christmas? Besides….wait a minute, you shouldn’t be playing with dolls, son.

Todd: Come on Dad. I tell you, if you see Tonya and Sheena. You would wish you were in my socks.

Skippy (Pulls up the bottom of Todd’s trousers): Mine is odorless. Let me see. Your socks!? I don’t get it. I thought those are mine, with my stylish C.M. initial I got designed and printed on them or does the initial C.M. means…….’Can’t Match’?

Todd (Stumbles over Skippy’s outstretched legs): No Jack. Oooops! Sorry Dad.

Skippy (Sniffs and pretends he smells a foul odor): I don’t take back socks. I’ll take back a sweater, but socks, no way, you could keep them. And you don’t have to be sorry because if Jack gave you permission to go to the game, maybe he should purchase the tickets for you as well.

Todd (Laughs):Funny, my two gorgeous Princesses will pay for everything…..

(Todd smiles, nods continuously with his arms folded)

Skippy: OK I get it, my son!!….A Pimp? So you’re pimping now? Noooo but not in my house and you don’t need your real father’s permission to go out anymore?

Todd (Does a foppish walk then shuffles his feet before gliding his hands slowly smoothening out his school uniform shirt collar): Pimping sounds bad Dad…I’m just smooth. Smooth like Cool-Mo Dee

Skippy: Kool-Mo-Mo? Kool-Aid who? Am I hearing right?

Todd Lighten up Dad. I’m just kidding wit ya. Now, can I go to….?

Camera angle shifted to front door

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