Good Morning, Jonah
A
comedy
by
Ben Gavarree
This work has been published
for free and open dissemination, although all intellectual property rights are
reserved. The public use of this work requires the author's permission and in
order to obtain the corresponding authorization contact bengavarre@gmail.com or
gavarreunam@gmail.com (Reg. Prop. Int. Expte. Inbox)
Good Morning, Jonah
Characters:
- JONAH:
18 years old. Caught between childhood and adulthood. Masculine and
confident in his preferences. A loner who lives in his own fantasy world.
He feels he will be alone for the rest of his days.
- LUNA:
25 years old. Older sister. Pragmatic, nosy. She hides her insecurity very
well. She is looking for a new opportunity in life, but doesn't know how
to find it.
- GABRIEL:
18 years old. The new neighbor. A nervous, masculine, and sensitive guy.
He doesn't know much about computers, but he knows a lot about poetry.
- MOM:
(Not visibly on stage) Loving, but doesn't know her children's
inner world, not from a lack of interest, but from a lack of awareness of
the diversity that can exist even in her own small world. She communicates by shouting from offstage.
- PIPPO (THE STUFFED DOG):
An element that is sometimes concrete and sometimes imaginary. He is
Jonah's best friend and a stuffed dog as big as a human. In Jonah's dream
world, he comes to life and becomes a Jester. (Played by an actor in a dog costume).
1:
My Room, My Kingdom?
INT.
JONAH'S ROOM - DAY
(The
room is in a state of chaos. Clothes are on the floor, books are piled up, and
pizza boxes are scattered about. JONAH, in pajamas, is lying on his bed with
half his body covered by the sheets. The sounds of a video game are heard.
Suddenly, the stuffed dog, PIPPO, comes to life and sits on the pillow. Pippo
imitates the game sounds with vocal noises.)
PIPPO
(In a boxing announcer's voice. The sound of a boxing ring bell rings)
And in the blue corner, with an undefeated record of 30 fights, the invincible
Jonah! And in the other, his nemesis, the fearsome hand of fate! Let the sheets
tremble!
(JONAH
smiles, satisfied, moving his hand discreetly under the sheet. Suddenly, the
door bursts open. It's his sister LUNA. In a panic, JONAH hides his cell phone
under the pillow and covers his head with the sheets. Pippo, amused, turns back
into a simple stuffed animal, though he keeps a comical expression.)
LUNA
(Walks in unannounced, with a pile of clean clothes in her hands) Jonah,
really. What's that smell... of... mystery? And last week's clothes are still
on the floor. Could you help me fold this?
JONAH
(With his voice muffled by the sheets) Luna! Knock! Don't you know what
privacy is?
LUNA
(Holds up the clothes) Privacy? In this cave? The air is so thick it
feels like you just had a very... transcendental... yoga session.
(JONAH
doesn't answer, but he is clearly annoyed. Luna, without asking any more
questions, leaves the clothes on the bed and exits. JONAH emerges from the
sheets, relieved. PIPPO, the stuffed animal, sits on the edge of the bed. His
comical gaze remains.)
JONAH
(Speaking to Pippo, stroking the dog's head. Pippo, as a stuffed animal,
barks annoyingly and sticks out his tongue. A rhythmic drum sound is heard.)
You see that, Pippo! The invasion of my space! No, Pippo, I told you not to
lick me.
(Suddenly,
JONAH feels a headache coming on, rubs his eyes, and looks at Pippo. He
realizes it's just a stuffed animal. The illusion shatters.)
JONAH
(Out loud, with frustration) What's wrong with me? I should have a real
dog! You're just a toy... a stuffed puppy! A big stuffed dog! (A rhythmic
drum sound is heard. Almost every time the drum or some other sound plays,
JONAH and PIPPO react as if asking themselves, "where does that sound come
from?")
(Pippo
barks at him, annoyed. JONAH raises his hand as if to hit him.)
And you shut up! (He looks at his pajamas) Look, my favorite pajamas are
freshly washed and smell clean. (Baddum tss drum sound. JONAH makes a face
like "how is that possible," as if he were being listened to...)
He changes his pajamas and lies back in bed, again under the sheets. His cell
phone can be seen under the sheets, as well as the discreet movements of his
hand. Just in case someone comes in, he peeks his head out from under the
sheet, but then covers himself again.
2:
The Unexpected Visit
INT.
JONAH'S ROOM - DAY
(JONAH
is sitting at his desk, with his back to the audience, his laptop open. The
screen shows images of a couple of boys Jonah's age about to kiss. It's a bit
provocative, but the scene would only be a problem if his mom or sister
arrived... JONAH seems absorbed. PIPPO, the stuffed animal, is sitting on the
desk with a look of perplexity.)
PIPPO
(Like a dog tilting its head in confusion at what it sees) I don't get
it... why do you do that? Is it like when I roll around on the rug to relieve
an itch? Do you smell something I don't?
(JONAH
laughs, a little embarrassed. Suddenly, there's a knock on the door. JONAH, in
a panic, tries to slam his laptop shut, but he can't. It's completely stuck.
The knock is loud.)
GABRIEL
(Starts talking from outside and walks into the room with a mix of
insecurity and curiosity) Hello? I'm Gabriel, your new neighbor. Your mom
said you could help me unfreeze... my lap...
(JONAH
freezes. A drum cymbal marks the moment. JONAH takes PIPPO to a corner of his
bed. Pippo falls off the bed with a dull drum sound. JONAH tries again to close
his laptop or unfreeze the image of the two boys about to kiss, but he has no
luck. The image is still there. He tries to take the laptop to the bed but
can't because it's connected to a power outlet and a myriad of cables for the
microphone, mouse, and speakers prevent him. Dazed, JONAH gets under the sheets
where he immediately grabs his cell phone, as if to somehow justify being in
bed. The door opens. GABRIEL enters, with a laptop in his hand and a nervous
smile.)
GABRIEL
(To the empty room) Hello? Jonah?
(JONAH,
under the sheets, compulsively plays a video game. The cell phone light isn't
enough to see his face, which is presumably red with embarrassment. The stuffed
animal PIPPO sits on the bed, lifts the sheets a little, and looks at him with
a feigned innocent expression. JONAH swats at him, and Pippo retreats,
crestfallen.)
GABRIEL
(Walks to the bed and sits on the edge) Jonah... Jonah... Is that you
under the sheets? What a question, ha, ha... Who else could it be... Ha, ha... (JONAH
stutters when he's nervous or emotional) A-a-are you... all right?
(JONAH
doesn't answer. Gabriel, getting no response, stands up and starts walking
around the room, growing more nervous and excited.)
GABRIEL
I came to see if you could help me... uh... unfreeze... my... my lap... My
laptop... Can you? If not... I-I-I can come back another time. (Gabriel
discovers the image of the two boys kissing on the screen. He's amazed, but
with a pleasant feeling of revelation about what JONAH really likes. More
confident, he now speaks with a lot of empathy toward his neighbor. His voice
is now warm, secure, and friendly.) I was writing a poem... you know...
it's a happy coincidence or a pleasant surprise from Fate, if that exists...
It's... a-a-about the idea of two people who meet in a mirror, you know... with
a strong connection... Just... suddenly... Poof!... Listen... It goes something
like this... (Gabriel sits down at the desk and starts reading from his
notebook.)
"This
one you see
in
the mysterious mirror..."
...and
there, I stayed... I didn't know how to go on... Do you like it?... Well, it's
only two verses..., but I like it because it reflects what's happening to me
now and maybe... Hey... don't worry if you can't unlock my computer... Maybe
you can help me, and lend me yours later? That apparently... it is also blocked
with a beautiful image, by the way.
(JONAH
lifts a corner of the sheet and looks at Gabriel. There is a mixture of relief
and amazement.)
GABRIEL
...You are just as I had imagined you.
JONAH
Yeah... Me too... You too... you... you too.
GABRIEL
(Nervous but feeling great at the same time...) "Me too"? Ha,
ha. I'm really happy about that too. Ha, ha.
(They
both laugh because they are both clearly nervous about the presence of the
Other. Gabriel leaves his laptop on the desk and offers a hand to JONAH to get
him out of the sheets. JONAH, a little hesitant, takes his hand and lets go
with a jump, as if he'd been burned. JONAH, again, feels embarrassed. Gabriel
withdraws his hand but offers it to JONAH again... who is surprised and happy.)
(A drum and happy trumpet sound.)
3:
All Smooth Sailing, Just This Once
INT.
JONAH'S ROOM - A FEW HOURS LATER...
(Jonah
and Gabriel make the bed with a discreet smile of complicity. Then they clean
and tidy the room. When the room is clean, JONAH changes his clothes into jeans
and a t-shirt. Then, with both laptops on the desk, we see that both are
working perfectly. GABRIEL is sitting on the bed with a notebook and a
beautiful fountain pen. A drum and a saxophone play a happy tune. LUNA enters
without knocking, as usual.)
LUNA
(Surprised) Well, little brother! You cleaned! And... you must be
Javier?
GABRIEL
(Smiles, waves) Hi, I'm Gabriel.
LUNA
(Smiles without much sympathy) Like... Like Samuel... ha, ha?
GABRIEL
You can call me Samuel, it's all the same. Javier,
Samuel, Gabriel, ha, ha, ha.
LUNA
Oh, and you're a comedian too, how cool. Look, if you've managed to get my
little brother out from under his sheets... If you've managed... to get him to
not be... on his video games all the time...
GABRIEL
(Smiles, uncomfortable with Luna) Oh... everything's fine with that...
with the sheets... and video games. I...
LUNA
Yeah, with all that... and the rest, ha, ha... Yeah. It's good that Jonah has
new friends. Real friends... (Her voice becomes serious and insecure, to the
boys' surprise. She's almost talking to herself.) I... you know... I also
have friends... and... They offered me a job... abroad, you know... I'm going
to accept it. And... of course, there's also the other thing... I mean...
Something that was holding me back, but I feel like it's not anymore... I mean...
Mom... You know... Mom... Maybe now you can take charge, Jonah... (To
Gabriel) And if they help you, even better... I won't be in charge of your
laundry anymore... And you, well, it's clear you're quite grown up now. Now you
can help Mom. (When she sees the boys' full attention, she changes her
attitude.) No, really. It will be a total change for me. For the better...
I'm sure.
(JONAH
looks at her with surprise and empathy. His sister, the rock, the strong one,
isn't so strong. JONAH takes her hand.)
JONAH
(Squeezes Luna's hand. His voice is soft and sincere.) You'll do great,
Luna, I'm sure. I've always loved you and I'm really happy you're leaving. (At
Luna's surprised face at what his words might mean) In a good way, sis.
I've always thought you were incredible, even though you were always bothering
me... And... you don't know how to enter without...
LUNA
Yeah, without knocking. You won't have that problem anymore... or maybe you
will... Mom doesn't knock much either... So you know... ha, ha... Yeah. You'll
have to behave yourselves... Or not... You'll know what to do... And... Well...
I'm happy you have new brothers, friends, ahem... Gabriel... Welcome to
the family.
JONAH
I can take care of my clothes and everything else... Help Mom like you've done
until now... and I have help too, as you can see.
LUNA
(Her eyes fill with tears. She leaves, and her voice is heard from the
hallway, shouting to her mom.) Mom! Jonah's friend's name is Gabriel, can
you believe it?... And his room is clean! It's a miracle! And he took off his
pajamas! And he promised to help you... Hey, Mommmmyyy.
(Gabriel
laughs. JONAH feels excited, but insecure. The PIPPO plush toy is sitting next
to JONAH, in stuffed animal mode. Very serene.)
JONAH
(Looks at Pippo and then Gabriel. He closes his laptop and sits on the bed
next to Gabriel. Gabriel puts his notebook and pen aside, looks at him, and
their hands touch. JONAH shudders. Gabriel withdraws his hand and Jonah's face
is saddened.) I don't understand... don't you like me?
GABRIEL
(Blushes, looks him in the eye) I like you... and a lot. It's just
that... I don't know how to react. You're kind of... an enigma.
JONAH
I... I am an enigma. How are you? Is there any reason for you to arrive here,
so suddenly?
GABRIEL
That sounds like the beginning of a poem... "I like the poetry that hides
behind your silences"...
(Gabriel
takes JONAH's hand again, and this time, Jonah holds it. Pippo looks at them,
laughs, and slowly withdraws calmly, no longer necessary, or at least not for
now. JONAH and GABRIEL look into each other's eyes. Gabriel is really calm and
happy, just like Jonah. The problems will come; for now, they live in the
present.)
4.
All in family
INT.
JONAH’S ROOM - ONE YEAR LATER. LATE AFTERNOON
(Jonah’s
room is no longer the cave from before, but a shared space that reflects both
of their personalities. A couple of acoustic guitars rest on stands, poetry
books are mixed with science fiction novels, and Jonah is going over some
chords while Gabriel adjusts the audio equipment. Suddenly, a drum solo, which
they both recognize, echoes from the house next door.)
GABRIEL
(Turns down the music playing on his phone) My dad. He's rehearsing.
(Jonah's
mom's angry voice is heard from the hallway) Sir!!
Could you turn down the drums? My blood pressure just did three somersaults! (The
neighbor's murmurs are heard, incomprehensible) Oh, sir! A dinner, you say?
Well... I'll have to think about it...
JONAH
(Smiles, nostalgically) I remember when I thought those noises were from
my video games. And that Pippo would go crazy because of them...
(Gabriel
looks at Pippo, and then at Jonah, with a knowing smile. He leans in and kisses
him on the forehead. JONAH smiles, satisfied and happy. At that moment, his
mom's voice is heard from outside the room.)
MOM
(Voice, from outside) Jonah!! Tell Gabriel not to leave, his dad brought
me a bottle of wine to apologize for the noise... which, by the way, isn't
noise, it's music and it's good! Come down and say hello and then you can go
back up to your room
(The
two look at each other. Their eyes gleam. Gabriel laughs. He looks very happy.
JONAH, for his part, feels calm and at peace.)
GABRIEL
(Playful, glances at Pippo and, without letting go of Jonah's hand,
whispers) Hey, Pippo... Have you forgiven us yet, right? (To Jonah, with
a smile) Sometimes I think he's really alive. And that he's watching us.
JONAH
(With a laugh) He's my best friend. And my accomplice.
GABRIEL
(his voice soft) Jonah... does it ever feel... too perfect? Like it
won't last?
JONAH
(squeezes his hand firmly) Then life will have to wait in line. What we
have is what it is. And if something changes, we'll fix it. Together.
(Jonah
smiles. Changing the subject. He takes out a postcard with an emotional
expression. It's from LUNA. He wants to share the postcard with Gabriel. The
postcard has a picture of her, with a flushed face, in the middle of a forest
of snowy fir trees. The postcard says, with very noticeable handwriting,
"in Finland I have found a lot of warmth".)
JONAH:
It's from Luna. She's found a new cure for the cold up there.
GABRIEL
(Takes it and smiles) So, Finland, huh? It's good to know there's a
place for me when my jokes are no longer funny to you.
JONAH
(Looks at him with playful jealousy) Don't even think about it...
GABRIEL
(Laughs and kisses him) Why would I want the cold of Finland when I've
already found my warmth here.
(They
laugh, but stop when they hear a funny shout from his mom in the hallway. In
the background, laughter and jazz music are heard.)
MOM
(Voice, from downstairs) Jonah!! Gabriel!! Come down now! Gabriel's dad
told me all about the computer and the image that was frozen… How incredible,
the details he gave me!
(The
two smile at each other, with a mixture of embarrassment and happiness. Gabriel
takes Jonah's hand. Jonah takes the stuffed animal and they go down with it. The curtain falls.)
FIN
