31 Plays in 31 Days, #20 - “Cinched”
Aug. 20th, 2022 08:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
breakinglight11More from the Dream Machine post-Emmys bottle episode idea. Bottles are tough to write, because they often just seem like characters screwing around talking about nothing, but they need to have an arc to them. None of these scenes are really arc-like in any way, because I’ve done basically no work figuring out what emotional beats or points in the character journey need to be reached when. But these are ideas for moments that could help push things along.
This would flow into 2021’s #8 - Flawless, and like all these scenes, are furthering this idea of Leah and Ryan instinctively reaching out because they need support and friendship, but being frightened of and uncool with each other’s vulnerability, not to mention their own. I want to establish a push and pull, where they approach or begin connection but also run away from it. I’ve even introduced an “armor that gets taken off” image in this one.
There is a joke in here I initially planned for other characters, probably in the Thanksgiving episode. I moved it here to smooth something out, but I may move it back. Whatever, this is drafting, I can experiment.
Day #20 - Cinched
From Dream Machine
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~
LEAH LUCCHESI, showrunner of Offcomer at Dream Machine, mid thirties
RYAN DRESDEN, head of programming for Dream Machine, early fifties
Los Angeles, 2021
~~~
LEAH: Ugh. I’m coming up on hour five of my shapewear.
RYAN: Well, I don’t have a fainting couch, so if you don’t want to end up on the rug, you’ll have to loosen your own stays.
LEAH: Yeah, ‘cause it’s not enough to just spend half my life in the gym.
RYAN: Are you really worried about that?
LEAH: Eh. In this business, it’s hard not to. But I’m crazy, not blind.
RYAN: Oh, yeah, that’s right. Everyone is attracted to you; they just don’t say it because it’s so obvious.
LEAH: Hey, why not? I mean, look at me! What could you possibly object to? I mean, minus my personality.
RYAN: Oh, yeah, well, minus your personality, I’d nail you to the wall.
LEAH: That’s what I’m sayin’! Ah, screw it, I can’t take it anymore.
She reaches inside of her dress to unhook her shapewear and wiggle it out.
RYAN: Wow. Amazing how something that takes so much skill could look that awkward.
LEAH: Aw, shut up, what do you know?
RYAN: More than you think. Here, you’ll get a kick out of this.
He takes off his cummerbund and begins pulling out the studs in his shirt.
LEAH: Hey, what are you—?
She breaks off laughing when he reveals he’s wearing the military cincher from the admiral costume beneath it.
LEAH: Oh, my God, you kept the corset? And you wear it?
RYAN: Just when my back’s acting up. Or… when I want the shape in my jacket and nobody’s going to be seeing what’s under it.
LEAH: So I’m nobody, huh?
RYAN: Yes, that’s exactly who you are. Didn’t you get the message from the Academy tonight?
LEAH: Well, just for that, your secret’s out now. Gotta admit, I’m impressed— you even know not to wear it against the skin.
RYAN: When Mistress Elena tells you not to let something touch you, you listen.
He flips back his cuff to check the face of his watch on the inside of his wrist.
RYAN: And it looks like I’m up to hour six, so I got you beat.
LEAH: You wear your watch to the inside? What are you, a nurse?
RYAN: Just this one. Old habit from Patek used to sponsor me.
LEAH: What time is it, anyway?
She leans into look. Ryan tugs his sleeve back into place, but not before Leah can get a glimpse of the rows of track marks running up the inside of his arm. They look away from each other, both uncomfortable.
LEAH: Wow. Those are... horrifying.
RYAN: Yeah. You think that was bad, imagine having to look at them every day.
LEAH: I thought rich addicts snorted it.
RYAN: Yeah. Starts that way.
LEAH: Huh.
(Pause.)
RYAN: Wasn’t until the last few years—
LEAH: Look, you hungry? Now that thing’s off, I can get food down again. Oh, but it’s like two in the morning. Can you get supplies all the way out here?
RYAN: Kid, I was a fifteen-year burnout— you think I don’t got a late-night hookup?
This would flow into 2021’s #8 - Flawless, and like all these scenes, are furthering this idea of Leah and Ryan instinctively reaching out because they need support and friendship, but being frightened of and uncool with each other’s vulnerability, not to mention their own. I want to establish a push and pull, where they approach or begin connection but also run away from it. I’ve even introduced an “armor that gets taken off” image in this one.
There is a joke in here I initially planned for other characters, probably in the Thanksgiving episode. I moved it here to smooth something out, but I may move it back. Whatever, this is drafting, I can experiment.
Day #20 - Cinched
From Dream Machine
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~
LEAH LUCCHESI, showrunner of Offcomer at Dream Machine, mid thirties
RYAN DRESDEN, head of programming for Dream Machine, early fifties
Los Angeles, 2021
~~~
LEAH: Ugh. I’m coming up on hour five of my shapewear.
RYAN: Well, I don’t have a fainting couch, so if you don’t want to end up on the rug, you’ll have to loosen your own stays.
LEAH: Yeah, ‘cause it’s not enough to just spend half my life in the gym.
RYAN: Are you really worried about that?
LEAH: Eh. In this business, it’s hard not to. But I’m crazy, not blind.
RYAN: Oh, yeah, that’s right. Everyone is attracted to you; they just don’t say it because it’s so obvious.
LEAH: Hey, why not? I mean, look at me! What could you possibly object to? I mean, minus my personality.
RYAN: Oh, yeah, well, minus your personality, I’d nail you to the wall.
LEAH: That’s what I’m sayin’! Ah, screw it, I can’t take it anymore.
She reaches inside of her dress to unhook her shapewear and wiggle it out.
RYAN: Wow. Amazing how something that takes so much skill could look that awkward.
LEAH: Aw, shut up, what do you know?
RYAN: More than you think. Here, you’ll get a kick out of this.
He takes off his cummerbund and begins pulling out the studs in his shirt.
LEAH: Hey, what are you—?
She breaks off laughing when he reveals he’s wearing the military cincher from the admiral costume beneath it.
LEAH: Oh, my God, you kept the corset? And you wear it?
RYAN: Just when my back’s acting up. Or… when I want the shape in my jacket and nobody’s going to be seeing what’s under it.
LEAH: So I’m nobody, huh?
RYAN: Yes, that’s exactly who you are. Didn’t you get the message from the Academy tonight?
LEAH: Well, just for that, your secret’s out now. Gotta admit, I’m impressed— you even know not to wear it against the skin.
RYAN: When Mistress Elena tells you not to let something touch you, you listen.
He flips back his cuff to check the face of his watch on the inside of his wrist.
RYAN: And it looks like I’m up to hour six, so I got you beat.
LEAH: You wear your watch to the inside? What are you, a nurse?
RYAN: Just this one. Old habit from Patek used to sponsor me.
LEAH: What time is it, anyway?
She leans into look. Ryan tugs his sleeve back into place, but not before Leah can get a glimpse of the rows of track marks running up the inside of his arm. They look away from each other, both uncomfortable.
LEAH: Wow. Those are... horrifying.
RYAN: Yeah. You think that was bad, imagine having to look at them every day.
LEAH: I thought rich addicts snorted it.
RYAN: Yeah. Starts that way.
LEAH: Huh.
(Pause.)
RYAN: Wasn’t until the last few years—
LEAH: Look, you hungry? Now that thing’s off, I can get food down again. Oh, but it’s like two in the morning. Can you get supplies all the way out here?
RYAN: Kid, I was a fifteen-year burnout— you think I don’t got a late-night hookup?
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