Madonna

 

The camera on Madonna who is on stage in the present day, she is finishing a concert.

Madonna voice over:

There is no such thing as coming second! Coming second means you�ve lost! That�s lost as in not won!

Oh the thing with the bottle is true! (Laughter.) (her last number of her set).

One minute Thirty seconds

She thanks the audience then leaves the stage. One of her entourage puts a towel around her shoulders. Madonna and her entourage begin to walk in silence to her dressing room.

Madonna voice over:

Ever since I was a little all I have ever wanted is to be famous! Famous as what wasn�t an issue; just famous! (Silence.) Surround yourself with negative people and you�ll become negative yourself. (Beat.) Surround yourself with positive creative people and you�ll shine! Negatives tend not to be creative. It�s not in their nature. Nature or do I mean genes! (Beat.) And oh boy have I met some negative shits in my time!

One minute

They await the crowd to shout her back on for an encore. Everyone sits on the chairs that are already in a circle.

Madonna: Water!

Margi: Good show wasn�t it? The crowd loved it!

Madonna: Not bad, not bad. I could quite hear myself far left, but anyway. Now where�s my fucking water!

Margi: Do you want me to get it?

Madonna: If you�re capable, that would be nice!

Fran�oise: I�ll get it!

Madonna: I don�t give a fuck who gets me it just fucking get me it! It�s not too fucking much ask is it!

Silence as Margi gets up to get Madonna her water.

Ten Seconds.

Margi: Well this is fun isn�t it!

Madonna: Are you been sarcastic?

Margi: No.

Madonna: You know I dislike sarcasm from people. So come on, tell me what did you mean?

Margi: I didn�t mean anything. It just

Madonna: (Interruption.) It�s just what? Come on tell me!

Margi: Well its jus not what I expected.

Madonna: So what the fuck did you expect!

Fran�oise: There�s you�re water

Madonna takes the water and takes a drink.

Ten Seconds,

Madonna: So come on spit it out! What did you fucking expect?

Margi: Well rock and roll! Throwing televisions out of hotel windows and all that!

Madonna: Get out of here! All that shit stopped years ago!

Margi: (Beat.) Yes but it publicity!

Madonna: Yes the wrong kind fucking of publicity!

Margi: They say that any kind of publicity is good publicity!

Madonna: You know nothing! Fucking nothing! You�ve been in the business two fucking minutes and you think you know fucking everything! Get out of here! Get out of here!

Margi: I was only

Madonna: (Interruption.) You�re fired! Now fuck off out of here!

Margi: But!

Madonna: (Interruption.) Fuck off out of here before I have security remove you!

Margi leaves the room in tears.

Ten Seconds.

Madonna: Jesus people honestly!

Fran�oise: This was her first tour!

Madonna: And it will be her last by the time that I have finished!

There is a knock upon the door. It is one of the roadies.

Roadie: There is a light technical problem. You�re going to hang Ten!

Madonna: Hang Ten! Hang fucking Ten! Time is money! And it's my fucking money! So it�s my fucking time! Now fucking lets get on with it! Hang fucking Ten my ass! (Beat.) Well what you waiting for? Fucking move it!

Roadie: But..

Madonna: (Interruption.) No fucking but! Now fucking move it!

Roadie leaves.

Fran�oise: Are you always so hard on people?

Madonna: You really fucking don�t know what I have been through to get where I am today do you?

Fran�oise: Well know. You haven�t really mentioned it.

Madonna: You�re right I haven�t. Do you know I can remember leaving Michigan as if it was yesterday! (Beat.)

Fade to Alison & Muriel inside the arena.

Alison: Well that was hec of a show!

Muriel: What did you expect! It was Madonna!

Alison: Yes but even so! It was none stop! Single after single!

Muriel: Well after she had done the stuff off her new album.

Alison: Do you think she gets sick of doing all the old stuff?

Muriel: Well in a way it�s her pension! (Beat.) She does them in a different way though.

Alison: Well I�m not sure that�s right!

Muriel: Well times do change and you have to admit some of them sound better done in a different way.

Alison: (Pause.) I was quite impressed with the amount of costume changes.

Muriel: Well I would have thought that it would be more of a chance to have a rest than anything else. I mean over two hours of dancing!

Alison: (Beat.) I�m dieing for a smoke! It�s not like the old Wembley!

Muriel: If it were the old Wembley you still wouldn�t be allowed to smoke!

Alison: It�s an infringement on my human rights!

Muriel: Infringements on you�re human rights or not, you still cannot smoke!

Alison: (Silence.) I suppose that she has come along way to get here!

Muriel: What Kensington?

Alison: No from when she started in the business!

Fade into a sex scene the night before leaving Michigan (With her ballet teacher Bob.)

Ten Seconds.

During the fade:

Madonna: It is people that let you down and never forget that! If they are problem take them out of the equation. I don�t mean kill them I mean element them from your life.

They are having sex.

Thirty Seconds

Madonna: Was that good for you?

Bob: As always!

Madonna: Do you want a cigarette?

Bob: Yeah please.

Madonna reaches over to the bedside table takes two cigarettes from their packet, lights them and then passes of the cigarettes one to Bob

Twenty Seconds.

Bob: Thank you

Madonna: I can�t stay all night.

Bob: Why not?

Madonna: I have a plane catch in the morning don�t I!

Bob: (Pause.) You don�t have to go

Madonna: I do, I�ve flunked here!

Bob: There�s no need to swear. Express yourself!

Madonna: I said flunked not fucked! Now pay attention! (Beat.) I�ve missed too many classes!

Bob: You forget I�m your teacher!

Madonna: I know, I know. Now listen, now don�t get me wrong, I�m not being funny or anything but I�m not going to find what I want here

Bob: I�m serious you�re a good dancer! You�re going to make it!

Madonna: I�m not saying that I�m not but what I�m looking for I can only find in NY. Well maybe.

Bob: (Pause.) You know an inverted comas famous dance teacher can get you to dance any better than I can!

Madonna: Alvin Ailey is a choreographer not a dancer!

Bob: I�m well aware of that. But I still think that you are making a big mistake going to the big apple!

Madonna: Well you think what you want to think but I know what is right for me!

Bob: That�s just it, I know you do! Yes that�s just your problem!

Madonna: (Beat.) I�ve got no problem!

Madonna reaches over to the ashtray and stubs out her cigarette.

Madonna: Give me it!

Bob: Give you what?

Madonna: You�re cigarette dummy!

Bob: Why? I haven�t finished it!

Madonna takes the cigarette from Bob, stubs in out in the ashtray and then climbs on top of him.

Thirty Seconds.

Madonna: I wanna another fuck!

Arriving at Newark Airport

Going through customs

Customs O = Customs Officer.

Customs O: Passport.

Madonna: What you want my passport!

Customs O: Yes.

Madonna: But why I�m American!

Customs O: I still want to see your passport.

Madonna: But it�s at bottom of my bag!

Customs O: So get it!

Madonna delves into her shoulder bag looking for her passport.

Twenty Seconds.

Madonna: Ah here it is

Customs Officer looks at the passport.

Ten Seconds.

Customs O: What are you doing here in New York? Vacation!

Madonna: No I�m here to dance.

Customs O: What working?

Madonna: No studying, but I will have to work to be able to eat and pays bills and stuff.

Customs O: (Beat.) Got anywhere to live?

Madonna: I�ve got an address in Brooklyn

Customs Officer hands Madonna back her passport.

Customs O: Good luck Miss Ciccone

Madonna picks up her luggage.

Twenty Seconds.

Madonna: Gee thanks.

Customs O: Bye.

Madonna: Bye.

As Madonna walks away down the concourse fade to Madonna trying to thumb a cab outside the airport terminal. A cab stops and she clambers in with her luggage, then the car sets off.

One Minute.

Cabby: Cab driver

Cabby: Where�s it to lady?

Madonna: Brooklyn.

Cabby: Where abouts?

Madonna: Brooklyn! I said!

Cabby: Brooklyn is a big place lady! Do you have an address?

Madonna: Oh right yes sorry! Yes I have an address somewhere, hold on!

Cabby: Well an address would be cool!

Madonna searches through her bag for the piece of paper with the address on it.

Thirty Seconds.

Madonna: Here that�s it! Do you know where it is?

Cabby: I�m a cab driver lady, of course I know it! (Silence.) You new in town lady?

Madonna: Why you wanna know?

Cabby: Just been friendly lady.

Madonna: (Pause.) Yeah could say I�m new.

Cabby: So where you from?

Madonna: Michigan

Cabby: Michigan hey. (Beat.) So what brings you to the big apple?

Madonna: I�m a dancer.

Cabby: A dancer hey. (Silence.) Say lady do you know many people in town?

Madonna: What do you think! You�ve just picked me up from the airport smuck!

Cabby: I was just thinking.

Madonna: Don�t think isn�t good for you!

Cabby: I was just thinking, seeing your new in town why don�t you come out for a drink with mw tonight? I�ll show you the sights!

Madonna: No I don�t think that�s a good idea, do you?

Cabby: Why not?

Madonna: (Beat.) What! You�re a bum! You�d have me knocked up and surrounded by brats before I could blink!

Cabby: Hey I�m only trying to be nice lady! Jesus!

Madonna: Ah you�re a smuck! A cabbie! A no hoper! No ambition!

Cabby: That�s rich coming from a stripper!

Madonna: Stripper! Fucking stripper! I�m a dancer! You fucking dumb wit! Gee you really do know how to piss someone off!

Twenty Seconds Silence as they drive.

Cabby: (Silence.) So what else are you going to be doing tonight? Come out for a drink with me! (Beat.) You�ve nothing else to do! Go on I�ll show you a good time!

Madonna: A goodtime you reckon hey!

Cabby: Yeah a goodtime sure thing!

Madonna: Ah fuck! Why the hell not!

Cabby: Ah good! Good, good!

Madonna: Hey now no funny business you hear ok!

Cabby: Oh no funny business! You can trust me!

Madonna: Now where have I heard that before! And don�t think that a few drinks don�t mean you can fuck me!

Cabby: God forbid lady the thought had never crossed my mind!

Madonna: Emmmmmmmmmm!

Ten Seconds Silence as they drive.

Cabby: Where here lady! (Beat.) So what about tonight lady?

Madonna: The names Madonna! Pick me up at eight k!

Cabby: Sure thing lady I mean Madonna!

Cab comes to a halt, Madonna gets her luggage together and gets out of the cab. Twenty Seconds.

Cabby: Don�t ya want to know my name?

Madonna: Naaaaaaaaaah names don�t interest me! See ya then!

Cabby: See ya at eight!

Madonna: Yes eight.

Voice over:

Madonna: And that was the beginning, there was nothing going to stop me. Ever since I was a little all I have ever wanted is to be famous! (Beat.) Famous as what wasn�t an issue; just famous! The camera followers Madonna up the stairs of the rundown apartment block. Fade to Madonna in her grotty apartment. She is sat on the bed doing her make-up.

Thirty Seconds.

Madonna�s voice over in the present. The voiceover is as she is sat in her first flat on the first evening there.

Madonna: Gee that place was a dump! But was my dump! (Silence.) Well could have been worse! Well maybe not. At least I didn�t have to share! (Beat.) Oh no, I couldn�t have cope with that! (Beat.) What is mine is mine! To make allowances for others isn�t my thing, never have and never will! You�ll soon find that out for yourselves.

Seventeen Minutes forty Seconds

Silence as she applies lip stick.

Twenty Seconds

Yeah couldn�t swing a cat in there! Mind you a cat would have been useful, didn�t seen a rodent yet but I�m sure there are plenty here! Ah talking of rodents, that cabbie came to pick me up. (Pause.) I hate first dates, well that�s if you could call it a date! Well gee! I ask you seriously, what was I supposed too do on my first night in New York! Stay in and do my fucking nails!

Voice over:

But anyway as I was saying, first dates! Yes all the dumb questions, is what I can�t stand. (Beat.) Small talk yes! Anyway you know well, you know they are only after a fuck! It would make life much easier if they�d just come out and say it! (Beat.) Nine times out of ten I do it on a first date. Did it sorry! (Laughter.) Maybe date is the wrong word. (Beat.) Oh hell! You know what I mean anyway don�t you!

Now here�s one for you ok. Now this really pisses me ok! When I guy talks to you he talks to your tits and not your face! Mind you we girls, if we are honest, we always look at what if any bulges in trousers! Well we do be honest! Well I do anyway! (Laughter.)

Madonna does a line of cocaine (Questionable.)

Thirty Seconds

Voice over a dance class scene

Then my thing was to be a dancer and classes with Al, that�s Alvin Ailey were worth every dollar! Hard work but worth every single dollar!

Twenty Seconds.

Fade to her working in a burger bar.

To pay the bills I took on all kinds of jobs. And not glamorous jobs! I worked frying burgers, selling bagels you name I did it! (Beat.) One day I was walking down Broadway one evening as I looked at all the theatres that I thought to myself, �how many dancers must there be! And the ones here are the successes! (Beat.) For everyone who has succeeded how many have failed! It was during this time that I met Stephen, Stephen Bray. He was good for me at that time. That sounds hard doesn�t it? Well it wasn�t supposed too. Oh yes he painted and I kinda modelled for him if you get what I mean! Set in Stephen�s home studio. Stephen�s painting Madonna who is stood naked. Stephen talks as he paints

One Minute Thirty Seconds before dialogue.

Stephen: Millions and millions of years ago just after the three suns collided; two eggs grew from a rock. The first of the eggs to hatch was Bob. Bob flew upon an asteroid at great seed for thousands of years a small piece of time of the Great One. (Beat.) Just move our right hand to the left a little please Madonna.

Madonna: Like this.

Stephen: Up a little. (Beat.) That�s it. Fine. (Beat.) Then second egg hatched, that egg was called Greta and followed in the way of Bob as they chased and raced each other across the galaxies, glee fully playing until they reached maturity. It was no accident that the other two eggs charity and desire still lay un-hatched awaiting the demise of Greta and Bob.

Madonna: Eggs why eggs? I�m not seeing the reliance.

Stephen: It will be come clear in time.

Madonna: Are you sure six weeks will be long enough, I can�t stay ant longer.

Stephen: Six weeks is ample.

On reaching maturity the Great One commanded the asteroids to bring Greta and Bob to him. With an almighty crash that echoed through universes they collided each falling from their asteroids and landing at the feet of the Great One. Having stood up they both dusted themselves down. Intuition told them who he was they fell to their knees humbling themselves.

Madonna: Your talking about religion aren�t you.

Stephen: Are you telling me or asking me?

Madonna: I don�t know. Do you thing it�s the weed that makes you speak like this.

Stephen: Ah weed, why does society easily condemn something from the earth! It is the abuse which is to be condemned.

Fade to Madonna speak over. In Wendy�s burger bar

Twenty Seconds before she starts speaking.

Madonna: After selling bagels and other dumb stuff I got a job with Wendy in her burger bar. Gee that�s was a laugh! We had some great conversations about all kinds of stuff! Well that�s when we got the chance! (Beat.) It did nothing for my hair and even less for my complexion! Boy did I get some good zits! Award winners! (Laughter.)

In the burger bar:

Wendy: Are you really sure that you want those veggie burgers in there?

Madonna: Ah there all the same anyways! They won�t notice any difference!

Wendy: Maybe not but at least it looks better if you are getting them from separate places.

Madonna: Well yes ok if that�s where they belong. Honestly Wendy who gives a shit!

Wendy: Well alright, but don�t say that I didn�t warn you. Veggie burgers sell well and you don�t want to go upsetting people do you now?

Madonna: Listen! Now listen, if all they have to worry about in life is does a burger have meat or not, then they really need to get a life!

Wendy: Remind me! Whose joint is this?

Madonna: Yours Wendy. Wendy: (Pause.) I�m still not sure about these curries, yes they are rather nice but they are a lot of work to prepare and they do stink!

Madonna: That�s as maybe but the prophet margin is tremendous and they will sell. I said they would, didn�t I!

Wendy: We shall see at the end of the month. (Beat.) My monies on them been emptied into the trash.

Madonna: They will sell believe me Wendy. When people taste them automatically greed comes upon them and they�ll be back for more! They think of profit prophet!

Wendy: I�m more thinking of them getting the shits and eating elsewhere!

Madonna: Ah they�ll get over it!

Wendy: (Beat.) All that as maybe by the weekend I shall be laid on a sun kissed beach. Actually I have been meaning to have a word with you about that. (Beat.) Bikini or costume?

Madonna: I don�t think that deserves an answer really, do you!

Wendy: My heart says bikini but there�s, there�s something that shouts out costume.

Madonna: I would stick with the something that shouts out!

Wendy: Do you?

Madonna: Yes I do!

Wendy: Whatever, I deserve a holiday. Why as life to be so hard.

Madonna: You mean difficult not hard.

Wendy: Do I?

Madonna: Yes you do.

Madonna talks over the two in the burger shop.

Well to be honest Wendy did need a holiday. I openly admit that I wasn�t the best of help to her. You see I had no interest in the burger bar. Well who would! And if I don�t have an interest in a thing then I really should not be doing it! That applies to everyone. Well doesn�t it!

Yes well there is nothing to running a burger bar but my mind and efforts were else where! I certainly wasn�t going to stay working in burger joint for the rest off my life! You have to keep reinventing yourself or otherwise you become in a rut and become stale! Neither are good things! Don�t you think! Nigel is walking around the gallery with Paul and Adam whom are would be investors in the arts.

Twenty Seconds.

Nigel: Certainly would be an investment, I would certainly wouldn�t advise not to make a purchase. But.. (interruption.)

Paul: Yes but you would say that wouldn�t you.

Nigel: You have to imagine sat in your favourite chair an Havana in one hand, in the other a glass of double malt and their in front of you hanging in front of you, this!

Nigel makes flamboyant gesture with arm to a large painting to their right.

Adam: She�s nude!

Nigel: Yes dear.

Paul: One most look beyond and absorb what the artist is conveying.

Adam: Don�t you mean trying to convey!

Paul: It�s conveying innocence about it, but yet with a crudity, that is the crudity of innocence.

Adam: She could have shaved her armpits! And she looks like she hasn�t eaten a decent meal in days!

Paul: Is he still living. The artist!

Nigel: Yes he is.

Paul: (Beat.) Oh right. How old is he?

Nigel: Forties I should imagine.

Paul: No terminal illnesses or anything?

Nigel: Not what I know of.

Paul: Yes right. Any chance of a discount for cash?

In Stephen�s studio, Louise is stood naked on a podium as Stephen paints her.

Twenty Seconds

Stephen: The Great One started to speak, Great and Bob fearing to speak remained kneeling and listened. The time for your mission has come I am sending you to a primitive planet which has been no trouble until now. Before you can help them on my behalf you first have to find out the reasons what has brought them to their situation they are presently in. You shall be put into one of their bodies and be able to speak and understand their tongue, they shall recognise you as one of their own and you will possess that persons personality and their memory will eventually be placed within you. To enable us to have a clear picture you shall be put into different situations.

Louise: My arm is aching, can we have a rest now Stephen.

Stephen: I have given you, thought, Reason and Logic but unlike the people that you shall meet you will not have any wishes of desire, Lust and Greed. There are Leaders and there are followers, Winners and losers, Dominant and the dominated, loved and the hated, Forgiveness and blame is placed upon everyone. War and peace! Finally piety and wickedness. (Beat.) All these you will be in contact with and which you need to understand. These people are misguided they have wondered from the path of righteousness unto which they need guiding back but if they do not then they shall be left to their own demise! (Beat.) Yes lets stop now, I need more blow. You may relax.

Louise: Would you like a beer.

Stephen: No not for me thank you Louise.

Louise: Pass me one please.

Stephen: Yes of course. Would you cover your self up?

Louise: Yes but you.

Stephen: Yes I have scene you naked all day whilst I�ve been painting I agree. But now I am not painting I would be obliged if you would cover up. You�re beer.

Louise: Thank you.

Louise puts on a robe.

Stephen: (Silence.) Interesting! What�s interesting?

Louise: What you have been saying, I don�t understand most of it.

Stephen: Then maybe it is not for you to understand Louise. You must rest before dinner.

Louise: Oh must I Stephen!

Stephen: Yes.

Louise: (Silence.) Is there something wrong?

Stephen: Could I have a word please.

Louise: A word a single word, I hope that it is a descriptive word; other wise we could have problems!

Stephen: What! Pardon!

Louise: Oh just ignore me, now what were you going to say.

Stephen: (Beat.) I had an accident.

Louise: An accident!

Stephen: Well an accident induced by too much larger (Silence.) I�ve dare I say pissed the bed! Sorry!

Louise: Oh right yes, I see. (Beat.) I�ll get Louise to sort it out when she gets home.

Stephen: Sleep in my bed for now.

Fade to Muriel: Well I don�t really know what I must have been like for her leaving Michigan for New York. I mean well we all go to you University. Well those of us that do; sorry did.

Alison: It is difficult because their education system is different to ours, but I would have said that she was out of the education and the dance thing in NY was on her own back. Excuse the pun it wasn�t meant to be one! Honest it wasn�t!

Muriel: Well anyway, when you leave home and go to University you make friends things are organised for freshers, but from what I can make out there was nothing there in New York for her. She had to make her own way. Supporting herself whilst she was attending her dance classes.

Alison: Maybe it is better not to ask too much on that score!

Muriel: No maybe not. But the fact is that Madonna has never let it be known publicly if she finished her course or not.

Alison: But does that matter, we all know that she can dance don�t we!

Muriel: She doesn�t give much information of about back then.

Alison: Well she doesn�t have to does she really! It�s not important!

Muriel: Yes but we all know about Elvis�s early days haven�t we.

Alison: No, we have been told! Being told and knowing are two completely different things altogether.

Fade back to the next morning Wendy is late for work at the burger shop late. Wendy walks in

Thirty Seconds.

Wendy: Hi Madonna I�ve finished my packing at last, phew I�m warn out now! Two weeks of sand sea sun and sex! But not necessarily in that order! Then back for the school holidays, worst of look. Anyway did you make your meeting this morning Madonna?

Madonna: (Laughter.) Yes just, well it was just as I thought it would. Well not really I suppose, actually it was somewhat of a shock well in a mild form.

Wendy: How do you mean? Why what happened!

Madonna: Well to start with the day didn�t�t get off to the best of starts to say the least. Stephen was still at work in his studio, yes yet another night that hasn�t been to bed. As usual Louise was asleep on the sofa surrounded by the usual sea of beer cans. Honestly it stank like a bloody brewery! If that wasn�t bed enough Stephen hadn�t even bothered to do the washing-up from last nights dinner, he did promise last night that he would. No doubt he�d deny it now, but anyway he did promise. So anyway I thought bugger it I�ll do it and did it myself. (Beat.) Well those Ten minutes put me right in the middle of the rush hour traffic.

Wendy: Yes it was particularly bad this morning. I had trouble parking. I just don�t know how you put up with these parasites I honestly don�t!

Madonna: Yes well I�ve done it for years, I�m use to them. Like the rest she will be gone in a few weeks. Well anyway as I was saying if that wasn�t enough I my sandal came off and a scraped my toe on the pavement! (Beat,) Would you believe some bloody man had the effrontery to laugh! Well I was fuming with him! But I as I said I was in a bloody rush so I lost my karma.

Wendy: I bet you did!

Madonna: Then when I got into the gallery there wasn�t one single bloody person viewing! No wonder there is nothing selling! Well it was only half past ten I suppose, but any way. (Beat.) Anyway yes and then there was the meeting. The meeting which I wasn�t really in the best of moods for to say the least. My karma still not even. Well a lot was riding on the meeting.

Wendy: What you haven�t had any work sold?

Madonna: No not a bloody thing. It�s getting worrying. I haven�t told Stephen the full story yet. Well I have told him things but not the full picture. You know what I mean don�t you!

Madonna voice over

Madonna: I suppose that I better explain! You see it�s like this; I was selling paintings for Stephen. Well he just didn�t have it in him to sell! Artists honestly! Too temperamental! Do you see where I am coming from? Oh yes I had moved in with Stephen and his ex - girl friend Louise. She did rather fuckup my karma!

Back to the burger shop:

Wendy: Maybe you should, I�m sure he will understand. Besides if everything goes tits up where�s that leave you!

Madonna: Precisely! Anyway the meeting!

Twelve Minutes

There is a knock on Nigel�s office door:

Nigel: Enter!

Madonna enters the room.

Twenty Seconds.

Madonna: Come in Madonna and sit down.

Nigel: Right, yes. Thank you.

Madonna walks over to the desk and sits down opposite Nigel.

Twenty Seconds.

Madonna: Sorry I don�t want to take much of your time I know that your time is valuable Madonna. So I�ll come straight to the point.

Nigel: he say that is best to cut straight to the chase. I�ll save you the effort, I�ll tell you what you�re going to say. You�re going to say that not a single thing has sold and you would like another month in the gallery. Am I right Madonna?

Madonna: (Beat.) Totally, totally correct Nigel. But the thing is you see Nigel at present we are what one could call, well a little financially embarrassed to say the least. Well I thought if you could, well give us say an other couple of weeks grace, possibly three! That would be good, very good of you and that would allow us enough time to sell enough paintings to pay you for the month we have just had, and the what ever time that you are going to give us.

Nigel: (Laughter.) I�m sure it would! (Beat.) I�m sure we can come to some amicable arrangement.

Madonna: Yes, yes exactly what I was thinking, we could give you say three paintings! They could be worth a fortune one day!

Nigel: (Laughter.) I think you have got things about face, why would I want some paintings that have dragged out of a corner of your studio that you cannot sell. No what I meaning is an amicable arrangement.

Madonna: (Beat.) Amicable arrangement! Yes I see. Right. So what do you have in mind Nigel?

Nigel: Yes I thought is what thought is that I could arrange my diary so that next couple of Fridays are free to go to meetings, well business lunches actually.

Madonna: Yes I see.

Nigel: Some female company maybe good for me on these meetings.

Madonna: Yes so where do I fit in Nigel? (Beat.) Oh sorry you would like me to come along to meetings with you. Is that it?

Nigel: That�s the general idea Madonna! Well it�s your choice give your next Nigel Fridays to me or you can remove Stephen�s Exhibition by the end of business today. Then you would leave me no other alternative but to put the matter of reclaiming the money that you owe me into the hands of my Solicitors. (Beat.) As I say its your choice!

Madonna: (Beat.) Yes! Well yes, I see! Yes.

Nigel: (Beat.) Right then Madonna the next two Fridays, initially, just to see how things work out then after that we can review the situation.

Madonna: (Pause.) Well yes seeing that you have put it like that, I suppose so. That�s the way it has to be Nigel

Nigel: A suit, a smart suit if you would please. Nothing casual you understand.

Madonna: This is how I normally dress, this is me! I am what I am!

Nigel: (Laughter.) Please Madonna at your age! You look like a relic from the sixties! A suit a sensible suit. (Beat.) It is me who is calling the shots!

Madonna: (Beat.) Yes, yes of course Nigel. I do have one somewhere.

Nigel: (Silence.) I have work to be getting on with you can go now.

Fade as Nigel gets up and leaves the room. Later that evening at home with Stephen. Madonna walks into the kitchen where Stephen is putting the dinner on to plates.

Madonna: Hi I�m home.

Stephen: Hi dinner won�t be long. There�s a glass of wine for you on the table.

Madonna: Thanks you�re a life saver. I had an appointment with Nigel this morning. You know I�ve told you, to come to some arrangement about the exhibition. You know grab the bull by the horns and all that before things get to bad.

Stephen: All sounds gloomy!

Stephen hands Madonna her plate of food.

Twenty Seconds.

Stephen: Here take this, watch it�s hot

Madonna: That�s hot!

Stephen: I warned you! Now sit down and eat.

Madonna: Looks delicious, thank you.

The pair are seated to eat.

Twenty Seconds.

Madonna: I�ve got him to give us another month at the gallery. That�s good isn�t it!

Stephen: I said that it would workout. We�ve got a lot done today! It�s been a good day.

Madonna: As Louise gone out?

Madonna talks over as the sit and Stephen eat in silence.

Let me explain properly here; you see things were tight in those days. Difficult to make ends meet to say the least, but we have all been there haven�t we! Now that brings me to the subject of Louise. Yes same name as one of my middle names I know, but anyway Louise was an ex-girlfriend of Stephen�s. Looking back she reminds me of me in some ways of me, maybe not directly I but I did learn from her that people have their uses and when their use are of no use to you, then get rid of them! There is a whole world of people out there! All have a use! (Beat.) Well some do! (Laughter.)

Twenty Seconds.

I don�t honestly know what became of Louise and quite frankly I do not give a shit! (Beat.) Probably turned into s Stepford wife! Or a pusher! Not much difference either way!

Stephen: No she�s having a lay down.

Madonna: A lay down!

Stephen: Yes, she�s up in our room.

Madonna: On our bed?

Stephen: Yes. She had a mishap, you don�t mind do you?

Madonna: A mishap!

Stephen: Yes she wet the bed.

Madonna: Honestly Stephen! What are things coming to, at least can you find yourself one with a stronger bladder next time. Has she sorted it out.

Stephen: Well know. I was hoping that.. (Interruption.)

Madonna: You were hoping that I�d do it!

Stephen: Well yes. Would you?

Madonna: (Hesitantly.) I�ll do it later. (Beat.) Yes I have to give my next couple of Fridays up.

Stephen: (Beat.) What for?

Madonna: (Beat.) Oh to go to meetings with Nigel.

Stephen: What lunch and all that?

Madonna: Well yes?

Stephen: Can�t be bad, getting fed for free!

Madonna: (Beat.) Yes! We could always find a different gallery. (Beat.) It is a consideration Madonna.

Stephen: (Firmly.) No it is not a consideration! That gallery has karma. Its perfect.

Madonna: Yes but he threatened to take us to Court!

Stephen: But that has been sorted that out in time. Besides he�s a good guy he wouldn�t go to Court. No. Foot steps are head coming down the stairs, the door opens and Louise walks into the room half asleep.

Twenty Seconds.

Madonna: I�ve got up anything to eat?

Stephen: It�s in the oven.

Madonna: Good sleep Louise? (Beat.) That�s my dressing gown!

Louise: Yes! It�s a bit big for me.

Madonna: Yes I can see that it is.

Louise: Roll me a cig Stephen.

Stephen: Sure.

Louise: We haven�t got any cans left have we?

Madonna: As I said Stephen he hasn�t hesitated with others in the past! I�m worried Stephen! That�s why I have agreed to well, help him.

Louise: Help who? Have we any cans left?

Madonna: No you have drunk them all. Yes and you�ve pissed the bed!

Louise: Oh I�m really sorry about that Madonna I should have said something to you earlier shouldn�t. I�ll go and get my dinner. I really am sorry about it Madonna sorry!

Madonna goes through to the kitchen.

Twenty Seconds.

Stephen: (Beat.) Oh right. So what if Nigel won�t defer payments after the month, what then?

Madonna: (Giggling.) Oh I don�t know I�ll use my womanly charms, failing that I�ll let him have raunchy sex with him. (Laughter.)

Madonna: (Shouting from the kitchen.) You! Raunchy sex with who!

Louise holds out her glass of wine to Stephen.

Louise: (Silence.) Here have my glass of wine?

Fade with Madonna slamming the door as she leaves the room. Fade to Wendy and Madonna in the shop

Twenty Seconds.

Wendy: Stephen doesn�t mind you been taken to lunch and meetings by another man?

Madonna: Well you know what he�s like, if he was anymore laid back he�d fall over. To be honest we didn�t really talk much after that I gave Louise some money to go out and get some cans of beer. Whilst she was out I aired her room turned her mattress over and put the sheets into wash. By the time she came back I was in bed and those two went into the studio. Wendy: I�d have made the parasite change the bed herself! Where the hell does she come from? What do you know about her?

Madonna: Oh I don�t get involved in things like that, oh that�s Stephen�s problem entirely. I�m not sure what path you are walking with this Nigel, it does seem somewhat peculiar. You should be sending the parasite along to these meals instead of you. It�s all a little peculiar to me.

Anyway I went to bed, had an early evening. Cup of coco and my book. It was late when Stephen came to bed, then we began to talk.

Madonna is in bed reading a book. Stephen enters the bedroom naked and gets into bed.

Twenty Seconds

Madonna: Your feet are bloody cold, get them off!

Stephen: Keep still, let me warm them. Its alright for you, you have socks on!

Madonna: Yes to keep my bloody feet warm unlike you.

Stephen starts to move a hand up Madonna�s pyjama top.

Twenty Seconds.

Madonna: Get off! Get off your! Your hands are cold, your hands are cold!

Stephen removes his hands from under Madonna�s pyjama top.

Twenty Seconds.

Stephen: (Silence.) How can you lay there are read so calmly?

Madonna: Pardon!

Stephen: How can you lay there are read so calmly with, well with what�s happening.

Madonna: Oh you�ve decided to show some concern now have you!

Stephen: There�s no need to worry everything will workout for the best, you�ll see. I have a food feeling about this. Trust me! Trust me! I�m sure that it will that�s why I am not getting flustered. (Silence.) Did you mean what you said?

Madonna: What was it that I said?

Stephen: You know having raunchy sex with Nigel.

Madonna: (Laughter.) God I said that on the spur of the moment! The words just came out mouth. I meant nothing by it!

Stephen: Yes but for the words to as you put it just come out, there must be some meaning, some thought behind them!

Madonna: Of course there was no meaning behind them.

Stephen: (Pause.) If shove came to push I wouldn�t mind if you did. I would. After all it only sex, isn�t it!

Madonna: Don�t be silly Stephen!

Madonna puts her book on the bedside cabinet, takes off her glasses, then places them on top of her book.

Thirty Seconds

Stephen: What are you doing Madonna?

Madonna: Taking of my pyjama bottoms. It�s plainly obvious isn�t it that there is something in your system, best get it out hey! I�ll turn the light off. Now come on you! Get on with it!

Fade as the couple have sex and back to Wendy and Madonna

Wendy: Yes interesting. Was he pissed to say that!

Madonna: No, no not all! He does drink whilst he�s working interferes with his weed apparently. Stops his flow!

Wendy: Are you sure that he didn�t say it out of some kind of, you know state of shock. After all it�s not really what you expect your partner to say even in jest is it in the first place?

Madonna: I don�t know what made me say it Wendy. Well not really.

Wendy: What worries me Madonna is that what the bloody hell placed that in your mind? Why the hell say it!

Madonna: I honestly don�t know Wendy.

Wendy: You don�t think that it would come to that! You know having sex with this Nigel bloke do you? And if it did, would you do it would you?

Madonna: Of course it wouldn�t come to that. There are bound to be sales. (Beat.) No I wouldn�t as you say do it. No I wouldn�t!

Wendy: You hesitated then before you answered then Madonna.

Madonna: No I didn�t!

Wendy: You did! (Beat.) What�s he like this bloke?

Madonna: (Pause.) Well he�s alright I suppose. (Beat.) Quite a bit older than us. Absolutely loaded!

Wendy: Single!?

Madonna: Yes I think!

Wendy: Anyway I�ll you to get on with you packing. Now you ring me as soon as I get back from your holidays and tell me all about it won�t you. And you be good you hear!

Madonna: Yes and you bye.

Wendy: Bye.

Fade to

Alison: Morals!

Muriel: Morals!

Alison: Yes Morals!

Muriel: What about morals?

Alison: Well more of a lack of morals don�t you think.

Muriel: Everyone has there own moral standards I suppose!

Alison: Yes but sleeping with someone to get something!

Muriel: She wasn�t the first and I don�t suppose the she will be the last!

Alison: Now can I just make one thing clear! It�s having sex not sleeping with someone; they are two completely different things.

Muriel: Ok let�s not split hairs, yes sex. (Beat.) So alright then are you telling me that a guy hasn�t taken you out for a few drinks or a meal and you�ve slept with them! Sorry had sex with them.

Alison: That�s different!

Muriel: No it isn�t! It�s exactly the same thing! You�ve willing excepted drinks or a meal or both in return for sex! Do you see what I�m saying?

Alison: In a way but it�s not the same

Two weeks later back in the burger bar.

Wendy: Hi I�m back!

Madonna: Have a good time?

Wendy: Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic! I even went topless can you believe it!

Madonna: What you go topless!

Wendy: Yes me! I ganged up with a group of Germans on the third day, before they arrived at the hotel I had just sat around the pool by myself. You know just relaxing, sipping a Martini or two whilst I read my burger.

Madonna: That�s just the kind of holiday that I would like.

Thirteen Minutes Twenty Seconds

Wendy: No anyway as I was saying this group of Germans arrived on the fourth day, well I think it was the fourth day. Anyway they were larking about jumping in the pool and slashing about. You know generally annoying the rest of the guests as they do. Anyway the football that they were playing with landed right on my stomach. It shocked me so much that it sent my glass of Martini smashing to the ground. As I said I was shocked.

Madonna: Well one would be. Did they offer to buy you another?

Wendy: Yes and another and other and other!

Madonna: Hell!

Wendy: I tell you I was totally wrecked!

Madonna: I can imagine. I bet you were.

Wendy: Anyway I started larking around with them. It was Hans, we were in the pool and the next thing that I knew my bikini top was flying through the air towards the pool side! I screamed out, the others just laughed.

Madonna: What the heck did you do?

Wendy: Eventually the funny side of it hit me and I got out of the pool. Hilda, Christina and Trudy they had been topless since they came out of the hotel. We Americans are so reserved aren�t we? Never did get the burger finished! Anyway enough of me for now I can tell you all later. What�s been going on? Still got your parasite? Madonna: Yes!

Wendy: Well it�s you who�s lying in his bed!

Madonna: What�s that supposed to mean Wendy! Wendy: Oh nothing, nothing. Anyway is the business ok now?

Madonna: Ah yes the business. The burger bars doing fine as usual! But as for selling Stephen�s paintings that�s a completely different kettle of fish!

Wendy: Yes and what�s happened with this Nigel bloke or what ever his name is.

Madonna: Ah yes Nigel. I well I did as we had agreed and went with him about his business and he was very charming, very polite. The perfect gentleman I suppose really.

Wendy: There has been an end to this hasn�t there Madonna! Please tell me there has Madonna!

Madonna: The first time we went to a restaurant, I had never been to it before very exclusive and very remote. She didn�t say much and to be quite honest neither did. It�s not as though I wasn�t tempted to say something, its just that I daren�t in case I said the wrong thing.

Wendy: I know what you mean.

Madonna: Nigel had been the perfect gentleman all day, I certainly had no reason to complain then in the car going home he said

In the car on their way back from the restaurant:

Nigel: I have taken time out to have a really, really good examination at Stephen� paintings, you know to really get behind to where he is coming from. Its something with how he handles the female form crudely but yet there�s an innocence; a truth which he brings from his subjects.

Madonna: Honestly Nigel I really do not have a clue, its for me to sell them otherwise they all would be still in his studio.

Nigel: So would you say that everybody has there price for everything that they have?

Madonna: That really depends on the needs of the seller and the desire of the buyer.

Nigel: Interesting Madonna, interesting. (Pause.) Tell me Madonna I� curious as Stephen ever painted you? (Silence.)

Nigel: I take your silence to be a yes.

Madonna: You�ve made me blush!

Nigel: Nude?

Madonna: (Beat.) Yes nude. It was a long time ago now.

Nigel: Pencils or oils?

Madonna: Both.

Nigel: Have you still got them?

Madonna: Yes somewhere about the house.

Nigel: I�d like to see them!

Madonna: (Half Laughing.) Oh no, no, no certainly.

Nigel: I may like to buy them from you or I may know somebody who might.

Madonna: Buy them! Gosh no! No!

Nigel: You did say that everything has its price and your needs are greater than. (Interruption.)

Madonna: There not for sale! No!

Nigel: Well at least could you dig them out, bring them along with you next week. (Pause.) You wore that last week, don�t you own another!

Madonna: Pardon!

Nigel: You heard me don�t you own another suit. Look around this room. (Beat. Raised voice.) Look around this room , do you see any one wearing hippy clothes!

Madonna: (Beat.) This is the only suit that I own yes. I dress like I do because it is comfort easy to wear thank you very much!

Nigel: What love and peace man, what a load of bollocks that was. Yet another lost cause!

Madonna: They enjoyed their selves that really necessary to use language like that Nigel!

Nigel: Sorry, sorry. It�s just that its an alien concept to me, you�ve enjoyed out sorties out these past few weeks haven�t you?

Madonna: (Beat.) Well yes I suppose.

Nigel: So why live the way that you do relying on sales of Stephen�s paintings?

Madonna: You forget Nigel I work at the burger bar.

Nigel: Exactly you could be better off without Stephen!

Madonna: I suppose I could. But I am happy. I am myself.

Nigel: (Beat.) Yourself! Happy! Yourself happy! Yes of course. (Beat.) And Stephen�s models, they spend a lot of time of the house do they yes!

Madonna: Yes.

Nigel: And that doesn�t bother you.

Madonna: No I am use to it after fifteen months together.

Nigel: (Beat.) Do you have any hairclips in that bag?

Madonna: (Beat.) Yes, yes why? Why?

Nigel: Go to the ladies put your hair up, a little more makeup maybe!

Fade into Madonna talk over as she is putting her hair up in the ladies loo:

Madonna: Yes fifteen months was an eternity back then! Isn�t now but it was back then! (Laughter.) You see I�m a chess player. My dad taught me. If you can�t play chess take my advice and learn! It teaches you how to work people out but also you learn how to stop people from working you out! If you can�t work that one out then you�ll never win. (Beat.) That�s both in chess and in life! Now this little shit Nigel. I�m playing him by letting him think that he has the better of me! Well I�m telling you he can think again! I�m three movers ahead! I can read him like a burger!

Fade and fade into Nigel�s Office a knock on the door

Nigel: Enter.

Madonna opens the door and walks into Nigel�s office.

Twenty Seconds.

Nigel: You�re early Madonna.

Madonna: Yes, could I have a quick word please Nigel.

Nigel: Yes, yes of course, sit down Madonna.

Madonna closes the door and sits at Nigel desk.

Twenty Seconds

Nigel: hat can I do for you?

Madonna: Well it�s the business.

Nigel: Yes.

Madonna: Well it�s not happening. That is well not as yet. Did you get the paintings and sketches that I sent along?

Nigel: Yes I did, thank you.

Madonna: What did you think?

Nigel: I�ll come to that later. (Beat.) So you would like to defer for say another week.

Madonna: Yes, yes if you would please Nigel that�s very good of you.

Nigel: I don�t think that will be any problem. (Pause.) That is, only that I don�t need you any longer on a Friday afternoon.

Madonna: I have done alright, haven�t I Nigel! We have had a good time?

Nigel: Yes, yes I have no complaints. No complaints what so ever. I would have told you if I would have.

Madonna: (Beat.) Right! So were does that leave us now Madonna?

Nigel: Yes where does leave us now, good question. What do you have to offer?

Madonna: Offer! Right yes what do I have to offer there� the paintings and sketches!

Madonna: You said in the restaurant last week.

Nigel: Yes that was last week. So what else do you have to offer me?

Madonna: Offer!

Nigel: Yes offer Madonna! (Silence.) Thought of anything?

Madonna: No not as yet. (Beat.) There�s my shop, I could let you see the accounts!

Nigel: (Laughter.) Yes your shop. Post them to me and I�ll take a look. But anyway let me suggest something.

Madonna: What?

Nigel: Sex!

Madonna: Sex!

Nigel: Yes sex Madonna.

Madonna: Your, your joking! You�re not joking! Are you! Oh no, I don�t know about that Nigel! God no! Hell No! Don�t forget, I�m happy with Stephen! Honestly Nigel!

Nigel: No you�re with Stephen but certainly not happy with Stephen. (Beat.) The situation is that you want something from me and you have something that I want. It�s that simple.

Madonna: You�re not joking, are you! Are you!

Nigel: No!

Madonna: (Pause.) No Nigel I can�t Nigel I just can�t. What about Stephen!

Nigel: Very well I shall invite my Solicitors and instruct them draw up papers against you this afternoon. You should have them by Monday morning.

Nigel reaches for his telephone and is just about to pick it up when.

Twenty Seconds.

Madonna: No! No stop! Wait! I�ll do it. I�ll do it Nigel. Yes! I�ll do it. (Beat.) Come on lets get it over and done with. Let�s get on with it!

Twenty Seconds.

Madonna: What! What are you laughing at! You want a fuck don�t you!

Nigel: (Laughter.) You don�t expect us to do it here do you surly Madonna! (Laughter.) Oh no! No! No! No! (Laughter.) It�s a nice room and everything yes! I must admit. But please! This isn�t the place, but it is good to see that your enthusiastic! (Laughter.) We�ll spend the night together, tonight and every Friday night until you can start to pay. (Laughter.) Shall we review the situation in say, in a couple of weeks!

Madonna: What!

Nigel: You heard me you�re not deaf are you!

Madonna: But what about Stephen, what shall I tell him!

Nigel: That�s your problem Madonna. Your problem Madonna!

Madonna starts to put her jacket back on. Nigel picks up a sealed envelope from his desk and holds it out for Madonna to take.

Twenty Seconds.

Nigel: Here take it!

Madonna: What is it?

Nigel: It�s a list of things for you get for this evening. There should be enough cash to cover everything. There is also my address. Shall we say about eight?

Madonna: Eight!

Nigel: Eight it is.

Madonna: (Pause.) Thanks. I think!

Nigel: You look better with the hair up! It suits you. That�s a hint. (Beat.) Close the door behind you as you go.

Fade as Madonna leaves the room. Fade to in Madonna and Stephen�s living room. Early evening.

Twenty Seconds.

Stephen and Madonna are sat in the living room Louise walks into the room.

Madonna: They�ll be a taxi here for me soon.

Stephen: What the hell are you wearing? And what�s in the case?

Madonna: A suit. Why? And what�s in the case is none of your business.

Louise: You going out?

Madonna: You could say that yes Louise.

Louise: It�s with that Nigel isn�t it? It is!

Madonna: As a matter of fact Madonna yes it is.

Louise: (Laughter.) He�s trying to get into your nickers! Do you hear that Stephen he�s trying to get into her nickers!

Madonna: So what if he is! Not as though it is any of your business but he�s going to get into them tonight for your information!

Stephen: What time will you be back? It�s just that we will probably working into the earlier hours.

Madonna: And you don�t want disturbing! Is that it! Good of you to bother asking! (Beat.) In the morning, don�t know what time. Don�t fucking care!

Louise: You�re joking!

Madonna: Why else would I be dressed like this!

Louise: You dress like my mother!

Madonna: I wouldn�t know! I�ve never had the privilege of meeting her! (Beat.) In fact there isn�t a lot that we do know about you is there Madonna! Not as though I could really give a fucking toss!

Louise: That suits new isn�t it?

Madonna: How observant of you Madonna. You didn�t notice!

Stephen: I did!

Madonna: You didn�t

Stephen: I did!

Madonna: You didn�t say a thing! I can�t hear you saying don�t go. You�re not trying to stop me, are you!

Louise: Why should it�s a fee world, you do what you want with your body!

Madonna: Well you certainly abuse yours!

Louise: And what the fucks that supposed to mean!

Madonna: You�re a parasite! Nothing but a fucking parasite!

Louise: And what the fucks a parasite! (Pause.) What�s a parasite?

Stephen: Your karma is unsettled. Relax!

Madonna: Fucking dammed right my karma is fucking unsettled. Your just going to sit there aren�t you. It�s for you that I�m doing it. For your fucking art! (Beat.) No it�s not your art is it, it�s keep you and this fucking parasite!

Louise: What the fuck is a parasite! Will someone tell me!

Madonna: Shut the fuck up!

(Silence. Then a car horn sounds.)

Twenty Seconds.

Madonna: That will be my taxi.

Madonna goes to the door.

Madonna: Right I�m going

Louise: (Sarcastically.) Bye.

Stephen: (Beat.) Yes see you later.

Louise: (Beat.) What does parasite mean.

Madonna leaves the close the door behind her. She is heard getting into the taxi and the taxi driving away.

Twenty Seconds.

Madonna awakes alone in the bed footsteps can be heard coming up the stairs. Then the door opens, Nigel enters carrying a breakfast tray and talks as he carries it to the table in front of the window.

Thirty Seconds.

Madonna: Good morning! It�s a lovely sunny day. Did you have a goodnights sleep Nigel? (Silence.) You�re not a morning person?

Nigel: (Half asleep.) What, what?

Twelve Minutes Ten Seconds

Madonna: I said you�re not a morning person. There�s egg, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms fried bread and toast. Plus a pot of piping hot coffee! The papers arrive in about half an hour. Not as though I read them it is just a habit that I have got into. Do you take Saturday papers?

Nigel: No, no we don�t

Nigel arranges the plates on the table. Then picks Madonna�s nightdress from the floor and takes it over to the bed and hands it to Madonna.

Twenty Seconds.

Madonna: Thank you.

Madonna puts on the night dress.

Twenty Seconds

Nigel: Let�s have you out of bed sleepy head.

Madonna gets out of the bed.

Twenty Seconds.

Madonna: Alright, alright. (Beat.) The nightdress doesn�t hide, well my dignity does it!

Nigel: Breakfast will be getting cold.

Madonna: Do you have a robe a dressing gown that I could wear. You know, just to cover me up more, well fully!

Nigel: No.

Madonna: (Sarcastically.) Alright then!

Both sat at the breakfast table facing each other. Nigel pours them both a glass of fresh orange.

Thirty Seconds.

Nigel: Like the garden?

Madonna: Yes.

Nigel: I have the fishing rights to the river? I have people knocking on the door asking if they can fish but I just laugh at them and then they go.

Madonna: Beats our view of over the railway tracks and on to the gas works. It so quiet here, we have the sound of the trains and then there�s the traffic from the motorway.

Nigel: Dosen�t all that interfere with Stephen�s work?

Madonna: He says he thrives on depravity of urbanisation and decay. It�s the ultimate class divide.

Nigel: Bollocks!

Madonna: Excuse!

Nigel: Even if he is correct which I very much doubt, I know which side of the divide I would rather be!

Madonna: (Beat.) Well that�s as be, some of us don�t have a choice.

Nigel: (Beat.) Do you and Stephen still have sex often?

Madonna: That�s not the kind of fucking question to ask over breakfast, or any other time, come to that!

Nigel: Well do you?

Madonna: (Beat.) Lovely bacon, Danish? Yes, yes we do. (Beat.) We do still have sex yes.

Nigel: Often? (Silence.) A refill of coffee?

Madonna: Please.

Nigel starts to pour the cups of tea.

Twenty Seconds.

Nigel: I was looking through your burgers the other day.

Madonna: Burgers!

Nigel: Yes for your shop. Now that is a business just asking for expansion. You�ve too much stock and not enough shop.

Another shop, maybe two that�s what�s needed. They don�t have to be on the high street, in fact that would be wrong. It�s the personal touch that�s needed.

Madonna: Well I don�t see myself running another chain of American style burger joints maybe with a coffee shop! Far from it! Besides it all comes down to cash and at the end of the day it is cash which I�m in need of! After all that�s why I�m here now isn�t it! (Beat.) Well prostituting myself!

Nigel: (Beat.) I�d hardly call it prostituting yourself!

Madonna: Then what else would you call it!

Nigel: We get on together don�t we!

Madonna: Well yes, I suppose.

Nigel: It was inevitable that we would end up sleeping together.

Madonna: That�s a rather cutting statement to make.

Nigel: Maybe it is, but you are sat at the other side of the breakfast table now.

Madonna: (Sigh.) Yes I am aren�t I!

Nigel: (Silence.) I was thinking maybe the first couple of years lease on a property, a few thousand for stock and say wages for a couple of years wages for two or three staff. What do you think Madonna?

Madonna: (Pause.) Is that an offer?

Nigel: Yes that�s a firm offer. Think about it, but don�t think for too long!

Madonna: (Silence.) It is a lovely view. Certainly a difference to the gas works.

Nigel: I could be interested in coming in as a silent partner. Well that would be a sleeping partner in more than one sense.

Madonna: Yes I appreciate that. Yes

Nigel: Yes I�ve seen some premises we could have a look to day. I have the keys. Could you pass the toast please.

Madonna: There you go.

Nigel: Thank you. You doing nothing to day are you?

Madonna: No, no not at all.

Nigel: We could have some lunch, do some shopping and what ever takes your fancy.

Madonna: Shopping!

Nigel: Buy you an outfit maybe.

Madonna: (Pause.) Yes, yes why not. Why not!

Nigel: You�ll want to take a shower.

Madonna: (Pause.) Yes. In answer to your earlier question yes Stephen and I still do have sex but not that often. (Beat.) I�ve said too much haven�t I!

Nigel: No, no I did ask!

Madonna: When we do it wasn�t like what we had last night. We can do it again after breakfast if you want. Before I shower! God listen to me for fucks sake!

Nigel: Yes I�d enjoy that. I�d enjoy that very much indeed.

Madonna: Good!

Muriel: I remember her at Live Aid, not the last one the first one.

Alison: At Wembley?

Muriel: No Philadelphia. (Beat.) We were stood back stage.

Alison: Back stage at live Aid!

Muriel: Yes, I�m a journalist remember!

Alison: Yes go on!

Muriel: Anyway we were back stage at Live Aid Well everything was normal, well as normal as can be! Anyway suddenly the crowd just cleared! I mean people just moved! Went!

Alison: What was it a bomb scare?

Muriel: No, no! They were dragging people out of the loo�s!

Alison: Why?

Muriel: Oh hold on this gets better!

Alison: Go on please do tell!

Muriel: Well, suddenly this crowd of security guards arrived and they opened the doors and checked the loo�s! When they got to the third to last loo, the crowd like opened and out stepped Madonna! (Beat.) All hat because Madonna wanted a shit! (Laughter.)

Fade to Madonna and Wendy in the burger bar Monday morning.

Wendy: You�re late!

Madonna: Yes, yes I know Wendy.

Wendy: Gosh you�ve had your haircut. Really cut!

Madonna: Yes I know Wendy. Ten out of ten for observation! Do you like it?

Wendy: Well. Yes but!

Madonna: Well. Yes but what!

Wendy: Well. Yes but it is somewhat well shorter!

Madonna: Well it�s easier to manage and besides I like it.

Madonna: Whatever, the first new shop opens hopefully in three weeks, the jobs yours if you want it.

Madonna starts to arrange some burgers as Wendy serves a customer.

Twenty Seconds.

Wendy: And you�re wearing a suit!

Madonna: Yes I am! There�s really no stopping you this morning is there now Wendy! And before you ask yes I have been shopping.

Madonna voice over with Wendy and Madonna in the shop:

So ok, he fucked me! Well he fucked me more than once before you ask! (Beat.) A fucks a fuck isn�t it! You see how easy it is! You do don�t you? (Beat.) Ah what the hell, so maybe you knock me! But ask yourself if push came to shove, would you? Course you would! Wouldn�t you? It is all apart of my plan. You�ll see! Just wait and see!

Fade into three weeks later, Madonna turns on the light and walks into the bedroom Stephen is already in bed. Stephen lays in bed listening as Madonna changes in the bathroom.

Thirty Seconds.

Then Madonna enters the bedroom wearing a short pink lacy night dress.

Stephen: I didn�t expect to see you tonight.

Madonna: No I didn�t expect to be here tonight.

Stephen: Anything wrong.

Madonna: No, .no there�s nothing wrong.

Stephen: How�s Nigel?

Madonna: He�s fine.

Stephen: Would you pass me my tobacco. It�s over on the chair.

Madonna gets the tobacco and gives it to Stephen.

Twenty Seconds.

Stephen: Thank you. Want me to roll you one?

Madonna: No thanks I�m trying to stop.

Stephen: Oh right, yeah. That what you�re wearing doesn�t hide much!

Madonna: It�s not supposed too.

Stephen: Move up make some room!

Madonna: Sorry.

Stephen shuffles across the bed and Madonna gets in. As Stephen rolls his cigarette Madonna puffs up the pillows and sits upright like Stephen.

Thirty Seconds.

Stephen: Sure you don�t want a smoke?

Madonna: Positive. (Beat.) I�ve to go to the hairdressers in the morning.

Stephen: Why you only went the other week.

Madonna: A bob takes a lot of maintaining!

Stephen: (Pause.) I can remember when you had dreadlocks.

Madonna: (Beat.) Yes.

Stephen lights his cigarette.

Twenty Seconds.

Stephen: You�ve shaved your arm pits!

Madonna: Yes.

Stephen: You never have done before, so what�s made you do it now?

Madonna: It doesn�t look good when wearing a short sleeved top.

Stephen: Oh right. Let grow, that grows grow, that�s what I say!

Madonna: Yes anyway ! So! (Beat.) As Louise gone yet?

Stephen: She goes in the morning.

Madonna: (Beat.) Have you her replacement arranged?

Stephen: A friend of hers, haven�t meet her, seen photographs, she looks cool.

Madonna: (Pause.) Look we need to talk.

Stephen: What about?

Madonna: I�m leaving.

Stephen: (Beat.) Moving in with Nigel?

Madonna: Yes.

Stephen: Are you sleeping with him?

Madonna: (Laughter.) It was you who gave the blue light for me to have sex with him, if that�s what you mean. Quote, it�s only sex! To say the least I was shocked. I don�t think you realise how tight money has been. Funding your inverted coma, models over the years hasn�t helped our finances.

Stephen: But I need to be surrounded by young (Interruption.)

Madonna: Women. Correction girls!

Stephen: (Silence.) So he buys you a few clothes and you have a bit of a thrash around between the sheets, and selling myself!

Madonna: Selling myself! Selling myself! Fuck!

Stephen: (Beat.) Its not clothes that he�s bought you it is the uniform of the ruling classes!

Madonna: What shit! What shit!

Stephen: (Beat.) (Laughing.) The clothes, then the hair and even you�re fucking armpits! He�s not just changing your mind he�s changing your body!

Both laughing then silence.

Twenty Seconds.

Stephen: We haven�t had sex since, since you have been seeing him.

Madonna: No we haven�t made love for some time. Your right Stephen!

Stephen: Do you want to, make love that is?

Madonna: No, no I don�t Stephen. (Beat.) As I said I�m leaving.

Stephen: So why the fuck are you here now! Tell me! Tell me! For fuck sake!

Madonna: I had to tell you to face to face. I�m only trying to do the right thing Stephen!

Stephen gets out of bed, stubs his cigarette out in an ashtray on a table at the far side of the room.

Twenty Seconds.

Stephen: (Laughter.) So you thought you would do the right thing. Can�t we finish on a fuck! (Beat.) Why don�t you leave now!

Madonna: I will!

Madonna gets out of bed

Madonna: Why don�t you shout for Louise I�m sure she will give you a fuck!

Stephen: I will! (Shouting.) Louise, Louise, Louise!

Stephen: Fuck off! Just fuck off! Louise! Louise! Louise! (Laughter.)

Fade out then in as Madonna enters the room.

Louise: What is it?

Madonna: He wants a fuck!

Louise: What is it?

Madonna: He wants a fuck! He�s done it with all the rest, well those what let him! I�m going!

Fourteen Minutes Ten Seconds

Madonna leaves the room.

Voice over of Madonna walking down a New York Street

It was after all this mangle drangle that in nineteen ninety nine, I had the chance to move, well go on tour as a dancer in France to join a show featuring disco singer Patrick Hernandez. He had some European chart hits. I don�t want to go into all the shit that happened there. After all it�s my shit ok. It was there that I met Dan, Dan Gilroy, who taught me to play guitar and drums and when we returned to N.Y. we formed the Breakfast Club and Emmy together. It� all a bit confusing and to be honest those days are rather blurry to me now!

Can�t exactly remember the date. (Beat.) Now to confuse things some, oh yes Dan and I were screwing ok and to complicate matters we had one of my ex�s Stephen to play in the band! (Beat.) I played drums and sang with the band before setting up Emmy in nineteen eighty, Steve, Stephen Bray. :

Fade to the band is playing in rehearsal room

One Minute Thirty Seconds.

Madonna: Stop! Stop! Stop

Steve: What is it now?

Madonna: This is fucking shit!

Steve: Why!

Dan: Sounds alright to me!

Madonna: It would be!

Dan: So what�s wrong? The last few gigs the crowd have loved us!

Madonna: So who we doing this for us or a few Muppets! There�s a big wild world out there! A big world of people out there who don�t but shit like this!

Steve: So what do they buy?

Madonna: Disco, dance, pop!

Steve: That�s selling out!

Madonna: That�s selling out! That�s selling out my ass! So come on where�s our limo�s? Where are six houses in London? Are we playing fifty thousand seater auditoriums? No we�re playing shit holes full of moron�s! (Beat.) We want something with a beat! Something that people can dance to!

Dan: You mean smiley music!

Madonna: Well yes, and what�s wrong with smiley music!

Steve: Its shit that�s what�s wrong with it!

Madonna: That�s you�re opinion! You�re opinion! And you�re opinion means shit all!

Steve: To you it might, but not to others!

Madonna: Like who?

Steve: Well (Hesitation)

Dan: Well me! I�m not into this smiley music shit neither!

Madonna: Gee thanks for the support! Tit face!

Dan: So it�s come down to name calling!

Madonna: It�s a fact looser!

Steve: (Pause.) So you�re leaving the band?

Madonna: Not so fast smart ass! For now you need me as much as I need you! I�ve bills to pay, food to buy! See where I�m coming from?

Dan: Sure.

Steve: Sure.

Dan: So how are you going to go about things?

Madonna: Don�t know, haven�t thought that far ahead yet.

Madonna gets from behind her drum kit, picks up her jacket and leaves.

Twenty Seconds.

Maybe go to a club scene where she meets Mark Kamins PUT THE SITUATION IN MORE DEPTH

Madonna: I�m looking for Mark, Mark Kamins. Do you know him?

Security: Why? Who�s asking?

Madonna: Don�t you know that it�s rude to answer a question with a question? (Beat.) Do you want to know or not?

Security: Who�s asking? Does he know you?

Madonna: My names Madonna and know he doesn�t know me. Well not yet.

Security: You could be the cops!

Madonna: Are you serious! Me a cop! Do I look like a cop!

Security: You could be in disguise!

Madonna: Disguise my ass! So are you going to tell me which is him or not?

Security: (Beat.) That�s him over there! On the decks!

Madonna walks across the dance floor to the decks and walks inside the DJ�s booth.

Twenty Seconds.

Mark: Who are you? What are you doing behind here! I�ll call security!

Madonna: Calm it! Calm it! Calm it will you! Chill!

Mark picks up a phone.

Mark: Security

Madonna: Chill will you! Chill!

Madonna takes the phone from Mark.

Twenty Seconds.

Madonna: Security. Yeah my names Madonna I�m helping on the decks. Some nut got hold of the phone. Everything�s cool up here.

Madonna laughs but not speaks to security on the phone and then puts down the phone.

Twenty Seconds.

Mark: What the fuck you at girl!

Mark changes the records

Twenty Seconds.

Mark: What the fuck you at girl! Get out of here!

Madonna: You�re Tim! The guy that does the mixes aren�t you?

Mark: (Beat.) So what if I am?

Madonna: I�m a singer and a dancer!

Mark: Ain�t every chick in New York! So what!

Madonna: But I�m good! Real good!

Mark: They all say that! Now get out of here will you!

Madonna: I have a tape! (Beat.) Play it! Go on play it!

Mark: I�ll listen to it but I won�t play it.

Madonna hands Mark the tape. He put the tape into a cassette machine and listens to the tape through his headphone. Madonna looks on anxiously.

Twenty Seconds. Mark: What�s you�re name girl?

Madonna: Madonna.

Mark: No I said what�s you�re name girl!

Madonna: Madonna! That is my name!

Mark: Get out of here girl! Know fucker is called Madonna! That�s you�re stage name isn�t it?

Madonna: (Annoyed.) No that�s my fucking name tit face! (Pause.) So what do you think to my tape?

Mark: Not enough bass. Too weak. Voice isn�t bad. Got attitude!

Madonna: So can we do something?

Mark: Slow down girl these things take time and time is money! Do you know what I mean! Rome wasn�t built in a day!

Record change

Twenty Seconds.

Madonna: Yes, yes I know that Mark.

Mark: Ah mark is it now! Well that�s better than tit face!

Laughter both.

Mark: Let me tell you something! Let me tell you something!

Madonna: What?

Mark: You see how these are dressed. (Pause.) Well don�t dress like them! You need to create an image. An image where they dress like you! So that they won�t to be like you! Get what I mean yeah?

Madonna: What so dress like a fucking clown!

Mark: If dressing like a clown works, then dress like a clown girl! Money makes the world go around!

Madonna: But I�m not a material girl!

Mark: See the way that I see it is this, the gays can dance the blacks can dance so really you need to be a mixture of the two. It�s a bit like a cocktail!

Madonna: So if you know so much why are you doing this?

Mark: Because this is what I want to girl! This is what I was born to do!

Madonna: I was born to be famous. And I will be!

Mark: I hope you will be girl.

Madonna: I will!

Mark: (Beat.) See I have this notion that you have to get the gays! Once you have got the gays the rest will follow!

Madonna: I�m no dyke!

Mark: Maybe you are maybe you aint! But keep em guessing girl! Keep em guessing!

Madonna: Whatever! (Beat.) My business!

Madonna talk over London Street scene

Together, we created club tracks which were mainly my idea as the rest of the band were content with doing the guitar band thing. Anyway we got ourselves a recording deal with Sire Records.

I recorded �Everybody� with New York disc jockey Mark Kamins producing it. �Everybody�, was a US club hit in nineteen eighty two. It was early May in nineteen eighty two I think. But anyway as you can probably guess that was the end Emmy

The media! He fucking media they either fucking love ya or hate ya! And to be honest I�m not bothered which, because either way it means that they are taking notice of ya! It is when they aren�t mentioning ya, that�s the time to worry! (Beat.) Besides, besides they go for what I would call easy targets! They don�t go for the corrupt governments which we have on this planet! No! Rather who�s wearing what and whose doing who!

Fade to back in back in the auditorium.

Alison: Strange really

Muriel: What is?

Alison: Well when you think about it back then she was so self, self but now she does all this work for charity.

Muriel: Yes but what�s to say that this charity work isn�t all self, self, self!

Alison: (Beat.) I�m not quite with you on this.

Muriel: Well it�s not as though she wouldn�t have been paid. Well expenses at least! And can you imagine how much her expenses would be!

Alison: As I remember it she first appeared on the Tube here. That�s right it use to be on TV on a Friday tea time. I watch it whilst getting ready to go on a Friday night out.

Muriel: Yes but I very much Channel Four would have forked out a great deal, especially in those days! (Beat.) They couldn�t even fill all their advertising slots back then!

Alison: That�s right they couldn�t!

Muriel: Anyway it certainly wasn�t the Tube that kick started Madonna to world stardom! It was without a doubt MTV! And oh boy did she milk it! I mean you have got to give it to her those videos were something else then!

Alison: They certainly were and still are even now!

Muriel: (Beat.) It�s like the dress thing. She used to be like different when she first came over here now she�s almost conventional.

Alison: Don�t get confused that Americans do dress different to us

Muriel: Yes but she was like a cross between a punk, yes I know punk had died over here by then, but she had this dance thing going. She dressed like crazy woman!

Alison: Different yes!

Muriel: And, and the way she danced!

Alison: Oh I can remember that, people trying to dance like her, but I can�t remember people trying to dress like her! Well maybe the odd tranny!

On the darkened stage movement can be seen

Muriel: (Beat.) Would you say that she is an icon like Elvis?

Alison: (Interruption.) I think she�s coming back on stage.

Fade to Madonna walking down a New York street.

Madonna: Then things really started to happen! Well I�ll tell ya! From there, there was nothing or nobody who was going to stop me! It all really started with breaking out from the disco scene into mainstream pop with Holiday. Holiday was written and produced by Jellybean. Eventually! Good things don�t happen quick do they now! (Laughter.) It reached the US Top ten in late eighty one and was a Top ten hit across Europe the following year. That was a frustrating time I can tell you! But it was during that time I was in the studios and recorded my first album. Madonna's self-titled and why not! (Laughter.) Borderline followed and then it just all seem to happen!

I enjoyed doing the film Desperately Seeking Susan and no I wasn�t playing myself! People just like to think that! The film did take more time than I thought I would and there is more money in music than the movies! Yes I know that I�m coming back to the material girl thing again. See the way that I see it is this; in this life there are leaders and followers. It�s your own choice which you�re going to be! I know which I am! It is important to change, to move on. Not change with the times you understand more change the times! (Beat.) Reinvent!

Yes reinvent is the word that I�m looking for! Yeah there have been a few inverted comers pretenders over the years if you get what I mean, but I just thin to myself; Who the fuck does she think she is? Me!

Fade back to Madonna�s dressing room takes a drink of her water.

Twenty Seconds.

The door opens a roadie puts his head around the door. The sound of the crowd can be heard

Roadie: The band is back on stage Madonna.

Madonna: Good yes I�m ready.

Everyone in the dressing room stands up leave the dressing room and starts to walk back down the corridor which leads to the stage.

Madonna voice over:

Ever since I was a little all I have ever wanted is to be famous! Famous as what wasn�t an issue; just famous! (Silence.) Surround yourself with negative people and you�ll become negative yourself. (Beat.) Surround yourself with positive creative people and you�ll shine! Negatives tend not to be creative. It�s not in their nature. Nature or do I mean genes! (Beat.) And oh boy have I met some negative shits in my time! (Beat.) Well fuck them! I�m more fucking famous than I had ever fucking imagined now!

Madonna walks back on to the stage to the raw of the crowd. Go into the song and then titles.

Voice over as she starts the song.

There is no such thing as coming second! Coming second means you�ve lost! That�s lost as in not won!

Oh the thing with the bottle was true! (Laughter.)

Go into the song and then titles.

One Minute.

Naught to Ten Sixteen Minutes forty Seconds

Ten to Nineteen Fifteen Minutes and Forty Seconds

Nineteen to twenty nine Thirteen Minutes and Twenty Seconds

Twenty nine to Thirty eight Twelve Minutes Ten Seconds

Thirty eight to forty six Fourteen Minutes Ten Seconds

Forty six to fifty six Fifteen Minutes Twenty Seconds

One hour, Twenty Eight Minutes and twenty Seconds

 

 

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