Don’t Stop Believing — Part Deux
By Amanda Martin
An airport terminal. MAGELLAN and STEVE PERRY stand just outside
airport security, having just driven from the bar where they met.
STEVE PERRY
Well,
you should get going. You don’t want to
miss your flight.
MAGELLAN
I
know. I just wish we could have more time.
STEVE PERRY
We
will, baby. When you
come home. But you have to go lay
those eggs first.
MAGELLAN
They
won’t even let you walk to the gate with me.
It’s not fair.
STEVE PERRY
It’s
for your own safety. In this day and age
of violence and terrorism, airport security is just one of the precautions we
have to learn to live with.
As STEVE PERRY speaks, a man carrying a bazooka over one
shoulder passes through security behind them.
Behind him is an elderly woman, who is stopped and strip-searched by security
personnel.
STEVE PERRY
(Continuing) But it can take a few minutes to get through
security, so you should go, so you have enough time to get to your gate. You have to be careful with those eggs.
MAGELLAN
Okay. You’re right.
I should go. (Embracing STEVE PERRY) Oh, Steve!
STEVE PERRY
You’ll
be all right. You’ve got a tough shell.
MAGELLAN
You
think?
STEVE PERRY
I
know. Go on. I’ll stand here and wait for you to get
through.
MAGELLAN
Okay.
MAGELLAN
walks to the security checkpoint, looking back at STEVE PERRY sorrowfully.
STEVE PERRY
(Singing) Don’t stop believing!
MAGELLAN
advances in line, puts her small purse on the belt and
walks through the metal detector.
SECURITY GUY
Ma’am,
can you step over here please?
MAGELLAN
(Nervously) Okay.
SECURITY GUY
I’m
going to pat you down. Don’t worry, this
is just a routine check, and then we’ll get you on your way.
MAGELLAN
Okay.
SECURITY
GUY pats down MAGELLAN, stopping in her stomach area.
SECURITY GUY
Ma’am,
we’re going to need you to remove your shell.
MAGELLAN
My shell?
SECURITY GUY
Go
ahead.
MAGELLAN
(Distraught) But I can’t—
SECURITY GUY
This
is no time for modesty, Ma’am. Just
remove the shell.
MAGELLAN
But
you don’t understand, I can’t—
SECURITY GUY
Ma’am,
this is an issue of national safety.
Please remove the shell.
MAGELLAN
But
I’m a turtle! I’m trying to get to
STEVE PERRY
(From behind checkpoint) Hey, what’s going on?
SECURITY GUY
Sir,
this does not concern you. Please step
back, you’re cutting into the line.
STEVE PERRY
This
does concern me! I love that turtle!
MAGELLAN
Oh
Steve!
STEVE PERRY
She’s
pregnant, and she needs to catch that flight or she won’t make it to the beach
in time. You have to let her go.
SECURITY GUY
Sir,
who do you think you are?
STEVE PERRY
Why,
I’m Steve Perry from Journey.
SECURITY GUY
Oh
my God, you are! Escape is one of my
favorite albums ever!
STEVE PERRY
Really?
SECURITY GUY
You’ve
been such an inspiration to me! You
know, I sing a little too. (Singing) Workin’ hard to get my fill, everybody wants a thrill—
STEVE PERRY
(While SECURITY GUY sings) Go, Maggie!
MAGELLAN
quickly escapes towards gate while SECURITY GUY continues to sing.
SECURITY GUY
(Still singing) Payin’ anything to roll the dice just one more time…
STEVE PERRY
Hey,
you’re not so bad.
SECURITY GUY
Really? You think so?
STEVE PERRY
Yeah,
I do.
STEVE PERRY and SECURITY GUY
Don’t stop believing! Hold on to the feeling! Streetlight people…