PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

INT – TRAVELODGE COUNTER – EVE

LISA ANN and John are sorting through more receipts.

LISA-ANN

Well, maybe now Jeff will get his muse back.

JOHN

What do you mean, ‘his muse’? 

LISA-ANN

Well, now that Julie is history, perhaps his muse will return.  Like, he'll be able to write better poems. 

JOHN

Why didn't he just write poems for Julie? 

LISA-ANN

Jeff's only inspired by the unattainable. 

A scantily clad STREETWALKING PROSTITUTE with too much black eye-liner enters the hotel lobby and walks up to the desk.

JOHN

May I help you?

STREET PROSTITUTE

I need a room.

JOHN

Okay…ah…may I see some ID?

STREET PROSTITUTE

I'll pay cash.

JOHN

Okay, um, I still need to see your driver's license.

The STREET PROSTITUTE hands John a card.

STREET PROSTITUTE

Here-

JOHN

Um, this is a Blockbuster video card. We need a state-issued driver's license.

STREET PROSTITUTE

(annoyed)

What?

LISA-ANN

(interrupting)

It's our policy. 

The STREET PROSTITUTE leans far over the counter, her feet off the floor, and her mini skirt exposing her ass.  She abruptly grabs her video card out of JOHN’S hand and storms out of the lobby.

JEFF (V.O)

I think this is why John likes his job.

JOHN looks back at LISA-ANN without skipping a beat.  

JOHN

I’m not sure I understand what you mean; is muse a noun or a verb?

LISA-ANN

A noun.  A proper noun.  Specifically Theresa.  She was his muse.  Two-thirds of all his poetry was about her. 

JOHN

So how could he get her back?  You said he would get his muse back.

LISA-ANN

No, no, she’s married now.  I just meant he might get inspired to write again.

JOHN

He dated her, what, way back in ninety-six?

LISA-ANN

Yeah, he's still not over her though.

JOHN

What about Julie?

LISA-ANN

Julie was just someone for him to fight with, they were never in love. 

JOHN

So Jeff and Theresa were in love?

LISA-ANN

All I know is that Theresa was Jeff’s muse.  I’m sure he thought he loved her.  I doubt it was reciprocal.  I can just tell from the way he talks about her that he felt there was something special. 

JOHN

You’ve lost me.

LISA-ANN

Well I never met her.  They broke up before we became friends.

JOHN

No, I mean I want to know what ‘reciprocal’ means.

LISA-ANN

Mutual, John.  He loved her—she didn’t love him.

JOHN

I know, that’s what you said, but why did you use the word reciprocal?

LISA-ANN

Men!  John, you know sometimes you are so clueless.

JOHN

Well, if he really was so in to Theresa, why didn’t they ever…ya know?

JEFF (V.O.)

John holds back the F-word, after all, everyone knows ‘fuck’ is an inappropriate word to use at the front counter.

LISA-ANN

You’ll have to ask him that!

JOHN

Why doesn’t he tell me any of this stuff?

LISA-ANN

You're not a woman.