MARK
Tell the folks at home what you're doing Roger

ROGER
I'm writing one great song --

MARK
The phone rings

ROGER
Yesss!

MARK
We screen

ROGER & MARK'S ANSWERING MACHINE
"Speak" ("Beeeep!")

(Lights fade up on the street: the front-door area of MARK and

ROGER's building Nearby is a battered public pay phone TOM
COLLINS stands at the phone)

COLLINS
"Chestnuts roasting ---"

ROGER & MARK
(as MARK picks up the phone)
Collins!

COLLINS
I'm downstairs

MARK
Hey!

COLLINS
Roger picked up the phone??

MARK
No, it's me

COLLINS
Throw down the key

MARK
A wild night is now pre-ordained

COLLINS
I may be detained

MARK
What does he mean?
What do you mean "detained"?

BENNY
Ho ho ho

MARK & ROGER
Benny! Shit

BENNY
Dudes, I'm on my way

MARK & ROGER
Great! Fuck

BENNY
I need the rent

MARK
What rent?

BENNY
This past year's rent which I let slide

MARK
Let slide? You said we were 'golden'

ROGER
When you bought the building

MARK
When we were roommates

ROGER
Remember -- you lived here!?

BENNY
How could I forget?
You, me, Collins and Maureen
How is the drama queen?

MARK
She's performing tonight

BENNY
I know
Still her production manager?

MARK
Two days ago I was bumped

BENNY
You still dating her?

MARK
Last month I was dumped

ROGER
She's in love

BENNY
She's got a new man?

MARK
Well -- no

BENNY
What's his name?

BOTH
Joanne

BENNY
Rent, my amigos, is due
Or I will have to evict you
Be there in a few

(ROGER defiantly picks out Musetta's theme from Puccini's La

Boheme on the electric guitar The fuse blows on the amp)

MARK
The power blows