The Love Talker
Matthew Ewald for Tyler
Accent: Middle Southern US or light Appalachian
Background:
Tyler grew up in a small town in western Virginia. He is a close friend to Ellen and Kate, having gone to school with them for years. Without many prospects for the future, he values stability and friendship. Shortly after graduating, he and Kate started dating, but recently broke up, which he can’t seem to get over.
Tyler argues with Kate about the way she treats her boyfriends. This is before they date, Tyler still thinks of her as a friend. Kate brings up a time when their friend group went skinny dipping. Do not record Kate’s lines, they are provided for context. VO lines are addressed directly to the listener.
TYLER
What? Whoa, stop! What's going on? What the hell was that? You're breaking up with Frankie? Like that? What is wrong with you?
KATE
He won't fucking leave me alone, Tyler! None of them will! He won't stop texting me, calling me. He's been talking about marriage! It's been a nightmare! I mean, Jesus Christ! They're all fucking like that!
TYLER
Well, maybe you shouldn't act like you do with them.
KATE
"Act like I do?" What do you mean Ty? Go on. Spit it out!
TYLER
You're out of control! You're in this spiral and no one seems to be willing to stop you! No one sees it, but I do! You're partying all the time, you're using these guys, you... you fall into bed with them on the first fucking date!
KATE
What, jealous? You were too chicken shit to take off your bathing suit. Afraid to show us your little thing? Think you had a chance, and now you regret it?
[Long pause.]
TYLER
I don't understand why you're so cruel. And I don't think you do, either.
Tyler tries to remember when he first fell in love with Kate, but that feeling keeps getting mixed up with other memories. He speaks directly to the listener.
TYLER
There was something different in her. Even in the few weeks since the lake, she'd ... grown. Somehow. Something indefinable. The way her clothes fit her curves, the unconscious way she tossed her red hair. She was still serious, still with that flinty veneer and intense eyes. But now she seemed... comfortable in her own skin. A feat, for 9th grade. God she's so pretty, look at her eyes, look at the shape of her lips, the way they curl, like carved marble. In five years, we're naked and her hair is spilling around my face and my fingers grip her hips and... no. No I don't see that yet. It's 9th grade, and Kate is still just my friend, Kate is Kate, I have to remember that. She's just Kate.There are several scenes where we flashback to Tyler as a boy. Please record the following in a more youthful voice. It’s more important to suggest his age than hit it exactly.
Tyler and his friends find a dead bird on the playground.
YOUNG TYLER
Did someone shoot it? My daddy says we should only shoot animals that are dangerous or we're gonna eat. Should we tell Miss Adams? (pause) What if we bury it by the flagpole? We could see him every day. (pause) Uh. Where can we get a shoebox?
