LOUNGE SINGER AUDITION READINGS

READING 1 PETE

A bus, 1967. PETE sits next to a marine that is obviously suffering from PTSD this is BIRDLACE.
PETE watches him. He is older than BIRDLACE, past his prime. But PETE is good-natured and tries too
hard to make conversation, attempting to cheer up this young man.

PETE: You a Marine?

BIRDLACE is momentarily startled out of his daze.

I see youre wearing the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. Semper Fi, right? Vietnam?

BIRDLACE: Yes, sir.

PETE: I was an Army man myself Korea.

No response from BIRDLACE.

This your first trip to Frisco?

BIRDLACE: (After a moment) I been before just once back in 63.
PETE: Make the trip about once a year. Still cant stand this long bus ride. What are you, a
Sergeant?
BIRDLACE: Staff.
PETE: Good for you. I was working my way up to Corporal by the time I got out. Hey,
thats quite a tattoo you got. Bumblebees, right?

BIRDLACE looks at the tattoo on his forearm: three bees.

BIRDLACE: Yeah. Three of em.

BOLAND and BERNSTEIN appear either elsewhere or on the bus not as passengers in 1967, but as
they were, uniformed, in 1963.

PETE: Do they do anything? They dont fly?

BIRDLACE: No, sir.
PETE: I got one that dances. (pas his belly) This is no place to be showing off my belly, or else
Id let you see her moves. So whatre they supposed to mean?
BIRDLACE: Dont mean nothing, sir. Just something we did, my buddies and me. Theres
Boland . And therere Bernstein and me, Im Birdlace.
PETE: Oh, I get it. The Three Bees.

READING 2 SERGEANT

GIBBS: Ten-hut.

The MARINES snap into formation, immediately at attention. SERGEANT barks at them.

SERGEANT: Shipping out tomorrow morning, 0-500. Its your last night. Have at em,
boys. Dismissed!
READING 3 WAITER

WAITER: Good evening. Do you have a reservation?

BIRDLACE: Uh, no...not like that should matter, seeing as theres plenty of room.
WAITER: Yes, sir, there isbut we dont seat patrons without a reservation.
BIRDLACE: Yeah, well, next time Ill have my secretary call ahead. Whats for dinner?
WAITER: Im afraid, without a reservation, its just not possible.
BIRDLACE: (growing louder) Im a United States Marine. Good enough to protect you but I
aint good enough to eat your chow, that it?
WAITER: Im going to have to ask you to lower your voice.
BIRDLACE:[(even louder) Not a fuckin chance.

READING 4 LOUNGE SINGER

LOUNGE SINGER finishes a song.

LOUNGE SINGER: Thank you, thank you.

Next song begins

Heres one for all you lovers in the crowd. Got some bewitching beauties in the house tonight.
I wanna see em all out here dancing. Cheek to cheek and heart to heart.