Post Secret: Everytime a 40 year old guy tucks a dollar into my g-string I wonder "Could that man be my Dad"

Lights come up on ELLA and DAD. ELLA a girl of four, with soft brown curly hair, and one green eye and one blue is drawing a picture for her MOM. DAD is sitting in a dining room chair playing black bird on his old Yamaha, he finger picks the song, doesn't strum.

DAD
[singing]
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.

Blackbird fly blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

DAD keeps playing as front door begins to open, its MOM

ELLA
[rushing to MOM]
Momma, momma! I drawed you a picture!

MOM
My feet are killing me.

DAD
Why don't you sit down?

ELLA
[proudly showing off her picture]
Momma, look. Look what I made!

MOM
[not looking at the picture]
Mommy is trying to talk to daddy right now, I'll look later.

DAD
How was work?

MOM
Oh it was terrible. We had so many walk ins today, it was-

ELLA
Look Momma! [pointing to picture] This you and me and daddy and we are playing in the leaves! Look momma.

MOM
[talking over ELLA]
-totally hectic. And four people were out today.

ELLA
Mommy! Momma you aren't looking!

DAD
Here sit down.

MOM
No I have to stand, my legs are all cramped up.

ELLA
Mommy! MOMMY!!! [impatient, angry] MOMMY! MOMMY LOOK!

MOM
[frustrated, short]
No right now Ella! I said that I am talking to daddy and I would look later! I am very tired, and I don't want to deal with you right now.

ELLA is hurt and begins to quietly cry at the table

DAD
[quietly]
You didn't have to yell at her like that.

MOM
what was I supposed to do, she wouldn't leave me the heck alone, she needs to learn her manners.

DAD
She just wanted to show you her picture, shes only four.

MOM
great.

DAD
what?

MOM
Now I'm the bad guy. I'm always the bad guy. That's all I am is mean mommy.

DAD
I didn't say that.

MOM
You didn't have to.

DAD
Your not mean mommy, I'm just saying you didn't have to yell- [cut off]

MOM
What ever. I'm going to bed.

MOM exits, there is a pause. ELLA is still crying

DAD
Hey El... its okay.

DAD pauses not knowing what to do. He gets an idea, and picks up his guitar and starts singing ELLA'S favorite song.

DAD
[singing, not to ELLA]
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
There's a land that's fair and bright
[ELLA'S cries begin to quiet]
Where the handouts grow on bushes
And you sleep out ev'ry night
[ELLA picks up her head, and DAD begins to sing to her, louder and more enthusiastic]
Where the boxcars are all empty
And the sun shines ev'ry day

ELLA begins to try to sing with him, and is almost successful

DAD
[faster]
Oh, I'm bound to go where there ain't no snow
Where the rain don't fall and the wind don't blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.

DAD sings even faster, too fast for ELLA. He stands up

DAD
Oh, the buzzin' of the bees in the peppermint trees
'Round the soda water fountains
Where the lemonade springs and the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

ELLA
[laughing, and standing]
Daddy that's too fast!

DAD
[smiling, still singing, but slower, starts to dance a little in circles. ELLA tries to sing along]
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
You never change your socks
And little streams of lemonade
Come a-tricklin' down the rocks

ELLA begins to dance too

DAD
The hobos there are friendly
And their fires all burn bright
There's a lake of stew ...and soda, too
You can paddle all around 'em in a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.

He pauses, and smiles at ELLA. ELLA knows the hes going to sing fast again. He sings faster, and dances faster. ELLA dances even faster and wackier.

DAD
Oh, the buzzin' of the bees in the peppermint trees
'Round the soda water fountains
Where the lemonade springs and the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains

DAD finishes the song laughing with ELLA, he puts his guitar down and sits

ELLA
[laughing]
Daddy, you always sing that part fast.

DAD
[pulling ELLA onto his lap, pretend apologizing]
I know, I'm sorry.

ELLA laughs

ELLA
Daddy, can we really go to the big rock candy mountain someday?

DAD
Sure.

ELLA
[eyes big]
Really?

DAD
Of course, we can go where ever you want.

lights fade.

Lights come up on ELLA, she is 19 now, and a stripper. She is at the strip club in the back with the other strippers

STACY
You're up El.

ELLA sighs sadly, and takes off her robe to reveal a shiny pink and black bra and G-string. Lights fade