MIRAGEA SCREENPLAY

　　INT. OUT OF THE WAY OFFICE - NIGHTSmoke pours out of bottom of the door. The handle`s half-broken, and the logo on the window is faded and chipped at. It reads "HARDING INVESTIGATIONS."The door opens and reveals the dingy, cramped office of a private detective. There`s papers all over the floor. An ashtray filled with bottle caps and chewed gum. An empty hatrack. The blinding orange streets and blinking rays of the skyscrapers light up the office, but only to just past the window. Everything else is dim, covered in shadow.MORGAN HARDING`S pupils stick out in the darkness. And that`s when we see our hero. Feet on the desk. Shit-eating grin. Greasy black hair. Morgan looks at the camera. Winks.

　　MORGANBeen waiting for a dame like you to come walking in.

　　Morgan sets down a half-completed crossword puzzle and sits up. A set and a sit, and it`s time for business. Business, with a little bit of pleasure.She`s a delicate creature, this KARINA KODAMA, curvaceous, cuddle-worthy, brimming with exactly the kind of shivering energy a good client needs. Biting her lip, hand on her forearm, slumped over- she`s downright hysterical.And Morgan likes hysterical.

　　MORGANSo, what`s it? Need me to find a lost item? Get dirt on an ex-girlfriend? Want someone bumped off? I don`t do bumping.

　　Karina says nothing. Morgan keeps grinning.

　　MORGANName the job. I`ll name the price.

　　Morgan pulls out a cigarette from a shirt pocket. Flashes it. Karina shakes her head. It`s flicked away, just like all illegal substances should be.

　　KARINAI want to start a band.MORGANThat`s nice. Tell me the friggin` job, dame.KARINAStart a band with me.MORGANStart a band& with you.KARINAYou`re a private investigator, right? Investigate my band.MORGANWhat`s the pay like?KARINAFifty bucks a week. Contract deal with a major label once we hit it big. Fame and fortune.MORGANAnd what`s in it for you?KARINANothing. I`m offering you a deal. You`re a star, I get to see you headline my band. Simple proposition.MORGANI don`t do that kind of thing anymore.

　　At this, Karina takes a seat in the ratty chair in front of Morgan`s desk. She doesn`t let herself get comfortable, leaning forward with the kind of eagerness you see in a bank robber looking at the teller. Any nervous energy she had before is gone now. The look in her eyes, through her glasses, is positively alluring.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.Morgan`s grin folds into a smirk.

　　KARINAI watched your show every week, Morgan Harding. The Sage of the Saxophone. You made magic with music, Morgan. We need that back.MORGANMagic`s gone. The Sage and me went our separate ways. We don`t talk these days.KARINAThen tell me, where can I find this Sage?MORGANYou can`t. The Sage is way outta town. So far outta town you won`t believe it. Oklahoma, maybe.KARINAThen what`s your play here?MORGANMy play is money. The magic is in the money.KARINAAnd if there`s no Sage of Saxophone?MORGANWell, I always got piano.KARINAThat`s my Morgan.MORGANWe`ve never met, but I can tell this is the beginning of a wonderful partnership.KARINAThere`s only one condition.

　　Morgan`s ears perk up.

　　MORGANBroads like you always got a condition.

　　Morgan leans over the desk. Karina leans in closer to match.

　　KARINAYeah, we do. And don`t call me broad.MORGANSorry, pretty lady. I won`t call you broad.KARINANice to hear it.MORGANWhat I wanna hear about is this condition. I`m intrigued. Interested.KARINAMaybe we can do more than condition later. But for now& Let me introduce you to our partner.MORGANOur partner, what do you-

　　A new figure enters the office. They say three`s a crowd. And this office is already tight.It`s MARGE EISENHOWER. Fedora and all.

　　A new figure enters the office. They say three`s a crowd. And this office is already tight.It`s MARGE EISENHOWER. Fedora and all.

　　MARGEWelcome to the band.MORGANWelcome to the- what&KARINAWelcome to the band.MORGANNo, I`m not& No.MARGEWelcome to Fleetwood Peach.

　　***

　　"Did I tell you I hate you, Marge?" I ask.

　　"My goodness, no. Why would you ever tell me that?"

　　"Because I hate you."

　　"Oh, Morgan, you`re such a card."

　　"I`m not reading the rest of this this screenplay."

　　"What? You`re only five pages in," she says. "There`s another eighty to go! C`mon, Morgan, you don`t have to sugarcoat it. Give me your honest feedback."

　　"I honestly hate it. You are the worst sister I`ve ever had."

　　"And the best."

　　The real mirage is not this screenplay. It`s my entire existence, which exists to be toyed with by my older sister.

　　Fleetwood Peach is a pretty good band name though.