where you lead.

( feel free to add context!! maybe a mission went wrong, or there was a fight, or they learned something devastating... )

“New Year’s is always the year’s biggest letdown.”

“So, what are your resolutions?”

“I swear, if I have to hear ‘Auld Lang Syne’ one more time…”

“Hey, sorry, it took me forever to find a place where my cell could get a signal… happy new year’s from [location].”

“What have you accomplished this year?”

“This year sucked. Good riddance.”

“Let’s hope this year goes better than the last one…”

“There’s a party at [name]’s house. You coming?”

“We’re headed to Times Square to watch the ball drop. You can tag along if you want.”

“Hey, last year of [politician your character doesn’t like]!”

“Just think of all the video games and movies that are being released this year…”

“No champagne for me. Designated driver.”

“Giving up chocolate for new year’s? I give it a week.”

“We’ve had a big year.”

“I plan to hit five parties before midnight.”

“3… 2… 1! HAPPY NEW YEAR!”

“Want a party hat?”

“Champagne?”

“Three biggest moments from this year?”

“It’s nearly midnight… have you seen my date?”

“Ah, yes, it’s almost midnight, which no one is going to kiss me at.”

“This time last year, I was living in a motel. This is definitely an improvement.”

“I’ve heard ‘Auld Lang Syne’ six times tonight and it’s only 11:30.”

“And to think, this time last year I was dating you.”

“I need someone to kiss at midnight. You up to it?”

“I need your help. I want to kiss [name] at midnight, and I need you to help me make it happen.”

“It’s New Year’s. Aren’t we supposed to be making out?”

“Oh, God, my ex is here. Pass the champagne.”

“Look, I know you’d rather be in bed, but could you at least pretend to be excited?”

“A toast to my amazing friends, and to the new year!”

“I should’ve been in bed two hours ago.”

“Are you sure [name] is up to stay awake until midnight? I mean, s/he’s only [age]…”

“Psst. Hey. Hey, wake up. It’s midnight. Make your resolutions.”

“I swear, if next New Year’s, we’re in the same place we are now, shoot me. Just do it. I’m serious. Just shoot me.”

“I remember when I’d get so excited for New Year’s…”

“Y'know, New Year’s sort of loses its punch when you stay up until 2 AM every night anyway…”

“I like to think we grew up this year.”

“No firecrackers this year. The neighbors complained.”

“I’m tipsy, covered in streamers, surrounded by hung over people, I have Auld Lang Syne stuck in my head, and I don’t know where my cell phone is. It is New Year’s.”

“You know, under the circumstances, I think this isn’t such a bad impromptu New Year’s party.”

“I can’t believe you gave our son/daughter champagne!”

“Come on, it’s New Year’s Eve, you can’t spend the whole party hiding in the bathroom!”

“How much longer?”

“Any good New Year’s specials on?”

“I’ve had a glass of champagne, I made my resolution, I watched the clock strike midnight. I’m going to bed.”

“You’re crazy. That place is always a zoo on New Year’s.”

“Just pick an outfit so we can go. I mean, it’s just a New Year’s party, it’s not a black-tie event.”

“We should probably get back to the party.”

“What are you doing out here on the roof? The party’s inside.”

“Snow on New Year’s! Wish it had bothered to show up for Christmas…”

“Where’s [name]? S/he’s my ride.”

“I rented a limo. We are arriving to that party in style.”

“I got this, I watch food network.”

“Yes, look at how good this turned out! We could sell this.”

“Stop licking that!”

“The trick is not to break the gingerbread house.”

“Let’s just focus on the front and take a photo of it. It’ll look like we worked more than we actually did.”

“Why can’t you follow directions?”

“Smell this, it smells so good. I could eat it right now.”

“What design should we do on the roof?”

“Can’t you just stop eating the icing!”

“I’m very ocd so I need it to be centered.”

“This is so fucking amazing.”

“This is where the icing should go. Just like that, nice and thick.”

“This isn’t fair. You’re making all the fun parts all by yourself.”

“If you get icing on my hair I’m going to kill you.”

“Oh so now you’re a professional…”

“I’m giving you props. I didn’t expect you to be good at this.”

“You thought we were doing this together? This is a competition.”

“How do people do this?!”

“Aaw, this is so cute! We are a good team.”

“What are you eating? That was supposed to be part of the roof!”

“Is this better? Are you sure? I’m not saying it’s bad but…”

“I’m just going to say it… you suck at this.”

“This isn’t the design I wanted but neither is this life.”

“The roof is falling off. This is so bad…”

“If I tilt it it looks good.”

“This is hideous. Is it supposed to look like that?”

“Yes, look! It’s looking so good… kinda.

"Eating all the candy won’t help.”

“Look at how you did the icing there, it looks like dicks.”

“You ain’t helping at all.”

“We won’t have decorations if you keep eating the candy.”

“You put it on the wrong side, you’re ruining it.”

“Oh no, you fucked up the fucking icing…”

STILL HURTING.

‘ ____ is over and ____ is gone. ‘

‘ ____’s decided it’s time to move on. ’ ‘ ____ has new dreams he’s/she’s building upon. ‘ ‘ ____’s convinced that the problems are mine. ‘ ‘ ____ is probably feeling just fine and I’m still hurting. ‘ ‘ What about lies, ____? What about things that you swore to be true? ‘ ‘ What about you, ____? ‘ ’ ____ is sure something wonderful died. ‘ ‘ ____ decided it’s his/her right to decide. ‘ ‘ ____’s got secrets he/she doesn’t confide. ‘ ‘ I’m still hurting. ‘ ‘ Run away, run and find something better. ‘ ‘ Run away like it’s simple, like it’s right. ‘ ‘ Give me a day, ____. ‘ ‘ Bring back the lies, hang them back on the wall. ‘ ‘ Maybe then I’d see how you could be so certain we had no chance at all. ‘ ‘ Where can I turn? ‘ ‘ Covered with scars I did nothing to earn. ‘ ‘ Maybe there’s somewhere a lesson to learn. ‘ ‘ That wouldn’t change the fact. ‘

SHIKSA GODDESS.

‘ I’m breaking my mother’s heart the longer I stand looking at you. ‘ ‘ My grandfather’s rolling, rolling in his grave. ‘ ‘ If you had a tattoo, that wouldn’t matter. ‘ ‘ If you had a shaved head, that would be cool. ‘ ‘ If you came from Spain or Japan or the back of a van, just as long as you’re not from ( insert religion ) school. ‘ ‘ Now I’m getting somewhere! I’m finally breaking through! ‘ ‘ Hey! Hey! Shiksa goddess! ‘ ‘ I’ve been waiting for someone like you. ‘ ‘ The minute I first met you, I could barely catch my breath. ‘ ‘ I’ve been standing for days with the phone in my hand like and idiot, scared to death. ‘ ‘ I’ve been beaten, I’ve been hit. ‘ ‘ My people have suffered for thousands of years and I don’t give a shit. ‘ ‘ Well, nobody’s perfect. ‘ ‘ It’s tragic but it’s true. ‘ ‘ I’ve been waiting for someone, I’ve been praying for someone. ‘ ‘ I think that I could be in love with someone like you. ‘

SEE I’M SMILING.

‘ I guess I can’t believe you really came. ‘ ‘ See, I’m smiling. That means I’m happy that you’re here. ‘ ‘ I stole this sweater from a costume shop, it makes me look like Daisy Mae. ‘ ‘ See, we’re laughing. ‘ ‘ I think we’re gonna be okay. ‘ ‘ I mean, we’ll have to try a little harder. ‘ ‘ I think you’re really gonna like this show, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t suck. ‘ ‘ See, you’re laughing and I’m smiling. ‘ ‘ We’re doing fine. ‘ ‘ I think we both can see what could be better. ‘ ‘ I’ll own when I was wrong. ‘ ‘ With all we’ve had to go through we’ll end up twice as strong. ‘ ‘ We’ll start again this weekend and just keep rolling along. ‘ ‘ I didn’t know you had to go so soon. ‘ ‘ I thought we had a little time. ‘ ‘ Look, whatever, if you have to then you have to, so whatever, it’s all right. ‘ ‘ We’ll have tonight. ‘ ‘ You know what makes me crazy? ‘ ‘ I’m sorry, can I say this? ‘ ‘ We could be together, here together, sharing our night, spending our time. And you are gonna choose someone else to be with? ‘ ‘ Yes, ____, that’s exactly what you’re doing! ‘  ‘ You could be here with me or be there with them. As usual, guess which you pick! ‘ ‘ No, _____, you do not have to go to another party with the same twenty jerks you already know. ‘ ‘ I know in your soul it must drive you crazy that you won’t get to play with your little girlfriends! ‘ ‘ You can’t spend a single day that’s not about, you and you and nothing but you! ‘ ‘ I swear to God I’ll never understand how you can stand there straight and tall and see I’m crying… and not do anything at all. ‘

MOVING TOO FAST.

‘ Did I just hear an alarm start ringing? Did I see sirens go flying past? ‘ ‘ I don’t know what tomorrow’s bringing. ‘ ‘ I’ve got a singular impression things are moving too fast. ‘ ‘ I barrel on through and I don’t complain. ‘ ‘ No matter what I try I’m flying full speed ahead. ‘ ‘ I’m never worried to walk the wire. ‘ ‘ I won’t do anything just half-assed. ‘ ‘ I found a woman/man I love. ‘ ‘ Some people analyze every detail. ‘ ‘ Some people freeze out of fear that they’ll fail, but I keep rollin’ on. ‘ ‘ Some people can’t get success with their art. ‘ ‘ Some people never feel love in their heart. ‘ ‘ Maybe I can’t follow through but what else am I supposed to do? ‘ ‘ Now I’m the subject of a bidding war. ‘ ‘ I’m doing things I never dreamed of before. ‘ ‘ We start to take the next step together. ‘ ‘ The Atlantic Monthly’s printing my first chapter, two thousand bucks without rewriting one word. ‘ ‘ I left Columbia and I don’t regret it. ‘ ‘ My heart’s been stolen. ‘ ‘ My ego’s swollen. ‘ ‘ Well, well, what else is in store? ‘ ‘ Got all this and more before twenty-four. ‘ ‘ It’s hard not to be sure. ‘ ‘ I’m spinning out of control. ‘ ‘ I’m feeling panicked and rushed and hurried. ‘ ‘ I’m feeling outmaneuvered and outclassed. ‘ ‘ I’m so happy I can’t get worried. ‘

A PART OF THAT.

‘ He’s off on a trip to ____-land ‘ ‘ And then he’ll/she’ll smile, his/her eyes light up and deep within the ground without a sound a moment comes to life. ‘ ‘ I’m a part of that. ‘ ‘ Next day it’s just like it never happened. ‘ ‘ How can I complain? ‘ ‘ Yes, he’s/she’s insane, but look what they can do. ‘ ‘ I tend to follow in his/her stride instead of side by side. ‘ ‘ I said I’d stick it out and follow through. ‘ ‘ Where else can I go? ‘ ‘ The rules do not apply. ‘ ‘ And then he/she smiles and nothing else makes sense. ‘ ‘ He/she invents the world that’s passing by. ‘ ‘ I’m a part of that aren’t I? ‘

THE SCHUMEL SONG.

‘ First, a story. A little Christmas Story. ‘ ____, you’ll get to be happy! ‘ ‘ Every cut and stitch was a perfect fit. ‘ ‘ Take me back! ‘ ‘ But shouldn’t I want the world to see the brilliant girl/guy who inspires me? ‘ ‘ Don’t you think that now’s a good time to be the ambitious freak you are? ‘ ‘ Say goodbye to wiping ashtrays at the bar. ‘ ‘ Say hello to ____, big-time star! ‘ ‘ I give you unlimited time. ‘ ‘ Stop temping and go and be happy. ‘ ‘ Here’s a headshot guy and a new BackStage. ‘ ‘ Take a breath, take a step, take a chance! ‘ ‘ Take your time. ‘ ‘ Have I mentioned today how lucky I am to be in love with you? ‘

A SUMMER IN OHIO.

‘ I could lease a villa in Seville. ‘ ‘ It wouldn’t be as nice as a summer in ____. ‘ ‘ I could wander Paris after dark. ‘ ‘ Take a carriage ride through Central Park. ‘ ‘ I’m sharing a room with a former stripper and her snake, Wayne. ‘ ‘ Still I’m certain I’d prefer to be going slowly batty. ‘ ‘ I could shove an ice pick in my eye, I could eat some fish from last July, but it wouldn’t be as awful as a summer in _____. ‘ ‘ I stole a look at your picture on the inside sleeve and then I couldn’t leave. ‘ ‘ ____, who was with me, got uncharacteristically quiet. ‘ ‘ All things considered, I guess you don’t have to buy it. ‘ ‘ I smiled like Mona Lisa, and I lay my Visa down. ‘ ‘ She/he wants me, he/she wants me, but he/she ain’t gonna get me. ‘ ‘ Look at me, look at him. ‘ ‘ Son of a bitch, I guess I’m doing something right. ‘ ‘ I finally got something right. ‘ ‘ No, it’s not Nirvana, but it’s on the way. ‘ ‘ I play Anita at the matinee. ‘ ’ I’m never gonna go back to _____! ‘ ‘ The torture is just exquisite.  ‘ ‘ I’m waiting for you to visit. ‘

THE NEXT TEN MINUTES.

‘ The San Remo is up a few blocks. ‘ ‘ Have you been inside the Museum? ‘ ‘ We should go. ‘ ‘ Will you share your life with me for the next ten minutes? ‘ ‘ There are so many lives I want to share with you. ‘ ‘ I will never be complete until I do. ‘ ‘ I’m not always on time, please don’t expect that from me. ‘ ‘ I will be late, but if you can just wait, I will make it eventually. ‘ ‘ Not like it’s in my control. ‘ ‘ Not like I’m proud of the fact. ‘ ‘ I don’t know why people run. ‘ ‘ I don’t know why things fall through. ‘ ‘ I don’t know how anybody survives in this life without someone like you. ‘ ‘ I could say no and goodbye.  ‘ ‘ I want to be your wife/husband. ‘ ‘ I want to bear your child ‘ ‘ I want to die knowing I had a long, full life in your arms. ‘ ‘ Isn’t that the Museum? ‘ ‘ Can we go see the dinosaurs?  ‘

A MIRACLE WOULD HAPPEN.

‘ Everyone tells you that the minute you get married every other woman/man in the world auddenly finds you attractive. Well, that’s not true. ‘ ‘ And now they’re banging down your door and falling to their knees. At least that’s what it feels like because you CAN NOT TOUCH THEM. ‘ ‘ That’s not fair! ‘ ‘ In a perfect world a miracle would happen and every other girl/boy would fly away. ‘ ‘ It’d be me and ____ and nothing else would matter. ‘ ‘ But it’s fine, it’s fine, it’s fine I mean, I’m happy. ‘ ‘ It’s not a problem, it’s just a challenge. ‘ ‘ It’s a challenge to resist temptation. ‘ ‘ I’m at these parties, I’m the center of attention, I’m the grand fromage. ‘ ‘ Let’s get a cup of coffee, will you look at my manuscript? ‘ ‘ I’m gesticulating with my left hand. ‘ ‘ And then WHOOMP! There’s ____! ‘ ‘ ‘Cause she/he knows, they always know. ‘ ‘ There’s that really awkward moment where I try to show I wasn’t encouraging this, though of course I sort of was. ‘ ‘ I don’t want to look whipped in front of this woman, which is dumb - I shouldn’t care what she thinks since I can’t fuck her anyway! ‘ ‘ In a perfect world a miracle would happen and every girl would look like Mister Ed. ‘ ‘ I swear I’ll be there soon, ___. ‘ ‘ I am so proud of you, baby. ‘ ‘ You’re doing what you never got to do before. ‘ ‘ We’re gonna make it through and nothing else will matter. ‘ ‘ We’ll be fine, we’re fine. ‘

CLIMBING UPHILL.

‘ I’m climbing uphill, ____. ‘ ‘ I’m up every morning at six. ‘ ‘ I’m waiting five hours in line. ‘ ‘ When I walk in the room there’s a table of men, always men - usually gay. ‘ ‘ I am a good person, I’m an attractive person, I am a talented person. Grant me grace! ‘ ‘ I should have told them I was sick last week. ‘ ‘ Maybe I should stop and start over. ‘ ‘ Why is the director staring at his crotch? ’ ‘ Don’t stare at my resume, I made up half of my resume. ‘ ‘ Look at me. Stop looking at that, look at me. ‘ ‘ Don’t look at my shoes, I hate these stupid shoes. ‘ ‘ Why did I pick this career? ’ ‘ Why does this pianist hate me? ’ ‘ I’m obviously such a horrible, annoying distraction to him/her. ‘ ‘ What’s he/she gonna be like when we have kids? ’  ‘ Why am I working so hard? ’  ‘ Jesus Christ, I suck, I suck, I suck. ‘ ‘ I will not be the girl/guy stuck at home in the ‘burbs with the baby, the dog, and the garden of herbs. ‘ ‘ I will not be the girl/guy in the sensible shoes pushing burgers and beer nuts and missing the clues. ‘ ‘ I will not be the girl/guy who gets asked how it feels to be trotting along at the genius’s heels. ‘ ‘ I will not be the girl who requires a man to get by. ‘

IF I DIDN’T BELIEVE IN YOU.

‘ Okay, stop. ____, stop. Listen to me. ‘ ‘ There are people and they are publishing my book. ‘ ‘ There’s a party that they’re throwing. ‘ ‘ And while you’ve made it very clear that you’re not going, I will be going and that’s done. ’ ’ But what’s it really about? ‘ ‘ Is it really about a party, ____? ’ ‘ Can we please for a minute stop blaming and say what you feel? ‘  ‘ Did you think this would all be much easier than it’s turned out to be? ‘ ‘ Well, then talk to me, ____. Talk to me. ‘ ‘ If I didn’t believe in you we’d never have gotten this far. ‘ ‘ If I didn’t think you could do anything you ever wanted to, if I wasn’t certain that you’d come through somehow, the fact of the matter is I wouldn’t be standing here now. ‘ ‘ If I didn’t believe in you we wouldn’t be having this fight. ‘ ‘ I never could let that go knowing the things about you I know.  ‘ ‘ It never took much convincing to make me believe in you. ‘ ‘ Don’t we get to be happy, ____? ’ ‘ At some point down the line don’t we get to relax? ‘ ‘ If I’m cheering on your side, ____, why can’t you support mine? ‘ ‘ Why do I have to feel I’ve committed some felony doing what I always swore I would do? ‘ ‘ I don’t want you to hurt. ‘ ‘ But you know what I think? I think you’ll be fine! ’  ‘ Will you listen to me? ’   ‘ No one can give you courage, no one can thicken your skin. ‘ ‘ I will not fail so you can be comfortable, ____. ‘ ‘ I will not lose because you can’t win. ‘ ‘ This is the life I choose, this is the thing I can’t bear to lose. ‘ ‘ Trip us or trap us but we refuse to fall. ‘ ‘ Now why don’t you put your dress on and we’ll go, okay? ’

I CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.

‘ My best friend had a little situation at the end of our senior year. ‘ ‘ And like a shot, she/he and _____ got married that summer. ‘ ‘ They got a little cute house on a little cute street with a crucifix on the door. ‘ ‘ I thought about what I wanted, it wasn’t like that at all. ‘ ‘ I can do better than that. ‘ ‘ In a year or so, I moved to the city. ‘ ‘ What have I got to lose? ‘ ‘ Got a room, got a cat, and got twenty pounds thinner. ‘ ‘ Met a guy in a class I was taking. ‘ ‘ He wouldn’t leave me alone ‘less I went with him to dinner. ‘ ‘ And I guess he/she was cute, and I guess he/she was sweet, and I guess he/she was good in bed. ‘ ‘ So I’m starting to think that this maybe might work and the second it entered my head, he/she needed to take some time off. ‘ ‘ He blew me off with a heartfelt letter. ‘ ‘ You don’t have to change a thing, just stay with me. ‘ ‘ I want you and you and nothing but you. ‘ ‘ I don’t need any lifetime commitments. ‘ ‘ I don’t want to throw up your walls and defenses. ‘ ‘ I don’t mean to put on any pressure but I know what a thing is right. ‘ ‘ When we get to my house, take a look at that town, take a look at how far I’ve gone. ‘ ‘ I will never go back. ‘ ‘ It feels like my life led right to your side. ‘ ‘ Think about how I love you and ay you’ll move in with me. ‘ ‘ Think of what’s great about me and you, think of the bullshit we’ve both been through, think of what’s past because we can do better! ‘

NOBODY NEEDS TO KNOW.

‘ Hey, kid. Good morning. ‘ ‘ You look like an angel. ‘ ‘ I don’t remember when we fell asleep. ‘ ‘ Just relax, lay low. All right, the panic recedes. ‘ ‘ Nobody needs to know. ‘ ‘ All right, it’s over, it’s done. ’ ‘ Then I start making, conscious, deliberate mistakes. ‘ ‘ All that I ask for is one little corner, one private room, at the back of my heart. ‘ ‘ What can I do? ’ ‘ Come back to bed. ‘ ‘ I promise won’t lie to you. ‘ ‘ Hold on, don’t cry yet. ‘ ‘ I need to be in love with someone. ‘ ‘ Maybe I could be in love with someone like you. ‘

GOODBYE UNTIL TOMORROW/ I COULD NEVER RESCUE YOU.