Various Artists Follow

Rent Soundtrack, Cast Recording
Tune Up #2
MARK
Tell the folks at home what you're doing Roger

ROGER
I'm writing one great song --

MARK
The phone rings.

ROGER
Yesss!

MARK
We screen.

ROGER & MARK'S ANSWERING MACHINE
"Speak" ... ("Beeeep!")

(Lights fade up on the street: the front-door area of MARK and
ROGER's building. Nearby is a battered public pay phone. TOM
COLLINS stands at the phone.)

COLLINS
"Chestnuts roasting ---"

ROGER & MARK
(as MARK picks up the phone)
Collins!

COLLINS
I'm downstairs

MARK
Hey!

COLLINS
Roger picked up the phone??

MARK
No, it's me.

COLLINS
Throw down the key.

MARK
A wild night is now pre-ordained

COLLINS
I may be detained.

MARK
What does he mean...?
What do you mean "detained"?

BENNY
Ho ho ho.

MARK & ROGER
Benny! Shit.

BENNY
Dudes, I'm on my way

MARK & ROGER
Great! Fuck.

BENNY
I need the rent

MARK
What rent?

BENNY
This past year's rent which I let slide

MARK
Let slide? You said we were 'golden'

ROGER
When you bought the building

MARK
When we were roommates

ROGER
Remember -- you lived here!?

BENNY
How could I forget?
You, me, Collins and Maureen
How is the drama queen?

MARK
She's performing tonight

BENNY
I know.
Still her production manager?

MARK
Two days ago I was bumped

BENNY
You still dating her?

MARK
Last month I was dumped

ROGER
She's in love

BENNY
She's got a new man?

MARK
Well -- no

BENNY
What's his name?

BOTH
Joanne

BENNY
Rent, my amigos, is due
Or I will have to evict you
Be there in a few

(ROGER defiantly picks out Musetta's theme from Puccini's La
Boheme on the electric guitar. The fuse blows on the amp.)

MARK
The power blows ...

Rent Soundtrack, Cast Recording
Tune Up #2