6بخش

What did you do to your hand?

Is that from drumming?

Yeah.

It’s nothing.

So how’s it going with the Studio Band?

Good.

Yeah, I think he likes me more now.

And his opinion means a lot to you, doesn’t it?

Yeah.

Wanna grab the shakers?

Jimbo?

Overcooked.

You can barely chew this.

He just laughs.

So how’s the drumming going, Andy?

Yeah, it’s going really well.

I’m the new core drummer, so.

Hey.

Congratulations.

Tom Brady.

Did you hear, Jim?

No, what?

Trav got named this year’s MVP.

That’s fantastic, Travis.

Yeah, and Dustin is heading up Model UN, soon to be Rhodes Scholar and who knows what else.

And Jim, teacher of the year.

Well, hey, listen.

I mean, come on.

The talent at this table, that is stunning.

And Andy, with your drumming.

It’s going okay, Andy?

Yeah, it’s going really, really well, actually.

I’m part of Shaffer’s top jazz orchestra, which means it’s the best in the country.

And I’m a core member so I’ll start playing in competitions.

I actually.

I found out I’m the youngest person in the band.

How do you know who wins in a music competition? Isn’t it subjective?

No.

Does the studio get you a job?

No, It’s not an actual studio.

It’s the name of the ensemble, but it’s a big step forward in my career.

I’m so glad you figured it out.

It’s a nasty business, I am sure.

Hey, are you gonna tell them about your game this week?

Living up to your title.

I scored a 93-yard touchdown.

School record, school record.

Is that true?

That’s fantastic.

It’s Division Three.

It’s Carlton football.

It’s not even Division Two, it’s Division Three.

You got any friends, Andy?

No.

Oh, why is that?

I don’t know.

I never saw the use.

Who are you gonna play with otherwise?

Lennon and McCartney were buddies, alright.

Charlie Parker didn’t know anybody till Jo Jones threw a cymbal at his head.

So That’s your idea of success?

I think being the greatest musician of the 20th century is anybody’s idea of success.

Dying broke and drunk and full of heroin at the age of 34 is not my idea of success.

I’d rather die drunk, broke at 34 and have people talk about me, than live to be rich and sober at 90 and nobody remember who I was.

But your friends will remember you, that’s the point.

None of us were friends with Charlie Parker. That’s the point.

Travis and Dustin, they have plenty of friends and plenty of purpose.

I’m sure they’ll make great school board presidents some there.

You think you’re better than us?

Catch on quick.

Are you in Model UN?

I got a reply for you.

You think Carlton football is a joke?

Come play with us.

Four words you will never hear from the NFL.

Who wants dessert?

Heard from Lincoln Center?

Okay, get out of here.

Pick up the new chart by the door on your way out.

Rehearsal 9 p.m. sharp tonight.

That’s how long you have to learn it.

Neiman.

Stick around a minute.

See the tempo marking on there?

Uh.

“Quarter note equals 330.”

Oh.

That is a double-time swing.

That’s what got you in here, right?

Oh, yeah.

As fate would have it, I recently stumbled across another kid in the practice room working on his double-time swing.

So I’m gonna give him a shot.

Am I late?

Perfect timing.

Come on in, Connolly.

Uh, you two know each other, right?

Yeah, Nassau band.

What’s up, Andrew?

I’ve made Neiman a temporary core, but with this competition coming up

I just wanna make very sure this chart is in the best shape it can be.

Yeah, this one right here, right?

I gave Connolly the chart this morning.

All I wanna do is give you both a crack at it, all right?

So, Neiman, go ahead, jump on the kit, take it from the top.

Okay.

I don’t want you to worry about hits now.

Just tempo, okay?

All set?

One, two.

Not quite my tempo. Connolly.

I can take it from the top. Connolly, go ahead.

I can do. No. We’ll go with Connolly now.

Hey, do you mind?

Okay, man, ready?

Mm-hm.

One and two and.

Perfect, Connolly.

Oh, my God.

See, this to me is the beauty of Studio Band.

You walk in here an alternate, you could be the new core.

Oh, my God, are you serious?

Thanks.

That shit?

Fletcher.

Thanks, man.

Here you go.

Don’t worry about Fletcher.

He’s more bark than bite.

Hey, look, you.

I can play these charts.

Now is not the time, I swear to God.

I can play it, okay?

I said not now!

If you want the **ing part, earn it.

I’m just gonna lay it out there.

This is why I don’t think we should be together.

And I’ve thought about it a lot, and this is what’s gonna happen.

I’m gonna keep pursuing what I’m pursuing.

Because I’m doing that, it’s gonna take up my time.

I’m not gonna be able to spend time with you.

Even when I do, I’m gonna be thinking about drumming.

About jazz, my charts.

Because of that, you’re gonna start to resent me.

You’re gonna tell me to ease up on the drumming, spend more time with you.

I’m not gonna be able to do that.

I’ll start to resent you for even asking me to stop.

We’re just gonna start to hate each other.

It’s gonna be ugly.

And so for those reasons, I’d rather just, you know, break it off clean.

Because I wanna be great.

And you’re not?

I wanna be one of the greats.

And I would stop you from doing that?

Yeah.

You know I would stop you from doing that?

You know that for a fact?

Yes.

And I’d barely see you anyway?

Yeah. When I see you, you’d treat me like shit because I’m some girl who doesn’t know what she wants.

You have a path, you’re going to be great, I’m gonna be forgotten, and you won’t be able to give me the time of day because you have bigger things to pursue.

That’s exactly my point.

What the ** is wrong with you?

You’re right.

We should not be dating.

I’m okay.

Thanks.