The Party of the Decades

It’s New Year’s Eve, and the event of the season is underway. Tupac “Pac” Shakur’s beach bonanza on the island of Cuba has been the biggest and best kept secret of celebrities across the world, a who’s who of celebrities both alive and “dead.” I say “dead” because many of the famous people who were assumed to be dead were not actually dead. They had faked their own deaths in attempt to escape the limelight, but now, some were wishing they were still in that same light that they were in in their primes. So, for one night every year, they all come together to relive their glory days. But, this year was different. This was the year the Tupac’s former best friend, and biggest rival, Christopher “Biggie Smalls, Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace (also known by “Big or Biggie”) finally RSVP’d.

[Enter Tupac putting up the Tiki Torches; making sure security is prepped, the drinks are on ice, food prepared, and the stage set.]

Throughout the night, people would come and go on their private jets and huge yachts. However, the one visitor who was just a short walk away, just down the street, was the one who showed up first and stayed the latest. It was Tupac’s neighbor, friend, and man who convinced him to come to Cuba in the first place. It was Elvis “The King” Presley.

[Enter Elvis Presley]

Pac and Elvis took their normal seats in the front row, near the middle of the stage. The two could have a conversation about nearly anything, but tonight, as with most nights, they ended up talking about music. Pac began their conversations as he always did by jabbing Elvis with a remark about hip hop as compared to Rock and Roll. Tonight he chose,

Pac: “Yeah, y’all might have the sex, drugs, and rock and roll. But we sold the drugs, sold the sex, sold the rock, and smoked what we rolled.”

They would continue to talk about the musical stylings of their own times, the times before them, and after them. The King leaned back and said in a tone heard in many voices of retired workers,

Elvis: “The kids this days ‘Pac, I say, they just don’t have a love for it like you and I did.”

Pac: “I know it man. Rappers ain’t got the flow, and the rock done lost its soul. But hey, the kids like it, and sometimes it’s a little catchy, eh my G?

“Well I certainly can move my hips to a few of those ditties.”

[Exit Tupac and Elvis]

And just as Elvis ended his thought, a few more of the guests began to arrive. A multitude of stars that were famous both in the past and in the present. If someone were to name a star, that person would most likely be at this party; George Melies, Emile Berliner, Frank Sinatra, Aubrey “Drake” Graham, Gene Wilder, Mel Brooks, Robin Williams and Barbra Streisand were there, just to name a few.

[Enter “Multitude of Stars”]

We see an overview of the party, stars talking to other stars. There is a quick succession of close-ups and look-ins on specific conversations. We first go to a conversation between Emile Berliner and Georges Melies.

Georges: Mr. Berliner, how do we do this evening?

Emile: I’m quite shocked honestly.

Georges: Oh no! Why for?

Emile: How could I not be?! Have you seen the way these young people are using our innovations?

Georges: Emile, don’t be so critical! They’re innovators in their own ways! I was the first to edit and not have on continuous, set shot; these young ones are just adding to the businesses in their own ways. Did you know that sometimes they just shoot at a big green wall? And then the set just POOF appears onscreen!

Emile: It isn’t right Georges. It isn’t! They don’t even have discs or anything physical to play the music anymore. I don’t get it! Where does the sound come from?!

Georges: It’ll be fine. I’ve watched some of the films they’ve been making. Let me tell you, they’re amazing. So innovative. I watched one called Avatar absolutely tremendous. Nothing like anything we could have even dreamed about doing in our day.

Emile: That’s just the thing, though! I’ve listened to the music that they’re making these days. If you can even call it music… this new genre they have, they call it rap, it’s just noise! I don’t think they are even saying real words have of the time. Not to mention, the label I started , RCA, houses many of these so-called “rappers.”

Georges: There has to be something that they have improved on in all these years.

Emile: Well, I must admit, the sound quality has gotten decidedly better. I’m not sure if that is the idea that the microphone is better than the one I helped invent. Or, it could be that their players are superior to our gramophones. Or, that their discs, or lack thereof, are better. I can’t quite tell.

Georges: Well let’s go ask them their secrets, unless, like I, they’re magicians. Then, they would never tell.

[Exit Georges Melies and Emile Berliner]

We now enter in on a conversation between Aubrey “Drake” Graham and Frank Sinatra.

Drake: Frankie! How have you been my man?

Frank: Oh, Aubrey! I haven’t seen you in forever! I’m great! How’s the Wild North treating you?

Drake: It’s all good in the six, Frank. I need some advice from you though.

Frank: What is it? It can’t be anything musically, you’ve already got the most #1 songs on the Hip-Hop/R&B charts, Two platinum and one gold album, what more could you need on that front?

Drake: Well, I could always use advice from a man who won 13 Grammys. However, I was thinking about getting back into acting, which you know was my original career, but I wanna get some tips from you about how to balance both.”

Frank: Well, ya see, it wasn’t easy. I started young, as you did, but I stuck with it. You’ve had such a break in between I don’t know how well you’ll fair back on the screen. But, I know you can do great things. Just surround yourself with some great supporting actors and actresses. I sure did. Speak of the devil! Barbra get over here sweetheart!

[Enter Barbra Streisand]

Barbra: Oh, Frankie darling, how do you do?

Frank: Much better now that you’re here of course.

Barbra: You always were the charmer, Frank, but who is this handsome young man that you have with you?

Frank: Ah! Well this is the Canadian-born Hip-Hop and R&B power Aubrey Graham. But, you may know him better as Drake. He wants to try, or rather retry I should say, his chops in acting.

Barbra: Oh darling! Well you have two of the best in your sight as we speak! Ask anything!

Drake: Barbra Streisand! I could learn so much from the chemistry that the two of you had together on stage, and how you both performed on the screen! Musically you’re so impressive! Three time Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, 40 time nominee, 8 time winner, so much hardware. That’s not to mention your acting career: 5 Golden Globes, 2 Oscars, 4 Emmys, and 2 Tony nominations. It’s an honor to be in your presence

Barbra: I quite like your new friend Frank! He’s very flattering! Well, Drake my darling, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask! There are SO many people who can help you in the film industry, as well as in music.

[Enter Gene Wilder]

Gene: Did somebody say… film… industry?

Barbra: Genie! I’m glad you made it!

Gene: I wouldn’t miss it for the world! Who is this man that you’re speaking to?

Drake: Well, I’m Aubrey Drake Graham. I’m a musician and former actor. I’m trying to get back into the film business.

Gene: Ahhhh! Well, my friend Mel Brooks and I have experience in that area. Mel!

[Enter Mel Brooks]

Mel: Gene! What is it?

Gene: Well we have a boy here who’d like to get into film!

Mel: Well did you tell him what we know?

Gene: Oh no! Tell him what we’ve done together!

Mel: As I recall, two of the films we did together were Oscar nominated, and won another Oscar for The Producers. Oh! And, all three of our films together were a part of the AFI’s top 100 comedies of all time.

Gene: All in the top twenty, too!

Mel: No not twenty-two you ningkapoop, twenty… too!

Gene: That’s what I said! Twenty, too!

Mel: Oh whatever. Anyway, kid. I also won three Tony’s for The Producers, as well as three Grammys for various soundtracks. So, I know a little bit about this music business too. I can tell you right now, don’t listen to a thing that this Sinatra guy has to say.

[Laughs from all in the group]

Mel: In all seriousness, get my info from one of the guys. We’ll help you out in Hollywood.

[Exit Mel and Gene]

Frank: Ah, great guys ain’t they. I’m gonna go see who’s on the stage. Wanna come with Barby?

Babra: Sure thing, Frank. It was nice to meet you, Aubrey.

Frank hands Drake a piece of paper with several names, phone numbers, and email addresses.

Frank: That’s a pretty valuable piece of paper right there, lots of hit records and films in those names. Take care of that now.

Drake: I will. Take care, Frank.

[Frank and Barbra exit]

[Enter Robin Williams]

Robin: Hey there Drake-o! Couldn’t help but overhear your conversation with those absolute legends! They are all great actors and definitely in the elite when it comes to the film industry. Did’ya ever think about comedy, though? Did’ya?

Drake: Well, yeah, a bit! (laughs) You’re a bit of a legend yourself, Robin.

Robin: Why thank you. Like yourself I also started off in television with Mork & Mindy, but then I went on to movies. Let me tell you, you’ll play many different roles. But, you always must have that improvisational skill and ability to make people laugh just a bit, even if it’s a somewhat serious movie. That’s how I won my Oscar for Good Will Hunting, though the subject matter of that film is serious, I added some humor into it. Had I not done that, that award would have gone somewhere else.

Drake: Wow! So much knowledge has been given to me in a very short amount of time. Thanks Robin!

Robin: It ain’t no thang, chicken wang.

[Exit Robin Williams]

Drake: I need to take a break from these old folks.!

[Exit Drake]

We now go to the entrance to the party. A large shadowy figure with several other, smaller, shadowy figures behind him walks in. As the light shines on his face, we see that it is none other than Christopher “Biggie Smalls” Wallace, also known as Notorious B.I.G.

[Enter Biggie Smalls]

Biggie immediately goes to Tupac. The mood seems confrontational.

Biggie: Ayo Pac!

Tupac: Big! You made it! I…I can’t believe you’re here.

Biggie: Man, I couldn’t hold the beef that long. We’re two of the highest-selling posthumous artists of all-time. We gotta keep hanging out while were “dead.”

Tupac: Hell yeah! It’s getting kinda hard to keep churning out all these albums even though I’ve been “dead” for damn near 20 years.

Biggie: How freaked out do you think the people would be if the A&Rs “found” an “old callabo” of ours?!

Tupac: That’d be crazy man! But, the stage is getting pretty empty man, you wanna hit it with me?

Biggie: Let’s get it!

[Biggie and Tupac take stage]

Biggie and Tupac took the stage and put on an amazing show that seemed to last all night. As the clock struck midnight, all the amazing faces raised their glasses as fireworks exploded in the air. After the fireworks, the night wore down and everyone began boarding their ships and planes. However, two people remained… Elvis and Tupac.

[Enter Elvis and Tupac]

Elvis: Well Pac, I think I can honestly say that was the best party I’ve been to.

Tupac: Elvis, you know I can’t believe that. You had 18 number one singles. I know you partied hard after each and every one of those number ones.

Elvis: Well you’re right about that. But, there were a lot of people with a lot of number one singles here, and I can guarantee they had a great time too. It’s just good to see that today’s youth respect us as the ones who came before them, and that they wanna carry on the tradition.

Tupac: I guess you’re right. I can’t wait to see what the future will be like with these kids at the helm.

Elvis: Goodnight Pac. Fishing tomorrow?

Tupac: I don’t know if I’ll be able to be up that early. But I’ll try! [Laughs] G’night Elvis.

[Exit Tupac and Elvis]