• Don: main character; rock and roll fan particularly: Valens, Holly, and The Big Bopper. He has always wanted to write his own song but has never been able to, plays guitar and is rarely without his
    Mark: Don’s best friend; rock and roll fan
    Spring: the object of Don’s affection; rock and roll fan
    Logan Anderson: the object of Spring’s affection; doesn’t like Don
    Mr. McLean: owner of local grocery store; kind old man

    Act1, Scene1
    A city park; trees and green grass; a slide, stage left; a bench, stage right. Sounds of children playing in the background. daytime
    Don and Mark enter stage left; Mark climbs the slide and sits at the top while Don, with his guitar strung over his back, is talking to him
    Don: Hey, Mark! Did you hear about the performance at the Surf Ballroom next week?
    Mark: Now on the slide standing on the top rung of the ladder. Enthusiasm: Ya, I heard about it! Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, AND The Big Bopper! Tickets will be really expensive! There’s no way either of us will get, Don!
    Don: We’ll get in somehow or my name’s not Don… HOLY COW! Move Mark! She’ll see me!
    Don pulls Mark off the slide and tries to hide behind him. Spring enters stage right and walks across the stage to exit stage left. She pays no attention to either of the boys.
    Mark: Don, what are you afraid of? You like her, ask her out!
    Don: No way, Mark! I dream about her every day, but I can’t ask her out.
    Mark: Wow, Don. You know… she like Valens and The Big Bopper almost as much you do. If you could get tickets for the show…
    Don: That’s a great idea, Mark! I’ll get tickets to the show and then Spring will forget all about Logan and she’ll be mine!
    Don sings ‘Everyday’ by Buddy Holly
    Mark: Don, you forget that Logan’s dad owns the Surf Ballroom. Logan probably already has tickets.
    Don: You’re right, Mark… Dang it!
    Mark: If you happen to get those tickets though, I know a guy you could take with you. I’ve known him since I was born, what was his name? Martin? Maraschino? Mary? Mark? Ya, ya. I think his name was Mark. Mark is slowly climbing back up the slide
    Don: Oh, shut up, Mark. Who else would I take if I got tickets, my grandma? Of course you’re coming!
    Mark: Well, if we want tickets we’ll have to earn the bread pretty fast because we’ve only got a week.
    Don: Let’s go see if Mr. McLean needs help at the grocery store!
    Mark slides down the slide and the two boys run off stage right.

    Act1, Scene2
    Grocery store, daytime
    Don, Mark, and Mr. McLean are standing around the cash register. Mark has a broom and Don has a mop, his guitar is leaning against the counter. There is a radio in the background playing something by The Big Bopper.
    Don: Thanks for letting us help around the store, Mr. McLean.
    McLean: It’s always a pleasure having you boys here; here is five dollars each for your efforts. What are you saving for this time?
    Mark: We want to get tickets for The Winter Dance Party Tour that’s going to be at the Surf Ballroom next week!
    McLean: Is that the tour all those big rock and roll stars? I had heard about that and since Mr. Anderson comes here for his groceries he gave me two tickets to it. He pulls two tickets out from under the counter. Heaven knows why! I don’t get into that new rock and roll junk, but I know you boys like it. If you kids promise me you’ll come in here and help me out everyday day for the month after the show I’ll give them to you. By this time the boys are practically jumping with anticipation.
    Mark: Yes, sir! We promise!
    Don: Oh, we will Mr. McLean! Thank you so much!!!
    McLean hands the boys the tickets.
    McLean: Now boys I won’t need your help in here until after the show next Friday, but after that I want you boys in here. Is that good with you?
    Don: Of course it is, Mr. McLean! We’ll do whatever you need us to do!