[intro: ambient vinyl crackle, quiet tape hiss, projector hum in an empty theater] [spoken word, clear male narrator voice] Interior. A theater. Dimly lit. Curtains draw. A projector hums to life. Two silhouettes on screen. One love story, ready for its close-up... [verse 1: acoustic guitar fingerpicking, confessional male vocal, raw intimate tone] The theater was dark and the curtains drawn wide We shone across the screen as I read you my line I stumbled on my cues, but you kept me in time I was just supporting cast, but you were the star Then came the scene with us alone at the bar I found my dream role - how'd I make it this far? We shared scenes and in-between we shared more Love building to a crescendo like a Hollywood score Like any good act, you always left me wanting more [chorus 1: acoustic guitar strumming, gentle strings, passionate male vocal] We were stars on the old marquee When "I love you" was the dialogue And nowhere else we'd rather be Than lost in our on-screen chemistry Even when the room went dark The spotlight stayed on you and me [spoken word, clear male narrator voice] Exterior, Sunset boulevard. The script's changed hands. Lines have been rewritten. Someone else is reading your role. [verse 2: acoustic guitar soft strum, subdued male vocal, somber mood] From star-ing role to little more than a cameo Cause you're calling all the shots, directing where to go and I'm watching from the sidelines of my lonely studio You're writing me out of the script from your penthouse suite and you've got a new co-star, found yourself a new lead While I rewrite my lines for a sequel you'll never see I saw the latest trailer - the one you filmed with him The plot read just like our very first film What seemed like a classic, was rebooted on a whim [chorus 2: acoustic guitar strumming, light piano accents, resigned male vocal] We were stars on the old marquee When "I love you" was the dialogue Now it's faded lines in memories No close-ups, no reprise for me I was left on the cutting room floor Now just shadows on the silver screen [spoken word, clear male narrator voice] Interior, A dark editing room. One figure at the desk, alone. The reel is still spinning. It's not over. [verse 3: acoustic guitar, hopeful undertone, determined male vocal] I tried to move on but I'm still stuck in the past Watching midnight screenings, wondering where you're at And every time the credits roll, my name's billed last The film's run out - time to load a fresh reel I'll fake it 'til I make it, I'm learning to deal I'm an actor, I know how to hide what I feel but Hollywood loves a comeback and I'm on the trail Line by line I'm writing myself a new story to sell Digging myself out of this development hell [bridge] [spoken word, clear male narrator voice] This is the part where the theater goes quiet. The lights stay low. The audience shifts in their seats. They think they've seen the worst of it. They haven't. You'd think the story ended when she walked out... but stories don't end just because someone leaves the frame. He's still here. Still rolling. Still writing. And maybe, just maybe... this time, he's not just acting [chorus 3: acoustic guitar brighter strumming, uplifting strings, assertive male vocal] We were stars on the old marquee But now I'm giving monologues This new movie's produced by me and I'll give you a front row seat You'll get the red carpet treatment I'll shine like the star I'm meant to be [outro] [spoken word, male narrator voice] Fade to black, roll credits. [bridge] [spoken word, clear male narrator voice] This is the part where the theater goes quiet. The lights stay low. The audience shifts in their seats. They think they've seen the worst of it. They haven't. You'd think the story ended when she walked out... but stories don't end just because someone leaves the frame. He's still here. Still rolling. Still writing. And maybe, just maybe... this time, he's not just acting [chorus 3: acoustic guitar brighter strumming, uplifting strings, assertive male vocal] We were stars on the old marquee But now I'm giving monologues This new movie's produced by me and I'll give you a front row seat You'll get the red carpet treatment I'll shine like the star I'm meant to be [outro] [spoken word, male narrator voice] Fade to black, roll credits.
