Album by David Rimmer
Trish is a 16 year old in August 1965 she now loves the Beatles.  In this scene she is sprawled on her bedroom floor, holding a picture of John Lennon.  She has turned defiant with the new music and mood.
Trish:  Okay Okay! (she grudgingly turns down the radio, and the volume of "Ticket to Ride" goes down. She gets up, muttering and grumbling as she walks around the room in frustration) Haven't you gone yet?....God...(She looks out the window and hears the sound of a car starting up and pulling away.  She yells) I'll listen as loud as I want! (Afraid she said it too loud she takes a quick look outside, then relieved, goes to her radio and turns it back up.  She sings along with the second verse of the song, changing the lyrics to show her anger toward her parents: from "she" and "me" to "I" and "you."  As she sings, she sits on the floor and defiantly lights a cigarette.  After a second or two of pleasure, the smoke gets in her eyes and she reacts in pain.  The she turns her attention to the album. leafing through it, writing in it, turning down the radio a bit) Written' in your sacred old picture album again, Mom.  "A Thousand Stars," "Surfer Girl," Ecch.  Ancient history. (smiles) "Eight days a week," "Help!" "Ticket to Ride."  Here's what happens, Mom:  I met John Lennon at a party and he needed help just like a regular person, he's having problems with Cynthia and he's just waiting for the right bird to fly away with and I'm it and we run away together and leave you and your old album behind.  And he's my Ticket to Ride...(she kisses the picture of John on the lips and gets up) Sick, gotta stop fallin' in love with pictures.
 

The Day They Shot John Lennon By James McLure

• This one act play premiered  fro January 19-February 6, 1983 by the McCarter Theater Company at Princeton University.  The play focuses on how a group of people reacted to Lennon's death.  The setting is December 9, 1980 at the corner of 72nd and Central Park West as nine people watch the crowd which formed across the street from the Dakota in the first hours after the shooting.  There are three teenagers, two 60's teenagers now working in the business world, two Vietnam vets who have become pushers and pickpockets, a black dude complete with baret and big box radio and an old Jewish man from the neighborhood who is unaware of what has happened.   Each person tells his/her story about where they were when they heard the news that Lennon was shot and their reaction to it.  <This information was taken from the February/March 1983 issue of Beatlefan magazine>

• The only Beatles reference I could tell in this play is in the title.

Books

Love Story by Erich Segal
What can you say about a 25 year old girl who died?  That she was beautiful and brilliant.  That she loved Mozart and Bach.  And the Beatles.  And me.  Once, when she specifically lumped me with those musical types, I asked her what the order was, and she replied,  smiling, "Alphabetical."  At the time I smiled too.  But now I sit and wonder whether she was listing me by my first name-in which case I would trail Mozart-or by my last name, in which case I would edge in there between Bach and the Beatles.  Either way I don't come first, which for some stupid reason bothers the hell out of me.

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
(to read this section go to  http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carousel/kool-aid.html )
The Beatles references in this book are found in the chapter called "Cloud"  There is a lot in that chapter, so I won't put it all here, just give a paraphrase.
The Merry Pranksters have tickets to see the Beatles perform at the Cow Palace in 1966.  The have this false belief that the Beatles will come and party with them after the concert, so they had this banner on the front gate saying "The Merry Pranksters welcome the Beatles"   They were all tripping on acid and listening to the Beatles "Help" soundtrack.   They especially had a crazy trip during the part of the album where the "weird music starts when the Arab is sneaking up on Ringo"   They are still high when they get to the Beatles concert, and the screaming teenyboppers and the light bulb flashes are almost too much for them to take.  Only one member, Mountain Girl, really seems to enjoy this concert.  So they leave the concert, still sure that the Beatles will party with them at their house.   They listen to Help again on the bus ride back.   Of course, the Beatles don't show up.  Although they do mention how the Beatles later get involved in acid.
Here is the best quote from this chapter.  "And yet when the voice says "And now the Beatles" What else could he say?- and out they come on stage- them-John and George and Ringo and uh the other one-it might as well had been four imported vinyl dolls for what is was going to matter..."

Harley: Like a Person
 The main character was born on the anniversary of John Lennon's death at a John Lennon tribute concert.

As you see, I really need help with the plays and books.   The only guidelines I have for the books is please no Rock and Roll biographies.  The Beatles are mentioned in almost every one that I have read, and it is too many.  Try to stick with Fiction (not true) books please.  Thanks so much Beatlefans everywhere for your interest and help.

EMAIL STARSHYNE