CHARACTERS
JOE :
Latin -American, former thief, turned bartender
NAT:
Childhood friend of Joe, just out of jail
VERA:
Joe 's naive girlfriend
LOUIE:
Father figure to Joe and Nat
PLACE:
FRANKIE'S BAR, IN THE DEEP SOUTH
TIME:
PRESENT
OLD
WOODENHEAD
ACT ONE
It's
closing time.
A run down bar room is the setting. The place is a mess.
Chairs are turned over, glasses are scattered across four small
tables, food, packages and crumbs litter the floor. Vera has a broom
trying sweep, getting more and more frustrated.
VERA
REALLY?
(Stops
sweeping, looking down at the floor)
A HOT
DOG? PIGS. NOTHING BUT PIGS.
(Shakes
her head, continues sweeping.
JOE
(Offstage)
WHAT
ARE YOU GOING ON ABOUT?
MARK
SLADE
VERA
THE
PEOPLE THAT COME INTO THIS PLACE.
HORRIBLE
MESS!
JOE
(Offstage)
WELL,
IT IS A BAR.
VERA
(Stops
sweeping. She looks behind her
to the
left.)
THAT
DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO
FORGET
YOUR HUMAN.
JOE
(Makes
his entrance from the right.
He
throws his arms around Vera's waist,
she
let's out a small surprised whimper.)
PEOPLE
JUST WANT TO HAVE A GOOD
TIME IS
ALL. FORGET THEIR TROUBLES.
(Joe
kisses Vera's neck.)
OLD
WOODENHEAD
VERA
(Enjoying
the moment.)
OH,
PLEASE. EVEN
SOME
ANIMALS KEEP THEIR CAGES
CLEAN.
JOE
(Resting
his head on her shoulder.)
YOU'RE
JUST NOT USED TO THIS
ENVIROMENT.
VERA
(Laughing.)
I'M NOT
A LITTLE
GIRL
LOCKED AWAY IN HER ROOM.
I'VE
BEEN AROUND SOME.
JOE
OOOO...
HAVE
YOU REALLY?
MARK
SLADE
VERA
(Taking
his arms from her waist.)
GET
OFF. GOT TO
FINISH
HERE.
JOE
UH.
BABY?
VERA
YES?
JOE
YOU
DON'T HAVE
TO
FINISH. I'LL
DO IT.
VERA
BUT
FRANKIE
TOLD ME
THIS WAS
APART
OF MY JOB.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
JOE
(
Gingerly taking the broom
from
Vera.)
I KNOW
WHAT FRANKIE
SAID.
(Pause.)
NOW I'M
SAYIN'...
GO ON
HOME. REST
THOSE
PREATTY EYES.
VERA
(Cocks
her head to one side)
YOU
HAVE BUSINESS...?
JOE
(Shrugs.)
YEAH.
MARK
SLADE
VERA
(Folding
her arms,
pursing
her lips.)
WITH
NAT, I SUPPOSE?
JOE
SURE.
VERA
I DON'T
THINK YOU
SHOULD
MESS WITH HIM,JOE.
JOE
C'MON.
(Pause.)
NAT'S
AN OLD FRIEND.
WE GREW
UP TOGETHER.
DON'T
BE JELOUS.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
VERA
I'M NOT
JELOUS. YOU SHOULDN'T
BE
AROUND A JAILBIRD.
JOE
DON'T
JUDGE,VERA
NAT
JUST HAD
SOME
BAD LUCK.
VERA
HE WENT
TO JAIL FOR BEING A
THEIF.
JOE
WHO
TOLD YOU THAT?
(Pause.)
VERA
FRANKIE
DID.
MARK
SLADE
JOE
THAT
OLD BUZZARD NEEDS
TO KEEP
HIS MOUTH SHUT.
VERA
FRANKIE
SAID HE SPENT THE
LAST
FOUR YEARS IN JAIL
FOR
ASSULTING A WOMAN AND STEALING
HER
STUFF FROM HER APARTMENT.
JOE
HE
DIDN'T ASSULT HER,ALRIGHT?
VERA
HE HIT
HER OVER THE HEAD!
JOE
NO! IT
WASN'T HIM....
(Stops
talking. Clears his throat.)
OLD
WOODENHEAD
VERA
HOW DO
YOU KNOW?
(Pause.)
JOE
I
BELIEVE WHAT HE SAYS.
VERA
YOU
NEED TO STAY
AWAY
FROM HIM.
JOE
YOU
NEVER MET THE
GUY AND
ALREADY JUDGIN' HIM?
VERA
(Bewildered.)
OKAY.
YOUR'E RIGHT.
I'LL
WAIT AND MEET HIM.
MARK
SLADE
JOE
NOT
TONIGHT, BABE. I GOT--
VERA
I KNOW.
I KNOW. BUSINESS.
(Begins
to walk away. Stops, turns to Joe.)
YOU ARE
COMING TO THE COOKOUT SATURDAY, AREN'T YOU?
JOE
VERA.
YOUR OLD MAN DON'T LIKE ME.
NO. I'M
NOT COMING.
VERA
(Shocked.)
DADDY
DOES LIKE YOU.
JOE
(Laughing.)
NO,
BABE. DADDY HATES
GREASERS.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
VERA
YOU'RE
NOT A GREASER. AND
DADDY
DOES NOT HATE PEOPLE.
(Pause.)
JOE
YOU
DON'T GET IT.
(Pause.)
I'M
FROM THE WRONG
SIDE OF
TOWN! HE'S ALWAYS BEEN
AT THE
END OF THE RAINBOW
SITTIN'
ON A POT OF GOLD, OKAY?
I DON'T
FIT IN HIS
LIFE
AGENDA.
(Shrugs,
smiles.)
I JUST
DON'T.
I'M
OKAY WITH
THAT.
MARK
SLADE
VERA
YOUR'E
BEING SILLY. YOUR'E COMING
SATURDAY.
JOE
(Sighs)
CAN'T
WE TALK ABOUT THIS LATER?
(Awkward
pause.)
VERA
WHY ARE
YOU SHOOING ME OUT?
JOE
I'M
NOT.
VERA
YOU
DON'T WANT ME TO MEET
HIM.
WHY?
OLD
WOODENHEAD
JOE
THAT'S
NOT TRUE. I WANT YOU TO GO HOME.
YOU'VE
HAD A HARD NIGHT. I'M THE BOSS TONIGHT.
AND
WHEN FRANKIE'S NOT HERE, I'M THE BOSS.
GO
HOME.
VERA
YOU ARE
KEEPING ME FROM MEETING
NAT. I
WANT TO KNOW WHY.
JOE
I'M NOT
KEEPING YOU---
WILL
YOU QUIT ARGUING AND GO
THE
HELL HOME!
VERA
YOU
ARE....WHAT'S THE
REASON---
MARK
SLADE
JOE
YOU'LL
MEET HIM IN GOOD TIME.
NOW
GET!
VERA
I'M NOT
LEAVING!
(Joe
grabs Vera by the elbow and pulls her to the
exit.)
YOUR'E
HURTING ME!
JOE
I'LL DO
MORE THAN THAT IF YOU DON'T
GET OUT
OF HERE!
(Joe
pushes her, Vera falls to the floor hard, sobbing.)
VERA
(Whispering.)
YOU
BASTARD...
OLD
WOODENHEAD
JOE
(Puts
his head in his hands. Then he
looks
up, watching her cry.)
I'M
SORRY, VERA.
VERA
(Continuing
to sob lowly.)
FUCK
YOU...YOUR'E
NOT
SORRY.
YOUR'E A BASTARD......
(Joe
helps Vera up. She shakes him off.)
YOUR'E
A SORRY BASTARD.
MARK
SLADE
JOE
I KNOW
I AM. VERA...
I DON'T
KNOW WHAT CAME
OVER
ME. I'M SORRY.
YOU
GOTTA UNDERSTAND.
YOU
TOUCHED ON TWO
SUBJECTS.....YOU
KNOW?
I'M
TOUCHY ABOUT
FRIENDSHIP.......AND
CLASS.
VERA
(Bites
her lower lip.)
YOU
HAVE CLASS.
JOE
(Slight
laugh.)
NO,
HONEY. I MEAN...
FORGET
IT.
WE'RE
BOTH TIRED, IN A MOOD.
I'M
SORRY I PUSHED YOU.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
(Joe
offers his hand. Vera hesitates, takes it.)
VERA
(Smiles.)
I'M
SORRY, TOO.
I KEPT
PUSHING YOUR BUTTONS.
(Joe
leans in, gives Vera a prolonged kiss. He rests his forehead on
hers.)
JOE
YOU
BETTER GO.
(Pause.
Vera
pulls away, looks at Joe
a
moment.)
VERA
OKAY.
CALL
ME
LATER?
MARK
SLADE
JOE
YOU
BET.
(He
watches Vera slowly walk away.)
Lights
dim, total darkness.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
ACT TWO
Lights grow brighter on stage. Joe is sitting at a table. The bar
room has been cleaned up, chairs now sit on all the tables except
where Joe is sitting. He has three glasses in front of him and a
bottle of Absinthe. He is lost in thought, holding a small wooden
carving of a man's face in his hands, turning it over and over. He
hears the door open. He is alert now. Joe stands, places the wooden
carving in the pocket of his jeans.
Nat
appears, leaning against the wall. He is short very thin, wearing
wire rimmed glasses, a turtle neck and a blazer. Slowly, a smile
crosses Nat's face.
NAT
SO THIS
IS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO, BOY?
JOE
BETTER
THAN WATCHIN' THE FLIES ON THE WALLS.
(Pause.)
SO,
NAT, YOU MEET ANY INTERESTING PEOPLE IN LOCK UP?
MARK
SLADE
NAT
OH.
YEAH.
(Pause.)
LOTS OF
INNOCENTS. ONE GUY WHO KEPT
TRYIN'
TO CONVINCE EVERYONE HE WAS THE QUEEN
OF
ENGLAND, SHOWING HIS PANTALOOMS TO EVERYBODY.
WANTING
TO INDAIN WRESTLE .
JOE
YOU
TAKE HIM UP ON THAT?
NAT
(Shakes
his head slowly.)
DIDN'T
HAVE TIME FOR HIM.
(Pause.)
TOO
BUSY MAKING PLANS FOR THE REAL WORLD.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
JOE
YOU
GONNA STAND THERE ALL NIGHT?
OR ARE
YOU GOIN' TO SIT DOWN
AND
HAVE A DRINK?
NAT
(Slowly
ambles over to the table. Joe sits, pours a glass.)
I'M
GONNA HAVE SEVERAL DRINKS...
AS MANY
AS IT TAKES TO CLEAR MY MIND IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
JOE
YOU
AIN'T NEVER BEEN IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION,NAT.
REMEMBER FATHER THOMAS'
SPEECH
TO YOU?
(Slides
glass to him.)
NAT
THE OLD
PERV WAS JUST MAD I DIDN'T PUT OUT FOR
HIM
LIKE LITTLE JACKIE.
MARK
SLADE
NAT
(Takes
a large gulp, makes a face.)
SEE
WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM? SELLING HIS ASS TO
OLD MEN
ON TWENTY-THIRD STREET.
JOE
(Sipping
his drink.)
JACKIE
HAS A HABBIT TO BOOT.
NAT
BOY'S
WEAK. THAT'S ALL.
ALWAYS
BEEN WEAK.
(Pause.)
HOW'S
LIFE TREATIN' YOU, JO-JO?
JOE
BEAUTIFUL.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
NAT
THAT'S
ALL YOU CAN SAY?
BEAUTIFUL?
JOE
WHAT DO
YOU WANT ME TO SAY?
GIVE
YOU A RUN DOWN OF DAY BY DAY
ACTION
REPORT FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS?
NAT
DO YOU
REMEMBER GINA WHO LIVED
OUT
ON KING'S ROAD?
JOE
(Uninterested.)
YEAH.
MARK
SLADE
NAT
THOUGHT
I SAW HER WALKING
AROUND
FIFTH AND DEEDS. HER
HAIR
ALWAYS SMELLED
LIKE
PEACHES. NICE GIRL. WE
USED TO
RIDE HER ROAD ALL HOURS...
GET A
TWELVE PACK.
WHO'S
GIRL WAS SHE? MINE OR YOURS?
JOE
DIDN'T
MATTER.
NAT
(Smiling.)
YEAH.
TRUE. WE SHARED HER.
(Pause.)
THAT'S
WHAT I WANT, JO-JO.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
JOE
WHAT?
GINA? I
DON'T KNOW
WHERE
THAT CHICK IS?
NAT
NO,
DUMMY!
I WANT
DEPTH!
STORIES.
STORIES LIKE THAT.
MEMORIES
FROM THE LAST FOUR
YEARS.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT FROM
YOU. I
WAS SORTA ROBBED....
JOE
YOU WAS
NOT ROBBED.
(Pause.)
MARK
SLADE
NAT
OH. NO.
BOY.
(Pause.)
I WAS
ROBBED. AND...
TONIGHT...
(Nat
takes a snub-nose .32 hand
gun
from his blazer pocket, lays it on the table.)
YOU'RE
GONNA HELP ME.
(Joe is
disturbed by the gun. He pushes the barrel
the
opposite direction.)
YEAH.
YOU ARE
GONNA GET THOSE FOUR
YEARS
BACK FOR ME.
JOE
(Sighs.)
I DON'T
KNOW, NAT.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
NAT
OH. YOU
KNOW, JO-JO.
JOE
DO WE
HAVE TO DO THIS?
NAT
(Picks
up the gun.)
WE COME
THIS FAR.
YOU OWE
ME.
(Pause.)
IT'S
GOT TO BE DONE.
JOE
HOW DO
YOU KNOW IT WAS HIM?
NAT
THAT
RUMMIE WAS SUPPOSE TO
BE
THERE WITH US. IT WAS HIM WHO TOLD THE COPS.
MARK
SLADE
JOE
HE
DIDN'T SHOW. I KNOW. BUT HE DID IT TO US BEFORE.
NAT
I WAS
CAUGHT RED HANDED WITH
THAT
WOMAN'S JEWLERY, JO-JO.
WHEN
THE COPS CAUGHT ME OUTSIDE THE HOUSE,
YOU RAN
THE OTHER WAY.
(Pause.)
THEY
NEVER SAW YOU.
I NEVER
TOLD YOU WERE WITH ME.
JOE
I'VE
BEEN GRATEFUL.
NAT
YOU
GONNA BE EVEN MORE GRATEFUL
TONIGHT
BY TAKING CARE OF THIS.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
JOE
YOU
SURE IT WAS LOUIE THAT WAS THE RAT?
NAT
YOU
WERE ONE OF THE
ONES
THAT CONVENCED ME.
DID HE
OR DIDN'T HE?
(PAUSE.)
JOE
YEAH.
SURE.
IT WAS
HIM.
NAT
I BET
HE DRANK UP THE MONEY THE
COPS
GAVE HIM FOR THE INFO.
MARK
SLADE
JOE
WHEN'S
HE GETTIN' HERE?
NAT
SOON.
JOE
WE
GOTTA DO THIS?
NAT
WE
GOTTA DO IT.
(Pause,)
NO
CHOICE.
JOE
AND YOU
GET WHAT OUTTA THIS?
OLD
WOODENHEAD
NAT
PEACE
OF MIND.
JOE
WHAT
ELSE?
NAT
RESPECT.
JOE
FROM
THE CORROLLA FAMILY?
NAT
YOU
BET.
HE
RATTED OUT THEIR
GUYS
TOO.
MARK
SLADE
JOE
YEAH.
(Pause.)
NAT
YOU
DON'T SOUND CONVINCED.
JOE
DOES IT
MATTER?
LIKE
YOU SAY.
I OWE
YOU.
NAT
GLAD
YOU SEE IT MY WAY.
JOE
YOUR
WAY....
OR NO
WAY.
LIKE
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
NAT
WAS
THAT YOUR GIRL THAT LEFT HERE?
JOE
YOU SAW
HER?
(Pause.)
YOU
TALK TO HER?
NAT
SAW HER
GET IN THE CAR.
KINDA
YOUNG.
JOE
SHE'S
TWENTY-TWO
NAT
OH.
YEAH.
SHE
KNOW ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?
MARK
SLADE
JOE
USED TO
DO.
NAT
(Laughs
heartily.)
SURE,
JO-JO.
JOE
SHE
ONLY KNOWS
WHAT I
TELL HER.
NAT
THIS IS
FRANKIE'S PLACE. HUH?
JOE
IT'S
THE OLD BUZZARD'S.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
NAT
FRANKIE
WAS A GOOD SCOUT AT ONE TIME.
SIZING
UP BANKS. YOU CAN NEVER REALLY SHAKE SOME
TYPES
OF PEOPLE.
JOE
AND
WHAT TYPES DO YOU MEAN?
NAT
PEOPLE
YOU USED TO RUN AROUND WITH
IN THE
OLDEN DAYS.
(Pause.)
YOUR
GIRL MAY HAVE HEARD SOME STORIES---
JOE
WHAT
ARE YOU SAYIN'?
YOU'LL
TELL HER ABOUT THE NIGHT WE ROBBED
THAT
OLD RICH WOMAN AND YOU GOT CAUGHT, I DIDN'T?
MARK
SLADE
NAT
DON'T
GET SNIPPY, JO-JO.
I'M NOT
THE ONE WHO CLUBBED THAT
OLD
LADY WITH A TIRE IRON. I DID GET THE BLAME THOUGH.
JOE
I SAID
I WAS GRATEFUL, OKAY.
NAT
YOUR
GONNA BE EVEN
MORE
GRATEFUL TONIGHT.
(Pause.)
(Joe
takes the wood carving from his pocket, looks at it.)
OH
SHIT.
(Nat
laughs.)
OLD
WOODENHEAD
NAT
YOU
STILL SCREW AROUND WITH
THAT
DAMN THING? THOUGHT
YOU'D
OUTGROWN THAT BAD LUCK
CRAP BY
NOW.
JOE
THIS
THING YOU REFER TO AS CRAP,
SAVED
MY FATHER'S LFE WHEN HE FELL
OFF A
BUILDING TWENTY YEARS AGO
WHEN HE
WAS A FORMAN.
(Pause.)
BROKE
EVERY BONE IN HIS BODY,
BUT HE
HAD OLD WOODENHEAD
HERE
WITH HIM.
MARK
SLADE
NAT
THAT
DAMN THING DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
THERE'S
NO SUCH THING AS BAD LUCK...
OR GOOD
LUCK.
JOE
(Sighs.
Places the carving in his shirt pocket.)
YOU SAY
THAT BECAUSE YOUR BITTER.
NAT
BITTER
ABOUT WHAT? A STUPID
PIECE
OF WOOD?
JOE
(Shakes
his head.)
NEVER
HAVING ANYTHING.
GOOD
LUCK, FATHER, MOTHER,
MONEY,
CLOTHES....
OLD
WOODENHEAD
NAT
I'VE
HAD MONEY!
AND
CLOTHES!
JOE
ONLY IF
ONE OF THE CORROLLA'S
GAVE IT
TO YOU.
NAT
I
EARNED EVERY PENNY!
JOE
STEALING
TOASTERS IS NOT
WORK.
MARK
SLADE
NAT
I GUESS
YOU'VE CHANGED?
(Pause.)
DON'T
DO ANYTHING CRIMINAL, AS THEY SAY?
JOE
YEAH.
NAT
OLD
WOODENHEAD HAS YOUR BACK, EH?
JOE
(Smiling.)
ALWAYS.
NAT
GIVE ME
ANOTHER DRINK.
MARK
SLADE
JOE
(Pouring
another glass.)
YOU
REALLY GOING THROUGH WITH THIS?
NAT
(Snatches
the glass from Joe.)
WHAT'S
THE MATTER WITH YOU?
SOUND
LIKE A VIRGIN ON HER WEDDING NIGHT.
YEAH.
GOTTA DO IT.
(Gulping
down the drink.)
NO
CHOICE.
YOU OWE
ME.
JOE
YOU
KEEP SAYING THAT.
CHANGE
THE FUCKING RECORD.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
NAT
YOU
SAID HE WAS THE ONE
THAT
HELPED SEND ME
UP THE
RIVER.
JOE
DID I?
(Pause.
Avoiding Nat's
eyes.)
THAT
WAS FOUR YEARS AGO.
I DON'T
REMEMBER.
NAT
YOU
KNOW YOU SAID IT.
JOE
REMEMBER
WHEN WE WERE
KIDS?
GO DOWN TO THE
QUARRY
AND CATCH FROGS?
MARK
SLADE
NAT
YEAH.
(Laughing.)
YOUR
OLD MAN WOULD COOK 'EM UP
FOR US.
BURN 'EM EVERYTIME.
JOE
YEAH.
(Both
sit there in a long silence, thinking of those days.
The
door opens and closes. Louie, an old short stout man wearing a rain
coat
enters.
He looks sickly, run down. His gray beard is uneven.
His
hair is still combed over a widening bald spot. He stands there,
nervous
and a bit lost.
Joe and
Nat say nothing at first. Just stare at him.)
JOE
LOUIE.
(Louie
smiles uneasy.)
OLD
WOODENHEAD
JOE
C'MON
OVER HERE. HAVE
A
DRINK.
LOUIE
(Walks
to the table, takes the third chair between them.)
NAW.
CAN'T DRINK LIKE I USED TO. BAD KIDNEYS,
ULCERS...LEGS...YOU
NAME IT.
NAT
YOUR
FALLING APART, LOUIE.
BETTER
GET SOME DUCT TAPE, FIX
YOU UP!
(Joe
and Nat burst into laughter.)
LOUIE
(Dismissive.)
AIN'T
CHANGED A BIT,
NAT.
STILL A CUT UP.
MARK
SLADE
NAT
NO
OTHER WAY TO BE.
LOUIE
KNOWN
THE TWO OF SINCE YOU
WERE
KIDS.
NAT
AND YOU
WERE OLD THEN!
(Again
a rupture of laughter from Joe
and
Nat.)
LOUIE
STILL
CRACKIN' JOKES.
(Pause.)
SO.
HOW'S
THE TWO OF YOU BEEN?
OLD
WOODENHEAD
NAT
OKAY,
LOUIE.
LOOKS
LIKE JO-JO
HERE IS
DOING GOOD.
LOUIE
THIS
YOUR PLACE, JOE?
JOE
(Shakes
his head.)
FRANKIE
GARNER'S.
LOUIE
(Makes
a face like he smelled
something
bad.)
THAT
OLD BUZZARD STILL AROUND?
HE WAS
A BASTARD WHEN WE WORKED COTTON STREET
FOR
DOMINIC CORROLLA. ALWAYS SKIMMIN'.
MARK
SLADE
LOUIE
(Sighs,
looks around the bar.)
I GUESS
DOMINIC'S SONS GAVE
HIM
THIS PLACE. THINGS AIN'T
THE
SAME ON THE STREET SINCE DOMINIC
DIED.
HE KNEW HOW TO REWARD SOMEBODY.
HE ALSO
KNEW HOW TO RID THE GAME OF RATS.
NAT
(Cutting
his eyes at Joe.)
HE DID,
DID HE?
LOUIE
YOU
BET!
NO SON
OF BITCH CAME IN
AT THE
TOP, YOU HAD EARN IT.
START
AT THE BOTTOM. BE HONEST.
EARN
TRUST. TRUSY IS VERY IMPORTANT.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
NAT
HEAR
THAT, JO-JO.
(Pause.)
TRUST
IS VERY IMPORTANT.
LOUIE
THE
CORROLLA'S TRUSTED ME.
LOOKED
AFTER ME, I LOOKED AFTER
THEM.
UNTIL THAT NITWIT
CASEY
TOOK OVER.
WHAT
KIND OF NAME IS CASEY FOR A
MAN
ANYWAY?
JOE
WORKED
FOR CASEY AT THE BAT.
MARK
SLADE
LOUIE
BAH!
DON'T
TALK ABOUT BASEBALL
TO ME.
IT AIN'T THE SAME. THEY DON'T EVEN
TO HIT
THE BALL ANYMORE.
NAT
YOU AND
THE CORROLLA'S NOT ON
THE
OUTS ARE YOU, LOUIE.
LOUIE
(Shrugs.)
JUST A
LITTLE
MISUNDERSTANDING.
THAT'S
ALL.
NAT
I CAN'T
IMAGINE WHAT IT
COULD
BE ABOUT.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
LOUIE
(To
Joe.)
WHAT'S
HE ON ABOUT?
JOE
(Getting
bored.)
I DON'T
KNOW.
(Along
pause.)
LOUIE
OH.
YOU
BOYS WERE
GREAT
LITTLE THEIVES.
MAN.
I FOUND
YOU TWO TRYIN'
TO
BREAK INTO VENDING
MACHINES
IN FRONT OF THE
MOTEL
SIX.
MARK
SLADE
LOUIE
WHAT
THE HELL WERE TWO
BUYIN'
WITH CHANGE? GUM?
JOE
POT.
(Pause.)
LOUIE
(Making
a face.)
YOUR
DEALER TOOK QUARTERS?
NAT
OUR
DEALER TOOK MOONPIES
AND RC
COLA.
IT WAS
MY COUSIN DARRYL.
LOUIE
GLAD I
TOOK YOU AWAY
FROM
THAT LIFE.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
NAT
MMM.
AND
WHAT A LIFE THAT IS
NOW.
LOUIE
YOU
BOYS DID
ALRIGHT
BY ME.
NAT
BEING A
THEIF SURE IS GRAND.
LOUIE
SURE.
BE
SARCASTIC. BUT IT KEPT
YOU
FROM MIXING WITH
THE
WRONG SORT.
MARK
SLADE
NAT
LOUIE...
YOU
WERE THE WRONG
SORT.
LOUIE
(To
Joe.)
WHY ALL
THE VENOM?
JOE
(Lights
a cigarette.)
HE'S
GOT A BEEF WITH YOU.
LOUIE
GO
FORBID.
NAT HAS
A BEEF.
(Pause.)
NOT MY
FAULT
YOU
WENT TO JAIL,
NAT.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
(Joe
looks at Nat cautiously. Then at Louie. He stands slowly, swallows
hard.)
LOUIE
I ONLY
LOOKED AFTER YOU AS IF
YOU
WERE MY OWN SON.
NAT
YOU
ALSO MADE US TAKE ALL
THE
RISK WHILE YOU REAPED THE REWARDS.
LOUIE
BIG
WORD FOR YOU.
REAPED.
BEEN
READIN' WHILE YOU
WERE IN
THE SLAMMER.
YOU'D A
DIED OUT ON THE STREET.
YOU
KNOW IT.
MARK
SLADE
(Nat
takes out the .32 from his blazer pocket, lays it
on the
table.)
LOUIE
I SEE.
(Pause.)
STILL
HOLDIN' IT AGAINST THE WORLD,NAT?
NAT
(Shakes
his head.)
NAW.
JUST
AGAINST YOU.
REMEMBER
THOSE TIMES WHEN ME AND
JOE
WOULD COME BACK EMPTY HANDED?
YOU'D
BEAT US WITH THAT EAGLE-HEADED CANE.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
LOUIE
IT WAS
FOR YOUR OWN GOOD.
YOU
LEARNED FROM ME.
MADE
YOU TOUGH.
NAT
GLAD WE
DIDN'T STICK WITH YOU.
WE
WOULD'VE LEARNED TO RAT ON
PEOPLE.
LOUIE
YOU
KNOW I DON'T
RAT--
NAT
WHAT
ABOUT ME?
LOUIE
WHAT
ABOUT YOU?
MARK
SLADE
NAT
AUGUST
FIFTH, ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO?
LOUIE
I DON'T
KNOW---
(Pause.
Fear crosses his face.)
NO.
NAT....YOU
GOTTA
BELIEVE
ME.
I
DIDN'T DO IT.
(Joe
walks up behind Louie, holding
something
behind his back.)
NAT
LOUIE...
YOU
SOLD ME OUT FOR CHEAP BOOZE AND
GOD HAS
NOT FORGIVEN YOU FOR IT.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
(Joe
grabs Louie by what little hair he has left
and
pulls his head back. He produces a black boot knife
and
slices Louie's neck from right to left. Louie screams out,
reaches
up for Joe. Joe lets go and stumbles backwards. Louie
gurgles,
falls out of his chair, knocking it over. He begins crawling across
the
floor towards the exit. Blood drains to the floor. His hands and
knees
leave
bloody prints.
Joe and
Nat watch Louie for a few seconds. Nat runs up in front
of
Louie, fires one shot in his forehead.
Louie
immediately falls on his face.
He's
dead.)
NAT
WHAT'D
YOU DO THAT FOR?
MARK
SLADE
JOE
(Realizes
what he's done. Does a double take.)
I HAD
TO DO SOMETHIN'!
(Pause.)
YOU
WERE JUST BAITIN' HIM.
NAT
(Goes
back to the table. Wearily sits.
He lays
the gun on the table, pours a drink.)
GOD
THIS ABSINTHE SUCKS.
(He
swallows it all down in one gulp. Makes a face.)
WHY'D
YOU START DRINKING THIS SHIT?
JOE
(Confused.)
HE'S
DEAD.
NAT
WHY'D
YOU START DRINKIN' THIS,JO-JO?
OLD
WOODENHEAD
JOE
I CAN'T
BELIEVE WE DID THIS.
NAT
HEY!
I'M
ASKING YOU A QUESTION!
(Pause.)
WHY DID
YOU START DRINKING THIS CRAP?
JOE
(Looks
at Nat, blinks twice.)
I LIKE
IT.
NAT
(A
revelation.)
OH.
JOE
(Exiting
right)
I'LL
GET THE TARP.
MARK
SLADE
NAT
(Picks
up the bottle, looking at it.)
YOU
REALLY LIKE THIS?
(Joe
enters again, carrying a blue tarp.)
JOE
(On his
hands and knees next to Louie,
spreading
the tarp.)
COME
HELP ME.
NAT
I DON'T
WANT TO.
JOE
YOU
DON'T WANT TO.
(Pause.)
OLD
WOODENHEAD
NAT
YEAH.
(Pause.)
I DON'T
WANT TO.
JOE
(Standing.)
YOU
WANTED MY HELP.
NAT
YOU
WANTED MY HELP.
JOE
WHAT'RE
YOU TALKIN' ABOUT?
YOU
WANTED TO GET EVEN WITH--
NAT
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
YOU!
MARK
SLADE
NAT
(Pause.)
(Whispering.)
YOU.....
(Pause.)
YOU
WANTED ME TO HELP YOU. TO.
TELL.
THE. TRUTH.
(Pause.)
JOE
BY
KILLING SOMEONE.
NAT
BY
GETTING RID OF
A
PURVEYOR OF LIES.
OPEN
YOUR EYES ....
YOU CAN
SEE THE LIGHT
NOW,
I'M SURE OF IT.
JOE
WHAT
LIES AM I GUILTY OF?
OLD
WOODENHEAD
NAT
OUR
FRIENDSHIP.
BUT...
MORE
IMPORTANTLY, THAT
NIGHT I
GOT CAUGHT.
JOE
I'M
SORRY. I'M SORRY I LEFT YOU.
I'M
SORRY FOR NOT COMING OUT AND SAYING
I WAS
APART OF THE ROBBERIES.
I HAVE
CHANGED BECAUSE OF THAT NIGHT---
NAT
(Ushering
a hand towards Louie.)
HAVE
YOU CHANGED?
MURDER
IS A WHOLE LOT WORSE THAN
THEIVERY.
AT
LEAST...
MARK
SLADE
NAT
BY
SOCIETY STANDARDS.
TO
ME....
SELLING
OUT YOUR FRIEND
IS A
LOT WORSE. IT'S REPREHENSIBLE.
JOE
I
DIDN'T SELL YOU OUT.
NAT
THEY
CAUGHT ME TOO QUICK.
JOE
COINCENIDENCE.
NAT
PREMEDITATED.
(Pause.)
YOU
MURDERED MY SOUL.
OLD
WOODENHEAD
JOE
WHAT'S
YOUR VENGENCE THEN?
NAT
(Spreading
his arms, waving his hands.)
ALL OF
THIS.
I KNEW
IT WASN'T
LOUIE
THAT TOLD THE COPS OF OUR
LITTLE
GAME OF BURGULRIES AROUND TOWN.
I
FIGURED IT OUT SITTING IN COUNTY.
I ALSO
KNEW, SITTING IN STATE PRISON, I COULD
DRAG
YOU INTO HELL.
I'VE
DRAGGED YOU TO THE BOTTOM.
(Joe
realizes something. He pats himself down.)
WHAT?
(Annoyed
by this.)
WHAT IS
IT?!
MARK
SLADE
JOE
(Astonished.)
I LOST
IT.
(Swallows
hard.)
I LOST
OLD WOODENHEAD.
(Panics.)
I LOST
IT!
NAT
OH.
YEAH.
AIN'T
THAT SOMETHIN'.
(Joe
looks down. He sees it. He slowly eases
down to
his knees. He puts a hand around Louie's
dead
body. He retrieves the wood carving. Shows
it to
Nat.
Nat
laughs.)
OLD
WOODENHEAD
NAT
THAT'S
ROTTEN LUCK...
IT FELL
INSIDE LOUIE'S COAT AND SHIRT...
THAT'S
RICH.
(The
door slams shut. It catches Joe and Nat's attention.
Vera
appears, hand over mouth gasping, eyes bigger than two silver
dollars.
Nat begins to laugh.)
JOE
VERA...
(Her
eyes dart back and forth between the body, Joe, and Nat.)
I CAN
EXPLAIN, VERA....
(Vera
turns, bolts. The door slams shut. Laughter grows louder.)
VERA!
MARK
SLADE
JOE
WAIT!
(Joe
runs off, the door slams shut.)
(Offstage)
VERA!
COME BACK!
(Lights
dim. Laughter resonates as the lights fade to
black.)
END OF
PLAY.
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