KEVIN DUNN

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White Trash

ACT 1

QUEENS, NEW YORK. A LATE OCTOBER

AFTERNOON BY A TRESTLE ON THE RAILROAD

TRACKS. THE SUN IS SETTING. ENTER JIM

AND DANNY, DRUNK AND DRINKING BEER,

WALKING ALONG A NARROW WALKWAY TOWARD

A METAL STAIRCASE LEADING DOWN TO THE

TRACKS. JIM IS CARRYING A LARGE BROWN

PAPER BAG CONTAINING BEER AND WINE.

ENTER PROSTITUTE, A TALL, BUXOM WOMAN

WITH LONG BLACK HAIR AND TOO MUCH

MAKEUP. SHE'S WEARING A LONG BLACK

OVERCOAT WHICH IS OPEN, REVEALING A

CHEAP RED BLOUSE, BLACK LEATHER MINI-

SKIRT, BLACK FISH-NET STOCKINGS, AND

SPIKE-HEELED SHOES. SHE WALKS TOWARD

THEM, AND AS SHE SQUEEZES BY, SHE AIRS

HER INDIGNATION.

PROSTITUTE

What the fuck is this, Grand Central Station!

JIM AND DANNY NOTICE A FEW WORKERS ON

THE TRACKS WALKING PAST THE BRIDGE AS

THEY PROCEED DOWN THE STAIRS. JIM AND

DANNY WALK OVER TO A THREE-WALLED

METALLIC SHELTER AND STEP INSIDE.

JIM

What's her problem?

DANNY

Yo, man, she's a hooker.

JIM

(sarcastically)

No kiddin'.

DANNY

Yeah, she hangs around the newsstand from time to

time. I've seen her.

JIM

Yeah?

DANNY

Yeah, and you know something else?

JIM

What?

DANNY

Willy fucked her.

JIM

Get out!

DANNY

No, really.

(laughing a little while Jim sips his beer)

One night, a few of us were walking by the newsstand

and we saw him walking with her down to the tracks.

We followed them down there but they didn't see us.

They did it standing up in front of the tunnel

(pointing)

over there.

JIM

That's pathetic.

DANNY

That's Willy.

JIM

Couldn't he at least afford a motel?

DANNY

I guess not, but that's not the worst of it. The

next day he told me about it and - get this - he

told me that his balls were itching ever since.

JIM

(spitting beer)

Aw man! Did he use a rubber?

DANNY

I don't think so.

JIM

Well, just don't invite him to any parties. He's

one foul...

(looks down at the ground)

Hey! What's... Look at this.

(pointing with his foot)

I thought she was just giving one of those workers

a blow job.

DANNY

Watch it. You don't want to get stuck.

(pause)

Look.

(pointing at a spoon nearby)

JIM

Well, we know she's not diabetic.

HE LOOKS A FEW FEET AWAY AT A GROUP OF

VIALS ON THE GROUND.

JIM

(continuing)

You think those are hers too?

DANNY

Probably.

JIM

Man, this is as good as a death sentence.

THEY WALK OVER TO A COUPLE OF MILK

CRATES, SIT DOWN, AND DRINK IN SILENCE

FOR A FEW MOMENTS.

DANNY

He went to jail, you know.

JIM

Yeah.

DANNY

What do you think they did to that little white boy

in Riker's Island?

JIM

I think they raped his ass.

DANNY

Man, that's really foul.

JIM

You know, it's hard to believe he's related to

Sharon.

DANNY

I know. They're two totally different people.

How's it goin' with her, anyway?

JIM

Don't ask.

DANNY

That bad?

JIM

Look. Can you keep a secret? I have to talk to

someone.

DANNY

Yeah, sure. You know you can trust me.

JIM

Well, you know there's a pretty big difference in

our ages.

DANNY

Yeah, so. That shouldn't be too much of a problem.

JIM

I know, and it was awkward at first, but I soon got

over that. You know, I really love her, and I would

never do anything to hurt her.

DANNY

Yeah.

JIM

Man, I'm gonna be out of school in a year. I don't

need this.

DANNY

What?

JIM

Sharon missed her period.

DANNY

Oh, man. How late is she?

JIM

Six weeks.

DANNY

Well, maybe...

JIM

I know she's pregnant. She just got back from the

doctor.

DANNY

What are you going to do?

JIM

I don't know. I told her she should get an

abortion, but she doesn't want to go through with

it. She said it would be murder. I tried to

explain that if she doesn't, I'll be the one

murdered. You know how much her father hates me?

DANNY

Yeah.

JIM

Well, if he finds out about this I'm a dead man.

(pause)

Fuck it. There's no sense in worrying about it.

Whatever happens, happens. Right now all I want to

do is get really wasted.

DANNY

I hear that.

JIM PULLS OUT A BOTTLE OF CHEAP WINE

AND STARTS GUZZLING. THEY SIT IN

SILENCE FOR A FEW MINUTES, PASSING THE

BOTTLE BACK AND FORTH.

DANNY

(continuing)

Yo, Larry wants to hang out.

JIM

Huh?

DANNY

Yo, Larry's like twenty-five, and he never had a

girlfriend.

JIM

Now that's bad. What do you think he does, beat off?

DANNY

Nah. Well...not exactly. We caught him with Sally,

a love doll.

(laughing)

He has a love doll, man.

JIM

That's sick!

DANNY

Imagine fuckin' rubber.

JIM

Well, if you want to fuck...I mean...I don't see the

point, man. Why would anybody want to fuck that.

You could just go to a cathouse and pay for it.

DANNY STARTS LAUGHING.

JIM

(continuing)

That's much more respectable than fuckin' some

rubber piece of shit that you have to inflate every

night. Politicians go to cathouses all the time.

DANNY

That's sick, right?

JIM

Yeah, that's demented. That's like... You'd might

as well go up to a statue and jerk off on it.

PAUSE.

DANNY

Who's down there?

(directing with his eyes down the tracks)

Are those just girls down there, or are there guys

with them?

JIM

Hey, you don't want anything down there. Those

people are homeless.

DANNY

Yeah, I know what you mean. I saw a homeless guy on

the subway once. You could tell he was a bum,

probably a wino. He was a dumpy lookin' old man.

I could feel the fleas jumping right off him, he was

scratching so much.

JIM

That's foul, man. If I ever got that way I'd put

a bullet in my head.

DANNY

Me too.

JIM AND DANNY CONTINUE TO DRINK IN

SILENCE FOR A FEW SECONDS. ENTER WILL,

DRUNK, HOLDING A HEAVY METAL FLASHLIGHT

IN ONE HAND, AND A FIFTH OF WHISKY,

THREE QUARTERS DRAINED, IN THE OTHER.

WILL

How's it goin'?

DANNY

Hey, Will, what's up?

WILL

Nothin'. What are you guys doin'?

DANNY

Getting wasted.

WILL

How's it hangin', Jim?

JIM

Not bad, how 'bout you?

WILL

I'm pretty wasted.

DANNY

You're always pretty wasted.

WILL LIGHTS A JOINT AND OFFERS IT TO

JIM.

JIM

(holding his hand up)

Nah, none for me.

WILL SMOKES.

DANNY

Where's Larry?

WILL

(looking around)

I don't know. He was right behind me when I was

walkin' down here. Larry! Larry!

LARRY (O.S.)

What do you want?

WILL

Where are you?

LARRY (O.S.)

Wait a minute.

WILL

What the hell is goin' on with this guy?

ENTER LARRY, A SHORT BALD MAN OF 25.

LARRY

Damn! That was the third pair of drawers this week.

WILL

Where were you?

LARRY

Takin' a dump.

WILL

Aw, geeze! On the tracks?

LARRY

When you gotta go, you gotta go.

JIM

(to Danny)

Come on, let's get out of here and get something to

eat. I'm starving.

DANNY

Yeah, me too.

(to Will and Larry)

Are you guys comin'?

WILL

We just got here. I guess we'll hangout down here

a while and get wasted.

DANNY

All right.

(to Jim)

I guess we'll be at Rosa's, right?

JIM

Yeah. Come on, let's go.

JIM AND DANNY EXIT.

WILL

So, are you ready?

LARRY

I... I don't know, man.

WILL

Come on, don't wimp out on me. It'll be fun.

LARRY

What if someone finds out?

WILL

No one's gonna find out. Now stop being a pussy.

LARRY

All right, but if somethin' happens...

WILL

Nothin's gonna happen. Don't be so paranoid. Here,

this'll loosin' you up.

WILL PASSES THE JOINT TO LARRY. LARRY

SMOKES THEN OFFERS IT BACK TO WILL.

WILL

(continuing)

Kill it.

LARRY TAKES A COUPLE DRAGS AND FLICKS

IT ACROSS THE TRACKS. WILL RUMMAGES

THROUGH HIS POCKETS AND EXTRACTS A

PACK OF CIGARETTES. HE FUMBLES WITH

THEM FOR A FEW SECONDS, PUTS ONE IN HIS

MOUTH, AND SPEAKS AS HE LIGHTS UP.

WILL

(continuing)

I think she's comin'.

LARRY

What? I don't hea...

WILL

Shut up.

ENTER PROSTITUTE DOWN STAIRCASE.

LARRY

Now what?

WILL

Come on.

LARRY

No. I... I...

WILL

Come on.

WILL PUSHES LARRY, AND THEY APPROACH

PROSTITUTE.

WILL

(continuing)

What's up?

PROSTITUTE

So, you've come back for more, huh. I see you've

brought a friend.

WILL

Yeah. We're both lookin' to have a good time.

PROSTITUTE

You've come to the right place.

WILL

(aside)

Yeah, right.

PROSTITUTE

What was that?

WILL

Oh...uh...I said, "It's a nice night."

PROSTITUTE

Actually, I think it's kinda chilly, so let's get

down to business. Who's first?

LARRY

Uh...uh... How much?

PROSTITUTE

Thirty for straight sex, twenty extra for anything

kinky.

LARRY

Uh...

PROSTITUTE

Well? Well, come on! Do you want to stand around

all night, or do you want to fuck me!

WILL PUSHES LARRY ASIDE AND POUNCES ON

PROSTITUTE.

WILL

Fuck you!

WILL PUSHES PROSTITUTE ONTO THE

STAIRCASE AND REACHES UP HER SKIRT.

PROSTITUTE

Hey! Hey! Money up front, man!

WILL

How 'bout a freebie, baby!

PROSTITUTE

Get off! No freebies!

WILL

I wasn't askin'. Come on! Come on, baby!

PROSTITUTE SCREAMS.

PROSTITUTE

Help!

(screams)

Help!

WILL HITS HER.

LARRY

Will. Will. Come on, man. Don't...

WILL

(to Larry)

Shut up!

(to Prostitute)

I got you now, you bitch!

WILL HITS HER AGAIN.

PROSTITUTE

Get off!

(screams)

Help! Help!

LARRY

Will!

PROSTITUTE KNEES WILL IN THE GROIN,

PUSHES HIM OFF HER, AND STARTS TO RUN

UP THE STAIRS. WILL GRABS ONE OF HER

ANKLES AND REACHES FOR THE FLASHLIGHT.

WILL

Aw, you fuckin' cunt! You're gonna get it!

PROSTITUTE

Let go!

(screams)

Help!

(screams)

WILL CRUSHES HER SKULL WITH THE

FLASHLIGHT. AFTER A LONG SILENCE,

DURING WHICH WILL AND LARRY LOOK AT

EACH OTHER GRAVELY, LARRY SPEAKS.

LARRY

Jesus! What the hell did you do that for?

WILL

The bitch deserved it.

LARRY

Oh God! Oh God! What are we gonna do?

WILL

Calm down. We gotta get rid of the body.

LARRY

No way, man. I... I'm not gettin' into this.

WILL

You're in it, and you're gonna help me, because

whether you like it or not, you're an accomplice,

and if I go down, I'm takin' you with me.

LARRY

Oh God!

WILL

All right, look. We won't get caught. Just do as

I say, and everything'll be all right.

Now we gotta get rid of the body. Help me carry her

to the bridge.

LARRY AND WILL CARRY THE BODY OFFSTAGE.

AFTER A FEW MINUTES THEY ENTER AGAIN.

LARRY

I can't believe this. This is a nightmare.

WILL

Listen. Don't say nothin' to no one, understand.

LARRY

Oh God.

WILL

You hear me? Nothin'.

LARRY

I don't know if I can do this.

WILL

You'd better, or it's our asses. There's nothin'

that can be done now, anyway. Come on, we'd better

get out of here.

LARRY

Oh man, I think I'm gonna be sick.

WILL

Just forget it. Forget the whole thing. It never

happened, understand? It never happened.

WILL AND LARRY EXIT.

ACT 2

SCENE 1

LATER AT ROSA'S, A LOCAL PIZZA PARLOR.

DANNY, AND WILL ARE SITTING AT A TABLE.

A LARGE HALF-EATEN PIZZA PIE IS SITTING

ON THE TABLE IN FRONT OF THEM. WILL

AND DANNY ARE EATING, ALREADY ENGAGED

IN CONVERSATION. A COUPLE WOMEN ARE

SITTING AT A NEIGHBORING TABLE, EATING

SPAGHETTI. JIM ENTERS FROM MEN'S ROOM

AND JOINS DANNY AND WILL AT THEIR

TABLE. JIM AND DANNY ARE STILL

INTOXICATED.

WILL

...but she's got a really nice body.

DANNY

But she's skank. A real pig. She'll fuck anything.

JIM

Who will?

WILL

Hatchet.

JIM

I don't even wanna talk about her. But she is a

disgusting wench, so I guess she's perfect for you.

DANNY

Oh man! What a rank!

WILL

You're just angry at yourself because you aren't

truly hedonistic like me.

JIM

If that means I don't fuck beasts, then I'd have to

say I'm glad I'm not like you.

DANNY

What a deep one!

WILL

What the fuck's your problem?

JIM

You're my problem. You think you're so much better

than everyone around you, when you're nothing but a

sick pervert who thinks that by lying about your

sexual experiences, or I should say lack of them,

that they'll come true in some magical way. Keep

dreaming!

DANNY

(laughing hysterically)

Oh shit! You come out with some mean ones man.

JIM

I'm just stating the facts.

WILL

What facts? I haven't heard any facts so far.

JIM

It's a known fact that you're a low-life and a cheap

dirtbag. You feel the need for recognition, and it

really burns you to know that there are people in

the world who are better than you.

WILL

I don't have to sit here and take this.

JIM

No, but you will, because you're a cheap little

shit, and I'm payin' for your food, even though I

know you're a self-centered ingrate.

WILL

Fuck off!

JIM

No, you fuck off!

DANNY

Will you guys cut it out? You're givin' me a

headache.

THEY SIT AND EAT IN SILENCE FOR A

WHILE. JIM PUTS A HALF-EATEN SLICE OF

PIZZA ON HIS PLATE AND LOOKS AT THE

REMAINING FEW SLICES.

JIM

Man, I'm full. You guys are going to finish this,

right?

DANNY

Nah, I can't eat another bite.

WILL

Neither can I.

JIM

Come on, Will. Eat up. You don't know when your

next meal is going to be.

THE WOMEN AT THE NEXT TABLE HEAR JIM'S

BOOMING VOICE AND START LAUGHING.

REALIZING THAT THE WOMEN ARE LAUGHING

AT WHAT HE SAID, JIM AND DANNY LAUGH

TOO.

DANNY

What a fuckin' rank! How could you say that, man?

JIM

I didn't mean it to sound funny because it's true,

but I'm glad it came out that way.

DANNY

You say a lot of crazy shit when you're wasted, man.

JIM

Well...

PAUSE.

DANNY

(brushing his hair back with his hand)

I think I'm gonna go for a hair cut tomorrow.

JIM

Be glad you have some hair to cut. Just look at

some of the freaks we hangout with. Like that

dirtbag Don. What hair he does have is so thin and

oily it's disgusting.

DANNY

And we can't forget Larry.

JIM

Yeah, no shit.

DANNY

He should really do something about it, you know.

He can afford it.

JIM

Yeah, he should get a hair transplant or something,

or at least shave his head. His hair looks so

shitty, he looks like he's in chemotherapy.

LAUGHTER FROM ALL IN THE RESTAURANT.

DANNY

(Still laughing.)

What a fuckin' rank!

JIM

(laughing)

Could you picture him: all sickly lookin' in one of

those white hospital gowns that open in the back.

DANNY

(laughing)

Yeah, he'd look like...

ENTER LARRY FROM MEN'S ROOM, NERVOUSLY

LIGHTING-UP A CIGARETTE.

DANNY

(continuing)

Oh. Hi, Larry.

MORE LAUGHTER.

LARRY

What's everyone laughing about?

JIM

You, you schmuck!

LARRY

I don't appreciate that.

JIM

No?

JIM STANDS UP.

JIM

(continuing)

Well, maybe you'll appreciate this.

JIM THRUSTS HIS MIDDLE FINGER IN

LARRY'S FACE, MAKING HIM BLINK AND

FLINCH. JIM WALKS TO THE COUNTER,

SMILING SMUGLY. LARRY SITS.

LARRY

What eating him?

WILL

He's just being a prick tonight.

DANNY

Jim just had a fight with his girlfriend today, and

he started hittin' the sauce. We've been getting

wasted since before three 'o clock.

THEY SIT SILENTLY FOR A FEW MINUTES

AND EAT; LARRY JUST SMOKES WITH A

TREMBLING HAND.

DANNY

(continuing; to Larry)

I heard you were in the Guardian Angels.

LARRY

Yeah.

DANNY

Why?

LARRY

Because...I... I wanted to learn Karate.

DANNY

Then why didn't you just go to a Karate school?

LARRY

Karate schools are expensive, and...uh...if you join

the Guardian Angels they'll teach you Karate for

free.

WILL

What was it like man?

LARRY

Oh...you know. We'd go on patrols through the

subways and neighborhoods and...

JIM RETURNS.

DANNY

Hey, Jim! What do you think about Larry being in

the Guardian Angels?

JIM

Oh yeah! That'll look real good on a resume!

LAUGHTER.

LARRY

Hey, man. Wha...what do you even know about it?

JIM

The last thing we need is a bunch of low-class

vigilantes causing more trouble than we already have.

LARRY

Yeah, but...but...

JIM

Buh-buh-buh... Come on, spit it out, marble mouth.

LARRY

What do you know about it?

JIM

I know all I need to know.

(to Danny)

Come on, man. Let's get outta here.

DANNY STANDS UP.

JIM

(continuing; to Larry and Will)

You are the oddest pair of misfits I've ever known

in my life!

(to Will)

And you're just a damned pervert!

WILL LARRY

Fuck you! Hey, if you want to live on

the wild side of foul...

JIM

Larry, if you don't live "foul" at least once in

your life, you'll end up spending the rest of your

life in your basement beating off into oblivion with

that love doll of yours.

LARRY

(face turning red, eyes starting to bulge,

arms moving erratically)

Yo, man, you'd better stop, or I'm gonna start

swingin'!

DANNY AND JIM START LAUGHING.

JIM

Look at him! His eyes are bulging out of his head.

LARRY

At least I don't live foul.

JIM

You don't call humping a love doll every night

"foul?"

(calming down a little)

No, but seriously, if you want to be happy you

should really do something about your hair, man.

You look like an onion head.

LARRY

You...you...

JIM

Hey! Is that your head, or is your neck trying to

blow a bubble?

LAUGHTER. LARRY GETS UP AND STORMS OUT

OF THE ROOM. WILL FOLLOWS HIM.

DANNY

Aren't you gonna go after them?

JIM

Why should I?

JIM SITS DOWN. DANNY FOLLOWS LARRY AND

WILL. A FEW MINUTES LATER DANNY

RETURNS.

DANNY

They're gone.

JIM

Who gives a shit! I know I don't.

DANNY

Yeah, but that was my ride. Now how am I going to

get home?

JIM SHRUGS HIS SHOULDERS. JIM AND

DANNY EXIT.

SCENE 2

EARLY AFTERNOON. FATHER'S OFFICE.

FATHER IS ON THE PHONE.

FATHER

Look, Elaine, they can't go on seeing each other.

It's just not right.

(pause)

Well, why don't you tell him. He deserves to know.

(pause)

I don't care what Harold thinks you should do. It's

none of his business. How long do you think you can

keep a thing like this secret, anyway?

(pause )

Well, I'm not going to allow this to continue. If

you don't keep him away from her, I'll have to take

care of this my way.

(pause)

Oh, I can, and I will if he doesn't leave her alone.

(pause)

I know, but if he continues to see her, I'll have no

choice.

(pause)

No.

(pause)

No, that's my final word. It's not right. It's a

sin, and you know it.

(pause)

I don't care how you do it, but you make sure he

doesn't see her anymore.

HE HANGS UP THE PHONE. CURTAIN.

SCENE 3

SHARON

But I just couldn't ever bring myself to go through

with it.

JIM

I know, but your father'll kill me if he finds out.

SHARON

Don't you think you're being a little paranoid?

JIM

You know how much he hates me.

SHARON

But he knows how much I love you, and he would want

the baby to have a father.

JIM

I don't think it would matter much compared to the

way he feels about me. What's his problem, anyway?

SHARON

I don't know. I guess after my mother died, he just

got so much more protective of me. And Willy's

going to prison didn't help either.

PAUSE.

JIM

You've gotta do it, it's the only way.

SHARON

We could have it.

JIM

Do you think that even if your father said it was

all right, you'd be able to deal with it, leaving

school and starting a family?

SHARON

I'd be willing to give it a try.

JIM

And what if it didn't work out? What then?

SHARON

I...

JIM

I'd have to support you and the baby, and even with

a college diploma the way the economy is now...I'd

be lucky to find a minimum wage job. Besides, do

you really think your father would accept me as his

son-in-law, anyway?

SHARON

You're its father.

JIM

He hates me too much...and it would be my child.

SHARON

I can't go through with it.

JIM

Sure you can. It's a simple operation.

SHARON

It's murder.

JIM

Only after the fetus is formed.

SHARON

Yeah, but the potential for life is there.

JIM

The potential for life is there when I pull out,

but you never called that murder before.

WILL ENTERS AN ADJOINING ROOM AND

EAVESDROPS AT THE DOOR UNDETECTED.

SHARON

Yeah but...

JIM

According to that line of thinking, we've killed

hundreds of babies together.

SHARON

Don't say that!

JIM

It's true. And you didn't seem to mind before.

SHARON

That was different.

JIM

How? How was that different?

SHARON

I wasn't pregnant then.

JIM

Oh! Two halves don't make a whole, huh?

SHARON

What?

JIM

Well, you need a sperm and an egg to get pregnant,

right?

SHARON

Yeah, so?

JIM

Well, every time I get off, millions of sperm are

killed, and every time you have your period, you

lose an egg, right?

SHARON

Yeah?

JIM

So, unless I have a wet dream, I don't have to

kill any sperm, but you can't help killing your egg

every month.

SHARON

That's not fair!

JIM

Don't worry, by now I've killed countless billions

more sperm than you killed eggs.

SHARON STARTS CRYING.

JIM

(continuing)

Come on. Don't. You know I can't stand it when you

cry.

JIM PUTS HIS ARM AROUND HER AND KISSES

HER.

SHARON

I can't help it.

JIM

Come on, baby. I'm sorry, but you've got to

understand where I'm comin' from. I don't like it

any more than you do, but it's really for the best.

JIM WIPES THE TEARS FROM HER EYES.

JIM

(continuing)

All right?

SHARON NODS.

JIM

(continuing)

Everything will be fine.

HE LOOKS AT HIS WATCH.

JIM

(continuing)

Look, I gotta get going. Your father'll be home

soon. Will you be all right?

SHARON

Yeah.

JIM

Okay. I'll call you later.

HE KISSES HER AND EXITS. WHEN THE DOOR

CLOSES WILL ENTERS.

WILL

How could you do this?

SHARON

You were listening!

WILL

That son of a bitch is gonna pay!

SHARON

It's none of your business, so stay out of it!

WILL

Oh yeah! Well, we'll see what Dad has to say about

it.

SHARON

If you tell him, I'll never speak to you again.

WILL

Oh, you're breakin' my heart.

SHARON

I mean it, Will. If you say anything, I'll disown

you.

WILL

How will that be any different from the way things

are? If you're gonna threaten me, do it with

somethin' I give a shit about.

SHARON

Fuck you!

WILL

Oh, such language. Did Jeemee teach you that?

Well, Jeemee won't be around much longer to teach

you much of anything.

SHARON

You leave Jim alone.

WILL

I'm not gonna touch him, but I don't think I can

speak for Dad when he finds out.

SHARON

You'd better keep your mouth shut, or you'll regret

it.

WILL

What are you gonna do, beat me up?

SHARON

You just...

THE FRONT DOOR SLAMS.

WILL

Dad's home.

SHARON

Will...Please...Don't...

FATHER ENTERS.

WILL

Hi, Dad. How was work?

FATHER

Would you look at this place. It's a damned pig sty!

(to Will)

I thought I told you to clean up this mess!

WILL

I was busy.

FATHER

With what, trying to get yourself thrown in jail

again?

WILL

No, I...

FATHER

I don't want to hear it. Get this place cleaned up.

Now!

(to Sharon)

Did you go to the doctor yet?

SHARON

I went yesterday.

FATHER

Well, what did he say?

SHARON

Uh...

FATHER

Come on, spit it out.

WILL

Jim knocked her up. She's pregnant.

FATHER

What!

WILL

And he wants her to get an abortion.

FATHER

(to Sharon)

Is this true?

SHARON

Daddy...

FATHER

Oh, God! How could you do this? How could you

commit such a filthy, disgusting, contemptible sin?

I thought I told you I didn't want you to see him

anymore.

SHARON

But, Daddy...

FATHER

Don't, "but Daddy" me. Didn't I tell you to stop

seeing him?

(pause)

Didn't I?

WILL

You sure did.

FATHER

Shut up!

(to Sharon)

How far along is it?

SHARON

Six weeks.

FATHER

Well, I'm not going to take this sitting down. I

didn't want to do this, but I've got no choice now.

FATHER PICKS UP THE PHONE AND DIALS.

SHARON

Who are you calling?

FATHER

The police.

SHARON

Daddy...please...don't...

FATHER

You should've listened to me. You deliberately

disobeyed me, and look where it's got you. You'd

better get your ass to church, missy, and hope that

God forgives you for this terrible sin you've

committed.

(into the phone)

Hello, I'm calling to report a rape.

SHARON

Daddy!

SHARON EXITS IN TEARS.

FATHER

Sharon! Sharon, come back here!

OUTSIDE DOOR SLAMS. CURTAIN.

SCENE 4

NIGHTTIME AT A LOCAL DINER. WILL,

LARRY, AND DANNY ARE EATING AND TALKING.

LARRY

You shouldn't a done that, man.

WILL

He had it comin' to him.

DANNY

You know he's gonna come after you.

WILL

I'm not afraid of him. Besides, he's gonna be in

the joint for a long time, and when he gets out I

probably won't even be livin' here anymore. I'm

glad I did it. He deserved it.

DANNY

What did he ever do to you?

WILL

He was born, that's what he did.

LARRY

You did it just because you hate him?

WILL

That's the best reason.

DANNY

Yeah, but how could you do that to your own sister?

WILL

She's just a bitch, and any bitch that screws Jim is

no sister of mine.

DANNY

That's cold.

WILL

Hey, you don't know the whole story, so why don't

you just keep your opinions to yourself.

DANNY

I just don't see how you could do that. I mean...

She's your sister, and you just ratted her out to

your old man to hurt Jim.

WILL

Hey, me and Sharon never got along, all right. Ever

since I got arrested she looked down on me and

treated me like shit, so don't try to tell me she

didn't deserve it.

THEY SIT TENSELY IN SILENCE FOR A FEW

MOMENTS AND EAT.

LARRY

Look, let's just drop it, okay?

DANNY

Larry's right. There's no sense in arguing about

it. It happened, and it's over. Nothin' can change

that now.

WILL

I gotta take a piss.

WILL STANDS UP AND EXITS.

DANNY

(shaking his head)

That's fucked up.

LARRY

What is?

DANNY

(snapping his fingers in Larry's face)

Earth to Larry. Earth to Larry. Haven't you been

paying attention?

LARRY

You mean about Jim and Sharon?

DANNY

What else?

LARRY

I...

DANNY

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm gonna cover my

ass a lot more when Will's around from now on. If

he'll turn on his own family, he'll turn on anyone.

LARRY

Well, he doesn't get along with his sister.

DANNY

That's no excuse. What do you think's gonna happen

to her now?

LARRY

I don't know.

DANNY

Neither do I, but you can bet it won't be good now

that her father knows.

LARRY

I still can't believe he had Jim thrown in jail.

DANNY

I know. I don't see what the big deal is. I mean,

it's not like we're living in the Middle Ages; girls

Sharon's age have babies all the time now. Well,

I'll tell you one thing for sure, I wouldn't trust

Will as far as I could throw him.

WILL ENTERS AND SITS DOWN.

WILL

Man, that toilet is disgusting. Some asshole

smeared shit all over the seat.

DANNY

Do you mind? We're still eating?

WILL

You know, this place is a real dump. I don't know

why we eat here all the time.

DANNY

If you don't like it - leave.

WILL

I got nowhere else to go.

DANNY

Then shut up.

WILL

You lookin' for a fight?

DANNY

No, I'm just tired of your bitching.

LARRY

Hey! Uh...Where... Where do you guys want to go

after this?

WILL

The newsstand I guess.

LARRY

No! I mean...Uh... I'm tired of hangin' out at

the newsstand. That place is...

DANNY

Dead.

WILL

What?

DANNY

Yeah, there's never anything to do there.

(pause)

I guess I'm gonna go home. I'm too full to do

anything but sleep, anyway.

DANNY STANDS.

DANNY

(continuing)

I'll see you tomorrow.

WILL

You're leavin'?

DANNY

I'm tired, and I gotta get up early tomorrow.

LARRY

What for?

DANNY

I gotta go to an interview in the city.

WILL

Get out! You? You're goin' for a job?

DANNY

I need money. I can't be a bum all my life.

LARRY

Good luck.

DANNY

Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow.

DANNY EXITS. WILL SMACKS LARRY ON THE

SIDE OF THE HEAD.

WILL

You idiot! What did you tell him?

LARRY

(defensively)

Nothin.

WILL

He left pretty abruptly for you to have said nothin'.

LARRY

Really. I didn't say a thing.

WILL

Then what was that crack he made about the newsstand

being dead?

LARRY

It's just an expression. Come on, we use it all the

time. I didn't tell him anything.

WILL

You better not have.

LARRY

I didn't. I swear.

WILL

Remember, we're in this together. If I go down, you

go down with me.

LARRY

I know. I know. You don't have to remind me.

PAUSE.

WILL

Look, man. I'm just a little on edge lately.

LARRY

You're not the only one. I can't eat or sleep, and

when I do, I have nightmares. I think I'm losin' my

mind. I keep hearing that scream. I can't take it

anymore!

WILL

Will you keep it down. Do you want everyone to hear

you?

LARRY

I'm just so sick of it all. I can't think about

anything else.

WILL

Come on, man, lighten up. You just gotta forget

about it. Everything'll be all right, you'll see.

LARRY

I don't know. I got a bad feeling...

WILL

You'll see. Everything'll be okay. You just need a

little Vacation. Yeah, that's what you need, a

vacation. I'll tell you what - we'll go upstate

this weekend. I know these girls up there who'll

make you forget all about it. Whadda ya say?

LARRY

Maybe you're right.

WILL

You know it. Come on, it'll be fun.

LARRY

(nodding)

All right. All right, I'll go.

WILL

Great. I'll set everything up. Man, are we gonna

party this weekend!

WILL STANDS UP.

WILL

(continuing)

Come on, let's get out of this dump.

WILL AND LARRY EXIT.

ACT 3

SCENE 1

A PRISON CAFETERIA. LARRY IS SITTING

BY HIMSELF, EATING. JIM ENTERS STAGE

LEFT WITH FOOD TRAY AND SEES LARRY.

JIM

Larry?

LARRY

Jim!

JIM

What the hell are you doin' here?

JIM SITS DOWN.

LARRY

It's a long story.

JIM

Well, I've got plenty of time. How the fuck did you

end up in this hellhole, anyway?

LARRY

Well, just before you got arrested, me and Will went

down to the tracks behind the newsstand to meet the

hooker that hung out there.

JIM

You mean that foul bitch with the black hair?

LARRY

Yeah, that's the one. Anyway, we were just lookin'

for some fun, but Will was drunk and he tried to

rape her.

JIM

(attentively)

Yeah?

LARRY

Yeah. And he started hitting her around. She

kicked him in the balls and tried to get away, but

Will grabbed her and killed her with a flashlight.

JIM

A flashlight?

LARRY

Yeah, you know. One of those big metal ones. He

crushed her skull with it.

JIM

Oh man. That's fucked up. What'd you do?

LARRY

We hid the body under some leaves and branches and

stuff, and then we left.

JIM

So, how'd you get busted?

LARRY

Well, about six months ago we were upstate,

partying with these girls that Will knew, and a

couple cops showed up, shining their flashlights in

our faces. They caught Will in the back seat with

one of the girls, and it turns out that they were

both underage. You know Will is still on probation,

so when they brought us to the police station, he

made a deal with the cops and told them that I

killed the hooker.

JIM

So Will didn't get arrested?

LARRY

No, and now I have to serve his sentence.

JIM

That scumbag!

LARRY

Jim, I don't think I can make it in here, man.

I've only been here a few weeks and I already got

put in the infirmary. I don't know what to do,

man. It feels like they're all out to get me.

JIM

Take it easy, man. You just gotta play the game.

It's all attitude. You gotta let them know that

they can't fuck with you.

LARRY

I don't know if I can do it, man. I just don't know.

JIM

You gotta make some friends in this place. If you

try to go it alone, you'll be dead in no time.

LARRY

But I don't know anyone.

A BELL RINGS AND THE PRISONERS START

WALKING BACK TO THEIR CELLS. JIM AND

LARRY STAND.

JIM

Meet me by the west wall bleachers later, when we go

outside, and I'll introduce you to some people.

ALL EXIT.

SCENE 2

THE PRISON YARD. JIM IS STANDING IN

FRONT OF THE BLEACHERS WEARING A

PEACOAT. ENTER CARL, A BIG BLACK

INMATE.

CARL

Yo, Jim. Word up, man.

JIM

Hey, Carl. How's it goin'?

CARL

Not bad, but it looks like duh bruthas are gettin'

ready fo' somethin', somethin' big.

JIM

Skinheads?

CARL

Maybe, maybe not. It's somethin' big though. You

can bet yo' white ass on that.

JIM

Thanks for the tip, man.

PAUSE WHILE JIM LOOKS AROUND.

CARL

Yo, homes. You waitin' fo' somethin'?

JIM

Yeah. I'm waiting for a friend of mine who just got

in a few weeks ago. His name's Larry. Maybe

you've seen him around. He's about

(raising his hand to chest level)

this tall, skinny, and has thinning blond hair.

CARL

Blue eyes, almost bald, funny voice?

JIM

Yeah, that's right. You've seen him?

CARL

Yeah, bro. He's dead. Spider and his homies were

mussin' with him in duh laundry room after

breakfast. They wanted to get dem a piece uh dat

white ass, and after they's was finished, he ran out

an' jumped over duh rails on D block.

JIM

Aw, Jesus.

CURTAIN.

ACT 4

SCENE 1

DANNY'S KITCHEN, SIX MONTHS LATER.

DANNY IS MAKING HIMSELF DINNER WHEN THE

BELL RINGS. HE ANSWERS THE DOOR AND

JIM ENTERS.

JIM

Hi, Dan.

DANNY

Jim! How are you?

JIM

Pretty good, considering...

DANNY

Yeah, well you look great. When did you get out?

JIM

This morning.

DANNY

Got early parole, huh. Well, it's good to see you

again. Have a seat.

(JIM SITS.)

DANNY

(continuing)

You want something to eat? I was just making myself

some dinner.

JIM

Nah, I just ate.

DANNY

Coffee?

JIM

Okay.

DANNY

So, how's it feel to be a free man?

JIM

Good.

PAUSE.

JIM

(continuing)

Have you heard about Larry?

DANNY

Yeah. That Will's a real low-life: first he gets

you busted, then he rats on Larry.

JIM

Wait a minute. It was Will who got me arrested?

DANNY

I thought you knew.

JIM

Well, I didn't know.

DANNY

Yeah. He told his father about you getting Sharon

pregnant, and his father went through the roof and

called the cops.

JIM

That bastard!

DANNY

And...Uh... Jim. That's not all.

JIM

What? What else did that prick do?

DANNY

Well, just after you got sentenced, Sharon was

really upset and she had a nervous breakdown.

JIM

What?

DANNY

She went into labor and lost the baby.

JIM

Aw, geeze. Is she all right? Where is she now?

DANNY

I don't think you want to see her, man.

JIM

Where!

DANNY

She's in Creedmoor Sanitarium.

JIM

God. How is she? Have you seen her?

DANNY

Not good. They keep her so stoned out on

medication, she doesn't remember her own name.

JIM

Oh, Christ. How could this have happened?

(pause)

It's all Will's fault. Well, that bastard's gonna

get his!

JIM STANDS.

DANNY

What are you gonna do?

JIM

You're better off not knowing.

DANNY

Jim, you don't wanna go and do somethin' crazy. You

just got out.

JIM

I can't let him get away with it. He has to answer

for what he's done.

JIM EXITS. DANNY PICKS UP THE PHONE

AND DIALS.

DANNY

Hello, Will? It's Danny. Look, I thought I should

warn you that Jim just got out.

(pause)

No, he left already. He's on his way over, and man,

is he pissed.

(pause)

Well, I thought you oughta know before someone else

gets hurt.

SCENE 2

A ROOM IN WILL'S HOUSE. THE LIGHTS ARE

OUT, AND WILL IS SITTING IN THE DARK.

JIM BREAKS DOWN THE DOOR AND STORMS IN.

HE TURNS ON THE LIGHTS TO FIND WILL

SITTING WITH A GUN POINTED AT THE DOOR.

WILL

Well, if it isn't the prodigal asshole.

JIM STANDS STUNNED AND OUT OF BREATH.

WILL

(continuing)

What's the matter - cat got your tongue?

(pause)

I guess this is kind of a disappointment, huh? What

were you gonna do, kill me? Well, I guess you won't

have much of a chance to do that. After all, I am

holding all the cards - and the gun.

JIM

(huffing slightly)

You... Why? Why'd you do it? I know you never

liked me, but how could you hurt Sharon and Larry?

They didn't do anything to you.

WILL

It was either me or Larry, and sooner or later he

was gonna break. I knew he'd end up turning himself

in, so when we got busted upstate I told the pigs

that he killed the bitch. Better him than me. I

couldn't stand goin' back to the joint again.

JIM

And Sharon?

WILL

I didn't do anything to her - you did! It's your

fault. You knocked her up. If it wasn't for you,

she wouldn't be in the loony bin right now. You

fucked her up, not me.

JIM IS VISIBLY GUILT STRICKEN.

JIM

But you must have known how she would react if

anything happened to me. Were you so determined to

hurt me that you didn't care what happened to your

own sister?

WILL

That bitch? I'm glad she went nuts. She had it

comin' to her. And I'm sure happy she lost that

bastard of yours - the last thing in the world I

would want is to be related to an asshole like you.

You're nothin' but white trash.

JIM SCREAMS AND CHARGES AT WILL.

DURING THE STRUGGLE THE GUN GOES OFF

AND JIM IS SHOT. JIM FALLS TO THE

FLOOR HOLDING ONTO WILL. WILL PUSHES

JIM OFF WITH DISDAIN AND JIM FALLS FLAT

ON HIS BACK.

WILL

(continuing)

You deserve to die.

FATHER RUNS IN AND SEES JIM ON THE

FLOOR BLEEDING, DROPS TO HIS KNEES,

RESTS JIM'S HEAD IN HIS LAP, AND BEGINS

TO WEEP.

FATHER

Oh, dear God! What have I done! What have I done!

(looking up at Will)

What have you done! Do you know what you've done?

(looking back at Jim)

Oh, God! I'm so sorry. Forgive me. Please forgive

me, son. My son.

(kisses Jim's brow)

My son.

JIM DIES.

FATHER

(continuing; sobbing more intensely)

Oh, Lord. No. No! Noooo!

THE END

[Note: I started writing this play for my playwriting workshop in college but didn't finish it until after the semester.]