Scene 6

(Scrim lights come up on prison cells.  GOMEZ, JUDE, and SPIDER can be seen in silhouette.  The scene begins with a brief silence.)

GOMEZ
Listen . . .
two beats)

SPIDER
I don’t hear nothing.

GOMEZ
Nothing is something else.  Now tell me – what is it?

SPIDER
(Listening – another beat)
It’s . . . I don’t know . . . Peace?

JUDE
I don’t hear no birdie’s singing.  How ‘bout you, Gomez?  You hear the sweet sound of Tweetie’s lending you ‘the peace’?

GOMEZ
Nothing under my pillow.  So, what’s the answer?

SPIDER
We playing a game?

GOMEZ
What you say, Jude – we playing games?

JUDE
Me and Ona, we don’t play games.  No girl, this is what you call the real.

SPIDER
The quiet?

JUDE
(quickly)
This bitch is getting on my last nerve.  She is just too damn stupid.

GOMEZ
And uuuuugly!  Now get to the crust and name it.  Name it!

SPIDER
Bucky –

GOMEZ
Wrong answer.

SPIDER
Bucky –

GOMEZ
She can’t hear you.

JUDE
Bucky’s out for the night, sugar.  She ain’t up to your whining.

GOMEZ
That’s right.  Out for the night; maybe longer.  Her line ‘been temporarily disconnected.

SPIDER
Why?  Where is Bucky? What’s happened to her?

GOMEZ
Sensibility hit her mind.  Like a rock.

JUDE
More like a jolt of some kind.

SPIDER
Wha-- . . . what . . . .

JUDE
Kinda’ like the feel you’re beginning to remember.  Listen to it.

GOMEZ
Closing in like ice.  Now say it.

SPIDER
Stop.

JUDE
The name . . .

SPIDER
Shut up!

GOMEZ
Come up with it fast, or you get the hot iron in the morning.

SPIDER
I’m . . .  it’s . . .

GOMEZ
Spider must be forward to sitting the saddle side-wise a couple of days . . .  what do you hear, girl?

SPIDER
(Blurts it out)
Fear.

JUDE
Say again?

SPIDER
The . . . silence.
(pause; 4 beats)
I hear it.  It’s . . . fear.

GOMEZ
Little girl, you just gave yourself one fine moment.

(Silence)

JUDE
In your bones . . .

SPIDER
Down, lower.

GOMEZ
Shutting you down, from mouth to what makes it roll.

JUDE
Know it.

GOMEZ
Trust it.

SPIDER
(quietly)
Bucky . . .

JUDE
No.

SPIDER
Bucky?

GOMEZ
The man, he make it . . .

SPIDER
Jefferson.  Jefferson?
(No response)

JUDE
And the man, he take it away.

SPIDER
No . . . .

JUDE
Gone . . . .

SPIDER
. . . voice.

GOMEZ
Now you’re hearing right.
(There is a long silence, followed by)

Lights slowly fading into a sulfuric yellow; then black.

© Patricia Love. All rights reserved.