Characters
AMERICAN BUFFALO
DON DUBROW, A man in his late forties, the owner of Don's Resale Shop WALTER COLE, called TEACH, a friend and associate of Don BOB, Don's gopher THE SCENE Don's Resale Shop. A junkshop. THE TIME One Friday. Act One takes place in the morning; Act Two starts around 11:00 that night.
Mamet, David, 1947-, American Buffalo Electronic Edition by Alexander Street Press, L.L.C., 2011 . © David Mamet, 1976. Also published in American Buffalo, Grove Press, New York, NY, 1976. Formatted for student actors’ ease of use FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. Material accessible by any OU student through WorldCat at http://solomon.nadr.alexanderstreet.com/cgibin/asp/philo/navigate.pl?nadr.821.
1
Act 1
DONNY DUBROW You don't come in, Bob. You don't
come in until you do a thing.
ACT I Don's Resale Shop. Morning. DON and BOB are sitting.
BOBBY He didn't come out. DONNY DUBROW What do I care, Bob, if he came
DONNY DUBROW So?
out or not? You're s'posed to watch the guy, you watch him. Am I wrong?
Pause. So what, Bob? Pause.
BOBBY I just went to the back.
BOBBY I'm sorry, Donny.
Pause.
DONNY DUBROW Why?
Pause. Why did you do that?
DONNY DUBROW All right.
BOBBY 'Cause he wasn't coming out the front.
BOBBY I'm sorry, Donny.
Pause.
DONNY DUBROW Well, Bob, I'm sorry, but this isn't
good enough. If you want to do business...if we got a business deal, it isn't good enough. I want you to remember this.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah. BOBBY Maybe he's still in there.
BOBBY I do.
DONNY DUBROW If you think that, Bob, how come
you're here?
DONNY DUBROW Yeah, now...but later, what?
Pause. Just one thing, Bob. Action counts. Pause. Action talks and bullshit walks.
BOBBY I came in.
Pause.
BOBBY I only went around to see he's coming out
the back.
2
DONNY DUBROW No, don't go fuck yourself around
BOBBY Yeah.
with these excuses. Pause.
DONNY DUBROW You take him and you put him
down in some strange town with just a nickel in his pocket, and by nightfall he'll have that town by the balls. This is not talk, Bob, this is action. Pause.
BOBBY I'm sorry. DONNY DUBROW Don't tell me that you're sorry. I'm
not mad at you. BOBBY He's a real good card player. BOBBY You're not? DONNY DUBROW You're fucking A he is, Bob, and
this is what I'm getting at. Skill. Skill and talent and the balls to arrive at your own conclusions. The fucker won four hundred bucks last night.
DONNY DUBROW
(Pause) Let's clean up here. BOB starts to clean up the debris around the poker table. The only thing I'm trying to teach you something here.
BOBBY Yeah?
BOBBY Okay.
DONNY DUBROW Oh yeah.
DONNY DUBROW Now lookit Fletcher.
BOBBY And who was playing?
BOBBY Fletch?
DONNY DUBROW Me...
DONNY DUBROW Now, Fletcher is a standup guy.
BOBBY Uh-huh...
BOBBY Yeah.
DONNY DUBROW And Teach...
DONNY DUBROW I don't give a shit. He is a fellow
BOBBY (How'd Teach do?)
stands for something-
3
[1]
DONNY DUBROW (Not too good.)
BOBBY I like her.
BOBBY (No, huh?)
DONNY DUBROW Fuck, I like her, too. (There's
nothing wrong in that.) DONNY DUBROW (No.)...and Earl was here... BOBBY (No.) BOBBY Uh-huh... DONNY DUBROW I mean, she treats you right. DONNY DUBROW And Fletcher. BOBBY Uh-huh. How'd she do? BOBBY How'd he do? DONNY DUBROW She did okay. DONNY DUBROW He won four hundred bucks.
Pause.
BOBBY And who else won?
BOBBY You win?
DONNY DUBROW Ruthie, she won.
DONNY DUBROW I did all right.
BOBBY She won, huh?
BOBBY Yeah?
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah. I did okay. Not like Fletch...
BOBBY She does okay.
BOBBY No, huh?
DONNY DUBROW Oh yeah...
DONNY DUBROW I mean, Fletcher, he plays cards.
BOBBY She's an okay card player.
BOBBY He's real sharp.
DONNY DUBROW Yes, she is.
DONNY DUBROW You're goddamn right he is.
4
BOBBY I know it.
DONNY DUBROW When was this?
DONNY DUBROW Was he born that way?
BOBBY On the back of her truck.
BOBBY Huh?
DONNY DUBROW That wasn't, I don't think, her pig
iron. DONNY DUBROW I'm saying was he born that way or
do you think he had to learn it?
BOBBY No?
BOBBY Learn it.
DONNY DUBROW That was his pig iron, Bob.
DONNY DUBROW Goddamn right he did, and don't
BOBBY Yeah?
forget it. DONNY DUBROW Yeah. He bought it off her.
Everything, Bobby: it's going to happen to you, it's not going to happen to you, the important thing is can you deal with it, and can you learn from it. Pause. And this is why I'm telling you to stand up. It's no different with you than with anyone else. Everything that I or Fletcher know we picked up on the street That's all business is...common sense, experience, and talent.
Pause. BOBBY Well, she was real mad at him. DONNY DUBROW She was. BOBBY Yup. DONNY DUBROW She was mad at him?
BOBBY Like when he jewed Ruthie out that pig iron. BOBBY Yeah. That he stole her pig iron. DONNY DUBROW What pig iron? DONNY DUBROW He didn't steal it, Bob. BOBBY That he got off her that time. BOBBY No?
5
Pause. DONNY DUBROW No. DONNY DUBROW There's lotsa people on this street,
DONNY DUBROW Well, that very well may be, Bob,
Bob, they want this and they want that. Do anything to get it. You don't have friends this life....You want some breakfast?
but the fact remains that it was business. That's what business is.
BOBBY I'm not hungry.
BOBBY She was mad at him ...
Pause. BOBBY What? DONNY DUBROW Never skip breakfast, Bob. DONNY DUBROW People taking care of themselves.
Huh?
BOBBY Why?
BOBBY No.
DONNY DUBROW Breakfast...is the most important
meal of the day. DONNY DUBROW 'Cause there's business and
there's friendship, Bobby... there are many things, and when you walk around you hear a lot of things, and what you got to do is keep clear who your friends are, and who treated you like what. Or else the rest is garbage, Bob, because I want to tell you something.
BOBBY I'm not hungry. DONNY DUBROW It makes no earthly difference in
the world. You know how much nutritive benefits they got in coffee? Zero. Not one thing. The stuff eats you up. You can't live on coffee, Bobby. (And I've told you this before.) You cannot live on cigarettes. You may feel good, you may feel fine, but something's getting overworked, and you are going to pay for it.
BOBBY Okay. DONNY DUBROW Things are not always what they
seem to be. Now: What do you see me eat when I come in here every day?
BOBBY I know.
6
DONNY DUBROW Well, then, I'll get you some. What
BOBBY Coffee.
do you think? DONNY DUBROW Come on, Bob, don't fuck with me.
I drink a little coffee ... but what do I eat?
BOBBY Thanks, Donny.
BOBBY Yogurt.
DONNY DUBROW It's for your own good. Don't
thank me... DONNY DUBROW Why? BOBBY Okay. BOBBY Because it's good for you. DONNY DUBROW I just can't use you in here like a DONNY DUBROW You're goddamn right. And it
zombie.
wouldn't kill you to take a vitamin BOBBY I just went around the back. BOBBY They're too expensive. DONNY DUBROW I don't care. Do you see? Do you DONNY DUBROW Don't worry about it. You should
just take 'em.
see what I'm getting at? Pause.
BOBBY I can't afford 'em.
BOBBY Yeah.
Pause. DONNY DUBROW Don't worry about it. DONNY DUBROW Well, we'll see. BOBBY You'll buy some for me? BOBBY I'm sorry, Donny. DONNY DUBROW Do you need 'em? DONNY DUBROW Well, we'll see. BOBBY Yeah. WALTER COLE
7
(appears in the doorway and enters the store) Good morning.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
BOBBY Morning, Teach.
WALTER COLE Talk about the game...
WALTER COLE
DONNY DUBROW ...yeah.
(walks around the store a bit in silence) Fuckin' Ruthie, fuckin' Ruthie, fuckin' Ruthie, fuckin' Ruthie, fuckin' Ruthie.
WALTER COLE ...so on. Down I sit. "Hi, hi." I take a
DONNY DUBROW What?
DONNY DUBROW ...uh-huh...
WALTER COLE Fuckin' Ruthie...
WALTER COLE ..and she goes "Help yourself."
DONNY DUBROW ...yeah?
Help myself.
WALTER COLE I come into the Riverside to get a cup
I should help myself to half a piece of toast it's four slices for a quarter. I should have a nickel every time we're over at the game, I pop for coffee...cigarettes...a sweet roll, never say word.
piece of toast off Grace's plate...
of coffee, right? I sit down at the table Grace and Ruthie. DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
"Bobby, see who wants what." Huh? A fucking roastbeef sandwich. (To BOB) Am I right? (To DON) Ahh, shit. We're sitting down, how many times do I pick up the check? But (No!) because I never go and make a big thing out of it--it's no big thing--and flaunt like "This one's on me" like some bust-out asshole, but I naturally assume that I'm with friends, and don't forget who's who when someone
WALTER COLE I'm gonna order just a cup of coffee. DONNY DUBROW Right. WALTER COLE So Grace and Ruthie's having
breakfast, and they're done. Plates...crusts of stuff all over...So we'll shoot the shit.
8
gets behind a half a yard or needs some help with (huh?) some fucking rent, or drops enormous piles of money at the track, or someone's sick or something...
fuck around behind somebody's back, I don't like the way they're treating me. (Or pray some brick safe falls and hits them on the head, they're walking down the street.)
DONNY DUBROW
But to have that shithead turn, in one breath, every fucking sweet roll that I ever ate with them into ground glass (I'm wondering were they eating it and thinking "This guy's an idiot to blow a fucking quarter on his friends"...)
(to BOB) This is what I'm talking about. WALTER COLE Only (and I tell you this, Don). Only,
and I'm not, I don't think, casting anything on anyone: from the mouth of a Southern bulldyke asshole ingrate of a vicious nowhere cunt can this trash come. (To BOB) And I take nothing back, and I know you're close with them.
...this hurts me, Don. This hurts me in a way I don't know what the fuck to do. Pause.
BOBBY With Grace and Ruthie? DONNY DUBROW You're probably just upset. WALTER COLE Yes. WALTER COLE You're fuckin' A I'm upset. I BOBBY (I like 'em.)
am very upset, Don.
WALTER COLE I have always treated everybody
DONNY DUBROW They got their problems, too,
more than fair, and never gone around complaining. Is this true, Don?
Teach. WALTER COLE I would like to have their problems.
DONNY DUBROW Yup. DONNY DUBROW All I'm saying,
nothing personal...they were probably, uh, talking about something.
WALTER COLE Someone is against me, that's their
problem...I can look out for myself, and I don't got to
9
WALTER COLE Then let them talk about it, then. No,
I am sorry, Don, I cannot brush this off. They treat me like an asshole, they are an asshole. Pause. The only way to teach these people is to kill them. Pause.
BOBBY What kind? DONNY DUBROW You know, plain, and, if they don't
got it, uh, something else. And get something for yourself. BOBBY What?
DONNY DUBROW You want some coffee? DONNY DUBROW Whatever you want. But get WALTER COLE I'm not hungry.
something to eat, and whatever you want to drink, and get Teacher a coffee.
DONNY DUBROW Come on, I'm sending Bobby to the
Riverside.
BOBBY Boston, Teach?
WALTER COLE (Fuckin' joint...)
WALTER COLE No.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
BOBBY What?
WALTER COLE (They harbor assholes in there...)
WALTER COLE Black.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah. Come on, Teach, what do
BOBBY Right.
you want? Bob? DONNY DUBROW And something for yourself to eat. BOBBY Yeah?
(To TEACH) He doesn't want to eat.
DONNY DUBROW
WALTER COLE
(to TEACH) Come on, he's going anyway. (To BOB, handing him a bill) Get me a Boston, and go for the yogurt.
(to BOB) You got to eat (And this is what I'm saying at The Riverside.) Pause.
10
BOBBY (Black coffee.)
BOBBY Okay.
DONNY DUBROW And get something for yourself to
WALTER COLE And tell the broad if it's for me she'll
eat. (To TEACH) What do you want to eat? An English muffin? (To BOB) Get Teach an English muffin.
give you more. BOBBY Okay. DONNY DUBROW Anything else you want?
WALTER COLE I don't want an English muffin. WALTER COLE No. DONNY DUBROW Get him an English muffin, and
make sure they give you jelly.
DONNY DUBROW A cantaloupe?
WALTER COLE I don't want an English muffin.
WALTER COLE I never eat cantaloupe.
DONNY DUBROW What do you want?
DONNY DUBROW No?
WALTER COLE I don't want anything.
WALTER COLE It gives me the runs.
BOBBY Come on, Teach, eat something.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah?
Pause. WALTER COLE And tell him he shouldn't say DONNY DUBROW You'll feel better you eat
anything to Ruthie.
something, Teach. Pause.
DONNY DUBROW He wouldn't.
WALTER COLE
WALTER COLE No? No, you're right. I'm sorry, Bob.
(to BOB) Tell 'em to give you an order of bacon, real dry, real crisp.
BOBBY It's okay.
11
WALTER COLE I'm upset.
WALTER COLE Last night? You were here, Don.
Pause. How'd you do? BOBBY It's okay, Teach.
Pause.
DONNY DUBROW Not well.
WALTER COLE Thank you.
WALTER COLE Mmm.
BOBBY You're welcome.
DONNY DUBROW The only one won any money,
BOB starts to exit.
Fletch and Ruthie.
DONNY DUBROW And the plain if they got it. WALTER COLE BOBBY I will.
(Exits.) DONNY DUBROW He wouldn't say anything.
(Pause) Cunt had to win two hundred dollars. DONNY DUBROW She's a good card player. WALTER COLE She is not a good card player, Don.
Pause. Cunt. Pause. There is not one loyal bone in that bitch's body.
She is a mooch and she is a locksmith and she plays like a woman. Pause. Fletcher's a card player, I'll give him that. But Ruthie...I mean, you see how she fucking plays...
DONNY DUBROW How'd you finally do last night?
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
WALTER COLE This has nothing to do with that.
WALTER COLE And always with that cunt on her
WALTER COLE What the fuck do I care...
DONNY DUBROW No, I know. I'm just
saying...for talk..
shoulder. DONNY DUBROW Grace? 12
WALTER COLE Yes.
Pause. This is all I'm saying, Don. I know you got a soft spot in your heart for Ruthie...
DONNY DUBROW Grace is her partner.
DONNY DUBROW ...yeah?
WALTER COLE Then let her be her partner, then.
WALTER COLE I know you like the broad and Grace
(You see what I'm talking about?) Everyone, they're sitting at the table and then Grace is going to walk around...fetch an ashtray... go for coffee...this...and everybody's all they aren't going to hide their cards, and they're going to make a show how they don't hunch over, and like that. I don't give a shit. I say the broad's her fucking partner, and she walks in back of me I'm going to hide my hand.
and, Bob, I know he likes 'em too.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah. WALTER COLE And I say anybody doesn't's out of
their mind. Pause. We're talking about money for chrissake, huh? We're talking about cards. Friendship is friendship, and a wonderful thing, and I am all for it. I have never said different, and you know me on this point.
DONNY DUBROW (He likes 'em.) WALTER COLE And I like 'em too. (I know, I know.) I
m not averse to this. I'm not averse to sitting down. (I know we will sit down.) These things happen, I'm not saying that they don't ...and yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I lost a bundle at the game and blah blah blah. Pause. But all I ever ask (and I would say this to her face) is only she remembers who is who and not to go around with her or Gracie either with this attitude. "The Past is Past, and this is Now, and so Fuck You." You see? DONNY DUBROW Yes.
Long pause. Okay. WALTER COLE So what's new?
But let's just keep it separate huh, let's just keep the two apart, and maybe we can deal with each other like some human beings.
DONNY DUBROW Nothing. 13
WALTER COLE Same old shit, huh?
DONNY DUBROW Yeah, You know. You never know
with Fletcher. DONNY DUBROW Yup. WALTER COLE No. WALTER COLE You seen my hat? DONNY DUBROW He might drop in the morning.. DONNY DUBROW No. Did you leave it here? WALTER COLE Yeah. WALTER COLE Yeah.
Pause.
DONNY DUBROW And then he might, he's gone for
ten or fifteen days you never know he's gone. DONNY DUBROW You ask them over at The Riv? WALTER COLE Yeah. WALTER COLE I left it here.
Pause.
DONNY DUBROW Why?
DONNY DUBROW Well, you left it here, it's here.
WALTER COLE I want to talk to him.
WALTER COLE You seen it?
DONNY DUBROW
(Pause) Ruth would know. DONNY DUBROW No.
Pause.
WALTER COLE You sure you didn't seen my hat?
WALTER COLE Fletch been in?
DONNY DUBROW I didn't see it. No.
Pause. Ruthie might know. DONNY DUBROW No. WALTER COLE (Vicious dyke.) WALTER COLE Prolly drop in one or so, huh? DONNY DUBROW Look in the John.
14
WALTER COLE It isn't in the John. I wouldn't leave it
Just like anything. They license out the shit and everybody makes it.
there. WALTER COLE Yeah? (I knew that.) DONNY DUBROW Do you got something up with
Fletch?
DONNY DUBROW Just like now. They had combs,
WALTER COLE No. Just I have to talk to him.
and brushes...you know, brushes with the thing on 'em...
DONNY DUBROW He'll probably show up.
WALTER COLE Yeah. I know. They had...uh...what?
Clothing too, huh? WALTER COLE Oh yeah...
(Pause. Indicating objects on the counter) What're these?
DONNY DUBROW I think. Sure. Everything. And
DONNY DUBROW Those?
WALTER COLE They got that much of it around?
WALTER COLE Yeah.
DONNY DUBROW Shit yes. (It's not that long ago.)
DONNY DUBROW They're from 1933. WALTER COLE From the thing?
there're guys they just collect the stuff.
The thing, it ran two years, and they had (I don't know) all kinds of people every year they're buying everything that they can lay their hands on that they're going to take it back to Buffalo to give it, you know, to their aunt, and it mounts up.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
Pause.
WALTER COLE What does it go for?
WALTER COLE Nice.
DONNY DUBROW The compact?
DONNY DUBROW They had a whole market in 'em.
WALTER COLE Yeah.
15
DONNY DUBROW Aah...(You want it?)
DONNY DUBROW Yeah. Everything.
WALTER COLE No.
WALTER COLE
(snorts) What a bunch of crap, huh? DONNY DUBROW Oh. I'm just asking. I
mean, you want it...
DONNY DUBROW Oh yeah.
WALTER COLE No. I mean somebody
WALTER COLE Every goddamn thing.
walks in here... DONNY DUBROW Yes. DONNY DUBROW Oh. Somebody walks in
here...(This shit's fashionable...)
WALTER COLE If I kept the stuff that I threw out ...
WALTER COLE (I don't doubt it.)
DONNY DUBROW ... yes.
DONNY DUBROW ...and they're gonna have to go like
WALTER COLE I would be a wealthy man today. I
fifteen bucks.
would be cruising on some European yacht.
WALTER COLE You're fulla shit.
DONNY DUBROW Uh-huh.
DONNY DUBROW My word of honor.
WALTER COLE
(Shit my father used to keep in his desk drawer.) WALTER COLE No shit. DONNY DUBROW DONNY DUBROW Everything like that.
(My father, too.)
WALTER COLE
WALTER COLE
(A bunch of fucking thieves.)
(The basement ... )
16
DONNY DUBROW
BOBBY Ruthie isn't mad at you.
(Uh-huh.) WALTER COLE She isn't? WALTER COLE
(Fuckin' toys in the backyard, for chrissake ... )
BOBBY No.
DONNY DUBROW
WALTER COLE How do you know?
(Don't even talk about it.) BOBBY I found out. WALTER COLE It's ... I don't know.
Pause. You want to play some gin?
WALTER COLE How?
DONNY DUBROW Maybe later.
BOBBY I talked to her.
WALTER COLE Okay.
WALTER COLE You talked to her.
Pause. I dunno. Pause. Fucking day ... Pause. Fucking weather ... Pause.
BOBBY Yes. WALTER COLE I asked you you weren't going to.
DONNY DUBROW You think it's going to rain?
BOBBY Well, she asked me.
WALTER COLE Yeah. I do. Later.
WALTER COLE What?
DONNY DUBROW Yeah?
BOBBY That were you over here.
WALTER COLE Well, look at it.
WALTER COLE What did you tell her?
BOB appears, carrying a paper bag with coffee and foodstuffs in it. Bobby, Bobby, Bobby, Bobby, Bobby.
BOBBY You were here.
17
WALTER COLE Oh.
DONNY DUBROW It's not health foods, Teach. It's
(He looks at DON.)
only yogurt.
DONNY DUBROW What did you say to her, Bob?
WALTER COLE That's not health foods?
BOBBY Just Teach was here.
DONNY DUBROW No. They've had it forever.
DONNY DUBROW And is she coming over here?
WALTER COLE Yogurt?
BOBBY I don't think so.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah. They used to joke about it
(They had the plain.)
on "My Little Margie." (To BOB) (Way before your time.)
DONNY DUBROW
(to TEACH) So? (This is all right.) (To BOB) All right, Bob. He looks at TEACH.
WALTER COLE Yeah? DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
WALTER COLE That's all right, Bob.
WALTER COLE What the fuck. A little bit can't hurt
(To self) (Everything's all right to someone ... ) DON takes bag and distributes contents to appropriate recipients. (To DON) You shouldn't eat that shit.
you. DONNY DUBROW It's good for you. WALTER COLE Okay, okay. Each one his own
DONNY DUBROW Why?
opinion. (Pause. To BOB) Was Fletcher over there?
WALTER COLE It's just I have a feeling about health
BOBBY No.
foods.
18
DONNY DUBROW Where's my coffee?
DONNY DUBROW What is it?
BOBBY It's not there?
BOBBY I saw him.
DONNY DUBROW No.
DONNY DUBROW Who?
Pause. BOBBY The guy. BOBBY I told 'em specially to put it in. DONNY DUBROW You saw the guy? DONNY DUBROW Where is it? BOBBY Yes. BOBBY They forgot it.
Pause. I'll go back and get it.
DONNY DUBROW That I'm talking about?
DONNY DUBROW Would you mind?
BOBBY Yes.
BOBBY No.
DONNY DUBROW Just now?
Pause. BOBBY Yeah. He's going somewhere. DONNY DUBROW You gonna get it? DONNY DUBROW He is. BOBBY Yeah.
Pause.
BOBBY Yeah. He's puttin' a suitcase in the car.
DONNY DUBROW What, Bob?
DONNY DUBROW The guy, or both of 'em?
BOBBY Can I talk to you?
BOBBY Just him.
Pause. DON goes to BOB. DONNY DUBROW He got in the car he drove off??
19
BOBBY He's coming down the stairs ...
DONNY DUBROW Now you're talking.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
BOBBY Like a raincoat.
BOBBY And he's got the suitcase ...
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
DON nods. He gets in the car ...
Pause. Good. Pause.
DONNY DUBROW Uh-huh ...
BOBBY Yeah, he's gone.
BOBBY He drives away.
DONNY DUBROW Bob, go get me that coffee, do you
mind? DONNY DUBROW So where is she? BOBBY No. BOBBY He's goin' to pick her up. DONNY DUBROW What did you get yourself to eat? DONNY DUBROW What was he wearing? BOBBY I didn't get anything. BOBBY Stuff. Traveling clothes. DONNY DUBROW Well, get me my coffee, and get DONNY DUBROW Okay.
yourself something to eat, okay?
Pause. Now you're talking. You see what I mean? BOBBY Okay. BOBBY Yeah. DONNY DUBROW All right.
(Good.) (Exits.) Pause.
BOBBY And he had a coat, too.
DONNY DUBROW How's your bacon?
20
WALTER COLE Aaaahh, they always fuck it up.
WALTER COLE Like the shop.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
DONNY DUBROW Well, no one's going to run it, I'm
WALTER COLE This time they fucked it up too burnt.
not here Pause.
DONNY DUBROW Mmmm.
WALTER COLE No.
Pause. You have to be here. WALTER COLE You got to be breathing on their
neck.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
DONNY DUBROW Mmmm.
WALTER COLE It's a one-man show.
WALTER COLE Like a lot of things.
DONNY DUBROW Uh-huh.
Pause. DONNY DUBROW Uh-huh. WALTER COLE So what is this thing with the kid? WALTER COLE Any business ...
Pause. I mean, is it anything, uh ...
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
DONNY DUBROW It's nothing ... you know..
WALTER COLE You want it run right, be there.
WALTER COLE Yeah.
Pause. It's what ...? DONNY DUBROW Yeah. DONNY DUBROW You know, it's just some guy we WALTER COLE Just like you.
spotted.
DONNY DUBROW What?
WALTER COLE Yeah. Some guy.
21
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
WALTER COLE Oh, yeah, she came by.
WALTER COLE
DONNY DUBROW Good.
(Some guy ... ) WALTER COLE You want to tell me what this thing DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
is?
Pause. What time is it? DONNY DUBROW WALTER COLE Noon.
(Pause) The thing?
DONNY DUBROW
WALTER COLE Yeah.
(Noon.) (Fuck.)
Pause. What is it? DONNY DUBROW Nothing.
WALTER COLE What?
Pause.
WALTER COLE No? What is it, jewelry?
DONNY DUBROW You parked outside?
DONNY DUBROW No. It's nothing.
WALTER COLE Yeah.
WALTER COLE Oh.
DONNY DUBROW Are you okay on the meter?
DONNY DUBROW You know?
WALTER COLE Yeah. The broad came by already.
WALTER COLE Yeah.
Pause.
Pause. Yeah. No. I don't know Pause. Who am I, a policeman ... I'm making conversation, huh?
DONNY DUBROW Good.
Pause. DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
22
WALTER COLE Huh?
WALTER COLE Well, all right. So what is it. jewelry?
Pause. 'Cause you know I'm just asking for talk. DONNY DUBROW No. DONNY DUBROW Yeah. I know. Yeah, okay. WALTER COLE What? WALTER COLE And I can live without this. DONNY DUBROW Coins. DONNY DUBROW
(reaches for phone) Yeah. I know. Hold on. I'll tell you.
WALTER COLE
WALTER COLE Tell me if you want to, Don.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah. Hold on, I gotta make this
DONNY DUBROW I want to, Teach. WALTER COLE Yeah? DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
Pause. WALTER COLE Well, I'd fucking hope so. Am I
wrong? DONNY DUBROW No. No. You're right. WALTER COLE I hope so. DONNY DUBROW No, hold on; I gotta make this call.
(Coins.) call. DON hunts for a card, dials telephone. (Into phone) Hello? This is Donny Dubrow. We were talking the other day. Lookit, sir, if I could get ahold of some of that stuff you were interested in, would you be interested in some of it? Pause. Those things ... Old, yeah. Pause. Various pieces of various types. Pause. Tonight. Sometime late. Are they what ...!!?? Yes. but I don't see what kind of a question is that (at the prices we're talking about ... ) Pause. No, hey, no, I understand you ... Pause. Sometime late. Pause. One hundred percent. Pause. I feel the same. All right. Good-bye. (Hangs up.) Fucking asshole. 23
WALTER COLE Guys like that, I like to fuck their
WALTER COLE --And you got a buyer in the phone
wives.
guy.
DONNY DUBROW I don't blame you.
DONNY DUBROW
(Asshole.) WALTER COLE Fucking jerk ... WALTER COLE The thing is you're not sitting with the DONNY DUBROW
shit.
(I swear to God ... ) DONNY DUBROW No. WALTER COLE That guy's a collector? WALTER COLE The guy's an asshole or he's not, DONNY DUBROW Who?
what do you care? It's business. Pause.
WALTER COLE The phone guy. DONNY DUBROW You're right. DONNY DUBROW Yeah. WALTER COLE The guy with the suitcase, he's the WALTER COLE And the other guy?
mark.
DONNY DUBROW We spotted?
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
WALTER COLE Yeah.
WALTER COLE How'd you find him?
DONNY DUBROW Him, too.
DONNY DUBROW In here.
WALTER COLE So you hit him for his coins.
WALTER COLE Came in here, huh?
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
24
WALTER COLE (No shit.)
DONNY DUBROW Oh yeah.
Pause. WALTER COLE How wrong can you go? DONNY DUBROW He comes in here one day, like a
week ago.
DONNY DUBROW That's what I mean, so then he
thinks a minute, and he tells me he'll just shop a bit. WALTER COLE For what? WALTER COLE Uh-huh ... DONNY DUBROW Just browsing. So he's looking in
(Stares out of window.)
the case, he comes up and with this buffalohead nickel ...
DONNY DUBROW And so he's shopping ... What?
WALTER COLE Yeah ...
WALTER COLE Some cops.
DONNY DUBROW From nineteen-something. (I don't
DONNY DUBROW Where?
know. I didn't even know it's there ... ) WALTER COLE At the corner. WALTER COLE Uh-huh ... DONNY DUBROW What are they doing? DONNY DUBROW ... and he goes, "How much would
that be?"
WALTER COLE Cruising.
Pause. WALTER COLE Uh-huh ... DONNY DUBROW They turn the corner? DONNY DUBROW So I'm about to go, "Two bits," jerk
that I am, but some thing tells me to shut up, so I go, "You tell me"
WALTER COLE
(waits) Yeah. Pause.
WALTER COLE Always good business.
25
DONNY DUBROW ... And so he's shopping. And he's
WALTER COLE (I knew it.)
picking up a beat-up mirror ... an old kid's toy ... a shaving mug ...
DONNY DUBROW Wait. So I go, "Ninety-five."
WALTER COLE ... right ...
WALTER COLE Uh-huh.
DONNY DUBROW Maybe five, six things, comes to
DONNY DUBROW We settle down on ninety, takes
eight bucks. I get 'em and I put 'em in a box and then he tells me he'll go fifty dollars for the nickel.
the nickel, leaves the box of shit. WALTER COLE He pay for it?
WALTER COLE No. DONNY DUBROW The box of shit? DONNY DUBROW Yeah. So I tell him (get this), "Not a
chance."
WALTER COLE Yeah.
WALTER COLE (Took balls.)
DONNY DUBROW No.
Pause. DONNY DUBROW (Well, what-the-fuck ...) WALTER COLE And so what was the nickel? WALTER COLE (No, I mean it.) DONNY DUBROW I don't know ... some rarity. DONNY DUBROW (I took a chance.) WALTER COLE Ninety dollars for a nickel. WALTER COLE (You're goddamn right.)
Pause.
DONNY DUBROW Are you kidding, Teach? I bet it's
worth five times that. DONNY DUBROW
(shrugs) So I say, "Not a chance," he tells me eighty is his highest offer.
WALTER COLE Yeah, huh? 26
DONNY DUBROW Are you kidding me, the guy is
DONNY DUBROW He comes in here like I'm his
going to come in here, he plunks down ninety bucks like nothing. Shit yeah. Pause.
fucking doorman.
WALTER COLE Well, what the fuck, it didn't cost you
DONNY DUBROW He takes me off my coin and will I
anything.
call him if I find another one.
DONNY DUBROW That's not the point. The next day
WALTER COLE Yeah.
back he comes and he goes through the whole bit again. He looks at this, he looks at that, it's a nice day ...
DONNY DUBROW Doing me this favor by just coming
WALTER COLE Yeah ...
WALTER COLE Yeah.
WALTER COLE Mmmm.
in my shop. Pause. Some people never change.
DONNY DUBROW And he tells me he's the guy was
in here yesterday and bought the buffalo off me and do I maybe have some other articles of interest.
DONNY DUBROW Like he has done me this big favor
WALTER COLE Yeah.
WALTER COLE Uh-huh. (You're going to get him
by just coming in my shop. now.)
DONNY DUBROW And so I tell him, "Not offhand." He
says that could I get in touch with him, I get some in, so I say "sure," he leaves his card, I'm s'posed to call him anything crops up.
DONNY DUBROW (You know I am.) So Bob, we kept
a lookout on his place, and that's the shot. WALTER COLE And who's the chick?
WALTER COLE Uh-huh. DONNY DUBROW What chick?
27
WALTER COLE You're asking Bob about.
'em. They both work ... . (Yesterday he rode his bicycle to work.)
DONNY DUBROW Oh yeah. The guy, he's married. I
WALTER COLE He didn't.
mean (I don't know.) We think he's married. They got two names on the bell ... . Anyway, he's living with this chick, you know ...
DONNY DUBROW Yeah. WALTER COLE
WALTER COLE What the hell.
(snorts) (With the three-piece suit, huh?)
DONNY DUBROW ... and you should see this chick.
DONNY DUBROW I didn't see 'em. Bobby saw 'em.
WALTER COLE Yeah, huh?
Pause. And that's the shot. Earl gets me in touch the phone guy, he's this coin collector, and that's it.
DONNY DUBROW She is a knockout. I mean, she
WALTER COLE It fell in your lap.
is real nice-lookin', Teach. DONNY DUBROW Yeah. WALTER COLE (Fuck him ...) WALTER COLE You're going in tonight. DONNY DUBROW The other day, last Friday like a
week ago, Bob runs in, lugs me out to look at 'em, they're going out on bicycles. The ass on this broad, un-be-fucking-lievable in these bicycling shorts sticking up in the air with these short handlebars.
DONNY DUBROW It looks that way.
WALTER COLE (Fuckin' fruits ...)
DONNY DUBROW Bobby.
Pause.
Pause. He's a good kid, Teach.
DONNY DUBROW So that's it We keep an eye on
WALTER COLE He's a great kid, Don. You know how
WALTER COLE And who's going in?
Pause.
I feel about the kid.
28
Pause. I like him. WALTER COLE Things. Things, you know what I DONNY DUBROW He's doing good.
mean.
WALTER COLE I can see that.
DONNY DUBROW No. I don't do anything for him.
Pause. But I gotta say something here. WALTER COLE In your mind you don't, but the DONNY DUBROW What? WALTER COLE Only this--and I don't think
I'm getting at anything-DONNY DUBROW What? WALTER COLE
(Pause) Don't send the kid in. DONNY DUBROW I shouldn't send Bobby in? WALTER COLE No. (Now, just wait a second.) Let's
siddown on this. What are we saying here? Loyalty. Pause. You know how I am on this. This is great. This is admirable. DONNY DUBROW What? WALTER COLE This loyalty. This is swell. It turns my
heart the things that you do for the kid.
things. I'm saying, that you actually go do for him. This is fantastic. All I mean, a guy can be too loyal, Don. Don't be dense on this. What are we saying here? Business. I mean, the guy's got you're taking his high-speed blender and a Magnavox, you send the kid in. You're talking about a real job ... they don't come in right away and know they beenhad ... You're talking maybe a safe, certainly a good lock or two, and you need a guy's looking for valuable shit, he's not going to mess with the stainless steel silverware, huh. or some digital clock. Pause. We both know what we're saying here. We both know we're talking about some job needs more than the kid's gonna skin-pop go in there with a crowbar ... DONNY DUBROW I don't want you mentioning that.
DONNY DUBROW What do I do for him, Walt?
29
Pause. WALTER COLE It slipped out. DONNY DUBROW You know the fucking kid's clean. DONNY DUBROW You know how I feel on that.
He's trying hard, he's working hard, and you leave him alone.
WALTER COLE Yes. And I'm sorry, Don. I admire
that. All that I'm saying, don't confuse business with pleasure.
WALTER COLE Oh yeah, he's trying real hard. DONNY DUBROW And he's no dummy, Teach.
DONNY DUBROW But I don't want that talk, only,
Teach. Pause. You understand?
WALTER COLE Far from it. All I'm saying, the job is
DONNY DUBROW But I don't want it in the open.
beyond him. Where's the shame in this? This is not jacks, we get up to go home we give everything back. Huh? You want this fucked up? Pause. All that I'm saying, there's the least chance something might fuck up, you'd get the law down, you would take the shot, and couldn't find the coins whatever: if you see the least chance, you cannot afford to take that chance! Don? I want to go in there and gut this motherfucker. Don? Where is the shame in this? You take care of him, fine. (Now this is loyalty.) But Bobby's got his own best interests, too. And you cannot afford (and simply as a business proposition) you cannot afford to take the chance. (Pause. TEACH picks up a strange object.) What is this?
WALTER COLE Which is why I apologized.
DONNY DUBROW That?
WALTER COLE I more than understand, and I
apologize. Pause. I'm sorry. DONNY DUBROW That's the only thing. WALTER COLE All right. But I tell you. I'm glad I said
it. DONNY DUBROW Why? WALTER COLE 'Cause it's best for these things to be
out in the open.
30
WALTER COLE Yes.
DONNY DUBROW And you what?
DONNY DUBROW It's a thing that they stick in dead
WALTER COLE The shot. I go, I go in ... I bring the
pigs keep their legs apart all the blood runs out. TEACH nods. Pause.
stuff back (or wherever ... ) Pause.
WALTER COLE Mmmm.
DONNY DUBROW And what do I do?
Pause. WALTER COLE You mind the fort. DONNY DUBROW I set it up with him.
Pause.
WALTER COLE "You set it up with him." ... You set it
DONNY DUBROW Here?
up and then you told him. Long pause.
WALTER COLE Well, yeah ... this is the fort.
Pause. DONNY DUBROW I gave Earl ten percent. DONNY DUBROW (You know, this is real classical WALTER COLE Yeah? for what?
money we're talking about.)
DONNY DUBROW The connection.
WALTER COLE I know it. You think I'm going to fuck
WALTER COLE So ten off the top: forty-five, forty-
with Chump Change? Pause. So tell me.
five. Pause.
DONNY DUBROW Well, hold on a second. I mean,
we're still talking. DONNY DUBROW And Bobby? WALTER COLE I'm sorry. I thought we were done WALTER COLE A hundred. A hundred fifty ... we hit
talking.
big ... whatever.
31
DONNY DUBROW No.
BOBBY I got a piece of pie and a Pepsi.
BOB and DON extract foodstuffs and eat. WALTER COLE Well, then, let's talk some more. You
want to bargain? You want to mess with the points?
DONNY DUBROW Did they charge you again for the
coffee? DONNY DUBROW No. I just want to think for a
second.
BOBBY For your coffee?
WALTER COLE Well, you think, but here's a helpful
DONNY DUBROW Yes.
hint. Fifty percent of some money is better than ninety percent of some broken toaster that you're gonna have, you send the kid in. (Which is providing he don't trip the alarm in the first place ... ) Don? You don't even know what the thing is on this. Where he lives. They got alarms? What kind of alarms? What kind ofthis ..? And what if (God forbid) the guy walks in? Somebody's nervous, whacks him with a table lamp--you wanna get touchy--and you can take your ninety dollars from the nickel shove it up your ass-the good it did you--and you wanna know why? (And I'm not saying anything ... ) because you didn't take the time to go first-class. BOB re-enters with a bag. Hi, Bob. BOBBY Hi, Teach.
BOBBY They charged me this time. I don't know if
they charged me last time. Donny. DONNY DUBROW It's okay.
Pause. WALTER COLE
(to BOB) How is it out there? BOBBY It's okay. WALTER COLE Is it going to rain? BOBBY Today?
Pause.
WALTER COLE Yeah.
DONNY DUBROW You get yourself something to eat?
BOBBY I don't know.
Pause.
32
WALTER COLE Well, what do you think?
WALTER COLE What is it?
BOBBY It might.
BOBBY I know what it is.
WALTER COLE You think so, huh?
WALTER COLE What?
DONNY DUBROW Teach ...
BOBBY I know.
Pause. WALTER COLE What? I'm not saying anything. WALTER COLE Huh? BOBBY What? BOBBY What? WALTER COLE I don't think I'm saying anything here.
Pause.
WALTER COLE Things are what they are.
BOBBY It might rain.
DONNY DUBROW Teach...
Pause. I think later. WALTER COLE What? WALTER COLE How's your pie? DONNY DUBROW We'll do this later. BOBBY Real good. BOBBY I got to ask you something. WALTER COLE
(holds up the dead-pig leg-spreader) You know what this is? Pause.
WALTER COLE Sure, that makes a difference.
BOBBY Yeah.
WALTER COLE Sure.
DONNY DUBROW We'll just do it later.
33
BOBBY Uh, Don?
DONNY DUBROW Bob...
DONNY DUBROW What?
BOBBY You can trust me.
Pause. DONNY DUBROW It's not a question of that. It's not a BOBBY I got to talk to you.
question I go around trusting you, Bob...
DONNY DUBROW Yeah? What?
BOBBY What's the question?
BOBBY I'm wondering on the thing that maybe I
WALTER COLE Procedure.
could have a little bit up front. Pause.
DONNY DUBROW Hold on, Teach.
DONNY DUBROW Do you need it?
BOBBY I got him all spotted.
Pause. BOBBY I don't need it... WALTER COLE Who? DONNY DUBROW How much? BOBBY Some guy. BOBBY I was thinking that maybe you might let me
have like fifty or something. Pause. To sort of have...
WALTER COLE Yeah? BOBBY Yeah.
WALTER COLE You got any cuff links? WALTER COLE Where's he live? DONNY DUBROW Look in the case.
(To BOB) What do you need it for?
BOBBY Around.
BOBBY Nothing.
WALTER COLE Where? Near here?
34
BOBBY No.
DONNY DUBROW I was thinking, you know, we might
WALTER COLE No?
hold off on this thing. Pause.
BOBBY He lives like on Lake Shore Drive.
BOBBY You wanna hold off on it?
WALTER COLE He does.
DONNY DUBROW I was thinking that we might.
BOBBY Yeah.
BOBBY Oh.
WALTER COLE
DONNY DUBROW And, on the money, I'll give
(Pause) What have you got, a job cased? BOBBY I just went for coffee.
you...forty, you owe me twenty, and, for now, keep twenty for spotting the guy. Pause. Okay?
WALTER COLE But you didn't get the coffee.
BOBBY Yeah.
Pause. Now, did you?
Pause. You don't want me to do the job?
BOBBY No.
DONNY DUBROW That's what I told you. What am I
telling you? WALTER COLE Why? BOBBY I'm not going to do it. DONNY DUBROW Hold on, Teach. Bob... DONNY DUBROW Not now. We aren't going to do it BOBBY What?
now.
DONNY DUBROW You know what?
BOBBY We'll do it later on?
BOBBY No.
DONNY DUBROW
35
(shrugs) But I'm giving you twenty just for spotting the guy.
DONNY DUBROW Could you get it in a...day, or a
couple of days or so? BOBBY I need fifty, Donny. BOBBY Maybe. I don't think so. Could you let me DONNY DUBROW Well, I'm giving you forty.
have fifty?
BOBBY You said you were giving me twenty.
DONNY DUBROW And you'll give me back thirty?
DONNY DUBROW No, Bob, I did not. I said I was
BOBBY I could just give back the twenty.
giving you forty, of which you were going to owe me twenty. Pause. And you go keep twenty.
DONNY DUBROW That's not the deal. BOBBY We could make it the deal.
BOBBY I got to give back twenty.
Pause. Donny? We could make it the deal. Huh?
DONNY DUBROW That's the deal.
DONNY DUBROW Bob, lookit. Here it is: I give you
BOBBY When?
fifty, next week you pay me back twenty-five. Pause. You get to keep twenty-five, you pay me back twenty-five.
DONNY DUBROW Soon. When you got it.
Pause.
BOBBY And what about the thing?
BOBBY If I don't get it soon?
DONNY DUBROW Forget about it.
DONNY DUBROW Well, what do you call "soon"?
BOBBY You tell me when you want me to do it.
BOBBY I don't know.
DONNY DUBROW I don't know that I want you to do
it. At this point Pause. You know what I mean?
36
Pause.
(Reaches in pocket and hands bills to BOB. To TEACH) You got two fives?
BOBBY No. WALTER COLE No. DONNY DUBROW I mean, I'm giving you twenty-five,
and I'm saying forget the thing.
DONNY DUBROW
BOBBY Forget it for me.
(to BOB) I got to give you...thirty, you owe me back thirty.
DONNY DUBROW Yes.
BOBBY You said you were giving me fifty.
BOBBY Oh.
DONNY DUBROW I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Bob, you're
Pause. Okay. Okay. DONNY DUBROW You see what I'm talking about?
absolutely right. (He gives BOB remainder of money.) Pause.
BOBBY Yes.
BOBBY Thank you.
Pause. I'll see you later, huh, Teach? DONNY DUBROW Like it never happened. WALTER COLE I'll see you later, Bobby. BOBBY I know. BOBBY I'll see you, Donny. DONNY DUBROW So you see what I'm saying. DONNY DUBROW I'll see you later, Bob. BOBBY Yes.
Pause. I'm gonna go. Pause. I'll see you later. (Pause. He looks at DON.)
BOBBY I'll come back later. DONNY DUBROW Okay.
BOB starts to exit. DONNY DUBROW Oh.
37
WALTER COLE See you.
Pause. BOB is gone. You're only doing the right thing by him, Don. Pause. Believe me. Pause. It's best for everybody. Pause. What's done is done. Pause. So let's get started. On the thing. Tell me everything. DONNY DUBROW Like what?
Pause. Don, (Can you cooperate?) Can we get started? Do you want to tell me something about coins? Pause. DONNY DUBROW What about 'em? WALTER COLE A crash course. What to look for.
What to take. What to not take (...this they can trace) (that isn't worth nothing ...) Pause. What looks like what but it's more valuable...so on...
WALTER COLE ...the guy...where does he live... DONNY DUBROW First off, I want that nickel back. DONNY DUBROW Around the corner. WALTER COLE Donny... WALTER COLE Okay, and he's gone for the
weekend.
DONNY DUBROW No, I know, it's only a fuckin'
DONNY DUBROW We don't know.
nickel...I mean big deal, huh? But what I'm saying is I only want it back.
WALTER COLE Of course we know. Bob saw him
WALTER COLE You're going to get it back. I'm going
coming out the door. The kid's not going to lie to you.
in there for his coins, what am I going to take 'em all except your nickel? Wake up. Don, let's plan this out. The spirit of the thing? Pause Let's not be loose on this. People are loose, people pay the price...
DONNY DUBROW Well, Bob just saw him
coming out... WALTER COLE He had a suitcase, Don, he wasn't
going to the A&P... He's going for the weekend...
DONNY DUBROW You're right. 38
WALTER COLE (And I like you like a brother, Don.)
DONNY DUBROW No.
So let's wake up on this. Pause. All right? A man, he walks in here, welldressed... (With a briefcase?)
WALTER COLE So we're looking for a study. DONNY DUBROW (A den.)
DONNY DUBROW (No.) WALTER COLE And we're looking, for, he hasn't got WALTER COLE All right....comes into a junkshop
looking for coins. Pause. He spots a valuable nickel hidden in a pile of shit. He farts around, he picks up this, he farts around, he picks up that.
a safe... DONNY DUBROW Yeah...? WALTER COLE ...he's probably going to keep
DONNY DUBROW (He wants the nickel.)
'em...where? Pause.
WALTER COLE No shit. He goes to check out, he
DONNY DUBROW I don't know. His desk drawer.
goes ninety on the nick. WALTER COLE (You open the middle, the rest of 'em DONNY DUBROW (He would of gone five times that.)
pop out?)
WALTER COLE (Look, don't kick yourself.) All right,
DONNY DUBROW (Yeah.)
we got a guy knows coins. Where does he keep his coin collection?
WALTER COLE (Maybe.) Which brings up a point.
DONNY DUBROW Hidden.
DONNY DUBROW What?
WALTER COLE The man hides his coin collection,
WALTER COLE As we're moving the stuff tonight, we
we're probably looking the guy has a study...I mean, he's not the kind of guy to keep it in the basement...
can go in like Gangbusters, huh? We don't care we
39
wreck the joint up. So what else? We take it, or leave it?
WALTER COLE (You know why?)
DONNY DUBROW ...well...
DONNY DUBROW (Yeah.)
WALTER COLE I'm not talking cash, all I mean what
WALTER COLE (Okay, then.) It's good to talk this
other stuff do we take...for our trouble... Pause.
stuff out. DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
DONNY DUBROW I don't know. WALTER COLE You have to talk it out. Bad feelings, WALTER COLE It's hard to make up rules about this
stuff. DONNY DUBROW (You'll be in there under lots of
misunderstandings happen on a job. You can't get away from 'em, you have to deal with 'em. You want to quiz me on some coins? You want to show some coins to me? List prices...the blue book...?
pressure.) DONNY DUBROW You want to see the book? WALTER COLE (Not so much.) WALTER COLE Sure. DONNY DUBROW (Come on, a little, anyway.) DONNY DUBROW WALTER COLE (That's only natural.)
(hands large coin-book to TEACH) I just picked it up last week.
DONNY DUBROW (Yeah.) WALTER COLE Uh-hum. WALTER COLE (It would be unnatural I wasn't tense.
A guy who isn't tense. I don't want him on my side.)
DONNY DUBROW All the values aren't current...
DONNY DUBROW (No.)
WALTER COLE Uh-huh...
40
DONNY DUBROW Silver...
DONNY DUBROW What?
WALTER COLE
WALTER COLE Knowing what the fuck you're talking
(looking at book) Uh-huh...
about. And it's so rare, Don. So rare.
DONNY DUBROW What's rarity...
huh?
What do you think a 1929 S Lincoln-head penny with the wheat on the back is worth? DON starts to speak. Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! We got to know what condition we're talking about.
DONNY DUBROW I'm saying against what isn't.
DONNY DUBROW
WALTER COLE Well, that's got to be fairly steady,
(Pause) Okay. What condition? WALTER COLE Oh. WALTER COLE Any of 'em. You tell me DONNY DUBROW But the book gives you a general
idea.
DONNY DUBROW Well, pick one.
WALTER COLE You've been looking at it?
WALTER COLE Okay, I'm going to pick an easy one.
Excellent condition 1929 S. DONNY DUBROW Yeah. DONNY DUBROW It's worth...about thirty-six dollars. WALTER COLE You got to have a feeling for your
subject.
WALTER COLE No.
DONNY DUBROW The book can give you that.
DONNY DUBROW (More?)
WALTER COLE This is what I'm saying to you. One
WALTER COLE Well, guess.
thing. Makes all the difference in the world. DONNY DUBROW Just tell me is it more or less.
41
WALTER COLE What do you think?
going to do, leaf through the book for hours on end? The important thing is to have the idea ...
DONNY DUBROW More.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
WALTER COLE No.
WALTER COLE What was the other one?
DONNY DUBROW Okay, it's worth, I gotta say ...
DONNY DUBROW What other one?
eighteen-sixty. WALTER COLE He stole off you. WALTER COLE No. DONNY DUBROW What do you mean what was it? DONNY DUBROW Then I give up. WALTER COLE The date, so on. WALTER COLE Twenty fucking cents. DONNY DUBROW How the fuck do I know? DONNY DUBROW You're fulla shit. WALTER COLE WALTER COLE My mother's grave.
(Pause) When you looked it up.
DONNY DUBROW Give me that fucking book.
DONNY DUBROW How are you getting in the house?
(Business.) Go beat that. WALTER COLE The house? WALTER COLE This is what I'm saying, Don, you got
to know what you're talking about.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
DONNY DUBROW You wanna take the book?
WALTER COLE Aah, you go in through
a window they left open, something. WALTER COLE Naaa. fuck the book. What am I DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
42
WALTER COLE There's always something.
WALTER COLE You have your job, I have my job,
DONNY DUBROW Yeah. What else, if not the
Don. I am not here to smother you in theory. Think about it
window. DONNY DUBROW I am thinking about it. I'd like you to WALTER COLE How the fuck do I know?
answer my question.
Pause. If not the window, something else. WALTER COLE Don't push me, Don. Don't front off DONNY DUBROW What?
with me here. I am not other people.
WALTER COLE We'll see when we get there.
DONNY DUBROW And just what does that mean?
DONNY DUBROW Okay, all I'm asking, what
WALTER COLE Just that nobody's perfect.
it might be. DONNY DUBROW They aren't. WALTER COLE Hey, you didn't warn us we were
going to have a quiz ...
WALTER COLE No.
Pause. DONNY DUBROW It's just a question. DONNY DUBROW I'm going to have Fletch come with WALTER COLE I know it.
us.
Pause. WALTER COLE Fletch. DONNY DUBROW What is the answer? DONNY DUBROW Yes. WALTER COLE We're seeing when we get there. WALTER COLE You're having him come with us. DONNY DUBROW Oh. You can't answer me, Teach? DONNY DUBROW Yes.
43
WALTER COLE Now you're kidding me.
WALTER COLE We don't need him, Don. We do not
DONNY DUBROW No.
need this guy. DON picks up phone. What? Are you calling him? DON nods.
WALTER COLE No? Then why do you say this? DONNY DUBROW It's busy. DONNY DUBROW With Fletch.
(Hangs up.)
WALTER COLE Yes.
WALTER COLE He's probably talking on the phone.
DONNY DUBROW I want some depth.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah. He probably is.
WALTER COLE You want depth on the team.
WALTER COLE We don't need this guy, Don. We
DONNY DUBROW Yes, I do. WALTER COLE So you bring in Fletch. DONNY DUBROW Yes. WALTER COLE 'Cause I don't play your games with
don't need him. I see your point here, I do. So you're thinking I'm out there alone, and you're worried I'll rattle, so you ask me how I go in. I understand. I see this, I do. I could go in the second floor, climb up a drainpipe I could this ... DON dials phone again. He's talking, he's talking, for chrissake, give him a minute, huh? DON hangs up phone. I am hurt, Don.
you. DONNY DUBROW I'm sorry, Teach. DONNY DUBROW We just might need him. WALTER COLE I'm not hurt for me. WALTER COLE We won't. DONNY DUBROW Who are you hurt for? DONNY DUBROW We might, Teach. WALTER COLE Think about it.
44
DONNY DUBROW We can use somebody watch our
Pause. And you're probably right, we could use three of us on the job.
rear. DONNY DUBROW Yeah. WALTER COLE You keep your numbers down, you
don't have a rear. You know what has rears? Armies.
WALTER COLE Somebody watch for the cops ...work
out a signal ... DONNY DUBROW I'm just saying, something
goes wrong ...
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
WALTER COLE Wrong, wrong, you make your own
WALTER COLE Safety in numbers.
right and wrong. Hey Biiig fucking deal. The shot is yours, no one's disputing that. We're talking business, let's talk business: you think it's good business call Fletch in? To help us.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah. WALTER COLE Three-men jobs.
DONNY DUBROW Yes.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
WALTER COLE Well then okay.
WALTER COLE You, me, Fletcher.
Pause. Are you sure? DONNY DUBROW Yeah. DONNY DUBROW Yeah. WALTER COLE A division of labor. WALTER COLE All right, if you're sure ...
Pause. (Security. Muscle. Intelligence.) Huh?
DONNY DUBROW I'm sure, Teach.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
WALTER COLE Then, all right, then. That's all I worry
WALTER COLE This means, what, a traditional split.
about
Am I right? We get ten off the top goes to Earl, and
45
the rest, three-way split. Huh? That's what we got? Huh?
DONNY DUBROW Around the comer.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
WALTER COLE Yeah.
Pause. Are you mad at me? WALTER COLE Well, that's what's right.
Pause. All right. Lay the shot out for me.
DONNY DUBROW No.
DONNY DUBROW For tonight?
WALTER COLE Do you want to play gin?
WALTER COLE Yes.
DONNY DUBROW Naaa.
DONNY DUBROW Okay.
WALTER COLE Then I guess I'll go home, take a
Pause. I stay here on the phone ...
nap, and rest up. Come back here tonight and we'll take off this fucking fruit's coins.
WALTER COLE ... yeah ... DONNY DUBROW Right. DONNY DUBROW ..for Fletcher ... WALTER COLE I feel like I'm trying to stay up to WALTER COLE Yeah.
death ...
DONNY DUBROW We meet, ten-thirty, 'leven, back
DONNY DUBROW You ain't been to sleep since the
here.
game?
WALTER COLE (Back here, the three ... )
WALTER COLE Shit no (then that dyke cocksucker ...
) DONNY DUBROW Yeah. And go in.
Pause. Huh?
DONNY DUBROW So go take a nap. You trying to kill
yourself? WALTER COLE Yeah. Where?
46
WALTER COLE You're right, and you do what you
WALTER COLE And don't worry about anything.
think is right, Don. DONNY DUBROW I won't. DONNY DUBROW I got to, Teach. WALTER COLE I don't want to hear you're worrying WALTER COLE You got to trust your instincts, right or
about a goddamned thing.
wrong. DONNY DUBROW You won't, Teach. DONNY DUBROW I got to. WALTER COLE You're sure you want Fletch coming WALTER COLE I know it. I know you do.
with us?
Pause. Anybody wants to get in touch with me, I'm over the hotel.
DONNY DUBROW Yes.
DONNY DUBROW Okay.
WALTER COLE All right, then, so long as you're sure.
WALTER COLE I'm not the hotel, I stepped out for
DONNY DUBROW I'm sure, Teach.
coffee, I'll be back one minute. WALTER COLE Then I'm going to see you tonight. DONNY DUBROW Okay. DONNY DUBROW Goddamn right you are. WALTER COLE And I'll see you around eleven. WALTER COLE I am seeing you later. DONNY DUBROW O'clock. DONNY DUBROW I know. WALTER COLE Here. WALTER COLE Good-bye. DONNY DUBROW Right. DONNY DUBROW Good-bye.
47
WALTER COLE I want to make one thing plain before
Act 2
I go, Don. I am not mad at you. DONNY DUBROW I know. WALTER COLE All right, then. DONNY DUBROW You have a good nap. WALTER COLE I will.
TEACH exits. DONNY DUBROW Fuckin' business ...
Lights dim to black.
ACT II Don's Resale Shop. 11:15 that evening. The shop is darkened. DON is alone. He is holding the telephone to his ear. DONNY DUBROW Great. Great great great great
great. Pause. (Cocksucking fuckhead...) Pause. This is greatness. DON hangs up phone. BOB appears in the door to the shop What are you doing here? BOBBY I came here. DONNY DUBROW For what? BOBBY I got to talk to you. DONNY DUBROW Why? BOBBY Business. DONNY DUBROW Yeah? BOBBY I need some money.
48
DONNY DUBROW What for?
BOBBY You don't know if you want it?
BOBBY Nothing. I can pay for it.
DONNY DUBROW I probably want it...what I'm saying,
if it's worth anything. DONNY DUBROW For what? BOBBY It's a buffalo, it's worth something. BOBBY This guy. I found a coin. DONNY DUBROW The question is but what. It's just
BOBBY A buffalo-head.
like everything else, Bob. Like every other fucking thing. (Pause. He hangs up phone.) Were you at The Riv?
DONNY DUBROW Nickel?
BOBBY Before.
BOBBY Yeah. You want it?
DONNY DUBROW Is Fletch over there?
DONNY DUBROW A coin?
Pause. BOBBY No. DONNY DUBROW What are you doing here, Bob? DONNY DUBROW Teach? BOBBY I need money.
DON picks up phone and dials. He lets it ring as he talks to BOB. You want it?
BOBBY No. Ruth and Gracie was there for a minute. DONNY DUBROW What the fuck does that mean?
DONNY DUBROW What?
Pause.
BOBBY My buffalo.
BOBBY Nothing.
DONNY DUBROW Lemme look at it.
Pause. Only they were there. Pause. I didn't mean anything...my nickel...I can tell you what it is.
Pause. I got to look at it to know do I want it.
49
Pause. I can tell you what it is. BOBBY What? DONNY DUBROW What? What date it is? That don't
mean shit.
DONNY DUBROW What do you want for the coin?
BOBBY No?
BOBBY What it's worth only.
DONNY DUBROW Come on, Bobby? What's
DONNY DUBROW Okay, we'll look it up
important in a coin... BOBBY But you still don't know. BOBBY ...yeah? DONNY DUBROW But you got an idea, Bob. You got DONNY DUBROW What condition it's in...
an idea you can deviate from. Pause.
BOBBY (Great.) BOBBY The other guy went ninety bucks. DONNY DUBROW ...if you can
(I don't know...) count the hair on the Indian, something. You got to look it up.
DONNY DUBROW He was a fuckin' sucker, Bob.
Pause. Am I a sucker? (Bob, I'm busy here. You see?)
BOBBY In the book? BOBBY Some coins are worth that. DONNY DUBROW Yes. DONNY DUBROW Oddities, Bob. Freak oddities of BOBBY Okay. And then you know. DONNY DUBROW Well, no. What I'm saying, the
book is like you use it like an indicator (I mean, right off with silver prices...so on...) (He hangs up phone.) Shit.
nature. What are we talking about here? The silver? The silver's maybe three times face. You want fifteen cents for it? BOBBY No. 50
DONNY DUBROW So, okay. So what do you want for
DONNY DUBROW We're gonna play cards.
it? BOBBY Who? BOBBY What it's worth. DONNY DUBROW Teach and me and Fletcher. DONNY DUBROW Let me see it.
TEACH enters the store. What time is it?
BOBBY Why?
WALTER COLE Fuck is he doing here?
DONNY DUBROW To look in the goddamn...Forget it.
DONNY DUBROW What fucking time is it?
Forget it. Don't let me see it. WALTER COLE Where's Fletcher? BOBBY But the book don't mean shit.
Pause. Where's Fletcher?
DONNY DUBROW The book gives us ideas, Bob. The
BOBBY Hi, Teach.
book gives us a basis for comparison. WALTER COLE
Look, we're human beings. We can talk, we can negotiate, we can this...you need money? What do you need? Pause.
(to DON) What is he doing here? BOBBY I came in. DONNY DUBROW Do you know what time it is?
BOBBY I came here...
Pause.
WALTER COLE What? I'm late?
DONNY DUBROW What do you need, Bob?
DONNY DUBROW Damn right you're late.
Pause. WALTER COLE I'm fucked up since my watch broke. BOBBY How come you're in here so late?
51
DONNY DUBROW Your watch broke? WALTER COLE I just told you that. DONNY DUBROW When did your watch break? WALTER COLE The fuck do I know?
thing. We are doing something together. I know we are. My watch broke, that is my concern. The thing is your and my concern. And the concern of Fletcher. You want to find a reason we should jump all over each other all of a sudden like we work in a bloodbank, fine. But it's not good business. Pause. And so who knows what time it is offhand? Jerks on the radio? The phone broad? Pause. Now, I understand nerves.
DONNY DUBROW Well, you look at it. You want to
know your watch broke, all you got to do is look at it. Pause.
DONNY DUBROW There's no fuckin' nerves involved
WALTER COLE I don't have it.
WALTER COLE No, huh?
DONNY DUBROW Why not?
DONNY DUBROW No.
WALTER COLE I took it off when it broke.
WALTER COLE Well, great. That's great, then. So
(What do you want here?) watch.
what are we talking about? A little lateness? Some excusable fucking lateness? And a couple of guys they're understandably a bit excited? Pause.
WALTER COLE Yes. I am, Donny. What am I, you're
DONNY DUBROW I don't like it.
DONNY DUBROW You're going around without a
in this. Teach.
my keeper all a sudden? WALTER COLE Then don't like it, then. Let's do this. DONNY DUBROW I'm paying you to do a thing,
Teach, I expect to know where you are when.
Let's everybody get a writ. I got a case. You got a case. Bobby - I don't know what the fuck he's doing here...
WALTER COLE Donny. You aren't paying me to do a
52
DONNY DUBROW Leave him alone.
BOBBY We don't know yet.
WALTER COLE Now I'm picking on him.
WALTER COLE Oh.
DONNY DUBROW Leave him alone.
BOBBY We're going to look it up.
WALTER COLE What's he doing here?
WALTER COLE Oh, what? Tonight?
DONNY DUBROW He came in.
BOBBY I think so.
BOBBY I found a nickel.
DONNY DUBROW
(hangs up phone) Fuck. WALTER COLE Hey, that's fantastic. WALTER COLE So where is he? BOBBY You want to see it? DONNY DUBROW How the fuck do I know? WALTER COLE Yes, please let me see it. WALTER COLE He said he'd be here? BOBBY
(hands nickel, wrapped in cloth, to TEACH) I like 'em because of the art on it.
DONNY DUBROW Yes, he did. Teach. BOBBY Fletcher?
WALTER COLE Uh-huh. WALTER COLE So where is he, then? And BOBBY Because it looks like something.
what's he doing here?
WALTER COLE
DONNY DUBROW Leave him alone. He'll leave.
(to DON) Is this worth anything? WALTER COLE He's going to leave, huh?
53
DONNY DUBROW Yes.
BOBBY I want to sell the buffalo nickel.
WALTER COLE You're sure it isn't like the bowling
WALTER COLE I'll buy it myself.
league, Fletch doesn't show up, we just suit up Bobby, give him a shot, and he goes in? Pause. Aaah, fuck. I'm sorry. I spoke in anger. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. (Everybody can make mistakes around here but me.) I'm sorry, Bob, I'm very sorry.
BOBBY We don't know what it's worth. WALTER COLE What do you want for it? BOBBY Fifty dollars.
BOBBY That's okay, Teach. WALTER COLE You're outta your fuckin' mind. WALTER COLE All I meant to say, we'd give you a
fuckin' suit, like in football... Pause. and you'd (You know, like, whatever...) and you'd go in. (Pause. To DON) So what do you want me to do? Dress up and lick him all over? I said I was sorry, what's going on here. Huh? In the first place. I come in, I'm late...he's here... Pause.
Pause. Look. Here's a fin. Get lost. Okay? Pause. BOBBY It's worth more than that. WALTER COLE How the fuck do you know that? BOBBY I think it is.
Pause.
DONNY DUBROW Bobby, I'll see you tomorrow,
WALTER COLE Okay. You keep the fin like a loan.
okay? (He picks phone up and dials.)
You keep the fuckin' nickel, and we'll call it a loan. Now go on. (He hands nickel back to BOB.)
BOBBY I need some money. DONNY DUBROW WALTER COLE
(hangs up phone) Fuck.
(digging in pockets) What do you need?
54
BOBBY I need more.
(To TEACH) What the fuck am I giving him money for?
WALTER COLE
WALTER COLE Just give it to him.
(to DON) Give the kid a couple of bucks. DONNY DUBROW What? Ten?
WALTER COLE Give him some money.
(Pause. Digs in pocket, hands bill to BOB.) How is that, Bob? (Pause. Hands additional bill to BOB.) Okay?
DONNY DUBROW What for?
BOBBY We'll look it up.
WALTER COLE The nickel.
DONNY DUBROW Okay. Huh? We'll see you
Pause.
tomorrow.
BOBBY We can look in the book tomorrow.
BOBBY And we'll look it up.
DONNY DUBROW
DONNY DUBROW Yes.
DONNY DUBROW What?
(to TEACH) You bought the nickel? BOBBY WALTER COLE Don't worry about it. Give him some
(to TEACH) You should talk to Ruthie.
money. Get him out of here. WALTER COLE Oh, I should, huh? DONNY DUBROW How much? BOBBY Yes WALTER COLE What? I don't care... WALTER COLE Why? DONNY DUBROW
(to BOB) How much...
BOBBY Because.
Pause.
55
WALTER COLE I'll see you tomorrow, Bobby.
out that door right now, I come back with a broken watch. Pause.
BOBBY Good-bye, Teach. DONNY DUBROW Calm down. WALTER COLE Good-bye. WALTER COLE I am calm. I'm just upset. DONNY DUBROW Good-bye, Bob. DONNY DUBROW I know. BOBBY Good-bye.
Pause. BOB exits.
WALTER COLE So where is he when I'm here?
DONNY DUBROW Fuckin' kid...
DONNY DUBROW Don't worry about it.
WALTER COLE So where is Fletcher?
WALTER COLE So who's going to worry about it
then? DONNY DUBROW Don't worry. He'll be here. DONNY DUBROW (Shit.) WALTER COLE The question is but when. Maybe his
watch broke.
WALTER COLE This should go to prove you
something. DONNY DUBROW Maybe it just did, Teach. Maybe
his actual watch broke.
DONNY DUBROW It doesn't prove anything. The
guy's just late. WALTER COLE And maybe mine didn't, you're
saying? You wanna bet? You wanna place a little fucking wager on it? How much money you got in your pockets? I bet you all the money in your pockets against all the money in my pockets, I walk
WALTER COLE Oh. And I wasn't? DONNY DUBROW You were late, too.
56
WALTER COLE You're fuckin' A I was, and I got
DONNY DUBROW I don't know.
bawled out for it.
Pause.
DONNY DUBROW He's late for a reason.
WALTER COLE Where's Fletcher?
WALTER COLE I don't accept it.
DONNY DUBROW I don't know. He'll show up.
(Picks up phone and dials.) DONNY DUBROW That's your privilege. WALTER COLE He'll show up. WALTER COLE And what was Bob doing here? DONNY DUBROW Yes. DONNY DUBROW He told you. He wanted to sell me
the nickel.
WALTER COLE He's not here now.
WALTER COLE That's why he came here?
DONNY DUBROW No.
DONNY DUBROW Yes.
WALTER COLE You scout the guy's house?
WALTER COLE To sell you the buffalo?
DONNY DUBROW The guy? No.
DONNY DUBROW Yes.
WALTER COLE Well, let's do that, then. (He's not
home. Hang up.) WALTER COLE Where did he get it? DONNY DUBROW DONNY DUBROW I think from some guy.
(hangs up phone) You wanna scout his house.
WALTER COLE Who?
WALTER COLE Yeah.
Pause.
57
DONNY DUBROW Why? Bob already saw him when
DONNY DUBROW ...yeah?
he went off with the suitcase. WALTER COLE Don't arouse his fucking suspicions. WALTER COLE Just to be sure, huh? DONNY DUBROW All right. DONNY DUBROW Yeah. Okay. WALTER COLE And the odds are he's not there, so
Pause.
when he answers just say you're calling for a wrong fucking number, something. Be simple. Pause. Give me the phone. DON hands TEACH the phone. Gimme the card. DON hands TEACH card. This is his number? 2217834?
DONNY DUBROW Good idea.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
(He picks up phone. Hunts guy's number. Dials. To himself) We can do this.
WALTER COLE
WALTER COLE You bet. Now we call him up. DONNY DUBROW We call the guy up. WALTER COLE Yeah.
WALTER COLE This is planning....This is preparation.
If he answers DON shhhhs TEACH. I'm telling you what to do if he answers.
(snorts) All right. I dial, I'm calling for somebody named June, and we go interchange on number. Pause. We're gonna say like, "Is this 221-7834?" DONNY DUBROW ...yeah?
DONNY DUBROW What?
WALTER COLE And they go, "No." (I mean "-7843."
WALTER COLE Hang up. (DON starts to hang up
It is -7834.) So we go, very simply, "Is this 2217843?" and they go "No," and right away the guy is home, we still haven't blown the shot.
phone.) No. Don't hang up. Hang up now. Hang up now! DON hangs up phone. Now look: If he answers...
DONNY DUBROW Okay. 58
TEACH picks up the phone and dials. WALTER COLE Yes you do. I come in here. The kid's WALTER COLE
(into phone) Hi. Yeah. I'm calling...uh...is June there? Pause. Well, is this 221-7843? Pause. It is? Well, look I must of got the number wrong. I'm sorry. He hangs up phone. (This is bizarre.) Read me that number.
here. DONNY DUBROW He doesn't know anything. WALTER COLE He doesn't. DONNY DUBROW No.
DONNY DUBROW 221-7834.
WALTER COLE What was he here for, then?
WALTER COLE Right.
DONNY DUBROW Sell me the buffalo.
(Dials phone. Listens.) Nobody home. See, this is careful operation... (Pause. Hangs up.) You wanna try it?
WALTER COLE Sell it tonight. DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
DONNY DUBROW No. WALTER COLE A valuable nickel. WALTER COLE I don't mind that you're careful, Don.
This doesn't piss me off. What gets me mad, when you get loose.
DONNY DUBROW We don't know.
DONNY DUBROW What do you mean?
WALTER COLE Where is Fletch?
WALTER COLE You know what I mean.
DONNY DUBROW I don't know.
Pause.
(Picks up phone and dials.) DONNY DUBROW No, I don't. WALTER COLE He's not home. He's not home, Don.
He's out.
59
DONNY DUBROW
WALTER COLE You know what is free enterprise?
(into phone) Hello? DONNY DUBROW No. What? WALTER COLE He's in? WALTER COLE The freedom... DONNY DUBROW This is Donny Dubrow. DONNY DUBROW ...yeah? WALTER COLE The Riv? WALTER COLE Of the Individual... DONNY DUBROW I'm looking for Fletcher.
Pause. Okay. Thank you. (He hangs up.)
DONNY DUBROW ...yeah? WALTER COLE To Embark on Any Fucking Course
WALTER COLE Cocksucker should be horsewhipped
that he sees fit.
with a horsewhip. DONNY DUBROW Uh-huh... DONNY DUBROW He'll show up. WALTER COLE In order to secure his honest chance WALTER COLE Fucking Riverside, too. (Thirty-seven
to make a profit. Am I so out of line on this?
cents for takeout coffee...) DONNY DUBROW No. DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
(Picks up phone.)
WALTER COLE Does this make me a Commie?
WALTER COLE A lot of nerve you come in there for
DONNY DUBROW No.
sixteen years. This is not free enterprise. WALTER COLE The country's founded on this, Don. DONNY DUBROW No.
You know this. 60
DONNY DUBROW Did you get a chance to take a
WALTER COLE Kicking and screaming. Gimme that
nap? WALTER COLE Nap nap nap nap nap. Big deal.
fucking phone. TEACH grabs phone. Listens. Hangs up. He's not home. I say fuck the cocksucker.
DONNY DUBROW
DONNY DUBROW He'll show up.
(Pause) Yeah. WALTER COLE You believe that? WALTER COLE Without this we're just savage
shitheads in the wilderness.
DONNY DUBROW Yes.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
WALTER COLE Then you are full of shit.
WALTER COLE Sitting around some vicious
DONNY DUBROW Don't tell me that, Teach. Don't tell
campfire. That's why Ruthie bums me up.
me I'm full of shit.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
WALTER COLE I'm sorry. You want me to hold your
WALTER COLE
hand? This is how you keep score. I mean, we're all here...
(Nowhere dyke...) And take those fuckers in the concentration camps. You think they went in there by choice?
DONNY DUBROW Just, I don't want that talk. WALTER COLE Don...I talk straight to you 'cause I
DONNY DUBROW No.
respect you. It's kickass or kissass, Don, and I'd be lying if I told you any different.
WALTER COLE They were dragged in there, Don... DONNY DUBROW And what makes you such an DONNY DUBROW ...yeah.
authority on life all of a sudden? 61
WALTER COLE My life, Jim. And the way I've lived it.
I'm telling you, it's not always so clear what's going on. Like Fletcher and the pig iron, that time.
Pause. DONNY DUBROW What was the shot on that? DONNY DUBROW Now what does that mean, Teach? WALTER COLE He stole some pig iron off Ruth. WALTER COLE What does that mean? DONNY DUBROW DONNY DUBROW Yes.
(I heard that...)
WALTER COLE What does that mean?
WALTER COLE That's a fact. A fact stands by itself.
WALTER COLE Nothing. Not a thing. All that I'm
And we must face the facts and act on them. You better wake up, Don, right now, or things are going to fall around your head, and you are going to turn around to find he's took the joint off by himself.
telling you, the shot is yours. It's one night only. Too many guys know. All I'm saying. Take your shot.
DONNY DUBROW He would not do that.
DONNY DUBROW Who knows?
WALTER COLE He would. He is an animal.
WALTER COLE You and me.
DONNY DUBROW He don't have the address.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
WALTER COLE He doesn't know it
WALTER COLE Bob and Fletcher. Earl, the phone
DONNY DUBROW No.
DONNY DUBROW Yes.
guy, Grace and Ruthie, maybe. WALTER COLE Now, that is wise. Then let us go and DONNY DUBROW Grace and Ruth don't know.
take what's ours.
WALTER COLE Who knows they know or not, all that
DONNY DUBROW We have a deal with the man.
62
WALTER COLE With Fletcher.
WALTER COLE Because I got the balls to face some
DONNY DUBROW Yes.
facts? Pause. You scare me sometimes, Don.
WALTER COLE We had a deal with Bobby.
DONNY DUBROW Oh, yeah?
DONNY DUBROW What does that mean?
WALTER COLE Yes. I don't want to go around with
WALTER COLE Nothing.
you here, things go down, we'll settle when we're done. We have a job to do here. Huh? Forget it. Let's go, come on.
DONNY DUBROW It don't. DONNY DUBROW We're waiting for him. WALTER COLE No. WALTER COLE Fletcher. DONNY DUBROW What did you mean by that? DONNY DUBROW Yes. WALTER COLE I didn't mean a thing. WALTER COLE Why? DONNY DUBROW You didn't. DONNY DUBROW Many reasons. WALTER COLE No. WALTER COLE Tell me one. You give me one good
WALTER COLE I am.
reason, why we're sitting here, and I'll sit down and never say a word. One reason. One. Go on. I'm listening.
DONNY DUBROW Yes.
DONNY DUBROW He knows how to get in.
DONNY DUBROW You're full of shit, Teach.
Pause.
63
WALTER COLE Good night, Don.
WALTER COLE What is the question?
(He starts to go for door.) DONNY DUBROW Fletch knows how to get in. DONNY DUBROW Where are you going? WALTER COLE "Get in." That's your reason? WALTER COLE Home. DONNY DUBROW Yes. DONNY DUBROW You're going home.
Pause.
WALTER COLE Yes.
WALTER COLE What the fuck they live in Fort Knox?
WALTER COLE You're fucking with me. It's all right.
("Get in.") (Snorts.) You break in a window, worse comes to worse you kick the fucking back door in. (What do you think this is, the Middle Ages?)
DONNY DUBROW Hold on. You tell me how I'm
DONNY DUBROW What about he's got a safe?
DONNY DUBROW Why?
fucking with you. WALTER COLE Biiiig fucking deal. WALTER COLE Come on, Don. DONNY DUBROW How is that? DONNY DUBROW You asked me the one reason. WALTER COLE You want to know about a safe? WALTER COLE You make yourself ridiculous. DONNY DUBROW Yes. DONNY DUBROW Yeah? WALTER COLE What you do, a safe...you find the WALTER COLE Yeah.
combination.
DONNY DUBROW Then answer it.
DONNY DUBROW Where he wrote it down.
64
WALTER COLE Yes. DONNY DUBROW What if he didn't write it down? WALTER COLE He wrote it down. He's gotta write it
down. What happens he forgets it? DONNY DUBROW What happens he doesn't forget it?
WALTER COLE What difference? Here...We go in, I
find the combination fifteen minutes, tops. Pause. There are only just so many places it could be. Man is a creature of habits. Man does not change his habits overnight. This is not like him. (And if he does, he has a very good reason.) Look, Don: You want to remember something (you write it down). Where do you put it? Pause.
WALTER COLE He's gotta forget it, Don. Human
nature. The point being, even he doesn't forget it, why does he not forget it?
DONNY DUBROW In my wallet.
DONNY DUBROW Why?
WALTER COLE Exactly!
Pause. Pause. Okay?
WALTER COLE 'Cause he's got it wrote down.
Pause. That's why he writes it down. Pause. Huh? Not because he's some fucking turkey can't even remember the combination to his own safe...but only in the event that (God forbid) he somehow forgets it...he's got it wrote down. Pause. This is common sense. Pause. What's the good keep the stuff in the safe, every time he wants to get at it he's got to write away to the manufacturer?
DONNY DUBROW What if he didn't write it down? WALTER COLE He wrote it down. DONNY DUBROW I know he did. But just, I'm saying,
from another instance. Some made-up guy from my imagination. WALTER COLE You're saying in the instance of some
guy... DONNY DUBROW Where does he write it?
DONNY DUBROW (Some other guy...) 65
Pause.
you're saying, you can't find it. Which is only natural, as you don't know where to look. All I'm asking for a little trust here.
DONNY DUBROW Yes.
DONNY DUBROW I don't know.
WALTER COLE Well, this is another thing.
WALTER COLE Then you know what? Fuck you. (All
Pause. You see what I'm saying?
day long. Grace and Ruthie Christ) What am I standing here convincing you? What am I doing demeaning myself standing here pleading with you to protect your best interests? I can't believe this, Don. Somebody told me I'd do this for you ... (For anybody) I'd call him a liar. (I'm coming in here to efface myself.) I am not Fletch, Don, no, and you should thank God and fall down I'm not. (You're coming in here all the time that "He's so good at cards...") The man is a cheat, Don. He cheats at cards--Fletcher, the guy that you're waiting for.
WALTER COLE ...he didn't write it down?
DONNY DUBROW Yeah. WALTER COLE It's another matter. The guy, he's got
the shit in the safe, he didn't write it down .. Pause. DON...? DONNY DUBROW Yes? WALTER COLE How do you know he didn't write it
down? DONNY DUBROW He cheats. DONNY DUBROW (I'm, you know, making it up.)
Pause.
WALTER COLE Fucking A right, he does.
WALTER COLE Well, then, this is not based on fact.
DONNY DUBROW Where do you get this?
Pause. You see what I'm saying? I can sit here and tell you this, I can tell you that, I can tell you any fucking thing you care to mention, but what is the point? You aren't telling me he didn't write it down. All that
Pause. You're full of shit, Walt. You're saying Fletch cheats at cards. Pause. You've seen him. You've seen him he cheats. Pause. You're telling me this? 66
WALTER COLE (The whatchamacallit is always the
WALTER COLE And that is what you say.
last to know.) DONNY DUBROW Yes. It is. DONNY DUBROW Come on, Walt, I mean, forget with
Pause.
the job and all. WALTER COLE Think back, Donny. Last night. On WALTER COLE You live in a world of your own, Don. DONNY DUBROW Fletch cheats at cards.
one hand. You lost two hundred bucks. Pause. You got the straight, you stand pat. I go down before the draw.
WALTER COLE Yes.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
DONNY DUBROW I don't believe you
WALTER COLE He's got what?
WALTER COLE Ah. You can't take the truth.
DONNY DUBROW A flush.
DONNY DUBROW No. I am sorry. I play in this fucking
WALTER COLE That is correct. How many did he
game.
take?
WALTER COLE And you don't know what goes on.
DONNY DUBROW What?
DONNY DUBROW I leave Fletcher alone in
WALTER COLE How many did he take?
my store.... He could take me off any time, day and night.
Pause.
What are you telling me, Walt? This is nothing but poison, I don't want to hear it. (Pause.)
DONNY DUBROW One? WALTER COLE No. Two, Don. He took two.
Pause. 67
DONNY DUBROW Yeah. He took two on that hand.
DONNY DUBROW It could happen.
WALTER COLE He takes two on your standing pat,
WALTER COLE Donny...
you kicked him thirty bucks? He draws two, comes out with a flush?
DONNY DUBROW Yeah?
DONNY DUBROW
WALTER COLE He laid down five red cards. A heart
(Pause) Yeah?
flush to the king. Pause.
WALTER COLE And spills his fucking Fresca? DONNY DUBROW Yeah? DONNY DUBROW Yeah? WALTER COLE I swear to God as I am standing here WALTER COLE Oh. You remember that? DONNY DUBROW
that when I threw my hand in when you raised me out, that I folded the king of hearts. Pause.
(Pause) Yeah. DONNY DUBROW You never called him out. WALTER COLE And we look down. WALTER COLE No. DONNY DUBROW Yeah. DONNY DUBROW How come? WALTER COLE When we look back, he has come up
with a king-high flush. Pause. After he has drawed two. Pause. You're better than that, Don. You knew you had him beat, and you were right. Pause.
WALTER COLE (He don't got the address the guy?) DONNY DUBROW I told you he didn't.
Pause. He's cheating, you couldn't say anything? WALTER COLE It's not my responsibility, to cause
68
bloodshed. I am not your keeper. You want to face facts, okay.
WALTER COLE Who is the bitch in league with?
DONNY DUBROW I can't believe this, Teach.
DONNY DUBROW Him?
WALTER COLE (Friendship is marvelous.)
WALTER COLE
DONNY DUBROW You couldn't say a word?
(Pause) You know how much money they took from this game?
WALTER COLE I tell you now.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah?
DONNY DUBROW He was cheating, you couldn't say
WALTER COLE Well, I could be wrong.
anything? DONNY DUBROW Don't fuck with me here, Teach. WALTER COLE Don. Don, I see you're put out, you
find out this guy is a cheat....
WALTER COLE I don't fuck with my friends, Don. I
DONNY DUBROW According to you.
don't fuck with my business associates. I am a businessman, I am here to do business, I am here to face facts.
WALTER COLE According to me, yes. I am the
person it's usually according to when I'm talking. Have you noticed this? And I'm not crazed about it you're coming out I would lie to you on this. Fuck this. On anything. Wake up, Jim. I'm not the cheat. I know you're not mad at me, who are you mad at? Who fucked you up here, Don? Who's not here? Who? DONNY DUBROW Ruth knows he cheats?
(Will you open your eyes...?) The kid comes in here, he has got a certain coin, it's like the one you used to have... the guy you brought in doesn't show, we don't know where he is. Pause. Something comes down, some guy gets his house took off. Pause. Fletcher, he's not showing up. All right. Let's say I don't know why. Let's say you don't know why. But I know that we're both better off. We are better off, Don. 69
Pause. What time is it? DONNY DUBROW I'm serious. DONNY DUBROW It's midnight.
Pause.
WALTER COLE So am I.
WALTER COLE I'm going out there now. I'll need the
DONNY DUBROW We don't need a gun, Teach.
address. TEACH takes out revolver and begins to load it.
WALTER COLE I pray that we don't, Don.
DONNY DUBROW What's that?
DONNY DUBROW We don't, tell me why we need a
gun. WALTER COLE What? WALTER COLE It's not a question do we need DONNY DUBROW That.
it...Need...Only that it makes me comfortable, okay? It helps me to relax.
WALTER COLE This "gun"? DONNY DUBROW Yes.
So, God forbid, something inevitable occurs and the choice is (And I'm saying "God forbid") it's either him or us.
WALTER COLE What does it look like? DONNY DUBROW Who? DONNY DUBROW A gun. WALTER COLE The guy. I'm saying God forbid WALTER COLE It is a gun.
the guy (or somebody) comes in, he's got a knife...a cleaver from one of those magnetic boards...?
DONNY DUBROW
(rises and crosses to center) I don't like it.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah?
WALTER COLE Don't look at it.
WALTER COLE ... with the two strips ...?
70
DONNY DUBROW Yeah?
WALTER COLE I can't step down on this, Don. I got
to have it with. The light of things as they are. WALTER COLE And whack, and somebody is
bleeding to death. This is all. Merely as a deterrent. Pause. All the preparation in the world does not mean shit, the path of some crazed lunatic sees you as an invasion of his personal domain. Guys go nuts, Don, you know this. Publicofficials...Ax murderers...all I'm saying, look out for your own.
DONNY DUBROW Why? WALTER COLE Because of the way things are.
(He looks out window.) Hold on a second. DONNY DUBROW Fletcher? WALTER COLE Cops.
DONNY DUBROW I don't like the gun. DONNY DUBROW What are they doing? WALTER COLE It's a personal thing, Don. A personal
thing of mine. A silly personal thing. I just like to have it along. Is this so unreasonable?
WALTER COLE Cruising.
DONNY DUBROW I don't want it.
DONNY DUBROW They turn the comer?
WALTER COLE I'm not going without it.
WALTER COLE Hold on.
DONNY DUBROW Why do you want it? WALTER COLE Protection of me and my partner.
Protection, deterrence. (We're only going around the fucking comer for chrissake...) DONNY DUBROW I don't want it with.
Pause.
Pause. Yes. They have the right idea. Armed to the hilt. Sticks, Mace, knives...who knows what the fuck they got. They have the right idea. Social customs break down, next thing everybody's lying in the gutter. A knocking is heard at the door. (Get down.) (Douse the light.) 71
DONNY DUBROW (Lemme see who it is...)
WALTER COLE (Get him outta here.)
Pause. WALTER COLE Don't answer it. DONNY DUBROW Bob... BOBBY
(from behind door) Donny?
BOBBY Yeah?
WALTER COLE (Great.)
DONNY DUBROW We're busy here.
DONNY DUBROW (It's Bobby.)
BOBBY I got to talk to you.
DON looks at TEACH. WALTER COLE (I know.) WALTER COLE (Is he alone?) BOBBY Donny?
Pause.
DONNY DUBROW (I think.)
WALTER COLE (Don't let him in.)
WALTER COLE
DONNY DUBROW (He knows we're in here.) WALTER COLE (So let him go away, then.) BOBBY I got to talk to you.
(Pause) (Hold on.) TEACH opens door and pulls BOB in. What, Bob? What do you want? You know we got work to do here, we don't need you to do it, so what are you doing here and what do you want?
DON looks at TEACH. BOBBY To talk to Don. DONNY DUBROW
(to BOB) What is it?
WALTER COLE Well, Don does not want to talk to
you. BOBBY I can't come in?
72
BOBBY I got to talk to him.
BOBBY I think some Mexicans.
TEACH snorts. He did. He's in the hospital. WALTER COLE You do not have to do anything, Bob.
You do not have to do anything that we tell you that you have to do.
WALTER COLE You see this, Don? DONNY DUBROW He's mugged?
BOBBY I got to talk to Donny.
(To DON) Can I talk to you? (Pause. To DON.) I came here...
BOBBY Yeah, Grace, they just got back. They broke
DONNY DUBROW ... yeah?
WALTER COLE They broke his jaw.
BOBBY ... The Riverside?
BOBBY Yeah. Broke.
DONNY DUBROW Yeah?
WALTER COLE And now he's in the hospital. Grace
BOBBY Grace and Ruthie...he's in the hospital.
and Ruthie just got back. You thought that you'd come over.
Fletch. Pause. I only wanted to, like, come here. I know you guys are only playing cards this...now. I didn't want to disturb you like up, but they just I found out he was in the hospital and I came over here to...tell you. Pause.
his jaw.
BOBBY Yeah. WALTER COLE Well, how about this, Don? Here
Fletch is in Masonic Hospital a needle in his arm, huh. How about this?
WALTER COLE With what?
DONNY DUBROW How bad is he?
BOBBY He got mugged.
BOBBY They broke his jaw.
WALTER COLE You're so full of shit.
DONNY DUBROW What else?
73
BOBBY I don't know.
WALTER COLE
WALTER COLE Would you believe this if I told you
this this afternoon?
(to DON) He did real good in coming here, huh, Donny? (To BOB) We really owe you something.
DONNY DUBROW When did it happen, Bob?
BOBBY What for?
BOBBY Like before.
WALTER COLE Coming here.
DONNY DUBROW Before, huh?
BOBBY What?
BOBBY Yeah.
WALTER COLE Something.
WALTER COLE How about this, Don?
BOBBY Like what?
BOBBY We're going to see him tomorrow.
DONNY DUBROW He don't know. He's saying that he
DONNY DUBROW When?
thinks we owe you something, but right now he can't think what it is.
BOBBY I don't know. In the morning.
BOBBY Thanks, Teach.
DONNY DUBROW They got hours in the morning?
WALTER COLE It's okay, Bob.
Pause. BOB starts to exit. Stick around. BOBBY I guess so. BOBBY Okay. For a minute. WALTER COLE Hey, thanks for coming here. You did
real good in coming here.
WALTER COLE What? You're busy?
BOBBY Yeah?
BOBBY I got, like, some things to do.
74
WALTER COLE Whaddaya got, a "date"?
DONNY DUBROW Here?
BOBBY No.
DONNY DUBROW Yes.
Pause. WALTER COLE What, then? BOBBY Nothing. BOBBY Business.
Pause.
DONNY DUBROW I'm saying what's happening, Bob?
DONNY DUBROW Where did they take him, Bob?
BOBBY I don't know.
Pause. DONNY DUBROW Where did you get that nickel BOBBY Uh, Masonic.
from?
DONNY DUBROW I don't think that they got hours
BOBBY What nickel?
start til after lunch. DONNY DUBROW You know what nickel, Bob, the BOBBY Then we'll go then. I'm gonna go now.
nickel I'm talking about.
WALTER COLE Hold on a second, Bob. I feel we
BOBBY I got it off a guy
should take care of you for coming here. DONNY DUBROW What guy? BOBBY That's okay. I'll see you guys. BOBBY I met downtown. DONNY DUBROW Come here a minute, Bobby. WALTER COLE What was he wearing? BOBBY What, Donny? BOBBY Things. DONNY DUBROW What's going on here?
Pause. 75
DON goes to telephone and dials information. DONNY DUBROW How'd you get it off him, Bob? DONNY DUBROW BOBBY We kinda talked.
(into phone) For Masonic Hospital, please.
Pause. BOBBY ... I think ... DONNY DUBROW You know what, you look funny,
Bob.
DONNY DUBROW
(to BOB) What? BOBBY I'm late. BOBBY He might not be Masonic. DONNY DUBROW It's after midnight, Bob. What are
you late for?
DONNY DUBROW
BOBBY Nothing.
(to phone) Thank you. (Hangs up phone. To BOB) Now, what?
DONNY DUBROW
BOBBY He might not be there...
(very sadly) Jesus. Are you fucking with me here? DONNY DUBROW You said he was there. BOBBY No. BOBBY Yeah, I just, like, I said it. I really don't DONNY DUBROW (Bobby.)
remember what they said, Ruthie.
BOBBY I'm not fucking with you, Donny.
WALTER COLE (Ruthie.)
Pause. BOBBY ... so I just ... said Masonic. DONNY DUBROW Where's Fletcher?
Pause.
DONNY DUBROW Why?
BOBBY Masonic.
BOBBY I thought of it.
76
Pause. BOBBY Some spics. I don't know. DONNY DUBROW Uh-huh.
(To phone) Yes. I'm looking for a guy was just admitted. Fletcher Post. Pause. Just a short time ago. Pause. Thank you. (Pause. To BOB and TEACH) She's looking for it. (To phone) No?
TEACH snorts. They did. DONNY DUBROW Who? WALTER COLE Yeah. DONNY DUBROW Who is this "they," Bob, that you're
talking about? BOBBY (I told you...) WALTER COLE Bob.... DONNY DUBROW You're sure?
Pause. Thank you. (Hangs up phone. To BOB) He's not there.
BOBBY ... yeah? WALTER COLE Who are these people you're talking
BOBBY I told you.
about?
WALTER COLE (What did I tell you, Don?)
BOBBY They broke his jaw.
DONNY DUBROW Where is he?
WALTER COLE They took it in them all of a sudden
they broke his jaw. BOBBY Somewhere else. BOBBY They didn't care it was him. DONNY DUBROW (This makes me nuts....) Bobby.. WALTER COLE No? BOBBY Yeah?
Pause. They broke his jaw.
BOBBY No, Teach.
DONNY DUBROW Who?
77
WALTER COLE So who is it takes him out by
DONNY DUBROW You better answer him.
accident. Huh? Grace and Ruthie? BOBBY I understand. BOBBY They wouldn't do that. WALTER COLE Then let's make this clear: Loyalty WALTER COLE I'm not saying they would. BOBBY
does not mean shit a situation like this; I don't know what you and them are up to, and I do not care, but only you come clean with us.
(to DON) What is he saying, Donny? BOBBY He might of been a different hospital. WALTER COLE Bob, Bob. Bob...what am I saying...
Pause.
WALTER COLE Which one?
DONNY DUBROW Where's Fletch, Bobby?
BOBBY Any of 'em.
BOBBY Hospital.
DONNY DUBROW So why'd you say "Masonic"?
WALTER COLE Aside from that.
BOBBY I just thought of it.
BOBBY All I know, that's the only place he is, Teach.
WALTER COLE Okay. Okay....Bob?
WALTER COLE Now, don't get smart with me, Bob,
BOBBY ...yes?
don't get smart with me, you young fuck, we've been sweating blood all day on this and I don't want your smart mouth on it (fuck around with Grace and Ruthie, and you come in here...), so all we want some answers. Do you understand? Pause. I told you: Do you understand this?
WALTER COLE I want for you to tell us here and now
(and for your own protection) what is going on, what is set up..where Fletcher is...and everything you know. DONNY DUBROW
78
(sotto voce) (I can't believe this.) WALTER COLE Sending us out there..who the fuck BOBBY I don't know anything.
knows what..
WALTER COLE You don't, huh?
BOBBY He's in the hospital.
BOBBY No.
DONNY DUBROW Which hospital?
DONNY DUBROW Tell him what you know, Bob.
BOBBY I don't know.
BOBBY I don't know it, Donny. Grace and Ruthie...
WALTER COLE Well. then, you better make one up,
TEACH grabs a nearby object and hits BOB viciously and quick on the side of the head. DONNY DUBROW Bob... WALTER COLE Grace and Ruthie up your ass, you
shithead; you don't fuck with us, I'll kick your fucking head in. (I don't give a shit...) Pause. You twerp... A pause near the end of which BOB starts whimpering. I don't give a shit. (Come in here with your fucking stories ...) Pause. Imaginary people in the hospital.. BOB starts to cry. That don't mean shit to me, you fruit.
WALTER COLE (Don't back down on this Don. Don't
back down on me, here.) DONNY DUBROW Bob.. BOBBY ...yeah? DONNY DUBROW You got to see our point here. BOBBY
BOBBY Donny...
(whimpering) Yeah, I do.
DONNY DUBROW You brought it on yourself.
DONNY DUBROW Now, we don't want to hit you WALTER COLE (No.)
79
BOBBY I know you don't.
DONNY DUBROW We didn't want to do this.
Phone rings. WALTER COLE No. WALTER COLE (Great.) DONNY DUBROW But you come in here DONNY DUBROW BOBBY ... yeah ...
(to phone) What? What the fuck do you want?
DONNY DUBROW ...the only one who knows the
WALTER COLE (It's the guy?)
score... DONNY DUBROW (It's Ruthie.) BOBBY Yeah...(My ear is bleeding. It's coming out
(To phone) Oh yeah, we heard about that, Ruth.
my ear.) Oh, fuck, I'm real scared. WALTER COLE (She's got a lot of nerve...) DONNY DUBROW (Shit.) DONNY DUBROW BOBBY I don't feel good.
this?
(to phone) From Bobby. Yeah. We'll all go. Pause. I thought he was at Masonic? Bobby. Well, okay, that's where we'll go then, Ruthie, we aren't going to go and see him at some hospital he isn't even at... Pause. Bobby's not here. I will. Okay. I will. Around eleven. Okay. (He hangs up.)
DONNY DUBROW You know, we didn't want to do this
WALTER COLE
to you, Bob.
(to BOB) And you owe me twenty bucks.
BOBBY I know...
DONNY DUBROW
WALTER COLE (Fuckin' kid poops out on us...) BOBBY Don... WALTER COLE Now what are we going to do with
80
(dialing) For Columbus Hospital, please. BOBBY I feel funny. WALTER COLE (Fuckin' medical costs...) WALTER COLE Your ear hurts. DONNY DUBROW Thank you. DONNY DUBROW Bob, it hurts. Bob? WALTER COLE
(singing softly to himself) "... and I'm never ever sick at sea."
WALTER COLE I never felt quite right on this. DONNY DUBROW Go tilt your head the other way.
DONNY DUBROW Yes. For Fletcher Post, please, he
was just admitted? Pause. No. I only want to know is he all right, and when we go to see him. Pause. Thank you.
WALTER COLE I mean, we're fucked up here. We
have not blown the shot, but we're fucked up. DONNY DUBROW We are going to take you to the
hospital. WALTER COLE What? WALTER COLE Yeah. yeah, we'll take you to the DONNY DUBROW She's looking.
hospital, you'll get some care, this isn't a big deal.
(To phone) Yes? Yeah. Thank you very much. Yes. You've been very kind. (He hangs up phone.)
DONNY DUBROW Bob. you fell downstairs, you hurt
WALTER COLE What is he, in there?
WALTER COLE He understands?
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
DONNY DUBROW You understand? We're going to
your ear.
take you to the hospital, you fell downstairs. WALTER COLE And they won't let us talk to him? WALTER COLE DONNY DUBROW His jaw is broke.
(at door) This fucking rain. 81
DONNY DUBROW You give 'em your right name. Bob,
and you know what you can tell 'em. (Reaches in pocket, thrusts money at BOB.) You hold on to this, Bob. Anything you want inside the hospital.
BOBBY I get to do the job. WALTER COLE You shut up. You are going in the
hospital. DONNY DUBROW We aren't going to do the job
BOBBY I don't want to go to the hospital.
tonight.
WALTER COLE You're going to the hospital, and
BOBBY We do it sometime else.
that's the end of it. DONNY DUBROW Yeah. BOBBY I don't want to. WALTER COLE He ain't going to do no job. DONNY DUBROW You got to, Bob. DONNY DUBROW Shut up. BOBBY Why? WALTER COLE Just say he isn't going to do no job. WALTER COLE You're fucked up, that's why. DONNY DUBROW It's done now. BOBBY I'm gonna do the job. WALTER COLE What? DONNY DUBROW We aren't going to do the job
tonight, Bob.
DONNY DUBROW I'm saying, this is over.
WALTER COLE You got a hat or something keep my
WALTER COLE No, it's not, Don. It is not. He does no
head dry?
job.
DONNY DUBROW No.
DONNY DUBROW You leave the fucking kid alone.
82
WALTER COLE You want kids, you go have
them. I am not your wife. This doesn't mean a thing to me. I'm in this. And it isn't over. This is for me, and this is my question: Pause. Where did you get that coin?
BOBBY Yeah WALTER COLE Where? BOBBY A coin store.
Pause. BOBBY What? WALTER COLE You bought it in a coin store. WALTER COLE Where'd you get that fucking nickel, if
it all comes out now. Pause. He comes in here, a fifty dollars for a nickel, where'd you get it?
BOBBY Yeah.
Pause. WALTER COLE Why?
BOBBY Take me to the hospital.
Pause.
DONNY DUBROW Go get your car.
WALTER COLE Where did you get that nickel? (I
WALTER COLE What did you pay for it?
want you to watch this.) Pause.
Pause. What did you pay for it? BOBBY Fifty dollars.
BOBBY I bought it. WALTER COLE You buy a coin for fifty dollars, you WALTER COLE (Mother Fucking Junkies.)
come back here. Pause. Why?
DONNY DUBROW Shut up. DONNY DUBROW Go get your fucking car. WALTER COLE What are you saying that you bought
that coin?
WALTER COLE Why would you do a thing like that? 83
BOBBY don't know.
WALTER COLE Why?
Pause. WALTER COLE Why would you go do a thing like
that?
DONNY DUBROW You have lamed this up real good.
BOBBY For Donny.
WALTER COLE I did.
Pause. DONNY DUBROW Real good. WALTER COLE You people make my flesh crawl. WALTER COLE I lamed it up. DONNY DUBROW Bob, we're going to take you out of
here.
BOBBY He hit me.
WALTER COLE I can not take this anymore.
DONNY DUBROW I know, Bob.
DONNY DUBROW Can you walk?
WALTER COLE Yes, I hit him. For his own good. For
the good of all. BOBBY No. DONNY DUBROW Get out of here. DONNY DUBROW Go and get your car. WALTER COLE "Get out of here"? And now you WALTER COLE I am not your nigger. I am not your
wife.
throw me out like trash? I'm doing this for you. What do I have to wreck this joint apart? He told you that he bought it in a coin store.
DONNY DUBROW I'm through with you today. DONNY DUBROW I don't care. WALTER COLE You are. WALTER COLE You don't care? (I cannot believe DONNY DUBROW Yes.
this.) You believe him? 84
DONNY DUBROW I don't care. I don't care anymore.
DONNY DUBROW I'll tell you friends, I'll give you
WALTER COLE You fake. You fucking fake. You fuck
friends ... (Still advancing.)
your friends. You have no friends. No wonder that you fuck this kid around.
BOBBY (Oh, fuck ...)
DONNY DUBROW You shut your mouth.
DONNY DUBROW The stinking deals you come in
here ... WALTER COLE You seek your friends with junkies.
You're a joke on this street, you and him.
WALTER COLE You stay away from me ...
DONNY DUBROW Get out.
DONNY DUBROW You stiff this one, you stiff that one
WALTER COLE I do not go out, no.
... you come in here, you stick this poison in me ... (hitting him).
BOBBY (I eat shit.)
WALTER COLE (Oh, Christ ...)
DONNY DUBROW You get out of here.
BOBBY (I eat shit.)
WALTER COLE I am not going anywhere. I have a
WALTER COLE (Oh, my God, I live with madmen.)
piece of this. DONNY DUBROW All these years ... DONNY DUBROW You have a piece of shit, you
fucking lame. (Advancing on him.)
BOBBY (A cause I missed him.) DONNY DUBROW
WALTER COLE (This from a man who has to buy his
(advancing again) All these fucking years ..
friends.) WALTER COLE (You're going to hit me.)
85
BOBBY Donny ...
BOBBY With the suitcase.
DONNY DUBROW You make life of garbage.
DONNY DUBROW
(Pause) You missed him? BOBBY Donny! BOBBY I eat shit. WALTER COLE (Oh, my God.) DONNY DUBROW What are you saying that you lied BOBBY I missed him.
to me?
DONNY DUBROW
BOBBY I eat shit.
(stopping) What? WALTER COLE What is he saying? BOBBY I got to tell you what a fuck I am.
Pause.
DONNY DUBROW What?
DONNY DUBROW You're saying that you lied?
BOBBY I missed him.
WALTER COLE What is he saying?
DONNY DUBROW Who?
DONNY DUBROW You're saying you didn't see him
with the suitcase? BOBBY The guy. WALTER COLE This kid is hysterical. DONNY DUBROW What guy? DONNY DUBROW You didn't see him? BOBBY The guy this morning. WALTER COLE He's saying that he didn't see him? DONNY DUBROW What guy? DONNY DUBROW When he left this morning.
86
WALTER COLE He's saying that he lied? BOBBY I'm going to throw up. WALTER COLE He's saying he didn't see the guy?
Pause When he came out. I was in here. Then you saw him. When he had the suitcase. (Pause.) Then. Pause. You saw him then. Pause. bob shakes his head. My Whole Cocksucking Life. TEACH picks up the dead-pig sticker and starts trashing the junkshop. The Whole Entire World. There Is No Law. There Is No Right And Wrong. The World Is Lies. There Is No Friendship. Every Fucking Thing. Pause. Every God-forsaken Thing.
WALTER COLE I went on a limb for you.
Pause. You don't know what I go through. I put my dick on the chopping block. Pause. I hock my fucking watch ... Pause. I go out there. I'm out there every day. Pause. There is nothing out there. Pause. I fuck myself. Pause. DONNY DUBROW Are you all right? WALTER COLE What? DONNY DUBROW Are you all right. WALTER COLE How the fuck do I know? DONNY DUBROW You tire me out, Walt. WALTER COLE What?
DONNY DUBROW Calm down, Walt. DONNY DUBROW I need a rest. WALTER COLE We all live like the cavemen.
During the speech, DON tries to subdue TEACH, and finally does.
WALTER COLE This fucking day. DONNY DUBROW
DONNY DUBROW (Siddown.)
(Pause) My shop's fucked up.
Pause. TEACH Sits Still.
WALTER COLE I know.
87
DONNY DUBROW It's all fucked up.
WALTER COLE You got a hat?
Pause. You fucked my shop up. DONNY DUBROW No. WALTER COLE Are you mad at me? WALTER COLE Do you have a piece of paper? DONNY DUBROW What? DONNY DUBROW Bob ...?
Pause.
TEACH walks to counter, takes a piece of newspaper, and starts making himself a paper hat.
DONNY DUBROW Come on.
WALTER COLE He's all right?
WALTER COLE Are you?
DONNY DUBROW Bob ...?
DONNY DUBROW Go and get your car. Bob?
WALTER COLE Is he all right?
WALTER COLE
DONNY DUBROW Bob ...?
WALTER COLE Are you mad at me?
(Pause) Tell me are you mad at me. BOBBY DONNY DUBROW No.
(waking up) What?
WALTER COLE You aren't?
DONNY DUBROW Come on. We're taking you the
DONNY DUBROW No.
Pause.
hospital. TEACH puts on paper hat and looks at self in window.
WALTER COLE Good.
WALTER COLE I look like a sissy.
DONNY DUBROW You go and get your car.
DONNY DUBROW Go and get your car
88
Pause. WALTER COLE Good. WALTER COLE Can you get him to the door?
(Exits.)
DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
DONNY DUBROW Bob.
Pause. BOBBY What? WALTER COLE I'm going to get my car. DONNY DUBROW Get up. DONNY DUBROW You gonna honk?
Pause. Bob. I'm sorry.
WALTER COLE Yeah.
BOBBY What?
DONNY DUBROW Good.
DONNY DUBROW I'm sorry.
WALTER COLE I'll honk the horn.
BOBBY I fucked up.
Pause. DONNY DUBROW No. You did real good. DONNY DUBROW Good.
Pause.
BOBBY No.
WALTER COLE This fucking day, huh?
DONNY DUBROW Yeah. You did real good.
Pause. DONNY DUBROW Yeah. BOBBY Thank you. WALTER COLE I know it. You should clean this place
up.
DONNY DUBROW That's all right.
Pause. DONNY DUBROW Yeah.
Pause.
BOBBY I'm sorry, Donny. 89
DONNY DUBROW That's all right.
Lights dim.
90
