Читать книгу Mr. Burns and Other Plays - Anne Washburn - Страница 26

CHAPTER 13

Don’t forget that it’s still raining heavily, continuously.

Ruthie is staring fixedly into space.

When she hears the key in the lock she picks up a book.

Hananiah enters.

She looks up and puts her book down, he registers her but does not really see her.

He is carrying a paper bag.

He stands in the middle of the room. He looks at the paper bag. He looks up. He looks around. He looks at the bag.

HANANIAH: I was buying coffee.

RUTHIE: Yes. You said you would.

He looks at her, still not really seeing her. He sits down. And looks at her really for the first time.

HANANIAH: I was in line. I was going to buy coffee. And I was tapped on my . . . (He can’t think of the word)

RUTHIE: Shoulder?

HANANIAH: Here (Places his hand on the halfway point between shoulder and elbow) by a man who said will you come with me please.

I thought he meant, I thought he must mean I had been stealing. Even though I wasn’t. Because they do sell small things there but only up at the counter. I would have had to have sidled up to the counter and taken, candies, and then stepped back to get in line. I would have taken them when I had already gotten to the counter that’s what I was thinking. It didn’t make sense to me.

He said you’re Hananiah the prophet I said yes and people had turned around; I thought all right I can’t make a fuss here, I’ll explain in the back office. I mean if they have to search my pockets, whatever. And he led me out the door. And I was just sort of thinking: we’re on the street, that’s funny, I thought there were back offices and I realize because he’s got me by the arm that he’s hustling but I mean it’s all very inconspicuous and delicate there’s a car at the curb. And he’s making like he’s going to open the back door and I said wait. Because I’m thinking this is crazy and why don’t we start talking very specifically about the mints or what have you I mean I still need to buy my coffee, and now I’ve lost my place in line. And he shifts his jacket and he’s got a gun. So now I decide I will have to make a break for it because this is crazy and I look over and there’s another one by the newsstand and he’s got his hand in his jacket in this very significant way. And so I don’t know what to do and I get in the car. And we drive and there’s another one in the backseat, next to me, and the man who got in the front seat passenger side leans over and says I apologize for that, but it was simpler and then turns his head back. And I said where are we going and everyone ignored me. And there was fear in my voice, I couldn’t disguise it, so I didn’t say anything else.

By this point Ruthie is sitting next to him or kneeling in front of him and stroking his hand gently.

We drive for twenty minutes. Or, I have no idea for how long. It seemed like twenty minutes. It could have been any period of time at all.

And we stop outside of a storefront which has a realty sign in it, and the two other stores on this side of the block are boarded up and I was thinking I’ll sort of look around me, and try to see where I am, and the man says don’t look around, so I don’t. There’s no one on the sidewalk.

And the one guy has a key, and unlocks the door and we walk in, there’s nothing there, just fixtures, and then he has another key and he unlocks the door to the back.

And we walk in.

And I think am I afraid to die? And I think I’m not afraid to die. But then I think no but I’m sorry to die.

By this point Ruthie is no longer stroking his hand, but simply grasping it, unmoving.

And there’s a man in the back room, in a chair, and he has his back to me.

And the room is filled with men, and they’re all looking at him. Unless it’s their job to look at me. But then something must change on his face, because at once they all look at me.

I can see his arm, on the chair. I can see the edge of his sleeve, and I can see his hand. I see the ring on his hand.

And they see me see the ring, all of the men see and then the room is loaded with guns.

And I’m not afraid. And he doesn’t move, an iota, he doesn’t say a thing but suddenly the guns are down and back and away. And then every man leaves the room.

And then for the first time he shifts a little bit and he says I still can’t see his face:

“Is there word?”

And I went cold, literally, all over, literally like I’ve been dunked in ice water.

Because I didn’t know was there word? I never know if there’s word.

I thought no, I don’t think there is word. But then there was word.

RUTHIE: What did you say?

HANANIAH: I said. I sang some of it. That doesn’t happen so often. I said there was glory. I said there was beauty. I said there were arms, and armaments. I don’t remember all of it. I said there is blood sinking into the earth, I said there is a terrible cry, from beyond the city walls, and it freezes men and they sob in their sleep, they wake early, they walk to the cold river just at the dawn. I said there’s a wind in the heights and the women are uneasy. I said these are strange times. I said they are glorious. (Laughs) I started talking about arm wrestling. I said about how your arm is forced all the way over, twisted all the way back and the tabletop is a quarter inch from your knuckle and it seems impossible but even if your arm is weak your heart is strong and you bust it back, you bust it back quarter inch by quarter inch until it surges forward and blam you press your enemy down into the hard wood. I said that there was victory. It’s the clearest I’ve ever said it yet. I said that there was triumph.

I said “you are beloved”

I said that he was blessed.

There is a slightly indecipherable pause.

RUTHIE: And the king was, pleased.

HANANIAH: He said “you can go now,” and from his voice I knew he was in tears.

There is a pause.

They escorted me back to the car and they drove me here. And when we pulled up the guy in the front seat got out and opened the door for me, and when I got out he gave me this.

Pulls bag of coffee beans from paper bag.

These aren’t the beans I was going to buy but they’re more expensive.

RUTHIE: They know where we live?

HANANIAH: It wouldn’t be difficult to find out. I think, no one said anything, but I think. We’ll be able to get the house up country.

RUTHIE: The king is a pig.

Without thinking, he slaps her. They’re both horrified.

HANANIAH: Oh my god. Oh my god oh my god.

RUTHIE: Wow. / (Huh)

HANANIAH: Are you all right?

He moves toward her she steps away. She presses against the side of her cheek, her jaw.

RUTHIE: If only I’d been hysterical. That would have / been just the right thing to do.

HANANIAH: I love you. I love you.

He moves toward her again she holds out a hand warning him back.

RUTHIE: Just stay there for a moment / all right?

He sinks to the earth in front of her.

HANANIAH: I’ve never hurt, I’ve never touched I’ve only, even—

RUTHIE: Okay just shut up. Just. Please. For a moment. Just shut up.

Long silence. The rain.

This is the wrong time to say this, because now it has a very different spin. But what I was going to say, when you were going to come in the door. Or, tonight. I know I was going to say it tonight. Is that I’m leaving.

I was going to say that I’m not leaving you, I’m leaving and I was going to say I so much wish that you’d come with me, but I know you won’t. I did want you to know that this isn’t easy for me, and that actually it breaks my heart.

Mini stunned pause.

HANANIAH: It was a bad, moment. It was a really bad really bad moment.

RUTHIE: No the whole point is that that’s what I was going to say before.

A knock.

They look at each other.

Another knock.

“A house up country.”

HANANIAH: I’m going to get it.

RUTHIE (Low): Don’t get it.

He stops.

Another knock.

Don’t get it.

HANANIAH (Low): If they want to kill me, they’ve already surrounded the block.

He opens the door. A group of people, their faces obscured.

Hananiah steps back, Ruthie steps toward him.

Emily pulls the veil from her face. She and PT and maybe a few other people are supporting an unconscious Jeremiah. He is as before, but someone has slung a black rain slicker onto him; the hood covers his face.

EMILY: I’m sorry about this. You can say no. It’s important that you know that and that’s not, um—I shouldn’t be giving you a choice—there are other options.

PT: Bullshit

HANANIAH: Say no to what?

EMILY: This one needs some place to stay. Just for the night.

Ruthie looks at Hananiah, then looks at Emily.

RUTHIE: I think he’s going to have to be cleaner. To stay here. (To Hananiah) Right? (To them) There are things in there.

Emily hugs Ruthie.

HANANIAH: “Things” are my clothes. They’re in the drawers to your left.

EMILY: We’ll come back for him in the morning.

As they haul him into the bedroom:

We’re going to need towels or something to lay on the bed if you don’t want this on the coverlet.

Ruthie darts after them. After a bit, Hananiah sits.

RUTHIE (Offstage. She’s sliding towels under his feet): A bit higher, okay? Just for a moment.

SOMEONE (Offstage): Watch the boots, watch / the boots.

Sound of minor breakage.

Oh / shit.

RUTHIE (Offstage): That’s fine. No really. Okay . . .

PT : Okay.

Jeremiah is in place.

Some moments of silence.

During which Emily crosses back into the room with one of the group, speaking to him in a low voice.

(Offstage) This one all right?

RUTHIE (Offstage): That’s fine. Anything in there

There is a longish whispered consultation at the door, during which:

PT (Offstage): This would be easier with a skirt. Can you just? Okay.

Then he exits. Emily crosses back into the offstage bedroom.

There is a pause.

Ruthie reenters the room.

RUTHIE: They’re getting him changed.

There’s a bit of a pause. Hananiah looks up.

HANANIAH (Gently): Will you take my hand?

He holds out his hand.

Bit of a pause.

RUTHIE: I think probably I’d better not.

He looks at her. She looks at him. Then looks away. He stands up. She looks at him.

And don’t—no.

PT enters.

PT: What he really needs is a bath but he’s too hard to handle passed out. Monica’s going after him with a wash cloth but hopefully he’ll be up for a shower tomorrow. (To Hananiah) I like your stuff. It’s actually it’s been a long time since I went through someone else’s closet. It reminds me of, like, my older brother when we were in high school. I was always going after his football jersey. Man, that used to piss him off!

There’s a little pause.

You don’t mind if I rummage in your fridge do you?

Ruthie points out the kitchen. PT goes off.

Emily appears in the doorway.

EMILY: He has been intermittently conscious. I think it’s just exhaustion. PT?

PT appears with a small hunk of cheddar.

PT: Cheese okay?

EMILY: PT can you give me a hand? And actually, Ruthie? (Ruthie gets up. As Emily goes off with PT) You’re not going to want him on your bed tonight I imagine. He looks like a thrasher.

(From off) Okay if you can just, by the leg—PT, easy.

PT: Yeah okay and you—

EMILY: —okay, okay—

They’re maneuvering Jeremiah into the room and onto the couch. He is wearing jeans and a T-shirt. His feet are bare.

RUTHIE (To Hananiah): Will you get a blanket from the pelican chest?

EMILY: Easy, and over, and over. Okay

They get him set down.

good.

(To Ruthie) You don’t have a washing machine do you?

RUTHIE: No.

EMILY: PT get a garbage bag or something for his robes. Oh and the—

PT has started into the kitchen.

RUTHIE: They’re under the sink.

EMILY: boots. Get one for the boots. Don’t forget the boots, they’re in the—

Hananiah brings the blanket over; sees Jeremiah’s face for the first time. Freezes.

HANANIAH: I thought he was in custody.

Jeremiah, disturbed by all the jostling, rouses and kind of half rears up, looks up and on seeing Hananiah, launches into prophecy.

JEREMIAH:

Hananiah.

Hananiah Behold, I am against them that prophesy

false dreams. I will feed them with wormwood

and make them drink the water of gall

Is not my word like as a fire? Saith the Lord!

There is an internal struggle. The Lord wins.

And like a hammer

that breaketh the rock in pieces: Behold, I am

Briefly, Jeremiah wins:

No.

A struggle.

No.

Jeremiah loses.

Hear now Hananiah, the Lord hath not . . .

hath not sent thee; but thou makest

He’s sweating.

Thou makest this people to trust

I won’t

in a lie. Therefore thus saith the Lord—no.

No.

No I won’t.

Exhausted.

No.

I won’t.

He falls back unconscious. The lights swiftly dwindle.

The sound of his dreaming begins, low.

EMILY (After a ghastly pause): We’ll be back for him, in the morning.

HANANIAH: You’re leaving him here (.)