Читать книгу Conversations of the Politically Incorrect - Dimitri Ternezis - Страница 5

Andy alone on stage smiling in his madness, wandering confused, not fully understanding the reality and gravity of his situation.

ANDY: (mumbling to himself) How can he ‘perform’ to get food? Has he got no self-respect? So much easier to go through the bins.

Clutching his stomach, fighting his hunger, he wonders toward the dumpster scrounging for food - passing through lanes checking bins and behind restaurants gathering half breads and whatever is edible into a plastic bag that he pulls from his pocket.

Still self-conscious that he might be seen by people, he ducks to hide, not realising that what he has become cannot be hidden.

Sunset

Andy decides to return back under the freeway exhausted from his food hunt. Tired and weary he finds a bench opposite the tents and decides to rest there (andy’s back is facing the audience – looking at the tents).

ANDY: Eating a part muffin, notices TERRY walking back with the blanket and pillow he had used as props for his begging performance. TERRY places them in his tent - stands and stretches .

ANDY: Watches from the distance but cannot hear.

TERRY: (talking to a large person (MARKO) pointing at ANDY ) (loudly) Go get him! Get him!

Andy feels fear but is too tired to run. He stays still. The large man walks up to Andy.

MARKO: (shuffling quick small steps; deep, slow, loud voice) Hello. My name is Marko. I’m a schizophrenic.

Andy freezes in fear. Stunned and unable to move.

MARKO: (excited like a child who wants to play) Terry told me you just landed. Do you want to come over?

ANDY: (sighing with relief) Yeah sure.

Andy and Marko walk together and the three gather under the freeway.

TERRY: What were you doing over there on your own?

ANDY: Just having something to eat.

TERRY: Did you find anything today?

ANDY: Not much.

(taking his findings out of the plastic bag - half a roll of bread, a half filled plastic container of Chinese rice and a few other bits and pieces.)

MARKO: He’s good! Look at that! He’s good. Can I have some?

(silence) Andy hardly has enough for himself but realises these are the only people in his life now. He tears the bag open for all to share.

TERRY: (smiling) Ohhhh, so you’re a good fellow?

Other homeless people in dark shabby clothing, seeing and hearing that there’s food, start to circle like vultures. Terry and Marko firmly tell them to go away - they haven’t got enough. They scatter.

MARKO: Thanks for sharing! I like Chinese rice. It’s my favourite.

TERRY: (looking at Marko) This guy really knows how to select the best. Tastes good.

MARKO: (eating – mouth full) He’s good!

TERRY: He only picks the clean garbage. He certainly has a talent. (laughs)

(they sit and eat. Sharing. Andy is shocked that this rubbish he found has brought such happiness and value.)

MARKO: How was work today Terry?

TERRY: (finishing a swallow, licking his fingers) . Well, I had a good day. I collected twenty dollars and thirty-five cents.

MARKO: Wow you had a top day!

(andy gasps shocked)

TERRY: (smiling, patting his stomach) Well I guess that filled one corner of our stomachs. But since Andy is a good fellow and shared, why don’t we get some pizza and a small bottle of scotch to celebrate?

MARKO: (excited smiling and happy). Wow we hit the big time today Terry! Pizza! That’s my favourite.

ANDY: (confused) Hold on…. you said Chinese was your favourite?

MARKO: It was! But now it’s pizzaaaaa!

TERRY: (handing the money to Marko) Here’s the money Marko. Head over to Mario’s. You know what to do.

MARKO: (mechanically - seriously). Yes I know. Order the pizza. Pick the bottle. Return with them both.

TERRY: Perfect. And don’t forget – don’t tell people you’re a schizophrenic - it scares them.

MARKO: But it’s true!

TERRY: Yes I know. But that’s why it scares them.

MARKO: Alright. I won’t tell them. (marko walks away shuffling his feet fast. Disappears) .

ANDY: (turning to Terry) . Tell me, what’s wrong with this guy?

TERRY: (causally). Nothin’. He is a better person than the both of us. He’s schizophrenic and a manic depressant at times but not paranoid. He wouldn’t hurt anyone but himself. As you saw he’s like a big kid. BUT he’s one of us - a good fellow.

ANDY: How does someone like that end up in a place like this?

TERRY: Good one. That story’s long enough to distract us till Marko gets back.

ANDY: (silence). So what happened.

TERRY: Well, he attacked his wife’s boyfriend – fair play I say – then the cops grabbed him, beat him up real good and locked him up in an asylum diagnosed with schizophrenia.

ANDY: (genuinely) That is so sad. But how did he end up here with you? Was he released?

TERRY: No way! It’s actually crazy what happened but there’s a bit of a moral to the story too. The asylum he was locked in had only one door to enter and exit and plenty of security. For months Marko patiently waited, watching the routine of the place – to the point where it was common to see him hanging around the front with the guards. One day the three guards manning the front door somehow lined up like bowling pins and well that day Marko hit some sort of red button in his brain and rammed the three of them down into oblivion. (laughing hysterically) I can see it now – whoosh – Strike! And Marko’s not exactly small as you can see. He knocked them unconscious, took the keys, opened the door and ran till he reached Tent City where I bumped into him.

ANDY: (smiling) Unbelievable! That is seriously insane.

TERRY: That’s Marko! Seems like he isn’t all there but he’s more there than most. Anyway it doesn’t matter. He likes you.

ANDY: What is there to like? Look at what I am now….

TERRY: You’re too hard on yourself is what you are. It only takes one mistake to lose all that you achieve in a life. Only one and you obviously made it.

Andy pauses head down contemplating the many mistakes in his life.

TERRY: (smiling) Lighten up! We drink and eat tonight. It’s a good night.

ANDY: I don’t drink.

TERRY: Whaaaaat? Don’t drink? This is going down in history. A homeless man who doesn’t drink (laughing) Why? What does it do to you?

ANDY: Nothing. Just never had the urge for it.

TERRY: Oh you’ll get the urge alright! Have a drink and don’t care. It’ll teach you to relax. You’re in good company tonight. Try not to think too much - it makes you stupid (nervous laugh) . There’s nobody here to judge us.

(Andy nods – thinking maybe he was being too hard on himself.)

TERRY: Look - there he is! He’s flying! Marko’s legs can’t be seen when he’s happy. (laughing)

Andy looks at Marko’s lightning speed shuffle and laughs for the first time.

TERRY: Look at him! He could win gold in the pizza Olympics!

They both laugh heartily.

MARKO: We got it all tonight! (smiling) Was I gone long?

TERRY: Any faster and we wouldn’t have known you left!

MARKO: (pleased with himself) Stirrer….

(plastic is placed on the ground they sit and eat the pizza.)

TERRY: Slow down Marko. Leave some pizza for the rest of us.

MARKO: But I’m hungry!

TERRY: Do you want some booze?

MARKO: Of course!

TERRY: Then leave some pizza for us.

MARKO: (chewing) ok.

TERRY: (terry cracks the bottle open and takes a long swallow without a breath.) Aghhhh that was sweet.

ANDY: You guys drink it straight?

TERRY: (sarcastically) Oh sorry sir - would you like some ice and coke from the fridge with that? (Smiling - passes the bottle to Andy).

ANDY: (accepts the bottle and deliberates)

MARKO: (impatiently) My turn! Come on!

ANDY: (andy swallows a small gulp and coughs.) Hard to drink this stuff!

TERRY: It’s the ‘don’t care - forget everything’ remedy. Not enough I say.

(like a child Marko impatiently waits for his turn. Andy passes him the bottle.)

MARKO: Yum! (gulps loudly).

(terry gently pushes Marko’s hand down and the bottle moves down away from Marko’s lips.)

TERRY: Sharing is caring Marko. You always say that.

MARKO: Sure Terry. I just get excited. Sorry.

(they sit and share the bottle. Everyone becomes relaxed.)

Stage Black