Читать книгу Conversations of the Politically Incorrect - Dimitri Ternezis - Страница 6

TERRY: (looking at Andy) So what do you think? Is every drop worth it or what? (nervous laugh)

ANDY: I have to admit. I do feel relaxed - even though I also feel sick.

TERRY: That’s good sick! (laughing) Better to feel sick than to feel.

ANDY: Are you saying you would do anything to stop feeling? Even drink yourself stupid?

TERRY: (laughing) If only I was that lucky. Who wouldn’t do anything to stop pain? Everyone does it in different ways - that’s all. Some drink, most take drugs, others just live in denial. The drink doesn’t seem to be hurting you though. You’ve been here a month and this is the most relaxed I’ve seen you. You’re easier to talk to anyway – less uptight and serious.

ANDY: That’s true. (quietly) But I still keep thinking of Sylvia. (getting melancholic) All her sweet talk and manners (angry) a lie! (melancholic) Her loving nature (angry) a show! (melancholic) Why can’t I get her out of my head? Can’t believe she left me as soon as we had one bit of bad luck.

TERRY: Mate, I’m sure by now she’s talking about you in the past tense. She’s not here is she? What more proof do you want that she didn’t give a damn about you and it was all about the image and the money?

ANDY: You make everything sound so simple. It’s not black and white Terry! It’s more complicated than that.

TERRY: (sarcastically) . Of course it is Andy.

ANDY: (frustrated) It is! She had everything. House - money - a kid! She didn’t have to work. I gave her everything. She had no complaint!

TERRY: Yes I understand all that, but when the money ran out she followed it out the door. Didn’t she? I mean I could say she fell out of love - but that’d be a bunch of malarki. So face it – crude as it sounds – she’s gone and she doesn’t give a damn about you. Everything else is emotional gibberish.

ANDY: I guess you’re right there.

TERRY: You just got a double dose of betrayal. That’s all. Making excuses or trying to understand why it happened isn’t going to help. Accept it - don’t reject it - that usually makes life easier.

ANDY: But it’s so hard. I had everything and lost it all. How am I supposed to accept that?

TERRY: Andy listen to me. Take a psychological knife and cut your heart out of your mind. Then you can see where you are. ‘No emotion’ is the answer. For us to be here everything we had – everything we believed in is dead. Forgive yourself. Accept don't reject.

ANDY: (reality hitting. Putting his head down repeating softly again and again)

‘Psychological knife’

‘Accept don’t reject’

TERRY: See Marko? We’re not the only ones who talk to ourselves. Andy’s in the club!

MARKO: Yeah Terry! Looks like it.

(Both Laugh)

ANDY: (coming out of his hypnotic trance, looks at Terry). Were you married?

TERRY: No way! I feel too much and I’m too honest to be married. If anything happens – if I’m betrayed - Vertigo grips me.

ANDY: What do you mean Vertigo? Are you scared of heights?

TERRY: No silly! Vertigo. When I get emotionally hurt I lose it and become a little violent: You know - Vertigo.

ANDY: Actually Terry, I think Vertigo means something else.

TERRY: (furious - raising his voice) It’s Vertigo to me!

ANDY: (seeing that Terry for all his intelligence is unbalanced. Learning that ‘accepting’ is easier speaks calmly) I see what you mean Terry. You’re right - Vertigo.

TERRY: (back to normal as if nothing happened) So, marriage was not for me. Better on my own. Look I have two friends right here! (nervous laugh)

ANDY: And you Marko? Were you married?

MARKO: (marko slow and nervous to answer). Well … we don't like betrayal either. We put up with my mum and her boyfriends and also with my wife and her boyfriends – but that didn’t help - sometimes we feel it would’ve been better if Terry was there. He could’ve given them a bit of Vertigo.

ANDY: Hang on a minute Marko. Who is ‘we’ - you mean us? Or are you talking about yourself?

MARKO: Both silly! (laughing) Doesn’t matter anyway.

ANDY: Doesn’t it?

MARKO: Well does it? We all came to the same conclusion. Betrayal.

TERRY: Don’t worry about that Andy. Marko’s right. I wish I was there. The axe would’ve come in handy in that situation.

Marko and Terry (laugh)

ANDY: (confused but smiling) Don’t get Vertigo with us Terry.

TERRY: Nah, don’t worry about that. We’re good, honest people. We’re good together. Vertigo is reserved for people who are unfair and unjust. (nervous laugh)

ANDY: (sighing in relief & chuckling) That’s good news.

TERRY: You may see us as unusual - a little bit crazy even, but don’t fret, we just got spat out of abnormal situations. We’re no threat. We’re here to help. Anyway – forget all this mumbo jumbo. We have business to discuss. This Thursday is Thursday night shopping.

MARKO: (getting excited) My favourite! I love Thursday night shopping!

ANDY: What’s Thursday night shopping?

TERRY: You know, when people take out their ‘don't wants’ for the council to pick up. They do it once every three months.

ANDY: You mean when households throw out their junk - broken chairs, tables – stuff like that?

TERRY: That’s it. But why did you call it junk? We find clothes, furniture and all sorts of good things.

MARKO: Yeah it’s like a treasure hunt! Can’t wait!

TERRY: True. I was thinking we might find a mattress for you Andy. You must be tired of sleeping on the cold concrete.

ANDY: (beginning to understand the benefits) I am! My back is killing me. I feel like Frankenstein when I walk.

TERRY: We’ll sort you out Andy. Thursday night shopping is lucky for us. We could find …. (huddles with Andy whispering what could be found).

MARKO: (calling over) Hey, Terry. There’s a car parked there in the dark. Some guy’s sitting in the front.

TERRY: Yeah don’t worry about that Marko. It’s probably Rick in his new Mustang.

ANDY: Who is Rick?

TERRY: Rick is a good fellow but not our type of good fellow - a different type.

ANDY: Which type?

TERRY: The type you ‘keep your mouth shut and take it to the grave’ good fellow. Get it?

ANDY: Got it.

TERRY: He takes care of the Ladies’ of the night up on the main corner and also sells ‘medicinal merchandise’.

ANDY: You mean he’s a pimp and a drug dealer?

TERRY: Sheeez Andy! I wouldn’t say that. He works for the public service and the pharmaceutical industry (nervous laugh). Isn’t that a better description?

ANDY: Don’t you feel scared of a guy like that?

TERRY: If you’re smart, you would be. But I’m not scared of Rick. Without him the streets would be more dangerous for us. There would be no order. The Junkies would come into Tent City and we’d have nowhere to go. Also if some shady characters want to start trouble they don't dare ‘cause Rick would take them out. So we have peace and that’s why I’m not scared of Rick.

ANDY: But isn’t that the police’s job?

TERRY: (sarcastically laughing) Sure it is. And I’m Florence Nightingale! You have a lot to learn on these streets. Rule number one - don’t trust the police or lawyers - they only get involved after the crime is committed. The only reason the police don’t touch us here, is because we’re nothing. They see us as an inconvenience, politically incorrect scum like everybody else. Fact is the police ‘perform their duty’ only when there are witnesses.

ANDY: Sounds like you are anti-police Terry.

TERRY: Well when you have a house with a fence and security, police are necessary for your safety. But in Tent City all you need for security is a “Rick”.

ANDY: But Rick might hurt someone who is innocent!

TERRY: What? And the police won’t? (laughing) That’s pretty naïve Andy. Think about it. The cops risk their lives for $45K a year. They don't make enough money to be honest! So maybe there are some police who are good but if you ask me, they’re as rare as finding diamonds in the street.

ANDY: Seems like I am living in upside down land. Drug Dealers are protectors and cops are undertakers.

TERRY: Bingo! Welcome to the Street Andy. Now don't rock the order of the land and you’ll survive to eat another day.

Stage Black.