A Vagabond Peace

Scene

The action takes place in a junkyard, early evening. Miscellaneous items are strewn around. Elizabeth sits on a chair or something comfortable so that her arm which holds Sock has mobility, perhaps on a large cardboard box where she can live. Her space is separated from the others. Tera, Preacher, and Lorenzo's spaces are near each other. Damon's space is separate. On stage is an old trash can. The time is 1994.

Characters

• ELIZABETH (SOCK), a woman in her late forties
• PREACHER, a woman in her fifties
• TERA, a woman in her late fifties, early sixties
• DAMON, a man 27 years old
• LORENZO, a man in his thirties
• MICK, a 19 year old man

(NOTE: A person of any race can play any character. Also, except for Mick (who's young) and Tera (who's old), the ages of the characters do not really matter, as long as their stories make sense. To the playwright, gender is important.)

(NOTE ABOUT PREACHER: For this to work well, the PREACHER isn't as thoughtful as urgent. There must be a sense of kindness and urgency within PREACHER that comes out by how words are spoken when the PREACHER "preaches".)

(NOTE ABOUT PACE: This play is fast-paced.

Working Props

• Sock -- I hate to say he's a prop, but he'll have to be made. Elizabeth holds.
• Black hat -- Elizabeth wears.
• Scriptures -- Preacher has.
• Large bag -- Tera brings in.
• Two paperback books -- in Tera's bag.
• Coat -- for Damon, in Tera's bag.
• Teddy bear -- in Tera's bag.
• Yarn and Knitting needles -- in Tera's bag.
• Large blanket -- for Damon, set on stage.
• Large rat -- set offstage.
• Long stick -- set on stage, can span the trash can.
• Spoon -- for Sock, set on stage.
• Rake -- set on stage.
• At least two metal objects -- set on stage for Preacher and Tera to pound.
• Short stick -- for Tera's mouth, in Tera's bag.
• Knife -- Mick brings in.
• "Blood" -- for Damon.
• Handkerchief -- in Mick's pocket.
• Loaf of bread -- Lorenzo brings in.
• Whiskey bottle, half full -- Lorenzo brings in.

(Late afternoon. SOCK and PREACHER are on stage. SOCK is the mask of ELIZABETH who sits in or near a large cardboard box. SOCK is her arm in a dirty tube sock that has eyes painted on it. SOCK, however, seems to have a life and a personality of his own. ELIZABETH is in her late forties. She wears predominantly black, including a black hat that nearly covers her face. All of who she is seems to be in SOCK. While she doesn't try to keep her lips from moving, all the focus is on SOCK, and other characters only address SOCK rather than ELIZABETH. Until the end of the play, the actor playing ELIZABETH-SOCK does not move from place to place. It's important that the actor is comfortable, yet her arm holding SOCK has great mobility. Her elbow holding SOCK comfortably rests on something. PREACHER is a woman in her fifties and looks like a typical bag-lady. PREACHER is sitting down, reading through her scriptures. SOCK is clearly bored. He starts weaving back and forth.)

SOCK (Starts humming "It's a Small World")

PREACHER (Quietly exasperated) Be quiet.

SOCK Why? (Continues with "Small World" but instead of humming, he begins to voice the tune, repeatedly.) Dum-da-dum-dum-dum-da-dum. (etc.)

PREACHER Sock! Will you knock it off? (SOCK get louder.) I hate that song!

SOCK A little close to home, is it? (Louder.)

PREACHER Please, Sock? Will you please stop it?

SOCK Oh, well, if you're gonna get civil about it. . . . Okay. (Pause. PREACHER returns to her reading. Then suddenly SOCK explodes into the combination of commercial songs.) "Reach out and touch someone . . . with Doublemint Doublemint Doublemint gum." (No response from PREACHER. Pause.) WITH DOUBLEMINT DOUBLEMINT DOUBLEM---

PREACHER (Slams the scriptures.) I'M GONNA KILL YA!!! (Moves for the "throat.")

SOCK What? Break a commandment? You gonna break a commandment, Preacher? You gonna kill me for singin'? (PREACHER sits back down.) How easily we become violent. Don't you think we easily become violent Preacher?

PREACHER Shut --- up --- Sock.

SOCK (Contemplative.) 'Tis a sickness in the world, no doubt about that. Don't you think so Preacher?

PREACHER Yeah, Sock. We're violent. We're sick. I reckon that's why we're here. Sick. Sock. Sick sock. Sicksock. Sicksock. Sicksock.

SOCK Shut up.

PREACHER Sicksock. You like that?

SOCK No.

PREACHER Then be quiet and let me read.

SOCK (Slams down on the box--his way of lying down.)

PREACHER Thankeu.

(Pause. Soon, TERA enters. TERA is a woman in her late fifties, early sixties, who is dressed like a bag-lady. Her clothes are earth-colored. She carries a bag full of various items. Her space is next to PREACHER, for they are like sisters.)

TERA Hello Dearies. Hello. Hello.

(PREACHER and SOCK speak at the same time.)

PREACHER Hey, Tera!

SOCK Tera! Goody goody!

PREACHER How's yer day?

SOCK I'm hungry. Got anything?

PREACHER Sorry we got separated today.

SOCK I like Tera. Tera's a nice person.

PREACHER I got a little worried aboutcha.

SOCK Unlike other people I know.

(PREACHER and SOCK stop talking together.)

TERA (Settles down.) Well well well I am too.

PREACHER Did it happen today, dear?

TERA Yes yes, it happened.

PREACHER Did anyone help you?

TERA No no. I was in Broadstreet Alley looking for Lorenzo at the time.

PREACHER Was he there?

TERA No. The sweet thing was gone.

PREACHER You were alone then?

TERA Well yes, and no. People walking down the sidewalk saw me. Gave a sideshow on the sidewalk I did. They just stared at me.

PREACHER Vultures!

TERA No no. Don't say that, dearie. They don't know any better. They don't know. They . . . they just don't know.

PREACHER Oh, surely ---

TERA No no. Some threw me some money after I was done. I think they thought I was performing for them. They just didn't know. I don't think. . . . Sometimes I feel like a freak.

PREACHER We all feel like that.

SOCK I don't.

PREACHER We just gotta remember that --- that we're not freaks. We're . . . ah . . . .

TERA Thank you, dear. Thank you thank you.

PREACHER Sorry I wasn't there.

TERA Oh all right, it's all right dear. I should be used to these seizures by now.

PREACHER I shoulda been there.

TERA Doesn't matter. Doesn't matter.

(Pause.)

SOCK So whatcha got?

PREACHER (Dryly.) Civility incarnate there.

TERA Wouldcha like to see? Got something special here!

SOCK Food?

TERA No dearie. No food. Sorry.

SOCK What's so special then?

TERA We need more than food to stay alive, Sock. Now behave yourself. Hear?

SOCK Yeah yeah.

TERA You ready for this, Preacher?

PREACHER Ready and waiting!

(Out of her bag, Tera pulls two books: Robert McAfee Brown, Liberation Theology: An Introductory Guide. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1993 and C. Robert Mesle, Process Theology: A Basic Introduction. St. Louis, Missouri: Chalice Press, 1993. However, any worn and dirty paperback books will do.)

TERA Here ya go, Dearie!

PREACHER What's this? (Reads.) Intro to liberation theology and . . . process theology. Hey! I've been lookin' for these for a long time! Thanks, Tera!

(PREACHER happily scans the books. Tera sits down wearily and enjoys PREACHER's happiness.)

SOCK Books. Big deal.

PREACHER No! No! These are more than just books. These are different ways of seeing God!

SOCK What for? You always got your nose in ---

PREACHER No no no you don't understand! (Picks up scriptures.) This is the best guide there is, but it's a guide. These others will help me use this guide better!

SOCK I'd rather have a steak.

PREACHER Where'd you find 'em?

TERA In the trash.

PREACHER Oh. I shoulda known. Just like us.

SOCK Great, big, juicy steak. Cow -- horse -- it don't matter. Just as long as it's BIG.

PREACHER (Reads: PT p. 120) "Morally, we can picture a divine love so great that in all events in every moment God is doing everything within God's power to bring about good, eagerly calling for the cooperation of all who will respond." Isn't this terrific?

SOCK What's terrific about it? Look around Preacher! God isn't here. He's not with us, in this, this dump.

PREACHER Who says he's not here? Huh?

SOCK If God was here, you idiot, then we wouldn't be. He'd care enough to help us.

PREACHER Yeah, well I think God wants to help us. We just gotta figure out how to LET him help us.

SOCK People die here, Preacher. People suffer here and die here.

PREACHER This'll change your mind.

SOCK I don't wanna change Preacher! I don't need no book to tell me what to think. The whole thing's just stupid!

PREACHER Well I wanna change. I wanna grow some. I wanna expand my horizons.

SOCK I don't. I have enough problems with the horizons I got! (TERA starts to laugh.)

PREACHER What?

TERA Nothing. Nothing. You wanna see what else I got?

SOCK Medium rare. That's how I like it.

TERA (Pulls a coat from her bag.) Here. This is for Damon. I figure he needs it. He's always wrapping up in that blanket of his.

PREACHER I don't know, Tera. That blanket ---

SOCK Maybe Damon got us food today! You think so maybe?

TERA Maybe. Maybe not. (TERA takes an old teddy bear from her bag.)

SOCK Hey Tera! How come ya always got that bear?

TERA Why not?

SOCK Huh?

TERA Bjorn is just a friend, Sock. Like you.

SOCK But he's not real.

TERA Are you sure?

SOCK Pretty sure!

TERA (Quietly laughs.) Part of me is in Bjorn, Sock. He's real.

SOCK Oh. (Dead silence. They are trying to listen to something.)

PREACHER Do you hear it?

TERA No.

SOCK No.

TERA Maybe next time, Dearies. Maybe next time.

(When she's not actively engaged in a scene, TERA takes out her yarn and needles and knits a scarf. She's always making something for someone else, even if she doesn't know who at the moment.)

PREACHER Sure. We can't give up yet!

SOCK Yeah! Maybe Damon got some food! Hey, speak a the devil! Here he comes now!

(DAMON enters, empty handed. DAMON, 27 years old, looks nearly defeated with life. Like the others, he, too, wears rags. He is angry, yet has a healthy defiance about his own anger. It's as if he wants to blame society for his life but can't quite do it; he knows deep down that he's done it all by himself.)

DAMON Shut up, Sock.

SOCK Ya got any food, Damon?

DAMON Do I look like I got any food?

(Silence from the others. Deep disappointment with the beginning of fear.)

PREACHER That's okay, Damon. The rest of us couldn't get any either.

DAMON I shoulda. Where's my stuff? (He picks up his old blanket, rolls it in a ball, and hugs it.) Man, it's gettin' cold! . . . I can't . . . I can't do anything anymore. I thought I'd steal a couple a cans a beans or somethin' from Caseys but I couldn't.

SOCK Gee, Damon. You set such low standards for yourself. It's unfortunate you don't live up to them.

DAMON (Explodes.) Shut up you . . . whatever you are! You parasite! You don't do nothin' around here! Nothin'! You always expect someone else to feed you. You think . . . you think it comes from thin air!

PREACHER Take it easy, Damon. Take it easy.

DAMON No! I'm sick of it!

PREACHER Elizabeth can't, Damon. She'd die here, you know that. She can't. She's crippled, here, in the heart, she's crippled.

DAMON Yeah, well we're all crippled, Preacher! Everybody's crippled! Why does she have to depend on us?

PREACHER Why shouldn't she, Damon?

DAMON Huh?

PREACHER Why shouldn't she have to depend on us? Who says we gotta live alone? Huh? Who made that rule in the world? Huh? Maybe we should learn more about givin' and takin' instead of just tryin' to make it on our own. Whatdaya say, Damon? Let's make our own myth, shall we? "God helps those --

DAMON -- who help themselves." I know. I know.

PREACHER No Damon. That's not it. Let's make our own myth.

DAMON Sure. Fine. What?

PREACHER "God helps those who help another."

DAMON "God helps those who help another." That ain't good enough, Preacher.

PREACHER Whatdaya mean?

DAMON It ain't good enough! Oh, it's real slick, but look at us! We can't even help ourselves much less help other people.

SOCK I'm hungry.

DAMON That's my point! We're hungry, Preacher. That's the reality of it. We live in the richest country in the world and we're hungry.

PREACHER Well, yes but ---

TERA "God helps those who can't help themselves."

PREACHER Yeah but ---

SOCK Pssffft! If God was even here, I'd question his judgment. Who wants t' be here?

PREACHER What? You think God's just where the rich and healthy are?

SOCK No, Preacher. I don't think God's around at all!

DAMON Nobody cares, Preacher. Nobody wants to care.

PREACHER That's not true, Damon! It isn't a matter of not wanting to care! They look at us and they're AFRAID to care!

DAMON Aw, come on!

PREACHER Yeah! It's fear, Damon. People look at us and they're afraid. So they try to push us away by saying that every homeless person is mentally ill or drug addicts or lazy or something. But what they really see is themselves. The possibility. The probability. Everybody ends up here some time in their life, some way or another. They'll end up here emotionally or mentally or spiritually. We ended up here physically and that's what they see and that's why they're afraid. To face us is to face themselves an' they don't wanna do that. To face us is to face the responsibility of being interdependent. The human species is an interdependent species, but we've talked ourselves into thinking we're independent, so the prospect of being HERE, right HERE, is so threatening they can't even look at us.

DAMON I'm still hungry, Preacher.

PREACHER Everybody's hungry.

SOCK Yeah.

DAMON Where's God when I'm hungry Preacher?

PREACHER The thing is . . . if people saw themselves as interdependent instead of independent, then when they find themselves here they'll know they're not alone.

DAMON Winter's comin' up. Where's God when I'm cold, huh? God doesn't care. Nobody cares --- 'specially in the winter time.

PREACHER Sometimes God works through other people to care about you. At least those people who are able to listen to him --- people who're able to hear.

(DAMON gives up, smiles, and sits down.)

DAMON You're just full a dreams, Preacher.

PREACHER Maybe. But don't attack Elizabeth, Damon. Yell at Sock, he deserves it. But not Elizabeth.

SOCK Hey! I didn't do anything!

(DAMON throws his blanket at SOCK. Misses.)

TERA Hey! What's that?

DAMON What? TERA Over there! I saw something move!

(DAMON and PREACHER look at each other with expectation.)

DAMON Do ya think?

PREACHER Let's get it!

(The stage explodes with hilarity, hope, and excitement. They "see" a rat. DAMON and PREACHER are the most active in trying to catch the rat. TERA does her best to help, but often she just gets in the way of DAMON and PREACHER. SOCK just tries to see where the rat goes. In actuality, there is no rat onstage, but characters can be choreographed in such a way to follow the scurrying of a pretend-rat and the audience will see the movement. Actors will need to ad-lib during the chase. "Where is it?" "I lost it." "It's over there." "No, no, here it is!" "Got it?" "Get a stick and hit it over the head!" "Go! Go!" etc. Eventually, the rat "runs" offstage. DAMON exits, chasing the rat. The others remain onstage, out of breath.)

TERA I'm done for now! Oh dear oh dear.

PREACHER (Takes care of TERA.) Sit down, Tera. There now. You shouldn't be runnin' around like that.

(Sound offstage. DAMON enters, holding a dead rat by the tail.)

DAMON (Triumphant.) I got it!

SOCK Yeehaa! Rope 'em cowboy!

DAMON (Nearly rams SOCK with the rat.) Ya hungry Sock?

SOCK Yep.

DAMON Medium rare?

SOCK Well done please. Well done. Well done.

PREACHER Ya did great Damon. Thanks. (DAMON gives the rat to PREACHER.)

DAMON Here ya go.

PREACHER (Holds it up by the tail.) Do ya think it's infested?

DAMON What?

PREACHER Do ya think it has any vermin on it?

DAMON I don't know why not. The rest of us do.

TERA Just fire the whole thing and burn it off before ya skin it dearie. It'll be all right.

PREACHER Okay.

(PREACHER ties the tail around a stick, then lowers the rat head-first into a trash can, and rests the stick across the top of the trash can. Supposedly, the trash can has a fire in the bottom of it.)

SOCK Umm. I just LOVE the smell of burning rat-hair.

DAMON Ya gonna start in with me again, Sock?

SOCK Nah, man! You're King a the Rats!

DAMON I'm King a the Rats!

(SOCK grabs a spoon in his mouth and starts banging on the box. He also begins to chant:)

SOCK King a the Rats. King a the Rats. King a the Rats. King a the Rats.

(TERA and PREACHER also begin to chant with SOCK "King a the Rats" and pound on anything metal. DAMON responds by chanting with them. He takes his blanket and drapes it over a rake in such a way that the tongs can hold the blanket up. The blanket is then both held high by the rake and covers DAMON's back and sides. DAMON now looks like a larger-than-life object. He dances what reminds us of a corroborree, twisting and turning. At first, the dance is fun, but DAMON tries to use his imposing figure to intimidate the others. They respond by laughing at him, which in turn makes him strive harder to intimidate. They all laugh at him.)

DAMON Shut up! Shut up! I'm King a the Rats and you gotta respect me!

PREACHER Get real, Damon!

(The others continue to chant. DAMON takes the blanket off of the rake and drapes it over his shoulders. He takes the rake and threatens PREACHER with it.)

PREACHER Hey! Knock it off! You can hurt somebody with that thing!

(At that moment, TERA has a seizure. Everyone stops everything and focuses on TERA. DAMON stands there helpless and angry. PREACHER crosses to TERA and tries to help her.)

PREACHER Tera! Come on Sweetheart. Where's your stick? Damon, get her stick. It's in her bag. (DAMON doesn't move.) Damon! Come on!

(DAMON doesn't move. PREACHER riffles through TERA's bag until she finds her stick. She then crosses back to TERA and gets the stick in her mouth.)

SOCK Tera! Help her, Preacher! She's the best person here! Help her! Please!

PREACHER Come on, girl. Come on. (PREACHER holds her as well as she can.) Let it go, girl. Let it go.

(Soon, TERA's seizure is finished. PREACHER is now able to get under TERA and hold her and rock her. DAMON puts the rake away.)

SOCK Is she okay?

PREACHER How ya doin' lady?

TERA You here Preacher?

PREACHER I'm here. I'm here. How do ya feel?

TERA When will I be liberated Preacher?

PREACHER What do you mean?

TERA When will my spirit be free?

PREACHER You mean die?

TERA No dear. Ya don't understand. When will I live? I want to live, Preacher!

PREACHER Ya don't make sense, honey. You okay?

TERA I'm okay. Tired. Really tired. Don't . . . don't ya worry about me none. Just tired.

DAMON (Explodes. He slams his blanket to the floor.) And I'm tired of you! (To TERA.) How come everybody cares about you! Huh? What's so special about you? Ya don't EVER come up with any food. Ya don't ---

PREACHER (Begins to rise.) Don't do this Damon.

DAMON Leave me alone. (To TERA.) You're worthless, you know that? Worthless! Worthless! You're the dirt I walk on Tera!

TERA Dirt is priceless Damon.

DAMON You listenin' to me? Nobody wants you! That's why you're here, isn't it? Because nobody wants you around. Ya don't belong anywhere!

PREACHER (Physically tries to get him away from TERA.) Stop it, Damon!

DAMON You can't tell me what to do! It's a free world. I can do anything I want! Here! (He grabs Bjorn and starts pounding on him.) Take that! And that! I hate you! I hate you!

PREACHER Stop it! Stop it! NOW!

(PREACHER takes Bjorn away from DAMON and gives it back to TERA. DAMON paces like a caged animal.)

SOCK Ya finished?

DAMON Shut up.

SOCK Why do ya hate her man?

DAMON Leave me alone.

SOCK I wanna know. Tell me.

DAMON Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!

SOCK Why do ya hate her?

DAMON Because she reminds me . . . of . . . me. I look at her and I see me. (Begins to rhythmically pound on himself.) Me! Me! Me! Me!

PREACHER Stop it Damon!

DAMON (Frantically hits himself.) Ahhhhhhh!

PREACHER Stop it!

(PREACHER wraps her arms around DAMON to keep him from hitting himself. It works. DAMON quiets down.)

PREACHER Atta guy. Settle down now. (She rocks him. All is quiet.)

TERA Give it to him, Preacher.

(PREACHER lets go of DAMON and gets the coat TERA found for him. In an act of profound compassion, she gives DAMON the coat. DAMON takes it.)

SOCK Now don't you feel foolish.

TERA Now Sock, you be civil.

(DAMON crosses to an area, lies down and curls up in a ball under the coat.)

SOCK Well whatcha do that for?

PREACHER What would you have me do?

SOCK I woulda hit him good.

PREACHER Oh sure. Giving violence for violence really does a lot a good!

TERA He's just in pain, Sock. That's all. Now you let it go.

SOCK Humph.

TERA Where's Lorenzo? He should be here by now.

PREACHER He's always late, Tera

TERA I know. I know. But I worry.

(PREACHER checks on the rat, then sits down and picks up the liberation theology book. TERA returns to her knitting. She's very tired. SOCK lies down. He starts to hum "It's a Small World.")

PREACHER Sock!

SOCK Yeah. Yeah. You know what I dream about? . . . Rat roast. Rat stroganoff. Rat fonduuuuu. Rat on a stick. Barbecued brisket o' rat. Teriyaki rat. Swiss rat. Those last two have a definite accent. Rat in oyster sauce. Rat stew. Ratburgers. Sweet 'n sour rat. Rat enchiladas. That's a south a the border special.

PREACHER (Reads.) "Compromiso."

SOCK Huh?

PREACHER It means putting your body where you mouth is. You know. Making a commitment to something even if you get killed for it.

SOCK Sounds terrific.

PREACHER (From L.T. p. 28.) "For the first time in their history, poor people can begin to have hope, for they are discovering that things do not have to remain the way they are. Change is possible."

SOCK I don't like change.

PREACHER I know you don't, Sock. But I think there's a lot of hope in change. For the better.

SOCK Humph. Ya can't change the world, Preacher. Ya gotta be on top t' do that. And we're at the bottom a the food chain.

PREACHER Seems like all we do is sit on our duffs and complain. Or we sit on our duffs and wish for somethin' better.

SOCK We got no control, Preacher.

PREACHER We got control here.

SOCK Preacher, if we had control, we wouldn't BE here!

PREACHER But we ARE here, Sock! We're together. At least we end up the day together. But it's gotta be better than that. We gotta GET together.

SOCK I think we do pretty good. We share stuff, including food. An' I think that's a MAJOR sacrifice!

PREACHER You're right. We're together in other ways too. I mean, we're together BECAUSE of some things.

SOCK Like what?

PREACHER Well, none of us takes drugs or drinks.

SOCK Sometimes I wanna. Just to take the pain away.

TERA But pain is good.

SOCK Huh? PREACHER Pain is good?

TERA Well, I should say there's healthy pain and there's not so healthy pain.

PREACHER What kinda pain is Sock?

SOCK Hey!

TERA Dearie Sock's in a pain league all his own!

SOCK Yeah yeah.

PREACHER I reckon we mostly have the not-so healthy pain, huh?

SOCK Whatdaya mean, Tera?

TERA Healthy pain helps us grow.

SOCK Oh, Preacher'd like that! Give Preacher some pain, Tera. Hee! Hee! Hee!

TERA Now Sock.

SOCK Do it! Do it! Make her GROW!!

PREACHER All right. All right.

TERA Unhealthy pain separates us from ourselves and from each other. It keeps us from growin'.

PREACHER Yeah. I can see that.

TERA But healthy pain is a sign of true health. And the healthier we get, the more compassion we got.

SOCK What?

TERA There is no compassion without pain, Sock. Pain's the very foundation of it. It happens when we care so much about each other we feel pain about what happens. So much so that we decide to do something about it. Compassion's got real power in it.

SOCK Oh. Okay. I'm hungry. Is the rat done?

PREACHER Don't be rude.

TERA Drinkin' and druggin' makes the unhealthy pain worse. . . . Oh.

PREACHER You okay?

TERA I'm just tired.

SOCK I still wanna drink sometimes t' make the pain go away.

TERA Oh, Sock. We all want to sometimes.

PREACHER But the point is, is that we don't. We're together because we found each other who don't do that stuff. But we gotta get together better than that even. We gotta become critical. Critical together. We really NEED to do somethin' that'll get us together. Somethin' that connects discipline with real and vital need.

SOCK Why?

PREACHER 'Cause I think maybe we can help each other get outa here.

SOCK Some of us don't think we can.

PREACHER Well, it can't happen right away, that's for sure. There's all sort a reasons why we're here. But if we become critical together, then maybe we can get some dignity . . . some self-esteem.

SOCK Impossible.

PREACHER Maybe. But nothin's gonna really happen until we take critical action. I mean real and meaningful action. Maybe we can help each other get healthy enough t' get outa here.

SOCK Well I don' wanna. I like things the way they are. Somethin's gotta be secure in the world!

PREACHER Don't you wanna grow, Sock? Don't you wanna progress?

SOCK No.

PREACHER Why?

(MICK enters, unnoticed. MICK, in his late teens, wears bluejeans and a tee-shirt. He holds a knife, but is very frightened at what he's about to do.)

SOCK None a your business.

PREACHER Okay. Okay.

MICK Okay people! Get up!

(Everyone except DAMON stands and faces MICK. SOCK just turns and looks. They are afraid.)

SOCK Hey! What's goin' on here?

MICK (Toes DAMON.) Get up! (DAMON doesn't move.)

PREACHER What do you want?

MICK Gimme all your money. (They look at him dumbfounded.) NOW!

PREACHER You think WE have money?

MICK Come on! I know you got some.

PREACHER You'd go to people living in a dump to get their money? (They laugh.)

MICK Hey! Cut it out! I got a knife!

PREACHER We don't HAVE any money, kid. Now put it away.

MICK Then . . . then gimme everything ya got!

PREACHER Everything?

SOCK We got a dead rat over here.

MICK What?

SOCK We're gonna eat it later. Ya want some?

MICK (Looks at the rat.) You . . . you can keep the rat.

(At that moment, DAMON explodes, grabs MICK and wrestles. No one hits the other. Soon, DAMON has the knife. While wrestling, however, MICK has stabbed DAMON in the fleshy part of his lower side. The "blood" can be put on while he is under the coat and then the fight choreographed in such a way that the audience doesn't see DAMON's front until after they wrestle. Nobody notices at first, including DAMON.)

DAMON (While wrestling.) You're not gonna hurt these people! Not if I can help it! These are GOOD people! (Stop wrestling. Has the knife.) I'm sick a violence! All my life has been violent and I'm sick of it! It's gonna stop. I'm gonna stop it. I'm gonna stop it with me! (DAMON throws the knife away.)

PREACHER (Crosses to MICK, grabs him and hugs him.) There! You wanted everything we got. That's everything we got. Now go home.

(MICK stands there helpless and dumbfounded. DAMON takes his blanket and drapes it over TERA.)

TERA Thankya Dearie! Thank you. Thank you.

DAMON I mean it, Tera. I won't be violent anymore. Not ever. I mean it.

TERA I know you won't, Damon. I trust you.

(DAMON realizes he's been stabbed.)

DAMON Oh God! Where's God, Preacher? Where's God?

TERA He's bleeding, Preacher.

DAMON (In complete and utter pain. No anger.) I never asked for much. Not much. Not really. I never asked for my own hurt to go away. You wanna know what I really wanted?

PREACHER Sit down. (Helps him down.)

MICK I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. (He is ignored.)

DAMON I wanted God to justify my life, Preacher. To put my life in balance. To put my own pain in balance. To let me experience something else to put my pain in balance. But he never did, so it added up.

TERA How bad is it?

PREACHER I don't know.

MICK Is he gonna die? Did . . . did I kill him?

DAMON I wanted to stop believing in God, Preacher, but I couldn't. I couldn't. I couldn't stop believing in him and I couldn't feel him either. I can't . . . feel God. How can I know God if I can't feel him? I . . . I must be corrupt or somethin'. I can't feel anything. I've never been able to touch anybody.

SOCK Put pressure on it.

PREACHER You. Ya got a clean handkerchief or somethin'?

MICK Yeah. Here. (Gives it to her.)

DAMON I'm gonna die without ever touchin' anybody. Without ever feelin' anything else.

PREACHER You listen t' me! You're a part of us, ya hear? You been a part a my life and Tera's life and Lorenzo's life!

SOCK Mine too.

PREACHER Don't ever think you've never touched anybody. Because you have!

DAMON I don't . . . I don't feel it.

PREACHER You will, one of these days, Damon. Sometimes we don't feel somethin' because what we need comes in a way we don't expect. We end up not wanting it because it don't come under our own expectations about how our needs SHOULD be met. So we go on bein' off balance. And blaming God even when he's been trying to help us all along.

DAMON Am I gonna die?

SOCK Any blood squirting out?

PREACHER Now is not the time, Sock!

TERA No, Sock.

MICK I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

SOCK Where's it at?

(MICK crosses to DAMON. He wants to help.)

TERA About an inch in from his side.

SOCK He'll be okay.

PREACHER How do you know?

SOCK I read books once. You're not the only person who reads books, Preacher.

MICK Should we take him to the hospital?

PREACHER You're kidding, right?

MICK No. I'd . . . I'd think . . . .

SOCK Forget it, kid. Nobody wants t' treat us.

PREACHER He's right. He'll be better off here. They won't do anything about someone like us. At least here he'll be watched over. . . . What's your name?

MICK Mick.

PREACHER Mick, why don't you go home? (An awkward pause.)

TERA You don't have a home, do you?

MICK No. I'm sorry.

TERA Then you'll stay here. With us.

PREACHER You sure, Tera?

TERA Yes dearie, I'm sure.

PREACHER Okay, Mick. You get to put pressure on it. . . . That's it. That's your job. Okay?

MICK Okay.

(PREACHER checks the rat.)

DAMON Whatcha do this for, Mick?

MICK I'm sorry.

DAMON That's not an answer.

PREACHER Oh no! The fire's gone out! Tera, ya got your matches?

TERA I'll see. (Searches her bag.)

MICK I'm supposed to rob someone.

DAMON Who says?

MICK You know. To be a part of the gang. Then once we get in, we gotta kill someone.

DAMON Why?

MICK To get respect.

DAMON You think you'll get respect by killing somebody?

MICK I just . . . I just wanna belong, that's all.

TERA I can't find any. No. No. Sorry Preacher.

SOCK Oh man! What're we gonna eat?

PREACHER Someone's gonna have to go find some matches.

MICK You mean you're really gonna eat that thing?

(LORENZO enters, holding a loaf of bread and a whiskey bottle. LORENZO, in his thirties, has the mind of a child -- the result of a system that rejects people who can't pay. The best way to describe LORENZO is that he's innocent.)

LORENZO Hi guys!

TERA Lorenzo! You're here!

LORENZO Lookee what I got!

SOCK Fooooood! Food! Food! Food! Food! Food!

LORENZO Here ya go, Preacher!

SOCK Now we can have rat sandwiches!

PREACHER Thanks sweetie! (About the whiskey.) What's this?

LORENZO I dunno. Somebody just gave it to me. Somebody just gave me the bread, too. I dunno why or nothin'.

PREACHER You try any of it?

LORENZO Well . . . yeah. I didn't like it too good. Made me wanna throw up.

PREACHER You're supposed to acquire a taste for it.

LORENZO What's that mean?

DAMON It means you gotta drink it until you like it.

SOCK Can we divvy out now?

LORENZO Why would anybody wanna do that?

PREACHER I dunno, Lorenzo. Don't make much sense, does it?

LORENZO Who wants t' throw up all the time?

TERA Come to me, Sweetheart.

LORENZO Okay. Who's he?

PREACHER Mick.

LORENZO Oh.

(Sits next to TERA who wraps her arms around him. They hold each other, with LORENZO's head on her chest.)

TERA Where you been dear? Where's my Lorenzo been?

LORENZO I'm yours huh? I belong to you huh?

TERA Yes. Yes sweetie. You belong to me.

LORENZO You still love me Tera?

TERA Yes dearie. Yes. I still love you.

LORENZO That's good 'cause I worry sometimes.

TERA Why sweetie?

LORENZO 'Cause I think maybe you're gonna throw me away.

TERA No no. I won't throw you away.

LORENZO Other people did, ya know.

TERA I know. I know. But I'm not them.

LORENZO Why did they throw me away?

TERA I don't know Lorenzo. Maybe they were sick. Maybe they didn't know you like I do.

LORENZO A piece a furniture.

TERA What?

LORENZO Me. I'm a piece a furniture.

TERA No you're not dearie.

PREACHER You really helped us today, you know that Lorenzo? You brought us food.

LORENZO Yeah. Sometimes I'm just sad though 'cause a the past. 'Cause they used me and threw me away.

PREACHER Not now, Lorenzo. That's in the past. You gotta think of today.

LORENZO Yeah. I gotta think of today. Now isn't like it was. I forget though.

TERA That's okay sweetie. That's okay. It'll be put in balance someday.

PREACHER Absolutely.

LORENZO Yeah. I get a lot a hope stuff in balance.

PREACHER You hungry?

LORENZO Yeah!

SOCK Me too! Come on!

PREACHER Well, instead of just givin' it out, I thought we'd do somethin' different.

SOCK I wanna eat.

TERA What do you wanna do, Preacher?

PREACHER I thought instead of just grabbin' for it, we'd lay it out and give it to each other.

SOCK Why?

PREACHER Because we oughta be human beings, Sock. We're not animals! We gotta do somethin' that helps us BE human beings!

TERA Yes, dearie dearie. Sounds good to me.

SOCK I don't wanna.

PREACHER Why not?

SOCK It won't work. . . . Well, we never did it before. We can't do it now.

PREACHER Oh, come on!

SOCK Tradition is a wonderful thing. It gives us roots. We can't just throw it away! We should honor it.

PREACHER Don't confuse mindless security with roots. And I for one stop honoring a way of doin' somethin' when it keeps me from growin'.

SOCK Pssffft! You and your growin'! You just wanna do somethin' for the sake a change.

PREACHER Sometimes I do, yeah. But I got you to remind me to be careful a that, ya know? You help me remember about balance -- that we gotta change somethin' -- tradition, anything really -- so that we get an understanding or insight about it. I don't wanna throw the tradition away, Sock, I wanna develop it and . . . and bring it to its potential so that I CAN keep it. You know, put it in balance so maybe it'll help ME develop and put ME in balance. I wanna make my life better Sock, but I need help doin' it. I need you to help me.

DAMON I wanna be a human being, Tera.

LORENZO Me too.

SOCK Okay. Then I get one.

PREACHER We never leave you out.

SOCK No, I don't mean Elizabeth, I mean ME!

DAMON Hey! That's means you'll be getting TWO!!

PREACHER (Crosses to SOCK.) Okay. Okay. Now you, Sock, Sock, you don't really NEED a piece of bread, do you? I mean, really, to live, do you?

SOCK Well. No.

PREACHER Then what DO you need, to live I mean?

SOCK Umm. . . . I really really need, to live . . . a . . . a pat on the head.

PREACHER Okay. You got it.

(PREACHER gently pats SOCK on the head. SOCK is very happy.)

SOCK Thanks.

PREACHER Okay. You got yours. Now we'll get ours. (Lays out the bread.) Okay, somebody come and take a piece of bread and give it to somebody else. Then we wait and we'll eat together.

(Silence. Suddenly, everyone feels awkward. DAMON struggles to stand, crosses, and gives a piece of bread to MICK. Pause. DAMON then crosses to SOCK and gently pats him on the head. Pause. LORENZO gives bread to TERA, then pats SOCK on the head. PREACHER gives bread to DAMON, then pats SOCK on the head. TERA places bread near ELIZABETH, then pats SOCK on the head. MICK gives bread to PREACHER, then pats SOCK on the head. PREACHER gives bread to LORENZO, then pats SOCK on the head. Pause. TERA begins to eat and the others follow. They finish. Pause.)

PREACHER Do you hear it?

TERA No. No. Not yet. Not yet.

(Pause.)

LORENZO We human beings now?

TERA (Chuckles.) Yes yes. We've always been human, but now we're human beings.

MICK You shouldn't a got up. You're bleeding again.

DAMON I've been doin' stupid things all my life it seems like. You wanna know why I'm here?

MICK Hold still! Geez!

DAMON I beat up a guy. Seems like all my life has been violence. Fear and violence. I was married, ya know? Michelle. I found her with another guy, and when I saw that I beat him up. Got five years for assault. And when I got out, well, no one wants to give an ex-con a second chance, so I can't get a job. So I gave up. Now I'm here. Ya know what I think? I think I'm the most worthless person in the world.

MICK Yeah. I know what you mean. When I was sixteen my mom left. I never knew my dad, so mom was the only person I thought I had. I came home from school one day and found everything gone. She moved out while I was in school. She left a note though. She said that she had to live her own life and told me to take care of myself. I think she was seein' a guy though and left with him.

DAMON So what happened to you?

MICK Oh, they put me in a foster home for the rest of the year.

DAMON Did you like them?

MICK I wanted to. But . . . they just ignored me.

DAMON Oh, man, being ignored is the worst. My old man decked me a lot and I think it made me strong, ya know? I think I woulda died if he'd ignored me.

MICK Well, they weren't my real parents anyway so I guess it don't really count.

DAMON It counts.

MICK Well, I've been livin' on the streets for about two years now. I've been too scared t' talk to anybody. You know how it is. Until not too long ago. Yesterday these guys saw me and said I could be a part of their gang if I'd rob people for them. It was either that or get beat up or . . . or worse . . . you know.

PREACHER How did you live?

MICK Hitchhiking mostly. People feed me sometimes when I hitchhike. I never hurt anybody until now.

DAMON My mom told me that I was a mistake. And all my life I believed it. But I don't believe any of it now. They taught me how to be violent and I'm sick of it. It figure it's really my choice anyway. People here have treated me better than anybody I've ever known. So I'm throwin' away what I been taught. My choice. I'll take it. But now I don't know what to do. I don't know what to believe.

MICK I don't either. I think I'm lost.

DAMON Yeah. Lost. Where's God when you're lost?

PREACHER He's right here, Damon!

DAMON Oh, come on, Preacher! I can't find him HERE!

PREACHER Okay. Okay. . . . Look Damon.

DAMON NO! Look at us! We can't cope. We're nothin'! We're HERE because we don't belong anywhere.

PREACHER What's wrong with here, Damon? Who says that here is bad? People who aren't here? They can't see us for what we are. They look at us and they see a throwaway, an ex-con, an innocent, a Bible-thumper, a cynic, and a bag-lady. But we're human beings, we're people who've tasted hunger. We question God because he lets us. He even wants us to! I think he wants us to question everything! God is here. Outside and inside. Inside you. Inside me. Inside all of us. It's our job to find him in us, Damon, so we can know him outside. It's not supposed to be easy. It's supposed to be the very stuff of pain and the very essence of humanity. God isn't some kinda Santa Claus. He doesn't give us anything and everything we want whenever we want it.

DAMON I only wanted him to justify my life.

PREACHER He is justifying your life, and mine, and everyone else's life. But he doesn't just see us for what we are or what we think we are. He sees us for who we are and who we can be. He knows I'm having a rotten time with --- and he's trying to help me and I think he has helped me. And sometimes he does it through other people. Through other lost and lonely people, just like us, just like a lot a people in the world. Look at what happened today! Look at us, Damon. We're people who can barely trust anything, who are crippled. And as crippled as we are, we're trying to change our world . . . to change . . . our world. We're trying . . . to find peace. To find peace, Damon.

DAMON How'd you get here, Preacher?

PREACHER I never told anybody before.

TERA Things have changed, Preacher. You can tell us now.

PREACHER Nah. It wouldn't help anything.

DAMON You're a piece a work, you know that? You talk a LOT Preacher! You talk about change, but you just play it safe.

PREACHER What . . . what do you mean?

DAMON As long as you're in control with everything and everybody, then you can change everything around you without changin' yourself. That's quite an arrangement you've made for yourself.

PREACHER I don't understand.

DAMON Oh I think you do. It's a really good way for you to keep from facing yourself. From living. From feeling. From knowing real and healthy pain. It's easier for you to read books than it is to face yourself. And you've taken the easy way out, I suspect, for a long time.

PREACHER Oh God.

DAMON Why are you here, Preacher?

LORENZO I'm here 'cause Tera's nice to me and I do what she says and stuff. Well, not ALL the time . . . but Tera's nice.

TERA You do just fine, Lorenzo.

LORENZO An' I'm a human being.

DAMON Yeah, man. You're a human being.

TERA Human beings learn to trust. To trust people you know are human beings. And to trust people who are human beings means you gotta trust God. To enter the process of life. To be connected.

DAMON Come on, Preacher.

LORENZO Yeah, Preacher. If I can trust you can too.

PREACHER I was married to a man . . . named Josh . . . Joshua. I was married to him for five years or so. I married late in life, you see, and we hadn't any children . . . yet. He'd just gotten tenure the year before . . . when . . . You know, everybody expects me to be perfect, you know? The strong one. And I couldn't be . . . anymore.

LORENZO What happened Preacher?

PREACHER Josh committed suicide. He went downstairs one night and blew himself away. I had no idea. . . no idea . . . anything was wrong. I didn't know. And I shoulda. I shoulda known something. I shoulda done something -- different.

TERA Different from what?

PREACHER I knew he was depressed and I asked him to see a therapist, but he wouldn't. And I didn't know it was that bad. Actually, I thought he was getting better . . . . right before. . . . I didn't know what to do . . . and I didn't--

DAMON It's not your fault Preacher. You didn't do it. He did it.

PREACHER That doesn't help, you know.

DAMON Yeah. I know.

PREACHER I lost everything. I lost myself, my job, my home, my friends. Everything. My friends tried to help me . . . but they couldn't. I just left. Nobody knows where I am. I just left.

TERA There's no compassion without pain, my dear. You won't gain it without losing it first. Let it go.

PREACHER (Starts to cry.) Why did he do it? Why did he do it? . . . I miss him so much. I try to be strong, but I can't. I can't.

(TERA crosses to PREACHER, puts the blanket around her and holds her.)

TERA We're here dearie. We're here.

PREACHER I . . . try to be strong. But I miss him so much.

TERA I know you do. I know you do.

PREACHER Do you . . . do you think he's with God?

TERA Yes dearie. He's with God. And God is with us. Everything's here that we need, my child. God is here. God is here.

PREACHER Ha! I don't know whether I'm sad or happy!

TERA (Chuckles.) We can't have one without the other!

DAMON Let's celebrate! (In pain.) Oh MAN!

MICK He's really bleeding.

(PREACHER crosses to DAMON.)

DAMON I'm dyin', Preacher! I'm dyin'! I can feel it! I . . . I don't wanna die, Preacher!

PREACHER I don't know what to do! Oh God! I don't know what to do! God help us please! I don't know what to do!

(ELIZABETH rises and takes off her hat. She takes SOCK off of her arm. At first she hesitates because she doesn't want to put him down. Then she folds up SOCK and places him inside her shirt. She then crosses to DAMON. Everyone except TERA is dumbfounded.)

ELIZABETH (Examines DAMON's wound.) Humm. Mighta nicked the intestine. But I doubt it.

LORENZO (In distress.) Sock's gone! Where's Sock? Where's Sock?

ELIZABETH (Rises. Kindly.) I'm Sock, Lorenzo.

LORENZO But where's Sock?

ELIZABETH Right here. (Places LORENZO's hand on her heart, where SOCK is.) He's right here. He hasn't gone away. He's right here.

LORENZO You sound like Sock.

ELIZABETH I am Sock.

LORENZO It's gonna take me a while t' get used to this Sock.

ELIZABETH Yeah. Me too. Where's your whiskey bottle?

TERA Right here. (Gives it to her.)

ELIZABETH (Back to DAMON.) This is gonna hurt.

(Pours whiskey on the wound. Mime taking the cap off, and tip the bottle and it'll look like whiskey is being poured when it actually is not.)

DAMON Pain? What is pain to me? I laugh at paaaaa AHHHHHH!

PREACHER You had fun with that, didn't you Sock?

ELIZABETH Got that right! Actually whiskey on the wound isn't all it's cracked up to be but it's better than nothing at all. Look, you need stitches for sure, Damon. You'll need to be cleaned up, too, and given some antibiotics. We need to make sure it didn't hit the intestine. We'll take you to the hospital and I'll make sure they'll do it right.

DAMON But . . . how do you know?

ELIZABETH I used to be a doctor. But when AIDS came, I got scared. Fear is a horrible thing, you know. Fear's a real crippler. I couldn't touch anybody. I couldn't do my job so I lost it. I couldn't touch anybody.

DAMON But . . . I'm bleeding and you . . . .

ELIZABETH Yeah . . . well . . . you're worth it.

TERA Hush now! Hush now! Can you hear it? (They all listen.)

PREACHER Yeah, I hear it.

DAMON I do too.

TERA Yes, it's here.

ELIZABETH Oh my God. My God. I hear it too! My God. I . . . I'm home. I'm home.

BLACKOUT

END OF PLAY

Copyright 1994 Debra Bruch

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