by Karen Sunde
came back at all.
Mike: (Catching her hand) Please.
Kate: (Catches her breath; she’s shaken, but– ) Play your politics, but leave me out. I'm running in the real world.
Mike: Of screens and machines?
Kate: And wayward sons. There's plenty to do.
Mike: Except live.
Kate: Sons are very much alive.
Mike: (Hit) That’s below the belt, Kate.
Kate: (Hurting, too) Grow up, Mike. Life is a series of limits, one after another.
Mike: And your electrodes prove humans are smaller and smaller, until we’re zip, zap, contained.
Kate: All I’m proving is we aren't gods.
Mike: So the mind, with its spark of divinity, flies clean off your screen?
Kate: What you see is what you get.
Mike: All facts, no feeling at all?
Kate: (Exploding) What am I supposed to feel! You want me spilled all over the floor?
Mike: That's it, that’s it, come at me.
Kate: (Angry, near tears) You’d like to chop me up between the two of you?!
Mike: (Takes hold of her) What are you saying, Kate?
Kate: Don’t worry, Michael – the brain will never explain the mind.
Mike: (Holding her face, to look at her) But it will be explained?
Kate: (Flashing) It has to be!
(Shaken by his closeness, Kate sinks, short of breath)
Mike: What?
Kate: (Breathing shallow, fast) Just...let go of me.
Mike: (Lets go slowly) You should have walked out on us both.
Jen: (Returning) Where's Jamy?
Alan: (Above) Kate, have you seen my blue tie? (To Jamy) Now why’s this so urgent, Jame?
Kate: (Limp) Try the rack behind the door.
Jamy: (Above) I’ll find the tie. And here’s your other shoe, Dad. Now you’ve got time to...
Jen: Jamy, would you come here?
Jamy: (Above) I'm talking to Dad.
Jen: James Alan!
Jamy: What.
Jen: Just who is that out there?
Jamy: My friend Gaia.
Jen: Just what do you think you're doing?
Jamy: Setting up a meeting with Dad.
Jen: You're out of your fucking mind! Get down here.
Mike: I'll take care of him, Jennel. Get your mother a drink?
Jen: Fine. You know what he's done? He's got a fucking bag lady out there!
Mike: A what?
Jamy: (Above) Just let Gaia talk, Dad, Ok? You'll get it clear, you'll see.
Jen: You heard me. Look for yourself.
Mike: (To Kate) What is she talking about?
Kate: I think I'd rather...sit down.
(Jamy races downstairs out of breath, darting his charged eyes at each of them, in warning)
Jamy: Just everybody stay cool. (Exits in a rush)
Kate: Jamy...
Mike: What the hell is this, Kate?
(Kate, dizzy, doesn't respond)
Jamy: (Off) Thanks for waiting. Come in.
(Jamy reenters, leading what looks like a filthy pile of rags. She is not blind, but has some deficiency or disfigurement about her eyes that makes her depend on other senses)
Jen: (Under her breath) I don't believe this.
(Jamy stands easily with Gaia, facing stairway, waiting for Alan. Beat)
Gaia: Mmmmm, choppy water.
Jamy: (Gently, to Gaia) What can you tell?
Gaia: Discord here. Why?
Jamy: (Commanding them) Answer Gaia.
Mike: It's uh...hectic evening. Jamy, have you any idea...
Jamy: Quiet.
Mike: (Moving to kitchen) Phone call.
Kate: Mike?
Mike: Don't sweat it, Kate. Just going to let them know we're...delayed. (Exits)
Gaia: The mother.
(Jamy leads Gaia to Kate. Gaia reaches hand, touches Kate's forehead)
Gaia: Mmmm no fear. Mmm sunken slowly – sealed. (Lifts her hand)
(Alan is coming downstairs. Without turning, Gaia speaks)
Gaia: Third ballot, 51 percent. The father. Put an ear to the ground.
Jamy: He's here now, Gaia. This is my father. Alan Marshall.
Gaia: Mmmhmm. Brother’s a two-leg’d, stands on them. But his right knee, a catch.
Jamy: Gaia.
Gaia: Yes. Sorry.
Alan: (Hesitates, puts out his hand) I'm glad to meet you.
Gaia: (Holds his hand, chuckles) The dirt won't rub.
Alan: Excuse me?
Gaia: (Letting go of him, easy– ) The boy sees.
Alan: Yes. He's very...perceptive.
Gaia: The boy sees through, down years.
Alan: (Beat) I understand you want to speak to me about the Project.
Gaia: Project?
Alan: Jamy tells me you...had lived in that area.
Jamy: At Water and Front. Right in the center. Cross the third light and...
Alan: (Sharply) Jamy.
Gaia: No. That's dead.
Jamy: But it came alive.
Alan: I must tell you it isn't legal for you to be staying inside the Project. There is demolition going forward, and...
Jamy: Dad, just listen.
Gaia: (Beginning to sway) Demolition died. Roots are mine. Land alive in child-sight. Deep tiles-white, pearl stone under. The child sees.
Jamy: I'm helping find it, Dad.
Alan: Jamy, this isn't something we can...
Gaia: Your father Jacob brought you. He learned the earth lust. He knew.
Alan: Jacob...?
Jamy: Just listen!
Gaia: Eda knew. She guards, she works, she sings, old Eda.
Kate: Jamy, what is this?
Jamy: Eda is Gaia's grandfather's grandmother. Eda helps.
Kate: My god, Jamy.
Jamy: He'll listen, Gaia. Tell it when the Project started.
Gaia: (Begins quiet, visceral, builds) I packed, but stayed. Buildings crash. Buildings burn. Fires at night. Dawn stinks. I stayed. They crush, cement, crush. Then heave, heave it, heave. Then under – springing black, cool, gurgitating earth, fecund-tumbling-rising smell. Swim in it. The secret leaps, nostrils to groin I ahhh...(From gut, a triumphant roar. Her relived memory has built into a seizure) Mine. It was mine!
Jamy: Wait! Don't let go, Gaia. I'll get the stones. I'll find them. He'll understand. Wait. Hold her!
(Jamy runs up stairs. Alan takes hold of Gaia. Gaia's head snaps to one side, voice changed)
Gaia: (Street voice) Watch who you're pushing, you filthy son of a bitch. Step around, it's leprosy! Watch it. My finger up your nose, bastard.
Mike: Alan, do you want...
Alan: Never mind, I'll handle it.
Gaia: (Voice calm again, no pause) The dirt won't rub. Careful mmmmm.
Alan: Gaia, I'm speaking straight to you: you stay away from my son.
Gaia: My son? Stay away. Boy tonight falling. Falling. Keep him home.
Alan: Can you understand me? I want you to be taken care of tonight. And tomorrow I'll come for you, I'll help you. This money will pay for a room for you. Go to the...
Gaia: (Street voice, harsh) Think you can buy me? Suck your own, bastard. Step! Step around, watch your back. (Shoving Alan, makes for the door)
Jamy: (Above) Gaia, I've got the stones. Here!
(Jamy runs downstairs with a handful of white stones, is caught by Alan. Gaia has gone)
Alan: Just what in hell have you been up to?
Jamy: What did you do? I promised you'd listen!
Alan: Tell me fast, because I don't have a great deal of time – is this what you've been up to?!
Jamy: You insulted her! You're the same as the rest of them!
Alan: That's the end of it. (Lets go of Jamy and goe
s up the stairs)
Jamy: (Shouting after him) I said you could do anything. But you're just one of the bastards! Hypocrite!
Kate: (Moving to him) Jamy.
Jamy: Let me go. Don't touch me. (Running out the door; some stones fall, calls– ) Gaia!
Kate: (Terrified) Jamy, come back here. Jamy!
Mike: I'll go after him. You just get on the way.
Jen: He's down the hill by now. You'll never catch him.
Mike: I'll take my car.
Jen: Why didn't somebody do something?
Mike: Just get them on the way, Jen. Suck in your temper and do it.
Jen: All right!
(Mike is gone. Jen takes deep breath turns to face Kate, who is still)
Jen: Your serve. (Calls) Dad, you ready?
Kate: (Dazed) So strange.
Jen: Satisfied?
Kate: I feel so... (She picks up a stone Jamy dropped)
Jen: I suppose you didn't exactly plan this.
Kate: Something bad’s happening. I can feel it.
Jen: (Gathering flyers) I don't know how everybody could just stand there while that crazy...
Kate: Jen?
Jen: What.
Kate: (Fingering the stone) Are you all right?
Jen: Of course. What's the matter with you?
Kate: I don't know.
Jen: Listen, Mom, I'd really like it, and I know Dad would if... Could you please come tonight.
Alan: (Coming down the stairs) It's all right, Kate. Either way.
Kate: Alan. (Moves to him, holds him)
Alan: Come or not. It's only for form's sake. This little adventure will be over in a couple hours. And tomorrow we'll laugh about it.
Kate: Jamy's not crazy.
Alan: Course not. Extreme, maybe. Runs in the family. (Pulling on coat) Oh – remember the piece on development kickbacks? I put it in tomorrow's paper. So no matter what happens tonight, Mimi will get it with her coffee in the morning. (Noticing Kate's bewilderment) What's wrong?
Kate: I don't know.
Jen: Mom, we really have to go.
Kate: Jamy ran, Mike went after him; when they get back...we'll come.
Jen: (Roughly grabbing box of flyers) Jamy Jamy Jamy. I've had enough!
(Jen heads for front door. Outside, a car screeches up, car door slams)
Kate: No.
Mike: (Call from off) Kate! Come here!
Kate: No!
(Jen lets Mike in. He stands holding Jamy in his arms – bloody, unconscious)
Mike: He fell. A long way.
(Blackout)
END ACT ONE
