Bone Cage (4 page)

Scene 6

This is Monday, the night of the stag. JAMIE and KEVIN sit at the kitchen table. JAMIE has on nylons, a bright skirt and a T-shirt over a size DD bra that is stuffed to the max. KEVIN is putting on makeup in a makeup mirror. KEVIN is also supposed to be getting dressed up, but he seems to be avoiding it. JAMIE has to nudge him on. They are both nursing beers. CLARENCE sits in his chair flicking channels.

KEVIN

It's got to hurt, man.

JAMIE

It don't hurt.

KEVIN

Smacking the water like that.

JAMIE

If you do it right, you don't feel a fucking thing.

KEVIN

I did it from the rail. It hurt.

JAMIE

The rail's for pansies. You do it from the top frame.

You make sure you're dead centre in that hole, too, or you're dead. Ha.

When you do it right it's smooth.

KEVIN

When you're drunk out of your gourd!

JAMIE

Yeah.
(laughs)

I'll show you how, Kev. It'll get the chest hairs growing onto you.

KEVIN

Krista says you can't do it anymore when you're married.

JAMIE

If Krista told me
not
to jump off a bridge, wouldn't I?

KRISTA comes in at that moment. She reacts instantly to the scene.

KRISTA

Oh my God. Jamie! Kevin. You guys. You're not really going like that are you?

JAMIE

A little surprise for Merv, right, Kev?

JAMIE moves in on her.

KRISTA

You got lip gloss on me. Yuck, watermelon. I hate that stuff.

Did you get the washing machine?

JAMIE

I got it, but it's a piece of shit.

KRISTA

No it isn't.

JAMIE

They don't know how to take care of nothing.

KRISTA

It is only two years old. It doesn't have a scratch on it.

KEVIN laughs.

What are you laughing at?

JAMIE

He agrees with me.

KRISTA

Where is it?

JAMIE

In the shed.

KRISTA goes out.

KEVIN

You're dead meat now.

JAMIE

More eye shadow, Kev.

JAMIE pushes a pink satin dress in KEVIN's direction.

KEVIN

I don't know if I can do this, man.

JAMIE

Pink's your colour, Kev.

KEVIN takes the dress.

We'll show those bastards not to fuck with…
(us)

KRISTA bursts in.

KRISTA

What did you do to it?

JAMIE

I didn't do nothing to it.

KRISTA

Well somebody beat on it with a hammer or an axe or something.

Kevin?

KEVIN

I never touched it. Well, I put it on the back of the truck.

KRISTA

You never bought it like that. What happened?

KEVIN

It fell off the truck.

KRISTA

You didn't tie it on?

JAMIE

Nope.

KEVIN

We was only goin' from there to here.

JAMIE

If Merv hadn't cut me off, it wouldn't have fallen off.

KEVIN

Merv passed him.

JAMIE

Cut me off.

KEVIN

Yeah. When Jamie pulled out to pass him, it fell off.

We didn't notice 'til we got here. Some lucky it slid off onto the side, nobody ran into it.

JAMIE

I wish it
would
have
hit Merv.

KRISTA

You had to pass him.

JAMIE

Yes I had to pass him. The shit.

I told you we don't need a washer anyway.

KRISTA

How am I suppose to do our laundry?

JAMIE

At your mother's.

KRISTA

Mom won't help us, she's told us that.

CLARENCE

In my day people didn't expect to have everything when they got married. They was willing to wait for things.

KRISTA

Oh my God. I told you.

JAMIE

No one asked you.

CLARENCE

I was only saying.

KRISTA

I
told
you.

This is what I've been
saying
.

JAMIE

Stay the fuck out of our business.

CLARENCE

I was only saying.

JAMIE

Don't.

KRISTA

That's a hundred and fifty dollars gone.

KRISTA takes out a sheet of paper and a book. She works at her homework at the table. The guys continue getting decked out for the stag.

Jesus.

I hate poetry.

JAMIE

Hey, don't you swear.

KRISTA

Jeepers
, I hate poetry.

JAMIE

Too bad, because you're marrying a poet.

KEVIN laughs.

Two lips are red

Nipples are pink

Farts in a bed

Sure do stink.

JAMIE takes a bow.

KRISTA

I told Mr. Dagly I don't have time to do an essay. I told him I'm

getting married on Saturday. He said, “I know, Krista, your colour scheme is the talk of the school.” He said he overheard two guys in the locker room, like, discussing how relieved they were that I had gone with fuchsia, because it was so much more June bride than winter mint.

JAMIE

He's a fag.

KRISTA

You don't have to say that every time.

Every time I mention Dagly you say that.

JAMIE

“Fagly.”

KRISTA

I have to do the essay, or I fail English.

JAMIE

You're not failing.

KRISTA

I know.

JAMIE

I'm telling you
you're
not failing
.

KRISTA

I said
I know
.

I don't care if I don't pass.

JAMIE

You're getting your grade twelve if it takes you twenty years.

Read the poem. Kev'll tell you what it's about.

KRISTA

Yeah, right.

KEVIN

You know I'm smarter than you, sister.

KRISTA

(reading)
“Bird Cage.

I am a bird cage

A cage of bone

With a bird

The bird in the cage of bone

Is death building his nest

When nothing is happening

One can hear him ruffle his wings.

And when one has laughed a lot

If one suddenly stops

One hears him cooing

Far down

Like a small bell.

It is a bird held captive

This death in my cage of bone

Would he not like to fly away

Is it you who will hold him back

Is it I

What is it

He cannot fly away

Until he has eaten all

My heart

The source of blood

With my life inside

He will have my soul in his beak.”

JAMIE has lost his smirk and he seems drawn into the poem. KEVIN breaks the mood.

KEVIN

Jesus. Well he is talking about his bird so I guess he's talking about his…
(He grabs his crotch.)
Eh, Jame?

KRISTA

Thank you, Kevin. Jesus.
Jeepers.

The guy was dying. He had a heart something, so he knew he was dying. I have to write an essay describing my personal
bird of death
.

JAMIE

Death would be cancer or something. You're not dying.

KRISTA

Dagly told me to write how a marriage is a cage and a husband is the bird of death. I told him I'm not doing that.

JAMIE

The fag.

JAMIE and KEVIN start a small chorus of “fag, fag fag” – like

bullfrogs sounding off in a pond.

KRISTA

I can't get anything done here. I'm going home. Call me after the stag, Jamie. Jamie? Call me.

There was this article in the Wedding Digest and this girl's boyfriend died at his stag. Alcohol poisoning. You know Merv will get you too drunk.

JAMIE

The bird of death… alcohol – the bird of paradise, alcohol.

KEVIN

I'll drink to that. And may it fly up my nose.

KRISTA

Call me.

KRISTA leaves.

JAMIE

Well, Kev buddy, get your dress on and let's go fuck with Merv.

Lights out.

 

Scene 7

At the river. Wednesday suppertime. CHICKY is waiting, checking her watch. While she has her back turned, ROBBY comes down.

ROBBY

Hi, Chicky.

CHICKY

Hey, Robby.

ROBBY

How are you?

CHICKY

I feel used up and spit out.

I feel like I've been fifty years old since I was three.

ROBBY

(pause)
How are you?

CHICKY

Good. How are you?

ROBBY

Good.

CHICKY

Was Reg at the farm when you left?

ROBBY

No. Reg and Carol went to town in the Ford truck.

CHICKY realizes REG is not coming.

(emphatically) I'm done working for Reg.

CHICKY

Are you?

ROBBY

(emphatically)
He said he don't need me no more.

CHICKY

You don't need Reg. I don't need Reg.

We don't need Reg.

ROBBY

We don't need Reg.

CHICKY

This is your chance, Robby. You can go anywhere in the world.

Take a plane anywhere.

ROBBY

I don't like planes.

CHICKY

It's better to drive, anyway. You see everything then.

Tell me where you want to go?

ROBBY

Don't know.

CHICKY

Some place you saw on TV. How about that?

ROBBY

Don't know.

CHICKY

You've been thinking about going away.

ROBBY

No.

CHICKY

Now you can.

ROBBY

No.

CHICKY

Paris, France.

ROBBY

French people there.

CHICKY

Australia… New York.

You going to ask me to come, too?

ROBBY

Okay.

No.

CHICKY

Robby and Donalda on the road.

ROBBY

Mom says no.

CHICKY

We'll bring her.

ROBBY

Mom has to stay with Lissa.

CHICKY

Bring Lissa, okay.

Got any money saved up?

I know you didn't think this would happen. I know you thought

I'm going to live here all my life. And something important, not important, some miracle was going to happen and it was going to

all work out, but now you need money, did you save up?

ROBBY

No.

CHICKY

Me neither. That's what happens when you're stupid.

Oh, Robby. I'm stupid. Me me I'm stupid. Stupid.

ROBBY

No you're smart, you passed me at school.

CHICKY

I'm stupid at life.

I'm Reg stupid.

ROBBY

(laughs)
Donalda?

CHICKY

That's right. See we're already on our way.

ROBBY

Got to hay for Reg tomorrow.

Reg said, “See you tomorrow.”

CHICKY

You said you were all done working for Reg.

ROBBY

Yup. Five o'clock all done, don't need me no more.

Tomorrow morning at ten. Haying.

CHICKY

I'm not going back, Robby.

I'm not going back.

I'm already half gone.

ROBBY

Supper now, got to go home for supper. You going now, Chicky?

CHICKY

Nope.

ROBBY

Bye, Chicky.

ROBBY leaves.

KEVIN steps into view up on the road. He swings his legs over the rail, like he is getting set to jump.

KEVIN

Hey, Chicky.

CHICKY

How long have you been up there?

KEVIN

“I feel used up and spit out.”

CHICKY

What are you doing up there, anyway?

KEVIN

Jumping.

CHICKY

Why are you in such a hurry to mess yourself up?

KEVIN comes down.

You still look bad.

KEVIN

Old Merv thinks we're done. I'm not done with him.

CHICKY

Remember, his wife calls the cops.

You not working today?

KEVIN

Nope. Been up to the Curl Hole.

CHICKY

Power company drained it, did they?

KEVIN

(nods)
I'll get some nice white pine out of there.

CHICKY

Why didn't they log it before they built the dam?

KEVIN

Don't know but lucky for me. Fifteen years underwater, man that wood's gonna be pretty when it's polished up.

CHICKY

You get Jamie's and Krista's table finished?

KEVIN

Yeah. Made you something, too.

CHICKY

What?

KEVIN takes something out of his pocket.

KEVIN

You got to come over here to see it, don't ya?

CHICKY comes forward and puts her hand out.

Well you got to give me a kiss first, don't ya!

CHICKY

No.

KEVIN tries to kiss her.

Kevin stop.

CHICKY takes the small object from his hand.

A baby porcupine, sleeping.

KEVIN

(sullen)
Maybe it's road kill.

CHICKY

Kev.
You are so good at this.

KEVIN

Not good enough for a kiss.

CHICKY brushes his cheek with her lips.

Come on, Chicky a real kiss…

KEVIN tries to kiss her.

CHICKY

Kev, your face. I don't think you're up to much… especially that.

KEVIN overreacts.

KEVIN

What does that mean? What are they saying? What are those

bastards saying about me?

KEVIN moves to put his arms around her.

CHICKY

Kevin, no! We're not… kissing cousins, okay.

KEVIN

We're not gonna be cousins, we will be in-laws… outlaws.

CHICKY ignores him.

I'll go away with you.

CHICKY

Where would I go?

KEVIN moves to kiss her again.

Jesus. Leave me alone.

KEVIN persists.

Keep your hands off me.

No. No!

You touch me again and I am telling Reg.

Shit.

CHICKY throws the carved porcupine back at him and leaves.

KEVIN

I'm sorry, here take it. I made it for you.

But CHICKY is gone.

Chicky, I'm sorry.

You slow danced with me.

Merv and them are lying.

I never did what they said I did.

KEVIN sits on the sand. He hits himself on the bruises. He is near tears.

I could do it with you, Chicky.

I could do it with you.

Above, LISSA, a plump girl of fourteen, comes out onto the bridge. She is humming “Happy Birthday” and carrying a colourful umbrella. She stops and looks down at KEVIN.

LISSA

Is my brother Robby here?

KEVIN

Do you see him?

KEVIN pulls himself together. She comes down calling.

LISSA

Robby? Robby, Robby, Robby.

KEVIN

He ain't here. He left.

LISSA

He's got to come home for supper.

It's his birthday.

Mom got a bucket of chicken.

Sarah Lee cake.

You hurt yourself?

KEVIN

Yeah it looks that way.

LISSA

(importantly)
Yeah, it looks that way.

KEVIN

How come you got that umbrella? It's not raining.

LISSA

Nope.

KEVIN

So how come you got it then?

LISSA

Mom got it in town.

KEVIN

Don't touch my eye.

LISSA

Does it hurt?

KEVIN

Yes it hurts.

LISSA

Mom kisses hurts.

KEVIN studies her a long moment. She gives his eye a quick kiss.

KEVIN

It feels better but it hurts right here.

LISSA kisses his cheek.

Now it hurts right there.

LISSA, giggling, kisses his other cheek quickly – shyly.

Didn't work that time.

LISSA kisses him with more intent.

You got it.

You got any hurts.

LISSA holds out the back of her hand.

LISSA

Cat scratched me, Keving.

KEVIN

I see that.

KEVIN kisses her hand very gently. LISSA smiles and brings her hand back.

I hurt under here too.

KEVIN points to under his T-shirt.

I can't even see all my hurts back there.

Do I got any?

KEVIN slips his T-shirt off. LISSA looks shyly, then begins to kiss his back in little flutters. She is so childlike.

LISSA

All done.

KEVIN

But now you got all my hurts on your lips.

KEVIN reaches for her and starts to pull her mouth towards his. This is still a game to LISSA. KEVIN lays her down and moves to kiss her. At that moment KEVIN realizes what he is doing is wrong, and he pulls on his T-shirt.

You better get home, Lissa.

Robby'll be waiting for his birthday supper.

LISSA

Don't want to.

KEVIN

You'll miss the birthday cake.

LISSA

Don't care.

KEVIN

And the present opening.

LISSA

(darkly)
Robby's presents.

KEVIN

You want a present?

LISSA

Mom says, “Not
your
birthday, missy.”

KEVIN

If I give you a present, will you go home?

LISSA

Don't know.

KEVIN

Okay. Too bad, it's a nice present.

LISSA

Okay okay okay!

KEVIN turns around and closes his hands around the little

porcupine. He turns back.

KEVIN

Okay, open my hands.

LISSA

That's not a present with
Happy Birthday!
paper.

KEVIN

It's better. It's harder to open.

LISSA half tries, but in the end he makes her work to get his hands apart.

LISSA

Oh, a porcupine. It's dead.

KEVIN

No. It's asleep.

LISSA

That's okay, it's not dead, it's asleep. It's mine, right Keving?

KEVIN

Yeah.

Before he is aware of what she is up to, she kisses him on the lips hard.

Lissa! Don't kiss me 'cause I give you something.

LISSA

(sulking)
I want to, Keving.

KEVIN

(angry at her innocence)
No you don't! Go home, now.

LISSA

Bye, Keving.

LISSA hurries away. Kevin sits with his head in his hands.

Lights down.