AUTUMN OF THE FLAMING DRAGON

A JACOBEAN TRAGIC TRILOGY BY KENNETH F. HOKE-WITHERSPOON

Cast of Characters

Homicide Lieutenant Rookers

Lazarus Stove, A black Vietnam Veteran
Gary, a mentally challenged young man
Dr. Clements, Therapist at a Veteran’s Treatment Facility
Reggie, a young black man
Shirley, Reggie’s Mother
Bishop, a white platoon buddy of Lazarus
Elijah, Lazarus’ younger brother

Setting: A Park in Baltimore in the early 1970’s

Play 1 OPENING Lazarus Awakened

Play 2 MIDDLE GAME Elijah and Fire
Play 3 ENDGAME Death of the King

“Drama is a form of story-telling which is inherently communal; the actors form one
community, the audience another, and the fact of performance brings these two communities
together into a transitory but powerful group experience. Thus, drama is particularly well-suited
to fictions which can represent a community to itself... Drama can be more than affirmation of
community, however. It can also provide a safe arena for discussion of a community's flaws and
concerns. Stories about community do cultural work, whether they talk about divisions within
communities or their borders... Stories about the boundaries of community are also frequently
stories about the destruction or failure of community, stories in which the pressures of the world
outside exert a greater force than the community can withstand, or the single individual either
destroys or is destroyed by the rules his or her community has created in order to assure its
survival...The revenge tragedies of early modern England are one such set of stories. Early
modern revenge tragedy is both an art and an artifact of its time. It tells us certain things about
its culture and the work its culture needs its stories to do. By calling attention to their own
fictionality, these plays make themselves look harmless. But on the other hand, they undeniably
do cultural work of their own. Their cultural work is done through and by horror. They
exaggerate in the direction of destruction and despair, considering the boundary of community
in yet another way: what happens when the community has been broken? Revenge tragedy
enacts and embodies its culture's fears about what happens when an individual and his or her
community are set against each other, also about the repercussions of a failure between a
community and its own past.”

IT HARROWS ME WITH FEAR AND WONDER": HORROR AND HAUNTING IN

EARLY MODERN REVENGE TRAGEDY by
Sarah Monette

1
Wordclay
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.wordclay.com

© Copyright 2008 spoon. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any
means without the written permission of the author.

First published by Wordclay on 3/8/2008.

Printed in the United States of America.

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

2
 OPENING

LAZARUS AWAKENED

3
 (The house and stage are dark.)

(Through the darkness the recorded whistle of Lazarus is heard)

(A single spot appears)

Into the spot enters Lt. Rookers. He takes out and lights a cigarette, inhales it deeply, and
blows out the match as he exhales smoke.

Rookers: So what have I got? I got one dead kid. I got one Vietnam vet. The kid was
found in a shallow grave in a park in East Baltimore. The Vietnam vet? He
ain’t ever been found yet. (Lt. Rookers takes a drag on the cigarette.) So you
add it all up and what do you get? You got nothing. That’s right Rookers. You
ain’t got a thing. You’re a hot shot dick from homicide and you got no leads to
follow. You got nothing. Except that whistle. And you wish that would just go
away. (He thows the cigarette down and grinds it out with his foot.) (Pause)
That god damn whistle. (He takes out another cigarette.) So, that’s what you
got, Lt. Clint Rookers of Homicide. Questions. Is the vet innocent? Or is he
guilty? Is he hiding? Or is he dead? And that poor kid. How did he get mixed
up in all of this? You don’t know, but you’re gonna find out, ‘cause that’s your
job, Rookers. You do justice.

(Spot fades, Lt. Rookers exits in darkness.)

(Recorded whistle fades, replaced by live whistle of Lazarus)

(Lights come up.)

Early morning. A small neighborhood park in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, represented
by two trees, a park bench, well kept greens, and a small bush, beside which stands a
thirty-five millimeter camera resting upon a tripod and prepared to take extreme close-ups
of the white specks which adorn the tips of the branches of the small bush. Focusing the
camera is Lazarus Stove, a black, Vietnam veteran whose scars from wartime are:
extremely heightened senses, rigid self control, a target tattooed in the middle of his
forehead, and a tune of 40 notes which he hums over and over whenever silence threatens
his environment. He reacts to everything about him, always catching movement out of the
corner of an eye; always slightly tilting his head to positively indentify each sound. He has
always been professional in everything he set out to do. He has always been an artist,
though only recently unashamed of that fact. Although his tour of duty ended more than
ten years ago, he is till, though he fights it, at war with the world. He is slightly over six
feet tall, muscled, dressed in a plain white tee shirt and blue jeans, thirty-six years old, and
extremely handsome. His camera bag is next to a bench, and is covered by his neatly
folded field jacket.

(Enter into the park Gary Thompson, a white, mildly retarded, fourteen year old youth. He
is dressed in a flannel shirt and black pants much too short for him. He wears worn, black,

4
cracked shoes, white socks and mismatched shoelaces. He is physically rather unattractive,
the exception being his eyes, which are deep, dark, and wondering. It is his eyes that draw
people’s attention and interest. His eyes seem to drink in the world, great gulps at a time.
Gary goes over to the bench, sits down and watches Lazarus with a great deal of interest.
Lazarus senses Gary’s eyes on him, stops whistling, turns and looks at Gary over his
shoulder.)

Lazarus: Yeah?

Gary: (Amiably, in a friendly manner) Hi.

Lazarus. (Reconnoitering Gary for a brief moment, revealing none of what he feels)
“Hi” to you too, kid. (He turns back to his adjustments and his whistling.)

Gary: (To Lazarus’s back) Hi. (Settling down with a thoroughly satisfied demeanor)
Yeah. (Pause) Hi to you too, kid. (Pause) Oh, boy. (Pause) (Imitating
Lazarus) Yeah.

(Lazarus, in one compact motion, stands up soldier straight and walks over to his camera
bag. He squats to take something out.)

Gary. Take me with you.

Lazarus: (Pausing in his actions to look at Gary) I’m not going anywhere.

Gary: Oh.

(Lazarus continues what he was doing and rustles inside his camera bag.)

Gary: (Brightly) I’m not going anywhere either.

Lazarus: (Still looking for equipment) Simpatico, eh?

Gary: What’s that mean?

Lazarus: Simpatico? The same. Just alike. (Looks up at Gary) Birds of a feather.

Gary: (Happy, understanding) Yeah, birds of a feather.

Lazarus: (Cocking one hand in the shape of a gun and pointing it at Gary) You got it.

Gary: Yeah.

(Lazarus withdraws from the camera bag the close-up lens he has been seeking and goes to
the machinations of his camera. Gary squirms with delight, pleased by this show of
attention.)

5
Gary: Birds of a feather. Yeah. I got it. Birds of a feather. Yeah.

(He turns and looks at Lazarus, watching and listening to him for a few beats)

Gary: (Calling out to Lazarus) Whatcha’ doin’? Takin’ pitchers?.

Lazarus: (Absorbed in his focusing) Yep.

Gary: Of what? Bushes? Burnin’ bushes? You waitin’ for the burnin’ bush? (He
laughs)

Lazarus: Nope. Bugs. Bugs in color. Bugs in vibrant Ectachrome color. Slides of
boring bugs all waitin’ to be born.

Gary: (Completely lost by this) Huh?

Lazarus: (Standing, looking at Gary, shaking his head and allowing himself a small
chuckle, walking over to the bench to explain.) That, my little man, is a
Mercury Pine, and all those tiny white dots are eggs of the Mercury Pine Borer.
Sometime during the next three weeks, all of them eggs are gonna hatch, and
when they batch, I’m gonna snap pictures of all of their greedy little jaws as
they wake up, yawn, and eat their way into history by doin’ a number on that
little bush. Ya’ got all that?

Gary: (Truly understanding and proud of himself for it) Yeah.

Lazarus: Good. (He stands up, starts to whistle and walk away)

Gary: Why?

Lazarus: Why what?

Gary: Why you gonna do that?

Lazarus: (Pause) It’s a livin’.

Gary: Oh. I get it.

Lazarus: Good. (He walks back over to the camera.)

Gary: (Talking to Lazarus’s back) What’s your name?

Lazarus: (At camera) Lazarus. What’s yours?

6
Gary: (Pleased at the attention and respect he is commanding) Gary. (With pride)
And I got three last names. (Counting them with a cadence) My mother’s, my
father’s and my great grand aunt’s.

Lazarus: That’s a lot of names. Can y’ keep ‘em all straight?

Gary: Yeah. Most of the time. (Pause) Sometimes I get ‘em mixed up though. (A
little sadly) Sometimes I don’t know who I am.

Lazarus: (Looking at Gary, probing and attempting to assess, finally giving way to a
profound empathy) Sometimes it bes that way, little brother, but it still ain’t
nuthin’ but a thing. What you need to remember you remember, right?

Gary: (Inspired, his confidence in himself growing) Right.

Lazarus: Then that’s all you need. The rest ain’t nuthin’ but a thing. Got that, little
brother?

Gary: (Happy) Yeah, I got that.

Lazarus: Good. Don’t lose it. It’ll keep ya happy. (He walks to his camera whistling,
stops and looks over his shoulder. There he sees Gary, completely beside
himself with joy.)

Gary: Yeah. That’s right. Yeah. I got it. Birds of a feather.

Lazarus: (Calling out) Yo, little brother. Wanna give me a hand?

Gary: (Eagerly) Yeah.

Lazarus: Bring my gear over here for me.

Gary: (Lost) Huh?

Lazarus: My bag.

Gary: Yeah. I got it. (Hopping off bench) Sure. (Doing so as Lazarus turns back to
camera) Ain’t nuthin’ but a thing. That’s right. Nuthin’ but a thing. (Next to
Lazarus)

Lazarus: (Taking bag) Thank you, kid.

Gary: You’re welcome.

Lazarus: (He looks up at Gary, his face still a mask, his emotion still slightly beneath the
surface.) Want my card, kid?

7
Gary: Yeah.

Lazarus: (Handing him one) Here.

Gary: Thank you. Can I have two?

Lazarus: (Smiling, the mask melting for the first time) Sure. Here. (He takes out a pack
of cards bound with a rubber band) Take a bunch. Give ‘em out to all your
friends.

Gary: (Accepting them) Thank you. (Pause) I don’t have any friends.

Lazarus: Just as well, little brother. They’ll only break your heart. (He goes back to his
focusing.)

Gary: (Proudly rifling his new trophies) Yeah. They’ll only break your heart. I got
it. (To Lazarus) You got a house?

Lazarus: Yep. (continuing to focus and whistle)

Gary: (Starting to scheme) With a yard?

Lazarus: Yep. Nice yard.

Gary: With flowers in it?

Lazarus: Roses and Lilies and weeds.

Gary: And grass, a lot a grass?

Lazarus: Whole lot a grass.

Gary: I can cut grass.

Lazarus: Somehow it don’t surprise me.

Gary: (Trying to play cool) Yep. I can mow lawns and I can trim hedges and I can
rake up behind myself and I know how to wipe aphids off a rose bushes with
wet handiwipes.

Lazarus: (Laughing, turning to look at Gary) You just versatile as shit, ain’tcha, kid?

Gary: Yep. Versatile as shit. I can do anything in a yard that nees to be done.
(Pause) So, take me with you.

8
Lazarus: (Getting down on one knee) Where you live now, kid?

Gary: In the Emerson house.

Lazarus: Don’t they got no grass for you to mow?

Gary: Nope.

Lazarus: So how come you know so much about it?

Gary: I seen it on television. P.B.S. Every mornin’ five o’clock.

Lazarus: (Laughing) You a trip, little brother.

Gary: Is that good?

Lazarus: (Rising) It’s good to have around. (He goes to the camera whistling.)

Gary: Can I help?

Lazarus: Just watch my back for me, little brother. (He turns around.)

Gary: Sure. (He stares at Lazarus’s back.)

(Lazarus feeling Gary’s eyes, stops and turns)

Lazarus: The other way. For my back. (Pause as Gary is confused) Don’t let nothin’
sneak up on me from behind.

Gary: Oh! Okay. I got it. (He spins around) Watch your back for you. Like
Battlecat. (Lazarus turns back to camera and whistle) Don’t let Skeletor get
into Castle Greyskull. (He haltingly hums along with Lazarus for a few beats
and glances into camera bag. Seeing something which catches his interest, he
reaches in and takes out a chessboard. He begins setting it up.) Do you like
me?

Lazarus: You a good man.

Gary: (As he sets up pieces) That’s right. I’m a good man. I watch your back for
you. (A hint) Take care a grass for ya too. I’m a trip. I’m versatile as shit.

(Pause)

Gary: You still lookin’ at bugs?

Lazarus: (Playing) Nope. Bug eggs.

9
Gary: (Taking up the game) Boring bug eggs.

Lazarus: Bags of boring bug eggs.

Gary: Bags of boring baby bug eggs.

Lazarus: Bags of unborn boring baby bug eggs.

(Pause as Lazarus chuckles.)

Lazarus: (Turning) Gotcha that time, didn’t I, li… (He is startled to see the chess board
out and set up. He looks from Gary to the board to Gary incredulously.)

Gary: It’s your move. (Pause) I took the white pieces. (Justifying his strategic
advantage.) I’m just a kid.

Lazarus: You play chess, little brother?

Gary: Yep. Real good at it too.

Lazarus: (Making a move) Where’d you learn to play chess?

Gary: On television. A grandmaster showed me how.

(They play now in earnest, Lazarus down on one knee, Gary cross legged on the grass.)

Lazarus: Let’s see how good a job he did.

Gary: Will you take me with you? Check.

Lazarus: We’ll see, kid.

Gary: You have to go talk to the counselors first. Check.

Lazarus: If I take you with me I’ll do that.

Gary: They’ll be glad to see me go. Check. I beat ‘em all in chess. Check. I beat
‘em all real bad. Check.

Lazarus: Don’t be cocky, kid.

Gary: Why not? Check. If can’t nobody beat you. Check. Why can’t you be cocky?
Check.

Lazarus: ‘Cause there’s always a first time…

10
Gary: Check.

Lazarus: …and the higher you are…

Gary: Check.

Lazarus: …the further you got to fall. Mate. (Pause as Gary sits in stunned silence) See
what I mean, kid?

(Pause)

Lazarus: Set ‘em up and we’ll run ‘em again, little brother. (He goes back to his camera
and his whistling.)

Gary: (His face and manner giving way to anger, the petulant, explosive anger of a
twelve year old child.) (Softly) You cheated me.

Lazarus: You know better than that, little brother.

Gary: (Loudly, an accusation along with the anger in his voice.) Yes, you did. You
did. You cheated me.

(Lazarus turns and faces him for a beat.)

Lazarus: I don’t cheat. (Pause) What you sayin’ to me, little man?

Gary: I hate you. (He scatters the chess pieces with a sweep of his hand, scrambles to
his feet abruptly.) You know what you is? You a nigger. A dumb, black
bastard. That’s what you is. And I hate you. I hate you. (As he exits he hurls
one more “Nigger!” and leaves the stage.)

Lazarus: (Pause) Just like I told ya, kid. They’ll only break your heart.

(He goes back to his whistling as he, on one knee, slowly gathers the pieces strewn upon
the ground.)

(Lights fade out. Recorded whistle comes on. Single spot.)

(Enter Lt. Rookers into spot. He takes out a cigarette, puts it in his mouth. He lights a
match and brings it toward his cigarette. Spot up on Doctor Clements, a therapist with a
white coat and a dedication to her profession which stands for no nonsense.)

Clements: Thank you for not smoking.

(Lt Rookers pauses, looks at lighted match plaintively, shakes it out and flicks it away.)

11
Rookers: So, you know Lazarus Stove.

Clements: Yes, I know Sgt. Stove.

Rookers: So, tell me about him.

Clements: What do you want to know about him?

Rookers: He was in here for two months after his discharge, right?

Clements: That’s correct.

Rookers: So why was he sent here?

Clements: He did a two year tour of duty in Vietnam.

Rookers: What was wrong with him?

Clements: He did a two year tour of duty in Vietnam.

Rookers: Did he have mental problems?

Clements: He did a two year tour of duty in Vietnam.

Rookers: So what the hell is that supposed to be? An excuse for everything?

Clements: No, a statement of fact. And an explanation, not an excuse.

Rookers: You think Lazarus Stove needs an explanation?

Clements: Why are you here Lt. Rookers? What is Sgt. Stove accused of?

Rookers: What makes you think he’s accused of anything, Dr. Clements?

Clements: (Sarcastically) Oh, forgive me Lt., for maligning your intentions. How very
rude of me. Did you come here to give him a medal? Did you come here to welcome him
home? Did you come here to thank him for fighting for his country? This is wonderful.
Somebody finally gives a damn for the men who fought in that war.

Rookers: Look Dr. Clements. I didn’t come here to get into an argument…

Clements: What do you think he’s done, Lt.?

Rookers: …and I didn’t come here to put down a veteran. I’m a veteran myself…

12
Clements: What’s he supposed to have done?

Rookers: …Korea. And my brothers were in the big one in the Pacific…

Clements: Yes, you were all heroes, such heroes.

Rookers: War has always been hell, Dr. Clements, for everybody. War ain’t never been
no bed of roses…

Clements: No, but you all got roses when you came home. You got the roses, and the
ticker tape, and the kisses from pretty young girls and all little brothers and
sisters who thought you were a hero. All these poor men got were spit on,
laughed at, ignored and forgotten.

Rookers: I got no argument with that Doctor, but I didn’t come here to argue with you…

Clements: No, not to argue with me, to use me. What do you want me to tell you that
Lazarus is capable of doing? What case do you want me to close for you?
What baffling crime needs a cheap and easy villain?

Rookers: I got a dead kid…

Clements: Well, of course, then, he did it. Was he napalmed, Lt? Was it a baby? They’re
good at that, you know.

Rookers: Will I get more cooperation if I pull you downtown?

Clements: You can do what you want but you won’t use me to add to that poor man’s
misery. He was my patient and I won’t let you do him any harm.

Rookers: And that poor innocent kid? What about him?

Clements: What about him, Lt? Is he innocent? I only have your word for that. I have
never seen him, but I do know about childhood innocence. It excuses deviant
behavior until you have grown-up sociopaths and the time for treatment is past.
Examine your “innocent child” with the same zeal you pursue this assailant.
Balance them both equally before you choose your side. Be fair, Lt., if you
with to be just.

Rookers: I’ll be back with a court order demanding Stove’s records.

Clements: Then I’ll see you in Court. Good day, Lt.

(Lt. Rookers takes out a match and lights it.)

Clements: Please don’t do that in here.

13
(Lt. Rookers shakes out the match and exits from spot. Fade out on Dr. Clements. Spot
out.)

(Recorded whistle replaced by live whistle. Lights up to reveal Lazarus at camera and
chess board closed on ground beside gear bag.)

(Enter Reggie, a young, black male, sixteen years of age, dressed stylishly in expensive
jeans and sneakers, with a blue silk jacket with a name etched across the chest. He wears a
coke spoon around his neck, and is slightly buzzed, having just partaken of a popular drug.
He is in a state of agitation, as he is being followed by his mother, Shirley, a very
attractive, thirty year old woman, dressed in the whites of an on-duty nurse.)

Reggie: Get off my back, ma.

Shirley: Reggie, honey…

Reggie: (Irritated) You buggin’ me. Leave me alone.

(Lazarus turns around and starts watching this confrontation.)

Shirley: You have to go to school, Reggie…

Reggie: For what?

Shirley: You need your education, son…

Reggie: (Breaking into laughter) Why? They ain’t got shit that they can teach me. (He
starts walking off)

Shirley: Reggie…

Reggie: (As he exits) Later, Moms.

Shirley: Damn it. (She sits on the bench, takes out and smokes a cigarette.)

Shirley: (Slowly turning and looking at the whistling Lazarus, who is scrutinizing her.)
(Angrily) What you lookin’ at?

Lazarus: (Turning back to camera) Nothing ma’am.

Shirley: Then get the fuck outa my face.

Lazarus: Yes ma’am.

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(Lazarus continues his whistling. Shirley continues smoking and occasionally glancing to
see if he is still staring at her.)

(Enter Gary, with a bunch of flowers. He walks over to Lazarus and extends them toward
him.)

Gary: Here.

Lazarus: What? (Sees flowers) What’d you do to ‘em, kid? Are they wired?

Gary: I’m sorry.

Lazarus: Sorry ain’t worth what it used to be kid. Sorry don’t mean shit nowadays.

Gary: I brought some flowers to make up. Like Merlin Olsen do.

Lazarus: This ain’t television, kid. I ain’t Merlin Olsen; and this ain’t no commercial.

Gary: I won’t do it no more, honest…

Lazarus: Yeah, yeah. I done heard that shit before.

Gary: Take ‘em, please. They for you…

Lazarus: I don’t want ‘em. (Indicating Shirley) Give ‘em to her. And then get the fuck
otta my life.

(Lazarus turns back to his camera and his whistling. Gary looks at him for a beat, then at
Shirley on the bench. He decides. He walks over to Shirley, holding out the flowers.)

Gary: Here. He told me to give these to you.

(Shirley is startled by both Gary’s appearance and by the unexpected gift. She looks over
at Lazarus, who is whistling while he works, and then back at Gary. She takes the
flowers.)

Shirley: Tell him I said “Thank you.”

Gary: Okay. (He starts to go back to Lazarus, halts, reaches into his jacket pocket and
withdraws the business cards. He takes one from the stack and hands it to
Shirley) Here, have a card.

Shirley: (Taking it) Thank you.

Gary: (Giving her another) Take two.

15
Shirley: (Amused) Thank you again.

Gary: You’re welcome. (He goes back over to Lazarus, as Shirley watches.)

Lazarus: (Upon Gary’s approach) I told you to go away, kid.

Gary: The lady said thank you.

(Lazarus looks at Gary and then at Shirley, who is reading the business card. Shirley looks
up at him and he responds with a sharp salute.)

Shirley: L. Stove.

Lazarus: That’s me, ma’am.

Shirley: What’s the L stand for?

Lazarus: Lazarus.

Shirley: (Smiling) Lazarus, huh? You came back from the dead, Mr. Lazarus? Done
been brought back from the tomb?

Lazarus: Straight from the jaws of hell, ma’am. Snatched right out of the Devil’s fire.

Gary: He takes pitchers of baby bug eggs.

Shirley: He does, huh?

Gary: Yep, in vibrant Ectachrome color.

Shirley: (To Gary) And who are you?

Gary: I’m Gary. And my last name ain’t nuthin’ but a thing.

Shirley: Is that so? Well then (putting cigarette out) Thank you, Gary. And thank you,
too, Mr. Lazarus.

Lazarus: My pleasure, ma’am.

Shirley: See you around.

Lazarus: I hope so.

Gary: (Heaving a deep sigh as Shirley exits) Just like on television.

16
Lazarus: (Snapping out of his temporary enthrallment) What are you still doing here,
kid?

Gary: Bein’ your friend.

Lazarus: I got friends like you already. I don’t need no more friends like you. Friends
like you don’t watch your back. They only wait to slip in the knife.

Gary: I’m sorry. I won’t do it no more, honest.

Lazarus: That’s what they all say, kid. And they all tell lies. (He turns back to the
camera and his whistling.)

Gary: Well, I am your friend. And I’m a good friend. A real friend. I’m gonna watch
your back. That’s right. (He sits down cross-legged, a sharp-eyed guardian.)
I’m gonna watch your back for you. I’m a good man to have at your back.
Ain’t gonna let nuthin’ sneak up on you from behind. Nope. Nuthin’. (Lazarus
continues whistling.)

(Twelve beats pass.)

(Lazarus stops whistling and looks at Gary who stares back at him.)

Gary: I’m still watching your back for you. I’m gonna always watch your back. I’m
gonna still be your friend, even if you won’t be mine.

Lazarus: (After studying Gary for a brief while) Set ‘em up, little brother.

Gary: (Scrambling to set up chess pieces) Oh, boy. You won’t beat me this time. I
ain’t never gonna lose again. Never, never, never, never.

Lazarus: (Lights fade)

(Lazarus’ whistle is heard for 12 bars, replaced by Gary’s singing.)

(Lights come up.)

(Gary is between audience and camera equipment. He stalks, with wary eyes, guarding his
territory against any who would encroach.)

Gary: (Singing) There were six hundred

went into the jungle,
just six made it through and
to the other side.
The ‘Cong, they was screamin’,
our boys they was bleeding’,

17
 but the men in the Rangers,
those men never die.

(Pause)

That’s right. I watch his gear for ‘em. Ain’t nobody gonna look at his gear
when I’m watchin’ it. I’m a good man. That’s right. I’m a good man and I’m
versatile as shit. (Cocking his hand and pointing it toward himself.) I got it.

(He sings)

There was six hundred

went into that jungle
just six…

(He freezes and crouches, each muscle tensed for action. Shouting out: Freeze, sucker!
And identify yourself! Enter Lazarus, with bags of food from MacDonalds.)

Lazarus: It’s me, little brother.

Gary: (Deadly serious) At ease, then.

Lazarus: (Snapping a quick two-finger salute) Yes sir. Permission to set up mess, sir.
Set up the board please, sir.

Gary: Ain’t nuthin’ but a thing. (He gets the board, and begins setting up the pieces as
Lazarus prepares mess by tearing bags neatly down and layout out flat as a
paper quilt work blanket upon the ground)

Lazarus: You a trip, little brother.

Gary: A good trip, right?

Lazarus: One of the best.

Gary: And ain’t nobody touch your gear.

Lazarus: They all had better sense. They knew who was watchin’ it.

Gary: I was watchin’ it.

Lazarus: That’s right.

Gary: Just like I watch your back.

Lazarus: Uh-huh.

18
Gary: I watch things great. I do everything great. (Pause) Like watching backs…
(pause) … an’ cutting grass… (pause) …an’ takin’ care of rose bushes…
(pause) …so…

(Lazarus knowing what is coming, and, timing it perfectly, throws his head up to meet
Gary’s face and says in perfect unison)

Lazarus:
Gary: Take me with you.

Gary: Well?

Lazarus: (Teasing) Well what?

Gary: Take me with you.

Lazarus: Maybe

Gary: Maybe when?

Lazarus: (A brief pause, a quick decision) When the bug eggs start to bloom.

Gary: Then?

Lazarus: Then.

Gary: (Wanting this but still surprised) Honest?

Lazarus: What the hell, little brother. You watch my back. I’ll scratch yours. You look
out for me and I’ll lookout for your. That’s the way it’s gotta be, right?

Gary: (Happy) Right.

Lazarus: Nothing but a thing little brother.

Gary: Nothing but a thing, yeah. (Pause, still unbelieving) And you gonna really take
me, right?

Lazarus: Just as soon as them bug eggs bust loose.

Gary: Oh boy. (He turns and looks at the bush) Go bugs!

Lazarus: Baby bugs.

Gary: Baby bug eggs.

19
Lazarus: Bags of baby bug eggs.

Gary: Bags of bor… (Suddenly pausing)

Lazarus: (Wary, looking around quickly to see if there is anything he hasn’t sensed.)
What’s up, little brother?

Gary: (Pointing to the lunch all laid out neatly) You didn’t get no ketchup.

Lazarus: That stuff’ll kill you.

Gary: It makes everything taste better.

Lazarus: Sure, if ya got no taste to start with.

Gary: I really need ketchup. MacDonald’s don’t taste right without ketchup.

Lazarus: Then go get some, little brother.

Gary: I can’t.

Lazarus: Why not?

Gary: They don’t like me to go in unless I buy sumpthin’.

Lazarus: (Handing him money) Then go buy something.

Gary: (Taking money) What should I get?

Lazarus: Anything you want. Bring back whatever you want. Just bring back all my
change.

Gary: Ain’t nuthin’ but a thing?

Lazarus: Nuthin’ but a thing.

Gary: Oh boy! (He exits)

(Lazarus watches Gary’s exit, shakes his head and laughs. He begins whistling, stands up,
goes ovr to the camera and focuses it.)

Lazarus: (Imitating Gary) Go bugs! (He chuckles, focuses and whistles.)

(Light fades.)

20
(Spot)

(Enter Lt. Rookers into spot.)

(Lt. Rookers puts a cigarette into his mouth and takes out a book of matches. He is about
to strike one when a spot comes up on Bishop Robinson, a mechanic in greasy overalls,
working beneath the hood of a car.)

Bishop: Are you out of your fuckin’ mind, buddy? You wanna blow us both up?

Rookers: Sorry.

Bishop: Geez. Whattan asshole. (He goes back under the hood.)

Rookers: So, you knew Sgt. Stove.

Bishop: Yeah, I knew him.

Rookers: Tell me about him.

Bishop: He was a good man. One of the best. Someone you’d trust to watch your back.
Had sense too. Knew better than to try and smoke a fuckin’ cigarette when he
was in the middle of a motor pool.

Rookers: Was he a violent person?

Bishop: (Leaving hood) What?

Rookers: Was he violent?

Bishop: (Staring at Rookers incredulously) Nah man, he wasn’t violent. He was a

hippie. We was all hippies. We used to throw flowers and talk about peace and
love. Was he violent? Shit! Are you for real, man? What the fuck you think
we was doin’ over there? Holdin’ be-in’s?

Rookers: I got a dead kid on my hands.

Bishop: Yeah? Well that’s a bitch, ain’t it? My heart bleeds for you.

Rookers: I think Stove might have something to do with it.

Bishop: Why?

Rookers: Because he was there and he’s not there now and we can’t find him to take his
statement.

21
Bishop: Sure you right. And that’s all it takes. Bein’ there is just as good as doin’ it.
Shit. (He laughs bitterly) You know, Laz used to try to tell me how rough it
was to be black, used to say “there ain’t no such thing as fair when you a nigger
in a white man’s world.” I always thought he was bullshittin’ me ‘til I came
home and found out that I was a nigger too. And that all you jive ass civilians
was still white. Yeah, he was there. Life’s a bitch that way, you know. Loot?
Everybody’s gotta be somewhere. That’s a law of physics, you aughta go check
it out.

Rookers: Did Stove ever kill a child in Vietnam?

Bishop: Shit yeah, Loot. We all did. Don’t you read the newspapers? Didn’t you hear
Fonda and the Berrigans talkin’ bout it? Yeah we killed kids, everyday we
killed ‘em. We burned ‘em and we maimed ‘em. Their mammas too. Used to
get off on it, Loot. Turned us on so much we just loved it. That’s why we all
volunteered to go.

Rookers: I don’t need your attitude, Bishop…

Bishop: Comes with the territory, Loot.

Rookers: What I need are some answers.

Bishop: You had your answers when you walked in here, Loot. You had all the answers
when you found out your suspect was a Vietnam vet. You didn’t need to know
nuthin’ else so don’t try to bullshit me otherwise.

Rookers: No one’s condemning Stove. I just want to talk to him.

Bishop: If you can’t find him then he sure don’t wanna talk to you.

Rookers: Do you think he’s hiding?

Bishop: You say he’s hiding. I say he’s scoutin’. Shit. He’s probably watchin’ you,
Loot. Lazarus would do something like that. He’s that kinda guy, you know.

Rookers: (Changing tact) Look Bishop, this isn’t Vietnam, and the war is over…

Bishop: Is it?

Rookers: … and I’m not here to relive the past…

Bishop: Uh-huh.

Rookers: But I got a dead kid, a dead kid who wouldn’t have hurt a fly…

22
Bishop: That’s your story.

Rookers: … and I want to know if Stove knows anything about it.

Bishop: Well then, you just go ask ‘em, Loot. If he wants you to know, he’ll tell you.

Rookers: I will, when we find him…

Bishop: If you find him, Loot. If he wants to be found. Sure you want him, Loot?
Give him a whistle. He might just surprise your ass and show up. But it’ll be
from behind, Loot. We learned better than to meet y’all face to face. Better get
somebody to watch your back, Loot. Better get a good man to watch your rear.

Rookers: Are you going to answer my question here or downtown?

Bishop: Sure, Loot. What’s your question?

Rookers: Is Stove capable of killing a kid?

Bishop: How old a kid?

Rookers: Seventeen.

Bishop: Shit. Seventeen ain’t no kid. You all grown up by the time you hit seventeen.
You make your own choices when you reach that point. You make your own
choices and pay the piper out your own damn pocket.

Rookers: So is he capable of killing a seventeen year old kid or not?

Bishop: Depends.

Rookers: On what?

Bishop: On whether or not the kid was tryin’ to kill him first.

Rookers: (Testily) This is not Vietnam.

Bishop: You’re surer about that, than I am, Loot, but I ain’t impressed…

Rookers: Then you start being impressed. And you start being sure. This is not the
jungle. This is not a war; and you do not take the law into your own hands. I
am the law here. You just follow the rules, Bishop. I’ll be responsible for
justice.

Bishop: (Saluting) Yes, sir, Loot. I leave justice up to you. Will that be all, Loot, sir?

23
Rookers: I’ll be talking to you again, Bishop.

Bishop: Looking forward to it, sir. Permission to return to my work, Loot, sir.

Rookers: I will be back or maybe we’ll talk downtown.

Bishop: (Breaking salute) Thank ya’ Loot. Watch out for your back now, y’ hear?
Don’t let no poor, innocent child sneak upon you from behind. (He goes back
to work under the hood of the car.)

(Lt. Rookers takes out a cigarette and match. He starts to light the match.)

Bishop: (From under hood) Is you got a fuckin’ death wish or what, Loot?

Rookers: (Shking match out) Sorry.

Bishop: Jeez, whattan asshole.

(Lt. Rookers exits spot. Spot down on Bishop.)

(Reggie enters quietly into the park opposite Lazarus. Lazarus, though he does not change
his pace, is evidently immediately aware that Reggie is there. Reggie walks nonchalantly
toward Lazarus, looking around to make certain that he is not being observed. As he gets
closer to Lazarus, his hands slowly slide into his pockets. Lazarus turns around quickly
and, facing Reggie who is taken by surprise, says:

Lazarus: What can I do for you, kid?

Reggie: Nice camera.

Lazarus: I like it.

Reggie: Where’d you get it?

Lazarus: Which part of it?

Reggie: All of it.

Lazarus: Switzerland, Japan, New York. It comes from all over. I put it together
myself.

Reggie: Cost a lot, huh?

Lazarus: Not enough to die for.

Reggie: Ain’t nuthin’ worth dyin’ for. (He starts to pull a gun out of his pocket.)

24
Lazarus: That’s right, so don’t take your hand out of your pocket.

Reggie: (Stopping) (Belligerently) What? What you talkin’ ‘bout?

Lazarus: Move your hand and you lose that arm.

Reggie: Yeah? Whatcha gonna do, old man? Huh? Whatcha gonna do?

Lazarus: I’ll kick your nuts into your throat and rip your fuckin’ head off your shoulders.
Don’t play with me, young boy. I done seen it all and come out in one piece.

Reggie: You bad as shit, ain’tcha?

Lazarus: I’m still alive.

Reggie: Yeah, that’s right. You a (derisively) vet-ren, done killed muthufucker’s. Gone
out and played Rambo and shit. Well I got some Rambo for your ass. Wanna
see Rambo, old Man? Wanna feel some of Rambo?

(From offstage comes Shirley’s voice)

Shirley: Reggie! (She enters the park, accompanied by a beaming Gary) Why aren’t
you in school?

Reggie: (Never taking an eye off Lazarus) It’s lunch time, Ma.

Shirley: (Going over to Reggie) I gave you money for the cafeteria.

Reggie: That food taste funny. I’ll go after fourth period.

Shirley: I don’t believe you, Reggie. I want you to go now.

Reggie: You don’t gotta go to no school with me. I ain’t no baby.

Gary: (To Lazarus) I brought the lady.

Shirley: You obviously need some help getting’ there.

Reggie: I don’t need no help. I told you I was goin’.

Shirley: I don’t believe you.

Reggie: I ain’t no liar.

Shirley: Reginald, if you don’t go to school this afternoon, don’t bother to come home.

25
Reggie: You can’t keep me from goin’ into my own house.

Shirley: I’ve had enough of this. Either go to school or don’t come home.

Reggie: Who gonna stop me?

Gary: (Getting caught up in the tension, which to him is grand excitement) Me! Me,
I’m gonna stop you.

Reggie: What?

Lazarus: Be cool, little brother.

Gary: I’ll watch her back for her. I’m versatile as shit.

Reggie: You fuckin’ dummy.

Lazarus: Back off, young boy.

Shirley: Leave him alone Reginald.

Reggie: (Whirling on his mother) What?

Shirley: He can’t help himself. Leave him alone.

Gary: That’s right. Leave me alone. You ain’t nuthin’ but a thing.

Reggie: You takin’ his side?

Shirley: That boy ain’t done a thing to you.

Reggie: He getting’ all in my business.

Shirley: He can’t help himself.

Reggie: Then let him keep the fuck shut up.

Gary: You, you keep the fuck shut up.

Lazarus: Be cool, little brother.

Gary: You shut up. You. You. (Exploding) Nigger! Big black ugly nigger!

Reggie: (Going to pull out his gun) Muthufuckin’ white boy.

26
(Lazarus kicks Reggie first in the groin and then in the arm.)

Shirley: (Screaming) No!

(Reggie yells and falls to his knees in great pain. He starts crying.)

Reggie: Muthufuckuh! You dead muthufuckuh!

(Shirley runs over to and attempts to hug Reggie. As she does so she touches his arm and
he emits a great shriek of pain.)

Reggie: It’s broken! He broke it. The mutherfuckuh broke it. (In tears) Mamma…
Mamma…

Shirley: (As she turns to comfort him) Baby… Baby…

Lazarus: He’s got a gun.

Shirley: (Angrily) You had no right to touch him.

Lazarus: He’s got a gun.

Shirley: That sill don’t give you no right.

Lazarus: A gun gives me all the right I need.

Reggie: He hurt me mamma. He hurt me bad.

Gary: (Contrite) I’m sorry.

Reggie: Fuck you, white boy!

Lazarus: I told you to back off!

Shirley: (Rushing to Reggie’s defense.) Don’t you touch him again.

Reggie: He broke my arm. He broke my arm. He ain’t got no right to break my arm.

Shirley: (Helping him up) Let’s go baby. Let me help you.

Reggie: You goin’ to jail, man. I’m gonna send your ass to jail.

Shirley: Let me get you fixed up.

Reggie: (As they exit) (Yelling) Police! Police!

27
(From offstage the sounds of Reggie’s screams for the police can be heard.)

Gary: I’m sorry.

Lazarus: Ain’t nuthin’ to be sorry ‘bout. You watched my back. You did what you was
supposed to do.

Gary: I won’t do it again, honest.

Lazarus: ‘Course you will. You better. You a good man. You don’t let nuthin’ sneak
up on you from behind.

Gary: Do you still like me?

Lazarus: I love you, little brother. You my buddy.

Gary: Are you still my friend?

Lazarus: Birds of a feather.

Gary: Will you still take me with you?

(From offstage the sound of a police siren is heard)

Lazarus: I said I would. I don’t never break my word, little brother. I don’t never let a
partner down.

Gary: (Peering out into audience) They getting’ out and talkin’ to Reggie.

Lazarus: Yep. So I better go over and give ‘em my side.

Gary: It’s all my fault.

Lazarus: Ain’t your fault. Ain’t nuthin’ but a thing.

Gary: (Not hearing, feeling guilty) I’m bad. (He hits his hand) I’m bad. (He hits his
own hand again) I’m bad.

Lazarus: (Sharply) Hey.

(Gary turns and looks at Lazarus. Lazarus begins whistling, Gary, after a pause, begins to
sing.)

Gary: (Singing) But those men in the Rangers, those men never die.

Lazarus: You got it. Keep it. (He exits out through audience)

28
Gary: (Singing, watching the action beyond the audience)
There were six hundred
went into the jungle
just six made it through
and to the other side
the ‘Cong, they was screamin’…

(Pause as he looks in wide-eyed distress) (shouting out)

Gary: Hey! What you doin’? Don’t put no han’cuffs on him. He ain’t done nuthin’
wrong. You puttin’ the cuffs on the wrong one. Don’t put him in that car.
Don’t push him in that car. Leave him alone. Where you goin’? (Louder)
You got the wrong one. You takin’ away the good guy. (Even Louder) You
lockin’ up the hero. (Pause, softly and sadly now) An’ it’s all my fault. (He
hits himself on the wrist) My fault. (He hits himself again) My fault. (He
continues to slap himself on his face with sharp smack on contact hyphenated
by) Bad! Bad! (Slap) Bad!

(Lights dim)

(House dark)

(Single spot)

(Into spot walks Lt. Rookers. He reaches for a cigarette, stops)

Rookers: Do you mind if I smoke?

(Spot on Elijah Stove, younger brother of Lazarus, a successful professional who plays
incessantly with a rubberband.)

Elijah: Yes, I do, as a matter of fact. So if you don’t mind?

Rookers: Nah. No sweat. So, tell me about your brother.

Elijah: My brother.

Rookers: Yeah, Lazarus.

Elijah: What do you want to know about my brother?

Rookers: Whatever you got to tell me. I’m not too choosy at this point.

Elijah: That isn’t very much, Lt. Rookers. It may very well be that you know more
about him at this point in time than I do.

29
Rookers: When is the last time you saw him?

Elijah: Chirstmas.

Rookers: The last time you spoke to him?

Elijah: Christmas.

Rookers: What did you talk about?

(Pause)

Rookers: Well?

Elijah: Do you want to know something strange, Lt.?

Rookers: Yeah, I do. I’d love it. What is it? (Attempting a joke) C’mon, make my day.

Elijah: I really don’t remember.

Rookers: Whaddya mean you don’t remember?

Elijah: We talked about Christmas things, Lt. Rookers. We talked about presents. We
talked about what we were doing. We told each other we’d see each other
again. And we will. At Christmas. Does that explain our relationship to you,
Lt.? Do I really have to say anything else?

Rookers: So you don’t get along, huh? You and your brother? Is that it.

Elijah: It’s not that simple, Lt.

Rookers: Then complicate it for me. Give me all the angles. Tell me what’s going on
with you two.

Elijah: What do you want to know, Lt.? Why are you here? Why are you so interested
in Lazarus? Put the cards on the table. Let me see the hand that I’m working
with.

Rookers: I think your brother killed a kid.

Elijah: You think but you don’t know.

Rookers: That’s right.

Elijah: So what do you want from me?

30
Rookers: Do you think he could have done it?

(Pause)

Rookers: Well?

Elijah: I really don’t know.

Rookers: What do you mean “you don’t know”?

Elijah: Just what I said. I don’t know.

Rookers: He’s your big brother…

Elijah: Yes.

Rookers: You grew up together…

Elijah: Yes.

Rookers: And you tell me you “don’t know” if he could kill a kid or not…

Elijah: I don’t know him anymore, Lt. Is that clear enough for you? I don’t know
what he would or would not do. He went to war, Lt., and he fought. He killed,
and he was surrounded by people who tried to kill him. He came home, Lt., and
he was different. I was different. We had nothing in common anymore except
Christmas. Is that clear enough for you? Does that help you to see the angles?
Are there complications enough in that to make you happy?

(Pause)

Elijah: Is there anything else, Lt.?

Rookers: Nah, I get the picture.

Elijah: Good. I there anything else?

Rookers: Yeah. When we get him, and we will get him, is there anything you want me to
tell him?

Elijah: No… wait… yes. There is one thing.

Rookers: What?

Elijah: Tell him that the ghost of Tommie Turtle lives on,.

31
Rookers: What the hell does that mean?

Elijah: He’ll know, Lt. Rookers. It’s little boy games.

(Pause)

Rookers: You still care about him, don’t you?

Elijah: Good day, Lt. Rookers. I’m a busy man.

(Lt. Rookers reaches for cigarette pack)

Elijah: And thank you so much for respecting the air that I breathe.

(Spot out on Elijah)

(Lt. Rookers exits spot)

(Spot out)

(Lights up)

32
 Act III

Setting: Six o’clock in the park with Gary

Gary: (Staunchly guarding the equipment, anxiously awaiting the return of Lazarus) I
ain’t no good. I ain’t. I ain’t no good to nobody. I’m always messin’ up. I
ain’t no good man. I’m a bad man. I ain’t versatile as shit. I’m stupid. (He
hits his hand) Stupid. (Suddenly freezes, aware of someone off stage) Halt!
Who goes there? (Pause, then in a voice to chill the spine.) You! (Angrily,
threateningly) Don’t you come ‘round here. Get away from here. You bad.
You evil. Halt! Don’t you come no closer.

(Enter Shirley)

Shirley: You don’t need to be afraid of me, child.

Gary: I ain’t no child. And it ain’t my fault. I ain’t. It’s yours. Yours, yours, yours.

Shirley: You don’t know what you’re sayin’, Gary. Ain’t nobody’s fault.

Gary: Is too. Is yours. Yours and your boy’s. He the one outta be locked up. He the
one who ain’t no good. He’s the bad guy. He the one be goin’ roun’ messin’
with people. He the one always wanna be hurtin’ somebody.

Shirley: (Stung, defensively) That’s not true…

Gary: Is so. And you know it, too. You know what he is. You know what he be
doin’. You know he ain’t no good.

Shirley: How dare you? You don’t know him…

Gary: (With surprising vehemence and clarity) Oh, yes I do. I do. I see him every
day – on television. Every day on the news. He the one be stickin’ up all the
grocery stores. He the one be snatchin’ little ole ladies’ pocketbooks. He the
one that be rapin’ all the little girls. He the one be doin’ all the muggin’ and
burnin’ and killin’. Don’t you tell me I don’t know who he is. I do know who
he is. And you know who he is too. He’s evil.

Shirley: (With genuine sympathy) You poor, silly child.

Gary: I ain’t no child. I’m a man, a good man. An’ I’m versatile as shit. What is
you? And what you want here? Why you come back? It’s all your fault.
(Pause, and in a moment of crystallized recognition) You evil too. You just
like him. Go away.

(Enter Lazarus)

33
Lazarus: (going directly to Shirley) Where’s the gun?

Gary: (Happy) Lazarus!

Shirley: What? What are you talkin’ ‘bout?

Gary: I watch your gear for you, Lazarus.

Lazarus: Where’s the gun, bitch?

Gary: (Confused) Lazarus? What’s wrong?

Shirley: I don’t know what you talkin’ ‘bout.

Gary: (Awed) You done changed, Lazarus. Why you change?

(Lazarus grabs Shirley’s wrist painfully, causing her to shriek out.)

Lazarus: Cunt! Don’t you play games with me. I told them about the gun. They
searched him and he didn’t have it, so that makes me a liar. And that puts me in
jail. But I ain’t goin’ to jail for you, bitch. I ain’t doin’ no time for you or your
boy. I done did my time, and you was over here fuckin’ round when I was over
there bein’ ‘bout keepin’ alive. I spent three years in hell for all you
motherfuckers and that’s all the time you getting’ from me. Where’s the
muthufuckin’ gun?

Shirley: Let me go. You’re hurtin’ me.

Lazarus: I’ll kill you, bitch. You just another hootch whore, ain’tcha? Smellin’ good,
givin’ up some weed, got your legs all spread open with razor blades up your
pussy, waitin’ to slice a nigger open. But you didn’t get me then and you ain’t
gonna get me now. I done killed you before and I’ll kill your ass again. You’re
dead bitch!

Gary: (Looking at the bush) Lazarus…

Shirley: Get off me, nigger…

Lazarus: Where’s the wire, bitch? Where’d you put the goop?

Gary: Lazarus…

Lazarus: Show me where it is, bitch, or I’ll find it myself and stick it up your ass…

Gary: (Shouting) Lazarus!

34
Lazarus: (Without turning around, hurled at Gary) What, nigger?

Gary: (Indicating the bush, the branches of which are slowly being covered with a
foam) Baby bugs! The eggs! They hatchin’!

Lazarus: Fuck ‘em.

Gary: You gotta take pictures…

Lazarus: Fuck ‘em.

Gary: You said you’d take me home…

Lazarus: Fuck you, too. (To Shirley) Where is it, bitch? Give it up.

(Enter Reggie, cast on one arm, handgun in the other)

Reggie: Get the fuck off my mamma, man.

Gary: Look out Lazarus!

Lazarus: (Whirling around, facing Reggie) So you here, huh? And you got your shit.
Good. I’m gonna make you eat your shit, fuckin’ baby gook.

Reggie: Yeah, you so bad, you come do that.

Shirley: Get outta here, Reggie.

Gary: Look out, Lazarus.

Reggie: Shut the fuck up, dummy. (Lazarus starts and Reggie tenses) Yeah, c’mon and
try it.

Shirley: Go home, Reggie.

Reggie: Shut up ma. This is between me and “vetren.” You ain’t got nuthin’ to do with
this.

Gary: I ain’t no dummy. I’m a good man.

Reggie: You a fuckin’ retard.

Gary: I ain’t…

Lazarus: Back off him, little brother. Watch the gear.

35
Gary: I ain’t no retard…

Shirley: Run Reggie! Run!

Reggie: I’m a good man…

Lazarus: Watch the gear, nigger! I got the point.

Gary: An’ I’m versatile as shit. You the retard.

Reggie: Fuck you, dummy.

Gary: An’ you a nigger. A big, dumb, stupid nigger.

Lazarus: Frag, little brother! Frag! Hit the mud!

Gary: Nigger! Nigger! Nigger!

Reggie: Nigger this, mutherfucker. (He shoots Gary once.)

(As the shot is fired Gary falls to his knees, holding his stomach and emitting guttural
sounds of pain. Both Lazarus and Shirley scream “No!”, Lazarus crossing the distance
between him and Reggie and knocking the gun to the side and grabbing Reggie by the neck
and beginning to choke the life out of him.)

Reggie: (While being choked) Mamma! Mamma! Help me…

Lazarus: You dead, gook. You dead…

Shirley: (Making her way to the fallen gun) Leave him alone!

Lazarus: I ain’t never over is it? It ain’t never over. It’s always war. There ain’t gonna
never be peace…

Shirley: (With the gun now) Let him go!

Lazarus: You keep comin’ at us. You say it’s ceasefire and you keep killin’ us. And we
keep killin’ you, over and over and over…

Reggie: Help me mamma…

Lazarus: …and you want us to keep killin’ you. ‘Cause y’all like it. Good. ‘Cause ya
know what I found out? I like it, too…

Shirley: (Pointing gun) Get offa him…

36
Reggie: Mamma, please… Kill him, mamma! Kill him!

(Shirley shoots Lazarus twice in the back as Gary yells “No!”. Lazarus releases Reggie
and falls to the ground and lies still. Shirley drops the gun and buries her face in her
hands.)

Reggie: (Getting up, going over to Shirley) He was gonna kill me, mamma. He was
gonna kill me.

(Pause as he is unsure of what to say to his distraught mother)

Reggie: He was crazy, mamma. He was crazy in the head.

(Shirley suddenly slaps Reggie hard across the face, each slap punctuated by☺

Shirley: (In tears) Damn you! Damn you! Damn you!

Reggie: (Stunned) What you hittin’ me for?

(Shirley runs from the park crying.)

Reggie: (Following) What you do that for? I ain’t done nuthin’.

Gary: (Reaching out and pushing the fallen Lazarus) Lazarus. Lazarus.

(Lazarus painfully rises, unable to stand.)

Gary: It hurts, Lazarus.

(Lazarus cradles Gary in his arms.)

Gary: The bug eggs done hatched, Lazarus. You gotta take pitchers. Then you gotta
take me home…

Lazarus: Little brother.

Gary: I mow your grass for you and wipe your rosebushes.

Lazarus: (Crying) Little brother. I’m sorry, little brother.

Gary: Ain’t I a good man, Lazarus? Ain’t I versatile as shit?

Lazarus: You a good man, little brother.

37
Gary: You gonna take me home, Lazarus? The bug eggs done bust open. You gonna
take me home?

Lazarus: I’m gonna take you home, little brother. Don’t die, on me man, please don’t
die.

Gary: Ain’t gonna die. Can’t die. I’m a Ranger, just like you.
(Sings) There were six hundred
(Lazarus, cradling Gary’s head and crying, joins in)
went into the jungle
Just six made it through
and come out the other side.
The ‘Cong they was screamin’,
our boys, they was bleedin’
but the men in the Rangers,
those men never die.

Gary: Lazarus.

Lazarus: What, little brother?

Gary: You a good man too. (He dies)

Lazarus: Little brother. (Pause) Little brother? (Pause) Don’t die, little brother, please
don’t die. (Pause) (Screaming) No! NO! No! (And as his demons close in)
Stop it! Stop it! (Pause) (Softly) No. Shhh. It ain’t over. It’s never over.
(Cradling Gary’s body) But you won’t be alone, little brother. The bug eggs
done hatched, and the baby bugs are loose. And they gonna eat their fill little
brother. They gonna bite and chew and gnaw ‘til ain’t nothin’ left but the
branches. It ain’t nuthin’ but a thing, little brother, ain’t nuthin’ but a war. And
you watched my back, brother Ranger. And you ain’t gonna die alone. They
comin’ with you. Every muthufuckin’ gook out there. You a good man, little
Ranger. And the good don’t die alone. Good men don’t die alone. They take
the enemy with them.

(Spot)

(Enter Lt. Rookers into spot)

Rookers: So what have I got? I got one dead kid. I got one missing vet. I got a whole
bunch of people handing me a whole bunch of nothing, and everybody out to
save “poor old Lazarus,” “poor misguided veteran,” “went to Vietnam and ain’t
been the same since.” Everybody excusin’, everybody protecting, and not one
god damn tear for the poor kid who’s dead and gone. Poor kid. Wrong place at
the wrong time and you end up a stiff in a hole in the park. Poor kid. Don’t
nobody give a damn about. (He lights a cigarette, inhales deeply, exhales.)

38
Nobody except me. And that’s enough. You were dealt a lousy hand, kid, but I
came with the shuffle. You played and you lost, but you still got an ace in the
hole. You got me, kid. The Ace of Trumps. And I swear on your grave, that
when I’m played, you will get your justice. ‘Cause I’m gonna end the game.
(He takes another drag on his cigarette.) I have to. ‘Cause the longer it’s
played, the higher the odds that somebody else will get hurt. (He takes another
drag on his cigarette.) So what have I got? I got one dead kid. I got one
missing vet. (Lazarus’ whistle is heard.) And I got a god damn whistle.
(Pause) But you, kid, you got justice. And that I swear on my mother’s grave.

End First Play - Intermission

MIDDLE GAME

ELIJAH AND FIRE

39
 MIDDLE GAME

ELIJAH AND FIRE

By Kenneth F. Hoke-Witherspoon

January 20, 1988

40
 (Spot on Dr. Clements)

Clements: (She is speaking into a microphone, making that moment’s notes.) File of Sgt.
Lazarus Stove. Sgt. Stove is being sought by the authorities in connection with
the murder of a seventeen year old youth. The victim is a retarded male
Caucasian found buried in a shallow grave with a single gunshot wound to his
abdomen. There were, I have learned from my colleagues in the police
department, items found buried with him. These contain the prints of Sgt. Stove
and are being kept as evidence and, I thin, lures, with which to trap him if he is,
indeed, still alive. If he is alive I do not know, but this file is now re-opened,
for if he is, it is almost inevitable that he will come to me again. I have had
another visitor who inquired of Sgt. Stove. His brother, Elijah, came to my
office. He came ostensibly to seek Lazarus, but what he is actually seeking is
himself.

(Spot on Elijah)

Elijah: (He is smoking a cigarette, which he holds out and observes with a fatal
curiosity.) Do you want to know something funny? I had quit smoking. I
hadn’t had a cigarette for almost four years. Not since big bro’ had convinced
me that it was bad for my health. Not since Lazarus cocked his finger at me and
said, “That’s a stupid habit kid. That shit’ll kill you.” Not since then. That was
the last time we really talked to each other. The last time we asked each other
how we felt and really cared about our answers. Four years ago. Right after he
came home from Vietnam. Right before he had to come to you for therapy.
(Elijah takes a drag on his cigarette.) Right about the time I told him I would
never forgive him for his war. His war. No. Our war. Funny. I hadn’t
touched a cigarette since then. Until lately. I had quit smoking. (He takes a
drag on his cigarette.) I’ve been having these dreams lately… (his voice trails
off)

Clements: Yes, go on.

Elijah: Do you play chess?

Clements: Yes, I do.

Elijah: Lazarus taught me how to play. He came home from school one day and taught
me all the moves. After I had picked them up and knew halfway what I was
doing he stuck a five dollar bill on the wall of his bedroom with a green plastic
coated thumbtack. He told me I could have it on the day that I could beat him.
He said it was mine when I learned how to really play the game. Did you ever
play chess with Lazarus, Dr. Clements?

Clements: Yes.

41
Elijah: Did you ever beat him?

Clements: No. He’s quite strong.

Elijah: I beat Lazarus. Once. It was the night before he left to go to Vietnam. We
were down in the basement of Aunt Mamie’s house with a six-pack of National
Bo and a quart of Johnnie Walker Red. We must have played for what? Three,
four hours. I had read the encyclopedia of chess openings and threw everything
at him I thought I had learned. He caught everything I tossed him and rammed
it back down my throat. No matter what I did he managed to strip the
protection from my king and leave it standing naked in the middle of the board.
And then I used a Sicilian variation. I played the Flaming Dragon against his
King’s pawn. He stared at the board, then looked at me, and handed me his
king and grinned. He ran upstairs and… (Elijah takes a drag from his
cigarette.)

Clements: Yes?

Elijah: Did Lazarus have dreams, Dr. Clements?

Clements: Everyone has dreams.

Elijah: Does everyone have nightmares? Do they see them when they’re awake? Did
Lazarus have nightmares at all?

Clements: Do you?

Elijah: (Elijah takes a drag on his cigarette.) When Lazarus came back to the
basement, he had the five dollar bill. He handed it toward me and told me to
take it but I could’t. It was on fire.

Clements: Why not?

Elijah: It was on fire. Burning red and white hot. And that hole in the middle where
the thumbtack had been was a huge and gaping bottomless chasm that wanted
to suck in the world. And I looked up at Lazarus and I realized he didn’t see it.
I saw the flames lick up his arms and fall from his shoulders until he was
encased within a shroud of red-hot flames burning him, consuming him, and I
knew that if I took that money, that if I even touched that money the fire would
consume me too. Lazarus was oblivious. (Elijah takes a drag from his
cigarette.) Big Bro’ didn’t feel a thing.

Clements: Did you take the money?

42
Elijah: I had to. He was stronger than I was. He made me. It became a question of his
word and honor so he held me down and stuffed it in my mouth. So I took it. I
really had no say in the matter.

Clements: Do you think he was trying to hurt you?

Elijah: I didn’t then, no. It was a game at the time. Now I don’t know. It’s not a
game anymore.

Clements: What has changed?

Elijah: Lately I’ve been having this dream.

Clements: Yes.

Elijah: Lazarus and I are the two black knights on a huge chessboard with living
costumed pieces. The game begins and we meet in the middle of the board and
ride off creating pure havoc as we move. We slay pawns effortlessly, force the
bishops into corners and even manage to capture an unattended rook. The king
is within our grasp, one move from checkmate and then…

Clements: Yes.

Elijah: And then it changes. All the other pieces are gone. There is only me and
Lazarus, and he’s in front of and protecting the white king. Sitting there, high
astride his horse. (Elijah takes a drag of his cigarette.) And he’s on fire. And
it’s my move. My move. And then I wake up.

Clements: What do you feel when you wake up?

Elijah: I feel like I felt when he was in Vietnam. Like I felt after I burned my draft
card and refused to fight that war.

Clements: And how is that?

Elijah: I go into a room and cut off all the lights, and I sit down and cry because I think
he might be dead but then, then a chill overtakes me and I run, somewhere,
anywhere, I have to run, because I’m afraid. I’m afraid that he still might be
alive. And it’s my move. My move. (Elijah takes a drag of his cigarette.) Do
you think he killed that child, Doctor? Do you think he killed that poor,
retarded boy?

Clements: What do you think?

43
Elijah: I don’t know. There was a time I would have laughed in your face if you had
even suggested such a thing, but I can’t laugh now because now I’m not sure.
And you’re not sure either, are you?

Clements: I don’t know, Elijah. I don’t know all the facts. I wasn’t there.

Elijah: No. No one was there, except for Lazarus. And now he’s not anywhere. Or
he’s everywhere. And he’s the only one who knows.

Clements: Perhaps. But only if he did it. If he didn’t, then the perpetrator was obviously
there too

(Elijah’s alarm wristwatch goes off.)

Elijah: The market is open, Doctor Clements. I have to go and make money. My
clients are expecting me to set their portfolios on fire. I have to go make
several killings so that everyone is happy. (He puts out his cigarette.) I don’t
think he did it, Doctor.

Clements: But you’re not sure.

Elijah: I can’t be sure.

Clements: You can ask him

Elijah: I can’t find him.

Clements: He’ll come to you.

Elijah: Only if he’s alive.

Clements: Is Tommy Turtle dead, then?

Elijah: (Taken aback) He told you about that?

Clements: He told me.

Elijah: I’ll be damned.

Clements: There is no need to be. Is Tommy Turtle dead?

Elijah: No. Tommy Turtle will never die. He’s immortal.

Clements: Then your answer lies with Lazarus.

Elijah: Good day, Dr. Clements. Thank you.

44
Clements: I did nothing.

(Spot out on Elijah)

Clements: (Into tape recorder) I am afraid that I did nothing. I have a gnawing suspicion
that Elijah Stove will stumble about as blindly as that police Lieutenant.
Lieutenant… (She looks at her notes)… Rookers. Lieutenant Rookers, of the
Baltimore Metropolitan Police Force who thinks he sees everything but sees
nothing. And I, like Elijah grow cold, for I fear that this is all tragedy, and if I
believed in God I would ask him to halt it, but having seen men’s minds, I ask
nothing. For they are blind, all blind, and follow only those obsessions which
they allow to lead them. The file of Lazarus Stove, keep it open, for it’s not
closed yet. Keep it open until the entire game is played.

(Spot out on Dr. Clements)

(Lights up on Park)

Setting: The Mercury Pine is now bare, the boring bugs having done their dirty work.
Enter a blind, bearded man carrying a shopping bag who taps his way along to the pine
using a white cane. He pauses, looks about furtively, and then removes his sunglasses
revealing himself to be Lt. Rookers in an undercover disguise. Lt. Rookers takes from his
shopping bag Lazarus’ chessboard and sets up the pieces beneath the Mercury Pine. He
turns to leave but stops and considers the chess board. He returns to it and plays six
moves, considering and rejecting a seventh, then replaces his sunglasses and slowly taps
his way to the bench where he seats himself and removes from the shopping bag and dons
a Sony Walkman.

From offstage Lazarus’ whistle is heard.

Enter sauntering, the whistler, Bishop. He slows as he passes the bench, immediately
seeing through Rookers’ disguise. He snorts derisively, shakes his head, and prepares to
exit the park. He sees the chessboard, stops, looks at Rookers and laughs loudly and
defiantly.

Bishop: Now ain’t this some shit. You wanna play chess, Loot? What’s the mater, ain’t
you got nobody to play with? Ai’t that a fuckin’ shame. Poor, poor Loot got
his pretty shiny bars and don’t nobody wannna play with him. Gotta sit out
here and play with hisself. Ain’t that right, Loot? That’s okay, Loot. I like ya.
I’ll play with you, Loot. I’ll be your friend. C’mon over, let’s have us some
fun. Let’s play. (Bishop squats in front of the chessboard.) Well – Oooooh
ooooh ooooh – looka here, looka here, looka here. Loot thinks he can play
some chess. Thinks he know how to play the game. Did you learn it outta
books, Loot? The same way you learned everything else? Did they teach you
how to play at the Academy? Give you a big fuckin’ manual that had all the

45
 rules? Huh? Give you lessons on all the moves? (Bishop moves a knight.)
Did they teach you everything, Loot? Did they teach you about the dragon?
Huh? Have you ever seen the dragon, Loot? Have you ever fucked with the
tongue of fire? Have you ever seen your pawns picked off ‘til you’re out there
alone with the black knight bearing down on your ass? C’mon say howdy to
the dragon, Loot. C’mon and give him a great big kiss. C’mon over here and
French mouth the dragon – (Pause) (In a sing-song voice) The dragon is
waiting for you, Loot. The dragon wants to say “Hi.” Dragon wanna play.
C’mon out and play, Loot. We know you out there somewhere. (Pause)
Chickenshit! (Pause) All you motherfuckers is chickenshit. But you all stupid
too. You always leave your backs wide open. Wide, wide open. ‘Cause you
too fuckin’ high and mighty to ask somebody to watch ‘em for you. You all the
same, y’all you Loots, even you muthufuckin’ civilians. So fuck ya’ man. Play
with yourself. Go fuck yourself. You hear me. Just fuck ya… (Bishop kicks
over the board and pieces, stands up to exit) Just fuck ya’.

Bishop exits, whistling the tune. As it grows faint, Rookers reaches into his coat pocket
and withdraws a cigarette. The whistling grows louder and he immediately replaces the
pack and resumes his pose. Re-enter Bishop, who goes to the chessboard and recreats the
position. Bishop pauses and says:

Bishop: The dragon’s still waiting on you, Loot. You got no choice. You had the first
move and you blew it. The white king don’t win against the dragon, Loot. The
white king don’t stand a fuckin’ chance. (Pause) Your move, Loot. On you.
(Bishop stands, resumes his whistling, and exits the Park.)

Lights slowly fade on Rookers to black. Spot up on Dr. Clements. She is in her dressing
gown and her hair is down. Her hands slightly tremble as she downs a small drink and
then picks up and speaks into a small recorder which she keeps next to her bedstand.

Clements: I have just had a nightmare. I think it was day residue. (She makes and takes
another drink.) I was a chessman on an ornate board where all the pieces were
made of the finest Dresden porcelain. The board floated in the air and I
changed with every move, first a queen, then a rook, then a bishop, and then the
metamorphosis would start again anew. The pawns were all children, and they
were all afraid, but they were forced to march and fight and die. They were
forced to play the game… (She makes and takes another drink.) They were
forced to face the dragons and they lost. No. The knights, no the dragons, the
knights were dragons, with hideous faces and terrible scaled wings who fought
out their combat high above us, and they were all on fire. And as they burned
their way through their battles they sent their flaming scales down upon our
heads, and we all ignited. We all combusted as they played their stupid game,
and the pieces were burning, castles as old as my city, the bishops in their
painted robes, the king and queen in their pomp and ceremony doing nothing
but standing and holding their useless scepters, and the game went on and on
and the children were on fire and I screamed to them “Stop it! Stop it!” But

46
 they couldn’t hear me over the screams of their roars. And they burnt up my
children, they turned the pieces into ashes and it still wasn’t over, because they
liked the game too much. And I woke up. (She makes and takes another
drink.) I had a nightmare this evening. I think it was day residue. (She turns
off recorder, makes and takes a drink. Then softly… ) Please be dead, Lazarus
Stove. Please be dead. (Pause) I’m scared of you. And I don’t want to play
anymore.

Spot out on Dr. Clements. Lights up on the Park. Lt. Rookers is seated there as he was at
the end of the previous scene. Enter into the Park, Shirley, who sees the chess set.

Shirley: No. No. You’re dead, goddamn you. You’re dead. Why don’t you stay dead?
Don’t nobody want you back, Lazarus Stove. Don’t nobody want you to come
back from the grave. Ain’t nobody got no use for you. Why don’t you leave us
alone? Why don’t you just leave us alone?...

Rookers: (Seeing and seizing his opportunity.) Lady? Lady? Is something wrong? Can
I help?

Shirley: It’s over with, Lazarus Stove. It’s done. It was all a mistake. It wasn’t
nobody’s fault. It’s over with. Can’t you see that?

Rookers: (Standing up and making his way over to the pine.) Are you alright lady?

Shirley: Why don’t you leave me alone?

Rookers: (He bumps into Shirley and they both fall) I’m sorry, Lady. I’m sorry…

Shirley: (Helping Rookers over to the bench) No. It’s alright. Everthing’s alright. Let
me help you.

Rookers: Is everything okay? Do you need some help?

Shirley: (Having led him back to the bench.) No. I’m fine. I’m fine

(Rookers grabs Shirley’s arm startling her into pausing in her exit. He reaches up and
gently touches her face, feeling her tears.)

Rookers: What’s wrong lady? Can I help?

Shirley: (Pulling away from him) Ain’t nothing wrong.

Rookers: Then why are you crying…?

Shirley: I’m not crying.

47
Rookers: I felt tears…

Shirley: I’m not crying, damnit. I told you everything’s fine.

Rookers: Okay. (Pause) I’m sorry. (Pause) I just thought you needed help, that’s all.
(Pause) I won’t bother you no more. A blind man ain’t got no business tryin’
to help nobody anyway. A man can’t even help himself off tryin’ to help the
world. Blind man oughta know better, oughta know ain’t nobody got no use for
him…

Shirley: That’s not true.

Rookers: Yeah it is. People see a blind man and teat him just like a child. Pat him on the
head and talk to him like he’s some kinda boby or some kinda pet. Think just
because he can’t see he ain’t got no kinda brains at all…

Shirley: If they do they just ignorant, that’s all. They just don’t know no better…

Rookers: What about you? Don’t you know no better? ‘Cause that’s how you were
treatin’ me.

Shirley: I was not…

Rookers: But that’s okay. I understand. Blind man don’t do nothin’ but get in the way.

Shirley: You don’t understand.

Rookers: ‘Course I don’t. I’m blind. But you think I don’t know cryin’ lady? You think
I don’t know tears when I feel ‘em? You think I don’t hear hurt when I hear it
cryin’ out?

Shirley: You can’t do nothin’ about it. Can’t nobody do nothin’.

Rookers: I can listen…

Shirley: Right. You can listen.

Rookers: Blind men got good ears.

Shirley: Yes they do. Blind men got fine ears.

Rookers: It was God’s way of making us useful to the world. So let a blind man listen
lady. Tell a blind man your problems and then you can listen to his advice.

Shirley: A blind man’s advice.

48
Rookers: The best there is. So tell me, lady, why was you cryin’? What is it brought
tears to your eyes?
Shirley: It’s men, blind man. It’s always men. Whenever you see a woman cryin’
there’s a man back of it somewhere.

Rookers: Trouble with your boyfriend…?

Shirley: What boyfriend? Ain’t never had no boyfriend, blind man, just a whole string
of no-good trifling niggers who gave out a buncha promises ‘til they got what
they was after.

Rookers: Like Lazarus?

Shirley: (Whirling on him, accusing) What do you know about Lazarus?

Rookers: (Thinking quickly) You was just callin’ him…

Shirley: Why shouldn’t I be callin’ him? He keep callin’ me.

Rookers: How? On the phone?

Shirley: I wish. You can hang up the phone, blind man. If there a niggger on the other
end you ain’t got no use for all you gotta do is drop the phone on the hook, walk
away, and let the fool keep talkin’ to hisself. No. It ain’t the phone, blind man.
It’s my head. It’s all in my head, and you can’t hang up on your head. You
can’t leave your head off the hook and wait ‘til the noises stop.

Rookers: Why does he keep botherin’ you? Who is this Lazarus to you anyway?

Shirley: He ain’t nothin’ to me. But he coulda been, blind man. He coulda been. I saw
somethin’ in that man I thought was just somethin’ you only saw in the movies.
Just a little more time, and, yeah, he coulda been somethin’ to me. But the time
done passed now. He done turned out to be like all the rest ‘cept he ain’t evn
bother to see what all I coulda give him. (Shirley takes out and lights a
cigarette.)

Rookers: (Taking out a cigarette of his own) Could I get a light from you lady?

Shirley: (Helping Rookers light his cigarette) So what do you say to that, blind man?
What advice God got for you to pass out here to me?

Rookers: Why this Lazarus got such a hold on you?

Shirley: Ain’t no answer for that question.

Rookers: Why you got him on the brain? You owe him somethin’…?

49
Shirley: (She plays with her lighter, flicking it on and off, observing the flame.) I don’t
owe him nothin’.

Rookers: What you think he want with you then?

Shirley: I gon’t have ta think. I know what he wants. He wants my boy.

Rookers: Does he know your boy?

Shirley: They met. One time. That’s all it took, one time…

Rookers: Does he wanna hurt him?

Shirley: He wanna kill him.

Rookers: Why?

Shirley: Why, blind man? ‘Cause he still at war, that’s why. ‘Cause he still in the
jungle and we all his enemies and he don’t know how to do nothin’ but fight.
That’s why, blind man. That’s the only reason he wanna hurt my boy.

Rookers: Your boy, is he a good boy?

Shirley: No he ain’t. He ain’t good at all. He just like his daddy, stubborn, schemin’
and always out to get his own way. He don’t behave, and sometimes I just
wanna go up to him and wring his neck. No, he ain’t no good boy. He’s a bod
one. But he still my boy and I ain’t gonna let nobody do him harm.

Rookers: A child can’t do nothin’ so bad that a grown man got a right to hurt him.

Shirley: (Shirley suddenly and gently takes Rookers by the chin. She flicks the lighter
on, holding it in front of his face.) What’s it like, blind man, not to be able to
see the light? What’s it like to know that you might be on fire but you won’t
know it ‘til it burns you? You lucky, you know that? You can’t see the flame
so the fire can’t scare you. You’ll never know what hit you.

(Rookers, having held out for as long as he can turns abruptly away from the flame.)

Shirley: What’s wrong?

Rookers: Nothin’. Nothin’. Just felt a little weak, that’s all.

Shirley: Is it somethin’ you ate?

50
Rookers: No. No. Ain’t had nothin’ to eat this morning. But I ain’t askin’ for no
handout…

Shirley: ‘Course not, blind man…

Rookers: I can make ends meet…

Shirley: Sure you can. You a proud blind man…

Rookers: I don’t need to go beggin’ round for no charity…

Shirley: You right. Sure you right. Come have a cup of coffee with me, blind man.
Don’t call it charity, just call it tithin’…

Rookers: I don’t need you to feel sorry for me…

Shirley: Got no time, proud blind man. Too busy feelin’ sorry for myself. Let’s go to
MacDonald’s, blind man, have some MacCoffee and make some MacTalk.

(Shirley and Rookers exit from the Park.)

Lazarus’ whistle is heard.

Enter Lazarus from the bushes in camouflage fatigues. He walks over to the chessboard,
squats down, makes several moves and exits. Lights out on the Park. Lights up on Bishop,
working under the hood of a car. He is also whistling the tune. He stops, looks up and
speaks.

Bishop: What the fuck do you want?

(Spot on Elijah.)

Elijah: Are you Bishop?

Bishop: That depends. What do you want?

Elijah: Is my brother still alive, Bishop?

Bishop: I don’t know if I know your brother.

Elijah: Lazarus.

Bishop: So you Elijah, huh?

Elijah: That’s right.

51
Bishop: Last I heard you was a hippie. Out marchin’ and shit. Burnin’ your draft card.
Sendin’ hugs and kisses to the Viet Cong.

Elijah: That was a long time ago.

Bishop: It was, huh? How long ago was it? How long has it been since you looked at
us and squinched your nose like you smelled something bad?

Elijah: The war is over now.

Bishop: Fuckin’ A. All over. Done with for good, right? No more fightin’ to do, right?
No more dyin’ in a jungle, right? Right?

Elijah: Right.

Bishop: That’s bullshit. And you know what else? You’re bullshit. You can’t fuck me,
man. You from the cops. Loot sent you.

Elijah: I’m not from the police…

Bishop: The fuck you ain’t. You all from the cops. All you pointy ass motherfuckers.
The minute somethin’ come down that you don’t like you all get real official.
And you all go lookin’ for somebody to hang the frame on so that you don’t
gotta take none of the blame. But not this time, sucker. Not this one. This one
you get to hang on yourselves.

Elijah: I don’t have time to listen to this, Bishop…

Bishop: Then why the fuck don’t you go take a walk?

Elijah: I told you I’m not from the police…

Bishop: Sure you right.

Elijah: And I am really Lazarus’ brother.

Bishop: Fuckin’ A. And I’m Ho Chi Mihn and all I want is peace.

Elijah: Fuck you, Bishop.

Bishop: What?

Elijah: You heard me. Go fuck yourself.

Bishop: You better watch ya’ mouth, hippie, or I’ll shove your fuckin’ flowers down
your throat.

52
Elijah: If you see my brother, Bishop, if you are in contact with him tell him that I
want to help him. Tell him that I’m here if he needs me…

Bishop: I’ll do that.

Elijah: … Tell him that Tommy Turtle still lives (Bishop starts) and that he’ll live
forever.

Bishop: You kinda late for that, ain’t you?

Elijah: Late for what?

Bishop: Tommy Turtle is dead man, gone for good. If you Laz’s brother you ought to
know that. You the one who flushed him down the toilet.

Elijah: He told you, too? Jesus, did he tell the whole goddamn world?

Bishop: He told everybody that he trusted. The question, hippie, is did he tell you?

Elijah: He didn’t have to tell me. I was there, remember?

Bishop: Yeah, that’s your story, but everybody’s got a story, and don’t know two people
tell the same story in the same goddamn way. So what’s yours? You say you
his brother? Then you tell me about poor Tommy Turtle. Let’s hear your side.
Let’s see what you got to say.

Elijah: And then what?

Bishop: Then I’ll take you to him. If I think you tellin’ the truth.

Elijah: And if you don’t?

Bishop: I don’t know. Maybe I’ll ignore you. Or maybe I’ll slit your fuckin’ throat. I
don’t know. So don’t play with me, hippie. Don’t come around tryin’ to be
slick ‘cause you think you know how to play. Don’t waste my time ‘cause you
think you found a counter to the dragon…

Elijah: There is no counter to the dragon.

Bishop: You sure about that, huh?

Elijah: I’m sure. And I should know. I taught it to Lazarus.

53
Bishop: Yeah, I heard and you was tellin’ that lie too. Maybe you is his brother. Tell
me about po’ Tommy Turtle. Then we’ll see.

(Spot on Dr. Clements. She is reading a book. She stops and looks up. She places the
book down.)

Clements: Hello, Lazarus Stove.

(Spot on Lazarus. His face is now painted, streaked with green, gray and black.)

Lazarus: Not bad, Doc.

Clements: I have learned to know when someone is behind me. And how are you today?

Lazarus: You tell me.

Clements: I have to know what’s going on with you to do that.

Lazarus: Who else is behind your back, Doc.

Clements: The police.

Lazarus: They want me?

Clements: Yes.

Lazarus: They think I killed Gary.

Clements: Was that his name?

Lazarus: He had a lot a names.

Clements: What did you call him?

Lazarus: Little Brother.

Clements: You loved him that much?

Lazarus: I gave him the dragon, Doc. And he took it. And he knew what he had.

Clements: He played chess.

Lazarus: He was one of the best.

Clements: And they labeled him retarded.

54
Lazarus: Not in any place it mattered. He was a good man. He watched my back for
me.

Clements: Who killed him, Lazarus?

Lazarus: A young punk named Reggie. A young punk who became a man when he got
hold of a gun. I shoulda killed him.

Clements: Where is he now?

Lazarus: His mother put him on an Amtrak headin’ south.

Clements: You should go to the authorities with this information.

Lazarus: I don’t go lookin’ for people who are out huntin’ me. You get into
misunderstandings that way.

Clements: Let me call them…

Lazarus: No. It’s over, Doc.

Clements: What are you going to do?

Lazarus: I surrender, Doc. I got battle fatigue. I don’t feel like playin’ no more. La Roi
est morte, Doc. He’s gonna take off his crown and leave himself open to the
knight.

Clements: You need to rest, Lazarus. Let me check you back in here.

Lazarus: About to go do that, Doc. Just wanted to stop in and say ‘bye. And thanks.

Clements: For what?

Lazarus: I got one, Doc. Finally, after all this time. I got one of your moments.
Everything was just right. I enjoyed the present, had good thoughts about the
future, just like you said it would be and then it all went away. Real quick.

Clements: You’ll have another…

Lazarus: And it’ll just break my heart again. Nah, Doc. Don’t need another. But you
was right about the one that come. Just thought you’d like to know that. Adios,
Doc…

Clements: Lazarus…

Lazarus: Yeah?

55
Clements: I can keep you here. They can’t take you from here.

Lazarus: I’m not gonna let them take me at all. You tried, Doc. Thanks.

Clements: Your brother came in to see me, Lazarus…

Lazarus: Tell him I’ll see him at Christmas.

Clements: He wants to see you.

Lazarus: No he don’t. ‘Cause I won’t answer his question for him. He either knows or
he doesn’t know. And it works out either way. See you in heaven, Doc. But
you don’t believe in that, do ya?

Clements: You know I don’t.

Lazarus: Good, evil, honor, sin, none of it.

Clements: That’s right.

Lazarus: You know, you’re wrong, don’t you…?

Clements: Right and wrong is part of the same system.

Lazarus: …you know the only way it all works, the only way it makes sense, is figure
we’re made from mud.

Clements: Don’t do this, Lazarus.

Lazarus: Too late, Doc, it’s time for mate.

Spot out on Lazarus

Dr. Clements reaches for the telephone. Spot out on Dr. Clements.

Spot up on Park.

(Enter Shirley leading Lt. Rookers.)

Shirley: (Having led him to the bench) Here you are, blind man. Right back where I
found ya’. Sure you’ll be okay?

Rookers: I’ll be fine. You going somewhere now?

Shirley: Gotta work for a livin’, blind man. Bein’ cute still don’t pay the bills.

56
Rookers: Over at Hopkins, right?

Shirley: That’s right.

Rookers: In the Health Services, right?

Shirley: Right. (Lighting cigarette) You listen good, blind man…

Rookers: Gotta use my ears. That’s all I got.

Shirley: …and you ask a lotta questions too, don’t you?

Rookers: Do I?

Shirley: How come you so nosy, blind man? Why you got this need to dig and pry?

Rookers: The only eyes I got, Shirley. If I don’t ask questions I don’t know what I’m
missin’…

Shirley: Don’t know when you well off, do ya’, blind man. You wanna know what
you’re missin’? I’ll tell ya’ what you missin’. You ain’t missin’ shit. Nope,
not a goddamn thing. Was you always blind, blind man, or would ya’ see at
one time? Was you born that way or did somethin’ happen?

Rookers: It was in the war…

Shirley: Vietnam, right?

Rookers: Yeah, that’s right. Vietnam.

Shirley: Yeah, Vietnam. It’s always Vietnam. Vietnam fucked the whole world up…

Rookers: It was rough as hell over there.

Shirley: Yeah, that’s what they tell you but I wonder…

Rookers: You don’t have to wonder. It’s true.

Shirley: Is it? Then how come we got so many fucked up niggers here who never set
foot in Vietnam?

Rookers: It’s like you said. It fucked up the whole world.

Shirley: Nah, blind man. The world was fucked up from the get-go. All that war did
was give it a push.

57
Rookers: That war messed up a lot of people…

Shirley: It sure messed you up. Made you blind.

Rookers: Nobody who went near that war come out the same. It messed up everybody,
like me, like Lazarus Stove.

Shirley: Lazarus Stove…

Rookers: Yeah, everybody.

Shirley: Why you got Lazarus on the brain, blind man? What’s he to you? Did you
know him?

Rookers: I knew of him.

Shirley: Yeah? What’d you hear?

Rookers: I heard he was a good man. One of the best. A man who would watch your
back for you. Then I heard something happened…

Shirley: What? What happened?

Rookers: I don’t know all the details. It was somethin’ about some kid.

(Shirley grabs Rookers by the shoulders.)

Shirley: Just who the fuck are you, blind man? What kinda game is you playin’?

Rookers: What are you talkin’ about, Shirley? I don’t understand…

(Enter Bishop from the woods)

Bishop: Hey Loot! You better get your ass in gear. Your boy is back in town and he’s
pissed.

Shirley: Who the fuck are you?

Bishop: I’m your daddy, bitch, so shut your ass up ‘fore you get my foot up it. (To
Rookers) He’s back, Loot. Lazarus done return from the grave…

Shirley: No…

Bishop: … so you better get on the ball.

58
Shirley: (To Rookers) Ther’s a whole bunch of innocent children out there, Loot, and he
might just get ‘em all. We in ta that, you know.

Shirley: He’s dead, damnit.

Bishop: (To Shirley) You wish. Y’all’d like that, wouldn’t you? Make life real easy.
But it don’t work that way. Y’all put us in the middle of hell, bitch and told us
it was up to us to stay alive. And we did. So that’s the name of that tune. What
the fuck is it to you, anyways? What you got to do with Lazarus?

Shirley: He’s dead.

Bishop: No he ain’t. He’s alive, and he might just be comin’ after you, bitch. So better
watch your back. You too, Loot. He’s got some goop, and he’s got some
clocks, and he’s on his way to fuck, somebody over. It might be you, Loot.
Last I heard he was on his way downtown. Ain’t your office downtown, Loot?
Ain’t it by a park fulla innocent children? He might go off, Loot. Just might
climb hisself a point and start killin’ people. Like in the newspapers, Loot.
Like on television and in the movies. So whatcha gonna do, Loot? The game
done started. You called out for the dragon and the dragon done called back.
It’s your move, man and the dragon is waitin’. Waitin’ to see what you got to
say.

Shirley: (Grabbing Rookers violently) What the fuck kinda games is you playin’?

Bishop: He playin’ Kojak; Baretta and Colombo and shit.

Shirley: (To Bishop) What you sayin’?

Bishop: He’s a cop, you silly cunt. He’s “the law.”

(Shirley releases him and backs away.)

Shirley: No! No!

(Rookers rises, drops his disguise, reveals his badge.)

Rookers: Lt. Clint Rookers, homicide. And I think it’s time we put our cards on the
table.

Bishop: I ain’t sayin’ a fuckin’ thing out here, Loot. I ain’t talkin’ ‘til I’m sittin’
downtown and talkin’ to my lawyer.

Rookers: You’ll get everthing you’re entitled to. Just don’t go anywhere. You’re under
arrest, Bishop.

59
Bishop: What’s the charge, Loot? Bein’ someplace? You gonna put me in jail for
followin’ a law of physics?

Rookers: Shut up, you smartass…

Bishop: Ooooh, what kinda language is that, Loot?

Shirley: I gotta get to work.

Bishop: Not until you answer some questions.

Shirley: I ain’t answerin’ nothin’ without a lawyer.

Rookers: Then get one. And get one for your boy, too. Because if I have to get an order
for you I’ll have your boy pulled back from South Carolina.

Bishop: Ooooh, Loot’s getting’ nasty. Look out.

Rookers: Do I have to call a car?

Bishop: Nah, Loot. I’ll behave. (Bishop walks over to the chessboard.) I’ll stay over
here and fuck with the dragon. (Bishop kneels beside the chessboard.)

Rookers: What about it, Shirley? You wanna talk now or later?

Shirley: (Lighting up a cigarette) What you want me to tell you?

Rookers: (Lighting up a cigarette) Everything about how the kid got killed.

Bishop: Holy fuck…!

(Rookers and Shirley turn toward him simultaneously.)

Rookers: (To Shirley) Well?

Shirley: Me and Reggie was sittin’ here, just sittin’ here…

Rookers: What time was that?

Shirley: Lunchtime. We was havin’ lunch together.

Bishop: God damn…!

Rookers: What were you eating?

Shirley: MacDonald’s.

60
Rookers: When did Stove show up?

Bishop: Jesus H. Christ!

Rookers: You having a problem, Bishop?

Bishop: It’s taps for the dragon, Loot. He done met his match shootin’ along the
diagonal. You gotta meet the dragon face to face. You gotta jump down her
shit ‘fore she get a chance to jump on down into yours. Five against five, Loot.
You gotta do unto others the same shit they do to you. Face to face, Loot. With
everybody playin’ the same rules…

Rookers: Save it for your shrink and your lawyer, Bishop.

Bishop: The dragon est morte. Long live the dragon.

Rookers: (To Shirley) Where were we?

Shirley: Me and Reggie was eatin’ lunch, and him and that kid come over, and they set
up this camera. Said they was takin’ pictures of bug eggs, and all of a sudden,
he turned and looked at us real funny, and said: “What the fuck is you lookin’
at?” (Shirley takes a draught on her cigarette.)

Rookers: And then?

Bishop: The mutherfuckin’ dragon done finally bit the dust.

(Spot on Elijah. He takes out and lights up a cigarette, inhaling deeply. Spot on Lazarus.)

Lazarus: Don’t you know that shit’ll kill you, boy?

Elijah: And that’s what happened? You’re telling the truth?

Lazarus: Nah, man. I’m lyin’. We all tell lies – jus’ like General Westmoreland.

Elijah: Why won’t you go to the police?

Lazarus: For what?

Elijah: To see that justice is done.

Lazarus: You really believe that shit too, don’t you?

Elijah: The police will listen to your story…

61
Lazarus: I ain’t heard nobody offer me no amnesty yet.

Elijah: The police will want to hear your story…

Lazarus: Sure, after they lock my ass up.

Elijah: I have an excellent attorney, Laz. You won’t do an hour’s worth of time.

Lazarus: You got that right. I ain’t gonna do no time at all, ‘cause they not gonna lock
my ass up.

Elijah: I’m willing to help you, Lazarus…

Lazarus: Why? It ain’t Christmas.

Elijah: … there are a lot of people who want to try and help you. But we can’t if you
keep hiding…

Lazarus: You say I’m hiding.

Elijah: We can’t help you if you don’t want to be helped.

Lazarus: You don’t believe me, do you?

Elijah: Of course I believe you, Lazarus…

Lazarus: No you don’t. You never have, have ya’? You ain’t never look out for my
back…

Elijah: We’re blood, Lazarus. Brothers. We’re tied to each other and have to lean on
one another.

Lazarus: Go fuck yourself.

Elijah: I want to help you, Lazarus…

Lazarus: Sure you do, right into the everafter jus’ like po’ ole Tommy Turtle.

Elijah: Fuck Tommy Turtle.

Lazarus: You sure did.

Elijah: Ain’t you ever gonna let that shit go? Why don’t you ease up on that, huh?
Why won’t you just let that shit drop?

62
Lazarus: Can’t do it ‘cause I ain’t like you, little brother. Never been to college, smart
boy. Never had nobody sit me down and teach me how to forget all the things I
didn’t want to remember. I carry my shit with me – all of it. I don’t give it
different names and flush it down the toilet like you did to poor ole tommy…

Elijah: I was wrong, okay…?

Lazarus: Yeah, you was.

Elijah: … and I’m sorry…

Lazarus: Sorry don’t mean shit nowadays. Sorry don’t bring back the shit that’s gone
past.

Elijah: So what do you want from me, Lazarus? What do you want me to do?

Lazarus: Don’t want shit from you, little brother. Just wanna say goodbye. So,
goodbye. Later, little brother. See you when your tour is up.

Elijah: What are you talking about, Lazarus? Where are you going?

Lazarus: Home, little brother. Out of the jungle, away from the war…

Elijah: The war is over, Lazarus. You got to move on ahead, man. You have to put all
of that out of your mind like the bad dream it was…

Lazarus: Why is that the mutherfuckers who scream that shit the loudest is always the
muthufuckers who kept their asses home?

Elijah: Come with me, Lazarus. Let’s go play some chess. Let me lay the Dragon on
you, man…

Lazarus: Ain’t you heard? The dragon is dead. Got his shit kicked by a change in
tactics.

Elijah: There’s no way to counter the Dragon.

Lazarus: Sure you right, little brother. You always right. Ain’t never been wrong a day
in your life.

Elijah: Show me.

Lazarus: You still tryin’ to play, aintcha little brother?

Elijah: Show me the counter to the Dragon. If you got one.

63
Lazarus: Sure. Got a set?

Elijah: I’ll get one.

Lazarus: You do that. But no games, little brother. Don’t make the moves unless you
know how to finish it off.

Elijah: You’ll wait here?

Lazarus: I ain’t movin’ from this spot.

Elijah: I’ll be back. Don’t go anywhere.

Lazarus: I’ll be here.

(Elijah starts to exit)

Lazarus: Little brother…

Elijah: What?

Lazarus: Be sure you know how to play. Don’t fuck up.

Elijah: I won’t.

(Spot off Elijah)

Lazarus: That’s what they all say, kid. And they all tell lies.

(Spot off Lazarus)

Lights up on park. Bishop is standing with great indignation by the chess set. Rookers is
to the far side of the bench considering the tale he has just been told by Shirley, seated in
the middle of the bench smoking a cigarette.

Bishop: It’s bullshit.

Shirley: Ain’t nobody talkin’ to you and you wasn’t even there so you…

Bishop: You don’t have ta’ see shit to know that it stink.

Rookers: (To both) Shut up. (To Shirley) Now let me get this straight. You first saw
him here around lunchtime on that day…

Shirley: That’s right.

64
Rookers: … and he attacked your son for no reason at all…

Bishop: Yeah, sure. That’s her story.

Shirley: All Reggie did was ask him about his camera. And Lazarus just went off for no
reason at all.

Rookers: … and broke his, Reggie’s, arm…

Shirley: He was layin’ there on the ground cryin’ like a baby; just like when he was first
born.

Bishop: Yeah, yeah, a poor innocent child. Bullshit.

Rookers: You saw him again later that night…

Shirley: Yes, with that poor retarded boy. They was arguin’ about somethin’ and then –
then…

Bishop: And then what, bitch? Come on. Come out with the big lie. You done set up
your pieces. Finish the game, bitch.

Rookers: I’ve had enough out of you, Bishop…

Bishop: You a blind motherfucker, Loot. You can’t see shit. She done pulled out the
poisoned pawn on your ass, Loot and got you lookin’ at the wrong part of the
board. She fuckin’ with you, Loot…

Rookers: I said that’s enough…

Bishop: … and you lettin’ her fuck with you.; ‘Cause you a asshole. You too fuckin’
high and mighty to think that you might be wrong…

Rookers: Shut up, Bishop.

Bishop: Shut me up, Loot.

(Rookers pulls a gun and points it at Bishop.)

Rookers: I said shut up.

Bishop: Oooooh you bad as shit with a gun in your hand, ain’tcha, Loot? Whatcha’
gonna do, Loot? You gonna shoot me? Ooooh, I’m scared. Can’t you see me
tremblin’, Loot?

Rookers: Get over here, Bishop. You’re under arrest.

65
Bishop: Yes, sir, Loot. You got the gun, Loot. That makes you justice, right? That
makes you the law.

(Rookers handcuffs Bishop to the bench.)

Bishop: Use a tiger cage, Loot. Get a bigger buzz that way.

Rookers: I’ve taken all I intend to take from you, Bishop…

Bishop: No you ain’t, Loot. You ain’t even got a good taste yet. You think you so
fuckin’ hot. You “Justice.” You the “Law”. You just bad as shit. But you still
ain’t nuthin’ but a stupid fuck. You got all your books and you got all your bars
and you still ain’t learn how to play…

Rookers: I’m calling a car for you, Bishop…

Bishop: You so fuckin’ smart, ain’tcha Loot. Why don’t you ask her why she came
back, Loot? Huh? Why don’t you ask her, with all the shit she say went down,
why she brought her skinny little ass back that night. Ask her, Loot. Go ahead,
ask her.

(Enter Elijah from the park.)

Elijah: Lt. Rookers…

(Rookers whirls on him with all his frustration)

Rookers: What?

Elijah: I – I want to cut a deal…

Rookers: No deals.

Bishop: Watch your back, hippie. Loot done swallowed the poisoned pawn and it set
him right off…

Rookers: I’m about to gag you, Bishop…

Bishop: Yeah, you come do that, Loot. Come on over and lose a coupl’a fingers.

Rookers: Where is your brother?

Elijah: I – I don’t know.

Rookers: Don’t lie to me.

66
Elijah: I’m not lyi…

Rookers: Godamnit! I’m sick of all this. Don’t lie to me…

Bishop: Don’t tell him shit, hippie. Don’t say shit without a lawyer.

Elijah: Are you crazy…?

Rookers: Where’s Lazarus?

(Lazarus is heard whistling)

Elijah: Laz, no. Get out of here! Run, big brother, run!

(The whistling continues)

Bishop: He’s callin’ you, Loot. The dragon want you to come out and play. Go say
howdy to the dragon, Loot. He got all kins of surprises waitin’ for your ass.

(Rookers releases Elijah who immediately runs into the woods yelling)

Elijah: Lazarus, run, Lazarus!

Bishop: What’s the matta’, Loot? You chickenshit? You too scared to go fuck with the
dragon? You afraid to let the dragon run her hot tongue up alongside your
face? Chickenshit. You chickenshit, Loot. Just plain chickenshit.

((Rookers goes off into the woods)

Bishop: That’s it, Loot. Go play. Go on ahead and meet the dragon face to face.
(Pause) (To Shirley) What the fuck you starin’ at, bitch?

Shirley: One sick motherfucker.

Bishop: Sure you right, bitch. I’ll be all that. Yeah. I’m sick, but you the disease.

Shirley: Whatever you say…

Bishop: How does it feel, bitch, huh? How does it feel? You like it bitch? Do you?
How many good men gotta die for your boy, Bitch? How long you gonna let it
go on ‘fore you admit to yourself that your boy ain’t worth it? How long you
gonna play this game, bitch?

Shirley: Kiss my ass.

67
Bishop: You ain’t got enough money, bitch…

(The sound of a gunshot is heard.)

Bishop: Hear that, bitch? That’s the dragon talkin’. He wanna come out and play,
Shirley. He wanna come out and play with you.

(Shirley starts to leave but is caught by Bishop who holds her by her neck with his free
arm.)

Bishop: Where you goin’, bitch? Don’t leave now. The dragon wanna say howdy.
Don’t you wanna say howdy to the dragon?

(Enter Rookers, holding his gun and upset.)

Rookers: I had to do it. He gave me no choice.

Bishop: (Releasing Shirley) Laz…?

Rookers: I told him he was under arrest and he started walking towards me. I told him to
stop and he laughed in my face…

Bishop: Lazarus…

Rookers: It’s not my fault.

Bishop: It ain’t never nobody’s fault, is it? Ain’t nobody never got nuthin’ to do with it.
That’s why the shit just keep on getting’ deeper, ‘cause it always turns out to be
nobody’s fault…

Rookers: Bishop…

Bishop: Fuck ya’, man. Just fuck ya. Fuck ya. Lazarus…

(Enter Elijah from the woods)

Rookers: You saw what happened…

Elijah: (Seeing and going over to Bishop) I saw what happened.

Rookers: I had no choice…

Elijah: No. No choice. He was on fire.

Rookers: It was either him or me…

68
Elijah: No. It was us. All of us.

Bishop: Lazarus…

Elijah: (Holding him) Shhh. (Singing as Bishop joins in) There were six hundred,
went into that jungle, just six made it through and came out the other side. The
Cong, they was screaming but those men of the Rangers, those men never die.

(Sound of a military drumroll. Light dims slowly on the park scene. Spot on Dr.
Clements, dressed in black.)

Clements: Do not yet close the file of Lazarus Stove. He was buried with honors, despite
the rumors. He was saluted by men garbed in gray gabardine pomp. They
called him a soldier, some named him a hero. They shot rifles and saluted and
they laid him to rest. But do not yet close the file of Lazarus Stove. His time
on earth is ended but his game is not yet played.

69
 END GAME

DEATH OF THE KING

By Kenneth F. Hoke-Witherspoon

January 20, 1988

70
AUTUMN OF THE FLAMING DRAGON

A TRAGIC TRILOGY

By

Kenneth F. Hoke-Witherspoon

November 2, 1987

71
(Spot on Cr. Clements)

Clements: I have analyzed the lines of the flaming dragons. They are clean, efficient and
brutal. They force the pieces into positions where they are compelled to strike
if they intend to survive and the gambit insures that few will remain when the
game is finally played. Chess may be a beautiful game, one of symmetry and
movement almost balletic in movement. The employment of the dragon’s
tongue makes chess a game of war. It is said that there is a counter to the
dragon. It may exist but I don’t see it. The dragon’s kiss may ignite the world.

(Spot out on Cr. Clements. Lights up on the Park. Reggie is seated on the bench with a
Walkman on. He is singing along badly to the tune to which he listens. Enter Bishop from
the Park. He takes out a machete and creeps up on Reggie from behind. Enter Lt.
Rookers, gun drawn.)

Rookers: Freeze, Bishop!

Reggie: What the fuck…? (He is silenced by the machete.)

Rookers: Let him go, Bishop.

Bishop: Fuck ya’ Loot. I’m doin’ your job. I’m taking care’a justice for you. I’m doin’
the law.

(Enter Elijah)

Elijah: Don’t do it, Bishop.

Bishop: Somebody gotta do it. It’s gotta be done.

Elijah: It’s the knight who presses for the dragon.

Bishop: The knight est morte.

Elijah: There are two knights in the game.

Bishop: You ain’t no knight.

Elijah: And you’re not a poisoned pawn. The dragon demands a specific sacrifice. It’s
the knight who finishes the game. And I am the knight.

(Elijah and Bishop look at each other.)

Bishop: You right, hippie. Sho’ you right.

(Bishop releases Reggie and pushes him toward Rookers.)

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Reggie: You see that? Muthufucker tried to kill my ass.

Bishop: You on fire, hippie.

Elijah: I know.

Rookers: (Going to and handcuffing Bishop) You’re under arrest, Bishop.

Bishop: You got me, Loot. And you ain’t getting’ shit. I wanna talk to my shrink.

Rookers: I’ll need statements from you two…

Elijah: We’ll meet you downtown.

(Rookers exits with Bishop)

Reggie: You see that crazy mutherfucker? He was gonna kill me. What the fuck wrong
with him?

Elijah: He was in Vietnam.

Reggie: Mutherfuckin’ veteran.

Elijah: It’s not his fault. That war messed up a lot of people.

Reggie: They was crazy to have they asses over there in the first place.

Elijah: Are you going downtown?

Reggie: Shit no. I ain’t even supposed to be here. (Reggie starts to exit.)

Elijah: Be cool. Let’s wave bye-bye to the officer and split when he’s out of the way.

Reggie: Sure you right.

Elijah: You get high?

Reggie: Shit yeah.

Elijah: I have some pretty good sensimilen. Would you like some?

Reggie: Sure you right.

Elijah: The officer is gone. Let’s do it.

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Reggie: Sound like a winner. What’s your name, man?

Elijah: Elijah

Reggie: I’m Reggie…

Elijah: I know.

Reggie: Call me Reg…

(Lights down on the Park. Spot up on Lt. Rookers.)

Rookers: War has always been hell. Always. Men sent off to fight, sent off to die, and
those who are lucky enough to make it, they come back scarred. War has
always been hell. Since the first caveman thew that rock…

(Spot on Dr. Clements)

Clements: What is it you are trying to say, Lt. Rookers?

Rookers: I didn’t want to kill Lazarus Stove. I had to…

Clements: Lazarus Stove wanted to die. He was very tired of living.

Rookers: I told him to stop and he just kept walking toward me. And laughing. I pointed
my weapon at him and he laughed. He was out of control…

Clements: Perhaps…

Rookers: … he was going to kill me…

Clements: I don’t think so.

Rookers: … just like he killed that kid…

Clements: He didn’t kill that child.

Rookers: What?

Clements: He didn’t kill that child.

Rookers: Who told you that?

Clements: He told me.

Rookers: Did he say who did?

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Clements: Yes.

Rookers: Who?

Clements: Someone named Reggie.

Rookers: He was lying.

Clements: I don’t think so.

Rookers: Reggie is a kid, too. Lazarus attached him, broke his arm…

Clements: That’s his story.

Rookers: He has a cast…

Clements: Why didn’t Lazarus kill him?

Rookers: What?

Clements: You heard me.

Rookers: His mother was there. She protected him…

Clements: Why didn’t he kill her?

Rookers: You’re playing word games…

Clements: Am I, Lt.? I have doubts. I have doubts because I believed Lazarus. Whom do
you believe, Lt.? Add it all up. What do you have?

Rookers: I got a seventeen year old kid, found dead in a hole in the park. I got a Vietnam
vet who did it. There was a witness…

Clements: Who?

Rookers: Shirley.

Clements: And who is Shirley?

Rookers: Reggie’s mother.

Clements: I see. Go on. (Pause) What’s wrong, Lt.? Have you taken a second look at the
board? Do you see something now that you didn’t see before?

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Rookers: Elijah…

Clements: What about Elijah? Is he killing poor innocent children too?

Rookers: (Preparing to leave) I’ll want to hear what Bishop has to say to you…

Clements: Where are you going, Lt.?

Rookers: To prevent a tragedy from taking place.

Clements: We’ve become gods now, have we?

Rookers: Now you look here, Clements. I ain’t no doctor or no preacher and I don’t
claim to know what makes people tick or why tings are the way they are. All I
am is a two bit dick from homicide but I do the job that has to be done. I’m the
law, Doctor Clements, right or wrong and I do what I can for justice…

Clements: Why do you assume the law is justice, Lt. Rookers?

Rookers: Because the law is the only thing that keeps us from falling apart.

(He exits from spot.)

Clements: So you say, Lt. So you have to believe.

(Spot out on Dr. Clements. Lights up on the Park. Enter Elijah and Reggie.)

Elijah: Was it any good?

Reggie: The shit was smokin’.

Elijah: That’s what he told me.

Reggie: How you run ‘cross shit like that if ya don’t get high?

Elijah: I get it from my clients.

Reggie: They get high, huh?

Elijah: High as kites.

Reggie: What you do, man?

Elijah: I make money.

Reggie: A lotta money?

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Elijah: More than I need.

Reggie: Yeah? Shit. Give some to me.

Elijah: Maybe. You want to work for me?

Reggie: Yeah, sure. I’ll work for you.

Elijah: What will you do?

Reggie: I’ll be your bodyguard, man. Watch your back for you. Make sure no
mutherfucker fuck with you…

Elijah: You’ll do that, huh?

Reggie: That’s right. Put me at your back and won’t no motherfucker sneak up on you.
They have better sense that’s right, fuck with you when I’m lookin’ out for
you…

Elijah: Okay. It’s a deal. (Elijah offers his hand and they shake.) Do you want an
advance?

Reggie: What’s that?

Elijah: Some money to hold you over ‘til your first paycheck.

Reggie: Fuck yeah.

(Elijah takes out a wad of money and gives some to Reggie.)

Reggie: (Pocketing money) You a allright dude.

Elijah: Do you ever dream, Reggie?

Reggie: What? Yeah, yeah, I have dreams…

Elijah: What do you dream about?

Reggie: I dream that I’m rich, man. Got me a bumpin’ pad, two three sets of wheels,
and cable and a video in every room. A bitch in every room, too. A nice fat
one who do just what I tell her to and don’t give me no shit…

Elijah: Is that all?

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Reggie: Shit man, what the fuck else you need? I hooks up my moms in my dreams
too…

Elijah: Yeah? How?

Reggie: Man, moms be smokin’ she have charge accounts in all the stores, jus’ walkin
in an’ snap her fingers and muthufuckers be actin’ like the three stooges
bumpin’ into each other so they can get to wait on her. She have one of them
big long cars wif a chauffeur an’ maids an’ butlers an’ everything. Yeah, I take
care’s moms. She be allright in my dreams.

Elijah: You sound like you love her very much.

Reggie: Hey, moms is cool. She kinda’ square but moms is hip with me.

(Enter Shirley)

Shirley: Reginald… Elijah!

Elijah: Hello, Shirley.

Shirley: Go home, Reginald.

Reggie: What?

Shirley: You heard me. Get home. You ain’t even supposed to be up here…

Reggie: I ain’t wanna go to no South Carolina. Ain’;t shit to do in South Carolina…

Shirley: Get your ass home, Reggie. Now.

Reggie: You ain’t gotta be cussin’ at me.

Elijah: Maybe you should do what your mother says, Reggie…

Shirley: You keep the fuck outta this…

Reggie: You ain’t gotta be cussin’ at my friends either…

Shirley: Do you know who that is, you dumb nigger? Do you know who he is…?

Reggie: Don’t you be jumpin’ down my shit…

Shirley: That Elijah, nigger. He Lazarus’ brother…

Reggie: So? He tight with me.

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Shirley: He wanna hurt you, Reggie. He wanna kill you…

Reggie: You don’t know what you talkin’ ‘bout, ma…

Shirley: Listen to me, Reggie.

Reggie: You wanna hurt me, man?

Elijah: Hey, you watch my back, I’ll watch yours.

Reggie: See ma? You don’t know what you talkin’ ‘bout.

Shirley: (To Elijah) Leave him alone.

Elijah: What am I doing, Shirley?

Shirley: Don’t you be messin’ with my boy…

Elijah: Why would I want to do that, Shirley? Do you think I would hurt a poor
innocent child…?

Reggie: I ain’t no child.

Elijah: Excuse me, “young man.”

Shirley: I’ll get the law on you…

Elijah: I’m not afraid of the law, Shirley. Not with Reggie watching my back…

Reggie: That’s right, ain’t gonna let nuthin’ gonna sneak up on his ass.

Shirley: Please don’t hurt my baby…

Reggie: I ain’t no baby. I’m a man.

Elijah: A good man.

Reggie: The baddest mutherfucker goin’.

Elijah: That’s why I want you at my back.

Shirley: Reggie…

Reggie: (Responding to Elijah) Fuckin’ right.

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Shirley: Reggie…

Reggie: You buggin’ me ma, get off my back.

Shirley: Look at him, Reggie. Don’t you see it?

Reggie: See what?

Shirley: He’s evil.

Reggie: You lunchin’, ma.

Elijah: (Pointing towards the woods) I’m sliding in there.

Reggie: Yeah? Whatcha gonna do?

Elijah: What do you think I’m going to do?

Shirley: Don’t go with him, Reggie.

Reggie: Yeah? Need some help?

Elijah: Need somebody to watch my back.

Reggie: Sure you right.

Elijah: After you.

Shirley: (Grabbing Reggie’s arm) No…!

Reggie: (Pulling from and turning on Shirley) Don’t you touch me. Don’t you ever put
your fuckin’ hands on me. I ain’t no chump. (Reggie starts for the woods)

Shirley: Reggie…?

Reggie: What you want?

Shirley: I love you, Reggie.

Reggie: I know that, ma. (He exits into the woods.)

Elijah: Shirley…

Shirley: What?

Elijah: Mate. (He exits into the woods.)

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(Shirley goes to the bench and sits down.)

Shirley: And it’s all my fault. My fault. No. No. No, godamnit. No.

(Shirley runs from the Park. Lights down on the Park. Spot up on Bishop, playing a game
of chess with himself.)

Bishop: (Singing as he plays) There were six hundred, went into that jungle just six
made it through and came out the other side. The Cong, they was screamin’,
our boys, they was bleedin’ but the men of the Rangers, those men never die.
(Speaking) Fuckin’ A.

(Spot on Dr. Clements)

Clements: Lt. Bishop?

Bishop: What’s up, Doc?

Clements: You didn’t harm the young man.

Bishop: Nope.

Clements: Why not?

Bishop: I dunno. Maybe I got religion in my old age.

Clements: What made you stop?

Bishop: Had to play the game right. I ain’t the dragons’ tongue. I’m her claws. The
Bishop don’t get to kill the king. He get to fuck with the rook.

Clements: Who kills the king?

Bishop: Ain’t you heard? It’s the knight does in the king. It sneaks up from behind.

Clements: Why?

Bishop: ‘Cause that’s how you win the game. Besides, the motherfucker deserve to die.
Shouldna started in the first place if he didn’t know what the fuck he was doin’.

Clements: Is Lt. Rookers the king?

Bishop: Loot too stupid to be the king. Loot ain’t nuthin’ but the white king’s pawn.
And he hemmed in by his own pieces. Ain’t that a bitch. Law on one side and

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 justice on the other and the poor, poor Loot caught in the fuckin’ middle with
no way to get out. Jeez, whattan asshole.

Clements: I see…

Bishop: No you don’t, Doc. You blind. Alll you mutherfucking civilians is blind.
Y’all don’t know shit. Only soldiers know war. The rest you motherfuckers
talkin’ out your ass. Y’all ain’t never take no rides on the dragon.

Clements: I have ridden the dragon…

Bishop: Sure, that’s your story. But have you ever tamed it? Do you know how to get
the dragon to yield?

Clements: There is no counter to the dragon.

Bishop: Bullshit.

Clements: Do you think you have one?

Bishop: I know I got one. You wanna play with the dragon, Doc? C’mon over and play
with the dragon. She waitin’ on you, Doc. Got her lips wide open with a fork
up her throat that will set your ass on fire. Come say howdy to the dragon, Doc.
C’mon and give her a kiss.

Clements: Pawn to king four.

Bishop: Sure you right, Doc. Pawn to king knight three.

Clements: Pawn to queen four.

Bishop: Bishop to king knight two.

Clements: Knight to queen bishop three.

Bishop: Pawn to king three

Clements: Bishop to king bishop four.

Bishop: Oooooh, Doc’s getting’ nasty. Think the knight’s full a shit. Knight to king
two.

Clements: Knight to king bishop three.

Bishop: Pawn to queen four.

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Clements: Knight to queen…

Bishop: Pawn takes pawn. The dragon say howdy, Doc. She lickin’ her tongue all up
the side of your face.

Clements: Knight takes pawn.

Bishop: Which knight, Doc? Which one? On you. Your move. Your move, Doc.

(Spots out on Bishop and Dr. Clements. Lights upon the Park. Enter Shirley and
Rookers.)

Shirley: They went in there. Hurry!

Rookers: Who killed that retarded boy, Shirley?

Shirley: What?

Rookers: Who killed that retarded boy?

Shirley: What you talkin’ ‘bout him for? Reggie in danger…

Rookers: You’ve been lying to me, Shirley…

Shirley: I ain’t been tellin’ no lies…

Rookers: How do I know you aren’t telling me lies now?

Shirley: You wastin’ time…

Rookers: Who killed that retarded boy, Shirley?

Shirley: You know who killed him…

Rookers: No more lies from you, godamnit!

Shirley: We gotta save Reggie…

Rookers: (Grabbing Sirley by the shoulders) Who killed that retarded boy, Shirley?

Shirley: It was an accident… (Lt. Rookers releases Shirley and sits down on the bench.)
It wasn’t nobody’s fault. He hot in the way. Ain’t nobody mean to do it.

Rookers: Lazarus…

Shirley: Go help Reggie.

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Rookers: Forgive me, Lazarus Stove.

Shirley: Fuck Lazarus Stove. You gotta go help Reggie…

(Enter Elijah from the woods)

Elijah: Too late.

Shirley: (Screaming) Noooo… (She runs into the woods)

Rookers: Did you kill him?

Elijah: No. He killed himself. He OD’d on some heroin, Lt. Rookers. He said he
could take it, that he was a man. There must have been something wrong with
it. He died shortly after shooting it up.

Rookers: You killed him, Stove.

Elijah: I couldn’t do anything to stop him, Lt. I told him not to do it but he wouldn’t
listen. You know how that is, Lt. You can’t stop somebody who keeps on
going when you yell for them to halt.

(Enter Shirley from the woods.)

Shirley: You bastard! (Throwing herself upon him) Goddamn you! Goddamn you!
(Elijah pushes her off. She goes over to Lt. Rookers.) You let him die. If you
had gone in there quicker, he would still be alive.

Elijah: No, he wouldn’t, Shirley. He died quite quickly, actually. Quite quickly and
very, very painfully.

Shirley: You ain’t getting’ away with this. (To Rookers) Arrest that motherfucker. Put
his ass in jail.

Rookers: We have to get the facts first…

Shirley: Reggie’s dead in the woods. What more fuckin’ facts you need?

Rookers: I have to be certain…

Shirley: I want my justice. Goddamn you. I want my motherfuckin’ justice now. You
the law. Take that mutherfucker in. Make him pay for what he did to my boy.
Arrest his ass. You hear me? Arrest his ass or I’m gonna have your fuckin’
badge. Put his ass away. Now.

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Rookers: I’m going to have to take you downtown for questioning, Stove…

Elijah: I don’t think so.

Rookers: It’s just routine.

Elijah: I don’t like your routine.

Rookers: It’s the law, Elijah…

Elijah: I don’t like your law.

Shirley: You gonna take him in? Is you?

Rookers: Don’t make me put on the ‘cuffs…

Elijah: Don’t worry, I won’t. (Elijah takes out a gun. Shirley screams and hides
behind Rookers.)

Rookers: Put that away, Elijah…

Elijah: Don’t worry, Lt. It’s not for you. It’s for real justice. It’s for the true law.

Rookers: Don’t do anything stupid…

Shirley: Go ahead motherfucker, do it. You deserve to die for killin’ my boy…

Elijah: Not for your boy, no.

Rookers: It doesn’t accomplish anything, Elijah…

Elijah: It feeds the dragon, Lt. It ends the game.

Shirley: End it, motherfucker.

Elijah: I’ll do that, Shirley. Do you want to watch?

Rookers: (Grabbing her) No!

Shirley: (Breaking away from him) Get your hands off me, motherfucker. Yeah, I
wanna see you do it.

Elijah: You want to see me ride the dragon, Shirley?

Rookers: Don’t go with him.

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Shirley: Ride the motherfucker.

Elijah: (Backing into the woods) Come watch me ride the dragon, Shirley. Come on
and watch me play. Come on.

(They both exit into the woods. Lt. Rookers draws his gun and prepares to go after them.
The sound of two gunshots is heard. Rookers drops his gun, collapses to bench, and puts
his head in his hands.)

86