Life In The Flesh (3)
ZEV Yeah, yeah, I know what you mean, Rosalie, I do. ROSALIE You still have hungry eyes, right? (ZEV nods.) That’s good. That’s good. You see Abe tonight? (ZEV nods.) He eat? (ZEV shrugs.) I can’t always watch him. When you see him, tell him to eat, yes? (ZEV nods.) Abe makes Grisha very mad. ZEV But you don’t. ROSALIE Shshshsh, don’t be mean, hey? (ZEV stares at her.) Jakie’s sleeping. ZEV I wish him luck for tomorrow, I do. You think Li Ying loved my father? ROSALIE I never met her – how should I know? (PAUSE.) Yes, I know she did, yes. Zev, you can help Abe. ZEV I’m doing what I can. I got to go to sleep now so goodnight. ROSALIE Grisha is an animal, you know that. ZEV Meaning what? ROSALIE You like some wine? Red burgundy from (looks at bottle) Burgundy, France. It’s sweet – not too sweet but sweet. Try it, maybe. ZEV Don’t mix with Baltika. ‘Night. ROSALIE Zev, shshsush, stay, Zevie, listen, I don’t know how to say this now but I need to say it because -- because Grisha’s talking about Abe. ZEV Uh-huh. ROSALIE Could you sit down, please? ZEV Okay. ROSALIE He goes to the track? ZEV I don’t know. ROSALIE He never has money. Maybe something else? \ ZEV Like what? Junk? ROSALIE Maybe. ZEV I don’t think so because he’s always warned me – said he saw too much of that in Hong Kong – I don’t think so. Made his descriptions of junkers really vivid to me – I don’t think so, Rosalie, you think? Why? ROSALIE Grisha says there’s like part of his engine that’s not working – from his mind – he’s okay in his body – but sick or – Grisha thinks his mind is somewhere else. You notice that? ZEV Maybe. I know he bets. It’s like he’s addicted. ROSALIE He’s sleeping a lot in that stinky rooming house of his, you know that. You talk to Aron? ZEV I – I finally got this job – I’m startin’ now – I don’t know. Grisha puttin’ you up to me? (ROSALIE nods.) Sounds like him. About what? What’s it now? Or is it still the same thing? (ROSALIE nods.) Fuck him. I’m getting out of here. ROSALIE Grisha says your father knows too much. ZEV Oh. Oh. Playin’ me, is he? God damn Grisha – God damn him. I’ll kill him, I’ll fuckin’ kill him. ROSALIE Shshshshshsh, Zevie, be smart. Be smarter than Grisha is because you are smarter than he is, Zevie. You’re smarter than you know, Abe always says that about you, he’s so proud about you he’s burstin’ proud. You got nothing to lose talk to Grisha, talk to him, tell him you’ll talk to your father, too, but talk to Grisha. Smooth it a bit. He can help us. ZEV I don’t want his fuckin’ help. ROSALIE Shshshshsh.
ZEV School teaches you that there are parallel lines but there’s no such thing as parallel lines., ROSALIE I’m not good at the arithmetic – had to quit that and start the sewing at the shops when I was twelve – Poppa, he -- What do you mean? ZEV They taught parallel lines but there’s no such thing in real life that’s why school is stupid. It’s like bein’ in school is bein’ on another planet. Parallel lines – bull shit -- in real life, everything intersects. ROSALIE Yes. ZEV Why don’t you fuckin’ leave me alone, all of you. ROSALIE You can do it. You can do both. ZEV Goodnight and goodbye. (He exits to his bedroom.) ROSALIE watches him go. She pours herself more wine and, watching the door to his room, she sips. She watches. She wipes tears from her eyes. After a long time, she suddenly puts her head down and continues to sew. ZEV enters still dressed but with his suit jacket and his shoes and socks off. ZEV Okay.
BLACKOUT.
xvi PAUSE. Pigeons coo. We hear a few soft knocks on the door. The knocks continue. ABE switches on light near his bed and stares at the door. ARON (off-stage) Abe? Abe? it’s me, Aron. (He knocks once more.) Abe? It’s okay, it’s only me. You need to get up. Eat breakfast. Open the door, Abie, it’s okay, it’s only me, I’m alone. ABE gets up, opens the door, and ARON enters. ABE goes back to his bed. ARON sits on floor next to ABE’S bed. PAUSE. He gets up and opens the shade and morning light comes in. ABE He took my gun. Then he gave me his. Just before we went in. It’ll bring you luck, he said. He kissed my cheeks like we was in a movie. ARON I was lookin’ for you, you come back here? You go to what’s-his-face and bet the ponies? (ABE shakes his head, no.) Sally’s? (ABE nods his head, yes.) I like her place. Yeah, I asked him and you know what he said? (ABE shrugs.) Wanted to teach you a lesson, thought you might be ‘drowin’ in the ocean.’ That’s how he described it: ‘drowin’.’ ‘Got to keep us strong and united,’ he says. He knows and I know he’s talkin’ to me, too. Asked about Zev again – again. We knew this, Abie, no new snake here. So: Jakes’s got the college test this mornin’, huh? (ABE nods.) He’s smart enough to be a doctor. (ABE nods) I want you to know this that no matter how it looks, I got it figured for us. It’ll look maybe like I’m not with you but you gotta believe, Abie, I’m always with you. You understand that, Abe? Say you understand I’m always with you. (ABE nods.) Your poppa would be proud, mine would be proud – I think -- but it’ll look like maybe to you sometimes I’m not on your side but I’m always on your side no matter what, Abe. ABE I caught you when you first walked – me, it was me. ARON I know that. He wants you dead. ABE And maybe you, too. So: you catchin’ me now, huh? I’m gonna fuckin’ kill him. ARON So we have to figure it a special way. You need to take a shower, Abie, you shit in your pants? Come on, I’ll buy you breakfast – you want pancakes? Lots of maple syrup? ABE He gives you problems, too, Aron, pisses on both of us, fucks my wife, fucks me, fucks you. ARON I called Tony. He likes me. He listened. He’s got money from the family – Las Vegas -- he could do it. He’s gonna think about it. There’ll be another side to Grisha’s game, Abie. You’ll see. It’ll be us no matter what it looks like – look at me: no matter what, look at me. They look at each other and both nod. A soft knock is heard. ZEV (behind the door) Poppa? You there? ABE Zevi? Yeah. (To Aron: ) Open the door for him, huh?
ARON opens the door and ZEV enters dressed in jeans and his down jacket. ZEV and ARON hug quickly. ZEV Hey, Poppa, you okay? Jesus Christ, it stinks in here, you been sick? You been drinkin’? (He takes off his jacket.) Hot as hell in here. ABE I’m better now. Jakie, you see him this morning? ZEV Yeah, yeah, he was up, she made him oatmeal, me, too, but I hate the stuff, Jakie loves it. Sausage and eggs for me, she made ‘em, too, quite unusual. English toast and -- Yeah, Jakie’s ready, he even looks smart, you know? Looks like you, Poppa, but smart. ABE Watch your mouth. ZEV Just kiddin’. ABE You got good brains, too, different, but real good, smart, you think things out, you know that about yourself, don’t you? ZEV (shrugs) Maybe, maybe. Look, Poppa, Rosalie told me about you and Grisha. ARON What she say about what’s goin’ on? ZEV Why don’t you tell me? ARON You still talk Cantonese with your grandparents? ABE Of course he does. ZEV Yeah, so? ARON In Hong Kong – when we were all there – your grandfather knew the grandfather of the guy who’s now the main man in the New York group. ZEV Mo Tzu? ARON Mo Tzu. Now Grisha’s doing a deal with him and his Chinese contingents for a nuclear sub in St. Petersburg and Grisha needs someone to be go-between – someone he figures he can trust – ZEV Me? (ARON and ABE nod.) Is that the best way to do it? Using me? ARON Probly. He says it’s a one time thing. ZEV How much is the deal worth – what’s the profit for Grisha? ABE Six million – think maybe seven. ZEV Yeah? Why are the Chinese coming to Grisha if – (to ABE: ) you workin’ with your cousin in the Admiralty yards? He supplying the sub? (ABE nods.) And Grisha needs me to talk? They from Hong Kong? (ABE nods.) Why do you need Grisha – and don’t answer with that ‘Russian family’ shit – what’s Grisha puttin’ up that you two can’t figure – Oh, the money for the sub, huh? (ARON nods.) The guy’s a fuckin’ leach. Got nothin’ but – ABE The idea. ZEV What’d he do to you, Poppa, you look awful.
ABE (ABE takes WILLIAM’S cash from under his pillow) For you and Jakie, split it but give nothing to the Moscow whore. ZEV Nah, I don’t – ABE Take it, big shot, Jakie needs it and you – you deserve it. Take it. Listen to me. Between you and Jakie any way you want. (ZEV takes the money.) In your pocket. (ZEV puts it in his pocket.) Good. Smart. ARON Zev, this conjunction here with Abie’s cousin in the Yard and the boys from Hong Kong – when we were there, and they know we were there, we knew guys who knew ‘em -- it’s an opportunity – the way it’s aligning – for us here, for Abe and me and -- Well, it’s unique. We should know that in a large way – not lose it. It’s our chance. Get away from Grisha and set ourselves up. That’s how I’m lookin’ at it, Zev, how ‘bout you? ZEV Ooooooh. But what are you gonna do for front money? ARON Me and your father got old friends – knew you Mama when her and Abe and me first came to Jersey. I keep in touch and they’ll come our way. ZEV What about Grisha? ARON Yeah, right. ZEV What are you gonna do, kill him? And then, Poppa, you’re gonna speak Guangdonghua at a negotiating table and make the deal with these Hong Kong guys? You don’t speak it that much anymore and afterwards the two of you just can’t – Grisha’s got friends all over the place who’ll -- (He stops and stares at them.) Oh. Oh. ABE Zev, I never said it.
ZEV Oh, you. Fuck me. Got Rosalie on my back – makin’ me eggs and sausage – oh, I knew what that was about – she’s in this somewhere -- and now you. Fuck you, I can take care of myself. And what side are you playin’ anyway? Protecting me from Grisha if he wants me in for him? But then cuttin’ him out and pullin’ me in with you two against him? That’s okay but if it’s for him it’s not? You’re nuts! He’s usin’ me – you’re usin’ me – you’re all the same, fuck you all! I’m not being dragged down to do your dirty work ‘cause the two of you are too stupid to get out of a Russian deal that’s got nothin’ to do with Russia but is some fantasy about international business! Bullshit, it’s just throwin’ away money at the track, fuck you and your stupid pride it’s out of control – you’re not the players. I didn’t work restaurants in the middle of the night and park cars to stay at City College and then leave so I could wind up like you. I’m not you, leave me alone. Fuck you both -- fuck you all -- fuck you, fuck you! (He exits.) ARON Now he’s got most of the picture. He’ll be back. ABE (whispers) Fuck you.
BLACKOUT
xvii ESTER’S doctor’s office. PAUSE. We hear the sounds at the door. Then the door is opened and ZEV slowly steps in. He is dressed in his suite, white shirt, and dark tie, and carries his sample case. He puts away the set of picks he used to open the lock, goes to the doctor’s door and listens, but he hears nothing. ZEV turns on the lights and goes to the desk. Picking up and holding the bouquet of flowers he placed there previously, ZEV sits behind the desk and looks at the front door. PAUSE. Then we hear keys at the door which drop and clatter. ESTER (behind the door) Oooooh! ZEV stands holding the flowers. The front door is slowly unlocked and ESTER enters. ESTER Oh, my God, what’re you doing here? How did you get in? Does he know you’re here? You look terrible. ZEV Good morning. Haven’t seen anyone except for you. ESTER goes to doctor’s door. ESTER He was still drinking when I left last night – we don’t have any appointments ‘til 11:00 I think – (She goes to book on desk and, standing next to ZEV, she opens it and looks. ) Yeah, 11:00. ZEV Can I help you off with your coat? ESTER I – How did you get in? ZEV Used to pick locks. (ZEV thrusts the flowers toward her.) And, by the way, ma’am, these are for you. ESTER No, I can’t – they’re beautiful – flowers in December, wow – they’re from some far away place, aren’t they? Like Chile or Ecuador? ZEV I didn’t know that. (Just as she reaches for them, ZEV kisses her quickly on the lips and then moves away.) Run away with me. (PAUSE.) I can’t either. ESTER hangs up her coat. She picks up the flowers and goes off-stage to the bathroom. ZEV crosses and sits at her desk. He opens his sample case and takes out a sheet of gold paper and begins folding it. ZEV My lao – my mother’s mother – she taught me origami – funny, huh, it’s Japanese but in Hong Kong, they do this. You know anything about paper? My mama used to make paper – even when we lived here – from rags and pieces of wood – cotton -- gee, from just about everything. Cut ‘em all up real fine and cook ‘em in water til they make a good sludge. I was just a kid. I’d stir the pot with a long stick. Then press this gooey stuff onto screens my grandfather made and spread it even – had to spread it even – and the water would drip out and we’d put them outside where they’d dry and then later you’d peel ‘em off very carefully so nothin’ got stuck and presto! magic! sheets of paper. I remember pieces of paper in all colors like flags drying all over the place when we first came. Took nothin’ and made somethin’. Went to the city and sold ‘em with my mama in expensive stores that smelled like vanilla and candles. She was very quiet. Always thinkin’. All of us we were livin’ with friends of my father in southern Jersey. I was little. My mama was real soft but I was a skinny malink. I still am. ESTER Sounds beautiful. ZEV She was, yeah. In ancient China, they used pieces of metal for money. Mostly silver, but some gold, too. What d’you do last night? ESTER Zev? ZEV You had a tough night? Me, too. ESTER You gotta go. ZEV Come ‘ere – just feel this gold. Just touch it. Paper is – like miraculous – it can be made from anything – hair – gold – even from flowers. ESTER (She comes and looks. She touches the paper. He raises her hand to his lips and kisses her fingers. She pulls away.) I’m engaged. Last night. His father – he’s a nice boy – Misha – very Jewish – more Jewish than I am – his father owns apartment houses in Borough Heights and he’s giving my mother a ground floor two bedroom. She can’t get around too much since the accident. She’ll be kind of a Super. Rent free. Some money, too. He’s – nice. Kinda chubby. Sweet. Glasses. Not dumb, you know? Not dumb. There’s an elevator and we’ll have the penthouse. Three bedrooms and even a den! With a porch! It’s the biggest apartment I’ve ever ever seen. ZEV (He finishes folding the origami.) It’s called a yuan bao. This one’s gold. And with it you can have anything you want because it’s magic. It’s ancient. All my ancestors are with me. (He gives it to her.) Anything. ESTER Because – because now – since my sister, Louise, ran away with that crackhead – it’s just her and me. I used to dream of traveling – maybe California -- Please – go, Zevi. ZEV My mother’s family came from Beijing – they took a train south – a thousand miles – one thousand one hundred -- maybe one thousand two hundred miles all the way to Hong Kong because my grandfather was told there’d be jobs there. Lao told me – took them forever -- my mama was – then she was only five – it was very hot – very dry --from Beijing – to Shijianzhuang – to Xinxiang – to Zhengzhou – Wuhan – Changsha – Hengyang – Nanling – Guangzhou – and then – and then, so slowly, to the water, to Hong Kong. ESTER Las Vegas -- I’d like to go to Las Vegas – everything is new there. You ever been? (ZEV shakes his head, no.) Would you want to go? ZEV Yeah – sure. ESTER Wow. But your father’s not Chinese, is he? ZEV No, that side came from St. Petersburg and he and his cousin Aron – when their fathers were killed – they hopped a train, too, and escaped to Vladivostok. They worked a boat south to Hong Kong so they could get to be in International Business. That’s where my parents met. Used their English – not much but enough. My mother was sixteen. ESTER I’ve accepted it. It’s the best way. I’m going to go to Brooklyn College. I want to be a nurse. His father is very happy. Misha, too – he’s a decent person. He’ll help his father in the office. Is that the doctor? (She goes to his door, listens, shakes her head, no.) He’s getting worse – used to only be his nights – now it’s days, too. And he has a shot-gun, you know. If I scream, he’ll come and shoot you. ZEV Then don’t scream. ESTER Now I’m wearing his ring – it was his mother’s before she died last spring. (She shows ZEV her finger.) See? See It? (He takes her hand. He removes the ring.) Don’t. Don’t. Please don’t. ZEV You’re very – deeply – beautiful. They kiss. The telephone rings and ESTER pulls away from ZEV and rushes to answer it. ESTER Doctor’s office, good morning, may I help you? (She listens, then looks at ZEV.) It’s – it’s for you. ZEV (Stunned, he takes the phone.) Hello? .... How did you --? .... Now? .... Yeah, I know where you are. .... What do you mean he’s not cooperating? .... Like what? .... What do you mean? .... Don’t you fuckin’ lay a hand on him. .... Right. .... Right. .... Yeah, now. (He hangs up.) I gotta go. (He closes his sample case.) Can I leave this here? ESTER I’ll put it under my desk. ZEV There’s a little trouble – I have to work it out. My father. I’ll work it out. ESTER Oh. (She writes her telephone number on a piece of paper.) Here. I’ll take your – you know, your samples and brochures and things back to my place – it’s a sublet – I’ve got white lace on this big new canopy bed and – oh – oh, I mean -- call me. Whenever. ZEV Okay. ESTER Okay. ZEV Okay. ESTER Okay.
ZEV leaves through the front door. Then he immediately returns and gives her back her engagement ring. ZEV You better return this. (He exits.) BLACKOUT.
xviii ZEV stands downstage center and looks straight up and out. He looks up for a long time. Finally, he says: ZEV What did you say, Momma? What did you say?
BLACKOUT. xix GRISHA’S office. GRISHA is sitting behind his desk. He wears all black including a black silk tie. His fingertips are pressed against his lips and he is kissing them as he thinks. The intercom buzzes and GRISHA picks up and listens. Then he makes a soft grunt. GRISHA Be nice to him, Zoyen, and send him in now. (He hangs up and takes out a huge pocket knife. The door opens and ZEV enters. GRISHA begins cleaning his fingernails with the knife.) Zev, good you came – many things happening. Close the door – good. ZEV Uh-huh. GRISHA Well, well, look at you. You’re grown up – a man – got a girlfriend, huh? ZEV How’d you know where I was? GRISHA Hey, hey, that’s my job, shouldn’t surprise you after all these years, yeah? ZEV What’s on your mind, Grisha? GRISHA Why don’t you sit down? ZEV Thanks, I’ll stand. GRISHA Lookin’ good, kid, lookin’ good. See if you can figure this thing here, Zev, and sure would like your help so our little family can keep its head in this brutal world, yeah? Got a problem with your papa – not cooperating like he should. Gettin’ plans. Him and probably Aron, too. Puttin’ me in an awkward position and I don’t do good when I’m awkward, get my meanin’? ZEV And you want me to do what – isn’t that where you’re goin’? GRISHA Lookin’ good, kid, lookin’ good. Yeah. Yeah. ZEV I’ll sit. (He sits opposite GRISHA.) I been hearin’ different points of view from different points of view so why don’t you tell me what you’re thinkin’ and then I’ll tell you what I’m thinkin’. GRISHA Met your Momma only once, you know? When your family first came. At the Jersey shore. Very sunny day, you were just kid and she was – very beautiful and smart. Looked up at me right in the eyes and just kept drillin’ and drillin’. Twistin’ her pretty pale pink lips. Little bit of a thing, Li Ying, and quite a beautiful name for what I figured to be a very complex type person with a very calm front – a little like you and not at all like Abe, you know? Very focused. Too bad about her heart disease, you were still a skinny malink, she had an artistic sensibility. Rosalie been good to you? ZEV I remember that day. They had a big fight after you left, oh, I remember that. Screamin’ and cryin’, I remember hearin’ your name over and over again. But that was a long time ago, I live in the city now, and I’ve been workin’ out at my college gym, Grisha, and you’re dancin’ – let’s not waste time, okay, so lay it out – g’ahead -- what you been thinkin’? GRISHA I’m thinkin’ we should be workin’ together. ZEV Uh-huh. How? GRISHA There’s this deal out there – Rosalie tell you? ZEV You tell me. GRISHA Got your blood, huh, kid? Abe’s a little off his and I need someone smart and cool and with certain abilities. See, we’re makers – we take these bits of pieces that are out there and pull ‘em in and organize ‘em and sew ‘em up a little and then we take these pieces and try to get things into place so we can make ‘em into bigger pieces and then we take these bigger pieces and weave money and people and the things we’re buyin’ and sellin’ all together to make the greater greater picture and then, Zevi, when all the bits and pieces we put together are all together, then we make the deal. Right now we got Abe’s cousin and his floatin’ sub, you know about that, huh? (ZEV nods.) We did have a rat who was squealin’ but we took care of him. You get some money lately? Had a little bit of blood on it, didn’t it? You don’t have to say anything, I know. See, Abe was gettin’ a little careless at times and fuckin’ up some pieces of some deals and, Zev GRISHA (continued) – well, Zevi, that’s the problem. (GRISHA closes the blade on his big knife.) He’s like this knife but his blade is closed and I don’t know really where it is. Because his heart – it’s somewhere else. Maybe playin’ with too many horses. And you – well, Zevo-boy, you’re all pistol and fire, yeah? And we need to build a bridge between the buyer – some Chinese boys from Hong Kong – and the seller -- that’s us. At this moment – without outsourcing other avenues – you, Zev, you got some pieces of the picture. You know the language. You know the air currents ‘cause you lived in there. Oh, yeah, you were only a kid, but it’s in your blood, am I right? You got stuff they can’t teach. And you got stuff you can’t escape. It’s in you. You’re part of us. Take it and make it work for you, Zev, ‘cause the other way is uphill against your nature. Uphill for pennies. You know, there’s so much money in this deal, Zevie, that if this room right here was gold – layered gold on every wall -- well, in comparison, this room here would be just a little thing of a bread box in a big Hollywood mansion on a hill that was made of solid gold, that’s how big the deal is. Solid. Gold. Get me? Don’t be little, Zevie, this is an opportunity to get a handle big time. Be the bridge. (He opens the knife.) Use your blade, kid, you’re real sharp. ZEV And I get what? GRISHA Money. ZEV It’s not the bridge I been thinkin’. Hey, this thing you’re in – that my father’s in – my cousin Aron, too – hey, I just don’t think it’s me. I mean, I hear all the things you say about who I am and you’re real good at that kind of talk, you are, you are. But, you see, Grisha, even though I wasn’t born here like Jakie, I’m a New Yorker and I got different thoughts for myself. Hong Kong and Vladivostok – well, that’s behind me. GRISHA I understand. Your father understands, too. ZEV Yeah, I’m thinkin’ this whole thing is about you and my father. And the money, too, wouldn’t say ‘no’ to the money. But – but – well, you’re right about him. He’s like somewhere else. And Rosalie she’s like a bus chargin’ through and spittin’ out black smoke that’s goin’ up his nose and he’s chokin’. So what I want to know is what’re you, Grisha, gonna do for him? I mean, after this thing – say it goes the way you figure, then what -- for him? For him, what? GRISHA You do the deal, you name it.
ZEV How do you know the sub’s still there? GRISHA They got plenty of them. Decommissioned, Christ, Russia’s nothin’ but decommissioned and everything’s fallin’ out of the seams. Also, I have a verbal option on the kilo sub – atomic -- til tomorrow night. Then, if and when I’m ready to deal, I’ll wire out some front money from my Jersey account to hold it a few days and then sit down to cozy with the Hong Kong boys. That’s where you come in. Do the language and we make the deal. ZEV Hmmm. Well, actually, it’s Abe’s cousin in St. Petersburg who’s connecting you with the ex-KGB guy in the Admiralty Yard who’s got the sub, right? GRISHA Right. You got the picture, so? ZEV My poppa, I want him out. After – if I do this – after, you need to let him go. GRISHA To do what? ZEV That’s my worry. Jakie, too. And Aron – well, he’s okay, he can take care of himself, he got plenty of wiles. Rosalie? Well – up to you. GRISHA Neat. Neat. What else you want? ZEV Fifty per cent. GRISHA Fifty? Gross or net? ZEV After expenses. GRISHA Oh. How’s that work? ZEV Fifty for me, Abe, and Aron -- and fifty for you
PAUSE. GRISHA stares at ZEV. GRISHA (He gets up and goes to the door.) Usin’ your stuff, kid. Keep ‘em warm, I’ll be back. (He exits. Off-stage, we hear: ) Zoyen, got somethin’ for you. (PAUSE. Then GRISHA returns and looks at ZEV with a big grin. GRISHA closes the door.)
Copyright © 1999 Fred Jay Gordon |