Life In The Flesh (5)
(He laughs.) Good. Good. We’ll keep it business. Zev, I can make you deals that’ll make you money that’ll spin your balls. I got channels from here to St. Petersburg -- from Peter to Hong Kong -- from Hong Kong to New York. I got the connections, I’ll get the codes from someone else, I’m playing the big leagues, come on in, Zevi, buy yourself a yacht. ZEV Hey, Grisha, you and I know Abe’s got the real connections in Petersburg -- his cousin is doing the grease over there with the power guys even I know that. You may not like it, but you need Abe to get that electronic code stuff otherwise the sub won’t move and all they’ll get is metal. The Chinese won’t like that. Mo Tzu is the head guy and he doesn’t trust. Looks like a pigeon but thinks like a snake, watch him carefully, I’ve known him since I was a kid. And you’ll need the codes – that’s a key you need. You need a lot of stuff to make this deal work and, yeah, I can weave it all together, you know that and I know that, that’s okay, if I get what I’m looking for and I’m looking for my father to be clear from you. He’s been here enough, he paid you in full. I’ll do it, you clear him, we split, that’s it. (Gets up and strolls around and makes his way to the door.) Full and clear and gone. Yeah? GRISHA Then that’s the deal. ZEV Cool. GRISHA (GRISHA takes out a leather attaché.) Hey, here’s ten thousand. Call it, "discussion money," separate from the total fifty. No matter what, you keep it. ZEV Cool. (ZEV takes the money.) The last part are the codes. We’ll send them to the Chinese direct. We’ll be gone by then. If you fuck me or my father or Jakie or Aron – if he chooses to come -- no codes. Then Mo Tzu will hunt you down. That’s the deal, say yes now or I’ll be movin’ on. GRISHA I’ll close on that. And here’s another ten just to let you know that afterwards, we should do more. You and me: more. (GRISHA offers ZEV another ten thousand and extends his hand.) Here, and take my Gucci attaché – it’s real. ZEV stares at him, takes the money and the attaché, and shakes his hand. GRISHA I’ve got the meeting set for tomorrow noon. Atlantic City. So: you on? ZEV I’ll call you. (ZEV starts to exit.) GRISHA Half and half goes nowhere. Don’t think you’re half and half, you’re not, you’re either or. You gotta jump, Zevo, before someone else jumps you. I’m leavin’ here nine tomorrow mornin’. ZEV I’ll call you before so you know. (He exits.) GRISHA Hey, it’s America, and I’m very flexible. Very. FADE to BLACK.
v Stage left, Section C, ESTER’S bedroom with the white canopy bed. ABE picks up his shoes, takes his winter jacket and leaves. We hear foghorns and tug boat horns. Stage right, Section A, ZEV enters his new apartment and turns on the overhead light. He enters his new sublet carrying a big cheap suitcase and a boom box. He places them down, exits, and immediately returns carrying a six foot tall package wrapped in a blanket. He puts it down very carefully. Foghorns and tub boat horns blare again and ZEV races downstage where he opens a "window" and sticks out his head into the cold, winter night. The horns blare louder. ZEV Love me – love me, New York – love me! In Section C, stage left, ESTER enters carrying a tray with coffee and soup and a sandwich. She looks around at her empty bedroom. ESTER Mr. Biryuk? Mr. Biryuk? She puts the tray down carefully on the bed and exits. ZEV pulls his head in, opens his suitcase full of clothes, and takes out a CD. He plugs his boom box in and puts the CD on: it’s "Wild Geese on the Sandbank," from the CD Ten Chinese Qin Classics, (Marco Polo, MP-4007) and he looks around his new place. ESTER returns and straightens her bed. She sits and begins to eat the sandwich. ZEV takes off the blanket from the tall package. It is a beautiful three piece hand-decorated Chinese screen and he sets it up in his room. He sits down in front of the screen and beams. ESTER goes to her princess phone and dials. ESTER Good evening, Mr. Weinberger, how are you? Good, that’s very nice. May I please speak to Misha, please? Thank you. ZEV takes out his wallet and removes the piece of paper ESTER gave him with her telephone number. He gets up and takes a cell phone from his suitcase, turns it on and dials. It’s busy and he sits down again in front of the screen. ESTER Hi, Misha, hi, how are you? Well – I’m not sure, I’m not really feeling as well as I might. Well – I’m not sure I should. Stomach. And head. It might be catching and I don’t – yes, I know you’re very sensitive – me, too, you know – yeah, I know you know I’m saying it again but I’m saying it again because it’s true – I’m sensitive – and you’re sensitive, too, of course – how was your day, Misha? (She listens.) Uh-huh – uh-huh – ZEV presses redial but ESTER’S telephone is still busy. ESTER Yeah, well, cockroaches are not that unusual in New York – or Los Angeles, too, I suppose. Do you think they have cockroaches in Las Vegas? Is Las Vegas old enough to have cockroaches? .... No, I know, it’s a serious problem, I’m sure you and your father will get rid of them – if you can catch them! – just kidding, just kidding, sometimes I like to kid, you know. .... Well, you’re more serious than I am, you’re Orthodox, I’m only a Liberal Democrat. .... Well, I thought it was funny. .... Ah, Misha, I’m feeling kind of nauseous, I think I better go and lie down, okay? .... Yeah, I’m sorry, too. .... If you want to but I don’t know I’ve been getting a lot of stray calls recently so maybe I’ll just leave it off the hook so I can sleep. .... Yeah, it’ll help, sleep always helps, I used sleep days and days before I got the doctor’s job and started going to night school. .... Yeah, okay, I’ll call you tomorrow and okay, sorry, okay, then, bye, yeah, bye. ESTER hangs up and stares at the telephone. She takes it off the hook. It begins it’s ugly blare. She hangs up the phone and puts it next to her pillow. She crosses downstage and stares out her window. ESTER Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, wish I may, wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight. ZEV calls her again. The phone rings in ESTER’S apartment. ESTER Zev! (She runs to the phone and picks it up.) Hello? ZEV Hi, it’s me, it’s Zev, hi. ESTER Hi. You in China? ZEV Oh, it’s loud, isn’t it? (He lowers the music.) No, I’m here, I’m here. I’m in my new place and well – just thought I’d call. ESTER I like Chinese music – I don’t really know it, but I like it, it’s kind of old and weird and magical and – almost from another planet. The range is different. Like you – just kidding, just kidding. ZEV No, that’s okay, I like the way you said it. It’s this planet, it’s a place I used to know, Ester. ESTER Was it your mother’s? ZEV Yeah. Yeah. Re-issued on CD. Aron got it for me. Special order. I want to see you. ESTER Now? ZEV Yeah, now. Now.
ESTER Okay. ZEV Okay, I’m coming over now. ESTER Okay. ZEV Okay.
They both hang up at the same time. ZEV & ESTER Oh!
BLACKOUT. Chinese music up.
vi In center stage, Section B, light comes through a window from a street lamp and bathes ARON who is working out in the gym in front of the same mylar/mirror frame as in Act I, scene xii. It is night, there are no lights other than from the street, and he is the only one there. Doing arm curls with dumbbell, he is working out feverishly, painfully. ARON God damn it – God damn it – God damn it – Suddenly, he breaks off doing his curls and goes to his gym bag next to the bench. He takes out his cell phone and dials. From Section C, stage left, ESTER’S bedroom, the phone rings. From her bed, ESTER turns on a light. ESTER You better get it – hey – hello – that must be yours, right? Hey – Zev – hello, hello. ZEV falls out of bed and takes the phone from his pants. ZEV Yeah, hello? (to ESTER: ) Sorry. ESTER I’ve been up, no problem. ARON Hey, sorry, I’m wakin’ you, I know, but – Zev, where are you? ZEV I’m with Ester – you okay? ARON Ester, that’s great, Zev, that’s – ZEV My father, is he all right, Aron? ARON It’s -- ZEV Grisha. ARON Yeah, Grisha. Don’t look like it if you just look at him, but maybe he’s popped over. Wasn’t sure if he was gonna come your way somehow and I been mullin’ and mullin’ and – Zev, we should talk. I should set you clear about some things. ZEV Now? ARON Before the meeting. I’m at the gym. Take a cab, Zev, I’ll pay. Yeah, now. ZEV But, Aron – ARON Wouldn’t ask, Zev, if there was no need. ZEV All right. ARON Good. ARON disconnects, takes his towel, and goes off-stage to the bathroom. ZEV gets into his clothes. ESTER Maybe what we should do is to all run away – me with my mother and you with your father – that’ll solve everything, won’t it? Just kidding. ZEV And go where? ESTER Las Vegas. ZEV Las Vegas? Las Vegas? ESTER Not near the Strip. There are brand new communities being built out there. Swimming pools. Lots of people. Everything’s new – lots of opportunities, actually I’ve been reading about it although I never actually thought I’d actually ever -- They even have community colleges that have Nursing programs. Must be a good future for National Detailers, Incorporated -- they have anybody there? Lots of older people. Younger people there, too. Schools. Kids who will need the newest antibiotics – older people who will need the newest. Everything, Zev, everything would be all new. ZEV Las Vegas. You know, Ester, you make me excited in a very calm sort of way. I gotta go. ESTER You in some kind of a mob? ZEV Aron’s like my uncle ever since. He wouldn’t call if it wasn’t some kind of a boom. ESTER Oh. I love you. ZEV I love you.
ZEV goes to ESTER and they kiss. ESTER But I don’t want to be in a mob. ZEV I gotta go. (He exits. PAUSE. ESTER doesn’t move. Finally, she bursts out: ) ESTER Go!
BLACKOUT. Sounds of the city fade up.
vii
A few minutes later: The same street lights fade up and reflect off the mirror and onto ARON who is in front of the mylar/mirror frame and working furiously with his weights. Suddenly, a rock sails through the open window and lands near ARON. He immediately goes to his bag and pulls out his gun. ARON picks up a long, wooden mop handle, angles himself near the window, and pries open the shade so he can peer out and down without being seen. ZEV (outside) Aron? Hey, Aron, it’s me, Zevi. Let me in, okay? ARON raises the shade and more light glaringly shines in on him and the triangular mirrored frame. He goes to his bag, takes out keys, goes to the window. ARON The silver one is for the top, the one with the little green plastic cap is for the bottom lock with the brass plate. Push the door hard, real hard. (He throws the keys.) ZEV (outside) Got ‘em. ARON Go up the stairs, don’t turn on any lights. ARON puts his gun on top of his gym bag which is on the floor and returns to doing his arms curls with dumbbells. Police siren way in the background grows in intensity, then fades. Lights bounces off the mirrored frame and illuminates ZEV who enters and stands off to the side watching. ARON So? ZEV I got him. Told him mostly the truth. Told him what I wanted from him, that I’d be getting a piece from them, and that Mo Tzu looks like a rabbit, thinks like a snake -- told Grisha that Mo Tzu doesn’t trust him, that Mo Tzu trusts me ‘cause he knows our family. ARON And what did Grisha say? ZEV (He sees ARON’S gun and picks it up.) He said, yup. Hey, this is nice. ARON Where’s your brother? ZEV I guess he’s -- ah -- It’s a Glock – Hey, Aron, it’s the middle of the night, why’d you -- ? What? ARON When you told Grisha you’d split it fifty-fifty between him and you – you and me and Abe – you told Grisha something, you know that? You gotta understand: he thinks it’s only him. But you told him there were two sides: him and us. So you basically told him we’re plannin’ to fuck him in some way. He may suspect it – you always got to suspect – but when it’s thrown in his face – well, afterward – after the deal -- you know, afterward, he’s got no choice. He’ll have to kill you. And me. And Abe. ZEV I – I was just makin’ a deal. ARON You told him you’re not in his family – you told him you’re a family within a family – doesn’t work, Zevi, uh-uh. ZEV But I’m – I’m me – I’m just me. ARON Uh-uh. ZEV Oh. ARON You didn’t play his game. ZEV I – Oh. (He picks up the gun.) It’s polymer -- ARON You know how to shoot that thing? ZEV Sure. ARON Find Jake. Hide him, Zev. Zev -- oh. ARON & ZEV (simultaneously) You don’t get it. ZEV Yeah, I do.
PAUSE ARON Hammerless, double-action, semi-auto. So you got a plan? ZEV I -- I’ve been working on it. It’s beautiful. Can I -- ? ARON Look, Zev, he’s been introduced to the Hong Kong guys who probably speak more English than they let on. ZEV Yeah, they do, sure, yeah. ARON And either Grisha knows that or he’ll find out pretty soon and then you’re out. ZEV No. I’ll tell Mo Tzu the truth -- on our ancestor’s honor -- that afterward Grisha’ll kill my father and that the only reason I’m in this deal to prevent that. I can talk to him – I am almost one of them. Grisha’s right -- I can make the deal. ARON You know how much Mandarin Grisha knows? ZEV No. Anyway, we’ll speak Guangdonghua -- Cantonese -- Hong Kong, they’re from Hong Kong. ARON You know how much Cantonese Grisha knows? ZEV If you know something, Aron, how come you don’t tell me? ARON I worry about you, you got all these assumptions, you’re only a – ZEV I can do it. How much Cantonese does Grisha know, Aron? ARON He knows a little Mandarin, doesn’t know Cantonese, your father and I could talk in front of him in Cantonese and we’d be safe. But you didn’t know that. ZEV That’s true. Okay – okay. ARON (Gestures to his gun.) It’s smokin’. Wanna? ZEV Now? ARON No one else is here. Thick walls. Middle of the night. Go ‘head. (ARON takes a white handkerchief from his gym bag, and some band aids. He secures the handkerchief at the end of the mop handle with the band aids.) It’s a kinda new Glock: a G32 in a .357 Sig. They’re saying that it’s an updated G23 with a .40 caliber case necked down to fit a 9 mm bullet with a reworked expulsion of the empties so that’s okay now. Weighs in at 21.52 ounces without a full magazine, you know, depending on your choice of ammo. I read the .357 Sig was designed to copy the ballistics of the .357 Magnum. ZEV That’s a heavy shot. ARON 1100 feet per second and a six-pound trigger pull. About five shots in twelve seconds. (He crosses the room and stands near the door and holds the mop handle horizontal to the floor. The white handkerchief dangles down like a flag.) Yeah? ZEV Yeah. But – this light’s no good, I can’t really see you. ARON I want the shots inside. You can see the handkerchief, can’t you? Zev? ZEV What’re you doin’, Aron? ARON The firing pin safety blocks the firing pin from moving forward unless you pull back the trigger all the way. Got a trigger safety so the pistol can’t fire unless that trigger’s fully pulled back -- so no accidents there. And the drop safety prevents accidental discharge should you drop that pistol. ZEV Trust me with your life then, huh? ARON You know you’re not safe, right? You’re up, Zev. ZEV Muzzel’s just a touch heavy, but the gun fits my hand. ARON Figured that. ZEV You fucking with my head? ARON No. Clearin’ it. Make your choices, Zev.
ZEV aims and fires. PAUSE. He fires again. PAUSE. He fires a third time. The flag bobs slightly after each shot. ZEV Mild recoil. Real quiet, too. ARON Muffled. It’s like a secret. (He crosses the room and goes to the window where he holds up the handkerchief.) I only see two shots real close to the center. ZEV You might want to check your body. ARON Check your own. You see where you’re going? You see where you’re not going? ZEV It gets bigger and bigger, doesn’t it? ARON They -- Mo Tzu – he’ll ask you about the start codes. No matter what he says, Grisha can’t get ‘em – the sub can’t move without ‘em -- that’s our hook. ZEV So then how’s he -- ? ARON Don’t worry, we got what we need, we’ll work it. Zev, Zevi, listen to me, there’s only one way. We’ll do it and then we’ll get out. It’ll be our last one. You won’t be involved. We will. You’re ready. (He takes his gun back from ZEV, puts it in his bag, zips it up and walks to the door.) Let’s go. ZEV Love you, Aron.
ARON’S back is to ZEV. ARON nods, exits, ZEV follows.
BLACKOUT
viii Light up on ABE standing at a pay phone in the hall near his room, stage right, Section A. He puts some coins in and dials GRISHA. The telephone rings in GRISHA’S bedroom, center stage, Section B. From the bed, he picks it up. GRISHA What? (PAUSE.) Hello? Hello? (PAUSE) One, two -- ABE It’s me, Abe Biryuk. GRISHA So: the wolf is still alive, I hear you breathing. ROSALIE turns on the light next to GRISHA’S bed and sits up. ABE Trickster. GRISHA So, Abe: you still there? ABE I have the codes, Grisha. GRISHA You and everybody else. ABE Bullshit. Dead metal, dead wire, dead dead dead if it don’t move, right, Grisha? GRISHA Which ones? The blue one or the red one? ABE We got ‘em, don’t do tricks, Grisha, it’s my blood at the docks connecting this deal, you know that. GRISHA I don’t know that. Lights up on ARON’S apartment, stage left, Section C. ZEV sitting dressed on a couch with a blanket around him. He checks a telephone number in his wallet. ABE Zev. Hurt Zev and I kill you, I give the codes to the government man, the one who called me, he will call you, too, you will be tomato, Grisha, squashed, very red tomato. GRISHA Dumb fuck. You never get the real picture. The government! You just have to pay ‘em! I’ll give you codes, Abe, I’ll give you so many codes you won’t know fuck from fuck. ABE Fuck you, you fuck. Now here’s the deal, Grisha Moysif. Meet me tonight at six o’clock after the Atlantic City meeting at that place in the Meadowlands near the water. I show you them. You say no to me, the Chinese can not buy from you and you will have eleven dead tons of dead metal sitting in water. GRISHA Don’t make deals with me. ABE But I got them, you know, Grisha, you know because you being shit, you’re wanting now to shit on me. GRISHA Stupid old dog, talk, talk, talk. ROSALIE Oh – please – please -- ABE So know this: copies of these codes go to other people, too. Some you know, some you don’t. If you do me in any way -- in any way, Grisha -- GRISHA Why would I do that? ABE In any way -- these copies -- all correct and vertifiable -- all codes go to the government men by the United States mail -- Priority -- and the Chinese here and there get some copies, too, to show them all that you fuck them and then they will more than fuck you, too, Grisha, they will slice, dice, and vice you 'til you are screaming with no prick and no eyes and no skin and not even blood in you, screaming for your life to be at the end already. Oh, yes, not even a tomato. GRISHA You want to be boss, Abe? ZEV takes out his telephone. ABE Here: now: you make the deal with Zev and Hong Kong: you honor that. Meet tomorrow. Noon. That place in the Meadowlands. I give you all codes -- everything -- from startup codes to codes you need for the missiles -- you give me $750,000. Then you leave me. I leave you. Over.
ZEV dials the telephone number. GRISHA Five hundred thousand. ABE Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars and you make the millions! And for me -- release -- full release for Zev and Jakie and for me. GRISHA Stay there, I’ve got a call. (He clicks for Call Waiting.) Yeah? ZEV It’s me, Zev. GRISHA Zev, good morning, hello, how are you? ROSALIE He’ll do it, I told you. ARON enters wrapped in a blanket and sipping coffee. He stands behind ZEV. GRISHA (To ROSALIE: ) If it’s yes, I’ll call my friend, if it’s no – ROSALIE It’s yes – it’s yes – ZEV I’m fine, yeah. I’ve been thinking – GRISHA Good, good, I hope.
ZEV Yeah, okay, I’ll do it. Once and then we split, that’s it, that’s all it is, that’s what I’m proposing. GRISHA Let’s take it one at a time. ZEV No. Once only, that’s the deal. GRISHA Hmmmmm --- it’s going to be very big – ZEV One time only. GRISHA Hmmmmm – so big, then one time only is okay. I’m flexible -- okay. ZEV Deal. GRISHA Good. This morning be here at nine. Then we go to Atlantic City. Good. Good. Welcome, Zev, welcome. (He clicks back to ABE.) Abe, I’m back. (To ROSALIE: ) I’ll call, bushkie, you did fine. Abe, hello. ABE Cash! And if I do not come back from the Meadowlands tomorrow -- if I don’t make the visit -- in person! -- to my side -- at my preferred time -- already copies of all information naming you, Grisha Moysif -- in the mail to numbered United States officials, and also to certain big Chinese businessmen here and in Hong Kong and Petersburg, and -- dog, you dog -- to your Russian bosses, I know them. I know them all! Yes? Yes! It’s your whistle, Grisha Moysif, your whistle! GRISHA All right. All right, Abe. Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars. But if you fuck with me -- if you give me garbage codes that do nothing but buy you time and screw my deal, I’ll hunt you down for dog meat. I’ll get Zev, I’ll get Jake – ROSALIE No! GRISHA (To ROSALIE: ) Shut up. And then, Abe, I’ll kill you. Give me garbage, and I’ll kill all of you. ABE Man to man, Grisha, man to man. You honor that from now until always. Keep Rosalie, the whore, I know she’s there. Six o’clock, Grisha! Tonight! Business like men! (He slams down the phone.) GRISHA hangs up. ARON So, huh?
ZEV nods. ARON nods.
Copyright © 1999 Fred Jay Gordon |