Jimsonweed (4) Lord Rutherford wants me to tell Princess Ann where he’s hidden the bones. Can you write this down Miss Kelly? (MISS KELLY hurriedly takes a pen and paper from her purse and writes hurriedly.) The first bone is hidden in the rose bed. MISS KELLY Lord Rutherford has been digging in my rose bed? ATTIE The second bone is hidden in the tulip bed. MISS KELLY Lord Rutherford has been digging in the tulip bed? ATTIE The third bone is located in the MISS KELLY (Suddenly jumping up from her chair.) Enough! Enough! I don’t want to know anything else about any more bones! (Lord Rutherford’s excited barking changes once more to growling. He begins to howl. Princess Ann begins to howl, too.) Princess Ann, come! I forbid you to dig anywhere! (MISS KELLY exits right.) EDGAR Somebody stop me. ATTIE (Coming out of her trance Edgar, you’ve been watching TV again! (Rubbing her temples as if she has a headache. She gets up from the séance table and she is nine months pregnant! She rubs her back as if it is bothering her. She walks over to a large mirror on the wall and turns sideways so that she can see her stomach. She pats her stomach and smiles. Attie Datura Andrews. Attie, Attie the married lady. TAYLOR (Entering the room) Attaie, that’s our last reading for today. I think I am going to start getting ready for Janet and Tom’s Christmas Eve party tonight. ATTIE Sounds good. Me, too. TAYLOR How is little Dick Junior? ATTIE (Putting her hand on her stomach) Awake and kicking me like a mule! (Shutting off the ‘light’ ATTIE exitsthrough the shop door. TAYLOR forgetting her keys returns. Just as TAYLOR places the ‘Closed Sign’ in the shop door window, a sharp rapping is heard. A dark silhouette of an Indiana Jones figure appears in the shop door window!) Dr. ACE SOLANA (Urgently, from outside the door) Please, I need to speak with a Miss Attie Datura! TAYLOR Well, that a Mrs. Attie Andrews now. I am sorry. She’s not here. The shop is closed. Dr. ACE SOLANA Please. I’ve come a very long way, on urgent business. I need to speak with Attie. TAYLOR I’m sorry, but. Oh, all right! (TAYLOR opens the door half way.) All right, but what is this about? Dr. ACE SOLANA (Dr. ACE SOLANA steps into the shop.) It’s about a statue. Blackness Dr. ACE SOLANA and TAYLOR are seated at the séance table. TAYLOR So, you’re saying you’re an archaeologist and that this statue was… Dr. ACE SOLANA Stolen in 1985 from an archaeological dig in New Mexico. TAYLOR And that somehow, this statue found its way to New York and my sister bought it. And you believe that this statue has Dr. ACE SOLANA It has released an evil spirit. The statue is one of the jimsonweed, god, Toloache. At first, the victim feels somewhat intoxicated, then come convulsions, coma and death. Very fast. Let me tell you, I can count the deaths of at least nine infants that I know of. And the mother always came into contact with this statue. All gave birth to stillborn infant boys TAYLOR And this statue, Toloache, was found at a gravesite of fifty sacrificed infants? Dr. ACE SOLANA Yes. TAYLOR Attie is nine months pregnant. She will have a son. Dr. ACE SOLANA Attie is pregnant? Oh, my God! Blackout SCENE 2 It is the living room and dining room of JANET and TOM’S home. JEREMIAH, is seated in his highchair at the dining room table. JANET is watching him. JANET Jeremiah, just look at you! What a messy boy! TOM (Coming into the room) Good Heavens, my boy. (TOM gives JEREMIAH’S messy face a kiss, getting some of the food mess on his cheek.) JANET Tom! Good heavens, yourself. Guess, I’ll have to do you to. (JANET takes the cloth and wipes TOM’S face too. He kisses JANET. She pulls away.) Tom enough! I’ve got to get dinner ready. Mom and Dad have already left and Dick and Attie are on their way. TOM All right! All Right! I’ll be a good fellow now. (He arches his eyebrows at JANET in a lascivious way, She laughs at him. He gets some bottles of wine and groceries out of a grocery sack that he has brought in and sat on the table. The doorbell rings.) That’s Mom and Dad, I’ll bet. I’ll get the door. (JAMES and ELLEN enter stage left, though the living room door. TOM takes their coats. Hey, Mom, Dad, Dinner’s running a little late, I’m afraid. Je Jeremiah has been helping Janet with dinner. ELLEN If you all don’t mind, Grandma will see what her favorite grandson is up to! (She picks up JEREMIAH out of his highchair and kisses him. She sits down with him at the dining room table.) JANET Mom, sorry dinner’s running a little late. ELLEN Yes, I heard that Jeremiah has been helping out tonight. (ELLEN kisses her grandson’s cheek.) Attie and Dick are still coming to dinner? JANET Yes, they should be here soon. I swear, Attie looks like she is going to pop any minute! TOM (Answering the doorbell, it is DICK and ATTIE.) Hey there Dad to be! DICK Hey, there yourself! (DICK and TOM shake hands.) ATTIE Hey, there Tom! (TOM gives her a kiss on the cheek.) TOM Have a seat you two! (They have a seat on the living room sofa. JAMES sits drinking a glass of wine.) DICK (To JAMES) Say, Dad, whatja drinkin’? JAMES Say, Tom, get this fellow a drink! TOM Coming right up! (TOM walks over to the wet bar and pours a drink for DICK. He hands DICK the drink.) DICK Thanks old man! ATTIE I’ll take a Coke, please. TOM sits down in a chair.) TOM Attie, you look like you’re due any minute! ATTIE Any second. (DICK kisses her. JANET carries JEREMIAH. ELLEN also comes into the living room. JEREMIAH sees ATTIE and wants to go to her.) Oh let me have him! Jeremiah, you’re going to have a little cousin soon! (ATTIE takes him. TOM hands JANET a glass of wine. JEREMIAH accidentally knocks ATTIE’S glass of Coke on her dress. JANET Attie! You’d better take care of that stain immedi- ately, before it ruins your dress. ATTIE Where is your bathroom? JANET Through the kitchen there. (ATTIE exits through a door. The doorbell rings. JANET answers the door. TAYLOR and CINCI and Dr. ACE SOLANA enter the living room.) Taylor, Cinci glad you could make it. CINCI Janet, I hope you don’t mind. But, we’ve brought company. This is Dr. Ace Solana. JANET How do you do. Dr. ACE SOLANA How do you do. (JANET and Dr. ACE SOLANA shake hands. Dr. ACE SOLANA nods to the others in the room.) TAYLOR Dr. Solana has urgent business with Attie. DICK Urgent business? Dr. ACE SOLANA It is with regard to a statue she purchased about a year ago. DICK Surely, this matter could have waited. TAYLOR No, it couldn’t. Where’s Attie? JANET In the bathroom. Through the kitchen there. CINCI Thanks! Attie! (CINCI, TAYLOR and Dr. ACE SOLANA abruptly leave the room, entering the kitchen. ATTIE enters just as they do. She is startled for a second.) ATTIE (Startled) Jesus! You startled me! (Dr. ACE SOLANA takes ATTIE’S hand.) TAYLOR Attie, this is Dr. Ace Solana. ATTIE How do you do. Dr. ACE SOLANA It is so nice to finally meet you Attie. CINCI Dr. Solana has come a long way to see you. Dr. ACE SOLANA Yes, I have a very urgent matter to discuss with you. ATTIE What matter could you possibly have to discuss with me on Christmas Eve? Dr. ACE SOLANA It is about a statue which came into your possession about a year ago. A statue of a jimsonweed god, Toloache. ATTIE Yes, I think I know what you’re talking about. Real ugly statue. Dr. ACE SOLANA Yes, you couldn’t miss it. That’s for sure. ATTIE Why are you so interested in this statue? Dr. ACE SOLANA The statue was stolen from me in 1985 from an archeological dig in New Mexico. We were robbed. ATTIE Robbed? Dr. ACE SOLANA (Very seriously) But, the matter that it was stolen is not why I’ve come such a great distance to find you Attie Datura. It is what the statue is. What it represents. And that I’m sad to say became apparent to me as I followed the trail of this stolen statue. TAYLOR Listen to her, Attie! Dr. ACE SOLANA Toloache, the jimsonweed god, is a god of war. Jimsonweed was a drink given to captives. It intoxicated and paralyzed their bodies, while the victors, laughed and buried the captives and slaves alive. These were the best men, the bravest men, though fallen in battle. Toloache, the jimsonweed god, stolen and reborn, has found other victims. Your unborn, male child, Attie Datura. From one owner to the next. Always too late. Always one step behind. Maybe this time, I haven’t arrived too late. That I was able to trace the statue to you, Attie Datura, is in itself a miracle. ATTIE Well, let’s destroy the damned thing! (ATTIE picks up the statue, which Dr. ACE SOLANA has been holding in her hands. She smashes the statue against the wall.) Dr. ACE SOLANA No! (A deep, vibrating, drumming sound reminiscent of an ancient, Indian dance, rumbles throughout the living room! TOM, JANET, ELLEN and JAMES are immobile, sitting in the living room. DICK, Dr. ACE SOLANA, TAYLOR, CINCI and ATTIE are also immobile. TOLOACHE enters left, dancing to the ancient Indian drums. He dances threateningly around everyone. Making his way towards ATTIE! Right before TOLOACHE is about to cut her large stomach with a knife, the ANGEL appears! She gets between TOLOACHE and ATTIE! TOLOACHE comes to a halt suddenly! He is immobile! TAYLOR, CINCI, DICK, Dr. ACE SOLANA, regain their movement! They grab ATTIE and begin to hustle her up the stairs. ATTIE (Grabs her stomach in pain) I’m in labor! Oh, my God, the baby is coming! What have I done? Blackout SCENE 3 JANET and TOM’S bedroom. Dr. ACE SOLANA and ATTIE’S sisters, TAYLOR and CINCI support ATTIE to the bed. There is a loud booming of drums outside the bedroom door. CINCI (To TAYLOR) Taylor, Attie is going to have this baby any minute! ATTIE More like any second! CINCI Taylor, tell Dick to call 911. Hurry. (TAYLOR leaves the room in a hurry. TAYLOR’S screams are heard outside the door.) What’s going on out there? (CINCI leaves the room. Dr. ACE SOLANA takes ATTIE’S hand. The ANGEL guards the door. The ANGEL goes unnoticed.) ATTIE Don’t let this thing kill my baby. Dr. ACE SOLANA Don’t worry, Attie. I give you my word. (The loud pounding of the drums outside the door intensifies. Outside we hear the family shouting. With great difficulty, DICK is able to open the door.) DICK What the hell is going on? Attie, are you all right? ATTIE The baby is coming soon. DICK Janet had to go next door to call 911. The ambulance should be here soon. (DICK looks at Dr. ACE SOLANA with much anger in his face.) And who the hell are you anyway? Dr. ACE SOLANA I’m here because of the statue, as I’ve said earlier. ATTIE It’s evil, Dick! And I broke the damned thing into a million pieces. DICK That you certainly did, Attie Andrews! ATTIE But, I’ve gone and released this evil spirit on all of us, haven’t I? Some demented, evil Indian god! (Dr. ACE SOLANA nods. ATTIE grabs her stomach in great pain. TOLOACHE appears suddenly in a far corner of the bedroom. Everyone becomes motionless, except the ANGEL. TOLOACHE carries a large sword! DICK suddenly becomes conscious and seeing TOLOACHE, fights him. DICK is thrown against the wall and is unconscious. Dr. ACE SOLANA suddenly becomes conscious and fights TOLOACHE. The ANGEL joins in the fight, but is thrown off. Suddenly, a sword appears in TOLOACHE’S hand!) God, no! Not my baby! (Dr. ACE SOLANA moves towards the evil TOLOACHE! The ANGEL has a golden sword, she throws the sword to Dr. ACE SOLANA!) Dr. ACE SOLANA Go back to hell, where you belong! (Dr. ACE SOLANA catches the sword. She rushes at TOLOACHE and stabs him in the heart. TOLOACHE lets out a loud scream of agony! TOLOACHE dies.) Blackout SCENE 4 ATTIE’S hospital room in the maternity ward, New York City Hospital. FATHER INOXIA stands beside ATTIE’S hospital bed. ATTIE holds her newborn baby boy, Richard. Richard is wrapped in a blue blanket. FATHER INOXIA And so, Attie, what are you going to call the little darlin’? ATTIE I think that I’m going to name him Richard. FATHER INOXIA Indeed he looks like a little Richard. ATTIE I can’t get over how perfect he is. Little fingers. Little toes. (DICK enters the room. He has a cut on his forehead. He is holding a dozen roses behind his back.) DICK Father Inoxia! I haven’t seen you in a month of Sundays! FATHER INOXIA Well, I can’t hazard a guess as to why that might be! ATTIE (DICK surprises ATTIE with the roses.) Oh, Dick! They’re beautiful! DICK (DICK kisses ATTIE and then he kisses little baby Richard.) Well, he’s beautiful. But, not as beautiful as his mother! ATTIE Dick! Oh, you. FATHER INOXIA Well, I’ll leave you two to enjoy your Christmas present. (As FATHER INOXIA leaves, Dr. ACE SOLANA arrives.) Dr. ACE SOLANA You make a nice family! DICK I think that I owe my family to you, Dr. Solana. ATTIE Cinci says that you are on your way back to Peru. Dr. ACE SOLANA Yes, my plane leaves in two hours. ATTIE More digging in the dirt? Dr. ACE SOLANA Yes, that is about right, Attie ATTIE Well, just be careful what you dig up next time! Dr. ACE SOLANA I promise, Attie, cross my heart! Blackout A light is on ATTIE, SEVERAL INDIAN YOUTHS, a SHAMAN, and TOLOACHE, who is standing behind one of the INDIAN YOUTHS. YOUNG ATTIE Probably the best known use of Datura, is by several North American Indian tribes in puberty ceremonial dances, involving the drinking of a toloache (Datura) infusion by young boys preparing to enter manhood. The cememonies generally involve wild erratic dancing, varried hallucina- tions, and finally unconsciousness. As written brilliant- ly about in Carlos Castenada’s novels, the young men in this puberty ceremony, will, with Toloache’s guidance, ‘Stop the world.’ (ATTIE exits left.) INDIAN SHAMAN Mighty Toloache, warrior spirit! Guide these young men on their journey tonight. These young boys leave behind their childhood and a carefree life. Tonight, oh great Toloache, guide them to manhood. Help them in their mighty quest to become warriors so that their tribe will be proud of them. Help them to achieve many victories on their journey. Guide them up the sacred mountain safely. Trust that they carry only the most precious things with them. The hearts of their people, The strength of their youth, and the guidance of the great spirit Toloache! (A bowl is passed down the row of INDIAN YOUTHS to drink from. TOLOACHE stands behind one YOUTH. He touches the boy on his head. The boy looks behind him.) TOLOACHE Boy, leave your childhood and follow me. INDIAN YOUTH But, what about the others? TOLOACHE They will find their own paths. You are the warrior of your tribe. I have chosen you. INDIAN YOUTH Where are we going Toloache TOLOACHE Our path lies ahead. There. This path is wisdom, This path is knowledge, This path is heart. Let us begin our journey on foot. We will then know this path well. INDIAN YOUTH Yes, I see it. TOLOACHE And when we know this path, we will know the world. Every stone, every rut, every mile, till its end. And then, my Warrior, we will Stop The World! (TOLOACHE and the INDIAN YOUTH make three steps towards the audience. They stop, frozen, with arms upraised.) SCENE 5 ATTIE’S Occult Shop. ATTIE, TAYLOR and CINCI are in the shop. CINCI and TAYLOR are putting items on the shop shelves. ATTIE is behind the shop counter, arranging jewelry in the shop display case. CINCI Attie, how much are these oils? ATTIE Let me see the box. (CINCI brings the box to ATTIE.) Oh, Cinci, that’s three dollars. All those boxes we just got in, they are all the same price. (Looking at CINCI) Girl, what is the matter with you today? (CINCI leans on the counter, holding her hands over her face.) TAYLOR (Walking up to the counter) Girl, I thought you were looking a bit glum today. It’s Tad, isn’t it? Uh, oh! (TAYLOR gives an exaggerated gesture of despair and drips her head onto the counter. ATTIE comes around the counter to her. ATTIE hugs CINCI.) CINCI My life is over. I’ll never find a man, Attie. I’ll never be as lucky as you and Dick. TAYLOR There, there! ATTIE Well, as you both know, due to my personal contact with the spirit world, I have got all the answers. The meaning of life as it were. And death. Is our spirit eternal. Is there a soul mate for each and every one of us. Etc. etc. CINCI (Irritated) Well, hell’s bells, Attie. Give me some of that wisdom. ATTIE Are you sure that you want it. It’s pretty profound. CINCI Yes ATTIE Well, OK, here goes. (ATTIE makes a grand gesture, bowing before her sisters, TAYLOR and CINCI. She begins to sing, “Life Is Just A Bowl of Cherries.” Words and music by Lew Brown and Ray Henderson.) Life is just a bowl of cherries. Don’t make it serious. EDGAR (Repeating, perched on his stand.) Don’t make it serious. ATTIE Life’s too mysterious. EDGAR (Repeating) Life’s too mysterious. ATTIE (Moving towards Edgar, perched on his stand.) You work, you save, you worry so, But you can’t take your dough, when you go, go, go. So keep re- peating it’s the berries (ATTIE, TAYLOR, and CINCI open the shop door stepping to the front of the shop outside. RICHARD, is six years old now. He is jumping rope. The ANGEL is sitting in the top of the tree, that we found ATTIE in, at the beginning of the play!) The strongest oak must fall The sweet things in life To you were just loaned ANGEL (From the top of the tree) Attie, now that girl can sing! ATTIE So how can you loose what you’ve never owned Life is just a bowl of cherries, so live and laugh at it all! Curtain
Copyright © 2002 Teresa Ann Salyer |