The Barrens & Others (51 page)

GARY: Yeah, we sure did, Daddy. Kind of a strange goldmine, though, dontcha think? I mean, we ain't even sure what kind of animals they was.

JEB: Who cares! Long as they got great fur. Look how those pelts shimmer. And think! Winter thick! So celebrate, boy! Celebrate!

As Gary replies, the PELT MOVES and slips over the back of the stretching board.

GARY: I dunno, Daddy. These things give me a weird feeling. For some reason I been thinkin' 'bout how it'd feel to have your hand caught in a trap so's you'd have to lie in the freezin' snow all night. You think animals feel much pain?

JEB: (laughs) Not if you hit 'em right. One good whack to the head with a Louisville Slugger ought to do it every time. Although I do remember this tough old coon I trapped once. Had to give him forty whacks before his skull caved in. Plumb like to wore me out. (shoots another hard look at Gary) Ain't going soft on me, are you, boy?

GARY: No, Daddy. It's just that when we was bustin' their heads this morning, a couple of them...well, sorta held up their paws like they was asking me not to hurt them. It was almost, like...human.

JEB: (makes a disgusted noise) Speaking of paws, look at this. (tosses a small black object to Gary) Found it stuck in one of the traps.

GARY: Hey! Looks like a front paw to one of them beasties.

JEB: Yep. The thing had just finished chewin' it off when we got there but I nailed it afore it got away.

GARY: (tosses it back to Jeb) Gonna add it to your collection of chew-offs?

JEB: (holds it up) Nope. Think I'll put this on a chain and make me a necklace out of it. Or maybe I'll give it to Jake when he comes down.

GARY: Jake the furrier? He's comin'?

JEB: Yep. Sent him a piece of that first pelt you stripped. He called awhile back. Tried to act cool but I could tell he was all excited. Gonna be here first thing in the morning. Jake's gonna love these. Gonna pay big for 'em too. We're gonna have us some spending money, boy. (takes another pull on the applejack) Yep. Gonna have some long green for once. (mumbling, head sinking toward the table) Maybe we oughta catch a coupla those beasties alive, stick 'em inna cage... mate 'em...get into the fur farmin' business...

Jeb's head sinks onto the table (the crown of his head toward the audience) and he begins to snore.

Gary begins to move the stretching boards around. As he slides one between Jeb and the audience (allowing Jeb to be replaced by a dummy), he stops. He lifts his arm from behind the board and sees a PELT CLINGING to his forearm. He tries to shake it loose as he finishes pushing the stretching board (moving it clear of the table), but another pelt begins clinging to his other arm. Suddenly Gary's expression goes slack and he stops trying to remove the pelts. He walks over by the potbelly stove, reaches for his bloody bat, then pulls back.

GARY: No!

Gary struggles with himself as his hands slowly reach out and pick up the bloody bat. He turns and approaches Jeb's slumbering form. As Gary stands over Jeb, he slowly raises the wavering bat, fighting it all the way.

GARY: Oh, no! Oh please, God, no!

With a wail of horror, he smashes the bat down on his father's head, caving it in amid a spray of red. He raises the bat and clubs Jeb again. And again. When Jeb's head is a bloody ruin, Gary slumps to his knees next to his father SOBBING. Abruptly the SOBBING STOPS as Gary gets back to his feet. He holds the bat before his face.

GARY: Please, no! Sweet Jesus, no!

He slams the bat into his face with a loud, wet SMACK and an explosion of red. And again – another SMACK. And as the lights BLACK OUT we hear the bat SMACK into Gary's face again and again... over and over...

SCENE THREE

Jeb's barn   the next morning. The barn is bloody. The pelts are still there, but no bodies are in sight.

JAKE AND SHANNA ENTER. Both are dressed in fur coats.

SHANNA: Eeeuuuh! Jake, lookit all the blood!

JAKE: What did you expect, Shanna? I'm a furrier. This is one of the places I get my pelts. Fur doesn't grow on trees. It grows on little animals. And it's gotta be peeled off their backs before you can wear it.

SHANNA: (grimacing) Please. I haven't had breakfast yet.

JAKE: Wonder where Jeb and the kid are? Weren't up at the house. (picks up Jeb's jug and sniffs) Whew! Jersey lightning! Looks like Jeb's been hitting the applejack again. Probably dead drunk somewhere. Or waking up with one helluva headache.

SHANNA: I don't know why I let you talk me into coming here.

JAKE: Hey, Shanna. Gimme a break. We've had a good professional relationship the last few years, haven't we? I told you: This is business. Purely business. The modeling business.

SHANNA: Then I should've had you call my agency and talk to them. Where the hell are we, anyway?

JAKE: The Jersey Pine Barrens. A coupla million acres of wilderness. Real wilderness. I mean there are stretches in here no human eye has ever seen. And all just an hour's drive from Seventh Avenue.

SHANNA: (buffing her nails) Fascinatin', Jake. Just fascinatin'. But what's this gotta do with me? You think this is a neat location for a shoot or something? It ain't.

JAKE: I don't care about a shoot site –

SHANNA: Then why are we here?

JAKE: If old Jeb's got a stock of pelts that are anything like this...

Jake's voice fades as he notices the pelts arrayed around the barn. As he strides from one stretching board to another, Shanna pulls a pamphlet from her coat pocket and begins to read.

JAKE: (excited) Look at them! Look at them! Where on earth did that old fox get them? They're magnificent!

Jake inspects the last stretching board, then straightens up.

JAKE: Exquisite! What a coat these'll make! Look at the color! I never seen such a perfect match! They won't need to be dyed! Shanna! Look at these!

SHANNA: (glances up from the pamphlet) Hah?

JAKE: Aren't you listening? What's that?

SHANNA: Just one of those pamphlets those animal rights nuts left all over your car. Listen to this: "Animals should not have to sacrifice their skins to feed human vanity." (laughs) Are they nuts or what? (talks to the pamphlet) Ay, if God didn't want us to look great in furs, why'd he make animals with great lookin' fur? Huh? Tell me that!

JAKE: (taking the pamphlet from her) Forget that. Take a look at these, will you. They're magnificent! (holds up a pelt) And they're gonna make a magnificent coat, Shanna. When it's made, I want you to wear it for me

SHANNA: Jake, I don't do fur shows anymore. I'm shooting for bigger things.

JAKE: Something bigger this'll get you. Trust Jakey. This coat will put you on the cover of every major fashion magazine in the world.

SHANNA: Jake–

JAKE: Wait. Just give these a look. Touch them. Feel them. Aren't they fabulous?

Jake holds out the pelt to Shanna. It's beautiful. The fur shimmers and glistens. Little streaks of iridescence run through it.

Shanna glances at it, turns away, then turns back. Without coming too close, she walks around it, viewing it from all angles, almost mesmerized by it. She looks at Jake questioningly. He holds it out toward her, nodding encouragement. Finally Shanna takes the pelt and runs her hands over it.

JAKE: It's going to look fabulous on you, Shanna. Absolutely fabulous!

Shanna's eyes glaze as she envisions the coat these will make. She knows she must model this coat but isn't sure how to go about it with Jake.

SHANNA: (her voice soft with wonder) I've never seen anything like this, Jake, or… (she rubs the pelt against her cheek)... or felt anything like it. What kind of fur is it?

JAKE: I...I'm not sure. I don't even know if Jeb can get any more.

SHANNA: You own these yet?

JAKE: Well, not yet. And if I know that Piney gonif, he'll want my first born son in trade. God, I'd almost be willing. But he'll want cash – which ain't in such good supply right now. Maybe if he's not feeling his usual hardheaded self we can work a deal. I know him. He'll want to haggle, bat the prices around a little –

SHANNA: You got enough here?

JAKE: Yeah. Enough for one full length coat. But no more.

SHANNA: (eyes lighting) One of a kind? I want it, Jake.

Jake says nothing as he watches Shanna drape the pelt over her arm and admire it. His expression becomes calculating.

SHANNA: Did you hear me, Jake? I want to model this coat.

Receiving no answer, SHANNA turns and faces him.

SHANNA: Aren't you listening?

Sensing that he now has the upper hand, Jake becomes very businesslike.

JAKE: (clearing his throat) Yes. Well. That's all fine and good, my dear, but as for showing the coat, you're not the only model being considered.

SHANNA: Forget the rest. Don't you let anyone else near this coat. This is mine. I was born to wear it.

JAKE: We'll see.

SHANNA: (losing some of her confidence) Jake, you've got to be kidding.

JAKE: Shanna, Shanna, Shanna. Surely you realize you're not the only model in New York. This however may turn out to be the only coat of its kind in the world. It's going to put my business on the map in a big way. For something that important, I should let just anybody wear it? The International Fur Show's coming up and I've got to be convinced that you're the right girl before I let you parade that coat before all my snarling competitors…

SHANNA: (sarcastically) 'Convinced', ay?

JAKE: Well...yes...so to speak.

Shanna starts strutting around him, swinging her hips mockingly.

SHANNA: And just what would it take to convince Jakey the furrier that he's found the right model for the job?

JAKE: Oh, I don't know. You should use your imagination maybe.

SHANNA: Use my imagination? Okay. I'll use my imagination. But just so you don't have to use yours–

Shanna turns toward Jake and pulls open her coat and lifts her skirt, revealing black panties and a garter belt. Jake's jaw drops as he stares at her. His first attempt to speak fails. Then:

JAKE: (voice cracking) Convincing... very convincing.

SHANNA: I can be even more convincing in the car. (Starts toward the door) Come on. I'll show you.

JAKE: The car's too cramped. How about right here?

SHANNA: (startled) Here? Now? Are you crazy?

JAKE: It's going to be a fabulous coat.

SHANNA: (sighing and muttering) Well, I've done worse for less.

JAKE: What?

SHANNA: I said, "This place is a mess."

JAKE: No argument there. Lemme see if I can find a blanket back here.

Jake moves stage left.

SHANNA: (with a forced smile) All right... but don't be long.

Jake EXITS stage left.

Shanna wanders the stage, toying with the pelts. Occasionally, one RIPPLES while her back is turned.

SHANNA: (calling over her shoulder) YO, JAKE! I'M WAITING! HURRY UU-UP! (then in a lower voice, to herself) Yeah. Hurry up and get this over with! My God, what a coat these'll make! You're a schlub-and-a-half, Jake, but you do know your fur. And Shanna's going to wear this one. You think this coat's going to put your business on the map? Let me tell you, little man, it's going to put Shanna on the map! She's going to be on the cover of everything from Vogue to Popular Science. (glances over her shoulder toward the doorway) Where
is
he?

Shanna walks halfway to the door stage left.

SHANNA: (calling) JAKE? WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THERE? DID YOU FORGET ABOUT ME? (mutters) No such luck! You've been trying to jump my bones for two years, Jake, and now's your big chance. No way you're going to miss it. (sighs) Ah, Shanna...won't be the first time. All part of the game. Let him get his jollies a few times and you'll be home free. (calls over her shoulder) JA AKE! I'M WAAAI TING!

Shanna wanders stage right to the door. She pulls on the handle.

SHANNA: Maybe there's something in–

She pulls open the door and JEB'S CORPSE – crushed bloody skull and all – falls on her. Shanna SCREAMS and scrabbles away from it. Jake ENTERS, rushing in from stage left. He sees the body and freezes, then approaches the corpse gingerly, almost tip toeing.

JAKE: (his voice cracking with fear) Oh shit, oh my God, it's Jeb! Who did this? Who did this! Oh, this is terrible. We gotta get the police, gotta get somebody! What are we gonna do?

SHANNA: I know what I'm gonna do! I'm gettin' outta here!

Shanna rushes for the door to the outside, but just as she reaches it, GARY BURSTS IN with a crash, knocking her back. Gary's face is a bloody ruin, his clothes are covered with blood and snow, and a large steel trap is clamped on his ankle. He's half blind and completely mad with pain as the trap chain drags and clanks behind him. He's swinging the bat wildly, smashing it against the walls, the table, narrowly missing Shanna and Jake as they duck and run from him. He stops briefly over JEB'S CORPSE.