The Rrebel a 1-act thing by Ben Ohmart 723 Boal Ave. Boalsburg, PA 16827 fax: 814-466-7555 email: findline@mindspring.com (It's the 1950s. Dim light represents night. DEAN, a cooler than cool teen who is James Dean to his mind, and MARIA, a dark-haired Australian girl with a thick accent, sit in a car. Either a real car or chairs or something equally as cheap may be used, but it's important something covers the bottoms of these teens from the audience so that only their tops are seen. They're in the middle of what looks like hand sex: arms busily engaged underneath, faces in that Twilight Zone between pleasure and pain, breathing more than they need, and agitated. Suddenly DEAN jumps out of the car and prances around, in internal turmoil for an unknown reason. Note: overacting isn't encouraged. He has a ring in his hand) MARIA. I'm sorry, Dean. DEAN. Yeah. MARIA. (Gently) I don't see that it can be important, I mean, to.. wait, just a little.. longer, is... does it matter that - DEAN. (Pause, then bursting) Maria, why won't you wear my ring? Huh? - Isn't it good enough? Huh? Is it like.. what.. isn't it as good as Diff's, or Sparo's? MARIA. I don't know. DEAN. (Laughs, to himself) You don't know. Man. Like bring me the bottle and watch me die. MARIA. - Can't we go to the movies? William Inge is - DEAN. I don't get you, I just don't get you. I mean..... it's not like this is cut glass, I made this is metal shop myself. You can slice tomatoes with this, I've made three garden salads already. MARIA. And it's a lovely ring... DEAN. (Yelling) No! No! Just... stop it! Just... stop it! All right? Okay! Jesus testicles! MARIA. What? DEAN. Balls! (MARIA covers her ears, she can't stand it) Balls, Maria! Balls! Big fucking blue ones with the veins sticking out! I ask you just for this one thing or not, and I get screwed by your great big balls that you mean to say I can buy you a three course tray at Sandy's Duncan Doughnut Hop in the valley, and you won't fucking wear a piece of jewelry I made for you with a welder's mask and a bit of solder I haven't used on myself yet? And I gotta ask why? MARIA. Stop it! Stop it! DEAN. Warren had the same trouble last Thursday except that this had to do with something about giving her a pearl necklace from the inside and I'm not even going to stop and give it to you what that scene's all about, no. MARIA. Stop it! I just want to go home! DEAN. And he was saying it wasn't a hole normally used for that, so I've got to thinking what can you do successfully with a belly button? And no... MARIA. (Pleading) Dean! DEAN. Hate to fucking think how it's going to be when I ask you for something important. MARIA. (Begins to cry) I... I love you, Dean.... DEAN. Yeah. MARIA. Let's just try.... let's just try... DEAN. Try, try, try. (Bangs his fists on the car, then snaps. He likes the sound of it and snaps again as he does a little dance to it to express that he's in pain) MARIA. (Feeling for him) Mama.. DEAN. This is how it feels. This is how it should feel. MARIA. I hate you! DEAN. (Doesn't notice her any longer) Last time I had an English girl, she was glossy. And by the time I got through with her, she had another coat of paint. But she was ringless. And I couldn't change her. She'd take nothing from me. My pain.... my feeling. My who. Who I was. It was there. There. MARIA. (Very upset) I hate you! You! You! (Runs off) DEAN. (To himself) They don't know. And I don't think they print Collier's for me. No, I'm sure they... (Looks around, sees she's gone and becomes more angry though less animated) No, no, no, no, no, no. No. There is a code. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Why and no, no, no, no, no.... (Starts banging on the car again, as lights fade from here and come up on MARIA's living room. Nice, but a couple boxes haven't yet been unpacked. MOM sits working on one of those IQ tests where blocks have to be placed in the respective holes. MARIA enters almost immediately) MARIA. Hi, mom. I know what I said. - Having deep.. fun.. (MOM rises happily and she moves like someone with severe birth defects: her legs don't work proper and her whole frame's twisted when she moves at all. She picks up a tin of cookies and offers MARIA some. MARIA shakes her head politely, but there's something about her mom; she's never sure how to talk to MOM) Mom. Can I talk to you? (MOM intimates "yes") We didn't get to Jane Russell. There was a fork in the road. Dean. That's the boy. He's like.. so cool. I mean, only half a week, but already... Mom? - He had this ring. It cut when he tried to get me to...... wear it. But it felt good. All shiny? Something slick about his. It was wonderful. He wanted it mine. I wanted.... Mom? What do I want? (MOM offers the cookies again and MARIA shakes "no". MOM thinks then runs to a box and brings out her religion. She sets up candles and a little brass statue of Buddha, then motions for MARIA to come over which she reluctantly does) No, mom. I'm talking about you and dad. - You loved each other. I understand age. There's always that bummer thing. It's like no where. It undermines and you give a thing time. But you and dad. How long? How long, mom? (MOM makes sounds but nothing coherent. She bows her head to the idol, and through her repetition MARIA does likewise) Was there ever a difference between us? There's this.. thing that separates. But can you relate. Mom, can you? I was wondering what you thought of dad. (MOM makes noises, MARIA never understands) It was nine, I mean I was nine when grandma took me to the boons and the outback was as pristine as those pictures from the California coast cousin Stephen used to rain on us. Clear. It was cool. And I felt lost in a kind of embrace. There was nothing there. It was the same to every back that stared just like the front where the eyes can see. And I could spit anywhere. Just hunk up a liquid wad from my innermost depths, let it slide to the earth. Let it slide. And I felt safe in the arms. It intimidates another, you, it shows me calm. And I'm not sure how to take it, it's just there and you deal. Nowheresville and you look at it and you just know. You know? That's the difference. That's how we are all the difference, and he makes me... (Hugs herself; she wants to be happy, and wants advice) Grandma would take me. She's dead now. - You... you can tell me? How was it with you two? - I only want to know... (MOM makes noises, but it disappoints MARIA to no end. Pause) I want. I want. You don't know. I can never understand you. (Pause) Do you know who I am? (MOM smiles and fixes MARIA's hands into prayer as lights dim from here. Lights up on a drug store which is the hang out for a certain group of cool guys and girls. They're all dressed in leather, chains, etc. just like DEAN. DIFF and SPARO are the guys and ROSE and WETTY are the girls. Extra members of the gang would be great if budget permits. The girls and guys are laughing, having a good time, from time to time they kiss and feel. They all wear rings also. DEAN enters) DIFF. Lo, Dean! SPARO. Hi, Dean! WETTY AND ROSE. Middle-ground, pouchy! DEAN. (Tries never to smile, always the coolest) What's with the pouchy? SPARO. My wet little game here says you got a pouch on you like after a pool game. DIFF. No, way! WETTY. Got picked up by a poet today. DEAN. Didn't know they pressed. WETTY. No, the Cafe Shelley, like a coooooool scene like a breath of God when He takes a mint. There's this.. (Snaps a few times through:) higher level of consciousness than where I'm now standing, and a point in time when you know just what is. What be. OTHERS. (Alternately) Cool... DEAN. Where it's at. SPARO. Huh? DEAN. I'm tellin', it's the movement of our past, it's what we feel. And they understand. There's.. this.. dig... power... (OTHERS shake heads in agreement) DIFF. (Still nodding) You can talk, man. ROSE. I'll bet that was the scene with Marrrria. Dig it. Kids. SPARO. Yeah, so how's it, oh high spirit of the world above. (DEAN removes a cigarette and goes to his ad poses, with a puff here and there. A pause) There is a certain stillness in the air. DIFF. It is the age of reason. It is the age of generations where they say, hey, you've got it right. It is might possibly be. If any of us were around. Around. Here. WETTY AND ROSE. Here. SPARO. (Snaps) I see a gentle movement of her hair. Friggin' cunt! DIFF. (Laughs) She tearfully reproaches herself, and there's a - (Whistles) of virgin to the molten lava that flows freely. DEAN. You dicks. (They laugh) You need a leash, and I need to drag you. Drag, drag, drag. SPARO. Pow - ow! DIFF. So that her fingers have been soiled by the likes of you. DEAN. (Pains him; takes a drag to pause) You don't see me doin' it myself. If it's on me, I must be playin' pool, uh? (GIRLS laugh) SPARO. (With a cool handshake with DEAN) This is official. She's a crew. DIFF. She's a one. WETTY AND ROSE. Tell me more, tell me more. DEAN. Cool it. Like. SPARO. It's Mount Summit next week. DEAN. You're checkin' the Mount? DIFF. (Runs around like an airplane) Marlon's dad broke the leg he supposed would fall asleep hooked to him up the Fresco Bay deal. Cool at home, daddy. ROSE. Solid. DIFF. (Misunderstanding) Yeah, clean brake. SPARO. And I don't see a (Makes hand motion) ride of the wind that writes us into the bylaws of life, the constitution of what keeps.. us down, man, says we're not takin' this opp. to the max of speed! WETTY. Clang-o! ROSE. Dip the pa-pow! DIFF. Flunder puff! DEAN. Yo, Sparo. (Cool pause. He has a smoker's hack but gets it under control soon without losing too much cool) You're checkin' in this Friday past? WETTY. (Coming up close to DEAN to answer; sexily:) Daddy-o. Oh yeah. Be a part of us. Trust in the security of the realm, baby. There is no other. Let it.. flow. 'Round you. SPARO. (Taking back his girl) Wetty! DIFF. (Laughs) It's only fair, as life is fair, man, you gotta share. We've been patient. Seen her. This is hotter than when caveman first got his red, glowing tip out of it. She is the one. DEAN. Yeah. (Puffs) She is the one. ROSE. I can't wait for no one, no longer no more. Can I put an onion on it? DIFF. Rose, fuck-mate. (Chews on her tongue) You talkin' a hamburger? I say, hot-ta, see-voo cha-cha. Ole! (Others laugh, DEAN's been thinking) SPARO. The man in the white hat, shall we purge him from the villains that ruffian him up, steel up soul, man? DEAN. (Pause; OTHERS know he's going to say something and wait for it) Why do any of us do the things we do? (This goes down "deep" with the gang, and they too pause, to shake their heads and ponder, but for them it soon leads into make-out time that starts as soon as the lights begin to dim. DEAN can only take it out on his cigarette, and he's forced to smoke a couple more at once, but coolly, to "understand". DEAN walks into a spotlight which could be a street lamp. After a moment of deliberation, DEAN feels he can grind one of the butts out. Lights come up on FATHER, an older man who moves, acts and speaks just like Mr. Magoo. Sometimes he bumps into things but not too too often. Now FATHER's carrying a full garbage can while trying to keep an eye on an invisible dog. FATHER gaggles that Mr. Magoo laugh often between sentences. DEAN has meanwhile been speaking half to himself, half to the gang who've disappeared) You think I don't see you. In front of my eyes. When there is a shadow to me like.... some kind of shadow on my soul that just stays there, and it burns, it burns, man, and still you all, you all put it on me. You put it on me like so many... put ons. A hat and a glove and a scarf and pretty soon you can't make out anything. It's like there's nothing there, and you wonder sometimes. You try to be... just...... try to be, and you don't think I can recognize the glisten? The glitter of the rattle that you all hide? That I can see, see, see, and you show off to me it around your neck, it's on you, and it's all over you, hounding me. Hounding me hot, till you think I've got it too, and you do it right in front of me, rattling the rings, and I can hear the clang and clank of your hot, heavy class rings as they clink together, so many on the same fucking hand! (Pause) And don't you think I know what you're doing? Doing to all I can't see? Anything I never.... (As if trying to retrieve the thread; he's confused himself) was...? FATHER. (Sees DEAN) Ah, my boy! (Whistles for dog) Grease Lightning! Get out of that blancmange mix, if I want a mad dog I'll... oh! I - I see you're home from school and it's before dark. Ha! You must've made progress at that first level reading level, tell me, did Mrs. Badfinger like the model of that black man's nipple? I had Hubert mix the Paris solution myself. DEAN. (Always indifferent to FATHER) Right, dad. FATHER. It wasn't any big deal, but you have to start the process early in the morning, so that you don't get a collected settlement by the time you're ready for the spread. DEAN. Yeah. FATHER. But I've got to ask you why - DEAN. I told you she'd liked, didn't I? (Wants to light up, but doesn't while FATHER's around) FATHER. No, I've moved on to another subject now, son. I only wanted to ask why you didn't do what you see now. DEAN. What? FATHER. Oh come now, young lad. You have a chance to help out the old man, you say a hearty and long-term "yeah" to his request for sheer help at the garbage retrieval and missed completely where Grease Lightning's walk is concerned, he's not been out of the house since that, you remember, that time when our insurance agent Luke Perry threw up all over his fresh coat and we had to, you remember, take - DEAN. Yeah. Yeah, George. (Starts inside. This use of FATHER's first name sparks some strength in FATHER. FATHER places the garbage can at its proper place then hurries in after DEAN. MOTHER is in the kitchen making red cookies. She's a very sweet woman who never says anything of substance) MOTHER. Oh, Dean, a Maria?, called a couple times and she wants some cookies. DEAN. What's her scene? MOTHER. Yes, I'm baking cookies for my Socialism For the Landowners of Today, I've told you all about this, now if you can wash before dinner, there'll be a special taste.. with a heap of the red cinnamon just for you, oh, this stuff crackles between your teeth. DEAN. You are the world. MOTHER. Ah.. FATHER. (Enters) I won't have you call me that, if that's all right with you, I mean, I think I deserve a certain title of respect when it comes from our lot in life, there's just a way you - DEAN. A way! FATHER. (Stunned) Huh? DEAN. You dig yourselves. Dig yourselves! MOTHER. But I can only give you one because Desire Streetcar, and she didn't want me to tell anyone this, but she's got a bad oven, her grandfather Marty committed suicide and he took in the whole gas tank so that they've got to order a new one before - DEAN. You don't get it! FATHER. Don't interrupt your mother. (Pause) Now. I was just asking about that nipple. MOTHER. What nipple is that, George? FATHER. Nipple of a black man, Dean needed it in a short sort of haste, and who does he call on, you talk about your family. Huh? Watch that guy and his football player 'cross the street. He's in car parts, and what does his son do but get the girl down the way, she's over in Brookmire, she's been pregnant for two months and there's no sign of it stopping. DEAN. (Fed up) I'm taking Grease Lightning for a walk. FATHER. Dean, son, don't worry about any of that, I was just - DEAN. A promise is a promise, isn't it, George? We're all one. (Leaves) FATHER. Now - (Yells at MOTHER) Why's he have to do that? DEAN. (Whistling, calling off) Grease Lightning! Come, come, you dog. FATHER. I mean I've finally got used to that bunch of black that's always pasted on his back, where's the sense in... Sometimes.... I don't know, Vivian... why does he always have to have the... oh! (DEAN has heard his FATHER's rant and now whistles a time or two more and moves out of the house with the dog in tow. Lights fade from here and come up as a street spotlight again during:) That boy's got to learn how to work, how does he ever expect to, every time I try to put an apron around that boy's neck, you'd think the hardware business had puss or something all over, why when he was my age, I mean.. (Lights come up on a porch. DAD, a punchy old Aussie, is rocking in a rocking chair and sometimes falls over. He sounds like Paul Hogan. MARIA comes out. She's of course shy to speak around DAD but finds much more to get close to with him) DAD. My little roo, my sweet one, why don't you pull yourself up a spot of soiled seat and have a sparking tongue at your old dad. MARIA. Hello. DAD. Oh now. There's more to it than that. MARIA. - Isn't it warm. DAD. Ah, there ya see, that's meaningful chin... stuff. (Has a spasm) MARIA. Exercise? DAD. (She knows just what he means) There's a good girl. Regular old blossomer, you are. I'd take the shears to you myself if I wasn't already married. I'm married, right? MARIA. (Difficult for her) I was talking to mom. DAD. Oh? Yeah? MARIA. - She was telling me about you and her. And nights on Bald Mountain. DAD. Was she? Then you got more out of her than I ever could after that shark accident. I swear, I don't know what she tells me anymore. Asked her about autocratic ideals in our Latin American neighbors in terms of the job placement market and I swear she didn't come by but a face full of spit. Caught her cleaning the shrimp forks with a baseball bat other day. She was in the nude, that's what took me. MARIA. (Pause) About how you met and things, everything that was a memory, was apart of the past was somehow beautiful and it filled. It filled something. In someone, in somebody. DAD. Bloody horrible. Bald Mountain? Nothing more than an ant hill that got far too high to be taken by a successful battle. No. Had to rename her. We stood there. Rained on us, acid or something I should think, and we stood there. It was hot. She wasn't raving then, she could count to one. And I told her I loved her. Still do, that's plain old fashioned Christian charity. MARIA. - But. - How did you know? I mean. Were you certain? I'm just not sure. DAD. Don't worry about us. Ah, what's the matter little roo. You know you can tell me everything. That is, that's relative. We don't want to sit here all night with Hoppy on the telly. You start on about enigmatic equations and - MARIA. Why was the rain like acid? Tell me, dad. DAD. (Smiles) You're turning into something of a romantic. (MARIA also smiles, this breaks the ice with her and she'll find it easier to talk) Like a bloody fire bomb, wan't it? Uncommonly hot for a night on the brush, you got your.. presence surrounded by water on all sides, here. America. You gotta live on a coast or hope that something breezes you by. It's hot tonight, there's an exception to everything. I loved her. Still do. MARIA. Why? Why, dad? I mean - how did you know it was right? DAD. Ah. Well there you ask me a question. Here I ignore it. Completely. MARIA. But - DAD. One of those individual things. Just something that comes to you. Comes by your side. And you gotta reach over and wash your hands first before you pick it up. (Has a spasm) Because you never know if it's going to be something you want to keep or something to take back, and either way... MARIA. (With meaning) You're deep, dad. DAD. Should hope so. You find the one. You find her, him. It. MARIA. Just like you two. DAD. Just so. You find the one. You want for it. You pick the one you want to wait the longest for. Then you wait just a little longer. But make sure no one starts without the other, you see. And you do this. Because. It's worth. You find the one that's worth it. MARIA. (Sad again) I see. DAD. I've told you this before. Back when I fought koala bears, back when I could. Was legal. You had this, I mean I had this offer of a young gal. Wanted it this minute. Wanted it up close and personal. Buddhism forbids me from not naming the source of it. But I couldn't give in, what was the point? I was on top. Seeing the steady little girl from the Whitestead District, took me three years just to have the proper respect for her to take her here. (Points) Just under the arm. Wore my ring in seven. Got married.... Jesus Christ... how long's it been? - And you're relatively new yourself. MARIA. I remember.. DAD. It's a night. MARIA. That is a fact. DAD. I love this time. I mean here. Between us. Take your mother. She brings two flavors of ice cream to bed a night, stays up half the night reading them like a book. Spooky, girl. MARIA. Yes, dad. DAD. You kids say a hep cat? This is one that prowls around. MARIA. (Shyly; pause) But isn't there.. DAD. What's that, roo? Speak up. MARIA. I mean... DAD. I'm still seated rocking forward. Your mother still prays. Good. But she's started giving thanks to quarters. Can't understand it. MARIA. - Just that... (Pause) aren't there exceptions to things...? DAD. Darling, if there weren't, death would be no release. (MARIA isn't sure how to take this. DEAN is in the spotlight now, smoking. He's watching the invisible dog. DAD rocks and falls off his rocker again, then comes up swinging. He hits MARIA, snaps out of it and goes back to rocking. MARIA is on her knees recovering when he notices she's on the floor) Good afterlife, girl, you need to watch these raucous American night airs, come on, let's get you a good inside habitat. Your mother's playing with half a pound of hamburger, come on. MARIA. No, no, really. I'm okay. I'm - like - okay. DAD. Could you be more specific? MARIA. I - just need some air... DAD. (Let's her go) Oh, all right. (Goes back to rocking) As I was rambling on. I see the world as a place of commoners and gentle folk. And trust in Buddha to see to that. MARIA. (Usual repetition) Trust in Buddha. DAD. I think I'd like a bit of television. But this isn't the time. We've got to be one with nature once in a while and I figure there's nothing on tonight. My dear little roo. - There's Hoppy. MARIA. (Sad) I wish a lot of things. I wish for the stars to remove themselves from their sockets. I wish they'd fall and break and the ground scattered into a million lives. A million lives that would then - DAD. My feet always sweat on these nights. Happened in the bush too. Caught a roo trying to chew up a lettuce sandwich I had with me, and my feet started to sweat. MARIA. (Knows there's nothing she can say to him) - Yes, dad. Your feet sweat. DAD. That's the girl. It's the thing you'll get used to, it's a generation thing. DEAN. (Crosses over from the one light to the other) You are an Indian my friend. DAD. (Pats himself all over misunderstanding, then:) You say that like you mean it. DEAN. If nobody was what they mean. (Takes a puff) DAD. (Interested) Yes? DEAN. (Pause. Almost with spite:) I didn't mean that. DAD. (Sits back and tries to extract the meaning from this) I need the night to cool down my glands. DEAN. (Pause; meaningful) I mean. Because there is much truth. In who you are. What you say. MARIA. (Happy since she's seen him) Dean, you got my messages then? DAD. (Angry) Messages? You've been giving this boy messages? How long has this been going on? DEAN. (A puff and a pause) Not long, old man. DAD. Hey, here, I was an Indian just a minute ago. DEAN. It's a changing world, daddy-o. (Pause) I feel this fire inside of me. It's there. That's where it is. It's inside of me. Me. Of me. DAD. What the - MARIA. Please, dad. DAD. No, forget it, I still want to know what right you've got to give my daughter messages, she doesn't even give me messages and she's seen me buck naked like a healthy girl should. DEAN. (Pause) Dad, dad, daddy-o. You've got your skullcaps crossed. MARIA. Please, Dean, don't.. DAD. I don't even know who you are! What right do -! You haven't even been introduced like a proper -! I mean, bloody afterlife! (MARIA's mad with DAD and takes DEAN's arm) MARIA. I'm going out with Dean, I don't know when I'll be back. DAD. Like -! DEAN. Later. DAD. No daughter of -! (But they've gone) DEAN. Grease Lightning! (Whistles as they go. DAD's so mad he flings himself into the rocker and rocks so hard he falls out immediately. MARIA and DEAN cross to another area of the stage, lit by another spotlight. DEAN poses coolly in thought; MARIA seems torn. DEAN smokes his thoughts, then:) They think they don't know me, they know me. They think they don't not know me, they don't. (Pause) I don't know anything anymore, I don't know. I don't know. They ask me what I've got to be so unhappy about. What is it? I mean, like. Yeah. God, when it's so obvious. It's there, man. There. Don't they know? (Pause) They ask me, Jesus Christ it's... it's.. and I don't know. There is a problem. There is a way. At every single core. It is there. There, man. MARIA. (Worried) I'm not sure about this. DEAN. (Finishes his cigarette then seriously) There is a gift of nature. It is called Mount Summit. Everybody goes, everybody's been. It's a token. A token of trust. A token, there, of everything. Who we are. We're talking east of Eden county. Just a two hour trip, what's the deal. You're going. MARIA. I wish I knew. DEAN. Maria. Girl. I love you. MARIA. Oh, Dean. DEAN. I don't love my name. I don't love the way it sounds in your mouth. I don't love the shape of your mouth. I don't love who you are. I don't love what you've been. I don't love what you are. Man. I love you. (Pause) See what I'm saying? MARIA. I'm not sure about any of this. DEAN. I'm losing my voice over here I'm talking so much. MARIA. What can I do? DEAN. You can love me, girl. MARIA. Oh, Dean, don't you -! Oh, isn't there a time. A time - DEAN. There's everytime. Of every year. There's a thing to do. There's something not to do. It's here. It's then. Then there's here. Here there's now. And what's it going to be? MARIA. - Sometimes you have to just be. DEAN. (As if she's seen the point) Yeah. MARIA. I'm still.... DEAN. Yeah. MARIA. (Pause. Tightens around his arm; reaches a decision) We'll always. Be together. We'll always. DEAN. You know it. MARIA. Be together. DEAN. You know it. MARIA. If I had a wish... DEAN. So here's the ring. (Takes it out of his pocket and gives it to her. She's stunned and takes it) Diff and Rose I expect will be there first, they've got a clunker that fits two, and I believe they did that on purpose. MARIA. Dean. I. DEAN. Cause Wetty's got a kennel class don't get out till like two or something. Sits with dogs. But I'm always late. That's me. It's who I am. I don't plan anything. MARIA. Dean. I. DEAN. Now I figure, I got the old man's. Don't worry 'bout nothing. You'll be just fine, and they're going to love you a lot less than I do. (Tries to kiss her, she backs away and throws the ring on the ground at him. DEAN reacts coolly and tries to keep the hide tide of anger in. She begins to prance around) This fella.MARIA. How can you come to me? Dean! DEAN. This fella. MARIA. I tried to understand, and, and, makes things... oh Buddha! DEAN. This is a part of me, Maria. MARIA. I can't believe -! (Tries to figure out if she's angry or sorry) It's Buddha I'm in love with, he teaches a higher wisdom than any other... I mean he's kind and he lets you do whatever you want. But you've got to remember. You've got to remember.. (Tries, but can't) You're just one more soul that wants to belong, you're one more soul that wants me to belong to you, and you, and you take your leather jacket and your clothes and you talk about belonging, and you have a real feel for belonging, and you want to do something! DEAN. For a damn three bucks, and I might as well give away nails, then you crush them. Then you pow! Ting! Use it over a fella, see that this is what you are again, hang a painting with yourself. MARIA. I see you as one of these backs, you talk about a foundation, but there's never anything about my own. My own, and I belong, but since it's a private thing, it doesn't matter. No. You end up like all the others. DEAN. (She's hit a sore spot) You don't know anything about me! MARIA. And you want to take my finger! DEAN. It's a fucking finger! MARIA. (On her knees, begins to pray) To the Great One who sees all - DEAN. (Stands her up) No! No! Right! Cool, baby! Yes! Yeah, man! You think you're gonna end up just like all the rest and what you see is a man who disappears when he gets within a certain distance. Disappears! Fuck that! Move over, bore a hole in it and fuck that! (MARIA puts her hands to her ears but he won't have that) There is an original and it is called a name! A name! You hear me? And you call it what you want, you yell and yell and scream until you think your ears are just going to swell up and explode under the sheer.. the sheer.. I don't know... when it bursts, and you think that it's come to you. That it's here. To help you out while you're cleaning up the blood and it's helping you with the hand signals until you can sit your fat ass back in your rocking chair, and it's nowhere baby! It never came! Because it's the one! The name you've put to isn't it, man! It's an original you can never hope, to put yours to! - No! That's not it! I'm like the rest, end up like the rest like piss on a turnoff, I'm just there, and nobody wants to follow! That's the way I am, like it or yeah, I guess so. But I don't disappear! I don't disappear between nobody's leather! (Takes off his leather jacket and throws it at her. Pause to cool down a little) You got to ask yourself the deal. You got to ask for the menu and order the meal. - You want my piece of steak? You wanna get a hamburger, anyplace else, all over. - I'm the one! (Stalks off leaving a crying MARIA. Lights dim here and come up center on a blank piece of stage. DIFF, SPARO, WETTY and ROSE enter. A few of them snap off and on, and a few of them go "Pow!", "Bang!", "Piss!" and "Seltzer!" sometimes. They're all happy though it's impossible to say why. ROSE spreads a blanket) WETTY. I've got a hole. SPARO. (Seductively) Wetty... WETTY. I've got a hole, Sparo. I've got a hole in my heart. And it can only be filled by you. SPARO. (Loves to be teased) Let me see that friendship bracelet. WETTY. (Holds her arm out) I want you to feast yourself. But give me back the bone. (During this DIFF and ROSE will start making out then realize they want to be alone and move offstage) SPARO. I've got some pizza in the bag. But you. You are a delectable. That's what I call you, man. Like, you're where it's at and I love to eat there. WETTY. Oh, Sparo. You're my daddy. Like how. Like, I've got all over me this like huge case of penis envy. For my daddy, daddy-o. SPARO. Oh, Wetty, live up to your name, sister of the earth! (They start to make out and continue to as lights dim here but not completely out and come up on DEAN's bedroom. DEAN's there changing from his leather suit, staring into the closet to try to pick a look. There's a knock at the door and that's DEAN's cue to just take a random collection out and moves to behind the bathroom door as FATHER enters wearing a leather cap, but the rest of his look is normally businessman like) FATHER. Son, you in? DEAN. (Pause) Yeah. FATHER. Do I smell -? (Tries to laugh it off) You're your own man, I don't have to tell you. We do things differently in this household. We're not our neighbors. We're ourselves. Right boy? DEAN. Sure. FATHER. Sure, why not! (Laughs) I know the roads, the boundaries of a free thought, a free act. I am my own man, repeat after me. Yes. I know the spirit of compromise and that it flows from the freest thoughts. DEAN. Compromise. FATHER. I'm glad you mentioned it, Dean. My lad. A buddy, following his father true to the end. Isn't that always the way? My father. He took me out to the tool shed. Explained to me adjusted ratchets for I guess forty-five minutes before he thought I'd grasped what passes between a man and a woman. But no more. When you enter into something. Here. You know that that's the deal. Isn't that what you say? DEAN. Sure. FATHER. Sure! Why not. That's why Leroy asked over. Leroy Blacker. DEAN. (Not as if it matters) You didn't wait. FATHER. Huh? DEAN. My life is like an open book. Daddy-o. And you come in and you think you can place your bookmark. That's all I've got to say. FATHER. (Trying to be patient) And it's nothing to do with me. Not at all. Just because he's at the south branch, over Trio Road way, he's come just because he's heard what such a hard worker - DEAN. You know. FATHER. (Pauses to wait for the follow-up but when it never comes, he continues) I think he's going to say something about an opening. Now I've got nothing to do with it, because, like I said, just that. He doesn't report to me on all hiring. The main point is, he's obviously heard about your steady arm. Your reasoning. Your popularity when it comes - DEAN. You're not. On tip. On top. But there's a tip, and man. You've got to be on it. FATHER. (Again trying to be patient) I think it's darned decent - (DEAN interrupts by simply coming out. All this time he's been dressing in a wild get-up comprising of odd colors and materials and promotional items like Coke t-shirt and Mickey Mouse things, etc. that make him look more like a man with no direction than a nerd. A pause) Good. God. DEAN. Pick a tree. FATHER. (In another world) Yeah. (Starts to go off to do that, but comes back to reality) DEAN. Pick a tree. Carve it up with love. Love, love. The letters of love. Till you've carved all the life outa that tree. What have you got? FATHER. Huh? DEAN. It's a scene, man. Like how. (Starts to leave but as a last minute action, FATHER remembers that he doesn't want that and grabs him) You've got me by my own. Man.. (Shakes his head and tries to leave again but FATHER stops him) FATHER. Just a minute, fellow. (Pause) Your mother's fixing ground beef and cheddar cheese noodles for us. DEAN. Life is a dairy. Moo, moo, man. (Tries to go again, FATHER tugs) What is your problem? FATHER. That's a perfect question! Yes! There it is! (Motions to his hat) I don't see what you've got to be contrary about? What is it? Has your bed never been comfortable? Three square meals don't have enough corners for you or something? DEAN. You're not with it, man. You don't understand. FATHER. (Slowly) Then - why - don't - you - - me. Goodness, you're like a walking crossword puzzle. And I don't know what to fill in. Yeah, just like those crosswords your mother does. And you won't even give me a letter! DEAN. You didn't wait. I think that's all. FATHER. You will meet Leroy. He asked to come. Do you know how long - DEAN. Don't wait up for the weekend. Like, dig it. FATHER. How long he's been trying to get you at my south store? DEAN. Rich, rich, that's the final level when you're dirt to dirt, supposed to make them crackle, all crackle, same sound under your feet. (Doorbell rings off; it's the first five notes from the Love Story theme) FATHER. My goodness, he's on time. Dean. Applicants, applicants, and he's got a stack this high. DEAN. Low, high. The world's a round place, man. FATHER. I'm sick and tired of you "square"in'! What have you got to complain of? DEAN. He's been? FATHER. What? What are you saying to me? DEAN. (Hurt) He's been trying? Listen to yourself, man. You don't dig it. FATHER. God in heaven, you act like you're Atlas and there's been some kind of population explosion! You don't have any diseases, I'm trying to look out for you, you didn't just lose your best friend in a California earthquake, what's the matter with you? - This hat? This hat? I can change! Why won't you let me - DEAN. Man. I've got a shovel. And you're pourin' water to make your hole. FATHER. I'm looking silly, I'm getting laughed at, that's the point, isn't it? DEAN. (Getting very angry) Boom, boom, boom, you look like the many. Don't wag at me about things, don't. Keep cool. Cool, man. (Exits, grabbing a few more weird clothes) FATHER. (Pause; to himself) When I got used to it. - I wish he had an expression. (As he looks around his room) He smiled when we went over that snake from Cavanaugh to Bruster, that's the last time I remember. - Two weeks in Boston, and I decide I haven't seen them enough, came back. (Same doorbell rings again and makes him want to rush out but he thinks he sees something under DEAN's mattress. He looks under it and finds a sticky ring. He wipes it on his cap and tries to figure out what it is. There's more jewelry under the mattress) - Sticky.... - That leather... that leather... something about.. I never know what...... oh.. okay...... (Gets a sticky small folded paper from the same place and unfolds it to reveal a picture of a hand clad in beautiful jewelry. Lights dim here as FATHER tries to understand it) Cheddar cheese noodles... (Lights come up full on MARIA's area. She's shy about interrupting but doesn't want to stay "behind the scenes" any longer) MARIA. 'Scuse me. (WETTY and SPARO break up, coolly, not from embarrassment but surprise) SPARO. Like, what's the news, sister radio? MARIA. Is this Mount Summit? I'm supposed to meet a gentleman friend. WETTY. (Pause; they don't know what to make of her) Cooooool. SPARO. (Snaps) Like there's a whole fall of surrounding air around us. Drinking us in, feeding off us, and you look and you feel it too, and you'll see something like a couple thousand feet of what's eating you. MARIA. (Thinks she understands) Ah. - Yes. My caller - WETTY. Hey, she's got an English accent! SPARO. Hey, yeah! Like, she's not ringed! Cool, only Dean! (Snaps off, then yells off) There's like an addition to the facts of the case as they stand, my children of the earth! (In a few seconds DIFF and ROSE run on, full of life) DIFF. Well hubby-chow! ROSE. Like oopla! MARIA. (Wants to be friendly) Salute! SPARO. (As if it's something significant) The dame's the thing, so dame on! ROSE. Kak-a-kak-a-kak-a-wow. So this is the famed beauty that leads a leader astray. MARIA. Sorry? DIFF. (They all take an immediate like to her) Chaz! - Yeah, man, no wonder he's been turned off and on and back to it like some kind of... WETTY. (DIFF doesn't need to complete it) Yeah.... SPARO. You're the thing! Whole! ROSE. Yeah, he's been so moody lately, like you can tell, I mean before, you knew he wasn't saying something because it was deep, man. But now, I mean, lately there's been this living thing inside him keeping his thoughts back like. They're stuck. MARIA. - Is that good? WETTY. You explain, sister. You do! (MARIA smiles, it's obvious they mean only compliments) MARIA. He's kind of... your leader then. Kind of like that. ROSE. (Laughs) You dig this! SPARO. Yeah! Check-a-chow, pow, pow! DIFF. (Also laughing) Room room room gurgle room room room! SPARO. Spider to co-spider, wild! WETTY. Wild, man! MARIA. (Cheery; she likes them a lot) You guys certainly are volatile! DIFF. Volatile! I dig it! SPARO. (Coming up close. Poetically serious) We're a gate. You know? MARIA. I'm sorry? ROSE. Don't worry about it. SPARO. We're a gate. (Makes motions like he's opening a creaky gate. A dog is barking in the distance) We're a gate. And you think Dean is the post? (Shakes his head "no") - He's a tree out there in the forest. And he won't tell you which one. DIFF. He's a rebel. ROSE. He leads? DIFF. He's nowhere. SPARO. He's a one. WETTY. He's an individual. SPARO. He's something you don't see. - He is. (They pause so MARIA can sink it in) MARIA. Well it's nice to meet you all. DIFF. I can see why he's - look here. This is Diff. Sparo, Wetty. Rose. MARIA. (Starts trying to shake hands) Well I've been looking forward, forward to being all - SPARO. Good fuck! (DEAN enters. Still the dog barks. DEAN lights a cigarette, just as cool as ever, and there's a long pause because no one knows what to make of it. He's dressed in more of the silly clothes he took. He's had enough barking) DEAN. Grease Lightning! Go, Grease Lightning! Go! (The dog's barks taper off in the distance. DEAN slides back into "cool" and awaits the results. Everyone's still stunned, and shaken, and they're too moved to even laugh) MARIA. (To break this silence) - Dean! - I couldn't.... (She waves and runs to him. DEAN's happy to see her and manages to display this through his cool. A smile almost appears) DEAN. (Squeezing her) Wasn't sure, you know? Like - DIFF. (Outraged) What the fuck is this? DEAN. (Pause) Yeah? ROSE. Dean, man. What you done? DEAN. Me. Who I am. SPARO. You're a department store? DEAN. Cut it, Sparo. SPARO. Me cut it? What the fuck? MARIA. (About the look) Really.... SPARO. Hey, hey! (Comes over to get her) What have you done, huh? - You for or against, huh? (MARIA doesn't know what to say) ROSE. What is this? Your leather jacket - DEAN. We do it. To ourselves. You be you. I'm me, man. I'm a me. And only. Dig? DIFF. What? Wearin' all those things that they sell all over the place? Mickey Mouse? Christ's sake? DEAN. (Pause; importantly) You ever seen anybody, in your life. You ever seen anybody dressed like this? (There's a long pause. He's got them. They have to admit it, but don't agree at all. Another pause) SPARO. Dean, man! You're screwed! (The others except MARIA shout their agreement; it's not something they do right away, but take a gradual loathing) WETTY. You look like a fucking... (Can't go on, has nothing to draw upon) SPARO. (Coming to the quick rescue) Yeah! (Others agree. DEAN's somewhat disheartened, he didn't expect this) ROSE. Yeah, what you gonna do, Dean? Rent yourself out as a coloring book? WETTY. Yeah! Give all the kids crayons that ain't got no color and let them suck you up! (They all laugh. MARIA feels obliged to join in, just to keep the spirits up. DEAN's outraged) DEAN. Religious baby! Religious baby! - Got to keep everybody happy but yourself! Where's your finger, huh? Where's - ROSE. What's the matter, Dean? Cotton still got the seeds in it? (They laugh. DIFF pulls MARIA away from DEAN. The dog begins to bark again with all this noise) SPARO. Man, you're a freak man! I don't see your point! MARIA. Please! Maybe.... just.... Dean...! (The meaning is that if DEAN will just change clothes..) DEAN. (Angrily struts around the stage) You call me a man? That's what you want? The fuck with you! You ever seen anyone exactly like me? Exactly, this must be me then! Huh? DIFF. Dean, man, you gotta be - DEAN. No! No! Just stop it! Stop it! (Screams and drops to his knees. Holds his stomach like he's in intense pain. The invisible Grease Lightning comes over and licks his face; DEAN hates this) Go, Grease Lightning! Go -! OTHERS BUT MARIA. (As they laugh and have fun with it) Grease Lightning! Go, Grease Lightning! (DEAN starts to run away, MARIA comes after him but he doesn't want her) DEAN. No! You stay with what you know! Talk about changing to one of them, you know what you want, then you don't know what you want! MARIA. What? DEAN. Wind up! Wind up! If it's not me, stay! You keep the image! You drag it away! Drag, drag, drag...! (Runs away. MARIA wants to follow but the crowd swallows her up and they have a great time at DEAN's expense: prancing around, shouting things while holding their stomachs, etc. MARIA can't get away, though she could try harder. Lights dim here. There's a spotlight, far away, where DEAN stops. A dog yaps. He pauses long, then lets the dog find him. He needs a friend, and after a pause trying to be cool, bends down for a lick. He smiles from the affection, he can't help himself, but after a moment he can't take it anymore) Maria....! (Pause) Maria...! (Pause) Maria....! (Pause) Are you gonna answer me? - With this? With this? - Everything... - After everything.... (Pause) The rock. I remember that rock. (Lights come up on an area with a large rock. Shore sounds. MARIA enters laughing and playful. DEAN as he speaks goes over still in his painful mood) I checked you out. I used to like going to paint stores for that kinda thing. - Before you. Where we met.. MARIA. (Splashes invisible water from floor on DEAN) I didn't think it would be that cold. DEAN. That cold. MARIA. (Laughs) What would've happened if I'd've put Peter Pan on that jellyfish? Now tell the truth. DEAN. (To himself or audience) Couple dates later, we were tight like lovers that like it tight. Man, cool. MARIA. (Doesn't understand what he's talking about) Huh? DEAN. Everywhere. Weren't we everywhere. A week before school. I don't how long. MARIA. (Is he talking to her?) Dean? What is - DEAN. Tease, tease! Can't see a reason! A - just a reason. Is it Buddha? I wonder if he's enough for you! A father. A mother. Man! Just - just a little..! MARIA. What are you talking about? Just a minute ago you were so - DEAN. You're not here! Get away from me! Just - just a little - I mean, meet me! Meet me? You're here, I'm there. I see this box in the middle, and I don't see anybody in it! MARIA. Can you start laughing again? This is strange.. DEAN. I don't have to explain anything to you! (MARIA goes off) Two weeks! Two weeks, or somethin'... I hear myself talking but there's no breath coming out. (As lights come on DEAN's living room) No breath. (He breathes into his hand as lights fade on him. FATHER is sitting trying to smoke a rolled up newspaper while MOTHER sews on a Chinese flag) MOTHER. If he didn't, why did he scoop my best Corning.. with three scoops from the first offer? FATHER. All I'm saying is that his hunger was dissipated. Dissipated, I tell you. You break the news, you break the news. I'm not sure if coffee should've followed, nervous e- how do you catch these things? MOTHER. (Takes the newspaper and starts it going) I wanted to light your newspapers for you. What have you filled it with? FATHER. Filled it with? MOTHER. You don't smoke. What are you trying - oh. Let me get back to stitching. I have to have this stitched. FATHER. What? (A door slams. FATHER looks back but too late) MOTHER. I told you. There's this party. FATHER. Did you hear a.. something? MOTHER. George, it's too late for you and that nasty habit. There is always - FATHER. (Raising his voice, as if proving a point) I'm trying to show the world something. You put in, you take out. That's the way. MOTHER. Mr. Blacker forgot his scarf. And his right glove. FATHER. That's how the world works. (About what she said) See? Upset. Nervous, and I wish they'd make coffee without that... but I suppose the day they do that, they'll be making beer without alcohol. - I don't put in, I don't put out, so to speak. I don't fix a branch hardware chain with five outlets, do I? MOTHER. I know all this. FATHER. Then why don't you help me. Sit there with your.... your clubs. MOTHER. This is a flag, George. FATHER. Well beat me over the head with - Dean! (Runs to get him. DEAN comes back but looks very volatile; he's got an overnight bag. The bag's usually pure leather but now there are some bows and odd stuff stuck over it) I think that Leroy will expect your apology in the morning. I should think that he'll be very... what do you call, heartbroken. I mean. He trusted you. He - DEAN. He trusted me? FATHER. You weren't here. He was so - MOTHER. (After DEAN laughs) He left a glove. A.. something.. DEAN. I'm goin'. FATHER. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Going? Going? Did I say to go? Did I ask - DEAN. Ask, ask, ask. FATHER. Why do repeat things three times? Is something the matter with you? Why do you feel you have to say it three times, like it's some kind of song lyric, do you have any idea how much Blacker wanted you for a proposition? He had a proposition - DEAN. (Trying to contain himself) I can't stay here. I just can't stay here. FATHER. (Coaxing) Go on, just one more. DEAN. I just can't take it, stay here. FATHER. Thank you. (DEAN tries to move off but he stops him) Do you have any idea what I've been smoking? DEAN. Man. You're the earth. You're the old. You're death. FATHER. Nnnnoooo. I've rolled up my paper, mother says you need something in it, but I'm trying. I'm trying. What is it you want? You're a healthy man. I don't see - DEAN. (With an edge) Yeah. - And I think that's a starting place. Place, place, place. FATHER. (Throws up his hands) Oh, God. DEAN. You can't lay it on me! FATHER. Well come here, I'll take the damn thing off you! MOTHER. George! FATHER. Why don't you see that I'm trying to help you! Everything I do, I - DEAN. Do, do, do! FATHER. Would you stop that? Talk to me, Dean! Communicate! DEAN. (Full of rage now) Dig it! Communicate! Dig it! Communicate! - You ever - I mean, you like, ever think that's what I'm trying to do?, I talk, talk, talk, you listen, yeah, like a thing about job, job, work, work, work, and you don't ever listen! I've got problems, I've got things I think about, I am, I do, I must, and talk, talk, talk. Work, work, work! Dig it! FATHER. What are you saying? DEAN. (Has to half-laugh) Communicate! DEAN AND FATHER. Dig it! FATHER. (Immediately) I know. DEAN. I live, I love, I touch! You think with your ears wide open, and what am I saying? What am I saying? (FATHER has to shrug) You think I might want to love, I might want to live, talk about it, and sure. Might want to not go to work, work, work, work, and it's always the south store, the south store, like I might want to go to Harvard Communication School or something, learn radio repair, be a man, be. Just be! That's what I'm saying! That's what I'm communicatin'!, and how's it going to be - FATHER. (Angry when college's mentioned) No son of mine -! College -! DEAN. You think I'm an extension, don't you? I'm just a part off, and I can communicate an' talk an' tell you which part o' me you are an' that's a - MOTHER. Dean! FATHER. No, no, let him talk! We're talking about school! Love, life, we're communicating, and I'm listening! DEAN. You can't hear. - You don't feel it, man. Where it's at just ain't here. (Starts off but FATHER grabs him again) FATHER. I want to hear more about this Harvard School of Comm - (DEAN tries to restrain himself, but then it quickly builds up inside him so that he can't control it and punches FATHER who lands on his back. MOTHER's shocked but it takes her several moments to lift herself from beneath the tons of sewing equipment on her lap, during:) DEAN. (He's cooled down, to an extent) Like, it's past life, man. And I'm not even thinking about it now. (Usual doorbell) Later. I'm out. (MOTHER is now over and dabbing FATHER's chin with her Chinese flag as it's the closest thing available) FATHER. (Outraged and shocked) You cunt! (To himself and MOTHER, who disapproves of the language) I - I swear - he doesn't come back in this - this house - I don't - I - I'd be a fool to think - MOTHER. (About flag) Oh! There's blood on it. FATHER. (Feels his chin) My paper. (Somewhat sad) - What else could I use? I... (Doorbell again. FATHER can't go on because he's emotionally spent) MOTHER. Just let me get the glove. The.... I'll be right back.. (Lights dim here and come up on a door. DEAN enters and knocks. Door opens and MARLON, a beatnik, stands there taking in the wild scenery. MARLON who always tries to be cool is scared by this look) DEAN. Daddy-o. Like, peace to the things you call your own, man. MARLON. - Dean? Man? DEAN. Need a place to be, Marlon, man. Just be. MARLON. You in a accident or somethin'? DEAN. (Disappointed because he has to explain it) Man. You look cool, you try to look cool, and what I'm saying is. You put on the leather, you one in the herd, see what I'm saying? MARLON. - No. - No? DEAN. (Growing angry) Look, man. (Tries to explain) - I am a collection. I am made up of many - MARLON. Uh, look. Dean. Man. I got some chicklets comin' over, you know. You know how it is. It is how, you know. DEAN. (Doesn't believe) Yeah, yeah. You're a true thinker, Marlon. MARLON. Hey. - If you're hurt, any scratches, gimme a call. DEAN. My voice, my voice. It could do that. (MARLON snaps his cool goodbye and goes back in. DEAN's feeling a little depressed and he walks some. He hears a bark and he looks back. He's pleased and stoops to pet and gets licked before coolly or somberly, it's hard to tell, moving on. After a minute more walking he comes to another door. This time he rings the doorbell and a second later CHUCH, in torn-up t-shirt, opens up, with much of the same reaction as MARLON, except that CHUCH seems to be on drugs or something) Yo, Chuch, what's the word and does she have a sister? CHUCH. Whoa. DEAN. Need a bed to sleep under me tonight, man. My man, Chuch. CHUCH. (Meaning its not a good idea) Whoa. DEAN. (Becoming hostile) What's the meaning of it all? CHUCH. Aaayyy. DEAN. I'm my own man, man. Don't need none of - CHUCH. (Cutting him short) Hey. I hear you, man. I have this award. I commend you with it. (Can't help laughing, tries to contain it, but, well, the man is on drugs) You look like that sponge in my dad's aquarium, when it's up to doin' some weird shit...! DEAN. (He's had enough. Pause) Hey. Fuck you, man! CHUCH. (Waving it away) Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I can't catch my breath.. (He can't) DEAN. Man, you don't know! You have no -! (It's not worth it so he leaves a gasping CHUCH in the doorway. Lights off here and up on another area. DEAN enters swiftly. He paces, watching out for Grease Lightning, trying to contain himself. He does it for a couple minutes and it seems to be working. A long pause as he tries to understand something. Then he hits another thought and begins pacing with rage: it's a walking pause. He pats his pockets. He decides) Fuck this! All of them! (He leaves the lit area and lights do a very slow dim up to Mount Summit once again. ROSE and DIFF are playing Spin the Ring with one of their rings while WETTY and SPARO slow, slow dance to vague '50s music coming from somewhere. MARIA is there, but she's off to the side, very sad and thinking. A moment or two passes with this scene then the music stops. WETTY and SPARO don't notice. In a few seconds DEAN appears, with even more strange stuff on his person. A light yapping of the dog tells the others of his presence. All but MARIA laugh when they see him) WETTY, SPARO, ROSE, DIFF. (Having fun with it) Go, Grease Lightning! Go, Grease Lightning! (They say it a few more times) DIFF. (As counterpoint to it) A-hubba-hubba-hubba! (DEAN stops them with a ultra-cool look as he lights his cigarette. MARIA's delighted, but isn't sure what she should do. There's an intense pause. The gang don't know if they want to laugh or not, but are still in awe about DEAN, and don't know if they should say) SPARO. (With courage) Did you forget your floral arrangement, or would you like the crome off my mom's Frigidair for your knee patches? (This breaks the gang's spell and now they laugh) DIFF. Yeah, can I get you some violets around here so you can weave them into a crown of thorns? (They laugh but the girls figure out that that's stupid after a moment) DEAN. (Smokes his pause) You kids.... DIFF. (Angry) Look, who you callin' kid! DEAN. (Also becoming animated) You sit around with your leather kisses and your smokin' damn poetry, and you think that jewelry is the end of existence. WETTY. What? DEAN. You don't know! You don't have a cl, you don't have that much of a clue. You know this. (Snaps) Pow, pow, what? This. (Snaps) These are my fingers, this is my hand. I bruise it with a snap when I want. When I want! SPARO. You're crazy man! - Look how you are. DEAN. Yeah. Look at me. I'm the....yeah. That's what you call me. I am. I be. DIFF. You be crazy, man. Dig, dig. DEAN. Cool. (Snaps) I am the snap. I am the part, the part that does it, and you are the part between your fingers and that's you my man. (About MARIA) All of you! MARIA. (Coming forward, but not to DEAN) No, wait. Dean. DEAN. You take a stand. You take a side. Pretty soon, man. (Pause to smoke) You gotta give it back. MARIA. But the bus was gone! Came in on the last! I did. DEAN. What? MARIA. Dig it, man. DEAN. (Wants to believe it) You shittin' me? MARIA. (Smiles when she says it) No shit. - Oh, Dean! Dean! - How could I leave? (Runs for him. He takes her in his arms. The others form a strong pack. There's a pause) ROSE. Where do you think you're going with this.. DIFF. Yo, man! If you don't water that suit, does it rot and fall off, or do you prune, man? (They laugh, but DEAN and MARIA pay no attention; they're too happy in their new found togetherness) ROSE. Yeah, I was wonderin' - MARIA. My finger's cold, Dean. Come on. My finger's cold, Dean. (DEAN is surprised, but pleased. He takes the ring out of his pocket and gives it to her) I think my whole hand feels a warmer something. Yeah. Like a cool day on the... I wouldn't understand, but the warmth. Yeah. Cool. DIFF. Yeah, wouldn't mind her getting on the bush! (Expects the others to laugh, but they don't, especially not ROSE) MARIA. Wear it... on my toe. Always. (The OTHERS don't get it) DEAN. (Smiles) Like, forget this kinda shit. I don't like the design. Fashioned it. After something... different. Wait till shop. Then you'll see. Wait till a good Monday after the metal truck's just been around, come around from Harrow's car park. Yeah. Yeah. The symbol of Ares. With a.. a fish, yeah, doin' a.. a income tax return or somethin'. No. Carvin' out Dylan. Yeah. (DEAN and MARIA have been walking away, she putting on an article or two from his costume, until they're off stage. The group remaining are dumbfounded. There's a long pause and they shift their feet. They don't know what's happened. Another long pause) DIFF. (Finally. Interested; almost a question) They don't sell those Coke things, shirts, everywhere. WETTY. (Also vaguely and slowly interested) - Yeah. You have to order them. (A couple people "hmmm.." as lights start to dim) And. - Jesus. - Six. - Eight.......... weeks.....? (Lights out) THE END