Cross the Tracks by Patrick Tyler Act I Scene 1 A one room apartment, the floor boards and walls are slightly smoke stained and the room is cramped. There is a small drawn window to the rear and a door to the right, a bed sits in the center if the room. Nearby there is a phone and a radio on a table. Jonathan, a man in his thirties slumbers softly in the bed. The radio blasts suddenly and he awakes slowly, grumbling and pushing it off of its counter. Jonathan (angrily) : Is it nine already? He pauses but notices that no reply will come, then slowly rises out of bed and walks to his small window Jonathan: Well, it seems to be shaping up as another wonderful day. The pimps are out early today (he screams out the window). Hey Goldy, how's business? Goldy (off stage) : Fine, how 'bout you? Jonathan: Never been better Goldy: Hey Sally's been lookin for you. Jonathan: Well I'm here. Just tell her when you see her Goldy: Will do, Johnny boy. He turns from the window and reaches under his bed and begins to put his pants on. While pushing his second leg through a woman bursts through his door. He is startled and falls backwards. Jonathan: Jesus Christ Sally! Ever hear of knocking!!? Sally crosses the room swiftly, neglecting to ever close the door. She begins to fiddle with his coffee maker Jonathan: Excuse me!? Sally: What? I've been out all night and I could use some coffee. Can I have some or what!? Jonathan: Yeah just knock before you come in. Sally walks over and looks at the man, still on the floor. Sally: Oh, it's not like I'd be seein' anything new. Where do you keep the coffee? Jonathan: Here (He reaches under the bed and produces a packet. He throws it to her). You'll have to go down the hall if you want some water. Sally: Quite an odd filing system you've got there. Jonathan: Hey, if you don't like it, you can go to a real coffee shop. You know they do exist. Sally (Smiling): Yeah, but why go there when I get your stuff for free? Jonathan: New policy, 10 cents a sip. I think that's fair. Sally: How about I don't tell anyone about your (finger quotes) friendly relationship with the guy next door? Jonathan: Damn it, my mother always told me "never trust a prostitute". Sally: She was probably right, my mom told me never to be one and boy did she hit the nail on the head there. I've got to go get some water, I'll be back. Jonathan: Just remember to close the door this time. Sally: Will do. Sally leaves and this time does remember to close the door. Jonathan stands, puts his pants on and fumbles into the back pocket to get cigarettes and a lighter. He lights up and inhales deeply. Jonathan: Death never tasted so good! Jonathan looks out the window and then walks back to the bed. He picks the radio up and shakes it. Jonathan: Shit, broke another one! ( he looks wistfully at his broken instrument in mock sincerity) All that lives must one day perish. ( He throws it out the window, which is meet by the screams of Goldy below) Goldy: Why you up there actin' a fool!? You almost hit me, Johnny! Jonathan: Sorry Goldy. Goldy: I told Sally you were up there. John: Yeah, she's here. Goldy: You know that girl's got a sweet tooth for you boy. John: Yeah right Goldy! Goldy: I'm serious boy, she's always talkin about you. John: Really? Goldy: Yeah, John boy. John: She's coming back. Thanks for the info Goldy. Goldy: No problem. As he finishes, Sally returns and closes the door again, John turns. Jonathan: Wow, two for two. I'm impressed. Sally: Just for that. (she opens the door) Jonathan: Oh very cute, very cute. Sally: I had to wait for some fat guy to get done and then it took a little while to air out. Jonathan: Oh, the petty inconveniences of big city living. Sally: Did you ever think of getting a better place? I mean one without a communal toilet. The way you're going you might as well set up an outhouse, at least that would be your own. Jonathan: Oh you know that the rats would use it too, and it's so hard to get them to pay. Sally: I'm serious, (she pours the water into the coffee maker) you should really think about moving uptown. Jonathan: That sounds good but I would first need a job and unlike you I can't fornicate for money; well not for your kind of money. Sally: A little surgery and you could at least make 20-30 bucks a night. Jonathan (mock laughter): Stop you're hurting me. Sally: But really I mean you went to college (she motions to a diploma hanging on the wall) why don't you use your education? Jonathan: I'm not ready yet. I like my life, petty inconveniences and all. I will use that one day but for now I'm happy where I am. Sally (insulted): I can't understand people like you. I mean, you have almost everything going for you but your too scared to grow up so you sit in this pit. I'd kill to have the option of getting a high paying job or sitting on my ass all day. John: I'm sure with a little white out I could change the name on the diploma. Sally (signs of anger begin to show): Just stop it all right! (She turns the coffee maker on and sits on his bed with him) I'm serious though, you could really be someone but you choose, Choose to stay here. John: Yeah, I choose to stay here what's the point? Sally: Did you actually attend classes at college or just buy that thing out of a magazine? John: I really went, what's the point? Sally: I ran away at 16. I've been screwing for money ever since, it is not a glorious or noble profession but its all I can do. It's my fate, a crappy one, but my fate nonetheless. I live here because its the best I can do. You, however, have the option of greatness, you aren't forced into this existence, you merely use it as shelter because you are too scared and lazy to do something important. (pulling up on his chin) To take on responsibility perhaps? You just don't see how good you've got it. Jonathan: I will be like that someday. Sally (she gets up and returns to the coffee maker): Just not today, I know I know. (she pours coffee into her mug) Well, I must be going but I'll probably bump into you tomorrow. That is unless you actually decide to leave the house. John: No chance of that, see you later. Sally exists and in the corridor a man shouts "Whore Whore" as she passes. He ascends the steps, an older man, bearded and with bottle in hand approaches John's opened door. Job: Why'd you let that whore in here? John: She's a nice lady, let her be. Job: The Bible strictly forbids it, it's not right, she's an evil person. Satan's whore! John: I wouldn't go that far and if you go to the Bible you'll find that judgment is not for humans to make. Job: Like you've ever read our Lord's book John: I got the Cliff Notes. I seem to remember one part when Jesus said drink of my blood, you really seem to take that to extremes; huh Job. Job: Heathen! John: I'll see you later Job. Get some sleep you look like hell. Job: I don't need sleep, and I don't need your sarcasm. You'll burn too, you and your whore together! John: (angering) I'm sure we'll see you there too, you and your bottle, bloody eyed and bitching, just like now. You've alienated everyone with you dogmatic crap! Don't you see, life, Life, is a series of personal decisions. You have only to answer to yourself for those which you make. Every life is special and every life is unique. God, can't you see that or are you blinded to the world. Job: (pacified) All I know is god forbids whore's from entering into the kingdom of heaven. John: It is not you place to judge, Job. Job: (confused) Uhh, I, I, I'll talk to you later Johnny. Job leaves brow furled in anxiety over the discussion. John paces about then suddenly leaps up and looks out the window inhaling deeply sucking the core out of the air. John: Look out there, at all life has to give. Mine has been wasted here, wallowing in the pit. Swallowing nothing but sloth. There is a lot out there, life. I can smell it, all os it, the sweetness which stings, the bitterness so smooth and I want it! I want it all. I want to suck out its core, to never look back in regret but with eyes entranced forward seek out new greatness, new adventures. Sally is right. I've got to find her. (He looks out the window). Ahh, I live. (John runs out the door and the curtain falls as he cries "Sally") Scene 2 John pulls Sally behind him into the apartment. She follows like a whining child he is smiling like a proud father though and shaking with childlike passion. Sally: All right, I'm up here. What do you want? John: You were right, every word, every syllable was true. Sally: Whoa! I didn't expect you to take me that seriously. John: Well, I did. I'm going to start again, to start better, I'm going to be somebody. And I want you to do the same. Sally: Hey, it's okay for you to do that but I'm fine where I am. John: Oh, don't lie. I heard you bitching no less than two hours ago about the hard life you've lived and how mine could be so much better. Well, yours could be better too. Come on. Sally: It's not that easy for me all right, I can't just show up and get a job. I don't even have a high school diploma. John: All I ask is that you try, come on please? I mean you could do so much better than this, all this. You're beautiful, you're so smart, why do you abase yourself by this existence of screwing random guys. You deserve better. Sally: No, I'd just better stay here, I don't have anything, I hardly remember my social security number and what am I going to put on my application? 90-00 prostitute? John: I'm sure you remember enough of your number and just put customer service representative for some company. They'll probably never check. Sally: No it'll never work. John: Well, you do serve customers don't you? Sally: Real funny smart ass! John: Listen, all you have to do is apply for some waitress job, I'm sure they'll hire you. They probably don't care about your prior work experience or anything like that. Sally (hopeful): You really think I'll get a job? John: If you don't, I will give you full permission to kick my ass tonight. Sally: All right (smiling for the first time) I'll do it (she runs and hugs John) but if you kill my hopes I will kick your ass. John: We're going to set uptown ablaze. Sally: Literally John: Only if they don't hire us. (They ring around the rosie) Sally: Woo! John: We live! Sally: We live! Hey I have a doctor's appointment later on today in the city, we can go today if you'll just wait while I'm in the office. John (Stops dancing): What's the appointment for? Sally (She stops suddenly and stares at the floor): Oh nothing, just a checkup. John: All right, well, when shall we leave. Sally: Why not now? John: Why not? (He runs over and grabs his diploma then grabs her arm) To our new lives. Sally: To our new lives! (The pair exit in a hysteria of glee, neglecting to close the door as their chatter dulls, a man, in tattered clothes and dred locked hair enters the apartment and starts to rout.) Bum: Would you look at all this, clothes, food (He eats), appliances (He rattles some things). Ah, a bed. It's been months since I've had a bed. I remember when I had this, back before the drugs (Glances at bared arms), oh all that you've cost me. Too poor to keep going to weak to get clean, a vicious cycle I'm aware, and all there is to do is suffer on until I die or get the strength to reclaim a life. I'm in limbo here, purgatory. Well, maybe tomorrow I'll change, today I sleep away and hope to leave the pain behind. (Bum lays down and sleeps) Scene 3 John and Sally run up the stairs and into the apartment with even more childish glee than before, they burst through the open door and laugh and jump. John : I can't believe it, we did it! Sally: No more turning tricks in cheap motels. John: No more time in this roach hotel (The bum stirs) Sally: Out of here! Out of hell! (The bum sits up unnoticed and watches the ring-around the rosie unfold) John: We're free, we're finally free! (The bum begins to weep slightly, the pair turn and hug in fear at the dirty man crying on the bed) What are you doing here? Bum: I'm sorry sir, your door was open and it's so cold on the street I just came in? Sally (She walks over and puts her hand on his heaving shoulder): And why are you crying? Bum: I don't really know. Well, it just seems that your lives have been given back. Mine is still stuck here. No, don't try to get me out, trust me son, I'm beyond repair. But I just find it sad, my condition. I've sometimes tried, oh I've tried to pull myself out of here, clean up, walk out into the good world and make a living. No fortune mind you, I'm not that crazy, but maybe something. But then I slip and end up worse than before. Trampled hope is a paralyzing scar, and if you ever manage to overcome it and you slip again, well perhaps you're better off dead. Perhaps I'm better off dead. Sally: Oh come on, you can't lose hope. You may still make something of yourself. Bum: Darling, thank you, thank you (He pats her hand) but I wasn't meant for that. These needles tie me here, I wish it were different but I'm stuck. But best of luck, it makes me smile to think that someone got out of here. Thank you for the bed. (The bum gets up and walks out, head hung but smiling past the shocked John and Sally). Sally: Living dead. The pair stare at the door for a few moments, John uneasily begins to eye Sally. John (nervously): So, where are you going to stay tonight? Sally: Well, I have a little confession to make. John: What is it? Sally: Well, you know I don't have a phone... John: Yeah? Sally: Well, the doctor asked for a number to call to give me my results, and well, yours was the first one I could think of. John: When will he be calling? Sally: I don't know, he said maybe tonight or maybe tomorrow morning. John: So I suppose, that, you'll be staying here tonight. Sally: Yeah, if you don't mind. John (moving closer): No, I'd like it if you stayed. Sally: Me too. (The two engage in an exhaustive hug. Theylay down on the bed together they lay together for a few silent moments) Where will we live uptown? John: I suppose it would be easier to live together, you know for rent and stuff. Sally: Yeah, and I could cook and you could clean. John: Yeah, that sounds perfect. (He pauses) Sally, I think I love you. Sally: What! Why do you think that? What about you neighbor friend (hand quotes)? John: No seriously, this is different, I just feel it, inside. You're such a wonderful person. Today you basically saved my life, I just know that you care. That we are... I don't know. Sally (She turns away): But what about all I've done, you can't love me. John (he follows): Of course I can. Last time I checked the rule book at least. Seriously, I love you. I just know it, feel it. Sally: I-I love you too. You have never judged me. Thank you. John: You saved my life, thank you. (They embrace tightly and eventually doze off as one being) Scene 4 (The pair wake up to the sounds of sirens in the morning sun. John stirs and walks to the window Sally falls back into sleep.) John: Hey Goldy! Goldy: What John Boy? John: Hey Goldy, what's goin on down there? Goldy: Some guy died on the street last night. Old guy. John (looks down at the street for a moment and gives a knowing glance. Aside) Poor old guy, I hope he was at peace. (To Goldy)Wow that's too bad, Hey did you hear yet? Goldy: Hear what? John: I'm leaving, me and Sally are going uptown. Goldy: Good for you Johnny, but don't you forget to visit. You can't forget where you came from Johnny, you know that, it's always around you. Like a birthmark, never forget who you are. John: I won't, you keep things up around here. Goldy: No problems with that. Oh and Johnny.... John: What Goldy? Goldy: I told ya she had a sweet tooth for ya! John: Yeah, yeah ya did. I'll see you later Goldy. (He steps into the room where Sally lays on the bed half asleep. The phone starts to ring and John makes for it, Sally snaps awake and grabs the phone before John can reach it) Sally: Hello? John: Ya know, that could have been for me. Sally (Raising two fingers): SHHH! (John raises his hands in surrender and gets up to make some coffee, he reaches under the bed and produces two packets. He holds them up for Sally's perusal but she is enthralled with the phone, so he gets up and pours equal amounts of both into the maker. He leaves to get water down the hall.) Sally (Her eyes become glassy as she listens on): Yes, I understand. Are you sure? (Her voice quakes and she pauses for a moment then bursts crying) Thank you, I'll be back next week. (Sally hangs up the phone and cries on the bed, John hears her and runs through the hallway and bursts through the door, he rushes to the bed and holds her to his chest). John: What's wrong? Sally: I-I-I John: What, what did the doctor say? Sally: AIDS (Just saying the word causes more tears to come) John (He lowers his head and the slightest signs of tears begin to well up in his eyes): I'll be here. Sally: No, you'll go, go away and become something, I'm going to stay, stay and d-d ... John (John gets up and speaks passionately): No,no you're coming with me. I won't let you stay, I love you, we're going to live new lives right? Right? We're going to set uptown ablaze, we're gonna, we're gonna (The tears come and he sits back down). Sally: I have no more hope, maybe its like the old man said, maybe I'm better off dead. John: No, he was wrong, every life, every life is sacred, every life is special. Everyone deserves something, everyone deserves happiness. Everyone needs to live their life to the fullest, to bite life when it is cruel and stroke it when it is kind, we make our own paths. Sally: But mine is almost over, I've got nothing left to live for. John: Of course you do, there's me, love, life, experiences, all of it. Everything the world can offer you may be yours. Take it savor it, don't give up. Sally: But I'm going to d-d.... John; We all will, but make your mark, have your fun and try again later. Life is a gift, more precious than anything. Cherish it, use it, push it to the boundary. Sally: But I'm sacred John, I'm sacred. John: I'm scared too, but we'll go in together, hand in hand. I'll protect you, I'll love you, I'll hold you. Sally: How can you love me? I'm damaged goods. You can never have sex with me. We can never be intimate. John: All I need is you. I'm not like the rest, I love your person. Please, please, come with me. Sally: No I can't. John: Please, don't throw it away, this is what you've waited for. You've earned it. Sally: But I can't, I.. John: Please, I need you. You are everything, please. Sally (She looks down, still sobbing but stops for a moment to say): Okay, but if you break my heart I'll kick your ass. John ( Runs over and embraces her as she cries) I won't, I won't. I'll protect you, I'll love you. Every life is sacred... Our life is sacred. The curtain closes on their tight embrace.