ANNIVERSARY

A STORM KNOCKS OUT THE ELECTRICITY ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF A WITCH BURNING.

CHARACTERS

JUDD VINE : 42 YEARS OLD, OVERWEIGHT

ALICE VINE: HIS WIFE

BURT CORAL: BEST FRIEND

DENISE CORAL: BURT'S WIFE

SISSY KYPER: EARLY TWENTIES,SISTER OF DESDEMONA KYPER

SETTING:VINE'S BACKYARD

TIME: SUMMER, PRESENT

ANNIVERSARY

ACT ONE

In the backyard is a picnic table, four patio chairs, grill.

Judd is in the backyard laying on a hammock. It's hot,

sweat dripping from his face. He rises slightly, looks to his right.

A loud noise down the street, a motor of sorts.

JUDD

DAMN IT.

ALICE

(Offstage, calling out.)

WHAT, JUDD?

JUDD

I THOUGHT I HEARD THOSE TRUCKS

FROM THE POWER COMPANY.

ALICE

(Offstage.)

I WISH THEY WOULD HURRY UP.

MARK SLADE

(Pause.)

ALICE

(Enters from the left, carrying

two glasses of tea.)

IT'S AFTER ONE PM. THAT STORM

KNOCKED THE ELECTRICITY OUT

ALMOST TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AGO.

JUDD

(Accepting the glass gingerly.)

I COULDN'T SLEEP FOR

CRAP LAST NIGHT.

ALICE

(Sitting on a patio chair.)

I KNOW. YOU KEPT GETTING UP AND

GOING OUTSIDE.

ANNIVERSARY

JUDD

I'M SORRY IF I KEPT YOU UP.

IT WAS COOLER OUT HERE

THAN IN THAT HOT BOX WE CALL

A HOUSE.

ALICE

WISH BURT HAD GOTTEN THAT

GENERATOR.

JUDD

HIS BROTHER REALLY

LET HIM DOWN THIS

TIME.

ALICE

WHO WOULD HAVE

THOUGHT BEN CORAL

WAS SELLING POT

OUT OF HIS HOUSE?

MARK SLADE

JUDD

PEOPLE DO DESPERATE THINGS-

ALICE

STUPID THINGS.

JUDD

(Sipping tea.)

NEVER THE LESS, DESPERATE

TO KEEP FACE. SHOW OFF WHAT

THEY HAVE. KEEPING UP

WITH THE JONES, AS THEY SAY.

(Pause.)

ALICE

(Sighs)

IT'S SO HOT.

HOTTER THAN YESTERDAY.

ANNIVERSARY

JUDD

I PAID THE SATELITE.

ALICE

I REALLY WISH YOU WOULD GET RID OF IT.

JUDD

I LIKE IT BETTER

THAN CABLE.

ALICE

CABLE IS CHEAPER---

JUDD

I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT ABOUT

IT.

ALICE

ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT.

MARK SLADE

(Pause.)

JUDD

I HEARD THIS STORM

TORE THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY AND ENDED

UP IN FLORIDA.

ALICE

POWERFUL STORM.

JUDD

BURT MIGHT BE OVER IN

A LITTLE WHILE.

HE WENT TO BUY SOME BUNS AND THINGS.

ALICE

(Drinks from glass)

IT'S A SHAME ALL THAT MEAT WE ALL HAVE MAY

GO TO WASTE.

ANNIVERSARY

JUDD

(Shrugs.)

THE WAY IT IS.

ALICE

(Standing)

GOD. DO YOU HAVE TO USE

THAT PHRASE ALL THE TIME?

JUDD

HEY.

WHAT'S WITH YOU?

(Pause)

ALICE

IT'S THIS DAMN HEAT, I SUPPOSE.

JUDD

DON'T TAKE IT OUT ON ME.

MARK SLADE

ALICE

I'M SORRY.

(Pause.)

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S COME

OVER ME LATELY.

I SUPPOSE IT'S THE HEAT.

JUDD

(Smiling)

I CAN SEE IT MAKING ANYONE ONARY AND.

MEAN.

ALICE

(Half-smiling.)

HEY...

JUDD

(Holding up his hand.)

JUST MAKING A JOKE.

ANNIVERSARY

(Pause.)

ALICE

I HOPE MOM AND DADDY ARE OKAY.

JUDD

YOU REALLY SHOULD CALL THEM.

ALICE

OH...YOU KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

SHE ALWAYS STARTS UP. BRINGING UP

THE PAST.

JUDD

IT'S BEEN YEARS.

BOTH ARE IN THEIR SEVENTIES.

TIME TO FORGET, ALICE.

ALICE

I KNOW.

ANNIVERSARY

ALICE

MOM NEVER FORGETS ANYTHING.

SHE ALWAYS FELT I DIDN'T LIVE

UP TO JUDY. TERRIBLE

EXPECTATIONS.

JUDD

YOU WERE JUST A GIRL WHEN YOUR

OLDER SISTER DIED.

SHE COULDN'T HAVE HELD YOU

RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CANCER.

ALICE

SHE ALWAYS HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS

FOR HER GIRLS. MOM DIDN'T REALLY

LIKE BEING A HOMEMAKER.

(Pause.)

JUDD

CALL WHEN YOU FEEL UP

TO IT.

MARK SLADE

ALICE

(Smiling at Judd)

WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT

YOU?

JUDD

MAKING YOUR MOTHER HAPPY

NOT BEING A WIFE.

ALICE

(Laughing.)

OH SHUT UP.

JUDD

(Rising from the hammock)

I WISH BURT WOULD

HURRY.

I'M STARVED.

ANNIVERSARY

(Judd stretches.)

ALICE

(Patting Judd in his midsection.)

THAT IS NOTHING NEW.

LOOK AT THAT GUT.

JUDD

(Pushes her hand away.)

HOW DARE YOU.

I'M WATCHING MY FIGURE.

ALICE

SO IS EVERYONE ELSE.

JUDD

HA HA.

I DON'T EAT THAT MUCH.

MARK SLADE

ALICE

YOU ATE THREE BAGS OF CHIPS

THIS MORNING FOR BREAKFAST.

FOUR CANS OF POTTED MEAT

AN HOUR AGO...

JUDD

ALL RIGHT. STOP.

I'LL CUT DOWN.

ALICE

IN A PIG'S EYE!

JUDD

I'VE BEEN STRESSED

LATELY!

WITH THE STORM, NO POWER...

ANNIVERSARY

(Pause.)

ALICE

I UNDERSTAND, HONEY.

I DO.

(Pause.)

JUDD

(Distressed.)

JESUS, I WISH HE WOULD COME ON.

(Pause.)

HOPE HE BRINGS BEER.

ALICE

DON'T WORRY.

HE WILL.

MARK SLADE

JUDD

WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSE TO MEAN?

ALICE

NOTHING.

JUDD

NO.

(Pause.)

SPILL IT.

ALICE

I THINK HE DRINKS

TOO MUCH.

WHEN HE DRINKS, HE IS LOUD.

JUDD

(Offended.)

YOUR'E TALKING

ABOUT MY BEST FRIEND.

ANNIVERSARY

ALICE

YOU ACT LIKE HE'S YOUR WIFE.

JUDD

YOUR'E ALWAYS JELOUS.

YOU KNOW I NEVER HAD

ANY SIBLINGS.

NOW I DON'T HAVE ANY

PARENTS.

ALICE

YOU HAVE ME!

(Pause.)

JUDD

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S

WRONG WITH YOU LATELY.

MARK SLADE

ALICE

NOTHING WRONG WITH ME AT ALL.

YOU JUST WANT ME TO ACT A CERTAIN WAY!

JUDD

YEAH.

I DO.

(Pause.)

CIVIL.

THAT'S ALL I ASK

FOR.

ALICE

YOUR'E SUCH A JERK.

JUDD

AND THAT'S YOUR ANSWER

FOR EVERYTHING.

ANNIVERSARY

(Alice is staring past Judd.)

JUDD

WHAT?

(Pause.)

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING

AT?

(Alice is shocked. )

JUDD

(Worried)

WHAT IS IT,ALICE?

WHAT?

(She leaps to a standing position.)

ALICE

(Pointing, hand over mouth.)

JUDD...LOOK!

(Judd turns quickly to his left.)

MARK SLADE

JUDD

(Takes a step back.)

HOW?

(Pause)

HOW DID THAT

GET THERE?!

(A pile of ashes are on the stage to the left.)

CURTAIN.

ANNIVERSARY

ACT TWO

Judd and Alice are holding each other in a tight

embrace. Alice is weeping, Judd is fighting back the tears.

A pile of black ashes are at their feet. Judd is frequently choked up,

lifts his head from Alice's shoulders, glancing at the ashes.

JUDD

IT'S ALRIGHT, ALICE.

(Pause)

NO REASON TO BE SCARED.

ALICE

WHERE DID IT COME FROM, JUDD?!

JUDD

I-I....I DON'T KNOW.

(Pause)

THE WIND I GUESS..

MARK SLADE

JUDD

THE STORM.....LOOK DON'T WORRY

ABOUT IT.

ALICE

(Pulls away from his embrace.)

HOW CAN I NOT WORRY

ABOUT IT?

(Pacing the stage.)

THIS IS TOO WEIRD, JUDD.

YOU...YOU...REALIZE WHAT DAY

IT IS, DON'T YOU?

(Pause)

WE DID SOMETHING AWFUL LAST YEAR.

JUDD

WE AREN'T SUPPOSE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

SHERRIF WILKINS SAID SO.

ANNIVERSARY

ALICE

I REMEMBER. OKAY? I WAS AT THE TOWN MEETING.

EVERYONE HERE WAS. WE DID SOMETHING AWFUL.

JUDD

(Taking her by the shoulders, shaking her a bit.)

GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF, WILL YA?

(Pause. They lock eyes a few moments.)

WE CAN'T LOOSE IT....DON'T LOOSE

CONTROL.

(Sighs)

ALICE

YES.

(Wiping her eyes with a hand.)

WE HAVE TO STAY...STAY

IN CONTROL.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND

THE PROBLEM.

MARK SLADE

JUDD

DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT

SHE SAID?

(Pause)

ALICE

(Pushes his arms away from her.)

WELL OBVIOUSLY I DO.

JUDD

GETTIN' NASTY AIN'T SOLVIN' A THING.

ALICE

OF COURSE I BELIEVE WHAT SHE SAID.

JUDD

MAYBE THAT'S PANIC TALKIN'.

ANNIVERSARY

ALICE

YEAH.

MAYBE.

I DON'T...DON'T KNOW,

JUDD.

A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN WE

CAN'T EXPLAIN.

JUDD

WE ALL BELIEVED SHE WAS FOR REAL, OR

WE WOULDN'T HAVE DID WHAT WE DID.

ALICE

MY POINT ABOUT BELIEVING.

(Pause.)

THAT WOMAN WAS WICKED.

JUDD

(Thinking.)

YEAH...SHE WAS...SHE WAS THAT.

MARK SLADE

JUDD

ALICE?

(Pause.)

ALICE

YES?

(Pause.)

JUDD

I'M SCARED.

ALICE

(Holding his hand.)

I AM TOO, JUDD.

BOY AM I.

JUDD

NOTHING WILL

EVER BE THE SAME.

ALICE

HOW DID WE GET OURSELVES

INTO THIS?

ANNIVERSARY

JUDD

I GOT US INTO IT.

ALICE

NO.

(Pause.)

NO, JUDD. WE GOT OURSELVES--

JUDD

NO ONE HAD TO LISTEN TO ME.

ALICE

JUDD...

THAT WOMAN WAS EVIL.

JUDD

THAT'S JUST IT, ALICE.

(Pause.)

SHE WAS A WOMAN.

MARK SLADE

JUDD

A HUMAN.

ALICE

THAT WOMAN...

DESDEMONA KYPER, TERRORIZED

THIS COMMUNITY.

SHE HURT MANY PEOPLE.

POOR DELL BRISK, HE NEVER

RECOVERED FROM ALL THE

CATTLE SHE KILLED.

JUDD

BUT DID SHE DO THAT?!

ALICE

(Shrugging.)

I.....

(Pause.)

ANNIVERSARY

ALICE

YOU HAD NO PROBLEM

BELIEVING SHE WAS

GUILTY LAST YEAR.

JUDD

(Nodding his head.)

YEAH.

(He turns away from her.)

I KNOW.

ALICE....I'M NOT SURE....

(Facing her again.)

I'M NOT SURE DESDEMONA

DID ANYTHING.

ALICE

I AM.

MARK SLADE

JUDD

WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?

ALICE

(Wringing her hands, distressed look

on her face.)

RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME...

OLD LADY WALLING, MARY WALLING...

THERE WERE BURN MARKS THAT

APPEARED OUT OF

THE BLUE. SHE SCREAMED...CRIED OUT..

SHE SAID SHE WAS BURNING UP.

JUDD

GOD.....THAT'S CRAZY.

YOU NEVER TOLD ME THAT.

ALICE

I TOLD THE SHERRIF.

ANNIVERSARY

JUDD

(Thinking.)

THAT....THAT WAS HIS

MOTHER-IN LAW.

(Pause.)

NO WONDER HE CHANGED

HIS MIND.

WE ALL THOUGHT SHE CAUGHT

HERSELF ON FIRE...DIED FROM THAT.

ALICE

(Biting her lower lip.)

I KNOW.

(Pause.)

JUDD...YOU KNOW

IN YOUR HEART,

DESDEMONA KYPER WAS

A WITCH.

(Pause.)

MARK SLADE

ALICE

SHE SAID....SHE SAID

SHE WOULD COME BACK ONE YEAR

FROM THE DAY.....

THAT NIGHT WE HEARD HER NURSERY

RHYMES...

JUST LIKE WHENEVER ANYTHING BAD

WOULD HAPPEN...

DO YOU REMEMBER?

(Pause)

Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye,
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened the birds began to sing,
Oh wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king?
The king was in his counting house counting out his money,
The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey
The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!

ANNIVERSARY

JUDD

I HEARD HER.

(Pause.)

I'M BALLED UP INSIDE.

(Pause.)

KNOTTS. GUILT KNOTTS....

WE BURNED A HUMAN BEING

ALIVE.

ALICE

YES.

YES WE DID.

WE HAD TO PROTECT

THE COMMUNITY.

THE FUTURE. THE KIDS THAT

LIVE HERE.

MARK SLADE

ALICE

(Avoiding eye contact. Needling Judd.)

I WISH WE COULD'VE KNOWN WHY

DESDEMONA WENT HAYWIRE.

JUDD

(Nervously avoiding her eyes.)

I GUESS WE WILL NEVER KNOW.

(Pause.)

ALICE

I SURE WISH BURT WOULD

HURRY UP.

(Judd cuts his eyes at Alice.)

I NEED A BEER.

ANNIVERSARY

JUDD

(Laughs nervously.)

ME TOO, HONEY.

BURT

(Offstage)

WHO'S HUNGRY!

JUDD

(Cheering up, big smile.)

SPEAK OF THE DEVIL.

DENISE

(Offstage)

ALICE...WHERE DO YOU WANT ALL

THIS STUFF?

MARK SLADE

ALICE

WE PROBALLY SHOULDN'T

TALK ABOUT THIS.

(To Denise.)

BE RIGHT THERE.

JUDD

YEAH...

I'M WITH YOU.

DON'T WANT TO SPOIL

THE PARTY.

ALICE

(As she exits left)

THEN LET'S DON'T, GET ME?

JUDD

(Nodding.)

YES...I DO.

MARK SLADE

(Burt enters, hands Judd a beer.

All smiles until Alice speaks and exits the

stage. He frowns at Judd.)

JUDD

WHAT?

(Judd opens the beer.)

WHAT?

(He takes a sip.)

BURT

(Opening his.)

I SAW SOMEONE AT

THE STORE.

DAMN IT'S HOT.

I HEARD THE POWER

MIGHT BE ON IN ANOTHER

TWO HOURS.

ANNIVERSARY

JUDD

DON'T CHANGE THE SUBJECT.

I HATE IT WHEN YOU DO THAT.

(Pause.

Offstage Alice and Denise are

chattering.)

JUST TELL ME WHO YOU SAW.

BURT

YOU WONT BELIEVE IT.

(Pause.)

JUDD

WHO? DAMNIT! WHO?

MARK SLADE

BURT

SISSY KYPER.

(Burt takes a drink quickly. Eyes

Judd.)

JUDD

WHAT'S SHE DOING

BACK IN TOWN.

(Pause.)

THE HELL!

BURT?

BURT

YEAH.

I KNOW.

ANNIVERSARY

BURT

(Gulping down his beer.)

UM.

ALICE SHE DON'T

KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON----

JUDD

NO.

AND SHE NEVER WILL IF

I CAN HELP IT.

(Pause.)

SHOULD'VE NEVER

GOT INVOLVED WITH

DESDEMONA.

BURT

I TRIED TO TELL YOU.

(Burt's eyes are drawn to

the ashes.)

MARK SLADE

BURT

(He drops his

beer.)

OH GOD....

(His eyes grow bigger, his hands

shake.)

JUDD!

(Whispering.)

SHE'S BACK.

(Normal tone.)

SHE'S BACK!

ANNIVERSARY

ACT THREE

BURT

WHAT'S THIS DOING HERE?

JUDD

I DON'T KNOW, BURT.

LET'S NOT GET CARRIED AWAY.

BURT

CARRIED AWAY?

(Pause.)

CARRIED AWAY?

WE BURNED A WOMAN ALIVE

LAST YEAR..

OH MY...

IT'S TO THIS DAY....

HER ASHES COME BACK....

MARK SLADE

JUDD

NOBODY SAID IT WAS HERS....

BURT

C'MON...

WHO ELSE COULD IT BE?

JUDD

THE STANLEY'S BURNING TRASH...

THE WIND PICKED IT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

BURT.

DON'T GET CRAZY.

BURT

SHE SAID SHE WOULD

COME BACK.

(Denise and Alice enter.)

ANNIVERSARY

DENISE

WHAT'S WRONG, BURT?

BURT

(Pointing at the ashes.)

THAT.

DENISE

(Gasping.)

OH GOD.

ALICE

(Steadying Denise, helping

her to a patio chair.)

IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.

THIS THING ONLY HAPPENS IF

YOU BELIEVE.

MARK SLADE

DENISE

(Sobbing.)

OH.

I BELIEVE.

NO ONE CAN TELL ME

THOSE THINGS DIDN'T HAPPEN.

(Pause.)

ALICE

(To Burt and Judd.)

I'D LIKE TO TALK TO DENISE

A MINUTE.

COULD YOU TWO

PREPARE EVERYTHING

FOR THE GRILL?

JUDD

YEAH.

ANNIVERSARY

BURT

(Sighing.)

SURE.

(They exit.)

ALICE

DENISE.

(Patting her on the back softly.)

I WOULDN'T WORRY.

PLEASE.

DENISE

NO...I SWEAR...

WE LOST OUR HEADS THAT

NIGHT.

ALICE

YES.

WE DID.

MARK SLADE

DENISE

WE'RE AWFUL PEOPLE.

ALICE

WE HAD A REASON.

DENISE

NOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR

IT.

ALICE

I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYTHING

THE TOWN PEOPLE SAID WAS TRUE.

(Alice begins pacing.)

DENISE

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

(Pause.)

LIKE WHAT?

ANNIVERSARY

ALICE

SOME THINGS MAY NOT

BE TRUE...

OH, I BELIEVE DESDEMONA DID THE

THINGS SHE DID.

(Pause.)

FOR A WHOLE MONTH THAT WITCH

TERRORIZED US.

THE SCHOOL BUS THAT TURNED OVER.

THE FLIES COMING OUT OF MR. COLBY'S MOUTH

AT HIS FUNERAL.

(Closes her eyes.)

BUT....

I DIDN'T WITNESS ANYTHING.

EXCEPT...

(Reopens her eyes, turns Denise.)

WHAT HAPPENED TO MARY WALLING.

SHE CAUGHT HERSELF ON

FIRE.

MARK SLADE

DENISE

ALICE.

(Pause.)

WHAT YOU SAID...

THAT CONVINCED EVERYONE

TO BURN HER AT THE STAKE...

(Pointing)

RIGHT OVER THERE!

(Pause.)

ALICE

I KNOW.

DENISE

YOU AREN'T ASHAMED

OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

ALICE

OF COURSE NOT.

ANNIVERSARY

(Pause.)

ALICE

YOU WOULD DO THE SAME.

DENISE

NO.

NO. NOT AT ALL.

ALICE

(Nodding her head.)

OH YES YOU WOULD.

TO KEEP YOUR HUSBAND.

(Pause.)

I KNOW WHY SHE DID

THOSE THINGS.

DESDEMONA....

AND JUDD HAD BEEN

SEEING EACH OTHER

FOR OVER A YEAR.

MARK SLADE

DENISE

ARE YOU SURE?

YOU SAID THAT ABOUT HIM AND COLEEN

BRADBURY.

ALICE

(Frustrated.)

YES. DENISE.

I AM SURE.

I SAW THEM A FEW WEEKS

BEFORE THE EVENTS.

I OVER HEARD HIM ON HIS

PHONE WHEN HE BROKE IT

OFF.

THEN THE CRAZINESS.

DENISE

WHY ARE YOU TELLING

ME THIS?

TO EASE YOUR CONSCIENCE?

ANNIVERSARY

DENISE

I HAVE NO SYMPATHY.

NO, I WOULD NOT HAVE DONE

SUCH A THING AS LIE TO

GET EVEN WITH

AN ADULTEROUS

WOMAN....EVEN IF IT

WAS MY HUSBAND.

NOT MURDER.

ALICE

YOU FELT DIFFERENT

LAST YEAR.

DENISE

I WAS WEAK....

ALICE

YOU STILL ARE.

MARK SLADE

ALICE

THAT HASN'T

CHANGED.

(Denise stands. She is face to face

with Alice.

Burt enters, Judd trailing

him.)

BURT

(Excited.)

HEY!

THE POWER MIGHT BE

ON SOONER!

HOW BOUT THAT?

THEY'RE RIGHT DOWN THE

STREET.

BOY!

ANNIVERSARY

(Denise walks past Alice. A slight wind lifts

the ashes off the ground and into Alice's face.

She closes her eyes a moment, coughing.

When she reopens them, her face is strained, batting her

eyes rapidly. She steadies herself.)

JUDD

(Puzzled.)

WHAT'S....GOING ON...

ALICE?

DENISE

I'M GOING HOME, BURT.

BURT

(Half-smiling)

YEAH....UH...SURE.

I MIGHT...

MARK SLADE

DENISE

BURT.

YOU COME TO.

BURT

WHY?

(Pause.)

WHAT---WHAT THE HELL....?

DENISE

I DON'T KEEP COMPANY

WITH LIARS AND MURDERS.

(Denise exits.)

BURT

(Nervous laugh.)

HEY...

DENISE....

(Shakes his head.)

ANNIVERSARY

BURT

I NEED A BEER.

(He exits.)

JUDD

WHAT WERE YOU TWO TALKING

ABOUT?

ALICE

(Storming past him.)

NOTHING!

NOTHING AT ALL, JUDD!

IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH

YOU!

(Alice exits.)

SISSY

(Offstage)

YOU REALLY KNOW

HOW TO THROW A PARTY.

JUDD

(Looking left.)

WHAT ARE YOU DOING BACK IN TOWN?

SISSY

(Enters.)

I WAS HOMESICK.

YOU KNOW, THE

WEST COAST

ISN'T ALL IT'S

CRACKED UP TO

BE.

(Pause.)

JUDD

I'VE BEEN PAYING

YOU GOOD MONEY TO STAY

AWAY.

SISSY

THE PAYMENTS HAVE

BEEN LATER AND LATER.

JUDD

IT'S NOT EASY COMING

UP WITH THAT AMOUNT

ON A REGULAR BASIS.

SISSY

WE AGREED

ON A MONTHLY PLAN.

(House lights come on. Indicating power is back.)

OH, GOODY. NOW YOU AND YOUR

FAT WIFE CAN WATCH SURVIVOR

TONIGHT.

JUDD

SHE'S COMING BACK.

LIKE SHE SAID.

SISSY

DESDEMONA IS ALREADY

HERE.

(Sissy eyes the ashes.)

I PUT THEM THERE.

IT WAS SOMETHING

SHE AND I AGREED ON.

JUDD

WHICH WAS?

SISSY

YOU SHOULD KEEP HER ASHES

CLOSE TO YOU.

JUDD

WHAT IS IT YOU WANT?

MONEY?

I HAVEN'T ANYMORE

THAN THE AGREEMENT.

(Sissy laughs.)

TELL ME WHAT TO DO....

SISSY

YOU JUST BE YOU, JUDD.

I THINK EVERYTHING WILL FALL

INTO PLACE.

(Pause.)

SISSY

DESDEMONA LOVED

YOU.

YOU CRUSHED HER.

TORE HER HEART OUT.

JUDD

I DIDN'T MEAN FOR

THINGS TO GET OUT OF HAND.

SISSY

OH WELL.

JUDD

ARE YOU GOING TO

TELL ALICE?

SISSY

(Laughs.)

SHE ALREADY KNOWS.

I HAVE BEEN OUT HERE

FOR HOURS.

I HEARD EVERTHING SAID.

YOUR SO OBLIVIOUS TO ALL

AROUND YOU.

ALICE

(Offstage.)

JUDD....

WE NEED TO TALK.

(Sissy backs away, exits inconspicuous.)

JUDD

YES....

I SUPPOSE WE SHOULD.

(Alice enters, holding a butcher knife. She is smiling

with insane exuberance. Judd is puzzled.)

ALICE

(Her voice much deeper, speaking

slower.)

Peter Peter pumpkin eater

(Pause.)
Had a wife and couldn't keep her
(Pause.)

He put her in a pumpkin shell
(Pause.)

And there he kept her very well!

LIGHTS DIM,

CURTAIN.

Author's Note

Took me three weeks to write this one.