Lodestar Quarterly

Issue 7 • Fall 2003 • Drama

The Hot Month

Taylor Mac Bowyer

Scene VI

Scene VI

During the following LEN sets up JOSEPH's home, which is represented by a couch/bench and chair.

LEN
In the world of the unconscious you can see a planet full of chalked feet trampling all over every inch of space. People frantically retracing their steps. The previous evening.

LEN picks up a box of Cap'n Crunch and sits eating. GRIFFIN and JOSEPH enter. JOSEPH is unable to see or hear LEN. GRIFFIN, who is to busy trying to take JOSEPH's clothes off, doesn't notice LEN until LEN speaks. The sound of a TV is on. LEN watches.

JOSEPH
Let me get my...

GRIFFIN
I got it.

JOSEPH
Must've left the TV on.

GRIFFIN
You wanna shut it off?

JOSEPH
If you want.

GRIFFIN
Whatever.

JOSEPH
Okay.

JOSEPH exits to turn the TV off and GRIFFIN takes some lubricant out of his bag.

GRIFFIN
I haven't thanked you for the ride.

JOSEPH
(offstage) No problem. I turned it off.

JOSEPH comes back in.

GRIFFIN
I heard.

GRIFFIN kisses JOSEPH and struggles with the zipper of JOSEPH's jacket.

LEN
He's kinda old for you.

GRIFFIN
Shit.

GRIFFIN
Yeah.

GRIFFIN takes his shoes off while still working on JOSEPH's zipper

LEN
Forgot how much you like those middle men. It's no wonder it's a crisis being middle-aged, the middle never works. Too much waffling, too close to mediocre. (To Joseph) It doesn't work, baby.

GRIFFIN
(To Len) Out.

JOSEPH
The dogs get in?

GRIFFIN
No.

LEN
I don't think I can leave, even if I wanted to. My astrological dinner consisted of sugar cereal and now my system is going into that stage after shock when you start feeling things again. Pins and needles in the stomach. (JOSEPH tries to kiss GRIFFIN.) Who would have thought you could still eat crap. I miss you.

GRIFFIN
(to Len) I'm doing something right now.

JOSEPH
Sorry.

GRIFFIN
Len!

JOSEPH
My name's Joseph.

GRIFFIN
Sorry.

JOSEPH
That's okay.

LEN
Spent the entire day munching and watching television. I think I might be in a funk. It's a horrible combination. TV makes me feel ugly. All those ugly people that are oh so beautiful.

GRIFFIN
Here.

GRIFFIN pulls the jacket over JOSEPH's head.

LEN
I never imagined, while floating in limbo, I'd have the option of television, I thought I'd be free of that particular burden. Free of the tellyological argument. (GRIFFIN tries to take JOSEPH's shirt off but the sleeves get caught.) It's just the same here, only different variations. Nothing new under the sun. You'd think a person would get over it. I mean how long can you hang on to something silly like hatred for TV people. (GRIFFIN breaks the button on JOSEPH's sleeve and pulls his shirt off.) I watched this trashy show about the end of the world and how romantic it shall be. An asteroid will kill us all. (GRIFFIN attempts to pull JOSEPH's boot off.) I made a wish on the TV, a falling star, a self-luminous heavenly body, falling. (JOSEPH falls down while GRIFFIN straddles his leg pulling on his boot.) I wished, I hoped you didn't think of me with nausea. Seeing me botched up like that. You'd think a person would get over being body conscious. (GRIFFIN still can't get the boot off.) I'm gonna break out from all this sugar. (GRIFFIN still can't get the boot off.) I wished to wake up. Silly. Mother always said don't waste your wishes on things that can't come true. I wondered why you would leave. (GRIFFIN yanks the boot free.)

JOSEPH
OHHHHHHHHH!

JOSEPH has a premature ejaculation while GRIFFIN pulls his boot off.

LEN
Did he just... That was exciting. He really let that one fly.

GRIFFIN
Did you just... ?

JOSEPH
Yes. I haven't... in a long time, I haven't... sorry... did you want to... um

LEN
Cum?

GRIFFIN
No, it's fine.

JOSEPH
I'm sorry, I'm not that experienced with...

LEN
That's all right, he has enough for the two of you.

GRIFFIN
I'm gonna use your bathroom.

GRIFFIN exits.

JOSEPH
It's been a long time since... so used to letting the weather take care of me. I forgot about touch.

GRIFFIN
(From offstage) What?

JOSEPH
Nothing. Sometimes I just lay back and let the weather take care. Desert heat kind of melts your sex together. The kind of heat that turns your shirts yellow. Too hot to move. The slightest breeze sneaks up and well, you can't control... I'm sorry. I'm more comfortable with the weather.

GRIFFIN comes back in.

GRIFFIN
What did you say?

JOSEPH
It's hard for me to meet people way out here.

GRIFFIN
Why don't you move?

JOSEPH
Lived in the area my whole life.

LEN
I'm sorry.

JOSEPH
It's good. It is, just... not many... you know.

GRIFFIN
Probably more than you think.

JOSEPH
Oh, I don't know. Nice teeth.

GRIFFIN
Huh?

JOSEPH
The necklace.

GRIFFIN
Oh. Good luck charm.

JOSEPH
You believe in that stuff?

LEN
No.

GRIFFIN
Can't hurt.

JOSEPH
I suppose not. Can I see them? You don't have to. (GRIFFIN gives his teeth to JOSEPH) Are they yours?

LEN
Mine.

GRIFFIN
Yeah.

LEN
Little liar.

JOSEPH
Must of hurt.

LEN
Why would you name them wisdom teeth if you're just gonna pull them out?

JOSEPH
They're beautiful.

JOSEPH
You're beautiful.

JOSEPH
It's cold out. Stay.

GRIFFIN
No, I want to get.

JOSEPH
Did I mess up?

GRIFFIN
No.

LEN
Just a little?

GRIFFIN
You were great.

JOSEPH
Stay 'til morning, I'll make breakfast.

GRIFFIN
I can't do that, Joseph.

JOSEPH
I guess that's kinda stupid -- bribing you with breakfast.

GRIFFIN
No, not really.

JOSEPH
Where you gonna sleep?

GRIFFIN
I'm not tired.

JOSEPH
You shouldn't hitchhike; you never know who might pick you up.

GRIFFIN
Like you?

JOSEPH
Well...

GRIFFIN
I want to keep moving.

JOSEPH
You're beautiful.

GRIFFIN
Yeah. I know.

JOSEPH gives GRIFFIN money.

LEN
Sweet.

GRIFFIN
Thanks.

GRIFFIN leaves JOSEPH's home and walks out to the road. JOSEPH sees the teeth in his hand.

JOSEPH
Hey.

JOSEPH starts to go after GRIFFIN but decides against it. He wants a souvenir. RED rolls on with the truck next to GRIFFIN. It is the same as before.

RED
Get in let's go, let's go. Hurry up.

GRIFFIN
Hold on, I'm not all the way in yet.

RED
Sorry, can't stop now, I'm a bit of a fugitive here.

GRIFFIN
What?

RED
You like dogs, I have two dogs in the hatch. Hello Girls. You have any money?

GRIFFIN
89 cents.

LEN
No need to repeat. (Lights out on RED and GRIFFIN. LEN turns to JOSEPH.) Come on big boy. Come back to the present.

LEN smudges black on JOSEPH's eye and hangs the teeth around his neck. We are now in MAG's hospital room.

Next Page:   Scene VII   (page 9 of 12 pages)

All Pages:   See the entire play on one page

Table of Contents:   The Hot Month

Taylor Mac Bowyer's plays include The Hot Month (recipient of the Ensemble Studio Theater's "Next-Step Fellowship"), Red Tide Blooming, Dilating (an evening of one-acts), The Levee (published by Vintage), Blue Grotto, and the solo-play Okay. He is a member of the Circle Repertory Lab and has acted with The Jean Cocteau Repertory, Mabou Mines, Dixon Place, and at several regional theaters. As drag performer, Taylor Mac, he has performed in venues such as Joe's Pub, FEZ, and the San Francisco Opera House.

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