1
DAUGHTER ______
A Play in Two Acts 2
CAST OF CHARACTERS
DAD: The Caregiver. Mid 40’s.
DAUGHTER: The Wolf. 13.
WOMAN: The Healer. Mid 40’s-50’s.
SETTING
A lone homestead.
TIME
1978.
NOTE A // in dialogue indicates an interruption mid-line A / in dialogue indicates an interruption at the end of a line A -- indicates a struggled thought OR a cut/jump in thought 3
ACT ONE
SCENE ONE
LIGHTS UP ON:
A rotting Homestead.
There are piles of shredded Styrofoam scattered about the floors of the homestead which represent “snow.”
Behind the home, we see three Cross gravestones. They remain in sight for the entirety of the play.
A young girl, DAUGHTER, and her father, DAD stand center.
He adjusts a pair of jeans on her body.
DAUGHTER They don’t fit.
DAD Sure they do.
DAUGHTER They don’t fit.
DAD You’ll gain weight.
DAUGHTER How? We don’t have enough food. 4
DAD We will get more food.
DAUGHTER How?
DAD There’s always a way.
DAUGHTER (shrugging him off) I can make my old one’s last.
DAD You’ll gain weight.
DAUGHTER It hurts my teeth.
DAD That doesn’t make sense.
DAUGHTER Salt and blood. That’s all I taste.
DAD You’ll need shirts too.
DAUGHTER Dad?
DAD Yes, daughter?
DAUGHTER I’m hungry.
DAD … 5
DAUGHTER You’ll let me get fat like you someday right? And you’ll let me hang my belly loose? Like a proud fat duck//
DAD Daughter//
DAUGHTER //And eat loads and loads and loads and stare out windows while my belly hangs loose?
DAD Not now, Daughter. Arms up.
Daughter lifts her arms up while dad fastens a few safety pins to hold the pants up.
DAUGHTER When is toothpaste coming?
DAD There’s baking soda.
DAUGHTER My mouth gets too dry.
DAD That’s what it’s meant to do, daughter. Absorb.
DAUGHTER Like snow?
DAD I guess so. Yes.
DAUGHTER Like the clearings by the Mission? 6
DAD (holding her by the shoulders) You haven’t been going down there have you?
DAUGHTER No.
DAD Daughter?
DAUGHTER I have not.
DAD Good. It is not smart. And what are we?
DAUGHTER Smart.
DAD You will gain weight. And you will get your toothpaste. I promise. You hear? I promise. And what does that mean?
DAUGHTER It means you love me.
DAD That’s right.
Her nose begins bleeding.
DAD Shit!
DAUGHTER What?
DAD 7
You have a bloody nose again.
DAUGHTER Oh. I do.
DAD Come here. Come here. Tilt your head back. Daughter, tilt your head back will you?
(She does.) There you go. That’s better.
DAUGHTER Is it?
DAD Tissues.
DAUGHTER Not since June.
DAD Paper towels. Hand me a paper towel.
DAUGHTER Out of those too.
DAD For Christ sake. A rag? Go and get me a rag.
DAUGHTER They all have oil stains and rust on them.
DAD They will have to do. You are getting blood all over.
DAUGHTER I could go stand in my bloody nose spot. 8
DAD Let me help you, daughter.
DAUGHTER Yes, dad.
DAD You are not always so strong. Now, get a rag and soak it with some snow water.
DAUGHTER ...
She hesitates.
DAD What are you--go, go! The shit’s getting everywhere!
She runs to the clothingline strung across the back wall of the home.
DAD kneels to take care of the few spots of blood that linger.
DAD I thought we were over these.
Daughter throws open the door to the outside. She soaks the rag in wet snow, closes the door, and holds the rag to her bleeding nose.
DAUGHTER ...I don’t know how to stop them.
The rag is wet.
It drips. 9
DAD Yes you do! We have gone over this, and over this and over this--You have to THINK. Think hard, Daughter. Remember?
He helps her.
They ring out the rag together.
He puts the rag to her nose.
DAD Keep this round your nose and apply pressure for the next few hours.
DAUGHTER Hours?
DAD It is more than minutes, less than days.
DAUGHTER Days. Days. Days. Days. Days.
DAD You like that word?
DAUGHTER I think I am in love with it.
DAD You can not be in love with a word. That is silly.
DAUGHTER Silly?
DAD Crazy. 10
DAUGHTER No! Not crazy! I hate that word. I want to kill that word!
DAD You can not kill words either, daughter. You can only speak them, or write them.
DAUGHTER Well, I am going to marry Days and kill Crazy. Whether I can or can not. I will do it.
DAD Go get washed up for dinner and next time when you feel the blood surfacing, what do we do?
DAUGHTER Think. Think. Think. Think.
DAD Think soft?
DAUGHTER No. Think hard.
DAD Correct. You are learning, Daughter.
She rises and begins a pre-dinner ritual. All the while holding the rag to her nose.
We hear a LOW-WIND HUM of a WOLF as--
LIGHTS SHIFT TO: 11
SCENE TWO
A fire blazes inside the homestead.
Dad and Daughter sit on wooden stools and eat stewed carrots from their bowls.
Occasionally one of them will take a Vienna Sausage from the can and pass it to the other.
DAUGHTER I think these have gone sour.
DAD Can’t.
DAUGHTER These are food.
DAD These are canned food.
DAUGHTER They do not sour like the carrots?
DAD Too many sulfates.
DAUGHTER They make me pass gas.
DAD Please, daughter. 12
DAUGHTER In my sleep. They make me pass gas. And sometimes that gas wakes me up in the middle of the night. I do not like this food. I am still hungry even after we eat. I think there’s something dying in me.
DAD Do not say that.
DAUGHTER In my innards. I think something nested in there and is either trying to come out, or eat me alive.
DAD I said, don’t say that! Unless you are joking. Now, are you joking?
DAUGHTER What is joking?
DAD Making light of--it is meant to make you laugh.
DAUGHTER That did not make you laugh. So it must not have been joking. I want to kill joking.
DAD Daughter, I keep telling you, you can not kill words.
DAUGHTER rises from her stool and takes a “pretend knife” out of her pants and begins slicing the air as if she’s slashing the imaginary words.
DAUGHTER Yes I can. You just wait. I will kill all the bad ones. I will slice them and dice them and chop em’ all up into minced pieces 13 of themselves and leave the rest, the good ones, to love and kiss and hold.
DAD Eat your food.
She sits.
Silence.
DAUGHTER farts.
It’s silent.
DAD notices.
DAD Did you just/
DAUGHTER I couldn’t help it.
DAD That is the worst kind of smell that has ever passed through my nostrils.
DAUGHTER They smell sweet to me.
DAD They smell like burnt stadium nachos.
DAUGHTER I did not laugh. You did not make me laugh. Which means you are not joking. (she stands) I don’t want to eat carrots and sausage weenies with you by the fire anymore! 14
She takes her bowl to leave.
DAD Sit. She does not.
DAUGHTER You can try to say nice things. It will not hurt you. It will not hurt you to do that. You could be a nice dad and say nice things to me. Like--Like-- (She looks out the window) Tell me a story?
DAD What kind of a story?
DAUGHTER You know.
DAD “There was once a Dad and a Mom.”
DAUGHTER (adding to the rehearsed story) “They bought land to build a home. They built the home out of earth--dirt and mud and sand.”
DAD “Their love was born from the earth/
DAUGHTER (interrupting) Who do the crosses belong to? On the hill?
DAD Daughter.
DAUGHTER 15
Who are they? Do I know them?
DAD I thought you wanted to hear a story.
DAUGHTER Tell me a new story.
DAD Your questions are too dangerous, daughter.
DAUGHTER Well. Maybe. Maybe I want to be dangerous. Yes. Maybe. Maybe I would like to dig them up myself and see for myself. What then? I bet you would not want to say mean things to me then, would you?
DAD You would only find bones, daughter. Nothing more.
DAUGHTER Then, I would put their bones back together again and make them my new family. And then I would not need you anymore.
DAD Do not be proud, daughter.
DAUGHTER Proud?
DAD Promoting the self in high regard. Thinking only of oneself through righteous indignation. 16
DAUGHTER No. No, I do not feel this “proud” in my body. Instead, I feel my body growing inward--like a Tree Well, it sinks in at the ribs because I am hungry and nothing will satisfy this hunger. See?
She lifts her shirt a little and sucks in her ribs to reveal a dramatic gauntness to her frame.
DAD (Looking away) Put your shirt down.
DAUGHTER I do not want this body.
DAD You will gain weight.
DAUGHTER I do not want this hunger!
DAD You do not want to be thin like a deer?
DAUGHTER No. I would like to be fat like a bear.
DAD Fat like a bear? Are you calling your dear old Dad a bear?
DAUGHTER A GRIZZLY!
DAD If I am a grizzly then you are a scared little girl out in the stream who’s about to get/ 17
DAUGHTER No! Don’t!/
DAD EATEN!!!!! RAAAWWRRR!!!!!
DAUGHTER No! NO! NO! NO!
They wrestle each other.
A real type of wrestle. Neither hold back.
DAUGHTER pins DAD.
DAUGHTER Say when!
DAD When! When!
They share a lulling laughter together.
DAUGHTER That was joking?
DAD Yes.
Daughter’s nose starts bleeding.
DAD Ah, shit. You’re bleeding again!! Shit, shit, shit--what did I tell you?!?
Daughter runs to her “Nosebleed” spot on stage. 18
DAUGHTER But… we were just joking--I didn’t--How was I supposed to/
DAD It does not matter! What have I told you?
DAUGHTER Think.
DAD Think! Yes, think! Always think. Hard. Harder than you ought to--always think and this will stop happening.
Dad kneels by Daughter and prys open the floorboards, reaching for a rag from within.
DAD Where are the rags!?
DAUGHTER I might have...used the last one earlier. (she looks around and reaches for under the bed) Here! What about down here?
DAD NO!
DAUGHTER (freezing) Sorry.
DAD What have I told you?
DAUGHTER Never--
DAD 19
Yes! Never. Never go under the bed.
DAUGHTER I’m sorry.
DAD Stop apologizing.
He searches about and lands on the pillows on the bed.
He quickly slips the pillowcase off one of the pillows.
DAUGHTER How did I get this blood? Who gave it to me?
Dad rushes with the pillowcase to the door to the outside. He throws it open. A gust of wind forces its way in followed by a swath of snow.
Daughter tries to stop the blood herself by pinching, laying back, kneeling forward; she has given up by the time Dad returns with a pack of snow in the pillowcase.
DAD Have you been dreaming again?
DAUGHTER I don’t know.
DAD Daughter…
DAUGHTER Yes. 20
DAD When?
DAUGHTER Last night.
DAD And?
DAUGHTER And…
DAD Was...she there?
DAUGHTER I don’t remember.
DAD Try, daughter, try to remember!
Daughter shutters.
DAD (CONTINUED) I am sorry. I am sorry, okay? I’m just-- (pulling the rag from her nose) There. The bleeding has stopped.
Dad rises and goes to clean the rag with More snow from outside.
DAUGHTER (stopping him) She had a beautiful smile. It matched the white of the snow. And very long hair the color I imagine a ripe apple is. Maybe a Gala or Ambrosia--the ones from your books. She told me about wolves. She told me they live in the clearings and from a distance you 21 can hear them, just before they kill, you can hear them like wind. They start low like this… (she begins a low breathy hum) And then as they get closer and closer to their prey, that wind turns into a high-pitched howl… (she howls like a wolf) I wish I could have trapped this Woman in my mind. Because then she could come visit you anytime you wanted. She’d crawl out of my ear and rest on my shoulder and whisper funny stories that would make you laugh yourself into tears. I wish I could have done that for you, Dad. I wish I could have trapped this woman from my dreams and given her to you.
DAD You cannot trap a dream, Daughter.
DAUGHTER What will I become?
DAD What do you mean?
DAUGHTER She asked me this, in my dream. “What will you become?”
DAD (referring to the pillowcase) You need to clean the blood off or else it will stain.
DAUGHTER Dad?
DAD And then shall we play a boardgame or something?
DAUGHTER I want to know why my dreams ask me these things. Is there something wrong with me? 22
DAD No, no daughter. There is nothing wrong with you. Dreams are just lies of the mind. They are meant to trick and tease us.
DAUGHTER Blood and dreams and hunger.
DAD Huh?
DAUGHTER That is all I am.
DAD Daughter, think...
Daughter disregards him.
She cuts at the air with her fake knife.
DAUGHTER Blood and dreams and hunger!!!
DAD Come on, Daughter. THINK! THINK, NOW!
DAUGHTER (thrashing more vigorously) Blood and dreams and hunger//Blood and dreams and hunger and blood and hunger and dreams and dreams and blood and dreams and blood and blood//
DAD STOP IT!! STOP IT, I SAID!!
Dad runs to her and holds her in his arms calming her. They melt to the ground.
DAD 23
Shh. Shhhhh, you’re okay. Daughter. I’m here. Your Dad is here.
DAUGHTER (softer) Blood and dreams. And hunger.
DAD Shhhh. Shhhh. You’re safe now. (SINGING) Oh, rejoice thou frightful grave, Oh, rejoice thou Frightful grave--
DAUGHTER That is my favorite. I like it best because it makes you sound like thunder.
DAD Now your turn.
DAUGHTER No, only you. I do not like hearing my voice.
DAD You have a wonderful voice, daughter. You should not be ashamed of your voice.
DAUGHTER You sing first.
DAD (SINGING) Oh, rejoice thou frightful grave, Oh, rejoice thou frightful grave
BOTH We plant a flow’r strong and brave, We plant a flow’r strong------24
And brave. Not to bloom, alas, ‘t’is planted, Not to bloom, alas, ‘t’is planted/
Dad takes a handful of snow. Cradling it in his arms like a babe, he climbs atop the bed and slowly sprinkles it over Daughter’s head.
She giggles.
DAUGHTER More! More!!!
She sticks her tongue out and catches the snow with it.
As the snow falls from Dad’s hand we hear again, that LOW-WIND HUM of a WOLF.
Daughter embraces Dad. It is tender. It is sincere. There is no worry. There is no fear.
DAD “There was once a Dad and a Mom. They loved each other so much that they brought a boy into the world. They named this boy, Zacharia. Zacharia grew everyday. He grew and grew and became fat with joy. And then, he asked Dad and Mom if they would bring another boy to play with him. And so they did. With love, they made another boy. And they named him, Mason. Mason and Zachariah grew together. They played and played and played until they ran out of ideas for playing and so they asked Dad and Mom if they could bring a girl into the world.” Daughter, you are getting older now. There will--come a time. Where, you will-- (heavy sigh) And it won’t be gradual. It will hit like a summer storm. And you will--Want for a more--a more--you’ll want more. I have a book I would like us to read tonight. 25
DAUGHTER Is it about the animal dancers? Or, fairies? Ooo what about sprites, Or, folktales from the North? I love those stories!
DAD It is a more formal lesson this evening.
DAUGHTER Oh.
Dad retrieves the book from a crate.
He hands Daughter the book.
DAUGHTER (reading) “Puuu-bber---ty”-- DaaAADDd no!!
DAD Daughter, yes.
DAUGHTER DAAAADDD.
DAD Chapter Two.
Daughter, full pre-teen rolls her eyes and guffaws at the prospect of reading a book about Puberty with her dad.
DAUGHTER We already read Chapter One! What else is there to read about?
DAD Chapter two. 26
DAUGHTER (she flips to Chapter Two) “Chhh-aaa-pp-teerr Ttt-w-o: Adol-Adol--Adol” ICANNTT/
DAD Adolescence.
DAUGHTER I don’t want to read this.
DAD Read. You need to learn these things.
DAUGHTER I will learn about these things when they happen.
DAD They are already happening.
DAUGHTER No they are not! Take that back! I would know if there was something going on in my innards--in my brain waves and my tubes and in all that pumping heart and electric current stuff!
DAD You do not have electric currents inside of you.
DAUGHTER Uh-huh.
DAD Give me the book.
Daughter rolls her eyes.
While Dad reads, Daughter does a weird-wormy dance like a middle school girl would. 27
DAD (reading) “Adolescence is the transition period between-- (to Daughter) Quit it--girlhood and womanhood. Puberty is the turning point from girl to woman. Physical development-- (to Daughter) Cut it out and sit down--Physical development includes sexual development and this means having to fulfill-- (to daughter again) I said sit down! Jesus Christ--to fulfill sexual--
Dad hasn’t even noticed, but Daughter is gnawing at her forearm breaking the skin. A small trickle of blood lets.
To fulfill sexual needs and channel sexual energy--
He sees her now.
He jolts up and goes to her quickly.
He grabs her forearm and pulls away--
DAD (CONTINUED) What are you doing? Daughter, what are you doing? What is this? Why are you doing this? Huh? Huh? Tell me! Why are you doing this?
DAUGHTER I don’t know...I was just bored.
DAD You were bored?? You were bored?? So you bit your arm!? We don’t do this! Okay? Remember? We don’t this, okay?! Okay?!
DAUGHTER Okay. 28
DAD Nevermind. You failed tonight’s lesson. You just--I don’t know anymore.
DAUGHTER (CONTINUED) I don’t understand. Why am I doing all these lessons? What’s wrong with me? Why do we have to read these books and talk the way we do--it’s stupid I hate it! I do not feel these things you read to me about--bodies--these body things--and these rules and these these these ways to be--I do not want these things. They seem to happen in other places far from here, but they are not here. I am not with them. So I do not much feel like exploring something I do not need. And this-- (she looks to her arm) --this made more sense to me than that book.
DAD What are we?
DAUGHTER …
DAD What are we?
DAUGHTER Smart.
DAD And what do smart people do?
DAUGHTER They survive.
DAD And what will always be a part of surviving?
DAUGHTER Learning. 29
DAD Correct.
DAUGHTER What if I do not learn and get better?
DAD You will.
DAUGHTER What if I hate these things this book says--like, like sex? What if I hate sex?
DAD You might.
DAUGHTER What if I hate that word too? What if I’d like to kill sex?
DAD I would like to see you try. Sex has had a very long history.
DAUGHTER Then, I will change the word for it.
DAD And what word would that be?
DAUGHTER Cur--Curling! I will name it curling. Do you like it?
DAD If you like it, I like it too.
DAUGHTER Dad? You do not curl anymore...
DAD 30
No I do not.
DAUGHTER I am sorry you do not curl anymore.
DAD …
DAUGHTER Is it because of me? Have I stopped you from curling with, with Women?
DAD Just. Let’s just keep--keep on reading, please.
DAUGHTER Dad?
DAD What Daughter?
DAUGHTER Did I scare you? When I bit my arm?
DAD …
DAUGHTER … Dad?
DAD No. No you did not scare me.
DAUGHTER I will think harder next time. WAIT! I KNOW!
DAD What do you know? 31
DAUGHTER Let’s have a dance!
DAD A dance?
DAUGHTER Yes. Like a ball. Like in the stories you read me.
DAD Well. We are going to need outfits. These rags certainly will not do.
DAUGHTER Yes!! You are right! A blanket will do for a gown!
She hops up from her stool and retrieves a White woolen blanket pocketed with holes from the bed.
DAUGHTER And what will you wear?
DAD Why, I think I would like to wear this…This rug!
He drapes the rug across his shoulders like a cape.
DAUGHTER But, what song will we dance to?
DAD You pick.
DAUGHTER I picked last time.
DAD 32
It will have to be something with a good ditty. Something good and rhythmic. How about: (singing) Ye muses nine, with me combine;
DAUGHTER (joining) Your aid I do invite.
BOTH To sing in praise of her I love, My own sweet-heart’s delight To sing in praise of her I love Your aid I do demand She’s a maiden fair, I do declare And she dwells in Newfoundland! The diamond sparkles bright and clear In many a queenly crown; The virgin pearl beneath the sea Lies many a fathom down; The diamond, pearl, and peerless gem Of Africa’s sunny strand Cannot compare, I do declare With the maid of/
A HARROWING knock at the door.
They freeze.
Dad begins slowly walking over to the Door.
DAUGHTER Dad…
Suddenly he throws open the latch.
DAUGHTER Dad! 33
The door comes crashing open.
A WOMAN stands there.
She is covered in pelts.
WOMAN Good evening.
DAD …
DAUGHTER …
WOMAN I SAY, GOOD EVENING to you sir, and your--
DAD Daughter.
WOMAN Daughter. Yes o’course. I apologize for intruding. I just need a little warmth is all, and then I’ll be on my way.
Dad and Daughter are silently frozen.
WOMAN (CONT.) I liked that music you all were singin’.
DAD Would you like to-- There’s a fire.
WOMAN Alright then.
She enters. 34
WOMAN (CONTINUED) Damn cold night. (before sitting) You don’t mind?
Dad looks to Daughter.
She minds.
DAD Not in the least.
WOMAN (to the door) You gonna shut that?
Dad jolts to attention and quickly shuts the door and latches it.
WOMAN I appreciate the gesture. Your kindness won’t be forgotten.
Daughter growls at Woman like a wolf.
WOMAN (CONTINUED) I see you’ve raised a wild one.
DAD Daughter, fetch some water for our guest.
Daughter does so, reluctantly.
DAD (Cont.) What is it that you do? What’s your course?
WOMAN Hunter. I take it you’ve raised her to know her way around a rifle. 35
DAD I don’t teach her how to hunt.
WOMAN Shame. Looks like the girl could use some meat on her bones.
DAD Where you headed?
WOMAN The Coast.
Daughter hands woman the jar of water.
DAD What for?
WOMAN Fish.
DAUGHTER I thought you hunted.
WOMAN And I fish. Elk been migrating as of recent and I can’t seem to sniff out their tracks with all the fresh snow. So, I take to fishing when I can’t get larger game.
DAUGHTER Great. Well. It was nice. Bye.
WOMAN I… guess that’s my cue. (she stands) It was a pleasure keeping company and I wish you all luck through the winter.
DAD 36
Why don’t you stay?
WOMAN Stay? Stay where?
DAD Here. With us. For the night. Let the storm pass and rest your head some place warm.
DAUGHTER Dad!
WOMAN I don’t see many places to rest a head that ain’t already taken.
DAD I can take the floor. You two ladies can have the bed.
DAUGHTER DAD!
WOMAN That is very kind. But, I can’t accept the hospitality. Although, I will not forget it.
DAD Well, then.
WOMAN Well, then.
Dad opens the latch. The door flies open.
WOMAN Bye, bye now!
She exits into the blizzard. 37
DAD closes the door.
Latches it.
And stands there for some time.
DAUGHTER I didn’t like her.
DAD She was in need.
DAUGHTER She was dangerous.
DAD That’s ridiculous.
DAUGHTER I am not that word!
DAD Then stop acting like it.
DAUGHTER I did not like her so much that I wanted my nose to bleed!
DAD Did you let thoughts in?
DAUGHTER Maybe.
DAD What thoughts??
DAUGHTER Just thoughts. 38
DAD IS THIS A GAME TO YOU?!? IS THIS FUNNY??! DOES IT MAKE YOU LAUGH? BECAUSE//IT ISN’T FUNNY TO ME! SOMETHING VERY BAD COULD HAVE HAPPENED--
DAUGHTER //How could you? I can’t believe you just let //that woman come in here and we don’t even know her and what if she would have hurt me or you or us and what if she would have taken things from us and what if--
DAD //That was very rude of you daughter a complete and utter disregard for another person and their needs and I can’t believe you I raised you better than that you know and first off who are you to say who can come in here and who can’t I don’t believe anyone made you the Queen of the kingdom--
DAUGHTER Dad?
He walks over to the fire.
Takes the glass jar the Woman drank from and holds it.
DAUGHTER Did you want to curl with that woman?
DAD Oh my God!
DAUGHTER Well, did you?
DAD 39
You were very rude daughter. And you know it. You know these things by now. And if you do not, then what the hell have I been doing with you all these years?
DAUGHTER Teaching me.
DAD Yes! Teaching you! But, it is obvious I have not taught you anything. Nothing of value. Nothing of how to be polite, or how to hold back your tongue. Your tongue daughter, your tongue--your hunger--your dreams--your blood--they are ugly!
DAUGHTER …
DAD …
DAUGHTER … I am sorry.
DAD Stop apologizing.
DAUGHTER I am not doing it on purpose.
DAD You are! It is a habit. Another ugly habit of yours, daughter. I do not understand how you have developed this thing. This habit. But, I would like it to stop. Today! You apologize to garner sympathy. You apologize so that you won’t feel at blame. You eradicate any responsibility for what you have done because you continue to--no matter what I teach you--no matter how many times I have told you something and you forget, or you pretend like you do not know what is right or wrong and what is going to make you better and what is it not I I I just-- 40
DAUGHTER You are afraid of me.
DAD I’ll sleep on the floor tonight.
DAUGHTER You are afraid I will do something bad.
DAD (hesitates) No. Dad begins preparing a “cot” on the floor.
DAD (CONTINUED) I. I fear I’ve done you more worse than good, keeping you here.
DAUGHTER Where else would we go?
DAD I don’t know. Nowhere.
DAUGHTER Dad?
DAD …
DAUGHTER What if I cannot sleep with you down there? What if I get lonely? What if the Woman in my dreams comes and gives me a nightmare? What if I can’t stop my thoughts? And what if/
DAD No what ifs. “There was once a Dad and a/
DAUGHTER 41
No. No more stories. I’m too old for stories.
DAD
DAD Are you too old to be tucked in?
Daughter climbs under the heavy layer of blankets.
Dad tucks her in.
DAD You are a special person in my heart. You know this right?
DAUGHTER You are the MOST special person in mine.
DAD Darn. Was that what I was supposed to say?
DAUGHTER Stop it!
DAD I must have mistaken you with my favorite rag. (he pulls a rag from the clothesline) She is the MOST special rag of mine.
DAUGHTER Quit it! YOU’RE BEING CRUEL!
DAD I am playing, daughter. You are the most special person in all of my life.
DAUGHTER Promise? 42
DAD I promise.
Dad finds a resting place at the foot of the bed.
DAUGHTER Dad?
DAD Yes?
DAUGHTER I’m hungry.
DAD I know. I know you are. You’ll eat soon.
He unravels the woolen blanket discarded from their earlier revelries, and they both fall fast asleep.
THE WOLVES HUM AS--
LIGHTS FADE OUT.
SCENE FIVE
LIGHTS FADE IN:
As morning breaks.
A BANGING at the door.
Dad jolts awake. 43
He stumbles to his feet, wipes the sleep away from his eyes, and heads to the door.
WOMAN (OFF) NEVERMIND!
Dad stands weary-eyed.
He unlocks the latch and throws open the door.
The WOMAN is standing outside in a blizzard.
WOMAN …
DAD …
WOMAN It’s too damn cold, alright?
DAD You slept out here? Last night?
WOMAN Yup.
DAD Where?
WOMAN There.
DAD You slept in a barrel? 44
WOMAN Yes. Look, I just need to warm myself up a bit before I get on the trail… your Daughter, she still asleep?
DAD Come in.
She does.
Dad closes the door shut against the heavy wind.
DAD
… WOMAN …
DAD …
WOMAN Couldn’t help but notice, you all got quite a few headstones up that hill. DAD …
WOMAN Sorry. I’ve made myself too nosey.
DAD You have family?
WOMAN Not so much anymore.
DAD Husband? 45
WOMAN Ughhh…
DAD Kids?
WOMAN Listen/
DAD I need to make a trip. We need supplies.
WOMAN You know, there’s a Mission only about a mile down the/
DAD We haven’t had much luck with the people there.
WOMAN Ah.
DAD I need someone to watch my daughter. Someone to make her feel safe, take care of her while I’m gone.
WOMAN Sir.
DAD Yes?
WOMAN We’ve just met.
DAD I can pay you.
WOMAN 46
Sir.
DAD My daughter--she--please.
WOMAN What’s made ya’ll stay here like this? In squalor? Ain’t much of a life for a young girl here age--don’t she have friends or nothing to keep her company?
DAD We have each other.
WOMAN Girl could use a Mother.
DAD …
WOMAN Sorry.
DAD She’s--she’s a good girl. A good kid. She just--sometimes has trouble...making the right decision. But she’s, well she used to--well, she’s made a lot of very good progress over the past couple of years and I trust her. I trust that she’ll know what’s right and what’s wrong and--you’re right. She could use a woman right now. I think she’s, she’s probably going to start her--and I don’t know how to talk to her about it and well/
WOMAN How long you plan on being gone?
DAD Two weeks. Tops.
WOMAN Two weeks, huh? I’ll make you a deal. 47
DAD No deals. Please.
WOMAN Now, now, now. Just wait a minute, you haven’t heard what I/
DAD Just stay here, make sure she stays here, and I’ll pay you when I get back. That’s the deal.
WOMAN OR, she helps me take down an Elk and then I’ll stay. Otherwise, I got no use for babysitting. Deal?
DAD …
WOMAN Do we have a deal?
DAD … Deal.
They shake on it.
Woman pulls away her hand quickly.
WOMAN So’longs’ you don’t do nothing stupid and go abandoning the two of us.
DAD Two weeks. That’s all it’ll take.
WOMAN You gonna be on foot or you got a vehicle I’m not seeing? 48
DAD Our trucks’ been buried for years.
WOMAN Years? You’ve been here for/
DAD I’ll make my way east towards Grindestone by nightfall.
WOMAN You didn’t say you’d been here for years…
DAD Does it matter?
WOMAN No. It’s just.
DAD Doesn't matter then no point in asking.
WOMAN Good people there in Grindstone. Should help get you outfitted.
DAD Weather permits.
WOMAN Storms aren’t waiting on you, so you’ll have to do your best gettin’ back here before you get trapped in something mighty ugly.
DAD I’ll return post haste and I’ll pay you in full then.
WOMAN Keep your money. 49
DAD You don’t think I’m good for it.
WOMAN No, I just don’t need it.
DAD I’m payin’ you anyways.
WOMAN Suit yourself.
DAD Can’t expect a persons’ generosity for nothing.
Suddenly Daughter wriggles awake.
DAUGHTER (to Woman) I thought you left.
DAD She slept here last night.
DAUGHTER In our home??
WOMAN In that barrel. Just outside your homestead.
DAD Will you have some coffee?
DAUGHTER I don’t understand why she is still here. Or how she slept outside without freezing to death. Or, how you’ve invited her into our home. Or, how we’ve hardly known this woman and you’re treating her with kindness. This kindness, Dad. Where is this 50 kindness from? I have not seen you give this kindness. Have you always been capable of this kindness?
DAD Daughter, we talked about this kind of behavior last night. Now, go back to sleep or get yourself up and help start the fire.
DAUGHTER She sleeps outside our home in a barrel like a rat and now you invite her inside our home again?
WOMAN I’m gonna let you two have a minute alone. (to Dad) I’ll fetch some more wood.
Dad nods.
The Woman exits.
Some silence between Dad and Daughter.
DAD I’ve asked her to come inside for a reason.
DAUGHTER ...
DAD She is to take care of you, Daughter. For a very short time, while I//travel
DAUGHTER //NO!
DAD //Let me finish.
DAUGHTER 51
Nonononononononono!!!!Youcan’t//youcan’tyoucan’t leave me, what will happen to me? I don’t know how to be with anyone else? I don’t like her--and what if my and how can you/youcan’t
DAD I can and I must, daughter! You will starve if I don’t.
DAUGHTER ...
DAD What are we?
DAUGHTER Smart.
DAD And is it very smart to starve to death?
DAUGHTER No.
DAD You will get on.
DAUGHTER I will not get on! I will not get on without you, Dad!
DAD You will.
DAUGHTER I don’t like her!
DAD You don’t have to like her. But, you need her. Think of it like practice. You must find grace, daughter.
DAUGHTER 52
The woman in my dreams does not have grace. She tells me things. She tells me truths you know nothing of/
DAD You will need this Woman. Please trust my words.
DAUGHTER Trust. (beat) Trust?
DAD Different than fear. Different than worry. Different than here and now. It is future. Trust is in the future, daughter.
Daughter’s nose begins to bleed as Woman reenters with wood stacked high in your bosom.
DAD Your nose.
Daughter tilts her head back but the blood is too much so instead she collapses forwarded.
Woman re-enters with a few logs.
WOMAN Second one since I showed up. She seen a doctor?
DAD She’s fine. She’s always had them.
Daughter runs to her Bloody Nose Spot.
WOMAN Is it some kind of condition? 53
DAD I’m not paying you to ask questions. I’m paying you to look after my daughter. WOMAN If I’m to look after her properly I should know her ailments. And that seems like a pretty big ailment to/
DAD Her mother had them.
WOMAN …
DAD Genetics, or something.
He goes to exit.
DAD No more questions. Please.
THE LOW-WIND-HUM of WOLVES IN THE DISTANCE AS--
LIGHTS FADE.
SCENE SIX
LIGHTS FADE IN ON--
The homestead at night.
The moon hangs in her bright glory.
Daughter is fast asleep. 54
DAD is up and quietly about. He has packed a rucksack and is quietly slipping on his jacket.
Daughter wakes.
DAUGHTER Dad?
DAD Go back to bed, daughter.
DAUGHTER You’re leaving?
DAD I didn’t want to wake you.
DAUGHTER Why are you leaving in the middle of the night?
DAD I couldn’t sleep.
DAUGHTER Don’t go.
DAD Daughter, I have to.
DAUGHTER Now? Right now you have to?
DAD Go back to bed, daughter.
DAUGHTER You did not want me to say goodbye to you? 55
DAD I--yes, daughter. You may say goodbye. But, this is not goodbye. This is until two weeks time. This is not forever. You know the difference, don’t you?
DAUGHTER More than days.
DAD Yes. They are several days put together.
DAUGHTER I don’t like these weeks. These weeks I’d like to-- (she takes a deep breath) “You can’t kill words--you can only say them or write them.”
DAD You’ve learned so much daughter. You’ve grown so much. I can’t--I can’t lose you. So you have to be smart, okay? I trust you. To get on. To survive.
He gets up to leave.
DAD Do you understand what I’m saying to you?
DAUGHTER Yes.
DAD Good. Now, go back to sleep.
He tucks her in softly and just before he Exits-- 56
DAUGHTER You promise you’ll come back?
DAD I promise. “There was once a Dad and a Mom. And they tucked their new baby girl in with warm blankets. And said, “We love you Daughter, and we will keep you safe.”
He kisses her gently on the forehead then exits.
Daughter scurries out of bed and stands by the window and watches him go. She remains there until she catches a glimpse of the Woman situated by the barrel. Her eyes target on her.
Woman feels a presence staring at her, turns and locks eyes with Daughter.
A PACK OF WOLVES HOWL FIERCELY in the distance.
LIGHTS FADE.
END OF ACT ONE.
INTERMISSION. 57
ACT TWO
SCENE ONE
DAYS LATER.
The Morning sun slowly rises on the homestead.
Daughter has made a fire on her own and is percolating coffee.
Woman enters.
WOMAN ‘Mornin.
DAUGHTER …
WOMAN “Goodmorning, mam’. Nice day innit? Would you like a cup of coffee?” Sure thing! I’d love a cup.
DAUGHTER …
WOMAN It’s been four days. You’re gonna have to say somethin’ at some point.
Daughter pours Woman a cup of coffee, sets 58
it on a stool and shoves it her way.
WOMAN Thanks.
Daughter goes back to the bed, crawls under the covers, but just as she does--
WOMAN Nah, nah, nah! I’ve let you mope and groan enough--time to get to some business. Your Daddy and I had a deal--I watch you two weeks time, you help me hunt. ‘Sides you need to eat. Ain’t eaten a thing since your Daddy left; he’ll come back to a corpse I don’t feed you somethin’ soon.
Daughter reluctantly gets out of bed.
WOMAN First things first, you’ll need a gun of your own. You got one lyin’ around I don’t see?
Woman starts looking about. Daughter watches.
Woman picks up a broom.
WOMAN Can’t kill nothin’ with a broom, but you can practice pointin’ and aimin’ I guess.
Woman hands Daughter the Wooden Broom.
WOMAN Let’s see what you can do.
Daughter stands there with complete and utter confusion.
WOMAN 59
Well go on now. Point the thing.
Daughter lifts it, bristles first, into the air then turns and squints her face.
WOMAN (chuckles) It ain’t gonna fire, honey.
Woman goes to Daughter, flips the broom around, butt first, and then shoves the bristles under her armpit.
WOMAN Like this.
Daughter flinches.
WOMAN I ain’t gonna bite.
Daughter relaxes a little.
WOMAN Good. Now, I want you to take your cheek and rest it on the stock--bristles might scratch you a bit--Good, that’s exactly right. Okay. Now I want you to focus on something just beyond the tip of the broom--the door handle--aim for the door handle--nope, nope not quite--see what you have to do is follow your cheek to your nose, your nose to your right eye and then all the way down the barrel till you reach your target.
She watches Daughter follow her instructions.
WOMAN Good, yes--that’s right. And then--
Daughter pretends the broom fires off and 60
Kicks her back.
WOMAN BAM!!! (Laughing) Good, good, good! That was good!
Daughter smiles a little.
WOMAN Now we just gotta find you a real rifle.
Woman begins searching about the Homestead again. She goes to the bed, crouches to look under but suddenly--
DAUGHTER DON’T, WOMAN!
Woman freezes.
WOMAN Well, look who decided to talk.
DAUGHTER Don’t ever go under there.
WOMAN I was just looking for/
DAUGHTER Dad says never go under there.
WOMAN You always do what your Daddy says? 61
DAUGHTER Yes.
WOMAN Why’s that?
DAUGHTER …
WOMAN Silence again. Great. Look. You gotta eat. My job is to keep you alive. You don’t eat, then I failed at my job.
Woman goes to a hole in the floor, lifts up a rock, reaches inside and pulls out a few spoiled potatoes with arms growing from it’s eyelets.
WOMAN All we’ve got left is spoiled. You need meat.
She rises.
WOMAN Now, I’m goin’ out to hunt for some dinner. I suggest you stay inside and keep safe--you so much as think about steppin’ outside to run away, you betcha that cold’ll bite them bird-bones and kill you in an instant.
She throws her coat on, grabs her rifle and exits.
Daughter is left alone.
At first she stands in stillness, unsure of what to do with herself.
She props the broom back where it belongs. 62
She examines the Homestead. Somehow it feels new; unfamiliar when alone.
She walks about touching this and that.Then almost as if the Woman’s leaving was something she made happen herself, Daughter finds herself in a mischievous position.
She slowly canters over to the bed, kneels down then quickly lays flat on her belly like a whale and squirms looking for something.
Suddenly, she emerges holding a torn puffy photo-album. She looks at it like she doesn’t quite know what it is. She opens it--
She pulls out a few loose photos from its pages. She flips one over and on the back reads--
DAUGHTER (sounding it out) M--o---m oN h--er f--ir--st H--o--r--se. Mom on her first horse.
She pulls out another.
Mmmm-aaa-ssss-oo-nnn gggee-gggee--tt-ing h-is haar--haai-r c-c-cut.
She lets out a little giggle.
She pulls out another.
DAUGHTER Zaaa--chh-aaa--rr-iiahhh a-aa--nd his ssss-iiss-tt-eerr Jj-oo-Joo-- (beat) 63
Jo-Jo…?
Daughter slowly closes the photo album, and slides it back under the bed.
She reaches for more treasures. We hear something hard--plastic, heavier than the album.
She pulls it out.
A tape-recorder.
She examines its mystic technology.
She accidently hits a button--
DAD (V.O.) Ughh. Hello--
She quickly hits more buttons.
The recording stops.
She shoves the tape-recorder back under the bed and sits there cautiously.
She contemplates, then--
She pulls it out again.
She delicately presses play once more.
DAD (V.O.) Today is ugh--Oh, sorry. Right. This is Jeremiah Parks--and it’s October 7th 1973 and I’m the Father--the Dad of a young woman--named--Jo-Jo, ugh, Jo-Jo Parks. We’ve been here now--two weeks? We’re in a homestead just a little due west of the Allagash River in the Katahdin National Forest. This used to be 64 our family cabin--my wife and I built it--and well, my--my--wife and my two boys they’ve been--ugh--Ohh shit--I can’t do this.
The tape cuts out and into another recording--
DAD (V.O. CONTINUED) Hi, again. Days and weeks have started to blend now. I think it’s been a little over a few months--maybe four--since we--since she--We’ve been getting on alright. There haven’t been any incidents for a little while now--I think there’s been progress, real honest-to-God progress. And I think we might--she might actually be able to integrate again. I’m--there’s hope, yet. Ugh, again--this is Jeremiah Parks and I’m here with my daughter, Jo-Jo and it’s sometime in January--which ugh--would be make it 1974… Happy New Years.
Fast forward--
DAD (V.O. CONTINUED) (through tears) I told her to just wait--I--I-I said, “Now, Honey we can satiate this when we get home--you gotta just--you gotta hold it in--you gotta think real hard, and keep your head down and your eyes pointed at at at your feet in the snow or else you’ll--” And she just--it was like she went fucking ferrel and then I thought--is this how she? It must have been--I just--I miss them. God dammit I miss my wife. I miss my sons. Whoever gets ahold of these tapes--you find me dead here in this place or somewhere out in those clearings--you just you listen to this and you--you forgive her okay? She doesn’t know--she doesn’t know what she’s doing or why she’s doing it. She’s a good girl. She never meant to do the things she’s done. She--she--well she’s just sick and and I tried to tell them that--I tried to warn the folks down there--down at the Mission--I tried...but they didn’t listen.
Daughter sets the recorder down.
DAUGHTER 65
Dad is scared...Dad is scared of Jo-Jo.
Suddenly we hear the BANG OF A GUN from a short distance outside the Homestead--Daughter jolts.
Seconds later, we hear THE SOUND of clapping snow-shoes together off-stage.
Daughter quickly shoves the tape-recorded back under the bed.
Woman re-enters with a few vermin slung over her shoulder.
WOMAN Get on over here and help me get these ready for dinner.
DAUGHTER …
Woman walks to the fire, pulls up a stool, sits down, takes out a Large Bowie Knife and begins tearing at the fur and skins.
Meanwhile, we see Blood begin to drip from Daughter’s legs. It is a lot of blood.
WOMAN (turning to look) AH, shit, shit, SHIT!
Daughter holds her hand up to her nose, but doesn’t see any blood there. She then looks to the floor and sees blood pooling below her--
Daughter stumbles backwards. 66
WOMAN It’s okay, it’s okay. Has this happened to you before?
DAUGHTER Where...did this blood come from?
WOMAN Have you ever bled from there before?
DAUGHTER I--I don’t--I don’t think so. Dad said if I am smart I will not die. How have I not been smart? What did I do? What did I do to die?
WOMAN It’s okaaaaay, daughter. It’s okay. Breathe. Can you sit on the bed for me? Please?
DAUGHTER What if I bleed on it?
WOMAN You probably will. But, that’s okay.
DAUGHTER No. No! I can’t. I’ll upset Dad when he returns. He’ll be mad that I ruined the bed sheets.
WOMAN We will find a way to clean them. Please sit.
Daughter does.
WOMAN I need you to breathe so we can talk. This thing that happened, requires a talk.
DAUGHTER I--(gulping air)--I--(gulping air)/ 67
WOMAN You what?
DAUGHTER I--I--I am listening.
WOMAN Okay. Good.
She crouches down next to Daughter.
WOMAN Has your Dad ever told you about your cycle?
DAUGHTER Quarter moon, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning crescent/
WOMAN Not the cycles of the moon. Well, it’s connected to the cycles of the moon. But, I mean YOUR cycle. Daughter’s cycle of menstruation.
DAUGHTER I don’t know this word. I wasn’t taught this word. Dad did not teach me meennn--strr--uuuattioo//nnnn
WOMAN It’s okay, it’s okay. You are going to learn today. With me. We are going to learn it together. I’m right here to help you.
She reaches to touch Daughter’s hand.
DAUGHTER NO! No! Go away! Get away. You are a beast--You are an imposter--an invader--a beastly Woman!! YOU DID THIS! YOU MADE THIS HAPPEN TO ME! I hate you! I hate you! Go! Get out! Get out of our home! 68
Woman stands.
She puts her large coat on and her boots and goes to leave.
WOMAN If that’s what you really want.
DAUGHTER …
WOMAN Okay then.
Woman exits.
Silence.
Daughter checks herself for blood again. It is still there.
DAUGHTER NO! No, no, no, no.
Daughter searches the house for answers. She searches her body for answers. It is a true and utter fit.
She goes to the bed and pulls the Tape Recorder from underneath once more.
She hits play.
DAD (V.O.) August 23, 1977. She’s made so much progress. Today I watched her read a passage from a book on Sprites and Fairies. She lit up like she could imagine herself dancing about with them on lily pads and morning fields filled with dew drops. She’s 69 learned empathy. Everyday we read and we talk, we discuss the relationships between man and themselves, man and their other, man and nature. We pretend we are them. These other humans who exist through struggle and triumph. We--She, she becomes these things she used to fear within herself. And it’s--it’s beautiful. What she’s been capable of is beautiful. She is becoming a young woman, one that she can be proud of one day.
Daughter collapses in on herself. She shoves the Tape Recorder under the bed once more and weeps herself into slumber.
AS LIGHTS SHIFT, WOMAN RE-ENTERS--
She tiptoes to Daughter, lifts her in her arms, and gently places her in bed. Tucking her in.
LIGHTS FADE.
SCENE TWO
RISE ON NEXT MORNING.
WOMAN is awake by the fire. She softly hums.
Daughter is asleep--but suddenly begins thrashing about--
WOMAN (running to her) Honey, honey, honey! Wake up now. Wake up, it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s just a dream, a bad dream is all. 70
DAUGHTER (coming to) Huh? What? What--what happened? Where is she?
WOMAN Where is who?
DAUGHTER The Woman, the Woman from my dreams, where did she go?
WOMAN I’d imagine she’s still there, in your dream.
DAUGHTER I--I--She was, she was pointing a gun--like, like yours--straight at me. I could see her staring at me, straight down the barrel and then I--I-- (beat) When is my Dad coming back?
WOMAN Soon.
DAUGHTER Why did you stay with me? You could have left.
WOMAN I wanted to stay.
DAUGHTER Why?
WOMAN Because I’d like to help you.
DAUGHTER I don’t need help. 71
WOMAN And I don’t need your daddy’s money because I got plenty of my own. But, I’m gonna take it because he wants me to. It will make him feel good.
DAUGHTER I do not understand.
WOMAN I didn’t suppose you would. But, that’s all the more reason why I should stick around and help you. Can’t fix you, but I can help you.
DAUGHTER What is fix?
WOMAN Have you ever broken anything?
DAUGHTER We had a lamp once. And I broke that.
WOMAN Do you remember how you broke it?
DAUGHTER I took a hammer to it. It looked so clean. So perfect. Its glass was so smooth and beautiful. I did not think anything should be allowed to be so beautiful. So I took our hammer and shattered it.
WOMAN I bet that felt good didn’t it?
DAUGHTER I wanted it to live inside me. I wanted the beautiful colors of the glass to be what my insides were made of. But, I knew if I ate it, it would kill me. So, I was smart, I thought hard and decided to stay alive. So instead, because I could not have what 72
I really wanted, I destroyed it so it could not be what it was and I could not be what I really am.
WOMAN And what are you?
DAUGHTER … Why did the blood come out of me like that?
WOMAN It was supposed to. And it’ll continue to do that for many, many years. So long as you’re healthy.
DAUGHTER Dad made me read a chapter from a book about puberty. Dad says you are here to tell me more things about being a Woman.
WOMAN Ah. Yes. In a way.
DAUGHTER I want to know these things. You may begin.
WOMAN Right now?
DAUGHTER Yes. What is the first Chapter?
WOMAN Chapter?
DAUGHTER In the book.
WOMAN I don’t got a book…
DAUGHTER 73
Then where did you learn?
WOMAN My mother told me. (beat) Do you remember your mother?
DAUGHTER No. I saw a picture of her though--she kind of looked like the woman from my dreams I and well I found the picture under the bed the other day even though I’m not supp/ (she stops herself) Does my dad have this blood?
WOMAN Did you go under the bed?
DAUGHTER Because I wish he did.
WOMAN When I went out yesterday, did you go under the bed?
DAUGHTER No.
WOMAN You’re a very bad liar.
DAUGHTER I am not lying.
WOMAN You’re not in trouble.
DAUGHTER …
WOMAN 74
I’m not going to tell your dad. Is that what you’re afraid of?
DAUGHTER … maybe.
WOMAN Some things are better left a secret.
DAUGHTER Secret?
WOMAN You don’t know what that is?
DAUGHTER No. Teach me?
WOMAN Sure. Um. A secret is--something I don’t want anyone else to know, but maybe just you, so I tell just you, but then you and I agree--we make a pact not to tell anyone else.
DAUGHTER Oh. What is your secret?
WOMAN Mine? I--I--Well, there’s another part to secrets. You see, you have to trust the person you’re about to tell your secret to.
DAUGHTER Trust! My dad taught me that word! He said “Trust is in the future.”
WOMAN Yeeeahh, sort of. There’s a little more to it than that.
DAUGHTER What else? 75
WOMAN You have to--I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. All we know about each other is that I am Woman, I am a hunter, and I’m headed to the coast.
DAUGHTER And I am Daughter and I have a Dad aaaaaand/
WOMAN And you are smart.
DAUGHTER I am?
WOMAN Well, sure.
DAUGHTER You think I’m smart?
WOMAN Yes.
DAUGHTER I trust you now.
WOMAN (laughs) Well. Good. I still need a little more time before I can trust you. You’re a hard cookie to crack. And look, I know it’s hard to believe right now. But, you are becoming a Woman.
DAUGHTER I wish my dad had blood that came out of him so that he and I could be more alike.
WOMAN I’m sure he would like to know that his daughter loves him so much. 76
DAUGHTER I think he knows, Woman.
WOMAN Me too. Alright, first rule of Womanhood. You gotta stop calling me WOMAN. Could you call me by my name, please? Woman sounds so--It’s not--Just call me, Gurty. Please?
DAUGHTER I cannot call you by that name.
WOMAN Says who?
DAUGHTER Dad. A look of “bullshit” from Woman to Daughter.
WOMAN Well, if you can’t call me Gurty, then I can’t call you Daughter. Because you are not my daughter and you do not have another name. So it’s either Girl or nothing.
DAUGHTER What about… honey?
WOMAN I will call you that if and when you are being sweet.
DAUGHTER I am always sweet.
WOMAN Mmm, no. No you are not.
DAUGHTER I do not like the name, “girl.” 77
WOMAN And why is that?
DAUGHTER Because it makes me feel like a chair. Or a lamp. Or a dish. Or something that can break. Someone can break me with their words if I was just a girl.
WOMAN Welp, now you know why I don’t want you calling me “Woman.”
DAUGHTER Fine...Gurty.
WOMAN Fine, Honey. But, only when you’re sweet! Otherwise, I stick with “you.” “You! Over there!” Second rule of Womanhood, we gotta clean this junkheap up--you and I--we got chores to do.
She goes to the fire and retrieves the wooden broom.
WOMAN Okay, I’ll sweep and you change the sheets.
DAUGHTER The sheets?
WOMAN Yes. Strip the sheets. We’ll wash them outback when the sun gets warmer.
DAUGHTER Wash them? Like… (she pantomimes washing herself)
WOMAN 78
Well, yeah I mean sorta--but you know more like-- (she pantomimes washing on a washboard)
DAUGHTER I don’t know that wash. WOMAN You mean to say that every night of every day of every year you’ve lived here those sheets have had every night of every day of every year’s stench and filth on them?
DAUGHTER Yes?
WOMAN Hm.
Woman starts to sweep.
DAUGHTER Oooo I know!
WOMAN What do you know?
DAUGHTER …
WOMAN What?
DAUGHTER My dad says that.
WOMAN Huh. (beat) Well. What do you know?
DAUGHTER 79
We could play a game!
Daughter goes to a shelf and pulls out several different games. Most of them look homemade.
WOMAN Honey, we got chores to do.
DAUGHTER OO! How about Field Mice!
WOMAN Huh?
She turns to see Daughter holding up a board-game.
DAUGHTER It’s one of my favorites. Dad let me make the board and the players.
WOMAN It’s… lovely. (going to her) How do we play?
They both find a spot on the floor and begin setting up the game.
DAUGHTER You get a mouse and I get a mouse.
WOMAN These are...very realistic.
DAUGHTER Thank you! I caught them one day when I accidently left the rag hole open all night. They had babies and I caught them all with 80 my bare hands. Some we ate and some I let wither until I could use their bones for crafting the players. (beat) Now, without peeking you’re going to choose one of the cards in the stack. This is your Astro Card. On your Astro card, you will see a phase of the moon. If you get the New Moon then you’re allowed to move your field mice all the way to its home-base.
WOMAN Which is where?
DAUGHTER The tiny hollow cave on the side of the hill.
WOMAN What’s the point of the game?
DAUGHTER To not be hungry anymore. To survive.
WOMAN And how do you do that?
DAUGHTER You don’t let the wolf get you.
WOMAN Where’s the wolf?
DAUGHTER I’m the wolf.
WOMAN And what does the wolf do?
DAUGHTER You’ll see. Okayokayokay let’s start!
She roles some dice. 81
DAUGHTER Yes! All Fours! Means I get to go to the clearings!
WOMAN What’s there?
DAUGHTER Things to hunt.
WOMAN Huh. Well. Speaking of which. How’s about you and I have our first hunting lesson tomorrow? Bright and early.
DAUGHTER With a real gun?
WOMAN Yup. No more practice with the broom.
DAUGHTER Like the gun from my dream.
WOMAN Sure--like mine.
DAUGHTER You’d let me use yours? What if I don’t kill anything?
WOMAN Then, we’ll try the next day.
DAUGHTER And what if I don’t kill anything then?
WOMAN Then we’ll try the next day and the next and the next. Still gotta get you to eat something more than just a few rabbit bones here and there. 82
DAUGHTER Daysdaysdaysdays, I love days. I’m going to marry the word days.
WOMAN Oh yeah? I didn’t know you could marry a word.
Daughter plops on the bed.
DAUGHTER What is one thing you know, that I do not?
WOMAN Just one thing, right?
DAUGHTER Right.
WOMAN This isn’t one of those games where you trick me into telling you that an atom split and made the earth and that’s how we’re standing where we’re standing today and then it just rolls into every possible theory and notion of how the earth and the stars and the oceans got created, right?
DAUGHTER Magnificent.
WOMAN What?
DAUGHTER You know so much. I used my favorite word because you know so much.
WOMAN I don’t really know, know about those things. I just know they are apart of it. 83
DAUGHTER Apart of what?
WOMAN Knowledge.
DAUGHTER Learning is struggling. That’s what Dad says. Do you think he’s right?
WOMAN Yes.
DAUGHTER Good. I don’t think I’d like you anymore if you thought he was wrong about that.
WOMAN Oh, so you like me now?
DAUGHTER I think so.
WOMAN Thank you, honey.
THERE IS NO WOLF HUM, NO HOWL JUST A CALM SUNSET--
On the two Women as they play their game.
LIGHTS FADE.
SCENE THREE
SEVERAL DAYS LATER. 84
LIGHTS FADE IN--
On Woman and Daughter as they Wash the sheets and bedding with a washboard and a basin. DAUGHTER It’s just a few more days and you’ll be on your way to the coast, Gurty.
WOMAN Wow. Already?
DAUGHTER I’ve never seen the ocean.
WOMAN NEVER?!
DAUGHTER I read about it in books.
WOMAN Not the same. I’ll have to take you some day.
DAUGHTER I do not want to leave here.
WOMAN Surely you’ll have to one day, can’t keep cooped up like this. Not healthy, ‘specially for a young kid. You gotta go to school, you gotta meet people, experience things. That’s life!
DAUGHTER Blood and hunger and dreams.
WOMAN What now?
DAUGHTER 85
Dad says I have to leave one day too. But, if I have to leave here one day… that means I am stuck here… right now. But, I do not know why I am stuck here.
WOMAN Because you’re a kid, honey. You can’t make it out there by yourself. You need your dad, he’s raising you. But, someday you’ll grow up and you’ll move far away from here. That’s the cycle.
DAUGHTER Like the moon?
WOMAN Yeah, like the moon.
DAUGHTER Gurty? Now that I trust you, can I tell you something?
WOMAN Sure. Sure, honey. Go ahead.
DAUGHTER I know that minutes are very short. Like a quick breath. And hours are a little longer than that. And days are the full cycle of the sun and the moon. And weeks are many days put together. But, I think there was a time before. But I don’t really know how long things have been since that time.
WOMAN What does the time before look like?
DAUGHTER There are two boys. Brothers I think. “There was once a Dad and a Mom. They loved each other so much that they brought a boy into the world. He grew and grew and then he asked Dad and Mom if they would bring another boy to play with him. And so they did. And these two boys grew together. They played and played 86 and played until they ran out of ideas for playing and so they asked Dad and Mom if they could bring a girl into the world.”
WOMAN You had brothers?
DAUGHTER Yes, I think so.
WOMAN What did they look like?
DAUGHTER Mmmmm. (she looks around) There! Like that rock!
WOMAN Your brothers looked like rocks?
DAUGHTER That rock--one brother--he looked just like that rock.
WOMAN I don’t understand.
DAUGHTER I’ll show you.
She trots over to the rock, retrieves it, and brings it back to the Woman to show her.
DAUGHTER Here. Look. Hold it in your hand.
She gives the rock over to the Woman. 87
There’s a rivet. Here. That’s his chin. And those? The little punctures are his eyes. I think he had very blue eyes.
WOMAN And yours are brown. Hmm.
DAUGHTER I think she had blue eyes.
WOMAN Your mother?
DAUGHTER I read in one of Dad’s books that there are dommm-innnn-ant and recccc---essss--ive genes.
WOMAN Do you remember her name? Your mothers?
DAUGHTER I remember her face and I remember her hair. Her hair was crisp and she kept it short. But, sometimes, when it grew longer it would get swept up by the wind and make funny dances in the sky. And my brothers, they would cry sometimes which made their faces look like burnt marshmallows.
WOMAN Memories.
DAUGHTER Hm?
WOMAN Memories. You are having memories.
DAUGHTER I like them.
WOMAN 88
Good, now go and take these outside and hang ‘em on the clothesline. Sun is startin’ to melt the snow. It’ll be spring before we know it.
Daughter bundles up some damp sheets, goes to exit, stops short and runs back to Woman embracing her in a warm and deep hug. DAUGHTER Thank you, Gurty.
She releases her and runs off.
Woman watches her go.
Some time passes as we watch her wash the leftover linens all the while humming a tune--
However, she cannot help her curiosity.
She eyes the underside of the bed, looks over her shoulder to see Daughter--who is seen on the hill in the distance hanging the sheets--
Woman quickly rises and goes to the bed.
She reaches underneath and pulls out the Photo-Album.
She flips through, picking photos up, tossing them aside--searching for something, digging for answers.
She gives up in the Album, reaches back under the bed, and pulls out the Tape-Recorder.
Before she can hit play-- 89
Daughter reenters.
DAUGHTER What are you doing?
WOMAN Nothing, I was/
DAUGHTER I said don’t go under there.
WOMAN I thought maybe--I was looking for something.
DAUGHTER What?
WOMAN ...it doesn’t matter. I couldn’t find it.
DAUGHTER You looked at my pictures.
WOMAN Well--no, I just saw them and well--sure I saw a few, but really I was just looking for something else and it happened to/
DAUGHTER Get away from there please.
WOMAN Honey/
DAUGHTER I SAID GET AWAY.
Woman moves away but still holds the tape player. 90
Daughter goes to the bed, picks up the loose photos, stuffs them back into the Album and slides it under the bed once more.
DAUGHTER (turning) Give me the that.
WOMAN … No.
DAUGHTER Gurty. This does not feel like trust anymore. This feels like something else. Give me the tape player.
WOMAN I… can’t. I need to know what’s wrong with you, Daughter.
DAUGHTER There’s nothing wrong with me--give it.
WOMAN I just want to help you.
DAUGHTER I don’t need any help. Stop saying I need help--I’m not broken/
Suddenly, the door opens.
Dad enters.
DAUGHTER …
WOMAN …
DAD 91
Well, aren’t you going to come give your Dad a hug??
DAUGHTER Dad?
DAD Yes, Daughter. I’m home.
DAUGHTER DAD!!!
She rushes to him and throws her arms about him in a huge embrace.
Woman hides the tape player under her fleece.
DAUGHTER (CONTINUED) I thought you were never coming home!
DAD Ohhhh, nonsense. (to Woman) Ma’m. Good to see you.
WOMAN You--you too. Hope it was a safe trip back.
DAD It wasn’t so bad--glad to be home.
DAUGHTER Guess what, Dad?
WOMAN Honey, now I don’t think we need to/
DAD What? 92
DAUGHTER I have a secret.
WOMAN She’s just being silly.
DAD A secret, huh? Well surely you can tell your dad this secret of yours.
DAUGHTER IIIIIIIII…
WOMAN Daughter/
DAD YOUUUUU…?
DAUGHTER
IIIIIII...AM BLEEDING! And NOT from my nose!
She points to her groin.
DAD (laughs) Well, well, well. I’m glad, Daughter. Oh I’m so glad you are safe, and alive. (to Woman) Thank you, thank you. I’m afraid even money will never repay you for what you have done.
WOMAN ...It was my...pleasure. She’s a good, girl.
DAUGHTER HONEY! 93
DAD What’s that?
WOMAN Nickname. Something we started a few days ago.
DAUGHTER Gurty and I are going to go hunting tomorrow morning! Can you believe it, Dad?? I’m going to use her gun, a real gun! I’ve been practicing with the broom, see? See? Watch--look what I can do!
She runs to retrieve the gun.
And begins “practicing” to show Dad.
WOMAN We hadn’t gotten that far yet. Turns out she had a lot to learn before I could trust her with a rifle.
DAD Truly. I don’t know how I will ever make this up to you.
He reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out an envelope.
DAD (CONTINUED) But, this should get you at least to the coast and set you up for a while till’ the fishing barges go out.
WOMAN …
DAD Please, take it.
Daughter watches the exchange. 94
WOMAN I… I can’t. Keep your money.
DAD Like I said I can’t repay you in any other way. You must accept.
WOMAN Just promise me something?
DAD Ha...what?
WOMAN I think she might need some real/
DAUGHTER Dad??? Are you going to watch now?
DAD Some real what?
Woman takes Dad’s hand with the envelope and places it back on his chest. Her hand lingers.
Daughter watches.
WOMAN (CONTINUED) Keep your money, sir.
DAD Jeremiah.
WOMAN Keep your money, Jeremiah.
DAD What’s yours? 95
DAUGHTER Her name is Gurty. NOW WATCHHH DAD!
DAD Gurty. Short for Gertrude?
WOMAN Something like that.
DAUGHTER Dad. I said watch.
DAD Hang on now, Daughter-- (back to Woman) Gurty, there’s no sense in you heading out just yet. Why don’t you stay for some supper?
DAUGHTER DAD!
WOMAN I don’t think that’s such a great idea.
DAD Why’s that?
WOMAN Well I--I didn’t mean to--but I--
DAUGHTER I’M GONNA SHOOT ON THE COUNT OF THREE!!
DAD Okay, okay, Daughter. Go on and show me what you’ve learned.
DAUGHTER 96
Good. Now watch close. So first, you rest your cheek here--this is called the Stock--and you line your chin up--
DAD Okay--
DAUGHTER And you want your chin to line up with your nose and your nose with your eye and then you let your eye gaze follow down the barrel--
She aims the broomstick straight at Woman
DAUGHTER (CONTINUED) --Then BAM! You shoot your target.
WOMAN …
DAD (whispers to Gurty) This is the part where you play Dead.
WOMAN (uncomfortably) ...I’m shot. You--you shot me...
DAD (laughing) Very convincing. Alright now, let’s put the broom-gun away for the night. I’ve got food and presents and all kinds of things to show you, both.
DAUGHTER Both?
Daughter puts the broom back where it 97
belongs.
DAD Gurty’s going to stay a few more days. After all you’ve got a hunting lesson tomorrow// don’t you? Now, let’s see what all I’ve brought back.
WOMAN Oh I don’t think I can I really gotta get headed to the/
DAUGHTER Please stay, Gurty. We have so much to talk about now that we trust each other.
Dad and Daughter each pull up a stool by the fire.
Woman hangs back.
Dad pulls out a bag of meat and a round of cheese wrapped in cloth.
DAD Now, who’d like some fresh Jerky and Cheese from town?
WOMAN You didn’t happen to bring any liquour back with you?
DAD That’ll be a surprise for later.
DAUGHTER Dad, there is something wrong with you. You do not sound familiar. (she sniffs him) You smell different too.
DAD 98
Nothing but a little cologne. Got myself freshened up in town. I brought you back some fine soaps and other feminine products, Daughter. Something to make you feel grand--like when we pretend. Here, let me show you.
He goes to pull them out from a tattered canvas bag.
DAUGHTER I don’t want them. I do not want your gifts. You were gone too long, and now you are not the same.
DAD Daughter, you need to eat. Sit down and stop your worrying. I am here aren’t I? Now, eat some of this meat. It’ll be good for you. You need it.
DAUGHTER No thank you.
DAD No thank you?
DAUGHTER I’m not hungry.
DAD When was the last time you ate something? (to Woman) When was the last time she ate?
WOMAN Look, I really need to go.
Woman rises to leave.
DAD Don’t be in a hurry--now tell, what’s she eaten? 99
WOMAN I’ve--I’ve only been able to get her to naw on a few bones here and there. Muskrat, Squirrel, the like.
DAD Jesus.
WOMAN She wouldn’t eat!
DAUGHTER I wasn’t very hungry.
DAD You need something in you now. Your temper--it’s--have you been thinking hard?
DAUGHTER Yes…
DAD Swear?
DAUGHTER I promise.
DAD Then what has gotten into you tonight? Why are you acting like this?
DAUGHTER Gurty’s hiding something. She’s the one with a secret.
DAD What are you talking about?
DAUGHTER She stole something/ 100
WOMAN Now hold on a minute/
DAUGHTER From under the bed/
DAD What? DAUGHTER …
DAD What was it? (to Woman) What did you take?!
WOMAN Nothing...it was just...a few photos. I saw a few photos and there was this…
DAD This what???
DAUGHTER Dad, I remember them now.
DAD …
DAUGHTER I know you said do not go under the bed, but I could not help it. I saw pictures of Mom and Zacharia and Maso/
DAD (to Woman) Did you let her go under there?
WOMAN I/ 101
DAD DID YOU!?
WOMAN NO! She went under there herself! Just like I did! See!? You wanna see what I found?? (pulling the tape player out) Here it is! The big secret! What’s so wrong? Huh? She saw some photos, she had some memories--that’s good. She clearly needs to grieve, Jeremiah. The girl is lost and confused and I mean she can hardly go a day without some kind of a fit or a tantrum or--or--she’s a thirteen year old girl with the knowledge of about a six year old. She needs help. Real help. And one way to start is by telling her the truth.
DAD Truth about what?
WOMAN About how they died.
DAD What do you know? How much of those tapes did you listen to--give them that!
He snatches it away from her.
WOMAN You can’t keep it a secret from her forever.
DAD I didn’t ask for your advice. You’re free to go.
WOMAN What happened to them, Jeremiah?
DAD I said you are free to go, now get out of our house. 102
WOMAN There are three gravestones up on that hill and a lot of questions that need answers. I’m not leaving until you tell me what happened to them.
DAD It’s none of your fuckin’ business, now leave me and my Daughter alone.
WOMAN No.
DAD Fine, fine you don’t want to leave--then I can’t be responsible for what happens to you. Consider this my warning.
WOMAN Warning? Warning? Are you out of your mind? You cannot keep a girl locked up like this after whatever it is that happened--she is going to--you both are going to go fucking crazy! She made a boardgame out of rat bones she killed herself--whatever happened to Risk, or Sorry?! She acts like the only knowledge she has is from a collection of user-manuals you have lying around this shit-hole and for christ-fucking sake, she had her period like the floodgates of hell opened up and blood ran from her like you wouldn’t believe. She’s not right. And you are doing her no favors by keeping her here. She needs real help.
DAD You have no authority over what is right or wrong. You don’t know our story.
WOMAN Yeah well I’m not stickin’ around to watch what happens to you both. You want to ruin a chance of her ever having some semblance of a normal fucking childhood, stay here, keep her locked up be my guest. 103
Woman begins to grab her things.
DAUGHTER Dad?
DAD Yes, daughter?
DAUGHTER I’m hungry.
DAD Then...eat.
Woman grabs her rifle, her coat, and leaves.
Daughter waits a second.
Then follows.
The LOW WIND HUM of the WOLVES rises as--
GUNSHOT.
BLACKOUT.
EPILOGUE
Darkness fills the stage--sounds begin to creep in our ears--the suckling of blood and bones, the gnawing sounds of a desperate hunger.
And then a small, blue pool of light on DAUGHTER over the Woman’s carcass in the snow. 104
We see DAD on the hill out back, shoveling a fresh grave.
Next to Daughter is the old-tape player.
We hear--
DAD (V.O.) There was once a Daughter.
BLACKOUT.
END OF PLAY. 105