WEATHER
A Two-Act Play
by
Dave Scheffler
copyright © 2013, by David A. Scheffler Cast of Characters
FRED: Male, mid-20s
TAMMY: Female, mid-20s
JACK/PHIL/PHILO: Male, late 20s
ROZ/ROSE: Female, late 20s
CORNELIUS CLACK/RICHELIEU: Male, mid-30s
BORDER INSPECTOR: Any, 20s-30s
MOVEMENT LAWYERS (2): ML1: Male, 30s-50s ML2: Female, 30s-50s
SUITS (2) (Agents of unspecified government agency): FIRST SUIT: Male, 30s-50s SECOND SUIT: Male, 30s-50s
CLERK: Any, Any
LOCALES various locations in and around Venice Beach, Los Angeles, CA Agricultural Inspection Station, Blythe, CA Hallway outside Grand Jury room, Federal Courthouse, Tucson, AZ Posh home, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA Motel outside Santa Barbara, CA
TIME
1970 - before, during and after the Kent State "massacre" Some scenes may lend themselves to video production rather than being staged per se. The auto at the inspection station JACK and ROZ during the Grand Jury action etc I-1-1
ACT I
Scene 1
SETTING: A bench on the Oceanfront Walk Venice Beach, CA FIRST SUIT sits on bench. SECOND SUIT walks by, stops, walks by again
FIRST SUIT (FS) Sit down. Stop pacing.
SECOND SUIT (SS) What? Excuse me?
FS Sit down. Please sit down, sir. Your are being somewhat conspicuous with your pacing.
SS Oh. OK. Sure.
FS If you didn't want this meeting you should have sent someone else.
SS What do you mean by that? Who? Send who? What's wrong with me?
FS Nothing, surely, nothing at all. You just don't seem to be, well, how do they say, with the program.
SS Fuck you
FS Thank you. Surely, I thank you for that, sir.
SS Stop fucking calling me fucking sir. I-1-2
FS Look at that old lady.
SS What?
FS The old lady over there on that bench. Shit. All the old ladies. They're everywhere. We're the ones who stick out. Let's make this quick or go into a car. Yeah, that's better. Let's talk in a car. SS Whose car?
FS Well, mine, I guess.
SS Why yours? What's wrong with mine?
FS Nothing. Just it was my idea, I guess.
SS Is your car wired?
FS No. Of course not. Don't be stupid.
SS It's not stupid. Are you wired?
FS No.....Are you?
SS No
FS OK. Me neither. Look, we're supposed to be working together on this, right? Our people working together, right? Let's just relax, have our talk and get the fuck out of here. All these old ladies are making me nervous. I-1-3
SS OK. Well, we're here to talk about him, right? So, first of all, let's get something straight. Just who is he working for?
FS For us, of course.
SS No, I'm sure he works for us. I've got a report from him right here in my coat pocket.
FS Well so do I. A report from him. From him to us.
SS Are you saying he's working for both of us? Can he do that?
FS Don't ask me. How the fuck would I know? Ask your superior. Ask your director. SS The director doesn't concern himself with such matters.
FS Sure. I know that. Well, what does it matter? I guess he's working for both of us. Maybe that's why we're having this meeting... SS I suppose so. What's in the report he sent to you?
FS I can't tell you that. What did he report to you?
SS I'd rather not say....I mean, I am not permitted to share that information.
FS Well, that's just fucking great...
SS Pardon me? I-1-4
FS I can't tell you. You can't tell me. Why the hell are we sitting here then?
SS I was told to come here and meet you.
FS I know. Me too. I mean, I was told to come here and meet you, too.
SS Well....
FS Yeah...
FS/SS (simultaneously) Why don't we... (both chuckle, then clamp up)
FS Well?
SS ...Uhh...I mean, why not, uhh, tell each other what we can. There must be something we can say.
FS Sure, there must be. You first.
SS Why me? Why not you?
FS What the fuck! ....All right, all right, then. Well, he says he's putting together something good, something big, well, pretty big, anyway...
SS Really? Well, yes, he told us that, too. I-1-5
FS Good. Now we're getting somewhere.
SS Right. ....Did he tell you when?
FS No, not really. You?
SS Nope
FS He tell you what?
SS ....Ummmmm.....
FS Aha! He did! Well, what? What?
SS Something....ummmm...it's gonna be....uhhhh...it's gonna be loud.
FS Loud?
SS Yes. Loud.
FS I understand. Yes, that's the M.O., isn't it? The big bang. The, how shall we say, explosive statement. Good. I'm glad to hear it. That's what he told us, too.
SS He did?
FS Certainly I-1-6
SS Good. Then there's not much for us to do but sit back and let him pull the strings. Those idiot kids think they're so fucking smart. Boy, if they only knew where most of their brilliant revolutionary schemes really came from. He's our best agent provocateur - even if he does say so himself!
FS Well, he should know what he's talking about, right? He's pretty damn smart, highly educated, in control, that guy...
SS You bet! He sure is. ....Say, what do your people call him?
FS I can't tell you that! That's strictly need to know.
SS Sorry. Sure, I understand. Sorry.
FS What about you guys? Do you have a special name for him? I mean, like a codename?
SS Do you really think I could tell you even if we do?
FS You're right. Sorry. I know.
SS That's OK. Say, we do have a covername for his codename. I guess I could tell you that.
FS Yeah?
SS We call him....H.E.
FS "h.e."? You mean, "he"?
SS No. Just the initials, "H.E." I-1-7
FS What the hell does that mean? "h.e."?
SS Stands for "His Eminence". "H.E." Get it?
FS You guys are really fucked up. It's all true what they say about you, isn't it?
SS What's that supposed to mean? OK, smart guy, what do you call him? Sorry, I mean, don't you have a declassified something you can give me? I told you ours.
FS OK. Sure. Why not? I'm not ashamed of it. We call him "B.M."
SS Are you serious? "b.m."?
FS "Big Mouthpiece"
SS "Big Mouthpiece"? Where the hell do you get off poking fun at our name? Who runs your agency, Red Skelton?
FS All right. Forget it. Look, I guess we're done here anyway.
SS Sure. We'll be in touch. If something happens.
FS You mean when something happens.
SS Of course. When. You want me to leave first?
FS No, I gotta get outta here. These old ladies are getting to me. (FS exits, then SS exits opposite) I-2-8 ACT I
Scene 2
SETTING: A bench on the Oceanfront Walk Venice Beach, CA
FRED (singing, approaching slowly) I am the walrus, I am the waaaalrusss
JACK (on bench, in a low voice) coo coo ca choo
FRED (stops, looks around, sits down)
JACK You were singing.
FRED Yes. I was singing.
JACK Why? Didn't he instruct you to speak it?
FRED Pardon me?
JACK Why were you singing?
FRED Thought it would be more natural, less conspicuous.
JACK Sometimes thought can be dangerous.
FRED Are you Phil?
I-2-9 JACK coo coo ca choo
FRED ---- I am the walrus
JACK coo coo ca choo...... Yes, I am Phil. Short for Philo.
FRED Philo?
JACK As in Vance. Philo Vance. You know him, right?
FRED No
JACK He didn't explain it to you?
FRED No. Just that your name is Phil.
JACK Good. Need to know. Did he tell you his?
FRED I know his name. I've been helping him for more than a year. He trusts me. That's why he told me about you.
JACK What did he tell you about me?
FRED (Looks around, whispers) That you're underground. A Weather fugitive...
JACK ....and?
FRED And that we could...that I might be able to work with you...help you...
I-2-10 JACK Stop whispering! That looks suspicious, man. Be fucking cool. Help with what?
FRED He said an action.
JACK Action. Just what the fuck is an action?
FRED Armed struggle, man! Off the pig! Power to the people!
JACK Jesus! Don't fucking yell! Don't whisper but don't yell. Just try to be cool. I know it's not easy for you.
FRED What's not? What do you mean?
JACK You're excited, nervous. I'm a Weatherman and you're scared of me. That's ok. I understand. Exactly what did he say to you?
FRED Corny?
JACK Richelieu. His codename is Richelieu. Never call him that, that other name again. The first thing you must learn if you are going to work with us is that we are our codenames. Do you understand?
FRED Richelieu? Wow. Never thought about codenames, man. Wow. But if I had to give him one, I guess it would be, like, Lenin.
JACK Lenin! ---- I guess I see your point. But remember, he's a lawyer. Lots of head cadre are lawyers. He picked the name himself. Richelieu. OK?
I-2-11 FRED Sorry. Sure. Hey, will I get one, too?
JACK We'll see. Did Richelieu suggest a specific action?
FRED No. I think maybe he thought you.... I know where I can score some dynamite, man.
JACK shhhh! Not so loud! Lower your voice! Not much. Just a little. Be cool. Where?
FRED Buddy of mine works at a copper mine in Arizona.
JACK He can get it?
FRED Sure. He can steal it easy.
JACK Is he political?
FRED Sure, man. He's cool. I went to school with him.
JACK OK. Where in Arizona?
FRED Tucson
JACK You have a car?
FRED No. But my girlfriend does.
JACK Girlfriend?
I-2-12 FRED Tammy. Don't worry. She's cool.
JACK I want to meet her.
FRED Sure, man. Then, I can....we can...
JACK Were you in the military?
FRED Yeah. Air Force
JACK Were you in combat? Do you know about demolition?
FRED No. Nothing like that. Sorry.
JACK How about weapons?
FRED Sure. I know how to shoot. I've got some guns, man.
JACK Good. We may need them. What about your family?
FRED Family?
JACK What sort of background do you come from? What does your father do?
FRED He's a worker. A welder.
JACK Where does he work? Have you tried organizing there?
I-2-13 FRED He's self-employed
JACK Then he's not a worker. Not a proletarian. He's bourgeois.
FRED He goes to farms with his truck and fixes broken plows.
JACK Petit-bourgeois then.
FRED Is Phil one of those kids?
JACK What the fuck are you talking about, man?
FRED The dead kids birth certificates I get. Clack uses the names for fake ID. Is Phil one of those?
JACK Richelieu! I told you! Codenames!
FRED Sorry. I forgot. It's new to me, man. I'll be more careful.
JACK You'd better be. This is war. Armed struggle is war. There is no room for sloppy work, for lack of concentration, lack of discipline. We are at war!
FRED Sorry
JACK Philo Vance is a detective, not a dead baby.
FRED Oh. Sorry, I didn't....
JACK Stop fucking apologizing! Revolutionaries never say I'm sorry. I-2-14 FRED Sor-...uh, Cla-...I mean, Richelieu told me you were in Cuba. With the Brigade.
JACK He talks alot.
FRED Were you?
JACK Yes. Venceremos.
FRED Wow. How was it? What did you do?
JACK Work. Work and study.
FRED Wow. Did you meet any of the old guys from the Sierra Madre?
JACK You ask too many questions. You talk too much. Like that lawyer Richelieu.
FRED Sorry, uh, I mean, I....
JACK Who said that about killing all the fucking lawyers? Frost? Melville?
FRED I think it was Shakespeare, man.
JACK What did you say your girlfriend's name is?
(Lights dim to blackout as conversation continues sotto voce)
I-3-15 Scene 3
SETTING: The stage is divided in half. One side is the bedroom of FRED and TAMMY. The other is the bedroom of JACK and ROZ. Upstage are the doorways to each. Center stage in each is a bed. As lights come up, we see ROZ on her bed and TAMMY on hers. Both women are smoking joints. The speeches are sometimes staggered but always only between each discreet couple.
FRED (enters thru his door) Honey ---
JACK (enters thru his door) ---I'm home!
TAMMY Did you meet him?
ROZ How'd it go? He OK?
FRED Yeah. Yeah, it's cool
JACK What did Malcolm say? Time will tell.
TAMMY And?
FRED He wants to meet you. I-3-16 ROZ Oh. Something wrong?
TAMMY Me? Why?
JACK Nothing. Nothing wrong. Just maybe not quite right.
FRED Well, if we are going to be a collective...we have to...uh..struggle together...right?
TAMMY What? We're going to what? Here. This will get you right. (hands FRED a joint)
JACK (taking a joint from ROZ) We're almost out.
FRED Collective. A closely knit group of cadre working together in the struggle.
TAMMY What struggle?
FRED Armed struggle!
ROZ Well, what about - what's his name?
JACK Fred
ROZ That his codename?
JACK No code. Just name.
I-3-17 ROZ You don't like him, do you?
JACK I don't know yet. He might prove useful. What about scoring some smoke thru Corny Clack?
ROZ Who, comrade? Don't you mean Richelieu the magnificent?
JACK An asshole by any name
TAMMY You mean guns?
FRED Guns. Bombs. Yeah.
TAMMY You know I don't like guns.
FRED Arm yourself or harm yourself
TAMMY Rhetoric! Fred, we've had this talk before. If you can't talk to me, I don't want--
ROZ And Fred?
JACK He has a friend
ROZ How nice for him!
JACK If you'd let me finish! Who can get some dynamite.
ROZ Is he cute?
JACK Never met the guy. He lives in Tucson. I-3-18 ROZ No, silly! I mean Fred.
JACK Not my type but he's got a girlfriend.
ROZ Hmmmmm. Is she cute?
FRED --and I've told you before, this stuff is important.
TAMMY Change? Ok. Sure. Revolution? Why?
FRED Power grows out of the barrel of a gun. The pigs won't just hand it over. To the people.
TAMMY What people? You're just spouting slogans. Say something!
FRED The people! Everybody! Well, everybody except the pigs.
JACK I think we should get together. All of us.
ROZ Yeah? And?
JACK Then you can meet them.
ROZ We can have some drinkies
JACK Fuck you
ROZ and snackies
JACK Asshole I-3-19 ROZ Maybe play pinochle or bridge or--
JACK fuck our brains out!
TAMMY Why guns? Why revolution? Like in Russia? Will that work here?
FRED You forgot China and Cuba
TAMMY Look at the war. Aren't enough people dead? Do you really want to kill more people? Normal, innocent people?
FRED This is war! We are at war! The citizens? Yeah, I want to kill them. Besides, nobody is innocent.
TAMMY Why, Fred? You're not a killer. You get frustrated, angry sometimes, but you're not a killer
FRED Maybe you don't know me so well.
TAMMY I know you. I know it's been hard for you since you got out of the service. But things will work out.
FRED What do you mean?
ROZ Remember, we're almost out.
JACK Clack should have some.
ROZ See! We do need him!
I-3-20 JACK Just another fuckin lawyer. You remember what Shakespeare said about the fuckin lawyers?
ROZ No, I forget. But what does Corny say about Fred?
JACK Good soldier. Follows orders. Too dedicated to think much. Should be very useful, very safe.
ROZ Safe? That's not progressive my brother.
JACK Is it time for some self-criticism?
ROZ Right on!
TAMMY I have a good job. I don't mind supporting us.
FRED I've been looking. I can't find anything.
TAMMY I know you want to contribute, to feel important, but...
FRED Why don't you just kick me?
TAMMY I'm sorry, honey. I just don't want your worrying about money to ruin your--
FRED Money! It's always about money in this fucking country!
TAMMY Fred, I--
FRED I want to choke them with their fucking money, bury their houses with it and burn them down! I-3-21 TAMMY Fred, please...
FRED Whose side are you on?
TAMMY I'm on your side. Our side.
FRED You're either part of the solution or--
TAMMY Bullshit!
FRED ---
TAMMY Damn it, Fred, you're talking bullshit again! If you want to talk to me, talk to me! Keep it real, not this goddamn movement bullshit!
FRED What do you mean?
TAMMY You know what I mean. We keep having the same conversation. Talk to me about you. You.
FRED I am
TAMMY No you're not. Part of the problem, part of the solution, armed struggle, underground. What does it all mean? What does it mean to you? Why are you so angry that you want to kill people, innocent people you don't even know?
FRED ---
TAMMY I know you're frustrated but things will change. I love you. There's no hurry, no need to feel pressured. I-3-22 FRED What!
TAMMY I mean....I mean, do you really want to blow up buildings, to kill people?
FRED .....yes
TAMMY Why?
FRED You see how things are. I know you do. Society is rotten. Plastic. Full of shit and hypocrites. Look what they've done to the blacks.
TAMMY You're not black. We're talking about you.
FRED It's all the same. We've got to bring this war home!
TAMMY More rhetoric! Tell me something real. Something real about you.
FRED What do you want me to say? Tell me. I'll fucking say it!
TAMMY Tell me how you feel.
FRED I feel like shit. You know that already. I feel like shit.
TAMMY Maybe you could find someone to talk to about it.
JACK Clack thinks this Fred has fantasies of being Che.
ROZ Does he look like Che? Is he cute? I-3-23 JACK I refer you to my previous answers. Clack thinks he can help us score some dynamite.
ROZ I recall you saying so. His friend, right?
JACK Yeah. In Tucson.
ROZ Where's that?
JACK Arizona
ROZ That's south, right?
JACK East. Well, south and east, I guess.
ROZ I have a connection down south. Wanna visit?
JACK Ho Ho Ho Chi Minh!
ROZ Dare to snuggle! Dare to sin!
(Lights dim on bedroom of ROZ and ` JACK as they embrace. Laughter, then lights out on them)
FRED Talk to someone? You mean a shrink? You think I'm crazy, huh? Is it crazy to want to change the world, to make it better? How the fuck are you gonna do that without violence?
TAMMY I don't know. When you get like this I don't know what to say to you. I wish I could help.
I-3-24 FRED You can. Take a knife and cut my head off.
TAMMY Please don't say things like that. It scares me when you talk like that.
FRED The other day I was coming back from downtown. I had been in the courthouse getting birth certificates for Clack. I was driving up Wilshire. It was like a canyon of shiny buildings made of money. Fancy cars, guys in suits. I had a vision. I pulled out a machine gun and shot the shit out of it all, shattering windows, smashing cars, ripping apart bodies as I drove through their fucking high-priced hell. Damn! I would do it, too. I would fucking love to do that.
TAMMY They would kill you.
FRED I know.
TAMMY Fred, listen to me. I know the world is wrong, unfair, cruel. But killing yourself or even everyone else isn't going to fix it. Your problems are real but you can fix them. We can fix them. Just let go and enjoy being together. You'll see...
FRED ----
TAMMY What are you going to do?
FRED I don't know. I'm not sure what he wants to do.
TAMMY Promise me something.
FRED What?
I-3-25 TAMMY Talk to me before you begin.
FRED Begin what?
TAMMY Killing people.
FRED Sure. (starts to laugh)
TAMMY What's funny?
FRED Sounds funny when I hear you say it. Killing people.
TAMMY Promise?
FRED Sure. Sure. Killing people...
Scene 4
SETTING: FRED and TAMMY's bedroom
FRED (enters, carrying guns) In here, I guess...
TAMMY (enters with JACK and ROZ) Sorry. It's really the only room of any size.
ROZ That's cool.
I-4-26 FRED (looks for place to put guns, finally piles them in corner on floor) Uhhhh.....
JACK The bed, man! On the bed, sisters and brother!
ROZ Right on!
JACK Now this feels like Weathermen!
(JACK and ROZ laugh, ROZ grabs TAMMY around shoulders and shakes her)
FRED OK. Look, what we should --
JACK (declaiming) What we have here is failure to communicate!
FRED (paces angrily, kicks at guns)
JACK Relax, man! You got any weed?
FRED Not right now.
JACK What's a collective self-criticism session without weed?
FRED A what?
JACK No. No, you're right, man. We are not a collective...
I-4-27 ROZ Not yet
JACK No. Not yet. Maybe...well, anyway, what were you gonna say?
FRED About the action.
JACK Sure. The action. What about the action, Rose?
ROZ We must bring the war home.
JACK Right on! How do we do that? Tammy?
TAMMY I don't know, I...
FRED (starts to speak for TAMMY) We ---
JACK Let the sister speak! Well?
TAMMY I guess first we have to get some explosives, right?
ROZ Right on! Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun!
JACK Arm yourself or harm yourself!
FRED I thought we had decided already that --
JACK Say, where's that handgun, man?
FRED Which handgun? I-4-28 JACK You know what I mean! The James Bond gun you were shooting out there. The one that got you so pissed off.
FRED I've got to clean it
JACK Right. You gotta stay loose, man. Be cool
FRED What the fuck are you talking about?
JACK See? Relax, brother. What got you so uptight when we were shooting?...Cause I called you James Bond? Or cause I was showing the sister here how to fire a gun?
ROZ I think it was the wargasm, baby. Remember we all started laughing and saying how he was having a wargasm with his James Bond gun?
JACK The wargasm? Who could get angry at a wargasm? Only an uptight bourgeois pig man, right? Come on, brother, lighten up and join the righteous struggle!
FRED Ha ha. Very funny. If I did get upset it was because I was the one who was supposed to be doing the instructing and nobody was paying attention. You were the ones having the fucking wargasm, not me.
ROZ Smash elitism!
JACK Right on! The sister is right on, brother. Power to the people not the ruling class, man. Dig?
TAMMY I already know how to shoot. Fred taught me.
I-4-29 JACK Well I can show you my way, sister. Right, Rose?
ROZ Right on! Ho Ho Ho Chi Minh! (they laugh)
JACK You sure you don't have any smoke?
FRED No
ROZ OK. Let's get to it. You have a buddy in Arizona, right?
FRED Yeah. My buddy Frankie.
JACK And he can get us some dynamite?
FRED You know all this already. Why are you asking me again?
JACK We need to be clear. Every step has to be clear. That's how cadre work.
ROZ Well?
FRED What? Yes, he can get us dynamite.
JACK When?
FRED When we go down there. I thought we had decided that. I thought we --
I-4-30 JACK All right! This is what we do. Tomorrow we drive down to Tucson - he's in Tucson, right? Then, after we get back with the explosives, the collective meets and decides on a target and a date for our action. Agreed?
ROZ Right on! Sister?
TAMMY I guess so. Sure.
JACK Brother? You in this, man?
FRED Am I in it? It was mostly my idea.
JACK Cool. That's settled. Oh. You better bring that handgun.
FRED Sure
JACK You better bring James Bond. We may need a license to kill.
TAMMY Why?
ROZ He's only joking, sister.
TAMMY Oh. OK.
JACK I'm not fucking joking. This is war! Hey, this bed is pretty comfy. Why don't we all crash here tonight?
TAMMY Well, I, I....
ROZ Phil! The sister has to work tomorrow. Right? I-4-31 TAMMY Yes. Well, I...
ROZ And you two will be takin her car, so she has to ride the bus downtown. She needs her sleep.
JACK I don't snore.
ROZ Yeah, you do.
JACK Not much. All right. OK. (JACK rises to leave. ROZ follows. They cross to door. JACK turns back) Tomorrow! Venceremos!
Scene 5
SETTING: FRED and TAMMY's bedroom
(TAMMY sits on the bed, reading a book. Knock at door)
TAMMY Who's there?
ROZ Rose
TAMMY Who?
ROZ Rose. Roz. It's Roz, Tammy.
I-5-32 TAMMY (opens door) Hi. Sorry, I didn't...
ROZ (enters room) That's OK. My code name sucks, I know. Phil said I had to have one but nobody could think of a revolutionary name that sounded right so I just started calling myself 'Rose'. I thought it was funny in a smartass kinda way cause it sounds like 'Roz'. Anyway, it's easy to remember even when I'm fucked up. What do you think?
TAMMY It's OK. I mean, yeah, it's fine.
ROZ Yeah. Thanks. The guys have gone. I thought I'd stop in and see how you're doin.
TAMMY I'm fine.
ROZ So this is your place. Didn't get a good look at it the other night. Cool. Lotsa albums. OK, don't tell me...hmmm... (ROZ pulls out albums one by one, looking at covers) Looks like you guys keep things separate, right?
TAMMY (silent but beginning to smile)
ROZ Just a guess, but I've got a feeling that the Beatles, Joni Mitchell and Miles are not Fred's. Sooooo...Where's the line? Where's the break? Buffalo Springfield? Bob Dylan? the Stones? Aha! Led Zeppelin! That's not yours. Those others?
TAMMY Mine
ROZ Yeah? Dylan, too? the Stones? I-5-33
TAMMY Yeah
ROZ Cool, sister! You don't need a weatherman. Time for fightin in the streets! Say, how'd you like that target practice?
TAMMY I don't like guns.
ROZ Arm yourself or harm yourself.
TAMMY You sound like Fred.
ROZ Fred. Yeah. Is Fred for real?
TAMMY Huh? ROZ Is he really committed to the struggle?
TAMMY Armed struggle?
ROZ Phil and I think maybe he's...
TAMMY What?
ROZ I don't know, honey. I was hopin you could help me understand him.
TAMMY Fred's ..... complex
ROZ We're all complex. But when you're makin bombs or fightin pigs you need to know your comrades. Understand?
I-5-34
TAMMY You want to know if you can trust Fred.
ROZ Trust. Maybe more than trust. I know we can trust him. Like he's not a pig or an agent. But if we're gonna be a collective.
TAMMY What's a collective?
ROZ Your comrades. The people you struggle with.
TAMMY Your family?
ROZ Closer than family. Better than family. The people you roll around with fucking naked at midnight in the back of a van at 70 mph on the fucking freeway fucking...
TAMMY Naked?
ROZ Naked and fucking
TAMMY On the freeway?
ROZ Yeah. Smoking dope and naked and fucking. Girls, boys, girls, girls, boys, boys, all over each other till you don't know who or what and you don't fucking care. That's what I call revolution, sister! That's what I call smashing fucking monogamy!
TAMMY Feel sorry for the driver.
I-5-35
ROZ (pauses, stunned, takes a moment to process, then laughs, embraces TAMMY) That's right! You're OK, honey! Oh, we pull over every now and then and take turns at the wheel. Smashes elitism. Kinda like sending professors to work in the fields in China. Wow! Like, you seem OK with it. We wonder, though, about Fred.
TAMMY Oh
ROZ Well?
TAMMY I don't know. You'd have to ask him.
ROZ Sure. It takes more than anger to make a revolution.
TAMMY Huh?
ROZ He seems so almost there, so almost right on, but then...I don't know. You know him. What is it with him?
TAMMY Oh. Fred. He....
ROZ Never mind. Phil will talk some sense into him.
TAMMY How long have you been together?
ROZ Together?
TAMMY You and Phil
I-5-36
ROZ We're comrades. We're not a couple. TAMMY You don't.....
ROZ Fuck? Sure we fuck! We fuck all the time! But we're not together, not like you mean. You've got alot to learn. Don't worry, I can help.
TAMMY Thanks. Say, what about Luxemburg?
ROZ Luxem?....Oh, Rosa?
TAMMY Yeah
ROZ Yeah. And Parks, too. I know. Hey, it's not like you think.
TAMMY What?
ROZ Phil and me. You've got alot to learn.
TAMMY I guess
ROZ (puts arm around TAMMY) Don't worry. I'll help you.
I-6-37
Scene 6 SETTING: inside TAMMY's Toyota approaching Arizona- California border night of May 4, 1970
JACK You ask too many questions. Talk less. Listen more. You need alot of self-criticism.
FRED I was just curious about....Shit!
JACK What! What?
FRED Inspection station! Fuck!
JACK What? Shit! Turn around! Turn around!
FRED Too late for that. The spotlight's on us for sure if we do that.
JACK Why did you go this way?
FRED They have these things all over the place. We've got California plates so they may not even stop us. Relax, man.
JACK You never said --
FRED Well, with all the fine conversation I guess I forgot.
JACK Give me the gun.
I-6-38
FRED No JACK I'll do the talking.
FRED No. The driver talks. Everybody knows that. Pretend to be asleep.
JACK I'll --
FRED Just relax! They're looking for plants and bugs, not dynamite. Yeah, he wants us. Fuck! Relax, here we go --
Scene 7
SETTING: California Border Protection Station, Blythe, CA, May 4, 1970, 11 p.m. The Toyota pulls up and stops. A uniformed INSPECTOR approaches. FRED rolls down the window.
INSPECTOR Good evening. Where are you coming from?
FRED Good evening. Tucson
INSPECTOR Where are you going?
FRED L.A.
I-7-39
INSPECTOR Got any plants? FRED No
INSPECTOR (shines flashlight in car, looks at empty backseat) What's in the trunk?
FRED Spare tire stuff. And my suitcase.
INSPECTOR Let's take a look. (INSPECTOR walks to back of car. FRED gets out and walks back of car. He opens trunk. JACK gets out of passenger door and walks back. He stands at side, watching) What's in the suitcase?
FRED Clothes. My clothes. Oh. And a book, too.
(INSPECTOR steps back, looks at trunk, then at JACK and FRED. FRED keeps eyes on INSPECTOR, slowly puts hand in back pocket. INSPECTOR opens mouth as if to speak)
INSPECTOR (after long pause) Where you say you were coming from?
FRED Davis-Monthan. Visiting my buddy. He's still in. I got out last year.
INSPECTOR Air Force? I-7-40
FRED Yeah
INSPECTOR I was in, too. Army. You Air Force guys had it easy, man.
FRED Yeah. That's what they say.
INSPECTOR Where you say you were goin?
FRED L.A.
INSPECTOR You live there?
FRED Yeah
INSPECTOR (looking slowly between FRED and JACK, pausing on JACK) No plants, huh?
FRED No. No plants.
INSPECTOR ---OK...You can go. Drive safely. Don't push it; if you get sleepy, pull over.
FRED (pulls hand from back pocket, closes trunk) Thanks. I will.
INSPECTOR Easy. You Air Force guys had it easy.
FRED Yeah. It still sucked.
I-7-41
INSPECTOR Yeah. I guess. Scene 8
SETTING: The interior of TAMMY's Toyota
FRED Fuck! That was too fuckin' close, man!
JACK Goddam fuckin' stupid pig!
FRED Fuck, man! I really thought he was gonna make us open that suitcase. I really thought he was...
JACK And what if he had? I should have had the gun. And why did he stop us? You said he wouldn't. California plates you said.
FRED Probably your beard, brother. You look like you're still in Cuba. Maybe you should shave when you're underground. Look, I had my hand on the Walther, man.
JACK And?
FRED What? I would have!
JACK Who knows? Trained cadre don't flinch. I should have had it.
FRED Flinch? I didn't flinch!
I-8-42
JACK Armed struggle demands discipline. FRED Fuck you! What did you want me to do? Shoot him for nothing? Cause he's wearing a fucking uniform? Not too long ago I wore a fucking uniform, too.
JACK Part of the problem or part of the solution.
FRED What does that mean? You think I'm part of the problem?
JACK Control your emotions! We are in a war!
FRED Sure...... So I should have shot him? You would have shot him? Then what? Wanted for murder. On the run. Does that further the fucking struggle?
JACK War. We are at war. And I'm already on the run. Soon you will be, too. (JACK turns on the radio. The voice of a news reader comes on: V.O. ...in Ohio, National Guard soldiers have reportedly fired on anti-war demonstrators at Kent State, killing at least one... (JACK, smiling, turns off radio)
FRED What the fuck!
JACK You see? War! The revolution has begun! Are you part of the solution?
FRED (drives staring, silent)
I-8-43
(JACK studies FRED) You know, man, I'm gonna fuck your old lady. FRED WHAT?
JACK (smiling) Of course. Sooner or later, man, everybody fucks everybody. Those are the rules.
FRED Chairman Mao's orders?
JACK Sarcasm is counter-revolutionary.
FRED OK. Sorry. I'll try again. Did Mao say that?
JACK Weathermen say that. Bourgeois values must be destroyed. Sexual freedom is at the root of societal freedom.
FRED So, then, me and Rose?
JACK (laughs) If she digs you enough, brother.
FRED But Tammy digs YOU enough?
JACK Sure she does. She may not realize it yet, but she'll come around. And sooner than later, brother.
FRED Bullshit. Anyway, I'm not fucking anybody anytime soon.
JACK Afraid?
I-8-44
FRED Crabs. Well, they're almost gone but I've still got a couple more days of that shampoo.
JACK Chairman Mao had crabs
FRED Did he use that fucking kerosene shampoo, too?
JACK You're getting rid of them?
FRED What else should I do? Feed them? Sell them? Wouldn't that be fucking bourgeois?
JACK It's counter-revolutionary
FRED They're driving me nuts
JACK Reactionary! I think maybe Fidel had crabs, too
FRED What about Trotsky? Stalin?
JACK Bourgeois revisionist running dog lackey bootlicking paper tiger pig
FRED That's alot of animals, man.
JACK Listen, my petit-bourgeois brother, and learn. Once there was an interview with Chairman Mao. He stopped the reporter in mid-question, turned, pulled down his pants and crushed a crab, then went on with the interview as if nothing had happened.
FRED Wow. I didn't know that. I-8-45
JACK Focus on the big picture, comrade.
FRED Well, they're almost gone now. Only a couple more days.
Scene 9
SETTING: FRED and TAMMY's bedroom. TAMMY in bed, sleeping. FRED enters, carrying large suitcase. Drops it to the floor and it makes a heavy thud
TAMMY Fred?
FRED Who else?
TAMMY Everything OK?
FRED Sure. You surprised it's me?
TAMMY What do you mean?
FRED You seemed surprised to see me. Maybe you were expecting somebody else.
TAMMY What are you talking about? Who else would I expect?
FRED Who knows? Phil, maybe
TAMMY (turns on light) Sit down. What happened? What's in the suitcase?
I-9-46
FRED He's an asshole
TAMMY Who?
FRED Jack
TAMMY Phil
FRED Yeah. I can't work with him.
TAMMY I thought you were into them, I mean, into it, armed struggle.
FRED I am. Just not with him. Them.
TAMMY Why? What's in the suitcase?
FRED 50 pounds of dynamite.
TAMMY Fuck. Is it safe?
FRED Sure. No caps or fuses. Just don't throw it around.
TAMMY Sit down. What's the matter?
FRED He's nuts. I don't want to end up blown apart like those kids in New York. I can find somebody else.
TAMMY Did you steal it?
I-9-47
FRED No. Frankie doesn't work in the mines anymore. Jack went out and bought it someplace Frankie told him about. He got it and we split. I just dropped him off downtown. He has the rest of it. The fucking asshole.
TAMMY Don't you trust Phil?
FRED After this trip, I don't trust Phil to get me a bottle of milk from the corner store. I...
TAMMY What?
FRED Well, how would you feel if we...
TAMMY What?
FRED Well, if we gave them all of this and found somebody else to work with. Somebody that isn't so fucked up. Maybe Clack knows somebody else...
TAMMY It's up to you.
FRED I guess you'd miss him though.
TAMMY Who? Phil?
FRED Yeah. You could always stay in touch.
TAMMY Where is this coming from? I've barely spoken to him. You brought him here, not me.
I-9-48
FRED (pauses) He said he's gonna fuck you.
TAMMY He said he's going to fuck me...
FRED Yeah. Told me everybody's gotta fuck everybody. Weatherman policy. He said all kinds of crazy stuff. He got pissed at me because I didn't shoot an inspector at an agricultural checkpoint at the border.
TAMMY What?
FRED Yeah. You know the agricultural checkpoints? If you've got Cal plates they don't usually stop you coming back. But it's late and we're the only car around and maybe we look weird so he stops us and checks the car and asks me what's in the suitcase. So I quick talked to him about the Air Force and he lets us go but then Phil yells at me cause I wouldn't give him the gun cause he wanted to kill the fucking guy because he was a pig.
TAMMY He wanted to kill him? For no reason?
FRED Armed struggle. It's a war, he said. Sure, I know all that, but what the fuck! He's nuts, honey. When he ends up dead, blown to shit or in prison on death row for murder, I don't want to be next to him....Do you?
TAMMY Well....
FRED Well, what?
TAMMY Well, it is armed struggle. You know better than me. You taught me about it. Omelets mean broken eggs...
I-9-49
FRED Fuck it then! You take the stuff! I'll go live in a fucking doorway somewhere!
TAMMY Fred. All right. I agree with you. He does sound flakey. We can give them the suitcase, everything. You can talk to Clack. We'll find another way.
FRED You mean it?
TAMMY Yes. I do.
FRED Not just because of me? You do see what I mean, right? He's crazy. You don't want to be next to a nutcase in the middle of a war.
TAMMY That's true. Fred, come here. Love me?
FRED You know I do.
TAMMY I will if you tell me.
FRED I love you.
TAMMY Then come here. Come to bed.
FRED I'm not tired.
TAMMY Neither am I.
FRED I'm wide awake. I'm gonna go sit outside for awhile. Go to sleep. (FRED exits) I-10-50 Scene 10
SETTING: FRED and TAMMY's bedroom. TAMMY sits on bed. Knock at door TAMMY rises, opens door. ROZ enters
TAMMY I had a feeling
ROZ Yes?
TAMMY I'd be seeing you again
ROZ It OK?
TAMMY Sure. Come on in. Sister
(they laugh)
TAMMY Fred's not here
ROZ (lighting joint, taking hit, passing to TAMMY) I know. I watched him leave.
TAMMY Oh. He went to talk to Clack.
ROZ Lost his way, huh? Needs some direction. Did he have to get Richelieu's blessing before he bailed on us?
TAMMY No. He did that on his own.
I-10-51
ROZ Fuck it. We've still got you. You're so much more progressive than him.
TAMMY Than who? Fred or Jack?
ROZ Phil. Never Jack. Phil. Always call him Phil.
TAMMY Sure. Sorry. Fred or Phil?
ROZ Fred. Jack - I mean Phil! - is a heavy cat. Fred, I don't know. Something isn't right. He's almost right on, but... TAMMY It's his cock.
ROZ What?
TAMMY His cock doesn't always work. Fucks with his head.
ROZ With his politics, too.
TAMMY Look. He helped you get that stuff. He helped you --
ROZ And then he got cold feet.
TAMMY (shrugs) That's Fred! He gets too close and then backs away. He gets scared. Almost. That's Fred. Mr. Almost. But you've got everything now, right? The dynamite, the fuse, the caps?
ROZ Downtown at the bus station in two lockers.
I-10-52
TAMMY OK. If you came over, talked with him, gave him some time, he might come around.
ROZ We don't have time. We say we want a revolution. It won't wait.
TAMMY Then you'll have to go on without him. I think he's afraid of Phil anyway.
ROZ Phil? Phil's a pushover, honey. Just give him a little whiff of it and he falls right into line. They're all like that, aren't they? Besides, Weathermen is led by women. So fuck Fred. We don't need him. But, Tam, we want you with us. Phil, too, he wants you with us. The three of us.
TAMMY What about Fred?
ROZ What about Fred?
TAMMY (pauses) Yeah. I get it.
ROZ Tam, listen. Can we trust Fred?
TAMMY Huh?
ROZ To keep his mouth shut. Phil thinks maybe we should make sure.
TAMMY What? What do you mean? No! Fred's not like that. No!
ROZ He'll be very hurt when you leave with us. Very angry. Angry with us. You know how he gets when he's angry. I-10-53
TAMMY No. He wouldn't do that. He really believes. Don't get the wrong idea. I like you and all. I'm not too sure about Phil but I do like you. But I'm not a revolutionary. I'm not. I've got a job and I like it. I'm not angry and crazy like Fred. And anyway I love Fred. I do. Peace, Change? Sure. Bombs? No. No, Roz ... Rose? No.
ROZ Phil and I think --
TAMMY No! No. Forget your ideas about Fred and forget about me too. I'm not coming.
ROZ Oh, you'll come. I know you'll come. (laughs, eats roach and reaches for TAMMY who laughs. They kiss)
(BLACKOUT)
II-1-54
ACT II Scene 1
SETTING: TAMMY and FRED's bedroom The room is very dimly lit FRED and TAMMY are on the bed, under covers, moving. Loud groans. Lights gradually come up FRED, on top, rolls over
TAMMY (singing) Come together. Over me.
(FRED and TAMMY kiss, embrace, laugh)
TAMMY Think maybe sometime it could be over you?
FRED Uhh...yeah...sure...sometime, sure.
TAMMY No hurry, honey. It's been better lately, right?
FRED Sure
TAMMY I mean it. No hurry. This was great. Really. I'm happy. It's been better?
FRED Sure. Yeah. Sure it has. You know that.
TAMMY I know. ... Fred?
II-1-55
FRED Yeah?
TAMMY You still want....you still believe in armed struggle?
FRED Of course I do.
TAMMY Right. I know. I guess what I'm asking is do you still want to....do you still want to kill people?
FRED Not right now.
TAMMY You still think about them?
FRED You mean?
TAMMY Jack and Roz. Yes.
FRED Do you?
TAMMY Uhh....well, sure, sometimes. It was...it was a very emotional time for me
FRED You miss them?
TAMMY No. Of course not. Besides, we've been busy. Clack sure surprised me, I admit it.
FRED He's not so bad. He's not the enemy. He understands. Organizing is important, too.
II-1-56
TAMMY It is. And getting thrown off army bases for passing out leaflets is exciting enough for me.
FRED They also serve...
TAMMY What's that?
FRED Nothing. Just mumbling, hon.
TAMMY Is it enough for you?
FRED Yeah. Sure. For now it's good. We need the time.
TAMMY I love you.
FRED I love you, too.
TAMMY We don't have to get up right now, do we?
FRED Gimme half an hour. I gotta go piss. Then maybe we can get it up again.
(FRED and TAMMY laugh, hug, kiss) (Telephone on bedstand rings, TAMMY picks up)
TAMMY Hello? (hands FRED phone) It's Corny.
FRED Yes? What, now? Are they coming here? Oh. OK, I got it. Sure, I understand. OK. We will. Yes. Yes.
II-1-57
(FRED hands the phone to TAMMY TAMMY looks at FRED who is staring straight ahead. TAMMY listens to phone, then hangs up)
TAMMY What's wrong? What did he say?
FRED Two US Marshals just left his office. They have a subpoena for you. I think he said it's for a Grand Jury. We have to go over there now. Let's get dressed.
TAMMY Fred...for me?
FRED He said now. Get dressed.
Scene 2
SETTING: The stage is dark. Gradually, the sound of humming and electric crackling, as over an old landline telephone is heard, increasing in volume. This continues thruout Both FS and SS are covered, muffled by the static
FIRST SUIT (FS) (Voice only thru house sound) Hello?
SECOND SUIT (SS) (Voice only thru house sound) Hello?
II-2-58
FS This is not a....
SS ...secure line
FS Call again
SS Encrypted line
(phones are heard disconnecting followed by the ringing of phones This time there is echoing of all sounds. The ringing, the voices, all echo)
SS Hello
FS What the hell is that echo? You hear that echo?
SS Yeah. It's that secure line thing. We don't know what causes it so we just ignore it. Suggest you do the same. Please proceed
FS "B.M." says big bang still a go. Repeat, "B.M." says...
SS We know. We already know. "H.E." told us.
FS You mean "B.M."
SS I said "H.E."
FS Still a go. Watch Tucson though. Grand Jury show. With parabolic mikes and tape decks all we'll know!
II-2-59
SS Cut the crap. This conversation is being recorded.
(echo-laden, static-ridden sound of both phones hanging up)
Scene 3
SETTING: A hallway outside the Grand Jury room in the Federal Courthouse in Tucson, AZ. The look is official and old. Against the wall is a long worn wooden bench with a high back. On it sit TAMMY, CLACK, ML1 and ML2
TAMMY What's next?
CLACK What do you mean?
TAMMY What are they going to do to me next?
CLACK Perhaps a better question would be what is our next move. In other words, we need--
TAMMY (interrupting) Mr. Clack, please. They've already asked me about my entire life history, all my family and friends, my political activity, whether I am a Weatherman, know any Weathermen, know how to make a bomb, want to buy and sell dynamite to overthrow the government, and so many other questions I can't remember them all. I did just what you told me. I kept refusing to answer under my rights under all those amendments. What are they going to do to me now?
II-3-60
CLACK Tammy, this is like a war and you're like a prisoner of war. I know you got caught up by chance more or less. I know you're not really the one who should be going through this. But you are. You've done well so far, very well. You are a very good soldier and--
TAMMY Cut the crap! You're starting to sound like fucking Fred, on and on with that goddam rhetoric. You haven't hypnotized me so stop trying. Just tell me what's going to happen to me next. That is, if you even know.
CLACK Of course I can't be sure but they will most likely grant you immunity.
TAMMY Immunity?
CLACK It's a tactic developed to counter organized crime. They will ask you the same questions and, if you refuse to answer, grant you immunity.
TAMMY You lost me.
ML1 The only right they recognize is your right against self- incrimination under the 5th amendment. Granting you immunity effectively removes that right. Then, if you refuse to answer...
TAMMY Well? If I refuse to answer what? I can answer all those fucking questions because they are all bullshit. Why the fuck am I even here? Why are you making me do this? Refusing to answer and mumbling about amendments.
CLACK You are here because it was your car.
II-3-61
ML2 Because the dynamite was purchased using your automobile registration as ID.
TAMMY Jack you asshole! You fucking pompous, selfish, narcissistic asshole. Did you teach him that, Corny?
ML1 We know this isn't easy. You're under a lot of pressure...
TAMMY What happens after the immunity? You never finished that. You said then if I refuse to answer...
CLACK They will hold you in contempt of court.
TAMMY What does that mean?
ML1 Civil contempt. You would be held in jail until you testify.
TAMMY Jail? Testify? But you won't let me testify! How long can they keep me there?
CLACK Until you testify.
ML2 Or for the life of the Grand Jury....Well, 18 months, or, perhaps, two years.
TAMMY Two years?
CLACK Of course, they can always empanel a new one looking into the same matters.
TAMMY The life of the Grand Jury? You really mean my fucking life, my whole fucking life! II-3-62
(enter CLERK. CLERK approaches CLACK who rises. They turn their backs and have a whispered conversation. CLERK exits)
CLACK Tammy, the Grand Jury wants you again.
(TAMMY rises, exits)
CLACK (sotto voce) Good luck. (CLACK exits, re-enters with FRED)
FRED She went back in?
CLACK Yes
FRED And?
ML2 She'll be in custody by the end of the day.
CLACK (to ML2) You stay here to monitor...uhh...to assist her. We've got to get back to LA and make some plans. (to FRED) Let's go. We've got work to do. I'll brief you in the car.
(exit CLACK and FRED)
II-4-63
Scene 4 SETTING: Motel room outside Santa Barbara, CA
(NOTE: Scene is played without dialog; or at least without heard dialog)
(ROZ and JACK enter room, close door. JACK carries the suitcase and a backpack, puts both on bed. ROZ carries backpack, puts it on bed, removes Viet Cong flag and tacks it to wall. ROZ removes a baggie of marijuana and begins rolling joints. ROZ takes a transistor radio from backpack and turns it on, tunes, begins moving to rock music which can be unheard JACK, moving to music, removes handgun from backpack, places it on bed. JACK and ROZ smiling. JACK opens suitcase and slowly removes sticks of dynamite, places on bed. JACK clears desk of all but lamp, carries some dynamite to desk. JACK takes roll of duct tape, scissors, wires, etc from backpack to desk. JACK sits and begins to work on making bombs. ROZ lights joint, tokes, goes to JACK but he stops here and points to dynamite. ROZ returns with whisky bottle, hands to JACK. JACK takes bottle and drinks, continues to work)
II-5-64 Scene 5 SETTING: a bench on Oceanfront Walk, Venice Beach, Los Angeles, CA
CLACK Anybody followed?
ML1 No
ML2 Not that I could tell. Do you really think they would bother?
CLACK How can you be involved in this case and ask that? You understand what the government is doing. It's a witch hunt. They ask about alleged Weather fugitives but they are really probing for intelligence to use against the Movement.
ML2 I know.
CLACK So, yes, why wouldn't they be watching us, following us?
ML2 Well, Tammy's in jail. In Tucson.
CLACK So what? She's merely a pawn. In their game, I mean. Why, they could be watching right now, even listening to our every word.
ML2 That's ridiculous. Look around. We're alone out here.
CLACK They have the means, believe me, they have the means.
ML1 Corny, do you think we should be in a more secure environment? Is it safe to talk?
II-5-65
CLACK Well....yes, I think so. The surf will help mask our voices if we don't talk too loudly. OK, how is our little martyr?
ML2 ----Tammy is....frustrated and frightened but overall holding up.
CLACK How long now?
ML2 Four months.
CLACK Four...And she wants out? She wants to talk?
ML2 I didn't say that....I don't know....No, she hasn't said that.
CLACK I've been thinking...I think the time has come for her to testify.
ML1 What? What the hell for? Give the pigs what they want?
CLACK No. Give the pigs what we want...... They want information. She wants out. Let's kill two birds with one stone. One pre- fabricated stone of our design.
II-6-66 Scene 6
SETTING: Motel room outside Santa Barbara, CA
(JACK rises from desk, stretches, yawns. A pile of bombs - wrapped sticks of dynamite - covers the desk. JACK turns off lamp, goes to bed, takes empty, open suitcase and throws it on floor. JACK lays on bed, reaches over to ROZ, they' embrace, kiss. ROZ lights joint, they smoke, kiss, laugh)
(Lights down, then blackout)
Scene 7
SETTING: As before, the stage is dark. Humming and electric crackling, as before but with the echo and associated effects. Phones ring.
FS (Voice only, strong echos) Hello?
SS (Voice only, strong echos) In place. Recording.
FS Hello?
SS Is this a secure?....in position...
(echoed sound of phones hanging up) II-8-67 Scene 8 SETTING: living room of posh home in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA
CLACK The floor is open.....Come on, I've spoken to all of you, you all know what this is about, what we want to do here. The floor is open. Who wants to go first? Come on!
ML2 We're scared, Corny, can't you see we're all scared?
CLACK Of what for chrissakes? Well? Anybody? Or is it just you?
TAMMY Me, too
CLACK Well, you....
TAMMY Right. I have a reason to be. Well, I'm not a lawyer but I know what perjury means.
CLACK Perjury!
ML2 She's right. Tammy is right on. Who knows if this place is bugged or if they're out there in a utility truck with a parabolic microphone and a tape recorder. We're sticking our necks out here big time. We have a right to be scared.
ML1 Was anybody followed? I don't think I was. I drove around for a good half hour. I don't think I was.
CLACK Look. Let's not get fucking paranoid, ok? The risk is real but not as real as the need. Remember why we're here. Tammy?
II-8-68 TAMMY I know. And thank you. Thank you all. But, I.... ML2 No. Don't even think about it. You need to get out of there. We all agree on that.
TAMMY But why can't I just....I mean I could....
CLACK Talk? Tell "the truth"? Yes, you could. And what would that mean? What would that mean not only for those brothers and sisters still struggling as fugitives but as a precedent for the dismantling and destruction of the entire Movement?
TAMMY I didn't do anything! Why do I need to lie? Why can't I tell the truth?
CLACK You are the one in their grasp, yes, but....
ML1 But we must protect our brothers and sisters. Solidarity, sister, solidarity!
TAMMY And if they catch me in a lie, then what? Back in jail for who knows how long. I'm in jail either way. I'm fucked either way, just fucking fucked.
CLACK Let's stay focused. We all have emotions around this issue but we need to put that to the side and focus on what's important here. We don't have all the time in the world. We're due back in front of the Grand Jury in a week. That means we have to develop, polish and perfect a cover story that will not only free Tammy but shield our underground comrades and all others fighting against Imperialism. Now, I....
ML2 Let's take a vote. Let's reach a consensus before we move. Right, Corny?
II-8-69
CLACK Fine. Vote on what?
ML2 On whether to purge the contempt ruling of course
CLACK Fine. Everybody understand? Good. All in favor, raise....
TAMMY No. I want to hear you all say it. I want to hear how you feel.
CLACK Very well, Tammy. Let's go around the room. Who wants to go first?
ML1 I will. I say, yes. Let's proceed and produce a solid story to free Tammy and protect all political prisoners and all those whom the government wants to make political prisoners. Power to the people!
ML2 I suppose there's really no other choice. Tammy, I'm sorry, honey, but I guess I agree with them. I vote yes.
CLACK You know how I feel. I mean, what I think. Of course we proceed to make a plan.
TAMMY Fred? What about you, Fred? What do you think I should do?
FRED ------Yes. Go back there, tell them what they want to hear and be free.
II-8-70
TAMMY ------I have a vote, too, right? But yes and no are both not really my choice. My choice was taken from me months ago. Remember that morning we woke up together and made love? Remember how happy we were? I was. I was happy, Fred. And then that fucking phone rang and right then my choices died. It sucks now. Life sucks. What the fuck, I've got no chance much less choice. Big brother might be waiting to swat me like a fly when I lie under oath but what can I do? OK. What am I going to say?
CLACK Right on! The sister said it. Let's give them one hell of a story. Now, I've been thinking about this and I think......
(BLACKOUT)
Scene 9
SETTING: Motel room outside Santa Barbara, CA
(JACK places last bomb into a duffel bag. ROZ takes down Viet Cong flag, wraps it carefully and places it inside the duffel bag on the top. JACK closes the duffel bag. JACK and ROZ shoulder the backpacks and JACK hefts the heavy duffel bag. JACK and ROZ move to door. JACK opens door, starts to exit. ROZ stops JACK, motions to open, empty suitcase on floor. JACK shakes his head, laughs, gives the suitcase the finger. ROZ and JACK kiss, laugh, exit, closing door)
(BLACKOUT)
II-10-71 Scene 10
SETTING: TAMMY and FRED's bedroom The room is very dimly lit FRED and TAMMY are on the bed, under covers, moving. Loud groans build to screams. Lights gradually come up FRED, on top, rolls over
FRED (singing) I'm so glad, I'm so glad, I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm....
TAMMY Don't quit your day job, honey.
FRED I won't. Wait a minute - I don't have a day job!
TAMMY Neither do I any more. It's not so funny. We've still got to eat, Fred, we've still got to live.
FRED I know. I'll keep looking, too. Something will turn up sometime. It's gotta.
TAMMY At least we've got each other. At least we're together. Again.
FRED It was pretty bad, huh?
TAMMY I don't want to think about it...... Yes, it was bad. But it's over now. Isn't it? II-10-72
FRED Sure
TAMMY I dream about it. I dream about being back in there. About not being able to get out. I don't want to go back.
FRED I know. Don't worry, honey, you won't go back. You're free now.
TAMMY Free. What's free? I'm not really free, free. Not like I would be if I had really talked.
FRED You talked. You're out. You're free.
TAMMY I lied. I talked but I lied. I committed perjury, Fred. What if they know? What if they come back again? I could go to jail again. As a felon. I'm not free.
FRED Look at the bright side. You're not on the run like they are. Try not to worry so much. Come here, I'm feelin like I need some more.
TAMMY Not now. You talked to Clack yesterday, didn't you? What did he say? Did he say anything about me?
FRED No. Nothing about you.
TAMMY What did you talk about? I want to know.
FRED ----about them
TAMMY He knows where they are, doesn't he?
II-10-73
FRED No. I don't think so. But I think he knows something.
TAMMY What?
FRED He said there was a bombing in Santa Barbara last month. A National Guard Armory. He thinks....
TAMMY It was them, right?
FRED I guess. Probably. I don't know. What's the difference? You're here with me and they're underground.
TAMMY I know. You don't know how it feels. You don't understand. I didn't do anything. I didn't kill anyone. I didn't blow anything up. But I'm the one who went to jail. I'm the one who'll go back to jail. Not you. Not them. It's not right. It's not fucking fair. I didn't do anything.
FRED You're not going to go back to jail. Relax. Come over here. Let me help you relax.
TAMMY No. Not now. I don't want to now.
FRED Maybe you should talk to someone. Clack says he knows...
TAMMY I'm going to get dressed and go down to the beach. The ocean makes me relax. I can't stand being here waiting for the phone to ring again. For it to start all over again like before.
FRED Want me to come with you?
TAMMY I don't know. II-10-74
FRED I'll go, too. Race you to the shower! But first, give me a kiss at least.
TAMMY I'm afraid to be happy. I'm afraid if I'm happy that phone will ring again.
FRED Come here. Don't be silly. That phone isn't going to ring. You're free. You're free and you're with me. Kiss me.
(FRED and TAMMY kiss. The telephone rings. It stops ringing for a moment and two other phones are also heard ringing with pronounced echoes. They stop, then only FRED and TAMMY's phone is heard) (BLACKOUT) (CURTAIN)