Plexiglass wall set on a concrete barrier which separates the animals from visitors to the zoo. A pond, thin layer of ice on it, surrounds a replica of an iceberg. An EXHIBIT CLOSED FOR REPAIRS sign taped to the glass.
TIM and JENN stand shivering in the dark, smoking. After a moment, DARRELL appears with a large canvas bag in his arms.
DARRELL
—fucking fence, huh?
TIM
Yeah.
DARRELL
Tore the sleeve ’a my jacket all to shit! ’S fucking great—
JENN
It’s cold.
TIM
The hell we doing here, anyway?
DARRELL
Just thoughta this, wanna show you something. (looking around) ’S fun here, ain’t it? I get off on this place!
JENN
Darrell, I’m froze. What do you gotta show us so bad, couldn’t do it indoors?
DARRELL
Take a minute, that’s all—
TIM
Let’s do it, then. (BEAT) They got guards come by every so often, you know.
TIM looks around, worried. DARRELL smiles, kneeling to put the bag on the ground. He motions for TIM and JENN to have a look. Long silence as they stare into the bag, dumbfounded.
JENN
—Darrell.
TIM
What is this?
DARRELL
Like you guys to meet someone.
TIM
Fucking nephew. Oh, man—
DARRELL
Step. ’S my step-nephew, and I thought we’d show ’em the sights.
JENN
Darrell, this is not funny.
DARRELL
Not being all jokey about this . . . took ’em for a ride, get ’em the hell outta the house! ’S mom drops him off our place, don’t give a shit, so, here he is—
TIM pokes gently at the bag.
TIM
Sleeping.
DARRELL
Believe that? All the way from my house. Resilient little fuck, gotta give ’em that.
JENN
Too cold, this kinda shit, Darrell—
TIM
Seriously. Freezing my ass off in this uniform—
DARRELL
Rich said you could go a long way, trunk of a car, you warm enough. Thought maybe he was shitting me—
TIM and JENN look at one another, trying to decide the best way to approach this.
TIM
—yeah. (BEAT) ’S funny, you’re right, going to the zoo with ’em, but it’s just way too cold. Plus, his mom, huh?
DARRELL
Fuck his mom. What’s she know, taking off the car show she’s so goddamn worried?
JENN
Hey, Darrell, I’m tired, okay? You guys picked me up late, I’m cold and I wanna party and you’re doing, just, like, weird shit now . . . so, thanks for the terrific birthday, let’s drive back to your place or something. But not out here. All right?
JENN picks up her purse and walks off. TIM starts to follow.
TIM
Come on, dude, let’s pack it up. Kid’s gonna catch cold, be paying doctor’s bills we’re not careful.
DARRELL
—I wanna ransom him. Serious.
TIM and JENN stop short.
TIM
Huh? I don’t get what you’re—
JENN
This is what you wanna show me, Darrell? Is it?! ’Cause I ain’t fucking amused.
DARRELL
What, you think I can’t get anything in trade for this kid, ’s that the matter?
TIM
No . . . dude—
JENN
’S a fucking crime, Darrell! That’s the fucking matter!!
DARRELL
So?
JENN
What’re you gonna do, call his mom, ask for a million bucks? F.B.I. on your ass in about twenty minutes—
TIM
—tops.
JENN
Be serious.
DARRELL
Think I’m playing fucking Scrabble?! I am serious—
TIM
You really ain’t kidding, I mean, you’re not, are you, Darrell?
JENN
I can’t even . . . (kneels down to the bag) ’S cheeks are flushed.
TIM comes over and takes a look as well. The baby begins to whimper.
TIM
Too fucking brisk, this sorta shit. (BEAT) Damnit! Hell you gotta do it for, Darrell?!
DARRELL
Just because . . .
(DARRELL reaches down and scoops up the bag.)
. . . now let’s do it. Come on.
JENN
Darrell . . . fuck. She is not gonna give you nothing for that kid! Think about it.
DARRELL
Who?
JENN
The mother!!
DARRELL
I said “fuck her.” ’S not about her. (BEAT) I wanna ransom ’em to you. You and Tim.
Silence as TIM and JENN let this one sink in. DARRELL slowly zips the bag shut.
TIM
—huh?
JENN
’S that supposed to mean?
DARRELL
Gonna play a game here, ’kay? (BEAT) Now, Jenn answers my questions, ’s all cool. Tim can have the baby. You don’t, and . . . well, I dunno what.
(TIM makes a move toward DARRELL and DARRELL fakes a toss to him. The whimper becomes a thin cry that floats off into the night. TIM stops dead.)
. . . prefer a game of catch, instead?!
TIM
Darrell—
DARRELL
Huh?! Bet you get a hell of a spiral off this little bastard—
DARRELL shakes the bag. JENN puts a hand to her mouth as TIM steps slowly back.
JENN
Darrell . . . come on, please. Stop it, just fucking stop—
DARRELL (stopping)
—’kay. You guys ready now? Huh?
TIM
Yeah.
JENN
—yes.
DARRELL
Good. (BEAT) So . . . the fuck is going on?
TIM and JENN try to remain calm, thinking quickly as to what DARRELL is after.
JENN
I dunno what you’re trying to—
DARRELL
Bullshit. Bullshit! Now don’t . . . just tell me.
TIM
Darrell—
DARRELL
Yeah, what?
JENN
I don’t understand, ’kay? The fuck do you want me to say?! Just gimme a—
DARRELL
The truth! Fucking truth, some antique word I know, but I’m listening . . . (BEAT) Who the fuck was the nigger, two summers ago? Tell me now.
TIM
This is—
JENN
Oh fuck.
DARRELL
Yeah, no kiddin’, “oh fuck.” You think all the shit you do just disappears into the ether somewheres, you keep it hidden long enough?
JENN
—no, I just—
DARRELL
What? What?!
TIM
Darrell . . . listen to me, I was—
JENN
He was this . . . shit, I don’t know how to—
TIM
—Jenn, lemme try to—
DARRELL
The black guy whose dick you sucked. His basement. ’S that help?! (BEAT) He made a video ’a the two of you—
JENN
—huh?
DARRELL
Yeah, “huh?” Same exact fucking thing I said . . . huh? Not Jenn, not my goddamn girlfriend I left for three months ’cause my fucking mother sent me away, that can’t be her giving this guy head!
JENN
You saw it?
TIM
Darrell—
DARRELL
Tim, shut the fuck up a second, we’re talking now . . . (to JENN) No, I did not see it, but seems like I got a pretty good handle on the thing, don’t it?
JENN
Yeah.
DARRELL
So, what, I just wasn’t enough for ya, or, like, come on, go ahead, tell me—
JENN
’S not that.
DARRELL
—what is it about your particular legs, I wonder, makes ’em spread so fucking easy?
(TIM takes another step toward DARRELL, who moves back and swings the bag wildly .)
Fuck you doing, man, making your move?! You don’t got the balls, Timmy! Not nearly enough!!
TIM holds up his hands, backing off again.
TIM
Be cool . . . cool it—
JENN
Darrell!
DARRELL
You’re like, getting outta hand, you know that, Tim? ’Coming a force to be reckoned with, some shit like that!
TIM
Just don’t, dude, ’cause I’m trying to talk this through and you’re fucking with me! Don’t!!
DARRELL pretends to drop the bag. Does it again.
DARRELL
What’re you gonna do?! Huh?! Come on!!
JENN
Stop it! Stop!! (BEAT) I’ll tell you, I will, just STOP!!!
(TIM backs down first, then DARRELL. DARRELL turns and stares straight at JENN, who is tearing up now.)
’S that what this is about? Huh? All this . . . shit . . . ’s about that?!
DARRELL
No. Never really liked the kid . . . glad I did this. (BEAT) Now, hurry up.
JENN
—I don’t know about any tapes, nothing like that. I don’t.
DARRELL
Uh-huh—
JENN
He was just this guy I . . . met. This one guy. That summer you took off and we broke up, all your stuff about “no strings” and, you know, whatever. That’s when.
DARRELL
You . . . you know I never mean that shit—
JENN
Yeah, well, you said it! Said it to me and there I am, June or whatever, and I come to find out ya left me a little present. Yeah. Carrying it around, which, at fifteen, is just not gonna happen. So I found a way to get rid of the thing—
DARRELL
I don’t get it. What’re you saying?
JENN
Fuck, Darrell—
DARRELL
What?
JENN
You got me pregnant. Had to do something!
(DARRELL, still clutching the bag, stands there blinking and trying to process.)
. . . had to, and you nowhere in sight.
DARRELL
Oh.
TIM
’S my fault.
DARRELL
Tim, I told you to stay the fuck—
TIM
No, man, you’re gonna listen to me! I been taking your shit, playground ’a elementary school since, and you’re gonna fucking hear me out!! Just listen to me, Darrell . . . I said, ’s my fault. (BEAT) I’m the one who gave Jenn his name—
DARRELL
You did? You?
TIM
Yes.
DARRELL
And why’s that? Tim, huh? (BEAT) Why would you do some shit like that to me?—
TIM
’Cause. Look, the guy . . . he helped my sister out. Used to go with her, they were both seniors at Washington. Got her knocked up once and she told me, a while after that, he beat her in the stomach when they knew. He did it with another girl, too, or something. Anyway, he knew how it’s done, and so she told me about it . . . ’s all I could come up with!
JENN
’S true. You weren’t around so I asked Tim for help—
DARRELL
—I see—
JENN
—he gave me the name and whatever happened happened. It got done.
TIM
Right.
JENN
Don’t know about this tape . . . honest. I did it because I was three months in and I was scared. That’s the whole fuckin’ tale—
DARRELL is silent. TIM takes a step forward.
DARRELL
—and you couldn’t say a word to me, huh? I mean, fuck . . . (to TIM) Neither one ’a you?
JENN
Darrell—
DARRELL
Two fucking years since and you couldn’t maybe just drop a little hint?!
JENN
Yeah, you’re right, that woulda been great . . . fuck, Darrell, you start yelling I glance at some guy too long, cover ’a People magazine!!
DARRELL
Whatever. (BEAT) And I suppose . . . you gave him head because . . .?
JENN
Jesus, Darrell, because I didn’t-have-any-money! What do you think?!! ’S what he charged me so I did it!!!
DARRELL
—oh. Oh.
They all stand for a moment in a bit of a standoff. JENN finally puts her hands out.
JENN
—there. Now gimme the kid.
TIM
I’m asking nice, now, Darrell . . . I had it with this kinda shit! Put ’em down. Just do it, man . . . said you would.
DARRELL stops and smiles. He lets out a deep breath and motions with one hand, holding the bag out.
DARRELL
Yeah, the fuck was I thinking? Here—
TIM slowly reaches for the bag. At the last moment, DARRELL pulls it back and lets it fly with a full revolution over the top of the penguin fence. A soft plop! and it is gone.
For a second, TIM and JENN stand frozen where they are, unable to move, then TIM suddenly makes a run at the fence.
TIM
NO!
JENN
Oh my God!!
TIM tries to climb the wall but DARRELL pulls him back down.
TIM
—the fuck off me!!
DARRELL
Whooaah, Timmy!! Getting a little big, your fucking britches—
TIM
Fuck! Fucker!! Fuck you, Darrell!!!
DARRELL
Come on! Do it, ya stupid motherfucker!! Stupid!!!
At this, TIM lunges at DARRELL and pins him to the ground, pounding away at him. DARRELL throws the bigger boy off him and starts to tear at TIM’s face. JENN jumps in at this, trying to protect TIM. DARRELL throws her off and goes back to scratching TIM.
TIM crawls out from under DARRELL and kicks his friend savagely in the gut. DARRELL doubles over and TIM pounds away. DARRELL drops to one knee, knocking over a garbage can. TIM follows after DARRELL, who comes up with the can lid and smashes it across TIM’s face. TIM goes down hard.
TIM
Aaaaaahhh!
DARRELL beats him a few more times with it until he is silent. JENN tries to intervene again and is hit hard on the arm and shoulder for her troubles.
DARRELL finally falls back, bloody and breathing hard. He throws the lid loudly onto the sidewalk. JENN huddles near the crumpled, silent body of TIM.
DARRELL
—fucking done, huh?
JENN
Yeah.
DARRELL
Not gonna bring the loveable little tyke back, none ’a this shit—
JENN
That baby . . . oh my god—
DARRELL slowly gets to his feet, staggering a bit. JENN stays where she is, even when DARRELL offers a hand.
DARRELL
Know what? Jenn? Know what we gotta do? Get the fuck out, outta this place. Got a car, take us anywhere we want. (reaches in his pocket) Look, even got my mom’s Visa, so . . . you choose. Choose a place and I’m there. Seriously, just pick and . . . I don’t care the distance from here. We’ll go, ’kay? Just . . . Jenn. Tell me a place. Fuck. Jenn? Jenn! You pick . . . you—
JENN
No, Darrell . . . I don’t think I can.
DARRELL
Come on!
JENN
—so fucking scared—
DARRELL
Jenn, I said “now!”
JENN
No, Darrell.
DARRELL
Oh. Oh, I see, I’m with ya—
JENN
Not gonna leave Tim—
DARRELL
I got it, you don’t accept, huh? Don’t wanna be part ’a the mess. That it?
JENN
No. Just ain’t leaving.
DARRELL
Staying with ol’ Timmy . . . ’s fine. Fine. (BEAT) Guess he didn’t turn out to be so fucking stupid after all, did he? No, not at all . . . well, well.
(DARRELL suddenly picks up the entire trashcan and holds it high over his head. He moves toward TIM but JENN throws her body across him, hands up trying to protect his face.)
So, that’s the end of our fucking story, huh? Yeah? (BEAT) Slit your belly open, all the guy’s dicks been in there, never be able to see I even left a mark—
DARRELL finally drops the can and moves off. Wanders.
JENN
Darrell . . . wait—
DARRELL
Guess I’ll just keep driving, you know? Go upstate, maybe, fuck if I know. Just run like rabbits. Headlights blasting, signposts whipping by, fucking squirrels and shit diving to get outta my way! Yeah, I like that. Got some plastic, might take me anywhere. And I don’t give a fuck it’s any place I ever even heard of—
With that he is gone. JENN is left alone now with TIM in the quiet of the zoo. She slowly sits up, cradling TIM’s head in her lap.