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Return to ACT I
Home
Run
by Jo Harvey Allen
ACT II
RADIO: LOUD CRACK OF BAT WITH GAME
J.H.: AS LEFTY CHARACTER (on first base)
WE DIDN'T HAVE HELMETS.
I MEAN, IF YOU GOT HIT ON THE SIDE OF THE HEAD
YOU GOT HIT ON THE SIDE OF THE HEAD
I HAD THE MOST ATTEMPTS AT FIRST BASE
COURSE THAT GAVE ME THE MOST ERRORS
BUT I WOULD TRY ANYTHING
TAPE: OFF
NOW? I DON'T WANT TO GO OUT BY MYSELF.
I WON'T GO OUT AT NIGHT
EVEN TO THE DRUGSTORE
IT SCARES ME
A GROCERY STORE .... THOSE AISLES CLOSING IN
I QUIT THE PROS MY BEST SEASON
HAD TO COME HOME
AND HELP RUN MY DAD'S LAUNDROMAT
THEN I GOT MARRIED
THAT WAS SCARY
HE'D COME HOME AT TWO OR THREE
GET ME OUT OF BED
I'D FRY HIM SIX EGGS
HE'D YANK ME OUT OF BED AGAIN
I'D FRY MORE
HE'D THROW'EM UP AGAINST THE WALL
THAT'S JUST THE WAY HE WAS,
I WAS SCARED TO DEATH OF HIM
I WAS TOO AFRAID TO TAKE A CHANCE AGAIN
I BUILT A FENCE AROUND MYSELF
DID YOU KNOW, WHEN I DIE,
I WANT MY ASHES TO BE SCATTERED ON THE BALL FIELD
WOULDN'T THAT BE NEAT!
IN BASEBALL ... BEING IN BASEBALL
I DON'T THINK THAT I'VE EVER BEEN AFRAID IN BASEBALL
FACING A NEW PITCHER
YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO
WELL, EVEN WITH THE PANIC ATTACKS
THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE
WAS WHEN THEY ASKED ME TO GO TO JAPAN
TO BE ENSHRINED IN THE HALL OF FAME
I WALKED RIGHT TOWARD HIM ... JOE DEMAGGIO
I WAS GONNA KISS HIM ON THE CHEEK
HE KISSED ME ON THE MOUTH... PRETTY GOOD
NOW DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S PRETTY GOOD
HERE I AM 71 AND I'M THINKING I'M 51
I WAS PLAYING IN THE WORLD TOURNAMENT
THE SCOUTS WERE OUT
I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT
SCOOPING THE BALL, CATCHING BEHIND MY BACK .... EVERYTHING
AFTER YOU THROW THAT FIRST BALL
YOU AREN'T SO SCARED
HUMM... YOU JUST HAVE TO START WITH THINGS
REMEMBER TO TRY IT - JUST GO AHEAD AND DO IT
PLAY BALL!
RADIO: THE CRACK OF THE BAT (this bat sound continues
until character is on second base)
J.H.: AS GAYLE CHARACTER (second base)
ON MY BIRTHDAY TWO YEARS AGO
I HIT A LINE DRIVE TO 3RD BASE
AND A MAN ABOUT 6 FOOT 4 CAUGHT IT
JUST AS MY FOOT HIT THE BASE
THE BALL HIT ME GOING ABOUT EIGHTY
I WAS SAFE!
HIT ME IN THE HEAD WHERE YOUR VISION IS
I FLEW 20 FEET UP IN THE AIR
ROLLED ABOUT 3 TIMES
DRILLED ONE BRIDGE INTO MY JAW BONE
HAD TO PRY IT OUT OF MY MOUTH
KNOCKED THE OTHER ONE OUT
THEN I PASSED OUT .... 4 MINUTES
I WAS OUT TO LUNCH
I'VE BEEN HIT BY BASEBALLS
I'VE BEEN HIT BY BATS
I'VE HAD CONCUSSIONS ALL MY LIFE
BUT I HAVE NEVER BEEN HIT LIKE THAT!
BUT I WAS SAFE! AND I SCORED 2 RUNS!
WHAT A WAY TO LEAVE THE GAME!
I WANTED TO GO BACK AND PLAY BALL
BUT I COULDN'T SEE
MY EYES WERE GOOFY
MY TEETH HURT
MY HEAD HURT
LAST YEAR
I GOT ANOTHER SEIZURE
I FELL AND BROKE MY NOSE, BROKE MY CHIN
I PASSED OUT ON THE FLOOR CURLED UP IN THE FETAL POSITION
I THOUGHT I WAS HAVING A STROKE
I WAS GOING IN AND OUT OF COMATOSE
THE AMBULANCE WAS GOING DOWNHILL
AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT
I WAS THROWN ALL OVER THE AMBULANCE
WHICH DIDN'T HELP ONE BIT
MY HEAD WAS EXPLODING
I GET AWFUL HEADACHES
AND I CAN'T GET EXCITED
OR IT SWELLS UP AND I GO INTO A COMA
BUT IT WAS WORTH IT!
IT MADE ME REALIZE I NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN
THAT CRACK! THERE'S A CERTAIN POP
AND YOU KNOW IT'S A HOMER
I CAN TELL BY THE SOUND
MY DAD SAID IF YOU PUSH AND PUSH AND PUSH
YOU WILL GET WHERE YOU'RE GOING
EVERY BONE IN MY BODY HAS BEEN BROKEN BUT TWO
BUT I HAD EVERYTHING
I WAS NEVER THE PRETTY GIRL
BUT WHEN I GOT ON THAT FIELD
PLAYING BALL.... I WAS SOMETHING!
I WAS A POWERFUL BEING
HOLY SMOKES!
I WAS HOT!
AND MY EYES
I SHOULD BE COMPLETELY BLIND
GETTIN'HIT ON THE HEAD
OPENED MY EYES TO MY FAMILY
I WAS ALWAYS GONE
I WORKED CONSTRUCTION FOR YEARS
AND PLAYED BALL
I'D COME HOME .... I DIDN'T HAVE THE PATIENCE FOR ANYTHING
MY DAUGHTER IS OUT OF SPORTS
SHE'S HOME RIGHT NOW WAXING HER LEGS
HAVING FUN WAS THE MAIN THING
IT ALL TIES TOGETHER
YOU JUST WANTA GET TO THAT HOME BASE
NOW THAT I'M HOME
I HOPE I CAN GIVE MY DAUGHTER SELF ESTEEM
BUT I HAVE STORIES TO TELL
MY KIDS AND MY KIDS'KIDS
HOLY SMOKES! I GET GOOSE BUMPS JUST THINKIN'ABOUT IT
I LOVE BASEBALL!
IT WAS A GOOD THING IT HAPPENED
IT TAUGHT ME THE THINGS I WAS IGNORING
IT'S A FUNNY THING, BUT WHEN I GOT HIT
IT TOOK ME HOME
YOU MIGHT SAY, MY LAST PLAY WAS A HOMER!
TAPE: LOUD BAT CRACK
J.H.: AS RACHEL CHARACTER (on 3rd base)
WE ALL LOSE SOMETHING
WE ALL GET OLDER
LOSE WHAT WE HAVE
I'M GONNA LOSE MY ARM
THE SPEED I HAVE
I WANT IT SO BAD
TIME MOVES ON
I HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DREAM FOR
THE SILVER BULLETS IS THE ONLY PRO TEAM THAT TAKES WOMEN THEIR
PITCHING COACH WAS VERY IMPRESSED
BUT WHEN THEY FOUND OUT I WAS MARRIED AND HAD KIDS...
BUT THAT'S NOT ME
I WOULDN'T QUIT
MY HUSBAND AND KIDS ARE BEHIND ME 100%
BUT RUNNING THOSE BASES
I ALWAYS FELT SO COOL
I KNEW WHERE I WAS
AND THERE WAS NO ONE THERE
THAT COULD GET ME
THAT'S HOW I SAW IT
WANTING TO PLAY BALL
BUT NOT WANTING IT TO END
WHEN I WAS A KID
I DREADED IT WHEN THE GAME WOULD BE OVER
CAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO GO HOME
YOU MAKE A HOMERUN AND YOU ARE SAFE
BUT GOING TO MY REAL HOME WASN'T LIKE THAT
HOME WAS WALKING ON EGG SHELLS
I'D SIT DOWN TO EAT AND GET A WACK ACROSS THE FACE
OR MY HAIR PULLED OUT
OR SIT DOWN TO EAT AND FOR NO REASON
SHE'D SMASH MY FACE INTO THE PLATE
I WOULDN'T EAT UNTIL MY DAD SPOON FED ME HIMSELF
SOFTBALL WAS MY ESCAPE
I WAS GOOD
COACHES WOULD ALWAYS ASK MY MOM TO LET ME BE ON THE TEAM BUT
SHE NEVER WOULD
SO RIGHT OFF THE BAT
I MOVED OUT
I MADE A CHOICE OF MY OWN
AND I GOT OUTRA THERE
I WAS A TEENAGE BRIDE AND MOTHER
I HAD TALENT
WHEN THE SILVER BULLETS DIDN’T CALL
IT TOOK ME TWO WEEKS TO GO OUT OF THE HOUSE
I'D SIT IN THE HOUSE, SHADES PULLED, DOOR CLOSED
STAY HOME CRYING
MY HUSBAND WOULD COME HOME FROM WORK TO COMFORT ME
I GOT OVER IT
BUT I STILL WONDER
IF I HAD GOTTEN THE CHANCE
I'VE SUCCEEDED AS FAR AS BEING A MOM AND A WIFE
I THINK I COULD HAVE SUCCEED AS FAR AS BEING ME
WHEN I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD
COMING HOME FROM MY UNCLE’S
I WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR
MY MOM SAID MY BODY JUST WENT LIMP
AND SHE SAID, SHE KNEW I WAS DEAD
I REMEMBER AN OLD MAN WITH A LONG WHITE BEARD
HE WAS SITTING UNDER A TREE
HE SAID, "GO BACK, I DON’T NEED YOU NOW"
EVEN MY MOM SAID SHE BELIEVED ME
I'M AFRAID OF DYING
BUT WHAT I SAW
IT WAS REAL WHAT HAPPENED
WHY?
I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANT
WHY THAT HAPPENED
WHO'S GOING TO BELIEVE ME
BUT IT HAPPENED
WHY DID I GET A SECOND CHANCE?
WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING
IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON
FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DREAM FOR
TWO YEARS AGO OVER THE PHONE
MY MOM STARTED TELLING ME SHE LOVED ME
SHE NEVER SAID THAT BEFORE
SHE'S CHANGED A LITTLE BIT
I CAN COME UP TO MY MOM AND PUT MY ARM AROUND HER
BUT I CAN’T PUT BOTH ARMS AROUND HER YET
J.H.: (walking toward home)
I MET ALL THREE OF THOSE WOMEN LAST SUMMER. SAME WEEK I MET MARIA.
GOD. WE'VE ALL GOT SOMETHING.
TAPE: ORGAN MUSIC
EVERYWHERE I WENT FOR TEN YEARS.... SHE WAS THERE ... AT THE
TOP OF EVERY STAIRWAY, DOWN EVERY ALLEY.... ALWAYS BECKONING
ME TO COME. I COULD ONLY SEE HER EYES. SHE WAS SHROUDED IN BLACK.
I WOULD SCREAM AND SCREAM AND SCREAM.
TAPE: HEARTBEATS
J.H. (continues)
I HAD JUST TURNED THIRTY THAT FALL. IT WAS ON MY BIRTHDAY, NOVEMBER
SECOND, THE DAY OF THE DEAD. I HAD GONE TO AN ENORMOUS ESTATE.
IT WAS OVERGROWN AND ABANDONED, BEHIND IRON GATES. I FOUND AN
ENTRANCE AND FOLLOWED A LONG CORRIDOR THAT LED INTO A GREAT HALL
... HUGH AND EMPTY, DESERTED EXCEPT FOR A FEW OLD CHANDELIERS.
THE AUTUMN LEAVES GATHERED IN GUSTS OF WIND AND CIRCLED THE ROOM
EVER SO OFTEN SWIRLING AROUND THE CHAMBER. I KNEW SHE WOULD SHOW
UP. I DECIDED TO WAIT FOR HER EVEN THOUGH I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AFRAID
OF MY OWN SHADOW. I WAITED IN THIS ISOLATED PLACE ALL ALONE EVEN
KNOWING THE DARK NIGHT WAS COMING. I POSITIONED MYSELF UP AGAINST
ONE WALL SO I COULD KEEP WATCH IN ALL DIRECTIONS.
THEN I GOT UP. I HAD A FEELING AND I KNEW SHE WAS THERE. AND
I KNEW SHE KNEW I WAS THERE TOO. THEN I SAW HER SNEAKING UP ON
ME
TAPE: LOUD HEART BEATS
I GOT UP MY COURAGE
"YI,YI,YI,YI,YI,YI,Yl, I'M GONNA GET YOU, I'M GONNA GET
YOU YI, YI,YI,YI,YI"
J.H.: (runs off stage then back to stage front)
SHE RAN AWAY FROM ME. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT! HER BLACK SHROUDS
JUST FLAPPING ... AND I NEVER EVER SAW HER AGAIN.
I READ ABOUT HER EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE. I'D ASK ABOUT HER.
SHE'S ARCHETYPAL. SHE IS THE CHANGING WOMAN, SHE IS ALSO KNOWN
AS THE KEEPER OF TRANSFORMATION.
J.H.: (continues)
I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND I KNEW SOMETHING HAD CHANGED.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT, BUT I KNEW IT WAS BIG.
ABOUT THAT TIME A LOT OF STRANGE THINGS STARTED HAPPENING.
MIRACLES STARTED HAPPENING. I WON'T GO INTO THOSE, BUT ONE THING
I NOTICED WAS THAT CROWS STARTED SHOWING UP A LOT. YA'LL KNOW
ABOUT CROWS HOW SMART THEY ARE, SMARTER THAN DOGS. THEY CAN COUNT
TO NINE. USE TOOLS.
ONCE YOU KNOW ABOUT CROWS, THEY KNOW YOU KNOW, THEY'LL START
FOLLOW YOU, AND IT CAN COME IN REAL HANDY.
TERRY WAS IN MINNEAPOLIS ABOUT TO STEP OFF A CURB TO WALK
ACROSS A BUSY STREET WHEN HE NOTICED A BIG BLACK CROW. HE STEPPED
BACK UP ONTO THE CURB, AND JUST AS HE DID, A CAR FLEW BY GOING
FAST AS HELL RIGHT THROUGH THE LIGHT. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.
THAT WAS THAT SAME TRIP WHEN WE WERE DOING A PLAY AT THE GUTHRIE.
THEY PUT US UP IN A HALFWAY HOUSE - HORRIBLE HIGH-RISE. WE WERE
ON THE TOP FLOOR, THE NINTH. THERE WAS A VACANT LOT BETWEEN OUR
BUILDING AND AN IDENTICAL ONE ACROSS THIS VACANT LOT. ONE MORNING
I GOT UP AT DAWN. I COULDN'T SLEEP AND I ADMIT I WAS DISTURBED,
BUT STILL, I SWEAR THIS HAPPENED.... I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW
AND OVER IN THE OTHER BUILDING STANDING AT THE IDENTICAL WINDOW
OPPOSITE ME WAS A WOMAN.. SHE WAS LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW IN MY
DIRECTION ONLY SHE HAD THE SHADES PULLED DOWN AND ALL I COULD
SEE WAS THIS MUCH OF HER BLUE DRESS ... FROM HERE TO HERE. SHE
WAS STANDING RIGHT UP AGAINST THE WINDOW SO HER FACE WAS PRESSED
AGAINST THE SHADE. SHE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. IT WAS SO STRANGE.
DIRECTLY ABOVE HER HEAD, ONLY UP ON TOP OF THE ROOF, THERE WAS
A CROW. IT LOOKED LIKE SHE HAD A CROW'S HEAD. I STOOD IN THE
ROOM STARING OUT AT HER FOR A WHILE. FUNNY, AFTER THAT, I DON'T
REMEMBER WHERE SHE WENT OR EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. BUT THE NEXT
DAY I WENT UP TO THE NINTH FLOOR IN THAT OTHER BUILDING AND FOUND
OUT THAT HER APARTMENT WAS EMPTY AND HAD BEEN FOR SOME TIME.
CROWS OFTEN BRING MESSAGES. I COULD NEVER FIGURE THAT ONE OUT
THOUGH. LOT OF THINGS I DON’T UNDERSTAND.
J.H.: (sits in chair)
WE HAD SIX DEATHS IN A ROW. MY SWEET DADDY, OUR BEST FRIEND,
OUR SON'S GIRLFRIEND MURDERED BY HER OWN DADDY -- HE SHOT EVERYONE
IN HIS FAMILY, DIDN'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO SHOOT HIMSELF. GASSED
HIMSELF. ANYWAY, SOMEONE WE REALLY LOVED DIED EVERY MONTH FOR
SIX MONTHS STRAIGHT. ALL THE CATS AND DOGS DIED. WE WERE ALL
GETTING CRAZY, REALLY SCARED. I GOT REALLY SCREWED UP. I GOT
TOO SCARED TO EVEN LIVE. I COULDN’T TELL ANYBODY GOODBYE
BECAUSE I WAS SO AFRAID THEY WOULD DIE AND I WOULDN'T EVER GET
TO SEE THEM AGAIN. THE KIDS AND TERRY, ALL OF US WERE REALLY
GETTING SCREWED UP. I REMEMBER I WAS TAKING A WALK WITH MY FRIEND,
AND YOU KNOW HOW SOMETIMES YOU JUST SAY SOMETHING, ONLY IT REALLY
IS THE TRUTH. I MEAN, IT JUST HITS THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. WELL,
I WAS WALKING ALONG ON THE CANAL BANK AND I SAID 'YOU KNOW, IT
JUST TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO LIVE." WELL, I BURST INTO
TEARS BECAUSE IT WAS S0 TRUE.
THAT NIGHT I DREAMED THAT A YELLOW VOLKSWAGEN WAS ON THE CANAL
BANK EXACTLY ON THAT SAME SPOT WHERE I'D SAID THAT ABOUT COURAGE.
IT WAS BLOCKING MY WAY. NOW A FUNNY THING HAD STARTED HAPPENING
TO ME IN MY DREAMS. EVERYTHING SCARY WAS NOW YELLOW... MY FAVORITE
COLOR, THE COLOR OF HAPPY FACES, FOR GOD'S SAKE.
...... YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE LACK COURAGE THEY CALL
'EM CHICKEN OR SAY THEY'RE YELLOW. ANYWAY, THIS HORRIBLE SCARY
EVIL YELLOW V.W. WAS BLOCKING MY WAY... I IMMEDIATELY DID WHAT
I ALWAYS DO WHEN IM AFRAID ... I ALWAYS FLOAT, YOU KNOW OR HOVER
SO I CAN SHOW MY POWER AND SCARE WHATEVER IS SCARING ME
J.H.: (stands)
WELL I SWOOPED UP LIKE THIS BUT I COULDN'T GET BUT ABOUT THIS
FAR OVER THE TOP OF IT. I BARELY MADE IT. I WAS KINDA DOING FROG
SWIMMING, FAILING TO STAY ABOVE THE GROUND AND I WENT LIKE THAT
ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF OUR THREE MILES WHICH WAS OUR TURNING
AROUND SPOT EVERY MORNING ... VAN NESS BOULEVARD, WHERE I'D THROW
MY ROCK AND START BACK ... A VERY BUSY STREET. BUT WHEN I GOT
THERE IT HAD CHANGED AND I WAS ON THE EDGE OF THE TALLEST CLIFF
YOU COULD EVER FATHOM. THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE LAY BELOW ME. I COULD
SEE THE MOUNTAIN RANGES, THE SEAS, AND CANYONS. SOMETHING SAID
"JUMP." IT SAID "JUMP BECAUSE YOU HAVE COURAGE,"
AND I JUMPED. IT SAID "BECAUSE YOU ARE A CROW" AND
I WAS. I FELT THE SEA'S FOAM ON ME AND KNEW WHAT IT FELT LIKE
TO DIP AND DIVE AS I FLEW DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDES.
TAPE: BILLY JOE SHAVER'S HIGHWAY OF LIFE... "ON
THE HIGHWAY OF LIFE THERE WILL BE CHANCES TAKEN, ON THE HIGHWAY
OF LIFE, DON'T YOU BE MISTAKEN, YOU DRIVE OR YOU RIDE, YOU FIGHT
OR YOU DIE, SOMEHOW, YOU SURVIVE ON THE HIGHWAY OF LIFE".
J.H.: (holds arms out to embrace the audience then
dances to song as though she's dancing with her lover)
ME AND TERRY DANCED TO THAT SONG ALL LAST SUMMER OUT ON THE PATIO.
TAPE: TRAIN WHISTLE WITH WIND.
A SLOW BROWN TRAIN PASSED RIGHT BACK OF THE HOUSE LAST NIGHT
... CAME IN AND THEN RIGHT BACK OUT, TORE DOWN YOUR NEW WALL
THEN WENT CATTY CORNERED THROUGH THE YARD. THERE WAS A POOR OLD
DOG OUT THERE WITH ITS FOUR LEGS STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR ... ONE
THIN LINE OF BLOOD ACROSS ITS CHEST, BUT IT WAS ALIVE THANK GOODNESS.
CLOSE YOUR EYE'S FOR TEN SECONDS AND SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS.
I ALWAYS LOVED THAT QUOTE OF ARTAUD'S "SUNSETS ARE BEAUTIFUL
BECAUSE OF ALL OF ALL THEY MAKE US LOSE..." I FOUND THE
PERFECT ROOM - SMALL, EMPTY SHAFT OF LIGHT CRISSCROSSED WHERE
ALL THE SUNNY PARTICLES DANCED. THERE WAS A THIN CRACK ON THE
WALL, A WHITE PIECE OF PAPER SLID OUT LIKE A SOFT WHITE RUG COVERING
THE FLOOR. THEN A BIG FOUNTAIN PEN APPEARED AND STARTED WRITING
IN BEAUTIFUL CURSIVE THESE WORDS - NEVER STOP ASKING QUESTIONS,
YOU WILL NEVER GET THE ANSWER.
J.H.: (sits in chair)
THE BLACK VEILED WOMAN NEVER SHOWED UP AGAIN. IT HAD BEEN
24 YEARS SINCE I'D SEEN HER. THEN, AN ODD THING HAPPENED. A BEAUTIFUL
ITALIAN WOMAN I BARELY KNEW CALLED ME AND SAID I HAD THREE WISHES...
I COULD PICK ONE. THE FIRST WAS A PARTY IN MY HONOR. THE SECOND,
A MORNING HORSEBACK RIDE ON THE BEACH. THE THIRD, A DAY AT THE
SPA. I PICKED THE SPA. THE NIGHT BEFORE SPA DAY, SHE SHOWED UP
AT MY PLAY IN SAN FRANCISCO WEARING THE EXACT SAME OUTFIT I HAD
ON. IT WAS NOT ORDINARY AND IT WAS BROWN! IT WAS UNCANNY ...
THE THINGS WE HAD IN COMMON, INCLUDING THE SAME BIRTHDAY, NOV.
2, THE DAY OF THE DEAD, ALSO KNOWN AS THE DAY OF TRANSFORMATION.
IT WAS A STRANGE ENCOUNTER THAT TOOK MANY TURNS AND TWISTS DURING
THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WENT TO HER BIG VICTORIAN
HOUSE FOR TEA BEFORE SPA DAY, I OPENED A DOOR THINKING IT WAS
A BATHROOM.
ONLY IT WAS A CLOSET -- OH MY GOD, THERE SHE WAS AGAIN. THIS
CLOSET WAS EMPTY EXCEPT FOR HER. SHE WAS HANGING IN A BIG GOLD
GILD FRAME FACING ME. ALL I COULD SEE WERE THOSE EYES. SHE WAS
STILL SHROUDED, ONLY NOW IN YELLOW.
TAPE: LOUD DOOR SLAMS
THE OTHER DAY I WAS TALKING TO A FRIEND ON THE PHONE. I TOLD
HER ABOUT THE ITALIAN WOMAN WHO I NEVER SAW AGAIN AND ABOUT THE
PAINTING OF THE YELLOW SHROUDED WOMAN HANGING IN HER CLOSET.
I TOLD MY FRIEND THAT I DID NOT HAVE A CLUE, WHAT IT MEANT OR
WHO SHE WAS. SHE SAID, "OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE JUST
LOOKING AT YOURSELF." WHEN I ASKED HER WHAT SHE WAS DOING,
SHE SAID "OH, I JUST FOUND A QUOTE IN CORMAC MC CARTHY'S
BOOK, ALL THE PRETTY HORSES, THAT I LIKED A LOT. IN FACT, I WAS
JUST PRINTING IT OUT ON THE COMPUTER TO SEND TO SOME FRIENDS.
WHEN I GOT IT, IT SAID "IT IS HIMSELF THAT THE COWARD ABANDONS
FIRST, AFTER THAT, ALL BETRAYALS BECOME EASY."
TAPE: LITTLE LEAGUE BALL GAME DOWN LOW UNDER TALKING
J.H.: (on pitcher's mound)
MARIA WAS TELLING ME HOW NICE THE NIGHTS WERE WHEN SHE WAS A
KID. HOW THEY WOULD SIT BESIDE THE WATER AND SING AND TALK AND
THROW ROCKS AT EACH OTHER.
WE LOVED TO PLAY BASEBALL. ALL THEY HAD WAS CARDBOARD BASES,
A STICK AND A BALL, BUT THEY PLAYED BALL AND THEY PLAYED TO WIN!
J.H.: (walks to first base)
YOU KNOW THOSE KIDS YOU SEE IN MEXICO WITHOUT ANY SHOES ON, DIRTY
AND RAGGED? MARIA TOLD ME THAT WAS HER. SHE SAID LOTS OF PEOPLE
WONDERED HOW THEY COULD BE SO HAPPY. THERE WERE SO MANY OF THEM
- TEN KIDS AND A MOM AND DAD. SHE SAID THAT WAS WHY. SHE SAID
CAUSE THEIR WERE SO MANY OF THEM, THEY SHARED EVERYTHING. SHE
SAID, 'WE WAS WORKING TOGETHER.-
J.H.: (walks to second base)
SHE SAID SHE NEVER WENT TO A CLASSROOM AND GOT TO SAY, THIS IS
MY CHAIR BUT MARIA LOOKED GREAT AND IT STRUCK ME HOW SMART SHE
WAS. SHE SEEMED TO KNOW SO MUCH. SHE TOLD ME HER HOUSE IN MEXICO
AS A KID WAS EMPTY. SHE SAID SHE WAS THE POOREST KID YOU COULD
EVER IMAGINE, BUT THAT, THAT HOUSE ALWAYS FELT FULL. SHE SAID
IT SEEMED LIKE SHE DIDN'T MISS NOTHING.
J.H. (on the way to third base)
SHE TALKED ABOUT FLOWERS AND PIGS AND CHICKENS AND ABOUT THE
AMAZING LITTLE BABIES. SHE SAID HER KIDS BELIEVED ON HER AND
THEY BELIEVED IN HER DAD WHO WE KNOW IS AN ANGEL. AND THEN SHE
SAID SOMETHING I WILL NEVER FORGET. SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID,
"I'M HAPPY." SHE SAID IT WAS AN AMAZING, AMAZING LIFE.
J.H.: (starts to walk to home plate)
SHE SAID, "EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS FOR ME, IT HAPPENS FOR
A REASON. SHE SAID,'YOU WANTA GET THROUGH TO SOMETHING. YOU ALWAYS
WANTA BE SOMETHING YOU WANTA GET THROUGH TO. YOU WANTA GET TO
THAT BASE, NO MATTER WHAT." SHE SAID, "LIFE IS LIKE
BASEBALL. IT'S A GOOD FEELING, LEAVING THIS PLACE YOU WANTA BE
IN, LIKE LEAVING THAT BASE AND WANTING TO GET HOME."
J.H.: (sits down at home base and starts to take off
her big clown-like red shoes)
POEM: 'SHUCK SOME CORN'
SHUCK SOME CORN.
WHEN THE STALKS BREAK OFF,
THE HUSKS SKINNED,
THE SILK GONE
GOBBLE AND KNAW
AND SUCK IT RAW
UNTIL THERE IS JUST A COB, NO MORE.
SHUCK OFF MY MAMA AND DADDY, MY LOVER, MY BABIES,AND FRIENDS,
WHAT YOU'VE TAUGHT ME,
AND ALL MY SKINS HAVE ABSORBED LIKE LOTION.
STRIP OFF THE SILKS ONE BY ONE,
AND WHAT WOULD BE LEFT
IS A SECRET.
LIGHTS DIM
TAPE: LOUD TELEPHONE RINGS 3 TIMES.
J.H.: (jumps up wearing beautiful red high heels dancing
and singing with the audience)
TAPE: "TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME, ROOT ROOT
ROOT FOR THE HOME TEAM. ONE, TWO, THREE STRIKES YOU’RE OUT,
AT THE OLD BALL GAME".
THE END
© Jo Harvey Allen, 1996
PSALM 18:28: FOR THOU WILT LIGHT
MY CANDLE. THE LORD MY GOD WILL ENLIGHTEN MY DARKNESS.
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