16720085 A Single Action

A Single Action by Javier Chavez

Fall 2008

Craft of Dramatic and Visual Writing I Leslie Lee

LIGHTS UP. SCENE I It is high noon. We are in a well-cared for saloon. The main bar sits center stage, toward the back. A multitude of glasses and bottles array the back wall. KIRK and JACK sit at the bar on stools. Attending them is COOPER. Behind them are three tables, each with four seats; they are all empty. Stage left, snaking its way from the main bar, is a staircase. The saloon’s entrance is stage right. KIRK So these two guys wind up at a cemetery, trying to find the gold. Problem is the one guy who knows the name of the grave ain’t talkin’! He wants to be in charge, but the other guy won’t let him. JACK Ain’t that a bitch. How’s it that they ended up with the separate pieces of information? I don’t remember.

KIRK

COOPER (polishes glass) They got the information at separate times from a dying man. He told the first guy about it. That guy went to get water, and meantime the other man got the second piece of the puzzle. KIRK How’d you know that story, bartender? COOPER Hank talks about it every now and then. He believes it’s true. I bet it’s just a legend. Two men find out a pile of gold is hidden in a cemetery and one knows the place’s name and the other knows the grave. That couldn’t happen in real life. JACK Tsk, this guy acts like he knows what goes on in the world! You ever left the comfort of this here saloon? KIRK Hank probably doesn’t let him!

2.

COOPER I do leave town on occasion! JACK Ever end up having to kill to save your life? No...

COOPER

JACK Thought not! Well, I have. And I’m mighty fine at taking out anyone wanting to come between me and my life. KIRK Yer all talk. I ain’t seen you shoot even a coyote. JACK Jus’ ‘cause you haven’t seen me don’t mean I can’t work a gun. JACK I bet you can’t work it as good as me. I had to shoot my way through a whole tribe of Injuns one time. KIRK Those bow and arrows of theirs ain’t so hard to outrun on a good horse. And if you’ve got a gun, you can pick ‘em off like daisies. COOPER Just because I haven’t been in many gun fights with lunatics like you doesn’t mean my life has been easy. It’s still not easy... KIRK Ah, doncha worry ‘bout it, bartender. We’re just playin’ with ya. Not everyone’s cut out for the harsh life of the West. I’ve survived. How well?

COOPER KIRK

COOPER Well enough. I got my property, my health. JACK Bartender, you better rough yourself up a bit before someone else does. COOPER It’s a bit late for that...

3.

JACK

Eh?

HANK walks in from stage right. He wears a dirt-ridden brown duster. His face is unshaven. A silver revolver is attached around his belt. HANK walks toward the bar; he sits on a stool to the left of the two men. KIRK Wind just blew in somethin’ foul...

Keep quiet!

JACK (whispers)

KIRK (whispers) What, are you scared? Ah, he’s probably no fiercer than a rooster. People puff up his feathers with those crazy stories but in the end he’s probably a chicken! JACK (whispers) You’re drunk! Stop foolin’! COOPER If you two are done here, I’d suggest you leave. KIRK We ain’t done with our drinks yet. And even if we were, we ain’t leaving till we want to leave. JACK I’m gettin’ out of here. KIRK Suit yourself. I’m having another round. Bartender, gimme some whiskey. COOPER grabs a bottle of whiskey from the back wall and pours it into the man’s glass. HANK shoots a glance at COOPER. JACK walks to the door but stops short of exiting. Gimme a drink. What kind, Hank?

HANK COOPER

4.

HANK Same as this gentleman here. COOPER grabs a glass and pours the whiskey into it. He takes it over to HANK. KIRK Bring that back! That’s my whiskey! COOPER stops. The glass rocks in his hand as he trembles. JACK faces the bar, his eyes wide open. KIRK I said bring that back! If Hank wants some whiskey, then he can get his own bottle. I bet none of those stories about ya are true! The hell d’you think you are, coming in here? You think ya own the place or somethin’? Actually, I do.

HANK

COOPER Hank, now that’s not true. I’m the owner... HANK Bartender, just gimme my drink. No one asked you anythin’. COOPER sets the glass down in front of HANK, who drinks the whiskey in one gulp. Bring me the bottle.

HANK COOPER grabs the whiskey bottle and places it next to the glass in front of HANK. KIRK stands up and bares a gun on HANK.

KIRK You damn dog! That’s my whiskey!

Not anymore.

HANK (drinks from the bottle)

Come on, man! Let’s go!

JACK

KIRK I ain’t leavin’ till I’ve taught him a lesson.

5.

COOPER Listen to your friend! Get out of here. HANK Cooper, keep your mouth shut. In fact, what are you doin’ standing around here? Go get my money. COOPER lowers his head and leaves the bar. He goes up the stairs. JACK walks over to KIRK. HANK As for you, well, I’d suggest you leave this saloon with your friend. Who do you thi-

KIRK

JACK Come on, man! Let’s get out of here! JACK pulls KIRK away from HANK. The two men walk out of the saloon. HANK takes a swig of the whiskey, then walks out of the saloon. COOPER walks down the stairs, a brown pouch filled with money in his hands. As he walks over to the bar, a cry is heard outside followed by two gunshots. COOPER is visibly scared. HANK enters and sits at the bar again. COOPER places the pouch on the counter. Here it is, Hank...

COOPER

HANK You’re a good man, bartender. You know not to do anything stupid, unlike those two. (takes another swig) I’ll be on my way. COOPER nods. HANK grabs the bottle of whiskey and the pouch. He turns to walk out as MAUREEN runs down the stairs and goes over to COOPER. MAUREEN What happened, Eli? I heard gun shots... MAUREEN pauses as she sees the bandit. HANK turns around and eyes her.

6.

HANK Well, hello there, Maureen. How are you doin’ on this fine day? MAUREEN It’s Mrs. Cooper to you. And I was doin’ just fine until I heard those two shots. Probably came from you. HANK Well, now, there are plenty of guns around here besides mine... COOPER (under his breath) That’s a lie right there, you dog... What was that, Cooper?

HANK Pause.

HANK You’ll keep your mouth shut if you know what’s good for ya. Say, Maureen, why are you still with this dumb bartender? A woman like you seems to cry out for adventure. Doesn’t suit you to live your life stuck here. MAUREEN I’m quite happy where I am. I wouldn’t change anything about it. Oh, really?

HANK

MAUREEN Well, except for you. I’d make you disappear if I could. HANK Such harsh words, Maureen. I bet your life would be quite borin’ without me. HANK walks over to MAUREEN. He takes hold of her around the waist, pulling her closer to him. He still grips the bag of money. She protests, but can’t break free of the grip. COOPER rushes over to them and tries to grab at HANK but is harshly pushed against the bar and slumps down. Let me go, you brute!

MAUREEN

7.

HANK How ‘bout a little kiss, Maureen? MAUREEN It’s Mrs. Cooper! Let me go! MAUREEN manages to slap HANK, and follows by spitting in his face. HANK answers her attack by slapping her across the face and pushing her onto the floor. HANK wipes his face; he smiles. He turns to leave. HANK I’ll be back next week, bartender. HANK exits stage right. COOPER stands up, holding his back. He walks over to MAUREEN and lifts her up. Are you okay?

COOPER

MAUREEN How I hate him! I wish he’d leave us alone... COOPER So do I. It’s getting so exhausting, Maureen. COOPER walks to the other side of the bar and sits on a stool. MAUREEN pours some alcohol into a glass and offers it to him. COOPER accepts it. COOPER It’s the same thing every week. He comes in here, asks for the money, then leaves once he gets it. MAUREEN (whispers) And he always does... COOPER (ignores her remark) He took everythin’ last week - even the pennies! He saw a bunch laying on the counter and just poured them into his bag, all the while smiling. He didn’t need those; he had enough bills with him. He just took the coins to prove he could. And I...I did nothing to stop him. I never do. The best part is, I haven’t seen his gun since the first two times he came. He knows I’m scared stiff just by the sight of him. Hank just walks in here, sits down and tells me to give him the money and I do. I never say anything. I just stand there, like an idiot! And it’s so exhausting!

8.

It’s drain on me. I get no relief at any point, because I know he’ll be back. D’you have any idea what it is to have only thievery to look forward to? It’s like the summer sun, the heat just sappin’ every bit of energy from you. Even the sweat’s the same! But you can’t do anythin’ because it’s the sun. It’s a part of life. The sun doesn’t get scared of anyone, it just takes your strength, even from a distance. And there’s nothin’ I can say that’ll make it stop, that’ll make him stop. MAUREEN He’s not as strong as the sun... COOPER He may as well be! There’s nothin’ I could say to make him stop harassin’ and stealin’ from us. The only thing a man like that understands is a gun... COOPER drinks from the glass. MAUREEN pours alcohol. COOPER stares at the glass. COOPER Maybe that’s what I’ve gotta do. Maybe that’s it, Maureen. If I shoot him dead then he’ll stop. MAUREEN You don’t know how to use a gun! You’ve never even held one before! COOPER (smacks the counter) I can learn, can’t I? Yes, that’s it. That’s what I gotta do. I’ll get a gun and the next time he comes around here, I’ll shoot ‘im. Haha, bang! Yer dead! But he’s a crack shot!

MAUREEN

COOPER Well, so what? Sure, he’s got more skill than me, but he can slip up. I can get a lucky shot in. (takes a swig) But then I might not and he’s bound to hit me for sure...and that’s all it would take. Just a grazing bullet could take away my health, even if I don’t die. And if he doesn’t bite the dust, what then? He’ll come back and take even more money, if that were even possible! And who’d run the bar? Who’d make the money to pay him off? I wouldn’t be able to stand, let alone serve drinks. And you couldn’t do it, Maureen, you couldn’t! The men here would be too much for you. But if we don’t pay Hank then what’ll he take? Our possessions? He’d barge upstairs and take what we own! He’d probably...he’d probably take you! You saw what he just did.

9.

He’s eyed you before now, I know. I’m not dumb. But he’s never laid a hand on you. What’ll he do next time? He might try to take you even if I were just fine! I can’t let that happen! No, I can’t let him do it. I won’t! MAUREEN Poison him instead, Eli! COOPER Poison? I can’t do that. I have to shoot him. It’s the only way to stop a dog like him. Face him down like he faces me. Tomorrow mornin’ I’ll go to get a gun. MAUREEN With what money, Eli, with what money? COOPER I’ll...I’ll trade in something! I’ll find a way. And I’ll practice all week. I’ll practice until he comes around again and then I’ll...I’ll shoot him. I won’t miss him, I swear...I can’t miss. You’ll see, Maureen. He won’t bother us no more. Then we can rest. I just gotta face him down... Lights slowly dim. In the darkness, we hear COOPER talking. Just one shot...bang.

COOPER

SCENE II LIGHTS UP. The next day. The saloon is now a makeshift gun range. The tables are gone and the bar area is obscured in very low light. COOPER faces stage right as he stands center stage holding a gun. JIM stands next to him. JIM Okay, now, what you want to do is aim straight at the target. If yer even one inch off, you’ll completely miss. COOPER The gun is pretty heavy... JIM Well, what d’ya expect, son? It kills. It ain’t gonna be a light weight piece of human engineerin’. COOPER Well, I just don’t see why these things need to exist.

10.

JIM They just do. Can’t question that part of us, son. Now, go ahead and shoot. COOPER shots the gun. He pulls back. The gun falls to the floor. Ow-ow-ow!

COOPER

JIM Damn it, son, don’t let that recoil scare the pants off ya. You’ve got bigger things to worry about. (picks up the gun) The recoil happens quickly, and you could probably throw the bullet off its path jus’ a tad if you move your arm fast enough, which you seem good at doin’. Try again. COOPER (aims the gun) I just need to get one shot. How can that be so hard? JIM Cooper, that man ain’t a lightweight. He’ll empty his revolver before you get a single shot off. COOPER (shoots the gun, is less affected by recoil) I could get lucky... JIM Luck! Luck doesn’t win a gun fight. Sure, it might give you a bit of an edge, but it takes more than that to win. COOPER Do you think I have a chance? JIM Well, son, I won’t lie to ya. You’re up against some impossible odds. I’d say find some other means to solve this problem of yers, but maybe you’re right. This could be the only way to make sure he stops comin’ by. COOPER Yeah...but I also need to prove to Maureen that I’m a good husband. What?

JIM

COOPER (aims the gun) He...he grabbed her yesterday.

11.

I’m afraid of what he’ll do next week. Or the week after. He could end up takin’ her from me... JIM That’s rough, Cooper. Your money’s one thing, but your wife is another. I don’t know what else I can do for ya. Maybe you can try sneakin’ up on him... I can’t do that.

COOPER

JIM Why not? It’s probably the only way you’ll be able to kill him. COOPER That wouldn’t be fair. I’d be a cheat. I couldn’t look Maureen in the eye, knowin’ I killed a man like a coward. JIM Oh, that’s horse shit! In the end, a man does whatever it takes to make sure he and his kin can live. If you see a chance to take a shot, you take it, Cooper. Don’t let any stupid thoughts enter your head. You aim that gun and you pull that trigger. COOPER shoots the gun. Lights down. SCENE III LIGHTS UP. A week has passed. It is one o’clock. There are two men at the stools; one of the tables is fully occupied while another is filled by two men. COOPER stands behind the bar, polishing a glass. MAN Pour me another, bartender. COOPER pours alcohol into the man’s glass. HANK enters from stage right. COOPER backs into the wall, causing some bottles and glasses to fall. Everyone eyes COOPER, then turn their glances toward HANK, who walks up to the counter. He sits next to the man COOPER attended and drinks from the man’s glass.

12.

Hey!

MAN HANK stares at the man, a harsh look on his face. The man wavers before leaving the saloon. HANK turns his back to COOPER and roves his eyes over the patrons. They all stand up and walk out of the bar. HANK faces COOPER, who proceeds to pour more alcohol.

HANK No. Gimme something good. COOPER sets the bottle down. He searches along the back wall for a stronger and better drink. He pours it into HANK’s glass. HANK drinks. HANK Ah, that’s it. That’s better. (sets down the glass) Where’s my money? Not here.

COOPER

HANK Well, run along and get it. Pause. HANK What are you waiting for, bartender? Go get my money!

No... What?

COOPER (sweat pours down his face) HANK

COOPER I’m...I’m not giving you my money... HANK (pounds the counter) You mean my money! COOPER No. I worked for that money, so it’s mine. You...you just steal it from me!

13.

HANK And I make it mine by doing so! Bartender, you’re asking for trouble if you don’t get me that money right now. COOPER I’m not going to give you any more money! HANK Oh? Is that so? You don’t seem to understand how this works. I come here every week and collect payment for my services. What services?

COOPER

HANK Protection, bartender. I make sure no jackasses come and hurt your business. COOPER What? Protection? You’re only lookin’ out for your best interest, which is making sure you’re the only one robbin’ me so you can get all the money. You’re the one I need protectin’ from! HANK (laughs) Well, so what if I look out for myself? Helps you, don’t it? No, it doesn’t...

COOPER

HANK Well, I think it does. But right now you’re messing the whole plan up. See, I’m still looking out for myself but you’re the one causing the problem, bartender. If I help myself here, it’ll only mean trouble for you. I’m trying to do ya a favor. Gimme me the damn money, and I’ll forget this little...incident. COOPER It’s not your money. I’m not giving it to you. HANK That’s where you’re wrong, bartender! It is my money! D’you know why? Silence. HANK (pulls out his revolver) Because I can take it whenever I want! And if I can take it whenever I want, then that means it’s always mine!

14.

COOPER clenches an object behind the counter. HANK notices the tightening arm. HANK What’d ya got there, bartender? You plannin’ somethin’ stupid? COOPER I’m not giving you my money. HANK (points the gun at COOPER) You will if you know what’s good for ya. COOPER No. You’ll just keep coming back, just like you have been for the past three months. I’m tired of it. I won’t ever again let you take my money. HANK Bartender, it’s in my best interest to keep ya alive. This little business arrangement of ours works out nicely for me. But if you don’t pay up soon, I’ll have to end our contract. I’d like to se-

COOPER HANK shoots the revolver. COOPER ducks. Shards of glass fall behind the counter.

HANK I mean what I say. Don’t think I won’t kill ya. COOPER (gets up) I...I’m not afraid of you... HANK (menacingly) Ya coulda fooled me. I’ll tell ya what, bartender. I can wait. I’ll give ya three hours. You gimme my money then, and I’ll think about letting you go with just a scratch. If you don’t, well, the scratch’ll be much bigger.

Scene IV

HANK puts his gun away. He exists stage right. COOPER stands, trembling. He pulls out a gun and clangs it on the counter. He stares it. Lights fade around all but the gun. It glimmers against the surrounding darkness. Eventually this light fades to black.

15.

LIGHTS UP. Three hours have passed. HANK and MAUREEN sit on the stools. They are the only ones in the saloon. MAUREEN Eli, don’t do this! He’s going to kill you! COOPER I have to, Maureen. It’s the only way he’ll stop. And who knows, I might get lucky... MAUREEN But what if you don’t? You’ve only been shooting that gun for a week. He’s been putting bullets inside of people for years, I bet. COOPER Everyone slips up some time. Maybe I can just hit him, and not kill him. If that happens, he can be jailed... MAUREEN Jailed? The sheriff here can’t stop him. What makes you think he’ll be able to this time? And what’s to stop him from shooting you while he’s down? If you don’t kill him, he’ll still have enough strength to pull the trigger! COOPER is silent. MAUREEN And what’s to stop him from breaking out, if he does get caught? Then he’ll come back for revenge! And what he’ll take we can’t get back! Please, Eli, just give him the money! COOPER No! Maureen, you gotta understand. This is the only way to end this. He’s like a hungry dog. If you keep feeding it, then he’ll keep coming back for more. The only way to stop him is to either ignore him or shoot the poor beast. We can’t ignore Hank; he won’t let us. The only option is to gun him down... But Eli!

MAUREEN

COOPER (clutches MAUREEN’s wrists) Stop it, Maureen, stop it! I’m going to go through with this! I won’t let him harm us anymore!

16.

HANK enters from stage right. COOPER lets go of MAUREEN and they both turn to face the bandit. HANK I’m not interrupting anything, am I? Hello, Maureen. COOPER (turns to his wife) Go upstairs. Now. MAUREEN Maybe Hank would like a drink first, dear? Maureen!

COOPER

MAUREEN Come, Hank, let me pour you a drink. Well, well.

HANK HANK sits on a stool at the saloon. MAUREEN goes around the bar and pulls out a glass and a bottle of alcohol. HANK smiles and turns to COOPER.

HANK What’s this, Cooper? Wife runnin’ the bar now? MAUREEN pours the alcohol into the glass. There is a faint, odd color to the alcohol. HANK turns around and takes a swig. HANK Ah! That’s the stuff! You sure know how to please a man, Maureen. MAUREEN smiles. COOPER You served him a drink. Now go upstairs, Maureen. MAUREEN leaves the bar and goes to the stairs. She partially climbs them, stops, and sits down, listening to the conversation. HANK (turns to COOPER) Do you have my money, bartender?

17.

No.

COOPER

HANK You’ve made a stupid mistake. COOPER I’ve made the only decision you’ve left me with. You could pay me. That’s not an option.

HANK COOPER

HANK (sweat pours down his face) Sure it is. It’s always been an option... COOPER No, Hank. You leave me with a single action to take: paying you off. But I’ve had it. I won’t let you take my money any more. And I won’t let you take my wife! HANK Your wife? Well, she sure is as shiny as a coin. COOPER Shinier, you bastard! And she’s not yours! She’s mine! I won’t let you take her from me! HANK (wobbles) Suit yourself. Let’s go outside, bartender. Let’s see how you plan on taking me down. COOPER walks to the back of the bar and grabs the gun from behind the counter. HANK laughs, then walks out, wobbling. COOPER walks to the center of the stage, looks back toward the stairs, and walks off after HANK. MAUREEN runs out toward center stage. Her arm juts outward, trying to call her husband back. It droops to her side. She cradles herself on the floor. As she closes her eyes, the lights dim down. Total blackness. A thundering gunshot is heard. A second gunshot is heard. MAUREEN whimpers. A sound is heard.

18.

Lights slowly up as MAUREEN lifts her head and opens her eyes. COOPER drags himself across the floor, covered in blood. MAUREEN cradles him in her arms. Oh, Eli!

MAUREEN

COOPER He was wobbling...I...I don’t know why... Shh, shh. Don’t talk.

MAUREEN

COOPER There was...somethin’...somethin’ off about him. COOPER coughs. His breathing slows down. His eyes start to close. MAUREEN I helped Eli...I helped! LIGHTS FADE.