Six

Lights down.

The sound of a computer being
turned on.

Lights up.

It is one month later. BARRY is
sitting at the table and working
on his portable laptop. He types
furiously for a moment and then
stops. He gets up and walks to
the left, making sure that nobody
is around. He then goes back to
the table and touches one key.

          COMPUTER
Bill ... two ... Barry ... be.

          BARRY
Hell.

BARRY shakes his head and
types in some more instructions.
He then hits enter.

          COMPUTER
Bill ... you ...

BARRY hits delete.

          COMPUTER
Barry ... be.

BARRY types some more and
then hits enter.

COMPUTER
Will ... you ...

BARRY looks off the left, sees
something and starts furiously
hitting delete.

          COMPUTER
marry ... be.

BARRY starts typing again.

          AURORA
Is Anna out here? I thought she was in the house. Is she working
down by the fence?

BARRY looks at AURORA and
then goes on typing.

You're just waiting. Waiting for her. I don't have that kind of
patience. She's happy to let people hang on a hook while she
suffers quietly. Has she said anything to you? About me or Dr.
Way? I'd like to know where I stand.

BARRY is absorbed by his
computer.

I've been up early because I couldn't sleep. There's a whole flock
of damn birds or crows around the house. They are making this
hellacious racket. I hate birds. Alan loves them and loves nature
and I am supposed to be delighted by seeing some rare bird or
rare deer. When we're digging for crystals, he's always chattering
about an owl or a bat or something.

BARRY stops and now looks at
AURORA.

Our classes start today. We've only been here a month, but it's
seems as if it's taken forever. Anna has been waiting for me to fail
and she's gonna love it that we only have a few students. They call
and ask questions but they won't sign up. We put flyers up in town
and everybody was looking at us as if we had antennas growing
out of our heads.

ANNA, wearing casual clothes
and holding a couple of books
and stapled print outs, walks in
from the left. She stops when
she sees AURORA and BARRY.
They continue, unaware that she
is watching them.

          AURORA
You are the shyest of the shy, aren't you? Every time I even look
in your direction you turn red. You're always hiding behind this
computer. What's so important on here?

AURORA goes over and looks at
BARRY's computer screen.

Barry. Wow. Do you mean it?

ANNA walks in and sits down at
the bench.

Now you're red as a lobster.

          ANNA
There's no coffee.

          AURORA
Morning. Anna, Barry has a very interesting project.

          ANNA
I know. The end of civilization. I've told him that it bores me to
death.

          AURORA
You might be surprised.

          ANNA
I doubt it. There's no coffee.

          AURORA
Yes there is. I had some this morning.

          ANNA
There isn't any after you had yours.

          AURORA
I'm sorry. I can go to the store. My class is later.

          ANNA
That's not gonna help now. My chiropractor has been audited
going back five years. The IRS is camping out in his office and he
called me last night just screaming. So I've got this material to
review. There goes my Saturday.

          AURORA
Let me go to the store.

          ANNA
It's too late. Forget it.

ANNA turns and looks at
BARRY.

          ANNA
When did you get here? Have you done any work in the yard?

BARRY looks at ANNA and then
goes back to work at the
computer.

          AURORA
Barry can't take on everything. Even Olin couldn't work the place
by himself.

DR. WAY, carrying a steaming
cup of coffee, walks in from the
left.

          DR. WAY
Morning. There was a hawk that just swooped down right past
me. Anna, did you know you have hawks here?

          ANNA
Yes.

          DR. WAY
Mmmm, great coffee. Since everybody is gathered here, I thought
I'd say something. Don't you think I ought to, Aurora?

          AURORA
I don't know, Alan.

          DR. WAY
I've been inspired by the morning and the excitement of the
beginning of the New Way Institute.

          ANNA
          (To AURORA)
I can't concentrate with him talking.

          DR. WAY
Anna, I wanted to tell you that I appreciate your efforts. We're sort
of taking over the house and I know that it's an inconvenience.
Oh. When I was moving furniture just now, I think I broke the lamp
in the den.

          ANNA
What?

          DR. WAY
Just walking here and seeing this hawk come out of the trees, I got
a chill. Surely it's a good omen for the Institute. We will be coming
like a hawk out of the trees. We won't be like a hawk, more like a
finch or an owl except that we won't be predatory. Anyway. Still. I
know you'll see that it is worth the work. History won't forget us.

          ANNA
History? You can't be serious.

          DR. WAY
Yes.

          ANNA
Courses on using sticks to find water are going in the history
books.

          DR. WAY
It's more than that. We're talking about psychic power and
spiritual growth. We're talking about Man breaking the tyranny of
his body and finally harnessing the full power of his God-given
mind. Now that's a historic revolution. Aurora, I came out to see
where you put the sign-in sheets.

          AURORA
There in a bag. I don't know. Maybe in the car.

          DR. WAY
I looked in the car and couldn't find them. I have to have them.
Will you come and help me search? The students are due any
minute.

DR. WAY walks off to the left.

          ANNA
Aurora. My God.

          AURORA
Instead of scoffing, you could drop by the class this morning.

          ANNA
How many students have enrolled in the New Way Institute?

          AURORA
Cal is taking my class this afternoon.

          ANNA
He called again early this morning. I couldn't find you of course.

          AURORA
I couldn't sleep. I felt pent up and took a long walk.

          ANNA
I thought I heard the car.

          AURORA
You didn't.

          ANNA
Not that I care where you go.

          AURORA
What did Cal want?

          ANNA
I have no idea. Can you talk to him and tell him that I don't
appreciate being harassed by his constant phone calls?

          AURORA
I'm not asking him to call.

          ANNA
You must be saying or doing something to encourage him
because if he's not on the phone then he's over here uninvited
wandering around in the garden.

          AURORA
He's the last thing I need to worry about.

          ANNA
If you are trying to carry on an affair behind Dr. Way's back, I wish
you wouldn't involve me. I have a hundred other things to occupy
my time.

          AURORA
Alan knows I'm talking to Cal. At least Cal's interested and
curious. He has an open mind.

          ANNA
It's only open for one reason.

          AURORA
What's made you so sarcastic?

          ANNA
Should I be wowed by this great movement? As far as I can tell,
it's a couple of parlor tricks with third-rate psychology thrown on
top. Meanwhile, we wait for the flood of money for the great Dr.
Way, internationally known stick holder.

          AURORA
His first class has five students.

          ANNA
Oh well. Delude yourself all you want, Aurora. But please
understand that I've got real things to worry about.

          AURORA
This is real, Anna.

          ANNA
You think after watching Mother make a fool of herself that you'd
learn.

          AURORA
I've got to find those sign in sheets for Alan. I'm sorry that Cal isn't
paying attention to you. I'm sorry.

AURORA walks off to the left.
BARRY hits enter on his
computer.

          COMPUTER
Some ... say ... the. . . world ...

          ANNA
Tell your computer to shut up.

BARRY hits delete.

          COMPUTER
will ... end.

          ANNA
Why are you building a house? You never spend two minutes
there. Whatever money you have you're just wasting it. Really
throwing it away. That kind of attitude is really aggravating for
those of us who have to work. Some of us have to read tax code.

SARAH, wearing work clothes,
walks in from the right.

          SARAH
Anna. I looked for you in the house.

          ANNA
          (Reading)
You didn't find me.

          SARAH
No. I passed Aurora and she had this look on her face. What's the
matter with her?

          ANNA
I don't know, Sarah.

          SARAH
The whole place has been taken over by Satan.

          ANNA
Uh?huh.

          SARAH
Aurora's friend is in the house with his shirt off and he's rocking
back and forth on the floor. And he's burning something that
smells. Did you know they are burning something?

          ANNA
No.

          SARAH
Aren't you worried?

          ANNA
What good will it do if I was?

          SARAH
Oh. Well, I came over to see what you need help with. It's
Saturday. What are you doing?

          ANNA
Reading for work.

          SARAH
I can weed the flower beds or rake pine needles. I need to work,
Anna. Please let me do something constructive.

          ANNA
          (Not really listening)
We all have to, Sarah.

          SARAH
I have to keep my mind occupied. I know I'm old and the world
changes whether I like it or not. There is right and there is wrong.
I'm shocked that you don't care whether or not Aurora is in league
with Satan.

          ANNA
It won't be the first time.

          SARAH
She's the only family you have and since you don't have any
children ...

          ANNA
          (To BARRY)
I'm gonna lose my mind.

          SARAH
They're forcing Cal out of the church. Last Sunday he brought in
that witching stick and was using it in his sermon. It was awful. He
said all sorts of crazy things, preaching about energy and auras.
The members complained to the Bishop in Little Rock. The board
is going to ask for his resignation.

          ANNA
Why are you telling me? I don't care about Cal.

          SARAH
You act as if it's all over. I can't figure out why. Cal cares about
you or he would if you did something besides sit up here and hide.

          ANNA
I'm not hiding. I'm right here. Nobody seems to have a problem
finding me.

BARRY quickly stands up. He
looks at ANNA.

          ANNA
What?

BARRY shakes his head and
walks off to the right.

          ANNA
There is no relief. No relief.

          SARAH
Promise me that when I'm dead and gone that you will watch out
for Olin. That nursing home is awful. Anna, it's awful. They don't
do a thing for him. He needs a shave. You can complain till you
are blue in the face to the nurses and they laugh at you. Why did
you let me put him there?

          ANNA
Sarah.

          SARAH
I hope God forgives me. They aren't making him eat and he's so
thin. With that scraggly beard, he looks like a scarecrow. He's thin
and he has that scraggly beard.

          ANNA
What else are we supposed to do?

          SARAH
He's thin. He looks thinner.

          ANNA
Is there another nursing home within 20 miles from here?

DR. WAY, wearing loose fitting
clothes and a shirt that he's
obviously put on in a run, walks
in from the left.

         DR. WAY
Anna. Sarah. Excuse me, I was wondering, do you know where
the mop is?

          ANNA
What?

          DR. WAY
Also, our car is gone too and I think Aurora took it.

          ANNA
I thought she was in the house.

          DR. WAY
Not the liveliest group. Not the youngest either. That's all right.
They paid tuition. The mop?

          ANNA
Where did Aurora go?

          DR. WAY
Sarah, you want to sit in on this session?

          SARAH
          (Flustered)
Oh ... uh ... I'm not sure.

          ANNA
Where is my sister?

          DR. WAY
At the moment we're on a break. All five members of the class
smoke. We'll have to work on that.

          SARAH
No thank you.

          ANNA
Where did she go? My purse is in the house.

CAL walks in from the left. He
stops and see that people are
talking. He then steps up and
goes into the trellis.

          DR. WAY
          (To ANNA)
Don't worry.

          SARAH
Thank you but I happen to believe you are the devil.

          ANNA
My purse was in the house.

          DR. WAY
          (To ANNA)
This is how negative energy is built up. You have to cleanse
yourself of those black thoughts.

CAL comes crashing out of the
trellis.

          SARAH
God have mercy!

         CAL
Jesus. Did I mix something up? I must have mixed something up.

CAL stops and stares at
everybody.

          ANNA
Cal.

          CAL
What?

          ANNA
What did you mix up?

          CAL
This trellis is really unique. If you could walk through, it would be
incredible. The whole garden is incredible of course. It shouldn't
be here. It's too much to contemplate. To comprehend. In that
sense, it's rather bizarre and depressing. What else is new.
There's Sarah.

          ANNA
What is the matter with you? Are you drunk?

          CAL
Oh, is that a problem?

          SARAH
This is awful.

          CAL
Where's Aurora?

          ANNA
I don't know.

          CAL
What do you mean you don't know? I know you have feelings for
me and I'm sorry about that even though that's beyond my control.
I am sorry because . Do you notice how Aurora says she is
sorry but she isn't? 

          ANNA
She took off in the car. 

          DR. WAY
I can't speak for Aurora but I believe in my heart that she regrets
what she's done. The drug business. That's why she's working
for the future.

          CAL
Your future.

          DR. WAY
She's flighty. I'll give her that. She has a hard time following
instructions.

          CAL
You are a dried up old prune.

          DR. WAY
Now he's resorted to a mature argument.

          CAL
You wear a cloak of progressive ideas and bring this magic but  
you're still old underneath. You're still set in your ways and still
able to torment me. There's nothing wrong with drinking every
once in a while.

          SARAH
Oh God, he is drunk.

          CAL
All you geriatrics would think the world is coming to a end.

          DR. WAY
Are you all going to let him rave on like this?

          CAL
You will stop tormenting me with your endless complaints.

          DR. WAY
Excuse me, my class has probably finished their cigarettes.

DR. WAY starts to walk off to the
left but stops when he sees
AURORA and OLIN walking in.
OLIN is wearing faded pajamas
and with a definite shadow on
his face.

          AURORA
They had him in restraints.

          SARAH
Olin!

          OLIN
... gonna stay quiet ... sure, sure ....

          AURORA
They had him tied down.

          SARAH
What is going on? Anna?

          ANNA
I don't know. I'm working. I have to get this done.

          AURORA
He was asking for water.

          SARAH
Don't tell me. Anna, tell Aurora I don't want to know.

          OLIN
I'm fine now thank you ... right as rain ...

          CAL
          (To AURORA)
You've ruined everything you know. I'm out of the church.

          SARAH
You're not fine.

          OLIN
... right as rain . . . gotta get to work ...

          AURORA
He was asking for water and I couldn't find any nurses. He ought
to be here.

          ANNA
Here?

          DR. WAY
Meanwhile, my class is waiting. Aurora, let's go.

          AURORA
He should stay here. Alan can fix him.

          DR. WAY
I'll see. The doctors have probably screwed him up as they
usually do. And I wasn't consulted about this at all. Aurora, we
can't ignore our paying students.

          AURORA
I'm not.

          CAL
I'll take the class. I have the time now.

          DR. WAY
I spilled massage oil and I've got to find the mop. Aurora!

          AURORA
Alan!

DR. WAY walks off to the left.

          CAL
Can you make me not want a drink?

          SARAH
Olin's not getting involved in your witchcraft.

          OLIN
I can help her ... whatever she needs ...

          AURORA
I'm sorry, Sarah. But it's not witchcraft. It's a miracle. I owe my
life to what I've learned.

          ANNA
It may make me out to be heartless and stupid but Olin can't stay
here. We can't take care of him. Nobody seems to care but I have
to work.

CAL goes over to Barry's
computer.

          CAL
He left this on.

          AURORA
You can work. This is for Olin. Don't you care about Olin?

          SARAH
Aurora, the devil takes many forms.

          ANNA
If this is the kind of chaos you're intending on creating off cocaine,
I wish you 'd never kicked the habit.

          COMPUTER
Anna ... will ... you ... marry.. . me.

Everybody stops.

          COMPUTER
Anna ... will ... you ... marry ... me?

Lights dim to blackout.

End of Six

To Seven

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