Crest of the Waves - Six Bells

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-1! ! ! ! ! ! SIX BELLS

At Rise: CAP is watering his plants in the front of The Porch. ENTER BILLY, with bandages around his neck. He holds up a breadfruit for CAP to see.

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWhat you got there, Billy?! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY says nothing, gives him the breadfruit)Looks like.. a breadfruit... wal, this time you got it right - I ain’t got a breadfruit tree...! ! ! ! ! ! (Stares at the breadfruit, then looks up at Billy)What’s th matter, cat got yer tongue?! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY gestures at the bandages around! ! ! ! ! ! his neck, struggles to speak, but no sound ! ! ! ! ! ! comes out. CAP looks at him, then back at the ! ! ! ! ! ! breadfruit)Wal, a breadfruit’s not good for much, Billy, not much taste.. we used ta grow it on The Rock - we’d eat anythin’ really, on The Rock.. th ‘ole Rock... ! ! ! ! ! ! (He looks down at the breadfruit in his hands).. I remember a rock, a rock from me past...! ! ! ! ! ! (He looks up at BILLY)Billy.. they take somethin’ out?! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY nods “Yes”)! ! ! ! Cain’t talk? ! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY shakes his head “No”)Wal, Billy... I want ya ta know.. whatever words have come down between us, whatever we thought o’ each other.. I just want ya ta know.. we’ll always be friends.. tha’s what’s important.. we don’t need no words...! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks at BILLY, holds up breadfruit)Nice present...! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY shakes his head yes, gestures toward ! ! ! ! ! ! the sea - makes motions)Oh.. for Teddy?! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY nods yes - CAP holds the breadfruit ! ! ! ! ! ! up in his hands)Shore, I’ll give it to him, soon’s he steps ashore..! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY nods, slowly starts to EXIT)Cap’n Billy...! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY stops, turns back)You’s a tough SOB...! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY smiles, points back at CAP, gestures ! ! ! ! ! ! “You, too..”, EXITS. MRS. TILSON ENTERS ! ! ! ! ! ! from her side of the duplex - CAP stops ! ! ! ! ! ! watering, walks up the steps carrying the ! ! ! ! ! ! breadfruit.)

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2014

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-2! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONWhat’s that?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! !Breadfruit - Billy give it to me for Teddy..! ! ! ! ! ! (Sits down in his chair with it)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI ran into Billy at Winn Dixie, but he said nothing.. what did I do?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPNothin’ - he got no voice left..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONOh, the bandages..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPCancer..!

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Well, that’s too bad.. he must feel all trapped inside..!!! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore..!! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI haven’t been well, myself - been getting dizzy...! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street, CAP turns the ! ! ! ! ! ! breadfruit in his hands)What are you going to do with that?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPCook it..! ! ! ! ! ! (Turning the breadfruit over and over in his ! ! ! ! ! ! hands)Breadfruit’s not good for much, not much taste.. we used ta grow it on The Rock.. th ‘ole Rock..! ! ! ! ! ! (Turns the breadfruit over)I remember a rock.. a rock th size of this breadfruit...! ! ! ! ! ! (The LIGHTS DIM on The Porch, RISE on The ! ! ! ! ! ! Plot - the SOUND of more hoofs scuttling on ! ! ! ! ! ! the cliffs above, a few more rocks bounce ! ! ! ! ! ! down, !represented by flashes of light and ! ! ! ! ! ! SOUND - MAN and BOY look up the cliffs)


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-3! ! ! ! ! ! MANGo to the pack and fetch us some water, boy - then gather up the brush - we gotta’ get this choppin’ finished..

! ! ! ! ! ! BOYOK, Pa...! ! ! ! ! ! (He goes to the side to a pack, opens it - the ! ! ! ! ! ! SOUNDS of more hoofs scuttling and more ! ! ! ! ! ! rocks bouncing - the SOUNDS intensify, as ! ! ! ! ! ! more and more rocks come bounding down - ! ! ! ! ! ! the BOY looks up, as the MAN looks up at the ! ! ! ! ! ! cliffs, machete raised - then starts to jump and ! ! ! ! ! ! dodge the flashes of rocks - suddenly one flash ! ! ! ! ! ! of a rock strikes the man in the temple - he ! ! ! ! ! ! drops the machete and collapses)

! ! ! ! ! ! BOYPa!! ! ! ! ! ! (He runs to him, kneels down by him)Pa?! ! ! ! ! (The MAN motions to him, and the BOY raises ! ! ! ! ! ! his head off the ground)

! ! ! ! ! ! MAN! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking into the BOY’S eyes)Take care ‘o yer Ma...! ! ! ! ! ! (His head slumps to the side)

! ! ! ! ! ! BOYPa!! ! ! ! ! ! (He picks up a rock the size of a breadfruit ! ! ! ! ! ! lying by the man - looks at it, then throws it ! ! ! ! ! ! down, runs off shouting)Help me, help! - Pa’s been hurt!! ! ! ! ! ! (LIGHTS DIM on The Plot, RISE on! ! ! ! ! ! The Porch - CAP is still looking down at the ! ! ! ! ! ! breadfruit)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking over at him)What, Cap?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPGuess Pa’s watch was over..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-4! ! ! ! ! ! (Gets up with the breadfruit, goes over to the ! ! ! ! ! ! bell, grabs the rope clapper of the bell, RINGS ! ! ! ! ! ! bell twice, pauses, then RINGS it twice more, ! ! ! ! ! ! pauses, a final two RINGS, releases clapper)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI’m still not feeling well.. think I need to lie down, Cap...!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! !Okay, Ruth.. call me, if ya need me...! ! ! ! ! ! (She gets up, EXITS into her side. CAP sits ! ! ! ! ! ! down in his chair, holding the breadfruit ! ! ! ! ! ! - CAP stares far into the past - the LIGHTS ! ! ! ! ! ! DIM on The Porch, then the LIGHTS RISE ! ! ! ! ! ! RISE on CAP sitting on The Porch with his ! ! ! ! ! ! glasses on, reading his paper - MRS. TILSON ! ! ! ! ! ! speaks through her screen door)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONHi, Cap...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPHo..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON Want company?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore.. you feelin’ better, Ruth?

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONA little...! ! ! ! ! ! (She come out and sits down - they watch ! ! ! ! ! ! across the street)! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThere go th two of ‘em, agin’ - that girl and her guy - down ta Davey Jones Locker, the bar at th Pass..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONHow do you know where they go?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPI seen ‘em..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-5! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONYou go to Davey Jones Locker?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! !Used ta.. th owner was a friend o’ mine..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONUsed to? - then how.. never mind - what was your friend’s name?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPDavey Jones..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI’ve heard that name before - is this one of your stories? - why’d you stop going?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPMim told me he died..!! ! !! `! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONSeems I saw you heading over to Mim’s place this afternoon..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPJust for a drink..!!! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONA drink..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShe’s me friend..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! !You got a lot of friends..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore..! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONWhat did Davey Jones die of?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPLiver..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONCancer?


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-6! ! ! ! ! ! CAPFailed ’im..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONMust have been a drinker..!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWasn’t much..! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONYou drink a bit..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShot o’rum, now ‘n then..!!! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! !You and your brother, Ralph..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore.. we likes a nip when we gets together..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONSeems the two of you try to drink the whole world up, sometimes..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThere’s that black cat, again - here, Blackie, Blackie, Blackie!

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI try not to drink - I want to live a long time..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore..! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI’m afraid of dying.. you afraid of dying, Cap?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Almost died last winter.. from p-no-mia.. was lyin’ in me bed with a fever.. felt myself goin’, n’ a long tunnel opened up ‘afore me, with a bright light at th end.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-7! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONYou don’t seem to have died..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPHadta.. get up n’ take a leak - that sorta.. broke th fever..!! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! !I thought you were going to say, “Divine intervention..”, or something..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPCoulda’ been... there go th black cat, on a mission!

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONProbably to see his girlfriend for a drink..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPMaybe... !! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI’m really not feeling well, Cap...! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (A pause, she gets up, EXITS into her side of! ! ! ! ! ! of the duplex, leaving Cap in his lawn chair - ! ! ! ! ! ! the LIGHTS DIM on The Porch, then the! ! ! ! ! ! LIGHTS RISE again on The Porch - the lawn ! ! ! ! ! ! chairs are empty - the SOUND of JIMMY’s ! ! ! ! ! ! Buick pulling up - the engine turns off and a car ! ! ! ! ! ! door slams - ENTER JIMMY, striding up the ! ! ! ! ! ! walk and running up the steps - pulls open right ! ! ! ! ! ! screen door, calls inside) ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYPop.. Pop!! ! ! ! ! ! (No answer - he goes inside, comes out, ! ! ! ! ! ! stands on The Porch - the left screen door ! ! ! ! ! ! opens - CAP comes out)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPJimmy!

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYWhat you in there for?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPMrs. Tilson!


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-8! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYI’ve heard enough of Mrs. Tilson - listen, Pop - that souwester’ off Mexico has taken a turn for the worse - turned east, right across Teddy’s course comin’ home - he’s in for some heavy weather, but..!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Interrupting)Jimmy! - I found Mrs. Tilson on the floor - she musta’ fell! ! ! ! ! ! ! (JIMMY pauses, then strides to the left screen ! ! ! ! ! ! door, flings it open, goes inside - CAP leans ! ! ! ! ! ! against the door - JIMMY comes back out)

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYShe might of had a stroke - where’s a phone? - she’s got no phone in there, and you don’t have one!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThere’s a phone on the corner! - run, boy, call an ambulance - I’ll go in and stay with Mrs. Tilson - hurry!

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYShe’s not breathing, Pop - got no pulse!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPMaybe we can bring her back - sit her up inna chair ‘til they come!

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYPop, she’s cold!! ! ! ! ! ! (CAP pauses)Could have been dead hours...! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I’ll call the coroner..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks off to sea, listens to the SOUND ! ! ! ! ! ! of the low breakers, turns back to Jimmy) You happy now, Jimmy?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (JIMMY pauses, goes down the stairs and ! ! ! ! ! ! EXITS quickly. CAP slowly sits down in a lawn ! ! ! ! ! ! chair, stares - the LIGHTS DIM on The Porch ! ! ! ! ! ! as the storm is howling with the SOUND of A ! ! ! ! ! ! wind and rain on the roof, the SOUND of ! ! ! ! ! ! breakers on the beach - LIGHTS RISE on ! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY standing at The Railing - he is wearing ! ! ! ! ! ! a watchman’s cap and a yellow slicker - it’s


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-9! ! ! ! ! ! daylight, but dark - the SOUNDS of breakers ! ! ! ! ! ! and the powerful throb of tugboat engines)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWe’re about to leave the river and sail back to Tampa.. there’s breakers ahead, crashing right into the mouth of the Mississippi - the captain said the Ruby Hays got orders to sail out into the Gulf, but a storm has turned our way... I guess the power company needs their coal - there’s always five of us tugs and barges keeping them supplied, just so they can keep the lights on in Tampa...! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks off)Here we go, right into that first breaker! - this doesn’t look good.. and we’re not heading west to California - we’re going east, away from my girl! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looking ahead - the SOUND of ! ! ! ! ! ! crashing breakers)This could get rough...! ! ! ! ! !


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Crest of the Waves - Six Bells