Conclusions, by James Erwin. And That’s the Order For Tonight! Now I Read It Again So Damn Fast!
By James Erwin
 
 
LIGHTS DOWN AND UP.
 
FATHER is standing and pacing.
 
FATHER: There’s a few things we gotta get straightened out, son. Sit down.
 
First thing’s this. You do NOT take the pickup without you ask me first. You know better’n that, boy!
(listening- from here on out *) Uh huh. Well, I don’t care her tits could float the damn Titanic, you do not take that truck without you ask me. I don’t owe my ass to Les Cleveland for that thing so’s you can take it out and flip it on some back road coppin a feel off some hyperpituitary freak.
 
Speakin of which. I do NOT want you callin that two-timin bitch of a mother you got down in Corpus Christi. I don’t work my ass off the day long givin her twenty percent outta every check so’s you can turn around and chuck her a few more dollars out my pocket. Y’wanna talk to her s’damn bad, you can go down the H.E.B. and get one a them phone cards.
 
And here’s the last thing. I got a call today from Miz Perkins. Y’damn right, OH. Whyn’t you go on and tell me what she said?
(*) You don’t know, boy, why’d you say OH like y’had you a damn revelation?
(*- rub eyes wearily) Son, that ain’t what she tole me.
 
(Enter BECKY SUE, stage left.)
 
BECKY SUE: Grits is up.
 
FATHER: We’ll have grits later.
 
BECKY SUE: They’ll be cold later.
 
FATHER: TOUGH, goddammit.
 
(pause)
 
BECKY SUE: Hell you doin, anyway?
 
(JIMMY enters from stage left.)
 
JIMMY: Mornin, Becky Sue. Mornin.
 
BECKY SUE: Grits, Jimmy?
 
JIMMY: Sure.
 
(Exit BECKY SUE. JIMMY and FATHER sit at table.)
 
FATHER: Take the truck out last night?
 
JIMMY: Yeah.
 
FATHER: Don’t.
 
JIMMY: Alright.
 
(Enter BECKY SUE. She sets plates for herself and JIMMY.)
 
BECKY SUE: Here, Jimmy.
(to FATHER) You havin grits or not?
 
FATHER: Yeah.
 
(Exit BECKY SUE)
 
JIMMY: You sick?
 
FATHER: I’m fine.
 
JIMMY: I’m goin out later, be in late tonight.
 
FATHER: I don’t want you callin your mother.
 
JIMMY: What?
 
FATHER: Long distance! Just- just DON’T!
 
JIMMY: What the hell?
 
(Enter BECKY SUE. She sets a plate for FATHER.)
 
BECKY SUE: Grits.
 
(Awkward pause. Eating.)
 
JIMMY: I actually gotta go. Sorry, Becky Sue, I gotta get to practice.
 
(Exit JIMMY.)
 
BECKY SUE: What’s going on?
 
FATHER: Just eat.
 
BECKY SUE: Charlie, what-
 
FATHER: EAT.
 
(pause)
 
BECKY SUE: I ain’t hungry.
 
(BECKY SUE grabs plate and exits stage left.)
 
FATHER: Oh, I’ll tell you what’s going on.
 
LIGHTS DOWN. FATHER CONTINUES IN THE DARK.
 
What’s going on is this- is that I don’t want to be a bad father. And I don’t want to be a bad person. I go to church, I listen, I try, you know that. But I got a temper, and there’s things I know’s wrong, but it’s just…
 
(FATHER stands and paces in the dark.)
 
I’m tryin to do right by Jimmy. I try, anyway, cause I know I’m just tryin to make myself feel better cause I’m tellin myself “It’s just gonna hurt him down the road, and better you say something now,” but that ain’t it at all. That ain’t it.
 
BECKY SUE (offstage): You say somethin?
 
(pause- Father moves to his chair to leave an empty stage.)
 
FATHER: No.
 
LIGHTS UP.