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(Marten enters hospital waiting room, sits behind Simpkins, sits near the only magazine except those beside the old man. Marten picks up the Sports Illustrated, leafs through it as Simpkins enjoys his cigar, and then drops the magazine back. A pause as Marten looks around out of boredom, then settles on examining the slow, deliberate movements of the old man smoking. He tries to wave away the drifting smoke in disgust, and then he notices the stack of magazines beside the old man. He starts to get up and examine the stack, but Simpkins sets his cigar down on the edge of it.)
MARTEN
(stands) You mind if I...hey! (Simpkins turns slowly)
SIMPKINS
Eh? (Holds out hand) I'm Charlie Simpkins.
MARTEN
(Shakes hand quickly, reaches for stack) You mind if I...
SIMPKINS
Oh sure. (Marten returns to seat with Fitness magazine and Reader's Digest as Simpkins has turned back and replaced the cigar in his teeth) What's yer name?
MARTEN
(a pause, then quickly) Karl Marten. (Announcement for doctor comes over intercom. Simpkins picks up Life magazine, tries to focus on it as Marten does Fitness) Receptionist (offstage) Name, please?
YOUNG WOMAN's voice
Her name? Mrs. Ruth Andrews.
RECEPTIONIST
Address?
YOUNG WOMAN
668 Alpine Way.
RECEPTIONIST
Medicare?
YOUNG WOMAN
No. We'll be paying.
RECEPTIONIST
And...
YOUNG WOMAN
Constipation. She's had surgery for cancer of the colon.
OLDER WOMAN
It hurts in here. My bowel just stopped moving yesterday. I'm nauseous.
YOUNG WOMAN
They took x-rays last time it happened. They gave her an enema.
RECEPTIONIST
You'll be paying by check? No insurance?
YOUNG WOMAN
It's got a deductable. Is Dr. Ashland on duty?
RECEPTIONIST
No, I'm afraid he's on vacation. Have a seat in the waiting room. It shouldn't be long.
(Enter young woman, early 20s; mother, mid 50s. Dressed smartly and plainly, respectively, they sit opposite the old man, who stares at them curiously while smoking cigar. They both look up at him individually and try to avoid his gaze. A pause.)
YOUNG WOMAN
It's good you didn't eat dinner.
MOTHER
I couldn't.
SIMPKINS
(after a pause) Yer pale. (They try to ignore him) What's wrong with you?
YOUNG WOMAN
She's feeling bad.
SIMPKINS
(pulls out flask of liquor from pocket) Ya want some 'a this? It'll fix ya up. (They looked shocked, shake heads no) It's good stuff. Me cousin Randy made it. 120 proof. (A pause as he holds it out) It'll cure ya. (a pause) Yeah. First time I ever drunk the stuff 'bout saw stars. That was back in '68. It's smoothed out now, though. Got the kinks out. (Settles back) Wife Joanie, she 'bout lives on the stuff. (Pause) Aw, Gaud, why don't ya try it?
MARTEN
She don't want it, Mister, can't ya see? Good grief. (Simpkins turns slowly around, puts out his cigar carefully) She's sick...in the stomach. So just leave her alone, all right? (Simpkins smiles cynically, picks up Lif e again, puts flask back in pocket. A nervous pause, then Marten lights up cigarette.)
YOUNG WOMAN
(To Marten) What time you got, Mister?
MARTEN
(exhaling) 8:10. (She nods thanks) (Another announcement comes, this time for Dr. Ashland)
YOUNG WOMAN
(to Mother) He's on vacation.
SIMPKINS
(To himself, whistles) Some people sure are unfriendly. Gaud, what a world! (Pause) I gotta get me some air. Can't stand cigarette smoke. (Gets up to leave) Second-hand smoke at that. 'Nuff to give ya cancer. {pauses} 'Course this is the place for it, ain't it? (Exits; YW giggles; enter nurse)
NURSE
Mrs. Andrews? (They help her out)
MARTEN
(smiling) Nurse? You know that old man that was just here? He has this flask...with moonshine. He offered it to that lady.
{Nurse and Mrs. Andrews look at him strangely and whisper together as they exit. Young woman returns to same chair, glances and smiles briefly at Marten. Marten smiles back until he realizes he's still smiling but for nothing. A pause. Marten takes Life magazine and returns to chair. A boy about 18 wearing blue jeans, boots, a black silk shirt, and listening to a Sony Walkman comes in and sits down on far side of waiting room. He leans back and shuts eyes, engrossed in music. The young woman looks up and stares at him. Whenever he opens his eyes, she looks away. A pause.}
YOUNG WOMAN
What time do you have?
MARTEN
You just asked me...8:14.
YOUNG WOMAN
Sorry.
MARTEN
My name's Karl. Sell insurance.
YOUNG WOMAN
Susan.
MARTEN
Karl Marten...with an E... What's your mother in for? I mean, if you don't mind my asking.
SUSAN
Oh, she has trouble digesting food.
MARTEN
Serious?
SUSAN
Hope not.
MARTEN
My sister...I think she fractured her hip.
SUSAN
Really?
MARTEN
I hate hospitals. They're so...ominous... But God help you if you don't have the right coverage. Sat next to two dead people at the bus stop not long ago. (She looks away) Hope that old man didn't bother you.
SUSAN
(with surprise) No, no.
MARTEN
I live alone. My sister was just over for a visit. It happened so quick. Accidents are always quick, seems like. You never know what to expect. (A pause) Where do you work?
SUSAN
Work?
MARTEN
Yeah. Where do you...
SUSAN
Oh, I don't. I'm still in college. (Pause) At the University.
MARTEN
A senior I bet. (She nods) That's interesting. What...
SUSAN
Home economics.
MARTEN
(Pleased) Really. Do you-- (a pause)
SUSAN
(Uneasily) Do I what?
MARTEN
Do you come here much...with your mother?
SUSAN
(amused) What?
{Enter Simpkins, who shuffles over and flops down in same chair}
SIMPKINS
I'm baaack. ...Hey! Leave the room one second, some dufus makes off with yer magazine. (a pause)
MARTEN
What did you call me, old man?
TEEN
(Taking off headphones) He said 'dufus.' He said you're a dufus. (To Simpkins:) What's a dufus?
SIMPKINS
That's what he is. (Teen stifles a laugh, and Marten starts to react but then girl laughs too)
TEEN
Dufus. Hey, that's a tripy word, pop. That's what I'll name my kid. Girlfriend's in there now, in delivery. (Makes thumbs up sign) Thanks, man. (Simpkins lifts hand as if to say "don't thank me;" takes out flask and offers it to him. Boy takes it and hesitates)
SIMPKINS
It'll put hair on yer chest.
MARTEN
Oh my God. (Boy throws back head for swallow. Then he shakes his head frantically, holding his throat, trying to get air.)
SIMPKINS
Not too much, now.
TEEN
(Recovering) Smooth... (To girl:) Have you tried this? (Simpkins takes flask from teen and holds it out to girl; she takes it hesitantly)
MARTEN
(at a whisper) This is a hospital. Susan, right? You don't know where that's been. You might go blind! (Girl closes eyes and sips. Then she fans her face, jumping up and down as teen approves by clapping. Finally she holds flask out to Marten, who is in shock)
SIMPKINS
More, more. (She takes another sip, hands it back)
SUSAN
(agreeing with teen) "Smooth."
SIMPKINS
Told ya, didn't I? (Kid lights up joint, hands it to Simpkins}
TEEN
Hawaiian. All but legal. Cops gave up.
SIMPKINS
{sucks in puff, hands it to girl} What the hell. We're born here, go away fer a little while, then we come back ta die. Right? Birth an' death. Birth an' death. Birth an' death. It's all the same ta me. ...'Course some people doan wanna talk 'bout it.
MARTEN
Oh my... (Announcement comes on--"Dr. Sanders to O.R.")
TEEN
That's my dad.
MARTEN
YOUR--
SUSAN
--Your dad's a doctor?
TEEN
(crosses to sit beside her, they share joint) He's chief surgeon. But that's only half of it. My mom's a lawyer. (a pause; he looks disgusted) No one's ever at home. I haveta come down here sometimes to hang out. They let me watch in surgery, though, you know, from the gallery. Hey--I seen some wild stuff go on. Had to testify for dad once at a trial. (a pause) I been to Tahiti too.
SIMPKINS
(pulls out wallet) Ya got any more 'a that?
MARTEN
Stop that! {They look at him}
TEEN
Why?
MARTEN
Because it's wrong.
TEEN
What's wrong?
MARTEN
What you're doing, for God's sake.
TEEN
Is that right, Ozzie? Where's Harriet? She home cooking vegetables?
MARTEN
(Goes to receptionist; now offstage) Nurse, I gotta see somebody.
RECEPTIONIST
Are you faint?
SIMPKINS
{to Teen} Probably a Republican too. {Snickers}
MARTEN
No! That kid in there, he's... Your chief surgeon's son, for God's sake! An' the old man, he's got moonshine.
RECEPTIONIST
(irritated) Would you like to call security?
SIMPKINS
Dufus...it's like 'Newt.' {Laughs}
{Marten returns after they've quickly finished joint, waving smoke away. He sits back in same chair as they watch him. Then Simpkins gets up and slowly goes to him, he puts up his hands, and Simpkins snatches away Life magazine, returns to chair.}
SIMPKINS
Wet blanket.
TEEN
(as Susan giggles) No. Security blanket. (Crosses to original chair, puts on headphones) "Dufus..." (A pause, enter security guard) GUARD Mr. Marten? (Simpkins points him out, he comes forward) What's your problem?
MARTEN
(pulling guard to front, whispering) That old man's been drinking moonshine. Yeah, he's got it hidden in his pocket. The kid and the girl were just smoking pot. The old man wants to buy some. GUARD I don't smell anything. (They look at the trio, but they sit normally) Just have a seat, mister. Everything's gonna be hunky dory. (Enter nurse)
NURSE
Mr. Marten?
MARTEN
(overlapping) Hunky dory? ...Yes?
NURSE
(approaching him, looking at clipboard) Dr. Sanders will be here to talk to you in a minute. There have been complications with your sister.
MARTEN
What? What kind of complications?
NURSE
The doctor will explain.
MARTEN
How could there be complications? (Simpkins starts to exit, slipping the teen a $20 bill for a few joints when nurse motions for him to come back)
NURSE
(to Marten) These things happen.
MARTEN
What things?
NURSE
(to teen) Tommy? (He takes off headphones) Tommy-- your dad said it'll be another half hour. You've got twins. (Teen offers joint to nurse in celebration; nurse declines and exits; Marten sits in disbelief; a pause)
MARTEN
(to girl) "Complications." What does it mean?
SUSAN
Could mean anything. Probably nothing.
MARTEN
It if was nothing, it'd be simple. This is complicated. (A pause, another announcement, "Dr. Sanders, please return to O.R. immediately") Did you hear that? Why'd he leave her anyway?
SUSAN
Why worry?
MARTEN
Because it's my turn. That nurse...she knew it too. Clara is the only family I got. (a pause, she ignores him) What could have happened? I can't believe it. I'm usually listening to other people's stories...ya know...how it feels! ...Least I got all the bases covered. My God--got enough policies. Blanket policies, umbrella poli--
SUSAN
I don't worry about it. I never worry. I just know things will work out, and they do. It's like an aura. Everyone has one.
TEEN
Except Republicans.
SUSAN
It's how you think. Whatever you think will happen does.
MARTEN
That's...I don't know...it's luck.
SUSAN
There's no such thing as luck.
MARTEN
Well, yeah, but circumstances. Same thing. Things just...happen.
SUSAN
No, I think we influence things. By our attitudes. Every time I've really wanted something I've gotten it.
MARTEN
Your aura. (She nod; he shrugs, smiles wryly) Did you vote in the mid term elections?
SUSAN
You've gotta really want it, have faith about things. Nothing else matters.
MARTEN
(Crooks thumb at teen) Hey, ya think he has faith? (Enter Mrs. Andrews. Susan goes to her)
SUSAN
How do you feel?
MOTHER
Better.
{They begin to exit slowly, girl gesturing at mother to Marten as if to say "see what I mean?" As they pass teen he hands girl a joint secretly. Enter security guard, walking in opposite direction, leaving as teen smiles and Marten is confused, unsure about what to do)
MARTEN
Hey...HEY!! {Everyone turns to him. Enter nurse, holding a golf putter}
NURSE
Mr. Marten? The doctor will see you now.
{Marten looks at guard, at girl, at teen, at nurse's putter, then drops hands in resignation, and follows her out. Exit guard and Andrews. Teen lights up joint, alone now, puts on headphones again, leans back and closes eyes.}
Blackout.
