A Swim in the Laughing Soup
THIRSTY
But Mags’ll have a bottle. Always does.
GENE AUTRY
Always does, even though Joey’s dead and some other Joe is next.
NOJO
(Lifts one leg, shakes it suspiciously.)
Hello?
GENE AUTRY (startled)
Joey?
(GENE AUTRY points toward NOJO but not exactly at him, as if GENE AUTRY is guessing where NOJO might be. NOJO hops away from the spot at which GENE AUTRY is pointing.)
GENE AUTRY
JoJo. Son of Joey-oe.
(As GENE AUTRY speaks he keeps pointing in different directions, always closer to the escaping NOJO.)
NOJO
Who do you think I am? One of your hallucinations?
GENE AUTRY
Nojo.
(When GENE AUTRY finally says NOJO’s name, HE is pointing directly at him. NOJO freezes and then pulls down his hood, acknowledging that HE has been caught.)
NOJO
This Mags. He’ll be here when?
HUNGRY
Mags ain’t a bus.
THIRSTY
She tries to help.
HUNGRY
Sorta like the fairy godmother, Nojo.
THIRSTY
More like Santa.
GENE AUTRY
Move some letters around in Santa and you got Satan.
HUNGRY (angry)
No one making you take what she gives. But you will.
(Calmer.)
Ain’t many left like old Mags.
(NOJO breaks another piece of the ladder off and throws it on the fire.)
GENE AUTRY
Where you from, Nojo?
NOJO
That’s not my name.
(To audience.)
I just want you to know. I left my name under the plastic chair in that hospital waiting room a long time ago. I can be anyone now, see. Bob Hope, Madame Curie, Baby Jesus, Lassie, anything I can imagine. That’s the curse, okay? But I should never have opened my mouth. They’re asking me questions, next they’ll be taking my pulse.
HUNGRY
You got to be from someplace.
