The Mailer Review/Volume 1, 2007/The Naked and the Dead (Play Excerpt): Difference between revisions

'''Gannon'''. Well, I think you’re too hard on LaPlante. After all, we all have our pets, and Holm deserves to come down here after beating Cadigan up.

'''Cobb'''. I’m glad you think so.

'''Cobb'''. I know, but you won’t, Iris.

'''Gannon'''. That means you’ll tell me if I’m willing to ask you for long enough. Well, it’s not important enough.

'''Gannon'''. Well, I didn’t mean him. There’s been a couple of others here that quit; if they didn’t go to college they were too soft. It all comes down to the same thing. You got to be hard or you quit.

'''Cobb'''. In a…?

'''Gannon'''. You were a good kid … I guess.

'''Cobb'''. (Desperate.) Well, now that Dicky is . . . gone upstairs, . . . ah . . . why don’t you give … us … a kiss for the armed forces. (Starts to kiss her, when Land unlocks the door and enters right.)

'''Land'''. (Has pulled his hands away.) Look. . . . What happened to Dicky? … Does he still have his money?

'''Land'''. What’s the matter, Iris?

'''Gannon'''. They told me to leave when you came down. I’m no fool. . . . Come with me.

'''Land'''. I’m not worried about you.

'''Gannon'''. Me? . . . Listen, I can do everything a man can do, and carry a kid in the bargain. (She exits) (Land looks at the hose in his hand, then lays it down on the desk. He shudders, and the strain of the night before shows in his face. It is completely quiet in the ward. Then, off stage, a bit of sound starts, builds up, grows greater. It takes about thirty seconds for it to reach the door, but by the middle of it, Holm can be heard shouting, I’ll kill him, I’ll kill him, and Pike and Cobb and Flavin arguing, fighting and swearing at him. Land listens to the noise, then picks up the rubber hose. He is trembling. Sandy croaks hoarsely from the bed, but very quietly this time.)

'''Sandy'''. Could I have a cup of water, please.

'''Sandy'''. The only one.

'''Holm'''. Leave me alone, you goddamn bastard. You’re with her all the time. I heard them talking.

'''Holm'''. Go away.

'''Land'''. You’ll enjoy it. . . . Now, come on take off your shirt. (Puts his hand on Holm’s shoulder.) (Holm gives him a shove that sends him flying backward for several feet.)

'''Land'''. (Consciously forcing himself to walk forward.) Any other attendant would have hit you for that. Doesn’t that show I’m trying to be your friend?

(Holm starts for him in a mad rush, and Land avoids him, twists back, and sets the alarm bell off which rings and rings throughout their fight. The inmates in the tubs start screaming and shouting. Holm catches Land at the right corner, up, and pinions him against the wall. Land shouts in pain, reaches up, and pinions Holm’s arms in his loose shirt. He pushes desperately, and Holm backs up for a moment trying to free his arms. Land picks up the length of rubber hose, and backs warily away. The alarm-siren is still going. Holm catches Land again, one of his arms loose, and beats him clumsily once or twice. Land shouts, Goddamn you, I’ve had enough, and starts beating Holm over the head with the rubber length. Holm folds to the floor, and Land drops on him, laughing, and still beating him with the hose. The inmates have stopped but the siren keeps going. Hughson rushes in, sees Land, and runs to him, shaking him by the shoulder in excitement at Land’s laugh.)

'''Land'''. So you see it finally.

'''Land'''. Everybody gets that way sometimes.

'''Land'''. Ralph, shake it, it isn’t too late, you haven’t been here long enough.

'''Sandy'''. Give us a glass of water, please, please. (Hughson turns irritably towards him, and then relaxes.)

'''Hughson'''. Still?

'''Hughson'''. And I say you’re wrong, and you should let it alone … but I know you’ll be back. (They exit.)

{{Review|state=expanded}}