Trey and Sammy are twelve year old boys who go to the same middle school. They became fast friends after sharing an algebra class.
TREY
So you pinch the loose skin right near the belly… then you get your blade, and you make a real small cut.
SAMMY
And there isn’t any blood?
TREY
No, no, dude. Not if you’re careful not to puncture anything. You gotta make a real small cut. Make sure not to slice the stomach.
SAMMY
How many times have you done this? I mean, how many times has your dad taken you hunting?
TREY
Lots of times. Like, my dad took me out to the woods last Sunday.
SAMMY
Don’t you ever kill anything bigger? Like deer?
TREY
Deer? Yea, I fuckin hope so. I’ve been begging him for us to get some bigger game. Now he’s telling me we can’t anymore.
SAMMY
How come?
TREY
Dad says we can’t anymore because I stole his gun one night.
SAMMY
Really? What’d you do?
TREY
I dunno. Just took it. I wanted to feel it in my hands again. It feels good to hold a gun.
SAMMY
I held one once.
TREY
Yea?
SAMMY
Yea my stepdad’s rifle.
TREY
Don’t you feel powerful or something when you get one in your hands?
SAMMY
Yea something like that. But all I could think about was how I wanted to use it on him right when he handed it to me.
TREY
Why?
SAMMY
Because. Son of the bitch hits my mom all the time.
TREY
Oh, right.
SAMMY
Sometimes when he’s getting ready to clean it, and it’s just laying out there on his desk… I wanna grab it. Turn it around on him. Make him scared for once.
(long pause)
TREY
Then why don’t you?
(Sammy stares at Trey)
SAMMY
Why don’t I? Why don’t I? (chuckles) ‘Cause I don’t wanna get the shit kicked out of me too.
TREY
You’re scared. A scared little pussy. What do you do when he’s hitting your mom?
SAMMY
Fuck you. I’m never around.
TREY
So you just let it go?
SAMMY
Don’t act like I haven’t tried. I have. I’ve confronted him. I’ve tried to sock him in the face, the first time he did it. He got me in a headlock and pushed me down. Got him all riled up and he went into the bedroom and took it out on my mom. I don’t think he wants to hit me…
TREY
So then why don’t you try again?
SAMMY
I dunno… He’s a pretty big guy. I don’t wanna be the reason he hits on my mom more than he already does. And I’m sure he will if I even try to say something.
TREY
And when’s the next time he’s gonna beat up on her?
SAMMY
I dunno…
TREY
Exactly. You don’t know. You should make sure of it, that there isn’t a next time.
SAMMY
What do you mean? How?
TREY
You know where he keeps his gun?
SAMMY
I think so. But I can’t…
TREY
Can’t? You can’t? It’s your own mom! Don’t you think your dad would want you to protect her? You’re the last man in her life, that isn’t a fuckin abusive asshole. All you need is a gun.
SAMMY
And what am I suppose to do with it?
TREY
Scare him. Threaten his life.
SAMMY
That’s fuckin stupid. I’m just suppose to just go up to him and wave a gun around, telling him to leave my mom alone?
TREY
No, you idiot. We’d wear masks, all black, like ninjas. Your mom usually works the night shift and that’s when we’ll get him. Shoot him when he’s sleeping.
SAMMY
You, you mean,… you mean kill him?
TREY
Yea, what else?
SAMMY
He’ll know it’s me. He’ll know it’s us.
TREY
No, we’re pretty tall for our age. Come on, let me plan it all out.
SAMMY
Wait a minute, why is it “we” all of a sudden?
TREY
Because I’m your best friend. And the master planner of all this. We’ll get him good. I promise.
SAMMY
I guess….
TREY
You don’t have to believe me now… I still gotta think about it some more. Make sure it’s bulletproof.
SAMMY
Ok…
TREY
But just one thing, all right?
SAMMY
What is it?
TREY
Let me hold the gun, ok?
Notes from Roy:
ReplyDeleteVery chilling, with very intriguing characters. From the very opening they're dialogue involves weapons, and some unspecified knife technique. When the hunting riff turns to the stolen gun, we begin to get a sense of danger from Trey, and the first inklings of his twisted ethics.
As the piece proceeds it gets more and more dangerous, yet it also provides us with a kind of chilling look at the lives of these boys - the mother being beaten, the other violent actions, the access to guns. And Trey's plan to deal with Sammy's father illustrates the clash of their immaturity, yet worldly state of development.
There are many dramatic opportunities to follow int this piece. How will the plot proceed? Will Sammy develop deeper qualms? Will there be a conflict between Trey and Sammy as they get nearer to the real action? Will they really carry out the plot? What obstacles will they encounter along the way?
Roy
- The piece has a disturbing quality to it from the very start to the very end. The opening line really sets up that foreboding and terror that you slowly build. In fact, it’s a wonderful opening to a scene, the kind where we can’t look away, even if we want to.
ReplyDelete-The idea of such power - a gun - in the hands of a 12 year old. Chills. Again foreboding. The reader/viewer runs through several things. including Columbine.
-Something very genuine about the way the abuse is revealed and spoken about.
-I encourage you to keep searching these dark places, if that is what you are interested in. Some of the best characters an history are the bleak and scary ones.
-When Trey asks to hold the gun... It’s a great moment. I keep using words like disturbing, but there is no other way to describe it. But unlike things like Saw or Hostel (or any other torture porn), these disturbing moments are deeply rooted in real characters and true moments. Which of course makes it that much more disturbing.