Read Online Sexual Perversity in Chicago and the Duck Variations by David Mamet - Free Book Online Page B

its comrades. Frantic. Lost. Dangerous. Vicious: A DUCK. . . . and on he comes. You quietly raise from the ground. One knee . . . two knees. You lift the gun, you put the gun on your shoulder and point it at the duck. It's you and him. You and the duck on the marsh. He wants to go home and you want to kill him for it. So you fire the gun. Once, again. Again. Again. Your ears are ringing. Your eyes are covered in spots. You cannot see. You are quivering and you gotta sit down. Your heart is going fast. . . .
EMIL :
Where's the duck?
GEORGE :
. . . slowly. Slowly you lower yourself to the Earth. Your joints creak . . .
EMIL :
Where's the duck?
GEORGE :
. . . with the weight of your body. Your shoulder aches from pounding, and your . . .
EMIL :
WHERE'S THE DUCK?
GEORGE :
The duck is dying.
EMIL :
Out in the marsh.
GEORGE :
Out in the marsh.
EMIL :
Oh no.
GEORGE :
In a flock of feathers and blood. Full of bullets. Quiet, so as not to make a sound. Dying.
EMIL :
Living his last.
GEORGE :
Dying.
EMIL :
Leaving the Earth and sky.
GEORGE :
Dying.
EMIL :
Lying on the ground.
GEORGE :
Dying.
EMIL :
Fluttering.
GEORGE :
Dying.
EMIL :
Sobbing.
GEORGE :
Dying.
EMIL :
Quietly bleeding.
GEORGE :
Thinking.
EMIL :
Dying.
GEORGE :
Dying, dying.
EMIL :
But wait! This here! He summons his strength for one last time.
GEORGE :
No.
EMIL :
Maybe he beats around and tries to make it . . .
GEORGE :
No.
EMIL :
Back in the air?
GEORGE :
No.
EMIL :
One last . . .
GEORGE :
No.
EMIL :
A flutter of . . .
GEORGE :
No.
EMIL :
A little . . .
GEORGE :
No.
EMIL :
He's dead, isn't he?
GEORGE nods.
EMIL :
I knew it.
GEORGE :
The Law of Life.

     

    FOURTEENTH VARIATION
    “For Centuries Prior To This Time”
    EMIL :
You know, for centuries prior to this time man has watched birds.
GEORGE :
I still watch ‘em.
EMIL :
To obtain the secret of Flight.
GEORGE :
We're better off without it.
EMIL :
Yeah.
GEORGE :
They'll go to their graves with it.
EMIL :
The Ancient Greeks used to sit around all day looking at birds.
GEORGE :
Yeah?
EMIL :
Oh yes. They'd take a chair and go sit and look at ‘em. Just watch them all day long and wonder.
GEORGE :
I, too, would wonder. A crumbling civilization and they're out in the Park looking at birds.
EMIL :
These were the Ancient Greeks. Old. Old men.
Incapable of working.
Of no use to their society.
Just used to watch the birds all day
First light to Last light.
First Light: Go watch birds.
Last Light: Stop watching birds. Go Home.
Swallows. Falcons.
Forerunners of our modern birds.
And the forerunners of our modern States.
Greeks. Birds.
Used to sit out all day long. Sit on a bench and feed them ...
Give them little bits of . . .
GEORGE :
. . . rice?
EMIL :
Rice, yes. History is not completely clear on that point, but we can imagine rice. For the sake of argument. Rich, sleek birds of prey.
GEORGE :
And fat old men.
EMIL :
Watching each other.
Each with something to contribute.
That the world might turn another day.
A Fitting end.
To some very noble creatures of the sky.
And a lotta Greeks.