Act I
Johnson sits alone in an aluminum lawn chair. It is the front porch of a nursing home. He stares out onto the street. He looks, he blinks. For not apparent reason he will occasionally smile. We hear the sound of birds. From offstage we hear a whistle. It is Brad, another elderly man. Johnson’s head jerks at the sound.
JOHNSON: (shouting it out) Uh-huh!
BRAD: (entering) No you don’t!
JOHNSON: Yes I do!
BRAD: What’re you watchin’?
JOHNSON: The street! Hasn’t moved all morning!
BRAD: Nice day.
JOHNSON: Lotsa birds. You remember when we asked her to cook the redbird, Brad?
BRAD: Who?
JOHNSON: You know….she was uh…she lived out by the store….she was fat but she cooked good.
BRAD: Which store?
JOHNSON: Oh damn it…you know..the store..they sold those…….uh…
BRAD: She cooked a redbird?
JOHNSON: You shot it! You oughta know! You was young and stupid and you shot a redbird…asked her to cook it. Did we eat it?
BRAD: I don’t remember shooting a redbird.
JOHNSON: Oh damn it, you shot it!
BRAD: Guess I forgot.
JOHNSON: Street hasn’t moved all day.
BRAD: That’s good. You feeling okay?
JOHNSON: Why not? (a silence) You okay?
BRAD: Went to Martinsville today…got a new blade for the mower.
JOHNSON: They stole mine.
BRAD: No they didn’t.
JOHNSON: Stole it. Had it in the shed. Just went to sleep at night and the next morning they stole it.
BRAD: You sold that mower, Horse.
JOHNSON: Nope. John Deere 110.
BRAD: Looks like you’re eating okay.
JOHNSON: Yea. Eat lots. It was a John Deere 110. Had a orange triangle on the back because I moved so slow. You talked to Richard?
BRAD: He’s in New Jersey.
JOHNSON: Came by yesterday.
BRAD: Your boy Richard?
JOHNSON: Richard. He came by yesterday.
BRAD: Didn’t know he was in town.
JOHNSON: And his kids.
BRAD: You sure it was Richard? He lives in New Jersey.
JOHNSON: Not any more. Moved to Walnut Grove.
BRAD: He was in college then, Horse. He went to college in Walnut Grove then he moved to New Jersey. He designs pumps.
JOHNSON: Richard?
BRAD: Yea. (a long silence…Brad looks around) You eating okay?
JOHNSON: Lots. I eat lots. They made pie for supper this morning.
BRAD: What kind?
JOHNSON: Uh….had those..you know..things in the middle.
BRAD: Cherry?
JOHNSON: No…no….those uh…
BRAD: Blueberries?
JOHNSON: Oh damn it. I don’t know. Fruits. Lots of fruits in it.
BRAD: Did Richard call?
JOHNSON: Who?
BRAD: Richard.
JOHNSON: He won’t speak. He’s mad at me.
BRAD: He calls you every Sunday night, doesn’t he?
JOHNSON: Don’t know. I never answer. He may call but I don’t know. He lives in Maple Grove.
BRAD: You need anything?
JOHNSON: No. You? (Johnson laughs)
BRAD: Went to Johnny K’s funeral today.
JOHNSON: Hell you say.
BRAD: He died.
JOHNSON: Hell you say. Sick?
BRAD: Must have been. He was older than us.
JOHNSON: Hell you say. He died?
BRAD: Yep. Buried him this afternoon.
JOHNSON: Sick then.
BRAD: Must have been.
JOHNSON: Hell you say. Cardinals playin’ tonight?
BRAD: I don’t know. They usually do.
JOHNSON: They’re better’n the Cubs.
BRAD: I guess so. Those new suspenders.
JOHNSON: I slapped her with ‘em. She bent over and I just went “pop” and you oughta heard her!
BRAD: Who?
JOHNSON: Richard’s little girl. She was here to see me.
BRAD: I think Richard’s still in New Jersey.
JOHNSON: Nope. Yesterday. Right after supper. You ever hear an old lady snore?
BRAD: I guess…maybe.
JOHNSON: Hell of a noise! All night long! You remember Dad’s buzz saw? That’s what she sounds like.
BRAD: Who?
JOHNSON: Who what?
BRAD: Who snores all night long?
JOHNSON: Lotsa people, I s’pect.
BRAD: You need anything?
JOHNSON: You?
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