Jimsonweed (1) THE CHARACTERS ATTIE DATURA INDIAN SHAMAN TAYLOR DATURA INDIAN YOUTH CINCI DATURA THE DEVIL DANNY INCA CAPTIVES DOCTOR ACE SOLANA INCA SOLDIERS DOCTOR STEINKY WEEDHEIM TRICK OR TREATERS THE GRANDMOTHER ICESKATERS YOUNG ATTIE SHAMAN YOUNG TAYLOR INDIAN YOUTHS YOUNG CINCI FATHER INOXIA THE ANGEL ELLEN ANDREWS JAMES ANDREWS JANET MERCER TOM MERCER DOCTOR RICHARDS NURSE CONNIE MATERNITY WARD NURSE EDNA JEAN DATURA DICK ANDREWS MR. CLIENT MR CLIENT’S WIFE DELIVERY ROOM DOCTOR DELIVERY ROOM NURSE MISS KELLY UNCLE ALBERT FLORENCE VIVIAN MISS MARTHA HAROLD CARROLERS ARCHEOLOGY STUDENT TOLOACHE YOUNG RICHARD CORESUS KING OF LYDIA MYSES THE PYTHIA PRIEST AKU CURAN ARKA KATHRYN TERESA DOUGLAS MARY ELIZABETH DALTON JANE ANN SIMMONS OFFICER JACKSON OFFICER BRIGHTON JAMESTOWN CHEF ACT ONE SCENE 1 An archaeological dig is being carried out in Southwestern New Mexico. A STUDENT is painfully going about the task of brushing earth from an object. STUDENT (excitedly) Dr. Solana! Dr. Solana. (Dr. SOLANA is a very athletic woman in her thirties She runs hurridly towards the STUDENT.) Dr. SOLANA Yes, what is it? STUDENT I’ve uncovered a statue! So far, it is the only artifact uncovered in the burial site. (Dr. SOLANA takes the statue from the STUDENT and uses a brush to brush off the remaining dust.) Dr. SOLANA (To herself) Strange. This is a statue of Toloache, the jimsonweed god. Used at this site as a god of sacrifice. I’ve never encountered this any-where else in my research. (The STUDENT takes the statue and holds it only for a moment.) STUDENT I don’t like the way it feels. It gives me the creeps. Dr. SOLANA (Smiles) Yes, you might be right. (Dr. SOLANA sits at a small table with an oillamp as the only light in the small tent. She examines the statue of Toloache. She measures it and writes the measurements in the site journal.) Strange, indeed. A statue of a jimsonweed god. The only artifact to be found in a burial site of fifty infants. (Suddenly, there is the sound of gunshots outside. There is a loud scream. Dr. SOLANA jumps up from her chair. The tent flap is thrown back suddenly and a ROBBER, carrying a shotgun enters the tent. The ROBBER’S face is covered with a bandanna. He is well dressed in a suit and coat and wears black gloves. The ROBBER points the shotgun directly at Dr. SOLANA. She raises her hands slowly.) So, I see we meet again, Dr. Steinky Weedheim. Dr. STEINKY WEEDHEIM Yes, Dr. Ace Solana, it seems to be that our paths have crossed yet again. Dr. SOLANA Even in such a remote and mountainous part of New Mexico. Just make yourself at home. Dr. STEINKY WEEDHEIM Thank you for your generous hospitality, but I am afraid that I won’t be stayinglong. My travel plans are made and by business associates expect me back East. (Dr. STEINKY WEEDHEIM picks up the Toloache Statue. He looks at it carefully.) Very, very valuable. Very old artifact. Dr. SOLANA Yes, it is. I beg you, do not take this statue. It is of an ancient Indian god, Toloache. This belongs to the Indian people. It is part of their heritage. Dr. STEINKY WEEDHEIM Yes, indeed very valuable. Dr. SOLANA And I believe there is more to that statue. I feel an unearthly power from it. Nothing good can come from possessing it. DOCTOR STEINKY WEEDHEIM Nonsense, you superstitious woman! And I took you for a scientist! (Dr. STEINKY WEEDHEIM grabs the Toloache statue.) DR. STEINKY WEEDHEIM But, I must say adieu’ Dr. Solana. (Dr. STEINKY WEEDHEIM rushes through the tent flap with the statue. We hear a strangled scream off stage. Dr. SOLANA rushes to the tent flap and looks out into the night! The stage is in blackness for a few moments. A light spotlights YOUNG ATTIE. She is a schoolgirl and reads from her school report on jimsonweed. YOUNG ATTIE Jimsonweed, a common name for a plant native to North America and now naturalized around the world. It is occasionally cultivated as an ornamental for its alka- loids. The plant is a large annual herb with conspicious white to purple tubular flowers up to four inches long and lare round, spiny fruits. The alkaloids, produced in the leaves, seeds, and other parts of the plant, are poisonous; ingestion can result in convulsions, coma and even death. Scientific classification: Jimsonweed belongs to the family Solanaceae. It is classified as Datura stramonium. (TOLOACHE, the jimsonweed god, enters stage right.He is dressed as a Native American Indian warrior. Though his dress is in various shades of green! The drums begin slow but become faster faster and faster! TOLOACHE dances an Indian warrior dance!) The stage is again in blackness for a few moments. A spotlight lights up this scene on stage before us. On stage an INCA CHIEF, AKU, stands beside a lovely WOMAN, CURAN. She weeps while several INCAN WARRIORS, on their knees, are being made to drink from a bowl. CURAN Please, please Chief Aku! YOUNG ATTIE (reading from her report) Datura had a number of uses among Indian tribes of the United States, as well as Mexico and South America. In fact, it is difficult to find a tribe that didn’t use a species of Datura from their region in one way or another. The hallucinogenic uses involved drinking an infusion made from the crushed roots or sometimes the crushed seeds fermented in water. Some aboriginal Indians in South America gave a Datura alcohol beverage to wives and slaves of dead warriors and chieftains. The powerful brew induced stupor before they were burried alive to accompany their dead husbands and masters on the long journey to heaven. The high priests of some tribes took Datura in order to communi- cate with spirits of the dead and with their gods. (YOUNG ATTIE exits left). AKU Your husband has perished in the battle. He died bravely. There, his slaves will accompany him to the afterlife. CURAN I beg you Chief Aku, Inca chief. Let me die and depart this life. I will loose honor! AKU It is my desire that you remain alive. You have much wealth from your father’s family to the north. I need such wealth. I have many wives, you will not be worked to hard! There are many children that you can tend. You will be useful! (CURAN’S young son, ARKA, is brought over to the MEN, being burried alive. A bowl is being offered him.) CURAN You cannot kill my son. I beg you. He is so dear to me (CURAN takes a beautiful broach from her dress and shows it to AKU. Here, let me pin it on your cloak for you. It is quite old and made of pure gold. AKU (Delighted with the gold broach) Yes, place it her on my cloak. (CURAN sticks him with the deadly broach, which has been dipped in a deadly datura potion.) What have you done, Curan? You have killed me with some potion! (CURAN runs over to the MEN being buried alive. She holds the broach towards the SOLDIERS and they back away. She moves towards her son ARKA She begins to drag him out of the dirt with the fallen men.) ARKA Mother! CURAN Arka, Arka, are you alive. I think that you will live. You did not drink enough to perish. Show the people that you are alive. They will follow you. You will be our great leader. A wise and just leader. Aku was foolish. He was not afraid of a woman. He was not afraid of a bruja’! SCENE 2 The storefront of ‘ATTIE DATURA’S OCCULT SHOP’, in Brooklyn, New York. The store window is decorated for Halloween. ATTIE DATURA is a woman in her forties. Presently, she is in the top of a tall tree in front of her occult shop. She clings precariously to the tree branch as she reaches for a cat. The cat meows at her. ATTIE (With some nervousness) Pete, this is the third time I’ve had to rescue you this year! I’m not getting any younger! (ATTIE looks down at DANNY, a little boy of eight waiting anxiously for her to rescue his cat.) DANNY (Yelling up at ATTIE) Attie, did ya get him? Pete, oh, Pete! ATTIE (Yelling back down) Danny, I’m working on it! Listen, Pete, you and I gotta talk about this. (ATTIE looks down and sees her sisters, two rather plump ladies, TAYLOR and CINCI, come out of the shop.) TAYLOR (Yelling up at ATTIE) Attie, Attie Datura, are you back up in that damned tree again? ATTIE (Yelling back down at TAYLOR.) Like hello! (Sweetly to Pete) Listen, Pete, this is dangerous. You could get stuck up here. God knows how long. And I could fall! I can’t keep on rescuing you! (The cat meows pathetically at ATTIE. She looks down at DANNY). TAYLOR A grown woman up a tree! CINCI That’s Attie! TAYLOR You realize sister, that she’s been this way all her natural life. CINCI Up a tree? TAYLOR All her natural life. Which is how she came by the gift. CINCI She came by the gift while up a tree? TAYLOR No! By falling out of one. Right on her head. Landed on little Yvonne Dicky, down our old street. And she ain’t been right since, either! CINCI (Clicking her tongue) Nothing good ever came from climbing trees. TAYLOR Or falling out of them. CINCI Amen, sister! TAYLOR Amen! ATTIE What could make an otherwise intelligent cat. Oh, I see. Pete, has Arnold, the bulldog, been chasing you again? (The cat begins to meow more enthusiastically.) OK Pete, tell you what I am going to do. We’ll make a deal. I’ll tell Danny to keep Arnold in the backyard from now on. So, he won’t be chasing you up this damned tree, and you won’t be needing me to rescue you any more. Thank God! Do we have a deal? (The cat leaps onto ATTIE. She has a terrified expression as she precariously holds onto the tree branch.) DANNY Yeah! (DANNY, TAYLOR and CINCI applaud. ATTIE hands DANNY the cat. DANNY accepts the rescued cat with relief in his voice.) DANNY Thanks, Attie! Pete, you bad cat! ATTIE Danny, I think Pete is really afraid of Arnold. Maybe you should keep Arnold in the yard from now on. DANNY Well. ATTIE Pete has promished never to climb any more trees and make poor Attie rescue him. (She whispers to Pete). Haven’t you Pete? (Pete meows softly to ATTIE, while ATTIE encourages DANNY to repeat after her.) ATTIE Say,‘Yes Attie, I’ll keep Arnold in the yard. (ATTIE and her sisters laugh. DANNY, holding onto Pete, exits stage right.) ATTIE Oh, Danny, I almost forgot, come back later for some candy. I made your favorite, candied apples. TAYLOR I swear Attie, you spoil that kid! ATTIE Yeah! Well. TAYLOR And what are you doing, a grown woman, up a tree. That’s not funny Attie. CINCI You mean, sister, that she could fall and kill herself! TAYLOR No, I mean, what if she fell on someone again! CINCI Who? TAYLOR It don’t have to be no who, fool. Why, anyone would do. And then where would she be? ATTIE Excuse me, but while I am lying on the ground here injured. CINCI That’s right, the poor fool she fell on, is flatter than a pancake for Sunday breakfast! Lord save us! TAYLOR Lord, indeed. ATTIE I refuse to listen to another word. I have no intention of climbing up that tree again and promise never to flatten a living soul! Pete gave me his word! TAYLOR and CINCI (Together) Pete? SCENE 3 The interior of ATTIE’S Occult Shop. It is evening. ATTIE’S Occult Shop is a small store fully supplied with occult inventory. There are bookstands filled to overflowing with books on every subject of the occult. There are stands with candles and large jars of herbs. There are posters with occult themes and art, such as: The Earth Is Our Mother, Treat Her With Respect, My Other Car is a Broom, My Karma Ran Over My Dogma, etc. There is a large display case of occult jewelry and crystals. ATTIE is dressed as a witch for Halloween. TAYLOR is dressed as a princess and CINCI is dressed in a very gaudy belly dancing outfit, which she is really too fat for. ATTIE and her sisters are enjoying candied apples which ATTIE has made for the Halloween TRICK OR TREATERS. ATTIE (Chomping on an apple) I love candied apples on Halloween! TAYLOR Me, too! Grandma used to make them for us when we were little on Halloween, remember? CINCI Yes, I do! And we would stuff ourselves, ‘till we were green! Well, this is my second. There goes my diet! ATTIE Oh, hush! This is Halloween. You can eat anything you want! TAYLOR Just start your diet tomorrow. That’s what I always do! ATTIE AND CINCI (Together) We know! CINCI (Picking up a shopping bag behind the counter. She shows off a very gaudy aerobic workout outfit). I have decided to finally get into shape! What do you think? ATTIE Isn’t that just a litte too much, just to work out in? CINCI I joined the gym down the street and I want to look nice. TAYLOR Isn’t that a co’ed gym? Men and women working out? ATTIE Why do you think she joined the gym? (Several TRICK OR TREATERS dressed in Halloween costumes, burst into the shop. They all wear masks. One TRICK OR TREATER taking off his mask, is DANNY!) DANNY (In a happy, loud voice), Trick or treats! ATTIE Danny! Oh, I love your costume. I would have never guessed it was you. You look so scarrry!) (ATTIE takes several candied apples from a tray on the counter and hands them out to DANNY and the TREATERS. The TREATERS take their treats and leave for a night of trick or treating.) ATTIE Bye,Danny, Happy Halloween! Have fun! DANNY (Yelling back to ATTIE) I will Attie! (DANNY exits.) ATTIE Don’t they look great? Remember all the fun we had on Halloween? TAYLOR Well, I remember that you used to soap people’s windows who didn’t give out candy. CINCI And you used to TP peoples trees if they ran out of candy. TAYLOR And there wasn’t a safe pumpkin on the street… ATTIE (With indignation) I never did! TAYLOR AND CINCI (together) Oh, yes you did! (ATTIE starts to protest, just as a SALESMAN enters the shop. He is well dressed in a suit. A hat nearly covers his face. He wears black gloves. He carries a small bag. He is the robber, Dr. STEINKY WEEDHEIM!) ATTIE Yes, may I help you Sir? Dr. STEINKY WEEDHEIM (Very cultured) Are you the owner of this shop? ATTIE Yes, yes, I am. What can I do for you? DR. STEINKY WEEDHEIM I wonder if I might be able to interest you in some of my wares. Some are quite exotic, quite authentic. I’ve collected many from the far reaches of the globe. (He places his small bag onto ATTIE’S counter.He takes out several small statues. He places a statue of TOLOACHE, the jimsonweed god, into her hands.) Now, this piece for instance, was found in New Mexico, the Southwestern part of these United States. Used in Native American Indian coming of age rites. And in some tribes, the jimsonweed god, Toloache, was the only god worshipped. TAYLOR (She moves towards the counter to look at the statue.) It is beautiful, strange. (She touches it and makes a face!) ATTIE (Uncomfortably) Well, I’m not sure it fits in with my usual shop inventory. Dr. STEINKY WEEDHEIM Nonsense, just the place for it! This shop deals with the occult, does it not? Candles, oils, herbs. Jimsonweed is an herb, is it not? This is the god. (TOLOACHE enters stage left. A low, Native American drumbeat is heard. He dances around ATTIE in a possessive and threatening dance!) Blackout The spotlight is on KING CROESUS OF LYDIA and his son, MYSES. The PYTHIA, THE DELPHI ORACLE, sits on a tripod before them. She holds a bowl, a mixture of datura seeds and water. The PYTHIA sits on a tripod before them. She raises the bowl in libation to the gods. (YOUNG ATTIE enters stage right. She reads from her report.) YOUNG ATTIE There are approximately 25 different species of Datura, jimsonweed, throughout the world, including Europe Afraica, Southeast Asia, Central and South America, Mexico and the United States. All general belong to the Night- shade Family (Solanaceae), along with the deadly night- shade (Solanum dulcamara), tomato (Lycopersicum escu- lentum), eggplant (Solanum melongena) and potato (S. tuberosum.) Many species of Solanum (called nightshades) are quite poisonous to humans if eaten raw. Incidentally, the new sprouts of potato tubers contain the toxic alka- loids solanine and solanidine. Until about a century ago, the tomato was thought to be poisonous because of its toxic relatives. (YOUNG ATTIE exits left.) CORESUS (To his son) Myses, Delphi is the seat of the most famous oracle in the world. It is the ‘omphalos’ or navel of our world. When Zeus let loose two eagles from opposite ends of the earth, the spot where they met was Delphi, the center. MYSES Father, who is the Pythia? CORESUS She is, as Apollo has dictated, a peasant woman fifty years or more, and has lead a blameless life. MYSES Then, how does she prophecy? CORESUS She drinks from the cup, sitting on the holy tripod. Apollow speaks through her. A priest will translate it into verse we can understand. MYSES Is he a good oracle, Father? Our question is so urgently important. CORESUS Oh, yes, indeed. Her reputation far exceeds the Oracle at Dodona! There, the Oracle answers questions by rustling the leaves of the sacred oak tree! For my money, I’ll take the Oracle at Delphi! MYSES Father, can the Pythia see into a man’s soul? Can she divine his heart? CORESUS Most definitely. Apollo has given her the sight. She knows a good honest heart from treachery. MYSES It frightens me. (To himself) I would keep my mind and heart private only unto myself. CORESUS What did you say, my son? I am distracted from the long journey here. How beautiful this place, the build- ings, the mountains, the sacred spring! MYSES Oh, nothing, just pondering. The Pythia will predict a long reign for you Father, won’t she? You’ll be Kind of Lydia a very long time. And you are a good king and rule wisely and are kind. Our people love you. CORESUS And when time, I will give to you your birthright. MYSES Father, how long, when? PRIEST Coresus of Lydia, the Pythia will hear you now! CORESUS and MYSES follow him and stand in front of the PYTHIA.) PYTHIA (Holding up a bowl as if in libation to the godsthe PYTHIA drinks from it. She holds her head back and laughs a crazy laugh.) Speak! Speak! CORESUS I speak to Apollo through the Pythia. I have a…. PYTHIA I know the number of the sands And the measure of the sea I understand the dumb And hear him who does not speak. (She looks at MESUS knowingly.) Ancient father oak with acorn shaded No green sprouts in this tender forest A mind’s eye, an eagle’s wing Can uproot the young and save The old. Coresus of Lydia, time and stone Mark our final hour Iron and Metal our life’s blood Honor cannot win For treachery’s skill! (CORESUS falls to his knees, shielding his face. His son, MYSES, remains standing in front of the PYTHIA.) PRIEST Coresus, do you wish me to translate? CORESUS No. I understand exactly. Treachery. My son! (MYSES holds a knife high to his father’s back.) CORESUS My acorn shaded, but most beloved, held dear always. Your brother, Atius, will rule in your stead. MYSES He succeeds me. I am living still. And feel the warm sun and wind on my face. CORESUS (Suddenly stabs his son, killing him.) No more not the sun, or wind or sea. Charon, the Ferry Man will take you now. He will ferry you over the River Styx. From the Land of the Living to the Land of the Dead. (CORESUS places gold coins in his son’s hand.) To pay the Ferry Man. Blackout SCENE 4 The Séance Chamber is a room adjacent to ATTIE’S OCCULT SHOP. The Séance Chamber is comfortably furnished. A dining room table, covered with a beautiful lace tablecloth is positioned in the center of the room. Two candles are lighted on the table and are the only light in the room. ATTIE sits across from a CLIENT and his WIFE. ATTIE is dressed in a simple white robe. EDGAR, a large, black raven, is perched on his stand. ATTIE Welcome. Welcome on this All Hallows Eve, when the veil of consciousness, which separates the land of the living from the land of the dead, is at its thinnest. In a word, tonight the spirits are churning! Let us take three deep breaths together, to clear our minds and chakras. Blessed be! (ATTIE leads the CLIENT and his WIFE in taking three deep breaths. ATTIE leans back in her chair, breathing deeply. She seems as if in a trance.) ATTIE I see that you have lost someone. Died recently. Much beloved! WIFE Yes! CLIENT Shussssh! ATTIE Yes. Yes. I feel their presence. (A spirit, UNCLE ALBERT, appears beside the WIFE. He smiles at her in a very condescending manner.He puffs on a cigar. He is dressed in a very expensive suit and hat. He wears a gold watch on a chain. He checks the time as if he is in a hurry. He taps his foot.) UNCLE ALBERT (Condescendingly) Well, well, who do we have here? My nephew, the schmuck and his wife. Rhymes with rich. ATTIE I’m getting a name. Uncle Archibald, Uncle Alexan- der (Opens one eye) Uncle Alfred, Uncle Alfonso. Come on, help me out here! WIFE (Excitedly) Uncle Albert! CLIENT Is that Uncle Albert? Dear Uncle Albert? (UNCLE ALBERT blows smoke rings in the CLIENT’S face.) UNCLE ALBERT (With pretended sweetness) Dear? Dear Uncle Albert? I’m touched. Nephew, you are such a schmuck! ATTIE Uncle Albert, is that you? Have you transcended the veil? On this night of All Hallows Eve? UNCLE ALBERT Transcended? Well, I’m here, Attie. And I have better things to do than talk to that schmuck of a nephew and that wife! Ah! ATTIE He’s here. He’s glad to see you both.
Copyright © 2002 Teresa Ann Salyer |