|
"The
Bystander"
When you buy a gun do you become responsible to help your fellow man?
An
exerpt from
"The Bystander"
by
Earl Wettstein
....
QUICKLY THE FIGHT
TURNS INTO ABUSE. ANDY is forcing BARBARA, and she is fighting him hard.
They are face to face, he trys to kiss her, she resists savagely.
(CHARLIE looks back
at them again, stands, moves downstage fidgets, ponders)
BARBARA (Savage):You
bastard!
ANDY:I
told you I'd play rough!
BARBARA:Or?
ANDY:Or... you'll
be sorry.
BARBARA (daring him):Make
me sorry...
(ANDY INDICATES HE
HAS A GUN INSIDE HIS COAT)
ANDY (vicious):I've
got a gun here, you do as I say!
DORIS:Charlie,
he has a gun!
(CHARLIE moves downstage)
BARBARA (Savage):You
bastard!
ANDY (slaps her):I
told you I'd play rough!
(CHARLIE comes to
their bench, ready to interfere)
ANDY(Stands, pulls
BARB off bench):Come
on, I want you alone.
BARBARA (Resisting):No!
ANDY:You
gonna holler?
BARBARA (Struggles):Help!
(CHARLIE steps up
and grabs ANDY's shoulder)
( ANDY is surprised,
but not afraid of CHARLIE. ANDY, mad, releases BARBARA.)
CHARLIE (To BARBARA):You
okay?
BARBARA (To ANDY):You
bastard!
ANDY:This
is none of your business, buddy...
(CHARLIE says nothing,
sizes ANDY up)
BARBARA (To ANDY):You
get outa my life!!!
ANDY:We're
goin
CHARLIE:I
don't think she wants to...
ANDY (Pats gun inside
coat):Me and
my gun suggest you back off, asshole...
(CHARLIE takes a step
back)
CHARLIE (Shows bookbag,
BUT DOES NOT PULL A GUN OUT):I...I
have a gun in here! I don't think you really have one.
DORIS:I
think he has a gun, Charlie.
ANDY:I
have a gun, asshole.
CHARLIE (Hand inside
bookbag):You
show me yours.., and I'11 show you mine.
ANDY:Ha
ha ha, very funny. You have a damned book in there, that's all you got.
I'm tired of you and your face. Get out of here! Hear me?! Git! (ANDY
FINALLY PULLS OUT GUN)
(CHARLIE takes a step
back)
ANDY (POINTS GUN AT
CHARLIE):Back
off!
(CHARLIE stops, reaches
inside bookbag, pulls out a gun, Points it at ANDY)
ANDY:Well...what
have we here?
CHARLIE:Let
her go...
ANDY:I
didn't picture you to even own a gun...
CHARLIE:It's
legal.
ANDY:Oh,
so you got a permit, huh? Concealed weapon permit...
CHARLIE:Miss,
you can come over here by us...
ANDY:You
stay right here!
DORIS:You
can come over here with us, miss...
ANDY:You
don't look like a guy who'd have a gun. You look like you'd be afraid
of guns.
CHARLIE:I
am.
ANDY:Have
you ever fired it?
CHARLIE:When
I bought it. Down in their test range.
ANDY:I
think you're afraid to fire it.
CHARLIE:I
am.
ANDY:Well,
now you're in a hell of a pickle, pal.
CHARLIE:I
wish I didn't have the gun...
ANDY:You
woosie...
DORIS:You're
a brave man, Charlie.
CHARLIE:Before
I got it, I wouldn't have hesitated to stop you. But now...now I have
a gun...I know what could happen... I'm afraid.
ANDY (Contemptuous):Afraid?
CHARLIE:Afraid
of shooting you.
ANDY (RAISES GUN TOWARD
CHARLIE):Well,
I'm not afraid...
(CHARLIE quickly raises
his gun, and fires, killing ANDY)
BARBARA:Oh
|
