by Karen Sunde
them as she speaks–
Matu: (Voice)
In the beginning
darkness covered the face of the deep.
On the first day
God created the heavens and the earth.
On the second day, the winds—
blowing four ways—
from the north, came brave winter;
from the east, growth and spring;
from the south, summer rain;
from the west, the autumn's harvest.
On the third day God created the animals—
those with four legs, those with wings,
and those that slither.
And on the fourth day, God created human.
And God said to the animals
"Behold, human is weak and will die.
"Therefore I give you this charge—
you sun, moon and stars, you many waters,
you great beasts of the field, birds of the sky,
you plants on the earth and beneath it.
"You must care for human,
give her to eat, and comfort him.
For they are your little brothers."
So God was obeyed, and human grew
Until she and he became many,
and God called them The People;
and they lived in plentiful harmony
among their stronger brothers
at the foot of the mountain...
until the Others came—
those who killed without hunger,
those who took without need,
those who knew not
that land was given to share.
When the Others cut down the forest,
the four-legged brothers dwindled and disappeared.
And the Others built their town...
while the People outside grew thin and cold.
And starved.
And God was angry.
So the Others began to suffer,
while the People, long-living with sorrow,
grew stronger beside them.
(A stomping beat begins, distant, then slowly growing in volume)
For three winters the north wind did not send his snow,
and the forest grew dry,
and the ski trails were empty,
and the great lodges caught fire and burned...
while the town grew thin and cold.
And now the Others were hungry,
so they ranged the dead mountain,
climbing ever higher, toward the virgin top,
where neither the People nor the Others could venture
because of a gigantic bear.
And they called this bear Blood White,
for no hunter climbed into his haunts without harm.
Each one who tried either disappeared,
or raced his terror back down.
__________________________________
The Tavern.
The beat bursts into western music. Smoky, bright shafts. Barkeep-Ben, hunters, barmaid-Dove, wives.
Ben: You boys ready to climb?
Jimbo: You got it.
Ben: Stoking up?
Teddy: Where's Brad?
Jimbo: Got your gear, Teddy?
Teddy: We taking your pickup?
Jimbo: Hell yeah. Got killer four wheel drive.
Teddy: Anybody seen Brad?
Jimbo: Big Blood White's gonna eat lead.
Dove: Brad ain't been here. Not since last night.
Kat: (Sarcastic) And you'd know, wouldn't you Dove?
(Wives glare at Dove. Men rush to change subject)
Teddy: Well he's late.
Jimbo: Gonna mount Bloody's head smack over your bar, whaddaya say, Benny?
Dove: How you figure to get him, Jimbo?
Ben: You taking traps?
Jimbo: Mebbe.
Ben: Traps is dangerous. Get him snagged, can't more than scratch him. And then he's mad. Bloody'll trip your trap, then ambush your ass when you come back to check it. Old Ray got his skull smashed past identifying that way. Just one lazy swat from that bear. Gotta catch Ole Bloody unawares.
Dove: Use still hunting.
Ben: Track him. Kill a horse. Set out bait. Heard his tracks show a 14 inch foot.
Jimbo: Paw, not foot.
Dove: Pads, an arch, 6 inch claws...
Ben: That's a foot. Faye, honey, you letting your pretty boy go after that bear alone?
Faye: Can't stop him, Benny. Sure would if I could. He's got me scared outta my socks.
Ben: Aaah, fresh little bride like you, bet you've got something could stop him.
Kat: You kidding, Ben? These studs are hot after nothing but bear.
Jimbo: (Swatting Kat's behind) Wash your mouth out, squaw.
Kat: Hey!
Ben: Sure would be a coup. Blood White.
Jimbo: See him over your head already, Ben? Hanging there, fangs up for a snarl?
Ben: Sure would say who owned the mountain.
Teddy: Damn straight. Ain't the stinking Indians, ain't the EPA, ain't the damn government.
Faye: (Cuddling Teddy) You be careful of bear hugs dancing with Bloody.
Teddy: (Dancing with Faye) Naw, I'll tell Bloody I'm saving my hugs for someone sweeter.
Ben: CNN should of hung around for this.
Jimbo: Why? Fire's out. Party's over.
Kat: scraping through ashes after bear don’ t sell news
(Brad enters, with hiking pack loaded down with gear)
Kat: If it ain't your fearless leader.
Jimbo: Hey, Brad! Why so late? Lena on your case?
Kat: Start the party! Where's Lena?
Brad: Not coming.
Kat: What?
Brad: She's staying with Sally.
Teddy: Taking your .378, Brad?
Brad: Yup. And the pistol.
Kat: Want I should get her? I told her Suzy would sit.
Brad: Forget it, Kat.
Kat: Why. Is Sally worse?
Dove: (Squeezing his arm) I'll see you keep warm, Bradley.
Faye: You've took bear before, haven't you Brad? Teddy don't know nothing. He's just making up stories to scare me.
Kat: What's going on with Lena?
Brad: (Ignoring Kat) Ask yourself why the man's scaring you, Faye. Teddy wants you should give him respect.
Teddy: Yeah. A little effing respect.
Kat: (Insistent) Brad? What's up with Lena?
Brad: (Exasperated) I don't want her here!
(Uncomfortable pause. Ben breaks it, handing Brad a beer)
Ben: Anybody remind you boys it ain't bear season?
Brad: Hell with seasons. More sporting this way.
Dove: (Sliding her arm over his shoulder) Dance with me, Brad.
Jimbo: Seasons are crap. No game left anyway. 'Member the spring of ‘07? That was jumping.
Brad: Naw, it was already falling off. You just didn't see it till '09.
Teddy: We were still contracting. That was the first year with no snow. ‘Member all the talk about 'warming' trends. Hell, they can make snow for the trails.
Brad: Ain't the same. Don't keep fires away. Now we got desert.
Teddy: Even the hunters don't come.
Jimbo: Aw, we were getting hunted out before that. Had t’happen one way or t'other. Tripping over each other out there. Getting dangerous to step out of the pickup. All these holiday Crocketts with their shiny boots and mahogany butts don't know their ass from their bore hole.
Ben: Taking dogs?
Kat: Not on your life! Dogs after Blood White come back dead.
Brad: Dogs make noise. And you need your ear out. There's nothing so quiet on earth as a giant bear. Completely silent. You turn a corner – you look to your side – for no reason at all, you glance up...and there he is. A thousand pounds of him. You'll never, ever hear him come. On those big pad feet.
(Le
na's at the door, Jimbo sees her)
Jimbo: Hey, Lena! Get in here and cut a rug, Baby.
(Jimbo circles Lena round before grabbing Kat, and starting to dance. Brad straightens, barely believing she's there. Dove's arm slides off him. Lena and Brad face each other at a distance. There's big tension. She's carrying a small pack)
Faye: (Dancing with Teddy) Hi, Lena!
Jimbo: (Stepping between Brad and Lena, to both– ) ‘Member your first night here, Lena? You eyed Brad, he jumped. Then you two stole the dancing prize – wowed us all. Never saw a dude gal could hoof so wild.
(Brad hopes Lena's presence signals a truce; his spirits lift, he ambles toward her, opens his arms)
Brad: Will you...dance with me?
(Lena’s tension drops, remembering the past; she dances a few steps alone. They sway together. Brad reaches for her; she stops)
Lena: I brought you this. (Extending the pack toward him) You left it.
Brad: My food pack? Well, thanks. Is that why you came?
Lena: Yeah.
Brad: So I wouldn't starve?
Kat: What you drinking, Lena?
Lena: Nothing, Kat. Thanks.
Brad: That why you came? Or was it so I wouldn't miss my pack, and come back home?
Teddy: C'mon, Lena. Teach me them double figure eights.
Lena: Can't stay, Teddy.
Brad: You mean you won't.
Kat: Sure you can, Lena. Suz'll watch Sally.
Lena: (Going out the door) See you.
Brad: Sally's not gonna die the minute you live!
(Everyone shocked. Lena stops, and after a pause, says– )
Lena: That's not what this is about.
Brad: No? Then tell them. Tell your friends what you think.
Kat: C'mon, Lena. We all need a party.
Brad: Forget it, Kat. She calls this a stupid boys' game.
Jimbo: Whooh. You didn't say that, did you Babe?
Lena: What would you say? You're all out of work, out of luck. Are you looking for jobs? No. You're spending on booze, stuffing your kits with jerky, oiling up new gear– Telling yourselves you'll bring in a killer bear?!
Faye: But if they do, we've got bear stew to last the whole damned winter.
Jimbo: What I'd say, Lena Babe, is girls just don't understand.
Lena: You're gonna look real brave with your skull smashed, Jimbo.
Brad: Let the bitch go!
Kat: Bradley!!
Brad: Don't yell at me, Kat. She only dropped by to make sure I'm gone for good.
Kat: Don't talk dumb!
Brad: She gave me papers, Kat. (To Lena) Don't you walk away from this, woman. Your friends should know. I don't want them blaming me for what happens. She laid down the law, Kat. I'm forbidden to go on this hunt. How do you like that? And if I do go – I have to expect that she and Sally will not be waiting for me.
(Gasp – everyone's stunned. Lena faces him, awaiting a decision. Dove turns up music, begins to dance by herself)
Brad: Go home Lena! Get out of here.
(Lena turns, goes. Faye and Teddy are holding each other, watching. Jimbo holds Kat back from following Lena, and they dance. Brad strides across to grab Dove, and dance with her. Matu by her fire is spot-lit, while all dance, blend Indian drum)
Matu:
Matu’s my name, you hip-hopping drug-heads.
And I’ve sat by this fire long enough to know–
if you watch your back, and your dealing’s clean,
you ain’t got to fear no killer bear.
But when an old world’s dying,
its young are first to fall,
and when a new world’s being born,
its young will bloom before.
So keep an eye on your young.
Ben: (Checking clock) Ten till dawn's light, boys.
(The hunters pick up their gear. The women cluster, helping them. Everyone hugging and kissing. Brad's especially lusty with Dove. Goodbyes, with whoops)
Kat, Faye, Ben, Dove: Go get him, boys!!
Jimbo, Brad, Teddy: We're gettin' Bloody!!
(Hunters disappear, loud pickup sound. Women alone, waving and whooping. Excitement dies as pickup fades, but Faye and Dove still bounce, shivering in chill air)
Dove: Want another drink?
Faye: Not much sense going home. Sleepy, Kat?
Kat: Benny's closing.
Faye: We could go to my place. Don’t wanna go home alone.
Kat: Not to a cold bed, anyways. Think I'll stop by Lena's.
Dove: (Sarcastic) Oh, great.
Faye: She's gonna lose Brad, ain't she?
Kat: Shut up. Wanna come?
Faye: Sure, I'll come. You too, Dove?
Dove: 'Fraid it's not my cup.
Kat: It's all right. We're all girls here. Come on.
_________________________________
Lena’s home
Lena is sitting perfectly still, waiting. A knock. Excited, she rises, then stops, hearing Kat’s voice.
Kat: (Pounding again) Hey Lena! Let us in. It's cold out here.
Faye: I got a present for Sally, Lena.
Lena: (To herself) Oh God no.
Kat, Faye, Dove: Leeena!
(Lena moves to bar them,