Sam Shepard: The god of hell: a play

HAYNES

: Oh, yes. Sure. I see.

EMMA

: I mean Frank never had any aspirations like that. He’s always been very content in the country. Farming. Animal husbandry, hybrid vigor. Stuff like that.

HAYNES

: Sure. I see what you mean. Hybrid vigor?

EMMA

: Whereas, you—you’re off working for the government, doing important research.

HAYNES

: I’m not in research. I’m not doing any research.

EMMA

: Oh—well, Frank told me—

HAYNES

: Frank was mistaken.

EMMA

: Oh. He told me he thought you were working for the government.

HAYNES

: No. I’m not.

EMMA

: Out there somewhere in a place called Rocky Buttes or something.

(HAYNES stands abruptly, knocking over the coffee .)

HAYNES

: Oh—I’m sorry. I’m just—

EMMA

: Don’t worry about it.

( She hurries to sink, gets a sponge, comes back, and cleans up mess . HAYNES just stands there .)

HAYNES

: I’m so sorry. I’ve been kind of shaky lately.

EMMA

: It’s all right. It’s probably all that static shock.

HAYNES

: Well, no—it’s not that so much. It’s just a whole accumulation of things.

EMMA

: (

cleaning up

) Well, don’t worry.

HAYNES

: Things piling up.

EMMA

: I understand.

HAYNES

: That’s why I thought it would be good to get away for a while. Come out here and—just get away.

EMMA

: Sure.

HAYNES

: I hope you don’t mind. I mean—

EMMA

: It’s fine. Really. Wisconsin is the perfect getaway. Nothing ever happens here. People have been coming here for a hundred years because nothing ever happens. Every once in a while someone falls through the ice or gets beheaded on their snowmobile, but other than that—

HAYNES

: Beheaded?

EMMA

: On their snowmobile. You know—going so darn fast they don’t see the barbed-wire fence and—(

draws a line across her neck

)

HAYNES

: Oh—I’m very sorry about the spill. Is it going to ruin the sofa?

EMMA

: Oh, don’t worry about that. It’s beyond ruin. It’s seen way worse than coffee spills. Premature calves. Afterbirth. Blood all over the place. You can’t wreck it. More coffee?

HAYNES

: Yes—well, no—well, yes, I guess I will. Yes.

EMMA

: That’s a yes?

HAYNES

: Yes. Thanks.

EMMA

: Good.

( She gets him another cup of coffee. Pause .)

HAYNES

: How long have you lived out here? You and Frank?

EMMA

: Well, I’ve lived here all my life.

HAYNES

: Oh—a native? I didn’t know that.

EMMA

: Yes. I was born in this house, as a matter of fact. Right in this room. Right on the spot you’re standing, actually.

HAYNES

: Oh—

( He looks down at floor and quickly jumps away from spot he’s standing on .)

EMMA

: That’s all right. It’s not sacred or anything.

HAYNES

: That’s amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like that.

EMMA

: Like what?

HAYNES

: Well, you know—born and raised in the same house, still living in the same place. Same spot—

EMMA

: There’s a few of us left.

( She returns to watering .)

HAYNES

:That’s amazing.

EMMA

: It’s funny what different people find amazing.

HAYNES

: Aren’t you afraid of drowning those plants?

EMMA

: I’m not afraid of anything.

HAYNES

: (

short pause

) No, but I mean—some plants don’t like to be sitting in water all the time. The roots—

EMMA

: It’s the winters.

HAYNES

: Sorry?

EMMA

: The winters, out here.

HAYNES

: Oh—

EMMA

: They cause behavior like this. You have no idea. You get into these habits. These trains of thought. If I—if I didn’t water like this, I wouldn’t know what to

do with myself. There would be a horrible gap. I might fall in.

HAYNES

: I see.

EMMA

: I suppose you never have this problem in your line of work. Everything must be so exciting all the time. Out there in the West—

HAYNES

: Well, not really.

EMMA

: No? All that danger? The uncertainty?

HAYNES

: Danger?

EMMA

: Yes. The torture! I mean, I couldn’t believe that part of it.

HAYNES

: Torture? Look—I don’t know what Frank’s been telling you, but—

EMMA

: Oh, I know it’s all top secret and you’re not allowed to talk about it.

HAYNES

: Talk about what?

EMMA

: Rocky Buttes—all that stuff.

(HAYNES stands again very abruptly, upset .)

HAYNES

: Stop saying that over and over again! Like it’s some kind of code or something!

EMMA

: I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—

HAYNES

:Frank wasn’t even supposed to mention it!

EMMA

: I’m very sorry.

HAYNES

: I wouldn’t even have come out here if I’d known he was going to blab it all over the place!

EMMA

: Blab? He didn’t blab. Frank’s not a blabber.

HAYNES

: He blabbed to you!

EMMA

: I’m his wife!

HAYNES

: It’s still blabbing! A breach of trust!

(HAYNES suddenly gets ahold of himself and stops. Pause . EMMA somewhat shocked by the outburst .)

I’m—sorry.

EMMA

: You must be under a great deal of stress, Mr. Haynes.

HAYNES

: Yes. I’m very sorry. I—I should just go back down in the basement.

EMMA

: There’s no need for that.

HAYNES

: I don’t mean to—something’s—happening to me.

EMMA

: What is it? Would you like me to—

HAYNES

: No!

EMMA

: I could call a doctor.

HAYNES

: No, I’m fine!

EMMA

: Those blue flashes—that’s not normal, Mr. Haynes. I mean, I’ve had static shock before—

HAYNES

: That’s what it is! Static shock! Severe static shock! Why don’t you believe me?

EMMA

: I do believe you.

HAYNES

: No, you don’t! You just told me it wasn’t normal.

EMMA

: Well, it’s not normal to have lightning flashes coming out of your body, is it?

HAYNES

: It’s not lightning, it’s static shock!!

EMMA

: All right, all right! Golly.

( Pause .)

HAYNES

: I’ll just go back down in the basement until Frank comes up. I never should have left the basement in the first place.

(HAYNES heads for basement . EMMA stops him .)

EMMA

: No, please. Don’t go back down in the basement. There’s no windows down there. No air. I feel like such a bad hostess.

HAYNES

: No, not at all. It’s not you, it’s me. I just need to be alone for a while. Please—

(HAYNES tries to go past EMMA to get to the basement. She grabs his elbow, trying to stop him, and another bright blue flash comes from HAYNES. EMMA steps back quickly .)

Don’t keep touching me!

EMMA

: I’m sorry. I just—I’m very sorry. Jeepers.

HAYNES

: I never should have come here!

EMMA

: No, please—please—it’s so nice to have some company for a change. We never see anyone out here. Me and Frank. The mailman now and then. The propane delivery truck. The driver. They wave to us from the road. We wave back. But we never talk to anyone.

HAYNES

: Don’t you have some neighbors?

EMMA

: They never come out. It’s too cold.

HAYNES

: How ’bout summer?

EMMA

: Summer they stay in the air-conditioning.