What's Really Going On? VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

OTHER FAN ART JO “Thriller”. Clever. As she talks, she advances on James, cornering him. JO I trusted you, James. You were my lawyer. I brought you around my children, my mother. Then you go on Larry King and CNN with your filthy lies...I trusted you! JAMES See? At least documentary filmmaker lady gets it. How do you like the outfit? There’s all kind of crap in these boxes. She kicks over boxes, furious KIKI I don’t like it. I don’t like any of this. (she gets into her coat) I need some air. She leaves, upset JAMES I...I didn’t mean half that stuff. DR. BENNIE Wait. I’ll go with you. JO Then why did you say it? Kiki and Dr. Bennie leave JAMES I...I don’t know. ‘Cause I thought it was funny? JO It wasn’t. JAMES Well, that’s it. No will and another waste of time. Let’s get this mess back down to the basement. JAMES I’m sorry. He starts packing up boxes; Jo calmly locks the door JO Too late. JO You sure talk a lot of trash about him, you know that? JAMES Hey, look. Bennie’s got some stuff out in the car. JAMES So what? His own family talks about him. Jo scoffs JO You talk trash, but have the nerve to break into his house and- JAMES Come on. A couple hundred cc’s of sleep juice and you’ll feel much better. It’ll be just like old times. JAMES Whoa! Legally, it’s my house. Legally, I own everything from the train station to the monkey cages. JO These are new times, James. Better times. JO Oh, please. You’re trespassing and you know it. I’ve seen you on T.V. You don’t think that hurts? Pause From outside, KiKi screams JAMES Are you- are you going to kill me? JAMES What the hell was that? Jo giggles; from outside, Kiki yells “Oh, my God!” Jo ignores him JAMES What’s going on out there? JAMES Look, we can get them in the morning. Let’s get out of here. JO They must have found your body. I begged you to stay with me, but you went anyway. You slipped and fell and your poor head was cracked wide open. Blood everywhere. Jo tenderly runs her fingers over the windowsills and walls. JO This place was so magical. Would you believe, that after all this, the only thing I wanted was someone to talk to? It’s true. Someone to talk to and a real friend. James sits, realizing his fate. Jo takes the fedora from him, puts it on. JO So, how about it, James? One last show? For old times’ sake? James looks confused. James whimpers, shakes his head frantically. JO Sh’mon, James. You didn’t think you’d get away with this, did you? JO No? Come on. I promise it’ll be “dangerous”. Dangerous and really, really... JAMES You’re messing with me. She snaps her fingers. JO (mimicking James) “He’s had so much surgery, he went from a black man to a white woman.” Stage Black. JO Bad. James realizes what’s happening and bolts for the door, it’s locked. Jo patiently waits for him to stop struggling END JAMES I’m not the only one. What about Bennie? © 2009 Kay Poiro 28

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