Dead White Writer on the Floor by Drew Hayden Taylor

Author:Drew Hayden Taylor [Taylor, Drew Hayden]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Drama, Canadian Theatre, Aboriginal, First Nations, stereotypes, satire, comedy
ISBN: 978-1-77201-068-8
Publisher: Talonbooks
Published: 2016-02-16T16:00:00+00:00

Act Two

Lights come up to reveal the very same office where the dead white writer had been before. Time has passed but little has changed, except the people. Their clothing, speech, and mannerisms are now contemporary. The six companions are sitting in chairs, facing each other in a circle. They look uncomfortable. Some are smoking. They make small talk amongst themselves as they wait for somebody to get things started.

MIKE

Well, welcome, everybody, to our first meeting of the month. And wow, everybody’s here today. That is truly a good omen. Glad to have you all here, together again. So who wants to start? Huh, anybody? Floor’s open.

Again another uncomfortable pause. Finally BILL takes a deep breath, and stands up.

BILL

All right, I’ll get this freak show started. Hi, my name is Bill, and I’m an alcoholic.

EVERYBODY

Hello, Bill.

BILL

I haven’t drank in, oh I guess a coupla months now. I guess that’s pretty good, huh?

They all applaud him.

MIKE

And why did you drink, Bill?

BILL

Hell, for the simplest reason in the world …

JIM

A woman?

BILL

Hell no. Women are hardly simple, trust me. I drank to get drunk. Next question.

MIKE

Bill, why did you want to get drunk? There’s gotta be a deeper reason.

BILL

Pressure, I guess. You see, I’m under a hell of a lot of pressure at work. As you know, I run the Flaming Arrow Casino …

SALLY

Yeah, the one out by Highway 73. That’s a nice place.

BILL

Thanks. Wait till you see the renovations. The biggest air conditioning system in the province. And picture a huge medicine wheel over the roof of the casino, with all the lines made by laser beams.

JOHN

Isn’t that kinda sacrilegious?

BILL

Hell no. It’s all good. We got a write-up in Architecture Today. The style is called Nouveau Native. We even had the whole placed blessed by Mike here. Eh, Mike?

MIKE

Yeah, it took 143 braids of sweetgrass to smudge the place. That’s one big casino.

BILL

You know what they say … size matters.

He waits for a laugh that doesn’t come.

SALLY

Do you got bingo?

BILL

Bingo?! No, I don’t “got” bingo. That’s so rez.

FRED

Rez …? Res … residential school? Are you talking about residential schools? I went to one of those. I remember …

MIKE

We know, Fred. That’s why you’re here.

FRED

That’s why I’m here.

JOHN

You started drinking because of it.

FRED

I drink because of it.

MIKE

But not anymore.

FRED

But not anymore. That’s why I’m here.

FRED starts to cry.

BILL

Oh man, he’s starting to cry again. I hate it when he does this.

SALLY

Leave him alone.

MIKE

Fred. It’s okay. It’s me. Did you have another flashback?

FRED

They don’t go away. The memories. I can still see them. Smell them. It hurts, Mike. It hurts. Are you sure I don’t drink anymore? I sure could use one. It makes them go away.

MIKE

That doesn’t help, Fred. It only makes things worse. That’s why we’re all here. To support each other. Your friends are a much better crutch to lean on than drinking.

JIM

Me, I’m here for the donuts.

SALLY

Shut up, Jim.

MIKE

Fred, you know I’m your friend, right?

FRED

Yes. You’re my friend.

MIKE

I’m the one who helped you, remember? I got you into that treatment centre.

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