Ruby Moon by Matt Cameron

Author:Matt Cameron
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Currency Press
Published: 2013-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

SCENE SIX

SYLVIE takes a deep breath at the door to number four. The harsh sound of a brass door-knocker.

SONNY JIM: [calling] Who’s there?

SYLVIE: [calling] It’s Mrs Moon. Sylvie. From across the road.

A light switches on to reveal SONNY JIM, wearing an army jacket. He is propped up by a single crutch and points an air rifle at SYLVIE.

Is that loaded?

SONNY JIM: Give you two guesses.

SYLVIE: No?

SONNY JIM: What’s your second guess?

SYLVIE: Perhaps you could point it away…

SONNY JIM: Is it making you nervous, missus?

SYLVIE: Can you put it down please, James?

He lines up the rifle.

SONNY JIM: ‘In a world shot to hell, one man will stand alone to fight for freedom… In the land that time forgot, a hero will rise… In a city under siege, where was justice…? Right here.’

He makes the sound of a pump-action shotgun and ‘fires’. He then plays the victim, complete with slow motion and gruesome effects of the bullet’s impact. He falls to his knees, arms to the heavens.

‘No! It’s payback time.’

He makes the sound of machine-gun fire as he mows down the enemy. He stops as he feels SYLVIE’s gaze.

I don’t understand why more people aren’t interested in war.

SYLVIE: It doesn’t take many.

She gently takes the rifle and puts it down.

I hope you don’t mind me calling by, James.

SONNY JIM: My friends call me Sonny Jim.

SYLVIE: I never see you with your friends.

SONNY JIM: I keep to myself. Work on my models. Got a whole squadron hanging from the ceiling in my room.

SYLVIE: Did you serve?

SONNY JIM: Honourable discharge. Best years of my life. Taught me how to survive. You know the trouble with you civilians? You’re not simpatico with your surroundings. No awareness. Numb. can’t sense danger. [He looks out.] Look at all these backyards full of dogs doing what their owners should be capable of doing themselves.

SYLVIE: So why do you own a dog?

SONNY JIM: For the company. [Calling] At ease, Soldier! As you were! [He salutes.] I’m teaching him how to salute. He can put his paw up like this. [He demonstrates.] Soldier’s an attack dog. Highly trained. He wouldn’t lock his jaw on someone unless I gave a direct order. Loves children.

SYLVIE: He sounds delightful.

SONNY JIM: Everyone forgets that dogs are just people too.

SYLVIE: Why were you discharged, Sonny Jim? Was it your leg? Were you shot?

SONNY JIM: The dog bit me. Look, missus, I’ll save you having to ask. I don’t have anything further to offer regarding your loss. I don’t fraternise with minors so I didn’t know her.

SYLVIE: Don’t… diminish her.

SONNY JIM: She may have had a little crush on me. The uniform has that effect. Hence, I was aware of her presence prior to… well…

SYLVIE: You can say it.

SONNY JIM: Her abduction.

SYLVIE: Is that what you think happened?

SONNY JIM: I don’t want to upset you.

SYLVIE: I’m beyond that.

SONNY JIM: It does no good to say it.

SYLVIE: Say it.

SONNY JIM: Rape. Murder. Maybe not even in that order. I couldn’t live with myself if I was the father.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.