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New Play SUMMERTIME ICARUS Part1

© Selma Montgomery and Jon Blackstock

Silvester: [Crosses to him.] You got the boss standing out here and you're just loafin' around. You're not gonna keep this job that way.

James: [Cleaning one of the stalls.] This is as fast as I can go without running, and you said that was against. . .something or other.

Silvester: Don't think they haven't noticed your attitude. Bossman was just getting on to me about your attitude. I know you ain't all there, but everybody got problems. You better fix yours fast. You also better get this mess out of the hall 'fore the customers get back in. Fire you right on the spot for that. Right on the spot. [Exits upstage left.]

Dominique: [Walks up to the table and leans against the stalls.] Who was that guy? I mean, he owns something?

James: Me. He thought he owned me.

Dominique: I think he might have been right.

James: He didn't own me. I got wise to all that. He had just been there longer and knew whatever happened, they would fire me. But I figured all that out.

Dominique: You set him up.

James: Didn't have to. I found out what the customers wanted. More than a clean hall. They wanted to feel charitable.

Little Girl: [From off stage.] Cute little Charley. Ain't he sweet, Momma?

James: First, you have to understand the class system. On the bottom of the ladder, there's the chickens. They keep the mites and other insects from taking over. I won't tell you where they eat the mites.

Dominique: Thank you.

James: Then, there's the goats. They're just pets so that the owner can say this is an authentic, working barn. Just above the goats are the mules. They work in teams and carry the big carriages. At the top of the animal order, you see the horses. Two of them. They run the smaller, more expensive carriages. Barely above the horses, you see me.

Dominique: You sure?

James: I'm above them because I go home at night. They don't put tack on me.

Dominique: That's because if the animals got loose, they would find a better job.

James: At any rate, Silvester is just above me. Then there's the drivers. Then there's Loretta who cleans stalls, but she hired me. Then there's the Lance family.

Dominique: They own the place.

James: All I know is that they run it.

Dominique: So how does that explain everything?

James: Chicken Charley.

Dominique: Who?

[The Various Tourists and the Little Girl enter with Ben.]

Little Girl: Sweet little ole Charley. He so cute. Look at hee-yim.