Bang - Scene 7

Scene 7

Ste and Louise are locked in session.

LOUISE: How’s your social life?

STE: My calendar’s free, if that’s what you mean.

LOUISE: Friends, girlfriends, family time?

STE: I’m a loner.

Louise suppresses a laugh.

STE: What?

Her laughter increases

STE: No seriously, what?

LOUISE: It’s nothing " just " this isn’t very professional (more laughter)

STE: Well let me in on the joke Lulu!

LOUISE: You sound like such a f*****g d****e man.

STE: There’s therapeutic compassion for you.

LOUISE: Well listen to yourself! You spend all your time in here trying to get in my pants and you call yourself a loner? I’m sorry Ste. You’re a little pathetic.

STE: (Pause, then thoughtfully) Is this a method?

LOUISE: I’m sorry, I’m sorry... What?

STE: I see what you’re trying to do. Embarrassing me into letting my guard down, right? I’m on to you. You don’t fool me for a second.

LOUISE: No, really. It was just a momentary lapse in " you know. I’m sorry.

STE: You think I’m paying you to abuse me?

LOUISE: You’re not paying me at all.

STE: Somebody’s gotta be.

LOUISE: There you go, deflecting yourself off of my insecurities, you don’t even have enough balls to answer a simple question!

STE: Ask me again.

LOUISE: How’s your social life.

STE: It’s fine.

LOUISE: Fine?

STE: It’s okay. The usual I guess. Sit around, jam, talk s**t with Vinnie day in day out "

LOUISE: Vinnie?

STE: Eh, Vincent. Molloy.

LOUISE: Who’s that?

STE: A guy.

LOUISE: What guy?

STE: Just a guy! We grew up together. Our ma’s used to go to the discos together before we came along... Until we came along. He was born a month after me. Think his ma had him just to keep up with mine. Vin’s the type of guy that would eat a nest of hornets for you and never ask you why. He’s "

LOUISE: A friend?

STE: He’s just... there. We stuck, through laziness more than anything else.

LOUISE: You have no feeling towards him at all? No fondness, no compassion?

STE: It’s more a responsibility. He wouldn’t add up to much without me. My suicides, he always took them the hardest.

LOUISE: And yet you keep "

STE: What does it matter? He’d find someone else to leech onto. He’d have ma to himself then.

LOUISE: What?

STE: What?

LOUISE: What, what you said, what?

STE: I didn’t say anything.

LOUISE: Have you ever heard of the Oedipal Complex, Stephen?

STE: Sure. Kill your da, f**k your ma, right?

LOUISE: Close enough.

STE: But I don’t have a da.

LOUISE: Everybody has a da " father.

Ste shrugs

STE: I have Vin’s da. He was friends with my ma too you know. Sends me stuff now and then.

LOUISE: Why would he send you things?

STE: What are you trying to say?

LOUISE: It’s just a question Stephen "

STE: Can you blame him?

LOUISE: I really don’t know.

STE: He’s got a lazy-a*s f****r of a son who doesn’t even " he can’t even bring himself to " f**k it. That’s enough sharing for today.

LOUISE (knowing): Fine, fine. We’ll just sit in silence for a bit.

STE: Fine with me.

(A moments pause, before Ste’s frustration spills over)

STE: What kind of fucked up son doesn’t want any contact with his da whatsoever? I mean how much of a wet, watery, girlish, stupid retard do you have to be not to CRAVE 0

LOUISE: A father figure?

STE: Just something! You know?

LOUISE: He has you.

STE: Not for long.

LOUISE: Why do you say that?

STE: Something is going to happen! I-I can’t be expected  to... you can’t really trust me  to " Vinnie has a da!

LOUISE: And you don’t. And that tears you up inside.

STE: I don’t need anyone.

LOUISE: You’re pathetic.

STE: Suck this (his c**k, if you didn’t guess)

LOUISE pushes STE against the table, his back to the audience, suddenly on her knees with her hands clamped around his hips. Even from behind we can sense his fear. He struggles, she holds him.

LOUISE: You ready for it Ste? You f*****g ready for it?

STE: Please "

LOUISE: I thought not.

She releases him and moves across the room. He is horrified, stares at her aghast for a moment,exits.