Mean Gene
June 30, 2007
Scene 6
(bus station, night)
GENE
(through ticket window)
So it’s on the way? You’re sure? Another half-hour. Tops.
Whose fucking world is this? Whose world? Sent the checks. Never missed a check. Nothing. No pictures. No Christmas cards. My fault the bitch OD’ed? Good. Die like that. I admit it Carmen, one tough cripple junky whore you were. Tough as hell. Love of my life.
No pictures. No team photos. The kid did little league, didn’t he? Jesus. The kid’s gotta be a real prize. Getting high, fucking cheerleaders. Lucky shit. He’s gotta be a real prize.
(picks up payphone)
Yeah Tinker. Jesus. Place sounds packed. Yeah. Listen Tink. He’s late. How should I fucking know? The bus I guess. Another half hour they tell me. Sorry. I know. Hell, you’re an old pro. You keep the tips. Okay? You keep them. Just bring it home for me tonight Tink. Do me this favor will you?
No. I got a mattress. One of those inflatable things. With the electric motor. Yeah. Well it will be goddamn good enough for him. Little fucking Lord Fauntleroy. I bet he don’t even have a winter coat.
Sure sure. That’s real nice. Take him downtown day after tomorrow. That’s big of you Tink. Big shot. Shopping downtown with bigshot uncle Tinker. I’m just busting balls.
Yeah I’m gonna take care of the kid. We go down to the state building next week. Hell. They own my ass. Surprised they aren’t here to welcome the little sonofabitch themselves.
Hey Tink. That lake with dad? It was Round Lake, right? Forget it. You were too little anyway. Sure. Take care of business. Thanks Tinker. You keep the jar. You keep it all.
Hurry up you little shit.
(lights dim)
A Poor Man’s Heart Break
June 27, 2007
Mean Gene
June 25, 2007
Lieutenant? Really? When the fuck did that happen? Tinker never told me. Hey that’s great Tommy. That’s really great. I can’t see you behind a desk. A bigshot lieutenant. Guess that meant the end of your moonlighting, am I right? Hey, don’t get all humorless on me Tom. Come on, I’m just clowning. Just playing around.
But we did do some damage back in the day didn’t we? Whoa. Sorry, Tom. Sorry. What, you think I work for Internal Affairs or something? Bad joke. I wasn’t using my head. No. No. I just meant you did right by me enough. Knowing when to look and when not too.
Forget it. Hell. It’s done. It’s done and I’m an asshole. Sorry. I just wanted you to know I appreciate. I appreciate. Never again. On the old man Tommy. Never again. Sure. Stop in for one sometime.
(lights dim)
Mean Gene
June 22, 2007
Scene 5
(Pequod’s, morning)
GENE
(asleep at bar, wakes, finds note)
(reading)
Clean out grease traps. Pull mats and bleach. Flush taps. Rotate bottled stock.
Fuck you.
(dials phone)
Thomas Finn please. Yo Tom. It’s Geno. From Division. From Pequod’s. Yeah. Yeah! You ain’t an easy cop to find Tommy boy. You didn’t get none of my messages?
Hell no. Been out almost two years now. Working back at the bar. Tinker’s bitch. Decent. Getting by. Yeah. Yeah. A little place above the spic shop, on Pulaski. Cheap. Cheap is good. Carmen? I could give a shit. Abso-fucking-lutely not. Vampire bitch. Back in Arizona according to the pricks from child support.
No, honest to Christ Tom, this is my sole source of income. This is it. I’m a straight arrow Tom. Why, you got a job in mind? That was a joke officer. Believe me, a joke. So how come I never seen you around? You must have heard I was out. I’m hurt Tommy, I’m slighted.
Mean Gene
June 21, 2007
Scene 4
(payphone, day)
GENE
Hey Tink brother. It’s Geno. Yeah, listen, yeah. Look. I’m off parole. No numbshit. I mean it’s over. I mean I made it. Good news, right? Because I can work for you now. I can be on the premises.
Don’t be like that. You said a hundred times. A hundred times. I’ll do good Tink. It’s with you, it’s gonna be good right? Hell, keep me in back. I won’t leave the kitchen. I’ll sweep. I’ll mop. I’ll scrub the fucking shitters with a toothbrush. C’mon Tink. Day after tomorrow? Hell yes. Hell, I’ll get there early.
Hey Tink. Remember that lake? The one the old man took us to? Up in Michigan, yeah. What was the name of that lake? Big Round, right? Round something. Round lake? Shit. Used bamboo poles for crissakes. Bluegill. Bass. Remember? His goddamn cigars. Kept the mosquitoes away, yeah. Shit. A million years ago. A million years. Round Lake, right? Fuck it. You’re busy. See you day after tomorrow.
(lights dim)
A Moan for Art’s Sake
June 20, 2007
Mean Gene
June 19, 2007
Don’t be such a prick Tink. C’mon. What? You had no problem giving my whore ex a couple hundred. She made good on that loan and quick, am I right?
Then let me work it off. I don’t know. I’ll move kegs and mop the kitchen. Whatever the fuck. You don’t have to tell them Tink.
How could they take your liquor license? That’s bullshit Tink. You know Finn could fix that in ten seconds. Sure I’m still tight with him. Welcome to the real world little brother. You know that’s how things get done.
Since when did you get so goddamn honest? A real businessman. Sorry mister goddamn Eagle Scout. I’m asking for a favor Tinker. You got no idea what a shithole this place is. So now you’re a priest or something? Listen up pal, your ass isn’t exactly pure as Ivory soap. Right?
I could have named names easy Tinker. I could have had your fucking two-bit bar nailed up in a second. All those regulars. All that fucking business on the weekend? Yeah, they came for the fucking draft specials and chicken wings. Dream on you ungrateful prick.
Yeah, well fuck you too buddy boy. No, really. Shove it right up your ass. Thicker than water. Go fuck yourself.
(lights dim)
Mean Gene
June 13, 2007
(mocking) Have you thought about why you’re so angry?
I thought about it lady. That’s all I fucking think about. You won’t let my brother hire me. I gotta suck ass for bullshit. I’m in a house full of niggers and faggot junkies. That might have a little something to do with it. Minor leaguers. Instant mashed potatoes. Kool-aid. Vote for a fucking TV show.
Five hundred from Tinker, make a quick buy and turn it before sunrise. That would put things right for a few months. Soft as silk. Five hundred is all.
(goes to payphone)
Yo Tink. Yeah. Of course I’m at the house. No, another interview this afternoon. Some warehouse. No. The guy. He’s a friend of a friend of my PO. Sure. A reference. I appreciate that. Yeah. We’ll see. Hey, listen Tink. What’s a chance—
No. Hell no. Just to soften things up a little. Just to get comfy. This fucking place Tink. It’s worsen county. Buncha creeps. You gotta padlock your room from the outside. No shit. Anything that ain’t nailed down. So maybe. Tinker, hear me out.
Mean Gene
June 11, 2007
Scene 3
(halfway house, night)
GENE
Goddamn week. Busting balls. Actively seeking. Actively seeking. Fuck you I’m actively seeking. I need some special skill to move a pile of shit from one corner to another? Little fuck. I drove a goddamn forklift when he was jagging off to the goddamn swimsuit issue. You don’t know a fucking thing about anything. Fucking forklifts.
Put me back on the street tonight. I’d have three thousand by morning. Shirt and tie. Shine your fucking shoes. Pure bullshit. This place. Christ, a bunch of minor leaguers.
Mean Gene
June 10, 2007
Scene 2
(Years earlier, train platform, payphone, evening)
GENE
Yeah. Tinker kid, it’s Gene. Free as a bird Tink. Free as a bird. That brass band you hired, they musta gone to the wrong station. So it’s Tuesday, right? About 4:30. You’re probably at the distributors or something. I figured you’d be here.
I’ll catch the bus and meet you at Adorno’s then. Just in case. We’ll have that dinner. Veal chops and that good whiskey. So I’ll head there on the bus. Should be there in about a half hour or so. I’ll call you from there if I don’t see you.
Maybe we meet up later or fuck it, just rain-check right? I know you’re busy. I’ll head that way, just in case. See you there. If you get this just leave word if you’re gonna show. I’ll wait. It’ll be great to see you Tink. Like old times. Lots of laughs. We’re overdue kid. At the bar Tink, alright? See you. See you soon I hope.
(lights dim)
