AQUILLA:AquillaQuick-Manning.YoucancallmeCaptain,ma’am.Iwasapiratecaptainattheageofeleven.Kidnappedattheageofseven,Iwasacabinboyfordreadpirates.InthebreathlessthrillofyouthIledamutinyagainstanunusuallycruelcaptain.Inthesamebreath,IfellinlovewithawhoreontheislandsofBaratariaBay.Shemadeagiftofthesehereguitarstrings,pureandundefiledsilver.Now,youcanlaydownwithawhore,butyoudon’tdarefallinlovewithher.AZRA:(interjecting)Somefoolbunk,here.AQUILLA:Iawokeinherbedonemorningtoaplatoonofprivateersandmarauderswiththeirgunspointedatmythroatandmyhandstiedbehindmyback.COTTON:That’sanasininestoryandIdon’tbelieveonewordofit.AQUILLA:Thatright?COTTON:Ifit’sright,it’sasoft,protectedthingyoudid.Don’tknowmuchabouttheworld.AQUILLA:Well.Iwasaboy.COTTON:That’sright.AQUILLA:Youcallingmealiar?COTTON:Aliarorafool.AQUILLA:Asyoulikeit,Isuppose.COTTON:Ido.AQUILLA:Thewhooperupsandfreshcome-upsain'tgotnothingonyourhollerupsYourhollerdownsorprettyfrownsorragged,wet,andslinkinggownsInchbyinch,andsliverbysliver,risefromtheriverSkinnyasdeathandtightassilverfishgillsNotadaybehindhertime,theslimeoffthewatergripupherlegsAndblowmedown.AQUILLA:

TheLadykinggotanitchinforherfixinButherCorporalain'tgoodfornothingbuttricksandKnowingthis,andshowingfissures,sheentersthedankembankmentoftheDealer.TheDealerdealsinmealsforhisassociate,Mealsforthevitiatedmindtodevouranddestroyallsoul'sprettyspiderwebsTheDealerdealsincanalsandentryways,andexitwaysIntributariesandtribunalfairiesandblackandwhitespidersTheladykingwidesupherbigyellowgobandswallowsspiderbyspiderTheyitchherveins,tickleupanddownherbloodcanalsAndallthewhitehorses,alltheprettyhorsesAllthewhitehorsescannotcomesaveyounow.BlackspidersfollowwhitespidersandthroughyourveinsYourcoldandhelplessbody,foodforeachaoneAndthosewretchedsoulswhomightfeeduponperversionKickherthroughtothenextworldWheresheain'tnoqueenandsheain'tnoladyandshedon'tgiveadamnforlifeorsoulorpithForalltheskilamalinkcheaters'nakedcheatingWagerallforthegas-pipesandthehalf-ratsandmeater-nancynarkingTheladykingisdeadTheladykingisdeadTheladykingisdeadCOTTON:Youhatetheladyking.AQUILLA:Idon'thatetheladyking.COTTON:Youdelightinherdemise,andtheransackofherhelplessbody.AQUILLA:Idon'thatetheladyking.Shejustdon'tknowherplaceinlife,reckonsshecanplayuponusall.COTTON:Idon'tknowthatyouknowyourself.AQUILLA:Thatright?COTTON:That’sright.Doalotofdrinkin,don’tyou.AQUILLA:Rebelbent.COTTON:Ain’tnorebellion.Youdrinkinwhattheysellin.Who’stheladyking?

AQUILLA:Thereain'tnoladyking.COTTON:Idon'tbelieveinyou.AQUILLA:Didn'tever,anddon'tever,haveaneedofthat.COTTON:Asyoulikeit.AQUILLA:Howyoulikeit?COTTON:Ido.Well.ThewordsispoetrybutIcan’tabidethemeaning.AQUILLA:Youcan’tabide.COTTON:It’spuremalice.AQUILLA:It’srancor,butsatirical.Purehopstashmorelikeit.COTTON:LastIcheckedwitandrancorain’texactlyoilandwater.Singanotherone.AQUILLA:Yes,ma’am.AQUILLA:SheriseabovetheanglesandthecockbullcollieshanglesDanceherframeattheendofthefrayAndattheendoftheday,whenherlimpshapeshapedupItshapedupgoodandevenwithnolimplumpunplacedUnfazedfortheglazeofherdeadeyeslook'ponnothinButnogentrenthisgarmentoveradeadeyeoracoldheartWelookforematanyrateamongthewalkingontheearthAndawitch'stitgithardandunyieldingattheendofthedayAttheendofthefrayButIdriveuntoher,Idriveuntoherwithmymind'seyesStillwetandwanton,wetandwantingToandfro,backandbehindSwanghercolddeadbody,andmyweteyesfollowitbackandbehindBackandbehindandtoandforthAndfrontandaheadandforthandbehindWhileshedanglesandittanglesattheendofthefrayAndthisone?COTTON:What’sthemeaning?AQUILLA:TheexecutionofEdithThompson.

COTTON:Comeagain?AQUILLA:Thewomanhangedforconspiracyafterherloverkilledherhusband.*I’mashamedtosayIsawherhanged…Irememberwhatafinefiguresheshowedagainsttheskyasshehunginthemistyrain,andhowthetightblacksilkgownsetoffhershapeasshewheeledhalf-roundandback.*(quotationfromThomasHardy,ontheexecutionofMarthaBrownein1856)COTTON:Youthinkonyourself,Aquilla.EnterAquillaasAzraexits,heandCottonfacingagainsteachotherliketwocowboysreadytoduel.Apause.AQUILLA:Oh,pardonme.Hestartstoleave.COTTON:Youafearedofme,Quilla?AQUILLA:Who?COTTON:You.AQUILLA:Whatmakesyousaythat?COTTON:Ain’tyou?AQUILLA:It'slikely.ShouldIbe?COTTON:Likely.Ain’tgotsuchprettyeyesasyourbrother.AQUILLA:Well,thatain’t…whatpeoplesay.You'remarryinghim?COTTON:Iam.Apause.AQUILLA:Allright.COTTON:Whatofit?

AQUILLA:Notmuch.COTTON:Whatofit?AQUILLA:Isaidnotmuch.COTTON:Iknowwhatyousaid.AQUILLA:Well?COTTON:Where'syourswagger,Quilla?AQUILLA:Myswagger...Iknowwhatyoumean.You'retalkingsodirect,you'rekeepingmeoff-balance.Ifeeldizzy.COTTON:Mightbethedrink.AQUILLA:Mightbe.Well--Apause.COTTON:Inoticeyounoticingme.Apause.COTTON:IsaidInoticeyounoticingme.AQUILLA:Thatright?COTTON:Yousweetonme?AQUILLA:Asyoulikeit.COTTON:Ido.AQUILLA:How'sthat?COTTON:Youheardme.AQUILLA:Isaidhow'sthat?I'mdizzy,goddamnit.COTTON:Youcertainlyare.Butcircumstancesbeinwhattheyare.AQUILLA:Circumstances.Don'tgiveaspitfornocircumstances.Neverdid.COTTON:Maybeyoudon'tbutIain'tsounchained.

AQUILLA:Thatright?Youdon'tseemchainedbynothing.COTTON:Thankyou.AQUILLA:Youdon'tbarelyknowme.COTTON:Youallheatwhenyouain'tdousinyourselfwithbourbon.Iknowthat,least.AQUILLA:Sowhatthen?COTTON:Sonothing.Sewbuttons.AQUILLA:Woman,don'tdothistome.