THE INVISIBLE MAN

A play by Arthur Yorinks

loosely based on the novel by H.G. Wells

FOURTH DRAFT

Rev. 4

Yorinks Theater Group

Copyright 2009 Arthur Yorinks

2.

THE INVISIBLE MAN

A play by Arthur Yorinks

Loosely based on the novel by H.G. Wells

FOR WNYC OCTOBER 2009 PERFORMANCES:

AUDIENCE IS FACING THE WINDOWS OF THE PERFORMANCE SPACE

IN FRONT IS A PLATFORM WITH A SIMPLE COT

THIS IS THE BED OF THE INVISIBLE MAN

[THROUGHOUT THE PLAY, WE SEE ONLY HIM AND HIS SUITCASE

THE OTHER ACTORS ARE PLACED IN THE HOUSE, BEHIND THE AUDIENCE]

AS THE AUDIENCE ENTERS THE HOUSE:

WE HEAR THE FOLLOWING (MIXED):

SFX - A CITY WASH

CITY WASH FADES OUT AS

MUSICIAN ENTERS/ACTORS ENTER

OPENING MUSIC THEME, THEN

SFX - WIND

SFX - CITY WASH QUIETLY FADES UP AND UNDER

INTO THIS MOMENT, LIKE A HOWL:

SFX - SCHOOL BUS

SFX - SCHOOL BUS DOORS OPEN/WIND

FROM INSIDE BUS

3.

DRIVER(with disdain)

C'mon. Get out! Can't keep this door open,it's freezing.

DOUBLE OTell me something I don't already know, driver.

DRIVERJust get up and move Double O.

(slight pause)And you-with the bandages; get up!

DOUBLE OHey, don't you have some dog waitin' for youto beat up? Leave the guy alone. He's new.

(to the INVISIBLE MAN)C'mon, young fella.

(under his breath)This bus is colder than a witch's tit--

FRANKSomebody's gonna trip on that guy's suitcase--

DOUBLE OIt'll likely be you, Frank.

FRANKDon't you go gettin' in my face now.

DOUBLE OI'm seventy-one and I could take you in mysleep--

FRANKI'm sixty-two and sleepin's all you'll bedoing if you start that nonsense.

DRIVERYou'll be sleeping in the street if you don'tget your asses off this bus.

DOUBLE O(back to the INVISIBLEMAN)

C'mon now, fella--it's warm in the building. I'll help you up.

4.

FRANKIf he be carryin' that suitcase all over town,he don't need no help. Let's go, let's moveit.

(to BILLY)Billy, you comin'?

BILLYYeah, Frank, I just can't find somethin' -

FRANKMan, you'd be lookin' for your head if youdidn't have that giant neck attached to it --

BILLYI can't help it if I'm tall.

FRANKTall! You're a damn--what's that damn treecalled?

DRIVERAll right, that's it. I'm taking off in twoseconds..

BILLYOkay, okay, I found my glove. C'mon, Frank.

FRANKI'm right behind you.

DRIVER(an aside, as a whisper)

Listen, Frank, be careful.

FRANKCareful's my middle name. See you tomorrownow -

SFX - BUS DOOR CLOSES; BUS LEAVES

INVISIBLE MAN MOVES TO BED AS WINDOW SHADES COME DOWN

SFX - WIND

MUSIC BRIDGE, THEN...

WE ARE INSIDE A BUILDING OF FAITH

5.

ALL MEN(general mumbling ascharacters areentering)

SOFIEHello, gentlemen. Cold enough out there?

FRANKSofie...It's so cold out there, man, I couldcry.

BILLYFrank, if you started to cry, they wouldn'tbe no tears..they'd be icicles.

SOFIEI hear you.

BILLYHi Sofie.

SOFIEHello, there. Welcome, welcome.

DOUBLE OHello, young lady.

SOFIENow, Omar, you know I ain't no young lady.

FRANKYou watch out, O, she's a policewoman on theside.

BILLYI wouldn't mind being arrested by you, Sofie.

SOFIEOh, yes you would now. You might be a bigman, but I would take you down.

DOUBLE OThat's what Billy's hoping for.

ALL MEN(laughing reaction)

FRANKYou better watch it, O, Sofie don't messaround.

6.

DOUBLE OYou got that right, Red.

SOFIEYeah, I don't want to break these gorgeousnails...but I will take you out, if you knowwhat I mean.

FRANKHe knows.

PAMUh, excuse me--

(pause)..Sofie?

SOFIEOh, hello. Are you Pam? From Columbia?

PAMYes, hi. Nice to meet you.

SOFIEWelcome, welcome. Come in..I'll get you setup in a minute.

(to the men)Pay attention gentlemen. This here nice,very nice lady, is Pam and she's from ColumbiaUniversity. She's a volunteer and she's hereto learn the ropes. Just so you know, she'salso going to be the sleepover tonight.

FRANKHey Pam. First thing to know around here isthat your cell phone damn - won't - work, soyou might as well put it away. No signalsdown here. You've got to go clear upstairsand outside to hear anything.

SOFIEThat's Frank.

PAMHi Frank. Nice to meet you.

FRANKLikewise.

DOUBLE OWelcome, welcome. I'm Omar. But you cancall me Double O.

7.

SOFIEPam, lesson one is the fourteen names youhave to learn. Everybody around here has atleast three each.

BILLYI just got two, Sofie.

SOFIEThat's not what I heard, Billy. Tabasco. Bigfoot.

PAMHi Billy.

BILLYHi Pam.

FRANKYou're sharp, Sofie.

SOFIEI just float like a butterfly--

DOUBLE OAnd sting like a bee.

SOFIEFellas, you got that right.

(to Pam)Pam, come on, sit down.

PAMSofie, is there anything I can do to help?

DOUBLE OYou can take off your coat, for one thing,young lady.

PAMOh, sure.

SOFIEPut it right here on a chair. It gets awfulhot in here, even in the dead of winter - nowindows and all.

(to FRANK)Frank, did you crack that back door over there?

8.

FRANKYeah, but the outer door to the courtyard isclosed. They told us we have to keep it closedfor security. So there's just ain't no airin here.

SOFIE(to FRANK)

I hear ya. We're supposed to get some newfans, but they didn't come in yet. This one'son its last legs.

(back to PAM)Here, Pam. I'll take your coat.

PAMThank you.

SOFIESo, first things first. When you come in,Frank will most likely be here. He usuallycomes in early on his own and he sets up thetables. For table cloths, we use the sheetsin the closet over there...the plates andjuice and other stuff--Frank will take careof that.

PAMOkay. Do I open up the beds?

SOFIENo, the guys do that themselves. If they'vebeen here for more than a week, they can keeptheir stuff in the overhead bins. Most ofthese guys are regulars--except that gentlemanover there, in the corner.

PAMIs he all right?

SOFIEYou mean the bandages? I've seen it all aroundhere. One guy used to come here with threepairs of pants on. That guy over there seemsto keep to himself. He's on some kind ofmedication for whatever...may be a burnthing...I was told he was in some kind offire --

(MORE)

9.

SOFIE (CONT'D)(calling out to themen)

Now listen up gentlemen. Do not forget thattomorrow is laundry day. This may be a shelter,but it's your home for now..you know what I'msaying. Now take those plastic bags and makesure all the dirty linen is put away and outin the hall.

DOUBLE OYes, ma'am.

SOFIEOn Mondays, they all get chores to do.

PAMWho assigns them?

SOFIEThe Monday volunteer. They pretty much haveit down. It usually changes when a guy getsa place. Like Frank, he's leaving next week.

PAMYou're moving, Frank?

FRANKYes I am. Not a minute too soon.

PAMThat's great. Where are you going?

FRANKI got me a really nice place in Staten Island.

SOFIEWay out there - in the burbs.

FRANKNo, it's not too bad. There's a bus rightthere, at the ferry, on the other side. Andthe stop, where I get off, is just across thestreet from the building.

SOFIEBut don't you have to come all the way uptownfor the doctor?

PAMAre you sick, Frank?

10.

FRANKYou might say that. I've got all kinds ofthings. I'm a diabetic, my liver is shot,have to have a transplant, something's upwith my heart -

PAMOh, I'm sorry -

BILLYYou should be dead already, right Frank?

PAMBilly!

BILLYOh, he don't mind. We're best friends, aren'twe Frank?

FRANKNow, why are you telling her that?

BILLYI visited you in the hospital last week; andI took you out for donuts.

FRANKYes, indeed you did, Billy.

PAMI'm sorry Frank, that you're having so manyproblems.

FRANKNo, hey, God still keeps me alive, that's allthat matters. I'm doing all right - I'm takingit okay..I'm on the list for a liver transplantand that's how I got me the place in StatenIsland, anyway. The doctors, see, wrote methis note, over to the folks at the drop incenter, that someone had to find me a placequick, otherwise the doctors said they won'tdo no operation - see - and then I'd be atthe bottom of the transplant list again, andI don't think I could make it. I've been onthe streets for three years now -- I mean,this was the only way to do it.

PAMWhat do you mean, Frank?

11.

FRANKListen, I'm on disability, you see. I got mesome money...I worked like a dog for twentyseven years -- but it did a number on my back--

PAMWhat kind of work did you do?

FRANKHauling; picking up garbage. Private company. We did all the commercial places in the cityhere. Yeah, the trucks was out of Jersey,but we went all over. Yeah, I worked, raisedkids and everything, but then I just had it. I gave everything I had til I was busted..Ican't afford no big rent..I got nowhere togo, see, and the way it works is that if youain't cuckoo or nothing, you've got to find away to get into the system. I mean, I ain'tnever going back to them city shelters.

DOUBLE ONot unless you want to leave in a pine box.

FRANKIt's rough in them places, let me tell you. You got gangs and all sorts of shit going ondown there. That's right.

DOUBLE OYou close one eye in those places, they robyou blind. They'd take your eye out, if theycould.

BILLYThat what happened to you, Double O?

DOUBLE OYou mean this? No, I got into a fight longtime ago. Lost the eye then.

FRANKSo, there ain't no place to go except thestreets. Or you get into the system. I wentinto intake at the center over by 26th Street. I slept in those chairs in the drop in centerfor six months before getting a church bed,like this one --damn near broke my legs,sleeping in them chairs-- but I did thesystem.. I did what I had to do to get me

(MORE)

12.

FRANK (CONT'D)where I am, and now, Lord protect me, I'llhave my own roof over my head -

SOFIEYou'll have those fish you keep talking about--

FRANKYes, I will - first thing I'm going to do -

SOFIE(to PAM)

Frank wants a fish tank in his new place.

PAMOh, I had fish once..it was just a littletank. Neon fish, I think they were called.

FRANKYeah, I heard of them. Me? I'm getting meone of those big jobs - a big tank - have mea catfish--yeah, a tank big enough for acatfish. Remind me of growing up -

PAMWhere was that?

FRANKI grew up on a farm, down in Georgia..yeah,I've been working since I'm a little kid..theyhad me picking sweet potatoes out of the groundbefore I even went to school.

DOUBLE OSpeaking of sweet potatoes, it must be timefor dinner or something - where's Billy, hein the shower?

FRANKYeah.

SOFIEAll right, gentlemen, I'll go grab your dinner.It's only the four of you?

FRANKFour of us for now -

SOFIEOh, yeah, I see on the manifest.

13.

FRANKDon is coming OT.

PAMSofie, what's O-T?

SOFIE(to PAM)

OT means own transportation.

PAMThey come on their own, not the bus?

SOFIEYeah, if they work or have some kind of meetingor whatever, they can come on their own. Don's at an AA meeting. He gets here around11, which is the latest anyone can come intothe building. The guard upstairs leaves at9. Now the guys are not allowed anywhere excepton this floor. Not upstairs, not the sanctuary --Who's ever supposed to be here--all theirnames are here in this manifest. And, here,take a look--this little manual will give youthe whole story.

(to BILLY)Billy, how's the shower? Is the hot waterworking?

BILLYNo, it's still cold. I think the handle isbroken or somethin'. I ain't had a hot showerin a while here.

SOFIEAll right now, we'll get someone on it.

BILLYOh, Sofie, I forgot to tell you somethin'.

SOFIEWhat's up, Billy?

BILLYThe faucet in the sink - in the bathroom,it's still not working.

SOFIEYou mean the shower.

14.

BILLYNo, I mean yeah, the shower handle is busted,but the faucet in the sink is loose orsomethin'. If you leave the door to thebathroom open, you can hear it drippin' allnight. And the door don't stay closed unlessit's locked from the inside.

SOFIEAll right...I'll get Robert in to fix it. Orone of the other maintenance guys.

BILLYOkay, I'm glad I remembered.

FRANKYou need a towel, O? I got two.

DOUBLE OThank you, thank you.

BILLYYou making your meatballs tonight, Sofie?

SOFIEI might be, Billy. But, whatever it is, it'sgonna be good.

FRANKYou can bet on that.

DOUBLE OI'm so hungry, I'd eat a horse.

FRANKYou're always hungry, O.

DOUBLE OI'm a growing boy.

SOFIEYeah, growing sideways.

BILLYOh, Sofie, you're so mean.

SOFIEAnd you love it...All right, I'm going downto get your food. Pam, the kitchen'sdownstairs, one flight down. I'll be up in afew minutes. You just make yourself at home.

15.

SLIGHT PAUSE

FRANKYes, sir, that Omar likes to eat, I can tellyou that.

DOUBLE OBut I've kept my stylish figure, Red.

BILLYHey, Frank, how come he always calls you Red?

FRANKOn account of my blazin' red hair. You ain'tseen many black men with red hair like this.

BILLYBut you don't have no hair.

FRANKYou ain't seein' it now, but when it was,man, it was--

DOUBLE OHe had a head of hair like you once had amouth full of teeth.

BILLYI don't have no teeth now, except these--

DOUBLE OThen I guess you won't be needing thattoothbrush kit.

FRANKAw c'mon, O, that's Billy's.

BILLYIt's all right, Frank...I got another oneanyway.

(to PAM)You see, Pam, I liked cookies when I was akid.

DOUBLE OI still like 'em. That make me a kid?

FRANKThat makes you a damn cookie monster.

16.

DOUBLE OI just keep my own stash. You all can havewhatever you want.

FRANKI'm just pulling on your chain, O.

DOUBLE OYou can pull all you want, but I ain'tflushing.

FRANKYou are somethin'.

DOUBLE OI am what I am, Red. Just like Popeye.

FRANKOh, man.

BILLYWhen I was little, Pam, I used to eat a lotof candy and cookies. My uncle had a store,see, and he'd bring back some stuff. And mymother used to say that if I didn't share Icouldn't have none. But, I didn't want toshare with nobody so I'd hide the stuff undermy bed, and I didn't tell nobody I had anythingso I didn't have to share. And late at nightI'd eat it all by myself. But then, my teethfell out.

FRANKI bet you share now.

BILLYI do, Frank. You know that.

(slight pause - thenloud)

Hey - what's...(stops himself, thenin a whisper)

What's that guy's name with the bandages?

DOUBLE O(under his breath)

Griffin, or something like that.

17.

BILLY(calling out)

Hey, Griffin--You must be broilin'...I'llhelp you off with that coat, if you want--

INVISIBLE MAN(interrupting)

Don't touch me!(slight pause)

You stupid man.

DOUBLE OHere we go.

FRANKHey, don't you go calling anyone--

INVISIBLE MANI'll call him, or you, whatever I please.

FRANKLook, mister, I don't know what happened toyou, but you mess with me and you'll needmore than bandages to keep you in one piece.

BILLYLeave him alone, Frank, he don't mean nothing.

INVISIBLE MANI don't mean nothing...that's right. I don'tmean nothing. I don't mean nothing! Ha! I'm not even here! You stupid man, you stupidman!

DOUBLE OAll right now--

BILLYFrank, he don't mean nothing...c'mon --

FRANKLook, mister, you stay over there with yoursuitcase and bottles--

BILLYFrank, it's his medicine-

FRANKI don't care what it is or what he's doing orwhat happened, just stay out of my face.

18.

DOUBLE OLook, I don't care if you beat his brains in,but quiet down...I'm about to do some prayershere -

BILLYDouble O, is that book the...what do you callit?

DOUBLE OKoran?

BILLYOh, yeah, that's right.

DOUBLE OSo let's have a little peace and quiet aroundhere, if you kindly, so I can--

BILLYWhat's that other book?

DOUBLE OWhat? This one?

BILLYYeah, on your bed?

DOUBLE OOh, that's the Torah..that young fella, theother day, you know, Anna's husband -

BILLYWho?

FRANKThe woman who runs this place!

BILLYOh, yeah, sure.

SFX - CART ROLLING IN

DOUBLE OI asked him a few weeks ago for it. He broughtit over. I'm doing double duty studying bothbooks...nobody realizes this, cause no onewas around to see them, but did you know thefirst Jews were black men?

19.

SOFIEDinner is served. Take your seats, gentlemen.

BILLYSofie, something smells good.

SOFIEC'mon guys, sit down -

FRANKHave something to eat, Pam. Sofie knows howto cook.

SOFIEYes I do, because I had three mouths to feed,not including my husband -

PAMYour kids eat a lot?

SOFIEThey did--they're all grown now, and out ofthe house having babies of their own.

FRANKCan you believe she's a grandmother?

SOFIEFrank, Frank, Frank. You know we don't talkabout age around here.

(to PAM)But I do have a daughter who's almost forty.

FRANKAlmost - what do you mean, almost?

SOFIEShe's thirty-eight.

FRANKI'll bet she don't like you calling her 'almostforty' -

SOFIEShe has no choice in the matter. Frank, youknow no one tells me what to say -

FRANKWhoo-boy, you're out there, Sofie, --

20.

BILLYPass the juice, O -

DOUBLE OCertainly -

FRANKYour husband might have a thing or two to say -

SOFIEI keep him in line.

DOUBLE OShe has handcuffs - and I bet she uses 'em.

SOFIEYou got that right -

(slight pause)You know I'm just kidding around--right?

SLIGHT PAUSE

SOFIE (CONT'D)Take a plate, Pam. Help yourself.

BILLY(with his mouth full)

You make the best meatballs, Sofie. I meanit. I've eaten a lot of meatballs in my life,and these are the best.

SOFIEThank you, thank you.

FRANKThis sauce reminds me of Leatha's down overin Foxworth.

BILLYIt ain't over there no more.

FRANKYes, it is, Billy.

BILLYNo, Frank, I'm telling you, I have a cousindown there and it's moved to Hattiesburg.

FRANKThe Bar-B-Q-Inn? We talking about the sameone?

21.

BILLYYeah. Leatha's still there, I think. I thinkshe's still alive. I don't know. They surehave some great sauce.

FRANKSweet.

BILLYNice and sweet. Though I like hot sauce,too.

SOFIE(slight pause)

So, Pam, what are you majoring in?

PAMReligious studies.

FRANKYou hear that, O?

DOUBLE OI hear. Okay, young lady, so I have a questionfor you.

SOFIE(to INVISIBLE MAN)

Griffin - come have something to eat -

INVISIBLE MAN(in a soft voice)

No. No, thank you.

SOFIEIt's gonna be gone before you know it.

FRANKIf he don't want it, let him be.

DOUBLE OPam? Is that your name?

PAMYes, that's me.

DOUBLE OSo, Pam, did man create gods or did God createman?

22.

FRANKWell, according to who?

DOUBLE OIt's a simple question...

BILLYI don't think there's an answer -

PAMIf you go back to the text -

DOUBLE OIt's all in the book. You see, man did creategods, and I said gods, not God--all thespirits, fire, water, and all of that, butGod created man. It's all about seeing - wecouldn't see things so we created beings torepresent what we couldn't see. Even if theywere false gods.

PAMBut were they false gods because man createdthem or because they weren't the one God?

FRANKShe's got your number, O.

BILLYDoes anybody know how to play dominoes? Someone left a bag of dominoes here.

FRANKI ain't never learned that game.

DOUBLE OThe images of god were false because how couldone describe what one can't see?

SOFIEBilly, you need socks?

BILLYYes, ma'am. And I could use a t shirt, ifyou have one?

SOFIEThere's a pile of clothes back in the hallfrom the clothing drive...I'll take a lookfor you.

23.

INVISIBLE MAN(from his corner ofthe room)

One liter - two milliliters - pigment - applycurrent - one liter, two, apply current, seven -

(repeats)

BILLYI need some gloves, too -

SOFIEWhat's Griffin rattling about?

FRANKHe's off - don't pay no attention. He did itall day at the drop in center.

PAMBut Omar, if you can't see something, doesthat mean it isn't there?

DOUBLE OIt's a matter of faith, young lady. But faithhas to be in the right place - there shall beno false gods -

PAMBut..who's to determine the truth?

DOUBLE OThou shall not speak the Lord's name in vain. We all come from the same limb -

BILLYCan you pass the hot sauce, Frank?

FRANKYou must have a stomach made of iron, myfriend..with all that sauce you pour on.

BILLYI pay for it during the night, Frank, don'tget me wrong. But I can't eat nothing withoutthis hot stuff -

PAMWho's to say whether faith is misplaced? Anddon't we usually ignore what we can't see?

24.

SOFIEThere's more sauce in the closet over there,Billy. But you better watch it, you can getan ulcer from all that spicy stuff.

BILLYI once had a hot pepper, in some Chinese place,that made me sweat. I was sweating like apig, the water was pouring down my face somuch that the waiters were coming around tosee if I was okay. I mean they were reallyworried, but I couldn't stop eating the pepper. I mean, it was so hot, like smoke must'vebeen coming out of my ears..but I like it. It's just the way I am.

INVISIBLE MAN(louder now)

The elements of refraction, one point five,the essential phase was to place thetransparent object whose refractive index wasto be lowered between two radiating centersof vibration -- apply current - not enough -

DOUBLE OYou see, Pam, they were punished for creatingfalse idols -

PAMYou mean the brother of Moses?

DOUBLE OBut tell me what did Moses see on the mount? Was it a vision, or did he actually see God? Can the Lord be seen?

SOFIEBilly, there's a sweatshirt, here, but I don'tthink it will fit you.

FRANKI'll take it, I could use one -

SOFIEIt's got a hood -

INVISIBLE MANRobbed him, had to, couldn't finish withoutmoney, needed to, but he found out, one liter,two, seven point three - he found out, so Ihad to kill my father -

25.

PAMIf Moses didn't really see or hear anything,then did he create his own image of God?

INVISIBLE MANBit of wool fabric was first; soft and white;it was the strangest thing to watch it fade,like a wreath of smoke and vanish -

DOUBLE ODid his faith create the image or did theimage create his faith?

INVISIBLE MANI put my hand into the emptiness and therewas the object as solid as ever. I felt it,awkwardly, and threw it to the floor.

DOUBLE OI'll have some of those cookies overthere...and I'll save some for later.

SOFIEYou know who brought them for you? That niceold lady who comes by on Tuesdays...

INVISIBLE MANI gave the cat butter, to get her to wash herpaws and taste the liquid...but the drugsdidn't work-- pigment, one liter, two -- hadthe cat clamped down - hours -

FRANKShe's nice, that old woman.

INVISIBLE MANIt was an old woman from downstairs - thoughtI was dissecting - cat meowing, howling. Then, suddenly, I looked at the cat and sawnothing but eyes, shining green, nothing aroundthem..wanted to put the cat out the window, Icouldn't take the sound, the sound of herhowling... but she bolted..wouldn't becaught...she vanished...

BILLYI haven't seen her. I thought she died orsomething. She sure makes good cookies.

DOUBLE OMoses smashed the first tablets.

26.

PAMWeren't there those who accused Moses ofthinking he was God?

INVISIBLE MANHeaven knows why - I fell to my chair. Ibegan thinking of my father's funeral again,and the dismal windy hillside - sleeping washopeless -

DOUBLE OThey accused him - falsely.

INVISIBLE MANIt was a sunny day in January. There wassomeone rapping at my door. It was my landlordwith threats. An old Polish Jew. He stoodthere. Accused me of tormenting a cat. Whatwas I doing? He asked. Was it legal? Whywas I alone and secretive?

PAMNo one else was with him on the mountaintop. Who was to know? Who was to know what he sawor heard?

INVISIBLE MANMy temper gave way. I told him to get out. He began to protest, to say he had a right tocome in; I had him by the collar; somethingripped and he went spinning into the hallway. I slammed and locked the door and sat downquivering.

SOFIEDon't forget to fill up the cabinet with thesupplies that came in, Frank.

FRANKThese guys have to learn to keep those shelvesorganized. I mean, I come here and have toclean up after these guys. I'm telling youI'm not going to do it.

BILLYI help you, Frank.

INVISIBLE MANI had barely fifty dollars left in the world.

(MORE)

27.

INVISIBLE MAN (CONT'D)It was irresistible...it was all done thatevening and night..I took the very formula, Idrank it... and under the influence of thosedrugs, I remained. Suddenly, there was aknocking at the door. It stopped. Footstepswent away. And then came back. More knocking. A blue paper pushed under the door. Eviction. I opened the door and in doing so the burnerdropped to the floor. I started to go towardthe burner, to pick it up, but just then thelandlord looked at me and gave out some sortof inarticulate cry - my face -- he staredinto my face and ran -

FRANKWell, I'm gone, brother. I'll soon be gone.

INVISIBLE MANI hadn't expected the suffering. The intensepain. But still, I ran. In agony I ran, asthe house was now in flames. I ran into thenight. A night of racking anguish, sickness,fainting. My skin in flames, as was thebuilding. I knew now why the cat had howled. I sobbed and groaned, but I stuck to it.

PAMWhy do you think Moses wasn't allowed to reachthe promised land?

INVISIBLE MANI became insensible...and then woke languidin the darkness. The pain had passed. Ithought I was killing myself - but I didn'tcare.

DOUBLE OSame reason as I won't reach it.

FRANKYou won't reach nothing cause you're just anold fool, my friend.

DOUBLE OI'm a spring chicken compared to Moses. Hewas a hundred something.

(tiny pause)I'm a sexy senior citizen.

28.

BILLYI like that, Double O.

INVISIBLE MANI won't forget that dawn and the strange horrorof seeing that my hands had become as cloudedglass, and watching them grow clearer andthinner as the day went by, until at last Icould see the sickly brick wall of the charredbuilding through my transparent eyelids. Mylimbs became glassy, the bones and arteriesfaded, vanished, and the little white nerveswent last. Only the dead tips of thefingernails remained, pallid and white...

PAMAfter all those years, to be left behind.

INVISIBLE MANI was gone.

SILENCE

SFX - WATER DRIPS

FRANKYou want any more of the salad?

BILLYI'm done, Frank. I'm stuffed.

SOFIEThere's not much left of anything. But makea plate for Don, he might want something whenhe comes in.

FRANKAll right. And the rest of this, I'm wrappingup and taking downstairs to the kitchen.

PAMI can do that for you, Frank.

SOFIEThat's all right, Pam. It's Frank's job. Hetakes the food down, does the dishes, and inthe morning he'll bring up some fruit andthings for breakfast.

BILLYWhat's the movie, O?

29.

DOUBLE OWhat do you want to see? You know I got prettymuch of everything. Iron Man 2?

PAMBut that's not even out yet, is it?

DOUBLE OI have my ways, young lady.

BILLYI don't want to see none of that horror stuffyou usually put on.

DOUBLE OCan you push the tv over, Frank?

FRANKYeah, one minute. You know, one day you gotto learn how to turn this thing on yourself,O.

DOUBLE OToo many remotes.

FRANKNone of 'em work, O, I told you that. There'sno batteries in 'em. You just have to get upoff your ass and turn the tv on and then theplayer. You sit two feet away from it anyway.

SOFIEAround now, Pam, if you weren't here already,a sleepover volunteer would come by. And thesetup person hands them the keys. So, here,you can take 'em now.

PAMAnd Sofie, where do I sleep?

SOFIEThere's a pullout in the ladies lounge justdown the hall. You close the door and youpretty much don't hear nothing. These fellas,they watch movies til all hours. But youwon't hear anything.

PAMIs that okay? I mean, for them to watch aslong as they want?

30.

SOFIEThey're supposed to have lights out around11, but they're all grown ups. They knowwhat they have to do.

FRANK(announcing)

All right there's two more meatballs left-

SOFIEYou saved some for Don?

FRANKI already made up his plate. Any takers?

DOUBLE OYeah, I'll make a sandwich for tomorrow--

FRANKYou want it on this bread?

DOUBLE OLooks good to me. I'm not fussy.

FRANKI'll make it up for you.

DOUBLE OYou're a gentleman, and a scholar.

FRANKI'm a sucker, that's what I am. But it's allright. I ain't going to be around here muchlonger.

DOUBLE OThank you, thank you.

FRANKHere, it's in this tin foil here.

DOUBLE OYou put a few-

FRANKCookies? Man, you and your cookies. Yeah, Istuck the rest of 'em in that little bag.

SOFIEHere's a couple of t shirts for you, Billy. I found another. Anyone need a dress shirt?

31.

DOUBLE OMe, me..what size is it?

SOFIEI think it has your name on it, Omar.

DOUBLE OThank you, thank you. Beautiful. Got anyjackets back there.

SOFIENo, sorry. We might have some on Monday. Ithink there's someone gonna drop off somegood coats.

BILLYI hope they are big ones. Nothing's ever inmy size.

FRANKI'm going downstairs now, and don't go messingwith those shelves in the cabinet. I've gotto restock them when I come up.

BILLYI'll keep an eye out, Frank.

FRANKYou'll keep no such thing Billy, you're comingdown to help me with the pots and pans.

BILLYBut, Frank -

FRANKDon't 'but Frank' me! You get off your assand help me.

SOFIEThey're all done, Frank. Don't worry aboutit.

FRANKYou see that, now Sofie's doing it. Billy,man, don't you feel bad.

BILLYI don't feel bad, Frank. You know I hatedoing that.

32.

FRANKOh, man, I can't take you guys no more. It'sa good thing I'm taking the ferry boat out ofhere...

(trails off as heleaves the room)

I ain't be sorry for one second that I won'tsee your sorry asses no more...

SOFIESo, what's it going to be, O?

DOUBLE OLet's see, I got Dark Knight -

BILLYOh, we've seen that ten times -

DOUBLE ORocky Balboa -

SOFIEWhat?

BILLYOh, that's a new one, I think.

SOFIENew one? Are you jokin'? That guy's seventyyears old, if not a day.

BILLYNo, he ain't that old, Sofie.

SOFIEI'm not looking at no grandpa in the ring.

BILLYNo, he's like fifty or something. He's ingood shape.

SOFIEHe's in good shape like Fatty Arbuckle.

BILLYWho?

DOUBLE OOh, that's cold.

33.

BILLYWho's Fatty ...who?

DOUBLE OA silent film star.

BILLYBut why'd they call him that?

DOUBLE OCause he was fat, that's why.

BILLYSofie. Stallone isn't fat -- I mean, he'sgot muscles.

SOFIEWhat else you got, Omar?

DOUBLE OForty year old virgin or something like that--

BILLYThat's a funny movie.

DOUBLE OJames Bond.

BILLYYou got the one where he's got that car--

DOUBLE OHe's got a car in every movie, my friend.

BILLYYeah, but this one...oh, what's the name ofthat movie? Frank will know...we was justtalking about it the other day...

SOFIEWhat are these, over here?

DOUBLE OLet me see. Oh, yeah, Anna's husband leftthese. Some old movies.

BILLYI like old movies.

DOUBLE OAll right, we'll give this one a try.

34.

SFX - SOUND OF MOVIE COMING ON

AS THE MOVIE RUNS, MUSIC SCORE FADES OUT, AND THE FOLLOWINGSEQUENCE IS HEARD THROUGH THE DIALOGUE OF THE MOVIE, WHICHIS A PRESTON STURGES COMEDY

DOUBLE O laughs out loud

AS MOVIE CONTINUES:

FRANKYou watching that old thing.

PAMWhat's the name of that movie?

BILLYI never seen this one.

FRANKSofie, we're out of dishwashing liquid againdownstairs.

SOFIEMus be someone's using ours. We go throughtwo of them bottles every week.

FRANKYeah, well, I think you ought to keep 'em uphere in the cabinet. Downstairs, no one knowswhat's for what, if you know what I mean.

SOFIEI hear you. I'm placing an order in a fewdays and we'll keep most of the stuff up herefor now.

FRANKYou're low on cheese and milk. I took a fewmilks out of the freezer for the morning. But there won't be nothing left soon.

SOFIEDon eats cereal like there's no tomorrow.

FRANKYeah, he does like his cereal. I think hetakes that breakfast of champions thing alittle too much.

35.

SOFIEHe was a boxer you know.

FRANKI know that. He took a few punches, that isfor damn sure.

SOFIEHe's all right.

FRANKNo, I ain't saying nothing bad about him. The way he tries to take care of his brotherin Jersey and all. I'm just saying hesometimes--well, you know what I mean.

SOFIEHey, we all got our things.

FRANKI know. Nothing but the truth in that.

SOFIEYou heard from your kids at all?

FRANKSofie, you know better than to ask that? Idon't exist unless they be wanting for somemoney..and they know I ain't got none to givethem now.

SOFIEHow many you got?

FRANKThere's eight of 'em.

SOFIEHave mercy!

FRANKYeah, had nine, but one died. Heart attack.

SOFIEI remember you telling me that.

FRANKLook, I gave 'em all I had, every last one of'em. I raised 'em and they never wanted fornothin'. Nothin'.

(MORE)

36.

FRANK (CONT'D)But I got to look out for myself now. They'sall grown anyway. No, I just want to have aroom for myself and just get my health backin order. It's been a long time coming, Ican tell you that.

SOFIEI hear you.

FRANKYou see my phone around here?

SOFIEWhat's that?

FRANKI left my phone plugged in here when I camein this afternoon. And I don't see it.

SOFIEI wasn't looking, so -- no, I didn't noticeit.

FRANKDamn, I know I had it here. Didn't leave iton the train.

SOFIESure it's not in your bag?

FRANK(getting agitated)

I'll look, but I never keep it in there. Icome here and plug it in every day, same spot. Damn. I just got that thing.

BILLYYou make popcorn, Frank?

FRANKI didn't make no damn popcorn, Billy...whatam I, your damn butler?

BILLYI was just askin'.

FRANKAin't you eaten enough?

37.

BILLYYou're right, I'm getting kind of a belly.

FRANKYou see my phone, Billy?

BILLYNo, I ain't seen it, Frank.

FRANKI'm saying it was plugged in.

BILLYDon't you always have it over there?

FRANKWell, it ain't there now.

BILLYI don't know nothing about it.

FRANKDid I say you did?

BILLYBut, I'm just saying -

FRANKWell, you ain't saying nothing...and someonewent up and stole my damn phone!

SOFIEFrank, did you look in your bag?

FRANKI looked in every crevice of my bag andeverywhere, and I'm saying that someone upand stole my phone.

BILLYI don't have it, Frank.

FRANKDid I say Billy done stole my phone?

BILLYYeah, but-

FRANKYeah, but nothing! I said "someone" stole myphone, and it's someone in this room.

38.

DOUBLE OCool it Frank.

FRANKI ain't gonna cool it. There are only fourother people in this room beside Sofie andI'm saying someone took my phone!

INVISIBLE MAN(from the corner ofthe room)

Are you accusing me?

FRANKI don't have to accuse anyone. I know I hada phone and now I don't.

INVISIBLE MAN(coming into the centerof the room)

We don't know if you had a phone because noone saw the phone.

FRANKNo one had to see the phone for me to know Ihad one, and whoever took the damn phone knowswho took it and it better be back where itwas by the morning, that's all I have to say.

INVISIBLE MANYou're a fool -

DOUBLE OOh, here we go again.

FRANKWhat did you say?

INVISIBLE MANI said you're a fool! You leave your phonesomewhere and go around ranting like a hyenathat someone stole your phone -

FRANKYou better back off, mister.

SOFIELook. Everyone just calm down right now. Youall know the rules. If this phone doesn'tshow up in the morning, you'll all be takenoff the list.

39.

DOUBLE OGreat.

BILLYWait a minute, we had nothing to do with this.

SOFIEYou know the deal here, gentlemen. No onetakes nothing in this room and if they do,the whole gang of you are back on the street.

DOUBLE OYou and your damn phone!

FRANKDon't you get in this -

INVISIBLE MANNo one wants your phone! No one wants you! That's why you're in this basement! You walkaround holier than thou, you shriveled up oldman. You spent your life bowing and scrapingto people. Everywhere you turned, it was thesame, until you had nothing; and even nowyou're waiting for someone else's liver tokeep you alive. You come here to save what'sleft of any dignity you have and you spendyour time cleaning up after half a dozenhomeless men -

FRANKYou shut up!

BILLYFrank...

FRANKJust shut the fuck up! Shut the fuck up!

SOFIEThat's enough! This is a place of worship;you watch your language, Frank. Griffin,back off.

FRANKIf you weren't here, Sofie--

SOFIEIf I weren't here, you wouldn't be here. Now, turn that off, O...that's it for tonight.

40.

BILLYAw, Sofie.

SOFIEI have had enough. Turn it off.

SFX - MOVIE IS OFF

THERE IS A MOMENT OF SILENCE, THEN MUSIC SLOWLY BEGINS AGAIN

SOFIE (CONT'D)I expect to see Frank's phone when I come intomorrow morning and that's that. I'm aboutto leave, and all of you are going to sleep.

BILLYI'm not that tired, Sofie.

SOFIEGo to sleep now, Billy.

BILLYI have to let Don in.

SOFIEYeah, he should be here soon. Look--get somerest you guys. Tomorrow's another day.

DOUBLE OIt always is.

SOFIEAnd take good care of this nice young lady. Don't make any trouble for her. Because ifyou do, I'll hear about it. You know I will.

PAMI'll be fine, Sofie. I'm going to bed now,too.

SOFIEGoodnight, Pam. Goodnight gentlemen. Staysafe. I'll see you tomorrow.

BILLYGoodnight, Sofie.

MUSIC INTERLUDE

MUSIC CONTINUES UNDER THEN FADES...

41.

INVISIBLE MANOne liter...three point seven...two...twoparts...two parts --

BILLY(trying to be quiet)

Excuse me - Griffin -

INVISIBLE MANI thought you were asleep.

BILLYNo, I'm not tired; and I have to let Don in. Everyone else is asleep, I think.

INVISIBLE MANWhat do you want?

BILLYNothing, really, and I'm sorry, I didn't meananything, don't get mad or nothing.

INVISIBLE MANI was just trying to remember something.

BILLYOh, yeah. Well...your medicine made meremember something.

INVISIBLE MANWhat do you mean?

BILLYThey look like inks.

INVISIBLE MANInks?

BILLYIn the bottles - you know, colored inks. Forpens. I used to have a bunch of those kindsof pens -

INVISIBLE MANWhat kind of pens?

BILLYUh, ink pens or whatever you call 'em.

(MORE)

42.

BILLY (CONT'D)I didn't write much, I mean I ain't intowriting or anything, but my uncle used tosell those kind with the cartridges in hisstore, and I liked 'em. Had all kinds ofcolors..I used to draw with them.

INVISIBLE MANThese aren't - there's no ink in the bottles.

(slight pause)

BILLYNo, I know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean tobother you.

INVISIBLE MANThat's all right. I can't remember anyway.

BILLYRemember what?

INVISIBLE MANA formula.

BILLYOh. What for?

INVISIBLE MANSo that I can be visible again.

BILLYWhat do you mean?

INVISIBLE MANI'm invisible Billy. No one can see me.

BILLYI see you, you're right here.

INVISIBLE MANI'm right here. Right in front of your eyes. But you see I have no eyes, no flesh. Underthese bandages, there's nothing. I'm nothing. I'm no one. I'm invisible.

BILLY(not knowing what tosay)

Uh..I heard you were in some kind of fire orsomething.

43.

INVISIBLE MAN(slight pause)

I'm a scientist. Like my father was. Andone day I was studying and picked up a sheetof paper and brought it closer to the light,so that I could see it better. And there, inthe light, I saw the very fibers of that paperand realized that the only reason I could seethe sheet of paper at all was because of thefibers themselves..between those fibers therewas nothing visible to my eye. I thoughtthat if I could find the right bleach, if Icould find the right formula to refract thelight that bounced against those fibers, theywould vanish and all that would be left wouldbe the space, the clear space. Well it waseasy, my friend, to make a piece of paperdisappear. It took only a month to find thatformula. But, then... what about livingtissue, what about flesh and blood itself,how might I make those molecules and atomsbecome like a sheet of glass...and what wouldit be -- to have no form? Do you know whatit is like to walk among the world and no onecan see you?

BILLYI don't know.

INVISIBLE MANPower! Sheer power!

THERE IS A PAUSE

BILLYDoes it hurt? I never been bandaged up likethat. I'm sorry you got burnt up.

INVISIBLE MAN(after a slight pause)

I'm sorry, too.(pause)

Why are you here? You don't have any family?

BILLYYeah, I got a lot of brothers and sisters,but they don't want to have nothing to dowith me. I mean, I don't blame them. I talkto my sister every day. She's an accountantuptown. But she don't want me to live withher no more. I have a problem with drinking.

44.

INVISIBLE MANThere must be people to help you.

BILLYWell, I have to help myself, I guess. It'snot that I didn't try. I was clean and soberfor four years straight, but you know, Icouldn't stay away from it.

INVISIBLE MANYou couldn't stop.

BILLYYeah.

(slight pause)I was drinking since when I was a kid. Mymother, everyone in my family. I was borndrunk.

INVISIBLE MANBorn?

BILLYThey had to give me little shots of whiskeywhen I was a baby so I didn't have no seizuresor nothing...and then, everyone around mewould drink..When I was a little kid I didn'tmind having to do everything. People wouldcome over to our apartment and they'd make meget the beer and I'd open up them cans andsip the suds off the top of 'em. I mean, Ididn't want to sleep on the top bunk - we hadbunk beds - cause I was drunk most of thetime and I be afraid that I'd fall off andcrack my head open. One time, cause my sistermade me get up on the top bunk, I did falland cracked my arm up. My mother, she shookmy sister bad after that. I felt so bad,that my mother did that. I mean it weren'tmy sister's fault - I couldn't really look atmy sister no more after that--I felt so badand guilty.

(softly sobbing)I ain't a mean person, but I'm..I'm justlonely. I mean even when I'm around people,I'm lonely. I don't know what it is. I don'tknow what it is. I can't help it. Nothing Ican really do about it.

PAUSE

45.

INVISIBLE MANI grew up alone.

BILLYYou didn't have no family?

INVISIBLE MANMy mother and father were alive. But my father -he failed at everything. He was a scientist.

BILLYReally?

INVISIBLE MANHe was a chemist. He had a small lab butnothing came of it, nothing came of him, andmy mother ignored him. My mother was verysickly. But no one knew. She tried to hideeverything. She kept secrets. She told lieswhen it suited her. She hardly knew I wasthere unless she wanted to tell me something. She told me her dreams. She'd wake me up, inthe middle of the night, and tell me herdreams. Do you want to hear one?

BILLYYou remember them? From when you were little?

INVISIBLE MANI was seven when my mother, one November night,woke me up and told me this one: She wasrunning, running in the night into ourhouse..the windows were open and the windhowled through the house...she moved quicklyto her bedroom and there, in the shadows, inthe corner, was a wolf. She could only seeits eyes from the moonlight that shone throughthe gauze-like curtains. She was terrified. She froze. She could hear the animalbreathing. She didn't know what to do. Shetook one step and the pain of lifting herfoot, trying not to make a sound, wasunbearable. She reached for the coverletthat was on her bed, to try to wrap herselfin it, as if it were a magic cloak that wouldprotect her...but just as she reached for itthe wolf leapt and was upon her...she grabbedthe cover and tried to use it as a shield,but it only entangled them both and bound herto the animal.

(MORE)

46.

INVISIBLE MAN (CONT'D)The wolf frantically began to bite her..itbit into her neck, her arm -- no matter whatshe tried to do, it only brought the wolfcloser to her. She could feel the warmth ofher own blood as it ran down her side. Shelooked and searched the room for someone tosee, someone to help. There was no one. Thehouse was empty, except her and the animal. In this swoon, she found herself, wrapped inher blankets and awoke...

MUSIC CONTINUES

SILENCE

THEN

SFX - BUZZER

BILLYThat's Don.

INVISIBLE MANYou better let him in. It's cold.

BILLYOkay, yeah.

(pause)I'll be right back.

SLIGHT PAUSE THEN

INVISIBLE MANSeven parts - one - four milliliters - sevenparts - four - one - seven - four - one

(trailing off)Seven...one...

(pause)I saw my father sobbing. One night, as mymother was in her brace; she had a brace tiedto her bedroom door--she put her head in awhite collar which tied to the top of herdoor and pulled her spine up - she thought -to help her back pain - so there she was,hanging from the door - the house was silent. I walked to the top of the stairs that led tothe basement where my father spent most ofhis nights - and there, I heard a whimpering..Itook each step slowly, I didn't want to hear,

(MORE)

47.

INVISIBLE MAN (CONT'D)I didn't want to see him, but I kept moving,kept walking down the stairs until I pausedon the third step...I turned. He was in theshadows, in the dark, in the corner. He wasfacing the wall, his head in his hands, andwas sobbing. Torn sheets of paper all overthe floor. I sat and watched him, I couldn'tkeep my eyes off of him, my hands on therailing, as if I was in a cell looking out,my hands on the bars of the railing, watching. I watched him.

(pause)He never saw me.

(pause)He never saw me.

PAUSE

BILLYDon, c'mon in. Sofie left, but there's a newvolunteer, Pam. She's sleepin' over.

INVISIBLE MAN(to himself)

Have to try; must return at will. Suffering,pain. If only a hand, if I could see thestiffening of my fingers, if I could see thebend in my knee --

DON(a bit of a whisper)

New guy?

BILLY(also whispering)

Yeah, his name is Griffin. Don't mind him.

DONLooks like he's taking a lot of medicine--all those bottles are his?

BILLYYeah. They look like ink bottles, don't they?

DONHe's so covered up, must be hot as hell -

BILLYHe don't seem to mind it - was in a fire, Ithink. Pretty bad.

48.

INVISIBLE MANThey'll soon find out. They'll soon know thepower of the Invisible Man. They'll soonhear of me!

DONThat's terrible.

BILLYHow's your brother?

DONNot so good - you using that towel?

BILLYNo, you can have it. We're getting a cleanshipment, I'm pretty sure - Frank says.

DONFrank okay?

BILLYYeah, though he's all upset because he can'tfind his phone -

DONAgain?

BILLYHe swears someone stole it.

DONI'll give him mine, if he needs one.

BILLYYou know he wants his own.

DONMy mother gave me hers last weekend. She'sall worried about my brother and wants me tocall her.

BILLYHe in the hospital?

DONYeah. Don't look too good. I mean, myhepatitis is under control, but he's got itbad..and he's got all sorts of other stuff --

49.

INVISIBLE MANThe power! They'll grovel at my feet! I'llvanish before their eyes and they'll all standstill in their fear! I'll burn cities to theground - there will be no wall or door thatcan stop me! Legions will follow me, theywill fall to their knees in prayer.. Howthey will pray to me and worship me - Jesusdied but once - but I will die and be rebornat will! In this transparency, I can walkunseen among the fools...and in theirblindness, they shall know me! They willknow me!

FRANK(stirring from sleep)

Hey - hey...

DONHey buddy, try to keep it down -

BILLYYou don't want to wake them up, Griffin.

DON(introducing himself)

Listen, Griffin, I'm Don and --

BILLYAin't no point in trying to shake his hand,Don. He don't like to -

INVISIBLE MAN(sounds of pain)

DONYou ok?

(to Billy)Get him some water, Billy.

INVISIBLE MANIt's the formula...

DONI seen you pouring things into other things. You sure you're supposed to be doing that? Did the doctor -

INVISIBLE MANNo doctor can possibly know what I know...

50.

BILLYHe's some kind of scientist --

INVISIBLE MAN(moans of pain)

DONBilly, get the girl in here -

BILLYPam?

DONWhatever her name is - he don't look too good.

BILLYOkay, I'll get her.

DON(to GRIFFIN)

Griffin? You all right? Oh geez, you'reshakin' like a leaf --

PAMBilly, what's wrong? What's happened to him?

BILLYI don't know, Pam; he was just talkin' thenhe started to keel over.

DONAll these clothes on him...he must be hottern' hell.

PAM(to the INVISIBLE MAN)

Griffin? Can you hear me? Griffin?

INVISIBLE MANI told Professor Kemp, I told him why the catmoaned. I had her strapped down, but shestill howled. He didn't understand, thefool...they're all fools...

DONHe's soaking wet, we should get him out ofthese clothes --

PAMGriffin? Can you take a sip of water?

51.

INVISIBLE MANWater was all around me...I said to her...Itried to speak to her, but... she couldn'thear me. The power of the water - there wasa cloud of water, a mist - we were all inraincoats..I tried to speak, but she didn'thear...I said to her, Mama...please, I beggedher, I didn't want to be on the boat...please,I begged her...Mama! Mama, I'm going tofall...I'm going to fall...help me! I beggedher...why can't she help, why isn't thereanyone to help...I tried to tell them...butno one listened...no one listens! The fools! They'll listen now! Some one...some one...

(in full voice)Listen to me! Listen to me!

(voice trailing)Please...please...

PAMDon, try to keep him still. I'll go upstairsand call the hospital.

DONHe's trying to lay down. Here, let's helphim --

BILLYI wouldn't do nothing, Don...he's -

DONHe's what - he's half out of it. Help me gethim laying down...grab his feet over there.

BILLYAll right...

DONAnd he shouldn't be all wrapped up in allthese clothes - he must be sweating up a stormunder those bandages.

BILLYDon't do nothin', Don. I'm telling you. Just move his head over to the pillow -yeah..that's good enough. He's out of it,looks like he's out of it.

DONDo you know what's in all them bottles?

52.

BILLYI don't know. They ain't got any labels. This one looks like it's for pain or something. I took something this color once, when I wasin the hospital last year. I remember. Itworked good, too.

DONI think he's falling asleep.

PAMAll right. Let's let him be. I'll callsomeone in the morning...he needs to be in ahospital.

BILLYThey won't pay attention to him there neither.

PAMSure they will, Billy.

BILLYOh, I seen people laying out in the hospitallike ... I don't know, like they're invisibleor something. He even said he was...

DONWhat are you talking about, Billy?

BILLYThis guy. Griffin. He was saying all sortsof crazy things..that he was invisible orsomething.

PAMWell, he seems quiet now...would you guyskeep an eye on him for a little while? Imean, you both should get some rest...getsome sleep. But just make sure he's okay fornow. I'll call the center in the morning andmake sure they take care of him.

BILLYDon't worry, Pam. I'm not tired or nothing. I slept all day at the drop in center.

PAMHow about you, Don?

DONMe? I'm okay...

53.

PAMThere's some food somewhere...right Billy?

BILLYYeah, Frank put something together for you.

DONI'm not too hungry. Thanks.

(pause)I guess we didn't really officially meetup...nice to meet you, Pam.

PAMNice to meet you, Don.

(slight pause)That's quite a tattoo on your arm.

DONThis? Oh, yeah...after one of my fights...sortof a dare..

PAMI heard you're a boxer.

DON(slight pause)

I used to be a boxer. Didn't have a bad careerin all, considering.

BILLYDidn't you win something, Don?

DONYeah, I had a title in Jersey. But, I gottoo punched up in the last years. Too punchedup, man. I'm a mess.

PAM(YAWNS, then...)

You look fine, Don.

DONNo, see I just cleaned up today. I went onthis interview before my meetin'. Some kindof program that, if I get in, they give youtraining on computers and then they help youget a job in nine months, guaranteed. I don'tknow. I went for the interview, but I don'tknow...I don't think no one's gonna take me.

54.

BILLYYou smart, Don, I mean you know all aboutthose uh..what do you call them?

DONThe meters?

BILLYYeah.

DONI used to read meters.

PAMThat's a good job...seems like a steady job.

DONOh, man, that was one boring son of a bitchjob. Excuse my French. I had to go down insome of the worst places...man...you go downin these rat holes with just a flashlight...read a few numbers... I couldn't take it nomore...anyway, my eyesight ain't that good,this one eye going bad. And now, with mybrother bein' sick and all...I'm running outto Jersey every day...without the Lord helpingme...man, I don't know...I just got to get aplace of my own...I can't take this no more.

PAMDo they have anything for you?

DONWho? You mean the case worker?

PAMThe person who helps you.

DONNah...they look at you as if you wasn't there. I mean there's maybe fifty, sixty people foreach one of them...I guess it ain't theirfault....I put in those papers..what do youcall them? Anyways, whatever they are, I putthem in like nine months ago, and no one'ssaid shit to me about them...excuse my French. What do you got to do?

55.

PAM(yawning again)

Sorry...had a late night the othernight...studying for an exam...

BILLYYou go to sleep, Pam. We'll be fine.

PAMYou sure?

(slight pause)I guess Griffin seems to be all right fornow.

DONI think he's sleepin'. His dark glasses areon the floor -- here...Billy, put them overhere.

BILLYCan he breathe like that? His face buriedlike that?

DONYeah, he's okay.

(tiny pause)I'm gonna hit the sack.

PAMAll right now, it was good to meet you Don. I hope things work out for you.

DONThanks....and thanks for doing this.

PAMDoing what?

DONFor sleeping over. For volunteering. We allappreciate it.

PAMIt's nothing, Don. You know, with myroommates, this will probably be the bestsleep I get.

DONI hear you.

56.

PAMThe pull out couch is pretty comfortable.

BILLYIt's not too hot in that room?

PAMNo, I have a little fan someone brought. Ilisten to some music...it's fine. So, youguys get up at five? Is that what Sofie toldme?

DONYeah, though some of the guys don't sleepthrough the night..

BILLYLike Frank.

DONHe don't feel too well...so he gets up a lot. But, pretty much at five everyone's up.

BILLYAnd then the bus comes to pick us up at six. Sometimes at six-thirty.

PAMAnd then where do you go?

DONBack to the drop in center. It's tough onthe weekends..

PAMYou mean because this place is only open Mondaythrough Friday?

DONYeah...this is a palace compared to otherplaces. And it's real hard to get a bed onthe weekend.

BILLYA lot a' times, I end up in the subway.

PAMSleeping?

57.

BILLYYeah, but you can't put your feet up ornothing..then they can arrest you. If yousit, you're okay...so you kind of have tosleep with one eye open...except for DoubleO..he only got one eye -

(laughs to himself)Or sometimes...well, I used to be able tostay at my sister's once or twice..but shedon't want me around no more...

PAMMaybe we can try to get this place to stayopen?

BILLYThat would be good...

DONYeah...most ...no, all of these guys would behere...hey, Pam, you really look tired...youshould go to sleep...

BILLYYeah..we be all right here...

PAMI am tired...okay, well, sleep well...

BILLYYou, too Pam.

DONGoodnight.

SLIGHT PAUSE

DON (CONT'D)All right, I'm climbing into bed..I'm beat.

BILLYMe, too...hey, I'll go with you tomorrow, tothe hospital, to see your brother, if youwant.

DONOkay, Billy, that'd be really nice...

BILLYI can go tomorrow.

58.

DONOkay...great...yeah...hey, Billy, can you getthat light?

BILLYYou mean the lamp over here? Yeah, I'll turnit off--here, I got it.

DONThanks, Billy...hey, sleep good.

BILLYYou, too Don...

MUSIC UP THEN UNDER

FRANK(softly, to himself)

Damn...this damn pain in my side. Wakes meup every damn night. Have to pee ten times anight.

SFX - WATER DRIPPING

FRANK (CONT'D)Damn, this damn faucet thing busted. Shit.

SFX - WATER DRIPPING

FRANK (CONT'D)I gotta take something, this pain is killingme. Man, tomorrow I gotta call me that doctorand get...oh, shit, that son of a bitch--thatgoddamn Griffin moron, for sure, took myphone...that guy's knocked up in his head,that's for damn sure. I bet he got itsomewhere near his bed...shit, I can't seenothing in this place...Hey, what the hell isthis?... What's in this bottle? I've seenthis stuff before...this is pain killerstuff...well, fuck this...he takes my phone,I'm taking his medicine. That'll show him,dumbass...I'll take a swig of it right now...

(slight pause)Man, it tastes like shit...Griffin, man himcalling people fools...who the hell does he...

(let's out a sound ofpain)

Oh...damn...my insides, like they're on fire...(more sounds..almosta howling of pain)

59.

AS MUSIC BUILDS

DOUBLE OWhat -- who's making that racket?

FRANK(in obvious searingpain)

SFX - BOTTLES CRASHING TO THE FLOOR

INVISIBLE MANWhat..what have you done! You fool! Thatwon't do you any good. These bottles aremine! You stupid man! You stupid man!

BILLYWhat's wrong with Frank?

FRANK(in choking pain)

INVISIBLE MANYou feeble little man!

SFX - TABLES OVERTURNED - GENERAL CHAOS

DOUBLE OFrank!...what's happened? I can't see nothing!

DONGriffin, get away from him!

BILLYHe's choked Frank. Griffin choked Frank.

INVISIBLE MANStay away...all of you...you don't know whoyou're dealing with!

BILLYFrank! Frank! What did you do to him?

DONGriffin!

INVISIBLE MANGet away from me--all of you!

DONWhat did you do to Frank!

60.

INVISIBLE MANStay away! I told you! You think you knoweverything! But HA...you have noidea...see...see!! Off with thesebandages!..here, come see for yourselves!

DOUBLE OHis face!...he ..he has no face! I can't seehis face!

DONFrank!...Billy, help me pick Frank up..

INVISIBLE MANNow you've done it! Now you've done it!! I'll show the whole world now...do you see...doyou see now...HA!!!

BILLYUnder his shirt...He's...got no flesh...! Wait, where is he?

DONSomeone get some help, Frank's not breathing.

BILLYDon, turn on the lights...turn on the lights!

DONThe lamp is busted-it don't work.

INVISIBLE MANHow about you? Cat's got your tongue, Omar?

DOUBLE OHey...what's ...where is he? How can hedisappear?

INVISIBLE MANYou nothings...you are like tiny insects inthis world...there are so many of you, andyet you remain unseen...the world steps onyou like bugs...I step on you like bugs!

BILLYSomebody get Pam--

INVISIBLE MANCan't have that now, can we?

61.

DOUBLE OHe's blocked the door..he's jammed it...grabhim...

INVISIBLE MANGrab me! Grab me why don't you? Can yougrab the air? Can you grab space?

DONPam!

SFX - MORE GLASS CRASHING

PAM(from outside thedoor)

Don! Don, what's happening in there? Openthe door!

SFX - BANGING ON THE DOOR REPEATEDLY

DONPam! Pam, call the police!

INVISIBLE MANDo you think the police can stop me! Youfools...The police! HA! All they do is visityou in your cardboard boxes and drag you outand arrest you...You're nothing more than aworthless bug to them..

DONHe's killed Frank. Frank is dead. Griffinkilled him!

INVISIBLE MANI did nothing of the kind...you stupid man. But, he's better off...he's better off ...what does he matter...what do any of youmatter! Outside of this room no one seesyou... as you don't see me!

SFX - CLANGING AGAINST THE DOOR

DOUBLE OHe's trying to get into the courtyard.

BILLYGriffin, you killed Frank. Why did you killhim?

62.

PAMOpen the door! Get the door open!

INVISIBLE MANI didn't kill Frank. He choked on his ownbile...he was dead years ago...he was just anillusion...

DONYou're crazy!...and what kind of trick isthis...where are you? It's impossible...

INVISIBLE MANYou see with your own eyes...I've created amiracle, my friends...a miracle greater thanall miracles... I've become nothing! I'vebecome the very thing I was always meant tobe...I'm the unseen! No one ever paidattention to me...but they will now!

DONI think I have him!

INVISIBLE MANNo, my friend...there's no holding on to me...

DOUBLE OHe's here!

INVISIBLE MANRing a round the Rosie, a pocket full ofposie..ashes, ashes, we all fall DOWN!

SFX - MORE CRASHES

DONWatch out!

BILLYI'm getting him.

DONEveryone...stay still. He has to be in theroom. If we can't get out, he can't get out.

DOUBLE OHelp me up.

BILLYI'm going to get him.

63.

SFX - TURNING OVER EVERY BED

DOUBLE OBilly...watch your head...

SFX - TV COMES CRASHING DOWN

DONStay still!

DOUBLE OHe's close.

BILLYNo.

DONDon't move.

DOUBLE OHe's in the corner.

DONGrab arms. If we move down the room together,we have to find him. Omar, over here...

DOUBLE OI got you.

BILLYGo slow.

DONOne step. Spread out more.

DOUBLE OHe ain't here.

DONIt's impossible.

DOUBLE OIt's just some kind of trick or something.

DONAnother step.

BILLYHe ain't here...

64.

DOUBLE OHe has to be here.

BILLYI'm telling you, he's vanished...he's out ofthe building. Some sort of magic trick.

DONHe's in this room.

SFX - POUNDING ON THE DOOR

PAMOPEN THE DOOR! Get the door open!

(yelling)Open the door!

DONHe's jammed it! We can't get it open!

DOUBLE OAnother step.

DONGriffin, -- you coward! You coward!

INVISIBLE MANHow quaint...you calling me names...youfools..do you think a man who is invisiblecan be so easily captured...I can be anywhere!

DONOw! He's on my ...

INVISIBLE MANDid I hurt your foot, Don? How sorry I am..abroken man, broken again...

DOUBLE OYou can't get out of here...they'll get you...

INVISIBLE MANLook at this, the man of faith, has so muchfaith...you with your false god...don't youknow the world is only about power! Power! Those that crave it, those that need it, thosethat have none...so many all around us crawland scratch and break the backs, your backs, so that they can reach the top of themount..and when they do they think of

(MORE)

65.

INVISIBLE MAN (CONT'D)themselves as God..the petty littlenothings...with all their toys, with all theirill gotten gains, they have nothing but theadoration of people who have no value--they'reworshipped by zombies...the only real valueis in the raw power of nature...we all payattention to that...and I have conquered it. I alone...this is real power...yes, you'repaying attention now...attention must be paidnow!

DOUBLE OKeep talking, fella, we'll get you...

INVISIBLE MANI'm not the only one invisible, my friend...thepeople all around you..here, on this block,in this city..you think they care? They sit,smug and comfortable, they'll go warm on thisnight as you freeze...they'll pass you by onthe street as they always do...hand you aquarter and feel like they've saved the world!

DOUBLE OThey'll come for you--the police will--

INVISIBLE MANI won't be here...no one will know I washere...no one will ever know I was even here!

DOUBLE OYou killed someone!

INVISIBLE MANYou can't blame everything on an invisibleman...

PAUSE

SFX - LOUD CLANG

SFX - LARGE BLAST OF WIND

DOUBLE OHe's going out to the courtyard...

DONHe'll reach the other side of the building! Billy, get to the other door!!

66.

DOUBLE OProp open the door! Get to the door.

SFX - CLANG OF METAL

DONBilly, what are you doin'? Where'd you findthe shovel?

BILLYHe killed Frank, Don.

DOUBLE OWhere is he?

BILLYHis prints.

DONWhat?

DOUBLE OLook, his prints..his feet..in the snow...

SFX - SHOVEL HITS BODY

INVISIBLE MAN(howls - and reactionsto each hit)

DONBilly, what are you doing!

SFX - ANOTHER HIT

DON (CONT'D)No, Billy...stop it!

DOUBLE OHis shape...in the snow...

SFX - ANOTHER HIT

DONBilly!!

DOUBLE OC'mon, man...

SFX - MORE HITS

67.

OVER AND OVER AGAIN

DONStop it! Billy, you're beating him to death!!

BILLYHe killed Frank, Don.

(out of breath)He killed Frank...

DONYou don't know...you don't really know...stopit!

MORE HITS

THEN...THEY STOP

MUSIC CONTINUES, MIXED WITH THE WIND

THEN...

DOUBLE OLook...in the snow...

DONI can see his hand...the veins...theblood...it's turning red in his veins...I cansee--

DOUBLE OHis legs...his arms...

DONHe's becoming visible...someone, get ablanket...he'll freeze--

DOUBLE OHe ain't breathing no more.

PAUSE

DONBilly, put the shovel down. Get him a blanket. He should have a blanket.

(slight pause)Aw, geez, he should have a blanket --

PAUSE

68.

BILLYI don't think he needs nothin' now.

(pause)He's gone.

END MUSIC

THEN FADES WITH

SOUND OF WIND

AND LIGHTS..

TO TOTAL DARKNESS...

SILENCE

THE END