ACT TWO

SCENE: Same set as act 1. Night. Sounds of rain. DODGE still asleep
on sofa. His hair is cut extremely short and in places the scalp is cut
and bleeding. His cap is still center stage. All the corn and husks, pail
and milking stool have been cleared away. The lights come up to the
sound of a young girl laughing off stage left. DODGE remains asleep.
SHELLY and VINCE appear up left outside the screen porch door sharing
the shelter of VINCE'S overcoat above their heads. SHELLY is about
nineteen, black hair, very beautiful. She wears tight jeans, high heels,
purple T-shirt and a short rabbit fur coat. Her makeup is exaggerated
and her hair has been curled. VINCE is TILDEN'S son, about twenty
two, wears a plaid shirt, jeans, dark glasses, cowboy boots and carries
a black saxophone case. They shake the rain off themselves as they enter
the porch through the screen door.

SHELLY: (laughing, gesturing to house) This is it? I don't believe this

is it!
VINCE: This is it.
SHELLY: This is the house?
VINCE: This is the house.
SHELLY: I don't believe it!
VINCE: How come?
SHELLY: It's like a Norman Rockwell cover or something.
VINCE What's a' matter with that? It's American.
SHELLY: Where's the milkman and the little dog? What's the
little dog's name? Spot. Spot and Jane. Dick and Jane and
Spot.
VINCE: Knock it off.
SHELLY: Dick and Jane and Spot and Mom and Dad and Junior
and Sissy!
83
84 BURIED CHILD

(She laughs. Slaps her knee.)

VINCE: Come on! It's my heritage. What dya' expect?
(She laughs more hysterically, out of control.)
SHELLY: "And Tuffy and Toto and Dooda and Bonzo all went
down one day to the corner grocery store to buy a big bag of
licorice for Mr. Marshall's pussy cat!"
(She laughs so hard she falls to her knees holding her stomach. VINCE
stands there looking at her.
VINCE: Shelly will you get up!
(She keeps laughing. Staggers to her feet. Turning in circles holding
her stomach.)
SHELLY: (continuing her story in kid's voice) "Mr. Marshall was
on vacation. He had no idea that the four little boys had
taken such a liking to his little kitty cat."
VINCE: Have some respect would ya'!
SHELLY: (trying to control herse/f) I'm sorry.
VINCE: Pull yourself together.
SHELLY: (salutes him) Yes sir.

(She giggles.)
VINCE: Jesus Christ, Shelly.
SHELLY: (pause, smiling) And Mr. Marshall
VINCE: Cut it out.

(She stops. Stands there staring at him. Stifles a giggle.)

VINCE: (after pause) Are you finished?
SHELLY: Oh brother!
VINCE: I don't wanna go in there with you acting like an idiot.
SHELLY: Thanks.
VINCE: Well, I don't.
SHELLY: I won't embarrass you. Don't worry.
VINCE: I'm not worried.
SHELLY: You are too.
VINCE: Shelly look, I just don't wanna go in there with you
giggling your head off. They might think something's wrong
with you.
SHELLY: There is.
 BURIED CIIlLD 85

VINCE: There is not!

SHELLY: Something's definitely wrong with me.
VINCE: There is not!
SHELLY: There's something wrong with you too.
VINCE: There's nothing wrong with me either!
SHELLY: You wanna know what's wrong with you?
VINCE: What?

(SHELLY laughs.)
VINCE:(crosses back left toward screen door) I'm leaving!
SHELLY: (stops laughing) Wait! Stop! Stop! (VINCE stops) What's
wrong with you is that you take the situation too seriously.
VINCE: I just don't want to have them think that I've suddenly
arrived out of the middle of nowhere completely deranged.
SHELLY: What do you want them to think then?
VINCE: (pause) Nothing. Let's go in.

(He crosses porch toward stage right interior door. SHELLY follows
him. The stage right door opens slowly. VINCE sticks his head in,
doesn't notice DODGE sleeping. Calls out toward staircase.)
VINCE: Grandma!
(SHELLY breaks into laughter, unseen behind VINCE. VINCE pulls his
head back outside and pulls door shut. We hear their voices again
without seeing them.)
SHELLY'S VOICE: (stops laughing) I'm sorry. I'm sorry Vince. I
really am. I really am sorry. I won't do it again. I couldn't
help it.
VINCE"S VOICE: It's not all that funny.
SHELLY'S VOICE: I know it's not. I'm sorry.
VINCE'S VOICE: I mean this is a tense situation
for me! I haven't
seen them for over six years. I don't know what to expect.
SHELLY'S VOICE: I know. I won't do it again.
VINCE'S VOICE: Can't you bite your tongue or something?
SHELLY'S VOICE: Just don't say "Grandma," okay? (she giggles,
stops) I mean if you say "Grandma" I don't know if I can stop
myself.
VINCE'S VOICE: Well try!
SHELLY'S VOICE: Okay. Sorry.
(Door opens again. VINCE sticks his head in then enters. SHELLY
follows behind him. VINCE crosses to staircase, sets down saxophone
86 BURIED CHILD

case and overcoat, looks up staircase. SHELLY notices DODGE'S

baseball cap. Crosses to it. Picks it up and puts it on her head.
VINCE goes up the stairs and disappears at the top. SHELLY watches
him then turns and sees DODGE on the sofa. She takes off the baseball
cap.)
VINCE'S VOICE: (from above stairs) Grandma!
(SHELLY crosses over to DODGE slowly and stands next to him. She
stands at his head, reaches out slowly and touches one of the cuts. The
second she touches his head, DODGE jerks up to a sitting position on
the sofa, eyes open. SHELLY gasps. DODGE looks at her, sees his cap
in her hands, quickly puts his hand to his bare head. He glares
at
SHELLY then whips the cap out of her hands and puts it on. SHELLY
backs away from him. DODGE stares at her.)
SHELLY: I'm uh-with Vince.
(DODGE just glares at her.)
SHELLY: He's upstairs.
(DODGE looks at the staircase then back to SHELLY.)
SHELLY: (calling upstairs) Vince!
VINCE'S VOICE: Just a second!
SHELLY: You better get down here!
VINCE'S VOICE: Just a minute! I'm looking at the pictures.
(DODGE keeps staring at her.)
SHELLY: (to DODGE) We just got here. Pouring rain on the
freeway so we thought we'd stop by. I mean Vince was
planning on stopping anyway. He wanted to see you. He said
he hadn't seen you in a long time.
(Pause. DODGE just keeps staring at her.)
SHELLY: We were going all the way through to New Mexico.
To see his father. I guess his father lives out there. We
thought we'd stop by and see you on the way. Kill two birds
with one stone, you know? (she laughs, DODGE stares, she stops
laughing) I mean Vince has this thing about his family now. I
guess it's a new thing with him. I kind of find it hard to relate
to. But he feels it's important. You know. I mean he feels he
wants to get to know you .all again. After all this time.
 BURIED CHILD 87

(Pause. DODGE just stares at her. She moves• nervously to staircase

and yells up to VINCE.)
SHELLY: Vince will you come down here please!
(VINCE comes half way down the stairs.)
VINCE: I guess they went out for a while.
(SHELLY points to sofa and DODGE. VINCE turns and sees DODGE.
He comes all the way down staircase and crosses to DODGE. SHELLY
stays behind near staircase, keeping her distance.)
VINCE: Grandpa?
(DODGE looks up at him, not recognizing him.)
DODGE: Did you bring the whiskey?
/

(VINCE looks back at SHELLY then back to DODGE.)

VINCE: Grandpa, it's Vince. I'm Vince. Tilden's son. You

remember?
(DODGE stares at him.)
DODGE: You didn't do what you told me. You didn't stay here
with me.
VINCE: Grandpa, I haven't been here until just now. I just got
here.
DODGE: You left. You went outside like we told you not to do.
You went out there in back. In the rain.
(VINCE looks back at SHELLY. She moves slowly toward sofa.)
SHELLY: Is he okay?
VINCE: I don't know.
(takes off his shades) Look, Grandpa, don't
you remember me? Vince. Your Grandson.
(DODGE stares at him then takes off his baseball cap.)
DODGE: (points to his head) See what happens when you leave
me alone? See that? That's what happens.
(VINCE looks at his head. VINCE reaches out to touch his head.
DODGE slaps his hand away with the cap and puts it back on his
head.)
VINCE: What's going on Grandpa? Where's Halie?
DODGE: Don't worry about her. She won't be back for days. She
88 BURIED CHILD

says she'll be back but she won't be. (he starts laughing)
There's life in the old girl yet! (stops laughing)
VINCE: How did you do that to your head?
DODGE: I didn't do it! Don't be ridiculous!
VINCE: Well who did then?

(Pause. DODGE stares at VINCE.)

DODGE: Who do you think did it? Who do you think?
(SHELLY moves toward VINCE.)
SHELLY: Vince, maybe we oughta' go. I don't like this. I
mean this isn't my idea of a good time.
VINCE: (to SHELLY) Just a second. (to DODGE) Grandpa, look, I
just got here. I just now got here. I haven't been here for six
years. I don't know anything that's happened.
(Pause, DODGE stares at him.)
DODGE: You don't know anything?
VINCE: No.
DODGE: Well that's good. That's good. It's much better not to
know anything. Much, much better.
VINCE: Isn't there anybody here with you?

(DODGE turns slowly and looks off to stage left.)

DODGE: Tilden's here.
VINCE: No, Grandpa, Tilden's in New Mexico. That's where I
was going. I'm going out there to see him.
(DODGE turns slowly back to VINCE.)
DODGE: Tilden's here.
(VINCE backs away and joins SHELLY. DODGE stares at them.)
SHELLY: Vince, why don't we spend the night in a motel and'
come back in the morning? We could have breakfast. Maybe
everything would be different.
VINCE: Don't be scared. There's nothing to be scared of. He's
just old.
SHELLY: I'm not scared!
DODGE: You two are not my idea of the perfect couple!
SHELLY: (after pause) Oh really? Why's that?
VINCE: Shh! Don't aggravate him.
 BURIED CHILD 89

DODGE: There's something wrong between the two of you.

Something not compatible.
VINCE: Grandpa, where did Halie go? Maybe we should call her.
DODGE: What are you talking about? Do you know what you're
talking about? Are you just talking for the sake of talking?
Lubricating the gums?
VINCE: I'm trying to figure out what's going on here!
DODGE: Is that it?
VINCE: Yes. I mean I expected everything to be different.
DODGE: Who are you to expect anything? Who are you supposed
to be?
VINCE: I'm Vince! Your Grandson!
DODGE: Vince. My Grandson.
VINCE: Tilden's son.
DODGE: Tilden's son, Vince.
VINCE: You haven't seen me for a long time.
DODGE: When was the last time?
VINCE: I don't remember.
DODGE: You don't remember?
VINCE: No.
DODGE: You don't remember. How am I supposed to remember
if you don't remember?
SHELLY: Vince, come on. This isn't going to work out.
VINCE: (to SHELLY) Just take it easy.
SHELLY: I'm taking it easy! He doesn't even know who you are!
VINCE: (crossing tOfJlJard DODGE) Grandpa, look-
DODGE: Stay where you are! Keep your distance!

(VINCE stops. Looks back at SHELLY tl,en to DODGE.)

SHELLY: Vince, this is really making me nervous. I mean he

doesn't even want us here. He doesn't even like us.
DODGE: She's a beautiful girl.
VINCE: Thanks.
DODGE: Very Beautiful Girl.
SHELLY: Oh my God.
DODGE: (to SHELLY) What's your name?
SHELLY: Shelly.
DODGE: Shelly. That's a man's name isn't it?
SHELLY: Not in this case.
DODGE: (to VINCE) She's a smart-ass too.
SHELLY: Vince! Can we go?
90 BURIED CHILD

DODGE: She wants to go. She just got here and she wants to go.
VINCE: This is kind of strange for her.
DODGE: She'll get used to it. (to SHELLY) What part of the
country do you come from?
SHELLY: Originally?
DODGE: That's right. Originally. At the very start.
SHELLY: L.A.
DODGE: L.A. Stupid country.
SHELLY: I can't stand this Vince! This is really unbelievable!
DODGE: It's stupid! L.A. is stupid! So is Florida! All those
Sunshine States. They're all stupid. Do you know why they're
stupid?
SHELLY: Illuminate me.
DODGE: I'll tell you why. Because they're full of smart-asses!
That's why.
(SHELLY turns her back to DODGE, crosses to staircase and sits on
bottom step.)
DODGE: (to VINCE) Now she's insulted.
VINCE: Well you weren't very polite.
DODGE: She's insulted! Look at her! In my house she's insulted!
She's over there sulking because I insulted her!
SHELLY: (to VINCE) This is really terrific. This is wonderful. And
you were worried about me making the right first impression!
DODGE: (to VINCE) She's a fireball isn't she? Regular fireball. I
had some a' them in my day. Temporary stuff. Never lasted
more than a week.
VINCE: Grandpa-
DODGE: Stop calling me Grandpa will ya'! It's sickening.
"Grandpa." I'm nobody's Grandpa!
(DODGE starts feeling around under the cushion for the bottle of
whiskey. SHELLY gets up from the staircase.)
SHELLY: (to VINCE) Maybe you've got the wrong house. Did
you ever think of that? Maybe this is the wrong address!
VINCE: It's not the wrong address! I recognize the yard.
SHELLY: Yeah but do you recognize the people? He says he;s not
your Grandfather.
DODGE: (digging for bottle) Where's that bottle!
VINCE: He's just sick or something. I don't know what's hap
pened to him.
 BURIED ClilLD 91

DODGE: Where's my goddamn bottle!

(DODGE gets up from sofa and starts tearing the cushions off it and
throwing them downstage, looking/or the whiskey.)
SHELLY: Can't we just drive on to New Mexico? This is terrible,
Vince! I don't want to stay here. In this house. I thought it
was going to be turkey dinners and apple pie and all that
kinda stuff.
VINCE: Well I hate to disappoint you!
SHELLY: I'm not disappointed! I'm fuckin' terrified! I wanna'
go!
(DODGE yells toward stage left.)
DODGE: Tilden! Tilden!
(DODGE keeps ripping away at the sofa looking for his bottle, he
knocks over the night stand with the bottles. VINCE and SHELLY
watch as he starts ripping the stuffing out of the sofa.)
VINCE: (to SHELLY) He's lost his mind or something. I've got
to try to help him.
SHELLY: You help him! I'm leaving!

(SHELLY starts to leave. VINCE grabs her. They struggle as DODGE

keeps ripping away at the sofa and yelling.)
DODGE: Tilden! Tilden get your ass in here! Tilden!
SHELLY: Let go of me!
VINCE: You're not going anywhere! You're going to stay right
here!
SHELLY: Let go of me you sonuvabitch! I'm not your property!
(Suddenly TILDEN walks on from stage left just as he did before.
This time his arms are full of carrots. DODGE, VINCE and SHELLY
stop suddenly when they see him. They all stare at TILDEN as he
crosses slowly center stage with the carrots and stops. DODGE sits on
sofa, exhausted.)
DODGE: (panting, to TILDEN) Where in the hell have you been?
TILDEN: Out back.
DODGE: Where's my bottle?
TILDEN: Gone.

(TILDEN and VINCE stare at each other. SHELLY backs away.)

92 BURIED CHILD

DODGE: (to TILDEN) You stole my bottle!

VINCE: (to TILDEN) Dad?

(TILDEN just stares at VINCE.)

DODGE: You had no right to ste l my bottle! No right at all!
VINCE: (to TILDEN) It's Vince. I'm Vince.
(TILDEN stares a/VINCE then looks a/DODGE then turns to SHELLY.)
TILDEN: (after pause) I picked these carrots. If anybody wants
any carrots, I picked 'em.
SHELLY: (to VINCE) This is your father?
VINCE: (to TILDEN) Dad, what're you doing here?

(TILDEN just stares at VINCE, holding cafTOtS, DODGE pulls the

blanket back over himself.)
DODGE: (to TILDEN) You're going to have to get me another
bottle! You gotta get me a bottle before Halie comes back!
There's money on the table. (points to stage left kitchen)
TILDEN: (shaking his head) I'm not going down there. Into town.

(SHELLY crosses to TILDEN. TILDEN stares at her.)

SHELLY: (to TILDEN) Are you Vince's father?
TILDEN: (to SHELLY) Vince?
SHELLY: (pointing to VINCE) This is supposed to be your son! Is
he your son? Do you recognize him! I'm just along for the
ride here. I thought everybody knew each other!
(TILDEN stares at VINCE. DODGE wraps himself up in the blanket
and sits on sofa staring at the floor.)
TILDEN: I had a son once but we buried him.
(DODGE quickly looks at TILDEN. SHELLY looks to VINCE.)
DODGE: You shut up about that! You don't know anything
about that!
VINCE: Dad, I thought you were in New Mexico. We were
going to drive down there and see you.
TILDEN: Long way to drive.
DODGE: (to TILDEN) You don't know anything about that! That
happened before you were born! Long before!
VINCE: What's happened, Dad? What's going on here? I thought·
everything was all right. What's happened to Halie?
 BURIED CHILD 93

TILDEN: She left.

SHELLY: (to TILDEN) Do you want me to take those carrots for
you?
(TILDEN stares at her. She moves in close to him. Holds out her
arms. TILDEN stares at her arms then slowly dumps the ca1TOts into
her arms. SHELLY stands there holding the cafTOts.)
TILDEN: (to SHELLY) You like carrots?
SHELLY: Sure. I like allkinds of vegetables.·
DODGE:(to TILDEN) You gotta get me a bottle before Halie
comes back!
(DODGE hits sofa with his ftst. VINCE crosses up to DODGE and tries
to console him. SHELLY and TILDEN stay facing each other.)
TILDEN: (to SHELLY) Back yard's full of carrots. Corn. Potatoes.
SHELLY: You're Vince's father, right?
TILDEN: All kinds of vegetables. You like vegetables?
SHELLY: (laughs) Yeah. I love vegetables.
TILDEN: We could cook these carrots ya' know. You could cut
'em up and we could cook 'em.
SHELLY: All right.
TILDEN: I'll get you a pail and a knife.
SHELLY: Okay.
TILDEN: I'll be right back. Don't go.

(TILDEN exits off stage left. SHELLY stands center, arms full of
cafTOts. VINCE stands next to DODGE. SHELLY looks toward VINCE
then down at the caffots.)
DODGE: (to VINCE) You C0'1ld get me a bottle. (pointing off left)
There's money on the table.
VINCE: Grandpa why don't you lay down for a while?
DODGE: I don't wanna lay down for a while! Every time I lay
down something happens! (whips off his cap, points at his head)
Look what happens! That's what happens! (pulls his cap back
on) You go lie down and see what happens to you! See how
you like it! They'll steal your bottle! They'll cut your hair!
They’ll murder your children! That's what'll happen;
VINCE: Just relax for a while.
DODGE: (pause) You could get me a bottle ya' know. There's
nothing stopping you from getting me a bottle.
94 BURIED CHILD

SHELLY: Why don't you get him a bottle, Vince? Maybe it would
help everybody identify each other.
DODGE: (pointing to SHELLY) There, see? She thinks you should
get me a bottle.
(VINCE crosses to SHELLY.)
VINCE: What're you doing with those carrots.
SHELLY: J'm waiting for your father.
DODGE: She thinks you should get me a bottle!
VINCE: Shelly put the carrots down will ya'! We gotta deal with
the situation here! I'm gonna need your help.
SHELLY: I'm helping.
VINCE: You're only adding to the problem! You're making things
worse! Put the carrots down!
(VINCE tries to knock the catrots out of her arms. She turns away
from him, protecting the carrots.)
SHELLY: Get away from me! Stop it!
(VINCE stands back from her. She turns to him still holding the
catrots.)
VINCE: (to SHELLY) Why are you doing this! Are you trying to
1 _Jlllake fun of me? TJlis Illl, family YQ.!! know!
ffi'ELLY: You coulda' fooled me! I'd just as soon not be here
myself. I'd just as soon be a thousand miles from here. I'd
rather be anywhere but here. You're the one who wants to
stay. So I'll stay. I'll stay and I'll cut the carrots. And I'll
cook the carrots. And I'll do whatever I have to do to survive.
Just to make it through this.
VINCE: Put the carrots down Shelly.

(TILDEN enters from left with pail, milking stool and a knife. He
sets the stool and pail center stage for SHELLY. SHELLY looks at
VINCE then sits down on stool, sets the catrots on the floor and takes
the knife from TILDEN. She looks at VINCE again then picks up a
carrot, cuts the ends off, scrapes it and drops it in pail. She repeats
this, VINCE glares at her. She smiles.)
DODGE: She could get me a bottle. She's the type a' girl that
could get me a bottle. Easy. She'd go down there. Slink up
to the counter. They'd probably give her two bottles for the
price of one. She could do that.
 BURIED CHILD 95

(SHELLY laughs. Keeps cutting caffots. VINCE crosses up to DODGE,

looks at him. TILDEN watches SHELLY'S hands. Long pause.)
VINCE: (to DODGE) I haven't changed that much. I mean
physically. Physically I'm just about the same. Same size.
Same weight. Everything's the same.
(DODGE keeps staring at SHELLY, while VINCE talks to him.)
DODGE: She's a beautiful girl. Exceptional.
(VINCE moves in front of DODGE to block his view of SHELLY. DODGE
keeps craning his head around to see her as VINCE demonstrates
tricks from his past.)
VINCE: Look. Look at this. Do you remember this? I used to
bend my thumb behind my knuckles. You remember? I used
to do it at the dinner table.
(VINCE bends a thumb behind his knuckles for DODGE and holds it
out to him. DODGE takes a short glance then looks back at SHELLY.
VINCE shifts position and shows him something else.)

VINCE: What about this?

(VINCE curls his lips back and starts drumming on his teeth with his
fingernails making little tapping sounds. DODGE watches a while.
TILDEN turns toward the sound. VINCE keeps it up. He sees TILDEN
taking notice and crosses to TILDEN as he drums on his teeth.
DODGE turns T. V. on. Watches it.)

VINCE: You remember this Dad?

(VINCE keeps on drumming for TILDEN. TILDEN watches a while,
fascinated, then turns back to SHELLY. VINCE keeps up the drumming
on his teeth, crosses back to DODGE doing it. SHELLY keeps working
on caffots, talking to TILDEN.)
He drives me crazy with that sometimes.
SHELLY: (to TILDEN)
VINCE: (to DODGE) Iknow! Here's one you'll remember. You
used to kick me out of the house for this one.
(VINCE pulls his shirt out of his belt and holds it tucked under his
chin with his stomach exposed. He grabs the flesh on either side of his
belly button and pushes it in and out to make it look like a mouth
talking. He watches his belly button and makes a deep sounding
cartoon voice to synchronize with the movement. He demonstrates it
96 BURIED CHILD

to DODGE then crosses d(}fJl)n to TILDEN doing it. Botlt DODGE and
TILDEN take short, uninterested glances tlten ignore ltim.)

VINCE: (deep cartoon voice) "Hello. How are you? I'm fine.
Thank you very much. It's so good to see you looking well
this fine Sunday morning. I was going down to the hardware
store to fetch a pail of water."
SHELLY: Vince, don't be pathetic will ya'!

(VINCE stops. Tucks ltis sltirt back in.)

SHELLY: Jesus Christ. They're not gonna play. Can't you see
that?
(SHELLY keeps cutting carrots. VINCE sl(}f/l)ly moves t(}fJl)ardTILDEN.
TILDEN kelps watching SHELLY. DODGE watches T. V.)
VINCE: (to SHELLY) I don't get it. I really don't get it. Maybe
it's me. Maybe I forgot something.
DODGE: (from sofa) You forgot to get me a bottle! That's what
you forgot. Anybody in this house could get me a bottle.
Anybody! But nobody will. Nobody understands the urgency!
Peelin' carrots is more important. Playin' piano on your teeth!
Well I hope you all remember this when you get up in years.
When you find yourself immobilized. Dependent on the
whims of others.
(VINCE moves up t(}fJl)ard DODGE. Pause as he looks at him.)
VINCE: I'll get you a bottle.
DODGE: You will?
VINCE: Sure.

(SHELLY stands holding knife qnd carrot.)

SHELLY: You're not going to leave me here are you?
VINCE: (moving to her) You suggested it! You said, "why don't I
go get him a bottle." So I'll go get him a bottle!
SHELLY: But I can't stay here.
VINCE: What is going on! A minute ago you were ready to cut
carrots all night! ·
SHELLY: That was only if you stayed. Something to keep me
busy, so I wouldn't be so nervous. I don't want to stay here
alone.
DODGE: Don't let her talk you out of it! She's a bad influence. I
could see it the minute she stepped in here.
 BURIED CHILD 97

SHELLY: (to DODGE) You were asleep!

TILDEN: (to SHELLY) Don't you want to cut carrots anymore?
SHELLY: Sure. Sure I do.

(SHELLY sits back down on stool and continues cutting carrots.

Pause. VINCE moves around, stroking his hair, staring at DODGE
and TILDEN. VINCE and SHELLY exchange glances. DODGE watches
T.V.)
VINCE:Boy! This is amazing. This is truly amazing. (keeps
moving around) What is this anyway? Am I in a time warp or
something? Have I committed an unpardonable offence? It's
true, I'm not married. (SHELLY looks at him, then back to
carrots) But I'm also not divorced. I have been known to
plunge into sinful infatuation with the Alto Saxophone. Suck
ing on number 5 reeds deep into the wee, wee hours.
SHELLY: Vince, what are you doing that for? They don't care
about any of that. They just don't recognize you, that's all.
VINCE: How could they not recognize me! How in the hell could
they not recognize me! I'm their son! ·
DODGE: (watching T. V.) You're no son of mine. I've had sons in
my time and you're not one of 'em.
(Long pause. VINCE stares at DODGE then looks at TILDEN. He
turns to SHELLY.)
VINCE: Shelly, I gotta go out for a while. I just gotta go out. I'll
get a bottle and I'll come right back. You'll be o.k. here. Really.
SHELLY: I don't know if I can handle this, Vince.
VINCE: I just gotta think or something. I don't know. I gotta put
this all together.
SHELLY: Can't we just go?
VINCE: No! I gotta find out what's going on.
SHELLY: Look,· you think you're bad off, what about me? Not
only don't they recognize me but I've never seen them
before in my life. I don't know who these guys are. They
could be anybody!
VINCE: They're not anybody!
SHELLY: That's what you say.
VINCE: They're my family for Christ's sake! I should know who
my own family is! Now give me a break. It won't take that
long. I'll just go out and I'll come right back. Nothing'll
happen. I promise.
98 BURIED CHILD

(SHELLY stares at him. Pause)

SHELLY: All right.
VINCE: Thanks. (he crosses up to DODGE) I'm gonna go out now,
Grandpa, and I'll pick you up a bottle. Okay?
DODGE: Change of heart huh? (pointing off left) Money's on the
table. In the kitchen.
(VINCE moves toward SHELLY.)
VINCE:(to SHELLY) You be all right?
SHELLY: (cutting ca,rots) Sure. I'm fine. I'll just keep real busy
while you're gone.
(VINCE looks at TILDEN who keeps staring down at SHELLY'S
hands.)
DODGE: Persistence see? That's what it takes. Persistence.
Persistence, fortitude and determination. Those are the three
virtues. You stick with those three and you can't go wrong.
VINCE: (to TILDEN) You want anything, Dad?
TILDEN: (looks up at VINCE) Me?
VINCE: From the store? I'm gonna get Grandpa a bottle.
TILDEN: He's not supposed to drink. Halie wouldn't like it.
VINCE: He wants a bottle.
TILDEN: He's not supposed to drink.
DODGE: (to VINCE) Don't negotiate with him! Don't make any
transactions until you've spoken to me first! He'll steal you
blind!
VINCE: (to DODGE) Tilden says you're not supposed to drink.
DODGE: Tilden's lost his marbles! Look at him! He's around the
bend. Take a look at him.
(VINCE stares at TILDEN. TILDEN watches SHELLY'S hands as she
keeps cutting carrots.)
DODGE: Now look at me. Look here at me!
(VINCE looks back to DODGE.)

DODGE: Now, between the two of us, who do you think is

more trustworthy? Him or me? Can you trust a man who
keeps bringing in vegetables from out of nowhere? Take a
look at him.
(VINCE looks back at TILDEN.)
 BURIED CHILD 99

SHELLY: Go get the bottle, Vince.

VINCE: (to SHELLY) You sure you'll be all right?
SHELLY: I'll be fine. I feel right at home now.
VINCE: You do?
SHELLY: I'm fine. Now that I've got the carrots everything is all
right.
VINCE: I'll be right back.

(VINCE crosses stage left.)

DODGE: Where are you going?
VINCE: I'm going to get the money.
DODGE: Then where are you going?
VINCE: Liquor store.
DODGE: Don't go anyplace else. Don't go off some place and
drink. Come right back here.
VINCE: I will.

(VINCE exits stage left.)

DODGE: (calling after VINCE) You've got responsibility now!
And don't go out the back way either! Come out through this
way! I wanna' see you when you leave! Don't go out the
back!
VINCE'S VOICE: (off left) I won't!

(DODGE turns and looks at TILDEN and SHELLY.)

DODGE: Untrustworthy. Probably drown himself if he went
out the back. Fall right in a hole. I'd never get my bottle.
SHELLY: I wouldn't worry about Vince. He can take care of
himself.
DODGE: Oh he can, huh? Independent.

(VINCE comeson again from stage left with two dollars in his hand.
He crosses stage right past DODGE.)
DODGE: (to VINCE) You got the money?
VINCE: Yeah. Two bucks.
DODGE: Two bucks. Two bucks is two bucks. Don't sneer.
VINCE: What kind do you want?
DODGE: Whiskey! Gold Star Sour Mash. Use your own discretion.
VINCE: Okay.

(VINCE crosses to stage right door. Opens it. Stops when he hears
TILDEN.)
100 BURIED CHILD

TILDEN: (to VINCE) You drove all the way from New Mexico?
(VINCE turns and looks at TILDEN. They stare at each other. VINCE
shakes his head, goes out the door, crosses porch and exits out screen
door. TILDEN watches him go. Pause.)
SHELLY: You really don't recognize him? Either one of you?
(TILDEN turns again and stares at SHELLY'S hands as she cuts carrots.)
DODGE: (watching T. V.) Recognize who?
SHELLY: Vince.
DODGE: What's to recognize?

(DODGE lights a cigarette, coughs slightly and stares at T.V.)

SHELLY:It'd be cruel if you recognized him and didn't tell
him. Wouldn't be fair.
(DODGE just stares at T.V., smoking.)
TILDEN: I thought I recognized him. I thought I recognized
something about him.
SHELLY: You did?
TILDEN: I thought I saw a face inside his face.
SHELLY: Well it was probably that you saw what he used to look
like. You haven't seen him for six years.
TILDEN: I haven't?
SHELLY: That's what he says.

(TILDEN moves around in front of her as she continues with carrots.)

TILDEN: Where was it I saw him last?
SHELLY: I don't know. I've only known him for a few months.
He doesn't tell me everything.
TILDEN: He doesn't?
SHELLY: Not stuff like that.
TILDEN: What does he tell you?
SHELLY: You mean in general?
TILDEN: Yeah.

(TILDEN moves around behind her.)

SHELLY: Well he tells me all kinds of things.
TILDEN: Like what?
SHELLY: I don't know! I mean I can't just come right out and
tell you how he feels.
 BURIED CHILD 101

TILDEN: How come?

(TILDEN keeps moving around her slowly in a circle.)
SHELLY: Because it's stuff he told me privately!
TILDEN: And you can't tell me?
SHELLY: I don't even know you!
DODGE: Tilden, go out in the kitchen and make me some
coffee! Leave the girl alone.
SHELLY: (to DODGE) He's all right.

(TILDEN ignores DODGE, keeps moving around SHELLY. He stares

at her hair and coat. DODGE stares at T. V.)
TILDEN: You mean you can't tell me anything?
SHELLY: I can tell you some things. I mean we can have a
conversation.
TILDEN: We can?
SHELLY: Sure. We're having a conversation right now.
TILDEN: We are?
SHELLY: Yes. That's what we're doing.
TILDEN: But there's certain things you can't tell me, right?
SHELLY: Right.
TILDEN: There's certain things I can't tell you either.
SHELLY: How come?
TILDEN: I don't know. Nobody's supposed to hear it.
SHELLY: Well, you can tell me anything you want to.
TILDEN: I can?
SHELLY: Sure.
TILDEN: It might not be very nice.
SHELLY: That's all right. I've been around.
TILDEN: It might be awful.
SHELLY: Well, can't you tell me anything nice?

(TILDEN stops in front of her and stares at her coat. SHELLY looks
back at him. Long pause.)
TILDEN: (after pause) Can I touch your coat?
SHELLY: My coat? (she looks at her coat then back to TILDEN) Sure.
TILDEN: You don't mind?
SHELLY: No. Go ahead.

(SHELLY holds her arm out for TILDEN to touch. DODGE stays fixed
on T. V. TILDEN moves in slowly toward SHELLY, staring at her
102 BURIED CHILD

arm. He reaches out very slowly and touches her arm, feels the fur
gently then draws his hand back. SHELLY keeps her arm out.)
SHELLY: It's rabbit.
TILDEN: Rabbit.

(He reaches out again very slowly and touches the fur on her arm
then pulls back his hand again. SHELLY drops her arm.)
SHELLY: My arm was getting tired.
TILDEN: Can I hold it?
SHELLY: (pause) The coat? Sure.

(SHELLY takes off her coat and hands it to TILDEN. TILDEN takes it
slowly, feels the fur then puts it on. SHELLY watches as TILDEN
strokes the fur slowly. He smiles at her. She goes back to cutting
carrots.)
SHELLY: You can have it if you want.
TILDEN: I can?
SHELLY: Yeah. I've got a raincoat in the car. That's all I need.
TILDEN: You've got a car?
SHELLY: Vince does.

(TILDEN walks around stroking the fur and smiling at the coat.
SHELLY watches him when he's not looking. DODGE sticks with
T. V., stretches out on so/a wrapped in blanket.)
TILDEN: (as he walks around) I had a car once! I had a white
car! I drove. I went everywhere. I went to the mountains. I
drove in the snow.
SHELLY: That must've been fun.
TILDEN: (still moving, feeling coat) I drove all day long sometimes.
Across the desert. Way out across the desert. I drove past
towns. Anywhere. Past palm trees. Lightning. Anything. I
would drive through it. I would drive through it and I would
stop and I would look around and I would drive on. I would
get back in and drive! I loved to drive. There was nothing I
loved more. Nothing I dreamed of was better than driving.
DODGE: (eyes on T. V.) Pipe down would ya'!

(TILDEN stops. Stares at SHELLY.)

SHELLY: Do you do much driving now?
TILDEN: Now? Now? I don't drive now.
 BURIED CIIlLD 103

SHELLY: How come?

TILDEN: I'm grown up now.
SHELLY: Grown up?
TILDEN: I'm not a kid.
SHELLY: You don't have to be a kid to drive.
TILDEN: It wasn't driving then.
SHELLY: What was it?
TILDEN: Adventure. I went everywhere.
SHELLY: Well you can still do that.
TILDEN: Not now.
SHELLY: Why not?
TILDEN: I just told you. You don't understand anything. If I
told you something you wouldn't understand it.
SHELLY: Told me what?
TILDEN: Told you something that's true.
SHELLY: Like what?
TILDEN: Like a baby. Like a little tiny baby.
SHELLY: Like when you were little?
TILDEN: If I told you you'd make me give your coat back.
SHELLY: I won't. I promise. Tell me.
TILDEN: I can't. Dodge won't let me.
SHELLY: He won't hear you. It's okay.

(Pause. TILDEN stares at her. Moves slightly toward her.)

TILDEN: We had a baby. (motioning to DODGE) He did. Dodge
did. Could pick it up with one hand. Put it in the Oth,er.
Little baby. Dodge killed it.
(SHELLY stands.)
TILDEN: Don't stand up. Don't stand up!
(SHELLY sits again. DODGE sits up on sofa and looks at them)
TILDEN: Dodge drowned it.
SHELLY: Don't tell me anymore! Okay?
(TILDEN moves closer to her. DODGE takes more interest.)
DODGE: Tilden? You leave that girl alone!
TILDEN: (pays no attention) Never told Halie. Never told anybody.
Just drowned it.
DODGE: (shuts off T.V.) Tilden!
104 BURIED CHILD

TILDEN: Nobody could find it. Just disappeared. Cops looked

for it. Neighbors. Nobody could find it.
(DODGE struggles to get up from sofa.)
DODGE: Tilden, what're you telling her! Tilden!
(DODGE keeps struggling until he's standing.)
TILDEN:Finally everybody just gave up. Just stopped looking.
Everybody had a different answer. Kidnap. Murder. Accident.
Some kind of accident.
(DODGE struggles to walk toward TILDEN and falls. TILDEN ignores
him.)
DODGE: Tilden you shut up! You shut up about it!
(DODGE starts coughing on the floor. SHELLY watches him from the
stool.)
TILDEN:Little tiny baby just disappeared. It's not hard. It's
so small. Almost invisible.
(SHELLY makes a move to help DODGE. TILDEN firmly pushes her
back down on the stool. DODGE keeps c ughing.)
TILDEN: He said he had his reasons. Said it went a long way
back. But he wouldn't tell anybody.
DODGE: Tilden! Don't tell her anything! Don't tell her!
TILDEN: He's the only one who knows where it's buried. The
only one. Like a secret buried treasure. Won't tell any of us.
Won't tell me or mother or even Bradley. Especially Bradley.
Bradley tried to force it out of him but he wouldn't tell.
Wouldn't even tell why he did it. One night he just did it.
(DODGE'S coughing subsides. SHELLY stays on stool staring at DODGE.
TILDEN slowly takes SHELLY'S coat off and holds it out to her. Long
pause. SHELLY sits there trembling.)
TILDEN: You probably want your coat back now.
(SHELLY stares at coat but doesn't move to take it. The sound of
BRADLEY'S leg squeaking is heard off left. The others on stage remain
still. BRADLEY appears up left outside the screen door wearing a
yellow rain slicker. He enters through screen door, crosses porch to
stage right door and enters stage. Closes door. Takes off rain slicker
 BURIED CHILD 105

and shakes it out. He sees all the others and stops. TILDEN turns to
him. BRADLEY stares at SHELLY. DODGE remains on floor.)
BRADLEY: What's going on here? (motioning to SHELLY) Who's
that?
(SHELLY stands, moves back away from BRADLEY as he crosses
toward her. He stops next to TILDEN. He sees coat in TILDEN'S
hand and grabs it away from him.)
BRADLEY: Who's she supposed to be?
TILDEN: She's driving to New Mexico.
(BRADLEY stares at her. SHELLY is frozen. BRADLEY limps over to
her with the coat in his fist. He stops in front of her.)
BRADLEY: (to SHELLY, after pause) Vacation?
(SHELLY shakes her head "no," trembling.)
BRADLEY: (to SHELLY, motioning to TILDEN) You taking him with
you?
(SHELLY shakes her head "no." BRADLEY crosses back to TILDEN.)
BRADLEY: You oughta'. No use leaving him here. Doesn't do a
lick a' work. Doesn't raise a finger. (stopping, to TILDEN) Do
ya'? (to SHELLY) 'Course he used to be an All American.
Quarterback or Fullback or samethin'. He tell you that?
(SHELLY shakes her head "no.")
BRADLEY: Yeah, he used to be a big deal. Wore lettermen's
sweaters. Had medals hanging all around his neck. Real
purty. Big deal. (he laughs to himself, notices DODGE on floor,
crosses to him, stops) This one too. (to SHELLY) You'd never
think it to look at him would ya'? All bony and wasted away.
(SHELLY shakes her head again. BRADLEY stares at her, crosses back
to her, clenching the coat in his fist. He stops in front of SHELLY.)
BRADLEY: Women like that kinda' thing don't they?
SHELLY: What?
BRADLEY: Importance. Importance in a man?
SHELLY: I don't know.
BRADLEY: Yeah. You know, you know. Don't give me that.
(moves closer to SHELLY) You're with Tilden?
SHELLY: No.
106 BURIED CHILD

BRADLEY: (turning to TILDEN) Tilden! She with you?

(TILDEN doesn't answer. Stares at floor.)
BRADLEY: Tilden!
(TILDEN suddenly bolts and runs off up stage left. BRADLEY laughs.
Talks to SHELLY. DODGE starts moving his lips silently as though
talking to someone invisible on the floor.)
BRADLEY: (laughing) Scared to death! He was always scared!
(BRADLEY stops laughing. Stares at SHELLY.)
BRADLEY: You're scared too, right? (laughs again) You're scared
and you don't even know me. (stops laughing) You don't gotta
be scared.
(SHELLY looks at DODGE on the floor.)
SHELLY: Can't we do something for him?
BRADLEY: (looking at DODGE) We could shoot him. (laughs) We
could drown him! What about drowning him?
SHELLY: Shut up!

(BRADLEY stops laughing. Moves in closer to SHELLY. She freezes.

BRADLEY speaks slowly and deliberately.)
BRADLEY: Hey! Missus. Don't talk to me like that. Don't talk
to me in that tone a' voice. There was a time when I had to
take that tone a' voice from pretty near everyone. (motioning
to DODGE) Him, for one! Him and that half brain that just ran
outa' here. They don't talk to me like that now. Not any
more. Everything's turned around now. Full circle. Isn't that
funny?
SHELLY: I'm sorry.
BRADLEY: Open your mouth.
SHELLY: What?
BRADLEY: (motioning for her to open her mouth) Open up.

(She opens her mouth slightly.)

BRADLEY: Wider.
(She opens her mouth wider.)
BRADLEY: Keep it like that.
 BURIED ClilLD 107

(She does. Stares at BRADLEY. With his free hand he puts his fingers
into her mouth. She tries to pull away.)
BRADLEY: Just stay put!
(She freezes. He keeps his fingers in her mouth. Stares at her. Pause.
He pulls his hand out. She closes her mouth, keeps her eyes on him.
BRADLEY smiles. He looks at DODGE on the floor and crosses over to
him. SHELLY watches him closely. BRADLEY stands over DODGE and
smiles at SHELLY. He holds her coat up in both hands over DODGE,
keeps smiling at SHELLY. He looks down at DODGE then drops the
coat so that it lands on DODGE and covers his head. BRADLEY keeps
his hands up in the position of holding the coat, looks over at
SHELLY and smiles. The lights black out.)