A Single Action

by
Javier Chavez

Fall 2008

Craft of Dramatic and Visual Writing I

Leslie Lee
LIGHTS UP.

SCENE I

It is high noon. We are in a well-cared

for saloon. The main bar sits center
stage, toward the back. A multitude of
glasses and bottles array the back
wall. KIRK and JACK sit at the bar on
stools. Attending them is COOPER.
Behind them are three tables, each with
four seats; they are all empty. Stage
left, snaking its way from the main
bar, is a staircase. The saloon’s
entrance is stage right.

KIRK
So these two guys wind up at a cemetery, trying to find the
gold. Problem is the one guy who knows the name of the grave
ain’t talkin’! He wants to be in charge, but the other guy
won’t let him.

JACK
Ain’t that a bitch. How’s it that they ended up with the
separate pieces of information?

KIRK
I don’t remember.

COOPER
(polishes glass)
They got the information at separate times from a dying man.
He told the first guy about it. That guy went to get water,
and meantime the other man got the second piece of the
puzzle.
KIRK
How’d you know that story, bartender?

COOPER
Hank talks about it every now and then. He believes it’s
true. I bet it’s just a legend. Two men find out a pile of
gold is hidden in a cemetery and one knows the place’s name
and the other knows the grave. That couldn’t happen in real
life.

JACK
Tsk, this guy acts like he knows what goes on in the world!
You ever left the comfort of this here saloon?

KIRK
Hank probably doesn’t let him!
 2.

COOPER
I do leave town on occasion!

JACK
Ever end up having to kill to save your life?

COOPER
No...

JACK
Thought not! Well, I have. And I’m mighty fine at taking out
anyone wanting to come between me and my life.

KIRK
Yer all talk. I ain’t seen you shoot even a coyote.

JACK
Jus’ ‘cause you haven’t seen me don’t mean I can’t work a
gun.

JACK
I bet you can’t work it as good as me. I had to shoot my way
through a whole tribe of Injuns one time.

KIRK
Those bow and arrows of theirs ain’t so hard to outrun on a
good horse. And if you’ve got a gun, you can pick ‘em off
like daisies.

COOPER
Just because I haven’t been in many gun fights with lunatics
like you doesn’t mean my life has been easy. It’s still not
easy...

KIRK
Ah, doncha worry ‘bout it, bartender. We’re just playin’ with
ya. Not everyone’s cut out for the harsh life of the West.

COOPER
I’ve survived.

KIRK
How well?

COOPER
Well enough. I got my property, my health.

JACK
Bartender, you better rough yourself up a bit before someone
else does.

COOPER
It’s a bit late for that...
 3.

JACK
Eh?

HANK walks in from stage right. He

wears a dirt-ridden brown duster. His
face is unshaven. A silver revolver is
attached around his belt. HANK walks
toward the bar; he sits on a stool to
the left of the two men.

KIRK
Wind just blew in somethin’ foul...

JACK
(whispers)
Keep quiet!

KIRK
(whispers)
What, are you scared? Ah, he’s probably no fiercer than a
rooster. People puff up his feathers with those crazy stories
but in the end he’s probably a chicken!

JACK
(whispers)
You’re drunk! Stop foolin’!

COOPER
If you two are done here, I’d suggest you leave.

KIRK
We ain’t done with our drinks yet. And even if we were, we
ain’t leaving till we want to leave.

JACK
I’m gettin’ out of here.
KIRK
Suit yourself. I’m having another round. Bartender, gimme
some whiskey.

COOPER grabs a bottle of whiskey from

the back wall and pours it into the
man’s glass. HANK shoots a glance at
COOPER. JACK walks to the door but
stops short of exiting.

HANK
Gimme a drink.

COOPER
What kind, Hank?
 4.

HANK
Same as this gentleman here.

COOPER grabs a glass and pours the

whiskey into it. He takes it over to
HANK.

KIRK
Bring that back! That’s my whiskey!

COOPER stops. The glass rocks in his

hand as he trembles. JACK faces the
bar, his eyes wide open.

KIRK
I said bring that back! If Hank wants some whiskey, then he
can get his own bottle. I bet none of those stories about ya
are true! The hell d’you think you are, coming in here? You
think ya own the place or somethin’?

HANK
Actually, I do.

COOPER
Hank, now that’s not true. I’m the owner...

HANK
Bartender, just gimme my drink. No one asked you anythin’.

COOPER sets the glass down in front of

HANK, who drinks the whiskey in one
gulp.

HANK
Bring me the bottle.
COOPER grabs the whiskey bottle and
places it next to the glass in front of
HANK. KIRK stands up and bares a gun on
HANK.

KIRK
You damn dog! That’s my whiskey!

HANK
(drinks from the bottle)
Not anymore.

JACK
Come on, man! Let’s go!

KIRK
I ain’t leavin’ till I’ve taught him a lesson.
 5.

COOPER
Listen to your friend! Get out of here.

HANK
Cooper, keep your mouth shut. In fact, what are you doin’
standing around here? Go get my money.

COOPER lowers his head and leaves the

bar. He goes up the stairs. JACK walks
over to KIRK.

HANK
As for you, well, I’d suggest you leave this saloon with your
friend.

KIRK
Who do you thi-

JACK
Come on, man! Let’s get out of here!

JACK pulls KIRK away from HANK. The two

men walk out of the saloon. HANK takes
a swig of the whiskey, then walks out
of the saloon. COOPER walks down the
stairs, a brown pouch filled with money
in his hands. As he walks over to the
bar, a cry is heard outside followed by
two gunshots. COOPER is visibly scared.
HANK enters and sits at the bar again.
COOPER places the pouch on the counter.

COOPER
Here it is, Hank...

HANK
You’re a good man, bartender. You know not to do anything
stupid, unlike those two.
(takes another swig)
I’ll be on my way.

COOPER nods. HANK grabs the bottle of

whiskey and the pouch. He turns to walk
out as MAUREEN runs down the stairs and
goes over to COOPER.

MAUREEN
What happened, Eli? I heard gun shots...

MAUREEN pauses as she sees the bandit.

HANK turns around and eyes her.
 6.

HANK
Well, hello there, Maureen. How are you doin’ on this fine
day?

MAUREEN
It’s Mrs. Cooper to you. And I was doin’ just fine until I
heard those two shots. Probably came from you.

HANK
Well, now, there are plenty of guns around here besides
mine...

COOPER
(under his breath)
That’s a lie right there, you dog...

HANK
What was that, Cooper?

Pause.

HANK
You’ll keep your mouth shut if you know what’s good for ya.
Say, Maureen, why are you still with this dumb bartender? A
woman like you seems to cry out for adventure. Doesn’t suit
you to live your life stuck here.

MAUREEN
I’m quite happy where I am. I wouldn’t change anything about
it.

HANK
Oh, really?

MAUREEN
Well, except for you. I’d make you disappear if I could.
HANK
Such harsh words, Maureen. I bet your life would be quite
borin’ without me.

HANK walks over to MAUREEN. He takes

hold of her around the waist, pulling
her closer to him. He still grips the
bag of money. She protests, but can’t
break free of the grip. COOPER rushes
over to them and tries to grab at HANK
but is harshly pushed against the bar
and slumps down.

MAUREEN
Let me go, you brute!
 7.

HANK
How ‘bout a little kiss, Maureen?

MAUREEN
It’s Mrs. Cooper! Let me go!

MAUREEN manages to slap HANK, and

follows by spitting in his face. HANK
answers her attack by slapping her
across the face and pushing her onto
the floor. HANK wipes his face; he
smiles. He turns to leave.

HANK
I’ll be back next week, bartender.

HANK exits stage right. COOPER stands

up, holding his back. He walks over to
MAUREEN and lifts her up.

COOPER
Are you okay?

MAUREEN
How I hate him! I wish he’d leave us alone...

COOPER
So do I. It’s getting so exhausting, Maureen.

COOPER walks to the other side of the

bar and sits on a stool. MAUREEN pours
some alcohol into a glass and offers it
to him. COOPER accepts it.

COOPER
It’s the same thing every week. He comes in here, asks for
the money, then leaves once he gets it.

MAUREEN
(whispers)
And he always does...

COOPER
(ignores her remark)
He took everythin’ last week - even the pennies! He saw a
bunch laying on the counter and just poured them into his
bag, all the while smiling. He didn’t need those; he had
enough bills with him. He just took the coins to prove he
could. And I...I did nothing to stop him. I never do. The
best part is, I haven’t seen his gun since the first two
times he came. He knows I’m scared stiff just by the sight of
him. Hank just walks in here, sits down and tells me to give
him the money and I do. I never say anything. I just stand
there, like an idiot! And it’s so exhausting!
 8.

It’s drain on me. I get no relief at any point, because I

know he’ll be back. D’you have any idea what it is to have
only thievery to look forward to? It’s like the summer sun,
the heat just sappin’ every bit of energy from you. Even the
sweat’s the same! But you can’t do anythin’ because it’s the
sun. It’s a part of life. The sun doesn’t get scared of
anyone, it just takes your strength, even from a distance.
And there’s nothin’ I can say that’ll make it stop, that’ll
make him stop.

MAUREEN
He’s not as strong as the sun...

COOPER
He may as well be! There’s nothin’ I could say to make him
stop harassin’ and stealin’ from us. The only thing a man
like that understands is a gun...

COOPER drinks from the glass. MAUREEN

pours alcohol. COOPER stares at the
glass.

COOPER
Maybe that’s what I’ve gotta do. Maybe that’s it, Maureen. If
I shoot him dead then he’ll stop.

MAUREEN
You don’t know how to use a gun! You’ve never even held one
before!

COOPER
(smacks the counter)
I can learn, can’t I? Yes, that’s it. That’s what I gotta do.
I’ll get a gun and the next time he comes around here, I’ll
shoot ‘im. Haha, bang! Yer dead!
MAUREEN
But he’s a crack shot!

COOPER
Well, so what? Sure, he’s got more skill than me, but he can
slip up. I can get a lucky shot in.
(takes a swig)
But then I might not and he’s bound to hit me for sure...and
that’s all it would take. Just a grazing bullet could take
away my health, even if I don’t die. And if he doesn’t bite
the dust, what then? He’ll come back and take even more
money, if that were even possible! And who’d run the bar?
Who’d make the money to pay him off? I wouldn’t be able to
stand, let alone serve drinks. And you couldn’t do it,
Maureen, you couldn’t! The men here would be too much for
you. But if we don’t pay Hank then what’ll he take? Our
possessions? He’d barge upstairs and take what we own! He’d
probably...he’d probably take you! You saw what he just did.
 9.

He’s eyed you before now, I know. I’m not dumb. But he’s
never laid a hand on you. What’ll he do next time? He might
try to take you even if I were just fine! I can’t let that
happen! No, I can’t let him do it. I won’t!

MAUREEN
Poison him instead, Eli!

COOPER
Poison? I can’t do that. I have to shoot him. It’s the only
way to stop a dog like him. Face him down like he faces me.
Tomorrow mornin’ I’ll go to get a gun.

MAUREEN
With what money, Eli, with what money?

COOPER
I’ll...I’ll trade in something! I’ll find a way. And I’ll
practice all week. I’ll practice until he comes around again
and then I’ll...I’ll shoot him. I won’t miss him, I swear...I
can’t miss. You’ll see, Maureen. He won’t bother us no more.
Then we can rest. I just gotta face him down...

Lights slowly dim. In the darkness, we

hear COOPER talking.

COOPER
Just one shot...bang.

SCENE II

LIGHTS UP.

The next day. The saloon is now a

makeshift gun range. The tables are
gone and the bar area is obscured in
very low light. COOPER faces stage
right as he stands center stage holding
a gun. JIM stands next to him.

JIM
Okay, now, what you want to do is aim straight at the target.
If yer even one inch off, you’ll completely miss.

COOPER
The gun is pretty heavy...

JIM
Well, what d’ya expect, son? It kills. It ain’t gonna be a
light weight piece of human engineerin’.

COOPER
Well, I just don’t see why these things need to exist.
 10.

JIM
They just do. Can’t question that part of us, son. Now, go
ahead and shoot.

COOPER shots the gun. He pulls back.

The gun falls to the floor.

COOPER
Ow-ow-ow!

JIM
Damn it, son, don’t let that recoil scare the pants off ya.
You’ve got bigger things to worry about.
(picks up the gun)
The recoil happens quickly, and you could probably throw the
bullet off its path jus’ a tad if you move your arm fast
enough, which you seem good at doin’. Try again.

COOPER
(aims the gun)
I just need to get one shot. How can that be so hard?

JIM
Cooper, that man ain’t a lightweight. He’ll empty his
revolver before you get a single shot off.

COOPER
(shoots the gun, is less
affected by recoil)
I could get lucky...

JIM
Luck! Luck doesn’t win a gun fight. Sure, it might give you a
bit of an edge, but it takes more than that to win.

COOPER
Do you think I have a chance?

JIM
Well, son, I won’t lie to ya. You’re up against some
impossible odds. I’d say find some other means to solve this
problem of yers, but maybe you’re right. This could be the
only way to make sure he stops comin’ by.

COOPER
Yeah...but I also need to prove to Maureen that I’m a good
husband.

JIM
What?

COOPER
(aims the gun)
He...he grabbed her yesterday.
 11.

I’m afraid of what he’ll do next week. Or the week after. He

could end up takin’ her from me...

JIM
That’s rough, Cooper. Your money’s one thing, but your wife
is another. I don’t know what else I can do for ya. Maybe you
can try sneakin’ up on him...

COOPER
I can’t do that.

JIM
Why not? It’s probably the only way you’ll be able to kill
him.

COOPER
That wouldn’t be fair. I’d be a cheat. I couldn’t look
Maureen in the eye, knowin’ I killed a man like a coward.

JIM
Oh, that’s horse shit! In the end, a man does whatever it
takes to make sure he and his kin can live. If you see a
chance to take a shot, you take it, Cooper. Don’t let any
stupid thoughts enter your head. You aim that gun and you
pull that trigger.

COOPER shoots the gun. Lights down.

SCENE III

LIGHTS UP.

A week has passed. It is one o’clock.

There are two men at the stools; one of
the tables is fully occupied while
another is filled by two men. COOPER
stands behind the bar, polishing a
glass.

MAN
Pour me another, bartender.

COOPER pours alcohol into the man’s

glass. HANK enters from stage right.
COOPER backs into the wall, causing
some bottles and glasses to fall.
Everyone eyes COOPER, then turn their
glances toward HANK, who walks up to
the counter. He sits next to the man
COOPER attended and drinks from the
man’s glass.
 12.

MAN
Hey!

HANK stares at the man, a harsh look on

his face. The man wavers before leaving
the saloon. HANK turns his back to
COOPER and roves his eyes over the
patrons. They all stand up and walk out
of the bar. HANK faces COOPER, who
proceeds to pour more alcohol.

HANK
No. Gimme something good.

COOPER sets the bottle down. He

searches along the back wall for a
stronger and better drink. He pours it
into HANK’s glass. HANK drinks.

HANK
Ah, that’s it. That’s better.
(sets down the glass)
Where’s my money?

COOPER
Not here.

HANK
Well, run along and get it.

Pause.

HANK
What are you waiting for, bartender? Go get my money!

COOPER
(sweat pours down his face)
No...

HANK
What?

COOPER
I’m...I’m not giving you my money...

HANK
(pounds the counter)
You mean my money!

COOPER
No. I worked for that money, so it’s mine. You...you just
steal it from me!
 13.

HANK
And I make it mine by doing so! Bartender, you’re asking for
trouble if you don’t get me that money right now.

COOPER
I’m not going to give you any more money!

HANK
Oh? Is that so? You don’t seem to understand how this works.
I come here every week and collect payment for my services.

COOPER
What services?

HANK
Protection, bartender. I make sure no jackasses come and hurt
your business.

COOPER
What? Protection? You’re only lookin’ out for your best
interest, which is making sure you’re the only one robbin’ me
so you can get all the money. You’re the one I need
protectin’ from!

HANK
(laughs)
Well, so what if I look out for myself? Helps you, don’t it?

COOPER
No, it doesn’t...

HANK
Well, I think it does. But right now you’re messing the whole
plan up. See, I’m still looking out for myself but you’re the
one causing the problem, bartender. If I help myself here,
it’ll only mean trouble for you. I’m trying to do ya a favor.
Gimme me the damn money, and I’ll forget this
little...incident.

COOPER
It’s not your money. I’m not giving it to you.

HANK
That’s where you’re wrong, bartender! It is my money! D’you
know why?

Silence.

HANK
(pulls out his revolver)
Because I can take it whenever I want! And if I can take it
whenever I want, then that means it’s always mine!
 14.

COOPER clenches an object behind the

counter. HANK notices the tightening
arm.

HANK
What’d ya got there, bartender? You plannin’ somethin’
stupid?

COOPER
I’m not giving you my money.

HANK
(points the gun at COOPER)
You will if you know what’s good for ya.

COOPER
No. You’ll just keep coming back, just like you have been for
the past three months. I’m tired of it. I won’t ever again
let you take my money.

HANK
Bartender, it’s in my best interest to keep ya alive. This
little business arrangement of ours works out nicely for me.
But if you don’t pay up soon, I’ll have to end our contract.

COOPER
I’d like to se-

HANK shoots the revolver. COOPER ducks.

Shards of glass fall behind the
counter.

HANK
I mean what I say. Don’t think I won’t kill ya.

COOPER
(gets up)
I...I’m not afraid of you...

HANK
(menacingly)
Ya coulda fooled me. I’ll tell ya what, bartender. I can
wait. I’ll give ya three hours. You gimme my money then, and
I’ll think about letting you go with just a scratch. If you
don’t, well, the scratch’ll be much bigger.

HANK puts his gun away. He exists stage

right. COOPER stands, trembling. He
pulls out a gun and clangs it on the
counter. He stares it. Lights fade
around all but the gun. It glimmers
against the surrounding darkness.
Eventually this light fades to black.
Scene IV
 15.

LIGHTS UP.

Three hours have passed. HANK and

MAUREEN sit on the stools. They are the
only ones in the saloon.

MAUREEN
Eli, don’t do this! He’s going to kill you!

COOPER
I have to, Maureen. It’s the only way he’ll stop. And who
knows, I might get lucky...

MAUREEN
But what if you don’t? You’ve only been shooting that gun for
a week. He’s been putting bullets inside of people for years,
I bet.

COOPER
Everyone slips up some time. Maybe I can just hit him, and
not kill him. If that happens, he can be jailed...

MAUREEN
Jailed? The sheriff here can’t stop him. What makes you think
he’ll be able to this time? And what’s to stop him from
shooting you while he’s down? If you don’t kill him, he’ll
still have enough strength to pull the trigger!

COOPER is silent.

MAUREEN
And what’s to stop him from breaking out, if he does get
caught? Then he’ll come back for revenge! And what he’ll take
we can’t get back! Please, Eli, just give him the money!
COOPER
No! Maureen, you gotta understand. This is the only way to
end this. He’s like a hungry dog. If you keep feeding it,
then he’ll keep coming back for more. The only way to stop
him is to either ignore him or shoot the poor beast. We can’t
ignore Hank; he won’t let us. The only option is to gun him
down...

MAUREEN
But Eli!

COOPER
(clutches MAUREEN’s wrists)
Stop it, Maureen, stop it! I’m going to go through with this!
I won’t let him harm us anymore!
 16.

HANK enters from stage right. COOPER

lets go of MAUREEN and they both turn
to face the bandit.

HANK
I’m not interrupting anything, am I? Hello, Maureen.

COOPER
(turns to his wife)
Go upstairs. Now.

MAUREEN
Maybe Hank would like a drink first, dear?

COOPER
Maureen!

MAUREEN
Come, Hank, let me pour you a drink.

HANK
Well, well.

HANK sits on a stool at the saloon.

MAUREEN goes around the bar and pulls
out a glass and a bottle of alcohol.
HANK smiles and turns to COOPER.

HANK
What’s this, Cooper? Wife runnin’ the bar now?

MAUREEN pours the alcohol into the

glass. There is a faint, odd color to
the alcohol. HANK turns around and
takes a swig.
HANK
Ah! That’s the stuff! You sure know how to please a man,
Maureen.

MAUREEN smiles.

COOPER
You served him a drink. Now go upstairs, Maureen.

MAUREEN leaves the bar and goes to the

stairs. She partially climbs them,
stops, and sits down, listening to the
conversation.

HANK
(turns to COOPER)
Do you have my money, bartender?
 17.

COOPER
No.

HANK
You’ve made a stupid mistake.

COOPER
I’ve made the only decision you’ve left me with.

HANK
You could pay me.

COOPER
That’s not an option.

HANK
(sweat pours down his face)
Sure it is. It’s always been an option...

COOPER
No, Hank. You leave me with a single action to take: paying
you off. But I’ve had it. I won’t let you take my money any
more. And I won’t let you take my wife!

HANK
Your wife? Well, she sure is as shiny as a coin.

COOPER
Shinier, you bastard! And she’s not yours! She’s mine! I
won’t let you take her from me!

HANK
(wobbles)
Suit yourself. Let’s go outside, bartender. Let’s see how you
plan on taking me down.
COOPER walks to the back of the bar and
grabs the gun from behind the counter.
HANK laughs, then walks out, wobbling.
COOPER walks to the center of the
stage, looks back toward the stairs,
and walks off after HANK. MAUREEN runs
out toward center stage. Her arm juts
outward, trying to call her husband
back. It droops to her side. She
cradles herself on the floor. As she
closes her eyes, the lights dim down.
Total blackness.

A thundering gunshot is heard. A second

gunshot is heard. MAUREEN whimpers. A
sound is heard.
 18.

Lights slowly up as MAUREEN lifts her

head and opens her eyes. COOPER drags
himself across the floor, covered in
blood. MAUREEN cradles him in her arms.

MAUREEN
Oh, Eli!

COOPER
He was wobbling...I...I don’t know why...

MAUREEN
Shh, shh. Don’t talk.

COOPER
There was...somethin’...somethin’ off about him.

COOPER coughs. His breathing slows

down. His eyes start to close.

MAUREEN
I helped Eli...I helped!

LIGHTS FADE.