by David Budbill
Suddenly, The Angel of the Lord, a waitress, is standing in the road in front of Antoine, Doug and Tommy, her hands outstretched and up, palms turned in–the gesture of a blessing.
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD
The Lord be with you.
ANTOINE (automatically)
And with thy spirit.
The Angel begins a little hesitantly, unsure of herself. Maybe she chews gum while she talks.
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD
Behold! Be not afraid.
I have been sent to you.
I have good news for you.
DOUG
Sure you do and I suppose you come C.O.D.
ANTOINE
Zip up dere Doug. Let'er talk.
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD
Thanks, Frenchie. You boys don't remember me?
I'm the new one what's workin' nights
down to the Come and Eat.
ANTOINE
I t'ink I seen you in dere once or twice.
TOMMY (gawking)
Not me, man, I never see you before in my life.
DOUG
Okay, now you seen her. Let's go.
We got work to do.
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD
Wait. Please. I ain't out here for my health, ya know.
I got to do this. You think I'd come out here,
freeze my butt, if I didn't have to?
I'm doin' it because he wants me to. I'm doin' it for him.
TOMMY
Who?
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD
The old guy.
ANTOINE
Huh?
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD
Okay. I been workin' nights down to the Come and Eat, like I said.
Things is always pretty slow, but I like it that way. Besides,
I like bein' up all night when everybody else is sleepin'.
It gives me time to think. Sit around, ya know, drink coffee;
maybe once in awhile get visitin' with a trucker. It's nice,
especially this time of year. It's cozy in there.
We got the Christmas lights all strung along the windows
and there's a wreath on the door and a little brush on the windowsills.
It's cozy and nice. It's warm. It's nice in there this time of year.
ANTOINE
You ain’t cold?
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD
No.
Anyway. This mornin' about four, I guess it was, the door swings open
and this big gust of snow comes blowin' in and right behind it comes
this old guy. He must be eighty if he's a day. He's got on this great big overcoat what hangs down so far it's draggin' on the floor and he's wearin’ a flyer's hat, that old fashioned kind, ya know? The kind Snoopy wears when he flies his dog house. I mean, this guy
is a real sight. He's a big guy, tall and skinny, lanky. It takes him
about two steps to get across the place.
ANTOINE
Dat soun' like Uncle Forrest.
DOUG
Couldn't be. Forrest been dead for years.
ANTOINE
I know dat. What you t'ink I don't know dat he been dead fer years?
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD
It wasn't whoever that is you're talkin' about.
This guy said his name was John. John Baptiste.
ANTOINE
I don’t t’ink we got no Baptistes around here.
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD
Anyway, he sits down on a stool
at the counter and lets out this great big sigh
like he's all wore out or pissed off or somethin'.
"Coffee." he says, so I get him a coffee.
Then he starts talkin' to me real nice and askin' me
all kinds of different questions, about myself, ya know,
real nice like.
So. Pretty soon I'm sittin' on the stool next to him
fillin' up his cup as fast as he can drink, and, God,
I guess I was, I'm just starin' him in the face
and we're talkin' and laughin'. . .
Then all of a sudden he gets real serious and reaches over
and takes my hand, and his hand is bony and its still cold,
even though he’s had his hands cupped around
that hot mug of coffee, and he says
real quiet and real intense: "You have been called.
You are the one. You are the one to bring the news."
Well, I ought ta figure this guy is crazy, but I don't.
He's got me sort of hypnotized or somethin' . . .
I don't know. I guess . . . I mean . . . I really liked him,
and he didn't scare me, not at all.
So he tells me to get out my pad and write down
what he tells me I got to write, and I do.
I got it right here. Then he tells me to come out here
and read all this stuff to you. And that’s why I'm here.
Is that wild or what? I know it sounds crazy,
but that's what really happened. I mean, I think it is.
I mean, he was really there, right there in the restaurant.
I mean, I think he was.
Sure he was. I seen him. I talked to him.
I poured him coffee.
Aw, hell! What difference does it make?
I'm here ain't I? And I'm gonna do it like he told me to.
Okay. Here goes.
With gusto and purpose this time. Now she is unafraid.
Behold! Be not afraid.
I have been sent to you.
I have good news for you.
And so it was that while they were there
the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her first born son
and wrapped him in a dirty old blanket
and laid him on a dirty old bed
inside a broken down shack
because that is where they lived.
And there were in that same country pulp cutters
walking down the road and drinking
and The Angel of the Lord–
the old guy said that’s me–
The Angel of the Lord came upon them
and the glory of the Lord shown 'round about them
and they was sore afraid.
Then the angel of the Lord said unto them:
Fear not, for, behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy
which shall be to all people,
for unto you is born this day a Savior
who is Christ the Lord.
And he will say to you:
"The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because
He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and to set at liberty all those who are oppressed."
And this shall be a sign for you. You will find the babe
wrapped in a blanket, lying on a bed,
beneath that star.
Joy to the world!
Glory to God in the highest!
Peace, and Justice and Good Will
to everybody!
Go now and be with him.
The Angel exits abruptly. Antoine and Doug look to the star and begin to move toward it. When they are some distance away they realize Tommy is not with them, that he is where he was, standing, head down, dejected, they return to him.
ANTOINE
Yew ain't caumin' wid us?
Tommy shakes his head "no."
DOUG
Comeon, kid, come with us.
Tommy shakes his head "no," again.
TOMMY
You know where that star is.
It's shinin' down on Arnie's house.
DOUG
I guess it is.
TOMMY
I ain't goin'.
DOUG (quietly)
Tommy, we're goin' to see the baby.
He can't help who he got for a father.
If people judged you by your folks, you'd be
shit-out-of-luck, now wouldn't ya?
Beat
Comeon, kid, come with us. You know you want to.
TOMMY (shaking his head)
I can't go with you. I don't believe it.
Things just don't happen this way.
Doug moves to Tommy, puts his arm around him.
DOUG
Maybe not. Maybe they don’t. But let's go see.
Let's just go see. Why not, Tommy? The likes of us
got nuthin' to lose, nuthin'. Come on, kid. You know you want to.
Antoine! open up that bottle. We got to get this boy here feelin' good.
And I'll have another go-round too. Let's have another drink;
then we'll get some presents and go over there and have a visit.
Doug takes a drink.
Ow! my ulcer.
ANTOINE
Yas, Tommy, here.
Slug it good.
Tommy takes a drink.
TOMMY
But what about our work?
DOUG
Oh, Tommy, stuff the work.
You don't like it anyway.
Comeon!
The three start off toward the car.
Stuffit.
Stuff the goddamn crawler!
Stuff the goddamn saw!
(pause)
Stick a peevee up your ass
and pray for an early thaw!
TOMMY (warmly)
That ain't bad, Doug. Ain't bad.
The three wander toward an exit. They have the saw and bottle with them.As they walk they drink and visit.
TOMMY
Jeeze, you two are loonies.
You know, if I stay workin' with the both of you,
I'll get like that. I'm gonna get like you.
I will! I got to find another job.
ANTOINE
Bah! you stay wid us.
We all be rich, maybe tomorrow.
An' if we don't, dan we be lucky 'cause
we still haf' are reason why
we godda get are asses outta bed.
DOUG
Stuff it! Stuff the goddamn crawler
Stuff the goddamn saw.
TOMMY
I don't deserve this. I'm too young.
ANTOINE
Ain't nobody what deserve anyt'ing.
If you be rich, you don't deserve it.
If you be poor, you don't deserve dat needer.
Pass on da bottle.
DOUG
Stick a peevee up yer ass
an' pray for an early thaw.
ANTOINE (to the melody of the carol "We Three Kings . . .")
We t'ree kings ada puckerbrush are
cuttin' pulp, ea-tin' caviar.
Is it today, or is it tomorrow?
Where da hell iss dat star?
TOMMY
I'm too young for this. I'm too young!
Exit all. The star shines down on Gil and Arnie's shack. It floods the interior with light. Mary is in bed with Jesus. Joseph stands to one side and to the other, The Angel of the Lord, The Attending Angel–the waitress.
The pulp cutters reappear on stage. Now in addition to the saw and bottle, they have presents for the baby. Antoine has a toy chain saw; Doug, a leg of lamb and a sheep skin; Tommy has a baseball glove, a catcher's mitt.
The three move down stage center and to the melody of "We Three Kings,”they sing to the audience:
ALL THREE, TOGETHER
We are woodchucks through and through.
We draw pulp, unemployment too.
We get drunk and we get dirty
and we also chew.
Oh, we got nauthin', never had.
People think we're worthless, sad,
but, by Jesus, the angel pleased us
and we know we ain't all bad.
We three kings of Judevine are,
bearing gifts we brought from the car.
Swamp and back road, with our sack load,
following that there star.
Oh, we got nauthin', never had,
but ya know we ain't too bad.
We are brothers, got each other,
and the babe, the new-born lad.
Antoine steps forward.
ANTOINE
Dis here chain saw iss awful small,
but den again da baby ain't tall.
Whan he get bigger, dis be da rig fer
him make da tree to fall.
Doug steps forward.
DOUG
A leg of lamb, a sheep skin rug,
these are the presents what come from Doug.
One's for the parents, one's for the baby,
and I may throw in a hug.
Tommy steps forward.
TOMMY
I will give this catcher's mitt.
I love this glove; it's a perfect fit.
Many a game we've played well together;
now to the babe I give it.
ALL THREE, TOGETHER
Glorious now behold him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Sounds through the trees and skies.
Oh, we got nauthin', never had;
but we ain't useless, we ain't sad;
oh, by Jesus, the angel pleased us,
and we know we ain't too bad.
The three begin moving toward the shack and the star.
As they do, they sing, to the last two lines of the chorus:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
We ain't useless; we ain't sad.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Jesus Christ, we ain't too bad.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Let's go see the new-born lad.
They approach the shack; the angel greets them at the door, the three approach the baby.
Antoine steps forward toward the bed.
ANTOINE
Wall, dis ain't be much. Got it down to
da discount store, but maybe it be saumt'ing
dat he like. Be just like da one his Poppa got.
See, yew pull da cord and it go rum-rumrum.
Ah hope da littl' skipper like it.
Antoine leaves the toy saw on the bed and backs away.
Doug approaches.
DOUG
My wife and I boochered a lamb last night.
We figured you could use this leg, and this here skin
would make a nice rug for the baby.
Doug places the leg of lamb and the skin on the bed and backs away. Tommy does not want to approach the baby. Antoine pushes him forward gently.
TOMMY
This ain't much of a present either,
but, Jesus, I had some fun with it.
It's a catcher's mitt, ya see?
It's yours now.
You hunker down behind the plate, like this.
Tommy demonstrates.
And you say, Chuckachucka. Pitchadamitt.
Comeon, baby, Pitchadamitt.
Doug pretends to pitch. Tommy throws the ball back, pounds the glove and says again. Perhaps Antoine is the hitter.
Chuckachucka. Pitchadamitt.
Comeon, baby, Pitchadamitt.
Abruptly, Tommy looks down, embarrassed.
Well, I hope you have some fun.
Tommy leaves the mitt on the bed, pauses, looks down at the child and says:
TOMMY
Oh! sweet babe, be careful what you do!
This world is tough; it just ain't built
for all the love you got.
I fear for you.
Aw, Jesus Christ.
a man like you was shot!
Tableau Vivant.