Derek Trumbo was awarded First Prize in Drama in the 2019 Prison Writing Contest.
Every year, hundreds of imprisoned people from around the country submit poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and dramatic works to PEN America’s Prison Writing Contest, one of the few outlets of free expression for the country’s incarcerated population. On September 18, PEN America will celebrate the winners of this year’s contest with a live reading at the Brooklyn Book Festival, BREAK OUT: A 2019 PEN America Prison Writing Awards Celebration.
The Thaw (A Play)
CHARACTERS: Young’un, twenties; Old Man, fifties; Edwin, thirties
SETTING: The play is set in a 10×15-foot concrete cell, the cell shared by the prisoners housed within. Two bunk beds, several chairs, and lockers make up the majority of the cell. Also included, almost as an afterthought, is an unused table with scattered debris, and the remains of chopped pills set atop it. There is a big set of double windows at the back, covered in sheets. There are numerous items scattered on the floor, the remains of a ransacking that took place earlier. Papers and books, clothes and food wrappers litter the floor.
AT RISE Edwin lays in the bottom bunk of one of the bunk beds, he is still and rarely moves. Young’un sits on a chair center stage as Old Man paces back and forth to keep warm. It is the dead of winter, and the cell is extremely cold. The time is present.
Lights Up.
OLD MAN
You had to have something you wanted from life before you came to prison.
YOUNG’UN
You talk too much. And I know you’re freezing because I sure am, Now quiet down before you wake Edwin up.
OLD MAN
What difference does it make? It’s good to talk, talking keeps everything from . . . Why didn’t you stand up for yourself? You’ve been here a little more than five months, and you’re already someone’s prison wife. Is that what you envisioned when the judge gave you your sentence? Being a prison wife?
YOUNG’UN
You think you have it all figured out.
OLD MAN
What’s to figure out? I live in the same 10×15 square as you bubba. I see everything you and your douchebag buddy are up to. I can’t help but to.
YOUNG’UN
Do you wanna get smacked again? Edwin’s always looking for an excuse to smack the shit out of you.
OLD MAN
Is that why you let him do what he does?
YOUNG’UN
If he hears you . . . I’m not giving you your cover back, if that’s where you’re trying to take it.
OLD MAN
Why, you scared he’s going to beat us both?
YOUNG’UN
Could you stop him?
OLD MAN
Would you even attempt to?
YOUNG’UN
I’m not talking about that . . . Aren’t you cold?
OLD MAN
Why, you going to give me my cover back?
YOUNG’UN
You know how mad he’d be.
OLD MAN
Fuck Edwin.
YOUNG’UN
(Whispers.) If you wake him . . .
OLD MAN
Do I look like I’m scared?
YOUNG’UN
You look cold, and old. Like an old shoe left out in the snow. An old boot.
OLD MAN
Look, just for the sake of conversation.
YOUNG’UN
He’s gonna smack the holy hell outta both of us if we wake him.
OLD MAN
He ain’t going to do shit to me. Now as I was saying, is this—this right here—freezing your sweet little ass off what you expected from life five years ago? Two years ago? Yesterday? Better yet, is it what you expected when you let him talk you into knocking all the damn glass out of our windows? Well?
YOUNG’UN
Shut up.
OLD MAN
Or what?
YOUNG’UN
Do you see any-DAMN-body else giving a damn what I do? (Glances nervously at Edwin, who moves a bit.)
OLD MAN
Nervous much?
YOUNG’UN
You’re just as scared of him as I am.
OLD MAN
And that’s what makes me speak up. That’s why I complain, and nag, and (Louder) point out all the stupid shit!
YOUNG’UN
(Nervously glancing at Edwin.) I’m not gonna pull him offa you this time.
OLD MAN
Don’t you get it? LOOK AT HIM! He’s so high he’s not even in the room with us right now. Look here, Young’un, you really should get up, move around, get that blood of yours circulating.
YOUNG’UN
Why do you care? Why are you always sticking your damn nose in my business?
OLD MAN
Because I’m old. That’s why. Once you get past a certain age, you stop wondering what the fuck you keep stepping in, and recognize it for what it is: Somebody else’s shit. How can I keep myself out?
YOUNG’UN
You knew they weren’t gonna fix the windows.
OLD MAN
Possibly.
YOUNG’UN
And that it was gonna get cold.
OLD MAN
Call ’em seasons for a reason.
YOUNG’UN
And you let me bust them out anyway.
OLD MAN
Ain’t my windows. They the state’s damn windows.
YOUNG’UN
So you don’t give a shit is what you’re saying?
OLD MAN
Young’un, it don’t matter to me whether it’s hotter than the blue blazes or colder than a well digger’s ass, I’m always cold. You either adapt or die. Easy as that.
YOUNG’UN
Adapt then old man, I’m the one with the blankets.
OLD MAN
Yup.
YOUNG’UN
You’re about an ornery-assed old man. Look at you. What’ve you got, a set of thermals, and some sweats?
OLD MAN
Don’t forget the compression socks. Mustn’t do that.
YOUNG’UN
For all your piss and vinegar, you’re nothing but an old pushover, I took your blanket, and you let me.
OLD MAN
Yup.
YOUNG’UN
Nothing but a bitch, same as me. Just another bitch trying not to make waves.
OLD MAN
Yup. Swimming against an ocean of shit. Sounds just about right. Those currents can be treacherous.
YOUNG’UN
Fuck it’s cold. (Yawns.) I’m so tired I could sleep until count time. (Gazes at Edwin.)
OLD MAN
Let me show you something.
YOUNG’UN
I’m so tired I feel like taking them frozen-assed sheets down from the windows, and using them to make my damn bed up. A man can only wake up with his face stuck to his cold mat like it’s a slobbercicle so many times before it gets to be too much. When the officers come in for count time, tell ’em to write me up or count me in my damn rack. Fuck count time.
OLD MAN
I’ve got a few shots of coffee, some jalapenos, and a bag of red hots you and your prison daddy didn’t manage to find when you were rooting around in my shit as usual.
YOUNG’UN
And you’re telling me why?
OLD MAN
Because if you eat hot shit it gets the old blood heated up. What the fuck you mean.
YOUNG’UN
So that’s your secret? You’re not cold ’cause of red hots?
OLD MAN
The damn hiding spot’s the secret, genius. The coffee and shit’s just good old fashioned common sense.
YOUNG’UN
Edwin’s gonna know about this. You know I can’t keep nothing from him.
OLD MAN
That’s your own fault. What you need is to learn how to stand up for yourself.
YOUNG’UN
You seen what happened the last time.
OLD MAN
Beat your ass, broke your spirit, and turned you into something you’re not. Yet you still tell him you love him. Yeah, I saw.
YOUNG’UN
You don’t know what it’s like.
OLD MAN
Don’t I? You don’t do as much time as I have without growing lonely . . . and adapting.
YOUNG’UN
How ‘bout you just come off them red hots.
OLD MAN
First the coffee. (Fixes a cup, gives it to him.) Sip, don’t chug. Feel the caffeine? Drink it.
YOUNG’UN
Why are you being nice to me?
OLD MAN
Because we ain’t being pitted against each other for a change.
YOUNG’UN
That’s not what . . . It’s just his way is all . . . You remind him of his dad . . . That’s why.
OLD MAN
Every damn swinging dick in this place has family issues.
YOUNG’UN
He loves me.
OLD MAN
I just bet he does.
YOUNG’UN
Sometimes you just wanna feel . . . good for a change . . . you know?
OLD MAN
I had a boy once, young, outgoing, charming, and an ass like Greek marble. Not a hair on his ass or legs. And when we kissed. Let’s just say I ain’t never had someone who could make my knees weak, rod hard, and head swim all at the same damn time, Yeah, I know what it’s like.
YOUNG’UN
What happened?
OLD MAN
I stopped being what he needed me to be. The cold set in, and it got harder to thaw the old blood. Even the world’s best kisser can’t miracles make. In time both the rod and the back bend with the weight of age.
YOUNG’UN
He left you. Wow. Thanks for the sob story.
OLD MAN
My baby . . . He got sick, I loved him so much I followed him all the way to the last stop . . . Hospice care. I held his hand . . .
YOUNG’UN
Yeah, that’s a shame. We’re clean.
OLD MAN
You ready for them jalapenos?
YOUNG’UN
Let me finish this cold ass coffee.
OLD MAN
Shouldn’t have broke my hot pot. Now, eat one, then sip the juice. Eat, sip, eat, sip. And walk around while you do it.
YOUNG’UN
I’m good.
OLD MAN
Do it, or no red hots.
YOUNG’UN
Fine. (Walks and eats.)
OLD MAN
So, how’d you like them Lortabs?
YOUNG’UN
I didn’t. I don’t know shit about pills.
OLD MAN
Mmm-hmm. (Sits, relaxes.)
YOUNG’UN
Remember when Edwin got that wild idea of squirting out all Jaime’s inhaler, and drying it out until the mist crystalized and he could snort it? That’s what gave him the urge to get into your meds.
OLD MAN
Mmm-hmm. I sort of figured that out.
YOUNG’UN
If you hadn’t complained about all the pain
OLD MAN
Edwin’s a piece of shit.
YOUNG’UN
He said you were dying . . . I’m wearing two covers, why am I still cold?
OLD MAN
That would be because Edwin wouldn’t know a Lortab 10 from a hole in his ass,
YOUNG’UN
Those weren’t pain pills were they?
OLD MAN
Nope. You and your dumbass prison daddy just got finished snorting nearly an entire month’s worth of my diabetes medication.
YOUNG’UN
We what?
OLD MAN
That’s why you’re cold. Your blood sugar has crashed, heart rate’s slowing, and that tired sluggish feeling washing over you is your body’s way of telling you just how bad you’ve fucked up. Consider it a hibernation you’ll never wake from.
YOUNG’UN
Edwin! (Pulls back the covers, Edwin isn’t moving.) He . . . he’s not . . .
OLD MAN
He’s not going to be needing those blankets.
YOUNG’UN
You . . . you knew.
OLD MAN
Ready for them red hots?
YOUNG’UN
He’s gonna die.
OLD MAN
Who you going to save, him or you?
YOUNG’UN
I . . . I think I’m ready for those red hots.
OLD MAN
Figured you would be. Used to be my favorite when I was your age, before prison. Yeah, how about you come over here and get you some feel good. How’s that sound?
YOUNG’UN
(Takes the candy, paces as he eats.) Count time’s coming, them COs gonna know what’s happened. They’ll say we killed him once they notice Edwin’s not—
OLD MAN
Listen to me son . . . You’re going to need those blankets he’s got.
YOUNG’UN
(Throws off his covers.) I’ll just freeze with him. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll flip a coin, leave it to fate.
OLD MAN
(Laughs) Ha! Ha-ahhh . . . Been pissing blood for a month or three, too damn stubborn to get myself checked out. Figured if they ain’t caught it by my B-day I’d just take it as a sign. Mmm-hmm.
YOUNG’UN
When’s your birthday?
OLD MAN
Six months ago . . . Right before you got here.
YOUNG’UN
I don’t think I can make it to count time,
(Paces, lost in thought.)
Old Man begins to clean the cell.
OLD MAN
I called my boy Muffin . . . No, everybody else called him that . . . I called him . . . I used to clean up after him too . . . He was such a stinker . . . I miss him.
YOUNG’UN
The sheets! All this time it’s been the sheets,
(He looks at the window, and forms an idea.)
OLD MAN
I called him my Sunshine. All those years and I never once told him . . . I couldn’t allow myself to . . . Everyone knew what we were. What he meant to me. And that didn’t . . . I sat there holding his hand, and couldn’t say it. Mmm-hmmm.
YOUNG’UN
(Tears the sheets from the window.) Don’t you see? Everyone forgot we knocked the windows out. The COs saw the sheets, and truth be told, couldn’t care less why it was so cold in here. They knew we knocked them out during the heatwave and—Don’t you see? They will come in at count time and see the windows out and—
OLD MAN
Mum-hmm.
YOUNG’UN
When they ask what happened? I’ll tell them. I’ll tell them everything. I’ll say Edwin. That’s what I’ll say. Edwin happened.
OLD MAN
Mmmm . . .
YOUNG’UN
And come spring— I always wanted to jog. You know? I wanted to— Come spring I’m gonna take up fucking jogging. Then running. Maybe I’ll just start out chasing people. I’ll run as far, and as fast as I can, and folks will say I’m chasing the devil. You hear me old Man? I’ll run just for the hell of it.
To hell what anybody thinks . . . Is that crazy?
OLD MAN
. . .
YOUNG’UN
(Checks on him, no response. Young’un takes Edwin’s blankets, and covers the old man. He sits beside him and holds the old man’s hand.) I know I’m probably talking too much, but I’m gonna be a runner. You’ll be so proud of me. You’ll see. Just as soon as spring comes, Mmm-hmm.
THE END
