Photo from Wikimedia
We are not mad. We are human. We want to love, and someone must forgive us for the paths we take to love, for the paths are many and dark, and we are ardent and cruel in our journey.
– Leonard Cohen
The following summer (in the 2020’s). Morning. JOE YA-KNOW, RATLER (with his dog) and JAKE are standing outside Molly Dee’s micro house, next to a woods on the grounds of a convent.
Pause.
JAKE
I told ya. She’s gone.
RATTLER
They’re both gone.
JAKE
And she loved that house more than anything.
JOE
She was a blessing in his life, and look what he did.
RATTLER
At least he didn’t burn it down.
I heard him say once he wished he could….
Him in it.
JOE
I go away for three days, and this happens.
JAKE
Nothing you could do, Joe.
JOE
Well something I can do now…. Go after them.
RATTLER
They won’t come back.
Some dudes in town were askin’ about him.
Goin’ up to people on the street, with a picture,
Askin’ if anybody recognized Griff.
Nobody did.
JAKE
Of course nobody did, Rattler. Nobody would.
RATTLER
‘Course not.
JOE
Did you ever hear what he did? That he was runnin’ from?
RATTLER
Nope.
JAKE
Me neither.
JOE
You win strange friendships streetwise
In the weakness of your pride.
RATTLER
I’ve found a few open hearts, but none with open ears like hers.
JAKE
Me neither.
JOE
Any idea where they went?
JAKE
Maybe New York. I heard her talk a lot about it.
JOE
We’d never find her in New York.
JAKE
That’s probably the idea.
RATTLER
Too many machines in New York
That can read your face walkin’ down the street.
They’re not there. I guarantee ya.
JOE
What the Hell’s the meaning of life, anyway?
Machines that can track you down the streets?
RATTLER
The meaning of life is its meaninglessness.
That we’re all left with.
Except Pooch here.
JOE
I don’t buy it. There’s got to be more.
Or else people like us would never have a Dee in their lives.
RATTLER
So what is the meaning you think, Joe?
JOE
To stay alive, I guess. Stayin’ alive.
And makin’ a difference in good people’s lives.
Like Dee. And fuck the rest of them.
JAKE
And then what?
JOE
I know what you’re sayin’.
I know everything you’re sayin’.
We all love Dee. She’s so special.
And this hurts too much to talk about.
RATTLER
It always ends this way.
No matter who you care for
In the end, they’re gone. Or you are.
JOE
In the end there’s always sorrow you mean.
I know that.
Everybody knows that.
That’s not why you care.
You care because ….
RATTLER
[beat] Because you can’t stop yourself.
And stay human.
JOE
You care because the sorrow is the beginning of something.
JAKE
Like what?
JOE
Like maybe peace…. Or wisdom.
JAKE
You’re full of shit.
There’s no wisdom in losin’ things.
Except to guard them better the next time.
I never liked that guy, Griff. Not even his name.
JOE
I’m not talkin’ anymore. I’m goin’.
RATTLER
Where?
JOE
Where Dee is…
[beat] You comin’?
RATTLER
Sorry, Man. But I’m not up to chasin’ ghosts today.
JAKE
Me neither.
JOE
I’ll call ya.
When I find her.
JOE exits.