The Initation

The Initiation
A One Act Play
By Charlie Fischer

SCENE ONE

(Prior to opening scene, loud sounds of motorcycles are heard.)

(Here the lights go up on the inn scene. The proprietor is seen hanging a picture on the inn wall. He is standing on a ladder holding a hammer and a nail (with the picture to be hung leaning against the wall) when three members of The Lost Souls Motor Cycle Club crash in.)

Sammy Silky O’Malley

Old man. Come off the ladder.

[Here Sammy pulls the innkeeper off of the ladder. Sammy slams a wrench into the old man’s head again and again until the old man falls to the floor dead. Sammy says, while killing the Innkeeper.]

Here is some pay for letting me visit old man. Here take this tip for your hospitality. Now, take this crowning for being the king.

[While Sam is killing the old guy, the other two members of the gang are arranging the ladder, picture and hammer to make it appear as if the proprietor fell off the ladder.]

[While arranging the death scene to look like an accident took place, the two bikers speak, but not to step on Sam’s


Billy

Harry watch me act like a patriotic citizen. ‘Down with El Salvador,’ the biker pushes over the ladder onto the floor.]

Harry

Great work sweetheart. Here’s my hammer throw.

[Harry throws the hammer next to the ladder-not foolishly hard, but a small underhand toss.]
[The three bikers, on leaving]

We are out of here.

Harry

Silky, you’re in with us now. No turning back got it?



Sammy


Billy is next.

[Motorcycle rumble and the noise fades out.]

SCENE TWO


(The body of a middle-aged man lying on the floor. Along the body is a ladder, and next to the ladder are a painting and a hammer and a nail. It appears the man fell down while trying to hang a painting. The man is obviously dead.

[Enter a Woman]



[She screams, and runs to the body checking for breathing. She puts her head down on his heart. She screams again. She speaks out loud.}

He's dead. Tommie, my Tommie

[Talking to the dead corps.]

How did you die? Did you fall? Jimmy should have hung the painting. Why, Tommie, why you? What now? What about me, Tommie? Jesus!

`[The woman goes to the desk and sits; she prays]

"Dear Jesus, bless my husband's soul; take it to heaven; please, Jesus, Amen."

[The woman telephones the police.]

Hello, my husband has had an accident; he fell off of a ladder while hanging a painting; he is dead. We are here at 3456 Coastal Highway 1, The Beach Sand Inn. Thank you

[The lady prays softly, not audibly, but unmistakably praying]

(Enters Detective Vibes)

DETECTIVE EUGENE VIBES

Detective Vibes, County Investigations. Who are you?

WOMAN

My name is Janice; he's my husband. We are the owners here.

VIBES

[Checking the pulse and breathing of the body.]

Your husband has run this place, but won't now. Are you going to be all right? Would you like to speak with a trauma psychologist?

JANICE

Anything to help.

VIBES
[On the telephone.]

Jergoson, send the coroner up here. The corpse of the dead Inn keeper is in the office; put Dr. Phillipson on the phone; there is a woman here-the deceased’s wife. I would like for her to receive some therapy. Thank you-later, Jorgensen.



[Janice takes the telephone utters responses as:]

JANICE
“Yes, doctor, I will Dr. thank you... [Goes on and on with Dr silently”


[Into his hand held tape recorder]

VIBES

Who ever walked in the blood was here after the accident. Maybe a customer walked in, saw the accident, turned around and stepped in the blood as he walked out. I'm going outside and check for fresh tire marks. [Vibes goes out the front door of the Inn]

JANICE
[Talking on the telephone audibly]

“Doctor, I should have had Jimmie hang the picture a month ago. I feel so guilty. Yes, no. Oh, I will doctor. Thank you. Good by.”

[Enter Vibes]

No car tire marks, but 8 or 9 motorcycle tire marks. Looks like this Inn had some biker guests who might not be members of the Friends to Innkeepers Society.

JANICE

Motorcycle tire marks? I heard some motorcycles making that terrible noise they make about an hour ago, detective, but that’s enough for me now. I’m going to my room.

[Janice leaves.]


SCENE 3


[Sounds of motorcycle pulling up. Enter Billy]

Are you a detective?

VIBES

I am Detective Vibes, who are you?

BILLY

Billy, the applicant, Jackson. I know what happened here. Been riding with The Lost Souls Motorcycle Gang, but left them in Half Moon Bay; they’re going to Santa Cruse. I said my other pair of Christian Dior designer leather gloves fell out of my pocket while I was balling Jennie over there (He points out the window.) I am now on your side, not The Lost Souls.

VIBES

Was it a Lost Soul who left their boot sole in this soul’s blood, or was it solely you? Let me see your boots.

[Vibes looks at the bottom of the Biker, Billy’s boots. A beeping of a motorcycle’s horn and the sound of the bike pulling out of the Inn’s parking lot is heard.}

[Billy jumps to the window]

BILLY

Oh, oh Mike, the Waxer, followed me back here.

VIBES

Why did you come back?

BILLY

I want police protection; I know who killed this guy.

[Enter the coroners’ men; to remove the body. Vibes holds the front door opened for them while they speak softly to each other, evidently and obviously about the dastardly deed]

VIBES

[Walks briskly up to Billy]

Will you give the police a taped confession?

BILLY

The Witness Protection Program, huh-please.


VIBES

Testify on the stand, you go away protected: new ID, locale, work, friends, and all else-even some reconstructive surgery if you want.

BILLY

I am to kill a member of the Ching Chan Bad Bikers next Saturday. An applicant to the Lost Soul needs to commit murder as an initiation. My initiation is scheduled next Saturday at 2:00pm in San Francisco, at the Steel Balls Dragon. Chow will be there, and I am to kill him by poisoning his drinks.


VIBES

An Initiation fulfilled by murdering someone? Jesus, I must be hearing things. You are under arrest. You realize that your statements will be used in a court of law, you have the right to remain silent, if you need an attorney, you will have one. Knowing what I said, do you still want to speak about this and their crime?

BILLY

How can I be under arrest? I turned myself in?

VIBES

You don’t see hand cuffs on you? Need to make this official. You'lll be in the Witness Protection Program, but since you have witnessed a murder that you knew was to take place and did not come to us, you are a criminal. You have aided and abetted a criminal; you are an accessory to the fact. It is the duty of U.S. citizens to report felony violations or premeditated felony violations to the police. Even Priests and Psychiatrists need help us stop criminal activity.

BILLY

Look, I came to you with conclusive evidence, proving just who killed the innkeeper here. Now, you promised that I would have protection. What is this about being a criminal?

VIBES

You are an accomplice to this murder, yet since you will testify, I will see to it that you are not charged, and you will be put on the witness program. Now, again, what is the name of the lucky guy who was to usher you into this motorcycle gang of yours?

BILLY

Mike Chow.

VIBES


How did Chow get so lucky in becoming your dues into your joyful club?

BILLY

The biker has the same make and model bike as the president Henry, and Henry doesn’t like anyone ridding around the Northern Coast Highway to have the same bike as his.

VIBES

Henry sounds like a jealous woman who sees another wearing the same dress at a party. t How a person could be so jealous is unimaginable. Yet, I have heard of women tearing out the hair of another that dons the same apparel.

VIBES

[Now telephones the California Highway Patrol]

Hello, this is Deceive Gene Vibes; give me Captain Francis. Hello Mel, Gene. We are into a murderous gang, Mel. The outlaw bike club, The Lost Soul's Motorcycle Club, is currently on the way to Santa Cruz, probably around San Jose on Highway 1. I have an eyewitness to their murderous ways. Gene, I want them arrested, brought to the San Mateo station for questioning about their involvement in an Inn Keepers death here in the Beach Sand Inn about two hours ago. They tried to make it look like the Inn Keeper fell off of a ladder and died, but just listen to my witness. Listen, Mel.

[He puts Billy, the witness, on the phone, and Billy says to the Calif. Highway Patrol]

VIBES

[To Billy]

Tell this Highway Patrol Captain enough information for him to pick your ex-gang up.

BILLY


Don't forget your promise about being protected. Hello, this is an ex-member of The Lost Soul’s Motorcycle Club. I haven’t told Vibes this yet, but I have two friends that, like me, want to testify to the murders that the members have committed. James Conrad and Mickey Charles, and I will testify to witnessing four murders and rat on the killers. Remember the thirty-year-old jogger that was found in a shallow grave near Bodega Bay (how would I know about the red ribbon she wore in her hair?) Remember about the boat at Fisherman's Wharf with the dead captain found in the hold? (How would I know that his little toe was cut off?) The press never printed these facts. Now, would you pick those murderous citizens up?


CAPTAIN MEL FRANCIS

Put Gene, the innocent, Vibes on the phone.

VIBES

Isn’t that enough to pick these guys up, Mel?

MEL FRANCIS

Vibes, do you have a computer available?

VIBES

What Inn hasn’t a computer?

MEL FRANCIS

I want you to download a video of the last trial of the Lost Souls’ Bike Club. Check it out at www.superiorcourt.net. You’ll need a user name and password: use, cop and 666.

VIBES

I hope this isn’t what I have an idea that it is!

MEL FRANCIS

It is Vibes. The Attorney General of the state, both the lower and supreme courts of the state and the California State Bar Association do not want to touch this outlaw motorcycle club. Why, I don’t know, but the Governor has refused to see any crimes any rebellion on their part. Watch the tape.


[Vibes downloads the video on the computer and when it comes up. What takes place here is that when the computer supposedly has a video image, {the lights go down to a low degree} three actors appear down stage left. One actor dressed in black, The Judge, the two others in suites with ties, the prosecution and the defense. The Judge carries on a chair with him. The idea is that the actors are acting out the video Vibes is watching on the computer screen. Lights back up on the down left scene with the Judge and two lawyers-prosecution and defense in strategic positions. There are a few actors representing the jury.]

PROSECUTION

Your Honor, the defense has lied and lied and lied about this murderous bikers’ club. Our District Attorney has presented three-eye witness with conclusive proof and physical evidence enough to more than prove that the members of The Lost Soul’s Motorcycle Club are guilty of murder one. In spite of this testimony and evidence, this court has turned a deaf ear to the facts. I pray that you see the facts as I do; these members and the others are murders. The initiation into the Lost Souls' Club is to commit murder; there are 38 members, ladies and gentlemen, 38 killers, and you remain silent.

DEFENSE

Your Honor, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, as Americans, you realize riding motorcycles is a way of our life; it didn’t used to be; motorcycle riders were thought of as rebels to the American Way of Life. Why, I ask you are these innocent bikers accused of the most horrendous of deeds, that of murder? The initiation into their club is not murder; it is paying a $1,200 initiation. Why has law enforcement continued to disregard the outcome of preceding prejudiced and unjust trials of motorcyclists and follow the antiquated, erroneous, prejudiced and un-American way of thinking towards these innocent riders? I assure you, after these Free Americans, and there are mighty few totally free Americans, are found innocent, I will file a reverse suit demanding money for being put through this current ordeal. I have not overlooked the prosecution’s witnesses and evidence, but the kind of citizens that the prosecution is trying to present as credible witnesses is a disgrace. He belies his own case by presenting the very witness he, himself would like to prosecute as murders. Just what kind of mockery is this prosecutor making of himself and our legal system? May the truth rebuke his entire line of reasoning?

JUDGE

Council, refrain from directing your dialogue to any entity, save that are present in person.

DEFENSE

Yes, your honor. This is the entire truth, your honor. My clients have a small business of taking photographs of crime scenes. They listen to their scanners that are tuned into the local police dispatch communications and motorcycle themselves to the locations heard on these police calls. The boys, here, sell their photographs to insurance companies’ lawyers so the eternal truth may be known.

PROSECUTION


I object to the phrase eternal truth, your honor.

JUDGE


Sustained. Strike eternal truth from the record, court reporter. Now, the jury will deliberate the statements heard in this court, and come to a decision as to the suspects’ guilt or innocence. Remember the amount of evidence presented by the prosecution must be enough to leave no reasonable doubt in your minds as to the suspects’ guilt. The suspects must be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; the law doesn’t mean a small shade of unreasonable doubt. You must reason from the prosecutions’ case that the suspects are guilty beyond all reasonable, not unreasonable, doubt.

[A pause, --The judge leaves the stage, with the jurors. The judge returns with the verdict in his hands.]

JUDGE

Will the officer of the court please read the jury's verdict?

COURT OFFICER

The jurors have found the defendants, The Lost Souls Motorcycle Gang, innocent of all charges. Court dismissed.

[Judge bangs gavel. Lights out on the part of the stage that was the court [Judge and officer exit] and up on Vibes at the desk within the Inn’s lobby area.]

VIBES

Well, Billy, you came to the wrong people. We, the upholders of the law, have let justice down. You are free to go, and I am unable to have the gang arrested. Why, I’m not sure, but you can bet your life, that a whole lot of money and I mean a tremendous amount has been put in some powerful political and or judicial people’s pockets to turn their heads when The Lost Souls Motorcycle Gang goes by.

BILLY

The club sells coke, speed, and heavy, now; if I go out there, I am a dead. Please, help.

VIBES

Since you have been put in a precarious, life-threatening situation, you should want to do absolutely anything for me if you want to stay alive.

BILLY

Tell me what you want.

VIBES


I want to start a gang war between the Ching Chan Bad Bikers Club and the Lost Souls Motorcycle Gang Bikers.

BILLY

OK, I have some ideas. Here’s a shot of Mike Chow. This is the guy I was supposed to kill next Saturday. Here’s some photos of our girls, you know, sweethearts.


VIBES

So-how do a few photographs help me start a gang war?

BILLY

I can digitally enhance these photos by scanning them to that PC. I am able to create images of Mike Chow balling the Lost Souls Motorcycle Gang girls. If we download the images I am able to create to the Lost Souls Motorcycle Gang e-mail address; the members will see Mike Chow balling their women.

VIBES

The Gang would see Mike Chow having sex with their women, and then what?

BILLY

The Lost Souls Motorcycle Gang would be on The Ching Chan Bad Bikers like ducks take to water. There would be your gang war.

VIBES

What are you waiting for? Create, man, create.

[Billy places the photos he has on the scanner, and works on the PC after downloading an Adobe Photo program]

BILLY

There. Look at these enhanced photos.

VIBES

Wow! Holy man. Those look like real, Dude; I mean really real. Go ahead. Download them to your ex-club’s e-mail.

BILLY

Ok.

[Billy goes to work. A light fade out, a pause. Lights up.]

Done! Inserted some text too. When the Lost Souls Gang looks at those images, hell will bread loose.

VIBES

What did the Chinese text say?

BILLY

Go to hell brainless, bad, bullshit, bum bikers. Now, hell will surely raise, you think, Billy? There will be a war between the Ching Chan Bad Bikers and the Lost Souls Motorcycle Gang Bikers?

BILLY

Hey! There’s a refrigerator. Do you think the lady, here, would mind if we took a peep?

VIBES

Go ahead.

BILLY


Hey! There’s some lunchmeat-bread. What say we have some scarf?

[Billy eats.]

VIBES

Make me a sandwich, my man. Let’s wait for our work to bear fruit.

BILLY

[Making a sandwich]

Here, Vibes-you’re a cool detective.

VIBES

Hope the lady won’t mind our indulgences, here.

[Telephone rings]

JANCE

[On phone]

Oh my Jesus, detective, a street fight has erupted in Chinatown. The Five O'clock news is showing blood running in the streets.

[Vibes turns the TV to channel 6]

ANNOUNCER

Ladies and gentlemen, the Ching Chan Gang, an outlaw motorcycle club, has fallen victim to a rival, The Lost Souls Motorcycle Gang. There has been fighting for the last ten minutes. Guns are being fired, bike chains are being swung, and the bikers of both sides are falling in the street-some dead, and many are injured. Ambulances are coming and going; the police are now, throwing mace into the gangs' faces. Arrests are being made. KILO will be right back with more on this melee, but now....

VIBES

Billy, you have committed a horrendous fabrication and have perpetrated a fraud upon a murderous motorcycle club. I have a friend in Sacramento who will be willing to help you and the others who wanted out of the Lost Souls Motorcycle Gang. I’m putting you up in a hotel near where I live for tonight, and tomorrow we’ll go and take advantage of my friend. Hand me some more meat and bread, Billy; is there any ketchup in there?