Photos by Ward Jarman
Act 4: Scene 1
EXT. THE WOODS FOR THE HUNT
WIND-THAT-NEVER-STOPS
We, two-legged creatures, cannot live unless we eat what was once alive. Survival is a matter of power. We cannot survive if we do not eat. We must exercise our power to eat. Engaging in this activity requires great respect or we will damage our spirit and begin to rot from within. I have hunted much and I have been fortunate. Many of my animal brothers and sisters have given themselves as sacrifice to me so that I may live well. Others may think that I am a good hunter, but I am good only because I have many brothers and sisters who have wanted me to live. If you succeed, do not think that it is because you are better than the life you have taken. Perhaps that life was merely given to you as a priceless gift. This is why nothing should be wasted of the life that was given to you.
COLE But if I am given the life as a gift, how is that an act of power?
WIND-THAT-NEVER-STOPS
You pull the trigger or shoot the arrow. You take the life that is given. To take a life is an act of power. To take it with deep respect does not diminish the power. The deep respect protects your spirit from the corruption that always comes with power. And… there is another power that many ignore or have never been taught. It is the power to draw gifts to one’s self. This, too, is a great power and should not be abused. Just as we should not eat more that we need, we should not take more gifts than we require. Eating and gift taking are very closely intertwined. There are some who have the power to draw gifts to themselves and they use this power to acquire much more for themselves than they need. There was a time when gluttony was consider to be one of the seven deadly sins. Gluttony was abhorrent, but many did not understand that gluttony was not just about eating to excess. Many do not understand eating as the process of accepting a precious gift from another living creature so they have no sensitivity of the power to draw gifts to one’s self. We, upright two legged walkers, have the potential for much power. The counterbalance to all that power is self-restraint.
COLE
But we have been tracking the deer and the other animals in this area for months now. You taught me the signs to notice and I am learning more about the ways of the white tail deer and the turkey. We don’t hunt bear so you have not taught me about the bear but I know that you know a lot about all of the animals in our area.
WIND-THAT-NEVER-STOPS
Of course, they are our relations, our bothers and sisters, as are the coyotes, the crows, the ravens, the chimp monks, squirrels, cows, cats and dogs. Quiet. Something is moving on our right. Be still. You take the shot.
VOICE OF MARLO
Covered from head to foot in camouflaged gear and being very still these two are passive parts of the forest. Notice how two does walk calmly, quietly, through the woods unaware of the four eyes trained upon their every move. One, slightly larger than the other, trails a bit behind the smaller one. Cole’s arrow is nocked. He’s perched perfectly, ready to effortlessly raise his bow in one smooth move. His eye is fixed on the spot his arrow will hit and his gaze is absolutely undisturbed as he pulls back the string raising his bow at the same time until he is on target and then lets fly the arrow. Swift and silent the arrow cuts through the animal and impales the ground seven feet from the grazing deer that momentarily raises its head to look around only to return to eating the fresh green clover beneath its chin. Amazed at the shot, Cole cannot contain himself at the wonder of the flight through the deer that appeared to cause no pain. Not being able to contain himself Cole whispers ever so lightly.
COLE She didn’t feel it.
VOICE OF MARLO
Notice that Wind-That-Never-Stops will not respond to Cole. His eyes have never strayed from the animals and they will never stray nor will he speak until one is down on the ground, dead.
WIND-THAT-NEVER-STOPS Why didn’t you shoot the smaller one?
COLE
I thought about it. We didn’t need all the meat that the larger animal would yield, but I thought also that the larger doe has seen more seasons than the littler one. I wanted the smaller doe to experience more of Mother Earth before she sacrificed herself so that others might live longer. Besides, we can give what we don’t need to others we know who don’t hunt. I will make sure that none of our doe sister goes to waste.
WIND-THAT-NEVER-STOPS
Let’s get to work. She is going to be a heavy carry out of the woods. There is much to do before we dress her out, get home, hang her safely up and get to sleep. The shooting is always the easiest. We now have to pay the price with our time and muscle for the gift that we were given.
Act 4: Scene 2
EXT. THE TAGGING STATION
TED Hey Paul, look at that big doe in the green truck. That’s a big doe.
PAUL
Yea, I bet she’s going to be tough eating. She’s pretty old. Should have left her to breed some more. I bet the big bucks would go for her and I bet she’d throw some prime young ones for us to hurt latter on.
TED Do you think she might have thrown a buck like the trophy you got here?
PAUL
She might have thrown this one when she was younger. We’re at the same station. They probably shot her somewhere in the area where we got this one. Let’s go over and see how friendly they are.
TED (to Wind-That-Never- Stops) That’s a big doe. How much did she weigh out?
WIND-THAT-NEVER-STOPS
The boy knows. I got coffee and donuts. Wasn’t there when she was weighed.
COLE She was about 191.
PAUL
She looks pretty old. She may be a little tough to chew. I like to shoot smaller does myself. They’re less work and they taste better.
VOICE OF MARLO
Cole doesn’t show it much but Wind-That-Never-Stops can sense Cole’s aggravation at the conversation. Notice how Wind-That-Never-Stops avoids making eye contact with Ted or Paul. He busies himself as thought there is much to be done to secure the carcass for the ride home.
COLE How much did your buck weigh?
PAUL He was 226 and a quarter pounds.
COLE He’s got a big rack of horns.
PAUL
Yep. We will see how he fairs in the big buck contest. I feel confident that I’m going to do well this year.
COLE A big buck with a rack like that must be pretty old.
PAUL
I would say so. That rack and age tells me that he was not so easy to track and bag. He’s outwitted many a hunter. But not me. Not this year.
COLE Bet he’s going to be tougher to eat than my doe.
PAUL
I didn’t bag him because I wanted to eat him. One thing is for sure. I wouldn’t put that doe on my wall, but this buck is different altogether. You best bet he’s going prominently on my living room wall, right above my home movie big screen.
VOICE OF MARLO
Notice how straight, tall and puffed up Paul is as he turns and walks away, back to his buck. Cole feels defeated.
WIND-THAT-NEVER-STOPS
Get in. Let’s go. Everything’s tied down. We need to go. . . . Now that we are alone and can speak freely, I would like you to remember the Sacred Fire. Remember its penetrating warmth and recall the feeling in you as you absorbed its healing energy. Let the bright, white light bring you to Sun and know that Sun shines on all our relations. Mother Earth, Father Sky, Sun and Moon cradle and serve all who inhabit the world through which we move. The most difficult task for me is to ignore the observational gaze of others and keep my focus on my life’s path, the journey I am to travel while I am here. In this moment, as in all of my moments, I am to do what is required, what is right for me to do, and I should do it with honor in a good way. This is very difficult at times because the challenges that the Great Spirit puts before me are sometimes very difficult to unravel or solve. I have always needed help and the Great Spirit, The Creator, has provided everything that I need to assist my journey in a good way. He has provided Mother Earth, Father Sky, Sun and Moon, the Spirits and my ancestors and relations from all four directions. The Great Spirit has provided The Universe as the best classroom in which to learn how to be in a good way along the path of my life.
COLE
But they killed that buck for his head! . . . Do you believe that buck sacrificed himself so Mr. Asshole could strut around as the “great white hunter”? It makes me think that all religious ceremonies are fairytales concocted to control The People so the select few can take, take, take and the rest of us are to say, “Thank you for the privilege of having to kiss your ass.”
WIND-THAT-NEVER-STOPS
You’re pretty pissed off. Sit quiet for awhile and remember that you didn’t shoot that buck.
COLE
But you say that you aren’t that great of a hunter, that you are only lucky because our four legged brothers and sisters have given themselves so you and others can live well. I think you’re a great hunter. You know a lot; you move well in the woods, and you’re more quiet than anyone I know. How the hell do you walk over dried leaves and twigs without cracking and snapping about.
WIND-THAT-NEVER-STOPS
Come on Cole. Now you’re making up fairy tales. You know that I make some noise when I walk through the woods, especially in the Fall when all the leaves are there to alert others of potential danger. I make noise just like you do, but I try to make it so that my noise is not alarming to others who might be listening. You’re right about one thing. I don’t stomp through the woods like a disrespectful two legged creature who knows nothing about our four legged brothers and sisters. I bet Paul doesn’t stomp around the woods like that either. He knows the animals that he hunts. He knows their ways and the ways of other four legged relations. He is comfortable in the woods, and, he doesn’t mind the work needed to be done to be successful in hunting.
If you think about it closely, Paul demonstrates a high amount of respect for the animals that he hunts and the animals he knows that he might encounter when he’s on the hunt. He respects them because he wants to exploit them. He does not underestimate them because he knows that if he does he will not be as successful at his hunt as he wishes to be. His pleasure at taking that awesome buck brother of ours comes from his knowledge and respect for the spirit power processed by that buck. He wouldn’t phrase it that way because that’s not his culture. But, he is absolutely proud about his demonstrated ability to harvest such a being as that big buck champion.
COLE
You’re a damn sight better than that egotistical macho-man. But you didn’t answer my question. Did that Buck sacrifice himself to the great white hunter?
WIND-THAT-NEVER-STOPS No.
Act 4: Scene 3
EXT. MAJESTIC PARK PICNIC
JACK BILLINGS
Your mom makes a great picnic. Her chicken is fantastic and I really like this potato salad. It has a nice slight zing to it. It must be the mustard and probably some other secret ingredient that is ever so light in application and slight in influencing the taste of the other spices. Am I right, Agnes?
AGNES
Well, I am glad that you like it, Jack, but I really just throw some stuff together with some potatoes and mix it all up. I don’t follow any recipe.
JACK BILLINGS So, Cole, how are your plans for college coming along?
COLE
I have recently been looking into St. John’s College. I’ve been reading about their Great Books program.
JACK BILLINGS
Ah! Philosophy. That would be quite impressive – to have read all of the great thinkers of the Western Civilization! I do not believe that there would be too many persons who could boast of such an educational feat. There is no doubt that, upon completing such a course, you truly would be a educated man. However, I believe such an education is impractical.
None of my business associates would have a use for such a man. Of course none would ever voice the truth of their position. Such a statement would tarnish their image, but such an application residing in a pile of applications would be dismissed at first sight. There are some among my associates that would deem such an education not only as useless, but counterproductive in the competitive market place.
There is a school of thought among some businessmen that metaphysics should never be mixed with business. Business is about risks and rewards; plotting the path to overcome the risks and hedging your bet in case you loose. In the end, the bottom line in business is all mathematics — positive and negative numbers.
COLE So my desire to know why I exist is of no importance?
JACK BILLINGS
Not in the market place — other than writing a book and trying to sell it to as many individuals as you can and then capitalizing on the associated areas of commerce like the lecture circuit or gathering a following. Now if you could establish a religious organization with credibility and integrity then metaphysics is translated into commerce and a very lucrative one at that.
COLE
So, if I do the Great Books program, then I should do so to find that new unique twist to being human so that I can package a new understanding and market it to the vast mass of individuals who want to be told what to think.
JACK BILLINGS
That could work, but I think there are many more avenues for competing in the market place that have a higher probability of success than selling metaphysics.
COLE How about selling drugs?
AGNES Cole!
COLE
No, really, mother, just for the sake of argument, consider it as a hypothetical. I’m playing the devil’s advocate just to see where this all leads.
JACK BILLINGS
Let Cole go, Agnes. There is nothing wrong with considering all points of view. As a matter of fact, considering all points of view is essential in the world of business. To see a situation from every angle is imperative to assess risk and rewards. I am interested in hearing what you have to say, Cole.
COLE
Well, if profit is the only true purpose for commerce, then making the most money in the shortest time is the goal. Everything else is immaterial detail for achieving that goal. Trading cars, food, cows, thoroughbreds, electricity, water, currency, real estate, anything and everything is the same. Everything is merely the means to the end goal, the acquisition of the greatest wealth in the shortest period of time. That being the case, what is the criteria for choosing the given trade by which to gain the greatest wealth?
JACK BILLINGS Obviously the one which will yield the greatest profit.
COLE
Yes, but the greatest profit is achieved through two aspects of commerce: first, the profit margin for each trade and second, additional trades to be made.
JACK BILLINGS Agreed.
COLE
Short term profit is the profit margin of a given trade. Long term profit is the string of trades into the future.
JACK BILLINGS
Suppose I have three employees. Call them salespersons or associates or whatever. It does not matter what title these individuals are given. Their function is basically the same. Each conducts a trade through which I increase my wealth because they work for me. Consider now that each of these three individuals conduct a trade at the same time with different consumers. At the close of the trade, I have indirectly made three trades at the same time. This would be a third aspect of commerce to incorporate into your formula for commercial success. This would be a general description of branches or additional stores in different places.
COLE
I have no disagreement with what you say. By extending yourself through the hiring of employees you increase your ability to conduct trades. However, if we were to begin to outline in detail the current economic structure at work today we would get lost in the details and quite easily loose sight of the basics. I do not want to loose sight of the basic structure of the individual (one person) aspiring to great wealth. After all, at this point in time, I am only one person. So, this is about choosing a career path. If metaphysics and philosophy, as in the quest for Truth and the “meaning” of life, is cast aside and pure economics is the bases for deciding what trade to enter, then I am, at this point in my life, simply trying to decide the trade which is best to pursue, economically speaking.
AGNES But, Cole, that’s not the way the world is. The world is not black and white.
VOICE OF MARLO
Notice Jack’s hint of a slight smile lingering as he watches Agnes respond to Cole.
COLE
Wether the world is black and white or shades of grey or rainbow colored is not the issue here. This began with the advice given about choosing a course of study as it pertains to my living “the good life” whatever that means. The premise was established as the elimination of metaphysics, spirituality or philosophy as guiding the market place and replacing it with pure economics which became defined as a simple matter of negative and positive numbers. If this is not black and white; it is certainly reductionism at its best.
VOICE OF MARLO Jack’s smile has grown. Delight radiates from his confident face.
JACK BILLINGS
What I think Agnes is saying is that if you look around you will see that there is much more in the world than economists and business persons. There is more to life than economics. There is the ballet, art and music. There is golf … and hunting and fishing.
MARLO
Cole’s slight sigh indicates a mild impatience, but he sits with respectful calmness at the interruption.
JACK BILLINGS
Cole, you look upset. I did not mean to upset anyone. I thought you wanted to engage in a hypothetical conversation about how economics plays out in the market place. The reality of the market place is, in fact, a matter of negative and positive numbers. So in this case, Agnes, Cole is correct.
COLE
I’m not upset at all and I would like to get back to the topic at hand. We have agreed that the goal in the market place is to acquire the greatest wealth in the shortest amount of time and that there are two aspects to this acquisition: the greatest profit for a single trade and the string of trades into the future. It is my observation that, of these two aspects, the long term goal of having a robust string of trades into the future is of greater importance. It is the string of trades into the future that establishes the foundation of a reliable cash flow for rejuvenating the foundation of one’s wealth. One must have cash coming in or one will eventually loose one’s wealth as the cash will undoubtably run out. To maintain one’s life, cash must always go out. While it is a guarantee that cash must always flow out, there is no guarantee that cash will always flow inward. This is the basic principle of solvency in my opinion. As the cash flow out increases while the cash flow inward decreases, the individual becomes less solvent. So, the critical factor in acquiring and maintaining wealth is maintaining and increasing cash flow or capital flow inward.
JACK BILLINGS
While your description would be considered a gross oversimplification of modern economics by most professional economists and void of many nuances and their deep ramifications for acquiring and maintaining wealth in our modern world, I agree with the foundation of your thought.
COLE
Thanks. I am not interested in describing today’s economic system. I believe that the nuances which are missing from my description are fabrications by those who have control of today’s economics for the purpose of maintaining control. These so called nuances are pertinent to today’s economics because they are part of today’s economic system created by humans for the expressed purpose of maintaining today’s system. These nuances are not a priori to the economics of greed. They are, however, posteriority of our economics in this country. These nuances are not necessary to all economics. They are, however, part of our narcissistic economics.
AGNES
Cole, you’re being rude and terribly unpleasant. Let’s change the subject. We came here to enjoy the beautiful day and fresh air.
JACK BILLINGS
I take no offense, Agnes. Cole is speaking his mind. You cannot be thin-skinned and weak to survive the competition of the market place. Go on Cole. I said that I accepted the foundation of your position thus far.
COLE
So, to maintain consistency, while I will need to seek to engage in trades that will yield as large a profit as possible, I am more interested in maintaining a long line of continual trades into the far future so that I may maintain a robust, reliable influx of cash. Market place saturation must be overcome. Issues of supply and demand must be dealt with and so forth and so on. From a purely economic point of view in which the only consideration is negative and positive numbers, addiction is the simple solution to solve all concerns. If my customers are truly addicted to the product of my trade, then I am almost guaranteed future trades. The greater the addiction; the greater the potential for higher profit margins of each trade and the more reliable are future trades. Accordingly, if I were to follow Jack’s advice, I should be a drug dealer.
AGNES
That’s absurd, Cole. Jack is not advising you to deal drugs. You’ve taken good advice, offered in good faith, and twisted into a horrible, demonic proposition. We all know what drug addiction does to a human being!
COLE
But, mom, the effects on people and society are not the issue according to Jack. The only issue is the bottom line and all bottom lines are either positive or negative numbers.
AGNES I think that’s enough. You have embarrassed me and yourself.
VOICE OF MARLO
Look at Agnes’s face as she eyes Jack. Is this shame or fear or both that I see? Perhaps it is the guilt that parents feel when they take on the offenses of their children as their own offense for their lack of instilling the correct values in their offspring. Maybe the fear we see is the fear of how Jake may retaliate against her for her son’s disrespect.
AGNES
I am sorry for all of this. I just wanted this to be a fun and relaxing day. Cole gets passionate about ideas sometimes. He’s still young yet.
COLE (Popping up to his feet)
I don’t need you to apologize for me. (He turns and walks briskly away.)
Father and Son Harvesting Food
[Motivation Is Everything]
Act 4: Scene 4
INT. BACK PORCH OF ANGE’S HOUSE
SARAH
I liked Willis; I liked him a lot, Cole. He had a really good heart. He just couldn’t figure out how to be with people. He hung with the wrong group.
COLE
Yea, but the right group didn’t want him around. Who else was he going to hang around with? Girls in the right group didn’t like him. You said you liked him but even though you liked him you couldn’t be his girl friend, could you? He hung around with people who would give him some attention, even if it was for the wrong reasons and it wasn’t very positive. Still it was his only opportunity for female companionship. Fuck, I just couldn’t babysit him 24/7. I wasn’t the brother he needed.
SARAH
I’m sorry Cole. I didn’t mean it like that. I just want to say I’m sorry. I wish I could have done more . . . But sometimes it was hard, very hard to deal with Willis. I wish I could have done it better.
CHUCK [CHARLES]
It’s ok Sarah, Cole knows you didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just hard. It’s hard for all of us. None of us are perfect. We do the best we can. Some of us do much better than others. But I sure don’t like Lawrence and his buddies.
SARAH Where’s your dad?
COLE
He didn’t want to come here. Mom blames him for Willis’ death. He didn’t want any unneeded tension added to all this emotion. He knows that he loves Willis. He knows that I know he loves Willis. It’s all good. I just hate being here too.