Leaving Behind Thanksgiving

This past evening, after passing out at an hour of absurd earliness I began to dream.

Scene I

[Enter Max, escorted by twin Whoopi Goldbergs. The twins have wrapped Max's head in a burlap sack. Night, in a recently abandoned mental institution, riddled with circular stairways and ivy covered piazzas. The patients are adorned in pink and moss green outfits, the nurses sporting more pink than other to differentiate them from the mildly more chemically imbalanced

A majority of the staff have retired for the evening. The institutions lax night-time policy allows that the halls need not be patrolled and the insane left to their own devices. Noise free headphones, and well mixed medicines allow for a smoother transition into sleep]

Max: Free me foul beings, for I have wronged no one. Tis but the influence of the governments hand upon thy smiles that forces you to bear your teeth at me. Tis nearly morn' and I can as of yet make it across the border.

Twins[speaking in unison]: Child, you've wronged the men whose lapels are lined with bats that feed on the blood of the candelabra  We've no choice, and no chance, if we were to break these shackles and unfetter your eyes. You are the middle now, unruly, untrusted, and uncouth. Taken, have you, the minds of a mass and given them to the pure capitalists. We've been schooled in your ways, and trained to ignore them.

Max: Poor souls, that whither as the ivy and sinews of your clothing. Have you not lost enough, born no child, and eaten too many animals, per request of that which I abhor. I speak not as a man that desires unreasonable economic equality, but as a man of equanimity. Look to the south, your crippled ovaries can still whisper. Look to the north, your weave can still tie knots. Sing with me and bind our oppressor. Believe not the trivial blaspheming of those-that-know-no-truths.

Twins: Sleep now child, as we prick you with this needle, and after night's debate we shall reconvene with soupy breakfasts and thorough queries. You've peaked our ears, and they pain to be free from these hairnets.

Scene II

[A group of three female patients sit around their communal table, dawn visible on the horizon. What is left of a pack of cigarettes and a game of cards is being finished. Seemingly well groomed, the three women are all of rather attractive nature. They take their fashion inspiration from Monroe, Betty Boop, and Velma from Scooby Doo.

Scarlet's blonde hair riddled with vintage curlers, beings to refelct the silver sunlight. Jaime's blood red lips and jet black hair remind her of the queen of hearts as she is dealt a new hand. Olive's thick-as-wall glasses smudged with a fingerprint as she waves her hand to the cigarette cherry that has fallen into her lap.]

Nurse 1[entering with a steaming pot of coffee]: Would little triad like any sweeteners with their coffee, or are their attitudes sweet enough for this rather chilly morning?

Olive[shaking off the burning ash]: God fucking dammit Cherryl, you know we can't have sweets. We is all on a mother fucking diet where we don't have nothing white.

Jaime: Leave her be Olive, shes chides us only in the morning to wake us from whatever sleep they trick us into. Now stop burning yourself, the doctor will be simply panicked if he thinks your back at that whatever-he-calls-it. 

Scarlet: As I was mentioning my finest of friends, we've got new company in our midst. If I've got a notion about myself I'm sure I've seen him on the television. [She pauses quickly as Max is led into the room by the twins, then begins to speak more quietly.] He's got wandering eyes if I've ever seen any. With haste we should bear our bosoms to the liking of him. Quick ladies, attention to the East. [The ladies turn their attention to Max.]

Twins[to Max, in unison]: Now in regard to what we have been discussing on the eve of your arrival. We, sir, have allowed ourselves to be riddled for too long. We may well partake in some form of escape with you, should you have us. We in our breasts carry a need to be real, and free. 

Max[secretly to the twins]: Dare not smile yet then Twins. Ticking time and troublesome tricksters are still upon us. A plan, I will devise this month. Not as Moths, we will drive ourselves to the light. The sun shall stay simple, as so too will our minds. Now leave me be, distract no one, and to us, bring little camaraderie when under the eyes of others.

Nurse 2[entering with a tray of cigarettes and pills, in an old fashioned salesman getup, secretly a government agent, with intent to keep eyes on Max]: Get your cigarettes and medications, cigs and meds! The clock strikes wake, keep your lungs warm and brains squeaky clean!

Twins[attention drawn towards the new nurse, they whisper to each other while scurrying towards the break room]: The time when fresh blood flows means new wounds have been opened on the warden. This woman is no nurse. Quick, we must flee, rumors must be spread and the warden examined for new gifts. Order has been broken.

Max[to himself]: Keen adversaries are best overthrown by the meager few. These people seem manageable, with luck and smoke I may yet be free to flee. I must not fret. Old bards sing beyond these bars, and I will join them soon enough. Perhaps my cruel government has meant to teach me a lesson, here. This shall be my pilgrimage, and these unruly souls my relics to spread.