BBQ

Diner is welcoming; white and red checked table clothes; clean linens.  Uniformed patrol officer is sitting at the counter sipping coffee.  Waitress is wearing red apron with white uniform dress underneath.  She moves effortlessly as if she's done this her whole life.  Through a side window several motel rooms can be seen.  Paint is fresh if not new; colors are bright and cheerful. Rustle of pots and pans as well as cooking noises can be heard from the open chef's window behind Marie.

MARIE

Get you any more coffee, Officer?

Officer Jim makes a grab for Marie's waist which she deftly avoids and manages to not spill any coffee giving him a big grin instead.

OFFICER JIM

I've told you a hundred times Marie honey.  Call me Jim.  Naw.  I gotta get back out on patrol.  Been chasing leads for the big city detectives regarding those folks missing around these parts.  You ain't heard anything have ya?

MARIE

City folks disappearin'?  Naw.  Don't get many strangers hanging out around here.  We are a bit isolated and get the occasional trucker running through.   Wasn't there a boy that disappeared a bit ago?  Never heard what happened with that.  Brothers were around here a while making a fuss.  If we can help at all, let us know.

OFFICER JIM

Yeah, the boy disappeared about 8 weeks ago.  His brothers were out here searching the lake.  No one saw him come out here but they swore he said he was going fishing.  They never found him.  About a week or two after that, one of the forest rangers came across an arm belonging to a hiker.  Never found the rest of him.  But that was way up on the other side of the ridge.  No reason to think he'da been down here.

MARIE

Just an arm?  Now that's odd.  Do you think animals got to the rest of the body?

MELODY

(o.s.)

Seriously Marie.  That's just disgustin'.  How can you even think like that?  You don't think it'll affect turn out at the BBQ do you Jim?  Its so close and that kind of thing tends to put people off. 

OFFICER JIM

Naw.  It'll be fine, Ms. Melody.  Sure lookin' forward to your BBQ, though.  Whole town is talking about it already. 

Officer Jim gives Marie a wink.  Marie sits on the stool next to Jim, puts the coffee pot on the counter and rests her hand next to it.  Jim reaches across and squeezes it; both look towards Melody's window but don't see her.

Mumbling can be heard from the window but nothing coherent.

OFFICER JIM

Also had that older couple disappear way on the other side of town.  Went out for a jog together and never came back.  Found their clothes and fanny packs next to a waterfall.  People think they went skinny dipping and drowned.  But never found the bodies.  Was some blood there too but medics didn't think was enough to be worried about.  Could have contributed to their drowning though.

MARIE

That's terrible.  It has been pretty cold. 

Jim pats her hand one more time, then holds it as he gets up to leave.  Kisses it gently, then puts on his coat and hat winking at her again.

OFFICER JIM

Been a few more like that but all further away.  City cops seem to think the missing are centered in this area around town.  Anyway, be careful and keep your eyes open.  Don't want anything happenin' to you.

MARIE

Take care then Officer.

Officer Jim tips his hat and leaves.

MELODY

(o.s.)

What you have to be so nice to him for?  Next thing you know he's going to be asking you to marry him.  Don't mess with this Marie.  We don't need that kind of complication.  The BBQ is in a few days, you know.

MARIE

Oh don't worry.  I got him right where I want him.  You have the BBQ covered, right?  Everything is ready?

Before Melody can answer, the bell above the door jangles and Trudy walks in.

TRUDY

Afternoon.  Do you know how I might be able to get a room next door?

MARIE

Why sure honey.  I can help you with that.  How long you want to stay?

TRUDY

Just tonight.  My car is acting up and I swapped cars with the mechanic in town.  Said he'd have it ready by this evening but I'm too tired to go anywhere later.  Heard about this place so I thought I'd just stay the night, if you have a room.

MARIE

We sure do have a room.  Four to be exact.  Don't get many over night visitors.  Not really that much to see out these parts.  Not that we don't mind the company, my sister and me, but why all the way out here?

TRUDY

Well to be perfectly honest, I'm a bit of a ghost buff and I hear this place is haunted.

MARIE

(cringing)

Well they do say that but me and my sister ain't seen nothin'.  If there are ghosts here they are real quiet.

MELODY

(o.s.)

Wouldn't dare mess with us, them ghosts.

MARIE

That's my sister.  She does the cookin'.

Marie hands Trudy a registration card.

MARIE

Just fill in the bottom part.  Its the unit on the outer end.  Real quiet down there.  Here's your key.  Diner here is open until 10 and opens again at 6 for breakfast. 

TRUDY

Thanks.  Don't usually eat breakfast and I plan an early start in the morning.  I would love a steak with some kind of potato tonight though.  I'll go put my bags in my room and be right back.

MARIE

You got it.  It'll be ready for you when you get back.

Trudy leaves and a car engine can be heard starting and driving away.

Melody comes into the room, wiping her hands on a towel.  Food can be heard sizzling in the background.

MELODY

Seems nice.  Want to invite her to the BBQ?  And to answer your earlier question, yes, we are a bit short on the main course for it but I think I can figure something out. 

MARIE

(thinking)

Hmmm...  That's really your call, Mel.  But I say let's see if she has family first.  We don't need nothin' like the last fellow with those damn brothers wandering around here for a month.  That was annoying as hell.  I'll quiz her over dinner.  She seems friendly enough.  Didn't seem to mind talking about herself.  I would imagine it gets kind of lonely traveling all the time.

Melody goes back off stage.

MELODY

(o.s.; chuckling)

Would imagine it would.  Okay.  But we may not have a choice. 

Trudy comes back and sits at the counter.  Marie pours her coffee, gives her the newspaper off the end of the counter, sets creamer, sugar, steak sauce and ketchup next to her.  Marie takes a plate off the counter behind her adds a few condiments and sits it in front of Trudy.  Marie leans against the counter.

MARIE

So what brings you to these parts besides Uncle Raymond?

TRUDY

Uncle Raymond?  I don't know ....

MARIE

Sorry!  Just assumed since you said ghosts that you knew the story.

TRUDY

I just heard from that mechanic that the lake was haunted when I asked him about ghosts and stuff.  He didn't seem real willing to talk about it so I didn't press it.  One thing I found is that people are either ghost people and love to talk about it or they ain't.  No changing them.  He was a definite 'ain't'.

MARIE

Uncle Raymond is our resident spook or so people claim.  He's also family.  Can't see it now cuz its dark out but there is a big lake right behind the property.  Some say the old man was crazy nuts.  Completely off the deep end.  He never went anywhere except once a month he'd get groceries in town.  Never spoke to anyone unless he was cornered.  Grouchy as all hell.  The kids were afraid of him. We weren't allowed to visit except once a year for the annual BBQ.

MELODY

(o.s.)

Member the time we dared Susie Brickwater to go knock on his door?  I swear she peed her pants!

MARIE

(rolling her eyes)

All he did was fish.  Grocery lady said he once told her there was a big one in there and he was aiming to catch it before he died.  So every day he'd go out on the lake and fish.  And every day he'd come back empty handed.

MELODY

(o.s.)

Watch out young lady.  She's gunna be getting you to believe this crap.  Its just a story, member.

TRUDY

I don't mind.  I like scary tales.  Used to be my pa would tell me all kinds of things to try to make me have nightmares but I never did.

MARIE

Why would he do that?  Seems awful cruel thing to do to a little girl.

TRUDY

It was kind of a thing between us.  I'd think of the most awful things that could happen to little girls and tell him that's what happened to me and he'd think of the scariest ghost stories and say that's what happened to him.

MARIE

What about your mom?  She couldn't have been happy about that.

TRUDY

Naw.  Mom wasn't around much.  She traveled like me.  Pa was the one home all the time.  She did tell me once that he made up the stories.  I didn't believe her ... I was 6 and doted on my pa.  One day, she just didn't come home.  I know he made up the story why she didn't but I didn't care.  I had pa.

Melody and Marie both uttered an exclamation of sorrow.

TRUDY

One of the reasons I travel is cuz of the ghost hunting I like to do.  Reminds me of pa.  I work for a company that sells clothes wholesale and they like me to be there when some of the bigger shipments show up just to make sure all is well.  But in my free time, I visit all the haunted houses and ghost towns.  Tell me more about Uncle Raymond, please?

MARIE

Just your pa?  You got any other family?

TRUDY

Nope.  Actually don't even have pa anymore.  Passed about two years back.  As far as personal, too much on the road for a relationship.  Last one I don't even remember breaking it off.  Just hit the road and never went back.  Uncle Raymond liked to fish, huh? (prompting)

MELODY

(o.s.)

Shouldn't let those relationships slip away.  No one will remember when you are gone.

Marie again rolls her eyes.  Trudy grins at her then gave her a questioning look as if to say 'what's her story.'

MARIE

(whispering)

Just ignore her.  Her ears are covered in bacon grease and she can't hear everything so makes stuff up.  Likes to think she's part of the conversation when really no one knows she's there.

MELODY

(o.s.)

I can hear you just fine missy and I'll thank you to mind your own lousy personal life.  People like me way better than they do you.

Marie rolls her eyes one more time then ignores her.

MARIE

(sits down next to Trudy)

Yeah.  Uncle Raymond would go out every day.  One day a couple with a small boy about 8 or 9 happened to get a flat tire right out here.  While their pa was changing the tire, the little boy wandered to the lake side.  He saw Uncle Raymond in the boat and asked him what he was doing.  When Uncle Raymond replied 'fishing' the boy wanted to go.  He whined so much that finally his folks said yes.  The boy climbed into the boat with Uncle Raymond and they headed toward the middle of the lake.

Melody comes on stage; wipes her hands on a towel.  She leans on the counter across from the two girls

MELODY

Now that mom was a worrier.  She practically stared holes in the boat the whole time the boy was out there.  But nothing happened.  Except one thing.  Uncle Raymond caught a fish.  Then another.  Then a third.  Remember now that he'd never caught anything ever until that day and that little boy.

MARIE

Uncle Raymond was so grateful he invited the couple to have a BBQ of fish and steak with him that night.  They agreed seeing how happy the old man was.

They had the BBQ out on the boat dock.  Everyone had a great time and the couple decided to spend the night and start on their vacation again the next morning.  Sometime during the night, the little boy took the boat out.  No one knows when but it and he were gone by the time everyone woke in the morning.  They searched high and low for that little boy but couldn't find him. Found the boat up by the road.

MELODY

After a while everyone gave up but Uncle Raymond.

MARIE

I remember I was maybe 5 when he came to pa yelling about how the town had given up on the boy.  The parents had even disappeared the night before having given up when the police did.  He swore someone took him.  He was mad as hell that the sheriff and town folks would just give up. And the parents ... he was mad as hell about that, too.

MELODY

But he refused to stop looking.  One night he went out on the lake and drowned.  It's his spirit that haunts the lake and this motel and diner that used to be his house.  He's still looking for that little boy.  People claim they smell the BBQ sometimes.  And usually that's when someone disappears.  They think Uncle Raymond is luring people with the smell of BBQ trying to find someone else that can help him find the boy.

Marie

He's the reason we have the yearly BBQ here at the diner.  To remember the little boy and his last night in this world.  Uncle Raymond started it that year when this was his house and when we bought the place and turned it into a diner we took it up. 

TRUDY

Did they ever find him?  The little boy I mean.

MELODY

Nope; never did.  He just vanished. 

TRUDY

(pushing her empty plate aside and wiping her face with a napkin)

That's an incredible tale.  Do you have actual reports of sightings?

MARIE

Yeah.  People tell us they see him rowing on the lake all the time.  But we never heard or saw anything ourselves.

TRUDY

(heading to door)

Well, I'm off to bed.  Maybe I'll take a trek around the lake before I turn in.

MARIE

Stay on the path.

Next Afternoon.  Officer Jim comes into diner.

OFFICER JIM

Afternoon ladies.  Can't stay long.

MARIE

(pouring coffee)

Afternoon Officer.  Still chasing leads?

OFFICER JIM

Call me Jim, Marie.  Damn it you are a stubborn woman.

MELODY

(o.s.)

Better stop flirting with my sister, Jim-bo, and make her an honest woman.  You coming to the BBQ?

MARIE

(blushing)

How was your day, Jim?

OFFICER JIM

Fine, fine.  Yup, I am at that Ms. Melody.  As a matter of fact, Marie, before I lose my nerve again, I need to ask.  What say you and I test out the dance floor?  I promise not to take you away from servin' your BBQ for long.

MARIE

Maybe.  I might have time for a round or two.

OFFICER JIM

Great.  Taking that as a yes. Can't wait.

MELODY

(o.s.)

'bout damn time, man.  Geeze grass grows faster in the winter under the snow.

OFFICER JIM

(rolling his eyes)

Oh by the way, did you have an overnight guest last night?  Young woman, mid-20s, kind of on the thin side?

MARIE

Sure did.  Trudy.  Said she was waiting for her car to be fixed.  She's gone now though.  Left early this morning.  Something going on with her?

OFFICER JIM

She's missing.  Never called in this morning and didn't show up at her first stop.  Mechanic in town said he dropped her car here about midnight.  Said he saw her heading out towards the lake.  He called but she didn't answer.  Weird.

MARIE

Don't know.  We don't have the most reliable phone service out here.  Could be she couldn't get out.  Happens all the time.  Last night she said she was here for the ghost and I pointed out the path.  But I did hear her car this morning at 5:30 so I know she must have gotten back okay.  Her bed was slept in too when I went to change the room out this morning.  Other than that, we didn't hear anything, did we Melody?

MELODY

(o.s.)

Nope.  Nothing.

MARIE

Sorry we can't help.

OFFICER JIM

No problem.  Probably show up at her office in Denver -- that's where she was headed eventually.  Gotta get going.  Afternoon.

Officer Jim leaves the diner.  A car can be heard starting and driving off.

darken stage

MARIE

(o.s.)

You about done with those steaks?  People are starting to arrive for the BBQ, Mel.  I see a bunch of people now. 

MELODY

(o.s.)

Yup.  I'm comin'.  Just gettin' the last off the grill.  (looking at the audience)  My, my we have quite a turn out this year.  Grab a plate Marie and let's get servin'.

bring up lights; focus spot light on girls

Melody and Marie are both dressed in matching dresses with their diner's white checked aprons.  Both carry trays with several types of meat and cheese on toothpicks.  (real food not staged food)

They move out in the audience offering the tray and its goodies to them as this next sequence plays out.

MARIE

You did a fine job on the meat this year, Mel.  The texture is perfect.  I'm getting rave reviews from all the town folks.

MELODY

Thanks, Marie.  Me too.  I wish Uncle Raymond knew the cute little twist we put on his family tradition.  Think he'd be proud?

MARIE

(saucily)

I think so.  He loved his BBQ.

During their dialog, Officer Jim strolls up from behind the audience, tipping his hat greeting folks but not saying anything until he reaches Marie.

OFFICER JIM

Marie!  There you are.  Giving out your goodies to all the town I see.  What say you and I sneak away and find us a place on the dance floor.

Marie giggles and holds out her hand to him.  They exit behind the audience.  Giggling can be heard once more.

MELODY

(shaking her head)

You go ahead Marie.  I got this.  Heading back for refills anyway.

Melody goes back on stage.

spot lights fade.

lights come back up onstage.

Melody is there alone.

MELODY

Marie?  Where you at girl?

Marie comes in holding a bunch of flowers and starts putting them in the containers on the tables.  She's humming.

MARIE

What's the matter Mel?  I think today went really well.  The town loved our BBQ as usual.  We got rid of all the steaks, right?

MELODY

Yup.  Those last steaks were a bit small.  That Trudy was even skinnier than I thought.  Hardly had enough meat on her to make more than a few.  I saved 'em for last so the town folks were so drunk they didn't notice how small they were.

Melody reaches over and turns the 'OPEN' sign over and it reads "NO HUMANS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS PLAY." 

The two chuckle as Melody heads back off stage and Marie starts wiping tables.

Lights fade.