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O'Neill, Eugene, 1888-1953

"The Hairy Ape"

Who is that boob talkin'? He's the bloke they brung in
out of his head. The bulls had beat him up fierce.
YANK--[Dully.] I musta been dreamin'. I tought I was in a cage at
de Zoo--but de apes don't talk, do dey?
VOICES--[With mocking laughter.] You're in a cage aw right.
A coop!
A pen!
A sty!
A kennel! [Hard laughter--a pause.]
Say, guy! Who are you? No, never mind lying. What are you?
Yes, tell us your sad story. What's your game?
What did they jug yuh for?
YANK--[Dully.] I was a fireman--stokin' on de liners. [Then with
sudden rage, rattling his cell bars.] I'm a hairy ape, get me? And
I'll bust youse all in de jaw if yuh don't lay off kiddin' me.
VOICES--Huh! You're a hard boiled duck ain't you!
When you spit, it bounces! [Laughter.]
Aw, can it. He's a regular guy. Ain't you?
What did he say he was--a ape?
YANK--[Defiantly.] Sure ting! Ain't dat what youse all are--apes?
[A silence. Then a furious rattling of bars from down the
corridor.]
A VOICE--[Thick with rage.] I'll show yuh who's a ape, yuh bum!
VOICES--Ssshh! Nix!
Can de noise!
Piano!
You'll have the guard down on us!
YANK--[Scornfully.] De guard? Yuh mean de keeper, don't yuh?
[Angry exclamations from all the cells.]
VOICE--[Placatingly.] Aw, don't pay no attention to him.


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