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Characters: Mason, Lionel, Augusta, Veronica, and Mr. Howard Bishop.
Premise: Prior to the auction, Veronica made copies of Peter's tape recording of her
and Mason's conversation. She gave some to Lionel.
(Lionel enters the room where Mason and Mr. Bishop are already present.)
Mr. Bishop: Good afternoon, Mr. Lockridge.
Lionel: Mr. Bishop.
Mason: Hello Lionel.
Lionel: Mason.
Mason: You're looking well.
Lionel: I hope you feel the same way after I've outbid you this afternoon.
Mason: (Laughs), I'm afraid there is little chance of that.
Augusta: (Enters the room). Oh good, you haven't started yet.
Lionel: (Surprised). Augusta! What the devil are you doing here?
Augusta: What do you mean what am I doing here? I came to take part in the auction.
Lionel: No, you're not. They don't even want you here and I don't want you around. I'm
doing the bidding and I don't want you nudging and interfering.
Augusta: I'm not going to be interfering but I have every right to be here. That property is
partly mine and I want to know what's going to happen to it. Lionel, you cannot exclude me.
You can put me out physically but I'll keep coming back.
Mason: (To Mr. Bishop). Any chance of putting an end to this little domestic squabble? She
isn't going to be here, is she?
Lionel: (Suddenly defensive over Augusta's right to be there). And why shouldn't she if she
wants to be?
Mason: It was my understanding that this was to be a private auction.
Lionel: She is a party at interest here. She has a right to know what's final with this
disposition.
Mason: All right, let her stay.
Augusta: I should think so. Thank you, Lionel.
Lionel: You're welcome, my dear. Oh, Mr. Bishop, this is my wife, Augusta.
Mr. Bishop: How do you do, Mrs. Lockridge.
Augusta: How do you do? Are you conducting this auction?
Mr. Bishop: Yes, I am.
Augusta: Well, I'll sit right here where I won't be in the way. (She takes a seat at the table,
and Mr. Bishop takes a seat next to her in the middle of the table.)
Mason: Lionel, you know you could save us both a lot of time and money if you'd simply
default right now.
Lionel: That isn't in the cards, Mason. I'm not going to default.
Mason: I want it more than you do.
Lionel: We'll see.
Mason: You know if you hadn't been so stupid in the first place, the Capwells wouldn't even
be in a position to buy the property.
Lionel: Well, if C.C. Capwell hadn't been so stupid to have made love to you mother,
Pamela Pepperidge, you wouldn't of have been born. Somehow I think that's the greater
stupidity.
Mr. Bishop: (Stands). Well, if we're all here, I'll call my stenographer in and we'll get started.
Mason: The sooner the better, Mr. Bishop. (He takes a seat at the far end of the table as
Lionel sits at the other end, next to Augusta.)
and Mason. She's there to take notes for Mason.
Mr. Bishop: Let the bidding open on parcel number 657 lots 5 through 55 here fore
commonly known as the Lockridge beachfront property but in fact belonging to the Cuzoni
Foundation. It is agreed and understood that all proceeds from this auction will go to them for
charitable uses. Mr. and Mrs. Lockridge, first bid is yours. I must request that it be in writing
so there's no confusion.
Lionel: (Writes down his bid and passes it to Mr. Bishop.)
Mr. Bishop: Thank you. (He reads the bid.) Please let the record indicate that the first bid
made by Mr. Lockridge is for two million dollars.
Mason: (Writes on a piece of paper and hands it to Mr. Bishop. He stares at Lionel with a
poker face as Mr. Bishop reads the amount.)
Mr. Bishop: Mr. Capwell has put in a bid for four million dollars. Is there another bid?
bid! Is he crazy?
Lionel: (Returning Mason's poker face stare while talking
softly to Augusta.) Hush.
Augusta: (Still whispering.) That's too much! Four million,
that's just too much!
Augusta: Even the Capwells can't afford to throw money around like that!
Mr. Bishop: Excuse me, is there another bid?
Lionel: (Lionel writes on a paper, passes it to Mr. Bishop and returns to staring across the
table at Mason.)
Mr. Bishop: Mr. Lockridge has put in a bid for five and a half million dollars.
Augusta: (Coughs). Oh! (Stands up and while trying to catch her breath she gasps.) Lionel!
Veronica and Lionel are standing on either side of her. Mr. Bishop and Mason are
seated.
Lionel: Are you all right?
Augusta: (Removing the bag from her mouth.) I'm fine. (Returns the bag to her mouth.)
Veronica: Do you want some more water?
Augusta: (Removes the bag.) I assure you, I'm really fine. It's just the ventilation in here that
leaves room to be desired. I'm all right. (Returns to breathing into the sack.)
Mr. Bishop: Then shall we continue? (Everyone nods, and Lionel and Veronica take their
seats.
Mason: (Writes down his next bid and passes it on to Mr. Bishop.)
Mr. Bishop: Mr. Capwell has offered a bid of 7 ½ million dollars.
Augusta: (The bag is on the table, but she's breathing hard as she lowers her head and
covers her eyes with the back of her hand. She looks like she's about to faint.)
several seconds, and then Lionel writes down his next bid and
passes it on to Mr. Bishop.)
Mr. Bishop: Mr. Lockridge has offered a bid of 10 million dollars.
Lionel: (Still giving away no emotions, he calmly stands up.) Would anybody mind if I take
my wife out for a little air?
Mason: Of course not.
Lionel: (He pulls out a small package from his pocket, he seems to think about what he's
about to do before speaking.) Mason, a messenger dropped this off for you. (He slides the
package across the table and it stops in front of Mason. Veronica looks very tense and
uncomfortable as Lionel helps Augusta exit the room.)
Mason: (He opens the package and reads a note that came with it.)
Mason,
You bid one farthing higher and a copy of this tape will be played for your tyrant father on
his birthday! I've four more copies where this one came from.
Mason: Howard, you have a cassette player don't you?
Mr. Bishop: Yes Mason, I do. (He retrieves it and sets it down in front of Mason.)
Mason: Um, do you think I could be alone for a minute?
Veronica: Yes, I think we could all use some air. (She gets up and leaves anxious to get out
of there.)
Mr. Bishop: Yes, of course. (He and the stenographer leave the room.)
Mason: (Alone in the room, he listens to the tape recording of him bashing his father. He
doesn't say anything but looks extremely distressed, his breathing is labored. He reads the
note again and then crumbles it up. He looks as if there is a mixture of emotions churning
around inside of him. At times he looks like he could either cry or go into a rage.)
Mr. Bishop: (Pokes his head back into the room.) Mason, are you ready to continue?
Mason: (Is deep in thought and doesn't acknowledge Mr. Bishop's question.)
Mr. Bishop: (Sharply this time to get his attention). Mason!
Mason: (Looks up at him but doesn't answer.)
Mr. Bishop: I was wondering if I could bring the Lockridges back in?
Mason: (Just looks at him without answering.)
Mr. Bishop: Are you ready to continue?
Mason: (With a strained voice.) Yeah. Bring them in.
Mr. Bishop: To restate the position taken before our adjournment, the last bid was made by
Mr. Lockridge and the amount was 10 million dollars. Mr. Capwell?
Mason: (Stares at Lionel intently for several seconds. He then writes something down on a
piece of paper and passes it on to Mr. Bishop.)
Mr. Bishop: Mr. Capwell has placed a bid for 10 million 5 hundred thousand dollars.
Lionel: (Stands up and gathers his belongings.) Mr. Capwell has the property. (A shot of
Augusta and Veronica looking sad, and then Lionel helps Augusta to her feet and they
depart.)
Veronica: (Pretending to be happy for Mason.) Well, congratulations, you got what you
wanted.
Mason: (Looking tense and not very happy.) Thank you. I guess I did.
Mr. Bishop: (Passing a paper over to Mason for a signature.) I'll have all the other papers
for you as soon as the Cuzoni Foundation signs over the deed.
Mason: Thank you. (Signs the paper and hands it back.) I'd appreciate it if you kept this as
quiet as possible. Let everyone involved know that this property is to be a birthday present
for my father, and that absolutely nothing should be said about it.
Mr. Bishop: I understand. It's going to be quite a birthday!
Mason: (His voice lacks any signs of joy.) Oh, it's going to be one hell of a birthday. (He
strokes the cassette player.) Believe me.
Mr. Bishop: I'm sure your father will find you a loving son.
Mason: (Laughs bitterly and then adds sadly). Yeah, I hope he will.