THE CAT-WOMAN SITS BLAND AND UNIMPRESSED IN THE CENTER OF THE STARTLING ARENA. ON THE RISERS ALL ABOUT, MENFOLK JEER AND TOSS CORNFLAKES, SPAGHETTI WRAPPERS (THIN), AND MEAT TASTEES OF PORK, BEEF AND JUNIPER HEN. THE CAT-WOMAN RAISES HER POLKA-DOTTED ARMS AND CALLS FOR SILENCE. THERE IS SILENCE. IT DAWNS ON HER THAT SHE IS THE ONE IN CONTROL (NOT THAT SHE HAS DOUBTED IT: STILL, THERE IS A MOMENT OF INSINCERITY WHEN THE FOCUS IS REVISED). THE MENFOLK JEER WITH ONE MOUTH: THE CAT-WOMAN CUTS OFF THAT MOUTH. THE MENFOLK, MOUTHLESS, GURGLE ENDLESSLY IN THE GATHERING DUSK.
"Malcolm," one says, "in the beginning of after the beginning..."
"Not that again," Malcolm says. "I'd rather hear the dupeand-bunny tale this time, Stew."
The dupe-and-bunny tale... Stew does not know the dupe-andbunny tale. "The dupe and the bunny rose higher and higher in the echelons of middle-level marketing at Sears & Ellen until in a fit of panic sequesterers arrived and doomed the caboodle to..."
"Breakfastlessness." Stew does not like it when Malcolm interrupts, but Malcolm interrupts quite often. In this case, he wonders, is it real? Has Malcolm actually stated the story in its wrapper, that Stew has filled at random? For Stew this was quite an experiment. Stew did not know the dupe-and-bunny tale.
Elsewhere in the environment, the women, Marjorie and Smith, growl at simple paintings, earnest efforts by stagnating youths. "He is fifty-four," Marjorie says. "Earning his millions by sticking up nerds."
"It could be worse," Smith says. "It could... Huck..."
Marjorie understands. She is hoping for better. "What do you mean?"
Smith smiles.
Marjorie does not understand.
THE WOMENFOLK SHUSH THE MENFOLK AND GATHER AROUND THE CAT-WOMAN. BLAND AND UNIMPRESSED, THIS LATTER DISPLAYS A WINK. FIRST, A WINK: THEN, TWO WINKS. THE CAT-WOMAN OPENS SOME PARCELS, DISPLAYING HER: COMBS, BARGAINS, DUPES. THE WOMENFOLK TIDY THEIR FAST WHITE SKIRTS. THE CAT-WOMAN DODS THOSE SKIRTS AND THE WOMENFOLK, SKIRTLESS, TIDY THEIR LEGS IN THE GATHERING DAWN.