Killer Joe – Tracy Letts

Now did you think of that? ansel: I can’t tell the girl how to behave— sharla: Oh, you can’t tell anybody anything! Give me those goddamn keys! (He finally jerks the keys from his pocket, along with a shower of loose change that falls to the kitchen floor. She snaps the keys from his hand, flings the door open—) ansel: Wait, Sharla— (—and she leaves. Ansel steps out, calls after her.) —what fat kid?! (Then, to a neighboring trailer) Would you tie up that fuckin’ dog?!

(Unseen to us, the dog attacks. Ansel retreats quickly into the trailer, slams the door just in time. T-Bone snaps and growls outside, but eventually gives up. Ansel angrily picks up a chair, considers throwing it, reconsiders, and becomes hypnotized by the cop show on TV.) Cannon, you fat bastard. (He stops, collects his change, pockets it, gets a beer from the fridge, kills a bug, and cackles as he washes its remains down the sink.

Dottie enters, wearing a sexy black evening dress.) dottie: Daddy? ansel: Oh, honey. dottie: What do you think? ansel: You look like a goddamn movie star. Come on over here. (He grabs a chair and helps her stand on it.) Turn around. tracy letts (She does.) Like a goddamn movie star.

dottie: I feel funny. ansel: Why? dottie: I don’t know. I feel like I went to school naked, like that dream you told me about. ansel: Don’t feel funny. You’re beautiful. dottie: My butt’s too big. ansel: Let me let you in on a little secret: guys like big butts. dottie: They do not. ansel (Feeling her butt): I’m speakin’ from experience. dottie (Getting down from the chair): Sharla doesn’t have a big butt. ansel: Give her some time.

dottie: Why aren’t you dressed yet? ansel: I’m not gonna stay for dinner. dottie: What do you mean? ansel: Me and Chris have some business to attend to— dottie: Where’s Chris? ansel: He’s on his way— dottie: Then where— ansel: So it’s just gonna be you and Joe for dinner. dottie (Beat): I should change. ansel: No— dottie: Yeah, I should— ansel: No, I think it’d be nice for Joe if he— dottie: Yeah, I’m gonna go change— (She heads back to the bedroom.

Ansel grabs her arm.) ansel: Whoa, whoa, hold up, honey— dottie: Let me go, I need to change— ansel: Just listen for a second— dottie: I have to change— (She tries to pull away, but Ansel grabs her around the waist. T-Bone barks again.) I have to change, I have to change, I have to change— killer joe ansel: Now, calm down, Dottie, just— dottie: I have to change, I have to change— ansel (More violent): Hold still, you little bitch—!

dottie (Hysterical): I HAVE TO CHANGE! (Chris bursts in, and immediately separates Ansel and Dottie. She collapses to the floor.) chris: What the hell’s goin’ on—?! ansel: She wants to get out of her dress! chris: So?!

theatre communications group new york 2014 Killer Joe is copyright © 2014 by Tracy Letts Killer Joe is published by Theatre Communications Group, Inc., 520 Eighth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10018-4156 All Rights Reserved. Except for brief passages quoted in newspaper, magazine, radio or television reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that this material, being fully protected under the Copyright Laws of the United States of America and all other countries of the Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions, is subject to a royalty. All rights, including but not limited to, professional, amateur, record- ing, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio and television broadcasting, and the rights of translation into foreign languages are expressly reserved.

Particular emphasis is placed on the question of readings and all uses of this book by educational institutions, permission for which must be secured from the author’s representative: Ron Gwiazda, Abrams Artists Agency, 275 Seventh Avenue, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10001, (646) 461-9325. The publication of Killer Joe by Tracy Letts, through TCG’s Book Program, is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the sup- port of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

TCG books are exclusively distributed to the book trade by Consortium Book Sales and Distribution. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Letts, Tracy, 1965- Killer Joe / Tracy Letts. pages cm ISBN 978-1-55936-451-5 (paperback) ISBN 978-1-55936-758-5 (ebook) 1. Dysfunctional families—Drama. 2. Family secrets—Drama. I. Title. PS3612.E887K55 2014 812’.6—dc23 2014011245 Book design and composition by Lisa Govan Cover design by John Gall Cover Photo by Xomiele First Edition, June 2014 Killer Joe is dedicated to the memory and spirit of Holly Wantuch, my partner, my conscience, my love.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: ae0f5812fd643d51
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 453,842 bytes (0.433 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• ISBN: 9781559364515, 9781559367585
• Pages: 94
• Language: English (en)

Reading & Word Statistics

• Estimated Reading Time: 85.67 minutes
• Total Words: 17,135
• Total Characters: 94,990
• Average Words per Page: 182.29
• Average Characters per Page: 1010.53

Most Frequent Words

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