BUTCHER's NIGHTMARE
"Ring, ring ring!" PATTY SLAUGHTER, the butcher's mother, puts aside her kitchen tools, wipes her hand on her apron, and answers the phone.
PATTY
Hello? Hi, Chuck. O, Nothing, just getting Butch's breakfast together. No just for a few days. His place is getting fumigated. ??????? I don't think he keeps it very clean since the divorce. No, I hadn't forgotten. What kind a meat did you want him to bring home? Ribs. ???????. Just ribs? Well, then listen. I better let you go because I gotta get Butch ?????. O.K. Chuck, see you tonight for the BAR-B-Q.
She hangs up the phone and turrns on the radio. It's Perry Como singing "Hot Diggity, Dog Ziggity." She sings along.
PATTY
Butch, it's time for breakfast. Come on, your breakfast is getting cold.
BUTCH SLAUGHTER, visably disturbed, drags in with a briefcase and newspaper.
PATTY
Hurry up, dear, you'll be late for work. Why, you're bleeding!
BUTCH
It's nothing. I just nicked myself shaving. But I was thinking of not going to work. Would you call in saying I wasn't coming, that I was sick or something?
PATTY
WHAT'S WRONG? Are you sick?
BUTCH
Mother, I'm all right. I just didn't sleep well.
PATTY
O, I'm sorry about the bed. I really should get it fixed.
BUTCH
It's not the bed, Mother---it's bad dreams.
PATTY
O, my poor boy. But I've fixed your favorite. You'll feel better after you eat steak and eggs. Now don't be like that. I fixed them just like you like them---nice and rare. Besides, you have to go in today. You told me last night; you've got a new man to train up. You remember what it was like when you first started down at the butcher shop. It took quite a while to learn all the cuts---
BUTCH
All right, I'll go. But I can't eat steak and eggs. How about some fruit or a glass of milk?
PATTY
And what am I supposed to do with the steak, throw it to the dogs. Butch, you're killing me. Please why don't you just eat it.
BUTCH
I can't. The very sight of it turns my stomach.
PATTY
Do you want some pepto bismal?
BUTCH
All I want is some milk!
PATTY
Milk? When did you start liking milk? I've always had a hard time getting you to
drink your milk. Remember, I used to say: if you want to grow up big and strong, you'd better drink your milk.
BUTCH
Just skip it. I'll up some doughnuts on the way to work.
PATTY
Don't forget about BAR-B-Q tonight, dear. Your Uncle Chuck called this morning and asked that you bring some ribs home.
BUTCH
Maybe we could send out for some Chinese food instead?
PATTY
What are you talking about? We've had this thing planned for the last three weeks. And since when you like Chinese food? You used to get sick every time we ate it. Remember the time we had Chinese food for your birthday? You threw up all over my new cowhide chair. I just don't know what's happening to you.
BUTCH
I'll call you at lunch and let you know how I feel. What was it Uncle Chuck wanted?
PATTY
Ribs.
BUTCH
Ribs. (EXITS)
PATTY
That boy is going to be death of me. (She sits and begins eating) I can't throw it to the dogs...
Scene Two. Behind the counter at Lard's Butcher Shop. Large chart showing meat cuts. FRANK FURTIVE, dressed appropriately for work, is banging out "The Halls of Monzuma" on the butcher block, as Butch enters.
FRANK
Are you Mr. Slaughter? I'm Frank.
BUTCH
Frank?
FRANK
Furtive, the new butcher.
BUTCH
Have you been waiting long?
FRANK
About half an hour. I thought we were supposed to start at nine o'clock.
BUTCH
Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm not feeling so good.
FRANK
Well, I'm rarin' to go!
BUTCH
I see from your application you've had some expirience before in the meat industry.
FRANK
Yeah, I used to drive a truck for American Packers. I'd drive 'em from the forced feed to the kill floor. I tried to get a job as a head killer, but I
could only get on as an apprentice.
BUTCH
So you've never done any cutting or cleaning?
FRANK
I killed 'em, but I never cut ' em.
BUTCH
Okay. Well, I guest I'll have to show you myself. We might as well get started. Why don't you go get a side of beef. It's on the first rack you see when you go into the freezer. You know, I haven't done this for awhile, usually someone else trains the new men up.
FRANK
Is this the one?
BUTCH
Yeah. Put it on the table here.
FRANK
Whew, are they all as heavy as this Mama?
BUTCH
Get those choppers over there.
FRANK
Choppers, huh? You know I was in a chopper in Vietnam. Were you over in Nam?????
BUTCH
No.
FRANK
Well, you're lucky. Anyway, we were in this chopper, me and a bunch of other guys.
BUTCH
Now make sure the blade is good and sharp.
FRANK
So our chopper gets hit by the Cong. And we have to jump out.
BUTCH
Now see the chart here. These are your basic cuts. We start over here at the short loin.
FRANK
So as soon as we jump out, one of the guys gets hit---my best buddy.
Frank chops into the carcass.
FRANK (Countinuing)
There he is, holding his guts in his hands. He look at me as though he wanted me to do something. There was nothing I could do. I never felt so helpless in my life.
BUTCH
Bw careful now that you don't get too close to the guts, I mean, ribs. See this layer of the fat here---leave that on. It'll give you a little more weight with your ribs. That'll push up the price per pound.
FRANK
As soon as we hit the ground, I feel like I'd broken all my ribs.
BUTCH
Riht below the short loin is the flank. Cut upwards to the right at a thirty
degree angle.
FRANK
Before we know what was happening, we were under fire from both flanks. I was angry; I wanted to get even.
BUTCH
After you cut the flank you switch over to this area called round.
FRANK
They must have fired hundreds or?? founds at us before I spot the sniper.
BUTCH
Maybe you shouldn't talk so much while you're learning this. You might not be able to remeber it all later.
FRANK
Holy Cow! I just started today, what do you want!?
BUTCH
Listen, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so sharp. It's just that I'm not into it this morning. Maybe I shouldn't even---Now up on the top left here is the rump roast. Now, this goes for about three seventy-five a pound, so don't throw any of it away.
FRANK
No problem. I had Marine training. I remember everything. And I'll never forget how I circled around behind the gook as he was bending over loading his gun. So I let him have it right in the rump.
BUTCH
And while you're cirling around, why don't you circle around here to the neck. Now take your knife.
FRANK
I take out my knife and I run up and grab him by the neck. I cut his neck wide open and the blood squirts out and I reach down his throat, the blood pouring into my hand and I---
BUTCH
Stop! Give me that knife. Aren't you getting a little carried away, Frank? Aren't you getting off on this violence a little too much? You know, you'll get along just fine here. You love to kill. You love the taste of blood. You love death. You and all the other millions of people...
Butch breaks as the phone rings.
Frank answer it.
FRANK
Hello. Uh--Lard's Butcher Shop.
BUTCH
Blood. Blood. So much split blood. So much suffering.
FRANK
O, hello, Mr. Lard. I'm the new assistant here, Frank Furtive.
BUTCH
So many wars. The hydrogen bomb and napalm.
FRANK
Yeah, he's here but I don't think he can come to the phone right now.
BUTCH
Concentration camps...slaughter houses. Can't they see the connection?
FRANK
I think he's flipped his lid.
BUTCH
You think I'm crazy, do you? Here, let me have that phone. Mr. Lard, listen you fat pig. You and this whole meat industry are nothing but a vehicle for mass murder and I don't want any part of it anymore. I'm getting out right now. I quit.
Butch slams the phone down. He takes off his blood stained apron and throws it in Frank's face as he exits.
SCENE THREE.Interior of Church.
PRIEST is inside confessional, unseen.
Holy music. Butch is saying rosary.
BUTCH
Dear God, please help me understand what's happening to me. I just walked out of
my job. It just doesn't seem right. It seems I'm...maybe I'm...I don't know...Maybe I am going crazy. I'm just wondering who's responsible for all the suffering in
the world, God or Man?
BUTCH genuflects and knees outside confessional.
BUTCH
Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. I confess to Almighty God and to you,
Father. It's been three weeks since my last confession. Father, I've been killing. I've been mutilating innocent, helpless beings. I've been a part of a vast murder conspiracy.
PRIEST
Good God, Man! Do the police know about this?
BUTCH
No, I've just realized it myself today.
PRIEST
How many people have you killed?
BUTCH
It's not people, it's animals. Thousanda and thousands of innocent animals.
PRIEST
Animals? What are you, crazy or something? In the Ten Commandments "Thou shalt not kill" doesn't mean animals. It means people.
BUTCH
But doesn't the Bible say, "As ye? sow, so shall ye? reap?" Doesn't that mean that violence breeds violence?
PRIEST
But Man was given dominion over the animals.
BUTCH
But doesn't dominion mean love and responsibility, like an older brother has for his younger brother? I mean, aren't we all creatures of God?
PRIEST
Yes, but if you kill to stay alive, it's no sin. Animals have no soul.
BUTCH
No soul? But what makes them grow? What gives them consciousness? Look, I've been a butcher for a fifteen years. I've seen them kill the cows. They cry out and scream just like a human being, just like you would, Father. I've seen the calves as they were forcibly separated from their mothers with big tears streaming down their cheeks. You cann't tell me they don't have a soul.
PRIEST
Well, I don't know what to say. Is that Butch Slaughter out there? I can sort of recognize your voice. How is your mother, lad? Is she still in the hospital?
BUTCH
No, Father Angus.
PRIEST
Well, listen, Butch. It sounds to me like you've just spent a little too much time on the job. You're overwrought. I think you should go to see a doctor.
BUTCH
I'm not crazy.
PRIEST
I'm not saying you're crazy. I'm just saying you're working too hard. You need a break. Why don't you take a few weeks off. Give yourself some time to think. Go see a psychiatrist and get some couseling. A lot of people are doing it
nowdays. Is that ll of your confession?
BUTCH
Yes, Father.
PRIEST
I don't need to give you an absolution for that, but say an Our Father and a Hail Mary. I can't do any harm. Okay?
BUTCH
Father Angus, tell me honestly: don't you see a connection between the millions of killed and the wars we're forced to fight every twenty or thirty years?
PRIEST
Don't bother your mind too much with that stuff, Butch. Anyway there's a football game about to start. Come on over to the rectory and we'll watch it together. We'll have a few drinks and you'll feel a lot better. What do you say?
BUTCH
No, thank you, Father. I have some other things I have to do.
PRIEST
All right, then. We'll see you in church tomorrow. Now don't be a stranger.
SCENE FOUR
Well appointed psychiatrist office.
DOCTOR is at desk.
INTERCOM
Doctor, you next patient is here.
DOCTOR
Thank you. Send him in, please.
DOCTOR
You're Mr. Slaughter?
BUTCH
Dr. Guernsey?
DOCTOR
I understand you're very upset. What seems to be the trouble?
BUTCH
Either I'm crazy or the whole society is crazy?
DOCTOR
Please sit down. What do you mean?
BUTCH
I'm a butcher. I've been slaughtering innocent animals for fifteen years, and I just realized it today. I've been having bad dreams. I couldn't eat the steak my mother fixed for me. I had to train up a new butcher and all of sudden the meat wasn't just an object, it was dead flesh. I went to my priest, and he told
me I had committed no sin, but in my heart I feel guilty of murder.
DOCTOR
Now how long ago did you have this dream?
BUTCH
I had it again last night.
DOCTOR
Do you have any history of mental illness?
BUTCH
Sometimes I get headaches.
DOCTOR
Can you tell me about the dream?
BUTCH
No, I can't. All I know is that when I woke up, I found I was in a cold sweat, I was shaking, frightened, my head was reeling. I couldn't concentrate. I felt like I'd been through hell. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.
DOCTOR
Have you ever expirienced the hypnotic state?
BUTCH
I've seen it done on TV. A guy holds up a shining object and swing it back and forth... and people bark like dogs.
DOCTOR
What I would recommend is that you let me induce the hypnotic state to review that dream to see what triggered this melancholy.
BUTCH
Doctor, I don't know if I want to go back to that dream.
DOCTOR
Trust me. Believe me, you'll expirience a very, heightened state of relaxation. You'll merely be reviewing the dream as if you were observing a movie. It's a common phenomena in the psychoanalytic process. Shall we begin?
BUTCH
Well, you're the doctor.
DOCTOR
Just lean back and relax. Close your eyes and feel that all the tension is flowing out of your body. Listen to my voice. You are floating back, back to the dream. How does it begin?
SCENE FIVE. Dreamscape.
Strains of pastoral music as Butch enters carring the veil of the COW who is dressed for May Day with ribbons and colorful long robes. They come in like a procession, but dancing. Butch garlands her and pins on a blue ribbon. The Cow takes out a jeweled tablecloth from her picnic basket, and together they spread it out and they sit. The Cow then of the basket various dairy
products and hands them to Butch, each one accompanied by the appropriate intonation:
VOICE (singing)
Butter. Cheese. Yogurt. Ice cream. (etc.)
Butch is is ecstasy. But then there's a phone ringing. The Cow takes a phone receiver from the basket and hands it to the Butch.
VOICE (different from the "milk" voice)
Hey, Butch, this is Mr. Lard. It's time to go to work, Butch.
Butch mechanically takes out meat cleavers from the basket. Then he relizes what "work" means. Music changes to a kind of ominous, rhytmical knife sharpening.
ANOTHER VOICE
How now, Brown Cow? Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!
For our pleasure you must bow. Ha, etc.
We like to drink your milk so sweet. Ha, etc.
But our heart's desire is to eat your meat. Ha, etc.
Enter COWBOY, swinging rope and singing.
COWBOY
Yippie ti-yi-yo, get along little dogie.
It's your misfortune and none of my own. Yippie ti-yi-yo, get along little dogie.
You know that my stomach will be your new home.
Music changes to Rawhide. Cowboy chases Cow and finally lassoes her and brands her. Butsh is agast but helpless. Music changes.
VOICES OF TV COMMERCIAL
Jack Sprat could eat no fat; His wife could eat no lean; And so betwixt them both, you see, they licked the platter clean.
Cowboy forces Butch to sit by Cow over which he has placed the tablecloth.
VOICE OF TV COMMERCIAL
Yes friends, we put the whole cow in Jack Sprat Hamburgers...noithing is wasted. Enjoy one today, you'll lick the plater clean.
Reprise of Jack Sprat song. Cowboy forces Butch to eat hamburger. Butch is sick. Music changes. Scientific sounding, electronic commercial.
ANOTHER TV COMMERCIAL
Enzyme Grow. Fatten up your livestock. Miraculous Enzyme Grow!
Cowboy inject Cow with large hypodermic. Music changes. Sound of auction. Cowboy is actioneer. Leads Cow in big circle as Butch helplessly follows. Finally Butch buys the Cow. The two are reunited at last. Cowboy exits. When phone reings. Butch answers.
VOICE
Hey, Butch! What's the matter with you? You are late to work! You're just killing time, killing time, killing time...
It's killing time, Butch, killing time...
Nightmareish music begins. Strobe lights. Like a zombie. Butch chases the Cow with meat cleavers. Kind of like a bull fight. Just as Butch kills the Cow, the Cow becomes Butch's mother, Screams.
PATTY (COW)
Butch, why did you kill me?
BUTCH
I didn't kill you---at least, I didn't mean to---I thought I was just killing a cow...
PATTY
Don't you know that the cow is everyone's mother? I nourished you with my own milk ever since you were a tiny little boy. I am the mother of all the children of the world. Didn't you drink my milk? Didn't you? Didn't you?
BUTCH
Yes, yes, yes...
PATTY
And this how you repay me?
BUTCH
I was just doing my job.
PATTY
Your job means my death. You're a murderer, Butch.
PATTY exits. Butch is hysterical.
BUTCH
I didn't know. I'm sorry. I didn't know. O, God! I've killed my mother.
SCENE SIX
DOCTOR is trying to calm Butch. He helps Butch back to his chair.
BUTCH
I see! I see it all clearly now. The cow is like my mother. When my mother can't give me milk anymore, the cow takes over and gives me her milk. Why should I kill here? Why should anyone kill her?
DOCTOR
I'm not sure it's quite that simple, Mr. Slaughter.
BUTCH
Yes, it is! It's very simple! I have to do something! This is very urgent. Everyone is blind to the fact that they're killing their mother. I have to tell everyone.
DOCTOR
Mr. Slaughter, I think your analysis is incomplete at this time. I think we should investigate the dream further. You are a very sick man, Mr. Slauhghter. I think we should continue these sessions before you do anything else.
BUTCH
Maybe I am sick! But so is everybody else. A world that produces pollution, millions of starving people, nuclear holocausts, a false economy which forces people to buy a bunch of junk which they even want or need...just for the great God Almighty buck. That's what the whole damn thing is about...and to make their buck they'll even murder millions of innocent animals...what to speak of murdering millions of their own unborn children...and I say that's sick. And
you think I 'm sick? Well, what about you? Are you happy? You can't tell me you are. And what makes you think you're so great that you can say who's sick and who's not? Have you solved all the problems of life? Then how can you pretend to be...to be...
DOCTOR
I would like to prescribe some psychopharmaceuticals to relieve these symptoms of stress. I think it would be helpful in your case...
BUTCH
Drugs? O yes, Doctor, that's the great idea. Just give me a big dose that puts me on a totally mindless level---like a zombie. That way I could just go through life without seeing the hypocrisy, the futility of the way we're living nowdays...or feel the suffering that these innocent beings are going through. I could just go to work without any emotion. I won't mind murdering! Can't you see there's something wrong with what you're doing, Doctor?
DOCTOR
Please calm down, Mr. Slaughter. Take one of those now, and one every three hours. Now they may cause some confusion and temporary memory loss, but...
BUTCH
No! I've been confused for too long. For the first time in my life I'm not confused...I know exactly what I must do.
DOCTOR
Don't do anything rash, Mr. Slaughter. I want you to come see me tomarrow morning...
BUTCH
No! There's too much to do. Thank you very much.
DOCTOR
Mr. Slaughter, wait! What about your bill.??????
SCENE SEVEN T.V. Talk Show. Theme music for show.
Announcer
And now from fabulous Hollywood, the entertainment capital of the world, it's the "Meet Claver Show." (Applause) Mike's received some complaints that lately the show's been too tame, so tonight's first two guest should fire the works up brillantly. It's vegetarianism versus meat-eating in classic David and Goliath struggle. The unlikely advocate of vegetarianism is an ex-butcher from the Chicago stockyards, who's started the "Save the Cow" crusade. Opposing his point of view will be a well-known nutritionist who says that meat is an absolute necessity for human health. And now, here's your moderator and whole hog host, Mike Cleaver. (Applause)
MIKE
I've been called a ham a lot, but no one's called me a hog since, since..., since my last meal. No ladies and gentlemen, I'm not a hog, but I am your host and we'd better move on to the subject at hand before this show turns into a squealer.
We have a truly great debate coming up tonight, but before we jump into it, let's take a quick poll. How many in our audience are vegetarians? Hands down. How many eat meat? Thank you. The meat eaters have it. We are a nations composed overwhelmingly of meat consumers, but there is a man on our show tonight who's trying to change all that. His successful efforts have been making headlines all across the nation. Not since Upton Sinclair published The Jungle in 1906., which exposed the unsanitary conditions in the meat-packing industry, has any one individual so shakened up the meat consuming habits of America. In 1906., Americans decreased their meat consumption by 50% after learning from Sinclair's book that rats, sawdust, grossly diseased animals, and even human flesh were common ingredients of that day's packaged meats. But tonight's guest, who is igniting a similiar phenomena in America, wants to stop meat eating entirely. His appearances on nation television have gained him a large and sympathetic following. This man has struck a responsive chord in the heart of many Americans. However, not everyone is happy about his success. Last night as he addressed a packed house of over 25,000 people at New York's Madison Square Garden, a minor riot errupted in the audience. Reliable sources are alleging that the violence was sparked by provocateurs from the beef industry, which was suffered drastic cuts in their beef sales over the past few weeks. So now, ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome the former butcher and author of the best-selling book -- The Meat Conspiracy -- Butch Slaughter. Glad to have you with us tonight, Butch. How are you feeling?
BUTCH
I'm very well, thank you. I appreciate your giving me the opportunity to share my message with your viewing audience.
MIKE
All right now, Butch. You have a best-seller on the market, The Meat Conspiracy, and last night you addressed a sell-out crowd at the Garden. Tell me, did you expect your "Save the Cow" crusade to be this successful in such a short period of time?
BUTCH
I won't consider it a success until the cows are safe at last. When I began, I never even thought of it in terms of success. It was just something I had to do.
MIKE
Along with your success, Butch, I understand you've made a few enemies as well. Haven't there been some threatening letters and even an attempt on your life? How do you account for all this negative reaction?
BUTCH
It is so difficult to understand? We present a threat to the greed and profit motive of the entire western culture, which is geared to simply satisfy the desires of the senses without consideration of others. The United States alone produces enough food grains that what we waste alone could fead the rest of the world. And yet we dump it in the ocean. Is it any wonder we needlessly slaughter millions of animals simply for sensation on the tip of the tongue? One psychlogist who has joined ou movement calls it bloodlust.
MIKE
On that note, why don't we bring in our next guest? This lady has been one of the strongest opponents of the "Save the Cow" crusade today. The "New York Times" has quoted her condemning the total vegetarian diet, stating that meat is a natural, healthy, assential ingredient for balanced nutrition. Former publicity director for the Nation Meat Packers Association and now a member of the U.S. Select Commitee on Nutrition and Human Needs, let's welcome to our show, Dr. Eileen Bacon. Good evening, Dr. Bacon, welcome to the show.
EILEEN
Thank you very much.
MIKE
Dr. Bacon, many Americans are now vegetarians, and the number seems to be increasing as the "Save the Cow" crusade gains momentum. But you say that is necessary to eat meat. Why?
EILEEN
First of all, let me tell you the basic dietary reqirements for those viewer who may not be aware of them. Protein is the most essential part of the diet. And meat is the prefect, complete source of protein, wereas vegetables require special planning, purchasing, and cooking to obtain just barely enough protein to survive on. In fact, in our studies at the National Research Institute, we have noted that most vegetarians are protein deficient.
MIKE
Butch?
BUTCH
Most meat eaters get at least twice too much protein and are therefore always on edge and conscequently must take large quantities of alcohol to take the edge off. And furthermore, meat is not pure or even perfect protein, but only about twenty-five per cent. The amount of meat absorbed by the body in only sixty per cent, compared to eighty per cent for milk.
MIKE
Butch, in your book, you have also mentioned the economic considerations of a vegetarian diet.
BUTCH
Yes. If the land used to grow grain to feed cattle were used to produce crops for human consumption, it would be enough to feed the entire world.
EILEEN
What about the thousands of people you'd put out of work in the meat industry, if your crusade is successful?
BUTCH
There will be lots of work in the agricultural industry. I'm not only talking about America. I'm talking about the whole world. We can show everyone that---
EILEEN
This type of idealism may be good for making your book a best seller, but this nation has been founeded on logical, rational understanding. And may I remind you that we have survived over two centuries with the majority of Americans adhering to a basic meat diet.
BUTCH
The animals who live here are also Americans and they also have the right to live, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
MIKE
Dr. Bacon, in your article in the "Times" you completely refute the argument that meat eating in unhealthy.
EILEEN
Yes, we have practically eradicted all danger of food poisoning through meat consumption.
BUTCH
But the long-range effects of meat eating have proven to be disasteroues. You may be able to proserve the meat until it gets to the consumer but once he starts to cook it, he immediately starts producing cancer-causing agents. And furthermore, man has long intestines like all natural vegetarians. Put meat in long intestines and fermentation and disease is the result. But the main thrust of our crusade is not nutrition or economic, but humanitarian compassion. Dr. Bacon, you're a mother, aren't you?
EILEEN
Yes, but I don't see what that has to do with anything.
BUTCH
If one of your children were a little slower than the others, would it be OK to kill that child.
EILEEN
Why, of course not, but that isn't...
BUTCH
But the same thing applies to animals...for science has shown us that they have the intelligence ??of two or three year old child. Would you kill a baby and eat it? Or a pet? And I bet if you had to personally kill a cow before you ate it, you'd be a vegetarian, too.
EILEEN
But, Mr. Slaughter, you have to kill the plants to eat them.
MIKE
Yeah, Butch, I was just talking to my pet petunias this morning...Don't plants have feelings, too?
BUTCH
When you pick an orange or a tomato, you don't kill the plant.
EILEEN
What about grains?
BUTCH
What you have to understand is that there are different levels of consciousness.
It's not that we can stop killing altogether, but we can prevent the senseless shedding of blood while still meeting the needs of our bodies. In that way it will be possible for the human race finally to be in harmony with the laws of nature, the laws of the Supreme. Now, I have a poem here by...
TV Theme music has begun.
MIKE
Thank you very much, Butch Slaughter, Dr. Bacon. We'll be right back after these messages with two gentlemen who claim that the universe is in the shape of a coconut, half-filled with water and that the moon is further away from the earth than the sun.
MIKE rises as do Butch and Eillen Bacon; they shake hands, as the lights fade.
SCENE EIGHT: Large Auditorium stage, podium sigh "Save the Cow", crowd is chanting some slogan. BUTCH arrives and is greeted by standing ovation; He walks to podium.
BUTCH
There are lot of crusades around today. Save the Whale. Save the Seal. Save the endangered species. That's good...we can't keep killing animals and expect there to be peace in the world. Actually there are laws of nature at work here which are inescapable...laws of God which are controlling our lives. And so if we're going to make so many compaigns to save this animal and that aniumal, let's
not make compaigns just because they're going extinct. That means we want to save these creatures not out of compassion, not out of mercy, but just because we like to have them around for our own amusement. I don't think that's the real reason we should want to save animals.
Mainly, I think we should protect the animals because they happen to be God's
creatures. We have to realize that wherever there is consciousness, there is a soul present there...whether in a tree, or an insect, or human, or animal...And we have no right to disturb any soul, in any kind of body, unnecessarily. We shouldn't even cut down trees unnecessarily. We shouldn't even kill a fly unnecessarily. What to speak of the cow.
Let's face it, ladies and gentlemen---of all the creatures that God has put under our dominion here on this earth, nocreature is as generous as the cow. Practically speaking, all of us grew up and became strong by the mercy of the cpw. And you know, I don't think I'm just being sentimental or crazy to say that in one sense the cow is like our mother. Every one of us was nourished by the cow. Therefore, if we're going to be kind to every creature, let's start with
the most generous creature. Let's be greatful. Let's actually show that we have a higher, spiritual awareness. Let's wake up from the nightmare of the most widespread injustice of all. Don't be folded by all these fast-talking politicians. Our modern leaders are trying to keep us in darkness and exploit
us. Of course they're gonna tell you it's alright to kill the cow---because it's good business for them. Why should they care? Why should they care what your karma is going to be? Why should they care what's going to happen to you? Why should they care about your consciousness--as long as they can get the money out of your pocket? Therefore we must be prepared to struggle, to enlighten people about the real purpose of life, which is spiritual--about the laws of God, which forbid the unnecessary killing of any creature.
And the real leaders are those who are willing to stand up at any cost and tell you these things. So let's stick together. Let's give the cows and all innocent beings our protection. We must stand up for the rights os our fellow citiziens of the earth who can't stand up for themselves. Let's take this to congress. Let's close the slaughterhouses. Let's boycott the restaurants and supermarkets. Let's speak out. Let's distribute our literature. Let's change people's minds. Let's change people hearts. Let's save the cow. Come on everybody. Don't worry what your neighbor may think---Save...the...Cow...Save...Save...the...Cow...Now I want everybody to say it along with me...Don't be bashful...SAVE...THE...COW ...SAVE...THE...COW...
As the crowd roars with approval, a man with a (revolutionary/terrorist) ski mask runs out of the wings and at close range shoots Butch three times. Scremes. Blackout. Almost immediately there is the TV music of the "Meet Clever Show."
SCENE NINE: Same as Seven "Meat Clever Show"
MIKE
Ladies and gentlemen, to finish off tonight's show, I'd like to pay a special tribute to a man who appeared on our show last week. This man singlehandedly started a crusade to awaken America to an issue which he believed was so important that he risked and eventually gave his life for it. That movement was to "save the cow" and the man was Butch Slaughter. Last night at the San Francisco Cow Palace, as Mr. Slaughter was addressing over 100,000 people who had gathered together to hear his plea, he was gunned down by an assassin. The assassin has been apprehended, and it is believed that there are linking him to the American Meat Packers Industry. Whether the "save the cow" crusade will go on without Butch remains to be seen. But I'd like to say for myself personally, and judging from the response we had from his appearance on the show, I think that I speak for a good majority of the American people that Butch Slaughter touched our lives. We get so wrapped up in ourselves that we fail to consider
the suffering of other human beings, what to speak of the animals. And Butch made us aware of that. Last week on our show, Butch wanted to read a poem, but we ran out of time. I'd like to read it to you now as a tribute to Butch Slaughter.
This is by George Bernard Show and included in Butch's book The Meat Conspiracy: ????????(The poem is missing.)