Scene 22 Melting Member

We then cut back upstairs, where Cherry and Dakota are sitting against a wall.

Cherry:
You’re a doctor?

Dakota:
Heh… I was earlier tonight.

Cherry:
I always wanted to be a doctor. Instead, I can do this. (Cherry lays on her back, puts her hand behind her head and then arches her torso upwards, like a crab) Ohh. Useless talent number 66. I’m very pliable.

Soldier 1 and 2 enter the room

Dakota:
Girlfriend of mine had a theory. She said at some point in your life, you find a use for every useless talent you had. It’s like, connecting the dots.

Cherry:
I’m not that optimistic. I feel like I’m sinking down the drain and I can’t get out.

Dakota:
She’d say… When you’re stuck in that spiral… You reach up.

Cherry:
What if there’s nothing up there?

Dakota:
Just reach up.

Soldier 1: (removes gas mask)
You’re a dancer.

Cherry:
I was earlier tonight.

Soldier 1:
Well, I’m pulling you out of retirement!

He grabs Cherry by the hair and drags her to the other side of the room, and up to her feet.

Soldier 1:
Now, I’m starved for entertainment, baby, and that means you. Radio!

He motions over to Solder 2, who then turns on the radio. He puts his gun to Cherry’s head.

Soldier 1:
Wail, baby, now!

Cherry begins to “dance.”

Soldier 1: (completely removes gas mask and tank)
That’s it! That’s what I’m talkin’ about. Dance it up! Keep dancing! I have seen me some crazy ass shit in my day… But ain’t never seen me a one-legged stripper. I’ve seen me a stripper with one breast and I’ve seen me a stripper with 12 toes, and I’ve seen me a stripper with no brains at all, but I ain’t never seen me a one-legged stipper. And I’ve been to Morocco. Dance, bitch! Break a leg! Break it off! Haha!

Cherry spins around, round house kicking him with her wooden leg. It breaks off across his face and knocks him to the ground. Cherry hops over to his body.

Cherry:
Dance for me motherfucker!

She then leans forward with her splintered wooden leg and rams it into the soldier’s eye. He screams and she breaks the leg off into his eye. The second soldier grabs her from behind and pulls her to the ground. Soldier 1 stands up, abscesses forming on his face, and a large chunk of wood stuck in his eye.

Solder 1:
You thought it was pretty funny, didn’t you?

Cherry:
Actually, yes.

Soldier 1: (undoing his belt and lowering his pants)
You gave me some wood?! I’ll give you some fuckin’ wood!

Everyone in the room then sees what has become of his penis and all drop their jaws in shock, individually. Including Soldier 2. Soldier 1 looks down and shrieks in horror.

Soldier 2:
The gas! You need your gas!

Soldier 1: (as his goopy penis is falling off)
No! Fuck the gas, fuck it. I’m just gonna have to make this quick.

As he closes in and drops to his knees, Dakota reaches to her thigh and pulls up her syringe gun. She aims and shoots Soldier 2, causing him to fall to the ground unconscious.

Cherry:
Where’d you get that?!

Dakota:
Useless talent number 37.

She then shoots Soldier 1 in the other eye, causing him to scream in pain. Dakota holsters her syringe gun and cracks her knuckles. Finally she has feeling back in her hand.