zoe
Babby!
bloom
(In babylinen and pelisse, bigheaded, with a caul of dark hair, fixes big eyes on her fluid slip and counts its bronze buckles with a chubby finger, his moist tongue lolling and lisping.) One two tlee: tlee tlwo tlone.
the buckles
Love me. Love me not. Love me.
zoe
Silent means consent. (With little parted talons she captures his hand, her forefinger giving to his palm the passtouch of secret monitor, luring him to doom.) Hot hands cold gizzard.
the male brutes
(Exhaling sulphur of rut and dung and ramping in their loosebox, faintly roaring, their drugged heads swaying to and fro.) Good!
zoe
(Her lucky hand instantly saving him.) Hoopsa! Don’t fall upstairs.
bloom
The just man falls seven times (He stands aside at the threshold.) After you is good manners.
zoe
Ladies first, gentlemen after.