MRS. KOHLBACH:

Why is it, Mama Lodeman, I always go home with more things than I need when I walk in?

MAMA

Wondering never made a good soup, Mrs. Kohlbach.

MRS. KOHLBACH

What does that mean, Mama?

MAMA

It gives you something new to wonder about, Mrs. Kohlbach. (Puts item in the sack) Anything else?

MRS. KOHLBACH

I hope not.

MAMA

Is twenty cents too much? (Mrs. Kohlbach hands her some coins.)  Now, I'll get you the bouja.

THE MAN (who entered during the above conversation)  has been looking vaguely disinterested at the merchandise but looks up at the mention of Bouja.

MRS. KOHLBACH    

Have you ever seen such weather, Mama Lodemann? The Mulbach is still with ice already.

THE MAN snorts. Thunder rumbles in the distance. MAMA re-enters with a small, covered pot. She glances at THE MAN as she crosses back up to the counter.

MAMA

(To THE MAN as she passes by)   Show you something maybe?

THE MAN

I'' - just - look.

MAMA

(Handing her the pot) It's a good bouja.

MRS. KOHLBACH

Yours is the best, Mama.  Bye.

MAMA    

(Watching THE MAN, distracted)  Yah. 'Bye.

THE MAN

That was - ah -  an interesting - smell - coming from that pot. (MAMA says nothing, keeps looking) You know - the pot you sold that woman? (MAMA nods quietly) What - ah - what was that?

MAMA

Bouja. (a beat) You know bouja? Chicken, pork, white potatoes...

She is interrupted by a loud growl that comes from THE MAN's stomach. Thunder in the distance.

THE MAN

(Raising his hand to stop her) Please. (Gulps air, pats his stomach) "Scuse me. (Another deep breath, then weakly) I - know - bouja.

MAMA comes out from behind the counter, still studying THE MAN carefully. She comes down to him, and stops by a huge device THE MAN has brought in with him and propped against a d.r. barrel.

MAMA

(Fingering it)  Is yours?

THE MAN

Yah.

MAMA

An axe maybbe?

THE MAN

(suddenly suspicious, crossing)  Maybe.

MAMA

Could be a  - sledge.

THE MAN

Possibly. (He moves it)

MAMA

(Shrugs, crosses ack u.c.)  You an outlander maybe?

THE MAN

You might say so.

MAMA

North?

THE MAN

In - a manner of speaking.

MAMA

Or a lumberman maybe?

THE MAN

On occasions.

MAMA

(A beat)  You're very informative.

THE MAN

(Smiling drily)  Thank you.

MAMA

You want something? (She hands him a small bag). How about some of these?

THE MAN

(Taking the bag) What is it?

He experimentally shakes the bag, and as he does, there is a violent crack of thunder close at hand. He quickly places the bag on the counter and studies MAMA who has not taken her eyes off him.

MAMA

(Smiling now) Dried peas. (Comes around the counter to him) You come on horseback then?

THE MAN

Not - exactly. (Now he is studying MAMA.)

MAMA

(crossing for d.r.c.) A rig maybe?

THE MAN

(quietly) After a fashion.

MAMA

(Looking out) Ididn't hear a rig. (Turns back to face him, all smiles) And if you rode a horse, someone's stolen it already.

THE MAN

(A little irritation creeping in) I - left the rig - somewhere.

MAMA

(Shrugs, crosses to some harness) Curious is all. (She knots the harness) I like to know where my customers come from. (Turns with the knotted harness) Will you look at this! Look at the way someone has left this harness! (She seems to pick at it for a moment) Are your fingers long?

THE MAN

Long enough I s'pose.

MAMA

(Offering him the harness) Would you kindly?

THE MAN

All right.

Now he takes the straps from her and undoes the first knot, slowly, watching her all the time he works the leather. MAMA also watches him intently. As the first knot is loosened and undone, a gentle breeze sweeps through the store, rippling the banner and blowing a few small items around. On the second knot, the breeze becomes a wind.  The loops of ropes and harness suspended from the rafters begin to sway. The lamps flicker, THE MAN seems about to undo the third knot when he relizes what is happening around him. He pauses and suddenly places the entire thing aside.

THE MAN

I'll do the third knot later. He makes a small, unnatural gesture, and, surprisingly, the wind dies.

MAMA

(Very quickly) What day is this?!

THE MAN

Walpurgis.

MAMA

What day of the week?!

THE MAN

Thorr's day.

MAMA

(With a shriek)  Aha! I - know - you!

THE MAN

(Quietly). You do?

MAMA

(Circling him) My mama told me! and her mama told her! and -

THE MAN

Told what?

MAMA

(Whispering) Who presides in the air!  Who rules thunder and lighting! Winds and rains! Fine weather and good crops!

THE MAN

Who?

MAMA

(Pointing) You!

THE MAN

(Backing off)  Now, Mama...

MAMA

(Exultant) Donar!  Thundar!  (Roaring) Thorr!

THE MAN

(Shaking his head) Thorr?!  Mama, you must be crazy.  That - old pagan deity?! That myth?!

MAMA

No myth.

THE MAN

He's a legend, Mama! A story created by moonstruck madmen shrinking into dark corners at the first crack of the lightning's whip! (Turns away from her, shaking his head) Mama, I'm - I'm shocked. I'm - thunderstruck.

MAMA

(Blessing herself quickly) Pray God nobody gets thunderstruck already.

THE MAN

(Crowing, pointing his finger at her)  Aha! I saw that! You blessed yourself after the manner of the Christians! And here you are telling poor trappers that they're pagan deities! How can you do that?

MAMA

 I can do that, because I am a Christian and you are a pagan deity.

THE MAN

That's not logical, Mama.

MAMA

Logic I leave to the Hebrews. (Comes from behind the counter) I believe in one God who has dominion over all things. But - well - look at this store. I own this store, but I have a boy who comes in two, three times a week to help me clean up.  The store is mine. The cleanliness is his. If God wants Thorr, a pagan deity, to handle the weather for Him, where's the contradiction?

THE MAN

That's an incredible theology, Mama!

MAMA

Mine is an incredible God.

THE MAN

Now Mama - what makes you think I am Thorr?

MAMA

First, it is Walpurgis Nacht - when everybody knows strange things happen. Secondly, it's Thursday - which you call Thorr's Day. Thirdly, the logs we're using for the bonfire are donares eih - oaks - and I warned them about that. And - when your stomach complained, I heard thunder far off.  When you shook the peas, thunder close at hand. When you untied the knots you made the winds, and anybody of Nordic blood knows that's how someone with strong magic makes the winds blow! And - you came without horse or rig - on the wind's back - with this. (She crosses and picks up the sledge) The great hammer! Miolinir! The lightning maker!

THORR

Coincidence, Mama! You're imagining! (His stomach growls again andonce again there is a distant thunder.)

MAMA

Your stomach's complaining again. You hungry?

THORR

Yes, That's why I came.

MAMA

Why?

THORR

I've heard - that is everybody says - nobody in the entire world makes better bouja than Mama Lodemann of Cold Prairie!

MAMA

You heard that? Way up there - on Olympus?

THORR

Where - I - live.

MAMA

And you - the great commander of rain and wind - Thorr the Magnificent - came to buy a bowl of my bouja?

THORR

I came - a long way -

MAMA

For my bouja?

THORR

Yah.

MAMA

I don't sell bouja.

THORR

What are you saying, Mama?!  You sold some to that woman not more than a minute ago!

MAMA

Her I know. I don't sell my bouja to outlanders who tell me they're pagan deities.

THORR

I told you/! You're the one - I mean - I never -.  Aha. I know you, Mama Lodemann. You're a gesmuchkeit. You want to make a deal of some sort. Well, why not? What is it you want?

MAMA

Well, now, everyone will tell you that at Mama Lodemann's the prices match the ability to pay. If you have a little, things cost little. If you have a little more, things cost a little more.

THORR

How much, Mama?

MAMA

Now, now - don't be so impatient. Money's not everything.

THORR

Wha-at?

MAMA

I'll give you the bouja- all you can eat - for - a little of what you have.

THORR

What - I - have?

MAMA

Power! Over the winds and rain! The snow! Sun! Hail!

THORR

You can't mean - ?!! (Looks closely at her) You do mean -! (There is a terrible moment when you wonder whether he might strike her. Then, after a beat, he begins to laugh, a low, rumbling sound that echoes throughout the store. Mama watches silently, a smile on her face.)  Mama...Mama... That is the most outrageous -! Mama, if I were Thorr - I said if I were -- I could destroy you for thinking such a thing!

MAMA

What's so big? Just to make a little rain now and then?

THORR

Mama, that's ridiculous! It's absurd!

MAMA

All right! All right! I'm sorry I asked. You keep your power. I'll keep my bouja.

THORR

Now, Mama, be reasonable!

MAMA

No! I told you my price for gods.

THORR

I am not a god!

MAMA

I don't see why you don't make your own bouja. You can whip up a roaring tornado with winds and rain1 What's potatoes and a little meat?

THORR

I don't whip up torpatoes! Tormatoes! Storms!

MAMA

You mean you can't!  There are many things gods can do that men can't! But there are a few things man can do that gods can't!

THORR

(Bellowing) Such as?!

MAMA

Make a good bouja! It's not your fault. Gods are happy with ambrosia. Men are never happy with anything.

Find out what happens when Mama finally makes a deal with Thorr and the consequences of messing with Mother Nature.  

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