Originally produced by the Manhattan Thestze Club on May 23, 2000. Subsequently produced on Broadway by Manhattan ‘Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, artistic diectot; Barry Grove, executive producer; Roger Berlind, Carole Shorenstein Hays, Jujameya Theatres, Ostar Enterprises, Daryl Roth, and Stuart “Thompzon on October 24, 2000. Proof was dicecced by Daniel Sullivan; sets were designed by Jobin Lee Beatty; costumes by Jess Goldstein; lights by Pat ollins; and sound by Joho Gromada. The production sage manager was James Harker. CAST OF CHARACTERS Robert Larry Brygeman Catherine Mary-Louise Parker Hal Ben Shenkmas Chire Johanna Day. sernine ‘The back porch of « house in Chicago‘Act One Scene 1 The back porch ofa house in Chicagn. Night. CATHERINE sts i a lr. Shei exhausted, baphacardly drud. Eyes cloned. ROBERT is onding bind Ber. He 5s CATHERINE’: father. Rampled academic boo. CATHERINE der mt nw he thom. Afr tment roserr: Can't sleep? ‘CATHERINE: Jesus, you scared me. OBERT: Sor CATHERINE: What are you doing here? LowEKT: I thought T'é check up on you. Why aren'é-you ia hed? CATHERINE: Your student is still here. Hes up in your study sone: He can let himself out. CATHERINE: I mighe as well wait up cll he's done OBERT: He's not my studene anymore. He’ teaching now: Brigh kid. (Beat.) Whae time is ie? spear: Ie’ almost one. cari: Huh, OBERT: After midnight CATHERINE: S02 OBERT: So: (He indicates something othe table hind him: abit ‘He of champagne) Happy birthday caTHERINE: Dad.ROBERT: Do I ever forger? ‘CATHERINE: Thankyou RoveRr: Twenty-five. I can‘ believe i. ‘caritnunt: Neither can L. Should we have ie now? ROBERT: Ie up to you ‘carieain: Yes, [RoBERT: You want me to open ie? ‘CATHERINE: Let me. Last time you opened a bottle of cham- pagne out here you broke a window. oben: That was @ long time ago, I resent your bringing it up, CATHERINE: You're lucky you didn’ lose an eye (Pip, Te bate foams.) [ROBERT: Twenty-five! (CATHERINE: I fel ol. OBERT: You're a kid ‘CATHERINE: Glasses? ‘ROBERT: Goddamn it, I forgot the glasses. Do you wane me ‘caTIERINE: Nah (CACHERINE drinks from the bul. A long pall. ROBERT watches er) ‘ROBERT: I hope you like it, I wasn't sure what to get you. ‘cavsitnant: This is the worst champagne I have ever cated onexr: [am proud to say I don't know anything about wines 1 hate those kind of people who are always talking aboot “vintages.” CATHERINE: Is not even champagne. ROBERT: The bocele was the cighe shape (CATHERINE: "Great Lakes Vineyards.” I didn't know they made ine in Wisconsin, ROBERT: A giel who's drinking from the bottle shouldn't come Pltin, Don't guazle it. I's an elegant beverage, Sip (CATHERINE: (Offering tbe battle) Do you— oven: No, go ahead ‘caTHERINE: You suze? ovex: Yeah. Ie your birehday. ‘caTinine: Happy biethday to me Rouen: What ace you going to do on your bizehday? ‘caTiERINE: Drink this. Have some, ouERT: No. I hope you'e not spending your brchday alone (CATHERINE: I'm noe alone owERT: T don't count. ‘CATHERINE: Why noe? [ROBERT I'm your old man. Go oue with some frends. ‘CATHERINE: Right, ‘owen: Your friends aren’ aking you our? ‘CATHERINE: No, soster: Why nor? ‘CATHERINE: Because in order for your fiends to take you out you generally have co have friends. OBERT: (Dismisite) Oh— ‘CATHERINE: It's funay how that works, Ronen: You have fiends, What abour thie cute blonde, what was er name? carmen: Whar? BovERT: She lives over on Ellis Avenue—you used to spend every minute together. ‘cartenine: Cindy Jacobsen? OBERT: Cindy Jacobsen! ‘CATHERINE: That was in third grade, Dad. Her family moved 10 Florida in 1983. onexr: What about Claire? ‘CATHERINE: She's not my friend, she's my sister, And she's in New York. And I don' like het ROBERT: I thought she was coming in. CATHERINE: Nor ell tomorrow: (Bea) SST eS SESSA‘opts: My advice, if you find yourself awake late at aight, is to sit down and do somne mathematics ‘CATHERINE: Oh please OBERT: We could do some together, ‘CATHERINE: No, RosERT: Why nor? (CATHERINE: I can’ think of anything worse. You sure you don't vane a9y? ROBERT: Yeah, chanks. You used co love fe CATHERINE: Not anymore. osenr: You knew what a prime number was before you could read, CcaTHERINE: Well now I've forgotten. ontxr: (Heard) Don't waste your talent, Catherine. (Baz) (CATHERINE: [knew you'd say something like that OBERT: I realize you've hada dificult time. CcaTHERINE: Thao, ROBERT: That's not an excuse. Don't be lazy ‘carne: haven't been lazy, I've been taking care of you oss: Kid Ive seen you. You sleep cll noon, you eat juak, you don't work, che dishes pile up inthe sink. Ifyou go ou Je t buy magazines, You come back with a stack of mage oes this high— I don'c know how you read that crap. And those are the good days. Some days you don’ get up, you don’ get ou of bed CATHERINE: Those are the good days ontir: Bullshit. Those days are lst. You threw them amy And you'll never koow what else you threw away ‘with ‘them—the work you lst, the ideas you didn't have, dicey éries you never made because you were moping in your bed 4 four in the afternoon, (Best) You know I'm tight. (Best) ‘CATHERINE: I've lost few days Hoste: How many? ‘CATHERINE: Ob, I don’e knows. sear: [ bet you do. Carenine: What? sear: I bee you count. ‘CATHERINE: Knock it off BERT: Well do you know or don't you? ‘carHeRINE: I done ‘Ronen: Ofcourse you do. How many days have you lst? CATHERINE: A month. Around « month. nossa: Exacely, ‘aTHERINE: Goddama it, I doa'e— ROBERT: Howe many? ‘CaTHERINE: Thiry-three days, oserr: Exactly? ‘caTHERINE: I don’ know, OBERT: Be precise, foe Chrissake ‘CCHERINE: [slept e008 today. ‘RonERT: Call ic thiry-three and a quaster days, ‘CcHERINE: Yes, all right, OSERT: You're kidding! CAHERINE: No, ROSEKT: Amazing number! ‘CATHERINE: Ie a depressing fucking number ‘osExr: Catherine if every day you sy you've lost were year, ic would be a veey interesting fucking number. Ccavmenise: Thirty-three and a quatre yeas isnot inceresting RORERT: Scop it. You kw exactly what I mean ‘CATHERINE: (Coneding) 1729 weeks, ROMERT: 1729. Great number. The smallest number express: ‘ble— CCataenive: —expressible asthe sum of two cubes in owo dif. Fecent ways OBERT: 12 cubed plus 1 cubed equals 1729. CATHERINE: And 10 cubed plus 9 cubed. Yes, we've got it,thank you. ROBERT: You see? Even your depression is mathematical. Stop ‘moping and get to work, The kind of porential you have— CcaTHERINE: I haven't done anything good, opERT: You're young. You've got time. (CATHERINE: I do? RopERT: Yo. ‘CATHERINE: By che rime you were my age you were famous. ‘open: By the time I was your age I'd already done my best work, (Beat) (CATHERINE: What sboue after? [ROWERT: After what? CATHERINE: After you go sick ROBERT: Whar aboue it? ‘caTHiRINE: You coulda’e work thea, ouERT: No, ifanything I was sharper ‘CATHERINE: (Seca help she dal) Dad OBERT I was. Hey, i’ true, The clavty—thac was the amaze ing thing. No doubes. ‘cartnuse: You were happy? [ROBERT: Yeah, I was busy CATHERINE: Not che same ching open: I don't se the difference. I knew what I wanted to do snd I did i. ICT wanted co work a problem all day long, I did ie. HET wanted to look foe information—secrets, complex and tantalizing messages—I could find them all around me In the ar. Ina pile of fallen leaves sorne neighbor raked to- gether. In box scores in the pape, weecen in the steam com- ing up off a cup of coffee. The whole world was talking £0 IF juse wanted to close my eyes, si quietly on the porch and listen for the messages, I did that. Ie wns wonderful (Bast) CCATHIERINE: How old were you? When it started. ROBERT: Mid-ewenties, Twenty-three, four. (Beat) Is chat what you're wortied about? CATHERINE: I've thoughe about i rosea: Juse getting, a year older means nothing, Catherine ‘caTmERINE: I's noe just getting older osenr: les me, (Bea) ‘cxTHERINE: I've thoughe abou i. one: Really? CcarteRiNe: How could I nor? owe: Well if chats why you're worried you're noe keeping up with the medical Lisrature, There are all kinds of fac tors. Irs nor simply something you inherit, Just because I ‘went bughouse doestt mean you wil, ‘catueRine: Dad oueRr: Listen co me. Life changes fast in your early cwenties and ie shakes you up. You're feeling down. I's been a bad week. You've had 2 lousy couple years, no one knows chat beter than me. But you're gonna be okay. ‘carHeRINE: Yeah? ost: Yes. I promise you. Push yourself Don't read so many sagazines. Sic down and get the machinery going and I soveae 0 God youll feel fine. The simple face hac we can talk about this together is a good siga. CATHERINE: A good siga? oweer: Yes! CATHERINE: How could it be a good siga? oss: Because! Ceazy people don't sit around wondering if they're nuts ‘CATHERINE: They doa'e? OBERT: Ofcourse not. They've goe better things co do. Take iefiom me. A very good sign chat you're czy is an inability ro ask the question "Am Ierazy? ‘CATHERINE: Even iF the answer is yes? opt: Crazy people don't ask. You sce? ‘CATHERINE: Yes. ROBERT So if you're asking (CATHERINE: Pm not. OBERT: But if you were, (CATHERINE: A good sign ROBERT: A good sign that you'e fine ‘catirnine: Righe open: You see? You've just gotta think these things through. Now come on, what do you say? Lee’ call it a nights you go up, get some sleep, and then in the moming you can— ‘CATHERINE: Wait. No. ROBERT: What's the macter? CATHERINE: Ie doesn’t work. Roses: Why noe? (CATHERINE: It doesn’t make sense. ROBERT: Sure ie does. ‘CATHERINE: No. ROBERT: Where's the problem? ‘CATHERINE: The problem is you ace crazy! ‘ROBERT: Whae difference does chat male? (CATHERINE: You admitted — You just told me that you ae, ROBERT: So? ‘CATHERINE: You said a ceazy person would never admit chat ‘ROBERT: Yeah, buc is... Oh. I see (CATHERINE: So? BERT: I «point, (CATHERINE: So how can you admic i? ober: Wel, Because I'm also dead, (Bea.) Aren't 1? ‘CATHERINE: You died a week ago. ‘would be a very good sign obERT: Heat failure, Quick. The funecl’s tomorrow. ‘cerHRINE: That's why Claite’s lying in from New York, ower: Yes. ‘CATHERINE: You're sitting here. You're giving me advice. You brought me charnpagoe. oweRT: Yes, (t.) ‘cemuenine: Which means OBERT: For you? ‘CaTHERINE: Yes. OBERT: For you, Catherine, my daughtes, who I love very much I could be a bad sign (They sit soetbr for a mament, Noite off. NL enters, se-bip clare He caves baskpack and a jack, folds He lth dar ge aud it bangs shat. CATHERINE st np with aul.) {HAL Ob, Pm soery, the dab, I Forgo, i¢— Ccerueine: What? aL: Oh God, sorry—did I wake you? ccerenine: What? sat: Were you asleep? (Bet, ROBERT i go) CcmuERINE: You scaced me for Chrssake. What ae you doing? Hat Ym sorry I didn’t realize ic had gocten solace. Tm done for che night CartieRINE: Good. HAL: Drinking alone? (corHenne realizes she is bling obe champagne bate. Se pate it dow quickly.) ‘CATHERINE: Yes, at: Champagne, huh? ‘case: Yes, at: Celebrating? ‘aTHBRINE: No. I jst like champagne. a TE SS TTPee ee HAL: Ie festive. CATHERINE: What? HAL: Fite. (He makes an awkward party" gesture) {carieaie: Do you wane some? AL: Sure. (CATHERINE: (Gites im the battle) Ym done. You can take the rest with you Hat: Oh, No thanks. ‘carieRINe: Take i, 'm done Hat: No\I shoulda’. 'm driving, (Bet) Well Lean ee myself CcarHeRINE: Good, Hat: When should I come back? ‘carinii: Come back? HAL: Yeah. Pm nowhere near finished. Maybe tomorrow? CATHERINE: We have funeral tomorrow. aL: God, you're right, '™m sorry. I was going to attend, if tha’ al rghe. CcarHEnINE: Yes HAL: Whar about Sunday? Will you be eround? ‘caTiERINE: You've had three day. Hats T' love to get in some more time up there CATHERINE: How much longer do you need? Hats Another week. Ac last. (CATHERINE: Are you joking? Hat: No. Do you knave how mach stuf there is? ‘CATHERINE: A eek? HAL: know you doa’t need anybody in your hair righ now Look, spent the last couple days geting things sreed out es mostly nocebooks. He dated them all; now that ve got therm in order I don't have to work here, I could eae some scuff home, read ic, bring it back. ‘CATHERINE: No, ALY be cael Comin: My fcr Wook want anything moved and 1 dhe want anything eve this house unt Then should wok ere TI soy ovo he wa. aren: Youre wasting your time sn: Someone nds ogo tech your das paps. arian Thee’ oothng up these. 1s grb, NAL There ce ued sre nateboc, cara Fe led at tose Ts gibberish AL Someone sould ead them Carne: He was rey. aL Yes, but he weve chem Carian: He was prapiomaiae, Harold, Do you know tac alt non: He wote compulsively Call me Hal Cartsuit: There no connection berwee the eas. Theres nodes I ike «monkey e+ typewriter A nde aed the ocebooks fil of bullshie a Lets make sre eheyr bli coven sre aL Tim pepe to ok ac every page Are you? Carian No. Tr not cary (But HM: Mel, Ym gonna bela... Some ens of mine ae in this. They plying a a bar up on Diversey, Wey deo the ily toy pbably going on stun ee, eo. thiey Tad Td be hee coment, Great, HAL: They alin the math depacment Tey really good Thay hive this reat songyou'd lke Heald loner I The ust stator and don't play eyeing Ech ris arian “Inagioay Number HAL sa math ke. You see why theyre wy down the il carne Long deer see some neds in andat: God I hate when people say chat. Ie is not chat long a drive (CATHERINE: So ehey are nerd Hat: Ob they're caging gecks. But they're geeks who, you Know, can dress themselves hold down a job at « major luniversiy ... Some of them have switched feom glasses to «contacts. They play spores, chey play ina band, chey get lid surprisingly often, so in that sense chey sort of make you ‘question the whole set ofrerms: geek, nerd, wool dwech, ibe, paste-cacet. (CATHERINE: You're inthis band, aren’ you? al: Okay, yes. I play drums. You want to come? I never sing, I swear to Goa, (CATHERINE: No thanks, Nats All cighe. Look, Catherine, Monday: whet do you say? CATHERINE: Don’ you bave a ob? Hat: Yeah, Ihave full aching load chis quater plus my own work: CATHERINE: Plus band practice ats I don't have time to do chie but im going to. 1fyou'l lee ‘me, (Beats) [loved your dad. 1 don’ believe a mind like fs ‘an just shue down, Hie had lucid moments. He bad a lucid Year, whole yet fou years ago, CATHERINE: Ie wasn't a yea. Ir was mote like nine months. Hat: A school year. He was advising students I was stalled (on my Ph.D. I was this close to quitting. 1 mee with your dd and he pur me on the eighe track with my research, 1 we him, CATHERINE: Sorry. "Hat: Look. Let me— You'e twenty-five, cighe? CATHERINE: How’ old ace you? Hat: Te doesn't matter. Listen ‘CATHERINE: Fuck you, how old are you? ‘HAL: Tim cweney-eight allright? When your dad was younger tun both fw, e made mo cottons tone el ame theo, sec geomet, and onlin sper Shon Mot of we ever geo ead rude lly oveeed he mathemati ecnigus or sing en Sonal behavior, which ecnamists have been milking for Nobels eve since and te gve the eophysicies plenty © wodk eer oo, Olay? comes Do lecture me HAL im not. ling Jou, i cae up with one-nth of the shit your da produced I cul write my own ce fy mach deprsmen in the oun. ein Give me your backpack AL: Whae? ‘CATHERINE: Give me your backpack. a: Why? (CATHERINE: I wane «0 look inside i Hat: What? Crna: Open it and give tome si: Ob come on. CRIN: YoU not aking anything a of his ows aT would d Cee Yo hoping ond womething opis hat you ‘on pis vst Sre Chon Then you can wie your own tke SA What? No! wuld be wer our dad’ name. K-would efi your dd comand belie ou You bv nto in a backack i va Wha ae you aking abou? Choate: Ge tome TM Yue being wile bic pra Cinsetve: Pend Va: Maybe ie,(CATHERINE: Fuck you, Hal, 1 bane books. Hat T think you should calm down and think sbour what you're saying, CATHERINE: Tm saying you're lying eo me and stealing my family’s propery. HHxL: And I think ehat sounds paranoia, (CATHERINE: Juse because I'm paranoid doesnt mean there isa't something in chae backpack. 7 Nat: You said yonrelf thos mahing ap thee, Dida'e you? 4 CcaTHERINE: I ats Didn't you say eat? (CATHERINE: Yes, Hat: So whae would I take? Right? (Beat) CATHERINE: You're right Mat: Thank you, ‘CaTHIERINE: So you don't need to come back. at (Sighs) Please. Someone should know for sure whethee— (CATHERINE: I Lived with him spent my life with him. I fed him, Talked to him, Tied (0 Tisten when be talked. Talked t0 people who weren't there... Watched him shuffling around like a ghost. A very smelly ghost. He was flehy. 1 had co make sure he bathed. My owa facher. at: T'm sory. shouldn't have (CATHERINE: Afer my mother did ic was just me hete, I ered (0 keep him happy no matter whit idiotic project he was, doing. He used to read all day. He kepe demanding more and more books. I took them out of the library by the car load. We had hundreds upstairs, Then I ccalized he wasn't feading: he believed aliens were sending. him messages theough che Dewey decimal numbers on che library books He was crying co work out the code you have one of my note- st: Was knd of mesg? Caen Beet mathematics. Anse c eveything The os elegant os, Prof rcs Ue si sa Sounds god Arn Plo fsbo di, hk joker—T es — nti ema omgay mane Lae the wong, ps scribbling sineen, Ten outa day Teed fim se of aseboaks a oo Kinga hes ce von: usando yu' el ha Citanine Fk yo ee a citi Youd Frown don wan oo be es Arto T nt oe alone. do wan him oun TA of Hi? Tae Caruso. Tce ae you bee tat Why? mee He’ dn fat Be Tm aoe Clowns Hes dens do' ed yr oud Hat Thee wl be thes caret: Wha? HAL Yon thine I he oly on? Pepe end woking ve is seu Someones gon ed ae otto cane doe HA Ne, you Cans Hc my fiber, 1 do i na You cat Cavan Why a0?twa Now don' have the math al just squiggles ona page You woulda’ know the goo stuf rom the jonk ‘CATHERINE: e's all junk, Hau If its nor we ean afford to miss any through caelesnes. ‘avin: [ know mathematic, ‘as: Uf here was anything up chere ie would be prety high: order ft would take a professional to ecognive fe ‘CATHERINE: I think I could recognize ip HAL: (Pation) Cathy CATHERINE: Whar? HAL: I know your dad raughe you some basic seu, bur come ‘caTiERINE: You don’s think I could do i. ‘at Tim sony: 1 know chat you couldn't, (Bean. CATHERINE sats bis bactpack)) Hey! Oh come on, Give me 1 bra (CATHERINE opens the backpack and rife through i.) This ark an aioe. (CATHERINE removes items one by one. A water ble Some work ite, Denti. Aw range Nating he Sheps eting Sack nage it bac. Beat.) ‘caTitaiv: You can come comorrox, (Best. They ae both embarraied.) ‘at: The university health service i uh vey good My mom died couple years ago and I was pretty broken up. Also my work wasnt going chat well. T went one tnd talked to this doctor saw her fora couple moaths nal ic really helped, (CATHERINE: In fie (Bez) Yas Also exercise is great. I un along the lake & couple of ‘mornings a week. Ie not too cold yet. If you wanted so ‘come sometime I could pick you up. We wouldn't have xo all CATHERINE: No, Thanks, Hat: All sight. I'm gonna be late forthe show. I better go. ‘CATHERINE: Okey, (Beat) We go HAL Te secon lk weoty minut up othe cab, We g on, we ply were but we buy everyone deni ae ward © make vp fri Yue home by fur, oe ei a Good night HME Goo eight, (Hest x He ba fot jac) Chrvtne: Wait your coe TAL: No oud rv to (ati pic pr jc As ed, campitionbkhat filam inthe al oe flat Se id ap, renin wth reg) chnwnN im promi? va: War ‘CATHERINE: You think I should go jogging? 1a. Jus hold on Hat Can plese jase— aru: Ge he fuck out of my Bose 1a Lien come fora ne, Carne ( Waning th a) You cle eis Va Let me pla CN: YU ate fom me, you sole i om ay father (ian he bc) : Hs: want o sow you something, Wil you cl down Crnint Give i ack, Hause wat a mint Coren Telling the plc. (Sb pi pte pam and vt) : Ya: Done, Lok, 1 browed eh book all igh? Fi sey ie pike ir up before I ae downs ad the re‘CATHERINE: (On pte) Hello? HAL: I did i fora reason, CcaTiERiNe: Hell, police? I Yes, in progress. Hat: I noticed something—something your father wrote. All fighe? Not mach, something he urate. Here, let me show yoo, CATHERINE: A rey. Hat: Will you pur the fucking phone down and listen to me? ‘CATHERINE: (On phone) Yes, Tm at 5724 South — Hat: Ie about you. See? Yar It was written aboue you, Here's yout name: Cathy, See? ‘CATHERINE: South fearuienive pase. She sons 20 be listening. HA red) HAL: "A god day. Some very good news from Catherine.” { didn't keow what chat cefetred to, but 1 ‘might ‘CATHERINE: When did he write this? Hats think four years ago. The handwriting is steady. Te must have been during his temission. There's mote. (A moms ‘CATHERINE bangs up th phone) “Machinery noc working yet bbue I am patient." “The machinery” is whar he called his ‘ind his ability co do mathematics ‘CATHERINE: I know. TE like co ceport a robbery thought you "Hat: (Read) “Lkoow I'l ger there. Lam aa auto mechanic who aier years of greasy work on a hopeless wreck turns che ig sition and hears a faine cough. 1 am noc driving yet, bat there's cause for opeimism. Talking with students helps, So docs being outside, eating meals in restaurants, siding buses all the aceivices of ‘aocmal’ ite ‘Most ofall Cathy: The years she has lost cating for me. 1 almost wroce ‘wasted.’ Lam drowning in guile. Yee her ‘refusal to let me be institutionalized—her keeping me at home, cating for me herself, has certainly saved my lie Made wiking si potible, Made tpl imagine do Ing math agin, Where do her seth come fom? Tan ever py he yh birdy: he i twenty-one Tm king ber tonne" Datel September 4, Thats tomocow. coon oa. TM Ye ight (eins ro) Thought you might ‘ant osc shoul hve rd fo ser tet, Tomer rom mas going to—it sounds stupid ow. Iwas going wrap is apy bina (uae cnn ae hts ba i br and Sh tn nny ete wpb oe Poe fi son Seng do) const Si fade Scene 2 ‘The not morning, CLAIRE, sys, attractive, dvinks coffe from a snag, She as baught bagel ana fits 10 the porch oma ty. She sarang shes tao plat. She matics tbe champagne bul lying oe ‘he lar She picks it up and us ion a table. CATHERINE nts, Her hairs wet from a shower ‘cuine: Better. Much, ‘caTieRINE: Thanks, ‘camRe: Feel beer? ‘CATHERINE: Yeah, ‘CLAIRE: You look a million times bette. Have some cofce ‘caTHIERINE: Okay. ‘caine: How do you take ic? ‘carneninE: Black.ieee eee eee eee eee nee eee eee eee eee eee eee eee eee eee ee eee ‘GARE: Have a liale mill. (She pours) Want a banana? It's a ‘ood thing I broughe food: there was nothing in the house ‘CATHERINE: I've een meaning co go shopping CLAIRE: Have a bogel ‘caTHERINE: No, [hate breakfis. (Beat, Sb drinks br cfc) ‘Laie: You didn't pu on the des. CcaTHERINE: Didn't relly fel like i CLAIRE: Don't you wane to ery icon? See ie fs? ‘CATHERINE: I'l put ie later, Beat.) CLAIRE: Ifyou wane co dey your aie I have a hai deve ‘caTHERINE: Nab, ‘CLAIRE: Did you use char conditioner I brought you? CcaTHERINE: No, shit, I forgot. ‘CLAIRE: I¢S my favorite. You'll love it, Katie. I wane you to try (CATHERINE: Lage i ext time. CLAIRE: You'l lke it. Ke has Jojobs. CATHERINE: What is “Jojoba”? (CLAIRE: Ie something chey putin for healthy baie ‘CATHERINE: Hai is dead ‘aise: What? ‘CATHERINE: Is dead tissue. You can't make it healthy. ‘Chains: Whatever, is someching tha’s good for your baie CcarieRiNe: Wha, chemical? LAIRE: No, its organic. CcaTitRNe: Well it can be organic and still be a chemical (Laine: I done know what ic is ‘CATHERINE: Haven't you ever heasd of organic chemistry? (CLAIRE: Ie makes my hair fel, look, and smell good. That’ the excent of my information shout it. You mighe like ie if you ecide co use i. ‘CATHERINE: Thanks, Tl ty i ‘CLAIRE: Good. IF the dress doesn’e fe we can go downcown and exchange i. ‘caTHERINE: Olay. ‘LAtRe: I cake you eo lunch ‘CATHERINE: Great CLAIRE: Maybe Sunday before T go back. Do you need any- ‘hing? CATHERINE: Like clothes? CLAIRE: Or anything. While I'm here. (CATHERINE: Nab, I'm cool (Beat) - CLAIRE: T thought we'd have some people over conight. If you're feeling okay. CcaTHERINE: I'm feling okay, Clie, stop saying that. ‘atk: You don’ have any plans? CATHERINE: No. CLAIRE: I ordered some food. Wine, bees ‘CATHERINE: We are burying Dad this afternoon, ‘Laine: I chink i will be all right. Anyone who's been o the funeral and wants to come over for something co eat can ‘And ie’ the only time I can see any oll Chicago friends. Ie, be nice. Ie a funeral but we don't have to be completely ‘stim about i, If t's okay with you camnenint: Yes, sure (CLE: Ie’ been a stressful time. Ie would be good to relaxin low-key way. Micch says Hi ‘CATHERINE: Hi Miceh, CLAIRE: He's eallysorey he couldn't come. cartoive: Yeah, he's gonna mis all the fun (GLaIRE: He wanted ro see you. He sends his love. I cold him you'd see him soon enough. (Best) We'e getting married ccaTuenint: No shit (Latne: Yes! We just decided, (CATHERINE: Yikes,cua: Yes! arene: When? cua January sn Lai: Weis nox going to do huge thing. His fal te gone ‘oo, Just City Hal cena big dinner ou vote ea tat forall ou ends. And yoo, of cure T hope ol be in the wedding. ie caren: Ye. OF coune. Congeuations, Clie, tm ce ally bapy fo yo tant Tanks, Me oo, We ju decided i ws ime Hiab is great I jus oe promoted cate Huh cam: You wl ome? AMINE: Ys, se. Jury? I mean, Ido have to check | Wy endo anything. Se laane That makes re very happy: Do you wane some more CcaTHERINE: Sure, (CLAIRE pow, CATHERINE drinks. Beat. From bere ow CLAIRE ted gingerly) ‘CLAIRE: How ate you? ‘carinii: Okay ‘CLAIRE: How are you feeling about everything? CATHERINE: About “everything”? CLAIRE: Aboue Dad, CcaTHERINE: What aboue im? ‘CLAIRE: How ate you feeling about his death? Ace you all ugh? ‘CATHERINE: Yes, Tam, ‘caine: Honestly? ‘CATHERINE: Yes. (CLAIRE: I think in some ways ie was the “right time.” If here is ever aright rime, Do you know what you want to do now? ‘carteRINE: No. ‘LaiRe: Do you want co stay here? ‘CATHERINE: T don’t know. CLAIRE: Do you wane co go back to school? CATHERINE: I haven't chough about i. CLAIRE: Well there's a le to chink about. How do you feel? CcarneRiNe: Physically? Great. Excepe my hale seems kind of unhealthy, I wish ehere were something I could do about hae CLAIRE: Come on, Catherine Ccartienast: What is the point ofall chese questions? (Bes.) ‘CLAIRE: Katie, ome policemen came by while you were in the shower. ‘caTHERINE: Yeah? GLAIRE: They ssid chey were "checking up" on things here Seeing how everything was this morning CATHERINE: (Neel) That was nice ‘GWIRE: They rold me they responded to a cll lastnight and came co the house (CATHERINE: Yeah? ‘LAIRE: Did you call ehe police lase night? ‘CATHERINE: Yeah, cuatne: Why? CATHERINE: I thoughe the house was being robbed. CLaMRE: But ic wasn i (CATHERINE: No. I changed my mind Bua.) CLAIRE: Fret you call 911 with an emergency and chen you hang up on ther>— ‘CATHERINE: I didn't erally want chem to come ‘CLAIRE: So why did you call? » &§BEE eee eee ee CATHERINE: Iwas crying co get this guy out of the house ‘cake: Who? ‘caTIERINE: One of Dad's studencs ‘Laine: Dad hasn't had any studencs for years ‘CATHERINE: No, he uss Dads student, Now he's ‘CLAIRE: Why was be in the house in che frst place? | ‘CATHERINE: Well he been coming here to look at Dad's ance- books (CLAIRE: Inthe middle ofthe night? (CATHERINE: Je was late. I was waiting for him to finish, and last night I choughe he might have been stealing thems (Laine: Stealing the notebooks, (CATHERINE: Ys. So I told him to go. ‘CLAIRE: Was he stealing them? ‘carina: Yes. That's why I called the police — CLAIRE: What is this man’s name? ‘carienuse: Hal. Harold. Herold! Dobbs. ‘CLAIRE: The police seid you were the oaly one here. “catitemne: He left before they got het CLAIRE: With the notebooks? CATHERINE: No, Claire, don't be stupid, there are over @ hune dred nocebooks. He was only stealing ore, but he was seal ing ic soe could give ie Aack to me, sol lee him go so he «ould play with his band on the novth side. ‘caine: His band? t (CATHERINE: He was late. He wanted me to come with him but vas like Yeah, eight, (Becs,) [LAIRE: (Gently Is “Harold Dobos” your boyfeiend? ‘CATHERINE: No! f (LAIRE: Are you sleping with him? t CCATHERIVE: Whar? Euughh! No! He's a math geek! ‘CLAIRE: And he's in a band? A rack band? i e's a mathe | (CATHERINE: No, « marching band. He plays ecombone. Yes, & rock band! ‘Laine: What is the name of his band? ‘CATHERINE: How should I know? (CLWURE: “Harold Dobbs" didn't rell you the name of his rock band? CATHERINE: No. I don't know. Look in the paper. They were playing last nigh. They do a song called “Imaginary Num- ber” cha doesn't exist (Bes.) : ‘LAIRE: Fm soery, 'm juse crying co understand: is "Harold bbe" ‘CATHERINE: Scop saying “Harold Dobbs. CLAIRE: Is this... person ‘CATHERINE: Harold Dob exis. ‘AIRE: I'm sute he doxs CATHERINE: He's a mathematician at che University of Chicago, Cal the fucking math department, CLAIRE: Don't gee upset. I'm just eying to understand! I mean if you found out some creepy grad student was trying to take some of Duels papers and you called the police, I'd un- derstand, and if you were out here partying, drinking with your boyitiend, understand, Bus the ewa series don't go together comtnnt: Because you made up he “boyd” sory. was here alone, ‘ake: Harold Dobbs wasn't here? ‘CATHERINE: No, he— Yo, he was here, bur we weren't party- ing! ‘Aske: You weren’ drinking with him? ‘CATHERINE: No! : : (LAIRE: (Sh ols up the champagne bt) This was sitting righe here. Who were you drinking champagne with? (camienune hastates)CATHERINE: With no one. ‘CLAIRE: Are you sure? ‘caTHERINE: Yes (Beat) ‘GAME: The police said you were abusive, (CATHERINE dann’ sy anything.) They said you're lucky they dida’e haul you ‘cariERINe: These guys were assholes, Claire. They wouldn't -g0 away. They wanted me to fil outa report CLAIRE: Were you abusive? “catitenne: This one cop kepe spitting on me when be tlle. Ic was disgusting. ‘CLAIRE: Did you use the word “dickhead”? CATHERINE: Oh I dos'e remember, ‘came: Did you tell one cop «0 go fick dhe oter cops ‘smother? . * CATHERINE: ‘caine: Thac’swhae hey sad, ‘CATHERINE: Not with thae phessing Giant Did ou uke ca es cst They wee ing to omen el cae: On my Gos AHERN Tg hve push hie ‘aan: They yon ee ie dno de Carns: They wate coe neta th yb cea Yale ts eh saul a ht come Ba "hey did omen ee a sate ing ey oo the plc, pshing me eu ling me sche sone so cin eats Cane Tas use pence. They neo Sly cok theo oe lk eo ha Sciaheo cn upon you. They mee ey sal conc Wal poplar er oe (Beat) ‘CLAIRE: Katie, Would you like co come to New York? ‘CATHERINE: Yes, Irold you, Il come in January. ‘AIRE: You could come sconer. We'd love co have you. You could seay with us. Ifd be fun, ‘caTHERINE: I don't wane co ‘CLAIRE: Mitch has become an exelent cook. It's like his hobby row. He buys all these gudgets. Garlic peess, olive oil sprayer... Every nighe thete’s something new. Delicious, wonderful meals. The other day he made vegetarian chili ‘carngnine: Whac the fuck are you caking about? ‘CLAIRE: Stay wich us fora while. We would have so much fun. (CATHERINE: Thanks, I'm okay here. CLAIRE: Chicago is dead. New York isso much more fun, you can't believe i ‘CATHERINE: The “fon” thing is really nor where my focus is at the moment. ‘uaine: [think New York would be a really ee and... safe place for you to— ‘CATHERINE: I don’t need a safe place and I don’t wane to have any fan! I'm perfectly fine here, ‘LalRE: You look tired. I think you could use some downcime ‘CATHERINE: Downtime? ‘CLARE: Kate, please. You've had a very hard time, CcaTHERINE: I'm perfectly okay CLAIRE: I chink you're upset and exhausted, CATHERINE: I was fine till you got hec. CLAIRE: Yes, bute you Hat: (From of) Catherine? (CLAIRE: Who is thar? (Beat AL enters.) aL: Hey, I— (CATHERINE ands and points siampantly at bi.) (CATHERINE: Harold Dabls?a (Conf AERINE Obey? Il don ed tis, li Tn ie, yon ‘row Tm oly fie, ad then Jou soar i ne thse gusts, an “Ave you tay?” tad ea ee tone of wie and “Oh, the por policeman pole can handle shesctesand bagel pd ba fp and "Come to New Yack" a sana mean i rele effi son (Bn) SLANE: (Seth, Hal) Tm Cie Catherine sinter, ML: Oh, his Hal. Nice wo meet yous acon | ee it nto cay. Ewa se Bing toy coos sone ‘work done before the uh—if uh coe cane Yar CATR Sue gay (wat et A nee) lant Tat Hal Dobe? cent Yes came: Hes ace CaTHERNE (Dig ugh CURE Hes materia? "sabe the bint. She exis. After moment of ‘ndetion LAIR tabs a banana and a bagel and ges inte) fade Scene 3 Nit mide th owe a partys progres. Lond matic fom wpe teryind but entbusostic band. CATHERINE i alone om te porch he waar flattering Black cess. aside the bad ihe ir Cher, applause. Afr « moment Hak comer ont. He wears a it. Hl bas take off bis ie, He is uxaty and rene wp from play- ‘ng, He olds run boss of bur. CATHERINE regard im A but. (CATHERINE: I feel chat for a funeel reception this mighe have gorcen a bie out of conta. at: Aw come on, Ie great. Come oa in CATHERINE: I'm ols. bats We'e done playing, I promise CATHERINE: No thanks. Hat: Do you want a beee? ‘CATHERINE: I'm okay, Hat: [beoughe you one. (Beat. CATHERINE atta.) (CATHERINE: Okay. (Sbe takes it, sis.) How many people ate in ‘hese? Mat: Is down to abour fee. CATHERINE: Forty? at: Jus che hardcore partyers ‘CATHERINE: My sister’ friends aL: No, mathematicians. Your sister’ fiends ef hours ago. ‘The guys were really pleased to be asked to pasicipre ‘They worshipped your dad ‘CATHERINE: Ie was Claire's ide, Hat: Te was good. ‘CATHERINE: (Conds) The petformance of “Imaginary Num- ber" was. sort of... moving, aL: Good funeral. I mean not “good,” but— ‘caTi#eniNE: No. Yeah Hal: Can you believe how many people came? ‘caTiERINE: I was Suepeied, Hat: I think he would have liked i. (CATHERINE oor at bin.)Son int my place o— coms: No, youre righ. Everyhing wa baer than tone (Br) HM Yo ok gee CATA leteste des) Cae gv ico me HALT Like ic, Pecan Cars dn ely e Hn No, Catherine i goed (Anon Note fn ed) Cannan When do ou ine eve? AL: No way know Mathticns a ine. weno ‘science in Ton al Ts oun sho Tae shape, T shouge I cold ang withthe ig be Ween te ver been wo ested my lie Frege ee senight pring. inking drape paps ee canta: Daag ti: Yan. Amptamines ty. 1 mea, do. Some of the older guy ae aly kel, corn Rely Hn: Yeh hy think hey need ie Carne Way? HM They think macs a young man’s gue, Speed keep them cing, aks therm fel sty Thees eh ere You ay pe wen een nial fs hl om tee: Once you hi yt oer, yo mig so well ceach high school, : a arene Thats whe ny ate hugh si dunn. Se pop sey pe Carin Now ay Hak No, you righ Realy gil wok au corn: Young gy va Young pope (CATHERINE: But i i men, mostly Hal: There are some women, (CATHERINE: Who? aL: There's a woman ac Stanford, I can’ eemember her name. CATHERINE: Sophie Germain. aL: Yeah? I've probably seen her at meetings, T just don'e think I've met hes CcaTHERINE: She was born in Paris in 1776. Beat.) HAL: So I've defintely never met her. (CATHERINE: She wae trapped in hee house “The French Revolution was going on, the Teor. She had to stay inside for safecy and she passed the time ceading in her father’s study: The Greeks... Later she tried to gee a teal education but the schools didn’t allow women, So she wrote letters. She wrote to Gauss. She used a man's name. Uh—Ancoine-August Le Blanc, She sent him some proofs lvolving a certain kind of prime number, impoctane work. He was delighted ro correspond with such a brilliant young ‘man. Dad gave me a book abour hee Hat: I'm stupid. Sophie Germain, of couse ccariznune: You know her? aL: Germain Primes. ‘CATHERINE: Right. Hat: They're famous. Double them and add one, and you get another prime. Like ewo. Two is prime, doubled plus one is five: also prime. ‘carnsaine: Right. Or 92,305 x 2360 1 Hat: (Startled) Right ‘caTHERINE: Thats che biggest one, The biggest one known (Bea.) Hal: Did he eve find out who she was? Gauss ‘CATHERINE: Yeah, Latee a rputual friend told him che billianeyoung man was a woman. He wrote to het: “A case for the mysteries of numbees i ‘excessively ear, but when a person ofthe sex which, accorde jing co our customs and prejudices, muse encounter inf- sitely more difficulties chan men co familiarize herself with these thorny researches, succeeds nevercheless in penetrating the most obscure parts of thems, chen without a doube she must have che noblese courage, quite extaoedinary tlencs, sod superior genius” (Nev slfomcows) { memorized it (8a stares at br, Fe suddenly kiss hr, hen ip, embarrased. He ‘nove a.) HAL: Sorry. I'm litte drunk, (CATHERINE: es okay. (Creomfrtale bt.) 'm sory about yes ‘erday. Iwasa‘ helpful. Abou the work you'e doing. Take 4 Fong as you need upstairs HAL: You wet fine, I was pushy. ‘carHtRINe: Iwas afl HaL: No. My timing was certible. Anyway, you're probably sight ‘caTieRine: Whar? HAL: About it being junk, ‘CATHERINE: (Nod) Yes, at: [read through 2 lot of stuff cody, just skimming. Excepe for the book I stale— CATHERINE: Ob God, I'm sorey about that HAL: No, you wete right. ‘CATHERINE: I shouldn't have called the police. Hat: Te was my feu, ‘caTieRin: No, HAL: The point is, that book—I'm starting to think it's the ‘only lucid one, really. And there's no math ini. ‘carienin: No aL: Tmean, I'l keep reading, bu if dont find anyching in a couple of days ‘CATHERINE: Back ta the drums. Hat: Yeah. (CATHERINE: And your own research, Hat: Such asi is, CCaTHERINE: What's wrong with i? Hal: Tes not exactly seecng the world on fe. (CATHERINE: Oh come on, a Ie sucks, basicaly ‘caTHERINE: Harold Hat: My papers get tuzned down, Foe che right reasons—my ‘tl is rival. The big ideas aten' there CATHERINE: Ie not abou big ideas. Ics work, You've got to chip away ata problem. aL: That’ not what your dad di. ‘CATHERINE: I chink i€ wa, in a way. He'd attack & question from the side, from some weird angle, sneak up oni, grind sway ac it. He was slogging. He was juse so much faster than anyone else that from the outside it looked magical at: I don't know, ‘CATHERINE: I'm just guessing. at: Plus the work was beauifil. You can read ie for pleasure Tes sereamlined: no wasted moves, like « ninety-Bve mile. an-hour fastball. Ie just. elegant ‘CATHERINE: Yeah, Hat: And cha's whae you can never duplicate. At least I can't Tes okay. At a certain point you rafize is noe going to he Pe, you realize ies not going co happen, you readjust your ‘expectations. I enjoy teaching ‘CATHERINE: You might come up with something, Hat: 'm twency-cighe, remember? On the downhill slope. CaTHBRUNE: Have you tied speed? Ive head i helps aL: (Laugh) Yeah, (Bect.)‘CATHERINE: So, Hal HAL: Yeah? ‘CATHERINE: What do you do for sex? at: What? (CATHERINE: At your conferences. aL: Uh, Tub— CATHERINE: Isnt thar why people hold conferences? Travel ‘Room service. Tax-deductible sex in big hore beds aL: (Leaps, merous) Maybe. I don’t know. ‘caTHERINE: So what do you do? All you guys. (Beat. s she flirting with im? Wis not sure) aL: Well we are scientist, (CATHERINE: So? Hau: So there’ a lor of experimentation CcavieRnce: (Laugh) see. (Beat, CATHERINE gow to im, She Rises im. A Tonge Rs I ds HAL is srpvsed and pled.) HAL Huh (CATHERINE: That was nice Hat: Really? (CATHERINE: Yes aL: Again? (CATHERINE: Yes (Kis) aL Talways liked you. CATHERINE: You did? HaL: Even before I knew you. Fd catch glimpses of you when you visited your dad's office at school. I wanted ro tlk ro you, but I though, No, you do noe lire with your doctoral adviser’s daughter, ‘CATHERINE: Especially when your adviser’ cray. HAL: Especially then (Kins) CATHERINE: You came here once. Four years ago. Remember? ype oo em | | | | AL Sue. La’ belie you do, Lvs depping of ea ny eh fr our da. Jue won conan Yon tok ees HM: Tea elve you remem eat Carnie remember yo Ki) {hgh you seed oe boing (Phot ks) fads Scene 4 ‘The next morning. CATHERINE alonson the porch in a robe. Ash one ter balf-drase. He-walts up bind br quietly, Sb bears bin sad HAL: How ong have you Been up Cane: A whe BAL Did oneeep? ann: No Ce Has you seu? Camis: No, She's yng home in cope hous. ho probably wake her, . Betoun: Taos ML Let er alep She was doing some prety serous drinkin Wich the chee physi igh AE CaTubRNE: Tl make her ome cos (Bua) HAL: Sunday mornings 1 uly go ot. Ge the pape, have some breakfase. . oo. caren: (Ba) HAL Do you wan c come? nen she gees wp,CcaTiERINE: Oh. No. I ought to stick around until Claire leaves saat: All right. Do you mind if I say? CcarmERiN: No, You can work if you wane. Hat: (Taber aback) Okay. ‘carienis: Okay. Hat: Should 1? CATHERINE: If you want to, aL: Do you wane me to go? CcaTHERINE: Do you want to go? aL: I want co stay here with you. ‘CATHERINE: Ob nat: I vant eo spend the day wich you if possible Pd like o spend as much time with you as I can unless of course Fm coming on tay too sttong right now and scaring you in which case TIl begin backpedaling immediately (CATHERINE laughs. Hor rif it evident: 50 is bi. They hiss.) How embarrassing isi if I say last night was wonderful? CcaTHeRINE: [e's only embarrassing ifT don't age. HAL: Uh, so ‘CATHERINE: Don't be embarrassed. (They his. After ¢ moment she sks of She stats, making 2 deisin. Thon se takes a chan ron aren bar mick, There isa ey om the chan. She tose it to HAL) Here. HAL: What's this? ‘earieRin 1 a key. HAL: Ab, CATHERINE: Tey i. Ha: Where? CATHERINE: Bottom drawer of the desk in my dad's office HAL: What’ in ehere? (CATHERINE: There's one way to find out, Professor. Hat: Now? (CarHERINE crags. He leaphs, amsre if his ica joke or ma.) Okay, PSeeseeee eee saeEeeeSaE Resa SEaE ESSE eESaE CERES SEE ESSERE EERE Hesse MESHES ESSE ESaEEEESEEEEEEESIREE EE EERE EEE eee RRR eee eSeaE eee (YA ies Ber quickly, sen gues inside CATHERINE smiles to nlf ‘She is happy, on he edge of bing sida. CLAIRE eters, anges She sits dwn, suinting.) ‘CATHERINE: Good mosning, ‘caine: Please don't yel, please. (CATHERINE: Are you allright? ‘LaIRE: No. (Beat, She eatches ber head.) Those fackiog. physic ‘CATHERINE: Whae happened? ‘Laie: Thanks a la for leaving me all alone wich them, CcaTieRiNe: Where were your friends? ‘Laine: My fucking friends left—it was only eleven oclock!— they all had ro get home and pay eheie babysicers or bake bread or something, I'm left alone with these Innavies ccarienine: Why did you drink so much? ‘CLAIRE: choughtI could keep up with them, I thought they'd stop. They didn't. Oh God. “Have another tequila CATHERINE: Do you want some coffee? CLAIRE: To a minute. That band, CATHERINE: Yeah, ‘CLAM: They wete terrible CcaviRiN: They were okay. They had fun, I chink. ‘CLAIRE: Well as long as everyone hal fun. Your dees eurned ‘ue all right CcaTHBRUNE: love it ‘tains: You do. CATHERINE: Yeah, i's wonderful ‘CLAIRE: I as surprised you even wore it (CATHERINE: I love it, Claire. Thanks (CLAIRE: Surprised) You're welcome. You're in a good mood. CcaTHERINE: Should noe be? ‘GAIRE: Are you kidding? No, I'm ehriled. I'm leaving in a few hours ccarieRine: I koow,re (Laine: The house is a wreck, Don't clean it up yourself, TUL hire someone to come ie CcaTiifRiN: Thanks. You want your coffee? (LaiRé: No, chanks (CATHERINE: (Searing in) Is no ceouble (Laine: Hold on se, Katie juse leaving soon. I— CcaTHPRINE: You said. I know. ‘CLAIRE: Te stil Like you to come to New York ‘CATHERINE: Yes: January. ‘CLAIRE: Td lke you to move to New York. ‘cartieRInt: Move? ‘GAIRE: Would you think aboue it? For me? You could stay ‘with me and Mitch ae fist. There's plenty of room. Thea ‘you could get your own place. I've already scouted some apartmenes for you, really cute places. CcaTHERINE: What would I do ia New York? ‘LAR: What are you doing here? ‘CATHERINE: I Live here Laine: You could do whatever you wane. You could wosk, you could go to school CcartiRiNE: I don't know, Claire, This is pretty major carne: I ceaize that. (CATHERINE: I know you mean well. I'm just aot sure what I ‘want to do. I mean to be honest you were right yesterday T do feel a ltee confused, I'm tired. Irs been a pretty weird couple of years. I think I'd Like to talce some time co figure things out ‘Lame: You could do that in New Yor, ‘cariERINE: And I could do ie here. ‘CLAIRE: But it would be much easier for me to get you set up in an apartment in New York, and— (CATHERINE: I don't need an apartment, I'l say inthe house CLAIRE: We're selling the house (Ste res a reth,) om Sa ENR BT I (Ber) arene: Whae? AE: We eligi GAR: T'm hoping todo the paecvock this week, Tow it wees sun, Cartnnt: No one ws here looking athe plac, whoa you ‘ling to? Cn: The universe They've waned the lok yeas ‘CATHERINE: I five bere, m LURE: Honey, sow tae Das gone doesnt make sen I ina shape. Ico frat cheat Is time le go, Mich agree, isa very smart neve, Wee lacy, we have tren oe caine: Where am suposed olive? ARE: Cameco New Yorke CaTHERNE Ian elev his las beso good. You deseo change. This would be a hole new adventure for you arent: Why ar you doing hi? nae want tip Cen: By kicking me oe of my a? ans: wary hose to caren: You have lived here for yar, RET ksow chat. You were on your own. Illy cere ‘that, Katie. es ae: know {Te you dow. Ie afl abou it Now Fm ing ce. aren: You wane help mi? cue Ys, stMERNE: Dai dea cuane:T how CaTHERNts Hes dead. Now that bes dead yu By in fr theweekend and decide you want to help? Yarre Jae. Where have you been? cua: CATHERINE: Whete wete you ive years ago? You were help- ing chen CLARE: Iwas working CATHERINE Twas fe. ved with Bim ame alte: T was working foureen-houe days. I paid every bil here. I pid ofthe moreguge on this drce-bedroom house while Iwas living i a stadia in Brooklye cactrRIN: You had you if You goe to Gnish school CLAIRE: You could have stayed in school! ccarnnint: How? Caine: 1 would have done anything —I old you thie old ‘you a million times co do anything you wanted ccarusnine: Whae sbout Dad? Someone had co take care of hin, CLAIRE: He wa ill. He should have een in fall time profes slonal-cae station. ‘caTutRint: He did't belong in che euthouse. CLAIRE: He might have been beter of Caen: How can you say eat? Cua: This is where Tm meane co fee guile, right? arHGRINE: Sut, go for i Caine: I'm heartless. My owe fer CATHERINE: He needed ta be bere. I his own house, near the ‘university ne his students, near everyhing that nade bien ‘pp CLAIRE: Maybe. Or maybe some real profesional care would have done him more good than eating around ina filthy house with looking afer hie. Tim sory, Catherine, i aot your Fale. 1s my fase for teting you doit CATHERINE: was igh co keep bien her. ap F< nT cn: No, Catenin: What boo his eison? Four yas ago, He ws ‘healthy for almost a year. lee uae: And hea he went ight downhill gin Coen: He igh hve Been wasn honpt Game: And he ig have ben bre i eee de any work ses? ARE: No. And yo migh ave Ben beet ant Kepig br i nde am) Beet than wht? LAKE Living ere with him did do you any po. Yu ad that yourself. . You hd 0 sachet ann: You think I'm ke Dua CLARE: Think you have some of his len and some of his tendency coward isi. (Bt) Caen: Chit, n don tothe “ute apartment tha you've “cute for me in New York, wold yu by ny hance lo have devoted seme of you considerable een tovacd scouting out another spe oF cue: Ne CATHERINE —tving sy for your ghoul sists? cians: Nit Abololy not Thao wa thi abe Catennt: Doo ee, Cla. I'm ster tan ys (Beas.) . Lake: The resoaress arnt: Oh my Ci Lame: “if you tated, all Tm saying is, he datos in New York andthe peopl ae the fat and they catenin: Fe un, la: e wold be ety up to you. You woul any hee, you can coment hate yoo, ve investigated —‘Laine: Don’ yell, please. Calm dowa, (CATHERINE: I hate yu, I— (Hat enters, bolding a natboab CLAIRE and CATHERINE sop sic. nly, Beat) ‘cLaIRE: What ate you doing here? (CLAIRE Hare at CATHERINE) Hal: How long have you keow about chis? (CATHERINE: A while Hat: Why didn’t you cell me about ie? ‘CATHERINE: I waso't suze I wanted to, (Buat.) ‘at; Thank you. ‘caritnin: You're welcome. ‘caine: Whar’s going on? Hat: God, Catherine, thank you. ‘carioRunt I though you'd like co se ie. CLAIRE: What is ie? Hat: Its inceeible cxaine: Whar tie? Hat: Ob, uh ia sesule. A proof. I mean it looks like a proof ‘eean itis proof, very long proof, I haven't read i all of course, or checked it, I don’t even know if Tad check it, bur if proof of what I think isa peoof of, i's. very important... proot ‘cuaine: What docs i prove? HaL: Ie looks like ie proves a theorem theocem aboue prime numbers, something mathematicians have been crying ro prove since since there were mathe- smaticins, basically. Mose people thought ie coulda’e be done. cuatme: Where did you find ie? ‘aL: In your father’s desk, Cathy cold me about i. caine: You know what this is? CcarieRoNe: Sar, «4 mathematical ‘CLAIRE: Isic good? ‘carienun: Yes, MAL: Ie’ historic. If it checks out. CLalRe: Whac does ie say? Hat: I don’ know yer. I've just read the frst few pages ‘etait: But what does ie mean? ‘at: Ie means that during a time when everyone thought your ad was crazy .. . or barely functioning » .. he was doing some of the most important mathematics in the world. Iie checks out, it means you publish instantly. Ie means news- papers all over the world ate going ro want ro talk to the person who found ¢his norebook, cxains: Cathy HAL: Cathy ‘CATHERINE: I dida’e find it. Mau: Yes you di (CATHERINE: No, CLAIRE: Well did you find ie or did Hal find i? at: [didnt find ie ‘caTHERUNG: I dida'e find i. I weoce i. Curtain a ERIEAct Two Scene 1 ROBERT is alone ow che porch. He st quietly, enjoying a drink, tbe ‘qe, the Septenberafernan. A nets nearly, wnspeed, He clos ‘is ees, apparently decing. 1 sf years earlier than the exes in ‘Act One. CATHERINE ontrs quit. She sands bind ber father or ‘owear: Hello CCatHERIN: How did you know I was here? ROGER: I heard you CATHERINE: thoughe you were asleep ‘oper: On an afternoon like this? No. CcaTHIERINE: Do you need anything? ROBERT: No, CATHERINE: I'm going to the store noseer: What’ for dinner? ‘CATHERINE: Whae do you wane? Rosen: Nor spaghetti (CATHERINE: All righ, ROBERT: Disgusting stuf. ‘CATHERINE: That's what I was going to make. ‘ROBERT: I had a feeling. Good thing I spoke up. You meke ie 0 much, ‘cxrHiERnNE: Whae do you wane?RoBeRT: What do you have a taste for? ‘carienune: Nothing. ROBERT: Nothing a ll? ‘cartieRine: I don'e care. I thought pasta would be easy. ROBERT: Pasta, oh God don't even say the word “past.” Ie sounds 50 hopeles, like surrender: “Pasta would be eas.” Yes, yes it would, Pasta. Ie dosen't maa anything, Kes jst 3 cuphemism people invented when they got sick of eating spaghetti ‘CATHERINE: Dad, what do you want co eat? ‘oBERY I don’t know. carina: Well I don't know what ra get near: I'l shop. ‘caTiERaNe: No, ROBERT I'L do it ‘CATHERINE: No, Dad, rest, ROWER I wanced to take a walk anyway (CATHERINE: Are you sure? ROBERT: Yes, What about a walk tothe lake? You and me CcaTHERINE: All sighs. AROBEET: I would love to go co the lake, Then on the way home well stop atthe store, ste what jumps out at us CATHERINE: I's warm, It would be nice, if you're up for ie ROBERT: You're damn right I'm up for it, We'll workup an ap~ petite. Give me ten seconds, lee me put this stuff away and ‘we're out the door. ‘carisnins: I'm going co school. (Bei.) sosexr: When? Ccarinan: I'm gonna stare at Northwestern atthe end of the ‘month, ogsxt: Norchwestern? ‘CATHERINE: They were great about my credits. They're raking ‘me in as a sophomore. I wase'’ sure when to talk to you about it ROBERT: Northwestetn? ‘caTHRINE: Yes. oaenr: What's wrong with Chicago? ‘carinii: You stil teach there. m sory, i's too weied, cake ing classes ia youe depaztment. ‘owERr: Ie’ long drive, ‘CATHERINE: Not thae lo OBERT: Stil, ewice a day ‘CATHERINE: Dad, I'd live thee. (Beat) ROBERT: You'd actually want to live in Evanston? ‘caTienin: Yes. Il still be else. I can come home whenever you wane ‘You've been well—really well—for almost seven months 1 don’ chink you need me here every minute of che day. (Beat) ROBERT: This i alla done deal? You're in ‘CaTHERINE: Yes ROBERT: You're sure ‘CATHERINE: Yi, RosEnr: Who pays for it? ‘CATHERINE: They're giving me a fee ride, Dad. They've been ‘erat. : ROBERT: On tuition, sire. What about food, books, clothes, £25, meals out—do you plan to have a soci! life? ‘CATHERINE: I don't keow. 1oBeRT: You gotta pay your own way on dates, at least the carly dates, say the first chtee, otherwise they expect some thing CATHERINE: The money will be fine. Claires gonns help ous. ROBERT: When did you talk to Cite? ‘caritennse: I don't know, a couple weeks ago. [ROBERT: You talk to her before you alk to me? half en howe. SRO‘CATHERINE: There were 2 lot of details co work out. She was reat, she offered 10 cake care ofall the expenses OBERT: This isa big step. A different city — ‘CATHERINE: I's not even a long-distance phone cll, onERr: I's a huge place. They're serious up chere. I mean se tous. Yeah the football’ a disaster bur the math guys don't kid around. You haven't been in school. You sure you're ready? You can get bucied up chee. ‘carunine: I'l be all ight. owen: You're way behind, ‘cari: I know. ROBERT: A year, at leat. CATHERINE: Thank you, [brow Look, I don’t know if this is « ‘good idea. I don't know if I can handle the work. 1 don't know if can handle any of i ROBERT: For Chiissake, Catherine, you should have talked to ‘CATHERINE: Dad. Listen. Ifyou ever. if for any reason it ever ‘urned out that you needed me here full-time again— [ROBERT Ison. Thats not— ‘CATHERINE: T can always take a semester off, om— RopERr: No. Sop i. Ijust—the end ofthe monzb? Why didn’ you say something before? ‘caTiERise: Dad, come on. Ie rook a while eo set this up, and unl recently, until very recently, you weren't— open: You just sti yourself I've been fine Ccarienin: Yes, but I didn’ know—T Jip, but I did’ xm, ‘no one knew if this would last, I told myself to wai vat 1 ‘was sure about you. That you were feling okay again. Con: sistently okay, ROBERT: So I'm to take this conversation as a vote of conf dence? Tm honored ‘CATHERINE: Take i¢ however you wane. I believed you'd get better. RTT owen: Well hak you vey much carne: Dont chin me I had 0 Tw ving with you, onER: Al ight, tars enough Catherine Lets tay te bj CamHRINE: This the subject! There were ary bos wp sir stacked upto he celing, do you remem hat) You sec ying eo decode mae RouER: The fucking book re gone, cok them back mye ‘Why do you bring thax pcbage op? (hing ofa Bat CATHERINE ine oa be de ‘Sherer with 8A. Hecate mail pe Ho moe laste dr goat bee anh sat) si: Oh RoORERT Me. Dobbs AE Tm sory, Ronen: We ave ge ht Se, "Sor hope it nova bad ime Ronen: Yes i, seul, you cold hae picked worse fi: Ob Teh OnE You itecrped an argument At Tm ty Tea comeback OOERT Ill ight, We eed be Hat: Are you sure? OER: Yes. The argumene wa about dinner: We do' now ‘wha to et. What's your suggestion’ (Aba wie iso pc) Hats Ub there ret psa pac not tof mere owen: Nu! Caen (with Romee) Tha i iat idea ota: Oh deat Jas God, a. CATHERINE (vith Roster? Whats i called? Give me the a ee AOWERT No! Sorry. Wing answer, bt thankyou for tei (HAL stands there, looking at both of them.) : ieiat: Ican come back ‘ROBERT: Stay (To CATHERINE) Where ate you going? ‘caTiERINE: Inside soBERT: Whar about dinner? ‘caTieRin: What about him? ‘ROBERT: What are you doing here, Dobbs? aL: My timing sucks. Iam really sory, ROBERT: Don't be silly Hat: Tl come to your office ROBERT: Stop. Sit down. Glad you're hese, Don't let the dinner thing throw you, you'll bounce back. (Te CATHERINE) This slhould be easier. Ler's back off che problem, let ic breathe, come a it again when it’s not looking ‘cartenin: Fine. (Exiting) Excuse me ROBEKT: Sorry, I'm rude. Hal, this is my daughter Cathesine. (To carweRiné) Doo't go, have a drink with us, Catherine, Harold Dobbs. ‘cxrHERINE: Hi Hal: Hi ROBERT: Hal is a grad student. He's doing hie Ph.D., very promising stuff. Unforcunarely for him, his work coincided ‘with my return co the deparemene and he got stuck with HAL: No, no, it’s been— I've been very lucy. ‘caTHERINE: How long have you been at U. of C.? aL; Well I've been working on my thesis for— [ROBERT: Hal's in our “Infinite” progeam. As he approaches completion of his dissertation, time appeoaches infinity ‘Would you ike a drink, Hal? aL: Yes I would. And ub, with all due eespect (tat bonds RODERT the ene.) ROBERT: Really? (Fe opens it and looks inside) You must have had an inceresting few months Hat: (Cheerfully) Worst summer of my life owen: Congeaulations Hat Is just a daft, Based on everything we talked about last spring, (ROBERT paar adr, WAL babble) watne sore if should wait cll the quarter stated, or iF should give i 10 yOu row, oF hald off, do anoeher draft, but I figured fuck i 4h mean Tjuse Jee’ jus gti tr with, ol ehough Fd just come over and se if you were home, and OBERT: Drink chs, Hat: Thanks. (He drinks) I decided, 1 don't know iit Fels done, maybe iis {onERT: Wrong. If fels done, chee ate majo ets wast ‘outa: Tha’ okay, chac’s good, well find them and fx them, Don't worry. You're on your way 10 a solid ace, youl! he teaching younges, more irritating version of yourself in no at: Thank you. RONERT: Cathecine’s in che math department at Nostwesern, Hal : (Camientne lok 9, startled.) Hal: Oh, who aze you working wich? ‘CATHERINE: I'm just starting this all. Undergrad OBERT: She stating in. three weeks? CATHERINE: A Licle more (Beat) ROBERT: They have some good people at Northwestern. Donohue. Kaminsky, cartennve: Yes ROBERT: They will work you ass of. Ccarniennve: I know. ‘Rope: You'l have co run prety hard eo catch up, carmen: eink I can do ie OBERT: Of couse you can. (Beat. He pours «chink. ) at: You muse be excited‘carienase: Iam, Hat: Fist year of school can be great, ‘carieRine: Yeah? HAL: Sure, all the new people, new places, getting out of the house ‘catusnine: (Embarrased) Yes aL: (Enbarrased) Or, 20, I— OBERT: Absolutely, getting the hell out of heee, thank God, ie about time. Tl be glad to see the back of hee CcarHeRINE: You wil? OBERT: OF course. Maybe I want ro have the place to myself fora while, did char ever occur to you? (To sat) Ie’ awful che way childeen sentimentalize thei parents. (To CATHIER- NB) We could use some quiet around here. CcaTiieRINE: Oh doa'e worry, I'l come back. I'l be here every Sunday cooking up big vas of pasa to last you through the week. ROBERT: And I'l drive up, struc around Evanston, embarrass you in fone of your classmates. ‘CATHERINE: Good. So we'l be in touch. ROBERT: Sure. And if you gee scuck wich a problem, give me a call, (CATHERINE: Okay. Same to you, [ROBERT Fine. Make sare to get me your number (To Ht) 'm accully looking forwaed to geting some work done, aL: Ob, what are you working an? ose: Nothing. (Bast.) Nothing at the moment. ‘Which I'm glad of, ealy. This isthe time of year when you don'r want co be ted down ro anything. You want co be futside. I love Chicago in September. Perfect skies. Sil- ‘boats on che water. Cabs losing. Warm, che sun sill hot ‘with che occasional last of Arctic wind to keep you on your toss, remind you of winter. Sudents coming back, book- stores full, everybody busy. was in a bookstore yesterday. Completely fall, students buying books... browsing... Students doa hell of aloe of browsing, don't they? Just browsing. You see them shuf- fling around with theic backpacks, goofing off, raking up Space. You'd callie loitering except every once in a while they pick up a book and flip the pages: “Browsing.” I ad- mire it. Jes an honest way to kill an afternoon. In the back of used bookstore, or going through a ciate of somebodys Old record albums—not looking for anyching, just looking, hat the hell, rouching ehe old book jackets, seeing, what somebody threw out, seeing what chey underlined ‘Maybe you find something great, like an old chelle with « peinced cover from the forties, oz a textbook one of your professors used when be was a student—his name is wetten in ie very carefully... Ye, 1 like it, I like watching the students, Wondeting what cheyze gonna buy, what ehey'te gonna cead. What kindof ideas theyll come up with when they serele down and gee eo work. Fm not doing much right nowt. Ie dots get harder. [e's a stereotype that happens co be true, unfortunacely for me-— unfortunately for you, forall of us, ‘CATHERINE: Maybe you'll ge lucky. Rovekr: Maybe I will. Maybe you'l pick up where I left off ‘caTHERIN: Don's bold your breath, ROBERT: Don't underestimate yourself ‘CATHERINE: Anyway. (Beat) ROBERT: Another drink? Cathy? Fal? ‘CATHERINE: No thanks, Hats Thanks, Irally should get going. ROBERT: Are you sure? aL: Yes, ROBERT: ll call you when T've looked at this, Don't think shout it ell chen, Enjoy yourself, see some moviesHAL: Okay, [ROBERT: You can come by my fice in a week. Call ie— aL: The eleventh? ROBERT: Yes, we'll. (Beat. He taras 19 CATHERINE. Grave) I am socey. 1 used co have a pretty good memory for numbers Happy bicchday. ‘caTiERINe: Thank you ROBERT: Iam 50 sorry. I'm embarrassed, ‘caripRnvt: Dad, don't be stupid) ROBERT: I dida' get you anything, (CATHERINE: Doa't wore about it RORERT: I'm taking you out CcaTHERINE: You dons have ro, ‘opeRr: We ate going out, I didn’t want «0 shop and cook: Lets go to dinner. Lec’ get the hell out of this neighbor hood. What do you want co eat? Les go tothe North Side (Or Chinatown, Or Gresktown. Idon't know whar’s good any- ‘cariennve: Whatever you went nonekr: Whatever you want goddamn, Catherine, i's your birch. (Beat) (carHeRINE: Sea ower: Steak. Yes. (CATHERINE: No, fst beer, realy cold beet. Really cheap beet onter: Done. CcarieRin: That Chicago beer that’s watery with no flavor and yout can just dein gallon of it nent: They just pump the water our of Lake Michigan and bore it ‘CATHERINE: I's so oof ROBERT: Ihave a taste for it mysell CATHERINE: Then the steak, grilled really black, and potaroes and creamed spinach, 1oBERT: I eemember a place. Iie sill there I chink ie will do the trick CcaTHeRinE: And dessert, open: That goes without saying. les your bichday, boots Thank you for reminding me, Harold Dobbs. ‘CATHERINE: (To HAL) We're being sude. Do you wane eo come? Hat: Oh, no, I shoulda’. xoserr: Why not? Plese, come, (CATHERINE; Come on, (A tiny moment between AL and CATHERINE, HAL water, then) at: No, Lean, I have plans. Thank you, though. Happy birth- ay. ‘carétennve: Thanks. Well. lle you ove. oven: I'l see you on che eleventh, Hal HaL: Great CATHERINE: 'm gonria change my clothes, Dad. I be ready in (tat and CATHERINE ext. A moment 15 darker. ROBERE los eat sat the evning. Eventually be pics up the notebook and a pon. He sits down. He opens ra blank page He writs) [ROBERT “September fourth. A good day (He continaes 0 fade Scene 2 ‘Morin. An isan aft teen ef Acs On AERINE, CAE, cand HAL. i HAL: You wrote this? ‘caripRin: Yes ‘came: You mean Dad dictated it to you?‘CATHERINE: No, i's my proof, Is mine, I wrote it ciaine: When? CcartiERINE: I starced after I quit school. I finished a few months before Dad died CLAIRE: Did he se i? CATHERINE: No. He didn’e know I was working on i. It ‘woulda’ have mattered to him anyway, he was coo sick Hat: I don’e understand—you did this by yourself? ‘caTiERINE: Ye ‘LAME: Ie’ ia Dads norebook. ‘CaTHIERINE: I used one of his blank books. There were a bunch of chem upstairs. (Buse) CLAIRE: (To Hat) Tell me exactly where you found this. HAL: In his study. (CATHERINE: In his desk. I gave him the— CLAIRE: (To CATHERINE) Hold on, (To wat] Where did you find 1HaL: la che botcom drawer of the desk in the study, a locked eawer: Catherine gave me the key Lame: Why was the deawee locked? CCATUTERINE: Tes mine, it's che drawer I keep my private things in, I've used i for years ‘CLAM: (To at) Was there anything ese in the drawer? HAL: No. ‘CATHERINE: No, that’s the only— ‘CLAIRE: Can Tse i? (Ha. iter CLAIRE the bo. Se pages thrangh it, Bet) Tm sorry, 1 just... (Tb CATHERINE) The book was in the... You told him where to find it... You gave hirm the key... You wrote this incredible thing and you dda’ sell anyone? CcaTHERINE: Fm telling you both now. After I dropped out of| school I had nothing co do. I was depressed, rally de pressed, but a¢ a certain point I decided, Puck it, I don't reed them. L's use mac, I ean ach, I can do it on my owa, So I kepe working heve. I worked ar night, after Dad had gone to sleep. Te was hard but I did it (Best) ‘LR: Catherine, Ym sorey but 1 jst Snd this very hard co CATHERINE: Claire. I wrote. The proof ‘caine: I'm sory, I— ‘CATHERINE: Claire CLAIRE: This is Dads handwriting. (CATHERINE: I's not. ‘Lai: It looks exactly Like i ‘CATHERINE: [es my writing AIRE: Tm soeey— ‘caTHERIGE: Aske Hal, he’s been looking at Dad's writing for weeks (CLAIRE gies HAL te bok. He leks ati, Beat.) Had: I don't know. CcarieRine: Heal, come on, CLAIRE: What does ie look like? Hat: Te looks... don't know what Catherine's handwting Took like. ‘CATHERINE: Telok lke tat, Hat: Okay It... Okay. (Beat, He Bands the book back.) lane 1 eink™you row win Iti ely and peo le a ted an nor inthe best sate to make dstons 2bout encionl thingy maybe we shuld aia eho breath Q : caTienNt: You don believe me? uae doi knowl do's hrow anything abou his omens: Nevermind I dont know wy Texte yous believe me about anything. oe ‘ARE: Could you a eh poo? Tha would show ic wasPee eee eee ae ‘caritemnie: You wouldn't understand it ‘CLAIRE: Tel ie co Hal ‘CATHERINE: (Taking she boot) We could talk eheough ie co- gether Ie mighe take a while ‘CLAIRE: (Tabing the bot) You can't use che book. ‘CaTHERINE: For God's sake, it’s forty pages long. 1 dide’e men orize ces noe @ mui secipe ‘This is stupid. Ics my book, my writing, ey key, my drawer, my proof. Hal, cll hee! HAL: Tell her what? CcaTtcRINE: Whose book is char? Hat: I don’t know. CcarieRiNE: What isthe matcet with you? You've been looking a his other scuff, you dauw there's nothing even remotely like eis at: Look, Catherine— CATHERINE: We'll go ehrough the proof cogether, Well sit sdown—if Claire will plas let me have my book back— ‘CLAIR: (Giving ber she fo) All ight, clk him chrough i HAL: That mighe take days and ie still wouldn't show chat she ‘uae: Why not? ‘carienine: Why nos? HAL: Your dad might have wrcten it and explained it co you later. Fm not saying he did, Pm just saying there’ no proof thae you wrote this CATHERINE: OF course there jen, but come on! He didn't do this, he coulda’t have. He didn’e do any mathematics at all for years, Even in the good year he couldn't work: you dan that. You're supposed to be a scientist el! her! (Beat) aL: Yes. Looky allright. Here's my suggestion. I know chee ‘or four guys at the department, very sharp, disinterested people who knew your father, knew his work. Let me cake theo chem conten Whe? Vat: TL ll them we've und someting, something pore: aly mi ee x re att se mast owa vith chm. We'l go haough he hig ely ‘CLAIRE: Good. s Hac: —ad Sure ou enacly whut weve gt I wuld on wold only take couple of days, probably and then we'd have sey tre neraton. Coane: eink hats an excelleae suggestion aes You cane tae ater Camis: No! You ca'e ae i fa ne aking Carta Thigh you wane Hat: Ob come on, Jou acne You doe wate any Gime, do you? No heseaion You cant waco stow them yours dooney sat Tim eying to deni a i aTHERNE in eling you sha i'n at Youd knw! canine wre HAL ir fr Dandrting. (Re. Pad) Aen i loks an ew lek the ing in eh ene ake aye yout wring las ely ike hs Tent owe conse Sy edocs ok ke "did show chit anyone be I culd have I waned you tobe the ese ose I did't hoo wnt thru Ga igh es Tense yo. vat Toe reve Was wong? fa Ne CATHERINE should hve Koown she wouldnt ble me bt hy doi youtHAL: This is one of his notebooks. The exact same kind be used, CATHERINE: J told you, [just used one of his blank books “There were extas. Hats There aren't any extra books im che study. CCaTHERINE: There were when I starced writing the proof. 1 houghe them for him, He muse have used che est up later ax: And the writing CATHERINE: You want to cest the handwriting? aL: No, Ir doesn’: matter. He could have dictated it vo you foe Chrissake. Ie still oesn’e make sense. ‘carienine: Why not? HaL: 'm a mathematician ‘caTiERINE: Yes Hat Te doesn't make sense CcaTHIERINE: Wy not? aL: I know how bard ie would be to come up with someching Tike this. {mean is imposible. You'd have co be... you'd have to be your dad, basically. Your dad at che peak of his powers, ‘cxTiTERINE: I'm a mathematician too HAL: Not like your dad. CCaTHERINE: Oh, le’ the only one who could have done this? aL: The only one I know (CATHERINE: Are you sure? HAL: Your father was the most— CATHERINE: Just because you and che rest of the geeks wor- shipped him doesn't mean he wrote ths proof, Hal Hat: He was the bes, My generation hasnt produced anything like him, He revolutionized che field ewice before he was ‘wenty.two. Fm sorry, Catherine, but you took some classes at Northwestern fora few months. CcatHERINE: My edcacion wasn't at Northwestern. f¢ was Tiv= ing inthis house for cwenty yeas. HAL: Even so, i doesn’t matter. This is too advanced. I don't even understand most of i ‘caTHieRnve: You think it's too advanced a Yes. CATES: 00 vanced or a Tat You could no tae done ts work Casts: Bac wha i? fat Wel wba Cane would be are diate for you, wouldnt? Aad fr he er ew en edit PD har making redoing lowe sec, bagging abot the conferences ty go oping in ah sft, tod whining thatthe imelculy past tae twee ihe bee ya (Been ht eon, as. nd tb hak dea) cae Katie. erg inside, Katie? (asNe om te fk ot te poe, dry it CLAIR go eh fom er Thyra CERIN ge bok ay. They sand opr, breatng a fer © me tent CATHERINE hs ok th fo Sb ext.) fade Scene 3 ‘The mt day, WAL and CLAIRE are om the porch; HAL bas just r= a porch; Hak bas HAL: I though you were leaving. ‘cua: Ihad to delay my fighs. (Beat.) HAL: Is Catherine ere? AAT TTT RT TT TTT osc.Sr eg ere cee ee Sone oe ‘cee et bn spay te ey, She want a Soromten metal me Teadeeyolans fee oe ee rece coe WaT eee Cleat det ord ie eee Sera HAL: Neat know I didn't do what she waneed. Sea rea Cia Why yu sp wih? tour) ee cleus Bale T aw 9a or of Kei i oe va Te ng er hap ee HAL Te wasn my timing, i wa bib of our ihn Why yout Yr now wha ie. Ste Fag biphefbperinnonsyrel sat No ewar ve bth waned et br he cae ee eee seen eee HAL To New York ‘CLAIRE: Yes, HAL: Just going to drag her to New York. ‘CAI: IFT have co. ‘Hat: Don't you think she should have some say in whether of not she goes? ‘CLAIRE: IFshe’s not going to speak, what else can Ido? HAL: Lee me try. Let me tlk to her. ‘CLAIRE: Hal, give up. This has nothing co do with you. HAL I know her. She's rougher chan you think, Clit, Guaine: Whae? ‘aL: She can handle herself. She can handle talking co me— ‘maybe ie would help. Maybe she'd like ie (CLAIRE: Maybe she'd like 12 Are you out of your mind? You're the reason she's. up chere right now! You have 1 idea what she needs. You don't know her! She's my siser. Jesus, you facking mathematicians: you dov'? think. You don't know what you're doing. You stagger around creating these cx, tastrophes and ics people Like me who end up fying in to lean them up. (Buz.) She needs 1 get out of Chicago, our of this house. I'l give you my number in New York You ‘an call her once she's settled chere. That's it, that’s the del. HaL: Okay, (Bass. He dis’ move.) ‘Lait I don'e mean to be rude but I havea lt todo. ats There’s one more thing. You'ze not going ea like i. ‘GUAM: Sure, cake the notebook HAL; (Staraled) I ‘GLARE: Hold on a sec, I'l gee ie for you, (She gue faite and rec ‘turns withthe nteook. She gives i 0 HAL) HAL: I thought this would be hard. ‘Glatt: Don’t worry. I understand. Ie’ very sweet you want 0 see Catherine, but of course you'd like ro see the notebook, Hat: (Hf) Ies— No, ics my eesponsibilty-—as a profes-sional I cane curn my back on the necesity of ebe— ‘caine: Relax, I done cate. Take it, What would I do sich i? Hat: You sure? CLAIRE: Yes, of couse HHaL: You truse me wich this? cusiRe: Yes HAL: You just said I don't know what I'm doing ‘Laine: I chink you're a litte bic of an idiot, but you're not dishonest. Someone needs to figure out what's in there, 1 can't do it, Te should be done bere, ar Chicago: my father ‘would like that. When you decide whar we've gor, le me knows avhat the fuily should do. iat: Thanks ‘Laine: Don't thank me, it's by far the most convenient option available, I pur my card ia there, call me whenever you at: Olay. (VAL stare to eit, CLAIRE beste, ten) CLAIRE: Hal HAL: Yeoh? ‘CLAIRE: Can you «ell me about i? The proof. I'm juse curious. Hat: Ie woul cake some time. How much math have you go"? (Beat) CLAIRE: Fm a currency analyse. I work on Wall Sree. It helps to be very quick with oumbers, Iam, T probably inbericed bout one-one thousandch of my father’s ability. I's enough, Catherine goe more, 'm not sure how much Jade Scene 4 Winter: Aboue thece and a half yeas ealiet ROBERT i om the porch. Fe wears a Tshirt. He writes in a woebook After a moment we heer CATHERINE’ voce fom offtage aint: Dad? (Se eter neg «para She es ft ond.) Wa a You ding ot bec? rome. Wocking Canam: es Dobe. 1 ity depres. ‘RopERT: I know. . (CATMERINE as i bf) aTHERINt: Dont yo ned cout? ome: Don't you think Tan make that assent fr my. vs (Bact) CERNE: Aree you eld? Ropext Of coune Lan! T'm fering my as Aris: S ata you ng ont re? none Thinking! Wag! Cats: Yee gona ene XoBtxr 1500 born che be, The radars ey ot he i Aso the clanking econ Ihe Hose wesc ‘oald wed ve ceva eng, but we dna fae {come out hte to gt ny work done, Camel turn of the ators. They wont make any oie Come ine itis me sont Ym ly. Camiean Te been ling, Did you hea the phone? one Iss discon Can: ida kw what was going on. Ia odie alse way down bere oman seth Ame T bdo kip cas. Why dont you ansver the on? ORE: Well, mote, Catherine, bu question of peo ts, and woe takes pin, you knw ear(CATHERINE: You're working? ROBERT: Goddamai, Iam working! I say “I'— The machine ry. The machinery ie working. Catherine, ison fallblast. All che cylinders are fing, I'm on fre. Thae's why I came ‘ou here, co cool of. I haven’ fel like eis for years. ‘cariinan: You're kidding ‘Ronen: No! ‘carinii I don't believe it ROMER: I don’t believe ie either! Buri’ true Ie started about ‘a week ago. woke up, came downstairs, made a cup of cof- fee, and before I could pour i the milk, it was like someone tuoned the igh on ip my head. ccarienas: Really? ROBERT: Not the light, the whole power gra. Ili mp, and ics like no time has pased since I was ewenty-one. ccaTuERiNe: You're kidding! ROBERT: No! I'm back! I'm back ia rouch with che source—che font, che—whacever the source of my creativity was all those years ago. I'y in contact wich it again, Pe sing om ie. I's a geyser and I'm shoocing sighe up into the aie ontop oft. ccarneRiNe: My God. OBERT I'm not talking abour divine inspiration. I's not fun- rneling down inco my head and onto the page, Il take sword to shape these ehings; 'm nor saying ie won't be a tremen- dous amount of work. I will be a tremendous amount of| work. Tes nor going 10 be easy: But the raw material is there es like I've been driving in traffic and now che lanes ae opening up before me and I can accelerate. I see whole landscapes—places fo che work to go, new techniques, rev clutionaty posibiliies. 'm going to get whole branches of, the profession talking o each ather. I'm sory, I'm being rude. How's school? CATHERINE: (Taken aac) Fine. REN: You're working had? camicnnt Sure ORERT: Faulty extn you all igh? Cran: Yes. Dad ORERT: Made any fends? Canute: OF couse rower: Dusing? Carn: Dad bold on Komr: No details neery if you dont wane co provide them. I'm just incerested, - catenin: Shoals get {want co eal aboue what yee doing. . AonERT: Grete atk, Carts. This work CATHERINE nde bs) st hee? BORER: Pit of os art: Can Te? ower: sal ace very eal stage CanaeRNt I don't ming ORERT Noting’ scaly compe, 0 be honest Fall a ogres Tehink we ling yes, CATHERINE: That oy. do xe, Js et mee nyt ‘ROBERT: You really want to? a caratne Ys. ORE: You genuinely incensed EatieRNe Dad of eae! ORER Ofcourse you el OBER: You ow how happy dat makes me. (at) CaN: Yes, RAE T tin ees enough hero 2h ero eep me working the ‘rest of my life. *chrough, Not just me. at 9a stating 0 imagine Twas itd, Caen. Re aly ihe Dost gt me wrong, we gree old go tomy oe, have aif, bt wre Twa ceed never totk agin. Did you know tha? caren T wondered fone was abou fcking tie, hen I teebeed vmething end «paso the ter enc anay I emembered yon "Your ceive yrs were ust begining: You'd ge your dere, do yous own wack, Yon wee jus geting sre I you dt gore in a, the wold ba ee al ht ices done wel fo hel Tm said with fe Tim proud of oa I dct mean foembarass you. Is pac f the eason we ave cides, We foe shey' survive uy accomplish hat, ‘ow tha Tm buck nthe game Fadi ve got anther idea beter ne Tow youve got yur own wrk dott eae you to neglect ht. But T could probly se sme Belp Work with me If you want fyi ou can Work tot sith your cas shel and everthing le, 1 could ep You wth that, make some eli allt out aches Tim geting shed of ysl. Waly Jus, look, cnmugh ballit, You asked co see soci. Lee att wth thin, Tve roughed something out, Genel oui for «poo. Major rel. Iporant Tes oo finished ur you can ee were is ping Lars (esta moh) ec Heit ata. St ss itand rcs} every rough (Afters gnc ce cb mc A a, hess vent enon) conve Da. Les go inside fone: Th gape igh make hard tofollow, We an ake CATHERINE: You're cold, Let's goin ROBERT: Maybe we could work on this together. This might be & great place o start. Whae abou it? What do you think? Ler’ talkie eheough, ‘CATHERINE: Not now I'm cold coo, I's ceally freezing out here. Ler’ go inside ROBERT: I'm telling you ie’ stifling in thete, goddamn it. The ridiators. Look, read out the frst couple of lines. Tha’ how ‘We star: you read, and we go line by line, outloud, though the argumene. See if there's 2 better way, «shorter way. Let's collaborsee. ‘CATHERINE: No. Come on, ROBERT: Ive been waiting yeas for this, This is something I ‘want fo do. Come on, let's do some work together, (CATHERINE: We can't do it out here. Ie feeezing cold. Yn ek ing you in owenr: Not uncil we tal abut he prof (CATHERINE: No, Rosen: Gddemnit, Catherine, open the goddamn book and rad me the lines. (Beat. CATHERINE opens she buck. She reads soul, without ince ‘CATHERINE: "Lee X equal che quantcy ofall quantities of X. ‘Lec X equal che cold Ic is cold in Decembec: The months of cold equal November through Februacy. There ave four ‘months of cold and four of hese, leaving four months of fa. decerminate temperature. In February it snows. In March the lake is a lake of ice. In Sepeember the students come bck and the bookstores ace fll. Let X equal the month of fll bookstores. The number of books approach infinity 25 the number of months of cold approaches fur. In will never be_as cold now as I will in the Furuse. The future of cold is infinite, The future of heat isthe Future of cold. The book. astores are infinite and so are never fll exceps in September (She stops rading and sloty ces the bok, She tes ff er parka psi around bo ator Het shivering amcontallably She puts br arms arn ine ad els im 1 is fe) Ws all righe. We'll go inside open: I'm cold CcaTHERINE: We'll warm you wp. Rove: Don' leave. Pease ‘CATHERINE: T won’. Lee's go inside. fae Scene 5 The preset. A wer afer the cents in Sone 3. CLAIRE om the porch, ffi sas ups. LAURE tas lame ticket aut of ber pars, ‘acs he itinerary A moment. CATHERINE enters, dese for tat CLAIRE gies bor cup of effi, CATHERINE drinks i rile, Bast CATHERINE: Good coffee. CLAIRE: L'a sight isn't it? We have a place where we buy all ‘ur coffe. They rose it themselves, they have an old roaster down in che basement. You can smell it on the street. Some ‘moenings you can smell i fom our place, four stores up. e5 wonderful. “Manhartan’s Best some magazine wrote it up. Who knows. Buti is very good. CATHERINE: Sounds good, Lame: You! like i CATHERINE: Good, (Pause) ‘AIRE: You look nice. CcaTHERINE: Thanks, 20 do you (Beat.) ype cee uate: Tes bright ‘caTiERINe: Yes. ‘CLAIRE: Ie one of the chings I do miss. All the space, che Tight. You could sic ouc here all morning, (CATHERINE: It's not the wat, CLAIRE: Are you cold? CcaTnERINE: Not realy. 1 juse— CLAIRE: Ir has gocten chilly. Fm sorry. Do you wane eo go in? CATHERINE: I'm okay ‘cain: I jus chought it mighe be nice to have a quick cup of coffe out bere ‘CATHERINE: No, itis. ‘Cam: Plus che kitchen’ all pur away. If you'e cokd— cartieanse: Pan noc. Not relly ‘cuame: Wane your jacket? CcaTHERINE: Yeah, olay: (CLAIRE gine itt her She puts ito) Thanks ‘aime: Ie char cime of yar. ccaTienine: Yes, You can fel ie coming. (Beat. She star out at the yard.) ‘Laine: Honey, chee no hurry CcaTHERINE: I know. CLAIRE: Ifyou want to hang ous, be alone fora while— (CATHERINE: No, I's no big del CLAIRE: We don'e have to leave for rwenty minutes ors CATHERINE: I know: Thanks, Clace aire: You's all packed ‘caruenin: Yes. ‘GAIRE: IF you missed anything ie doesn’t really matter. The movers will send us everything next month, (CATHERINE tvs’ mov, Beat.) Uno this hard Ccarienin: Fes fine. CLAIRE: This isthe right decison CcaTHERINE: [know‘came: I wane co do everything I can co make this a smooth transition for you. So does Mitch CcATHERINE: Good, CLAIRE: The actual departure is che hardest part, Once we get there we can relax. Enjoy ourselves Ccarieause: I knw (Bez.) ‘CLAIRE: You'll love New York ‘cavian: [can't wat. CLAIRE: You'l love it. Ie the most exciting city ‘cartieain: I know (LAIRE: He's not like Chicago, ies really alive ‘carinii: I've read about tha CLAIRE: [think you'll eu fel at home here CATHERINE: You know what I'm looking forward to? carne: What? CATHERINE: Seeing Broadway musicals. (Beat) CLAIRE: Mitch an gee us rickets to whatever you'd like. CcaTHERINE: And Rockefeller Center in winces—all che skaters! ‘caine: Well, you— CATHERINE: Also, the many fine museums! (Best) CLAIRE: 1 know how hard ehis is fr you. CATHERINE: Listening co you say how hard i is for me i what's hard for me ‘AAIRE; Once you're there you'll sce all the possiblities that are available. CcarieRine: Restraints lidhium, electroshock. ‘CLAME: Sohal. In che New York ra alone there's NYU Co- lumbia— CcaTHeniNe: Bright college days! Foocball games, mixers, road trips, necking on the "quad Caine; Or if chat’s not what you want we can help you find = job, Mitch has cerrfc contacts allover tow, ‘cartipnnve: Does he know anyone in the phone-sex industry? ‘CLAIRE: I want to make ths as easy a transition as I can, CATHERINE: I's going co be aap, Claite, it's gonna be so fuck: ing easy you won't believe it ‘cuaiRe: Thank you, ‘catit: I'm going to sit quietly on the plane to New York. ‘And live quietly in a cuce apartment. And answer Dr. Vor Hinlich’s questions very politely. CLAIRE: You can see any dactor you like, or you can see no doc CcaTHHERINE: T would like t0 see a doctor called De. Von Hiimch: please find one. And I would like him to weat & ‘monocle. And I'd like him ro have a very soft, very welle upholstered couch, so that I'l be perfectly comfortable while 'm blaming everything on you (Beet.) ‘CLAIRE: Don't come. ‘CATHERINE: No, I'm coming, ‘CLARE: Stay here, see how you do, ‘CATHERINE: I could. CLAIRE: You can‘ take care of yourself for fie days. ‘caTHEMINE: Bullshit! ‘aime: You sep all wek, I had co cancel my Right. I missed « week of work— I was this close co taking you to che hospi- tall I coulda’ believe it when you finally drowged yourself up ‘CATHERINE: Iwas cred! ‘LatRe: You were completely out of it, Catherine, you weren't speaking! CcaTiERINE: I dida’e want co tll to you (Beat) CLAIRE: Seay here if you hate me so much, ‘caTHERINE: And do what?CLAIRE: You'ee the genius, Sgure ie out. (CLAIRE is apt, naar tar, She digs ber bay pals ot lane ticket, tres tom the tle. She exis. CATHERINE i alone. She cat quite bring bereft» Isave te porch. A moment. HAL en- teria throng the bse, from the side, Hes aly dred and looks ery trad. Heit beatles from running.) tint: You'e still here, (CATHERINE ie rrprised. Sb dor’ sak.) 1 saw Claire leaving out fons. I wasn's sure if you (He Judd ap the nteoo.) This fucking thing... checks out Thave been over it, rice, with ewo different sets of guys. old gecks and young geeks, Te is wend. don't know where the techniques came fom, Some of che moves ae very hard to follow. But we can find anything wrong with ic! There ‘might be something rong with ir bur we can find it. 1 Ihave not slepe. (He satche bis breath.) Te works. I thoughe you mighe want ro know. CcaTHERIne: [already knew. (Beat) Hat: [had to sweae these guys co secrecy. They were jumping, ‘ut oftheir skins. See, one e-mail and i’ allover. I threat- ceed them. I think we're safe, chey'te physical cowards. (Beat) Thad eo see you CcaTHERINE: I'm leaving Hat: I know. Just waic fora minut, please? CcaTHERINE: What do you want? You have the book, She cold ‘me you came by for it and she gave it co you. You can do ‘wharever you want with i Publish i. iat: Catherine, ‘CATHERINE: Gee Claire's permission and publish i. She doesn't cate. She doesn't know anything about ic anyway. aL: don't wane Claire's petmisson CcaTieRiNe: You want mine? Publish. Go for it. Have a press conference. Tell the world what my father discovered. HAL: doo't want co, ADR: Or fuck my Bites ps i ol yout own work ‘Who ces! Wit our own ce any mah pa in the country. fonts! YMC don thin your ther wee (Ban) Comin Yoo thougheso hs we Sn Tha was at mek pees wee edi the rot ‘Pink undead i, mre ls Tees or of see eathematial ecigus, hing thac mere devel oe le deoe: pric cies ‘Modulr ome, Tcis leared more heats this we of ga choo! cau So Hn 0 pots ery. hip CATR Get some se, Ha: Ww your ate ding en et? He wa wel, whe amt: Are you dane? Hs T dont thik he won are ben ae wo maser se ew ecigus CATHERINE Ba he was ena bat Bac he wast CATHERINE So ered bout he ae Hl: Maybe. ‘The tone he woul hee aecedae psi Coxe) our dad ued eveything. Bren is st nce en ties dtd Tee no en i Chri The dong Ha: looks ke your da Parents and hidken sometimes hve similar node epcily eye spe het cine get (tut) CATHERINE Isxcng der Vat Tike han Tdi in fou years‘carineniNe: {Like i goo. I's what [ald you lase week at: I know ‘caTHERINE: You blew i. aL: T know. CATHERINE: [e's too bad, the rest of was really good. All oft "loved your dad.” t always liked you.” "Ta like co spead every minute wich you .,.” I's killer stuf. You got laid and you got the notebook! You're a genius! Hat: You'e giving me way too much credit. There was no ‘plan, I don't expect you tobe happy with me. I just wanted I don’s know. Twas hoping to discuss some of this with you befare you lft. Purely professional. I don'c expect any thing ese. ‘cavtpnise: Forget it at: I mean we have questions. Working on this must have bbeen amazing, I'd love just to hear you talk aboue some of ‘CATHERINE: No. aL: Youll have to deal with ic evencually, you know. You ‘can't ignore it, you'll have to get it published, answer ques- tions. Youll have to tlk to someone “Take it, at leat. Then I'l go. Here, ccarienine: T don't wane it. ‘iat; Come on, Catherine, 'm trying co correc things ‘CATHERINE: You cat. Do you hear me? You think you've Sgured something out? You cun aver haere so pleased with yourself because you changed your ‘mind, Now you're certain, You'te so... septy. You don't know anything, The book, the math, the dates, che writing, all that stuff you decided with your buddies, ics just evi- dence, It doesn finish che job. It doesn't prove anything, HAL: Okay, whae would? CcaTHERINE: Nebing ‘You should have trusted me. (Beae,) BML Theo (Ba) cas ath br ng) So you ned tose" rN Clit sold he se Hat Syn Cig. Yue an le CATHERINE Sh ts men New Yk She wats lok a VAL: Do you nee king ae? CarinNe She shins fo Sn: Yo led ater yur ded Se es Carini So may ny tr Uc and sre, be do ow Benge af ‘it doesn't sound so bad. I'm tited, : And he hose a wc, ls ace wa ny dd house, fem (tua) tet Nice howe Caren es ld Ha pes aa es day a hl The win te ugh ‘HAL: That's just Chicago. “s Camtanne iter is Feige, or he sea o ill ‘blast and you'te stifling, vt T done mind cold neater Keep jo le CrOHERNE Wat ew yes hat ve lined heal my Caren eo Ha Sue J ie you. Gonna Sl I cant help spend aoe wir va ipo (ou) bn Therothng wong wth ou Chinn chin ey da FM Think you eoeee eee eee eee eae CATHERINE: I'm. faim ike my dad HAL: You'e aot him. ‘carieRINE: Maybe T will be Hak: Maybe. Maybe you'l be ecter (Pawe Hat. bands ber the book, Tht time CATHERINE tabe it. She tis, She los dn atte ook, rans br fingers or the coe.) CcatHERINE: It didn’e feel “amazing” of-—whac word did you vat: Yeah, amazing ‘carina: Yeah. le was just connecting the does Some nights could connece theee or fout. Some nights they be really far apart, I'd have no idea how co get to the ext one, i there was a next one Hat: He really never knew? CATHERINE: No, I worked after midnighe. He was usually in bee, HAL: Every nighe CcaTHERINE: No. When I got stuck L watched TV. Sometimes if he coulda’e sleep he'd come downstairs, sc wich me. We'd talk. Noc about math, he couldn't. About the movie we were watching. I'd explain che stories ‘Or about fixing the hear. Decide we didn’t want to. We liked the eadstors even though ehey clanked in the mide of he night, make the ai dry. (Or we'd plan breakfast, tlk aboue what we were gonna, eat together in the morning, “Those nights were usually pretty good. know .. it works .. . But all I can see are the compeo- mises, the approximations, places where it's stitched to- ‘gether. Ie lumpy. Dad's suff was way more elegant. When he was young, (Beat) Hat: Tale me through ie2 Whatever's bothering you. Maybe you'll improve it ‘carinii: I don’t know HAL: Pick anything. Give it a shot? Maybe youl discover something elegant (A moment, HAL sits next to CATERING. Eventually 1. Eventually she opens the on, sar the page sll, fing section, She obs at bom.) ‘carnenie: Here, (She Begin 10 sea.)