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    11K views42 pages

    Oleanna

    Uploaded by

    Bobby Guenther
    ?

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    of 42
    Oheanna Davip Mamet (CHARACTERS ‘camo A woman of twenty JOUN A man in his Forties ‘The play takes place jn John's oie ONE JOHN is talking om the phowe. CAROL i sited aos the dese fom hi JOHN (om phone: And what about the land. (Pause) ‘The land. And what about the Land? (Pause) ‘What about i@? (Pause) No, I don’t understand, Well, yes, Pm f no, I'm sue is signif Tm sure it's significant. (Paws) Bese i's significant to mmmmmm did you cll etry? (Pause) Because -..1n0, 30, n0, 0, 0. What did they sty... ? Did you speak to the ra esate where isshe...? Well, well al right. Where are her notes? Where ate the notes we t00k with hher. (Pans) I thought you were? No. No, I'm. sony, I didn’t mean chat, Ljust thought that [saw you, when we were there... what... ? 1 ‘thought I saw you with a pendl. WHY NOW? is what Pm soy ... well that’s why I say “call, Jerry." Well I can’t right now, be no, I did oommamany schedule any... Grace: {dit «Pn well aware ... Look: Look. Did you call Jerry? Will you call Jerry... ? Because eat now Tl be there, Lm sue F'l be there in fifeen, in twenty. intend to. No, we aren't going to love the, we area’ going to lose the house. Look: Look, I'm ‘not minimizing it. The “easement.” Did she sy “easement? (Pause) What did she sey; iit 8 “term of at" ate we bound by it... Tm sorey + (Pans) are: we: yes. Bound by... Look: (He ‘heks his watch.) before the other side goes home, allright? “a crm of ar. Because: that's right (Pause) The yard forthe boy. Well, that’s the ‘whole ... Look: I'm going to meet you here (He ches his watch.) Is the realtor there? All ‘ight, tell her co show you the basement agai Look atthe tis because... Bec... 'm leaving in, I'm leaving in ten or fifeen . Yes, No, no, Tl meet you at the new... That's a good. Ifhe thinks is nece «you tell Jerry to meet. All right? We arent going to lose the deposit. All right? I'm sureit's going robe ... (Pause) hope 40, (Pause) I love you, too. (Pause) Love you, 00. Assoon as... [will (He hangs up.) (He bends over the desk and sakes a note) (He los up) (To canor) Um sony ‘canot: (Paws) What isa term of at”? JOHN: (Pause) Tm sory... ? ‘cawot: (Pause) What i “term of at tr Jot: Is that what you want to talk about? canoe: total about... ? son: Let's take the mysticism out of i shall we? ‘Caro? (Pause) Don’t you think? I'l tell you: ‘when you have some “thing.” Which must be broached. (Pause) Don't you think... ? (Pas) canon: ... don't I think . 2 s0uN: Min? feanou: «did yout wha? eanou: Did... did 1 did T sy something youn: (Pause) No. 'm sony. No. You're right, mm very sory. I'm somewhat rished. As you see, Fm sorry. You're right. (Pawe) What isa “term ‘fart? Ieseems to mean a tem, which has come, through its wse, co mean something more specie than the words would, to someone no axgusined with them... indicate, That, Lbelieve, is what 2 “term of at,” wold mean. (Pause) ‘cano1: You don’t know what it means... ? on; Tm not sure that know what it means. I's one ‘of those things, pethaps you've had them, that, you look them up, or have someone explain them yo, and you say “hs," an, you m= Batly forget what cant: You don't do that Jom Te? canot: You don't do ome. don’, what ceanor: = for ons «1 don for 01: forget thins? Everybody docs that ceanot: No, they don’. sor ‘They don't cot: No, Jon: (Pause) No, Everybody docs that cannot: Why would they do tht? sor: Because I don’t know. Because it does in- terest them. ‘eanor: No, 4JoU: [think so, chough. (Pause 'm sory that Las dlistéated, ‘canot: You don’t have to say thit to me, oH: You paid me the compliment, or the “obei- sance”—all right—of coming in here . . All right, Cao. find that Cam ata stands, Tine hae T ceawou: --- what Jon: ... one moment. In regard to your... 0 your ‘canot: Ob, ob. You're buying a new house! Jon: No, let's get on with i get on"? (Pause) JouN: I know how . . . believe me. I know how 1 « potentlly humiliating these... U have no desire to... Thave no desire other than to help you. But: (He picks up some papers on his desk.) 1 ‘won't even say “but” I say that as I go back cover the ‘canoe: I'm just, Fm just eying to JOHN: no, i will not do EE EES'S SS ccawor: what? What will sot; No, Tsee, see what you, it. (He gestaes 0 the papers) bet your work - Ccawon: Hm just: [icin cass 1... (She holds wp he notebook) L take notes - om (simultaneously with “notes”: Yes. L understand. ‘What Iam tying to tll you is that some, some basic ‘canon «1 Jom: . one moment: some basic missed com- ‘eanot; Pn doing what I'm told, I bought your book, Tread your sou: No, Tim sure you. ccanot: No, no, no, Tim doing what I'm told, Tes ified for me. Ws dif JOHN: but Ceaou: I don’t... lot ofthe Layguage Jon: «please ccanou: The language, the “things” that you say Jon: I'm sorry. No, I don't think that that’s er, ‘eanot: Iti tue, 1 JOHN: T think ‘eanou: eis ee gon. ‘eao1: Why would 1... ? Jou: [ell you why: you're an incredibly bright si exon JOHN: You're an incredibly... you have no problem ‘with the... Who's kidding who? sou: No. No. I'l tell you why. 1 tell you're angry, ink ceapol: why would 1 JOHN: wait one moment. ‘eanot: Tei true, Ihave problems Jour: every ceanot: «come from a dierent sal Jomm:.ev anor 8 diferent economic som: Lok ‘canot: No. I: when Tce to this chook son: Yes. Quite... (Pau) anol: does that mean nothing JOHN: but look: ook canons. Jou: (Picks up paper.) Flere: Please: Sit down. (Pause) Sit down, (Resim hr paper) “I hi that he ideas contained i this work express the authors feeling in away that he intended, bated on hie results” What can that mean? Do you sce? what ‘canons I, the bos that Jou: I'm saying, that perhaps this course ‘caou: No, no, no, you can you can't... I have JOHN: how RE EEIONSC=~CT—“OU ceanon: -. Uhave to pass it sont Caro, canon: Ihave to pas this course, I. sou: Well, carol: «don't you some: Bither the ceanou: 1 JOU: .. either the, I. ether the atria forjudging progress in the elas are ‘eano1: No, no, no, no, 1 have to pas it sous: Now, look: I'm a human being, 1 ‘canot: [did what you told me. Id, Laid everything that, I ead your book, you told me to buy your book and read it. Everything you say 1... (She gestures 1 her notebook.) (The phone rings.) Udo. | By. JOHN: «Took: ‘caro: everything I'm told jour: Look. Look, I'm not your father, (Pane) ‘canon: What? sows I'm, ‘eanot: Did Esay you were my father? sor: ccanor: Why did you say that. ? son: 1 ccawou: why JOHN: «im class I. (Ee picks np the phone) (Into ‘phone) Hello. {can’t talk now. Jey? Yeo 1 Under... can'ttak now. Tknow... know ‘erry. [can't alt now. Yes, I, Call me back “Thank you, (He hangs up.) (To caxot) ‘What do you want me to do? We are two peo- ple, all right? Both of whom have subsctibed ‘canon: No, no JOHN: certain abitary ‘canou: No. You have to help me sou: Certain institutional... you tell me what you ‘want me todo, ... You tell me what you want I ST’™OT “SS ‘anor: How can I go back and tll them the graies ‘hue t sonw: what can Co. 7 ‘eanor: Tesh me, Teach JOHN: 'm trying eo teach you. | ccanot: I read your book. 1 read it, T don't wn der JOHN: you don’t understand it ccanot: No, ome: Wel, peshaps i's not well writen ‘canon. (simultaneously with “writen”: No. No, No.1 want co understand it. sone: What don’t you understand? (Pats) ‘eanou: Any of it What you're tying to say. When you tale about JOHN: yee. (She consult er notes) ‘canot: “Viewal warchousing of the young” Jon: “Viral warehousing of the young.” If we imtifcaly prolong adolescence ‘anol: .., and about “The Curse of Modem Edica~ tion” sons «well ccaor: T don’t {oHN: Look, I's just 3 cou, i’ just a Book, it’s just ccanot: No, No. There are people out there. People ‘who eatne here. To know something they didn’t Iewow. Who came here. To be hiped. To be Inped, So someone would help them. To do something. To know something, To get, what do they siy? “To get om in the world.” How can I ddo that iT done 1 fil? Buc T don’t understand. [don’t understand, I don't understand what any= thing meas. and T walk around, From mom ‘ng "tl night: with this one thought in my head. Vn stupid. Jon: No one thinks you're stupid ceanou: No? What am 1.7 yon: 1 canon: «what am, then? Jott: I think you're angry. Many people ae. U have 12 felepone call chat Lave to make. And an ap- ! ointment, which is rather pressing thovagh Lsym= pathize with your concerns and though I wish I hnad the ime, chis was nota previously scheduled neeting and T ccanot: ... you think Pm nothing. JOHN: ... have an appointment with a walor, and ‘with my wife and ceanot: You think cat I'm stupid son: No. I ceranly don’ ceaxot: You sid it oun: No. I id not canon: You did sony: When? ‘camor: you 4Joun: No. I never did, or never would sy that to 2 sodent, and .- ccawot: You suid, “What can that mean?” (Pause) (Pause) Jou: .. and what did that mean to you... ? ‘canou: ‘That mesne P'm stupid. And I'll never ear. "That's what that meant, And you're right youn: 1. ‘cawot: Bue then. But then, what am 1 doing here. «=? yon: iF you thought that L ccanot: .. when nobody wants me, and Jou: if you interpreted canon: Nobody tll; me anything. And 1 sit there in the omer. In the bak, And everybody's talking about “thie” all the time. And “con cepts,” and “precepts” and, and, and, and, and, WHAT INTHE WORLD ARE YOU TALK: ING ABOUT? And [read your book, And they” said, “Fine, go in that clas.” Because you talked. about responsibility to the young. | DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS AND I'M FAIL~ ING som: May ‘canou: No, you'te right. "Ob, hell.” I fifed, Flank ‘me out oft e's garbage. Bverything I do. “The ideas contained inthis work express the author's feeling.” Thats tight. That's right. I know I'm stupid I know what Tam. (Pause) I know what SSS 1 am, Professor. You don’t have to tell me, {Passe} I's pathetic. ln’ 2 JOHN: Aha... (Pause) Sit down. Sit down, Please. (Pause) Please sit down. ccanou: Why? J0UN: Lwant to tlk to you, ccanox: Why? son: Just sit down, (Paws) Please, Sit down, Will you, please... ? (Pause. She dee 50.) Thank you. exvou: What owe: Tyan 10 ell you something eanot: (Poe) What? sor: Wal know what you're talking about canon: No. You dan’ son tink 1 do, (Pas) canon: How can you? Jor I tell you a stony about myselE. Pae) Do you mind? (Paw) Twas raised to think myself stupid. That's what I want to ell you. (Pause) ccanot: What do you mean? yor: Just what [said I was brought up, and my atliest, and moet persistent memories are of boeing told chat T was stupid. “You have such Intelligence, Why mast you behave so stupidly? Or, “Can't you understand? Can't you under stand? And Tcould not understand, T could not sundentand, ‘eanou: What? sot: The simples problem. Was beyond me. It was a mystery. ccanot: What was a mystery? jon: How people lear, How Fcould lear. Which is what I've been speaking of in class, And of ‘oune you can't heat it. Carol. OF coune you can’t, (Pause) I used to speak of “teal people,” land wonder what the rl people did. The wal ‘people. Who were they? They were the people ‘other than myself The good people. The capable people. The people who could do the things, 1 could not do: leam, sudy, retain. «all that _gathage—which is what T have been taking of in ‘las, and thats exactly what I have been talking fof HF you are told .. . . Listen eo this. Ifthe ‘young child i told he cannot understand, Then he takes it ata desiption of himself. What am T? ara that which an not understand. And saw you Se cur ther, when we were peaking ofthe cone cepts of... une ‘eanot: Tcan't understand any of them. Jou: Well, then, tha’s my fault. That's not your | fault, And that is not verbiage. That's what I fimaly bold to be dhe truth. And Lam sorry, and | owe you an apology. | canon: why? JOHN: And I suppose that Ihave had some things on ‘my mind. ... We'e buying a hou, and cor: Repl itt you wee sup? yom Yes catou: When? {01m Ll you we, Through my Ia my hldoods sn pp hey sped Bu ‘heard chem continue. sd “t | eanot: And what did they sy? Jou: They sid Iwas incompetent, Do you see? And ‘when I'm tested the the, the fein of my youth stout the se tof ming come up, And 1 recome, I feel “unworthy,” and "unpre pared.” me YOUN: «eh? ‘canon: «yes sore: And I feel that I must fi. (Paws) ‘ano: ... but then you do fl, (Pause) You have to. (Pauee) Don't you? Jom: A pilot, Flying a plane, The pilot is ying the plane. He thinks: Ob, my Gad, my mind's been diting! Oh, my God! What kind of a cursed Jmibecle am I, that with this so precious cargo (of Lif in my charge, would alow my atention to wander, Why was I born? How deluded are ‘those who put their east in me, ... et cetera, 0 ‘on, and he crashes the plane. ‘eanou: (Pause) He could just. son: That's right. ‘earou: He could wy: some: My attention wandered for a moment ‘earot uh hub sors: Uhad a though did not like ... but now: ‘eaRoL: but now it's. son: Tha’s what I'm eling you. I's time to put my tention... see: its not: this is what f learned is Not Magic, Yes. Yes. You. You are going to be flightened, When faced with what may of may not be but which you are going to perceive sa text. You will become frightened, And you will gy: “Tam incapable of..." and everything ‘nyou will think these wo things, “T maust, But ean" An you will chink: Why was born to be the laughingstock ofa world in which every- ‘one is better than P In which I ath entitled to nothing, Where [can not lear, (Poss) ‘eanoi: Is that... (Pause) Is that what T have... ? Jo1tN: Well. I don’eknow if put it ehat way. Liste: Fm taking to you as ed elk to my son. Because ‘has what like im to have that [never had mv alkng to you the way I wish that someone had talked to me. T don't know how to do it, ‘other than to be penonal,... but ccanot: Why would you want to be personal with oun: Well, you see? That's what 'm saying, We ean ‘only interpret the behavior of others through the screen we... (The phone rings) Through «(Te phone’) Hello . 7 (To eanot:) Theough the ee screen we create, (To phone?) Hello, (To caxot) Excuse me a moment, (Te plone) Hello? No, T cau ttallennn ... know I did Ina few... 'm is he coming to the . yes. talked to him. ‘We'll meet you atthe No, because I'm with a student. W's going co be ff. This is important, too, T'm with + student, Jery’s going t0 Listen: the sooner I get off, the snoner I'l be down, al ight. love you. Listen, listen, sid “love you,” i’ going to work out with the, Decause 1 feel that its, be right down. All right? Wel, chen it's going co take 38 long sit takes. (He hangs wp.) (To canon) I'm sony. ccanot: What was tha? sot; ‘There are some problems, as there usualy ae, about the final agreements for che new house anor: You're buying a new house. sone ‘Tha’ ight. camo: Becaute of your promotion Jone: Well H suppose ehat that’s ight. ‘canou: Why did you stay hee with me? gots Stay here ‘earot: Yes. When you should have gone. JonN: Because ike you. cantor: You like me. youn: Yes ‘eanou: Why? Jon; Why? Well Perhaps we've similar. (Pause) Yes, (Pause) ‘canon: You said “everyone has problems.” sot: Everyone has problems ‘caoL: Do they? oun: Certainly ccanot: You do? sou: Yes. ccanot: What are they? yore: Well. (Pause) Well, you're pestecly sight. (Pause) If wee going to take off the Artificial Stictre, of “Teacher,” and "‘Seadent,” why should my problems be any more a mystery than. your own? OF coune Ihave probleme. As you canon: with wh? oun: With my wife... with woe ‘eanou: With work? sot: Yes. And, and, perhaps my problems are, do ‘you see? Similar to yours ceanot: Would you tell me? sou: All ight. (Pau) [came late to eeaching. And 1 found it Artificial. The notion of “I know and you do not"; and Taw an exploitation in the ‘education process [told you. I hated school, I hhated teachers. hated everyone who wasin the position of 2 "bos" because I knew —t dda’ ‘think, mind you, I knew T was going to fil. Because [was a fsckup, Iwasjust no goddamned good, When I... ate in life... (Paws) When I gt out fom ander... when 1 worked my way cout of the need eo fail. When T ‘eanoL: How do you do that? (Pause) som: You have to look at what you are, and what ‘you feel, and how you act. And, finally, you Ihave to look at howe you act. And say: If that’s what I did, chat mast be how I think of myself ccanot: I don't understand, Jou: ICT fil all de time, it must be that T think of iiytelf ar 2 flue. If do noe want to think of con a pn Se ee Sees moments Sores cemrn ss ero rie Ss Jou: Yes. ‘They're gadage. They're 2 joke. Look at ‘me. Look at me. The Tenure Committee, The Tenure Committee. Come to judge me. The Bad Tenure Commitee. ‘The “Test” Do you see? They put me to the test. Why, they had people voting on me 1 ‘woulda’ employ to wax my car. And yet, I go before the Great Tenure Committe, and Ihave an urge, to vomit, to, to, to puke my badnes on the table, wo show them: “Wm no good. Why ‘would you pick me?” ‘ano: They granted you tenure, youn: Oh no, they announced it, but they haven't signed. Do you see? “At any moment...” oun; “They might not sgh”. Tmight not the ‘house might not go through... Eh? Eh? They'll find out my "dark secret.” (Pans) canon: «what is it. .? sors: There it one, But they wil find an index of ‘my badness ‘eanot: Index? son: A“... pointer" A “Pointer.” You see? Do ‘you see? I understand you. . Know. That. Feel~ ing. Amt I entitled t9 my job, and my nice home, and my wif, and my fanily, and so on. This i what Tm saying That theory of education whieh, that thor: ccamous BD (Pas) sou: What? anor: | sou: What? ‘canon: I want to know about my grade. (Long pause) jou: OF course you do. ‘eanou: Is that bad? son: No. ‘eawot: Is i bad that I asked you that? JOHN: No, ccawot: Did 1 upset you? sony: No. And I apologize. OF soune you want to know about your grade. And, of course, you can't concentrate on anyth ... (The telephone stat veg.) Wait a momen. ccanou: I should go, sony: Tl make you a dea. ceanou: No, you have 10 JOHN: Letting. I'l make you a deal, You stay here. ‘We'll ar the whole course over. I'm going to say it was not you, it was T who was not paying. anention. Well sart the whole cour over. Your grade it an “A.” Your final grade is an “AS” (The phone stops ringing) ‘anor: But the cls is only half over 1010 (simultaneously with over”): Your grade for the ‘whole term isan “A.” Ifyou will come back and meet with me. A few more times. Your grade’s an “A.” Forget about the paper. You didn't ike it, you didnt like writing it. e's not imporeane. “What's important is hae I awake your interest, it ean, and that Tanswer your questions. Let's start cover. (Pause) canon: Over. With what? oun: Say tis is the beginning. ccanot: The beginning. sons: Yes. ‘eanou: Of what? sone: OF the cis Ccanor: But we can’t start over son: Tsay we ean. (Pause) I say we can ‘cawot: But I don't believe it. om; Yes, I know that, But it's true. What is The ‘Chas but you and me? (Pause) ‘canou: There are rules. ‘you: Well, We'll break them, ‘eaou: How can we? sors: We won't tell anybody. BO IES’~’CSé_““ canon: Is that alright? JouN: Lay that its fe ‘eano1: Why would you do this for me? JOHN: Hike you, Is that so dificul for you t0 ‘earou: Um 4JonN: There's no one here but you and me. (Pause) ‘canou: All sight, I did not understand, When you referred oun: Allright, yes? ‘canot: When you refered to hazing, sot: Hazing. ‘anor: You wrote, in yourbook. About the compar- ative... che comparative... (She chcks her ots) JouN: Are you checking your notes... ? ‘ano: Yes. Jon: Tell me in your own ‘eawon: T want to make sure that have it right you: No. Of coune, You want to be exact ceaxou: T want co know everything that went on. son: hae’ good canon: 101 jonn: ‘That's very good, But I was suggesting, many times, that that which we wish to retain is f= tained offensiznes, I think, beter with Hess ex- penditare of efor. ccanou: (Of noes) Here it ss you wrote of hazing Jor: . that's conrect. Now: I sid “hazing.” Ie ‘means itualized annoyance. We shove this book i you, we say tead it, Now, you sy you've read 421 think that you're fying. Ul grill you, and ‘when [find you've ied, you'll be dixgraced, and ‘your life will be ruined. It'sa sick game. Why do We do ii? Does it educate? In no sense, Well, then, what is higher education? [ti something cother-than-useil ‘canou: What is “something-other-than-wsefil? ‘orn: It has become stu it has become an article ‘of fith, That all must be subjected to, oF to put {it diferently, that all are entitled to Higher Edu- ‘ation, And my point ccanot: You disagree with that? JOHN: Well, lets addres that. What do you think? ‘canot: I don’t know. sony: What do you think, though? (Pause) ccanot: I don't know. JOHN: I spoke of it in das. Do you reme “ake you remember my cance Jie sone Yor. Can you pet ito me? (he ok da tno) Wht yours ky {ror to meso ta | an ee ny a wa Ince coo: You sd “jusie” son: Yes? amos tht lar ede. (au sone: Yeu. Toa spedy tril To ir al. Bat the needs e given 4 til lf less they tad scouted, ERP Jumice i ther rghy, should they choot oval dhemselres ot they should have 2 fire, Te docs not filo, of necesita person's life is incomplete without a int pene acon tal Ne My point is a confision between equity and utliy arose, So we confound the weiss of higher education with our, granted, right to equal acces to the sume, We, in effect, create 2 pice towed it, completely independent of Ccawou: «that i is prejudice that we should go to school? oun: Exactly. (Pause) ‘canor; How can you say that? How jor: Good. Good, Good, That's right! Speak up! "What isa prejudice? An unreasoned belief, We are all subject to it. None of us is not, When i is threatened, or oppored, we feel anger, and feel, do we not? As you do now. Do you not? Good. ‘canon: but how an you Jon. let ws examine. Good. canor: How. sons: Good. Good. When caso: PM SPEAKING... (Powe) sou: 'm sory caso How can you Jom: Nhe your pardon clvot: That al ight sows: beg your pardon. co: Ths a ih son: sory ntepted you. ‘canon: That's all right. JouN: You were saying? eta) aw cay a Syn Cotge cast clos eduaton prejaie? some 1 dit one peection it canoe: Prien yon you know what ht means ato Doe it mean “Uking? som: Yes canon But how can you say that? That College sor; ... that’s my job, don't you know. ‘canon: What i? sons: To provoke you. ‘eaoL: No. son: Ob. Yes, though, ccanot: To provoke me? sou: That's right ‘camot: To make me mad? Jon: That's right, To force you Ccanot: to: make me mad is your jab? sons: To force you to. listen: (Pause) Ah. (Pause) ‘When I was young somebody told me, are you ready, the rich copulate les often than the poor. But when they do, they ake more of their clothes off Years. Years, mind you, I would ‘compare experiences of my own to this dictum, saying, aha tht fis the norm, oF ab, this is 4 variation from it. What did it mean? Nothing. It ‘was some jerk thing, some school kid told me that took ap room inside my head. (Pause) Somebody told you, and you hold it san article (of fith, that higher education is an unassailable I IIEEEEEEEEESSSES'SZ 5 geod. This notion is so dear to you chat when I ‘question it you Become angry. Good. Good, I sy. Ate not those the very things which we shoilld question? I say college education, since the war, has become so a matter of course, and such afishionable necessity, for those either ofr ‘spiting oto the new vast middle clase, chat wre ‘spouse it, 3 matter of right, and have ceased to ask, “What is it good for?” (Pane) What might be vome reasons for pursit of higher education? (One: A love of learning. ‘Tivo: The wish for mastery of 2 sill, ‘Those: For economic betterment. (Sips. Makes not.) ‘canon: I'm keeping you. oun: One moment. Ihave to make a note ‘cant: Ie’ something that I sid? soHw: No, we're buying a house, ‘canot: You're buying the new house. | Jou: To go with the tenure, That's right. Nice | hows, close tothe private school... (Fe continues | ‘making his note)... We were talking of eco~ nomic betterment (CAROL writer in her notebook). | was thinking ofthe School Tax. (He cantin- es writing) (To himself)... where iit writen that [have to send my child to publi school... Is ita law that {have to itaprove the City Schools atthe expense of my own interest? And, is this not simply The White Man's Burden? Good. And (Looks up 9 cano1) «docs this interes you? ‘canot: No, I'm taking notes 0H: You don’t have to take notes, you know, you an just listen, ‘eanot: [want to make sure f remember it. (Paws) sou: 'm not lecturing you, Um just tying to tell ‘you some things I think, ‘canon: Wht do you think? sot; Should all kids go to college? Why « ccanot: (Pause) To lam. jon But if he docs not lean Ccanou: If the child doesnot lesen? Jon: Then why ishe in college? Because he was told it was his "right"? ‘cawou: Some might find college inserctive. Jou: L would hope so 0 SSSA amo: how do they Fe Being ld they are wasting their cime? sous [don’t think I'm telling the that. cox: You id that eds wa prolonged and systematic hazing.” eee s01N: Yes, Ie can be 9 ‘CAROL... if education is 0 ba, why do you do ie? sours 1 do it because Hove it. (Pans) Lets... 1 suggest you look at the demographics, wage arming capacity, college- and non-collee- educated men and women, 1855 to 198, and let's ee if we can wring some worth from the statistics. Eh? And. ‘eanoL: No, Jon: Wha? ‘cago: [can’t understand them. JOHN: you 2? ccamou: «the “chart.” The Concepts, the sJoHN: Chars” are simply ccanot: When I leave here {Joun: Chart, do you see ‘earou: No, I can't sony: You eas, though. ccaou: NO, NO=I_ DON’T UNDERSTAND. DO YOU SEE??? 1 DON'T UNDER- STAND oun: What? Ceamou: Any of it. Any of it Pm smiling in class, 'm smiling, the whole time. What are you talking bout? What is everyone faking about? 1 don’t tandrtand, I don’t know what it means. I don't know what it means to be here ... you tell me [Pmintelligent, and then you tell me I should not be here, what do you wan with me? What does 3 mean? Who should I fisen to... 1 (He goer over o er and pus his arm around her shouler) "NO! (Ste wl vay fom i.) son: Shh, ‘carol: No, 1 don't under som: Sebi ‘canoe: | don’t know what you'r sing sous Ssh e's al sight ESM SS” OZ CAROL: Thave no ‘ O™SaSiah rte Gabaron ey Jost let it go. I's all right. (Pause) Sshbhhh, {fa tent Nha ere canon: I (Pause) — ome Wa Teme ees Jou: I know. It's all right. — Joan: What? (ae) Wha? Tl cn s0HNW: No, you must. ‘cawou: I ean’, oun: No, Tell me. (Pawe) ‘ano: I'm bad. (Pause) Oh, God. (Pause) orm: He’ all ight canoe: Pm youn: Le’ allright ‘camo: I can’t tall about this sor: Ie all ight, Tell me, ‘caro: Why do you want to know this? sou: T don’t want t know. [want to know what- ever you. canon: V always JOUN: good canon: U always... all my life. Thave never tld anyone this Jot: Yes. Go on. (Pause) Go on. ‘oaot: All of my life... (The phone rings.) (Pew JOHN goes 10 the phone and picks it up) on io phon: Lean el ow, (ae) Wha? ptm (ADA en Cae Talk. Now. No, no, no, 1 Know 1 did, but What? Hello, What? She whet? She can’, she suid the agreement is void? How, how i the agreement wid? That's Our Howse. 1 have the paper; when ve come down, next week, with the payment, and the paper, that Inowse is. . wait, wait, wait, wait, wat, wait, wait: Did Jerry... is Jerry there? (Poe) Is she there... ?Doesshe havea lawyer... ? How the hell, how the Hel, Thats... question, you said, of the easement. U don’t underst isnot the whole agement. Is just the eaement, why would she? Put, put, put, Jery on. (Pau) Jer, Jey: Wat the Hell «ats my house. That's Well, 'm, no, no, no, Um not coming dd List, Listen, sew her. You tll het. You, listen: I want you to take Grae, you take Grice, and get out ofthat house. You lave her there Hier and her lawyer, and you tll them, we'll sce them in court next... no, No. Leave her there, leave her to sw init: You tell her, we're geting that house, and we are going to. No. I'm not coming down. Tl be damned if I'l st in the same re. the next, you tell her the next time Lseeherisin court. 1... (Pause) What? (Passe) ‘What? 1 don’t understand. (Pause) Well, what bout the house? (Pause) Therein’ any problem ‘with the hhh... (Paws) No, no, no, tha’ all sight. Alli. Allright... (Pause) Of coun, ‘Tha... Thank you. No, Lwill. Right away. (He hangs up.) Pause) | 2 ae Ccanou: What isi? (Pause) some: H's suprise pay. caro Ie is youn: Yes coarot: A party for you. sonns Yes ‘eavou: Isc your bday? sou: No. ccanou: What si sont ‘The temure announcement canot: The tenure announcement. ons: They're chrowing 2 party for us in our new house ccawou: Your new house. jou; The house that we're buying, ccanot: You have to go. sons Te seers that Ido. a ccanot: (Pause) They're proud of you. sow: Well, there are those who would sy i’ a form of aggression ‘canon: What is? JOUN: A surprie, Two oR and CAMO. seated acs the des fom eachother. J0UN: You see, (pause) I love to teach. And fatter ‘myselTam skilled att, And love the, the aspect f peormane. I think I must confess that ‘When 1 found I loved to ceach I swore that I ‘would not become that cold, rigid automaton of an instructor which Ihad encountered a child Nov, [as not unconscious tate was given me to err upon the other se. And, 30, I asked and «ask myself if engaged in heterodoxy, Twill not say “gratuitously” for Ido not care to post or- thodoxy as a given good—but, “to the det ‘ment of, of my students.” (Pause) ‘As Laid. When the possibilty of tenure opened, and, of course, Pd long pursued it course hapry, and covcous of it, T vas, of 1 asked myself if I was wrong to covet it. And ‘ought abour it long, and, T hope, ruthall, and saw in myself several things in, T think, no particular order. (Pou) ‘That I would pursue it. That | dsr it, that Twas ‘not pure of longing for security, and tht that, perhaps, was not reprehensible in me. That I had

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