A Nich l-Iern Book

Tlris sirrgle-volume edition of ingek in 4merica, Parts One and'lrcuo

fir:st prrblished in Greirt Britain as a paperback original in 2007
by Nick I-Iem Books Lirnited, 14 f.nrden Road, London W3 7Slì
in association with Headlurg Thcatre t

Reprirrted 2007 (wice), 20(19, 2010, 2AI7

Copyright O 1995, 20A7'lon1 I(uslurer I

Angels in Ama'im, Part One: fulilk:nnium Approa,:hes

copyright A) 1992, 1993'ltrny Kushner.
I;'irst publishccl in (]rcat Ilritain by Nick l{crn Boohs, 1992
CoNtuNts
,,4ngals in ltnn'ia,
Ptn't 1b.to: Pereshoika
copyright O 1992, 1.99:1, 1995 Tbny Kushncr.
First publishctl in Great Britain by Nick flern Books, 1994
'Ibn), l{,r*1,r',t'r hrrs assertcd his right tn hc identificd as
the author of this work
Frou t cc:r,'er irnage dc:si.gn : [)ur ekal, wwr.v. eu reka. co. r.rk
Photography: Tirn Brightrnore, w'\,lv.timbrightmore.co.uh Part One
MILLENNIUM APPROACFIES
Tlpographv courtesy ofTheatre C)onrrntrnications Clroup, New Vrrk
Printed in thc UK bv CPI Antony Rowe, Chippenham, Wiltshire 1

A CIP cataloguc: record fril this bool' is available from

the llritish Library
Part Tzuo
lsRN 978 r 85459 982 7
PERESTROIKA
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feel at home. Declan Donellan and Nick Ormerod made the
play dance.
Angek has benefited from the dramaturgical work of
Roberta Levitow, Philip Kan Gotanda, Leon Katz and Ellen
Mclaughlin; and K. C. Davis contributed dramaturgy, dedica-
tion and Radical Qreerness.
Sigrid Wurschmidt, actress extraordinaire and angel of light,
remains with the play though she's lefi the world.
Bill Anderson, Andy Holland, Ian Kramer, Peter Minthorn, TsB CnnnAcrnRs
Sam Sommer and John Ryan are everywhere in this play.
David Esbjornson helped shape the final version of Millen-
nium and brought it, fabulously, to San Francisco.
Tony Taccone brought craft, clarity and mens clt licÌt keit to Los
Angeles.
and unfficial pottter
Roy M. coHN, a successful NewYork latsyer
Oskar Eustis's guidance, talents, intelligence and friendship broker.
chief clerkforJustice-Tlteodore Wilson
of
have been indispensable; he called,Angels inlmericainto being, JosEPH PoRTER Yrcr,
the Federal Court of Appeals' Second
Circuit'
shepherded it through many perilous places,
and brought it
with a mild
safely home. Without him it would have neither been begun HARnER AMATY ,r'tr,'1l';i*ife, an agoraphobic
nor completed. Valium addietion'
proce§§or workingfor tbe Second Circuit
Louls IRoNS ort, a word
To KimberlyT. Flynn, for intellectual and political instruction, Court of APPeall
and for the difficult education of myheart, I owe myprofound- **ro* *o", ei, Louis! boyfriend' Occasionally uorks as a club
modestll but tttitb
est debts ofgratinrde. designer or caterer, oiiu'*i" lioes rtery
great stYle off a small trust fund'
currently residing in Salt
Millenniurn Approacbes is for Mark Bronnenberg, my former HANNAH PoRTER PrrT'Joe\ mother'
arffiy ?ent;on'
lover, my forever friend, my safe haven and my fàvorite Lake Citl, liaing off her deceased husband!
dmg"queen and former.lyter of Prior\'
A
homosexual. BllLtzE' o foi*r, Norman Ar-
registered nurse' Belize's nafie wa§ originally
rlaga; Belize is a drag name that t:ytk'
trc o*lt", four diaine emanations' Ftuor' Phos?hor' Lumen
Principality
and Candle; manifest in One: the Continental
wings'
of America. She has magnifcent steel-gray
 Otber Characters in part One

RABBr rsrDoR cHEMELwtrz, an ortbodoxJezaisb

rabbi, ptayed
by tbe.actor playing Hannab.
MR. LrEs, Harfer's imaginarytfiend, a
traoel agent, zobo in style
of dress and speecÌt suggests ajazz musician;
be olroa!, uàrs
a-large lapel badge emàlazoned "IOnt" (The
Inteinational
Order of Travel Agents). He is ptayed by the actor plalting
Belize.
THE MAN rN THE eARK, Pr,avwRrcur's Nores
Faled by the acror
TIrE vorcE, tlte aoice of Tlte Anget.
/aying prior
HENRY, Roy's doctor, pkyed by tbe actor
playing Hannah.
EMILv, A nurse, by tlte
lkyed actor ptalting Tbe Anget.
MARTTN HELLER, a Reagan AdministrationJustice
bEartment
1flacàman, pkyed by tbe actor ptaying Harper.
srsrER ELLA cHAprr,n, a Salt Lake A DrscLArMEn: Roy M. Cohn, the character, is based on the
City real_estate salestooxtan,
lkyed by tbe actor playing The tinget. late Roy M. Cohn ftgz7-r986), who was all too real; for the
pRroR r, tbe gltost of a de?d Walteifron the 4tb centilry, most paft the acts attributed to the character Roy, such as his
pkyed by tÌte lria:p
actor playing Joe. He is-a blunt, gtoomy rneii- illegal conferences with Judge Kaufmann during the trial of
eval farmer uitb agtttaral yorà.sltire accent. Ethel Rosenberg, are to be found in the historical record. But
PRIoR 2, tbe gàost of a de( prior Walterifrom the this Roy is a work of dramatic fiction; his words are my
rytb centur!,
pkyed by the actor
llalting Roy. He is a Londoner, so?bù;i_ invention, and liberties have been taken.
cated, usitb a Higlt British accent.
THE EsKrMo, played by tlte actor playing
Joe. A NorE ABour rHE sTAGING: The playbenefits from a pared-
'"'Y;;):;;.rHE sourH BRoNx,?tated by tbe actorptaying down style of presentation, with minimal scenery and scene
shifts done rapidly (no blackouts!), employing the cast as well
ETHEL RoSENBERG,
?kyrd by tbe actor pla/ng Hannab. asstagehands-which makes for an actor-driven event' as this
must be. The moments of magic-the appearance and disap-
pearance of Mr. Lies and the ghosts, the Book hallucination,
and the ending-are to be fully reahzed, as bits of wonderful
theatricalillusion-which means it's OK if the wires show, and
maÉe it's good that they do, but the magic should at the same
time be thoroughly a;ma,zing.
 ACT ONE:

lBad,frws
October-November ry85

Scene r
Tbe last doyt of October. Rabbi Isidor Cbetneluitz alone
onstage witlt a small cofin. It is a rougb pine box zuith tzoo
anooden pegs, one at thefoot and one at the head, holding the
lid in place. A prayr shawl embroidered utith a Star ofDaoid
is draped oser tbe lid, and fu tbe head a larzheit candle is
burning.

RABBr rsrDoR cHEMELwrrz (He speaks sonorously, with a heao1

Eastern European accent, unafologetically consulting a sbeet
of notesfor thefanily names): Hello and good morning. I
am Rabbi Isidor Chemeh,vra of the Brorx Home for
Aged Hebrews. We are here this morning to payrespects
at the passing of Sarah lronson, devoted wife of Benjamin
Ironson, also deceased, loving and caring mother ofher
sons Morris, Abraham, and Samuel, and her daughters
Esther and Rachel; beloved grandmother of Max, Mark,
Louis, Lisa, Maria . . . uh . . . Lesley, Angela, Doris,

r5
 ANcrrs rn Aurntca
MtlLnNNIul,r Aprnoecrres
Luke and Eric. (Loofrs more closely at paper) Eric?This is a
that place and this one you cross. Every day. You under-
Jewish namel (Shrugs)Eric. A targ. rnà twing family. We
assemble that we may mourn collectively stand meì In you that journey is.
tt i, gooà ,rd
righteous woman. So...
(I{e looks at the cofin) She was the last of the Mohicans, this one was. Pretty

This woman. I did not know this woman. soon . . . all the old will be dead.
I cannot
accurately describe her attributes, nor
do justice to her
dimensions. She was. . . . Well, in the
Bronx Home of
Aged Hebrews are many like this, the olcl,
and to many I
speak but not to be frank with this Scene z
one. She preferred
silence. So I do not know her and yet
I know her. She Same day. Roy andJoe in
was,.. Roy's ffice. Roy at an impressiae
(He touches the cofin) desk, bare exceptfor a aery elaborate phone system, rotas and
. . . not a person but a whole kind ofperson, rotos offasbing buttons uthich bhep and beep and q:bistle
the ones
who crossed the ocean, who brought *iÀ incessantly, mahing cltaotic musie underneath Roy's conver.ra-
u, to America tions.Joe is sitting, uaiting. Roy conducts business uith great
the villages of Russia and Lithuania*and
how we strug_
gled, and how we fought, for the family energy, impatience and sensual abandon: gesticulating,
for the yewiJtr sltouting, cajoling crooning, playing the pbone, receiwer and
home, so that you would not grow u
p t rrr,;nthis strange
place, in the melting pot where nothing hold button uith oirtuosity and love.
meltecl. Descen-
dants of this immigrant woman, you
do not grow up in
America, you and your children an<t their a.ov (Hitting a button):Hold,. (ToJoe) I wish I was an octopus, a
children with
the goyische names. you do not live fucking octopus. Eight loving arms and all those suckers.
in America. No such
place exists. Your clay is the clay Know what I mean?
of some Liwak shtetl,
your air the air ofthe sEppes-because ;oe:No, I...
she carried the olcl
world on her back across the ocean, in a *ov (Gesturing to a deli platter of litth sandutiches on his desk):
boat, and she put
it down on Grand Concourse Avenue, You want lunch?
or in Flatbush, and
she worked that earth into your bones,
yor: No, that's OK really I just . . .
and you pass it to
your children, this ancient, ancient .ultur. r.ov (Hitting a button): Ailene? Roy Cohn. Nowwhat kind of a
and home. greeting is. . . . I thought we were friends, Ai. . . . Look
(Little pause)
You can never make that crossing that Mrs. Soffer you dont have to get. . . . You're upset.
she made, for
such Great Voyages in this wodd You're yelling. You'll aggravate your condition, you
do not any more exist.
But every day ofyour lives the miles shouldnt yell, you'll pop little blood vessels in your face if
that vofage between
you yell. . . . No that was a joke, Mrs. Soffer, I was

t6
t7
 Anrcrrs rrq Anrnnrca
Mr LLaNNrur{ Appnoacn es

i*t*: .-. . I already apologized sixteen rimes for

that,
Mrs. Soffer, nov: Iàbulous. Best thing on Broadway. M"É. ever. (Button)
you . . . (lltbik ùe,s
fulminatittg, Ro! coaers Whol Aw,Jesus H. Christ, Harry, no,Harry,JudgeJohn
tbe moutltpiece with bis hand and
talkt to 1oei.I.his,ll take
eat already, what is this tasty sandwich Rancis Grimes, Manhattan Family Court. Do I have to
:,r"inlj:,
it's- (He taku a bite of a sandwùb)M*rn**, liverhere do every goddam thing myseF.r Tbucb the bastard, Harry
or and dont call me on this line again, I told you not to . . .
some....Flere.
pe (Starting to get up): Roy, uh, should I wait outside or . . .
(He pitcbes tbe sanduicA nor (TbJoe): Oh sit. (Tb Harry) You hold. I pay you to hold
tuJoe, usbo catches it and returns it
to the flatter.) fuck you Harry you jerk (Button) Half-wit dick-brain.
(Instantly pbilosophieal)l see the universe, Joe, as a kind of
nov (81( sandstorm in outer space with winds of mega-hurricane
Sffir} Uh huh, uh huh. . . . No, akeady
to IVIrs.
I
told you, it wasnt a vacation, it was velociry but instead of grains of sand it's shards and
business, Mrs. Sofftr, I
have clients in Haiti, Mrs. Soffer, splinters ofglass. You ever feel that way? Ever have one of
I. . . . Listen, Ailene,
those days?
YOU THINK
IM THE ONLY GODDAM LA\ÀTTER I

IN HISTORY EVER MISSED A COURT DAT'EI 1on: I'm not sure I . . .

Dont make such a big fucking. . . . Hold. (He noy: So how's life in Appeals? How's the Judge?
bi* the
JoB: He sends his best.
hold ùutton) you HAG!
;or: If this is a bad time . . . nov: He's a good man. Loyal. Not the brightest man on the
noy: Bad time? This.is a good time! bench, but he has manners. And a nice head of silver hair.
(Button) Baby doll, get
me. . . . Oh fuck, wait . . . (Button, yor: He gives me a lot of responsibility.
ylh.
button) Hellot
Sorr_yto keepyou holding,Judge noy: Yeah, like writing his decisions and signing his name.
Hollins, I. . . . Oh Mrs.
Hollins, sorry dear deep voicl you 1on:Well ...
got. Enjoying ycrur
wsit? (Hand oaer moutbpiece ogo;), nov: He's a nice guy. And you cover admirably.
njorlShe sounds like
a truckdriver and he sounds like Kate Smith, ;on: Well, thanks, Roy, I . . .
very confus_
ing. Nixon appointed nov (Button): Yah? Who is this? Well who the fuck are you?
all the geeks ,r" Ni*o., ,p_
pointees . . . (To My lim,
Hùtins) yeah yeah ,ight good so
llold- (Button) Harry? Eighty-seven grand, something
how many tickets dear? Seven. Fo, what," like.that. Fuck him. Eat me. NewJersey, chain of porno
Coir, 4znd film stores in, uh, Weehawken. That's-Harry, that's the
Street, what? No you wouldnt like La Cage, trust me, I
Oh for goàsake. . . . Hold. heauty of the law. (Bunon) So, baby dol7, what? Cats?
F:.*. (Bu;r, button)Baby
doll, seven for Cats or something, anything Rleah. (Button) Cats!It's about cats. Singing cats, you'll
dont give a fuck what and ,,.iÀ., will
hard to get, i l«rve it. Eight o'clock, the theatre's always at eight. (But-
they. (Butin; n
Joe) You see ton) Fucking tourists. (Button, then to Joe) Oh live a little,
La Cage?
;or:No, I... l<»e, eat something for Christ sake-
;ori: Urn, Roy, could you . . .
r8
r9
 Axorls rN Aunnrce
Mr llnnNtuvr Appnoecnrs
noy:'Whatl (Tb Harry) Flold a minure, (Button)Mrs.
sofferl 1or: I'm sorry Roy, I just . . .
Mrs. . . . (Button) God_fucking*dammit
to hell, where noy: No no no no, principles count, I respect principles, I'm
is...
1on (O^aerlapping): Roy,I'd really appreciate
not religious but I like God and God likes me. Baptist,
it if . . . Catholic?
nov (Oaerlapprzgl: Well sh" *", h.i.
, minute ago, baby doll,
see if. . .
1or: Mormon.
noy: Mormon. Delectable. Absolutely. Only in America. So,

(The phone starts tnaking tbree Joe. Whattya think?

dffirent
at once.)
bcelting sounds, all 1or:It's...well ...
nov: Crazy life.
nav (Snasbing yoe: Chaotic.
òuttons): fuck this gocidam thing . .
pn (Aaerlapping): I _lesus
reafiy wish you *oJldrrt . . .
. noy: Well but God bless chaos. Right?
nov (Owerlappin§: Baby dolll Ring Jos:Llmmm...
the postger me Suzy see
if ... nov: Huh. Mormons. I knew Mormons, in, um, Nevada.
;oe: Utah, mostly.
(Tbe pbone stara uhistling toud$.) noY: No, these Mormons were in Vegas.
So. So, how'd you like to go to Washington and work

nov: CHRIST! for the Justice Departmentl

pe: Roy.
yoe: Sorry?
xov (Into receiver): Hold. (Button; to nov: How'd you like to go to Washington and work for the
Joe) What?
1or: Could you please not take the Lord,s name Justice Departmentì All I gotta do is pick up the phone,
in vainl talk to Ed, and you're in.
(paase)
I'm sorry. But please. At least while I,m lon: In . . . what, exactly?
... noy: Associate Assistant Something Big. Internal Affairs,
xov (Laughs, tlten): Right. Sorry. Fuck.
Only in America. (punches a button) Baby heart of the woods, something nice with clout.
doll, tell
'em all to fuck off Tell 'em I
died. you hanal. M.r. Soffer.
lor:Ed...?
Tell her it's on the way. Tell her I'm schtupping nov: Meese. The Attorney General.
rhe judge. yoe: Oh.
I'll call her back. I zuilt calt her. t krm) how much
I nov: I just have to pick up the phone . .
borrowed. Shet got four hundred .
times that stuffed up
her. . . . Yeah, tell her I said that. (Button. yon: I have to think.
The phone i.r
noy: Of course.
silent)
(Pause)
So, Joe.
It's a great time to be in Washington, Joe.

20
2l
 ANcrrs rn AlrnRrca MTLLSNNTuM APPnoecnBs

;on: Roy, itt incredibly exciting . . . safety for life itself But everywhere, things are collapsing,
nov: And it would mean something to me. you understand?
lies surfacing' systems of defense giving rÀray' ' ' ' This is
why, Joe, this is why I shouldnt be left alone'
(Little pause.) (Little pause)
I d like to go traveling. Leave you behind to worry' I'11
;or: I . . . cant say how much I appreciate this Roy, I'm sort send postcards with strange stamps and tantalizing mes-
of. . .well,stunned,Imean.. . . Thanks, Roy Butlhave sages on the back. "Latet maybe." "Nevermore ' ' '"
to give it some thought. I have to ask my wife.
Roy: Your wife. Of course.
;oe: But I really appreciate . . .
(Mr. Lies, a trauel agent, aPPears.)

noy: Of course. TaIk to your wife.

Scene j the plane tickets when we flew here. What are you doing
Later that day. Harler at home, alone. Sbe is listening to tbe
radio and talking to herself, as she often does. She speaks to tbe
audience.
HARrER: People who are lonely, people left alone, sit talking
nonsense to the air, imagining . . . beautiful systems
dying, old fixed orders spiraling apart . . .
When you look at the ozone layer, frorn outside, from
a spaceship, it looks like a pale blue halo, a gentle, shim_
mering aureole encircling the atmosphere encircling the
earth. Thirty miles above our heads, a thin layer of three-
atom oxygen molecules, product ofphotosynthesis, which
explains the fussy vegetable preference for visible light, its
rejection of darker rays and emanations. Danger from
without. It's a kind ofgift, from God, the crowning touch
to the creation ofthe world: guardian angels, hands linked,
make a spherical net, a blue-green nesting orb, a shell of
HARPER: Oh! You startled me!
MR. LIEs: Cash, check or credit card?
HARrER: I remember you. Youte from Salt Lake' You sold us
in Brooklynl
MR. LIEs: You said you wanted to travel . . .
HARrER: And here you are. How thoughdul.
MR. LIEs: Mr. Lies. Of the International Order of Tiavel
Agents. We mobilize the globe, we set people adrift,
we stir the populace and send nomads eddying across
the planet. We are adepts of motion, acolytes of the
flux. Cash, check or credit card. Name your destination'
rrARpER: Antarctica, maÉe' want to see the hole in the
I
ozooe. I heard on the radio . . .
MR. LIEs (He has a cofltPuter terminal in bis briefcase): I can
Nowl
- arrange a guided tour.
TIARrER: Sàon. Maybe soon. I'm not safe here you see' Things
aren't right with me. Weird stuff happens ' ' '
run. ltns: Like?
rr^rìpnR: Well, like you, for instance. Just appearing' Or last
week. . . well never mind.
People are like planets, you need a thick skin' Things

22 23
 ANcrls nr.AurRrce
Mrlrnunruu Appnoecnrs
get to me, Joe stays away and norM,
. . . Well look. My
dreams are talking back to me. 1or: Nothing to get anxious about.
MR. Lrr.,s: It's the price of rootlessness. So. So how'd you like to move to Washington?
Motion sickness. The
only cure: to keep moving.
HARpER: I'm undecided. I feel . . . that somethingb
going
to give. It's 1985. Fifteen years till the
third ÀiU"rrni]
um. Maybe Christ will come again. Scene 4
Maybe seeds will be
planted, maybe there,ll be harvests then,
maybe eady figs
to eat, maybe new life, maybe fresh blood, Same day. Louis and Prior outside thefuneral horne, sitting
,n"yU. ."r"'_
panionship and love and protection, on a bencb, both dressed in funereal fnery, talking. Tlte
safety from what,s
outside, m"ybe the door will hold,
o, _*yL. . . . maybe funeral servicefor Sarah lronson hasjust concluded and Louis
the troubles will come, and the end is about to leaoe for tbe cemetery.
will come, and the sky
will collapseand there will be terrible rains and
showers of
poison light, or m*ybe my life is really LouIS: My grandmother actually saw Emma Goldman speak.
fine, maybe Joe
loves me and I'm only crazy thinking In Yiddish. But all Grandma could remember was that
oth.r*ir., or maÉe
not, maÉe it's even worse than I know, she spoke well and wore a hat.
maybe . . . I want
I
knouf maybe dont. The suspense, What a weird service. That rabbi . . .
1o Mr. Lies, it,s pRroR: A definite find. Get his number when you go to the
killing me.
MR. LrES:I suggest a vacation. graveyard. I want him to bury me.
HARrER (Hearing somettting):Thatwas Louls: Better head out there. Everyone gets to put dirt on the
the elevator. Oh God, I
should 6x myself up, I. . . . )bu have coffin once it's lowered in.
to go, you shouldnt pRroR: Oooh. Cemetery fun. Dont want to miss that.
be here . . .you arent even real.
MR. LrEs: Call me when you decide LouIS: It's an oldJewish custom to express love. Here, Grand-
. . .
nanpBn: Go! ma, have a shovelful. Latecomers run the risk of finding
the grave completely filled.
(Tbe Traoel Agent vanisbes She was pretty cr^zy. She was up there in that home
as Joe enters.)
for ten years, talking to herself. I never visited. She looked
1or: Buddyt
too much like my mother.
. Buddyl Sorry Im late. I
Are you madl
was just . . . out. Walking. rwoa. (Hugs bim):PoorLouis. I'm sorryyour grandma is dead.
r,ours: Tìny little coffin, huh?
HARIER: I got a little anxious.
Sorry I didnt introduce you to. . . . I always get so
1on: Buddy kiss.
closety at these family things.
(Tltey Aiss.)
lntoR: IJutch. You get bttch. (Imitating) "Hi Cousin Doris,
y<xr don't remember me I'm Lou, Rachel's boy." Lou,
24
25
 Alrcrrs ru AnanRrca
Mrlr,nNNruu Appnoecnes
not Louis, because if you say Louis they,ll hear the
sibilant Louls: Knew what?
S,
Lours:Idonthayea...
pRIoRj I dont blame you, hiding. Bloodlines. (Pause.)
Jewish curses are
the worst. I personally woutd dissotr""
if ,r,yon. .r.,
,:"\.d me_in the eye and said,.Feh."
ForrunatelyWASps
dont say',Feh.', Oh and by the way
pRroR: I did my best Shirley Booth this morning, floppy slip-
dadi.rg, cousin Doris
is a dyke. pers, housecoat, curlers, can of Little Friskiesl "Come
rours: No. baclq Little Sheba, come back. . . ." To no avail. Le chat,

Reallyl elle ne reviendra jamais, jamais . . .

pRroR: You dont (He remooes his jacket, rolls up his sleeve, shous Louis
notice anything. IfI hadnt spenr
the last four a dark-purple s?ot on tbe underside of his arm near the
years fellating you Id swear
you were straight.
Lours: lbu're in a pissy mood. sboulder)
Cat still missingl
See.
LouISr That's just a burst blood vessel.
(Litth pause.) pRIoR: Not according to the best medical authorities.
Lours: Whatl
pRroR: Not a furball (Pause)
in sight. It,s your fault.
r,ours: It isì Tell me.
pRroR: K.S., baby. Lesion number one. Lookit. The wine-dark
pRroR: Iwarned you,, Louis. Names
are impoftant. Call an
animal "Little Sheba" and you kiss ofthe angel ofdeath.
.rrr,t op..t it to stick
around. _Besides, it's a dog,s name. tovts (Wry softly, bolding Priori arrn): Oh please . . .
r,ours: I yanted a dog in the pRIoR: I'm a lesionnaire. The Foreign Lesion. The American
first place, not a cat. He spraycd
my books. Lesion. Lesionnaire's disease.
PRroR: FIe was a female cat. lours: Stop.
Lours: stupid,. high_strung predators. PRroR: My troubles are lesion.
9r.r. _rrc Babylonians Lours: Will you srap.
sealed them up in bricks. Dog.-
huu. brains. pRroR: Dont you think I'm handling this well?
pRroR: Cats have
inruition.
Louls: dog is as smart as a really duII I'm going to die.
f.sharp two_year_olcl
Lours: Bullshit.
child.
pRroR: Cats l«row PRroR: Let go of my arm.
when something,s wrong.
Lours: Only if you stop feeding r,ours: No.
th*em.
pRroR: They know.
That's why Sh.b" left, because rRIoR: Let go.
she knew. r,ou t s ( Grab bing Prior, embracing hirn ferociour ly ): No.
z6
27
 Axcnr,s rN Aunnrca
MrllrNNIuvr AppnoecHss
pRIoR: I cant find a way to spare you baby. No wall like the wall HARPER: Washington?
of hard scientific fact. K.S. Wham. Bang your head on
;or: It's an incredible honor, buddy, and . . .
that.
HARPER: I have to think.
Lours: Fuck you. (Letting go) Fuckyou fuck you fuck
pRIoR: Now thatb what
you. 1oa: Of course.
I like to hear. A mature reaction. HARPER: Say no.
Let's go see if the cat,s come home.
;or: You said you were going to think about it.
Louis?
HAReER: I dont want to move to Washington.
Lours: When did you find this?
yon: Well I do.
PRroR:I couldnt tell you. IIARIER: Itb a giant cemetery, huge white graves and mauso-
t ouls: Whyl
leums everlwhere.
PRroR: I was scared, Lou.
1on: We could live in Maryland. Or Georgetown.
Lours: Of whatl
TTARPER: We're happy here.
PRroR: That you'll leave me.
lon: That's not really true, buddy, we . . .
r.ours: Oh.
rrARpER: Well happy enough! Pretend-happy. That's better
than nothing.
(Little pause.)
lorr: It's time to make some changes, Harper.
nARPER: No changes. Why?
pRIoR: Bad timing, funeral
and all, but I figured as long as ;or,;.: l've been chief clerk for four years. I make twenty-nine
wete on the subject ofdeath . . .
thousand dollars a yeat. That's ridiculous. I graduated
Lours: I have to go bury my grandma.
t'ourth in my class and I make less than anyone I know.
pRron: Louì
And I'm . . . I'm tired of being a clerk, I want to go where
(Pause)
somcthing good is happening.
Then you'll come homel
rArruR: Nothing good happens in Washington. We'll forget
Lours: Then I'll come home.
clrrrrr:h teachings and buy furniture at , . . at Conran\ and,
lrcurrne yuppies. I have too much to do here.
1,,r,: Lil<e what?

Scene
n^ru'r,:n: I
dohave things...
5 1nr, Wlrirt things?
r^rrr,lr: I have to finish painting the bedroom.
Y*: *y: later on. SVlit scenc: Joe and Harper at bome;
Louis at the cemetery with Raòbi Isidor CÌtrrnri*itz.
tnr \ì,rr'vt: heen painting in there for over ayeat.
and tbe r^nr,r,r.: I krxrw; I. . . .It just isnt done because I never get
little cofin.
tlr(' tr) lìnish it.

zB
29

I
 Ancrr,s rN Aunxrce
Mrlr,BNltruu Appnoacnrs
yon: Oh that's . . . that doesnt
make sense. you have all the RABBr rsrDoR oHEMELwITz: "Sharfer vi di tson fun a shlang iz
time in the world. you could finish it when
I,m at work. an umdankbar kind!'
rrARpER: Im afraid to go in there alone,
LouIs: I dont speak Yiddish.
1or: Afraid of whatì
RABBr rsrDoR cnuurlwirz: Sharper than the serpent's tooth
HARrER: I heard someone in there. Metal scraping on
the is the ingratitude of children. Shakespeare. Kenig Lear.
wall. A man with a knife, maybe.
LouIs: Rabbi, what does the HolyWrit sayabout someone who
1or: There's no one in the bedroom, Harper.
abandons someone he loves at a time of great need?
HARpER: Not now.
RABBr rsrDoR cHEMELwITz: Why would a person do such a
yon: Not this morning either.
thingì
HARrER: How do you knowl you were
at work this morning. Louls: Because he has to.
There's something creepy about this place.
Rosemary's Baby?
Remember MrÉ. because this person's sense of the world, that it
will change for the better with struggle, maÉe a person
1on: Rosemary's Baby?
HARpER: Our apartment looks like
who has this neo-Hegelian positivist sense of constant
that one. Wasnt that apart_ historical progress towards happiness or perfection or
ment in Brooklyn?
something, who feels very powerful because he feels con-
;on: No, it was . . .
nected to these forces, moving uphill all the time . . .
HARrER: Vlèll, it looked like this. It did.
yor: Then let's move. maÈe that person cant, um, incorporate sickness into his
sense of how things are supposed to go. Maybe vomit . . .
HARrER: Georgetown,s worse. The Exorcist
was in George_ and sores and disease . . . really frighten him, maybe . . .
town.
he isnt so good with death.
lon: The dcvil, everywhere you ttrn, huh, buddy. n^BBr rsrDoR cHEMELwITz:The Holy Scriptures have noth-
HARrER: Yeah. Everywhere.
ing to say about such a person.
1on: How many pills today, buddy?
r,ours: Rabbi, I'm afraid of the crimes I may commit.
HARIER: None. One. Three. Only three.
lrAtrBI rsrDoR cHEMELwtrz: Please, mister. I'm a sick old
rabbi facing a long drive home to the Bronx. You want to
routs '(Pointing at tbe cofin): Why are there just
two little confess, better you should find a priest.
wooden pegs holding the lid downl
r.()l,rs: But I'm not a Catholic, I'm aJew.
RABBr rsrDoR cHEMDLwrrz; So she
can get out easier if she rArulr rsrDoR cHEMELwITZ: \Morse luck for you, bubbulah.
u/ants to.
Clatholics believe in forgiveness.Jews believe in Guilt. (lle
Loursr I hope she stays put.
I pretended for years that she was already /rdts tbe cofin tenderly)
dead. When rxns: Vru just make sure those pegs are in good and tight.
they called to say she had died it was
a surprise. I aban_ lr^rru rslDoR cHEMELwrrz: Dontworry mister. The life she
doned her.
lr;rtl, she'll stay put. She's better off.
3o
3r
 Arvcels rn Auenrca
MrunNNruu Appnoecnns
;or: Look, I know this is scary for you. But
try to understand uenpnn: No.
what it means to me. Will you tryl
yor: Well. . . . Yes you do.
Henptn: Yes.
yon: Good. Really try HARPER: That's what you think
I think things are starting to change ;or: Where do you go?
in the world. HARrER: Where do you go? When you walk.
HARpER: But I dont want . . .
(Pause, then angrily) And I DO NOT have emotional
yor: Wait. For the good. Change
for the good. America has re_
problems.
discovered itself Its sacred positiori"*orrg
nations. And yoc: I'm sorry.
people arent ashamed of that like they
used to be. This is
a great
HARrER: And if I do have emotional problems it's from living
thing. The truth restored. Law restored.
That,s with you. Or . . .
what President Reagan,s done, Harper.
He says ,,Tiuth
exists and can 1on: I'm sorry buddy, I didnt mean to . . .
proudly." And the .orn*y ."_
!1_sqoken HARrER: Or if you do think I do then you should never have
sponds to him. We become better.
More good. L,."d to married me. You have all these secrets and lies.
be a part of that, I need something big
to lift me up. I Ion: I want to be married to you, Harper.
mean, sixyears ago the world seemed
inlecfine, horrill., IIARpER: You shouldnt. You never should.
hopeless, full ofunsolvable problems
and crime and con_ (Pause)
fusion and hunger .. .
^nd
HARrER: But it still seems Hey buddy. Hey buddy.
that way. More now than before.
1on: Buddy kiss . . .
They say the ozone layer is . . .
1oe:Harper...
(They kiss.)
HARrER: And today out the window
on Atlantic Avenue there
was a schizophrenic traffic cop who
was making these ..
1oe: Stop I m rying to make a point.
. uAnrDR: I heard on the radio how to give a blowjob.
HARpER: So-it! 1,ri: What?
am I.
r rA RI,ER: You want to try?
;or: You arent even making sense, you . . .
HARrER: My point is the wodd
You really shouldn't listen to stuff like that.
1or,::
seems just as . . .
yon: It only seems that n^RrER: Mormons can give blowjobs.
way to you becauu* yoo ,r.r, go out in
1r»r",-. llarper.
the wodd, Harper, and you have emotional
-
Henpnn; I do so get out in the world.
probl._r. rrAnrriR (Irnitating bis tone): Joe.
yor: You dont. You stay in all Tt was a little Jewish lady with a German acc€nt.
day, fretting about imaginary. . . 'l'his is a good time. For me to make a baby.
HARrER: I get out. I do. you dont
know what I do.
;or: You dont stay in all day.
ll.itth pause. Joe turns awa!.)

-re
33
 Arvcnls rN Aunrrca
Mt llrnNIuwI Appno,c,cHBs
HARrER: Then they rÀ/ent on to
a program about holes in the
Lours: Yeah, yeah, well, that's sweet.
ozonelayer. Over Antarctica.
Skin burns, birds go blind, Three ofyour colleagues have preceded you to this
icebergs melt. The world,s coming
to an end. baleful sight and you're the first one to ask. The others
just opened the door, saw me, and fled. I hope they had
to pee real bad.
Scene 6 pr. (Handing bim a uad of toilet paper): They just didnt want
to intrude.
First uteeL. ofNoaemàer. In tàe mens
room of tbe offices of tbe Lours: Hah. Reaganite heartless macho asshole lawyers.
Brooklyn Federal Court alf&ppeats; yor: Oh, that's unfair.
Louis is cryting ooer the
sinL; Joe enters.
Lours: What is? Heartless? Machoì Reaganiteì Lawyer?
yor: Oh, um. . . . Morning. ;or: I voted for Reagan.
Lours: Good morning, counselor. Louls: You didì
yor: Twice.
1oe (He zt:atcbes Louis cryt):Sorry,
L . . I dont knowyour name.
Lours: Dont bother. Wbrd processor. Louls: Twice? Well, oh boy. A Gay Republican.
The
pn (Holding oat band):Jo. pitt. I,m with lowest of the low. ;or: Excuse me?
Justice Wilson . . . LouIs: Nothing.
Lours: Oh, I know that. Counselor pitt.
òhi.f Ct.rk. JoE: I'm not . . .
1or: Were you . . . are you OK?
Lours: Oh, yeah. Thanks. What a nice Forget it.
man. Louls: Republicanl Not Republican? Or . . .
1oe: Not so nice.
Lours: Whatl 1on: Whatl
Lours: What?
1on: Not so nice. Nothing. you sure you,re
...
Lours: Life sucks shit. Life . . . just ;oe: Not gay. I'm not gay.
sucks shit. r,oulS: Oh. Sorry.
1on: What's wrong?
Lours: Run in my nylons. (Blows bis nose loud@ It's just . . .

yon: Yes?
1oe:Sorry...ì
'Lours: Forget ir. Look, thanks r.ouls: Well, sometimes you can tell from the way a Person
for asking.
sounds that . . . I mean you sound like a . . .
yoe;Well ...
Lours: f mean it really is nice of you. Ion: No I dont. Like what?
(He starts crying again) r.ours: Like a Republican.
Sorry, sorryr, sick friend . . .
(Little pause. Joe Anous ltei being teased; Louis knows he
1oe: Oh, I'm sorry.
kno,tos. Joe decides to be a little braoe.)

34
35