Clybourne Park Read online

(to BEV)

  Ah lye loofee! (I like Lutefisk!)

  JIM

  But I will say this -

  FRANCINE

  (to KARL)

  I like spaghetti and meatballs.

  (KARL quiets BETSY.)

  JIM

  – You do find differences in modes of worship. If you take First Presbyterian. Now, that’s a church down in Hamilton Park and I’ve taken fellowship there and I can tell you, the differences are notable.

  BEV

  Jim?

  JIM

  Not a value judgment. Apples and oranges. Just as how we have our organ here at Saint Thomas, for accompaniment, whereas at First Presbyterian, they prefer a piano and, occasionally … (chuckles) …well, tambourines.

  BEV

  What’s wrong with tambourines?

  JIM

  Nothing wrong.

  BEV

  I like tambourines.

  JIM

  I like tambourines as much as the next person.

  (RUSS returns from the basement. He is calmer.)

  KARL

  Well, let me ask this.

  (to BEV)

  Excuse me.

  (to FRANCINE)

  Francine, was it?

  FRANCINE

  Yessir.

  KARL

  Francine, may I ask? Do you ski?

  FRANCINE

  Do I – ?

  KARL

  Or your husband? Either of you?

  FRANCINE

  Ski?

  KARL

  Downhill skiing?

  FRANCINE

  We don’t ski, no.

  KARL

  And this is my point. The children who attend St. Stanislaus. Once a year we take the middle schoolers up to Indianhead Mountain, and I can tell you, in all the time I’ve been there, I have not once seen a colored family on those slopes. Now, what accounts for that? Certainly not any deficit in ability, so what I have to conclude is that, for some reason, there is just something about the pastime of skiing that doesn’t appeal to the Negro community. And feel free to prove me wrong.

  RUSS

  Karl.

  KARL

  But you’ll have to show me where to find the skiing Negroes!

  RUSS

  Karl!

  BEV

  Can we all modulate our voices?

  RUSS

  It’s sold, Karl. The house is sold.

  KARL

  I understand that.

  RUSS

  The ink is dry.

  KARL

  And we all understand your reasons and no one holds that against you.

  RUSS

  Truck’s coming on Monday.

  KARL

  Fully aware.

  RUSS

  And that’s all there is to that.

  KARL

  However. There is one possibility.

  RUSS

  Nope. Nope.

  KARL

  If you’ll hear me out.

  RUSS

  Don’t see the point.

  KARL

  Because we went ahead and made a counter-offer to these people.

  BEV

  Who did?

  KARL

  The Community Association.

  BEV

  An offer on this house?

  KARL

  Very reasonable offer.

  BEV

  (baffled)

  But, but, but, they just bought it, Karl!

  KARL

  As opposed to the amount for which you offered the property, Russ, which was far below the assessor’s value - (cont’d.)

  RUSS

  (overlapping)

  Well, we’re entitled to give it away if that’s our prerogative.

  KARL

  (continuous)

  — for this type of residence, all of which is neither here nor there, since the family rejected our offer. However:

  BEV

  (to RUSS)

  Why are we even talking about this?

  KARL

  Don has pointed out to me, that, as the seller of the property, you do have a sixty-day option to place it in receivership with the transacting bank to indemnify yourself against liability. Now, that’s generally with commercial properties, but in this instance – (cont’d.)

  RUSS

  (slowly, overlapping)

  Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope.

  KARL

  (continuous)

  – I think that, inasmuch as Ted deceived you about the buyers, that the bank could still halt the sale and it would be a simple – (cont’d.)

  RUSS

  (overlapping)

  Karl?

  KARL

  (continuous)

  – matter of a signature, if I could finish?

  RUSS

  Prefer it if you didn’t.

  BETSY

  Kaahhhh?

  BEV

  And for all we know this family could be perfectly lovely.

  KARL

  Well, that’s hardly the point, is it?

  BEV

  Maybe it’s a point to consider.

  KARL

  (with a chuckle)

  Bev, I’m not here to solve society’s problems. I’m simply telling you what will happen, and it will happen as follows: First one family will leave, then another, and another, and each time they do, the values of these properties will decline, and once that process begins, once you break that egg, Bev, all the kings horses, etcetera – (cont’d.)

  BETSY

  (overlapping)

  Kaahhh?

  KARL

  (continuous)

  – and some of us, you see, those who don’t have the opportunity to simply pick up and move at the drop of a hat, then those folks are left holding the bag, and it’s a fairly worthless bag, at that point.

  BEV

  I don’t like the tone this is taking.

  RUSS

  (to KARL)

  Okay. Tell you what.

  KARL

  And let’s imagine if the tables were turned. (re: FRANCINE and ALBERT) Suppose a number of white families started marching into their commun– ? Well, actually that might be to their advantage, but –

  RUSS

  Karl.

  KARL

  – you do see my point.

  RUSS

  Need you to stop now

  KARL

  Sorry. (beat) Maybe not handled with the -

  RUSS

  It’s all right.

  KARL

  – utmost delicacy.

  RUSS

  But maybe time to let it drop.

  KARL

  Didn’t mean to turn it into a public referendum. (beat) But you do understand –

  RUSS

  No no no no no. That’s it. You hear me? Done. All done.

  (Pause. In the near distance a church bell begins to ring.)

  JIM

  (quietly, looking at his watch)

  Is it four o’clock?

  KARL

  Well, Russ, if I might -

  RUSS

  Nope. Nope.

  KARL

  If I could just say this:

  RUSS

  No. Karl?

  KARL

  Well, if you’d let me –

  RUSS

  No. No more.

  KARL

  Uhhh … (chuckling) Bev? I get the impression your husband is telling me I’m not permitted to speak.

  RUSS

  Don’t think it’s a good idea.

  KARL

  Well, Russ, I’m going to ask you at least to keep an open – ?

  RUSS

  Karl! What’d I just ask you?

  KARL

  Well, I think you’re being a tad unreasonable.

  RUSS

  Well, I think we’ve reached the end of this particular discussion.

  KARL

  Is that right?

  RUSS

  Afraid it is.

  KARL

&nbs
p; Just like that.

  RUSS

  Just like that.

  (Another pause.)

  KARL

  Then what about this:

  RUSS

  Karl!?

  KARL

  Well, I believe the Constitution endows me with a right to speak.

  RUSS

  Well, then you can go and do that in your own home.

  (RUSS crosses and opens the front door for KARL to exit.)

  KARL

  Bev …? (laughs) He’s not being serious, is he?

  RUSS

  Karl?

  KARL

  (laughs)

  Am I being silenced?

  RUSS

  Not going to ask you again.

  KARL

  Well, this is a new experience for me.

  RUSS

  So be it.

  KARL

  Bit like the Soviet Union. (laughs) I am truly surprised.

  RUSS

  Well, surprise.

  KARL

  And a little disappointed.

  RUSS

  Sorry to disappoint you.

  KARL

  (shakes his head)

  A real shame. For all concerned.

  RUSS

  Well, that’s the way things go sometimes.

  KARL

  Apparently so.

  RUSS

  Anyway. Appreciate you stopping by.

  KARL

  I see.

  RUSS

  Betsy, too.

  KARL

  Very well.

  BETSY

  Kaaaaahhhh?

  RUSS

  Okay then? Okay.

  (Silence. KARL stands and looks to BETSY. The two of them slowly exit through the open door, RUSS quietly closing it as they go.)

  BETSY

  (quietly, before the door is closed)

  Kaahhh, whaah happaaahh?

  FRANCINE

  (carefully)

  Miz Stoller, if we’re done talking here?

  JIM

  (rising)

  Yes, you know, I think I will take this opportunity –

  (But KARL abruptly returns, BETSY following.)

  KARL

  However:

  JIM

  (quietly)

  Karl, don’t.

  KARL

  (very slowly)

  I don’t imagine that … this particular family are entirely aware of why they’ve found such an agreeable price for the property. Don’t suppose they know that aspect of it, do they? And let’s say someone was to inform them of those facts. Let’s say that was to happen.

  RUSS

  (chuckles dangerously)

  Really don’t know when to quit, do ya?

  KARL

  Because I think that might be an interesting conversation to have.

  FRANCINE

  (to BEV)

  So I’ll be seeing you on Mon–

  RUSS

  (maintaining control)

  Well, Karl? You go ahead and do what you think is right, but I’ll tell you one thing. What you’re going to do right now is –

  KARL

  (overlapping)

  Well, I have a responsibility to the community as a whole. I can’t afford to – (cont’d.)

  RUSS

  (continuous)

  – you’re going to take yourself right through that door and out of this house.

  KARL

  (overlapping, continuous)

  – simply pursue my own selfish interests.

  RUSS

  (maintaining calm)

  Man, what a son of a bitch.

  BEV

  Russ, don’t.

  RUSS

  (to KARL)

  If you honestly think I give a rat’s ass about the goddamn –

  JIM

  (overlapping

  Okay. Okay.

  RUSS

  (continuous)

  – what, ya mean the community where every time I go for a haircut, where they all sit and stare like the goddamn grim reaper walked in the barber shop door? That community?

  KARL

  (overlapping)

  My wife is two weeks away from giving birth to a child.

  RUSS

  (continuous)

  Where, Bev stops at Gelman’s for a quart of milk and they look at her like she’s got the goddamn plague? That the community I’m supposed to be looking out for?

  KARL

  A community with soon-to-be children.

  JIM

  The Apostle Matthew –

  RUSS

  (to JIM)

  Oh no no no. I’m talking now.

  BEV

  (to FRANCINE and ALBERT)

  I am ashamed of every one of us.

  BETSY

  (tugging at KARL’s sleeve)

  Kaaaaaah?

  KARL

  Betsy, wait in the car.

  RUSS

  Well, you go right ahead and you tell those folks whatever you want, Karl. And while you’re at it why don’t you tell ’em about everything the community did for my son. I mean Jesus Christ, Murray Gelman even goes and hires a goddamn retarded kid, but my boy? Sorry. No work for you, bub.

  JIM

  People were frightened, Russ.

  RUSS

  (contemptuous)

  Ahh, of what? He was gonna snap? Gonna go and kill another bunch of people? Send him off to defend the goddamn country, he does like he’s told only to find out the kinda sons-of-bitches he’s defending?

  BEV

  (forthright)

  He did not do the things they claimed he did. He would never –

  RUSS

  Ah, Jesus, of course he did, Bev! He confessed to what he did! Sit around all day with your head in the sand, it doesn’t change the facts of what he did.

  BEV

  Not to innocent people in that country. And not to women or children. I mean, maybe he lost his temper in a -

  RUSS

  Ah, for Christ’s sake. What do you think happens in a goddamn war? They told him to secure the territory, not go knocking on doors asking permission. And if he was man enough to admit what he did, maybe you oughta have the decency to do the same damn thing.

  BEV

  (turning to FRANCINE for support)

  You remember. Francine remembers what he was like.

  (RUSS makes a sound of disgust and goes to the footlocker. Under the following, he unlocks and opens the lid.)

  BEV

  How he loved to read and think. That’s just the kind of boy he was, wasn’t it?

  FRANCINE

  Yes ma’am.

  BEV

  (to FRANCINE)

  And the drawings? The most realistic drawings. I think a lot of people didn’t realize –