Free Novel Read

Clybourne Park Page 8

TOM

  But the sidewalk falls under the easement.

  KATHY

  Right?

  TOM

  So if it’s part of the easement then it can’t be part of the property, per se.

  KATHY

  (shaking her head)

  By definition the property is inclusive of the easement. The easement is legal passage across the property.

  TOM

  I don’t think you’re right.

  KATHY

  So, my understanding has always been —

  KEVIN

  Sorry, but - Does any of that really matter?

  STEVE

  It might.

  KEVIN

  I mean, I don’t see how any of that really – (cont’d.)

  STEVE

  (overlapping)

  The language?

  KEVIN

  (continuous)

  — impacts the outcome of the specific problem that —

  STEVE

  But I don’t want to get in a situation where we thought we found a solution only to have it turn out we’re screwed because of the language.

  TOM

  Wait.

  LINDSEY

  (to STEVE)

  The language is clear to me.

  TOM

  (easily)

  And who’s being screwed?

  STEVE

  No no no.

  TOM

  No one’s screwing any—

  STEVE

  I didn’t mean like screwed over, I meant like maybe we screwed ourselves.

  KEVIN

  But how does that address the height issue?

  TOM

  The elevation.

  STEVE

  (to TOM)

  But if the elevation is conditional on the perimeter, right?

  TOM

  That’s the idea.

  STEVE

  If I’m reading correctly?

  LINDSEY

  But the perimeter isn’t changing.

  STEVE

  But we’re saying if it could.

  LINDSEY

  But we’ve established that it can’t.

  STEVE

  But let’s say it did.

  LINDSEY

  But I’m saying it won’t.

  STEVE

  But I’m saying what if?

  LINDSEY

  But I’m saying what did we discuss?

  (KATHY’s cell phone rings.)

  STEVE

  (to LINDSEY with an easy laugh)

  Okay, but do you have to say it like that?

  LINDSEY

  Like what?

  STEVE

  In that way?

  LINDSEY

  What way?

  KATHY

  (looking at her phone)

  It’s Hector. I’d better —

  STEVE

  (aploqizing to KEVIN & LENA for LINDSEY)

  Sorry.

  LINDSEY

  (to KEVIN & LENA)

  Did I say something in a way?

  LENA

  Not that I noticed.

  KATHY

  (answering phone)

  Hi, Hector.

  STEVE

  (explaining to KEVIN & LENA)

  The architect.

  LINDSEY

  Who really oughta be here.

  KATHY

  (phone)

  No, we’re doing it now. No, we’re here at the house.

  KEVIN

  (to LINDSEY)

  Well, if you’d rather wait and do this when he can be?

  STEVE

  No no no.

  LINDSEY

  (to STEVE)

  Well, I think we both know what’s going to happen. (cont’d.)

  LINDSEY

  (continuous)

  He’s going to go completely ballist — I’m just telling you what to expect.

  STEVE

  I don’t give a - And, I believe he’s working for us, right? Not the other way around.

  KATHY

  (phone)

  No, we’re here with —

  (to TOM)

  Tom, I forgot your last name.

  TOM

  Driscoll.

  KATHY

  (back to phone)

  Driscoll. So, Tom Driscoll and the people from the neighborhood thing. Property-owners … thing.

  LINDSEY

  (to STEVE & LENA)

  And can I just say? I am in love with this neighborhood.

  KEVIN

  Great neighborhood.

  LINDSEY

  Totally great.

  KATHY

  (into phone)

  Well, that’s what we’re trying to prevent.

  LINDSEY

  And the thing for me is? My current commute? Which is slowly eroding my soul?

  KEVIN

  (to LINDSEY)

  How far ya coming from?

  LINDSEY

  (pointedly)

  Glen Meadows?

  KEVIN

  (winching)

  Ooof.

  LINDSEY

  Exactly. And if you work downtown?

  KEVIN

  Where downtown?

  LINDSEY

  (do you know it?)

  Donnelly & Faber?

  KEVIN

  On Jackson, right? Donnelly & – ?

  LINDSEY

  Yeah, Jackson east of –

  KEVIN

  Yeah, I’m across the street.

  LINDSEY

  Where?

  KEVIN

  You know the big red building?

  LINDSEY

  I eat lunch in that building.

  KEVIN

  Capital Equities?

  STEVE

  You’re kidding me.

  KEVIN

  kid you not.

  LINDSEY

  (to KEVIN)

  And from here to downtown is like, what, five minutes?

  STEVE

  (to KEVIN)

  Ya ever meet Kyle Hendrickson?

  KEVIN

  I work with Kyle Hendrickson.

  KATHY

  (phone)

  No, but I do think you’re being a little paranoid, because we’re not going to let that happen.

  LINDSEY

  (to KATHY)

  Lemme talk to him.

  KATHY

  I’m not going to let it happen.

  LINDSEY

  Kathy.

  KATHY

  Wait. Lindsey wants to —

  LINDSEY

  Lemme do it. (taking phone) Hector?

  KATHY

  (rolling her eyes)

  I’m obviously not equipped to deal with -

  LINDSEY

  (on phone)

  I thought you were in Seattle.

  STEVE

  (to KATHY)

  What’s the problem?

  KATHY

  Tell you later.

  LINDSEY

  (soothing)

  No no no no. Kathy’s here. Kathy’s not going to let that –

  STEVE

  (to the others)

  Spaniards.

  LINDSEY

  (whispering to the others)

  Two seconds.

  (LINDSEY exits out the front door. Pause. The others wait.)

  KEVIN

  (to STEVE)

  Spaniards?

  STEVE

  Architect, ya know

  KEVIN

  Spanish.

  STEVE

  Temperamental.

  KEVIN

  Toro toro.

  STEVE

  Exactly.

  TOM

  Seemed cool to me.

  STEVE

  You talked to him?

  TOM

  On the phone, yeah.

  STEVE

  He’s a good guy..

  (Little pause. Then, small talk.)

  KATHY

  We were in Spain last year.

  KEVIN

  S’that right?

>   KATHY

  Me, my husband. Spain, Morocco.

  STEVE

  (explaining to KEVIN)

  I just meant —with all the paperwork and everything? And then we add him into the mix?

  KEVIN

  I hear you.

  STEVE

  Cooler heads, ya know

  KEVIN

  Prevail.

  STEVE

  Right

  (Little pause. Then, more small talk.)

  KATHY

  Spain’s fantastic. We did four days in Barcelona. Saw the what’s-it-called? The cathedral? Big, crazy–?

  TOM

  Sagrada Familia.

  KATHY

  That. Which I loved. Likewise the food. Which I would happily eat every day for the rest of my life.

  KEVIN

  Paella.

  KATHY

  Then Morrocco. To whatsit. To Marrakech. Which – I don’t know how you feel about heat? But oh my god. And they keep giving you hot tea. Like, how refreshing. And some theory about how you’re supposed to sweat in order to feel cool, which you’ll have to explain to me sometime.

  TOM

  (to himself)

  Hot in here.

  LENA

  Very hot.

  KATHY

  And. To top it off. I don’t want to bore you with the whole ugly saga but: When they tell you not to eat the produce? Take heed.

  KEVIN

  Like Mexico.

  KATHY

  Because if you ever need to know where to find a doctor at two in the morning in the capital of Morocco when your husband is doubled over with dysentery – ?

  KEVIN

  Whoa.

  KATHY

  Gimme a call.

  (All look at door for LINDSEY’s return.)

  TOM

  (re: LINDSEY’s absence)

  Said two seconds.

  KEVIN

  (to KATHY, indicating himself and LENA)

  Went to Prague last April.

  KATHY

  (to LENA)

  Oh, I love Prague. Prague is beautiful.

  KEVIN

  Very pretty.

  KATHY

  The architecture?

  KEVIN

  That bridge?

  KATHY

  And it’s small, is what’s nice. So you can do it all in a couple of days.

  KEVIN

  And then from there to Zurich.

  KATHY

  Never been to Switzerland. (with a laugh) But I like the cheese!

  LENA

  (formally)

  Can I – ? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to – but I was hoping I could say something to everyone, if you don’t mind?

  (All pause for LENA.)

  LENA

  As long as we’re stopped?

  KATHY

  No. Do. By all means.

  KEVIN

  Go ahead.

  TOM

  Yeah yeah, please.

  LENA

  All right, well … (clears her throat) Um, I just feel like it’s very important for me to express, before we start getting into the details–

  STEVE

  Sorry, but – Maybe we should wait for Lindsey? Don’t you think? If it’s something important? Otherwise –

  KEVIN

  (to LENA)

  Do you mind?

  STEVE

  Wind up repeating yourself.

  TOM

  (to LENA)

  That okay with you?

  LENA

  It’s fine with me.

  STEVE

  But, hold that thought.

  LENA

  I will.

  (Little pause. TOM drums his fingers.)

  STEVE

  Meanwhile —

  TOM

  Meanwhile maybe we should look at page three?

  KATHY

  Maybe we should.

  TOM

  Catch her up when she -

  (to STEVE)

  — if that’s cool with you guys.

  STEVE

  S’cool with me.

  TOM

  Good.

  KEVIN

  Let’s do it.

  TOM

  Just ’cuz I gotta be outa here by like four.

  STEVE

  Forge ahead.

  KATHY

  Page three.

  TOM

  Middle of three …

  KATHY

  Section two.

  TOM

  Roman numeral two.

  STEVE

  (aside to KATHY, quietly)

  Rabat, by the way.

  TOM

  Whadja say?

  STEVE

  Nothing.

  KATHY

  Couldn’t hear you.

  STEVE

  The capital.

  TOM

  Of what?

  STEVE

  Morocco. She said Marrakech.

  KATHY

  It is the capital.

  STEVE

  No.

  TOM

  I’d’ve said Marrakech.

  STEVE

  Rabat

  KATHY

  I don’t think you’re right.

  STEVE

  No, it is.

  KATHY

  But possibly.

  STEVE

  Definitely. Anyway.

  TOM

  Anyway –

  KATHY

  Or, wait. Is it Tangiers?

  STEVE

  Nope.

  KATHY

  Why am I thinking Tangiers?

  STEVE

  Dunno.

  KATHY

  Maybe we just landed in Tang– Or wait, no we didn’t.

  KEVIN

  (to STEVE)

  What’s the capital?

  KATHY

  I know what it is. Tangiers was the old capital.

  STEVE

  Umm … no?

  KATHY

  The historic capital.