What We Have been Pondering Of is obtainable for full productions and readings. events could contact me by my Substack electronic mail handle.
Homo Vitruvius and American Samizdat function properties for my weekly artistic writing and mental exploration. HV persists as my unique and first Substack in these pursuits; AS arose in resistance to Trumpism and is devoted to its defeat. From memoir and poetry to fiction and drama, largely in HV, to historical past and political philosophy, predominantly in AS, you’ll discover it right here, built-in throughout the 2 stacks by a artistic and mental sensibility I hope you’ll discover invigorating. The stacks could also be subscribed collectively or singly in Handle Subscription.
Your likes, feedback, shares, and suggestions, and your free and paid subscriptions assist acquire consideration for writing you respect and support the mission to supply a renascent gentle in opposition to the darkness: artwork, info, tradition, and concepts for a free, tolerant, and democratic individuals. Even the modest month-to-month subscription fee of $2 positive aspects entry to the total archive.
All writing at Homo Vitruvius is free in the course of the week of its publication. It then strikes into the paid subscriber archive. On the new month-to-month subscriber fee, entry to the archive prices solely $2 per 30 days. Your paid month-to-month subscriptions and, for those who can afford it, your annual subscriptions, are deeply appreciated and assist maintain my writing. Nonetheless, What We Have been Pondering Of might be an exception. Entry to every installment — to the entire play because it publishes — will stay free for the size of the serialization.
Recap final week: David met along with his now ex-wife Sara in Chicago’s Grant Park to inform her concerning the notice from Bud. After the 2 briefly reminisced about their participation within the 1968 Chicago Democratic Nationwide Conference protests, we noticed all three in 1968 getting ready to attend the protests.
This week: David hires a Salt Lake Metropolis non-public investigator, Robert Smith, to seek out Bud. Again in his college workplace, David discusses the newest developments and threats to his profession along with his colleague Kurtis Brown.
(David sits up as Bud leaves. Upstage, Robert Smith seems at his desk, a pc, stack of newspapers, and jar of jellybeans on it.)
SMITH
And what makes you suppose your buddy is right here in Salt Lake Metropolis, Mr. Wealthy? He might need mailed the letter passing by. Did he ever spend any time right here?
DAVID
We got here by right here over twenty years in the past with some mates.
(getting up, dusting himself)
Aside from that … For all I do know he is been residing right here the previous ten years. Although I doubt it.
(David walks to a chair in entrance of Smith’s desk.)
SMITH
Oh? Why is that? Why do you doubt it? Not precisely the Mormon sort? You would be stunned what floats by right here nowadays, Mr. Wealthy. You would be stunned. As an illustration, I would say you are not precisely the Mormon sort both. But right here you’re. In search of somebody.
DAVID
I meant no offense to your nice metropolis, Mr. Smith.
SMITH
No. I am certain you did not. What did you say your buddy’s title was once more?
DAVID
Powell. Bud Powell.
SMITH
William Powell. Just like the actor.
DAVID
Hardly. He is all the time been referred to as Bud.
SMITH
The jazz pianist.
DAVID
His father listens to Schubert. He loves Hendrix.
SMITH
They didn’t whistle the identical tune?
DAVID
Not a lot.
SMITH
Could I see the envelope?
(David fingers him the envelope. Smith reads.)
SMITH
(persevering with)
Bud Powell… What’s this enterprise a few daughter and sons?
DAVID
I do not know what the sons half is about. The daughter would possibly consult with my daughter — his daughter.
SMITH
Whose daughter?
DAVID
I adopted her.
SMITH
And the mom?
DAVID
I married her.
SMITH
Bud’s spouse?
DAVID
They had been by no means married.
SMITH
And this was after he disappeared?
DAVID
After he went to jail. Earlier than he disappeared. After the bombing.
(pause)
Have I shocked you into silence?
SMITH
I am not simply shocked. I am simply considering. I try this generally.
(Smith begins to rifle by the stack of papers.)
SMITH
(persevering with)
there was a bombing simply yesterday in Atlanta by that serial bomber, the one who calls himself Okay-9 —
(glancing at David)
, the letter and the quantity —
DAVID
I do know who he’s.
SMITH
Actually?
DAVID
I’ve heard of him.
SMITH
Attention-grabbing title, do not you suppose? Okay-9. A canine. However not a canine. Desires to make the world protected for greens and timber. And their huggers, I suppose.
(Smith tilts the jar of jelly beans in David’s route.)
DAVID
Unhealthy for my tooth.
SMITH
(patting his abdomen)
Not good in your weight both. I preserve it right here to remind me of what retains me in enterprise.
DAVID
I am unable to wait to listen to the connection.
SMITH
Temptation. Of the flesh. Of fortune. Of the mind. The final is the least frequent.
(Smith grabs a handful of jelly beans and turns to the newspapers once more.)
SMITH
(persevering with)
After the bombing… Bud Powell… I attempt to sustain with the massive metropolis papers. Saves a ton of analysis.
(Smith finds what he was looking for.)
SMITH
(persevering with)
Bud Powell. I believed so. How lengthy because you left Chicago?
DAVID
Two days.
SMITH
Took you that lengthy to choose me out of the guide?
DAVID
I do extra analysis than that.
SMITH
I am certain. I suppose I am complimented. Now let me ask you one thing. It should appear very elementary to you, little doubt, but it surely’s one thing I all the time ask in instances like this. Why do you wish to discover your buddy?
DAVID
(beat, greatly surprised)
He was my greatest buddy. We grew up collectively. He did — This horrible factor occurred. He went to jail. He disappeared. Nobody has recognized if he was alive or lifeless.
(beat)
And now this notice. The tone — It’s totally unusual. And the remark about my daughter.
SMITH
His daughter.
DAVID
Proper. My daughter.
SMITH
You surprise if in some way he desires to make hassle for you.
(David nods reluctantly.)
SMITH
(persevering with)
Is there any motive he would wish to?
DAVID
I…do not know. I do not suppose so.
SMITH
However nonetheless, in some way, you suppose he would possibly.
DAVID
Make hassle for me?
SMITH
Need to make hassle for you.
DAVID
Mr. Smith, would not you wish to discover him for those who had been in my place?
SMITH
I do not know, Mr. Wealthy. I am not in your house. Some other motive you wish to discover him?
DAVID
Is not that sufficient?
SMITH
I simply ask. It is attention-grabbing how usually individuals do not inform me the true motive they need me to seek out somebody.
DAVID
(beat)
There was one thing you needed to inform me about within the paper?
SMITH
That is yesterday’s Chicago Tribune.
(On the display screen above: RADICAL CONFESSIONS. AS BOMBING’S TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY APPROACHES, USM RADICAL SHEDS HIS SECRETS.)
SMITH
(persevering with, reads from the newspaper)
On February 4, 1971 Bud Powell and
(slows)
unknown accomplices
(beat)
bombed the State College analysis labs to protest their involvement in Protection Division analysis. A safety guard was killed. At his trial the next 12 months, after 13 months underground, Powell supplied no protection and revealed little of the actions of the College Scholar Mobilization. Now, in a three-part collection in his personal phrases, because the anniversary of that fateful evening approaches, Powell provides a whole account of USM’S anti-war actions, the bombing, and its aftermath.”
(Smith appears on the surprised David. He fingers David the paper for him to learn.)
SMITH
(persevering with)
, Mr. Wealthy, it is a humorous factor in any case these years. Typically I meet somebody over drinks at a celebration — I am a fairly rotten Mormon — or I am on enterprise — I meet a number of completely different individuals on this line of labor, as you’ll be able to think about — and I am getting together with him fairly nicely. After which he says one thing about himself, about his previous, and I cease and I have a look at him and I feel to myself, “Oh. You had been considered one of them.” Have you learnt what I imply?
DAVID
(reducing the paper)
Sure, Mr. Smith. I do know precisely what you imply.
(beat)
I wrote a guide about it. Will you’re taking the case?
SMITH
I am a businessman, Mr. Wealthy.
(factors to the newspaper)
And now I’ve two leads.
(Smith stands and heads off. David stays seated as Kurtis Brown enters. He walks to David and appears for him to stand up from his chair. David rises and walks round to sit down on the opposite facet.)
KURTIS
In fact everybody’s seen it. Our college students could not learn, Brother Wealthy, however the school does. They usually’re giving the piece an uncommonly shut studying. You are frightened, I take it.
DAVID
In fact I am frightened. I do know what everybody’s considering.
KURTIS
Many people knew, in fact, however some individuals had been stunned to be taught you’ve gotten a historical past right here at your alma mater.
DAVID
And now individuals are rightly , I suppose — for all of the fallacious causes.
KURTIS
Nicely, proper or fallacious, as I say, you’ve gotten a historical past right here — at an attention-grabbing time, amidst, let’s assume, attention-grabbing occasions. So, sure, I feel you can say they’re , for causes proper and fallacious.
(Kurtis sits, crossing his legs with a flourish, seeming to preside from the chair.)
KURTIS
(persevering with)
My very own youthful radical indiscretions are buried within the considerably extra secretive lore of Howard College. I uncover them personally and selectively as wanted when it helps to promote my books. And I ended considerably brief, although I used to be sorely tempted — I make my Baptist testimony — righteously indignant spawn of the hypocrite South that I used to be — of bombing buildings. You, however, have somebody excavating in your behalf.
DAVID
However the reality is that every one it reveals to this point is my friendship with Bud Powell and my work with USM. That is hardly information to anybody who is aware of me.
KURTIS
Ah, nicely, everybody does not know you. And the operative phrases are “to this point.” And now your story is being learn — in installments no much less — by a number of the greatest readers within the nation. The interpretive spades are digging by the filth — trying to dig up filth — in a frenzy.
(George Grey passes.)
GEORGE
Lurking in plain view, David? Not precisely a clandestine return. Very courageous.
(noticing Kurtis)
Oh, that you simply, Kurtis?
KURTIS
No. I am a ghost. It is a haunting.
(George provides a breathy snort and strikes on.)
KURTIS
(persevering with)
It is best to know. He is already requested for the ethics committee to satisfy. He desires an investigation.
DAVID
Of what? What are they going to analyze? Are they going to seek out Bud? Ask him what occurred?
KURTIS
I perceive that is what you’ve got been attempting to do.
DAVID
So?
KURTIS
So?
DAVID
Oh, now that appears dangerous?
KURTIS
Nicely, you argue for a floor studying of occasions for those who like. However you had been greatest mates with the person. You labored collectively politically. He suggests there have been accomplices. And now right here you are attempting to seek out him.
(beat)
George desires you gone. So do the remainder of the previous and rear guard. You are going to have to face up.
DAVID
Allow them to put me on trial? On what grounds? I will not cooperate.
KURTIS
(standing)
David. Why do you suppose they are going after you? The article? Sure, it is given them alternative. However they may go after me. Would slightly, too. They know I would combat them. They know I am a pressure. You, Brother Wealthy — forgive me — they see you as a careerist. You discuss the discuss — your guide burned their sorry asses fairly dangerous — however nobody right here has ever actually seen you do the stroll. You appear a straightforward goal. And the warfare, as somebody was ok lately to remind us, remains to be being waged — on all fronts.
DAVID
So I’ve to defend myself, when no protection needs to be needed?
KURTIS
Have you ever learn your personal guide, my brother? Nicely, now, the warfare has come to David Wealthy. Simply needless to say you’ve gotten mates right here. Good mates. Do not run away out of your previous.
(Kurtis heads for the door. He turns again.)
KURTIS
(persevering with)
I presume they play soccer in Chevy Chase. Simply keep in mind what makes protection. And let’s have dinner quickly. I’ve some extraordinary new Armagnac to ply you with.
(As he departs Kurtis sticks his hand by his rear to simulate a tail and wags it.)
AJA
