What We Had been Considering Of is offered for full productions and readings. events could contact me by way of my Substack e mail tackle.
Homo Vitruvius and American Samizdat function houses for my weekly artistic writing and mental exploration. HV persists as my authentic 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, one can find it right here, built-in throughout the 2 stacks by way of a artistic and mental sensibility I hope one can find 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 achieve consideration for writing you admire and help the mission to supply a renascent mild in opposition to the darkness: artwork, data, tradition, and concepts for a free, tolerant, and democratic individuals. Even the modest month-to-month subscription price of $2 beneficial properties entry to the complete archive.
Recap final week: David employed a Salt Lake Metropolis non-public investigator, Robert Smith, to seek out Bud. Again in his college workplace, David mentioned the newest developments and threats to his profession together with his colleague Kurtis Brown.
This week: The controversy over Bud’s newspaper memoir expands. Kate challenges David over his dedication to her. The FBI investigates.
(David lingers, worrying. He stands, notices his answering machine. He punches a button. Highlight on Kate elsewhere on stage.)
KATE
You did not name. Are you again but? In case you are, let’s have dinner. Fascinating studying within the Tribune.
(David sighs at this. Then the subsequent message. Spot out on Kate, up on Larry Havermore, elsewhere once more.)
HAVERMORE
Prof. Wealthy. Larry Havermore, Chicago Tribune. I might like to speak to you in regards to the Bud Powell collection we’re working. I am certain you’ve got seen it. It raises some outdated, attention-grabbing questions. I might prefer to get your aspect of the story. Give me a name at —
(Irritated, David advances the tape to the subsequent message. Spot out on Havermore, up on Sara, elsewhere.)
SARA
It is Sara. Hear, Hannah’s been making an attempt to succeed in you for days. I instructed her I believed you went to Salt Lake Metropolis. She’s received Christmas go away and desires you to hitch us for dinner. Who is aware of what’s coming subsequent, you realize? You are welcome to deliver your good friend, in the event you’re okay with that. I’m. Anyway, I believe Hannah goes to pay you a shock go to, so be stunned. And present her how you’re feeling. Name me when you may.
(Spot out on Sara. David pauses at this information, then goes to the subsequent message. Bud seems in shadow upstage, his face not seen.)
BUD
Tradition wars? Tradition of conflict. How’d you miss that one, pal?
(A blast of different rock music from a Christmas get together. Kate enters carrying two plastic cups of wine, palms David his as he joins her on the entrance porch of a scholar home.)
DAVID
I do not know what he is as much as, Kate. I’ve no fucking thought.
KATE
Do you suppose the messages are linked to the collection within the paper?
DAVID
They should be.
KATE
Is he making an attempt to rattle you for some motive?
DAVID
Bud by no means wanted a motive to attempt to rattle me. It was a matter of precept with him.
KATE
In spite of everything these years? What does he need you to do, bomb one other constructing?
DAVID
What do you imply, “one other”?
KATE
Properly, he bombed one earlier than. What did you suppose I …?
(They each get the confusion, let it drop.)
KATE
(persevering with)
I’ve to say, I discovered the article very informative. I figured you probably did the standard 60s radical stuff. I did not understand you had been such a frontrunner within the motion.
DAVID
I wasn’t such a frontrunner within the motion. It was simply on this campus. Bud was the one with connections. That was his bag.
KATE
His “bag”?
(beat)
It gave me a way of who you had been — the type of particular person you was once. I do know it is a sore topic, however you have not instructed me rather a lot.
DAVID
It will get type of outdated after some time, you realize. You inform the identical tales about your self over and over. You get to a sure age —
KATE
Practically 44?
DAVID
— you get bored with telling them. You get bored with your self.
KATE
I believed you were not going to play the weary, clever older man to me.
DAVID
Properly, I believe I can maintain my promise in regards to the clever half.
(Kate is sad at this. She leaves the porch. David follows.)
DAVID
(persevering with)
Kate …
KATE
Are you making an attempt to inform me you do not have the vitality to be actually, utterly right here for me? I am just a few type of companion to your jaded center age? I get to be with you, however I by no means get to know you?
DAVID
Is that what it means to know somebody, to listen to his tales of when he was ten and twenty and thirty?
KATE
Partly, sure. To know the stuff you needed. Who you liked. Who liked you. The errors you made. I do know the “nice” professor and writer — I wish to know the particular person.
DAVID
That is a number of baggage, Kate — much more than comes with a youthful man. You are possibly simply starting to get an thought of that. And there could also be extra to come back. Are you certain you wish to carry that load?
KATE
(composing herself to talk)
After I first met you, I believed you’d be a kind of particular experiences that just some individuals get to have in life — an “affair” with certainly one of your professors. I believed it might final just a few months. I’d have this extraordinary expertise to look again on. Perhaps we might even keep associates. It hasn’t turned out like that. You suppose your life will go a sure means — however there are at all times these surprises. And also you’re by no means certain whether or not to cling to your plans — and possibly miss out on one thing surprising and fantastic — or in the event you ought to embrace what’s come your means, let it lead you the place it’s going to. I do know as arduous as I attempt, I will by no means fairly be your equal. However I additionally know that so long as I reside, I will by no means discover anybody I may love as a lot as you.
(David is moved. He takes maintain of her, strokes her face. She takes the hand and holds it.)
KATE
(persevering with)
So I believe to myself, I can take the accidents of my life, and I can select them. I could make them mine. I can select you, as a substitute of letting you stay one thing that simply occurred to me.
(A kiss could be subsequent, however Jarrod enters with a bottle of beer, from inside the home.)
JARROD
Properly, now, there’s my two favourite get together animals.
(stops)
Oops.
(beat)
You were not discussing Foucault, had been you?
(David and Kate separate.)
JARROD
(persevering with)
Ought to I –?
DAVID
Come on out.
JARROD
How was your journey to Chicago and elements unknown?
DAVID
Very retrospective.
JARROD
They are saying that occurs in center age.
DAVID
(to Kate)
I used to love him.
JARROD
Can we reschedule your have a look at my define?
DAVID
Certain. Let me test my calendar.
KATE
My first chapter comes first.
JARROD
However in fact.
(to David)
Hear, a few of us are organizing in opposition to the conflict preparations within the Gulf. You interested by lending just a little esteemed college help? Professor Brown has already supplied to talk.
DAVID
Sure, effectively, my good good friend Kurtis has by no means met a highlight he didn’t make a cease in.
(beat)
Let me give it some thought. We’ll discuss.
JARROD
What’s to consider? You are the person who’s simply cleaned the Proper’s clock. You’d make the proper — forgive the phrase — elder statesman.
DAVID
Truly, in the event you learn intently, the ebook is extra evaluation than polemic. However do not you suppose this stuff require thought?
JARROD
I might have thought you’d already — except you are apprehensive. Due to that newspaper collection? I heard in regards to the ethics committee. You are not apprehensive about antagonizing them, are you?
KATE
You don’t suppose that is one thing to fret about?
JARROD
Certain. However —
(to David)
Nobody else is apprehensive about what you could have finished again in ’71.
DAVID
Oh, actually? And is that as a result of “nobody else” thinks I did it? Or as a result of the likelihood that I could have as soon as bombed a authorities analysis laboratory anoints me with a sure low cost radical éclat?
KATE
(a hand, to calm him)
David…
DAVID
(pause)
I am sorry. We’ll speak about it. I promise.
(Jarrod nods, sorry for the battle. He begins to depart.)
JARROD
I am heading out again.
(He factors to David’s wine, then tokes an imaginary joint.)
JARROD
(persevering with)
Care to combine just a little pleasure together with your pleasure?
DAVID
I am middle-aged, bear in mind?
(Jarrod smiles and strikes on. A doorbell rings. Lights out on Kate as David walks throughout stage. The bell rings once more as David picks up his briefcase and solutions the door to Agent Strait.)
AGENT STRAIT
Prof. Wealthy? Prof. David Wealthy?
DAVID
Sure? Hear I used to be simply leaving for work.
AGENT STRAIT
(holding out his ID)
Agent Strait, Federal Bureau of Investigation. I might like to speak with you if I could. Could I are available?
(David pauses, soberly backs away to let Strait in.)
AGENT STRAIT
(persevering with)
I am right here —
DAVID
I can guess why you are right here.
AGENT STRAIT
Good. Then I haven’t got to bore you with an extended clarification.
DAVID
Is the FBI reopening the case?
AGENT STRAIT
The case was by no means formally closed. There have been, as you realize, accomplices —
DAVID
No. Wait. See, I am presuming you are right here to seek out out what I do know. You, however, are already assuming —
AGENT STRAIT
I am not assuming something, Professor. And there is not any want to begin off hostile.
DAVID
No nee — Hear, Agent Strait — That was a joke, proper?
AGENT STRAIT
What was a —
DAVID
By no means thoughts.
AGENT STRAIT
I do not joke.
DAVID
No, I am certain you do not.
AGENT STRAIT
This isn’t a joking matter.
DAVID
Actually? I wasn’t certain. Thanks for the heads up.
AGENT STRAIT
(beat)
Let’s begin once more…
DAVID
You’ve got clearly been introduced in control on the case. Then I presume you are conscious I used to be questioned on the time. I used to be as cooperative as —
AGENT STRAIT
We’re conscious of your cooperation 13 months after the actual fact. Folks cooperate for a lot of totally different causes.
DAVID
There was nothing in that article to implicate me.
(On the display above: David favored to suppose he was so American — within the authentic, radical sense. He favored to cite Tom Paine: “Authorities, even in its greatest state, is however a obligatory evil; in its worst state, an insupportable one. Authorities, like costume, is the badge of misplaced innocence.”)
AGENT STRAIT
No. Circuitously, thus far. Nevertheless it raised questions.
DAVID
In your boss’s thoughts, whoever he’s. You are too younger to have a bug up your ass in regards to the sixties.
AGENT STRAIT
The one factor I’ve a bug up my ass about, Prof. Wealthy, is homicide, now or twenty years in the past. However because you point out it, it does appear I’ve to listen to in regards to the “sixties” on a regular basis. The sixties and the boomers. Contemplating how a lot you all appeared to fuck every little thing up, it is a marvel everybody pays you a lot consideration.
DAVID
Yeah, effectively, possibly your technology would be the one which will get all of it proper.
AGENT STRAIT
(pause)
Properly, now. We have got that out of the best way. Now I might prefer to ask you some questions.
(David leads Agent Strait to the door.)
DAVID
You might discover this tough to consider, Agent, however I’ve nothing in opposition to the FBI. Not in precept, anyway. Name and provides me some discover — so I can have my legal professional with me — and I will be comfortable to speak with you.
(David factors the best way out.)
AGENT STRAIT
If you would like to play it that means.
DAVID
Oh, I believe I might prefer to play it that means.
(Agent Strait leaves. David turns with a sigh, hangs his head from the burden of all of it.)
AJA
All writing at Homo Vitruvius is free through the week of its publication. It then strikes into the paid subscriber archive. On the new month-to-month subscriber price, entry to the archive prices solely $2 per thirty days. Your paid month-to-month subscriptions and, in the event you can afford it, your annual subscriptions, are deeply appreciated and assist maintain my writing. Nonetheless, What We Had been Considering Of will likely be an exception. Entry to every installment — to the entire play because it publishes — will stay free for the size of the serialization.
