Oleanna: A Play by David Mamet Read Free Book Online

“Given” what. Perhaps. I think that that is more friendly.
    JOHN : GIVEN WHAT?
    CAROL : And, believe me, I understand your rage. It is not that I don’t feel it. But I do not see that it is deserved, so I do not resent it.… All right. I have a list.
    JOHN : … a list.
    CAROL : Here is a list of books, which we …
    JOHN : … a list of books …?
    CAROL : That’s right. Which we find questionable.
    JOHN : What?
    CAROL : Is this so bizarre …?
    JOHN : I can’t believe …
    CAROL : It’s not necessary you believe it.
    JOHN : Academic freedom …
    CAROL : Someone chooses the books. If you can choose them, others can. What are you, “God”?
    JOHN : … no, no, the “dangerous.” …
    CAROL : You have an agenda, we have an agenda. I am not interested in your feelings or your motivation, but your actions. If you would like me to speak to the Tenure Committee, here is my list. You are a Free Person, you decide. (
Pause
)
    JOHN : Give me the list. (
She does so. He reads.
)
    CAROL : I think you’ll find …
    JOHN : I’m capable of reading it. Thank you.
    CAROL : We have a number of
texts
we need re …
    JOHN : I see that.
    CAROL : We’re amenable to …
    JOHN : Aha. Well, let me look over the … (
He reads.
)
    CAROL : I think that …
    JOHN : LOOK. I’m reading your demands. All right?! (
He reads
) (
Pause
) You want to ban my book?
    CAROL : We do not …
    JOHN (
Of list
): It says here …
    CAROL : … We want it removed from inclusion as a representative example of the university.
    JOHN : Get out of here.
    CAROL : If you put aside the issues of personalities.
    JOHN : Get the fuck out of my office.
    CAROL : No, I think I would reconsider.
    JOHN : … you think you can.
    CAROL : We can and we
will
. Do you want our support? That is the only quest …
    JOHN : … to ban my
book …
?
    CAROL : … that is correct …
    JOHN : … this … this is a
university …
we …
    CAROL : … and we have a statement … which we need you to … (
She hands him a sheet of paper.
)
    JOHN : No, no. It’s out of the question. I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking of. I want to tell you something. I’m a teacher. I am a teacher. Eh? It’s my
name
on the door, and I teach the class, and that’s what I do. I’ve got a book with my name on it. And my son will
see
that
book
someday. And I have a respon … No, I’m sorry I have a
responsibility
 … to
myself
, to my
son
, to my
profession
.… I haven’t been
home
for two days, do you know that? Thinking this out.
    CAROL : … you haven’t?
    JOHN : I’ve been, no. If it’s of interest to you. I’ve been in a
hotel. Thinking.
(
The phone starts ringing.
)
Thinking …
    CAROL : … you haven’t been home?
    JOHN : …
thinking
, do you see.
    CAROL : Oh.
    JOHN : And, and, I owe you a debt, I see that now. (
Pause
) You’re
dangerous
, you’re
wrong
and it’s my
job
 … to say no to you. That’s my job. You are absolutely right. You want to ban my book? Go to
hell
, and they can do whatever they want to me.
    CAROL : … you haven’t been home in two days …
    JOHN : I think I told you that.
    CAROL : … you’d better get that phone. (
Pause
) I think that you should pick up the phone. (
Pause
)

( JOHN
picks up the phone.
)
    JOHN (
on phone
): Yes. (
Pause
) Yes. Wh … I. I. I had to be away. All ri … did they wor … did they worry ab … No. I’m all right, now, Jerry. I’m f … I got a little turned
around
, but I’m
sitting
here and … I’ve got it figured out. I’m fine. I’m fine don’t worry about me. I got a little bit mixed up. But I am not sure that it’s not a blessing. It cost me my job? Fine. Then the job was not worth having. Tell Grace that I’m coming home and everything is fff … (
Pause
) What? (
Pause) What
? (
Pause
) What do you
mean?
WHAT? Jerry … Jerry. They … Who, who, what can they do …? (
Pause
) NO. (
Pause
) NO. They can’t do