Oleanna: A Play by David Mamet Read Free Book Online Page A

th … What do you mean? (
Pause
) But how … (
Pause
) She’s, she’s, she’s
here
with me. To … Jerry. I don’t underst … (
Pause
) (
He hangs up.
) (
To
CAROL :) What does this mean?
    CAROL : I thought you knew.
    JOHN : What. (
Pause
) What does it mean. (
Pause
)
    CAROL : You tried to rape me. (
Pause
) According to the law. (
Pause
)
    JOHN : … what …?
    CAROL : You tried to rape me. I was leaving this office, you “pressed” yourself into me. You “pressed” your body into me.
    JOHN : … I …
    CAROL : My Group has told your lawyer that we may pursue criminal charges.
    JOHN : … no …
    CAROL : … under the statute. I am told. It was battery.
    JOHN : … no …
    CAROL : Yes. And attempted rape. That’s right. (
Pause
)
    JOHN : I think that you should go.
    CAROL : Of course. I thought you knew.
    JOHN : I have to talk to my lawyer.
    CAROL : Yes. Perhaps you should.
(
The phone rings again.
) (
Pause
)
    JOHN : (
Picks up phone. Into phone:
) Hello? I … Hello …? I … Yes, he just called. No … I. I can’t talk to you now, Baby. (
To
CAROL :) Get out.
    CAROL : … your wife …?
    JOHN : … who it is is no concern of yours. Get out. (
To phone:
) No, no, it’s going to be all right. I. I can’t talk now, Baby. (
To
CAROL :) Get out of here.
    CAROL : I’m going.
    JOHN : Good.
    CAROL (
exiting
): … and don’t call your wife “baby.”
    JOHN : What?
    CAROL : Don’t call your wife baby. You heard what I said.
    ( CAROL
starts to leave the room
. JOHN
grabs her and begins to beat her.
)
    JOHN : You vicious little bitch. You think you can come in here with your political correctness and destroy my life?

(
He knocks her to the floor.
)

After how I treated you …? You should be
 … Rape you
…? Are you kidding me …?

(
He picks up a chair, raises it above his head, and advances on her.
)

I wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole. You little
cunt …
    (
She cowers on the floor below him. Pause. He looks down at her. He lowers the chair. He moves to his desk, and arranges the papers on it. Pause. He looks over at her.
)

 … well …

(
Pause. She looks at him.
)
    CAROL : Yes. That’s right.
    (
She looks away from him, and lowers her head. To herself:
) … yes. That’s right.
    END