Race by David Mamet Read Free Book Online Page A

friend.
    CHARLES : He’s my friend .
    HENRY : Is he black?
    CHARLES : How would you know that from the postcard?
    JACK : Is he black?
    CHARLES : Yes. (Pause) Did you know that from the “list”?
    JACK : The list . . . ?
    CHARLES : You asked me to write down a list, of my indiscretions . . .
    HENRY : . . . and this Bill was your friend.
    CHARLES : Yes.
    HENRY : As your friend , and as a black man, how do you think he felt, receiving that postcard?

    (Pause.)
    CHARLES : We joked about it.
    HENRY : You joked about the postcard.
    CHARLES : Yes. He found the language “amusing” . . . The language we used . . .
    HENRY : You slap palms with him, did you? Back then . . . Talking’bout the black women in the Caribbean?
    JACK : What does he want?
    HENRY : I believe he wants reparation.
    JACK : How much?
    HENRY : I don’t think it’s money.
    JACK : You don’t think it’s money?
    CHARLES : You’re saying my remark was racist.
    (Pause.)
    HENRY : You’re kidding.
    CHARLES : No.
    HENRY : The remark on the postcard?
    CHARLES : Yes.
    HENRY : How can you say that to a black man.
    CHARLES : We were friends.
    HENRY : Well, then. Let me ask you. Why did he save the letter?
    JACK : Why did he save it?
    CHARLES : People, people, they “save things.”
    HENRY : Yes?
    CHARLES : They, they keep them in the attic . . .
    HENRY : As we’ve said , but why did he remember it, for all these years?
    CHARLES : We joked about it. Don’t you understand? . . .
    HENRY : Yes. But. All these years? . . .
    JACK : Hold on, you joked?
    CHARLES : We joked about . . .
    JACK : Go on.
    CHARLES : “Black women . . .”
    HENRY (To self) : . . . ah ha . . .
    JACK : What about them?

    CHARLES : How . . .
    HENRY (To self) : . . . there it is . . .
    JACK : “How?”
    CHARLES : How they . . . (Pause) You know . . . How they “are more” . . .
    JACK : How they are more?
    CHARLES : . . . yes . . .
    (Pause.)
    HENRY : What?
    (Pause.)
    JACK : “Sexually active ”?
    CHARLES : . . . yes.
    (Pause.)
    HENRY : And are they?
    CHARLES : I don’t know. I . . .
    HENRY : But you joked about it. That they were more . . . ?
    CHARLES : Yes . . .
    HENRY : “Promiscuous”?
    CHARLES : To my “schoolboy mind ,” do you understand? I’m not saying it was “right,” it wasn’t right, it was what a young . . .
    HENRY : And did your friend share your thoughts?
    CHARLES : We joked about it.
    HENRY : And you talked in a “Negro” voice, and “said” things.
    CHARLES : We both did.
    HENRY : Mister, you’ve got yourself an enemy.
    CHARLES : An “enemy.”
    HENRY : And how do you think your friend felt? When he thought about that? “Joking” with you. What do you think he felt. Over the years. You’re a sensitive man. What did he feel? For “playing along with you”?
    CHARLES : Perhaps he felt shame. (He rises) Are you done with me?

    JACK : Mr. Strickland. With any figure of your prominence. One accusation will call forth another. People crave attention, they crave money, “they” are envious and sinful, just like you and me. A case, will grow, and develop, and “declare” itself. As it develops. Just like any illness. Mr. Strickland. All we’re talking about is a postcard. Believe it or not, there is nothing here, which will debar us. From winning your case.
    CHARLES : . . . I . . . I . . .
    JACK : The fact remains: that you are innocent . And that we can and will establish your innocence. In a court of law. Your innocence . Of that of which you were accused . Irrespective of : your personal beliefs or statements. Or prejudices . . .
    CHARLES : I believe . . .
    JACK : And irrespective of whatever other true, false, or arguable peccadillos or . . .
    CHARLES : I believe . . .
    JACK : Or sins you may think yourself guilty of.
    CHARLES : I believe . . . that I should talk to the press .
    JACK : You can’t talk to