Resurrection Blues by Arthur Miller Read Free Book Online Page B

doubt she’d have mentioned Jack to her father.
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    FELIX: That’s his name—Jack?
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    STANLEY: Well one of them. Jack Brown. But he’s got others . . . depending.
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    FELIX: We believe his name is Juan Manuel Francisco Frederico Ortuga de Oviedo. Although up in the villages some of them call him Ralph.
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    STANLEY: Possible. He changes names so he won’t turn into like . . . you know . . . some kind of celebrity guru.
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    FELIX: Well, that’s unusual, isn’t it. Now tell me how he escaped from jail.
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    STANLEY: I really can’t talk about that.
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    FELIX: How did he get out, Stanley?
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    STANLEY: He doesn’t like people talking about it.
    FELIX: About what?
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    STANLEY, conflicted, shifts in his chair: I’m really not comfortable talking about that part of it.
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    FELIX: I don’t want to have to persuade you, Stan. How did he escape?
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    STANLEY: Well . . . is this something you’re insisting on?
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    FELIX: This is something I’m insisting on.
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    STANLEY: . . . He went through the walls.
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    Pause.
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    FELIX: And how did he do that?
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    STANLEY: You’re asking me so I’m telling you, right? He has terrific mind control, he can see space.
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    FELIX: Anybody can see space.
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    STANLEY: No. What you see is the borders, like the walls of a room, or mountains. Pure space is only an idea, so he can think it out of existence. But he doesn’t want it spread around too much.
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    FELIX: Why’s that?
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    STANLEY: If he gets known as a magician he thinks it could take away from his main message.
    FELIX: Which is what, in a few words?
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    STANLEY: Well, you know . . . just don’t do bad things. Especially when you know they’re bad. Which you mostly do.
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    Pause.
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    FELIX: You like women?
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    STANLEY: Well I’m . . . yeah, I guess I’m kind of on the horny side.
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    FELIX: You ever light up with them?
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    STANLEY: Me? Well there’ve been times when I almost feel I have, but . . . I guess I’ve never blinded any of them.
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    FELIX, some embarrassment: I want to talk to him, Stanley. For personal reasons.
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    STANLEY: Well, if he shows up, I’ll tell him.
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    FELIX, attempting cool: . . . I want you to emphasize the personal. Let him pick a place and I’ll meet him alone.
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    STANLEY, realizing: . . . Oh!
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    FELIX: I’m interested in discussing the whole situation. You understand?
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    STANLEY:—Okay, I’ll tell him.—You want to be any more specific?
    FELIX, hesitates: . . . No, that’s . . . that’s about it. Suddenly suspicious, hardens . He didn’t send you to me, did he?
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    Stanley looks away.
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    Stanley?
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    No response.
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    Did he send you?
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    No response.
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    Why did he send you?
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    No response.
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    Answer me! Did you get yourself arrested?
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    STANLEY: It’s complicated.—I can’t stand the idea of him being . . . you know . . . hurt. So I thought maybe I could talk to you about it.—See, I think in some part of his mind he thinks it would help the people.
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    FELIX: If he’s executed.
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    STANLEY: Crucified.
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    FELIX: He wants it.
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    STANLEY: . . . In a way, maybe.
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    FELIX: How would it help them?
    STANLEY: Well, now that the revolution’s practically gone, people are pretty . . . you know . . . cynical about everything.
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    FELIX: What about it?
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    STANLEY: To see a man tortured for their sake . . . you know . . . that a man could actually like care that much about anything . . .
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    FELIX: You’re telling me something . . . what are you telling me?—Does he want it or not?
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    STANLEY: Oh no! No. It’s just that . . . you see— Rapidly overwhelmed by the vision’s horror .—he gets to where he just can’t like bear it—
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    FELIX: Bear what!
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    STANLEY: Well . . . the