The Cryptogram by David Mamet Read Free Book Online

right.
    DONNY : But you must …
    DEL : We’re talking to you like a man.
    DONNY : But you must promise …
    JOHN : … I promise.
    DONNY : … Because …
    JOHN : I understand. I promise. (
Pause
.) I promise.
    DONNY : Do you understand?
    JOHN : Yes. Yes. I promise.
    DEL : Good, then, John. Goodnight.
    DONNY : Goodnight. ( JOHN
exits
.) (
Pause
.) Lucky boy. To have a protector. (
Pause
.)
    DEL : Well …
    DONNY : Don’t you think?
    DEL : Donny, I …
    DONNY : Do you know. If I could find one man in my life. Who would not betray me. (
Pause
.)
    DEL : I’m sorry.
    DONNY : That’s what I mean.
    DEL : I’m sorry I betrayed you.
    DONNY : Isn’t that sweet. Aren’t you sweet. How could one be miffed with you? The problem must be
mine
.
    DEL : I’m sorry I betrayed you.
    DONNY : Just like the rest of them. All of you are.
    DEL : I’m sorry.
    DONNY : Can you explain it to me, though? Why? (
Pause
.) You see? That’s what baffles me. I try to say “human nature” …
    DEL : … I know …
    DONNY : I don’t know what our nature is. If I do, then it’s bad.
    DEL : … I know …
    DONNY : If I do, then it’s filthy. No, you don’t know. You have no idea. All the men I ever met …
    DEL : And I’m so sorry. To have added one
iota
, in my stupid …
    DONNY : … in this cesspool.
    DEL : Could I …
    DONNY : (
Pause
.) No. I don’t care anymore.
    DEL : Could I talk to you? Who am I? Some poor Queen. Lives in a hotel. Some silly old Soul Who loves you.
    DONNY : Oh, please.
    DEL : No—I need you to forgive me.
    DONNY : Why would I do that?
    DEL : You should do that if it would make you happy.
    DONNY : No, look here: don’t tell me I’m going to make a sacrifice for you, and it’s for my own good.
    Do you see? Because every man I ever met in this shithole … Don’t you dare come in my house and do that. You faggot. Every man I ever met in my life …
    DEL :
Well, why does it happen?
    DONNY : Excuse me …?
    DEL : Why does it happen? Is it chance? Do you think it’s some mystery? What you encounter? What you provoke …?
    DONNY : What I
provoke
…?
    DEL : That’s right.
    DONNY : What are you saying?
    DEL : Well …
    DONNY : You might as well say it.
    DEL : Are you sure?
    DONNY : Oh. Don’t “tease” me … mmm? For God’s sake: don’t “tease” me, lad …
    DEL : … No.
    DONNY : You came to say your little piece—go on.
    DEL : Alright. For some time, for quite a long time I’ve watched you.
    DONNY :
Have
you?
    DEL : I have …
    DONNY : You’ve
watched
me.
    DEL : … and I’ve thought about you. And the boy. Quite a long time.
    DONNY : Well …
    DEL : Alright. Here is what I think: (
Pause
.)
    ( JOHN
appears at the head of the stairs
.) (
Pause
.)
    DONNY : Yes. Yes, John, What?
    JOHN : I …
    DONNY : What? What? You promised. Did you promise?
    JOHN : … I …
    DONNY : … It’s not a small
thing
. You …
    JOHN : I only …
    DONNY : Yes,
What? What?
“You Only …” You prom …
    JOHN : … I only …
    DONNY : I DON’T CARE. Do You Know What It Means To Give …
    JOHN : … I …
    DONNY : … to give your word? I DON’T CARE.
    JOHN : I …
    DONNY : I don’t care. Do you hear? I don’t care. You
promised
me that you would stay upstairs.
    JOHN : … I …
    DONNY : I don’t care. Go away. You lied.
    DEL : Donny …
    DONNY : I love you, but I can’t like you.
    DEL : Donny …
    DONNY : Do you know why? You lied.
    DEL : Let me … Let me … John: Here. Go to bed. Take the book. This is the book, John. We were talking about. It was my copy. It’s yours now. “That’s what the Wizard said.” It’s yours. Off you go. If you can’t sleep …
    JOHN : … I …
    DEL : F’you can’t sleep, you read it. It’s alright now. You go to bed. S’alright. Off you go.
    (
Pause
.)
    JOHN : I have to cut the twine.
    DONNY : The twine.
    JOHN : On the box.
    DONNY : I don’t understand.
    JOHN : To get to the blanket. It’s tied.
    DEL : Alright,