Oleanna: A Play (6 page)

CAROL
: I say it was not. I SAY IT WAS NOT. Don’t you begin
to see …
? Don’t you begin to understand? IT’S NOT FOR YOU TO SAY.

JOHN
: I take your point, and I see there is much good in what you refer to.

CAROL
: … do you think so …?

JOHN
: … but, and this is not to say that I cannot change, in those things in which I am deficient … But, the …

CAROL
: Do you hold yourself harmless from the charge of sexual exploitativeness …? (
Pause
)

JOHN
: Well, I … I … I … You know I, as I said. I … think I am not too old to
learn
, and I
can
learn, I …

CAROL
: Do you hold yourself innocent of the charge of …

JOHN
: … wait, wait, wait … All right, let’s go back to …

CAROL
: YOU FOOL. Who do you think I am? To come here and be taken in by a
smile
. You little yapping fool. You think I want “revenge.” I don’t want revenge. I WANT UNDERSTANDING.

JOHN
:
… do
you?

CAROL
: I do. (
Pause
)

JOHN
: What’s the use. It’s over.

CAROL
: Is it? What is?

JOHN
: My job.

CAROL
: Oh. Your job. That’s what you want to talk about. (
Pause
) (
She starts to leave the room. She steps and turns back to him.
) All right. (
Pause
) What if
it were possible that my Group withdraws its complaint. (
Pause
)

JOHN
: What?

CAROL
: That’s right. (
Pause
)

JOHN
: Why.

CAROL
: Well, let’s say as an act of friendship.

JOHN
: An act of friendship.

CAROL
: Yes. (
Pause
)

JOHN
: In exchange for what.

CAROL
: Yes. But I don’t think, “exchange.” Not “in exchange.” For what do we derive from it? (
Pause
)

JOHN
: “Derive.”

CAROL
: Yes.

JOHN
: (
Pause
) Nothing. (
Pause
)

CAROL
: That’s right. We derive nothing. (
Pause
) Do you see that?

JOHN
: Yes.

CAROL
: That is a little word, Professor. “Yes.” “I see that.” But you will.

JOHN
: And you might speak to the committee …?

CAROL
: To the committee?

JOHN
: Yes.

CAROL
: Well. Of course. That’s on your mind. We might.

JOHN
: “If” what?

CAROL
: “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 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.