Race

Table of Contents

 

 

 

THIS PLAY IS DEDICATED TO SHELBY STEELE

PRODUCTION HISTORY

Race
premiered on Broadway on December 6, 2009, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (Producers: Jeffrey Richards; Jerry Frankel; Jam Theatricals; JK Productions; Peggy Hill and Nicholas Quinn Rosenkranz; Scott M. Delman; Terry Allen Kramer/James L. Nederlander; Swinsky Deitch; Bat-Barry Productions; Ronald Frankel; James Fuld, Jr.; Kathleen K. Johnson; Terry Schnuck; The Weinstein Company; Marc Frankel; Jay and Cindy Gutterman/ Stewart Mercer). The production was directed by David Mamet, with scenic design by Santo Loquasto, costume design by Thomas Broecker and lighting design by Brian MacDevitt; the production stage manager was Matthew Silver. The cast was:

SCENE ONE

 

 

HENRY
: Sit down.

CHARLES
: . . . I would never say
any
of . . .

HENRY
: You're fucking A right you wouldn't. Which is the purpose of the lesson. Do you know what you can say? To a black man. On the subject of race?

CHARLES
: “Nothing.”

HENRY
: That is correct.

CHARLES
:
Black
people can talk about Race.

HENRY
: How about that.

CHARLES
: I will do anything I can. To wipe the slate clean.

JACK
: You cannot wipe the slate clean.

HENRY
: Mmm-hmm.

JACK
: You say it isn't fair? It is neither fair nor unfair. None of us is immune. From a false accusation.

CHARLES
: You know it is false?

JACK
: I will assume that it is false.

CHARLES
: Why?

JACK
: Because you will be paying us to support that assumption.

CHARLES
: And if I were
not
paying you?

JACK
: I would assume that you are guilty.

CHARLES
: Why?

JACK
: Because it makes a better story.

HENRY
: World goes to sleep at night Mr. Strickland. Wakes up and it needs two things. A cup of coffee and some vicious gossip.

CHARLES
: And you can change the world.

HENRY
: No one can change the world.

CHARLES
: But you could perhaps change. The outcome in this instance, of that accusation.

JACK
: You would be paying us for our ability. In good faith. To extend all our powers. To attempt to do so.

CHARLES
: In a cause in which you did not believe.

JACK
: Belief. Cannot be controlled. One believes. People are good, people are bad. God exists. Or the Mob killed Kennedy. The
appearance of belief. May be induced or
extorted
. People may be: coerced, seduced or suborned, into momentarily acting against their beliefs.

CHARLES
: “Induced or extorted.”

HENRY
: The Law, Mr. Strickland, is not an exercise in metaphysics. But an alley fight.

JACK
: Why are you here?

CHARLES
: I want your help.

JACK
: “But—?”

CHARLES
: But I would like you to
believe
me.

JACK
: Why?

CHARLES
: Because I feel that would make you more effective advocates.

JACK
: Let me enlighten you. “
Belief
,” sir, hamstrings the advocate. Who is, then, “anchored to the facts.” I “believe” in the process. Whereby: each side is permitted. To engage an attorney. Does this find the truth? Neither side wants the truth. Each wants to prevail. Does society “deserve” the truth? Alright. Will they get it? Never. Why? As the truth is in doubt even to the litigants. Each of whom will lie first to himself, then to his attorney, and then to the court, to bring about an outcome which he deems just. Which is to say, “victory.” You understand? And, on the scaffold, the condemned man having lied to his lawyer, the judge, and himself, will then lie to God. That is the long speech. The short speech is: you came here because you think that we can help you. Perhaps we can. What can
you
do?

CHARLES
: Alright.

JACK
: Listen to our instructions,
obey
them—and cultivate the appearance of contrition.

CHARLES
: I didn't
do
anything.

HENRY
: You're
white
.

CHARLES
: Is that a crime?

HENRY
: In this instance.

CHARLES
: You're kidding.

HENRY
: Sadly I am not.

CHARLES
(To Henry)
: Do
you
care that I'm white?

HENRY
: “Do I hate white folks?” Z'at your question? “Do all black people hate whites?” Let me put your mind at rest. You
bet
we do. White folks are “scared”? All to the good. You understand? We're thrilled you're guilty.

CHARLES
: I'm guilty.

HENRY
: Yes.

CHARLES
: Because I'm white.

HENRY
: No. Because of the
calendar
. Fifty years ago. You're white? Same case. Same facts. You're innocent.
(Pause)
This is the situation. In which you discover yourself.

CHARLES
: I understand. You're testing me. I understand.

HENRY
: I'm not “testing” you, sir. I'm telling you the truth. Your people, if they were assured by
God
, that you were innocent, would sell you out.

CHARLES
: And the blacks?

HENRY
: And, to the African-American community.

CHARLES
: Alright.

HENRY
: You were found fucking one of our women.

CHARLES
: I loved her.

HENRY
: Isn't that glorious.

CHARLES
: And she loved me.

HENRY
: Well, I guess she changed her mind.

JACK
: Alright. I would say I am Jack Lawson, and this is Henry Brown. But you must know that. Because of our race. But you must pretend you do not. Must you not? Here is my question to you: why?

CHARLES
: Why?

JACK
: Yes. You know that one of us is black and one's white. Why would you pretend to be ignorant of which of us is which?

CHARLES
: It's a convention.

JACK
: Bravo. There exist conventions which
may be
: outdated, superfluous, offensive, or indeed immoral. But still remain in force.
(Pause)
Having been accused of having broken with convention, your problem is to win from your fellow citizens a pass. There are two ways to accomplish that. The first is to assert you were somewhere
else
, incompetent, coerced or framed. The second is to challenge the convention. Which do you like?

CHARLES
: I don't like either of them.

JACK
: That's a good start. Now pick one.

CHARLES
: Isn't that your job?

JACK
: Well, you tell
me
. We're going to roll the dice. But:
you
guess wrong, or we're incompetent,
you
go to jail. I get paid either way.

CHARLES
: Well, that's blunt.

JACK
: You wanted to hire your brother-in-law. You had that option . . .

CHARLES
: I don't
have
a brother-in-law.

HENRY
: You had a brother-in-law by your first marriage.

CHARLES
: Good for you.

HENRY
: I read the papers.

JACK
: Everybody reads the papers. That's your problem.

CHARLES
: Why do you address me this way?

JACK
: “Rich as you are”?

CHARLES
: . . .
al
right . . .

JACK
:Why did you come to us?

JACK: Why did you come to us?

CHARLES
: I . . .

JACK
: I assume you chose us because of our Racial Makeup. After you went to Greenstein.

HENRY
: Why did you leave Greenstein?

JACK
: Now the nickel drops.

CHARLES
: Can I rely upon your honesty?

JACK
: I don't want you relying on our honesty.

CHARLES
: Upon what should I rely?

HENRY
: Upon our desire for Fortune and Fame.

JACK
: Why did you leave Greenstein?

CHARLES
: I didn't like the way. He was handling the case.

JACK
: What didn't you like about it?

CHARLES
: What difference does it make?

JACK
: Somebody who hits his first wife
will
hit his second wife. You know why? He's a wife beater.

CHARLES
: I didn't like the way that I was being treated.

JACK
: Do you have it in contention to plead guilty?

CHARLES
: Absolutely not.

JACK
: Then, free of charge? You're going to have to drop the rich bit.
(Pause)
Why should we treat you better?

HENRY
: 'Cause we're the underdog, and, you would think, we'd have to eat more of your pomposity, and believe your fake contrition.

CHARLES
: Who do you think that you're talking to?

HENRY
: I think I'm talking to a rapist and race-criminal. And I think you didn't play straight with Greenstein, and you're going to pull the same trick
here
, and walk out on us when things get rough, and leave
us
looking sweet and silly. And turn to the American Public, a misunderstood man, whose lawyers do not “
like
” him.
I
don't like you . . .