The Anarchist (3 page)

ANN
: You knew that.

CATHY
: I'm not sure I knew it.

ANN
: That the speech was published?

CATHY
: After the, the . . .

ANN
: You knew that. The pamphlet was found. In the apartment.

CATHY
: Many things were found in the apartment, which were not mine.

ANN
: No. I didn't say the
pamphlet
was yours; I said the speech.

CATHY
: The text of the speech.

ANN
: Yes.

CATHY
: That's right.

ANN
: But the pamphlet
could
have been yours, too. It was
essentially
yours.

CATHY
: As “the ideas” were mine?

ANN
: No. As you “held things in common.” Then. Didn't you? You “did not believe in private property”?

(Pause.)

CATHY
: Oh, my.

ANN
: Isn't that what you said? That all pertaining to “the Individual.”

CATHY
: I . . .

ANN
: Even
life
. . .

CATHY
: . . . the young are easily corrupted.

ANN
: . . . had no personal meaning.

CATHY
: No, I.

ANN
: That, possessions—like insights—were the property of all. As all was the property of all, and, so, could be taken by any.

CATHY
: I . . .

ANN
: Meaning you could take it. It was in the speech.

CATHY
: Yes. I said that.

ANN
: Even Life.

CATHY
: I said it.

ANN
: Did you believe it?

(Pause.)

CATHY
: People change.

ANN
: Of course.

CATHY
: Else . . .

ANN
: But did you believe it then?

CATHY
: What I did . . .

ANN
: Irrespective, of what you did. Tell me. Did you believe it? Truly?

CATHY
: I . . .

ANN
: That
nothing
was the property of the individual?

CATHY
: I don't remember.

(Pause.)

ANN
: Do you know, I read the . . . “Pamphlet”?

CATHY
: From Algeria.

ANN
: “Feuilleton.” Pamphlet?

CATHY
: Pamphlet. Or leaflet.

ANN
: I read it again.

CATHY
: Recently.

ANN
: I did.

CATHY
: I'm surprised one can still find it.

ANN
: No. It's still read. Not, perhaps, as it was at the time. Not quite so popular, perhaps. And they still reproduce the Poster.

CATHY
: Of Guillaume.

ANN
: Though without the quote. Which is, I think, a shame.

CATHY
: Why a shame?

ANN
: And the “Pamphlet.” In anthologies. You must know it.

CATHY
: How would I know it?

ANN
: The . . . the “statements,” your . . .

CATHY
: They wouldn't allow the book here.

ANN
: No, your “estate” . . . your “royalties” . . .

CATHY
: No. I never held the copyright.

ANN
: Of course. No. It was for “the People.”

CATHY
: That's right. Why is it a shame that the quote is not printed on the poster?

ANN
: As it might reveal the criminality of worshipping the man.

CATHY
: Yes. That's correct.

ANN
: And yet, you worshipped him.

CATHY
: I did. I was wrong.
(Pause)
I was infatuated with him. Many were.

ANN
: Why?

CATHY
: Because, in truth: he freed them. That he freed them from those things to which they should perhaps be bound is, you're correct, a different question. The young are uncertain. They're easily frightened. He set them free. And they were grateful.
(Pause)
“. . . he set the people free.”

ANN
: How are “the People” different from the State?

CATHY
: Well, that's the province of philosophy.

ANN
: You read philosophy.

CATHY
: . . . at
school
.

ANN
: No, you were asked. At the time of your arrest, to describe yourself, and you said “a philosopher.”

CATHY
: . . . all right.

ANN
: And on your . . .
(She looks through papers on her desk)
On your Visa application, in French, Profession: “Philosophe.” You were quite enamored of the French.

CATHY
: We all were.

(Pause.)

ANN
: He was your lover.

CATHY
: He was very beautiful. That's true. Like a beautiful woman, he had
that
power.
You've
seen it. One sees it time to time.

(Pause.)

ANN
: Are you tired?

CATHY
: No. I'm well.

ANN
: You said you were well. But the doctor reports lately you've complained of being tired.

CATHY
: . . . I'm not tired.

ANN
: You said you . . .
(Takes a file and reads it)
“‘Felt an illness coming on.' Question: ‘Can you say its symptoms?' Answer: ‘I don't know. I just feel tired.'”

CATHY
: Many people feel that. It's an aspect of age. It has a name.

ANN
(Reads)
: “All things have a name. Or they would not exist in our consciousness. If they exist without a name, then we must name them. At whatever cost.” Who wrote that?

CATHY
: Yes. I wrote it.

ANN
: What does it mean?

CATHY
: Youth is foolish. Youth can and must be controlled. I've said that.

ANN
: For good or ill.

CATHY
: As most things.

ANN
: And “Youth Unfettered . . .”

CATHY
: Yes, all right.

ANN
: Finish it. “Youth Unfettered . . .”

CATHY
: I do not deny. I've never denied. That I said or that I did those things. Never.
You
. As much as I. Have perhaps done things. In your life. Which you regret.

ANN
: What have I done?

CATHY
: I don't know. You know. Your actions could not have been as bad as mine. I would not think. I don't know what they were.

ANN
: You say mine could not have been as bad as yours.

CATHY
: Many have, aggrandized this or that minor act, disloyalty, desertion, and thought these fantasies were . . .

ANN
: . . . fantasies . . .

CATHY
: Unforgivable. And scourged themselves. Like the nun

with sexual thoughts. But fantasy is not sin.

ANN
: . . . you . . .

CATHY
: But I have actually sinned. And have been punished for it.

ANN
: And does that cleanse you?

CATHY
: The punishment? No.

ANN
: What could cleanse you?

CATHY
: Nothing but Christ.

(The phone rings.)

ANN
(Into the phone)
: Yes? No, I know they're here.
(Pause)
No. I'll tell you.

(She hangs up. Pause.)

CATHY
: I'm sorry. That I am taking up so much of your time. And I thank you for your time.

ANN
: You're quite welcome.
(Pause)
You said that Christ would cleanse you.

CATHY
: Christ has cleansed me.

ANN
: How?

CATHY
: Truly?

ANN
: Yes. How?

CATHY
: Through His Blood, which means, through repentance.

ANN
: With respect. How would one credit it?

CATHY
: I did not ask you to credit it.

ANN
: For, again with respect, one often hears the story . . .

CATHY
: Yes, I understand . . .

ANN
: Repeated here . . .

CATHY
: I don't ask you to credit it.

ANN
: But you brought it up.

CATHY
: In answer to your question.

ANN
: You wrote that you adore your Savior.

CATHY
: You'd be within your right to doubt it.

ANN
: Would I?

CATHY
: As you say, it's a common ruse.

ANN
: But I might credit it because of your book?

CATHY
: You might.

ANN
: What would impede me?

CATHY
: If the book were written to impress. Or to delude. Or . . .

ANN
: . . . yes?

CATHY
: Or you might credit it because of my behavior. Because of my acts while here.

ANN
: What if they were done to impress?

CATHY
: What if the actions of Saints were done to impress? We don't know their motives. Or from delusion. The Prophets were demonstrably mad.

ANN
: They were Mad?

CATHY
: They'd seen
God
.

ANN
: Have you seen God?

CATHY
: I would like to see my father.

ANN
: Have you seen God?

CATHY
: Your question is if I am mad? . . . Because I found some understanding.

ANN
: All right that . . .?

CATHY
: That however much we suffer. We could not suffer as completely as He.

ANN
: As Jesus.

CATHY
: Yes.

ANN
: And is that “Finding God”?

CATHY
: I don't know if it's finding God. But I know it's the meaning of The Christ.
(Pause)
I would like to see my father.

ANN
: I know. He's unwell.

Cathy
: He's dying.

ANN
: Yes. It's been in the press.

CATHY
: I would like to talk to him.

ANN
: What would Mrs. Anderson say?

CATHY
: Is that important?

ANN
: What would she say?

CATHY
: Is she here?

ANN
: Of course.

CATHY
: How is she?

ANN
: What would she say to your request?

CATHY
: We know what she'd say.

ANN
: And is she incorrect?

(Pause.)

You say that you'd like to see your father.

CATHY
: Yes.

ANN
: After all this time.

CATHY
: I'd like to talk with him.

ANN
: About what?

CATHY
: About God.