And I will tell you: older people, too. Grown people.
You know what they do?
The night before a trip?
JOHN
: What do they do?
DEL
: Well, many times
they
cannot sleep.
They
will stay up that night.
JOHN
: They will?
DEL
: Oh yes.
JOHN
: Why?
DEL
: They can’t sleep. No. Why?
Because their minds, you see, are full of thoughts.
JOHN
: What are their thoughts of?
DEL
: Their thoughts are of two things.
JOHN
: Yes?
DEL
: Of what they’re
leaving
.
JOHN
: … yes?
DEL
: And what they’re going
toward
. (
Pause
.) Just like you.
JOHN
: … of what they’re leaving …
DEL
: … mmm … (
Pause
.)
JOHN
: How do you know that?
DEL
: Well, you know, they say we live and learn.
JOHN
: They do?
DEL
: That’s what they say. And I’ll tell you
another
thing …
(
A crash is heard offstage
.) (
Pause
.)
DONNY
(
offstage
): … I’m alright …
DEL
: … what?
DONNY
(
offstage
): I’m alright …
DEL
: … did …
DONNY
(
offstage
): What? Did I what?
DEL
: Are you …
DONNY
(
offstage
): What? I’ve spilt the tea.
DEL
: What?
DONNY
(
offstage
): I spilled the tea.
DEL
: Do you want help?
DONNY
(
offstage
): What?
JOHN
: Do you want help he said.
DONNY
(
offstage
): No.
DEL
: You don’t? (
To
JOHN
.)
Go help your mother.
DONNY
(
offstage
) (
simultaneous with
“mother”): … I’m alright. I’m alright. (
To self
.) Oh, hell …
DEL
: What did you do?
DONNY
(
offstage
): What?
DEL
: … what did you do …
DONNY
: I broke the pot, I broke the teapot. I’m alright. I broke the teapot. (
Pause
.)
DEL
(
to
JOHN
): Well, there you go.… a human
being
…
JOHN
: … yes?
DEL
: … cannot conceal himself.
JOHN
: That’s an example?
DEL
: Well, hell, look at it: anything. When it is
disordered
, any, um, “Change,” do you see …?
JOHN
: What is the change?
DEL
: The trip.
JOHN
: She ain’t going.
DEL
: No of course she’s not. But
you
are. And your father is. It’s an upheaval.
JOHN
: It’s a minor one.
DEL
: Who is to say? (
Pause
.)
JOHN
: But did
you
feel that?
DEL
: Did I …?
JOHN
: Yes.
DEL
: Feel what?
JOHN
: Last week.
DEL
: Feel. Last week.
JOHN
: Thoughts on a trip.
DEL
: … Did I …?
JOHN
: When you took
your
trip.
DONNY
(
offstage
): It’s going to be a minute.
JOHN
: … when you took your trip.
DONNY
(
offstage
): … hello …?
DEL
: We’re alright.
DONNY
(
offstage
): The tea is going to be a minute.
JOHN
: We’re alright in here.
DONNY
(
entering
): I’ve put the … why aren’t you asleep.
DEL
: … did I feel “pressure”?
DONNY
: … John …?
JOHN
: Yes.
DONNY
: Why aren’t you asleep?
DEL
: Before my trip. No.
JOHN
: No. Why?
DEL
: Because, and this is important. Because people differ.
DONNY
: What are you doing down here?
DEL
: We’re talking.
JOHN
: … I came down.
DEL
(
to
DONNY
): I’m sorry. Are you alright?
DONNY
: What? I dropped the teapot. What are you
doing
down …
JOHN
: We’re talking.
DEL
: He came down, and I began a conversation.
DONNY
: Alright, if you began it.
DEL
: I did.
DONNY
(
sighs
): We’re going to have tea, and then you go upst … Where are your slippers?
JOHN
: Packed.
DONNY
: They’re packed.
JOHN
: For the trip.
DONNY
: And then you go upstairs and you go to sleep.
JOHN
: I want to wait till my father comes home.
DONNY
: Well, yes, I’m sure you do. But you need your sleep. And if you don’t get it, you’re not going on the trip.
JOHN
: Will he be home soon?
DONNY
: Yes. He will.
JOHN
: Where is he?
DONNY
: I don’t know. Yes, I do, yes. He’s at the Office. And he’ll be home soon.
JOHN
: Why is he working late?
DONNY
: I don’t know. We’ll find out when he comes home, John. Must we do this every night?
JOHN
: I only want …
DEL
: Do you know what?
JOHN
: I didn’t want to upset you, I only …
DEL
: … could I …?
JOHN
: I only …
DEL
(
simultaneous with
“only”): Could I make a suggestion? (
To
JOHN
.) Why don’t you busy yourself?
DONNY
: He has to sleep.
DEL
: … but he’s not
going
to sleep. He’s …
JOHN
: That’s right.
DONNY
: … one moment.
JOHN
: … If I had something to
do
…
DONNY
(
simultaneous with
“do”): No. You’re absolutely right.
JOHN
: … something to do. If I had
that
…
DONNY
: Alright.
DEL
: Are you packed?
JOHN
: I’m all packed.
DEL
: … well …
JOHN
: I, I My
Father
isn’t packed, his …
DONNY
: No …
JOHN
: … I could pack
his
stuff.
DONNY
: No, no, I’ll tell you what you could do.
JOHN
: What?
DONNY
: Close up the attic.
JOHN
: … close it up?
DONNY
: Neaten it up. Yes.
JOHN
: Is it disturbed?
DONNY
: Mmm.
JOHN
: Why?
DONNY
: … after my “rummaging.”
JOHN
: Alright.
DONNY
: … and …
JOHN
: … alright.
DONNY
: See if you find any things up there.
JOHN
: Things.
DONNY
: … you might need to take.
JOHN
: … things I might need to take up.
DONNY
: Mm.
JOHN
: Or that
he
might need.
DONNY
: That’s right.
JOHN
: … or that you forgot.
DONNY
: Yes.
JOHN
: To pack.
DONNY
: Yes. Would you do that?
JOHN
: Of course.
DONNY
: Thank you, John.
DEL
: Thank you.
DONNY
: And perhaps you’d put on some clothing.
JOHN
: Good.
DONNY
: Very good. Off you go then.
JOHN
: I will.
DEL
: “My blessings on your House.”
JOHN
: That’s what the Wizard said.
DEL
: That’s right.
JOHN
: “And mine on yours.”
DEL
: “Until the whale shall speak.”
JOHN
: “Until the Moon shall Weep.” Mother?
DONNY
: I don’t remember it … (
Pause
.)
JOHN
: You don’t remember it? (
Pause
.)
DEL
: Well then, John. Alright then. Off you go to work.
JOHN
(
exiting
): I will.
DEL
: Off you go. (
Pause
.)
DONNY
: No. I don’t understand it.
DEL
: Well …
DONNY
: No.
DEL
: He has trouble sleeping.
DONNY
: Mm. No.
DEL
: That’s his nature.
DONNY
: Is it?
DEL
: Children …
DONNY
: No. You see. It’s grown into this minuet. Every night …
DEL
: Well, yes. But this is
special
, he …
DONNY
: No, No. He always has a reason. Some … every night …
DEL
: Yes. Granted. But a Trip to the Woods …
DONNY
: … he …
DEL
: … with his Dad …? It’s an
event
. I think. What do I know? But, as his
friend
…
DONNY
: … yes …
DEL
: … as his
friend
…
DONNY
: Yes. Yes. He Always has a Reason.
DEL
: Yes, but I’m saying, in
spite
of …
I
don’t know. I don’t mean to intrude … but good. But
Good
. One sends him up to the Attic …
DONNY
: Oh.
DEL
: And that’s “it.” That’s the solution.
DONNY
: Oh. Oh …
DEL
: To, um … to, um, what is the word …?
DONNY
: Look what I found.
DEL
: To um … not “portray” … to um …
DONNY
: Look what I found.
DEL
: “Participate.” That’s the word. Is that the word? No. To, um …
DONNY
: Del. Shut up.
DEL
: To um …
DONNY
(
simultaneous with
“To”): Shut up. Look what I found up in the attic.
(
She goes to a side table and brings back a small framed photograph and hands it to
DEL
.)
DEL
: (
Pause
.) When was this taken …
DONNY
(
simultaneous with
“taken”): When I was packing for the trip.
DEL
(
simultaneous with
“trip”): Mmm … No. When was this taken?
DONNY
: Isn’t it funny? Though? The things you find? (
Pause
.)
DEL
: Huh …
DONNY
: What?
DEL
: I don’t understand this photograph. (
Pause
.)
DONNY
: What do you mean?
(
JOHN
comes down onto the landing
.)
JOHN
: Which coat? That’s what I forgot. To pack my coat.
DONNY
(
to
DEL
): Which coat?
JOHN
: That’s what was on my mind.
DONNY
: Which coat should he take?
DEL
(
looking up from the photograph
): Mm? When were you up there?
DONNY
: Where?
DEL
: Up in the attic?
DONNY
(
simultaneous with
“attic”): In the attic today, cleaning up.
DEL
(
of photo
) (
simultaneous with
“up”): … this is the damnedest thing …
DONNY
:
Isn’t
it …?
DEL
: When, when could this have been taken?
DONNY
: And I found that old
Lap
robe.
DEL
: The lap robe …
DONNY
: The
stadium
blanket we …
JOHN
: Which coat?
DONNY
: Which?
JOHN
: How cold is it up there yet?
DEL
: … a lap robe …
DONNY
: The
stadium
blanket.
JOHN
: How cold was it last week? Del?
DONNY
: Just bring your regular coat.
JOHN
: My blue coat?
DONNY
: The melton coat?
JOHN
: What’s melton?
DONNY
: The blue coat. Your fabric coat.
JOHN
: The
wool
one?
DONNY
(
to
DEL
): Is it too cold for that?
DEL
: No.
DONNY
: Then take it.
JOHN
: My
blue
coat.
DONNY
: Yes.
JOHN
: Do I have any sweaters left?