DONNY
: Up there?
JOHN
: Yes.
DEL
: I think so.
DONNY
: I’m sure that you do.
JOHN
: You think so?
DEL
: They’d be in your bureau.
JOHN
: And, the fishing stuff. Is it there?
DONNY
: The fishing stuff. They brought back. Last week, John. It’s all …
JOHN
: … they brought it back.
DONNY
: Yes. It’s up in the attic …
JOHN
(simultaneous with “attic”): You should have left it at the Cabin.
DONNY
: It’s in the attic. You’ll see it up there.
DEL
: … we were afraid …
DONNY
: … they didn’t want it to Get Stolen.
JOHN
: And the fishing line. Do we have that good line?
DEL
(
simultaneous with
“line”): … we were afraid it would get taken.
JOHN
: … that good heavy line …?
DONNY
: … I’m sorry, John …?
JOHN
: The fishing line.
DONNY
: I’m sure you. Yes. Fishing line. In the same box.
JOHN
: Green? The green one?
DONNY
: … I …
JOHN
: The green line? In the Tackle Box? Because if not, we have to stop on the way, and …
DONNY
: … I’m …
JOHN
: Dad said that the Green line …
DEL
: What’s special about it?
DONNY
: Open the box.
JOHN
: … because if not …
DONNY
: Find the box.
DEL
: What’s special about it?
JOHN
: It’s very strong.
DONNY
: Find the box, open it, and check it out.
JOHN
: Because that’s how we’ll know.
DONNY
: That’s what I’m telling you. (
JOHN
exits, up the stairs
.)
DEL
: Port out, starboard home.
DONNY
: And put some clothing on. (
Pause
.)
DEL
(
of photo
): … when was this taken?
DONNY
: I swear. He’s …
DEL
: What? Well, he’s having difficulty sleeping.
DONNY
: It’s all such a mystery.
DEL
: Do you think?
DONNY
: Yes. All our good intentions …
DEL
: Big thing. Going in the Woods. Your Father …
DONNY
: … mmm.
DEL
: … big thing.
DONNY
: Is it?
DEL
: Hope to tell you.
DONNY
: (
Pause.
) It goes so quickly.
DEL
: Certain things remain.
DONNY
: Yes?
DEL
: (
Pause
.)
Friendship … (Pause.)
Certain habits.
DONNY
: It goes so quickly … (
Pause
.)
DEL
: Does it?
DONNY
: Sometimes I wish I was a Monk.
DEL
: Mmm … what’s that?
DONNY
: I wish I were a monk.
DEL
: How would that go?
DONNY
: An old man for example …
DEL
: … mmm …
DONNY
: (
Pause
.) … and all his sons are gone.
DEL
: … an Oriental Fantasy.
DONNY
: That’s right.
DEL
: “Mist” … “Mountains” … So on.
DONNY
: … mmm …
DEL
: And what does this man do?
DONNY
: The monk.
DEL
: Yes.
DONNY
: Nothing. (
Pause
.) He sits; and gazes out at his …
DEL
: Mm. Well, that’s a form of meditation …
DONNY
: Gazes out at his domain.
DEL
: Well, I’m sure you’d be very good at it.
DONNY
: You’re very kind.
DEL
: What? I’m very kind, yes. (
Pause
.) For
it’s
. A
form
. Of meditation. (
Pause
.) As are they all.
DONNY
: Mm.
DEL
: The thing about photography is that it is very seductive.
DONNY
: Because sometimes it seems the older I get, the less that I know.
DEL
: Well, it’s a mystery. The whole goddamned thing.
DONNY
: Isn’t it …?
DEL
: I think so. (
Pause
.) Goes fast. Goes quickly.
DONNY
: Mmm.
DEL
: … and then it is gone. (
Pause
.)
DONNY
: No, I need a rest.
DEL
(
of photograph
): Well, if we look here we see that the
tree
is gone. When would that have been?
DONNY
(
to herself
): A fantasy of rest … (
Pause
.)
DEL
: … Oh, oh, oh what are you doing this weekend …?
DONNY
: This weekend?
DEL
: Yes.
DONNY
: Well. I don’t know.
DEL
: You don’t know what you’re doing this weekend.
DONNY
: I’m going to sit.
DEL
: To sit here.
DONNY
: Yes.
DEL
: Do you want company?
(
JOHN
reenters, wrapped in a plaid blanket
.)
DONNY
: No. That’s not clothing.
JOHN
: … I …
DONNY
: You put some clothing on right now. (
Pause
.) What? (
Pause
.)
JOHN
: I tore it.
DONNY
: You tore what?
JOHN
: I tore the blanket. I’m sorry.
DONNY
: You tore it?
JOHN
(
simultaneous with
“tore”): I was opening the box. I think there was a nail sticking out. I heard something rip …
(
He shows the tear
.)
DONNY
: You’re saying you tore
that
blanket?
JOHN
: I heard some …
DONNY
: John …
JOHN
: I was doing it too quickly. I know I heard.
DONNY
(
simultaneous with
“heard”): John, that was torn so long ago.
JOHN
: I heard it rip.
DONNY
: No, it was torn years ago.
JOHN
(
simultaneous with
“ago”): I didn’t tear it?
DONNY
: No.
JOHN
: I heard it rip.
DEL
: You may have heard it in your mind …
JOHN
: … but …
DONNY
: No we tore that long ago.
DEL
: I think your mind is racing.
DONNY
: It’s alright, John. It’s alright. Go upstairs. And you put on some clothing … (
Pause
.)
JOHN
: It’s tied with twine.
DONNY
: I don’t understand you.
JOHN
: The
Tackle
box.
DONNY
: Box …
JOHN
: … with the fishing line …
DONNY
: … well,
untie
it. And …
JOHN
: I can’t untie it. That’s what I’m saying. I tried to pull the twine off, but …
DEL
(
Takes out knife. Of knife
.): This’ll do it.
john: I can’t …
DEL
: … is it alright …?
DONNY
: … If you don’t get some rest, before …
DEL
(
to
DONNY
): Is it alright?
DONNY
: What?
DEL
: Can he have the knife?
DONNY
: … to have the knife …
DEL
: … to use. To cut the twine …
DONNY
(
simultaneous with
“twine”): What would your father say?
JOHN
: It’s alright.
DONNY
: He would?
JOHN
: Yes.
DONNY
: It’s alright for you …
JOHN
: … yes. Oh, yes.
DONNY
: … to have the knife.
JOHN
: Yes.
DONNY
(
simultaneous with
“Yes”): I hardly think so.
JOHN
: No he
would
.
DEL
: Then there you go. (
Hands
JOHN
the knife
.)
JOHN
: Where did you get the knife, though?
DONNY
: Good
Lord
, John … calm
down
tonight.
JOHN
: No.
DONNY
: What?
JOHN
: I can’t.
DONNY
: … why not?
JOHN
: The Tea, the Blanket …?
DONNY
: I don’t understand.
JOHN
: I’m
waiting
for it.
DEL
: You’re waiting for what?
JOHN
: “The Third Misfortune.”
DEL
: “The Third Misfortune.”
DONNY
: Third …?
JOHN
: I’m waiting to see “What is the Third Misfortune?” (
Pause
.)
DONNY
: What does he mean?
JOHN
: It’s in the book.
DEL
: Misfortunes come in threes.
DONNY
: Where
is
that book, by the way?
JOHN
: Misfortunes come in threes.
DONNY
: The third misfortune. I remember. Yes.
JOHN
: It’s in the book.
DONNY
: Wait. How long since we’ve seen that book?
JOHN
: A long time.
DONNY
: Ha. And you remembered it?
JOHN
: Of course I remember it.
DONNY
: Isn’t that odd?
JOHN
: “When we think of sickness, sickness is approaching,” said the Wizard.
DEL
: … That’s what the Wizard said.
DONNY
: Where
is
that book?
DEL
: It will turn up someday.
DONNY
: No, did we leave it at the lake?
JOHN
: Misfortunes come in threes.
DONNY
: Alright, what are the three misfortunes?
JOHN
: The Lance, and the Chalice; The Lance was broken by the Lord of Night, the Chalice was burnt …
DONNY
: Yes. No. Not in the book, here.
JOHN
: What are the others here?
DONNY
: The Three Misfortunes.
JOHN
:
Here
.
DONNY
: Yes.
JOHN
: Alright. One: The Pot, The Teapot broke.
DONNY
: That’s one, yes. And?
JOHN
: The blanket.
DEL
: … the blanket.
DONNY
: What about it?
JOHN
: … torn …
DONNY
: No, but it
wasn’t
torn. That happened long ago.
JOHN
: I
thought
I tore it now.
(
Sound of teakettle
,
DONNY
exits
.)
DONNY
(
offstage
): It was torn long ago. You can absolve yourself.
JOHN
: … I
thought
that I tore it.
DEL
: But, you see, in reality, things unfold … independent of our fears of them.
JOHN
: I don’t know what you mean.
DEL
: Because we
think
a thing is one way does not mean that this is the way that this thing must be.
JOHN
: The blanket was torn long ago?
DEL
: That’s what your mother said.
JOHN
: How?
DEL
: Well …
JOHN
: Did you see my hat?
DEL
: … did?
JOHN
: At the Cabin?
DEL
: Which hat is that?
JOHN
: The grey cap.
DEL
: Like mine, except grey?
JOHN
: Yes.
DEL
: I don’t remember.
JOHN
: Not like yours, actually, it’s …
DEL
: I don’t remember.
JOHN
: No, it’s not actually like yours, it’s …
DEL
: How is it different?
JOHN
: It’s. I steered you wrong. It’s not like yours at all.
DEL
: Then I don’t know which one you mean.
JOHN
: My
Grey
hat. It was on the peg.
DEL
: The peg …
JOHN
: … Near the door. At the cabin.
DEL
: I don’t remember.
JOHN
: You don’t? Why?
DEL
: Because I wasn’t looking for it. (
Pause
.) Do you know. I’m going to tell you a game.