538
PARTISAN REVIEW
JESSE:
(crest/allen)
But you told Marianne that you'd like to go
with
us to Vermont.
HENRY:
That's different. In the first place, I'd like to see Vermont.
And then the trip would be fun, and the night you're to give your
speech I'd go to a lecture hall crowded with white folks-probably
you and Marianne and I would be the only colored people there. And
I'd sit down next to Marianne, maybe in the first row, and we'd
watch you sitting on the platform, and maybe you'd lean over that
platform and say to me, "How are you, man?" Right there in front
of everybody.. . . Those are the pleasures I might expect if I could
afford to make the trip with you. As for your speech, I'm sure it's
fine. You wouldn't have been asked to give it if you didn't have
something mighty important to say.
JESSE:
(very disappoint ed)
Wouldn't you listen to it now, just as a
favor to me?
HENRY:
(Reflects, pours out some more sour mash, drinks, and decides
against listening.)
No, J esse, I'm afraid I'd rather not.... Do you
know how I spend most evenings, Jesse? Looking at television . . .
you know what that means?
It
means being talked at by all kinds
of people, sometimes very distinguished people, including even the
President of the United States. But it means being talked at, night
after night. I tum on the set and people tell me how to brush my
teeth, what cigarettes to smoke, who to vote for, and what to think
about the Middle East. Now when you get talked at like that all
the time, you know what happens? You get smaller and smaller, you
get pushed back into your chair, and you sink deeper and deeper into
it, you become an inert thing. Now I didn't come over here tonight
to be talked at some more, even by you. I want to do some talking
myself. I don't want to become smaller and more inert than I am
already. I came here to expand, and do a little pushing against some–
one else-that's you, Jesse. So why don't you just sit down and have
a drink with me. Has Marianne gone to bed?
JES SE :
(getting down from the stool)
Marianne? No.
HENRY:
Is she reading in her room? I bet you sent her off to bed with
one of your books. Tell her I'm here and want to say hello to her.
JESSE
looks uncomfortable.
HENRY:
Is anything wrong Jesse? Marianne is here, isn't she?
JESSE:
I'd rather not talk about Marianne.
HENRY:
You'd rather not talk! Something is wrong.
(rising)
J esse,
Marianne is here, isn't she?
JESSE:
Yes.
