PARTISAN REVIEW
225
WISEMAN:
(smiles)
at the present you are unemployed, is that right,
Cohn?
COHN: Yes.
WISEMAN: At the present -let me see if
I
have this straight - you
are an unemployed musician.
COHN: That's right.
WISEMAN: Unemployed. But still a mUSICIan.
COHN: Yes.
WISEMAN: What are you first, Cohn? A musician or an unemployed?
COHN: I don't understand the question.
WISEMAN: You wanted someone intelligent to talk to?
COHN: Yes.
WISEMAN: Meaning that he will be on your level. That's what you
mean by intelligent, isn't it, Cohn?
(waits)
Well? Isn't it?
COHN: I guess it is.
WISEMAN: By that we are to assume that you consider yourself in-
telligent. Or do I go too far, Cohn?
COHN: No.
WISEMAN: No what?
COHN: What you said.
WISEMAN: That I go too far?
COHN:
(inaudible)
No.
WISEMAN: I can't hear you.
COHN: The other - what else you said first.
WISEMAN: That you consider yourself - don't let me put words in
your mouth - intelligent. Though unemployed, out of work, a
ward of the state, you consider yourself intelligent. And that you
want as a companion - am I right in this? - someone of equal
intelligence.
COHN: -
WISEMAN: I am not putting words in your mouth?
COHN: No. Equal intelligence. That's it.
WISEMAN: You want another unemployed musician?
COHN: Look - what's happened to Abe?
WISEMAN: Who?
COHN: Abe - my friend.
WISEMAN: You want Abe?
COHN: I want to know where he went.
