PARTISAN REVIEW
227
WISEMAN: Then why isn't Abe sitting here? You
~ee,
Cohn, your
argument collapses of its own weight. I'm sorry, I would like to
spend more time with you but there are others waiting. Will you
send in the next applicant please?
COHN: What?
WISEMAN:
(points to door)
On your way out will you send in the
next applicant?
(a knock on the door)
You see, they are getting
impatient.
COHN: This is
my
house!
WISEMAN: Your house? Well, I like that! Now you see here, Mr.
Wiseman-
COHN: You're
Wiseman!
WISEMAN:
(indignant)
Oh! And I suppose I'm Cohn!
COHN:
I'm
Cohn!
WISEMAN: Now
you're
Cohn. It's your chair, your house, and your
Cohn. Then who am I, may I ask?
COHN:
I
don't know who you are! You barge in here–
WISEMAN: Barge in? Did you see me barge in?
COHN: In a manner of speaking.
WISEMAN: No, I'm sorry, Mr. Wiseman or whatever you cal! your–
self, I don't at all care for your manner of speaking. Your manner
of speaking is offensive to me. Now if you had a nicer manner of
speaking, something like:
(sweet voiced)
"Hello, How are you?
I like you. Will you be my friend?" Well, that would be another
manner entirely. But the way things stand now, the position is al–
ready filled.
(knock on door)
And tell the others to come back to–
morrow. I'm going to bed. (WISEMAN
rises and disappears behind
the curtained doorway leading into
COI-IN'S
bedroom.)
-A terrible
day. I want to leave a call for seven. (COHN
crosses to the doorway)
If
you don't have seven in stock, make it nine.
(another knock,
COHN
turns to the door.)
COHN: Who - who's there?
JOAN: Joan.
COHN: Joan who?
JOAN:
(sings)
Joan no why there's no sun up in the sky, stormy
weather. (COHN
growls and grabs the kitchen knife ott the table)
COHN: Enough's enough!
(to
JOAN) Did you hear? Enough is
enough!
