PARTISAN REVIEW
241
COHN: I believe in what's concrete - in what I see, until I see
something different. That at least is consistent.
(to
JOAN) Are you
ready?
JOAN: You'll come with me to see the Emperor?
ABE: Now comes an Emperor.
COHN: She and I have a mission!
JOAN:
(to
ABE) And you too.
ABE: Me? I'm dead.
JOAN: You won't come with us?
ABE: I beg your pardon. Two's company, three's a crowd.
COHN: Look, are we going to go or are we going to stay here and
argue?
ABE: I don't want to keep you.
JOAN:
(confused)
I'm not sure I should leave you.
COHN: Joan - any time you're ready.
ABE: Twenty years, Cohn, and now you go outside.
COHN: I'm not rigid!
ABE : You've changed!
CoHN: Is that a crime?
ABE:
(deeply disturbed)
It's-it's a miracle!
(to
JOAN) To change
Cohn - to make him move an inch, not to mention he goes out–
side is nothing less than a miracle. Who are you?
JOAN: I told you.
ABE:
(stares at her for a long time)
It's possible.
JOAN: Then you'll come?
ABE: Impossible.
JOAN: You have to come!
COHN: You can't stay here alone.
ABE: I'll manage.
COHN: Who'll cook for you?
ABE: I'll learn.
COHN: You won't learn.
ABE: Then I won't learn.
COHN : You'll starve.
ABE: It's possible. But unlikely.
COHN:
(to
JOAN) I don't have all day, you know.
JOAN: We must go.
(opens front door,
COHN
goes out.)
COHN: Hey, it's not so bad! (JOAN
takes a long, sad look at
ABE.)
