Five Television Plays (David Mamet) Read Online Free Page A

transported back in time. To the time before she saw the congressman take the tip from the table.
    ( At the restaurant. )
    C ONGRESSMAN: Miss.
    W INNIE: Yes, sir, I'm coming.
    C ONGRESSMAN ( of check ): What is this? Ninety-five cents for a substitution?
    W INNIE: You had beans instead of the creamed spinach.
    C ONGRESSMAN: I'm not going to pay it.
    W INNIE: Then I will pay it for you. ‘Cause I bet you've had a hard day.
    C ONGRESSMAN: Uh. You will?
    W INNIE: Yes.
    C ONGRESSMAN: That's, uh, you know, it's not the money, it's the principle of the thing.
    W INNIE: I know that it is.
    C ONGRESSMAN: That's very kind of you.
    W INNIE: Just Pass it On.
    ( Another W AITRESS and she talk. )
    W AITRESS: That fellow giving you a hard time?
    W INNIE: Well, you know, it takes all kinds.
    W AITRESS: Hey: your vacation starts tomorrow.
    W INNIE: You bet. Me and my Son are going to Yellowstone.
    W AITRESS: I bet that you wish you were there right now.
    W INNIE: I surely do.
    R ANGER: And they were all instantly transported to Yellowstone Park, the Congressman, the Judge, the Bailiff, the Guards and the Prisoners, and Winnie and her Son. For two weeks of life in the Great Outdoors.
    They all sing a chorale. To wit:
    Always tell the truth.
    Never insult a congressman.
    Don't go to court without a lawyer.
    Be calm at Roadblocks.
    Do not feed the bears.

Bradford

     
    Dramatis Personae
    B USINESSMAN
    S ECOND B USINESSMAN
    O LD W AITRESS
    H ARRY
    F ARMER
    J OHN P RICE, C HIEF OF P OLICE
    R EGULAR
    M AYOR
    P RIEST
    B ILLY B ATES
    T OWNSWOMAN (M ARY)
    W OMAN D ISPATCHER (M AY F OWLER)
    B OBBY B ARNES
    O FFICER
    S ECOND O FFICER
    A NNA M OORE
    G INNY M OORE, HER D AUGHTER
    R EPORTER
    S ECOND R EPORTER
    F IREMAN (J ERRY B ATES, B ILLY’S F ATHER)
    T OWNSMAN
    M AN
    T ROOPER
    S ECOND T ROOPER
    N URSE
    B ILL S IMONS
    B US S TATION A TTENDANT
    P ASSERBY

     
    FADE IN.
    EXTERIOR: MAIN STREET, BRADFORD, A SMALL NEW ENGLAND TOWN.
    Pan past several firemen working in the ruins of a burnt, still smoldering building, across the street to the facade of an old diner, “The Coffeecorner.”
    ( ANGLE INTERIOR: THE COFFEECORNER. Businessmen in shirt-sleeves, in the bay window, looking out at the burnt building. )
    B USINESSMAN: . . . gonna cost someone couple bucks, put that building back up.
    S ECOND B USINESSMAN: The question is, but who.
    B USINESSMAN: Another question: Who did what?
    S ECOND B USINESSMAN: Well, that's always the issue, isn't it . . . ?
    ( An old W AITRESS tops up their coffee. Camera pans with the W AITRESS, back behind the counter. )
    W AITRESS: . . . top it up, Harry?
    H ARRY: Thank you very much. ( He addresses the man to his right: ) All I'm saying, you get people down the Capital, telling other people how to live their lives, and got no notion how those people live, then, yes, then people lose their respect for the Institution.
    ( The W AITRESS takes a pot of coffee. Camera follows her down to the far end of the counter, past a F ARMER.)
    F ARMER: What they talking about down there?
    W AITRESS: Oh, they're arguing about the Doe season . . .
    F ARMER: Jimmy! Whyn't you come up with a new subject, talk about the weather, some damn thing.
    B USINESSMAN: Weather's changing all the time, you talk about the weather, you never know where you stand . . .
    ( Camera follows her down to P RICE, a man around forty, in a corduroy sportscoat, plain shirt, and a tie. He is looking at a road map. )
    W AITRESS: More coffee . . . ?
    P RICE: Yes. Thank you.
    W AITRESS: ’Nother order toast?
    P RICE ( checks his watch ): No, thank you. I don't have time.
    B USINESSMAN ( offstage ): Yes, I can attest to the usefulness of passing laws, but I can't see laws ‘bout something none of your concern.
    P RICE ( to the W AITRESS. He points to the map ): Could you tell me where this is . . . ?
    W AITRESS ( she checks the map ): Right out the door, one block down State Street.
    P RICE: Thank you.
    ( He drinks his coffee, camera follows him down the counter to the