Reunion and Dark Pony Read Online Free Page A

going nowhere, and the rest of it doesn't exist.
    Scene XII
    BERNIE : So let me ask you something—you don't mind if I get personal for a second, do you?
    CAROL : What? (Pause.)
    BERNIE : What I want to know is why all of a sudden you come looking for me. And it's not that I'm criticizing you.
    CAROL : Why should I think you were criticizing me? Pause.
    BERNIE : I mean, I could of come looking for you after you were twenty-one. Not that I was sure how you'd feel about seeing me . . . but you must of felt the same way? No.
    I mean, it must of been . . . I'm guessing . . . some kind of decision to get you to all of a sudden come looking for me.
    How did you find me?
    CAROL : Through the A.A.
    BERNIE : And you just kind of decided and sent Gerry over to meet me?
    CAROL : Yes.
    BERNIE : And why now?
    CAROL : I felt lonely.
    BERNIE : . . . Oh. ( Pause. )
    CAROL : You're my father.
    Scene XIII
    CAROL : I feel lonely.
    Pause.
    BERNIE : Who doesn't?
    CAROL : Do you?
    BERNIE : Sometimes.
    CAROL : I feel cheated.
    And, do you know what? I never had a father.
    BERNIE : Carol . . .
    CAROL : And I don't want to be pals and buddies; I want you to be my father.
    ( Pause. )
    And to hear your goddamn war stories and the whole thing.
    And that's why now because that's how I feel.
    ( Pause. )
    I'm entitled to it.
    Am I?
    Am I?
    BERNIE : Yes.
    CAROL : I am. You're goddamn right.
    BERNIE : You know what the important thing is?
    CAROL : What?
    BERNIE : To be together.
    What's past is in the past . . . it's gone.
    You're a grown woman . . . I'm on the wagon, your mother's remarried, I got a good job, and there's no reason . . .
    I can't make it up to you.
    CAROL : Do you have to go to work tonight?
    BERNIE : I don't work on Sundays. But Sandy got sick so I was supposed to come in but I called Frank and he told me he'd get someone else to cover so I don't have to go in tonight.
    You want to do something?
    CAROL : Gerry was . . . he said he'd like it if we went out to dinner.
    Would you like that?
    BERNIE : Yeah. I'd like that.
    CAROL : We could go out by ourselves if you want.
    BERNIE : No. It's a good idea I think.
    And it's no big thing in any case, right?
    CAROL : . . . We could go out, just the two of us.
    BERNIE : Whatever you want. What you want, Carol.
    That's what we'll do.
    Scene XIV
    BERNIE : I got you something. Sit down. I'll give it to you.
    CAROL : What is it?
    BERNIE : I don't know. I found it on the bus.
    CAROL : . . . It's beautiful.
    BERNIE : Yeah.
    CAROL ( reading inscription ): “To Carol from her Father. March eighth, 1973.”
    BERNIE : It's my fault. It's not their fault. My threes look like eights.
    It's only five days off.
    It's the thought that counts. . . .
    Ruth told me that you should never give anyone jewelry because then they'll always think they have to wear it when you're around. . . .
    So I never gave her any.
    CAROL : It's real gold. . . .
    Thank you, Bernie.
    BERNIE : I'm not going to tell you you don't have to wear it if you don't like it.
    I hope you do like it.
    CAROL : I do like it . . .
    BERNIE : So what's the weather like out there?
    CAROL : It's fine. Just a little chilly.
    BERNIE : We should be getting ready, no? Shouldn't you call Gerry?
    CAROL : Yes.
    BERNIE : So you do that and I'll put away the things and then we'll go.
    CAROL : The bracelet's lovely, Bernie.
    BERNIE : Thank you.

DARK PONY

     

    This play is dedicated to Lindsay Crouse

     

    Dark Pony opened on October 14,1977, in a Yale Repertory production, New Haven, Connecticut, with the following cast:
    THE FATHER
Michael Higgins
THE DAUGHTER
Lindsay Crouse
    This production was directed by Walt Jones; set by Kate Edmunds; lighting by William Connor.

     

    The Characters
    T HE F ATHER
    T HE D AUGHTER
    The Scene
    An automobile.
    The Time
    Night.

     

    FATHER : Once upon a time there was an Indian.
    ( Pause. )
    In the days when wild things roamed the land, and long before the White Man came here.
    DAUGHTER : When was this?
    FATHER : A long, long