Race (6 page)

CHARLES
: I gave her my word.

HENRY
: That you would do what? What does she
think
, you're going to take her home to
mother
?
(Pause)
That you're going to tell your wife? “Honey, I met this nice
colored
girl.”

JACK
: . . . huh . . .

HENRY
: How'd you meet her?
(Pause)
How'd you meet this girl.

CHARLES
: I don't think this is the place.

JACK
: How did you meet the girl?

CHARLES
: I really do not think this is the place.

JACK
: Well, what would be the place? I don't understand.

HENRY
: He wants Susan and me to step out.

JACK
: He wants you to step out? Why do you say that?

HENRY
: Because that's what he wants.

JACK
: Is that so?

CHARLES
: Yes.

JACK
:
Alright
. Why?

HENRY
: Because the girl's a whore.

JACK
: Is that it? She's a whore? She's a black whore, and you're upset lest in discussing her you offend a person of her color?

HENRY
: Yes.

CHARLES
: She isn't a whore.

HENRY
: How did you meet her?

CHARLES
: I. I would prefer not to tell you.

HENRY
: The girl's a whore. He met her through an escort service, or . . .

JACK
: You paid the girl? You paid the girl for sex at some time?
CHARLES
: I didn't pay her for sex.

JACK
: Did you give her money?

CHARLES
: Not actually
money
, no I . . .

JACK
: What
did
you give her.

CHARLES
: I may have, time to time, given her . . .

JACK
: You paid her for something.

CHARLES
: No. I didn't “pay” her. I . . .

HENRY
: What
did
you do?

CHARLES
: Well. I bought her
gifts
.

HENRY
: You never gave her money?

CHARLES
: I
may
. At some
point
. Have lent, or given her
money
. If I “gave her money” does that mean I “paid” her?

JACK
: You gave her a “gift”?
(To Henry)
He said he gave her a gift—

CHARLES
: Yes. I gave her a gift. An “ongoing . . .”

JACK
: An “ongoing gift.” Of . . . ?

CHARLES
: What
form
it took is no concern . . .

JACK
: It doesn't matter to
me
. . .

HENRY
: I understand: you gave her a gold watch, or you gave her five thousand dollars a week for . . . ?

CHARLES
: That's correct.

HENRY
: For
what
?

CHARLES
: If you give your
family
money, is that “paying” them?

HENRY
: Yes, it's not quite the same thing.

CHARLES
: I . . .

HENRY
: Mr. Strickland. Does being black exempt her from the fact that she's a prostitute?

CHARLES
: She's not a prostitute.

JACK
: What's she do for a living?

HENRY
: What's she put on her tax return, Charles? You pull her bank records, lots of cash, checks, fifteen guys, for “consultation” . . .

JACK
: The girl's a
whore
, Charles. Irrespective of her race. Or yours. You want to confess, to consorting with a prostitute, do
that
, it's a misdemeanor.
Rape
is a felony.
(Pause)
You feel bad about consorting with a whore don't do it again. That's not what you're
accused
of.

CHARLES
: I
exploited
her.

JACK
:
Perhaps
. But,
but
you did not
rape
her.
(Pause)
Did you? “Did you
do
it?”

CHARLES
: No.

JACK
: Well, then. What the
fuck
is this piece of paper? Why do you want to confess?

HENRY
: Because he's white.

JACK
: Is that a crime?

HENRY
:
He
thinks it is.

JACK
: I asked you to, and I'd appreciate it if you
would
. . . Complete for us, if you will, that list of “sins,” which is to say,
those things which
, could, at a trial, be used to discredit your testimony. And
get it off your chest
. If you wish to confess to “exploiting” the girl, put it on the list—tell it to the trees. Tell it to God. Do
not
tell it to the press.

HENRY
: Tell it to
me
. Tell me what you think you did. Tell it to me.

CHARLES
: Alright.

JACK
: I need the report from Kelley. The dress, the material, the
thread
, get me the fucking pattern as we may have to duplicate it.

SUSAN
: To duplicate it.

JACK
: Here's what I think: if I request the actual dress, the request is, of course, shared with the prosecution. I say we
duplicate
the dress, in all particulars, and restage the supposed assault.

SUSAN
: To restage the assault.

JACK
: The alleged assault.

SUSAN
: Will the judge allow it?

JACK
: Cases all day long. Go find them.
(Pause)

SUSAN
: He wants to confess.

JACK
: The way to redemption leads through shame. So what? Half any case's in court, other half's dealing with the fucking client.

SUSAN
: How do we do that?

JACK
: Let Henry do it. He's got more compassion.

SUSAN
: You tell the jury she's a prostitute?

JACK
: I can't do that.

SUSAN
: Why not?

JACK
: Why not? Then I'm a white man impugning a black woman's sexuality. You crazy? I got to get this girl out of the picture. Make it a case about a dress. Sex is our weakest card. Now.
Strategically
what do we do? Take the weakest card, and throw it on the table first. We
lead
with it.

SUSAN
: Lead with what?

JACK
: Sex. You have: to interrupt the thinking process. Of the jury. What is this? I'll tell you what it is, it's a mattress, you know what some people do on it? They
fuck
. And sometimes, they're two different colors. However,
that is not a crime
.
(Pause)
But they may think it is.

SUSAN
: Who may?

JACK
:
Tell
me.

SUSAN
: The jury.

JACK
: You're fucking A right. In their mind, it is miscegenation. We've got to walk them
past
it.
We
say, “I know. But watch this: black girl, same size, same dress, white guy, puts her on the bed, and
rolls
on her.” Sounds funny? You fucking A bet it is. If you're not doing it, sex looks funny. But it's not a crime.

SUSAN
: Unless it is without consent.

JACK
: She says that she didn't take her dress off. But, after the demonstration, there's red sequins all over the courtroom. What does that mean? That she
took
her dress off, and she lied. Why did she lie? Because she
understood
that taking the dress off was consent. How do we know? Because she
lied
about it. Why'd she lie? Who cares. Our man goes free.

SUSAN
: How did you know I went to Venice?

JACK
: I beg your pardon?

SUSAN
: You were speaking of tourism.

JACK
: Uh-huh . . .

SUSAN
: Of what people remembered. Of their trip. You asked me “what did I remember of my trip to Venice . . .”

JACK
: Yes. That's right.

SUSAN
: How did you know I went to Venice.

JACK
: Everyone goes to Venice.

SUSAN
: How did you know
I
went.

JACK
: You wrote it on your résumé.

SUSAN
: But it wasn't
on
my résumé.

JACK
: I saw it,
I
don't know. Then, I saw it on your, the, I don't know. On your employment application. Foreign travel within the last ten years. You went last year.

SUSAN
: It said I went to Rome.

JACK
: It said to Rome.

SUSAN
: On my employment application.

JACK
: Yes, it said “to
Rome
.” I beg your pardon.

SUSAN
: But you knew I went to Venice.

JACK
: Why do you say that?

SUSAN
: Because you just confessed it.

JACK
: “
Confessed
” it? It was a slip of the tongue.

SUSAN
: How is a “slip of the tongue” different from “I misremembered?”

JACK
: I . . .

SUSAN
: . . . you
investigated
me.

JACK
:
I
don't care why you went to Venice.

SUSAN
: That's the wrong answer. You
should
have said, “What do you
mean
?”

JACK
: Alright. “What do you mean?”

SUSAN
: You investigated me.
(Pause)
Did you?
(Pause)
Before you
hired
me.

JACK
: Of course I did.

SUSAN
: Why?

JACK
: We investigate all new hires.

SUSAN
: To that extent?

JACK
: To
what
extent?

SUSAN
: To the extent of researching their passports?

JACK
: Yes.

SUSAN
: To that extent.

JACK
: Yes.

SUSAN
: Are you lying?

JACK
: Why would I lie?
(Pause)
Why would I lie?

SUSAN
: Why do people lie?

JACK
: Well,
you
lied. On your employment form.

SUSAN
: Why did
I
lie?

JACK
: I don't care. It's not my business.

SUSAN
: But you investigated me.

JACK
: That's right.

SUSAN
: And you found I lied. Then, why would you hire a liar?

JACK
: I
presumed
you lied. Because you were, on that trip, involved in let us say, an activity you would not wish to be generally known.

SUSAN
: Yes?

JACK
: But, which would not impact—any association with the firm.

SUSAN
: To wit?

JACK
: Oh, come
on
. . .

SUSAN
: To wit?

JACK
: An Illicit Assignation, a . . . uh . . .

SUSAN
: And you investigate all new hires.

JACK
: . . .
please
. . .

SUSAN
: Do you?

JACK
: Yes. That's correct.

SUSAN
: But you felt that the reason for my trip was none of your concern.

JACK
: That is correct.

SUSAN
: Then why was the question on the form?
(Pause)
Do you investigate all new hires. To the extent to which you investigated me?

JACK
:
Susan
. . .

SUSAN
: It's a legitimate question. Do you . . .

JACK
: I don't know.

SUSAN
: Your records show that you do not.

JACK
: How would you know that?

SUSAN
: I asked Kelley. For the forms.

JACK
: Why would he give them to you? Did you use my name?

SUSAN
: I didn't use your name.

JACK
: Did he assume the request came from me?

SUSAN
: How would I know what he assumed?

JACK
: Uh-huh.

SUSAN
: When I was hired you made the request for an exhaustive background check and a quote complete field investigation.

JACK
: Did you allow him to assume the request came from me?

SUSAN
: In all your years of operation. You've requested that investigation. Twice. Only twice.
(Pause)
In all the years.
(Pause)
And both applicants were black.

JACK
: Is there a difference between causality and correlation?

SUSAN
: Both applicants were black. Did you make the “in-depth” request because of their race?

JACK
: Susan, sit down.

SUSAN
:
Did
you?

JACK
: Sit down. I want to tell you something.
Susan
: Sit down.
(Pause)
I. Know. There is nothing. A white person. Can say to a black person. About Race. Which is not both incorrect and offensive. Nothing. I know that. Race. Is the most incendiary
topic in our history. And the moment it comes out, you cannot close the lid on that box. That may change. But not for a long long while.
Now
,
meanwhile
, the laws are such, that I, when I, or, some day, when
you
, even you, employ an African American, should you wish to
discharge
that person, they are armed with the
potential
to allege discrimination. That's a fact.