ANGELS IN AMERICA
prior: Yes. We do. In stretch pants with lavender coifs. I jug
looked at you, and there was
|ARPER: A sort of blue streak of recognition,
Harper: Deep inside
part, entirely free
paror: Is that... . That
5
(She vanishes.)
prroR: People cot
fand picks it up.)
voice (It is an incredibly beautiful voice): Look up!
34
Mittenntum ApPRoacHEs
mn (Looking up, not seeing anyone): Hello?
A Vorce:
Look up, look up)
prepare the way
the infinite descent
A breath in air
floating down
Glory to ..
(Silence.)
prior: Hello? at it? Helloooo!
Who the fuck... > (He holds himself)
x me. Poor poor me. Why me? Why poor
fon I don't feel good right now. I really dont.
Scene 8
That night. Split scene: Harper and Joe at bome; Prior and
Louis in Bed.
Harper: Where were you?
Jor: Out.
HARPER: Where?
35Avaets 1x America
so: Just out. Thinking,
Harpe: It’s late
Jor: I had a lot to think about.
arrer: I burned dinner,
sor: Sorry.
it back in the oven and turned everything up as high as {
could go and I watched til it burned black. It’s still hot.
Very hot. Want it?
soe: You didn’t have to do that.
uarrer: I know. Tt just seemed like the kind of thing ag).
mentally deranged sex-starved pill-popping tosewie)
would do.
yor: Uh huh,
Harper: Not my dinner. My dinner was fine. Your dinner. I put
uniyoh
HaRPER: So I did it. Who knows anymore what I have to snhebange*
soe: How many pills?
wanpen: A bunch, Don’t change the subject.
soz: I won't talk to you when you
anrer: No. No, Don't do that! I'm . . .'m fine, pills are not
the problem, not our problem, I WANT TO KNOW
WHERE YOU'VE BEEN! I WANT TO KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON!
soe: Going on with what? The job?
HARPER: Not the job.
sok: I said I need more time.
arrer: Not the job!
Jor: Mr. Cohn, I talked to him on the phone, he said I had
to hurry .
Harper: Not the . .
jor: But I cantt get you to talk sensibly about anything so...
warren: SHUT UP!
Joe: Then what?
36
Mittenntum Approacues
Harper: Stick to the subject.
sor: I don't know what that is. You have something you want
to ask me? Ask me. Go.
nanper: I... cantt. I'm scared of you.
soz: I'm tired, I'm going to bed.
Hagrea: Tell me without making me ask. Please.
soe: This is crazy, I'm not .
agpeR: When you come through the door at night your face
is never exactly the way I remembered it.I get surprised by
something... mean and hard about the way you look.
Even the weight of you in the bed at night, the way you
breathe in your sleep seems unfamiliar.
You terrify me.
Jor (Cold): T know who you are.
Harper: Yes, I'n the enemy. That's easy. That doesn’t change.
You think you're the only one who hates sex; I do; I
Inate it with you; Tdo. T dream that you barcer away at me
till all my joints come apart, like wax, and I fall into
pieces. Its like a punishment. It was wrong of me to
marry you. I knew you... (She stops herself) It’s a sin,
and it’s killing us both.
Joe: I can always tell when you've taken pills because it makes
you red-faced and sweaty and frankly that’s very often
why I don't want to .
Harper: Because ..
Joz: Well, you arent pretty. Not like this.
anver: I have something to ask you.
sor: Then ASK! ASK! What in hell are you...
arper: Are you a homo?
(Pause)
Are you? Ifyou try to walk out right now I'l put your
dinner back in the oven and turn it up so high the wholeAncets Iv America Mittennium APPROACHES
building will fill with smoke and everyone in it will as-
phyxiate. So help me God I will.
Now answer the question,
jor: What if I
some unsatisfying little decision—the balancing of the
scales .
: T like this; very zen; it’s ... reassuringly incompre~
(Small pause)
Harper: Then tell me, please. And we'll see.
sor: No. I'm not
I don’t see what difference it makes.
: Jews don't have any clear textual guide to the aft
n that it exists. I don't think much about it. [
touts: Oh thanks.
PRioR: If it's bad I'll tell yor
ours: Shitting blood sounds|
prior: And I'm telling you.
touts: And I'm handling it
PrroR: Tell me some more abs
outs: I am handling it
Tim trying to make a point: prior: Well Louis you wij
You're too distracte
ours: Not distracted; abst
prior: Namely:
hambers, weighing, books (Louis starts to er
open, pondering
ries: good, evi
4e judge in the cham- prior: I take it by. You aren't Trooper of thé\Month.
working
‘he shaping of the law, 1
int, dear, the point