The Savages Page #7

in my world...

people don't usually want

to read somebody's...

unproduced play.

Your father's doing okay, by the way.

He's got some time left.

- How do you know?

- His toes.

They haven't started to curl under yet.

The toes, they always curl under

a few days before.

What, is that some kind of Jamaican

folklore thing or something?

I learned it from being here.

We all talk about it.

It's always the same.

- The toes curl?

- Hmm.

Like the witch in The Wizard of Oz.

A couple of days before they go.

Why, do you think?

They say it's the air leaving the body.

I'm from Nigeria, by the way.

Wendy.

Thank you.

Jon, it's locked.

Come on. Open it.

They published the list in the paper,

and your name wasn't on it.

What?

The Guggenheim Foundation took out

an ad in the New York Times...

announcing their fellows for the year,

and your name wasn't on it.

- That's weird.

- Yeah.

Must have been an oversight.

Can you... can you let me in?

I'm freezing.

- It... it wasn't.

- What?

An oversight.

How do you know?

Because I called

the Guggenheim Foundation.

Let me in the car.

- Hi, Dad.

- Hi.

I called them to find out

why your name wasn't on the list.

- Why would you do that?

- 'Cause I was looking out for you.

You were policing me.

You're sick. That's sick, Jon.

No. You're sick.

You're the sick one, Wendy.

A friend of mine does some consulting

for the Guggenheim Foundation.

He looked your name up in the computer.

You've been rejected eight times.

So? How many times

have you been rejected?

F***! That's not the point.

- Six.

- Hmm, no, no.

The point is you don't think

I have any talent.

The point is you called them

because you just couldn't believe...

that your little sister might just get one!

- Uh, that's not true.

- Yeah, yeah, it is true.

You're just like him. He never thought

I could do anything either.

- Why are you comparing me to Dad?

- Comparing you to-

- What is the point?

- No! You don't think I have talent.

You just don't think I can do anything.

You obviously don't think

you can do anything either...

because you have to f***ing lie about it

- Are you out of your mind?

- I'm out of my mind?

- Where'd you get the money from, Wen?

- I got a grant.

- Just cut the crap, Wendy.

- I got a grant, Jon! I did.

Okay, fine,

I didn't win a Guggenheim.

Big f***ing deal.

It was a different kind of grant.

- What kind?

- What?

You got a different kind of grant.

What'd you get?

FEMA.

What? I never heard of that.

FEMA.

FEMA?

You mean FEMA,

Federal Emergency Management?

You took money from FEMA?

I was granted the money.

What was the federal emergency?

What does that have to do with you?

I worked downtown. I was affected.

Everyone was affected.

The whole world was affected.

That doesn't mean they're going around

taking money from people who really need it.

There was no work for months.

All the temps... all the temps applied.

I was not the first one to-...

Look, I... I'm trying

to get my life together.

- By stealing money from the federal government?

- I did not steal it!

There's a thing where you can apply...

if you lost 25% of your salary

or something like that!

I don't remember the details.

You call FEMA, you ask them.

- I'm not.

- Look, they care about me more than you do.

I'm not calling FEMA.

Okay?

- I'm sorry.

- Ha, ha.

Hello. Yes.

No, it's okay. What... what's wrong?

Is he all right?

What?

Okay. Okay, uh, I understand.

We'll, uh... we'll be right over.

Thank you.

- Is he okay?

- It's... it's not Dad. It's Genghis.

She got in a fight with that other cat.

They want us to get her out of there now.

I told you that cat was a bad idea.

Genghis.

- Hi.

- Hi.

- What happened?

- I don't know.

They were getting along fine before.

She's under here.

She won't come out.

Genghis.

Sometimes, if you just ignore her,

she comes.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

I read your play.

- Oh, yeah?

- Mm-hmm.

I liked it.

- No way. Really?

- Yeah.

You didn't think it was a bunch

of middle-class whining?

No.

I was scared you'd think

I was some spoiled American...

who's complaining about

her difficult childhood.

No, not at all.

I thought it was sad.

- I should probably go back to work.

- Okay, I'm... I am sorry.

- No, no, no.

- I'm sorry.

- No, no, no, no, no.

- I am so gross.

No, you... you're great.

- I'm... I am gross.

- No, no. No, you're great.

It's just... I'm in love

with my girlfriend.

I... I know it sounds like corn,

but, really, I...

No.

It's not corny.

Look who it is.

Genghis.

Pop the trunk.

Here, there's emotion, an interest

in what people are feeling.

Whereas Brecht wants people to think.

In dramatic theater,

you have suggestion...

but Brecht wants an argument.

Excuse me one minute.

Hello?

Yes, it is.

Okay, thank you.

Mr. Savage?

Um, what's the difference

between plot and narrative?

Sorry. You wrote it on the board.

Jon.

Jon.

Yeah?

That's it?

Yeah.

Excuse me.

- Hi.

- Hi.

These are for you.

Thank you.

Yeah, they don't have a smell.

They're from the deli.

I never understand why that is

with flowers from there.

Guess you have to go to a real florist

and pay extra if you want the nice smell.

Can I come in for a minute?

Where's Marley?

She's not... uh...

I wasn't gonna get into this.

Must seem ridiculous compared

to what you've been going through.

You had a human being die on you.

She's dead?

We're gonna do it tomorrow.

Her hips- she can't get around anymore.

She can't get up on the bed.

She's so depressed.

There's a surgery, but the vet says...

there are no guarantees

and the rehabilitators brutal.

She's old, Wen.

She's in pain.

I'm sorry about your dad.

If you ever want to re-indulge

in unhealthy, compromising behavior...

you know who to call, right?

Larry? Can I ask you a question?

Not about us.

Go left.

Good, do it one more time.

No, he doesn't know

what's happening.

Let's do it again.

So walk away

and then pace around a little.

And, Max, watch TV.

What did I tell you

about doing your chores before...

watching TV, huh?

Stop and turn around like it's over.

Should I react once he goes up?

Do you think it's too much?

No, it's, uh...

it's, um...

the, uh... the naturalism with the...

the magic realism together,

it-it's effective.

Are you crying?

Thanks for coming.

Thanks for inviting me. I'll, uh...

- I'll see the real thing when I come back through.

- Okay.

Do you hate me for using stuff

from your life in the play?

No. It's fine.

- You don't think it's self-important and bourgeois?

- No, it's good.

Wendy, it's really good.

J FK, please.

Wish me luck on my paper.

What's it called?

"No Laughing Matter:

Dark Comedy in the Plays

of Berthold Brecht".

- Bad title?

- No, it's good. It's good.

No, I like it.

- Where's the conference?

- Poland.

You didn't tell me that.

You didn't ask.

Just gonna check in with-you know.

Play it by ear, see how we...

feel about each other's people and...

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