Oleanna: A Play by David Mamet Page B

I underst … I can’t talk now. I know … I know … Jerry. I can’t
talk
now. Yes, I. Call me back in … Thank you. (
He hangs up.
) (
To
CAROL :) What do you want me to do? We are two people, all right? Both of whom have subscribed to …
    CAROL : No, no …
    JOHN : … certain arbitrary …
    CAROL : No. You have to help me.
    JOHN : Certain institutional … you tell me what you want me to do.… You tell me what you want me to …
    CAROL : How can I go back and tell them the
grades
that I …
    JOHN : … what can I do …?
    CAROL :
Teach
me.
Teach
me.
    JOHN : … I’m trying to teach you.
    CAROL : I read your book. I read it. I don’t under …
    JOHN : … you don’t understand it.
    CAROL : No.
    JOHN : Well, perhaps it’s not well
written …
    CAROL (
simultaneously with
“written”): No. No. No. I want to
understand
it.
    JOHN : What don’t you understand? (
Pause
)
    CAROL :
Any
of it. What you’re trying to say. When you talk about …
    JOHN : … yes …? (
She consults her notes.
)
    CAROL : “Virtual warehousing of the young” …
    JOHN : “Virtual warehousing of the young.” If we artificially prolong adolescence …
    CAROL : … and about “The Curse of Modern Education.”
    JOHN : … well …
    CAROL : I don’t …
    JOHN : Look. It’s just a
course
, it’s just a
book
, it’s just a …
    CAROL : No. No. There are
people
out there. People who came
here
. To know something they didn’t
know
. Who
came
here. To be
helped
. To be
helped
. So someone would
help
them. To
do
something. To
know
something. To get, what do they say? “To get on in the world.” How can I do that if I don’t, if I fail? But I don’t
understand
. I don’t
understand
. I don’t understand what anything means … and I walk around. From morning ’til night: with this one thought in my head. I’m
stupid
.
    JOHN : No one thinks you’re stupid.
    CAROL : No? What am I …?
    JOHN : I …
    CAROL : … what am I, then?
    JOHN : I think you’re angry. Many people are. I have a
telephone
call that I have to make. And an
appointment
,which is rather
pressing;
though I sympathize with your concerns, and though I wish I had the time, this was not a previously scheduled meeting and I …
    CAROL : … you think I’m nothing …
    JOHN : … have an appointment with a
realtor
, and with my wife and …
    CAROL : You think that I’m stupid.
    JOHN : No. I certainly don’t.
    CAROL : You said it.
    JOHN : No. I did not.
    CAROL : You did.
    JOHN : When?
    CAROL : … you …
    JOHN : No. I never did, or never would say that to a student, and …
    CAROL : You said, “What can that mean?” (
Pause
) “What can that mean?” … (
Pause
)
    JOHN : … and what did that mean to you …?
    CAROL : That meant I’m stupid. And I’ll never learn. That’s what that meant. And you’re right.
    JOHN : … I …
    CAROL : But then. But then, what am I doing here …?
    JOHN : … if you thought that I …
    CAROL : … when nobody wants me, and …
    JOHN : … if you interpreted …
    CAROL : Nobody
tells
me anything. And I
sit
there … in the
corner
. In the
back
. And everybody’s talking about “this” all the time. And “concepts,” and “precepts” and, and, and, and, and, WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU
TALKING
ABOUT? And I read your book. And they said, “Fine, go in that class.” Because you talked about responsibility to the young. I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS AND I’M
FAILING …
    JOHN : May …
    CAROL : No, you’re right. “Oh, hell.” I failed. Flunk me out of it. It’s garbage. Everything I do. “The ideas contained in this work express the author’s feelings.” That’s right. That’s right. I know I’m stupid. I know what I am. (
Pause
) I know whatI am, Professor. You don’t have to tell me. (
Pause
) It’s pathetic. Isn’t it?
    JOHN : … Aha … (
Pause
) Sit down. Sit down. Please. (
Pause
) Please sit down.
    CAROL : Why?
    JOHN : I want to