The Cryptogram by David Mamet

ONE

    A living room. One door leading off to the kitchen, one staircase leading up to the second floor. Evening
. DEL is seated on the couch. JOHN
comes downstairs dressed in his pajamas
.
    JOHN : I couldn’t find ’em.
    DEL : … couldn’t find ’em.
    JOHN : No.
    DEL : What?
    JOHN : Slippers.
    DEL : Yes?
    JOHN : They’re packed.
    DEL : … slippers are packed.
    JOHN : Yes.
    DEL : Why did you pack them?
    JOHN : Take them along.
    DEL : How are you going to use your slippers in the woods.
    JOHN : To keep my feet warm.
    DEL : Mmm.
    JOHN : I shouldn’t of packed them?
    DEL : Well, put something on your feet.
    JOHN : What?
    DEL : Socks.
    JOHN : Put something on my feet now.
    DEL : Yes.
    JOHN : “As long as I’m warm.”
    DEL : That’s correct.
    JOHN : I have ’em. (
Produces socks. Starts putting them on
.)
    DEL : That’s good. Think ahead.
    JOHN : Why did you say “why did you pack them?”
    DEL : I wondered that you’d take them with.
    JOHN : Why?
    DEL : Out in the Woods?
    JOHN : No, but to wear in the Cabin.
    DEL : … that’s right.
    JOHN : Don’t you think?
    DEL : I do.
    JOHN : I know I couldn’t wear them in the woods.
    DEL : No. No. That’s right. Where were we?
    JOHN : Issues of sleep.
    DEL : … is …
    JOHN : Issues of sleep.
    DEL : No. I’m sorry. You were quite correct. To take your slippers. I spoke too quickly.
    JOHN : That’s alright.
    DEL : Thank you. (
Pause
.) Where were we? Issues of Sleep.
    JOHN : And last night either.
    DEL : Mm …?
    JOHN : … I couldn’t sleep.
    DEL : So I’m told. (
Pause
.)
    JOHN : Last night, either.
    DEL : Fine. What does it mean “I could not sleep”?
    JOHN : … what does it mean?
    DEL : Yes. It means nothing other than the meaning you choose to assign to it.
    JOHN : I don’t get you.
    DEL : I’m going to explain myself.
    JOHN : Good.
    DEL : A “Trip,” for example, you’ve been looking forward to.
    JOHN : A trip. Yes. Oh, yes.
    DEL : … absolutely right.
    JOHN : … that I’m excited.
    DEL : … who wouldn’t be?
    JOHN :
Anyone
would be.
    DEL : That’s right.
    JOHN : … to go in the
Woods
…?
    DEL : Well. You see? You’ve answered your own question.
    JOHN : Yes. That I’m excited.
    DEL : I can’t blame you.
    JOHN : You can’t.
    DEL : No. Do you see?
    JOHN : That it’s natural.
    DEL : I think it is.
    JOHN : Is it?
    DEL : I think it absolutely is. To go with your
father
…?
    JOHN : Why isn’t he home?
    DEL : We don’t know.
    JOHN : … because it’s something. To go out there.
    DEL : I should say.
    JOHN : In the Woods …?
    DEL : … I hope to tell you.
    JOHN : Well, you
know
it is.
    DEL : That I do.
    And I will tell you: older people, too. Grown people.
    You know what they do?
    The night before a trip?
    JOHN : What do they do?
    DEL : Well, many times
they
cannot sleep.
They
will stay up that night.
    JOHN : They will?
    DEL : Oh yes.
    JOHN : Why?
    DEL : They can’t sleep. No. Why?
    Because their minds, you see, are full of thoughts.
    JOHN : What are their thoughts of?
    DEL : Their thoughts are of two things.
    JOHN : Yes?
    DEL : Of what they’re
leaving
.
    JOHN : … yes?
    DEL : And what they’re going
toward
. (
Pause
.) Just like you.
    JOHN : … of what they’re leaving …
    DEL : … mmm … (
Pause
.)
    JOHN : How do you know that?
    DEL : Well, you know, they say we live and learn.
    JOHN : They do?
    DEL : That’s what they say. And I’ll tell you
another
thing …
    (
A crash is heard offstage
.) (
Pause
.)
    DONNY (
offstage
): … I’m alright …
    DEL : … what?
    DONNY (
offstage
): I’m alright …
    DEL : … did …
    DONNY (
offstage
): What? Did I what?
    DEL : Are you …
    DONNY (
offstage
): What? I’ve spilt the tea.
    DEL : What?
    DONNY (
offstage
): I spilled the tea.
    DEL : Do you want help?
    DONNY (
offstage
): What?
    JOHN : Do you want help he said.
    DONNY (
offstage
): No.
    DEL : You don’t? (
To
JOHN .)
Go help your mother.
    DONNY (
offstage
) (
simultaneous