America Finding Her Way

by Karen Sunde

kitchen, from off) Getting some bananas, alright?

  Jen: Your clothes are laid out, Jamy. God, look at you; you're going to have to shower. Where do you think you're going...Jamy! Who's out there?

  Jamy: (From off, exiting) Gaia.

  Jen: (Pause, lost) I don't think the folks know what to do. They're like tracing a spider-thread hoping it doesn't wisp off into nothing.

  Mike: With Jamy?

  Jen: He's not always hostile, he's just...a ghost. Did you see? He looks right through you.

  Mike: I see how it could dislodge your parenting instinct. At least they can rejoice that you're a winner.

  Jen: Forget it. They think they failed with me because I'm looking to get rich.

  Mike: Ahh, but that's a good ole American virtue.

  Jen: They call it "soulless."

  Mike: You see...

  Jen: They did teach me to work for it, so I'm not a complete loss.

  Mike: …those two are unregenerate anti-establishmentarians.

  Jen: And you’re well disguised – with your Ferrari swagger, your multi-digit wardrobe, your...

  Mike: (Brushing tuxedo that's hanging in doorway) Don’t let appearances fool you, darlin’

  Jen: Your suave is not for real?

  Mike: Them that flash, need cash.

  Jen: What?

  Mike: Real wealth seldom looks it. But who knows that? I dress to cover the tracks I had to cross getting here.

  Jen: You were poor? But Nam was a rich kids’ revolution.

  Mike: Who told you that?

  Jen: (Moving to him suggestively) Listen, I've been fantasizing about your unregenerate generation all my reactionary life.

  Mike: Don't tempt me, baby. Fiction is far more fun than truth.

  Jen: You mean – settle for a story at bedtime, little girl?

  Mike: (Warning) Ah ah ah. (Goes back to folding brochures) We must not nudge this extraordinarily productive relationship toward the scandalous. The "papers" would be on us in a milli-second.

  Jen: Ohh, but it's all right for you and Mom to...

  Mike: Speaking of "papers," what's Mimi going to do?

  Jen: Sell it.

  Mike: (Stops what he's doing) No!

  Jen: She put it on the market yesterday. Dad didn't tell you?

  Mike: He said advertising had picked up.

  Jen: Not the point. His defiance is the point.

  Mike: What do you mean? I've diplomatized his ass off. I feel like I'm in a marathon arm wrestle. Did you see the piece he wanted to run on the Project's development kick-backs?

  Jen: Yeah.

  Mike: He'd have smeared half the people on that list of yours. We'd have had a big zero count tonight.

  Jen: The piece wasn't that bad. And if it's true...

  Mike: Timing, my dear, timing. Mimi would arrest on the spot.

  Jen: Oh, he'll find another angle. He refused to down-scale production, and that flipped her. In half a second she was on the phone to her lawyer – "It's up for sale. Start taking bids."

  Mike: Right out from under him. God. Did I tell you I went after her for a contribution?

  Jen: No shit. Bet she sees you as the peon her son dragged in.

  Mike: Jacob liked me. She remembers that.

  Jen: Grand-dad did?

  Mike: He saw the glint of a “comer.” Kind of ambition he wanted in Alan.

  Jen: So you knocked on Mimi’s door – big grin, slotted jar in hand?

  Mike: Gold-plate pen, darling. Just a pen.

  Jen: And?

  Mike: Oh, she tea-caked and fussed me over, but did not dip for her son's campaign. Nope. Not a bit impressed.

  Jen: Probably afraid he'll burn the flag on the steps of the state-house.

  Mike: No, she just seemed disconnected. Waiting – for something else.

  Jen: There is no way you'll get him into this tuxedo.

  Mike: Don't worry – as long as you got the right size.

  Jen: I can't picture it.

  Mike: Never seen him on? He moves into action like a tiger.

  Jen: Maybe...when something breaks in the newsroom.

  Mike: Yes, "when" is the key. The moment he's convinced...his stroke has absolute power. It bores through to your backbone. You're riveted – to him and his cause. (Beat) So once they've felt it, they can't let him rest, and he can't refuse. He's a leader.

  Jen: Well. (Little laugh) Wow.

  Mike: What's your mother wearing?

  Jen: (Beat) You'll have to ask her.

  Mike: Ok. Will do. (Heads for stairs)

  Jen: Clever move. Except she's not home.

  Mike: Not home?

  Jen: Nope.

  Mike: We have to be scarce in half an hour!

  Jen: Tell that to her synapses.

  Mike: I don't believe it.

  Jen: Wasn't she always like that?

  Mike: (Worried) Hmmmm?

  Jen: So...absorbed?

  Mike: No. She was the spark, the lightning...

  Jen: What was it like, the three of you on the barricades?

  Mike: (Dreaming) Hayride at first frost.

  Jen: What?

  Mike: (In the present) Sorry, I keep forgetting.

  Jen: What.

  Mike: You're too young for the image.

  Jen: Well I've never seen her “spark.”

  Mike: Miss Muffet, I believe you're fishing.

  Alan: (Enters from front door, to Mike) My god, you look like Halloween.

  Mike: You're not insulting this tender young-uh woman?

  Alan: So they still make 'em like that? (Kisses Jen) Beautiful, Jenilla.

  Mike: OK, you've gone over your speech?

  Alan: Mike...

  Mike: The only thing to watch for – should they get onto the Project – is to stay between. Let both City Slope and Parkside imagine they can claim you. And what's true – absolutely – is "we haven't finished studying the issue."

  Alan: That creaks, Michael.

  Mike: Nothing can be crystal, anyway, until all the owners are declared. Am I right?

  Alan: (Flops into chair) Right.

  Mike: (Picks up bottle) Tonight is not about urban angst. Tonight is about getting you on the slate.

  Alan: (Indicating champagne) You cracking that, or just waving it around?

  Mike: Later, champ.

  Alan: I could use a whiff of something.

  Mike: Tough day?

  Alan: Had better.

  Jen: How about essence of hot shower?

  Mike: Heard your desk's up for sale. I'm glad you'll have use for the Governor's.

  Alan: Sooner than you can produce it. Mimi moved against my salary this afternoon.

  Jen: What! Does she want us on the street?

  Mike: She can't move alone.

  Alan: No, and the board is only two-thirds with her so far. But she's determined. (Beat) So. How long till my next match.

  Jen: (Checks her watch) Oh, juniper. We've got to move, Dad. (Picks up notes)

  Mike: Ever suspect you were growing a resident campaign manager?

  Alan: A nominating caucus is not a campaign.

  Mike: Ha – a wave on a smile is a campaign.

  Alan: And I haven't okayed your dropping out, young woman.

  Jen: Where else could I get such an education? Now – here's the brief on the Project: Ugly story – "renewal" began in the 50’s; it was the old town, first settled, completely run down, business district shifted, then urban malls...

  Mike: The very first settlement?

  Jen: Before that, an Indian center, the crossing of rivers.

  Mike: Long before the great Condo war.

  Alan: I think Dad was involved in the first restructuring of the area.

  Mike: Jacob "restructured?"

  Alan: Politic for "head em out, move em on."

  Jen: Demo
lition. Wipe away the poor.

  Alan: They built them low-income high-rises out at City Limits subdivision.

  Jen: "Improved" their living standards.

  Alan: Right – disaster. Even Dad relented.

  Mike: Tough old Jacob?

  Alan: He let a piece get printed under the lead: "Poor Used To Be A Way To Live" depicting Front Street in the 30's.

  Jen: (Jotting notes while he talks) No shit. Lively?

  Alan: Yup. Always a catching-on place where you could collect used bottles, off-load dry goods, wash down the back way at the butcher's, grub a plateful at the diner if they liked your face. And it was life.

  Jen: (Writing) A buzzing mesh...

  Alan: When did poor-life get illegal?

  Mike: When your average family wasn't anymore. Poor.

  Jen: (Reading) "That buzzing mesh could always hold more life." Hey – if I ever go back to school, I'll teach ‘em how it's done.

  Mike: She's showing fire, wouldn't you say?

  Jen: You cut the cute lip, and let him dress. (Hands Alan the tux)

  Alan: Kate upstairs?

  Jen: No, she's...not here yet.

  Alan: No? Oh. (Seeing the tux in his hand) What's this supposed to be?

  Jen: It's supposed to be 40 Long, 32-34, studs in left inside pocket.

  Alan: Bad joke, sweetie. Did you put her up to this?

  Jen: Come on. Just pretend it's a wedding.

  Alan: Not a chance, people. This is a political meeting, not a beauty contest.

  Mike: It's just a matter of form. Celebration. Everyone sports a uniform.

  Alan: I've never been everyone. And I didn't bring her up thinking I was. (Hands back tux, heads up stairs) This is me, take it or leave it.

  Mike: Alan.

  Alan: And the same goes for the marriage registration. You knew the goods – you sell them (Exits above)

  Jen: So much for slipping into a little something less comfortable.

  Mike: (Sighs) He'll make it work. He always could. Panache.

  Jen: Sure. (Beat) What's with the marriage registration?

  Mike: I just want him to call his friend at the records office in Ottawa.

  Jen: Ottawa – their registration? It's in Canada?

  Mike: I know it's a small thing, but after tonight the opposition'll beat anything they can out of the bushes.

  Jen: Sure. (Beat) So what's the date on it?

  Jamy: (Sticking his head in from kitchen) Dad here?

  Jen: Yes, he's up dressing, but you can't...

  Jamy: Sure. I know.

  Jen: Look, Jamy, will you just...

  Jamy: (Dashing across room and upstairs shouting) Dad! There's someone wants to see you.

  Jen: Jamy!

  Jamy: (Glancing back at Jen) Dad? You got time to speak to a...constituent, don't you? Dad? (Exits above)

  Jen: I'm gonna kill that kid! You watch. He will not make it to fourteen.

  Kate: (Entering from kitchen) Does anybody know who that is out there?

  Mike: No doubt a spirit of the night, milady, nodding you on your way.

  Kate: Jamy's home, isn't he?

  Jen: Mom, you've got to hurry. There's only twenty minutes to dress.

  Kate: For what, Jennel?

  Jen: Mom.

  Kate: All this has nothing to do with me. Your father understands. The less fuss you make, the easier it will be on everyone. What time did Jamy come home?

  Mike: What's going on, Kate?

  Kate: Don't get near me dripping cologne, Michael.

  Mike: You and Alan are a team.

  Kate: Performing apes? You figured two for the price of one? Sorry.

  Mike: Kate.

  Jen: Forget it, Mike. She doesn't want him to do it. She's jealous!

  (Jen slams out of the room. Alan is walking above, Jamy following)

  Jamy: Just for two minutes, Dad. It's a friend of mine, wants to talk to you. Before tonight.

  Kate: It’s no good, Mike. Just go before anything gets broken.

  Mike: Like this cocoon you’ve spun? I believe in this campaign, Kate.

  Kate: And I should hoist the flag because you turned up? I believe in the work I'm doing.

  Mike: But it's snuffed your light, Kate. And that’s what made me dare.

  (Kate stares at him, turns and moves swiftly up the stairs)

  Kate: You can dare all you want. You’ve got nothing to lose.

  Mike: (Hitting back) Right. No wife, no kids, no life?

  Kate: (Stops midway) You didn't have to creep from underground, so Jen could have a life! She was born on a crusade, Mike. And what did it get us? Exile.

  Mike: She appears to have survived. (Beat) Alan’s in the world again, Kate. He's reaching to people, wanting to help. Let him go.

  Kate: What makes you think I'm holding him?

  Mike: You laid down the rules for coming back: Cross the border, dig a camp, but we will never show our face in daylight again. Not in this misguided country.

  Kate: Wrong. I never