An excerpt from Lydia R. Diamond’s latest play, Stick Fly
Scene I
Taylor stands at lip of stage in a tight spot. She wears a stunningly tailored black suit, heels and dark sunglasses. She fingers a funeral program.
Spoon, a young man in a slightly rumpled but good dark suit, walks past, exits, and enters again. They stare at one another, she refuses to speak first.
SPOON
I know you.
TAYLOR
Really? At a funeral?
SPOON
No. No. I think I know you.
TAYLOR
And again I say … at a funeral?
SPOON
Are you a cultural anthropologist?
TAYLOR
Absolutely not. Not even for fun.
SPOON
You go to the University?
TAYLOR
No.
SPOON
Were you at Harvard in ’97?
TAYLOR
Aw jeeze.
SPOON
What?
TAYLOR
I thought you were picking me up.
SPOON
No. At a funeral?
TAYLOR
You were just, recognizing me?
SPOON
Yeah, ’cause, like I said, I think I know you.
(Pause.)
SPOON
You know where? Dr. Bradley Scott was guest lecturing a couple of years ago. Social stratification among the black elite.
TAYLOR
Yep. The Hilton Head Howards vs. The Vineyard LeVays. He’s always had a sort of sycophantic relationship to the well-heeled. (beat) Actually, I wasn’t there for the lecture. I just needed to see Dr. Bradley Scott.
SPOON
You knew him well?
TAYLOR
You could say that.
SPOON
Is it a sordid tale?
TAYLOR
You could say that.
SPOON
I'm sorry for your loss.
TAYLOR
Thank you. You knew him well?
SPOON
No, no. I'm almost embarrassed to be here. I'm a fan. I think he was a genius. (beat) Were you avoiding his wife?
TAYLOR
Yes.
SPOON
When did you meet him?
TAYLOR
27 years ago.
SPOON
I'm sorry?
TAYLOR
Me too.
(pause)
SPOON
Kent. Kent LeVay.
TAYLOR
Of the Vinyard Le Vays? Oh. I see.
SPOON
Yeah. And you?
TAYLOR
Taylor Bradley Scott.
SPOON
Oh.
TAYLOR
Of the dead Dr. James Bradley Scott, Bradley Scotts.
SPOON
(beat) Oh.
TAYLOR
Yeah.
Taylor begins to sob.
TAYLOR
Damn. I'm out of Kleenex.
Spoon hands her a handkerchief.
SPOON
I'm sorry. Here ... God, I'm so sorry, and here I was going on about how I met you, and your dad and stuff ...
TAYLOR
It's OK.
SPOON
It was rude.
TAYLOR
No really, it's OK.
SPOON
So he's your dad?
TAYLOR
Was.
SPOON
Oh, yeah right. Sorry.
TAYLOR
Sort of was. It's complicated.
SPOON
Like your step-dad or something.
TAYLOR
No ... our relationship was decidedly biological. I'm sorry, I didn't expect to be this upset. It sort of sneaks up on you.
SPOON
Seems like you should be upset.
TAYLOR
Maybe. But I barely knew him. (beat, Taylor blows her nose) So you hang out at funerals of people you don't know often?
SPOON
He did write a book about my family.
TAYLOR
That's stretching it...
SPOON
Well, we made the title. I like his politic. He's not afraid of the truth, doesn't care about upsetting black folks or white folks, and I admire that. I'd like to be like that. I like to think I am like that.
TAYLOR
So you're an academic, in pursuit of mainstream fame.
SPOON
No. Well, I'm, I've been a student for a long time, but pretty much in pursuit of nothing, specific.
TAYLOR
It's a little strange that you carry a handkerchief. It seems not quite of this century.
SPOON
One of my mother's rules that stuck. She isn't quite of this century.
(awkward silence)
TAYLOR
Can I show you something? (Taylor opens the funeral program, and points out a sentence for Spoon).
Read this ...
SPOON
Dr. James Bradley Scott, born ...
TAYLOR
No, here ...
SPOON
... survived by wife Gabrielle, and two children,
Martin and ...
TAYLOR
This. (puts her finger exactly where she needs him to read)
SPOON
... and one child from a previous marriage.
TAYLOR
That's me.
SPOON
Wow. (pause) Listen, for what it's worth. I've lived with my dad my whole life and barely know him.
TAYLOR
Was that supposed to comfort me?
SPOON
Maybe. Did it?
TAYLOR
Not what you said. The gesture maybe. OK.
SPOON
Well, you take care, OK.
TAYLOR
You're nice.
Blackout