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
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