Class of 29 | Page 9

to it that the class sympathy of the church agrees with the class sympathy of the man who founded it.
TIPPY. [Hurriedly.] Good-bye, sir. [TIPPY and MARTIN go.]
[LAURA quickly gathers up the tea things and puts them on a tray and goes to kitchen. In the following scene she is on and off. The BISHOP walks about, troubled and silent. He looks at posters, picks up the Russian books and looks at them.]
BISHOP. Russian. Why are you studying Russian?
KEN. I find it interesting.
BISHOP. Chinese would be interesting. Why Russian?
KEN. I am interested in their architectural developments.
BISHOP. My boy, you haven't it in mind to go to Russia?
KEN. [Evasive.] Wanting doesn't get you there.
BISHOP. Why, of all places in the world, should you want to go to Russia?
KEN. There is no unemployment there. They need men.
BISHOP. [Impatiently.] Oof! Russia ...
[TED enters. He still has the book.]
TED. [Greeting BISHOP with aloof diffidence.] How do you do, sir?
BISHOP. [Very cordial.] How are you? How are you?
TED. [Sees KEN looking at his book.] My man wasn't in. I'll go back and try again later. Is Kate here?
KEN. No. She stepped out.
TED. Then, if you'll excuse me I'll go into the other room and lie down. I've developed a frightful headache.
BISHOP. That is unfortunate. Have you aspirin?
TED. Yes, thank you. [He goes into bedroom, closing door.]
BISHOP. Now there is a fine young man who's facing a real problem. He certainly wasn't trained for commercial pursuits. Yet there he is--selling. Uh, what is he selling, Kenneth?
KENNETH. [Sarcastically.] Books.
BISHOP. I knew his father well. A gentleman and a scholar. Unfortunately, he was a gambler. The depression finished him.
KEN. It's finishing a lot of us.
BISHOP. My boy, I would not have you be extravagant, but I still have enough. I can still support you.
KEN. I'm sick of living on charity.
BISHOP. Charity?
KEN. On your charity.
BISHOP. You are my son. What little I give you is yours by right.
KEN. What right? I'm not a child, nor a cripple. I'm nearly thirty years old.
BISHOP. These are not normal times.
KEN. They are normal for me.
BISHOP. Be patient a little longer. Our system is not perfect, but it's the best the world has known. It has been responsible for all our progress.
KEN. We're not even aiming at progress, only at recovery; only trying to gain back something we had in the past.
BISHOP. But how can you think there is progress in Russia? It's a slave state; a tyranny. Freedom is essential to progress.
KEN. I don't want freedom. I want a chance to work. I want my share.... Other people have their share, and they have dogs. I don't want dogs, but I want a right to have them.
BISHOP. Your soul is poisoned with envy.
KEN. It's a short life, dad, and mine is half gone already. There is beauty; I want to enjoy it. There are good things; I want some of them. Disease and death we can't help, but poverty we can help.
BISHOP. This is Martin's influence. [Excited.] Ken, you must not turn Communist. Do you hear? I forbid it.
KEN. The Inquisition tried forbidding convictions.
BISHOP. [Frightened.] Convictions?
KEN. I'm fed up. [More savage and bitter as he goes on.] One can go on so long. Things look hopeless but you still hope. Important people make cheerful speeches. You believe them. You want to believe them. You think tomorrow something's going to happen. Something's got to happen! Tomorrow comes and goes--a lot of tomorrows. Nothing happens, nothing. And nothing's going to happen.
BISHOP. My son, you are wrong. The situation is improving. Business conditions are already vastly better. It takes time. You'll get a job, very soon.
KEN. I've heard that for six years.
[Pause.]
BISHOP. [Clearing his throat; takes check from pocket.] Now this check you returned ...
KEN. [Shortly.] I don't want it.
BISHOP. But how can you get along without it?
KEN. I'll get along.
BISHOP. How do you propose to live?
KEN. By sleeping on park benches, eating in our bread lines.--Or I'll tell the government I'm destitute--or get a relief job.--I won't go on the way I've been doing.--Laura comes and brings food; Tippy leaves cigarettes around; you send me checks. I'm sick of having to take from you all!--If I've got to live by charity, I want to be free to hate charity. That's a beggar's right.
BISHOP. It gives us pleasure to help you.
KEN. But can't you see what you're doing to my self-respect?
BISHOP. I don't want to hurt your self-respect.
KEN. Then leave me alone.
[Pause.]
BISHOP. [Clearing his throat.] Have you been to see Stanley Prescott?
KEN. Yes.
BISHOP. Why hasn't he done something for you?
KEN. I suppose he can't.
BISHOP. Prescott's my friend. He ought to do something for you.
KEN. Oh, the hell with Prescott! [Contrite.] Don't misunderstand me. I wouldn't refuse any job he had to offer me. I'd black his boots if that was the job. But I've been to