The Ride Down Mt. Morgan
By Arthur MillerDramatists Play Service Inc
Copyright © 1999 Arthur Miller
All right reserved.ISBN: 9780822217008
Chapter One
SCENE ONE
Lyman Felt asleep in a hospital bed.
Nurse Logan is reading a magazine in a chair a few feet away. Sheis black. He is deeply asleep, snoring now and then.
LYMAN, his eyes still shut: Thank you, thank you all verymuch. Please be seated. Nurse turns, looks toward him. We havea lot of ... not material ... yes, material ... to cover this afternoon,so please take your seats and cross your ... Nono... Laughs weakly.... Not cross your legs, just take yourseats....
NURSE: That was a lot of surgery, Mr. Felt. You're supposedto be resting ... Or you out?
LYMAN, for a moment he sleeps, snores, then ...: Today Iwould like you to consider life insurance from a differentperspective. I want you to look at the whole economic systemas one enormous tit. Nurse chuckles quietly. So the jobof the individual is to get a good place in line for a suck.She laughs louder. Which gives us the word "suckcess." Or ...or not.
NURSE: You know, you better settle down after all thatsurgery.
LYMAN, opens his eyes: You black?
NURSE: That's what they keep telling me.
LYMAN: Good for you. I've got the biggest training programof any company for you guys. And the first one that ever putthem in sales. There's no election now, is there? ?Eisenhoweror something?
NURSE: It's December. And he's been dead since I don'tknow when.
LYMAN: Eisenhower dead? Peers in confusion. Oh, right,right! ... Why can't I move, do you mind?
NURSE, returns to her chair: You're all in a cast, you broke a lotof bones.
LYMAN: Who?
NURSE: You. You smashed your car. They say you went skiingdown that Mount Morgan in a Porsche.
She chuckles. He squints, trying to orient himself.
LYMAN! Where ... where ... I'm where?
NURSE: Clearhaven Memorial Hospital.
LYMAN: That Earl Hines?
NURSE: Who?
LYMAN: That piano. Sounds like Earl Hines. Sings an EarlHines tune. Laughs appreciatively. Listen to that, will you?That beautiful? Jimmy Baldwin ... long, long ago when Iwas still a writer ... used to say, "Lyman, you're a nigger underneath."Chuckles; it fades. Now with some anxiety....Where?
NURSE: Clearhaven Memorial Hospital.
LYMAN, it is slowly penetrating: Clearhaven?
NURSE: Your wife and daughter just arrived up from NewYork. They're out in the visitors' room.
LYMAN, canniness attempt, but still confused: ... From NewYork? Why? Who called them?
NURSE: What do you mean? Why not?
LYMAN: And where is this?
NURSE: Clearhaven.?I'm from Canada myself, I only juststarted here. We've still got railroads in Canada.
LYMAN, a moment of silent confusion: Listen. I'm not feelingwell ... why are we talking about Canadian railroads?
NURSE: No, I just mentioned it, as there is a storm.
LYMAN: Now what ... what ... what was that about mywife ... New York?
NURSE: She's here in the waiting room ...
LYMAN: Here in the waiting ...
NURSE: ... And your daughter.
LYMAN, tension rising with clearing of mind; he looks at his hands,turns them over: ... Would you mind??Just ... touch me?She touches his face; he angers with the fully dawning fact. Whothe hell called them, for God's sake? Why didn't somebodyask me?
NURSE: I'm new here! I'm sorry if I'm not satisfactory.
LYMAN, high anxiety: Who said you're not satisfactory? Whatis this ... endless ... verbiage??not verbiage, for Christ'ssake, I meant ... Panting. Listen, I absolutely can't see anyoneand they have to go back to New York right away.
NURSE: But as long as you're awake ...
LYMAN: Immediately! Go?get them out of here! A jab ofpain. Ow!?Please, quickly, go!?Wait!?There's no ... likeanother ... you know, woman out there?
NURSE: Not while I was out there.
LYMAN: Please ... quickly, huh? I can't see anybody. Bewildered,Nurse exits. Oh, poor Theo?here! My God, what haveI done! How could I have gone out on that road in a storm!Terrified of self-betrayal. Have you lost your fucking mind?!Frozen in anguish, he stares straight ahead as music is heard. Hismood changes as he is caught by his catastrophic vision. Oh, dearGod, this mustn't happen.
His wife, Theo, and daughter, Bessie, are discovered seated on a waitingroom settee. A burst of weeping from Bessie. He is not lookingdirectly at them but imagining them.
Oh, Bessie, my poor Bessie! Covers his eyes, as Bessie weeps.No-no-no, it mustn't happen!?think of something else!?
His vision is forcing him out of the bed in his hospital gown. Musicfades out.
THEO, touching Bessie's hand: Darling, try not to.
BESSIE: I can't help it.
THEO: Of course you can. Be brave now, dear.
LYMAN, moving into the range of the women: Oh yes! My Theo!That's exactly what she'd say! What a woman!
THEO: Try to think of all the happiness; think of his laughter;Daddy loves life, he'll fight for it.
BESSIE: ... I guess I've just never had anything really badhappen.
LYMAN, a few feet away: Oh, my dear child ...!
THEO: But you'll see as you get older?everything ultimatelyfits together ... and for the good.
LYMAN, staring front: Oh yes ... good old Episcopal Theo!
THEO: ?Now come, Bessie.?Remember what a wonderfultime we had in Africa? Think of Africa.
BESSIE: What an amazing woman you are, Mother.
Nurse Logan enters.
NURSE: It'll still be a while before he can see anybody.Would you like me to call a motel? It's ski season, but myhusband can probably get you in, he plows their driveway.
BESSIE: Do you know if he's out of danger?
NURSE: I'm sure the doctors will let you know. Obviouslychanging the subject. I can't believe you made it up from NewYork in this sleet.
THEO: One does what one has to. Actually ... would youmind calling the motel? It was a terrible drive ...
NURSE: Sometimes I feel like going back to Canada?atleast we had a railroad.
THEO: We'll have them again; things take time in this countrybut in the end we get them done.
NURSE: Don't hesitate if you want more tea.
Nurse exits.
THEO, turns to Bessie, smiling painfully: Why'd you start tolaugh?
BESSIE, touching Theo's hand: It's nothing ...
THEO: Well, what is it?
BESSIE: Well ... I mean things really don't always get donein this country.
THEO, disengaging her hand; she is hurt: I think they do, ultimately.I've lived through changes that were inconceivablethirty years ago. Straining to laugh. Really, dear, I'm not thatnaive.
BESSIE, angering: Well, don't be upset!?They certainly arevery nice people around here, aren't they?
THEO, managing to pull her mood together: I'm sorry you neverknew small town life?there is a goodness.
BESSIE: I'm wondering if we should call Grandma Esther.
THEO, dutifully: If you like. Slight pause. Bessie is still. She getsso impressively emotional, that's all. But call ... she is hismother.
BESSIE: I know she's a superficial woman, but I can't helpit, I ...
THEO: But you should like her, she adores you; she simplynever liked me and I've always known it, that's all. She looksaway.
BESSIE: I mean she can be awfully funny sometimes. And sheis warm.
THEO: Warm? Yes, I suppose?provided it doesn't commither to anything or anyone. I've never hidden it, dear?Ithink she's the center of his psychological problem ...
LYMAN: Perfect!
THEO: ... But I suppose I'm...