Free Thirty Pieces of Silver: A Play in Three Acts by Howard Fast

two, Mrs. Graham.
    DAVID I think I ought to tell you, Mr. Fuller——
    FULLER ( interrupting ) About Carmichael? I know that. I saw Carmichael at six o’clock to-day. I saw Selwin. I saw the chief over at the department. I’ve spent four hours on the phone, and just let me tell you, Mr. Graham, that phones have been ringing on the Hill as well as elsewhere.
    ( He leans lack, stretching out his feet and looking from face to face. He lights a cigarette. )
    That’s why I think I deserve to sit down and to talk about this in a civilized, fashion. I think we all deserve it.
    ( most earnestly )
    And I just want to put myself on the record for one thing. I consider what happened between you and your chiefs this afternoon a God damned shame, a fine demonstration of stupidity and lack of co-ordination. If anything in this whole business is un-American, it’s precisely that kind of an action, trying and condemning a man on hearsay and the flimsiest kind of rumour—I know what you must have felt about me. But now that’s straightened out—and I think we’d all do best to forget about it, wouldn’t’ we?
    ( JANE does not relax; she stands and watches FULLER , but DAVID takes a few steps toward him and gingerly sits down, shaking his head uncertainly. )
    DAVID You mean—there’ll be no resignation, no hearing?
    FULLER That’s right.
    DAVID ( staring at FULLER for a long moment, then turning to his wife. His uncertainty is still with him. ) Did you hear that, Jane?
    ( She doesn’t react, and he turns hack to FULLER. )
    I have to get used to that, Mr. Fuller. ( He laughs nervously. ) I was trying to figure out—where do I go from here? Now——
    FULLER I would have felt the same way in your place; Mr. Graham. It’s funny, isn’t it, how a man like Agronsky, even though you hardly knew him, can become such a determining factor.
    DAVID It is. ( He stands up. ) I think I need a drink. Will you have one, Mr. Fuller?
    FULLER No, thank you.
    DAVID Jane?
    ( She shakes her head. DAVID goes to the tray and pours himself whiskey and water. He turns back to FULLER .)
    I guess I’m no hero. You look like Santa Claus to me, Mr. Fuller.
    FULLER ( smiling and shaking his head) I don’t feel quite that joyous, Mr. Graham. It’s your good fortune that you can step in and out of a thing like this, but for me, it’s a continuing grind. That’s one of the facts I impressed on my chief when I had him step into your case. I pointed out to him that if all people were as co-operative as you, he could fire a few of us. At any rate, our work would be a lot easier.
    ( He rises and picks up his hat from the piano. Then he halts himself, as if he has just recalled something of no great importance. )
    Oh yes, there’s a brief deposition here which I’d like to have you sign before I leave, Mr. Graham.
    ( He fumbles a moment in his breast pocket, pulls out an envelope and extracts a folded, legal-sized paper.) 88
    DAVID ( He takes the paper and reads it. JANE watches him, remaining where she is. He reads through the paper and then glances up at FULLER, who is standing calmly, almost disinterestedly, by the piano. DAVID walks over to the piano and sets his drink down. He reads the paper again. When he speaks, the momentary elation is gone from his voice. ) I don’t understand this.
    FULLER Why, Mr. Graham? It couldn’t be more simply stated, could it?
    DAVID According to this——
    ( He stares at the document again, groping for words. )
    Well, it puts me in a funny position, Mr. Fuller. It says here that I know Leonard Agronsky is a member of the Communist Party and that I’ve seen his party card. It even gives the number of the card here. I haven’t seen his party card, Mr. Fuller.
    FULLER ( casually ) What difference does that make, Graham? If the number is there, it means the card exists.
    DAVID But—well, it puts me in a funny