Free Race by David Mamet Page B

rough, and leave us looking sweet and silly. And turn to the American Public, a misunderstood man, whose lawyers do not “ like ” him. I don’t like you . . .
    JACK : “At some point . . .”
    HENRY : And p.s. I don’t like all this bullshit about the world is treating you unfairly, as it also treated you unfairly when you were born to wealth, but I don’t believe that you complained then —so let’s get that out upon the table now —because as it occurs to me , be assured it will occur to the jury .
    CHARLES : I want you to represent me.
    JACK : Why?
    CHARLES : Because . . .
    (Pause.)
    JACK : Go on.
    CHARLES : Because I think you can win.
    JACK : And why would you think that?
    HENRY : I don’t like it.
    CHARLES : Because you’ve won before.
    HENRY : Greenstein’s won before.
    CHARLES : But he’s white.

    HENRY : So you do understand the nature of the case.
    CHARLES : I do.
    HENRY : And do you understand that it cannot be won. Other than by dealing with the sordid?
    CHARLES : The sordid . . .
    JACK : How do you think we’ve won before?
    CHARLES : I . . .
    JACK : We have won . By being quick , and being brutal . Being fast and first, and tearing off the fucking Band-Aid.
    CHARLES : It’s very important to me, that, let me put it differently. I, of course . . .
    JACK : Mr. Strickland, save it.
    CHARLES : Save it . . .
    HENRY : The surgeon may have time. To do the operation. He does not have time, to wake the fella up, and explain what he’s going to cut.
    CHARLES : And, I: am the drugged patient . . .
    HENRY : You want me to tell you what you are? White man, rich man? You are so fucked-up out of your mind, you don’t know which comes first, Christmas or Lincoln’s Birthday. You don’t know whether to confess or go out and buy a pistol. Now, tell me, you haven’t thought about both .
    (Pause.)
    CHARLES : I am the victim. (Pause) Of a false accusation.
    HENRY : Which of us is immune?
    (Henry passes Charles a notepad.)
    JACK : Mr. Strickland. We need you to go in the outer office and write down, in effect, “everything you ever did.”
    CHARLES : I don’t understand.
    JACK : Yes, you do.
    CHARLES : You want me to write . . . ?
    JACK : I want you to write. A catalog of your sins.
    CHARLES : And what does that have to do with “the facts of this case”?

    JACK : There are no “facts of the case.” There are two fictions . Which the opposing teams each seek to impress upon the jury. That is part of the wisdom you’d be paying us for.
    CHARLES : And what is the rest?
    HENRY : Wisdom you’re paying us for, Mr. Strickland, is that you’d better fight dirtier than the prosecution.
    JACK : Why is it; poor people don’t get dragged up in the press? “Manuel went to the massage parlor . . .” “Motishia cheated on her husband . . .”
    CHARLES : Why?
    JACK : Because it ain’t gossip.
    CHARLES : “It . . . ?”
    HENRY : The legal process, Charles is only about three things.
    CHARLES : What are those three things?
    HENRY : Hatred, fear, or envy. And you just hit the trifecta.
    CHARLES : How do I win this case?
    JACK : At this moment, I’ll be goddamned if I know.
    CHARLES : Well, that’s blunt.
    JACK : Charles. Everything. Which you have taken for granted. As your right. Is about to land you in jail. Guilty or not. Do you understand? If we begin, “How dare you suggest that you can destroy me?” then the mob will raise you out.
    CHARLES : Why?
    JACK : Because it knows your name.
    HENRY : He might have to beg . . .
    (Charles shakes his head.)
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    You never begged . . .
    JACK : You never begged? You were young, you never begged for pussy? You never begged the officer to let you off the D.U.I.?
    HENRY : You ever do that?
    CHARLES : I’m innocent.
    JACK : Nobody fucking cares. You understand. Nobody cares. The only way out is through, and. To get back into the world