MAMETSPEAK

There is no dialogue like DAVID MAMETs. For example: this scene from The Shawl, which premiered in Chicago last spring and opens at Lincoln Center this fall. John, a fake medium, shows Charles, his hustler lover, the tricks of his trade

JOHN: There 11 be money. . .let s not. . .

CHARLES: There'll be money when?

JOHN: Soon.

CHARLES: And how will we "get" this money? (PAUSE) How will this money come to us?

JOHN: (PAUSE) It will come to us. At the end. When she asks, "How can I pay you?" we say, "Leave something." "To help us with our work." "Leave what you will..." They will ask and they will reward you. I told her to bring a photograph. Anything. . .Eh? This creates the habit. To bring something, to "bring" things to you...their thoughts ..."money". . .and when you don't misuse it, it creates confidence in them. And when we've helped her...

CHARLES:When we've helped her. ..

JOHN: Yes. These things take time.

CHARLES: (SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH "TIME") When we've helped her to what?

JOHN: I've told you. To. . .to do whatever that is she wants to do. To.. .face herself.. .as we will help her. . .and she will reward us. And we're making progress. As you saw.

CHARLES: I saw.

JOHN: Well, yes. You.. .you. . .she was won over.

Didn't you see that?

CHARLES: (SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH "SEE THAT") Perhaps.

JOHN: Oh, no. SHE WAS WON OVER. She gave me the bill. She's going to bring the picture ... slowly... slowly... you can't force the .. .Coming to the Truth... (PAUSE) Don't you see that?

CHARLES: (SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH "THAT") You said she dreamed this meeting.

JOHN: .. .ah, did she foresee the meeting? We all dream of a wise man, one day...who will.. .1 paint a picture. Looks like magic. You see her economic class.. .by the way: look at the shoes, anyone could buy a pricey dress.. .and we so we see an income of a certain magnitude. Suggests a summer house. Where? By the water is the obvious bet. And we suggest the mother nearby, you see? As the mother is the thing that draws her here. She's on her mind...and her mind .. .freed by "magic"...

CHARLES: .. .her mind freed by magic...

JOHN: Yes. By my "clairvoyance." Yes. Yes. Yes. You must give them a mechanism. To allow them to trust you. She wouldn't trust just "anyone." She comes in: "Show me you have psychic powers." All right. "Read my mind. Tell me my complaint." All right. I will. A troubled woman. Comes in. With a problem? What is it? It's money—illness— love.. .That's all it ever is. Money, illness, or love.

A deeply repressed woman. In her thirties. Unmarried... as you say... Matter of the Heart? No. Illness. Perhaps. Woman of an anxious nature, that is a good bet. But no. I say "the fear of death." Three times. And no reaction. In her eyes. And so. Health. No. Love. No. And that leaves "money."

CHARLES: And you said "the Law."

JOHN: I said a legal problem. How's this money come to her, a wealthy woman, but there's contracts.. . some legal...

CHARLES: You said "her mother's will."

JOHN: Yes. I did.

CHARLES: How did you know that?

JOHN: It was a guess. And an educated guess. Technique takes you so far, and then once in a while...

CHARLES: And that's all there.. .that's all there is. (PAUSE)

JOHN: What?

CHARLES: That's all there is to what you do.

JOHN: Well, I suppose we all want "magic," but our job, our real job...

One moment. I'm sorry... (PAUSE) I'm sorry. You were speaking of money. I.. .1 ... what am I seeing... something came into my ... evening ... evening ... eveningwear? A... (PAUSE) I see, what are they? Some stone? Sapphire?

CHARLES: What is this?

JOHN: Someone... a gift... they were yours... a set of sapphire studs. They... parted from them...? You.. .no.. .yes. Valuable set of studs. A... a...and your concern with money and.. .you pawned a set of Sapphire Studs. (PAUSE)

CHARLES: How do you know that?

JOHN: Two weeks ago... before we met. Did ... did you do that?

CHARLES: You.. .how could you know that?

JOHN: I saw the pawn ticket. In your wallet. You see? Very simple, really. (PAUSE) If one is allowed to believe.. .Our job is not to guess, but to aid.. .to.. .to create an atmosphere ... As I just did with you... to enable...

CHARLES: What were you doing in my wallet?

JOHN: Well. The man came with the food, I had to tip him.. .you were in the shower, I'm sorry. I did.. .1 certainly...

CHARLES: You should not have looked in my wallet.

JOHN: No, you're absolutely right. I should...I should not. I'm sorry. I'm very sorry. Charles. I'm very sorry. I took a dollar, the ticket fell.. .you're absolutely right. And I apologize. (PAUSE) I apologize. Will you forgive me? (PAUSE) Will you please forgive me? (PAUSE)

CHARLES: You're very nosy.

JOHN: Yes I. And I suppose that it's a professional .. .you're right. And I apologize. And I'm sorry as it's obvious that it's a touchy...

CHARLES: I should say that it's a "touchy." Yes. It. Well, I would say that it...

JOHN: We are going to have money. I promise you. When she comes to us asks us, "How can I repay you?" we say, "Leave what you will. To aid us in our work... Some would leave fifty, some would leave a thousand.".. .We are going to...

CHARLES: When?

JOHN: Soon.