It's 1975. It's the middle of the night in the middle of the summer. The lights reveal a small apartment in a housing project, Luna Park, in Coney Island. The apartment is furnished in the lower-middle-class Jewish style. An out-of-place, goldish-yellowish, ugly print couch (protected by plastic slipcovers) dominates the living room. In a small kitchen off to left, we find David, a young man of about 20, at the refrigerator. He pours himself a glass of milk and sits at the Formica-covered table in the small dinette. We hear the toilet flush from offstage and Murray, (an overweight man of about 60), enters the room. He sees David at the table and joins him.
MURRAY
What're you doin up so late?
DAVID
Can't sleep.
MURRAY
Cause of what I said?
DAVID
No.
MURRAY
Why then?
DAVID
Just can't.
MURRAY
You gotta get up early tomorrow and get the paper.
DAVID
I know.
MURRAY
How're you gonna be able to do that? It's three o'clock already.
DAVID
I'm just not gonna go to sleep.
MURRAY
You're gonna go without sleep?
DAVID
Yeah.
MURRAY
What's the matter with you?
DAVID
Nothin.
MURRAY
You can tell me. I wanna help you.
DAVID
You can't help me.
MURRAY
Why not?
DAVID
It's too late.
MURRAY
Waddaya talkin about? It's too late. You're talkin' like a nut! I'm gonna hafta have ya put away!
DAVID
Look. I just got a lot on my mind. That's all. It's nothin. Really. I'm just tryin to sort things out.
MURRAY
Why dontcha try and sort things out doin somethin useful like bringin in some income? You have too much free time. Maybe if ya was workin you wouldn't have the time to worry about nonsense.
DAVID
How do you know it's nonsense?
MURRAY
I'm your father. You think I don't know what you're goin through? I know. I wanna help you. When I had troubles, I worked hard and got em outa my system. That's what I've been tryin' to tell ya. Why do ya hafta live like this? Let me talk to Zemsky. I can get you in. You'll make good money. Ya won't hafta worry about anything.
DAVID
I don't wanna work in the Post Office.
MURRAY
Why not?
DAVID
I just don't.
MURRAY
Ya think you're too good for the P.O.?
DAVID
No.
MURRAY
Cause you're not.
DAVID
I know.
MURRAY
Then why?
DAVID
I can't say.
MURRAY
Tell me.
DAVID
I can't!
MURRAY
Why?
DAVID
I don't wanna hurt your feelings.
MURRAY
You can't hurt my feelings. I love you. You're my son. Now, tell me, why can't you work in the Post Office?
(Pause.)
DAVID
I don't wanna end up like you.
(Silence, then—)
MURRAY
I don't blame you.
DAVID
You don't?
MURRAY
No. I'm only thinkin about what's best for you. There are other jobs in the world. Lots of things you can be. You can always work for the Transit Authority. You like trains. When you were a little moron, ya always looked out the window at the trainyard. Maybe ya wanna be a motorman or something? Lotsa benefits. Then there's the Sanitation Department. Those guys really got it easy. Lotsa opportunities for a moron like yourself.
DAVID
I'm gonna get the paper tomorrow morning. Make some calls. Go into the city.
MURRAY
Early. All the good jobs'll be taken. Don't forget, you got about an hours ride.
DAVID
I'm gonna try get some sleep.
MURRAY
Go down to Centre Street and tell 'em ya wanna take the Test.
DAVID
Okay Dad, goodnight!
MURRAY
Feelin' better! Ya see! A little talk with ya old man and you're ready to get crackin!
DAVID
Yeah.
MURRAY
What else is botherin ya?
DAVID
Nothin.
MURRAY
C'mon! Talk to ya old man! I can help ya! Just gimme the chance!
DAVID
It's nothin, really.
MURRAY
I know you weren't sittin here at three in the morning because you don't have a job! Ya haven't worked in months! What is it? A girl?
DAVID
No. Look, I'm gonna go—
MURRAY
That's what it is, isn't it? I know I'm right. You can talk to me. What's goin on? How're things goin with the wop?
DAVID
Don’t call her that!
MURRAY
Why not?
DAVID
I like her.
MURRAY
You like her. Ya moron ya, dontcha think she calls you Jew bastard behind your back?
DAVID
No.
MURRAY
What about her family?
DAVID
I don't know, look—
MURRAY
She got grandparents?
DAVID
Yeah. Dad, I really wanna—
MURRAY
Well, lemme tell ya somethin. They may be nice to your face. Wanna know all about the holidays and tell ya how much they like matzo balls and all that shit, but behind your back you're always a Jew. You may forget about it, but they won't let you forget about it. You may think you belong, but don't believe it. Wait till you have a fight. You'll see.
DAVID
I gotta—
MURRAY
You're better off with a Jewish girl, ya moron. Why dontcha go out with a Jewish girl?
DAVID
I don't know. Look, I'm tired—
MURRAY
I know why.
DAVID
Why?
MURRAY
You think they're all like your old lady, but you're wrong. Your old lady's poisoned your mind against Jewish girls. It makes sense that would happen. It's only normal, your mother bein the way she is, but not all Jewish girls are like your mother. Find yourself a Jewish girl, believe me, you'll be better off.
End of Excerpt