EVERYTHING  THAT  NEVER  HAPPENED  
Sarah  B.  Mantell  
 
 
Draft  4/1/18  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allison  Schwartz  
Paradigm  Talent  Agency  
140  Broadway,  26th  floor,  New  York,  NY  10005  
212-­‐897-­‐6400  
aschwartz@[Link]  
 
 
 

   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
“It  is  only  by  tracing  the  pinprick  back  to  other  pinpricks  –  when  his  mother  tried  to  
fix  his  sleeve  while  his  arm  was  still  in  it,  when  his  grandfather’s  fingers  fell  asleep  
from  stroking  his  great-­‐grandfather’s  damp  forehead,  when  Abraham  tested  the  
knife  point  to  be  sure  Isaac  would  feel  no  pain  –  that  the  Jew  is  able  to  know  why  it  
hurts.  When  a  Jew  encounters  a  pin,  he  asks:  What  does  it  remember  like?”  
-­‐Jonathan  Safran  Foer,  Everything  is  Illuminated  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     

  2  
  
 
 
A  NOTE  ON  THIS  WORLD  
This  play  is  everything  that  never  happened  in  The  Merchant  of  Venice.  Or  it’s  
Shakespeare’s  play  that  is  everything  that  never  happened.  In  any  case,  this  world  
exists  in  the  space  between  what  Shakespeare  made  and  the  Jewish  culture,  law,  and  
history  that  we  carry  in  our  bones.    
 
Clothing  can  suggest  16th  century  Venice  but  it  should  be  more  improvised,  more  
flexible,  more  like  rehearsal  room  costuming.  Nothing  in  this  play  should  get  within  
a  mile  of  stuffy.    
 
The  world  should  feel  like  a  Katch  Silva  photograph  
Like  “Steal  Your  Heart  Away”  by  Watkins  Family  Hour  
Like  a  Wolf  Kahn  painting  
Like  Andrew  Bird’s  entire  Tiny  Desk  Concert  
Which  is  to  say    
Like  joy  and  honesty  and  loss  
 
Each  scene  should  be  verbally  interrupted  by  the  next  one.  The  characters  may  
spend  a  moment  in  the  wrong  place  before  joining  the  new  scene.    
 
As  little  of  the  world  as  possibly  should  exist  physically.  It  is  created  primarily  
through  language.  We  should  be  able  to  see  it's  workings,  it's  construction,  its  
skeleton.  It  is  an  excuse  for  light.  And  unexpected  moments  of  color.  Above  all,  it  
breathes.  The  visual  world  of  the  play  functions  like  memory—we  only  see  the  
things  we  need,  the  things  that  we  touch.  The  water  should  live  entirely  in  language  
and  sound  until  the  last  scene  of  the  play.  Let  the  worlds  be  willed  into  being  in  an  
inconsistent  way.  Storytelling  is  messy.  It’s  all  about  what  we  leave  out.  
 
 
 
 
   

  3  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHARACTERS  
JESSICA,  female,  young  
LORENZO,  male,  young  
SHYLOCK,  male,  older  
GOBBO,  male,  younger  
 
 
 
A  NOTE  ON  CASTING  
At  the  heart  of  this  play  are  questions  about  the  privilege  and  pain  of  being  able  to  
pass  as  something  you’re  not.  And  about  Jewish  assimilation  into  whiteness.  This  is  
an  experience  that  white  passing  people  of  color  often  understand  in  a  way  others  
do  not.  There  are  few  substitutes  for  that  lived  experience  here.    
 
Please  drop  Shakespeare’s  characters  from  your  mind.  Avoid  casting  or  playing  
them  like  they  are  canonical.  These  characters  should  thrive  on  the  rhythmic,  
precise,  volleying  back  and  forth  of  language,  of  physicality,  of  humor  and  
heartbreak.  Think  less  William  Shakespeare  and  more  Aaron  Sorkin  meets  Pig  Iron.    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

  4  
  
1.  
 
Giddy  
But  not  touching  
 
The  widest  aperture  
 
LORENZO  
Come  here!  
 
JESSICA  
I  have  to  get  home!  
 
LORENZO  
Now?    
 
JESSICA  
My  father  
 
LORENZO  
This  is  my  favorite  place  
 
JESSICA  
Where?  
 
LORENZO  
Here  
 
JESSICA  
I’ve  never  been  to  this  part  of  the  city  
 
LORENZO  
What?  
 
JESSICA  
I’m  supposed  to  stay  inside  my  house  
Lorenzo  
I  don’t  come  to  this  part  of  the  city  
 
LORENZO  
It’s  your  city  
 
Too  loud  
 
This  is  your  city!  

  5  
  
JESSICA    
Shh!  
 
LORENZO  
Under  here  
 
They  duck  in  
 
JESSICA  
What  is  this?  
 
LORENZO  
You  said  
 
JESSICA  
Yeah?  
 
LORENZO  
In  one  of  your  letters  
The  first  one,  yes?  
That  you  love  places  you  wouldn’t  be  able  to  find  unless  someone  showed  you  
where  they  were  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  
The  ones  that  don’t  even  have  a  sign  on  the  door  
 
JESSICA  
That  you  have  to  already  know  it’s  there  or  else  it  just  basically  isn’t  
 
LORENZO  
Yes  
 
He  looks  around  the  shop  
 
See?  You’d  never  know  
 
JESSICA  
No  sign  
 
LORENZO  
No  sign  
 

  6  
Here  
I  get  these  almost  every  morning  
The  lady  who  runs  this  place—  
Been  here  for  twenty  years  
Sometimes  she  gives  me  free  things—  
 
JESSICA  
Like?    
 
LORENZO  
Like  something  they’ve  just  gotten  in  
Or  something  she’s  never  seen  me  buy  before  
 
JESSICA  
Of  course  she  does  
 
LORENZO  
Of  course?  
 
JESSICA  
Almost  every  morning?  
That’s  
Say,  six  days  per—  
Times  number  of  weeks  in  a—  
And  if  it  costs  
And…okay  
Yeah  
 
LORENZO  
What?  
 
JESSICA  
You’re  singlehandedly  keeping  her  in  business  
 
LORENZO  
Did  you  do  that  in  your  head?  
 
JESSICA  
You  should  propose  to  her  
That  would  be  cheaper  
 
LORENZO  
(Teasing)  
Stop  it  
Here,  you  need  to  try  
This!  

  7  
  
To  the  invisible  woman  
 
We’ll  take  this!  
 
  He  picks  up  and  lifts  it  in  an  arc  as  he  turns  away  from  Jessica  
The  thing  he  holds  is  an  unexpected  moment  of  color—a  flash  of  red  
  A  break  into  a  premonition,  a  prediction  
  It’s  not  good  or  bad—right  now  it’s  possibility  
 
JESSICA  
(With  momentum)  
It  is  three  days  into  the  spring  thaw  
 
Light  
Like  light  on  snow  
 
In  six  days  the  low  bridges  will  be  rivers  
 
Sound  of  a  river  
 
In  seven  you  will  hear  the  mumblings—in  an  ear,  out  a  mouth,  slipping  on  notes  
between  fingers,  between  houses—scribbling,  hoping,  mumbling  about  whether  the  
water  will  overflow,  overflow  and  turn  these  roads  into  one  big  flooded  town  
 
Sound  of  mumbling,  sound  of  fingers  on  paper,  sound  of  people  between  houses,  
sound  of  hoping  
 
The  water  grows  
 
But  not  yet.  
 
Sound  of  the  water  stops  
 
Right  now  it’s  still  mostly  frozen  solid  
 
Another  flash  of  red  
The  pomegranate  
 
LORENZO  
Hey!  
 
  Now  he  is  turning  it  over  in  his  hands  
  He  is  slowly,  carefully,  methodically  massaging  it  on  all  sides  
   
JESSICA  

  8  
What  are  you  doing  to  that  pomegranate?  
 
LORENZO  
For  Easter  don’t  you  ever—  
 
JESSICA  
Manhandle  fruit?  
 
LORENZO  
Crush  it  
 
JESSICA  
Crush  it?  
 
LORENZO  
Carefully  
 
JESSICA  
You  can’t  crush  something  carefully  
 
  He  shows  it  to  her  
 
Stop  that  
 
LORENZO  
I’m  making  it  better  
   
JESSICA  
You’re  making  that  pomegranate  into  not  a  pomegranate  
 
LORENZO  
Into  better  than  a  pomegranate  
 
JESSICA  
How  did  you  find  that  
 
He  laughs    
 
How  did  you  find  this  place?  
 
He  looks  at  her  
 
How  did  you  find  me?  
 
He  looks  at  her  
 

  9  
  Oh  my  god,  did  you  just  fall  in  love  with  me?  
 
  Yes  he  did  
 
LORENZO  
No  
 
JESSICA  
No?  
 
LORENZO  
No,  don’t  ask  me  that  yet  
 
Lorenzo  leads  her  towards  a  better  view  
Gobbo  appears,  maybe  over  a  hill,  behind  a  tree  
 
JESSICA  
Why  not?  
 
LORENZO  
Come  here  
By  the  river  
 
GOBBO  
(A  whisper-­‐shout)  
Jessica!  
 
JESSICA  
I  have  to  get  home    
 
GOBBO  
Hey,  your  father  /  wants  you  to  come—  
 
LORENZO  
It’s  your  servant!  
 
JESSICA  
My  father’s  servant  
 
LORENZO  
The  one  who  delivers  your  letters  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  

  10  
The  one  who  delivers  my  letters  
He  always  stands  there  as  I  write  them  
Always  wants  a  pie  to  eat  as  I—  
Why  is  he  hiding  behind  that  tree?  
 
GOBBO  
It’s  almost  sunset!    
 
JESSICA  
I  have  to  get  home  
 
LORENZO  
By  sunset?  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  
By  sunset  
 
GOBBO  
Jessica!  
 
LORENZO  
Why?  
 
JESSICA  
I  have  to  
 
LORENZO  
Why?  
 
JESSICA  
Because  I  have  to  
 
LORENZO  
Because  why?  
 
JESSICA  
Because  the  GATES  get  closed  
 
At  sunset  
 
Because  I  can’t  get  back  
If  it’s  after  sunset  
 

  11  
LORENZO  
The  gates  
 
JESSICA  
I’ve  gotta  go  
 
LORENZO  
The  gates  to  the  ghetto—?  
 
She  looks  down  
 
Look  at  me  
 
  She  does  
 
Because  the  gates  to  the  ghetto  close  at  sunset  
Because  you    
Live?  
In  the  ghetto  
 
Because—  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  
Jewish  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  
Like  the  men  who  lend  the  money?  
 
JESSICA  
Like  the  men  who  lend  the  money  
 
LORENZO  
But  they’re…  
 
JESSICA    
They’re  what?  
 
LORENZO  
How  is  this  the  first  time  I’m  hearing  this?  
After  all  this  time  

  12  
  
JESSICA  
All  this  time?  
You’ve  seen  me  once  before  
Met  me  in  a  stall  and  walked  me  across  the  city  
 
LORENZO  
After  all  those  letters  
Were  you  going  to  tell  me?  
Was  that  something  you  were  going  to  mention?  
Is  that  why  you’ll  only  let  me  send  letters  though  your  servant?  
Letters  with  no  address    
Why  it  took  so  long  for  you  to—  
To  find  a  way  to  meet  me  here?  
 
She  doesn’t  have  an  answer  
 
I  made  you  a  pomegranate!    
 
JESSICA  
I  mean,  you  crushed  it  
 
LORENZO  
I’m  showing  you  this  place  I  love!  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  
And  you  haven’t  even  told  me  who  you  are  
 
JESSICA  
My  father  is  waiting  and  the  gates  are  closing  
 
LORENZO  
Your  father  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
Thinking  out  loud  now  
 
LORENZO  
Your  father  
 
JESSICA  

  13  
…yes  
 
LORENZO  
The  men  who  lend  the  money…  
 
JESSICA  
What  about  the—  
 
LORENZO  
Those  Jewish  men  who  lend  the  money…  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  
What’s  his  name?  
 
GOBBO  
Jessica!  
 
LORENZO  
Jessica  
What’s  your  father’s  name?  
 
A  beat  
 
JESSICA  
My  father’s  name  is  Shylock  
 
 
SHIFT  -­‐  2  
 
 
  Shylock  interrupts  the  scene  
 
SHYLOCK  
Francesco  
 
JESSICA  
No  
 
She  joins  him  
  Gobbo  is  helping  her  cook  
Handing  her  ingredients  
 
SHYLOCK  

  14  
Lapachio,  Antonio,  Gasparo  
 
JESSICA  
Dad  
 
SHYLOCK  
Galvachio?    
 
JESSICA  
Not  that  one  
For  sure  not  that  one  
 
SHYLOCK  
Which  one  should  I  lend  to?  
 
JESSICA  
A  mercer,  a  grocer,  a  merchant…?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Yes  
Which  one  
 
JESSICA  
Why  do  you  always  ask  me?  
 
SHYLOCK  
You  have  a  mind  for  this  
 
JESSICA  
You  keep  saying  that  
But  right  now  I’m  trying  to  cook,  so  
 
SHYLOCK  
Fine  
 
She  cooks  
He  looks  at  her  
 
SHYLOCK  
You’ve  gotten  tall  
 
JESSICA  
Stop  it  
I  haven’t  
 
SHYLOCK  

  15  
You’ve  gotten  so  tall  
 
JESSICA  
Dad  
 
SHYLOCK  
What?    
 
JESSICA  
Stop    
 
SHYLOCK  
Okay  okay  
 
JESSICA  
I’m  just  wearing  shoes  
And  standing  on  carpet  
 
SHYLOCK  
Mmhm  
 
JESSICA  
I’m  not  tall  compared  to  anyone  else  
I’m  only  tall  compared  to  you  
 
SHYLOCK  
Oh  yes?  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
SHYLOCK  
Is  there  another  measurement  that  matters?  
 
She  chops  
Shylock  studies  her  
 
SHYLOCK  
Noah  
 
JESSICA  
What?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Benjamin  
 

  16  
JESSICA  
Noah  and  Ben  want  you  to  lend  them  money?  
 
SHYLOCK  
No  
This  is  another  subject  
 
About  you  
 
JESSICA  
NO  
 
SHYLOCK  
About  who—  
 
JESSICA  
No!  
 
SHYLOCK  
Who  should  marry  my  very  tall—  
 
JESSICA  
Carrot  
 
SHYLOCK  
Daughter  
 
  Gobbo  hands  her  a  carrot  
 
SHYLOCK  
Mendel?  
 
JESSICA  
Carrot  
 
Gobbo  hands  her  a  carrot  
She  chops  
 
SHYLOCK  
Samuel  
 
JESSICA  
Carrot  
 
Gobbo  hands  her  a  carrot  
She  chops  louder  

  17  
  
SHYLOCK  
You  think  I  didn’t  see  you  
Running  up  just  as  the  gates  closed  tonight  
All  out  of  breath  and—  
Do  you  think  I’m  stupid?    
I  know  what  being  in  love  looks  like    
 
Gobbo  looks  up  
Shylock  doesn’t  see  him  
 
JESSICA  
Stop  making  fun  of  me  
 
SHYLOCK  
Did  he  run  ahead?  So  no  one  would  see?  
How  could  I  consider  him  for  you  if  I  don’t  know  who  he  is?  
 
JESSICA  
You’d  consider    
Someone  I—  
 
SHYLOCK  
I’d  think  about  it  
 
JESSICA  
And  if  it’s  someone  you  wouldn’t  like?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Would  my  daughter  pick  someone  I  wouldn’t  like?  
 
JESSICA  
How  many  restrictions  on  who  you  would  even  begin  to  consider  if  I—  
 
SHYLOCK  
How  many  restrictions?  
How  many  restrictions  on  where  I  can  eat  and  sleep  and  move    
Here  
In  Venice  
In  1596  
 
Less  than  that  
 
JESSICA  
Stop  bothering  me  
 

  18  
SHYLOCK  
How  many  restrictions  in  the  Pale  of  Settlement  
 
JESSICA  
That’s  not  Venice  
 
SHYLOCK  
No?  
 
JESSICA  
That’s  Russia  
 
SHYLOCK  
Right  
 
JESSICA  
That’s  1791  
By  the  Dnieper  River  
That’s  forever  from  now  
 
SHYLOCK  
And  how  many  restrictions  on  what  I  can  do  for  a  living?  Selling  rags  or  lending  
money.  That’s  now,  yes?  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
She  goes  back  to  the  soup  
A  moment  
 
SHYLOCK  
And  you’re  not  going  to  tell  me  
 
He  searches  her  face  
 
You’ll  be  gone  
In  another  house  
Six  children  
Twenty  grandchildren  
Descendants  numbering  in  the  hundreds  
In  the  hundreds  and  hundreds  
You’ll  get  as  short  as  me  
As  bound  to  forget  important  words  like…  
 
He  searches  for  the  word  
 

  19  
JESSICA  
Astringent  
 
SHYLOCK  
Yes!  
 
You’ll  be  all  those  things  
At  this  rate  
Before  you  tell  me  his  name  
 
JESSICA  
Dad  
 
SHYLOCK  
It’s  not  Mendel?  
 
JESSICA  
No  
 
SHYLOCK  
Isaac?  
 
JESSICA  
Dad  
 
SHYLOCK  
Which  one  
My  very  tall  daughter  
Should  I  pick?    
 
 
SHIFT  -­‐  3  
 
 
Back  by  the  river  
 
LORENZO  
Shylock?  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
She  joins  him  
 
LORENZO  
Your  father’s  name  is  Shylock  

  20  
  
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  
I  know  him  
 
JESSICA  
You  do?  
 
LORENZO  
He…  
 
JESSICA  
What?  
 
LORENZO  
(a  half-­‐truth)  
…my  friend  who’s  looking  to  borrow,  right?  
Says  he’ll  borrow  from—  
Says  Shylock  last  of  all  
Not  if  there’s  anyone  else  who  will  lend  –  
 
GOBBO  
Jessica!  
 
JESSICA  
Coming!  
 
LORENZO  
When  were  you  going  to  tell  me  who  you  were?  
 
JESSICA  
NEVER,  okay?  
 
Never  
I  was  going  to  drift  back  into  the  ghetto  like  some  Monday  morning  ghost  and  marry  
a  man  I’ve  known  my  entire  life  and  have  sixteen  children  pop  out  fully  formed  from  
under  my  very  long  skirts  and  stay  
 
And  stay    
Inside  those  walls  on  that  one  little  scrap  of  pavement  on  top  of  so  much  water  until  
my  body  turned  to  bones  and  my  bones  turned  to  dust  and  you  never  ever  saw  me  
ever  again  
 
A  beat  

  21  
  
Just  first  
 
I  wanted  to  come  here  
With  you  
And  see  one  more  river  
 
LORENZO  
Listen  
Jessica,  that’s  not  some  little—  
This  is  a  problem  that—  
And  I  am  a  person  that—  
This  is,    
This  is…  
 
JESSICA  
Venice    
This  is  Venice  
In  1596  
 
I’ll  go  
 
She  turns  to  go  
 
LORENZO  
Wait  
 
She  stops  
 
Just  let  me  think  
Just  let  me  think  a  moment  
 
Okay  
Yes  
Leave  with  me  
 
She  turns  to  him  
 
JESSICA  
Is  that  a  joke?  
 
LORENZO  
Is  it  funny?  
 
JESSICA  
No  

  22  
  
LORENZO  
Leave  with  me  
 
JESSICA  
Like  it’s  that  simple  
 
LORENZO  
It  is  that  simple!  
 
JESSICA  
You’re  not  Jewish  
 
LORENZO  
Neither  are  you!  
 
JESSICA  
What?  
 
LORENZO  
Not  if  you  take  my  name  
 
Not  if  you  take    
My  religion  
My  culture  
My  history  
 
Not  if  you  take  my—  
Then  neither  are  you  
 
JESSICA  
Is  that  a  proposal?  
 
LORENZO  
Yes  
 
GOBBO  
Jessica!  
 
JESSICA  
Really?  
That?  
 
LORENZO  
What?  
 

  23  
JESSICA  
I  thought  it  would  be  less—  
Nevermind  
Go  on  
 
LORENZO  
You  say  one  vow  
One  vow,  one  drop  of  water  on  your  head,  and  you—  
 
You  can  visit  every  part  of  the  city  
Of  the  world  
And  anywhere  else  you  want  
Jessica  
Leave  with  me    
 
JESSICA  
Now?  
 
My  things  
My  clothes  
My  mother’s  ring    
I  can’t  just  leave  
 
LORENZO  
Then  when  will  you  sneak  back  out?  
Will  it  take  months  again?  Months  before  I  can  see  you  months  before  we—  
 
GOBBO  
Jessica!  
 
LORENZO  
Jessica  
 
JESSICA  
I  don’t  know  
We  need    
We  need  a  plan  
 
LORENZO  
I’ll  make  us  a  plan    
 
He  tries  to  make  a  plan  
He  paces  
He  gestures  
He  has  a  plan  
 

  24  
LORENZO  
I  have  a  plan  
 
A  beat  
 
JESSICA  
What’s  the  plan?  
 
LORENZO  
(Kind  of  in  one  big  breath)  
You  get  him  to  leave  the  house  and  then  while  he’s  out  of  the  house  you  dress  in  
boy’s  clothes  so  you  look  like  a  man  and  I  borrow  this  boat  that  my  friend  has?  And  
you  drop  all  your  stuff  out  the  window  into  my  boat  and  then  sneak  out  the  window  
into  the  boat  and  then  we  row  to  the  church  and  then  we  travel  away  and  then  we’re  
there  and  then  we’re  GONE  
 
He  is  very  proud  of  this  
 
JESSICA  
That’s  the  plan?  
 
LORENZO  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
That’s  the  plan  
 
LORENZO  
It  is  
 
A  beat  
 
JESSICA  
Okay  
 
LORENZO  
Okay?  
 
JESSICA  
Okay!  
 
LORENZO  
Come  here!  
 
JESSICA  
Where?  

  25  
  
LORENZO  
Here  by  the  river  
 
Sound  of  the  river  
 
JESSICA  
(Excited)  
Which  one?  
 
LORENZO  
Which  one?  
 
She  has  an  exuberant  “The  world  is  ours!”  moment  
 
JESSICA  
By  the  Dneiper  three  days  into  the  spring  thaw  
Along  the  waterways  at  Mardi  Gras  
By  the  hot  springs,  all  the  way  up  through  the  mountains  and  you  won’t  be  able  to  
put  more  than  a  toe  into  the  warmest  spring  because  the  earth  has  made  it  too  hot  
 
LORENZO  
Hey—  
 
JESSICA  
By  Lake  Ontario  
By  the  falls  towards  Hana,  towards  Tacoma,  by  Buttermilk,  by  the  side  of  Route  One,  
by  the  glass  of  water  I’d  put  by  your  bed  without  you  asking    
 
LORENZO  
(Confused)  
By  this  river  
By  this  one  
 
JESSICA  
Do  you  hear  it?  
 
  The  sound  of  the  river  gets  louder  
 
LORENZO  
Hear  what?  
 
GOBBO  
Jessica!  
 
She  pushes  aside  the  sound  of  the  river  

  26  
  
JESSICA  
I’ll  have  to  get  him  to  leave  the  house  
 
LORENZO  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  
Maybe—  
 
JESSICA  
Wait  
 
LORENZO  
What?  
 
JESSICA  
Who’s  your  friend?  
 
LORENZO  
My  friend…  
 
JESSICA  
The  one  who  needs  the  money  
Who  needs  to  borrow  money  
 
If  I  tell  him  to  lend  to  your  friend    
We  can  get  him  out  of  the  house  when  we  want,  exactly  when  we  want  
 
Will  he  do  it?  Your  friend?    
 
LORENZO  
He’ll  do  it  
 
JESSICA  
Who  is  he?    
 
LORENZO  
He’s  a  merchant  
 
JESSICA  
I  need  a  name  
 

  27  
LORENZO  
Antonio  
 
JESSICA  
I’ll  tell  him  the  merchant  
I’ll  tell  him  Antonio  
 
LORENZO  
And  then?  
   
  A  beat  
 
JESSICA  
Then  we’ll  steal  away  
 
 
SHIFT  -­‐  4  
 
 
The  kitchen  
 
SHYLOCK  
You’re  sure  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
SHYLOCK  
The  merchant  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
He  thinks  
 
How  many  bay  leaves?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Three  
Are  you  almost  done?  
 
She  adds  them    
 
JESSICA  
I’m  done  
 

  28  
SHYLOCK  
Why  the  merchant?  
 
JESSICA  
You  said  I  have  a  mind  for  this,  didn’t  you?  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  did  
Yes  yes  I  did  
 
JESSICA  
Why  not  the  merchant?  
 
SHYLOCK  
He  calls  me  names  
In  the  street  
 
JESSICA  
He  does?  
 
She  picks  up  the  pot,  hands  it  to  Gobbo  
 
Do  we  have  to  make  everything  hard?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Hard?  
 
JESSICA  
Couldn’t  this  just  be  easy  
Just  be  easy,  just  be  business?  
 
She  realizes  she  forgot  to  add…  
 
Damn  it  
 
SHYLOCK  
Pepper  
 
Shylock  adds  it    
Gobbo  takes  the  pot  away  
She  looks  at  Shylock  
 
JESSICA  
It’s  business,  right?  
 
He  looks  at  her  

  29  
  
SHYLOCK  
You’re  sure  
About  Antonio  
You’re  sure  
 
She  has  a  tiny  tug  of  war  with  herself  then:  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
Yes,  Dad  
 
I’m  sure  
 
 
SHIFT  -­‐  5  
 
 
Gobbo  trips  
A  basket  of  linens  across  the  floor  
She  steals  a  sheet  
He  tries  to  fold  
 
JESSICA  
This  is  what  being  in  love  is  like:  
 
GOBBO  
Stop  
 
JESSICA  
This  is  what  being  in  love  is  like:  
It’s  like  falling  into  a  pile  of  leaves  
And  the  leaves  aren’t  wet  
Or  filled  with  worms  
Or  hiding  anything  sharp  and  pointy  at  all  
 
A  beat  
 
GOBBO  
You’re  terrible  at  this  
 
JESSICA  
Being  in  love  is  like  
 
GOBBO  
Jessica  

  30  
  
JESSICA  
Like  someone  is  pricking  you  with  a  million  tiny  little  needles,  like,  ow  ow  ow  only  
it’s  a  good  thing  
 
GOBBO  
Please  stop  
 
JESSICA  
Like  falling  into  the  water  from  a  great  height  and  it’s  warm—warm  on  a  cold  day  or  
cold  on  a  warm  day—and  just  so  deep  that  it  goes  up  to  your  shoulder  blades  and  
hides  you  but  still  you  can  stand  
 
GOBBO  
(Actually  kind  of  moved  by  this)  
That’s  actually  pretty  /  good  
 
JESSICA  
And  you’re  standing  on  seahorses  
 
GOBBO  
Okay  
I’m  leaving  
 
JESSICA  
Don’t  go  
 
GOBBO  
I’m  going  
 
JESSICA  
Don’t!  
 
GOBBO  
Then  give  me  your  dress  to  vomit  into  
 
JESSICA  
I’m  not  that  bad  
 
GOBBO  
You  are  
 
JESSICA  
Am  I  really?  
 
GOBBO  

  31  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
Because  I  trust  you…  
 
GOBBO  
Yeah  
 
JESSICA  
To  tell  me  
 
A  beat  
 
I’m  terrible?  
 
GOBBO  
You  are  terrible,  you  are  so  terrible,  you  are  worse  than  terrible,  you  are  —  
 
JESSICA  
I  get  it  
 
GOBBO  
And  seahorses?  
 
JESSICA  
Yeah  
 
GOBBO  
Seahorses  
 
JESSICA  
It’s  a  Jewish  thing  
 
GOBBO  
A  Jewish  thing?  
 
JESSICA  
Yeah,  like  Jewish  myth  and  stuff  
 
He  thinks  
 
GOBBO  
Is  that  a  real  /  thing?  
 
JESSICA  
NO  it’s  not  a  real  /  thing!  

  32  
  
GOBBO  
If  you  do  that  to  me  one  more  freaking  time!  
 
JESSICA  
Your  face!  
 
GOBBO  
I  swear  to  god—  
 
JESSICA  
Oh  my  god  your  face  
 
GOBBO  
I’m  done    
 
JESSICA  
Love  me  anyway?  
 
GOBBO  
Am  I  allowed  to?  
 
It  was  meant  as  a  joke  
But  they’re  both  embarrassed    
 
She  starts  folding  
 
JESSICA  
Don’t  go  
 
GOBBO  
I’m  folding  laundry  
 
JESSICA  
I  mean  this  house  this  job  this—me  
 
GOBBO  
Jessica  
 
JESSICA  
Don’t  go  yet  
Not  yet  
 
GOBBO  
You’re  going  
 

  33  
JESSICA  
Yes  but—  
 
GOBBO  
You  want  me  to  stay  
And  see  your  father’s  face  when  you—  
 
JESSICA  
Don’t  
 
A  beat  
 
You’re  leaving  him  too  
 
GOBBO  
I’m  different  
I’m  not  his  family,  his  blood  
I’m  not  even  his  religion  
 
JESSICA  
Going  to  go  work  for  a  Christian  
 
GOBBO  
I’m  a  Christian!  
 
JESSICA  
Fine,  for  someone  like  you  
 
GOBBO  
No,  for  someone  with  money  
 
JESSICA  
You’re  paid  fine  
 
GOBBO  
I’m  sick  of  living  in  the  ghetto  
 
JESSICA  
Me  too!  
 
GOBBO  
At  least  for  you  there’s—  
 
JESSICA  
What?  
 

  34  
GOBBO  
People  
 
JESSICA  
If  they’re  my  people  why  do  I  spend  all  my  time  with  you?  
 
GOBBO  
Why  do  you?  
 
He  looks  at  her  
 
He  pretends  to  make  a  move  to  go  
 
He  pretends  to  make  a  move  to  go  
 
He  pretends  to—  
 
JESSICA  
Don’t!  
 
A  painful  moment  
 
JESSICA  
I’m  sorry  
 
GOBBO  
Sorry?  
 
JESSICA  
Go  
Go  now  
 
GOBBO  
(Disappointed)  
Now?  
 
JESSICA  
Tonight  
 
GOBBO  
I—  
 
JESSICA  
I’m  being—  
Yes  
You  should  

  35  
  
He  thinks  about  this  
 
GOBBO  
Tomorrow  after  sunset  
When  he’s  off  bringing  Antonio  the  money  
You  won’t  leave  unless  I—  
 
She  pulls  out  a  letter  
Holds  it  out  
 
JESSICA  
No?  
 
GOBBO  
Oh  
 
Teasing:  
 
Let  me  guess  who  this  is  going  to  
Wait,  wait  
I’m  gonna  figure  it  out  
 
JESSICA  
(Serious)  
Take  the  letter  
 
He  does  
 
You  don’t  believe  me  
 
Okay,  Gobbo  
As  sure  as  there  is  lamb  for  dinner  
 
GOBBO  
I  bought  chicken  
 
JESSICA  
As  sure  as  there  is  chicken  
And  candles  
And  a  prayer  for  my  mother  
 
As  sure  as  that    
I’ll  go  
 
GOBBO  

  36  
Okay  
 
JESSICA  
My  dad’s  off  making  a  deal  with  that  merchant    
 
GOBBO  
He  moves  quickly,  huh?  
When  you  tell  him  to?  
 
She  looks  at  him,  resentful  
 
You’ll  break  his  heart  into  the  smallest  pieces  
 
JESSICA  
Stop  
 
GOBBO  
You’ll  break  it  into  dust  
 
JESSICA  
Isn’t  it  almost  sunset?  
 
Suddenly  it  is  
Shylock  comes  running  back  
The  sun  sets  as  he  does  
A  speeding  up  of  the  inevitable  
In  the  darkness,  the  light  of  the  candles  
We  can  see  just  the  backs  of  her  hands  in  the  light  
Maybe  the  melody  for  the  Chatzi  Kaddish  here  
We  do  not  hear  the  prayer  for  lighting  Sabbath  candles  
 
She  uncovers  her  eyes  
And  as  she  can  see,  suddenly  so  can  we  
 
They  leave  for  services  
And  return,  maybe  all  in  one  long  arc  around  the  table  
Maybe  there’s  no  time  in  between  the  two,  just  a  change  in  body  language  
Maybe  the  wind  at  their  backs  on  the  way  there  and  in  their  faces  on  the    
way  back  
 
Inside  the  house  
Sabbath  dinner  
Something’s  wrong  between  them  now  
 
JESSICA  
What  is  wrong  with  you?  

  37  
  
Hey  
 
Hey  
 
SHYLOCK  
It’s  her  Yahrzeit  
 
JESSICA  
That’s  not  what’s  wrong  with  you  
It’s  her  Yahrzeit  every  year  
 
SHYLOCK  
Exactly!  
 
JESSICA  
Fourteen  years  of  Yahrzeits  
I  can  tell  that’s  not  what’s  wrong  with  you  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  saw  you  
 
JESSICA  
What?  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  saw  you  sitting  up  there  with  all  the  women  
Saying  it  under  your  breath  
 
JESSICA  
What?  
 
The  Kaddish?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Across  the  synagogue    
I  saw  you  
 
JESSICA  
I  didn’t  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  was  looking  right  at  you  
 
JESSICA  
Yeah,  except  I  didn’t  

  38  
  
GOBBO  
(Under  his  breath)  
Kaddish?  
 
JESSICA  
Yes,  it’s  a  Jewish  thing  
 
SHYLOCK  
What  was  that?  
 
Speak  up  if  you’re  talking  to  me  
 
GOBBO  
Is  it  a  real  Jewish  thing  or  a  fake  Jewish  thing?    
 
SHYLOCK  
A  REAL  THING  
 
JESSICA  
Dad  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  was  looking  right  at  you  
You  can’t  honor  your  mother  by    
By  saying  a  prayer  you’re  not  allowed  to  say  
 
JESSICA  
(To  Gobbo)  
It’s  the  prayer  you  say  when  you’re  mourning  
For  the  person  you  lost,  the  person  who  died  
 
SHYLOCK  
Why  would  he  need  to  know  that?  
 
JESSICA  
It’s  a  prayer  for  death  
 
SHYLOCK  
(Angry  now)  
A  prayer  it  takes  ten  men  to  say  
A  prayer  only  the  men  say  
 
Are  you  one  of  ten?  
Are  you  a  man?  
You  can’t  just—  

  39  
  
JESSICA  
AND  I  DIDN’T  
 
I’m  going  to  Miri’s  
 
SHYLOCK  
Not  without  my  okay  
 
A  beat  
 
That  deal  
That  deal  you  told  me  to  make  
 
JESSICA  
Is  that  what  this  is  about?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Listen  
 
JESSICA  
You  agree  he’s  sufficient  
What’s  the  problem?  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  don’t  like  him  
 
JESSICA  
This  again?  
 
SHYLOCK  
I’m  trying  to  tell  you  something  
 
JESSICA  
That  you  don’t  like  him  
 
SHYLOCK  
No  I—  
 
JESSICA  
And  you’ve  just  decided  that?  
With  no,  no—  
 
SHYLOCK  
What?  
 

  40  
JESSICA  
Research  
 
SHYLOCK  
Research?  
He  calls  me  names,  he  spits  on  me  in  the  street    
Is  there  some  scholarly  research  I  should  be  doing?  
A  history  about  him  I  should  be  reading?  
I  can’t  know  I  dislike  someone?  
 
JESSICA  
Have  you  asked  anybody  else?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Asked…?  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
SHYLOCK  
Before  I  sign  the  agreement  
 
JESSICA  
You  haven’t  signed?  
 
SHYLOCK  
We  wrote  it  all  out  
All  of  it  but—  
 
JESSICA  
But  what?    
 
SHYLOCK    
The  sun  was  going  down  
 
JESSICA  
You  didn’t  sign  it  before  Shabbat!?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Tomorrow  
As  soon  as  the  sun  sets  
As  soon  as  Shabbat  ends  I’ll  go  back  and  sign  it,  go  back  and—  
 
JESSICA  
Did  it  creep  up  on  you?  
Doing  that  thing  it  does  every  day?  

  41  
All  setting  in  the  sky  and  stuff?  
Or  you  were  like,  this  time  I’ll  just  work  on  the  Sabbath  and  it’ll  be  totally  fine  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  was  just  
Just  
 
JESSICA  
What?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Distracted  
 
JESSICA  
By  not  liking  him?  
Why  do  you  always  imagine  the  worst?  of—of  
 
SHYLOCK  
No  
 
JESSICA  
Your  deals,  your  clients,  your  daughter?  
What  makes  you  expect  the  worst  thing?  
Why  does  all  the  bad  gather  into  a  pile  for  you  and  not  the  good?  
 
SHYLOCK  
I—  
Jessica  
 
She  picks  up  the  pomegranate  
Tosses  it  at  him  
A  little  too  hard  
He  catches  it  
 
SHYLOCK  
You’re  throwing  fruit  at  me?  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
What’s  in  it?  
 
He  tosses  it  to  Gobbo  
 
SHYLOCK  
I’m  not  in  the  mood  to  play  with  you  
 

  42  
   Gobbo  tosses  it  to  Jessica  
 
JESSICA  
I’m  not  playing  
 
Jessica  tosses  it  to  Shylock  
 
What’s  in  it?  
 
GOBBO  
Seeds  
 
He  tosses  it  to  her  
 
JESSICA  
No!  See  
 
She  starts  crushing  it  
 
GOBBO   SHYLOCK  
Hey!   Hey,  stop  that
 
 
Shylock  tries  to  take  it  back  
Maybe  they  both  do  
 
JESSICA  
Look  
It  will  be  just  juice  
And  you  can—  
It  can  be  just  the  good  part,  it  can  if  you  just—  
 
  She  crushes  it  too  much  
It  bursts  
 
Damn  it  
 
Gobbo  moves  to  clean  it  up  
 
I’m  saying  
It’s  better  
 
If  you’re  willing  to  just  see  it  differently  
It’s  all  about  how  you—  
 
Not  everyone  is  awful,  and  I  didn’t  say  the  Kaddish,  and  the  loan  is  fine    

  43  
Ask  someone  rather  than  just  assuming  he  is  terrible,  yeah?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Listen,  I—  
 
JESSICA  
If  you  think  something’s  so  wrong  in  the  world  maybe,  maybe  the  thing  that’s  wrong  
is—  
YOU  
Okay?  
You  
Maybe  it’s  all  just  YOU  
 
A  painful  moment  
 
She  takes  a  breath  to  speak  
 
SHYLOCK  
No  
Please  
Don’t,  okay?  
 
A  very  long  moment  
 
Slower,  softer  now:  
 
Fourteen?  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
SHYLOCK  
Fourteen    
 
A  moment  
 
JESSICA  
I  remember  the  edge  of  her  skirt  
 
A  beat  
 
Against  the  ground  
 
I  remember  the  edge  of  her  skirt  and  a  piece  of  bread  
On  the  floor    
Next  to  it  

  44  
  
A  beat  
 
SHYLOCK  
The  hametz  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
Does  it  feel  like  fourteen?  
 
SHYLOCK  
No  
 
JESSICA  
Yeah,  me  neither  
 
SHYLOCK  
I’m  not  sure  it  works  in  years  
I’m  not  sure  loss  works  like  that  
 
They  watch  the  candles  burning  down  
 
She  goes  up  to  bed  
Maybe  she  takes  the  pomegranate  stained  towel  from  Gobbo:  an  apology  
 
Shylock  watches  the  candles  burning  down  farther  
He  says  something  quietly  to  Gobbo  
Gobbo  signals  to  Lorenzo  and  leaves  
 
A  snap  into  daylight  
 
 
SHIFT  -­‐  6  
 
  Shylock  and  Lorenzo  
They  are  both  on  edge  
 
LORENZO  
Hi  
 
SHYLOCK  
Hi  
 
An  awkward  moment  
 

  45  
LORENZO  
Why…am  I  here?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Because  I  told  you  to  
 
LORENZO  
Yes  
No  
I  mean  
You  told  me  to  and—  
 
SHYLOCK  
And…  
 
LORENZO  
And…  
 
SHYLOCK  
And  so…  
 
A  beat  
 
LORENZO  
Should  I  leave  /  now?  
 
SHYLOCK  
So  there’s  a  man  
 
LORENZO  
Right  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  want  to  know    
What  kind  of  a  man  he  is  
 
LORENZO  
Right  
Okay  
 
SHYLOCK  
My…  
Daughter  
 
Suggested  
I  ask  

  46  
  
LORENZO  
Okay  
Your  daughter  told  you  to  ask  
 
SHYLOCK  
To  ask  
 
I  have  questions  
I  think  you  have  answers  
 
LORENZO  
Alright  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  just…  
 
I  want  to  know  
 
LORENZO  
Yes  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  want  to  know…  
 
LORENZO  
What  do  you  want  to  know?  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  want  to  know  
 
He  struggles  with  how  to  ask  what  he  wants  
He  can’t  figure  out  how,  so  he  asks  this  instead  
It’s  the  most  flustered  and  out  of  his  depth  we’ve  seen  him  
 
Does  he  know  how  to  pull  cool  air  through  a  hot  house  at  night?  
How  to  keep  a  basil  plant  alive?  
How  to  cook  a  fish?  
How  to  read  a  book  without  turning  to  the  end  when  he  really  wants  to  know  what  
happened?  
How  to  unwobble  a  wobbily  chair  or  decide  when  a  chair  is  too  far  gone  to  fix?  
How  to  listen  
And  –  
 
A  beat  
 

  47  
LORENZO  
Well  
I  
 
Yes?  
Yes.  
 
He  pulls  himself  up  tall  
 
I  mean  
I  don’t  like  fish  
But  otherwise    
 
Yes  
 
A  beat  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  don’t  mean  YOU  
 
LORENZO  
Oh…!  
 
SHYLOCK  
Why  would  I  care  if—  
No!  
I  don’t  care  if  you  can  cook  
 
LORENZO  
Right  
No  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  mean  that  merchant  
I  mean  your  friend  the  merchant  who  –    
 
LORENZO  
Yes  
 
SHYLOCK  
Why  would  I  care  if—  
No!  
 
I  want  to  know  
What  kind  of  a  person  he  is  to  someone  
 

  48  
 This  is  hard  to  say  
 
To  someone  who’s  not  me  
 
A  beat  
 
LORENZO  
I  don’t  know  if…  
 
If  he  knows  those  things    
About  basil  and  air  
And  fish?  
 
But  he    
 
He’s  my  friend  
And  he—  
 
  A  moment  of  connection  
 
He  is  kind  
To  people  who  aren’t  you  
 
SHYLOCK  
Okay  
 
LORENZO  
I’m  going  to  go  now  
 
Lorenzo  starts  to  go  
  But  Shylock  senses  something  
 
SHYLOCK  
You  seem  relieved  
 
LORENZO  
What?  
No  
 
Calm,  scary:  
 
SHYLOCK  
What  did  you  think  I  would  do  to  you?  
 
LORENZO  
I—  

  49  
  
For  a  moment  Lorenzo  is  truly  scared  
 
And  then  he’s  not  
 
I  don’t.  
 
Go  to  his  house  
Sign  the  agreement  
 
SHYLOCK  
Bond  
 
LORENZO  
Okay,  bond  
 
Shylock  waves  him  off  
 
There  will  be  good  meat  and  good  wine    
And—  
 
SHYOCK  
Enough  
 
LORENZO  
Pomegranates!  
 
The  pomegranate  still  on  the  table  
He  grabs  it,  ready  to  demonstrate  
 
Do  you  know  how  to  crush  them  so  the  seeds—  
 
Shylock  looks  at  him  sharply  
 
SHYLOCK  
What  did  you  say?  
 
He  knows  suddenly  and  entirely  who  this  man  is  
Lorenzo  looks  at  the  mess  of  the  pomegranate  
It’s  the  burst  one  
It  leaks  a  little  
 
LORENZO  
(Confused)  
Sorry,  it  was  already…  
 

  50  
 Shylock  looks  at  him  
 
What?  
 
Shylock  looks  at  him  
 
What?  
 
Shylock  looks  at  him  a  very  long  time  
He  looks  at  him  as  a  body  and  a  brain  that  someone  he  loves  could  love  
For  a  moment  it  seems  he  might  kill  him,  then:  
 
SHYLOCK  
Go  
 
  Lorenzo  is  confused  
Lorenzo  goes  
 
 
SHIFT  -­‐  7  
 
 
Jessica  and  Gobbo  throw  everything  they  need  to  pack  across  the  floor  
He  starts  packing  
She’s  at  the  window  
It’s  still  light  
 
A  thread  of  a  melody  
The  Chatzi  Kaddish  
 
GOBBO  
Why  aren’t  you  packing?  
 
He  packs  
 
He’s  going  to  be  here  
If  you  want  to  be  packed  you  actually  have  to  pack  
 
JESSICA  
I  know  that  
 
It’s  just  
 
GOBBO  
What?  
 

  51  
 A  beat  
 
Oh  come  on!  
 
JESSICA  
Hey  
 
GOBBO  
You’re  not  packing…because  you’re  not  supposed  to?  
Because  it’s  still  the  Sabbath?    
 
Her  lack  of  answer  is  a  yes  
 
Jessica!  
Aren’t  you  about  to  climb  out  a  window,  row  across  a  river,  become  a  different  
person  and  never  see  another  Sabbath  again?  
 
JESSICA  
…Yes  
 
A  moment  
 
GOBBO  
So?  
 
JESSICA  
It  just  feels  wrong,  okay?  
I’m  just  
 
Maybe  she  does  a  little  warm  up  
Maybe  jumping  jacks  
She  tries  to  get  herself  to  pack  
 
Trying  to…  
It’s  like  sense  memory  
 
You  gave  him  the  message?  
 
GOBBO  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
To  come  at  sunset,  yes?  
 
GOBBO  
Yes  

  52  
  
JESSICA  
And  you  brought  the  clothes?  
 
GOBBO  
Yes  
 
She  gestures:  give  ‘em  
 
I  still  think  it’s  a  dumb,  stupid  plan  
Dress  like  a  boy?  Borrow  a  boat?  
 
JESSICA  
Just  give  em    
 
He  does  
She  looks  at  them  
 
I’m  not  going  to  make  a  very  good-­‐looking  boy,  am  I?  
 
GOBBO  
That  was  part  of  your  escape  plan?  
 
JESSICA  
No  
I  just  thought—  
 
GOBBO  
Anything  nicer  would  attract  attention  
 
JESSICA  
What  would  I  do  without  you?  
 
GOBBO  
Yeah  yeah  
 
JESSICA  
(More  serious)  
What  will  I  do  without  you  
 
They  look  at  each  other  
 
Hey  Gobbo  I—  
 
GOBBO  
PACK  

  53  
  
She  does  
She  folds  the  disguise  
She  starts  packing  
 
Maybe  she  is  physically  uncomfortable  as  she  does  it  
Maybe  the  task  is  heavier  and  slower  than  the  objects  would  indicate  at  first  
At  first  
And  then  faster  
 
She  packs  
 
  Shylock  comes  to  outside  her  door  
He  listens  to  her  muffled  through  it  
 
  A  moment  or  two  here,  them  moving,  Shylock  still  
 
SHYLOCK  
Hey  
 
JESSICA  
Dad!    
 
She  looks  at  Gobbo  
She  looks  at  the  door  
 
Don’t  come  in,  okay?  I’m—  
 
GOBBO  
(Whispered)  
You  said  he  was—  
 
JESSICA  
(Whispered)  
Shh—  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  want  to  tell  you  something  
 
She  goes  into  the  hallway  
She  closes  her  door  carefully  behind  her  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
SHYLOCK  

  54  
I  did  what  you  said  
 
JESSICA  
What  I  said?  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  talked  to  someone…  
Today  
About  maybe  I  was    
 
Wrong  
 
About  him    
About—  
 
JESSICA  
You  did?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
Because  I  told  you  to  
 
SHYLOCK  
Yes  
 
He  is  
Sometimes  
To  people  who  aren’t  me  
 
You  know  I’m  better  with  you—yes  
Than  my  parents  were  with…    
 
A  beat  so  long  she:  
 
JESSICA   SHYLOCK  
Dad?    I’m  learning
 
JESSICA  
I  know  
 
SHYLOCK  
And  I  want  to  sign  it  
I  do  
I  want  you  to  see…  

  55  
  
Listen  
I  told  them  I’ll  sign  it  
Tonight  
 
JESSICA  
Okay  
 
She  turns  to  go  
 
SHYLOCK  
I’m  also…  
I’m  lending  him  the  money  for  nothing  
 
JESSICA  
What  
 
SHYLOCK  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
For  nothing  
 
SHYLOCK  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
What  does  that  mean  “for  nothing”  
 
SHYLOCK  
No  interest  
 
JESSICA  
Are  you  crazy?  
Dad  
Are  you  crazy?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Maybe  
 
JESSICA  
No  interest?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Yes  
 

  56  
JESSICA  
No  penalty  on  the  loan  if  he—  
 
SHYLOCK  
Listen—  
 
JESSICA  
Defaults?  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  tried  to  make  it  easy  this  time  
Be  more  trusting    
Be  more—everything  you  said  
 
JESSICA  
He  owes  you  nothing,  even  if  he  can’t  pay  it  back?  Why  would  he  bother  to  pay  it  
back?  What  would  you  do,  what  would  you  live  on  if  he  didn’t?  Lose  your  house  your  
life  your  
 
SHYLOCK  
If  he  can’t  return  it  I  get  
I  get  
He  suggested  I  get    
 
Suddenly  it  seems  silly  to  him  
 
His  
A  piece  of  his…body  
 
JESSICA  
What  does  that  mean?  
 
SHYLOCK  
A  pound  
A  pound  of  it  
 
JESSICA  
Like,  remove  a  piece  of  his  body    
From  his  body  
 
SHYLOCK  
Yes  
Like,  like  the  way  you  order  at  the  butcher,  at  the  deli,  by  
By  weight!  
 
JESSICA  

  57  
Of…his  flesh  
 
SHYLOCK  
I’ve  been  trying  to  tell  you  that  I—  
 
JESSICA  
Why  would  you  agree  to  that?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Exactly  
 
JESSICA  
Exactly?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Why  would  I  agree  to  that?  
Why  would  I  agree  to  it?  
This  is  what  I  want  to  say—  
 
She  has  a  terrifying  thought  
 
JESSICA  
Dad  
 
SHYLOCK  
What?  
 
JESSICA  
It’s  almost  Passover  
 
SHYLOCK  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
So,  you’re  signing  a  document  saying—  
 
SHYLOCK  
What?  
 
JESSICA  
Signing  a  paper  saying  that  you  that  you  would  want  his  flesh  and  his—  
 
SHYLOCK  
No  
 
JESSICA  

  58  
And  his  blood  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  said  I  didn’t  trust  him  
I  didn’t  mean—  
 
JESSICA  
Dad  
Signing  a  blood  libel  
Saying  you  would  want  his  Christian  blood  
That’s  their  excuse  
That’s  always  their  excuse  
To  come  for  all  of  us  
 
SHYLOCK  
No  
That  wouldn’t  happen  
That’s  not  possible  
 
JESSICA  
No?  
 
SHYLOCK  
No  
 
JESSICA  
1171  Blois,  France  
 
SHYLOCK  
Jessica—  
 
JESSICA  
1255  London,  England  
1475  Trent,  Italy  
 
SHYLOCK  
Hey  
 
JESSICA  
1492  La  Guardia,  Spain  
Anytime  they  want  an  excuse  to  kill  us  
 
SHYLOCK  
This  is  Venice  
 

  59  
JESSICA  
So?  
 
SHYLOCK  
This  is  Venice  
In  1596  
 
JESSICA  
Damascus  1840  
1882,  that  village  in  Hungary  
And  Mendel  Beilies  
What  is  he,  your  great  great  cousin  once  removed?  
Little  bit  of  an  asshole,  works  in  a  brick  factory  
Some  kid  gets  killed  and  they  decide  
And  the  whole  town  decides—  
Any  of  this  ring  a  bell?  
 
SHYLOCK  
I—  
Yes  but—  
 
JESSICA  
Beilies  in  Kiev,  in  1913  
 
SHYLOCK  
That  was  a  long  time  ago  
 
JESSICA  
No  
 
SHYLOCK  
Wasn’t  it?  
 
JESSICA  
The  other  way  around  
 
You  know  this,  dad  
 
SHYLOCK  
Jessica,  I  don’t  think—  
 
JESSICA  
2020,  outside  Paris*    
3024,  Middlebury  Vermont  
6196,  that  wide  grassy  field,  the  republic  of—  
 

  60  
   *  Please  adjust  this  date  2-­‐3  years  in  the  future  for  any  given  production  
 
SHYLOCK  
Hey  
 
JESSICA  
Would  you  have  signed  a  document  saying  you  would  poison  his  well—  
 
SHYLOCK  
No!  
 
JESSICA  
Sell  him  a  house  for  too  much  money?  
Take  over  his  media  conglomerate?    
 
SHYLOCK  
There  are  none!  Not  till  1962!  
 
JESSICA  
Or  a  secret  cabal?  
 
SHYLOCK  
STOP  
 
Please  
 
What  he  believes  is  his  
Not  mine  
I  won’t  claim  it  
 
A  moment  
 
JESSICA  
Dad  
 
SHYLOCK  
What?  
 
JESSICA  
Don’t  sign  it    
 
SHYLOCK  
You  told  me  to  
 
JESSICA  
I  changed  my  mind  

  61  
  
SHYLOCK  
Jessica  listen  to  me  
 
JESSICA  
What?  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  agreed  to  that  
I  agreed  to  put  that  in  writing  
 
JESSICA  
You  didn’t  sign  it  
It’s  not  too  late  
 
SHYLOCK  
No,  I  mean  
Why  would  I  agree  to  that?  
I  want  you  to  not...    
 
JESSICA  
Dad  
 
SHYLOCK  
I’m  trying  to  tell  you  
 
A  beat  
 
I  see  you  not  wanting  this  
 
He  looks  around  
 
All  this  hardness,  all  this  complicated…  
All  of  these  walls  and  gates  and  
I  know  you  
And  I  see  it  
I  
I’m  trying  to  say  
 
Don’t  be  someone  who  cares  what—  
Who  would  erase  what—  
 
Like,  if  I  did  what  he  wanted  
Back  there  with  the  bond  yes?  
Maybe  he  wouldn’t  see  the  ends  of  my  shawl  hanging  out  under  my  coat  
Won’t  see  my  hair  

  62  
My  face  
My  voice  
My  history  
My—  
 
JESSICA  
Hey  
 
SHYLOCK  
Don’t  be  like  that  
 
Be  better  than  me  
 
Want  them  to  see    
Everything  
 
This  “everything”  is  large  enough  to  hold  all  of  his  history  and  small  enough  for  
the  spaces  between  his  tiniest  bones  
 
He  leaves  her  standing  with  her  back  against  the  door  
 
She  stands  there  a  long  moment  
Then  enters  the  room  
 
Gobbo  quietly  packing,  having  heard  nothing,  half  way  done  
 
GOBBO  
Have  you  never  packed  before?    
See?  
Look  at  this  
This  takes  up  way  more  space  when  you  
Just  do  it  like—  
 
Hey  
Hey,  what’s  wrong  with  you?  
 
Shylock  comes  back  to  the  door  
 
SHYLOCK  
Here’s  what  I’ve  been  trying  to  say  
 
GOBBO  
What  the—  
 
JESSICA  
Dad?  

  63  
  
She  goes  to  open  the  door  
 
SHYLOCK  
Don’t  open  the  door  
 
She  leans  closer  to  the  closed  door  
 
JESSICA  
What  you’ve  been…trying  to  say?  
 
SHYLOCK  
It  can’t  be  him  
Not  him  
 
JESSICA  
What?  
Who?  
 
SHYLOCK  
It  can’t  be  Lorenzo  
 
A  beat  
 
You  don’t  have  to  talk  to  me  
I  know  you’re  listening  
 
JESSICA  
…Lorenzo?  
 
SHYLOCK  
He  looks  like…I  don’t  know  what  he  looks  like,  freedom?  From  this?  
 
JESSICA  
Dad—  
 
SHYLOCK  
He  owes  me  money  
Did  he  tell  you  that?  
And  how  much?  
And  when  it  was  due?  
Ask  him,  ask  him  how  soon  
Do  you  think  that  has  nothing  to  do  with  it?  
Nothing  at  all?  
 
I  know  

  64  
I  know  
I  do  know  
 
But  Jessica…  
 
He  tries  to  finish  the  sentence  but  he  can’t  
He  goes  
  Gobbo  and  Jessica  look  at  each  other  
 
  Silently  she  gets  paper  
 
GOBBO  
Jessica  
 
She  writes  a  letter  
 
GOBBO  
Jessica  
 
She  seals  the  letter  
 
GOBBO  
Jessica  
 
  She  hands  him  the  letter  
 
  He  looks  at  the  name  on  it  
 
GOBBO  
You’re  not  going  
This  says  you’re  not  going  doesn’t  it  
 
JESSICA  
I  told  him  to  call  off  the  deal  
 
GOBBO  
What?  
 
JESSICA  
I—  
 
GOBBO  
Why  would  you  do  that?    
There’s  a  hat  and  a  boat  and  a  plan  now  and—If  there’s  no  deal  you  can’t  go  and  if  
you  can’t  go…  
 

  65  
We’re  getting  out  
We  both  are  and—  
 
What  happened?  
 
JESSICA  
You  won’t  understand  
 
GOBBO  
What  have  you  ever  told  me  that  I  couldn’t  understand?  
 
A  beat  
 
JESSICA  
Nothing  
Nothing  ever  
Only  
I  don’t  think  you’ll  understand  this  
 
GOBBO  
I’ll  fix  it  
 
JESSICA  
What?  
 
GOBBO  
I’ll  fix  it  
 
Gobbo  rushes  out  into  the  hallway  
 
JESSICA  
Gobbo!  
 
He  catches  up  with  Shylock  far  enough  away  that  Jessica  can’t  hear  
He  stops  about  half  a  foot  too  close  to  Shylock  
Shylock  turns  around  
 
GOBBO  
You  have  to  sign  it  
 
SHYLOCK  
Where  did  you  come  from?  
 
GOBBO  
In  the…  
Hallway  

  66  
  
SHYLOCK  
Are  you  sneaking  around  my  house?  
Listening  in  on  my  conversations?  
 
GOBBO  
No  
 
A  beat  
 
Okay  yes,  yes  I  /am  
 
SHYLOCK  
Were  you  in  the  hallway  or  were  you  in  my  daughter  ‘s  room?  
 
GOBBO  
I—  
 
SHYLOCK  
You’re  fired  
 
GOBBO  
I’m  already  leaving  
 
SHYLOCK  
You’re  fired  right  now  
Right  this  minute  
 
GOBBO  
Can  you  even  fire  someone  on  the  Sabbath?  
 
SHYLOCK  
YES  
 
A  beat  
 
Actually  
I  don’t  know  
 
GOBBO  
Yeah,  I  don’t  think  you  can  
 
SHYLOCK  
You’re  an  expert  in  Jewish  law  now?  
 
GOBBO  

  67  
No  
I’m  an  expert  in  your  daughter  
 
SHYLOCK  
How  dare/  you  
 
GOBBO  
So  it  might  be  useful  
 
SHYLOCK  
I’m  not  listening  to  this  
 
GOBBO  
To  once  to  JUST  ONCE  
In  the  years  and  YEARS  that  I  have  worked  for  you,  lived  under  your  roof,  made  you  
meals  and  cleaned  your  basins  and  scrubbed  your  pans—you  know    
all  those  letters  I  deliver?  I  talk  to  people  when  I  deliver  them.  I  know  people  all  
over  this  city  and  I  know  people  in  this  house.    
 
So  just  THIS  ONCE  
Just  try  
And  imagine    
That  I  MIGHT  have  something  useful  to  say  
 
A  long  moment  
A  softening  
 
SHYLOCK  
You’re  still  fired  
 
GOBBO  
I’m  still  leaving  
 
SHYLOCK  
Yeah  
 
GOBBO  
Yeah  
 
Gobbo  starts  to  go  
 
SHYLOCK  
But    
 
A  beat  
 

  68  
GOBBO  
Yes?  
 
SHYLOCK  
But  also  
 
What  is  it  
You  want  to  say?  
 
GOBBO  
You  need  to  sign  it  
 
SHYLOCK  
The  bond?  
No  
 
GOBBO  
Do  it  
That’s  why  I  ran    
Out  of  her  room—  
Which  is,  by  the  way,  just  a  thing  with  four  walls  and  not  some  kind  of  
transgression—  
 
SHYLOCK  
YES  IT  IS  
 
GOBBO  
…  against  her,  like,  dignity  
 
SHYLOCK  
Don’t  tell  me  what—  
 
GOBBO  
I’m  telling  you  to  sign  it  
 
And  I’ll  
If  you  do    
I’ll  throw  away  this  letter    
 
See?  
Look  
 
That  she  gave  me  
For  him  
 
And  I’ll  never  deliver  another  letter  between  them  

  69  
Ever  
I  promise  
if  you  do  it  
I’ll  make  sure  you  never  have  to  see  Lorenzo  again  
 
A  long  moment  
 
SHYLOCK  
You’ll…  
 
GOBBO  
I’ll  make  sure  you  never  see  him  again  
 
A  beat  
 
SHYLOCK  
Why  do  you  care?  
About  this  bond?  
 
Gobbo  doesn’t  answer  
 
Gobbo  
 
GOBBO  
I  just  want  her  to  be  happy  
 
A  beat  
 
SHYLOCK  
Me  too  
     
He  looks  at  Gobbo  
 
This  thing  
If  I  sign  it  
It  could—  
 
GOBBO  
I’ll  make  sure  you  never  have  to  see  Lorenzo  again  
 
SHYLOCK  
I—  
 
GOBBO  
I  promise  
 

  70  
SHYLOCK  
You…  
 
GOBBO  
Promise  
 
A  long  moment  
 
SHYLOCK  
As  soon  as  the  sun  goes  down  
As  soon  as  it’s  the  end  of—  
 
GOBBO  
The  Sabbath  
I  know  
I’ve  lived  here  for  years  
I  do  know  that  
 
  Maybe  we  watch  the  sun  set  too  
Maybe  they  just  stand  together  a  moment  
 
GOBBO  
How  will  you  get  out    
Of  the  gates?  
 
SHYLOCK  
He’ll  be  there  to  meet  me  
 
He’s  gone  
 
  Gobbo  goes  back  to  her  room  
He  puts  a  hand  on  the  door  for  a  moment  
Then  enters  
 
JESSICA  
I  can’t  go  
 
GOBBO  
You’re  going  
 
JESSICA  
Everything’s  wrong  now  
Everything’s  wrong  
 
GOBBO  
I  got  him  out    

  71  
  
JESSICA  
What?  
 
GOBBO  
Out  of  the  house  
 
He’s  gone  
I  fixed  it  
I  fixed  it  
He’s  gone  
So  go  
 
JESSICA  
But—  
 
GOBBO  
GO  
 
JESSICA  
Gobbo  why—  
 
GOBBO  
You  seemed  happy  
 
A  beat  
 
JESSICA  
I  seemed…happy?  
 
GOBBO  
Lorenzo,  he’s—I  don’t  know  
I  don’t  get  it  
Him  
Why  you  like  him  but  
It’s  done  
So  pack  
All  this  stuff  
Just  pack  and  GO  
 
A  beat  
 
JESSICA  
“Why  I  like  him?”  
 
GOBBO  

  72  
It’s  done  
So  pack  
Okay?  
 
JESSICA  
He  owes  my  dad  money  
 
GOBBO  
I  know  
 
JESSICA  
He  owes  my  father  money  
 
GOBBO  
I  said  I  don’t  get  it  
 
She  starts  pacing  
 
JESSICA  
Look  at  this  
 
I’m  about  to  climb  out  the  window  with    
These  clothes  
 
The  clothes  
 
This  hat  
 
The  hat  
 
This  thing  of  money  
 
The  money  
 
And  his  debt  is  forgiven  as  dowry  
 
How  do  I  know  
That  isn’t  the  plan  
That  that  wasn’t  the  whole  plan    
 
GOBBO  
But  you  still  want  to  go  
You  still  want  to  go  or  you  wouldn’t  be  pacing  around  the—  
Look  
I  did  a  thing!  
He’s  gone!  

  73  
Lorenzo  is  coming!  
Just  get  it  over  with  and  go  
 
JESSICA  
What  if  it’s  about  his  loan?  
 
GOBBO  
How  on  earth  am  I—  
 
JESSICA  
Wait    
 
GOBBO  
What?  
 
JESSICA  
Wait  a  moment  
Yes  
Shh!  
I’m  making  a  new  plan  
 
She  tries  to  make  a  plan  
She  paces  she  gestures  
She  has  a  plan  
 
JESSICA  
I  have  a  plan  
 
GOBBO  
Okay…  
 
JESSICA  
We’re  going  to  dress  you  as  a  boy  
 
GOBBO  
I  am  a  boy  
 
JESSICA  
Exactly  
Put  these  on  
 
 
SHIFT  -­‐  8  
 
 
Lorenzo  in  the  boat  

  74  
 The  crappier  the  boat  the  better  
Jessica  is  late  
He  is  nervous  
 
To  himself:  
 
LORENZO  
We  have  a  plan  
 
We  have  a  plan  we  have  a  plan    
Where  is  she?    
We  have  a  plan  
 
Gobbo  appears  at  the  window    
In  this  light  he  looks  like  Jessica  would  disguised  as  a  man  
Lorenzo  is  busy  talking  to  himself  under  his  breath  
 
LORENZO  
You  get  him  to  leave  the  house  and  then  while  he’s  out  of  the  house  you  dress  in  
boy’s  clothes  so  you  look  like  a  man  and  I  borrow  this  boat  that  my  friend  has?  and  
you  drop  all  your  stuff  out  the  window  into  my  boat  and  then  sneak  out  the  window  
into  the  boat  and  then  we  row  to  the  church  and  then  we  travel  away  and  then  we’re  
there  and  then  we’re—  
 
GOBBO  
That’s  the  plan?  
 
LORENZO  
There  you  are!  
 
Where  were  you?  
Where  are  your  things?  
 
GOBBO  
Right  here  
Just  a—  
 
It’s  heavy  
 
Here  
Catch  
 
He  heaves  the  casket  over  the  window  
Lorenzo  misses  it  
It  lands  with  a  horrible  noise  in  the  boat    
 

  75  
LORENZO  
What  would’ve  have  happened  if  I  caught  that?  
 
GOBBO  
Here  I  come  
 
LORENZO  
Here  
 
He  reaches  to  help  
 
GOBBO  
Except—  
Okay  
Just—  
 
LORENZO  
What?  
 
GOBBO  
Stay  over  there  
 
LORENZO  
Okay  
 
GOBBO  
Don’t  come  too  close    
Not  until  we  get  to  land,  okay?  
 
LORENZO  
Okay…  
 
Why?  
 
Gobbo  thinks  about  this  
 
GOBBO  
It’s  a  Jewish  thing  
 
LORENZO  
Oh  
 
GOBBO  
You  wouldn’t  totally  understand  unless  I  explained  it—  
Which  I’m  not  going  to  
Because…  

  76  
We’re  late  
We’re  late  and  otherwise  I  would  explain  it  
To  you  
But  it’s  a  Jewish  thing  
So  
 
Okay,  here  I  come  
 
  He  settles  himself  into  the  far  end  of  the  boat  
 
LORENZO  
This  okay?  
 
GOBBO  
Yeah  
 
Lorenzo  rows  them  out  
 
A  long  moment  
 
GOBBO  
So  
What’s  the  plan  now?  
 
LORENZO  
You  get  him  to  leave  the  house  and  then  while  he’s  out  of  the—  
 
GOBBO  
Not  that  
 
LORENZO  
That’s  the  
 
GOBBO  
I  mean  after  that  
 
LORENZO  
Oh  
Like  
 
GOBBO  
I  mean  the  next  plan  
Once  we’re  out  
Married  
What  then?  
 

  77  
LORENZO  
We  
Live  a  life  
We  live  a  whole  life  
 
I  mean  
That’s  the  best  plan  
Right?  
 
A  moment  
Earnest:  
 
GOBBO  
What  do  you  want  from  me?  
 
LORENZO  
I  mean—  
Everything  
 
GOBBO  
But  like—  
 
LORENZO  
I  want  to  walk  across  the  city  with  you  late  at  night  and  count  the  number  of  
cockroaches  we  see,  I  want  to  bring  you  every  kind  of  soup  I  can  think  of  when  
you’re  sick,  the  ones  you  love  and  the  ones  you’ve  never  tried,  and  I  want  you  to  
come  with  me,  after…  her  funeral  when  my  father  offers  us  her  things  for  you  to  
wear,  he  says  he’s  not  a  sentimental  person  but  he  is  
 
A  long  moment  
 
GOBBO  
Okay  
 
A  shift  in  tone:  
 
Okay  
Yeah  
That’s  decent  
 
LORENZO  
What…?  
 
Gobbo  reveals  his  face  
Lorenzo  jumps  at  least  a  foot  in  the  air  
He  falls  out  of  the  boat  

  78  
  
Gobbo  has  to  coax  him  back  in  
And  then  pull  him  back  in  
And  that’s  not  real  easy  either  
 
They  sit  at  opposite  ends  of  the  boat  in  tense  silence  
Finally:  
 
LORENZO  
What  
The    
HELL  
 
GOBBO  
Listen—  
 
LORENZO  
WHAT  THE  ACTUAL  HELL  DO  YOU—  
 
GOBBO  
Hey—  
 
LORENZO  
You  come  down  into  this  BOAT  all  pretending  you’re  Jessica  IN  MY  BOAT  
All  talking  to  me  like  you  are  and  also  throwing  your—  
 
The  casket  
 
Nearly  CRUSHING  ME  with  your  trunk-­‐thing  and  all  on  about  this  Jewish  thing—
which—is  it?  
 
GOBBO  
What?  
 
LORENZO  
Is  that  a  Jewish  thing?  
 
GOBBO  
Of  course  not—  
 
LORENZO  
Of  COURSE  not!  With  your  fake  Jewish  rules  and  your  fake  trunk  and  your  fake  voice  
and  your  fake  disguise  and  your  fake—  
 
He  flings  it  open    
 

  79  
GOBBO  
This  is  my  normal  voice!  
 
LORENZO  
(Taken  aback)  
Wow  
This  looks  really  real  
 
  He  runs  his  hands  over  it  
 
How  did  you  get  all  this  fake  money  to  look  so—  
 
GOBBO  
It’s  not  fake  
 
LORENZO  
What?  
 
GOBBO  
It’s  real  
 
A  moment  
 
You  can  drop  me  on  shore  
I  won’t  stop  you  
 
LORENZO  
What  does  that  mean?  
 
GOBBO  
If  you  want  to  leave  
You  can  just…leave  
With  the  money  
She’ll  be  alright  
 
A  moment  
 
LORENZO  
Is  that  what  you  really  think  of  me?  
 
GOBBO  
I  don’t  know  you  
 
LORENZO  
Yes  you  do  
 

  80  
 Gobbo  looks  at  him  hard  for  a  while  
 
GOBBO  
Why  does  she  love  you?  
 
LORENZO  
I  don’t  know  
 
But  she  does  
 
A  long  moment  
 
GOBBO  
Alright  
 
LORENZO  
Alright?  
 
GOBBO  
Okay  
I’ll  tell  her  
 
LORENZO  
You’ll  tell  her…  
 
GOBBO  
I’ll  tell  her  
Everything  
She’ll  come  down  or  she  won’t  
 
Row  back  
I’ll  go  get  her  
 
They  row  in  silence  
They  get  back  to  the  house  
Gobbo  tries  to  climb  back  into  the  house  
 
Maybe  it  looks  a  lot  like  Lorenzo  trying  to  get  back  in  the  boat  
Maybe  he  has  to  launch  himself  over  the  sill  and  into  the  room  
 
Jessica  is  still  sitting  frozen  on  the  floor  
 
JESSICA  
You’re  back  
 
GOBBO  

  81  
Yes  
 
He  looks  around  the  room  
 
You  didn’t  finish  packing  
 
JESSICA  
No  
 
GOBBO  
Have  you  just  been  sitting  here?  
 
JESSICA  
I  guess  I  couldn’t  bring  myself  to…  
 
Yes  
 
A  moment  
 
GOBBO  
Are  you  okay?  
 
JESSICA  
Was  it  just  the  money?  
 
Gobbo?  
 
GOBBO  
I’m  thinking  
 
JESSICA  
Thinking?  
 
GOBBO  
About  what  to…  
 
JESSICA  
Say?  
 
GOBBO  
Say  
 
JESSICA  
About  whether  to  lie  to  me?  
 
GOBBO  

  82  
About—  
Yes  
Maybe  
 
JESSICA  
Was  it  just  the  money  
 
GOBBO  
No  
He  means  it  
 
JESSICA  
Yeah?  
   
GOBBO  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
Are  you  sure?  
 
GOBBO  
I—  
Yes  I’m  sure  
 
A  beat  
 
He  said  this  really  very  beautiful  thing  
About  cockroaches?  
 
What  I  mean  is  
He  wants  you  
 
JESSICA  
Cockroaches?  
 
GOBBO  
Are  you  going  to  go?  
 
JESSICA  
If  you’re  sure—  
 
GOBBO  
Yes  
I’m  sure  
 
JESSICA  

  83  
Then  of  course  
 
She  reaches  out  to  him  
He  pulls  away  
 
GOBBO  
Pack  everything  you  need,  okay?  
 
He  goes  abruptly  
 
JESSICA  
Hey!  
 
Gobbo?  
 
He’s  gone  
 
She  looks  at  the  things  still  on  the  floor  
 
Here’s  how  you  pack:  
   
An  instruction:  
 
PACK  
 
She  packs  
She  packs  the  rest  of  Gobbo’s  things  for  him  too  
She  leaves  his  bag  in  the  middle  of  the  floor  
She  returns  to  the  window  
 
Finally  she  appears    
They  are  both  careful  now,  uncertain  
 
JESSICA  
Hi  
 
LORENZO  
Jessica?  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  
You’re  not  dressed  like  a  boy  
 
JESSICA  

  84  
No  
 
LORENZO  
You  look  like  you  
Are  you…  
 
JESSICA  
What?  
 
LORENZO  
Are  you  
You?  
 
JESSICA  
I  am  me  
 
His  face  lights  up  
 
 
 
SHIFT  -­‐  9  
 
 
As  they  row  away  
Gobbo  reenters  her  room    
He  sits  by  his  packed  case  
 
Shylock  enters  his  quiet  house  
He  listens  for  her  
He  comes  to  her  room  
 
SHYLOCK  
What  are  you  doing  in  here?  
 
GOBBO  
Packing  
 
SHYLOCK  
Get  out  
 
GOBBO  
She’s  gone  
 
SHYLOCK  
Gone?    
 

  85  
GOBBO  
Yes  
 
SHYLOCK  
To  Miri’s?  
 
GOBBO  
No  
 
SHYLOCK  
To  Becca’s  
 
GOBBO  
Left  the  ghetto  
 
SHYLOCK  
Left…?  
 
Gobbo  gets  up  to  go  
He  moves  past  Shylock  out  of  the  room  
 
SHYLOCK  
It’s  after  sunset  
The  gates  are  closed  
 
GOBBO  
For  good  
She’s  gone  for  good  
 
SHYLOCK  
You  promised  
 
GOBBO  
Yes  
 
SHYLOCK  
If  I  signed  it  
 
GOBBO  
Yes  
 
SHYLOCK  
That  I  would  never  have  to  see  Lorenzo  again  that  everything  would—  
That  I  would  never  see  him  again  
 
GOBBO  

  86  
You  won’t  see  him  again  
 
Gobbo  hands  over  his  keys  
 
Gobbo  leaves  
Shylock  alone  in  the  hollow  of  the  house  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  made  you  tea  
When  you  needed  tea  
And  I  hate  making  it  but  I  love  you  so  I  did,  and  you  didn’t  like  the  tea,  but,  because  
you  love  me,  you  drank  it  anyway.  
   
The  time  you  sat  in  the  doorway  and  I  tripped,  trying  not  to  hurt  you  and  instead  
hurt  myself  
     
I  let  you  eat  the  dough  even  with  the  raw  eggs  in  it  
     
I  ate  your  leftovers  when  you  fell  asleep  
   
 Jessica  and  Lorenzo  stand  across  from  each  other  
A  square  of  fabric  is  thrown  over  her  head  
A  wedding  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  brought  you  water,  brought  you  napkins,  brought  you  ribbons,  brought  you  
candles,  brought  you  pages,  brought  you  the  candles  lit  when  you  were  sitting  in  the  
dark  without  realizing  it  was  dark  
 
JESSICA  
I  take  your  name  
I  take  your  history  
 
SHYLOCK  
Brought  you  dresses,  lentils,  shoes  and  prayers  and  crackers  
 
JESSICA  
I  take    
Your  religion  
Your  culture  
I  take  you  
 
  Jessica  and  Lorenzo  run  off  
 

  87  
SHYLOCK  
Brought  you  fruit  the  moment  the  season  brought  fruit,  brought  you  wood  to  heat  
your  room  when  you  were  always  cold.  When  you  were  sick  I  brought  more  
 
If  you  can  do  this?  
Go?  
 
What  else  can  you  do  
What  else?  
   
  He  looks  for  the  trunk,  the  bag,  her  clothes  
   
He  looks  for  the  ring  
 
Your  mother’s  ring    
You  took  that  too  
   
A  wordless  rage  
 
 
SHIFT  -­‐  10  
 
 
  Jessica  and  Lorenzo  
A  shared  game  
 
LORENZO  
This  is  what  being  in  love  is  like!  
 
JESSICA  
Stop!  
 
LORENZO  
It  is  taking  a  carriage  north  
 
They  are  in  the  carriage  
 
Our  teeth  rattle  in  our  mouths  for  a  day  and  a  night    
 
JESSICA  
You’re  terrible  at  this  
 
LORENZO  
It  is  stepping  off  onto  land  
 
They  are  on  land  

  88  
  
You  yelling  my  name  as  you  run  through  the  market  and  me  following  the  sound  
 
JESSICA  
Lorenzo!  
 
LORENZO  
That  thing  we  did,  me  leaning  a  hand  against  that  strong  wood  door  
That  thing  we  did,  you  your  back  against  the  glass  
 
JESSICA  
Stop!  
 
LORENZO  
The  joy  of  having  two  bodies  when  you’re  used  to  one  
 
  A  letter  
 
And  now  she’s  no  longer  in  the  game    
Maybe  now  she’s  just  standing  there  
 
LORENZO  
We  find  another  carriage!  
 
JESSICA  
Lorenzo  
 
LORENZO  
All  the  way  to  Belmont  
 
He  gestures  
Belmont  
 
Look    
 
JESSICA  
Hey  
 
LORENZO  
We’re  here  
It’s    beautiful,  yes?  
Isn’t  it  beautiful?  
 
JESSICA  
It  is  beautiful  
 

  89  
LORENZO  
Belmont  is  tables  and  dinners  and  beds  and  heat  
Belmont  is  tea,  and  candles,  and  gardens  
Belmont  is  where  we  arrive  and  where  we  stay  
 
JESSICA  
Listen  
 
LORENZO  
(Really  trying  to  convince  her  now)  
This  is  what  being  in  love  is  like!  
News  from  Venice  seems  far  away  
People  in  Venice  far  away  
 
Jessica  
Put  away  that  letter    
 
JESSICA  
I  can’t  
 
LORENZO  
Please  stop  reading  it  
 
JESSICA  
It’s  not  real  
 
He  takes  the  letter    
 
LORENZO  
I’m  holding  it  in  my  hand  
 
JESSICA  
It’s  not    
 
LORENZO  
It  says  right  here  
 
JESSICA  
I  know  
 
LORENZO  
He  signed  that  bond  
He’s  taking  his  pound  of  flesh  
It  says  it  here  in  ink  
 
JESSICA  

  90  
I  know  
 
LORENZO  
You  want  me  to  believe—  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  
That  he  doesn’t  want  blood  
That  he  doesn’t  want  a  pound  of  my  friend’s—  
 
JESSICA  
You  don’t  understand  
 
LORENZO  
It’ll  go  to  court  
What  will  happen  
Or  won’t  
They’ll  decide  it  there  
 
A  moment  
 
JESSICA  
What  are  they  going  to  do  to  him?  
 
LORENZO  
Listen  
 
JESSICA  
In  that  courtroom  
I  want  to  know  
 
LORENZO  
I—  
 
JESSICA  
Tell  me  
You’ve  watched  the  trials  before  
 
LORENZO    
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
All  kinds  of  ones,  yes?  
 

  91  
LORENZO  
…Yes  
 
JESSICA  
And  you’ve  seen  trials  of  people  who…  
 
LORENZO  
Don’t  make  me…  
 
JESSICA  
(Soft,  confident)  
They’ll  kill  him  
 
A  beat  
 
LORENZO  
No  
No  
They’ll  take  his  money  
 
She  nods  
 
They’ll  take  his  living  
 
She  nods  
 
They’ll  convert  him  
 
JESSICA  
Right  
 
LORENZO  
They’ll  baptize  him  as  a  —  
Just  like  you!  
 
JESSICA  
Just  like  me?  
 
LORENZO  
Yes  
A  good  thing  
It’s  a  good  thing  
 
She’s  scared  
 
LORENZO  

  92  
There’s  a  reason  you  left  
You  did  the  right  thing  
Coming  with  me  
You’re  safe  now  
 
JESSICA  
Safe  from  what?  
 
LORENZO  
From  
 
JESSICA  
From  a  weapon  you  can  hold  out  in  front  of  you?  
A  story  moves  between  fingers,  between  houses    
Between  centuries  
 
They  don’t  come  for  me  with  a  sword  
They  come  for  me  with  a  story  
 
LORENZO  
What  story?  
 
JESSICA  
1144  Norwich,  England  
1475    
1690    
2005  
Russia,  Poland,  and  Italy  
 
LORENZO  
What  are  those  dates?  
 
JESSICA  
Times  this  happened  before  
Before  the  next  mob,  the  next  pogrom  
 
LORENZO  
Half  of  those  dates  are  in  the  future  
 
JESSICA  
(A  surprise)  
And  now  
And  now  1596  
 
This  one  looks  real  
This  one  we  helped  them  to  make  

  93  
This  one  they  can  tell  and  tell  and  tell  
 
A  beat  
 
LORENZO  
I  don’t  understand  
 
JESSICA  
(Quietly)  
I  know  
 
LORENZO  
Stop  looking  at  me  like  that  
 
JESSICA  
Like  what  
 
LORENZO  
Like  I’m  disappearing  in  front  of  you  
 
JESSICA  
Lorenzo  
 
LORENZO  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
Was  it  me    
 
Or  the  money?  
 
A  beat  
 
LORENZO  
You  or…  
 
A  moment  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  
How  did  you  know?  
 
JESSICA  
My  father  

  94  
  
LORENZO  
He  told  you  
 
JESSICA  
He  told  me  
 
LORENZO  
And  you  came…anyway?  
 
JESSICA  
Lorenzo  
Did  you  ask  me  for  me  or  for  the  money?  
 
LORENZO  
Are  you  really  asking  me  that?  
You  came  with  me  
You  married  me  
And  now  you’re  asking…  
 
JESSICA  
You  could  have  told  me  yourself  
You  never  did  
 
A  beat  
 
LORENZO  
I  was  afraid…  
 
JESSICA  
Yeah  
 
LORENZO  
That  you  wouldn’t  come  
 
JESSICA  
I’m  here  
I’m  right  here  in  front  of  you  
 
Like  he’s  imagining  an  empty  kind  of  world  where  she’s  not  
 
LORENZO  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
So  

  95  
  
A  beat  
 
Which  was  it?  
 
LORENZO  
You  or  the  loan?  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  
Couldn’t  it  be…  
 
A  beat  
 
JESSICA  
What?  
 
LORENZO  
Both  
 
JESSICA  
No  
No,  I  don’t  think  so  
 
LORENZO  
Couldn’t  I  love  you  and  have  another  thing  that’s  good  happen?  
To  us.  A  thing  that’s  good  for  both  of  us.    
 
Isn’t  that  what  you  did?    
Got  me.    
And  got  out  
 
JESSICA  
I—  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  
Can’t  there  be  more  than  one  good  thing?    
 
She  doesn’t  answer  
 
Ask  me  now  
 
JESSICA  

  96  
Ask  you…?  
 
LORENZO  
If  I  fell  in  love  with  you  
In  that  moment  
 
Back  by  the  river  
 
JESSICA  
Don’t  
 
LORENZO  
You  thought  so  then  
Do  you  think  so  now?  
 
She  thinks  about  it  
Sincere:  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  
(Close  to  tears)  
Okay  
 
Okay  
 
The  scariest  possible  thing:  
 
Are  you…  
 
I  don’t  know  how  to  
 
This  is  
What  you  want  
 
Yes?  
 
I’m    
What  you  want  
 
A  beat  
 
JESSICA  
I  have  to  go    
 

  97  
LORENZO  
Wait,  what?  
 
JESSICA  
For  the  trial  
 
LORENZO  
Are  you  serious?  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
LORENZO  
Would—  
Would  you  come  back?  
 
JESSICA  
I  have  to  go  
 
LORENZO  
No  way  
 
JESSICA  
I  have  to    
 
LORENZO  
No  
You  can’t  leave  
You  can’t    
 
A  hardening    
 
Not  without  my  okay  
 
A  beat  
 
JESSICA  
Then  give  it  
 
LORENZO  
Why  would  I  do  that?  
 
JESSICA  
Because  if  I’m  here  with  you    
Along  the  cliffs  
Along  the  halls  

  98  
By  that  fire  at  night  
 
And  you  didn’t  let  me  go  
When  I  needed  to  
 
With  love,  not  anger  now  
 
I’ll  hate  you  
It  will  look  just  like  me    
Standing  in  front  of  you  
But  I’ll  hate  you  
 
A  moment  as  they  look  at  each  other  
 
A  set  of  wide  double  doors  at  the  middle  of  the  stage  
 
  A  very  still  moment  between  them  
The  most  honestly  together  we’ve  seen  them  
 
  Like  a  gift:  he  nods  
She  runs  
 
Across  the  stage  –  from  Belmont  to  Venice  in  one  long  arc  
 
She  runs  to  fling  herself  at  the  door  
But  Gobbo  is  suddenly  there  and  she  smashes  into  him  instead    
He  holds  her,  she  tries  to  break  free  
 
JESSICA  
Damn    
You  
 
Gobbo  drags  her  out  of  the  way  
She  continues  to  wrestle  with  him  
 
JESSICA  
What  are  you  DOING  here?  
 
GOBBO  
I  fucking  KNOW  you  
 
JESSICA  
I’m    
Going    
In  there  
 

  99  
GOBBO  
You  can’t  go  in  there  
 
JESSICA  
They’re  going  to  take  away  everything  
 
GOBBO  
You  can’t  go  in  there  
 
JESSICA  
It’s  my  city!  
 
GOBBO  
Hey  
 
JESSICA  
It’s  my  city!  
 
GOBBO  
Jessica…  
 
JESSICA  
I’m  like  them  now    
Like  you  
I  am  
 
GOBBO  
You  can’t  go  in  there  
It’s  not  just  about  religion  
 
JESSICA  
It  is!  I  am!  
 
GOBBO  
No  women  are  allowed  in  there    
 
She  stops  struggling  
 
JESSICA  
No?  
 
GOBBO  
No  
   
JESSICA  
So  I’m  what?  

  100  
  
I’m  what?  
I’m  nothing  at  all  
 
She  paces  
 
You  got  him  to  sign  that  thing,  didn’t  you  
 
GOBBO  
What,  the  bond?  
 
JESSICA  
Is  that  how  I  got  out?  Was  it  because  you—  
 
GOBBO  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
You  have  no  idea  what  you  did  
Gobbo,  you  have  no  idea  
 
She  paces  
 
What  are  they  saying  in  there?  
 
Gobbo  listens  at  the  door  
 
GOBBO  
I  can’t  tell  
 
  He  listens  at  the  door  
 
I  can’t  hear  anything  
 
  She  comes  to  listen  too  
  She  pulls  away  
 
JESSICA  
All  I  can  hear  is  mumbling  
 
Sound  of  the  river,  quietly  
 
GOBBO  
Mumbling?  
 

  101  
JESSICA  
Mumblings,  scribbling,  hoping  
Water  
 
All  I  hear  is  water  
 
  Sound  of  the  river,  quiet  but  scary  now  
 
I  have  to  get  in  there  
 
GOBBO  
What  could  you  possibly  do?  
 
JESSICA  
I  don’t  know  
Do  something  
I  can  do  something  
 
GOBBO  
Something  your  father  can’t  do?  
 
JESSICA  
YES!  
I’m—  
I’m…  
 
GOBBO  
What?  
 
JESSICA  
I’m  different  
 
A  beat  
 
GOBBO  
Different?  
 
JESSICA  
I—  
 
GOBBO  
Than  him  
 
She  is  silent  
 
Do  you  think  you’re  better  than  him  

  102  
  
More  kind,  more  fair  
More  normal  somehow  
That  you’re  simply  by  your  nature  in  your  very  bones  more  Christian  than  him  
 
JESSICA  
Gobbo  
 
GOBBO  
I  have  a  question  
Look  at  me  a  second  
 
Look.    
 
Yes?    
 
You  wanted  a  Christian  
Why  didn’t  you  leave  with  me?  
 
JESSICA  
Is  that  a  joke?  
 
GOBBO  
Is  it  funny?  
 
JESSICA  
NO  
 
GOBBO  
If  you  wanted  out  of  that  house  
Out  of  Venice  
Lorenzo  wasn’t  the  only  way  out  
 
JESSICA  
I  could’ve  left…  
With  you?  
 
GOBBO  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
Come  on  
 
GOBBO  
Is  that  ridiculous  to  you?  
 

  103  
JESSICA  
Hey  
 
GOBBO  
Think  about  it  a  moment  
 
JESSICA  
Gobbo—  
 
GOBBO    
He’s  all  halls  and  meals  and  walks  in  the  garden,  Jessica  
He’s  just  shiny  
He’s  just  shiny  and  shiny  and  shiny  
 
JESSICA  
You  delivered  every  letter  
 
GOBBO  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
Convinced  my  father,  dressed  up  as  a  boy  /  and—  
 
GOBBO  
I  am  a  boy!  
 
JESSICA  
You  never  said  anything  to—  
Never  asked  me  to—  
Just…  
 
GOBBO  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
All  that  time  I  was  doing  the  hardest  thing  and  you  just—  
 
GOBBO  
You  think  leaving  with  Lorenzo  was  hard?  
Getting  past  your  father,  out  of  the  ghetto,  out  of  beautiful  unguarded  Venice?  
 
What  would  be  hard  
 
JESSICA  
Gobbo  
 

  104  
GOBBO  
What  would  actually  be  hard  would  be  leaving  all  of  this  
 
  The  fabric  of  her  skirt  
 
This…  
 
Her  bracelet  
 
This…  
 
  Her  earrings  
 
And  all  this…  
Comfort  
 
You  didn’t  want  a  Christian  
You  wanted  something  simple  
And  he  seemed…simple  
 
You  did  the  easiest  thing  
 
A  moment  
 
JESSICA  
Would  you?  
 
GOBBO  
What?  
Leave?  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
If  you  were  me  
With  you  
 
A  pause  
Not  because  he’s  unsure  
But  because  he’s  giving  her  a  moment  to  know  it  before  he  says  it  
 
GOBBO  
No  
 
I  wouldn’t  
I’m…    
 

  105  
 He  gestures  
 
You  know  that  
That’s  why  you  understand  me  
 
That’s  why  you  love  me  
 
  She  realizes  this  is  true  
 
Be  better  than  me  
 
It’s  the  only  way  you’ll  find  anything  better  
 
Here  
In  Venice  
In  1596  
 
  An  uncomfortable  attempt  at  not  quite  a  joke  
 
JESSICA  
Love  me  anyway?  
 
GOBBO  
(Serious  this  time)  
Am  I  allowed  to?  
 
  He  waits  for  her  to  answer  
He  waits  to  see  if  she’ll  come  with  him  
 
  She  waits  to  see  too  
She  has  no  idea  whether  she  will  or  not  
She  has  no  idea  at  all  
 
  But  she  doesn’t  
 
  And  he  goes  
 
  She  looks  at  the  doors  
  The  water  gets  louder  
 
  The  doors  swing  open  
 
An  enormous  amount  of  water  is  released  from  above  directly  onto    
Shylock’s  head  
He  is  soaked  through  entirely  
 

  106  
 Not  stage  soaked  
Real  soaked  
 
For  the  first  time  Shylock  and  Jessica  are  alone  onstage  
 
  He  stands  there  for  a  long  long  time  
He  won’t  look  at  her  
 
JESSICA  
Hi  
 
He  drips    
 
Hey  
 
Are  you  going  to  just  stand  there  
And  drip  at  me  
 
He  drips  
 
Is  that  all  you  have  to  say  to  me?  
 
Another  moment    
 
SHYLOCK  
I  didn’t  know  baptisms  were  so  dramatic  
 
JESSICA  
No  
 
I  think  usually  
Not  so  much  
 
For  me  they  just  used  a  drop  
 
He  drips  
 
For  you  they  needed  extra  
 
SHYLOCK  
Mm  
 
JESSICA  
You  were  a  tough  case  
 
SHYLOCK  

  107  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
More  unwilling  
 
SHYLOCK  
As  opposed  to  not  unwilling  at  all  
 
  He  drips  
 
JESSICA  
We’re  the  same  now  
 
SHYLOCK  
Are  we?  
 
JESSICA  
Are  we  not?  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  don’t  know  
I  don’t  know  what  I  am  if  I’m  not  me  
And  I  am  not  me  
 
JESSICA  
You  are  wet  
 
SHYLOCK  
Yes  
I  am  wet  
I  am  a  river  of  wet  
 
A  moment  
Then  rapidly:  
 
JESSICA  
Dad—  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  don’t  how  to  ask  you  this  
 
JESSICA  
What?  
Then  ask  it  
What?  
 

  108  
SHYLOCK  
How  you  could—  
Why  you  could—  
 
JESSICA  
What?  
 
SHYLOCK  
The  ring  
Your  mother’s  ring  
How  you  could…  
 
JESSICA  
How  I  could  what?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Take  it    
Sell  it  
 
JESSICA  
Sell  it?  
 
SHYLOCK  
That’s  what  I  heard  
 
JESSICA  
Her  ring  
 
SHYLOCK  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
As  if  it  were  money  
 
SHYLOCK  
Yes  
 
A  moment  
 
JESSICA  
Would  you  believe  that  of  me?  
 
A  beat  
 
SHYLOCK  
What  I  mean  is—  

  109  
  
JESSICA  
Would  you?  
 
SHYLOCK  
They  said—  
 
JESSICA  
How  about  you?  
A  pound  of  flesh,  they  said  
Without  mercy,  they  said  
Twice,  three  times  the  bond    
They  said  
And  still  
 
How  could  you?  
 
SHYLOCK  
That’s  what  they  said?  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
SHYLOCK  
That’s  what  they  said  
 
JESSICA  
In  ink  
 
It’s  said  to  her,  but  he  turns  so  the  words  lift  out  over  the  audience    
 
SHYLOCK  
Would  you  believe  that  of  me?  
 
A  moment  
 
SHYLOCK  
(Softer)  
You  know  the  dates  
The  stories  
But  they  say  it    
And  you  believe  it  
A  monster  
That  you  come  from  monsters  
 

  110  
JESSICA  
You  said  it    
Didn’t  you  
 
For  me  
After  I  left  
The  Kaddish  
As  if  I  had  died  you  said  it,  yes?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Hey  
 
JESSICA  
With  ten  men  who  didn’t  know  enough  to  question  what  it  was  you  thought  you  
were  mourning—  
 
SHYLOCK  
Hey  
 
JESSICA  
Who  think  they  get  to  judge  me  leaving?  
To  judge  why  I  left,  how  I  left  
To  decide  whether  I’m  alive  or  dead  to  my—  
 
SHYLOCK  
Hey—  
 
JESSICA  
A  group  of  men  who  get  to  decide  that  
 
We  women  have  failed  
All  of  us  
We  have  failed,  we  have  failed  
We  have  raised  men  who  do  not  believe  we  are  fully  human  
We  have  failed  
 
A  long  moment  
 
SHYLOCK  
I  never  did  
 
I  never  did  say  it  for  you—  
About  
You  
 
  A  beat  

  111  
  
You  think  too  little  of  me  
I  never  did  
 
A  long  moment  
 
Are  you  going  back?  
 
A  moment  
 
JESSICA  
Yes  
 
SHYLOCK  
What  kind  of  a  life  is  that?  
 
JESSICA  
I  don’t  know  
 
A  moment  
 
SHYLOCK  
Perhaps  we  should  both  say  it  
 
JESSICA  
What?  
The  Kaddish?  
 
SHYLOCK  
Yes  
 
JESSICA  
There  aren’t  ten  men  here  to—  
 
SHYLOCK  
No  
 
JESSICA  
And  I’m  not  a—  
 
SHYLOCK  
No  
 
JESSICA  
And  no  one  is  dead  
 

  112  
SHYLOCK  
Lets  say  it  for  each  other  
 
She  considers  her  father  
 
You  start  
 
She  does  
She’s  never  said  it  aloud  before  
But  she  knows  it  
They  start  out  reciting,  wobbily  
They  begin  reciting  and  then  lift  a  little,  eventually,  into  song  
The  melody  for  the  Chatzi  Kaddish  
It  is  simple  
It  is  not  all  that  well  sung  
But  still  it  should  lift  
 
JESSICA    
Yitgadal  v'yitkadash    

Shylock  joins  her  

SHYLOCK  AND  JESSICA  

Sound  of  the  river,  quiet  but  scary  now  

She  lifts  into  song  

l'alam  ul'almei  almaya  

  113  
 Sound  of  mumbling,  sound  of  fingers  on  paper,  sound  of  people  between  houses,  
sound  of  hoping,  sound  of  the  river  loudest  of  all  
 
v'yitromam  v'yitnasei,  
v'yit'hadar  v'yitaleh  v'yit'halal  
sh'mei  d'kud'sha  b'rich  hu,  

They  sing  against  the  water  as  the  river  takes  over    
Wiping  out  their  voices  

l'eila  min  kol  birchata  v'shirata,  

The  river  overflows  

End  of  play    

  114