keynes at versailles
Scene 3, The Fateful Meeting, Scene Continuation with just Keynes and Melchior.
KEYNES
I am John Maynard Keynes.
MELCHIOR
Doctor Carl Melchior.
I am another you.
KEYNES
Another me?
MELCHIOR
A man of numbers
For the other side.
Professor Keynes.
KEYNES
You know of me?
MELCHIOR
Of your work.
Of our work:
Financing the beast of war.
KEYNES
So we are colleagues,
Shadows.
Two outsiders.
MELCHIOR
Outsiders?
KEYNES
We are two economists among the politicians.
MELCHIOR
I am a Jew among the Gentiles.
KEYNES
I am an aesthete among the barbarians.
MELCHIOR
I am a Hun amongst the peacemakers.
KEYNES
Two colleagues, like to like.
MELCHIOR
Two colleagues, like to like.
KEYNES
<Moves towards, shakes hand warmly as if an old friend. His hand lingers in Melchior’s. An electricity passes between them.>
A pleasure to meet you,
Fellow economist,
Worthy foe.
<As if coming to from a dream.>
Called here to advise on reparations.
MELCHIOR
Germany is devastated.
Blockaded, starving.
We prepare for a hungry winter.
Our men, dead or shell-shocked,
Our women search for food
For our children desperate with hunger.
Of course there must be a number
To be paid as penitence,
Too high a number beggars a generation,
Emboldens those who seek another war.
We must look to a just number
That rebuilds
That looks to a future
That it fulfills.
Otherwise
I do not like to think of otherwise.
KEYNES
A just number
How stark, compelling
His artful argument
Utters truth so telling.
There is such a thing,
A just number?
MELCHIOR
There is only one just number
That which can be paid,
But fosters mutual growth.
Just one number
On which the future can be laid.
A number that satisfies us both
That we could calculate,
That we could negotiate.
KEYNES
I want what you want.
<Aside.>
Am I being played?
<Facing Melchior.>
A reasonable number
On which a recovery can be made.
Together we could make this happen.
MELCHIOR
Get mere politicians to agree.
KEYNES
<Aside.>
Is this the enemy?
A man so assured.
MELCHIOR
<Aside.>
Is this the enemy?
A colleague so worthy.
KEYNES
<Aside.>
I’m confused by this attraction.
I know I signal
Not hiding much.
MELCHIOR
<Aside.>
I’m confused by his attention.
He is courting me.
I see it now.
KEYNES
<Aside.>
Older than my typical fare,
Dare I dare?
MELCHIOR
<Aside.>
A different sex ein herr,
Dare I dare?
KEYNES
This is an equal man.
MELCHIOR
A finer breed,
More polished than.
<MELCHIOR and KEYNES speak to each other although still in a daze.>
KEYNES
Attention.
MELCHIOR
Validation.
KEYNES
Giving,
MELCHIOR
Getting.
KEYNES and MELCHIOR
In proper ration.
MELCHIOR and KEYNES
This double recognition
With truth its core.
KEYNES
A valued man,
MELCHIOR
No easy chore.
KEYNES and MELCHIOR
As merit meets merit
Higher therefore.
<KEYNES moves over to MELCHIOR and places his hand on his shoulder. Gently Melchior removes his hand.>
KEYNES
<Flirting.>
I wondered if two were the just number.
A just summation.
MELCHIOR
For what,
Reparations?
KEYNES
More the proper number
For our close negotiations.
MELCHIOR
Face to face
Across a table?
KEYNES
We’d find a place
That needs no table.
MELCHIOR
Our calculations intertwined.
Convincing ourselves
And then the others.
MELCHIOR and KEYNES
What is this?
Who is this?
I cannot fathom.
A different story.
Something we cannot skip,
Let pass, be sorry.
Another total that does perplex.
A deeper answer of the deepest respect.
What is this
In or out?
What is this
All about?
Do I know?
Do I care?
Let it be.
Risk it, dare.
<As they are about to leave, they press hands to each other. The two remain on stage looking at each other as there is a Slow CURTAIN.>
