From Day One: T Capote Spies T Williams

(Truman Capote glides over to Tennessee Williams’ table at a well-known Manhattan restaurant. Frank, Tennessee’s close (literally) friend, is also at the table.)

TC
Fancy seeing you here.

TW
Well, looky here. Speaking of the conspiratorial devil…

TC
This guy has to be Frank. We’ve never met, but I recognize the face from photos. Truman, nice to meet you.

Frank
Frank. My pleasure. I read every single word in In Cold Blood.

TC
That’s very kind of you.

(The 3 shake hands. TC doesn’t sit.)

TC
(Turns to TW) The play was simply stunning!

TW
Thanks. I cried writing that play. There was mother in it, my sister, my dear Uncle Clarence. Say, you aren’t faring so poorly yourself, I understand. Maybe I need a Kansas incident, myself. But I detest murders, you see…

TC
(Looks with a perplexed face at Frank) Hmm, let’s just hope you never have one…

TW
(Motioning to Frank) Oh him! (Slaps his knee) Honey, he’s murder all right, but without the gunpowder!

(All 3 laugh gaily)

Seriously, how did you manage to get through all those interviews with that guy? And him on death row!

TC
It wasn’t altruism. Guess I’d be lying if I said I didn’t keep in mind the cool million I was going to make.

TW
(To Frank) Cool, he says. Serve mine hot OR cool! (To TC) Oh, that masquerade party! Lord, didn’t I get smashed. If it hadn’t been for Frankie boy here…

Frank
Frankie boy thought about getting smashed. You beat me to it.

TC
It truly was a Truman night to remember, if I may say so. Um, wish fulfillment at its best.

TW
You may say so, Darling. Incidentally, any progress regarding the grand Greek’s better half?

TC
Oh, Jackie. No, no progress. Still won’t speak.

TW
You simply must behave your naughty self. You concentrated entirely too much gossip in that book. ‘Thinly disguised’, they said.

TC
Yeah, maybe. But it’s a bit late now. For the friendship, I mean. It’s all over. At least I’m in the black regarding the damn book.

TW
Speaking of black, Frankie boy here lies under the sun and gets blacker and blacker. What shall I succumb to call him in the future?

(The 3 laugh. TW signals to Frank.)

We have to leave. We’ve got two or three places to stop before we get home. (Turns to TC) Are you alone these days Luv? Not that it’s any of my business…

TC
Alone? Um, you know something, Ten? At this moment I quite feel that I’ve been alone since day one.

TW
Now, now. Take my word for it, a good stiff drink’ll surely cure that. Blues. Let me treat.

(TW offers TC a 20 dollar bill. Surprisingly he takes it then all 3 embrace. Tennessee and Frank gather their coats, umbrellas, and neck scarves and exit the restaurant.)

END OF ‘Since Day One’