Acting 1 Scene

Question 1

Work, Work, Work.

Answer 1

Oh, Marty.

Question 2

I’m Early.

Answer 2

You’re early.

Question 3

If I’m Interrupting…

Answer 3

No, this is nothing. Just odds and ends. Where’s Diane?

Question 4

Oh, she’ll be along in a few minutes.

Answer 4

Sure.

Question 5

Actually, I’m glad I got here a little earlier. There’s a favor I want to ask of you.

Answer 5

Ask away.

Question 6

OK. Well, see, as a topic of conversation, it may come up during the evening where I was last night. And it owuld make it a lot easier if we could decide between us that I was with you.

Answer 6

To say that?

Question 7

Not to say necessarily, but to sort of give the impression that we were together. It would make things a lot simpler for me. I mean, if it comes up.

Answer 7

You want me to say…

Question 8

Just to say…

Answer 8

That you and I…

Question 9

That we were…

Answer 9

Together…

Question 10

Together…

Answer 10

Last night…

Question 11

Yeah.

Answer 11

You want me to lie.

Question 12

Well…

Answer 12

Not ‘well.’ You want me to lie.

Question 13

Well…

Answer 13

That’s what you’re asking.

Question 14

I wouldn’t put it…

Answer 14

Is that what you’re asking?

Question 15

Well, yes.

Answer 15

To lie?

Question 16

A little bit. Just to give the impression so that Diane won’t worry.

Answer 16

Where were you last night? I mean, I have to know.

Question 17

It doesn’t matter.

Answer 17

Well, yes, it does. I have to know whether you’re wanting me to tell a white lie or a black lie.

Question 18

It’s a white lie.

Answer 18

How white? I mean, where were you?

Question 19

I was out.

Answer 19

Alone? With someone?

Question 20

With someone.

Answer 20

Yeah?

Question 21

Diane wouldn’t understand.

Answer 21

A woman?

Question 22

She’d take it the wrong way.

Answer 22

You were out with another woman.

Question 23

Yes, I was out with another woman.

Answer 23

I see, and that’s a white lie?

Question 24

It’s no big deal.

Answer 24

I’m sorry, I can’t do it.

Question 25

Hey, really, it's no big deal.

Answer 25

No, I wouldn't feel good about it.

Question 26

Why not? It's just a little favor.

Answer 26

It's not a little... You're asking me to lie to her. You don't understand. She's my friend.

Question 27

Aren't I your friend?

Answer 27

You're my friend and she's my friend. But she's not my friend because you're my friend. I mean, it's not that you and I have a primary friendship and she's a secondary friend by extension. You're both primary friends.

Question 28

I understand that.

Answer 28

You don't break that trust.

Question 29

I'm not asking you to break that trust. I'm asking you to spare her confusion and upset.

Answer 29

You're asking me to lie to her.

Question 30

You have told lies, haven't you? You've told lies in the past.

Answer 30

I have, but that has nothing to do with this.

Question 31

You just won't tell a lie for me.

Answer 31

That's a passive lie, my not telling something.

Question 32

Ah, that's different.

Answer 32

It is.

Question 33

A different kind, right? Active versus passive.

Answer 33

There is a difference, whether you see it or not.

Question 34

Would you care to elaborate?

Answer 34

What do you mean?

Question 35

On the distinction. Active, passive.

Answer 35

What does that have to do with...?

Question 36

If we correlate an active lie as being a lie you won't tell and a passive lie as a lie you will, then perhaps we can find that point in the grey area between where we can come to an understanding.

Answer 36

Look, I don't want to lie to her.

Question 37

I'm not asking you to want to.

Answer 37

You're just asking me to do it.

Question 38

Yes, as a favor to a friend.

Answer 38

No, I don't want to.

Question 39

You do lots of things you don't want to do. Everybody does.

Answer 39

The things that I sometimes do that I don't want to do are things that I have to do. I don't have to do this. I don't have to break that trust.

Question 40

No, and we don't have to be friends, either.

Answer 40

Oh, come on. Are you saying if I won't lie for you, we won't be friends anymore?

Question 41

Of course not. I'm just asking you for a favor.

Answer 41

I can't do it.

Question 42

Can't means won't.

Answer 42

Can't means can't.

Question 43

Can't means won't.

Answer 43

Can't means can't.

Question 44

No, you could.

Answer 44

I couldn't.

Question 45

You could.

Answer 45

I couldn't.

Question 46

Your mouth could say the words. Physically, your mouth could say the words.

Answer 46

I couldn't do it.

Question 47

Of course you could.

Answer 47

No I couldn't.

Question 48

You could, but what you're saying is you won't.

Answer 48

I'm saying I can't.

Question 49

You're saying you won't.

Answer 49

I'm saying... OK. I'm saying I won't because I can't.

Question 50

But you could.

Answer 50

I wouldn't if I could, but I can't so I won't. Anyway, you don't want me to lie for you.

Question 51

Yes, I do.

Answer 51

She'd see right through me.

Question 52

How do you know until you try?

Answer 52

Look, I'm not going to tell her where you were. I mean, I couldn't because I don't know.

Question 53

I was at Marvin Gardens. That's on the West Side.

Answer 53

I don't want to know. Don't tell me anymore.

Question 54

Barbara Schaeffer.

Answer 54

I don't want to know who.

Question 55

Barbara Schaeffer.

Answer 55

Barbara Schaeffer?

Question 56

See, now you know.

Answer 56

I wish you hadn't told me.

Question 57

But you know, and if you don't tell Diane that means you've already lied. Passive-shmassive, it's a lie, and if you've gone that far, why not go a little farther for a friend?

Answer 57

Look, you can argue rings around me, but I'm not going to.

Question 58

OK, sorry I asked.

Answer 58

I wish you'd understand.