Play 341: Can I Have It?

CHARACTERS
IVAN, mid 30s
LANE, late 30s

IVAN
Lane.

LANE
What?

IVAN
This is hard to ask you…

LANE
What?

(Beat.)

IVAN
Can I have it?

LANE
No.

IVAN
Please?

LANE
You know how much it means to me.

IVAN
And it doesn’t mean the same for me?

(Beat.)

LANE
He wanted me to have it.

IVAN
No he didn’t.

LANE
It was in his will.

IVAN
He hasn’t changed it in years.

LANE
So if he had, he would’ve given it to you?

IVAN
Where were you when he was sick?

LANE
That’s not fair Ivan.

IVAN
I moved back so I could take care of him.

LANE
You wanted to.

IVAN
I had to take a worse job.

LANE
I would’ve helped him if you asked.

IVAN
No you wouldn’t have.

LANE
Yes, I would. You never let me.

IVAN
That’s not true.

LANE
You insisted on doing it, so you could be the hero again.

IVAN
That’s not true.

LANE
You did it to show me up.

IVAN
I did it to help dad.

LANE
You’re full of shit.

(Pause.)

IVAN
If you had told me you wanted to help, I would’ve let you.

LANE
You never asked.

(Beat.)

IVAN
I’m sorry.

(Beat.)

I was never trying to show you up.

LANE
Then why did you insist?

(Beat.)

IVAN
You had a good thing going in New York. A good job, steady girlfriend.

LANE
What does that have to do with anything?

IVAN
I knew if I wasn’t adamant about it you would’ve done it. You would’ve said it was your responsibility since you’re older than me. You’ve always had a sense of duty like that.

(Beat.)

LANE
You did it so I could stay in New York?

IVAN
Yeah.

(Beat.)

LANE
You’re probably right, I would’ve moved.

IVAN
I know you would’ve.

(Pause.)

LANE
You can have it.

IVAN
What?

LANE
You’re right, he would’ve wanted you to.

(Pause.)

IVAN
Keep it.

LANE
But you were the one who took care of him. You deserve it.

IVAN
I want you to have it.

(Blackout.)