The Woman

The Woman describes the story of a maverick congressman who is the victim of a embellished sexual scandal that his party machine uses as a threat to keep him in his place.  But it's not that simple.  The woman in question is the daughter of the party boss.  They meet in her hotel room after the plan to explode the scandal is discovered. 

Standish comes in. Wanda looks closely at Grace and exits

GRACE (formally) Mr. Standish...

STANDISH (with caution) You know?

GRACE Yes.

STANDISH Your father is probably triumphant.

GRACE No. It was the operator. Telephone. Downstairs.

STANDISH Right. I called you from the lobby. To New York.

GRACE How could you do...?

STANDISH I wasn't thinking. All I could think of was your...

GRACE ...so now she knows.

STANDISH Was that what...?

GRACE Yes.

STANDISH What did you say?

GRACE I stonewalled.

STANDISH A wise move with matters in their present state.

GRACE It’s wise in any case.

STANDISH For you.

GRACE And you?

STANDISH My position in the matter is not enviable.

GRACE No, I wouldn't say that it is.

STANDISH Much more complex.

GRACE And who's fault is that?

STANDISH You would like to see me lose this fight, I suppose.

GRACE I would.

STANDISH I have no intention of doing so. I owe too much to the men who staked their careers on my...

GRACE ...why should that affect...?

STANDISH Grace..! (he stops himself. Grace turns away. Standish looks at her for a long moment.) I loved you once.

GRACE (she turns, surprised) You saw in me a profitable mate.

STANDISH I saw more than that.

GRACE Had I believed you did, we wouldn't be doing this...

STANDISH ...from where I stand it was you who were after the profitable mate.

GRACE I made the correct choice, then, didn't I?

STANDISH (pause, then more controlled) Best to let that drop.

GRACE Yes. Let it drop.

STANDISH (sincerely) I would never intentionally hurt you in any way.

GRACE I'm relieved to hear that. Given the circumstances.

STANDISH You're a remarkable woman.

GRACE Thank you.

STANDISH If there were more women like you, they would have the vote.

GRACE Most women are like me.

STANDISH By my experience, no.

GRACE I lament your experience.

STANDISH Yes. (pause) I was hoping to get your help.

GRACE And I am hoping to get yours.

STANDISH Good. Then we agree.

GRACE So far as it goes.

STANDISH Yes. Well, it's hard...

GRACE That's already understood.

STANDISH Yes. There are three ways this could go, Mrs. Robertson. First, the story could come to the floor without the woman's name. Verifiable or not, that would endanger my campaign against corruption, and... well, in my estimation, it would also jeopardize the future of the Party.

GRACE And all on your shoulders.

STANDISH Yes... well, not all.

GRACE From where I stand.

STANDISH Not all. The second way, and by far the healthiest for all concerned, would be for my opponents -- namely your father and husband -- to let the matter disappear. Mullins would be defeated, and the struggle would go on -- perhaps for me to win, perhaps not -- but the fight would be fairly drawn.

GRACE And how is that a benefit for "all"?

STANDISH The Party becomes associated with reform. The public wants reform.

GRACE That's a discussion for another time. The third way?

STANDISH The story goes to the floor, shortly thereafter your name is released.

GRACE Obviously not by my father.

STANDISH The result would be general destruction. Me, your father, your husband and the Party. Electoral chaos would follow. It would be a decade before the nation recovers.

GRACE And what is your choice, Mr. Standish?

STANDISH It isn't my choice at all. It's yours.

GRACE How is it mine? I feel the pawn in this situation.

STANDISH Convince your father to let me win.

GRACE Otherwise?

STANDISH If I am to be destroyed for having pursued a noble end too vigorously, then I would prefer to take my attackers down with me.

GRACE But you neglect to acknowledge the destruction of one other person in this matter.

STANDISH Yes.

GRACE (pause) So, it's you would release my name.

STANDISH That would seem to be the case.

GRACE Ruin my marriage, and me in the bargain.

STANDISH If your marriage is as... never mind.

GRACE I have no regrets for my choice of a husband, Mr. Standish.

STANDISH And I none for my choice of a wife.

GRACE Then why destroy my marriage? I thought such things were out of political reach.

STANDISH Apparently not.

GRACE Apparently not.

STANDISH Your husband will suffer damage but he can forgive you publicly and win the hearts of American women who influence the ballot, or he can divorce you and win the agreement of American men who cast it. Either way he can turn this to a sort of advantage. You, on the other hand...

GRACE ... am at his mercy.

STANDISH Except that you argue for moderation. Allow me to win this battle and the war to rage on.

GRACE This is an odd sort of blackmail

STANDISH It's politics according to Blake, is it not?

GRACE (she takes a moment to review her position, decides to broach a complex, and a perhaps too personal, subject) I believe you to be a dangerous man, Mr. Standish.

STANDISH You listen too well to your male relatives, Mrs. Robertson.

GRACE No, I see you as too much of a zealot really to achieve anything lasting and good. They see you as effective against their interests. Your causes are just, it's true...

STANDISH Why, thank you...

GRACE ...and will take root but slowly. You rush them to their harm.

STANDISH I take advantage of the times.

GRACE But when your spring of public approbation passes, and your reforms fall out of fashion, those with vested interests will erode them to nothing, and all the sacrifice will be wasted. I will resist you to the last. (pause) Or, had I the opportunity, I would try to reform the reformist from a sprinter who exhausts himself after one race, to a climber who scales the mountain one tortuous move at a time.

STANDISH Your opportunity to reform me was surrendered ten years ago. (pause, as he moves away from her) State your intentions, Mrs. Robertson.

GRACE I will not let you win. I care too much for what you stand for to allow it.

STANDISH So you will...?

GRACE ...let the story stand. And if my personal concerns are sacrificed for the good of the Union, so be it.

STANDISH Don't be a fool.

GRACE You be one in my place, then. I see no alternative.

STANDISH Then as soon as your father confronts me with his threat, I tell him your name.

GRACE Lose your sense of honor and play me against the threat. I will pray you are man enough to do otherwise.

STANDISH I can't let my mistakes as a man defeat my principles. I'm willing to sacrifice myself but not my cause.

GRACE You sacrifice me.

STANDISH I haven’t the right to protect you. It’s your good name against the good of millions.

GRACE (suddenly emotional) I always thought that should it come to this, I could rely on your honor.

STANDISH If there were any way of saving you, believe me, I’d do it.

GRACE There is a way!

STANDISH Not for me! I can smell victory, Grace, surely you know what that's like.

GRACE I can guess.

STANDISH (pause) I wish it had been different. From the beginning.

GRACE There's no gain in that.

STANDISH Your father wants to see me. Tell him I'll come back. (starts to leave)

GRACE (stopping him, an offering) He has a winning hand.

STANDISH No he doesn't.

GRACE He thinks he does. (pauses as she considers whether to continue) ...but until he has a name it's all a bluff. He won't play if you don't believe he can win.

STANDISH (taking the gift) So I call his bluff.

GRACE And if you do, there will be no need for a name.

STANDISH But if he plays it anyway, and the story goes out, we all lose control.

GRACE It's a risk. Yes.

STANDISH (with Grace's "yes") Yes. But worth it.

GRACE I'm glad you think so.

STANDISH The Governor has more than a good wife. He has a good woman. (exits)