Six Degrees of Separation

Six Degrees of Separation Summary | Section 1 (pages 3-13) Summary

The play opens with a painting by the artist, Kandinsky, revolving slowly above the two-sided stage. One side is geometric looking and rather dark, while the other side is quite bright and even wild looking. The painting stops moving and shows the darker side to the audience.

A couple rushes on stage in their nightclothes, very agitated and excited. They speak directly to the audience. He is Flan and she is Ouisa (Louisa), his wife, the Kittridges. They are an attractive married couple in their early to mid forties. They are alarmed and frightened and seem to have just witnessed a robbery or break-in at their home. They mention some prized possessions, as if looking to ensure they were not taken. Two other actors appear on stage holding up the mentioned items, and they realize that their possessions are safe. They then realize that their very lives might have been in danger. They call out "hello" as if to someone else in the house, but there is no answer.

Ouisa and Flan suddenly pull off their bathrobes and are dressed in fashionable clothing to go out for the evening. They address the audience again to explain what had happened the evening before, before they realized they had an intruder in their home. They relate that they were enjoying their evening with a friend visiting from South Africa. Ouisa criticizes Flan for what she feels is the pretentious way he is explaining who this friend is. Ouisa takes up the explanation of who the friend is and relates that they met him through their children when all were living in New York. Now this friend is visiting, and Ouisa and Flan have asked him to dinner. Ouisa and Flan go on to explain that this friend is very, very wealthy. However, since he lives in South Africa and is white, he is not allowed to remove any funds from the country.

Flan and Ouisa seem particularly excited to see this wealthy friend because

Flan, who is an art dealer, is about 2 million dollars short of the funds he needs to close a lucrative deal. Their wealthy friend is named Geoffrey. Ouisa contends that they were not "sucking up" to their friend, because they like Geoffrey. The couple discusses briefly what it's like to have such a wealthy friend, and the possibility that the wealthy friend may think he is valued only for his wealth.

Geoffrey suddenly appears on stage. He is a typical British South African, and beautifully and elegantly dressed. He appears to be slightly older than Ouisa and Flan. The three have drinks, and Geoffrey comments on how quiet it is. Flan asks Geoffrey why he stays in South Africa when his life is constantly in danger. Geoffrey responds that it is his duty to "educate the black workers" there. Oddly, he comments that when these people rise up and kill their educators, the educators will know they have been successful. Flan and Ouisa comment that he is risking his life. Geoffrey explains that he just doesn't think about it like that, and expresses a wish that Ouisa and Flan would come and visit him in South Africa. In response, Ouisa says that they would sit in Geoffrey's beautiful home demanding to see the poorest of the poor, and those most victimized by

Apartheid. She comments that it seems not right to sit where they are in a wealthy part of their city talking about revolution in South Africa. Flan, Ouisa and Geoffrey continue to banter about the idea of revolution.

Flan offers Geoffrey another drink before they all go out to dinner. Ouisa, still musing about revolution, imagines "striking coal miners" who are striking as attractive (or striking) people modeling new fashions. Geoffrey asks where they should go to dinner and lists some of the good restaurants (all ethnic) that are near them. Geoffrey remarks that they will have to come to South Africa so he can take them out and repay their hospitality. Flan relates a story about a man who went into a gourmet food store (Dean and DeLuca). Instead of waiting in line at the cash register, this customer put $40 on the counter (for purchases which may have totaled $5) and walks out so he won't have to wait in line. Flan tells Geoffrey that he and Ouisa sent this story to the newspaper, the Times. They explain to Geoffrey that this paper publishes such "jokes" reported to them from around town. They all share a companionable laugh.

Ouisa speaks to the audience. She is still thinking about the 2 million dollars they need for their coming deal. She says they are not really auditioning, but she can't stop thinking about the 2 million dollars. Flan begins to address the audience, too. He says that when someone says, "Don't think about elephants," that all you can then think about is elephants. Ouisa chants 2 million dollars over and over again to the audience.

At this point, the doorbell rings.