Lee Harvey Oswald

A Far Mean Streak of Independence Brought On By Negleck

Michael Hastings

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2013
• Print ISBN: 9781783190775
• eBook ISBN: 9781783195763
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

"If Lee Harvey Oswald did it, he could not have done it alone. If he did not, he must be the hit of the century. If he was involved and somehow double-crossed, alive today must be persons with the guilt of awful silence." Dallas, Texas. 12.30pm. Friday, 22 November 1963. President John F. Kennedy is assassinated. 48 hours later, Lee Harvey Oswald himself was murdered. Told through the eyes of Oswald's wife and mother, coupled with extracts from the Warren Commission's report, we follow the unsettled drifting life of Lee Harvey Oswald – his loveless marriage to his Russian wife, his challenging relationship with his mother and his pathological hatred of Kennedy's life and achievements. Oswald had the means, motive and opportunity, but did he even do it? Could a man who never did anything on his own murder a President?

Act Two

The stage is dark once more. Out of the black stillness on the stage MARINA steps forward as the voice begins the questions again.

The spot picks up her young rather pretty but certainly very Americanized features. She is very well dressed. In a sense one feels she is behaving too well. Her poise and compliance don’t add up to her whole being.

COMMISSION: Could you tell us those things that you observed that caused you to think he had something in mind at that time, and I will ask you later, after you tell us, those that you discovered since or that you have obtained more light on since.

MARINA: At that time I did not think anything about it. I had no reasons to think that he had something in mind. I did not understand him at that time.

COMMISSION: Do you recall the first time that you observed the rifle?

MARINA: That was on Neely Street. I think that was in February 1963.

COMMISSION: How did you learn about it? Did you see it some place in the apartment?

MARINA: Yes, Lee had a small room where he spent a great deal of time, where he read – where he kept his things, and that is where the rifle was.

COMMISSION: Was it out in the room at that time, as distinguished from in a closet in the room?

MARINA: Yes it was open, out in the open. At first I think – I saw some package up on the top shelf, and I think that that was the rifle. But I didn’t know. And apparently later he assembled it and had it in the room.

COMMISSION: When you saw the rifle assembled in the room, did it have the scope on it?

MARINA: No it did not have a scope on it.

COMMISSION: Did you have any discussion with your husband about the rifle when you first saw it?

MARINA: Of course I asked him…

(The lights come up. LEE is on the floor on his knees. He has gun grease and polish and a barrel plunger before him. The gun is in pieces.

LEE is in a small room. A door is near to his arm. MARINA stands in the doorway looking down on him. He doesn’t seem surprised. Then after she talks to him he becomes surprised and truculent. They talk in Russian.)

MARINA: … Haven’t I seen that before?

LEE: Depends… if you’ve been in and around here in my room – then you been smelling some haven’t you? I mean by that – you been looking – and – Marina – in my room.

MARINA: I saw a parcel – last week –

LEE: But you looked inside my room. You only saw a parcel because you only could have seen a parcel if you had opened that door and peered in.

MARINA: So?

LEE: So… eh – you been peering in on my private life – my room that is.

MARINA: I’m sorry –

LEE: Too late.

MARINA: Lock it if you don’t want me to see –

LEE: I don’t.

MARINA: Buy a lock.

LEE: Can’t afford it any.

MARINA: How much did that thing cost Lee?

LEE: If you had seen fit to understand how a man is – you’d know you don’t just bust in on his private room – my room – and you’d know it is loyalty that keeps it that way. Like I say. It’s trust Marina…

MARINA: How much Lee?

LEE: If you had trust Marina –

(MARINA pulls his hair. She is very serious.)

MARINA: What did I ask you?

LEE: And that’s no good – didn’t I say my hair was falling out – and you come and pull it! Now what quicker way to have a man’s hair all fall out than pull it Marina – !

(MARINA stands and waits and watches on him.)

… It cost twenty-one dollars.

MARINA: Why?

LEE: Why? Because ‘why’ the rifle costs money? You know it costs money!

MARINA: Why buy it? We’re poor. I’d like – that money, thank you. June would. Wouldn’t she like shoes? And you buy that!

LEE: I had one before –

MARINA: Russia’s different –

LEE: There’s hunting – handy for some hunting out of town –

MARINA: That’s not the point! You tell me Lee how much things cost! A refrigerator costs that rifle, does it?

LEE: If you like – a very old one that is –

MARINA: A suit for me and shoes and stockings – how much?

LEE: I can’t talk to you.

MARINA: And you buy this thing – and you polish it!

LEE: I said not to interfere in my private things – there’s squirrel and ducktail out there – that’s all.

MARINA: Then I won’t ask you any more.

LEE: Fine – well then you’ll excuse me some.

MARINA: Is the rifle more interesting …

LEE: I thought I told you never to pull at my hair – that’s what made me mad – now you’re sore –

MARINA: No –

LEE: Putting it on me that you are –

MARINA: I – I can’t understand you Lee – I try –

LEE: All I want is to be left see.

MARINA: And you don’t love June and I –

LEE: I do. I told you I do.

MARINA: I’m trying to say – you are so different now.

LEE: Of course I am. When you do something that throws me yes I am. First it was my room – then it was pulling on my hair – and then, now, I mean – I remember other things which make life more difficult for me –

MARINA: Remember what?

LEE: Didn’t I get out – by telling you you pulled at my hair – I recall when I bought that bottle of restorer –

MARINA: I don’t understand you I don’t understand you!

LEE: For my hair! Because – because it was falling out – I put it on the side table – and you fed June – and I was coming in and I saw you clear as day – try put that hair grease from that bottle – my restorer bottle – on June’s rusk and you say what is it that has changed!

MARINA: But I didn’t put that restorer on June’s –

LEE: But I’m saying I thought you were then going on and about to put it!

(MARINA is suddenly exhausted.)

MARINA: Yes Lee.

LEE: And I’m saying I wouldn’t have recalled the bad things if you hadn’t have brought them up by saying you been spying on me some.

MARINA: I’m tired now… too much shouting…

LEE: She is lazy and slow and she won’t cook but she wants refrigerators and now she’s tired and all!

MARINA: Can I… do something for you. Can I do anything. I will. I apologize. I forget all about what I’m supposed to have done… Can I? Anything now I’ll do – ?

LEE: Now you’re being cowardly.

MARINA: Name something –

LEE: All right. But no more games.

MARINA: No.

LEE: Ask me nothing… I must breathe I must have a cor...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Characters
• Prologue
• Act One
• Act Two
• Appendix