Black History Month

The Past Is the Past

Richard Wesley

Play, first produced 1974, published 1974

What has been called Richard Wesley's finest short play focuses on mutual acceptance between a father and son. Eddie Green, the illegitimate son abandoned by Earl Davis, recognizes his father and confronts him in a pool hall. Realizing who Eddie is, Earl answers the boy's questions with painful honesty. Abandoned by his own father, Earl tells Eddie that the cycle need not continue -- Eddie can break it by building a good relationship with his own children. Earl and Eddie go their separate ways, unclear about whether they will ever meet again, but knowing that this confrontation has been significant.