SAM: [punching RECORD button] Yeah. Okay. All right. It’s rolling.
BOB’S VOICE: Ask me somethin’.
SAM: Right. [referring to notebooks] Let’s see—okay—let’s see now—okay—here we go—Do you have any ideas about angels? Do you ever think about angels?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB’S VOICE: Ask me somethin’.
SAM: Right. [referring to notebooks] Let’s see—okay—let’s see now—okay—here we go—Do you have any ideas about angels? Do you ever think about angels?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
April 4, 2025 at 5:22 AM
SAM: [punching RECORD button] Yeah. Okay. All right. It’s rolling.
BOB’S VOICE: Ask me somethin’.
SAM: Right. [referring to notebooks] Let’s see—okay—let’s see now—okay—here we go—Do you have any ideas about angels? Do you ever think about angels?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB’S VOICE: Ask me somethin’.
SAM: Right. [referring to notebooks] Let’s see—okay—let’s see now—okay—here we go—Do you have any ideas about angels? Do you ever think about angels?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
Only a snatch is heard before Bob’s voice comes from offstage right, speaking on the phone. As soon as Bob’s voice is heard, Sam shuts the recorder off and starts leafing through his notebooks, scribbling in them now and then.] #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 22, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Only a snatch is heard before Bob’s voice comes from offstage right, speaking on the phone. As soon as Bob’s voice is heard, Sam shuts the recorder off and starts leafing through his notebooks, scribbling in them now and then.] #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
SAM: Couple.
BOB’S VOICE: What if I don’t have the answers?
SAM: Make it up.
BOB’S VOICE: Okay, so ask me a question.
SAM: [quickly putting a cassette in recorder] Okay, wait a second. I gotta see if this thing is working.
BOB’S VOICE: You got a tape? #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB’S VOICE: What if I don’t have the answers?
SAM: Make it up.
BOB’S VOICE: Okay, so ask me a question.
SAM: [quickly putting a cassette in recorder] Okay, wait a second. I gotta see if this thing is working.
BOB’S VOICE: You got a tape? #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 26, 2025 at 5:45 PM
SAM: Couple.
BOB’S VOICE: What if I don’t have the answers?
SAM: Make it up.
BOB’S VOICE: Okay, so ask me a question.
SAM: [quickly putting a cassette in recorder] Okay, wait a second. I gotta see if this thing is working.
BOB’S VOICE: You got a tape? #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB’S VOICE: What if I don’t have the answers?
SAM: Make it up.
BOB’S VOICE: Okay, so ask me a question.
SAM: [quickly putting a cassette in recorder] Okay, wait a second. I gotta see if this thing is working.
BOB’S VOICE: You got a tape? #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB: Yeah, Iowa or Indiana. I forget. But this place up there has this kind of aura about it. It’s on this kind of broad expanse of land. It’s like that place made James Dean who he is. If he hadn’t’ve died there he wouldn’t’ve been James Dean.
SAM: Hm.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
SAM: Hm.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 18, 2025 at 11:49 AM
BOB: Yeah, Iowa or Indiana. I forget. But this place up there has this kind of aura about it. It’s on this kind of broad expanse of land. It’s like that place made James Dean who he is. If he hadn’t’ve died there he wouldn’t’ve been James Dean.
SAM: Hm.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
SAM: Hm.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
As the light keeps rising, a short, skinny guy named Bob is seen center stage dressed in nothing but a pair of light-green boxer shorts. His arms are clasped across his chest with each hand gripping the opposite shoulder, as though warding off the cold. #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 17, 2025 at 12:22 PM
As the light keeps rising, a short, skinny guy named Bob is seen center stage dressed in nothing but a pair of light-green boxer shorts. His arms are clasped across his chest with each hand gripping the opposite shoulder, as though warding off the cold. #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB: Yeah, but I was on the curve where he had the accident. Outsida town. And this place is incredible. I mean the place where he died is as powerful as the place he lived.
SAM: Nebraska?
BOB: Where’d he live?
SAM: He came from the farm, didn’t he? Somewhere.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan
SAM: Nebraska?
BOB: Where’d he live?
SAM: He came from the farm, didn’t he? Somewhere.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan
March 18, 2025 at 6:38 AM
BOB: Yeah, but I was on the curve where he had the accident. Outsida town. And this place is incredible. I mean the place where he died is as powerful as the place he lived.
SAM: Nebraska?
BOB: Where’d he live?
SAM: He came from the farm, didn’t he? Somewhere.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan
SAM: Nebraska?
BOB: Where’d he live?
SAM: He came from the farm, didn’t he? Somewhere.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan
BOB: You brought some beer?
SAM: Yeah.
BOB: I just gotta make a couple phone calls.
SAM: Good.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
SAM: Yeah.
BOB: I just gotta make a couple phone calls.
SAM: Good.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 21, 2025 at 5:23 AM
BOB: You brought some beer?
SAM: Yeah.
BOB: I just gotta make a couple phone calls.
SAM: Good.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
SAM: Yeah.
BOB: I just gotta make a couple phone calls.
SAM: Good.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
[Bob exits stage right. Sam sits on bench facing stage right, pulls out a cassette tape and sticks it in recorder, punches a button, and the same Jimmy Yancey tune is heard coming from the machine itself. #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 22, 2025 at 9:03 AM
[Bob exits stage right. Sam sits on bench facing stage right, pulls out a cassette tape and sticks it in recorder, punches a button, and the same Jimmy Yancey tune is heard coming from the machine itself. #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
He stops. Bob drops his hands and stares at Sam. Pause. Sound of distant waves continues.
SAM: Ready?
BOB: Yeah. I just gotta make a couple phone calls first.
[Bob moves toward stage right, then stops.]
BOB: Oh, you know where I just was?
SAM: Where?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
SAM: Ready?
BOB: Yeah. I just gotta make a couple phone calls first.
[Bob moves toward stage right, then stops.]
BOB: Oh, you know where I just was?
SAM: Where?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 17, 2025 at 12:27 PM
He stops. Bob drops his hands and stares at Sam. Pause. Sound of distant waves continues.
SAM: Ready?
BOB: Yeah. I just gotta make a couple phone calls first.
[Bob moves toward stage right, then stops.]
BOB: Oh, you know where I just was?
SAM: Where?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
SAM: Ready?
BOB: Yeah. I just gotta make a couple phone calls first.
[Bob moves toward stage right, then stops.]
BOB: Oh, you know where I just was?
SAM: Where?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
[Bob exits stage right as Sam moves down left toward table. Just as Bob exits, the sound of screeching tires and a loud car crash comes from off right. Sam pays no attention, but goes about setting tape recorder, beer, and notebooks on table.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 21, 2025 at 5:25 AM
[Bob exits stage right as Sam moves down left toward table. Just as Bob exits, the sound of screeching tires and a loud car crash comes from off right. Sam pays no attention, but goes about setting tape recorder, beer, and notebooks on table.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
Bob reenters from right but with no reaction to car-crash sounds.]
BOB: Who was playin’ that music before?
SAM: What music?
BOB: That piano music.
SAM: I dunno.
BOB: Hm.
SAM: “If James Dean sang he’d’ve been Ricky Nelson?’’ Elvis said that?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB: Who was playin’ that music before?
SAM: What music?
BOB: That piano music.
SAM: I dunno.
BOB: Hm.
SAM: “If James Dean sang he’d’ve been Ricky Nelson?’’ Elvis said that?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 21, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Bob reenters from right but with no reaction to car-crash sounds.]
BOB: Who was playin’ that music before?
SAM: What music?
BOB: That piano music.
SAM: I dunno.
BOB: Hm.
SAM: “If James Dean sang he’d’ve been Ricky Nelson?’’ Elvis said that?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB: Who was playin’ that music before?
SAM: What music?
BOB: That piano music.
SAM: I dunno.
BOB: Hm.
SAM: “If James Dean sang he’d’ve been Ricky Nelson?’’ Elvis said that?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
I can’t count anymore. Okay, look, I’ll talk to you later and see what’s goin’ on. [pause] Okay. Bye.
[Bob hangs up offstage. Sam looks in that direction, then returns to his notebooks, cracks open a can of beer, and drinks.] #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
[Bob hangs up offstage. Sam looks in that direction, then returns to his notebooks, cracks open a can of beer, and drinks.] #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 22, 2025 at 9:08 AM
I can’t count anymore. Okay, look, I’ll talk to you later and see what’s goin’ on. [pause] Okay. Bye.
[Bob hangs up offstage. Sam looks in that direction, then returns to his notebooks, cracks open a can of beer, and drinks.] #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
[Bob hangs up offstage. Sam looks in that direction, then returns to his notebooks, cracks open a can of beer, and drinks.] #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
The only set piece onstage is a round redwood table with a big yellow umbrella stuck in the middle of it and two redwood benches set across from each other at the table. The table and benches are set down left (from the actors’ point of view). #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 12, 2025 at 8:01 AM
The only set piece onstage is a round redwood table with a big yellow umbrella stuck in the middle of it and two redwood benches set across from each other at the table. The table and benches are set down left (from the actors’ point of view). #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
His mouth drops open and his head slowly drops back on his shoulders to stare at the sky. He holds that position. Piano music stops abruptly. Sam, a tall, skinny guy dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, carrying a tape recorder, several notebooks, and a six-pack of beer, enters from right. #truedylan
March 17, 2025 at 12:25 PM
His mouth drops open and his head slowly drops back on his shoulders to stare at the sky. He holds that position. Piano music stops abruptly. Sam, a tall, skinny guy dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, carrying a tape recorder, several notebooks, and a six-pack of beer, enters from right. #truedylan
SAM: Yeah. [shuts tape off]
BOB’S VOICE: You need anything?
SAM: Naw, I’m fine.
[Sam drinks more beer, scribbles more notes. Pause. Bob’s voice is heard again offstage right on phone. Sound of waves continues.]
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB’S VOICE: You need anything?
SAM: Naw, I’m fine.
[Sam drinks more beer, scribbles more notes. Pause. Bob’s voice is heard again offstage right on phone. Sound of waves continues.]
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
April 8, 2025 at 8:07 AM
SAM: Yeah. [shuts tape off]
BOB’S VOICE: You need anything?
SAM: Naw, I’m fine.
[Sam drinks more beer, scribbles more notes. Pause. Bob’s voice is heard again offstage right on phone. Sound of waves continues.]
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB’S VOICE: You need anything?
SAM: Naw, I’m fine.
[Sam drinks more beer, scribbles more notes. Pause. Bob’s voice is heard again offstage right on phone. Sound of waves continues.]
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
The distant rhythmic splashing of waves is heard underneath the piano music and continues throughout the play, always in the background. #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 12, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The distant rhythmic splashing of waves is heard underneath the piano music and continues throughout the play, always in the background. #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
TRUE DYLAN
A one-act play, as it really happened one afternoon in California
by Sam Shepard
Published in Esquire July 1, 1987. Illustration by Bill Butcher. #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
A one-act play, as it really happened one afternoon in California
by Sam Shepard
Published in Esquire July 1, 1987. Illustration by Bill Butcher. #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 12, 2025 at 7:55 AM
TRUE DYLAN
A one-act play, as it really happened one afternoon in California
by Sam Shepard
Published in Esquire July 1, 1987. Illustration by Bill Butcher. #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
A one-act play, as it really happened one afternoon in California
by Sam Shepard
Published in Esquire July 1, 1987. Illustration by Bill Butcher. #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
Okay, well look, I got somebody here so. [pause] Yeah, I know. Yeah, well, I seen their act before. Yeah, I seen it. I seen it in St. Louis. Yeah. [pause] I dunno—’59 or ’60, somethin’ like that. [laughs, pause] I was around. I been around a long time. #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 22, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Okay, well look, I got somebody here so. [pause] Yeah, I know. Yeah, well, I seen their act before. Yeah, I seen it. I seen it in St. Louis. Yeah. [pause] I dunno—’59 or ’60, somethin’ like that. [laughs, pause] I was around. I been around a long time. #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB’S VOICE: [off right] Sam, what’s this thing supposed to be about anyway?
SAM: I dunno.
BOB’S VOICE: [off] Are we supposed to have a theme?
SAM: I got a buncha questions here.
BOB’S VOICE: [off] You brought questions?
SAM: Yeah.
BOB’S VOICE: How many questions?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan
SAM: I dunno.
BOB’S VOICE: [off] Are we supposed to have a theme?
SAM: I got a buncha questions here.
BOB’S VOICE: [off] You brought questions?
SAM: Yeah.
BOB’S VOICE: How many questions?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan
March 26, 2025 at 5:42 PM
BOB’S VOICE: [off right] Sam, what’s this thing supposed to be about anyway?
SAM: I dunno.
BOB’S VOICE: [off] Are we supposed to have a theme?
SAM: I got a buncha questions here.
BOB’S VOICE: [off] You brought questions?
SAM: Yeah.
BOB’S VOICE: How many questions?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan
SAM: I dunno.
BOB’S VOICE: [off] Are we supposed to have a theme?
SAM: I got a buncha questions here.
BOB’S VOICE: [off] You brought questions?
SAM: Yeah.
BOB’S VOICE: How many questions?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan
He turns in a slow circle to his right and then repeats the circle to the left, looking out to the ocean as his gaze passes it. He stops, facing audience, covers his face with both hands, then rubs his eyes and draws his hands slowly down his cheeks to his chin. #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan
March 17, 2025 at 12:24 PM
He turns in a slow circle to his right and then repeats the circle to the left, looking out to the ocean as his gaze passes it. He stops, facing audience, covers his face with both hands, then rubs his eyes and draws his hands slowly down his cheeks to his chin. #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan
BOB’S VOICE: That’s the first question?
SAM: You want me to start with something else?
BOB’S VOICE: [still off] No, that’s okay. Angels. Yeah, now, angels now—what is it? [pause] Oh—the pope says this about angels—he says they exist.
SAM: Yeah? The pope?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
SAM: You want me to start with something else?
BOB’S VOICE: [still off] No, that’s okay. Angels. Yeah, now, angels now—what is it? [pause] Oh—the pope says this about angels—he says they exist.
SAM: Yeah? The pope?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
April 4, 2025 at 6:28 AM
BOB’S VOICE: That’s the first question?
SAM: You want me to start with something else?
BOB’S VOICE: [still off] No, that’s okay. Angels. Yeah, now, angels now—what is it? [pause] Oh—the pope says this about angels—he says they exist.
SAM: Yeah? The pope?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
SAM: You want me to start with something else?
BOB’S VOICE: [still off] No, that’s okay. Angels. Yeah, now, angels now—what is it? [pause] Oh—the pope says this about angels—he says they exist.
SAM: Yeah? The pope?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
[Bob moves as though to exit stage right again, but stops again.]
BOB: You know what Elvis said? He said that if James Dean had sang he’d’ve been Ricky Nelson.
SAM: Is that right?
BOB: Yeah. [pause] You need anything?
SAM: Nope.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB: You know what Elvis said? He said that if James Dean had sang he’d’ve been Ricky Nelson.
SAM: Is that right?
BOB: Yeah. [pause] You need anything?
SAM: Nope.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 21, 2025 at 5:22 AM
[Bob moves as though to exit stage right again, but stops again.]
BOB: You know what Elvis said? He said that if James Dean had sang he’d’ve been Ricky Nelson.
SAM: Is that right?
BOB: Yeah. [pause] You need anything?
SAM: Nope.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB: You know what Elvis said? He said that if James Dean had sang he’d’ve been Ricky Nelson.
SAM: Is that right?
BOB: Yeah. [pause] You need anything?
SAM: Nope.
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB’S VOICE: [off right] Maria? Listen, what’s that thing gonna be like tonight? [pause] Yeah. There gonna be a lotta people there? [pause] Well, that’s what I’m tryin’ to figure out. [pause] Yeah. I don’t know. How many people you think there’ll be? [pause] #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 22, 2025 at 9:05 AM
BOB’S VOICE: [off right] Maria? Listen, what’s that thing gonna be like tonight? [pause] Yeah. There gonna be a lotta people there? [pause] Well, that’s what I’m tryin’ to figure out. [pause] Yeah. I don’t know. How many people you think there’ll be? [pause] #dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB’S VOICE: Yeah. And they’re spiritual beings. That’s what he says.
SAM: Do you believe it?
BOB’S VOICE: Yeah.
SAM: Have you had any direct experience with angels?
BOB’S VOICE: [off] Yeah. Yeah, I have. I just gotta make one more phone call, all right?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
SAM: Do you believe it?
BOB’S VOICE: Yeah.
SAM: Have you had any direct experience with angels?
BOB’S VOICE: [off] Yeah. Yeah, I have. I just gotta make one more phone call, all right?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
April 4, 2025 at 9:20 AM
BOB’S VOICE: Yeah. And they’re spiritual beings. That’s what he says.
SAM: Do you believe it?
BOB’S VOICE: Yeah.
SAM: Have you had any direct experience with angels?
BOB’S VOICE: [off] Yeah. Yeah, I have. I just gotta make one more phone call, all right?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
SAM: Do you believe it?
BOB’S VOICE: Yeah.
SAM: Have you had any direct experience with angels?
BOB’S VOICE: [off] Yeah. Yeah, I have. I just gotta make one more phone call, all right?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
BOB: Paso Robles. You know, on that highway where James Dean got killed?
SAM: Oh yeah?
BOB: I was there at the spot. On the spot. A windy kinda place.
SAM: They’ve got a statue or monument to him in that town, don’t they?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
SAM: Oh yeah?
BOB: I was there at the spot. On the spot. A windy kinda place.
SAM: They’ve got a statue or monument to him in that town, don’t they?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
March 18, 2025 at 6:37 AM
BOB: Paso Robles. You know, on that highway where James Dean got killed?
SAM: Oh yeah?
BOB: I was there at the spot. On the spot. A windy kinda place.
SAM: They’ve got a statue or monument to him in that town, don’t they?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard
SAM: Oh yeah?
BOB: I was there at the spot. On the spot. A windy kinda place.
SAM: They’ve got a statue or monument to him in that town, don’t they?
#dylan #bobdylan #truedylan #samshepard