Clybourne Park

The play's second act begins in Russ and Bev's house, on a Saturday afternoon in 2009. Though still recognizable, the living spaces have become shabbier. The wood floors have been covered with linoleum, the wooden staircase is now metal, and the kitchen door is missing. Six people sit in a circlein the living room, on boxes and worn-down furniture. They are Kevin and Lena, a black couple who currently live in Clybourne Park, Steve and Lindsey, a white couple who recently purchased the house, and Tom and Kathy, lawyers for the two couples. Steve, Kathy, and Lindseypore over a sheaf of documents. Lindsey is pregnant. Tom interrupts the silence after a moment, asking, "Everybody good?" (43).

Steve answers by asking about terminology, specifically the word "frontage" (43). Kathy and Tom define the term for him, along with a few others. Steve expresses concern that he and Lindsey will be "screwed because of the language" (45) of the legal documents. He and Lindsey have recently purchased the run-down home, and have plans to demolish and rebuild it. Kevin asks how the language relates to the problem at hand, which concerns the potential height of the building.