‘Harvey’ (Elwood): “Harvey has always been my favorite name”

ELWOOD: One night, several years ago, I was walking early in the evening, alone.  Fairfax Street—between 18^th and 19^th.  I had just helped Ed Hickey into a taxi.  Ed had been mixing his rye with his gin, and I felt he needed some help getting home.  I started to walk down the street when I heard a voice saying, “Good evening, Mr. Dowd.”  I turned and there was this great white rabbit leaning against a lamp post.  Well, I thought nothing of that because when you live in a town as long as I have lived in this one, you get used to the fact that everybody knows your name.  Naturally I went over to chat with him.  He said to me, “Ed Hickey was a little spiffed this evening, or could I be mistaken?”  Well, of course he was not mistaken.  I think the world and all of Ed, but he was spiffed.  So we stood there and talked and finally I said, “You have the advantage of me.  You know my name, but I don’t know yours.” Right back at me he said, “What name do you like?”  Well, I didn’t even have to think a minute.  Harvey has always been my favorite name.  So I said, “Harvey”—and this is the interesting part of the whole thing.  He said, “What a coincidence.  My name happens to be Harvey!”

More Monologues from the Play, ‘Harvey’