Summary

The Prologue takes place on a television soundstage in Chicago in the summer of 1968. There is a sense that something significant has happened moments before the play begins. The play begins with Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley staring at each other whilst sitting on the soundstage, seemingly shaken-up, but neither of them of them speaking. The surrounding crew and production staff are staring at them in shock. The news anchor Howard K Smith announces that they have run out of time and ends the broadcast. A sign flashes saying “off air”.

Howard approaches William Sheehan, a producer, and asks if he was allowed to say what he just said, but it is not made clear at this point whether Howard is referring to Vidal or Buckley, or what exactly has been said, beyond the fact that everyone is shocked by it. William replies...