Denise Giardina turns from historical novels to a play animated by the historical antagonism turned to friendship between Democratic Sens. Robert Byrd and Ted Kennedy.

"The fact of the matter is that Byrd and Kennedy did clash initially over civil rights legislation, did come to figure out how to live with each other, then came to respect and like each other," says writer Denise Giardina, whose new play, "Robert and Ted," takes on the arc of their relationship as U.S. senators.