Tea and Sympathy
Page 9
(AL stops and looks back. Taking tie from around his neck)
Here.
AL (Looks at tie, embarrassed)
I said wear it. Keep it.
TOM
It's yours.
AL (Looks at the tie for a long time, then without taking it, goes through the door)
See ya.
(TOM folds the tie neatly, dazed, then seeing what he's doing, he throws it viciously in the direction of the bureau, and turns and stares out the window. He puts a record on the phonograph.)
BILL
(Comes in to the study from the hall, carrying a pair of shoes and a slim book. As he opens his study door, he hears the music upstairs. He stands in the door and listens, remembering his miserable boyhood. Then he comes in and closes the door)
Laura.
(Throws shoes on floor near footstool.)
LAURA (Off stage, calling)
Bill?
BILL
Yes.
LAURA (Coming in with tea things)
I didn't think you'd be back before your class. Have some tea.
BILL
I beat young Harvey at handball.
LAURA
Good.
BILL
At last. It took some doing, though. He was after my scalp because of that D minus I gave him in his last exam.
(Gives her book)
You wanted this . . . book of poems.
LAURA (Looks at book. Her eyes shift quickly to the same book in the chair)
Why yes. How did you know?
BILL (Trying to be very offhand about it)
The notice from the bookstore.
LAURA
That's very nice of you.
(She moves towards him to kiss him, but at this moment, in picking some wrapping paper from the armchair, he notices the duplicate copy.)
BILL (A little angry)
You've already got it.
LAURA
Why, yes . . . I . . . well, I . . .
(BILL picking it up . . . opens it)
That is, someone gave it to me.
(BILL reads the inscription)
Tom knew I wanted it, and . . .
BILL
(Looks at her, a terrible look coming into his face. Then he slowly rips the book in two and hurls it into the fireplace)
Damn!
LAURA
Bill!
(BILL goes to footstool and sits down and begins to change his shoes)
Bill, what difference does it make that he gave me the book? He knew I wanted it too.
BILL
I don't know. It's just that every time I try to do something . . .
LAURA
Bill, how can you say that? It isn't so.
BILL
It is.
LAURA
Bill, this thing of the book is funny.
BILL
I don't think it's very funny.
LAURA (Going behind him, and kneeling by his side)
Bill, I'm very touched that you should have remembered. Thank you.
(He turns away from her and goes on with his shoes)
Bill, don't turn away. I want to thank you.
(As she gets no response from him, she rises)
Is it such a chore to let yourself be thanked?
(She puts her hands on his shoulders, trying to embrace him)
Oh, Bill, we so rarely touch any more. I keep feeling I'm losing contact with you. Don't you feel that?
BILL (Looking at his watch)
Laura, I . . .
LAURA (She backs away from him)
I know, you've got to go. But it's just that, I don't know, we don't touch any more. It's a silly way of putting it, but you seem to hold yourself aloof from me. A tension seems to grow between us . . . and then when we do . . . touch . . . it's a violent thing . . . almost a compulsive thing.
(BILL is uncomfortable at this accurate description of their relationship. He sits troubled. She puts her arms around his neck and embraces him, bending over him)
You don't feel it? You don't feel yourself holding away from me until it becomes overpowering? There's no growing together any more . . . no quiet times, just holding hands, the feeling of closeness, like it was in Italy. Now it's long separations and then this almost brutal coming together, and . . . Oh, Bill, you do see, you do see.
(BILL suddenly straightens up, toughens, and looks at her. LAURA repulsed, slowly draws her arms from around his shoulders.)
BILL
For God's sake, Laura, what are you talking about?
(He rises and goes to his desk)
It can't always be a honeymoon.
(Upstairs in his room, TOM turns off the phonograph, and leaves the room, going out into the hall and up the stairs.)
LAURA
Do you think that's what I'm talking about?
BILL
I don't know why you chose a time like this to talk about things like . . .
LAURA
. . . I don't know why, either. I just wanted to thank you for the book . . .
(Moves away and looks in book)
What did you write in it?
BILL (Starts to mark exam papers)
Nothing. Why? Should I write in it? I just thought you wanted the book.
LAURA
Of course . . . Are you sure you won't have some tea?
(She bends over the tea things.)
BILL
Yes.
LAURA (Straightening up, trying another tack at returning to normality)
Little Joan Harrison is coming over for tea.
BILL
No, she isn't.
(LAURA looks inquiringly)
I just saw her father at the gym. I don't think that was a very smart thing for you to do, Laura.
LAURA
I thought Tom might take her to the dance Saturday. He's on the committee, and he has no girl to take.
BILL
I understand he's no longer on the committee. You're a hostess, aren't you?
LAURA
Yes.
BILL
I've got the mountain-climbing business this week-end. Weather man predicts rain.
LAURA (Almost breaks. Hides her face in her hands. Then recovers)
That's too bad.
(After a moment)
Bill?
BILL
Yes?
LAURA
I think someone should go to the Dean about Tom and the hazing he's getting.
BILL
What could the Dean do? Announce from chapel, "You've got to stop riding Tom. You've got to stop calling him Grace?" Is that what you'd like him to do?
LAURA
No. I suppose not.
BILL
You know we're losing Al next year because of Tom.
LAURA
Oh, you've heard?
BILL
Yes, Hudson tells me he's moving over to his house. He'll probably be captain of the baseball team. Last time we had a major sport captain was eight years ago.
LAURA
Yes, I'm sorry.
BILL
However, we'll also be losing Tom.
LAURA
Oh?
BILL (Noting her increased interest)
Yes. We have no singles in this house, and he'll be rooming alone.
LAURA
I'm sorry to hear that.
BILL (He turns to look at her)
I knew you would be.
LAURA
Why should my interest in this boy make you angry?
BILL
I'm not angry.
LAURA
You're not only angry. It's almost as though you were, well, jealous.
BILL
Oh, come on now.
LAURA
Well, how else can you explain your . . . your vindictive attitude towards him?
BILL
Why go into it again? Jealous!
(He has his books together now. Goes to the door)
I'll go di
rectly from class to the dining hall. All right?
LAURA
Yes, of course.
BILL
And please, please, Laura . . .
(He stops.)
LAURA
I'll try.
BILL
I know you like to be different, just for the sake of being different . . . and I like you for that . . . But this time, lay off. Show your fine free spirit on something else.
LAURA
On something that can't hurt us?
BILL
All right. Sure. I don't mind putting it that way. And Laura?
LAURA
Yes?
BILL
Seeing Tom so much . . . having him down for tea alone all the time . . .
LAURA
Yes?
BILL
I think you should have him down only when you have the other boys . . . for his own good. I mean that. Well, I'll see you in the dining hall. Try to be on time.
(He goes out. LAURA brings her hands to her face, and cries, leaning against the back of the chair. AL has come tumbling out of the door to his room with books in hand, and is coming down the stairs. Going down the hall)
You going to class, Al?
AL
Hello, Mr. Reynolds. Yes I am.
BILL (As they go)
Let's walk along together. I'm sorry to hear that you're moving across the street next year.
(And they are gone out the door.)
TOM
(Has come down the stairs, and now stands looking at the hall telephone. He is carrying his coat. After a long moment's deliberation, he puts in a coin and dials)
Hello, I'd like to speak to Ellie Martin, please.
(LAURA has moved to pick up the torn book which her husband has thrown in the fireplace. She is smoothing it out, as she suddenly hears TOM'S voice in the hall. She can't help but hear what he is saying. She stands stock still and listens, her alarm and concern showing on her face)
Hello, Ellie? This is Tom Lee . . . Tom Lee. I'm down at the soda fountain all the time with my roommate, Al Thompson . . . Yeah, the guys do sometimes call me that . . . Well, I'll tell you what I wanted. I wondered if . . . you see, I'm not going to the dance Saturday night, and I wondered if you're doing anything? Yeah, I guess that is a hell of a way to ask for a date . . . but I just wondered if I could maybe drop by and pick you up after work on Saturday . . . I don't know what's in it for you, Ellie . . . but something I guess. I just thought I'd like to see you . . . What time do you get through work? . . . Okay, nine o'clock.
(LAURA, having heard this, goes out through the alcove. About to hang up)
Oh, thanks.
(He stands lot a moment, contemplating what he's done, then he slips on his jacket, and goes to the study door and knocks. After a moment, he opens the door and enters.)
LAURA (Coming from the other room with a plate of cookies)
Oh, there you are. I've got your favorites today.
TOM
Mrs. Reynolds, do you mind if I don't come to tea this afternoon?
LAURA
Why . . . if you don't want to . . . How are you?
(She really means this question.)
TOM
I'm okay.
LAURA
Good.
TOM
It's just I don't feel like tea.
LAURA
Perhaps, it's just as well . . . Joan can't make it today, either.
TOM
I didn't expect she would. She's nothing special; just a kid.
LAURA
Something about a dentist appointment or something.
TOM
It wouldn't have done any good anyway. I'm not going to the dance.
LAURA
Oh?
TOM
Another member of the committee will stop around for you.
LAURA
What will you be doing?
TOM
I don't know. I can take care of myself.
LAURA
If you're not going, that gives me an easy out. I won't have to go.
TOM
Just because I'm not going?
LAURA (In an effort to keep him from going to ElIie)
Look, Tom . . . now that neither of us is going, why don't you drop down here after supper, Saturday night. We could listen to some records, or play gin, or we can just talk.