Tea and Sympathy
Page 10
TOM
I . . . I don't think you'd better count on me.
LAURA
I'd like to.
TOM
No, really. I don't want to sound rude . . . but I . . . I may have another engagement.
LAURA
Oh?
TOM
I'd like to come. Please understand that. It's what I'd like to do . . . but . . .
LAURA
Well, I'll be here just in case, just in case you decide to come in.
(LAURA extends her hand)
I hope you'll be feeling better.
TOM (Hesitates, then takes her hand)
Thanks.
LAURA
Maybe your plans will change.
(TOM looks at her, wishing they would; knowing they won't. He runs out and down the hall as the lights fade out on LAURA standing at the door.)
CURTAIN
SCENE II
The time is eight-forty-five on Saturday night.
In the study a low fire is burning. As the curtain rises, the town clock is striking the three quarter hour. LAURA is sitting in her chair sipping a cup of coffee. The door to the study is open slightly. She is waiting for TOM. She is wearing a lovely but informal dress, and a single flower. In his room, TOM listens to the clock strike. He has just been shaving. He is putting shaving lotion on his face. His face is tense and nervous. There is no joy in the preparations. In a moment, he turns and leaves the room, taking off his belt as he goes.
After a moment, LILLY comes to the study door, knocks and comes in.
LILLY
Laura?
LAURA
Oh, Lilly.
LILLY
(Standing in the doorway, a raincoat held over her head. She is dressed in a low-cut evening gown, which she wears very well)
You're not dressed yet. Why aren't you dressed for the dance?
LAURA (Still in her chair)
I'm not going. I thought I told you.
LILLY (Deposits raincoat and goes immediately to look at herself in mirror next to the door)
Oh, for Heaven's sake, why not? Just because Bill's away with his loathesome little mountain climbers?
LAURA
Well . . .
LILLY
Come along with us. It's raining on and off, so Harry's going to drive us in the car.
LAURA
No, thanks.
LILLY
If you come, Harry will dance with you all evening. You won't be lonely, I promise you.
(LAURA shakes her head, "no")
You're the only one who can dance those funny steps with him.
LAURA
It's very sweet of you, but no.
LILLY (At the mirror)
Do you think this neck is too low?
LAURA
I think you look lovely.
LILLY
Harry says this neck will drive all the little boys crazy.
LAURA
I don't think so.
LILLY
Well, that's not very flattering.
LAURA
I mean, I think they'll appreciate it, but as for driving them crazy . . .
LILLY
After all I want to give them some reward for dancing their duty dances with me.
LAURA
I'm sure when they dance with you, it's no duty, Lilly. I've seen you at these dances.
LILLY
It's not this . . . (Indicating her bosom) it's my line of chatter. I'm oh so interested in what courses they're taking, where they come from and where they learned to dance so divinely.
LAURA (Laughing)
Lilly, you're lost in a boys' school. You were meant to shine some place much more glamorous.
LILLY
I wouldn't trade it for the world. Where else could a girl indulge in three hundred innocent flirtations a year?
LAURA
Lilly, I've often wondered what you'd do if one of the three hundred attempted to go, well, a little further than innocent flirtation.
LILLY
I'd slap him down . . . the little beast.
(She laughs and admires herself in mirror)
Harry says if I'm not careful I'll get to looking like Ellie Martin. You've seen Ellie.
LAURA
I saw her this afternoon for the first time.
LILLY
Really? The first time?
LAURA
Yes. I went into the place where she works . . . the soda shop . . .
LILLY
You!
LAURA
Yes . . . uh . . . for a package of cigarettes.
(After a moment she says with some sadness)
She's not even pretty, is she?
LILLY (Turns from admiring herself at the tone in LAURA'S voice)
Well, honey, don't sound so sad. What difference should it make to you if she's pretty or not?
LAURA
I don't know. It just seems so . . . they're so young.
LILLY
If they're stupid enough to go to Ellie Martin, they deserve whatever happens to them. Anyway, Laura, the boys talk more about Ellie than anything else. So don't fret about it.
LAURA (Arranges chair for TOM facing fireplace. Notices LILLY primping)
You look lovely, Lilly.
LILLY
Maybe I'd better wear that corsage the dance committee sent, after all . . . right here.
(She indicates low point in dress)
I was going to carry it -- or rather Harry was going to help me carry it. You know, it's like one of those things people put on Civil War monuments on Decoration Day.
LAURA
Yes, I've seen them.
LILLY (Indicating the flower LAUnA iS wearing)
Now that's tasteful. Where'd you get that?
LAURA
Uh . . . I bought it for myself.
LILLY
Oh, now.
LAURA
It's always been a favorite of mine and I saw it in the florist's window.
LILLY
Well, Harry will be waiting for me to tie his bow tie.
(Starts towards door)
Will you be up when we get back?
LAURA (Giving LILLY her raincoat)
Probably not.
LILLY
If there's a light on, I'll drop in and tell you how many I had to slap down . . . Night-night.
(She leaves. LAURA stands at the closed door until she hears the outside door close. Then she opens her door a bit. She takes her cup of coffee and stands in front of the fireplace and listens.)
TOM
(As LILLY goes, he returns to his room, dressed in a blue suit. He stands there deliberating a moment, then reaches under his pillow and brings out a pint bottle of whisky. He takes a short swig. It gags him. He corks it and puts it back under the pillow)
Christ, I'll never make it.
(He reaches in his closet and pulls out a raincoat, then turns and snaps out the room light, and goes out. A moment later, he appears on the stairs. He sees LAURA'S door partly open, and while he is putting on his raincoat, he walks warily past it.)
LAURA
(When she hears TOM's door close, she stands still and listens more intently. She hears him pass her door and go to the front door. She puts down the cup of coffee, and goes to the study door. She calls)
Tom?
(After some moments, TOM appears in the door, and she opens it wide)
I've been expecting you.
TOM
I . . . I . . .
LAURA (Opening the door wide)
Are you going to the dance, after all?
TOM (Comes in the door)
No . . . You can report me if you want. Out after hours. Or . . .
(He looks up at her finally)
Or you can give me permission. Can I have permission to go out?
LAURA (Moving into the room, says pleasantly)
I think I'd better get you some coffee.
TOM (At he
r back, truculent)
You can tell them that, too . . . that I've been drinking. There'll be lots to tell before --
(He stops)
I didn't drink much. But I didn't eat much either.
LAURA
Let me get you something to eat.
TOM (As though convincing himself)
No. I can't stay!
LAURA
All right. But I'm glad you dropped in. I was counting on it.
TOM (Chip on shoulder)
I said I might not. When you invited me.
LAURA
I know.
(She looks at him a moment. He is to her a heartbreaking sight . . . all dressed up as though he were going to a prom, but instead he's going to Ellie . . . the innocence and the desperation touch her deeply . . . and this shows in her face as she circles behind him to the door)
It's a nasty night out, isn't it?
TOM
Yes.
LAURA
I'm just as glad I'm not going to the dance.
(She shuts the door gently. TOM, at the sound of the door, turns and sees what she has done)
It'll be nice just to stay here by the fire.
TOM
I wasn't planning to come in.
LAURA
Then why the flower . . . and the card? "For a pleasant evening?"
TOM
It was for the dance. I forgot to cancel it.
LAURA
I'm glad you didn't.
TOM
Why? (He stops studying the curtains and looks at her.)
LAURA (Moving into the room again)
Well, for one thing I like to get flowers. For another thing . . .
(TOM shakes his head a little to clear it)
Let me make you some coffee.
TOM
No. I'm just about right.
LAURA
Or you can drink this . . . I just had a sip.
(She holds up the cup. TOM looks at the proferred coffee)
You can drink from this side.
(She indicates the other side of the cup.)
TOM
(Takes the cup, and looks at the side where her lips have touched and then slowly turns it around to the other and takes a sip)
And for another thing?
LAURA
What do you mean?
TOM
For one thing you like to get flowers . . .
LAURA
For another it's nice to have flowers on my anniversary.
TOM
Anniversary?
LAURA
Yes.
TOM (Waving the cup and saucer around)
And Mr. Beynolds on a mountain top with twenty stalwart youths, soaking wet . . . Didn't he remember?
LAURA (Rescues the cup and saucer)
It's not that anniversary.
(TOM looks at her wondering. Seeing that she has interested him, she moves towards him)
Let me take your coat.
TOM (Definitely)
I can't --
LAURA
I know. You can't stay. But . . .
(She comes up behind him and puts her hand on his shoulders to take off his coat. He can hardly stand her touch. She gently peels his coat from him and stands back to look at him)
How nice you look!
TOM (Disarranging his hair or tie)
Put me in a blue suit and I look like a kid.
LAURA
How did you know I liked this flower?
TOM
You mentioned it.
LAURA
You're very quick to notice these things. So was he.
TOM (After a moment, his curiosity aroused)
Who?
LAURA
My first husband. That's the anniversary.
TOM
I didn't know.
LAURA (Sits in her chair)
Mr. Reynolds doesn't like me to talk about my first husband. He was, I'd say, about your age. How old are you, Tom?
TOM
Eighteen . . . tomorrow.