LAURA
Tomorrow . . . We must celebrate.
TOM
You'd better not make any plans.
LAURA
He was just your age then.
(She looks at him again with slight wonder)
It doesn't seem possible now, looking at you . . .
TOM
Why, do I look like such a child?
LAURA
Why no.
TOM
Men are married at my age.
LAURA
Of course, they are. He was. Maybe a few months older. Such a lonely boy, away from home for the first time . . . and . . . and going off to war.
(TOM looks up inquiringly)
Yes, he was killed.
TOM
I'm sorry . . . but I'm glad to hear about him.
LAURA
Glad?
TOM
Yes. I don't know . . . He sounds like someone you should have been married to, not . . .
(Stops)
I'm sorry if I . . .
(Stops.)
LAURA (After a moment)
He was killed being conspicuously brave. He had to be conspicuously brave, you see, because something had happened in training camp . . . I don't know what . . . and he was afraid the others thought him a coward . . . He showed them he wasn't.
TOM
He had that satisfaction.
LAURA
What was it worth if it killed him?
TOM
I don't know. But I can understand.
LAURA
Of course you can. You're very like him.
TOM
Me?
LAURA
(Holding out the coffee cup)
Before I finish it all?
(TOM comes over and takes a sip from his side of the cup)
He was kind and gentle, and lonely.
(TOM turns away in embarrassment at hearing himself so described)
We knew it wouldn't last . . . We sensed it . . . But he always said, "Why must the test of everything be its durability?"
TOM
I'm sorry he was killed.
LAURA
Yes, so am I. I'm sorry he was killed the way he was killed . . . trying to prove how brave he was. In trying to prove he was a man, he died a boy.
TOM
Still he must have died happy.
LAURA
Because he proved his courage?
TOM
That . . . and because he was married to you.
(Embarrassed, he walks to his coat which she has been holding in her lap)
I've got to go.
LAURA
Tom, please.
TOM
I've got to.
LAURA
It must be a very important engagement.
TOM
It is.
LAURA
If you go now, I'll think I bored you, talking all about myself.
TOM
You haven't.
LAURA
I probably shouldn't have gone on like that. It's just that I felt like it . . . a rainy spring night . . . a fire. I guess I'm in a reminiscent mood. Do you ever get in reminiscing moods on nights like this?
TOM
About what?
LAURA
Oh, come now . . . there must be something pleasant to remember, or someone.
(TOM stands by the door beginning to think back, his raincoat in his hand, but still dragging on the floor)
Isn't there? . . . Of course there is. Who was it, or don't you want to tell?
TOM (After a long silence)
May I have a cigarette?
LAURA (Relieved that she has won another moments delay)
Yes. Of course.
(Hands him a box, then lights his cigarette.)
TOM
My seventh-grade teacher.
LAURA
What?
TOM
That's who I remember.
LAURA
Oh.
TOM
Miss Middleton . . .
LAURA
How sweet.
TOM (Drops the raincoat again, and moves into the room)
It wasn't sweet. It was terrible.
LAURA
At that time, of course . . . Tell me about her.
TOM
She was just out of college . . . tall, blonde, honey-colored hair . . . and she wore a polo coat, and drove a convertible.
LAURA
Sounds very fetching.
TOM
Ever since then I've been a sucker for girls in polo coats.
LAURA (Smiling)
I have one somewhere.
TOM
Yes, I know.
(He looks at her.)
LAURA
What happened?
TOM
What could happen? As usual I made a fool of myself. I guess everyone knew I was in love with her. People I like, I can't help showing it.
LAURA
That's a good trait.
TOM
When she used to go on errands and she needed one of the boys to go along and help carry something, there I was.
LAURA
She liked you too, then.
TOM
This is a stupid thing to talk about.
LAURA
I can see why she liked you.
TOM
I thought she . . . I thought she loved me. I was twelve years old.
LAURA
Maybe she did.
TOM
Anyway, when I was in eighth grade, she got married. And you know what they made me do? They gave a luncheon at school in her honor, and I had to be the toastmaster and wish her happiness and everything . . . I had to write a poem . . .
(He quotes)
"Now that you are going to be married, And away from us be carried, Before you promise to love, honor and obey, There are a few things I want to say."
(He shakes his head as they both laugh)
From there on it turned out to be more of a love poem than anything else.
LAURA (As she stops laughing)
Puppy love can be heartbreaking.
TOM
(The smile dying quickly as he looks at her. Then after what seems like forever)
I'm always falling in love with the wrong people.
LAURA
Who isn't?
TOM
You too?
LAURA
It wouldn't be any fun if we didn't. Of course, nothing ever comes of it, but there are bittersweet memories, and they can be pleasant.
(Kidding him as friend to friend, trying to get him to smile again)
Who else have you been desperately in love with?
TOM (He doesn't answer. Then he looks at his watch)
It's almost nine . . . I'm late.
(Starts to go.)
LAURA (Rising)
I can't persuade you to stay?
(TOM shakes his head, "no")
We were getting on so well.
TOM
Thanks.
LAURA
In another moment I would have told you all the deep, dark secrets of my life.
TOM
I'm sorry.
(He picks up his coat from the floor.)
LAURA
(Desperately trying to think of something to keep him from going)
Won't you stay even for a dance?
TOM
I don't dance.
LAURA
I was going to teach you.
(She goes over to the phonograph and snaps on the button.)
TOM (Opens the door)
Some other time . . .
LAURA
Please, for me.
(She comes back.)
TOM (After a moment he closes the door)
Tell me something.
LAURA
Yes?
(The record starts to play, something soft and melodic. It plays through to the end of the act.)
TOM
Why are you so nice to me?
LAURA
Why . . . I . . .
TOM
You're not this way to the rest of the fellows.
LAURA
No, I know I'm not. Do you mind my being nice to you?
TOM (Shakes his head, "no")
I just wondered why.
LAURA (In a perfectly open way)
I guess, Tom . . . I guess it's because I like you.
TOM
No one else seems to. Why do you?
LAURA
I don't know . . . I . . .
TOM
Is it because no one else likes me? Is it just pity?
LAURA
No, Tom, no, of course not . . . It's, well . . . it's because you've been very nice to me . . . very considerate. It wasn't easy for me, you know, coming into a school, my first year. You seemed to sense that. I don't know, we just seem to have hit it off.
(She smiles at him.)
TOM
Mr. Reynolds knows you like me.
LAURA
I suppose so. I haven't kept it a secret.
TOM
Is that why he hates me so?
LAURA
I don't think he hates you.
TOM
Yes, he hates me. Why lie? I think everyone here hates me but you. But they won't.
LAURA
Of course they won't.
TOM
He hates me because he made a flop with me. I know all about it. My father put me in this house when I first came here, and when he left me he said to your husband, "Make a man out of him." He's failed, and he's mad, and then you came along, and were nice to me . . . out of pity.
LAURA
No, Tom, not pity. I'm too selfish a woman to like you just out of pity.
TOM
(He has worked himself up into a state of confusion, and anger, and desperation)
There's so much I . . . there's so munch I don't understand.
LAURA (reaches out and touches his arm)
Tom, don't go out tonight.
TOM
I've got to. That's one thing that's clear. I've got to!
LAURA (Holds up her arms for dancing)
Won't you let me teach you how to dance?
TOM
(Suddenly and impulsively he throws his arms around her, and kisses her passionately, awkwardly, and then in embarrassment he buries his head in her shoulder)
Oh, God . . . God.
LAURA
Tom . . . Tom . . .
(TOM raises his face and looks at her, and would kiss her again)
No, Tom . . . No, I . . .
(At the first "No," TOM breaks from her and runs out the door halfway up the stairs. Calling)
Tom! . . . Tom!
(TOM stops at the sound of her voice and turns around and looks down the stairs. LAURA moves to the open door)
Tom, I . . .
(The front door opens and two of the mountain-climbing boys, PHIL and PAUL come in, with their packs.)
PHIL (Seeing TOM poised on the stairs)
What the hell are you doing?
(TOM just looks at him)
What's the matter with you?
(He goes on and up the stairs.)
TOM
What are you doing back?
PAUL
The whole bunch is back. Who wants to go mountain climbing in the rain?
BILL (Outside his study door)
Say, any of you fellows want to go across the street for something to eat when you get changed, go ahead.
(PHIL and PAUL go up the stairs past TOM. BILL goes into his own room, leaving door open)
Tea and Sympathy Page 11