Tea and Sympathy (12 page)

 

 

 

 

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 directly 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.

 

 

 

 

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