Tea and Sympathy (8 page)

 

 

(TOM sits on the bed, the full realization of it dawning.)

 

 

 

 

RALPH
(Sticks his head around the stairs from upstairs, and yells)

 

 

Hey, Grace, who's taking you to the dance Saturday night? Hey, Grace!

 

 

(He disappears again up the stairs.)

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

What's that all about?

 

 

 

 

TOM

 

 

I don't know.

 

 

(LAURA, as the noise comes in, rises and goes to door to stop it, but
AL comes into the hall and goes upstairs yelling at the boys and LAURA
goes back to her chair.)

 

 

 

 

HERB
(Looks at his watch)

 

 

Now . . . Do you want me to stay over? If I'm not going to stay over
tonight, I've got to catch the six-fifty-four.

 

 

 

 

TOM

 

 

Stay over?

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

Yes, I didn't bring a change of clothes along, but if you want me to
stay over . . .

 

 

 

 

TOM

 

 

Why should you stay over?

 

 

 

 

HERB
(Stung a little by this)

 

 

All right. Now come on down to Bill's room and telephone this drama
fellow. So I'll know you're making a start of it. And bring the dress.

 

 

 

 

TOM

 

 

I'll do it tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

I'd feel better if you did it tonight. Come on. I'm walking out with Bill.
And incidentally, the Dean said if the ribbing goes beyond bounds . . .
you know . . . you're to come to him and he'll take some steps. He's
not going to do anything now, because these things take care of
themselves. They're better ignored . . .

 

 

(They have both stared out of the bedroom, but during the above HERB
goes back for the dress. TOM continues out and stands on the stairs
looking at the telephone in the hall.)

 

 

 

 

HERB
(Comes out ole the study. Calls back)

 

 

See you Al. Take good care of my boy here.

 

 

(Starts down stairs. Stops)

 

 

You need any money?

 

 

 

 

TOM

 

 

No.

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

I'm lining you up with a counselor's job at camp this year. If this
thing doesn't spoil it.

 

 

(Stops)

 

 

You sure you've got enough money to come home?

 

 

 

 

TOM

 

 

Yes, sure. Look Dad, let me call about the play from here.

 

 

(He takes receiver off hook.)

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

Why not use Bill's phone? He won't mind. Come on.

 

 

(TOM reluctantly puts phone back on hook)

 

 

Look, if you've got any problems, talk them over with Bill --
Mr. Reynolds. He's an old friend, and I think he'd tell you about what
I'd tell you in a spot.

 

 

(Goes into master's study)

 

 

Is Bill ready?

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

He'll be right down. How does the costume work?

 

 

 

 

TOM

 

 

I guess it's all right, only . . .

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

I'd like Tom to use your phone if he may -- to call whoever's putting
on the play. He's giving up the part.

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

Giving up the part?

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

Yes. I've . . . I want him to. He's doing it for me.

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

Mr. Lee, it was a great honor for him to be chosen to play the part.

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

Bill will understand. Bill!

 

 

(He thrusts costume into LAURA'S hand and goes off through alcove)

 

 

Bill, what's the number of the man putting on the play. Tom wants to
call him.

 

 

(LAURA looks at TOM who keeps his eyes from her. She makes a move towards
him, but he takes a step away.)

 

 

 

 

BILL
(Off stage)

 

 

Fred Mayberry . . . Three-two-six . . . You ready, Herb?

 

 

 

 

HERB
(Off stage)

 

 

Yes. You don't mind if Tom uses your phone, do you?

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

Of course not.

 

 

 

 

HERB
(Comes in)

 

 

When do you go on your mountain-climbing week-end, Bill?

 

 

 

 

BILL
(Comes in)

 

 

This week-end's the outing.

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

Maybe Tom could go with you.

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

He's on the dance committee, I think. Of course he's welcome if he wants
to. Always has been.

 

 

 

 

HERB
(Holding out phone to TOM)

 

 

Tom.

 

 

(TOM hesitates to cross to phone. As LAURA watches him with concern,
he makes a move to escape out the door)

 

 

Three-two-six.

 

 

(TOM slowly and painfully crosses the stage, takes the phone and sits.)

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

Will you walk along with us as far as the dining hall, Laura?

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

I don't think I feel like supper, thanks.

 

 

 

 

BILL
(Looks from her to TOM)

 

 

What?

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

I've got to get along if I want to catch my train.

 

 

(TOM dials phone.)

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

Laura?

 

 

(LAURA shakes her head, tight-lipped.)

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

Well, then, good-bye, Laura . . . I still like you.

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

Still going to the Dean's, Bill?

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

Yes. I'll be right back after supper. Sure you don't want to walk along
with us to the dining hall?

 

 

(LAURA shakes her head.)

 

 

 

 

TOM

 

 

Busy.

 

 

 

 

HERB
(Pats his son's arm)

 

 

Keep trying him. We're in this together. Anything you want?

 

 

(TOM shakes his head "no")

 

 

Just remember, anything you want, let me know.

 

 

(To LAURA)

 

 

See you at reunion time . . . This'll all be blown over by then.

 

 

(He goes.)

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

Laura, I wish you'd . . . Laura!

 

 

(He is disturbed by her mood. He sees it's hopeless, and goes after HERB,
leaving door open.)

 

 

 

 

TOM
(At phone)

 

 

Hello, Mr. Mayberry . . . This is Tom Lee . . . Yes, I know it's time
to go to supper, Mr. Mayberry . . .
(Looks around at open door. LAURA shuts it)
but I wanted you to know . . .
(This comes hard)
I wanted you to know I'm not going to be able to play in the play . . .
No . . . I . . . well, I just can't.

 

 

(He is about to break. He doesn't trust himself to speak.)

 

 

 

 

LAURA
(Quickly crosses and takes phone from TOM)

 

 

Give it to me. Hello, Fred . . . Laura. Yes, Tom's father, well,
he wants Tom -- he thinks Tom is tired, needs to concentrate on his
final exams. You had someone covering the part, didn't you? . . . Yes,
of course it's a terrible disappointment to Tom. I'll see you tomorrow.

 

 

(She hangs up. TOM is ashamed and humiliated. Here is the woman he loves,
hearing all about him . . . perhaps believing the things . . .
LAURA stands above him for a moment, looking at the back of his head
with pity. Then he rises and starts for the door without looking at
her. RALPH and STEVE come stampeding down the stairway.)

 

 

 

 

RALPH
(As he goes)

 

 

Okay, you can sit next to him if you want. Not me.

 

 

 

 

STEVE

 

 

Well, if you won't . . . why should I?

 

 

 

 

RALPH

 

 

Two bits nobody will.

 

 

(They slam out the front door. TOM has shut the door quickly again
when he has heard RALPH and STEVE start down. Now stands against the
door listening.)

 

 

 

 

AL

 

 

(Comes out from his door, pulling on his jacket. Calls)

 

 

Tom . . . Tom!

 

 

(Getting no answer, he goes down the stairs and out.)

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

Tom . . .

 

 

 

 

TOM
(Opens the study door)

 

 

I'll bet my father thinks I'm . . .

 

 

(stops.)

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

Now, Tom! I thought I'd call Joan Harrison and ask her to come over for
tea tomorrow. I want you to come too. I want you to ask her to go to
the dance with you.

 

 

 

 

TOM
(Turns in anguish and looks at her for several moments. Then)

 

 

You were to go with me.

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

I know, but . . .

 

 

 

 

TOM

 

 

Do you think so too, like the others? Like my father?

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

Tom!

 

 

 

 

TOM

 

 

IS that why you're shoving me off on Joan?

 

 

 

 

LAURA
(Moving towards him)

 

 

Tom, I asked her over so that we could lick this thing.

 

 

 

 

TOM
(Turns on her)

 

 

What thing? What thing?

 

 

(He looks at her a moment, filled with indignation, then he bolts up
the stairs. But on the way up, PHIL is coming down. TOM feels like a
trapped rat. He starts to turn down the stairs again, but he doesn't
want to face LAURA, as he is about to break. He tries to hide his face
and cowers along one side going up.)

 

 

 

 

PHIL

 

 

What's the matter with you?

 

 

(TOM doesn't answer. Goes on up and into the study door. PHIL shrugs his
shoulders and goes on down the stairs and out. TOM comes into his own
bedroom and shuts the door and leans against the doorjamb. LAURA goes to
the partly opened door. Her impulse is to go up to TOM to comfort him,
but she checks herself, and turns in the doorway and closes the door,
then walks back to her chair and sits down and reaches out and touches
the teapot, as though she were half-unconsciously rubbing out a spot. She
is puzzled and worried. Upstairs we hear the first few sobs from TOM as
the lights dim out, and

 

 

THE CURTAIN FALLS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACT TWO

 

 

 

 

Scene I

 

 

The scene is the same.