Plays Part 12

HARRY: Oh, this has got to stop. I've got to-put a stop to it some way. Why, Claire used to be the best sport a man ever played around with. I can't stand it to see her getting hysterical.

TOM: That was not hysterical.

HARRY: What was it then-I want to know?

TOM: It was-a look.

HARRY: Oh, I might have known I'd get no help from either of you. Even you, Edgeworthy-much as she thinks of you-and fine sort as I've no doubt you are, you're doing Claire no good-encouraging her in these queer ways.

TOM: I couldn't change Claire if I would.

HARRY: And wouldn't if you could.

TOM: No. But you don't have to worry about me. I'm going away in a day or two. And I shall not be back.

HARRY: Trouble with you is, it makes little difference whether you're here or away. Just the fact of your existence does encourage Claire in this-this way she's going.

TOM: (with a smile) But you wouldn't ask me to go so far as to stop my existence? Though I would do that for Claire-if it were the way to help her.

HARRY: By Jove, you say that as if you meant it.

TOM: Do you think I would say anything about Claire I didn't mean?

HARRY: You think a lot of her, don't you? (TOM nods) You don't mean (a laugh letting him say it)-that you're-in love with Claire!

TOM: In love? Oh, that's much too easy. Certainly I do love Claire.

HARRY: Well, you're a cool one!

TOM: Let her be herself. Can't you see she's troubled?

HARRY: Well, what is there to trouble Claire? Now I ask you. It seems to me she has everything.

TOM: She's left so-open. Too exposed, (as HARRY moves impatiently) Please don't be annoyed with me. I'm doing my best at saying it. You see Claire isn't hardened into one of those forms she talks about. She's too-aware. Always pulled toward what could be-tormented by the lost adventure.

HARRY: Well, there's danger in all that. Of course there's danger.

TOM: But you can't help that.

HARRY: Claire was the best fun a woman could be. Is yet-at times.

TOM: Let her be-at times. As much as she can and will. She does need that. Don't keep her from it by making her feel you're holding her in it. Above all, don't try to stop what she's doing here. If she can do it with plants, perhaps she won't have to do it with herself.

HARRY: Do what?

TOM: (low, after a pause) Break up what exists. Open the door to destruction in the hope of-a door on the far side of destruction.

HARRY: Well, you give me the w.i.l.l.i.e.s, (moves around in irritation, troubled. To ANTHONY, who is pa.s.sing through with a sprayer) Anthony, have any arrangements been made about Miss Claire's daughter?

ANTHONY: I haven't heard of any arrangements.

HARRY: Well, she'll have to have some heat in her room. We can't all live out here.

ANTHONY: Indeed you cannot. It is not good for the plants.

HARRY: I'm going where I can smoke, (goes out)

d.i.c.k: (lightly, but fascinated by the idea) You think there is a door on the-hinter side of destruction?

TOM: How can one tell-where a door may be? One thing I want to say to you-for it is about you. (regards d.i.c.k and not with his usual impersonal contemplation) I don't think Claire should have-any door closed to her. (pause) You know, I think, what I mean. And perhaps you can guess how it hurts to say it. Whether it's-mere escape within,-rather shameful escape within, or the wild hope of that door through, it's-(suddenly all human) Be good to her! (after a difficult moment, smiles) Going away for ever is like dying, so one can say things.

d.i.c.k: Why do you do it-go away for ever?

TOM: I haven't succeeded here.

d.i.c.k: But you've tried the going away before.

TOM: Never knowing I would not come back. So that wasn't going away. My hope is that this will be like looking at life from outside life.

d.i.c.k: But then you'll not be in it.

TOM: I haven't been able to look at it while in it.

d.i.c.k: Isn't it more important to be in it than to look at it?

TOM: Not what I mean by look.

d.i.c.k: It's hard for me to conceive of-loving Claire and going away from her for ever.

TOM: Perhaps it's harder to do than to conceive of.

d.i.c.k: Then why do it?

TOM: It's my only way of keeping her.

d.i.c.k: I'm afraid I'm like Harry now. I don't get you.

TOM: I suppose not. Your way is different, (with calm, with sadness-not with malice) But I shall have her longer. And from deeper.

d.i.c.k: I know that.

TOM: Though I miss much. Much, (the buzzer. TOM looks around to see if anyone is coming to answer it, then goes to the phone) Yes?... I'll see if I can get her. (to d.i.c.k) Claire's daughter has arrived, (looking in the inner room-returns to phone) I don't see her. (catching a glimpse of ANTHONY off right) Oh, Anthony, where's Miss Claire? Her daughter has arrived.

ANTHONY: She's working at something very important in her experiments.

d.i.c.k: But isn't her daughter one of her experiments?

ANTHONY: (after a baffled moment) Her daughter is finished.