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Show SANDY Hi. Are you busy right now? JANE: No, What to you want? (They walk in to center stage.) SANDY: Just those records I lent you last week. I’m going to have a party tonight, and I need them, JANE: Oh. Well, Tll get them. (Jane exits into the hall way. Sjandy goes to Jane’s books still on the coffee table. Picking one up, she leafs absently through it, She puts it down hurriedly just before Jane re-enters carrying the records.) JANE: (handing the _ records’ to Sandy) Here. I’m sorry I kept them so long. SANDY: (taking them) That’s okay. you, how much trouble it would cause you -- and all of us--if you tell? You might net be able to go to college at all. Your father simply hasn’t’ the money. JANE: (regretfully) I wish I’d never done it. But it’s too late now. (She lifts the receiver off the hook.) MRS. HARRISON: (half rising from the chair and raising her arm in a restraining gesture) Jane, before you do anything, I think we should talk it over with your father. JANE: (resolutely drawing the receiver to her ear.) I have to do it now -while I have the courage. (Her mother catches her wrist.) MRS. HARRISON: (half urging, half commanding) Wait and talk to your father. (Jane tries to jerk lcose, but her mother holds fast.) JANE: (angry, now) It really doesn’t concern you or Dad. (Jane tries once more to free her hand, but Mrs. Harrison won’t let gc.) MRS. HARRISON: (grasping tightly as Jane attempts to wrench herseif free.) It certainly does concern us! And you waited until the last minute to open your mouth! (shaking Jane’s wrist) Let go of that! This whole thing is ycur fault and you should think of your father and me before you mess things up, Did you stop and think ot how this will affect him? (Mrs. Harrison takes the receiver from Jane with her other hand, and Jane submits. Her mother then lets go of her, and she backs away a few steps iand stands Thanks, (She starts to turn away.) JANE: (speaking suddenly) Sandy, I wanted to talk to you about the exam, the one. wel)s); SANDY: (facing Jane again) We agreed that if I won you wouldn’t say anything and if you won I wiouldn’t say anything, And I won’t. JANE: (she hesitates) It isn’t that. I think we should tell Mrs. Andersen the truth. SANDY: What? JANE: (reluctantly) I think 'we should tell her what we did. SANDY: You can’t, Jane, you promised you wouldn’t. JANE: (taking a step toward Sandy) But it isn’t fair. It’s just like stealing. SANDY: If you tell, Jane, everything will be ruined for me. I have a good chance to win and it isn’t fair for you to ruin it for me, (Jane sits down on the sofa, Sandy turns) tO. ner.) SANDY: I let you have the questions. No ont made you do it. Ycu don’t have to run tattling to Mrs, Anderson. JANE: (after a pause, speaking deliberately) O.K. I won’t say anything about you. SANDY: (scornfully) Oh, sure! You'd have to explain how you giot the questions and they’d find out sooner or later. JANE: (with contempt) Yeu know, you’re exactly like my mother, You don’t even care that it’s wreng if doing the right thing might hurt you. SANDY: (alarmed) You told your mother? (She looks steadily at Jane.) I knew I shouldn’t hape trusted you. sullenly.) JANE: (sarcastically) And what about the other students? We must be fair to them. MRS. HARRISON: (placing the phone firmly on the hook) You’ll talk to your father first, and that’s final. (Suddenly yielding completely, Jane walks to the sofa and sits down wearily. PANE: All right. MRS. HARRISON: (calmed) He’ll be here in a few minutes, I’d better go start supper. (she exits into the hall.) (Jane sits motionless a moment, Then she gets up and gees slowly over to the phone, sits down, picks it up and puts it once more ion her lap, regarding it thoughtfully. The doorbell rings. She puts the phone down and answers it. She opens the door and Sandy enters.) JANE: Hi, Sandy. Just couldn’t could you? JANE: Oh, want 36 we to wait to don’t tell Mrs. run worry, off and She Anderson, tattle, doesn’t either. (She rises and goes to the phone but doesn’t pick it up.) But I’ve just got to SANDY: (urgingly now) Wait a minute, Jane. (Jane hesitates and Sandy speaks persuasively, moving slowly closer to Jane ‘until, when she finilishes, she is only a few steps away from her.) Do you know what will happen if you tell? Neither of us will even have a chance to try for janother scholarship. And you’ve told me your parents can’t afford to send you unless at least part of the tuition is paid. You wouldn’t go to cellege at all, (pause) Jane, you have a good chance to win--and so have I. You don’t have the right to mess up my chances. You promised not to say anything. JANE: But it’s wrong. SANDY: Well, maybe lit is. But it’s too late to undo anything now. (Jane picks up the phone and begins to dial) JANE: Sorry, Sandy. (Before Sandy can react, the HARRISON: (cheerfully) JANE: No, but 'wanted (As Mrs. Hi, Mrs. Anderson sits down aren’t ed until pleasure ad- Hi, Mrs. Harrison. (Jane supposed to be anmuunc- tomorrow, but I wanted of telling you first. rises as she listens to the Mrs. Anderson who now walks over to her and takes her hand.) MRS. ANDERSON: Congratulations, Jane, Hello, JANE: (shaken) Th-thanks, MRS. HARRISON: (beaming) How wonderful! I never thought our little girl would win a scholarship, MR. HARRISON: I always knew she’d be a winner. DAVE: (triumphantly) See! I told you you would, Jane. JANE: But I - SANDY: If anyone deserves it, Jane, you do. JANE: (breaks in desparately; speaking too loudly) But I can’t accept it. to. (Everyone MRS not, for is silent for a moment. ) ANDERSON: heaven’s sake? (Jane glances (amazed) arcund her as Why if she feels their eyes on her.) JANE: I-I don’t deserve it. MRS, ANDERSON: Of course you do. Hello, Mrs. Harri- Anderson, Anderson, (off stage) winners JANE: son. (looking beyond Mrs. Harrison, she spies Sandy and Jane.) Hello, Sandy, Jane, JANE: H-hello, Mrs. Anderson, SANDY: Mrs. MRS. ANDERSON: (half-rises, protesting) Oh, na I can only stay a minute. (stands) I know the _ scholarship SANDY: (with disgust) I was a dope for ever trusting you. The doorbell rings and Jane starts for the door. Mrs. Harrison walks in swiftly.) MRS. HARRISON: I'll get it, Jane. (Mrs. Harrison answers the door. Mrs. Anderson enters.) She is a slender woman jabout 30 years old.) MRS. HARRISON: (slightly surprised) Why, hello, Mrs. Anderson, Won’t you come in? MRS. ANDERSON: is later. door me Jane’s this DAVE Harrison. (after he told him? Mom Dear, Is Jane busy? (enters and sees Mrs. Anderson.) Oh, I didn’t know you had company, Maybe I'd better come back Jane, Where’s your mother? JANE: Uh, in the kitchen, I think. MR. HARRISON: (to Sandy as he goes into hall) Hello, Sandy. How’re you? SANDY: Hi, Mr. exits) Haven’t you Anderson, Harrison) visor at school. MRS. ANDERSON: How do you do? MR. HARRISON: (nods) How’d you do. Hias Jane been giving you any trouble? | MRS. ANDERSON: Oh, no. She’s been fine. In fact ... (Sandy is now standing by Mrs. Harrison, but Jane has sat down in the chair beside the phone, The doorbell rings agiain, interrupting Mrs, Anderson. Mrs, Harrison answers.) opens and Jane’s dad enters stage left. He is middle-aged and is wearing a suit. When Jane turns and sees him, she hangs up.) JANE: Hi, Dad. MR. Mrs, Anderson.) MRS. HARRISON: Mrs. this is my husband. (to Mr. (ready to break into tears) I don’t. I don’t deserve it. MR. HARRISON: Come on! It that any way to act when you’ve won a scholarship ? (Jane begins to cry.) MRS HARRISON: She’s just over- in the chair at stage left, Mr. Harrison enters from the hall way holding a pipe. Mrs. Harrison goes over and leads him by the arm back across the stage to excited, gently der.) 37 (She leads Jane to the sofa and pushes Sit down, her down dear, and by the try shoulto calm |
