BILL is LAURA'S husband. He is large and strong with a tendency to be gruff. He's wearing gray flannel trousers, a tweed jacket, a blue button-down shirt. He is around forty.)

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

Okay, boy, we'll look forward to --

 

 

(He notices RALPH still singing. He goes to the bend in the stairs and calls)

 

 

Hey, Ralph. . . . Ralph!

 

 

 

 

RALPH (Stops singing up out of sight)

 

 

You calling me, Mr. Reynolds, sir?

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

Yeah. Keep it down to a shout, will you?

 

 

 

 

RALPH

 

 

Oh, yes, sir. Sorry, I didn't know I was disturbing you, Mr. Reynolds.

 

 

 

 

BILL (Comes back and talks with PHIL at the bend in the stairway)

 

 

Phil, you come on up to the lodge around . . . Let's see . . . We'll open the lodge around July first, so you plan to come up say, July third, and stay for two weeks. Okay?

 

 

 

 

PHIL

 

 

That'll be swell, sir.

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

Frank Hocktor's coming then. You get along with Frank, don't you? He's a regular guy.

 

 

 

 

PHIL

 

 

Oh, sure.

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

The float's all gone to pieces. We can make that your project to fix it up. Okay?

 

 

 

 

PHIL

 

 

Thanks a lot, Mr. Reynolds. (He goes on up the stairs.)

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

See you.

 

 

(He comes in and crosses to phone and starts to call.)

 

 

 

 

LAURA (Off stage)

 

 

Tom?

 

 

(BILL looks around in the direction of the voice, but says nothing.)

 

 

 

 

LAURA (Comes on)

 

 

Oh, Bill. Tom was down trying on his costume. I thought . . . You're early.

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

Yes. I want to catch the Dean before he leaves his office.

 

 

(LAURA goes up to him to be kissed, but he's too intent on the phone, and she compromises by kissing his cheek)

 

 

Hello, this is Mr.