I mean, you don't think Tom is . . .

 

 

(She stops. BILL looks at her a moment, his answer is in his silence)

 

 

Oh, Bill!

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

And I'm ashamed and sorry as hell for his father. Herb Lee was always damned good to me . . . came down from college when I was playing football here . . . helped me get into college . . . looked after me when I was in college and he was in law school . . . And I know he put the boy in my house hoping I could do something with him.

 

 

(He dials number.)

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

And you feel you've failed.

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

Yes.

 

 

(He pauses)

 

 

With your help, I might say.

 

 

(Busy signal. He hangs up.)

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

How?

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

Because, Laura, the boy would rather sit around here and talk with you and listen to music and strum his guitar.

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

Bill, I'm not to blame for everything. Everything's not my fault.

 

 

 

 

BILL (Disregarding this)

 

 

What a lousy thing for Herb.

 

 

(He looks at a small picture of a team on his desk)

 

 

That's Herb. He was Graduate Manager of the team when I was a sophomore in college. He was always the manager of the teams, and he really wanted his son to be there in the center of the picture.

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

Why are you calling the Dean?

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

I'm going to find out what's being done.

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

I've never seen you like this before.

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

This is something that touches me very closely. The name of the school, its reputation, the reputation of all of us here. I went here and my father before me, and one day I hope our children will come here, when we have them. And, of course, one day I hope to be headmaster.

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

Let's assume that you're right about Harris. It's a terrible thing to say on the evidence you've got, but let's assume you're right. Does it necessarily follow that Tom --

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

Tom was his friend. Everyone knew that.

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

Harris encouraged him in his music.

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

Come on, Laura.

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

What if Tom's roommate, Al, or some other great big athlete had been out with Harris?

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

He wouldn't have been.

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

I'm saying what if he had been? Would you have jumped to the same conclusion?

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

It would have been different. Tom's always been an off-horse. And now it's quite obvious why. If he's kicked out, maybe it'll bring him to his senses.