(LAURA turns away. BILL starts to look over his mail again)
Anyway, why are you so-concerned over what happens to Tom Lee?
LAURA
I've come to know him. You even imply that I am somewhat responsible
for his present reputation.
BILL
All right. I shouldn't have said that. But you watch, now that it's out
in the open. Look at the way he walks, the way he sometimes stands.
LAURA
Oh, Bill!
BILL
All right, so a woman doesn't notice these things. But a man knows a
queer when he sees one.
(He has opened a letter. Reads)
The bookstore now has the book you wanted . . . The Rose and The
Thorn . What's that?
LAURA
A book of poems. Do you know, Bill, I'll bet he doesn't even know the
meaning of the word . . . queer.
BILL
What do you think he is?
LAURA
I think he's a nice sensitive kid who doesn't know the meaning of the word.
BILL
He's eighteen, or almost. I don't know.
LAURA
How much did you know at eighteen?
BILL
A lot.
(At the desk he now notices the Canada literature)
What are these?
LAURA
What?
BILL
These.
LAURA
Oh, nothing.
BILL
(He throws them in wastebasket, then notices her look)
Well, they're obviously something.
(He takes them out of wastebasket.)
LAURA
(The joy of it gone for her)
I was thinking we might take a motor trip up there this summer.
BILL
(Dialing phone again)
I wish you'd said something about it earlier. I've already invited some
of the scholarship boys up to the lodge. I can't disappoint them.
LAURA
Of course not.
BILL
If you'd said something earlier.
LAURA
It's my fault.
BILL
It's nobody's fault, it's just -- Hello, Fitz, Bill Reynolds -- I was
wondering if you're going to be in tonight after supper . . . Oh . . .
oh, I see . . . Supper? Well, sure I could talk about it at supper. . . .
Well, no, I think I'd better drop over alone.
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