Thought I ought to hear about it from him. Pretty casual about it, I thought.

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

Well, that's Fitz.

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

What I want to know is, what was a guy like Harris doing at the school?

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

I tried to tell them.

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

Was there anyone around like that in our day, Bill?

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

No. You're right.

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

I tried to find the guy. I wanted to punch his face for him. But he's cleared out. Is Tom around?

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

He's in his room.

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

How'd he get mixed up with a guy like that?

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

I don't know, Herb . . .

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

I know. I shouldn't ask you. I know. Of course I don't believe Tom was really involved with this fellow. If I believed that, I'd . . . well, I don't know what I'd do. You don't believe it, do you, Bill?

 

 

 

 

BILL

 

 

Why . . .

 

 

(Looks at LAURA.)

 

 

 

 

HERB (Cutting in)

 

 

Of course you don't. But what's the matter? What's happened, Bill? Why isn't my boy a regular fellow? He's had every chance to be since he was knee-high to a grasshopper -- boys' camps every summer, boarding schools. What do you think, Laura?

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

I'm afraid I'm not the one to ask, Mr. Lee.

 

 

(She breaks away from BILL.)

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

He's always been with men and boys. Why doesn't some of it rub off?

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

You see, I feel he's a "regular fellow" . . . whatever that is.

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

You do?

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

If it's sports that matter, he's an excellent tennis player.

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

But Laura, he doesn't even play tennis like a regular fellow. No hard drives and cannon-ball serves. He's a cut artist. He can put more damn twists on that ball.

 

 

 

 

LAURA

 

 

He wins. He's the school champion. And isn't he the champion of your club back home?

 

 

(TOM comes down the stairs and enters his bedroom with the costume skirt and towel.)

 

 

 

 

HERB

 

 

I'm glad you mentioned that .