Part 12 (2/2)

HARRY: Well, she'll have to have some heat in her room. We can't all live out here.

ANTHONY: Indeed you cannot. It is not good for the plants.

HARRY: I'm going where I can smoke, (goes out)

d.i.c.k: (lightly, but fascinated by the idea) You think there is a door on the-hinter side of destruction?

TOM: How can one tell-where a door may be? One thing I want to say to you-for it is about you. (regards d.i.c.k and not with his usual impersonal contemplation) I don't think Claire should have-any door closed to her. (pause) You know, I think, what I mean. And perhaps you can guess how it hurts to say it. Whether it's-mere escape within,-rather shameful escape within, or the wild hope of that door through, it's-(suddenly all human) Be good to her! (after a difficult moment, smiles) Going away for ever is like dying, so one can say things.

d.i.c.k: Why do you do it-go away for ever?

TOM: I haven't succeeded here.

d.i.c.k: But you've tried the going away before.

TOM: Never knowing I would not come back. So that wasn't going away. My hope is that this will be like looking at life from outside life.

d.i.c.k: But then you'll not be in it.

TOM: I haven't been able to look at it while in it.

d.i.c.k: Isn't it more important to be in it than to look at it?

TOM: Not what I mean by look.

d.i.c.k: It's hard for me to conceive of-loving Claire and going away from her for ever.

TOM: Perhaps it's harder to do than to conceive of.

d.i.c.k: Then why do it?

TOM: It's my only way of keeping her.

d.i.c.k: I'm afraid I'm like Harry now. I don't get you.

TOM: I suppose not. Your way is different, (with calm, with sadness-not with malice) But I shall have her longer. And from deeper.

d.i.c.k: I know that.

TOM: Though I miss much. Much, (the buzzer. TOM looks around to see if anyone is coming to answer it, then goes to the phone) Yes?... I'll see if I can get her. (to d.i.c.k) Claire's daughter has arrived, (looking in the inner room-returns to phone) I don't see her. (catching a glimpse of ANTHONY off right) Oh, Anthony, where's Miss Claire? Her daughter has arrived.

ANTHONY: She's working at something very important in her experiments.

d.i.c.k: But isn't her daughter one of her experiments?

ANTHONY: (after a baffled moment) Her daughter is finished.

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