just so's he'll know and can make
other plans . . . I won't be rooming in this house next year. This is
the last day for changing, and I want him to know that.
LAURA
(Moves into the room to get a cigarette)
I see. Well, I know he'll be sorry to hear that, Al.
AL
I'm going across the street to Harmon House.
LAURA
Both you and Tom going over?
AL
No.
LAURA
Oh.
AL
Just me.
LAURA
I see. Does Tom know this?
AL
No. I haven't told him.
LAURA
You'll have to tell him, won't you, so he'll be able to make other plans.
AL
Yes, I suppose so.
LAURA
Al, won't you sit down for a moment, please?
(AL hesitates, but comes in and sits down. Offers AL a cigarette)
Cigarette?
(Reaches for one automatically, then stops)
No, thanks. I'm in training.
(He slips a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket to his trousers
pocket.)
LAURA
That's right. I'm going to watch you play Saturday afternoon.
(AL smiles at her)
You're not looking forward to telling Tom, are you, Al?
(AL shakes his head, "No")
I suppose I can guess why you're not rooming with him next year.
(AL shrugs his shoulders)
I wonder if you know how much it has meant for him to room with you this
year. It's done a lot for him too. It's given him a confidence to know
he was rooming with one of the big men of the school.
AL
(Embarrassed)
Oh . . .
LAURA
You wouldn't understand what it means to be befriended. You're one of
the strong people. I'm surprised, Al.
AL
(Blurting it out)
My father's called me three times. How he ever found out about Harris
and Tom, I don't know. But he did. And some guy called him and asked him,
"Isn't that the boy your son is rooming with?" . . . and he wants me to
change for next year.
LAURA
What did you tell your father?
AL
I told him Tom wasn't so bad, and . . . I'd better wait and see
Mr. Reynolds.
LAURA
Al, you've lived with Tom. You know him better than anyone else knows him.
If you do this, it's as good as finishing him so far as this school is
concerned, and maybe farther.
AL
(Almost whispering it)
Well, he does act sort of queer, Mrs. Reynolds. He . . .
LAURA
YOu never said this before. You never paid any attention before.
What do you mean, "queer?"
AL
Well, like the fellows say, he sort of walks lightly, if you know what
I mean. Sometimes the way he moves . . . the things he talks about . . .
long hair music all the time.
LAURA
All right. He wants to be a singer. So he talks about it.
AL
He's never had a girl up for any of the dances.
LAURA
Al, there are good explanations for all these things you're saying.
They're silly . . . and prejudiced . . . and arguments all dug up
to suit a point of view. They're all after the fact.
AL
I'd better speak to Mr. Reynolds.
(He starts for the door.)
LAURA
Al, look at me.
(She holds his eyes for a long time, wondering whether to say what she
wants to say.)
AL
Yes?
LAURA
(She decides to do it)
Al, what if I were to start the rumor tomorrow that you were . . .
well, queer, as you put it.
AL
No one would believe it.
LAURA
Why not?
AL
Well, because . . .
LAURA
Because you're big and brawny and an athlete. What they call a top guy
and a hard
other plans . . . I won't be rooming in this house next year. This is
the last day for changing, and I want him to know that.
LAURA
(Moves into the room to get a cigarette)
I see. Well, I know he'll be sorry to hear that, Al.
AL
I'm going across the street to Harmon House.
LAURA
Both you and Tom going over?
AL
No.
LAURA
Oh.
AL
Just me.
LAURA
I see. Does Tom know this?
AL
No. I haven't told him.
LAURA
You'll have to tell him, won't you, so he'll be able to make other plans.
AL
Yes, I suppose so.
LAURA
Al, won't you sit down for a moment, please?
(AL hesitates, but comes in and sits down. Offers AL a cigarette)
Cigarette?
(Reaches for one automatically, then stops)
No, thanks. I'm in training.
(He slips a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket to his trousers
pocket.)
LAURA
That's right. I'm going to watch you play Saturday afternoon.
(AL smiles at her)
You're not looking forward to telling Tom, are you, Al?
(AL shakes his head, "No")
I suppose I can guess why you're not rooming with him next year.
(AL shrugs his shoulders)
I wonder if you know how much it has meant for him to room with you this
year. It's done a lot for him too. It's given him a confidence to know
he was rooming with one of the big men of the school.
AL
(Embarrassed)
Oh . . .
LAURA
You wouldn't understand what it means to be befriended. You're one of
the strong people. I'm surprised, Al.
AL
(Blurting it out)
My father's called me three times. How he ever found out about Harris
and Tom, I don't know. But he did. And some guy called him and asked him,
"Isn't that the boy your son is rooming with?" . . . and he wants me to
change for next year.
LAURA
What did you tell your father?
AL
I told him Tom wasn't so bad, and . . . I'd better wait and see
Mr. Reynolds.
LAURA
Al, you've lived with Tom. You know him better than anyone else knows him.
If you do this, it's as good as finishing him so far as this school is
concerned, and maybe farther.
AL
(Almost whispering it)
Well, he does act sort of queer, Mrs. Reynolds. He . . .
LAURA
YOu never said this before. You never paid any attention before.
What do you mean, "queer?"
AL
Well, like the fellows say, he sort of walks lightly, if you know what
I mean. Sometimes the way he moves . . . the things he talks about . . .
long hair music all the time.
LAURA
All right. He wants to be a singer. So he talks about it.
AL
He's never had a girl up for any of the dances.
LAURA
Al, there are good explanations for all these things you're saying.
They're silly . . . and prejudiced . . . and arguments all dug up
to suit a point of view. They're all after the fact.
AL
I'd better speak to Mr. Reynolds.
(He starts for the door.)
LAURA
Al, look at me.
(She holds his eyes for a long time, wondering whether to say what she
wants to say.)
AL
Yes?
LAURA
(She decides to do it)
Al, what if I were to start the rumor tomorrow that you were . . .
well, queer, as you put it.
AL
No one would believe it.
LAURA
Why not?
AL
Well, because . . .
LAURA
Because you're big and brawny and an athlete. What they call a top guy
and a hard
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