Scene 8

The Adams living room the following afternoon. ADELINE is standing by the window, gazing out anxiously. MR. ADAMS is leafing through some typewritten pages at the desk. MR. ADAMS It's wrong. The whole bloody chapter's wrong. Perhaps I shouldn't include the attempted assassination of Henry Frick. I wasn't there, you know. And I only knew of Berkman through the hearsay of Emma Goldman. What do you think?

ADELINE

I don't know.

MR. ADAMS

What do you mean you don't know? I depend on your perception, Adeline. I always said you have a better instinct for journalistic prose than anyone I've known.

ADELINE

I'm sorry, Father. I just don't know that's all.

MR. ADAMS

What is the matter with you? Your hands keep shaking, you break into a sweat on the cldest days of the year. Last night you barely said three words to me and Mrs. Ashkenazy.

ADELINE

It's time for your nap.

MR. ADAMS

Don't try to put me off like this, Adeline. If I were that easily put off, I wouldn't have had a single scoop in my whole blasted career.

ADELINE

It's almost two.

MR. ADAMS

So. It's almost two. You act as if you were expecting someone.

ADELINE

What if am? Would that be so terrible to you?

MR. ADAMS

What a thing to say. I never planned it to like this. For you to spend your life nursing me.

ADELINE

I know you didn't.

MR. ADAMS

You had all those years when I was away. Your mother told me you were engaged but broke it off.

ADELINE

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound as though you've kept me from other people. You have, you know, but not in the way you think.

MR. ADAMS

I don't understand.

ADELINE

You see, you're still the most fascinating man I've ever known.

MR. ADAMS

My dear, flattery will get you everywhere.

ADELINE

Father, listen. I may have to go away for a few days.

MR. ADAMS

Away?

ADELINE

Do you recall my telling you about Mavis Collingwood? She used to live down the way in Tunbridge Wells.

MR. ADAMS

Mavis who?

ADELINE

She's in Key West. She rang me up yesterday. She wants me to spend the weekend with her. I don't know whether I shall go. I spoke to Goldie this morning. She's more than delighted to come and spend a few days here with you.

MR. ADAMS

You trust us alone together?

ADELINE

Her, yes.

MR. ADAMS

Go ahead. Leave us alone. Time will tell. Nine months to be exact. (HE chuckles as he wheels himself through the door to his bedroom. ADELINE stands for a second marveling at the irony of his joke. Then SHE hurries to the mirror, pulls out a lipstick and compact and attempts to make herself up to look as closely as Goldie had done. The doorbell rings.) ADELINE One moment. (SHE puts the finishing touches to it, makes a grotesque face, then opens the door. WILL BRYMAN is there with his valise.) WILL Afternoon, gorgeous.

ADELINE

You don't have to call me that, Mr. Bryman. I'll still buy your Chungking bristle fingernail brush.

WILL

But you are gorgeous. Never saw a lady change so much in so short a span o' time.

ADELINE

You really believe that?

WILL

You don't think I'd say that if it wasn't absolutely onehunnerd percent sincere.

ADELINE

Perish the thought.

WILL

I tell you, if I wasn't married…

ADELINE

Yes, Mr. Bryman?

WILL

Just that. If I wasn't married…

ADELINE

There must be more to it than "just that".

WILL

                                        If I wasn't married,
                                        What I would do!
                                        I'd shower you with roses,
                                        Silk and rayon hoses
                                        And free Fuller Brushes, too.
                                        I'd take you to Jacksonville,
                                        Palm Beach and Daytona,
                                        We'd be all alone-a,
                                        Just my baby and me.
                                        Oh, what we'd see!
                                        If I wasn't married,
                                        We'd run away---
                                        And if we could do so,
                                        I would buy your trousseau
                                        And a little Ford coupé.
                                        If I wasn't married,
                                        If I wasn't married
                                        To anyone but you!

ADELINE

But you are married.

WILL

Worst luck.

ADELINE

But you're a traveling salesman, Mr. Bryman. I'm sure you aren't always faithful to your wife.

WILL

Hell, no! I mean, excuse me for cussin', but, well, golly, Miss Adams…

ADELINE

Adeline.

WILL

Adeline. (THEY lock eyes for a moment, then ADELINE goes to the phonograph and switches it on.) FEMALE VOICE                                        Three days in Havana,
                                       Two nights of romance---
                                       That's what the ad said,
                                       So I gave it a chance.

ADELINE

You rumba, Mr. Bryman?

WILL

Oh…a little.

                                                          (THEY begin to dance.)

ADELINE

Have you ever been to Havana?

WILL

Not yet.

ADELINE

Would you like to go?

WILL

Sure. Some time.

ADELINE

I don't mean sometime. I mean this weekend.

WILL

Well, ya see…I got this route, and it's kinda expensive…

ADELINE

It'll all be paid. Everything. The boat, a room at the Nacional, the food…

WILL

Are you serious?

ADELINE

I couldn't be more serious.

WILL

But my brushes…

ADELINE

You can take them along.

WILL

I meant, well, my livin' depends on…

ADELINE

It'll only be three days. Like the song says. And who knows? Cubans use brushes, too.

WILL

It's a mighty temptin' offer, but…

ADELINE

You don't want to go with me.

WILL

It's not that. Believe me, Miss Adams, it's…

ADELINE

You just told me you'd shower me with roses, silk and nylon hoses… Do you realize, Mr. Bryman, if you were a woman, there'd be a name for you. (She has shocked even herself and has definitely intimidated him.) WILL I'll go.

ADELINE

It's the S.S. Florida. The P&O Steamship Line. It leaves from Pier 1 on Biscayne Blvd. in Miami at 7:30 Friday evening. I'll meet you at the pier.

WILL

Let me make a note o' that. S.S. Florida. Pier 1. 7:30. Friday night. See you then.
                                                           (backing out the door, then returning)
Forgot my brushes, you gorgeous thing, you. (SHE shuts the door with a look of relief and victory and a touch of remorse.) ADELINE Now that I have the man, I'm going to have to find out exactly what all you're supposed to do.
 
 

BLACKOUT