THE PRETENDER
537
How do you like that, Marianne, that's the way I'll begin my speech.
It's not in the text. I just added it. What do you think?
(No answer
from the room.)
Did you hear me, Marianne?
No answer. He crosses to the back and goes to the door of the
room and tries it.
Marianne, can I come in?
(No answer.)
Is anything the matter? Are
you displeased with me?
(No answer.)
Enter
HENRY,
tall, spare, aggressive and school-masterish, ac–
customed to showing authority, and to the respect of children.
JESSE:
(cordially)
Good evening, Henry. So glad you could come over.
HENRY:
(suspiciously)
Well, you're not always so anxious for me to
come over in the evening.
J ESSE :
Now, now, H enry, I'm very glad to have you here tonight. Sup–
pose you sit over here.
H e ushers
HENRY
to one of the chairs in front of the desk.
I'll get you a drink.
H e fetches a bottle of whiskey and pours
HENRY
a drink.
HENRY:
(drinks and sighs comfortably)
Right fine sour mash. Wish
I could afford the liquor you drink, Jesse.
JESSE:
(setting the bottle down near
HENRY)
I've plenty
in
the house.
Don't restrain yourself.
HENRY: (
immediately refilling his glass)
In that case I won't. (
He looks
up.)
Jesse, why did you seat me over here? I think I'd be more com–
fortable in an easy chair.
JESSE:
Stay right where you are, Henry.
He fetches a manuscript from his desk, crosses the stage to
the stool, mounts it, and faces
HENRY
from the other side
of the room.
HENRY:
What's going on? Are you fixing to make me a speech?
JESSE:
You know that this Friday I'm going to make a speech at Mid–
dlebury College
in
Vermont. You know that, don't you, Henry?
HENRY:
You've told me that a dozen times, and Marianne has told
me maybe two dozen. I'm forced to know about your speech, Jesse.
JESSE:
And didn't you say that you'd like to go along to Vermont
with Marianne and me?
HENRY:
(drinking)
I said just that.
JESSE:
You know that my speech will be given before some of the
most eminent writers of this country? Now how would you like to
hear a preview of that speech, just for you?
HENRY:
No, Jesse, I don't think I care much for that.
