PARTISAN REVIEW
MARIANNE:
What if I had to?
JESSE :
I don't expect you to ever have to lie to me..
MARIANNE:
And you think life is going to give you only the things you've
been expecting?
JESSE:
What's gotten into you, Marianne? What did happen that you
haven't told me about?
(A pause. Then more sharply)
What did that
man do to yOU?
MARIANNE:
Don't you know?
JESSE:
I'm beginning to see that I don't.
MARIANNE:
Whatever I told you, you'd believe, because you know I
wouldn't lie. So if I do have something to hide, why should I tell it?
JESSE:
Whatever happened to you, Marianne, I have to know.
(A pause.)
MARIANNE:
(almo st gaily, but w ith a note of hysteria)
I don't have
to tell you anything. All I have to do is ask you, and you'll tell me.
What happened to me tonight, Jesse, when Young Williams grabbed
me?
(A pause.)
You know, because I told you, and you were satis–
fied that what I said is true. So tell me, honey, what happened to me
tonight? Go on, say it.
(A pause.)
Tell me what you believe hap–
pened, and what you suspect, if you suspect anything.. . .
JESSE :
Marianne, I don't suspect you of concealing anything or lying
about anything. I believe your story just as you told it.
MARIANNE:
Then tell it back to me, and let me look into your frank
and honest eyes as I hear you tell my lying story.
JESSE:
(overcome)
It wasn't the truth?
MARIANNE:
You know something, Jesse? I don't have to tell you the
truth now. You are disqualified as a receiver of the truth. Yes, you
disqualified yourself. My story was a lie, and only a liar would have
believed it. Henry didn't believe my story. You know why? Because
Henry doesn't lie. But you believed it, Jesse, believed it in your lying
soul, and I don't owe you the true story any more, and you won't
get it out of me no matter what you say or do.
JESSE:
(looking at her for a moment)
I know what's got into you,
Marianne. You blame me, just as Henry did, for sending you to that
part of town after dark. You blame me for that man's kiss, and for
your tom dress and your bruised cheek, and for your having to fight
him off and run and be afraid. ... Yes, you blame me for all that,
you want to punish me, so that's why you're trying to make me think
that something else happened to you. . .. Well, blame me if it helps,
and maybe you are right to blame me. Maybe I shouldn't have sent
you down there. But now, tell me the truth....
