PARTISAN REVIEW
479
when he climbs the stairs. That's important. He needs to smell
supper cooking when he climbs the stairs. He works all day and
thinks of this time - smelling supper as he climbs the stairs,
dreaming of you, his head filled with you -
(seizing her and walk–
ing her back to the cupboard and sink, the "kitchen" area, barking
out commands)
Open the cupboard door! Take out that can of
soup! Chicken noodle soup, fine! Open it up!
SHELLEY:
How do I open it. . ..
PETER:
Where is the can opener? You need a can opener.
SHELLEY
(turning the can around helplessly in her hands):
There
is
no place to get a hole started, no place that is indented . . . my
fingernails are breaking on it. ...
PETER:
No, you need a can opener. What did you do with the
c~n
opener?
SHELLEY
(looking around feverishly):
The can opener....
PETER:
It
must be here someplace. Where did you put it? How
could you lose it? Your brain must be like a sieve! I wonder what
you think about when I'm not with you. Do you
think
at all? Do
you think of opening yourself up with the can opener and escap–
ing me?
SHELLEY:
No, I love you....
PETER:
What?
SHELLEY:
I love you, only you....
PETER
(discovering the can opener on the floor; kicking it over to
her):
Here
it
is! The mysterious goddamn can opener!
SHELLEY
picks it up. Awkwardly, dreamily, she opens the can
and pours its contents into a pan. She turns on the hot plate,
etc., moving sluggishly.
PETER:
What's that, the faucet dripping? It's more than a drip, it's
a constant trickle. No wonder you can't wake up, you're hypnotized
by that sound. Good. Water - waves - the ocean. It reminds us
of our first home, the ocean. We can sleep better, awash in that
sound. It's good for us.
It
calms our nerves.
(shouting)
Don't
stand there staring at me! Get to work! He'll be home in a few
minutes, you've got to look good to him - why are you trying to
embarrass me?
SHELLEY
(pressing her hands against her chest, as if out of breath,
exhausted):
What is his name again ...? Gordon?
PETER:
No.
