PARTISAN REVIEW
495
SHELLEY: It doesn't prove anything-
FATHER: Shelley, what's wrong with you? Stop-
SHELLEY
(screaming):
There's nothing there! Pictures! I didn't see
them - they're not real- You failed! You failed to convince me!
PETER
turns the lights on, hurrying. Then he crosses to
SHELLEY
and tries to calm her.
PETER : You're hysterical. Be quiet.
FATHER: I'm taking you home with me–
SHELLEY
(screaming):
You failed! Failed!
PETER
(righting the projector, gathering the slides together):
It was
an interesting interlude, but now we must return to real life. All
this emotion is embarrassing. The girl's husband will be home at
any minute. She has certain duties she must perform for him. Ev–
erything in the past is buried, nobody cares about the past, shovel–
fuls of time have buried it. Leave us. Go away.
FATHER: No, she's coming back with me-
PETER: What do you want with a girl like that? She's too far gone.
She's not much good, believe me.
FATHER
(shoving
PETER): I'll kill you-
PETER
jumps to his feet and pushes Shelley's
FATHER
away.
PETER
(scornfully):
An old god! Old mythology! Go to hell!
FATHER: I'll call the police-
PETER:
I'll
have the police kick your teeth out, you old bastard!
FATHER: I -
1'11-
SHELLEY
(her hands to her fa ce) :
Make him leave!
PETER: Now you must leave, really. Everything is over. The lights
are on and it's embarrassing now.
FATHER: But I had more pictures yet.... And I didn't explain the
ones I showed, I had more to say, much more ... everything went
so quickly, it was so confused....
I
had more to say.
I
should have
written it down....
SHELLEY: Make him leave!
PETER: This is my building and you must leave. I don't like to speak
harshly to a man your age, but. . . .
The door opens suddenly and «Martin Raven" enters. He is a
heavyset man of ordinary appearance, rather pale. He is startled
at seeing the father.
PETER
(cheerfully):
Hello, Martin!
MARTIN: What's all this?
PETER: He's just leaving.
