FullReads

GUENEVERE.
Yes?

MARY.
I told you I was a wicked girl, Mrs. Robinson. You know I’ve
a key to let myself in to clean up for him. So last night
I just went in. He–he was asleep–

GUENEVERE.
Yes?

MARY
. I–shall I tell you, ma’am?

GUENEVERE
. Yes. You must tell me, now.

MARY.
And I

–( She sits kneeling, looking straight ahead,

and continues speaking, in a dead voice )

I couldn’t help it. I put my arms around him.

GUENEVERE.
Yes?

MARY.
And he put his arms around me, Mrs. Robinson, and kissed me.
And I didn’t care about anything else, then. I was glad. And then–

GUENEVERE.
Yes?

MARY.
And then he woke up–and he was angry at me.
He swore at me. And then he laughed, and kissed me again,
and put me out of the room.

GUENEVERE.
Yes, yes. And that–that was all?

MARY.
I came home. I thought I would have died.
I knew I had been wicked. Oh, Mrs. Robinson

–( She breaks down and sobs.)

GUENEVERE.
( patting her head )

Poor child, it’s all right.
You aren’t so wicked as you think. Oh, I’m so glad!

MARY.
But it’s jest the same, Mrs. Robinson. I wanted to be wicked.

GUENEVERE.
Never mind, Mary. We all want to be wicked at times. But something always happens. It’s all right. You’re a good girl, Mary. There, stop crying!… Of course, of course! I might have known. Lancelot couldn’t–and yet, I wonder…. Mary, stand up and let me look at you!

MARY.
( obeying )

Yes, ma’am.

GUENEVERE.
( in a strange tone )

You’re a very good-looking girl, Mary…. So he laughed,
and gave you a kiss, and led you to the door!…
Well! Go to bed and think no more about it. It’s all right.

MARY.
Do you really think so, Mrs. Robinson?
Isn’t it the same thing if you want to be wicked–

GUENEVERE.
You’re talking like a professor of philosophy now, Mary.
And you’re a woman, and you ought to know better.
No, it isn’t the same thing, at all. Run along, child.

MARY.
Yes, ma’am. Thank you, ma’am. Good night, ma’am.

She goes.

GUENEVERE.
Good-night, Mary.

( She returns to her darning. She smiles to herself,

then becomes serious, stops work, and looks at the clock.

Then she says )

–Vivien! Vivien’s tears! Poor Lancelot! Oh, well! ( She shrugs her shoulders, and goes on working. Then suddenly she puts down her work, rises, and walks restlessly about the room…. There is a knock at the door. She turns and stares at the door. The knock is repeated. She is silent, motionless for a moment. Then she says, almost in a whisper )–Come!

A young man enters.

GUENEVERE.
Lancelot!

LANCELOT.
Guenevere!

( They go up to each other, and he takes both her hands.

They stand that way for a moment. Then he says lightly )

–Darning King Arthur’s socks, I see!

GUENEVERE.
( releasing herself, and going back to her chair )