Two's A Crowd. (3)
Harrison: You’ll do as your mother tells you. Not what you want. Isa: Tell him you’ll do as you like. Kate: I’ll do, as I like. Lisa: Kate, that’s not what I expect from you. Now get ready. Isa: Refuse. Ignore her. Harrison: Do as your mother tells you, Kate and no more of this nonsense. Kate: No. (Kate moves upstage to the table and stares at Harrison.)I’m happy as I am. Isa: Good for you, Kate. Stand your ground. Lisa: Then you’ll stay here. You won’t come with us. Harrison: She’ll do as she’s told. Get changed. Now. (Harrison stands up from the table and squares up to Kate. Kate backs away. Isa stares from the window.)Now. (Kate looks at Isa then moves downstage without answering.)Now, I said. Lisa: Leave her here, Harrison. It’s not worth the trouble. Harrison: If you let her get away with it now, you’ll lose control and then you’ve lost. The battle will be over and she will be uncontrollable. Lisa: Must it always be a battle with her? Harrison: With her, yes. Her spirit needs to be controlled or she’s won. Isa: Ignore him. We’ll sort him out later. Kate: When? Harrison: Now. (Harrison moves downstage towards the window. Kate weakens and moves towards Harrison submissively.) Good. Right. Get changed as your mother told you. Kate: Yes. (Moves passed Harrison and upstage to her bedroom door and pauses.)Into what? Harrison: Beachwear, I presume. Lisa: I’ll help you. (Lisa rises up from her chair with a sigh and goes upstage to Kate. Together they enter Kate’s bedroom and disappear. Isa looks at Harrison coldly.) Harrison: Women. They’re a race apart. A very different species. Jefferson: Kate’s trouble. Accused me of horrible things this morning. Harrison: What things? Jefferson: Said I did things to her when she was nine. Harrison: The girl’s not well. She needs to see a specialist. Don’t worry about her accusations. She’s full of weird ideas at the moment. She’ll recover once they begin her treatment. Jefferson: What treatment? Harrison: A friend of mine is a specialist in this field. He says there are a number of things he could try which he thinks may help her. Jefferson: Not nice being accused of things. Harrison: No. I know what she’s like. She’s always saying things she shouldn’t. She’ll be sorted in good time. Isa: So will you. In good time. (Door of Kate’s bedroom opens and Lisa comes out and closes the door. She walks slowly towards Harrison.)Did you have to hit her so hard? Harrison: I didn’t. Lisa: She’s covered in bruises. Harrison: Then she must have done it to herself. Lisa: How? Harrison: Did you ask her? Lisa: She said you did it. Harrison: She would wouldn’t she. I only punished her mildly. Lisa: That’s not mildly. Harrison: Then she did it to herself. I certainly didn’t beat her black and blue. Lisa: Jefferson, go and wait for us in the foyer. Jefferson: All right. Don’t be long. (Jefferson walks upstage to the door and goes out.) Lisa: You wouldn’t lie to me. Would you? Harrison: No. I’ve never lied to you and I won’t start now. If she’s covered in bruises then she did it to herself. They do you know. It’s a well known fact. Self-punishment amongst the mentally unwell is a known fact. Ford told me a few months back when I spoke to him about Kate. Lisa: Dr.Ford? You spoke to him? Harrison: Yes. He’s an old friend. Says he may be able to help. Lisa: She needs help badly. If she’s done that to herself then she’s in desperate need of help. Harrison: What I’ve said all along. Isa: You lying cheat. You beat her. She was at your mercy. Lisa: She lies. I know she lies. The things she says. So rude and sick. Harrison: What’s she said now? Lisa: Things about you and Jefferson. What you are supposed to have done to her. So many lies it’s sickening. Harrison: (Lisa and Harrison come together and embrace.)She’ll be cured. Ford says he has a treatment for her. Says it worked on similar cases he’s had. Isa: You’ll pay for what you’ve done. We’ll get you. We’ll both get you. Lisa: Why is she like this? We’ve done what we think is best for her. We brought her out here thinking it would help, but she’s just the same. (Harrison kisses Lisa. They embrace tighter.)I’m scared. She says such things. Speaks to herself. Now she beats herself and blames you. Harrison: Let’s leave it for now. Don’t let it upset you. (Releases Lisa and goes to Kate’s bedroom door.)When you’re ready, we’ll meet you in the foyer. Kate: (Off stage from bedroom.)All right. Won’t be long. (Lisa joins Harrison at Kate’s door and kisses his cheek. They move upstage, go out the upper door, and close it behind them. Kate comes out in the same dress as before.)Have they gone? Isa: Yes. They’ll go permanently soon. Kate: He lied. She believes his lies. She believes him. Isa: Yes, she does. He said you beat yourself. Kate: Why? Isa: Does it matter. He plans to have you treated by his friend Ford. Kate: Dr.Ford? Isa: Yes. Him with the smarmy features and sweaty hands. Kate: I won’t go. Isa: Unless we sort Harrison out, he’ll send you. Kate: How do you mean sort him out? Isa: Kill him. (Kate walks downstage towards Isa at the window.) Kate: Kill him? I can’t kill him. Isa: Maybe not you, but we can. Together we are invincible. Kate: I couldn’t. Isa: We must. And soon. Kate: Must we? Isa: Yes. (Embraces Kate and kisses her.) Kate: How? Isa: You remember that knife he bought yesterday from that junk shop? Something he said was special? Kate: Yes. Isa: Well. That should suit our purpose. Kate: You mean, stab him to death? Isa: It’s as good away as any other is. Kate: I couldn’t do it. Not stab him. Isa: We are capable of doing anything together. Anything. (Kisses Kate again.) Kate: Together? Isa: of course. And the other two. Kate: Them too? Isa: Yes. Them too. Kate: I suppose so. They’re all guilty. Isa: Precisely. All guilty. All must be punished. Kate: Yes. I suppose you’re right. (They kiss again.) The only way out. Isa: The only way, my sweet one. Kate: The only way. (Kate nods. They look out of the window. Silence.) End of Scene One. Act Two. Scene Two. Later after dinner. The room is empty. The upper stage door opens slowly and Jefferson enters. He looks in and switches on the light. He stares and frowns. Jefferson: Kate? (Pause.)Kate? (Pause.)Are you here, Kate? (He closes the door behind him and enters further into the room. He walks downstage to the table.)Kate? (He speaks to himself.)Where is she for God’s sake? They send me up here and she’s not here. Probably downstairs. (Moves to the window and peers out through the curtains. Quietly the door of Kate’s bedroom opens. Kate comes out clothed in a short red dress, white socks and black shoes. Isa follows dressed the same. They stare at Jefferson who is unaware of their presence.) Kate: Were you for looking me? (Jefferson turns round suddenly.)I heard a voice. Jefferson: Yes, Dad sent me up to get you. (Pause. He stares at Kate’s dress.)What are you wearing? I’ve not seen that dress before. You can’t wear that. Dad will go off the deep end. (Stares at her intently.)What are you playing at? Are you deliberately trying to cause trouble? You know what Dad’s like. Kate: Too well. Isa: Better than you do, you soft-livered kid. Jefferson: Why look for trouble? We’re here to enjoy the evening, why are you causing unnecessary problems? Kate: No more problems. Isa: Not for us. Jefferson: You had better change out of that dress. Kate: Don’t you like it? Isn’t it revealing enough? Jefferson: What I think of it isn’t the problem. Kate: But you do like it, don’t you? Jefferson: Yes, it’s all right, but it’s Dad you have to please, not me. Isa: I bet. Deep inside you want to touch. Kate: You like the style? The cut and colour? Jefferson: Yes. It suits you. Makes you look somewhat different. Isa: We are opening him up nicely. Kate: Come closer. Put your arms around me. Jefferson: What are you playing at? We have to go. They’re waiting for us. Kate: Let them wait. (Moves down stage to the window with Isa just behind her. Jefferson stands slightly bewildered.)We’re not alone much, are we? Jefferson: We must go. (Kate and Isa now stand next to Jefferson.)What do you want? What are you up to? I didn’t come up here for this. Kate: Me? I thought it was you who wanted something? Isa: You can smell it on him. You can smell the odour of lust. Jefferson: Me? Want something? What are you talking about? Kate: Aren’t I attractive to you anymore? Or did you prefer me at nine? Jefferson: Don’t start that again. I did nothing. It was all a game. Isa: Short memory. The guy has a poor memory. Kate: You did touch me and did things, and it was no game to me. Jefferson: What are you saying? What are you saying I did? Kate: That night of the thunderstorm. Remember? In my bed? Jefferson: It was a game. I was trying to calm your nerves about the thunder and lightening. I wasn’t doing anything wrong. It was innocent fun. Isa: Try again, Jefferson. Kate: You’re lying. You did things to me. And it wasn’t fun to me. Jefferson: You’re the one lying. You’re mad, Dad said so. Isa: What a worm. What a cowardly worm. Kate: Yes, a worm. You’re a worm. Jefferson: You’re mad. You're absolutely mad. Isa: Calm him. We don’t want him running off. Kate: Am I? I don’t think I am. I’m quite sane. I know what you did. Maybe you’re trying to pretend, but I know what happened. (Pause. Looks at Jefferson and suddenly smiles.)What’s the matter? Don’t you like me now I’m fifteen? Am I not to your taste anymore? Aren’t I pretty? Jefferson: (Looks at Kate with apprehension.)Yes. You’re pretty. Isa: How soft he is. Soft as puke and twice as foul. Kate: Well, then. What are you so worried about? Come closer. Jefferson: We have to go. They’re waiting. Dad hates to be kept waiting. Kate :( Moves closer to Jefferson and kisses his cheek.)Relax. Let them wait their turn. We’re here now. Alone. Together. (Jefferson relaxes and smiles.) Jefferson: You’re right. They can wait a little while. Isa: Good boy. Relax. Unwind that sick body of yours. Kate: Of course, they can. Let them wait. (Takes Jefferson’s hand in hers.)I thought you and I were so close at one time. I missed you when you kept your distance. Thought you had gone off me. Thought you had outgrown me. Thought about you night and day. Couldn’t sleep with thinking of you. Isa: As if. Jefferson: I wasn’t sure what you would say or do. Kate: You and I are one. Brother and sister. But more than that. Isa: Not too thick with the patter, he might believe you. Kate: Yes, of course. Jefferson: I thought you were so beautiful at nine. Kate: Aren’t I now? Aren’t I beautiful now? Jefferson: Yes, of course you are. But then it was different. You were more innocent. Less grown. Less developed. More…I can’t explain. Isa: Innocent as a lamb to the slaughter. Kate: And now? What about me now? Jefferson: You’re a young woman, now. Different in certain ways. Kate: What ways? Don’t you like me as I am? Isa: Here it comes. Listen carefully because here you might learn things. Jefferson: You’ve grown. You’re bigger. You’ve changed. Not so innocent. Isa: Always was observant wasn’t he. Old Hawkeye. Kate: Yes. And so what now? What have you in mind? Jefferson: I’m uncertain of you. Things are strange. Isa: Relax him. Calm him down. Kate: Relax. Unwind. I’m not going to eat you. Isa: How original you are. Jefferson: It’s just that you’re no longer a girl. Kate: And so? Is that a problem? Isa: It’s all coming out in the wash. All the dirt and filth. Jefferson: I don’t know what to say. (Kate releases his hand and steps back.) Kate: What about sorry? Can you manage that? Jefferson: What do you mean? Isa: Not too soon. Calm him. Kate: Calm down. It’s as if you don’t trust me, your own sister. I want you and me to be close again. Close, as we were when I was nine. Isa: He’s tense. Relax him. Kiss him if you have to. Kate ;( Leans forward and kisses Jefferson again. Jefferson smiles weakly.)Does that seem better? Aren’t we as close now as ever? Don’t you feel a little closer? Jefferson: My mind can’t make you out. I’m confused that’s all. Isa: Aren’t we all, Jefferson. Kate: I only want what is best for us both. Jefferson: But it’s so sudden. So sudden and unexpected. Kate: I realised how close we were and how we had grown apart. I want us to be as we were. Close and warm. Close and passionate about each other. Isa: There’s a laugh if ever there was one. Jefferson: What are you suggesting? What are you thinking? Kate: What I said. To be close. Nearer each other. Jefferson: I’m… (Looks at Kate and then at the door upstage.)I’m not sure I want to be as close as that. Not sure, it’s right. Isa: Are you sure, Jefferson? Kate: Are you are, Jefferson? Are you sure, that’s not what you want? Jefferson: They might return to look for us. They might think things. Kate: Not just yet. We can get close in a short time. Isa: Look at him more intensely. Pretend you actually want him. Kate: Come on. (Moves closer to Jefferson.)Hold me. Put your arms around me. Jefferson: (Looks at Kate nervously.)I should get back to them. Kate: Hold me first, for a short while. Gently. Tenderly. Isa: Softer in your voice. Kate: Please, Jeff…Hold me. (Jefferson puts his arms about Kate’s waist and holds her.)Doesn’t that feel nice? Doesn’t that make you feel as you once felt? Jefferson: Yes. Nice. It’s as if we had turned back the hands of time Isa: Come into my parlour said the spider to the fly. Kate: Closer. Hold me closer, Jeff. Hold me as you once did. Jefferson: (Holds Kate closer.)It seems so strange. Kate: What does? Jefferson: Holding you like this.
Copyright © 2005 Terry Collett |