4 - 17

Bina

(Absurdly, striking at him)

I never was! Maw, make him le' me ximng alone!

(Julie has come down the steps. She pauses uncertainly at the foot of the stairs. She has put on the brooch Clabe gave her, and which she had ~~given Bina~~)

Mrs. Sawters

(Softly)

Clabe. Here's Julie.

(He turns, looks at her, a suspended moment. Then he goes over, takes her in his arms, hungrily.)

Julie

(Overwhelmed with relief, dim and touched)

Clabe... Clabe...

(Her head is buried against him)

(He kisses her. Then he withdraws, his eyes on her.)

Juliet (Envy)

I did not know if you were here.

Clabe

(Huskily), moved)

I didn't know if you were here.

Julie

I didn't know if you'd speak to me.

(With nervous forced gaiety)

My, you look so well! The Navy seems to have done you good. Isn't it nice to have him back? I can hardly realize it.

Bina

(In astonished annoyance)

Julie!

Why, you Indian-giver!

Who said you could

wear that brooch?

You give it to me,

Blocky

Here, here!

Bina

Why, she went and stole it out of my room. Of all the

Indian-giver!

4 - 19

Julie
Then that means you -- you've come home to stay.

Clabe
I don't know.

Julie
You don't know?

Clabe
Blocky here has got some kind of crazy notion.

Blocky
Nothin' crazy about it! He can do jist like I done.
And go a long ways futher than I'll ever go, too. I
want him to come into my law office at Claremore and read
up on the law. He's smart as a whip, and always has
been. Ain't no tellin' what'll come of it. Why, this
is brand new country out here with opportunity knockin'
like thunder! Why, even a old country boy like me expects
to run for senator soon as the state comes in. And
Clabe here might even get to be the governor 'fore long
if he knows a good thing when he sees it.

Mrs. Sawters
What does Clabe say about it?

Blocky
(Disgusted)
Claims he don't know yet what he wants to do. Claims he
has to rest up and think it over. And chances, jist
slippin' out of his hands!

Clabe
If I miss this one, there'll be another.

Blocky
You're only young once.

Clabe
When I was young, I didn't have enough sense enough to do
what I wanted. Now I've got on to a few things. I've had
a look at the world -- and a good one at myself. This time
I'll make up my own mind.

Mr. Sawters
You do that, son. I guess that's right.

Julie
But if the opportunity is so good, as Blocky says -- you
wouldn't want to throw it away,

Clabe
(looking at her, lively)
Why is it, the minute I get home again, you want me to leave?

4 - 23

Clabe

I'll come with you.

Julie

No, please, Clabe. Not yet.

Mrs. Sawters

He may as well start making himself at home around here.
Go on, son.

(Putting her hand on his arm, gently)

Your Paw's missed you, Clabe. We all have.

(He looks at her a moment, moved. Then
he turns and follows his father out,
closing the sliding doors)

(Julie moves toward the doors)

Mrs. Sawters

Julie. Hard 'll be all right.

Julie

I don't care whether he is or not.

Mrs. Sawters

I think you ought to.

Julie

Do you have to torture me, too? Haven't I stood enough?

Mrs. Sawters

Julie, come here. I'm your mother, but I wish I could
be your friend.

Julie

(Quietly, without self-pity)

I haven't any friends. Not one.

Mrs. Sawters

(Compassionately)

Julie, I wanted them all to go. I want to tell you some-
thing. I'm not going to pretend it's for your own
good. It's not. It's for good, though, I think. And I
hope you'll be able to see it.

Julie

What do you want to tell me?

Mrs. Sawters

(Touched by her lack of defenses)

I don't want to hurt you any more than I can help. Please
believe that. But the time has come when I have to
take a hand.

5 - 2

Bina

Talk, talk, talk! Well, I'll tell him. But I don't know why it won't wait till mornin'.

(She disappears up the stairs)

(Julie goes restlessly to the glass window, stares out at the lake. Once she hears voices faintly from above, and listens, straining to hear. After a moment, she hears steps on the stairs, and turns to face them, her head up, stifling the sick terror she feels. Clabe appears, and comes into the room. They look at each other a brief moment.)

Julie

(Quietly)

She told you?

Clabe

Yes.

Tharretx

Julie

There's nothing for me to say, then.

Clabe

No. Nothing.

(Pause)

There's something I'd like to say, though -- that might interest you. I told Paw he could count on me to stay here -- from now on. I know where I belong. Any objections?

Julie

No. No objections.

Clabe

Good night, then.

(He turns to go)

Julie

(A desperate plea in her voice)

Clabe!....

(He comes back)

We used to be friends. We used to think we were different from everybody else -- and that drew us together. Why did you write that letter last Spring? It was cruel.

Gimhex

5 - 4

Clabe

You were afraid then.

You're scared to death now.

Julie

Oh, please! There were lots of reasons. The world.

You needed it, to travel, everyone wants all the experience he can have, the broadening....

Clabe

It was *you* put those thoughts in my head.

Julie

But it's done you no harm. Look -- you speak differently
even, you're smarter, you're better off in every way.

You've had a fine life, better than most -- and you have
such memories of places, people.

Clabe

(Grimly)

Yes.

Memories.

Julie

You've served your country honorably, and have your honor-
able discharge. Isn't that something worthwhile?

Clabe

My name's not exactly white in the navy records, Julie.

You can't find any way to be proud of it, no matter how
hard you try. My discharge is a Bad Conduct Discharge.

Julie

Bad conduct?

Clabe

Yes.

Julie

But it couldn't be for anything serious. It must have
been something that happened accidentally, not your fault.

It was like that, wasn't it?

Clabe

My conduct was deliberate. There wasn't any accident to
it. Once I deserted.

Julie

That isn't so bad.

Clabe

(Impatiently)

O God, Julie! Can't you realize I tried every way

I could think of to blacken my name, and ruin my char-