CHARACTERS: Three average people, two women who look alike,
one virile man.
SCENE: Two apartments divided by a wall.
APARTMENT ONE: A woman is sitting by a telephone
APARTMENT TWO: A man and woman are in bed having intercourse.
THE NEIGHBOR:
(SWITCHES ON HER LAMP AND DIALS ON
THE TELEPHONE) Paul? It's me
again. I know it's late. I know
you're tired, yes, I know. But I
had to call you again. Oh Paul!
No, nothing important to say,
nothing new - I just want to hear
your voice - oh Paul, I'm so alone!
Forgive me, I shouldn't be annoying
you this way. What a drag I am, I
know. But I can't help myself. I
love you so - I love you! Why aren't
you here! Come over, now. I know.
I know. But you're so cruel to stay
away! No, not really cruel - it's
all my fault, my fault. I'm forcing
you to be. What a drag I am, I'm so
ashamed. Forgive me. Paul, I haven't
any right to ask and yet I'm asking.
Paul, I need you. I need you, Paul.
Paul? Paul!
THE MAN: (PULLING OUT) I'm sorry.
THE WOMAN: (SUPPRESSING RAGE) No matter, later.
THE MAN: You're very patient. No, not tonight. I'm not myself tonight.
THE WOMAN: Then next time.
THE MAN: (PREOCCUPIED) Yes ...
THE NEIGHBOR: (DIALS AGAIN)
THE WOMAN: What's wrong?
THE MAN: Nothing.
THE NEIGHBOR:
Paul? I'm better now. Please
don't hang up. I need to hear
your voice. Please be kind. I know
how kind you can be. Oh, I'm so
ashamed! All my life, I've been
able to keep myself in. This never
happened before - never like this
before. You're the only one who -
do you understand? The only one.
I'm so ashamed. Please, Paul,
listen. Listen, Paul. I need you.
Paul, I need you.
THE WOMAN: (ANGRILY) It's her again, Apartment One.
THE MAN: Yes, I know. I heard her before. These walls are too thin.
THE WOMAN: A drunk?
THE MAN: Who knows? She goes for weeks without a sound then for days she cries all night - so loudly I can sometimes hear her across the room.
THE WOMAN: (ANGRY AND EMBARASSED,IDENTIFYING WITH HER) So bang on the wall - that's no way to carry on.
THE MAN: (DEFENSIVE, ALSO IDENTIFYING WITH HER) What good would it do? She can't help it. She's in love.
THE WOMAN: (DEFENSIVE, OVERLY HARSH) With herself, you mean.
THE MAN: (DEFIANTLY) I sympathize with her.
THE WOMAN:(DISTURBED) Don't tell me that. People like that
are - are too weak to
waste sympathy on. I
know.
THE MAN:
(HOPEFUL) How do you
know?
THE WOMAN:
(EVASIVELY CONFESSING)
Because I was once a fool
like that - once, when I
was much too young. It's
allowed in the young - but
not at her age. At her
age, she's a fool!
THE MAN:
(REACHING OUT) You don't
fall in love anymore?
THE WOMAN: (ALIENATED) Not like that. Not anymore.
(THEY PAUSE, TO LISTEN)
THE NEIGHBOR:
(DIALS PAUL AGAIN. AFTER A LONG
TIME, HE ANSWERS. SHE IS LOUDER
AND MORE ASSERTIVE, ANGRIER)
Paul? It's me again. Does it
please you to hear me cry? You )
could leave your phone off the
hook but you never do - why? You
tempted me first, you know that.
I hadn't the slightest idea I
would ever want you so much. You
wanted me to want you. You don't
want me to stop loving you. Why!
THE MAN: (SADLY, RESUMING) No, not
anymore. No, you're too
"sane".
THE WOMAN:
What's wrong with you
tonight?
THE MAN:
(SENTIMENTALLY) You.
THE WOMAN:
(VULNERABLE) Me?
THE NEIGHBOR: (HE HAS HUNG UP) Swine!
THE MAN:
You'll laugh.
THE WOMAN:
Why?
THE MAN:
I want to buy you white
roses. All day I couldn't
work, couldn't think. I
thought only of - roses.
THE WOMAN:
(NERVOUSLY) You're mad!
THE MAN:
I knew you'd laugh.
THE WOMAN:
(WITH KIND CONCERN) Stop
now, before it's too late.
THE MAN:
(MATURELY) It's already
too late. But don't you
worry - I'm hard and
strong -
THE WOMAN:
(SEXUALLY) Then there's
no problem. Come -
THE MAN:
(RECOILING) No, not
tonight. I've had all I
need tonight.
THE WOMAN:
(HUNG UP AND ANGRY)
Strange, isn't it? Love
often changes a woman from
a virgin to a whore. But
when a man loves - he even (THE NEIGHBOR: SHRIEKS IN ANGUISH "Oh Paul!") puts whores on pedestals and calls them virgins.
There's always a wall!
(BANGS ON THE WALL)
Quiet Apartment One!
THE MAN:
(INDIGNANT) Stop it.
She's not bothering us.
THE WOMAN:
(AS IF IT IS HERSELF NEXT
DOOR) She bothers me.
She turns my stomach.
THE MAN:
(STILL TRYING TO REACH
HER) Why are you so cold?
THE WOMAN:
(SHAKEN) Am I cold?
Yes, I'm shivering. Keep
me warm. You left too
soon.
THE MAN:
(DISTANTLY) I'm sorry.
THE WOMAN:
(GOING TO HIM) Look,
please forget what you
said before. Between us,
white roses? No, that
can't ever be.
THE MAN:
Why not?
THE WOMAN:
I have too much pride.
It's taken me years to
learn to live with myself.
Years not to need someone
- years not to cry. I'm
happy now - just the way
I am.
THE MAN:
(STILL TRYING) How
insincere that sounds.
THE WOMAN:
(COLDLY) Force yourself
to believe it.
THE MAN:
The modern woman.
THE WOMAN:
(ANGRILY) As modern as
Eve. There's a wall!
THE MAN:
Don't be so afraid of
pain.
THE WOMAN:
What do you know of pain?
When you want something
you can ask for it -
sometimes you can even
take it without asking.
Do you know what it is to
be starving and to be
watching others at a
banquet - and to have to
wait until someone offers
you food? Never to ask,
always to ask without
asking, and pretending
always that you've already
had enough to eat.
There's a wall!
THE MAN:
(GIVING UP) I'm sorry for
you.
THE WOMAN:
(STRONGLY) May I use your
phone?
THE MAN:
Yes, of course.
THE NEIGHBOR: (DIALS AND WAITS. PAUL IS NOT ANSWERING)
THE WOMAN:(DIALS AND WAITS TENSELY FOR JIMMY TO ANSWER THE
PHONE. SHE FEIGNS EASE,
THROUGH GREAT TENSION,
WHILE SPEAKING TO HIM.)
Jimmy? Jimmy dear, guess
who this is. Am I calling
too late? I just happened
to remember and dialed on
an impulse - I hope I'm
not disturbing you. I
said to myself, I hope
he's not angry because I
had to rush away last
time. I've been so busy -
hardly at all at home - so
I decided to give you a
ring, since it's been
practically impossible for
you to reach me......No,
I'm not doing anything
special. I'm at a girl-
friend's, but I'll be home
soon. I'd love to have
you drop over. No, it's
not too late. We can chat
for half an hour and then
I'll send you home.....
(LAUGHS) No, I didn't
mean that. I expect you
to behave yourself this
time. Yes, that's an
order. In an hour then.
Fine! (HANGS UP WITH
RELIEF)
THE MAN:
(SADLY) You don't waste
time.
THE WOMAN:
(WILFULLY UNMASKED) I've
a very efficient system
now. See how fickle I can
be - and a barefaced
liar. Hang on to that.
THE MAN:
(NOT FOOLED. KISSES HER.)
No.
THE WOMAN:
(STILL WANTING HIM BUT NOT
FOOLED, PULLS AWAY) How
lucky you are - to be able
to take what you want. I
once wanted someone's lips
- so badly. So badly.
THE NEIGHBOR: (HE TRIES TO KISS HER
(PAUL HAS FINALLY ANSWERED AGAIN BUT SHE RESISTS,
THE TELEPHONE. SHE SPEAKS FIRMLY.) It's no use.
TO HIM IN AN APOLOGETIC AND There's a wall!
THE NEIGHBOR: (PAUL HAS FINALLY ANSWERED THE TELEPHONE. SHE SPEAKS TO HIM IN AN APOLOGETIC AND BUSINESSLIKE MANNER, BUT SOON
DETERIORATES INTO A BLUBBERING
FOOL.) Paul? I'm sorry I said
what I said. I get so terribly
angry - because I want you so much.
(THE WOMAN DRESSES AS THE MAN LIES IN BED QUIETLY WATCHING HER.)
THE NEIGHBOR: Just for once, hear me
out. I have to speak to you.
Can't you see how near the edge
I am? I don't know what to do
with myself anymore. Can't you
understand how little I'm asking?
Once, only once, that's all I
ask. Then I could forget. I
could put it out of my mind.
THE WOMAN: (READY TO LEAVE) Goodbye.
THE NEIGHBOR: I want to be myself again.
Help me. Help me.
(AT A HIGH PITCH, ALMOST SHRIEKING)
Listen to me! I've lost all my pride.
I know it! How much you detest me.
You're so right to detest me. But I
need you. I can't help asking. I
need you! It's so little that I'm
asking. Paul! (PAUL HAS HUNG UP)
(THE WOMAN WALKS OUT)
(FREEZE THE SCENE, THEN BLACKOUT)