The Magic Tower and Other One-Act Plays by Tennessee Williams

nearly eight years, and oh, I’m so dreadfully tired of it. [
Going to him suddenly
.] Why don’t you cut me loose from it, Richard? Why don’t you catch me here in your arms and let me rest for a while?
    RICHARD : Excuse me. [
He moves away
.]
    ANNABELLE : What’s the matter? Have I bored you, Richard?
    RICHARD : Not at all. You gave a very convincing performance. [
Touches his forehead
.] I have a headache.
    ANNABELLE : Oh. Am I responsible for it?
    RICHARD : Yes. Would you mind fixing me some cracked ice.
    ANNABELLE : Not at all.
    RICHARD : There’s cubes in the Frigidaire.
    [
She goes out slowly. He quickly seizes telephone and dials
.]
    RICHARD : Paul? This is Richard. Come downstairs right away. I’ve got a girl down here and she’s gone serious on me. [
Hangs up and quickly opens magazine as the girl re-enters
.]
    RICHARD : They’ve got some damned nice photography in this thing.
    ANNABELLE [
coldly
]: Here’s your ice.
    RICHARD : Oh, thanks. Thanks, darling.
    ANNABELLE : Not at all. Who were you talking to?
    RICHARD : Talking to? Oh, a fellow upstairs just called. Paul Seabold. Works for the
Morning Star
. He’s going to drop down for a while.
    ANNABELLE : I suppose that’s my cue for an exit.
    RICHARD : Oh, no. No, stick around. I know you’d like Paul. He’s not like most reporters. He’s a very quiet, sincere sort of fellow.
    ANNABELLE : Sincere? Well, that would be nice for a change. But you really don’t have to shove me off on anyone else to get rid of me, Richard.
    RICHARD : Don’t be a damned fool.
    ANNABELLE : The phone didn’t ring. You called him. I even heard what you said.
    RICHARD [
pause
]: Sorry. Hope you aren’t offended.
    ANNABELLE : I’m used to being disappointed in people.
    RICHARD : I guess we all are. We should be.
    [
The doorbell rings
.]
    RICHARD [
admitting Paul
]: Hello. Annabelle, Paul.
    PAUL : How do you do?
    ANNABELLE [
offering hand
]: It was nice of you to come to Richard’s rescue so promptly.
    PAUL [
confused
]: What?
    RICHARD : She heard.
    ANNABELLE : Yes, I’m an eavesdropper.
    PAUL : Oh!
    ANNABELLE : Don’t be so confused. It’s a pleasure to meet a man who’s still able to blush.
    PAUL [
feeling his face
]: Am I blushing?
    ANNABELLE : A little. I like you for it. I believe that Richard’s recommendation was true.
    PAUL : What did he say about me?
    ANNABELLE : He said that you were very quiet and sincere. But what he said about me wasn’t true. I wasn’t nearly as serious as Richard gave me credit for being. You see, I’m an actress.
    RICHARD [
who has settled down on the sofa
]: She’s in that new show at the American.
    PAUL : Oh, that new Behrman play?
    ANNABELLE : Yes. I have a small part.
    PAUL : You’re Annabelle that wore the leopard-skin coat at the artist’s reception!
    ANNABELLE : Right! I spoke two lines!
    PAUL : The cleverest lines in the play!
    ANNABELLE : Thanks! I appreciate your saying that so much! It’s avery small part but it’s strange how many people seem to remember it a long time afterwards. I met an old gentleman on the train last week and he said aren’t you Annabelle that wore the leopard-skin coat in a play I saw in New York last winter? I think it’s extraordinary that he should have remembered it all that time!
    PAUL : I don’t think it’s so extraordinary. I mean I would have remembered it quite easily myself. Have you acted in anything else?
    ANNABELLE : Loads of things.
    PAUL : Like it?
    ANNABELLE : Terribly. You meet so many different people. [
She glances at Richard who has risen and goes out rear door
.]
    PAUL : How much longer will you be in town?
    ANNABELLE : We’re leaving for Memphis tomorrow. And then New Orleans. And then— Oh, it’s like being tied to the tail of a run-away horse!
    PAUL : I wish you were playing a longer engagement here in St. Louis.
    ANNABELLE : Do you?
    PAUL : Yes.
    ANNABELLE : That’s sweet of you, Paul. [
She touches his arm. She rises and goes over to window and raises the