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

curtain
.] Acetylene torches. They’re repairing the tracks.
    PAUL : Yes. I know. It makes a frightful noise.
    ANNABELLE : Hideous. It reminds me of the life that I’ve been leading. Loud and glaring and crazy and restless. One town and the next and the next. It’s been going on like that for nearly eight years, and, oh, I’m dreadfully tired of it, Paul! Excuse me. My nerves are on edge. I feel as though I were— [
She touches her forehead
]
    PAUL [
going to her solicitously
]: Annabelle!
    ANNABELLE : I’m sorry. Sometimes I get a little hysterical. Especially when I feel that I’m with somebody who’s able to understand.
    PAUL : I’ll get you a drink.
    ANNABELLE : No, don’t! Don’t leave me right now! I— [
She smiles at him bravely
.] I’ll be all right! Do you mind if I—if I rest on you for a while? [
She leans against him
.]
    PAUL : Annabelle, I—
    ANNABELLE : Don’t say anything. It’s funny how things happen. We were strangers five minutes ago. And now I— No, I mustn’t say anything!
    PAUL : Annabelle! What were you going to say?
    ANNABELLE : Nothing.
    PAUL : I want to know, Annabelle!
    ANNABELLE : Because I’m an actress people don’t think I’m sincere. Richard thinks I’m not. But he’s wrong. Terribly wrong. People in my profession have to catch at things very quickly. Show business forces you to lead such a transitory existence. Even your emotions are accelerated. Speeded up. But that doesn’t keep them from being completely sincere.
    PAUL : No, of course not.
    ANNABELLE : Paul—
    PAUL : Annabelle!
    ANNABELLE : Don’t let go of me: It’s all going by so terribly fast. I’m like a bird in a storm! Hold me, Paul! Don’t let me go!
    PAUL [
after a pause
]: I don’t want to let you go.
    ANNABELLE : You want to keep me?
    PAUL : Yes.
    ANNABELLE : Then take me as your wife.
    PAUL : Annabelle!
    ANNABELLE : I know!
    [She moves away from him and smiles.]
    That’s the most surprising proposal you’ve ever received from a woman!
    PAUL : It’s the
first
I’ve ever received. [
He is rather stunned
.]
    ANNABELLE : I’m beautiful and desirable. I’d make you a very good wife.
    PAUL : Annabelle, you’re—
    ANNABELLE : No. I’m completely serious.
    PAUL : But we’ve only just met a few minutes ago!
    ANNABELLE : What of it? Why be conventional? I want to quit the show. I want to get married. If I don’t I’ll— !
    PAUL : You’ll what?
    ANNABELLE [
averting her face
]: I’ll probably kill myself.
    PAUL : No. [
Goes to the window
.] Annabelle, it’s—
    ANNABELLE : Incredible. Yes. But I thought you newspapermen were used to incredible things. They happen all the time. You probably write half a dozen stories a day about things you would have sworn couldn’t happen!
    PAUL : Yes, but—
    ANNABELLE : Paul. [
She kisses him
.] Isn’t that what you want from a woman?
    PAUL : Yes, but—
    ANNABELLE : Please believe me. I need you terribly, Paul.
    [
They embrace. Richard enters with cocktail shaker and glasses
.]
    RICHARD : Oh. I see you’ve gotten pretty well acquainted.
    ANNABELLE : Richard—
    RICHARD : Yes?
    ANNABELLE: Paul and I are going to be married!
    RICHARD : What? [
Looks at Paul
.]
    PAUL [
dazed
]: Yes. It’s one of the incredible things that only happens in newspaper stories.
    RICHARD : Well—well ! Annabelle, I left the sandwiches in the kitchen.
    ANNABELLE : Oh, no, I’m not that stupid. If you have any objections you can make them in my presence!
    RICHARD : Objections? Hell, no! It’s swell, it’s marvelous, it’s— [
He looks at Paul
.] Colossal! You get the sandwiches, Paul!
    ANNABELLE : We’ll get them together.
    RICHARD : Great. I guess this calls for a bit of a celebration!
    [
Paul and Annabelle go out the rear door. Richard goes quickly to the phone
.]
    Ernest? This is Richard. Come on upstairs right away. [
Curtains begin to close
.] Paul and I have a woman up here and she’s gone serious on us! Hurry!!
    CURTAIN

EVERY TWENTY MINUTES
     
    A SATIRE

Every