Requiem for a Nun

REQUIEM FOR A NUN 277

to take a step or two toward him to reach and take it. Then she turns and

crosses to the hearth, snaps the lighter on. It misses fire two or three

times, then lights. Pete has not moved, watching her. She stands

motionless a moment, the packet of letters in one hand, the burning

lighter in the other. Then she turns her head and looks back at him. For

another moment they watch each other.

PETE

Go ahead. Bum them. The other time I gave them to you, you turned them

down so you could always change your mind and back out. Burn them.

They watch each other for another moment. Then she turns her head and

stands now, her face averted, the lighter still burning. Pete watches her

for another moment.

Then put that junk down and come here.

She snaps out the lighter, turns, crosses to the table, putting the packet

of letters and the lighter on the table as she passes it, and goes on to

where Pete has not moved. At this moment, Nancy appears at the door, left.

Neither of them sees her. Pete puts his arms around Temple.

I offered you an out too.

(he draws her closer) Baby.

TEMPLE

Dont call me that.

PETE

(tightens his arms, caressing and savage too) Red did. I'm as good a

man as he was. Aint I?

They kiss. Nancy moves quietly through the door and stops just inside the

room, watching them. She now wears the standardised department-store

maidservant's uniform, but without cap and apron, beneath a lightweight

open topcoat; on her head is a battered almost shapeless felt hat which

must have once belonged to a man. Pete breaks the kiss.

Come on. Let's get out of here. I've even got moral or something. I

dont even want to put my hands on you in his house-

He sees Nancy across Temple's shoulder, and reacts. Temple reacts to him,

turns quickly and sees Nancy too. Nancy comes on into the room.