Toni: [From the ladder] May I help you, Madam?
Stephanie:[Every inch the upper middle class lady] I’m really not looking for anything in
particular. I just thought I’d browse a bit.
Toni: Fine. I’m here if you want me.
Stephanie: I’ve heard there’s a marvelous recording of uh [Try to think of something] of
Horowitz’s last concert. Do you have it?
Toni: Horowitz? We’re all out, but I can send it to you.
Stephanie:That will be fine. I believe my husband has a charge account here. Send the
record to . . . [Laying it on] Mrs. . . .Julian . . . Winston. [Toni has been putting
records away as she talks. Now when she hears JULIAN’S name, she misses the
shelf with a record and it drops.]
Toni: [Coming down ladder and crossing to STEPHANIE] You?
Stephanie:[Nodding] Me.
Toni: You didn’t come on account of Horowitz?
Stephanie: No. You see, Miss Simmons—
Toni: Call me Toni.
Stephanie: [Graciously] Thank you. Toni . . . Dr. Winston, my husband, said that you were
most anxious to meet me. Well, here I am. [She sits and crosses her legs.]
Toni: [After a moment, a bit impatiently] Did he . . . did he tell you about his—our plans?
Stephanie: [Same gracious smile] The divorce? Naturally.
Toni: [After another pause] Well?
Stephanie: Well what?
Toni: You don’t mind?
Stephanie: My husband and I are in complete agreement about the divorce.
Toni: [Letting out a sharp breath of relief] Whew! That makes me very happy!
Stephanie: [As sweetly as possible] I’m glad.
Toni: You see, Mrs. Winston—[Sudden thought] You know, I don’t know your first name.
Stephanie: [Think for a moment] Mrs. Winston will do very nicely. Of course, I won’t be
Mrs. Winston very much longer. [There is a slight touch of real and fake
sadness in that last phrase.]
Toni: [Suddenly] Then you do mind.
Stephanie: Of course I don’t. Things between the doctor and me have become. . .
impossible.
Toni: I can’t tell you how good that makes me feel.
Stephanie: [Looking at her with a smile] I’ve really made your day.
Toni: It’s just that I didn’t want to be the cause of your divorce. I never pushed Julian into
it. I am no home wrecker.
Stephanie: I’ll remember that. [Rises, speaks gravely] Now, Toni, may I ask you a
question?
Toni: Anything.
Stephanie: Are you absolutely sure you love Julian?
Toni: You can’t ask that!
Stephanie: I just did. Do you love him?
Toni: Madly! Wildly! Desperately!
Stephanie: Just so long as you’re fond of him. I don’t want him to end up unhappy and
bitter.
Toni: Oh, I understand, especially after he’s just had such a terrible marriage.
Stephanie: [Stiffening] Not so terrible! Our marriage, after all, lasted ten years and we still
have a very deep respect for each other.
Toni: Of course.
Stephanie: I’ve always had to look after Dr. Winston, my husband. You know, aside from
his profession, at which he’s a master, the doctor is a very vulnerable man. An
idealist . . . a child . . . a silly child …damned silly child.
Toni: Also an adorable child.
Stephanie: I guess you do love him. Well, now that you’ve heard what you wanted to hear,
I’ll be running along. [Hold out her hand to TONI. TONI takes it.] I do hope you
have better luck with Julian than I did.
Toni: Mrs. Winston . . . What about you? What are you going to do?
Stephanie: Forget about me. I’ll ride off into the sunset . . . or something.
Toni: It’s just that . . . I want to be sure you’re all right.
Stephanie: I’ll write you every day. [She starts for street door.]
Toni: [flurrying after her and stopping her] Mrs. Winston, who’s going to tell the children?