our town scene

GEORGE: (Xing up to her books under R arm) Emily, can I carry your books home for you? EMILY: (Cooly) Why—uh—thank you. It isn't far. (GEORGE takes her books.) GEORGE: (BOTH shy) I'm awfully glad you were elected too, Emily. EMILY: (Coldly) Thank you. (Stops up C. facing down. He stops R of her) GEORGE: (Hurt) Emily, why are you mad at me? EMILY: (Defensively) I'm not mad at you. GEORGE: You've been treating me so funny lately. EMILY: (Dreading to face the issue) Well, since you asked me, I might as well say it right out, George—(Sees TEACHER, passing) Oh, goodbye, Miss Corcoran. (Faces down again) GEORGE: (Turning, then back) Goodbye, Miss Corcoran. –Wha-what is it? EMILY: (Delicately) I don't like the whole change that's come over you in the last year. (GEOERGE turns R, a bit hurt.) I'm sorry if that hurts your feelings; but I've just got to—tell the truth and shame the devil. GEORGE: –A change? – What-what do you mean? EMILY: (On verge of tears) Well, up to a year ago, I used to like you a lot. And I used to watch you while you did everything—because we'd been friends so long. And then you began spending all your time at baseball. And you never stopped to speak to anybody any more—not to really speak—not even to your own family, you didn't. And George, it's a fact—ever sense you've been elected Captain, you've got awful stuck up and conceited, and all the girls say so. And it hurts me to hear ‘em say it' but I got to agree with ‘em a little, because it's true. GEORGE: (Helpless and hurt) Gosh, Emily—I never thought that such a thing was happening to me—I guess it's hard for a fella not to have some faults creep into his character. EMILY: I always expect a man to be perfect and I think he should be. GEORGE: Oh, I—I don't think it's possible to be perfect, Emily. EMILY: (All innocence, yet firm) Well, my father is and as far as I can see, your father is. There's no reason on earth why you shouldn't be, too. GEORGE: Well, I feel it's the other way round; that men aren't naturally good, but girls are. EMILY: Well, you might as well know right now that I'm not perfect. –It's not as easy for a girl to be perfect as a man, because, well, we girls are more—nervous—(Her face contorts and she turns L) Now I'm sorry I said all that about you. I don't know what made me say it. (Cries harder, with hand to eyes.) GEORGE: (Choked voice) Emily— EMILY: Now I can see it's not the truth at all. And I suddenly feel that it's not important, anyway. (Cries.) GEORGE: Emily—would you like an ice cream soda, or something, before you go home? EMILY: (Controlling self) Well, thank you—I—I would. (GEORGE starts to take her arm, but is too shy. They start slowly down and turn into the drugstore RC)