THE PUPIL From a story by Henry James

By Frank J. Morlock

Etext by Dagny
  • Scene I.
  • Scene II.
  • Scene III.
  • Scene IV.
  • Scene V.
  • Scene VI.
  • Scene VII.
  • This Etext is for private use only. No republication for profit in 
    print or other media may be made without the express consent of the 
    Copyright Holder. The Copyright Holder is especially concerned about 
    performance rights in any media on stage, cinema, or television, or 
    audio or any other media, including readings for which an entrance fee 
    or the like is charge. Permissions should be addressed to: Frank 
    Morlock, 6006 Greenbelt Rd, #312, Greenbelt, MD 20770, USA or 
    frankmorlock@msn.com. Other works by this author may be found at 
    http://www.cadytech.com/dumas/personnage.asp?key=130


    C 1985


    CHARACTERS

    Mr. Pemberton, a tutor
    Mrs. Moreen, a handsome woman in her late forties
    Morgan, a boy of about thirteen


    Scene I.

    A study in the Moreens' home. Pemberton, very ill at ease, is talking to Mrs. Moreen about his soon to begin employment. Morgan has been sent out of the room to fetch something and Pemberton is trying to screw himself up to asking about his salary.

    Pemberton
    I've never done tutoring before, you understand.

    Mrs. Moreen
    We understand perfectly, Mr. Pemberton. We made inquiries. You are well educated and have fallen on hard times—

    Pemberton
    I spent my inheritance on a European tour, and, you see—

    Mrs. Moreen
    Of course, of course. Unfortunate for you, but fortunate for us. We're quite sure you'll be perfect. Morgan is an unusual child—really quite wonderful—but his heart is weak, so school is out of the question.

    Morgan (a precocious lad of about eleven or twelve comes in)
    I can't find it, mama.

    Mrs. Moreen
    Oh, never mind.

    Pemberton (strangled)
    As to the salary.

    Mrs. Moreen
    Oh, I can assure you, that will be quite regular—

    Pemberton
    Yes, of course, of course, but—

    (Morgan, amused, turns away.)

    Pemberton
    I think that—

    Mrs. Moreen
    My husband will be delighted to meet your wishes. As I told you, he has been to London for a week. As soon as he comes back, you shall have it out with him.

    Pemberton
    Oh, I don't imagine we shall have much of a battle.

    Morgan
    They'll give you anything you like. We don't mind what anything costs. We live awfully well.

    Mrs. Moreen
    My darling, you are too quaint! (Mrs. Moreen tries to caress Morgan, but he deftly escapes) You pompous little man! We are not extravagant. You must know what to expect. (this last directed at Pemberton)

    Morgan
    The less you expect, the better! But, we are in fashion.

    Mrs. Moreen
    You'll start Friday. I'm sorry the girls are out. I guess you'll like the girls. And you know, I've another boy, quite different from this one.

    Morgan
    He tries to imitate me, but I'm inimitable.

    Mrs. Moreen
    Why, he's twenty years old.

    Pemberton (to Morgan)
    You're very witty.

    Mrs. Moreen (proudly)
    Indeed. Everyone who knows Morgan, loves him.

    Morgan (seriously)
    Do you really want to come?

    Pemberton
    Do you doubt it?

    Morgan
    I think you don't want to come, but you have to. Fresh out of money, I suppose.

    Mrs. Moreen
    Morgan!

    Pemberton
    You are a clever boy.

    Morgan
    Well, I'll do the best I can for you, (going out) if you come.

    Pemberton
    Perhaps, I should have a get acquainted session with him.

    Mrs. Moreen
    Leave him, leave him! He's so strange. I apologize for his rudeness. But he's a genius. You'll love him. He's much the most interesting person in the family.

    Pemberton
    Geniuses are not invariably loveable.

    Mrs. Moreen
    But Morgan is, you'll see. We're all loveable in this family.

    (Mrs. Moreen gives Pemberton her hand and goes out. Pemberton is about to leave when Morgan returns.)

    Morgan
    Hsst!

    Pemberton
    What can I do for you?

    Morgan
    Do you really want to come to us?

    Pemberton
    There would be no sense applying for the job if I didn't.

    Morgan
    You must be hard up. How do I know you'll stay? I'm almost sure you won't stay very long.

    Pemberton
    I hope you aren't planning to get rid of me.

    Morgan
    If I were to do right, I would.

    Pemberton
    Well, I know I'm supposed to instruct you in virtue, but, in this case, we'll make an exception. Don't do right.

    Morgan
    How old are you?

    Pemberton
    Twenty-one

    Morgan
    You're very young.

    Pemberton
    Compared with you!

    Morgan
    Green, too. So, it won't make too much difference if you waste some of your time.

    Pemberton
    That's the way to look at it.

    Morgan
    Do you like my mother?

    Pemberton
    Yes. Charming woman.

    Morgan
    You're a sweet liar.

    Pemberton
    You must never say anything bad about your parents.

    Morgan
    I never dreamed of it.

    Pemberton
    Then, why am I a liar?

    Morgan
    Well, she's not your parent.

    Pemberton
    I'm sure she loves you better than anything in this world.

    Morgan
    Is that why you like her so much?

    Pemberton
    She's very kind to me.

    Morgan
    You are a liar. (kicks his shins)

    Pemberton
    Don't kick my shins.

    Morgan
    There's another reason, too. Besides her not being your parent.

    Pemberton
    I don't understand.

    Morgan
    You will before long. At any rate, you'll hang on to the last?

    Pemberton
    To the last.

    Morgan
    Till you're beaten?

    Pemberton
    You ought to be beaten.

    Morgan
    I won't be beaten, you will.

    Pemberton
    I'm not planning on that.

    Morgan
    You wait, you'll see.

    BLACKOUT


    Scene II.

    The same. Some months later. Morgan looks up from his book at which he has been working and addresses Pemberton.

    Morgan
    You can't go on like this, you know.

    Pemberton
    Like what, my boy?

    Morgan
    You know! They don't pay you.

    Pemberton
    Don't pay me? What on earth put that in your head?

    Morgan
    It's been there a long time. From the beginning.

    Pemberton
    They pay me beautifully.

    Morgan
    What's the Latin for big lie?

    Pemberton
    What do I want with money?

    Morgan
    That's another question. Do you like being cheated?

    Pemberton
    Actually, your mother gave me several hundred not long ago.

    Morgan
    But, they still owe you, don't they? (pause) I'm not afraid. Why don't you tell me you plan to leave?

    Pemberton
    No. I haven't yet seen the thing you're afraid of. You're fearless. I've been thinking of leaving for a long time.

    Morgan
    Don't just think about it. Go. But, (crying) make them pay you. Don't let them get away with it.

    BLACKOUT


    Scene III.

    The same. Some weeks later. Mrs. Moreen is talking to Pemberton. She is agitated.

    Mrs. Moreen
    You haven't told him?

    Pemberton
    He knows I plan to go away. If he knows more, it's nothing I've said.

    Mrs. Moreen
    What use can you have for so much money?

    Pemberton
    It's not a lot of money. It's a small salary and little I've seen of it.

    Mrs. Moreen
    You do put the knife to one's throat. It's really too absurd to expect us to pay you.

    Pemberton (flabbergasted)
    Absurd!

    Mrs. Moreen
    Aren't you paid enough just by living with us? You're practically a member of the family? Surely, we treat you as one of us, don't we?

    Pemberton
    Yes, but—

    Mrs. Moreen
    If you'd only be reasonable.

    Pemberton
    It seems to me I've been very reasonable and patient—for over a year.

    Mrs. Moreen
    We can't afford to pay you regularly, and you know you've stayed on. Let me suggest that we admit the facts and put our relations on a regular basis. You stay without pay, and, when we can, of course, we'll give you a gratuity.

    Pemberton
    I suppose it's only a difference in theory. The fact remains, I stay and get nothing. But it's a kind of organized blackmail.

    Mrs. Moreen (indignant)
    What do you mean by that?

    Pemberton
    You know very well I'm afraid of how Morgan will react if I go away. You trade on that!

    Mrs. Moreen
    And pray, what would happen to him in that event?

    Pemberton
    He'd be alone with you.

    Mrs. Moreen
    And, why shouldn't he be with his family?

    Pemberton
    If you think that, why don't you let me go?

    Mrs. Moreen
    Do you pretend that he loves you more than he loves us?

    Pemberton
    He ought to. I make real sacrifices for him. You talk about the sacrifices made for his sake. But I don't see any.

    Mrs. Moreen
    Will you make the sacrifice?

    Pemberton
    I'll see. I'll do what I can. I'll stay a little longer. I can't bear to give him up. You know my situation perfectly. I haven't a penny, and occupied as I am with him, I can't earn any.

    Mrs. Moreen
    Can't you write or translate as I do?

    Pemberton
    I don't know. Translating is wretchedly paid.

    Mrs. Moreen
    I'm glad to earn what I can.

    Pemberton
    I've tried writing. But, all I get is high praise and a rejection slip.

    Mrs. Moreen
    Well then, you're not sacrificing any opportunities by staying on.

    Pemberton
    I haven't time to do things properly. If I stay on, it is on one condition.

    Mrs. Moreen
    Which is?

    Pemberton
    That Morgan shall know distinctly on what footing I am staying.

    Mrs. Moreen
    Surely you don't want to show off to a child?

    Pemberton
    Show you up, you mean?

    Mrs. Moreen
    And you accuse me of blackmail!

    Pemberton
    And you talk of practicing on fears! No doubt I'm a great scoundrel.

    Mrs. Moreen
    My husband desired me to give you this on account.

    Pemberton
    I'm much obliged to your husband, but we have no account.

    Mrs. Moreen
    You won't take it?

    Pemberton
    No. It leaves me more free.

    Mrs. Moreen
    To poison my darling's mind!

    Pemberton
    Oh, Morgan's mind.

    Mrs. Moreen
    You may tell him any horror you like.

    BLACKOUT


    Scene IV.

    The same. Months later. Morgan and Pemberton are talking.

    Pemberton
    What do you mean: “you know”?

    Morgan
    I'll tell you how I know. I know it through Colette.

    Pemberton
    Who in the world is she?

    Morgan
    A nurse I used to have. She loved me.

    Pemberton
    There's no accounting for tastes. What is it you know through her?

    Morgan
    How they do it! She went away because they wouldn't fork out. She stayed two years. She told me about it. As soon as they saw she loved me, they stopped giving her anything. They thought she'd stay—just because, don't you know?

    Pemberton
    Did she?

    Morgan
    For a long time. She was a poor girl—she had to send money to her mother. At last, she couldn't afford it any longer. She went off in a fearful rage one night. She told me everything before she left.

    Pemberton
    Colette was very sharp. And she made you so.

    Morgan
    That was heredity. And experience.

    Pemberton
    And Colette was part of your experience.

    Morgan
    And, I'm part of yours.

    Pemberton
    A very important part. But, how do you know I've been treated like Colette?

    Morgan
    Do you take me for stupid?

    Pemberton
    No, not for stupid.

    Morgan
    You're a hero.

    Pemberton
    Well, you're another.

    Morgan
    No, I'm not. But, I am ashamed. You must get some occupation that pays you.

    Pemberton
    We ought to go off and live somewhere together.

    Morgan
    I'll go off like a shot if you'll take me.

    Pemberton
    I've got to get some work to keep us afloat.

    Morgan
    I'll work, too.

    Pemberton
    It's all a dream. Your parents won't hear of it.

    Morgan
    Huh! They put me off on you, morning till night. I don't see why they should object to my taking up with you completely. I'd help you.

    Pemberton
    They're not keen about my being helped. They think of you as belonging to them. They're proud of you.

    Morgan (fiercely)
    I'm not proud of them!

    Pemberton
    Except for the little matter we're speaking of, they're charming people.

    Morgan
    I'd have talked to them about you long ago—except they'd only say what they said about Colette.

    Pemberton
    What did they say about Colette?

    Morgan (derisively)
    They said they'd paid her every penny they owed her. I hate to hear them lie.

    Pemberton
    Perhaps, they did pay her.

    Morgan
    The way they've paid you?

    Pemberton
    Let's not talk about it any more.

    Morgan
    They accused her of lying and cheating. That's why I don't want to talk to them.

    Pemberton
    Don't trouble them. Except for that, they are charming people.

    Morgan
    Except for the lying and cheating.

    Pemberton
    I dare say your father has his reasons.

    Morgan
    What reasons can there be?

    Pemberton
    To save money and to put his means to the best account. You're an expensive family.

    Morgan
    Yes. I'm expensive. I have everything. I'd rather have less, but have it paid for.

    Pemberton
    They are doing it for you. They think of you in everything they do.

    Morgan
    While they're about it, they might consider my feelings. What is it all for—this endless deception? Are they rich? Are they poor? What do they want to pass for?

    Pemberton
    I haven't the least idea.

    Morgan
    And, what good does it do?

    Pemberton
    I don't know.

    Morgan
    You've got to go. That's what you've got to do.

    Pemberton
    And, what will become of you?

    Morgan
    Oh, I'll grow up. We'll separate next week. The sooner it's over, the better.

    Pemberton
    If I hear of anything, I promise to go.

    Morgan
    You won't pretend you haven't heard?

    Pemberton
    Anyone listening would think you were the tutor.

    Morgan
    You keep things back.

    Pemberton
    How so?

    Morgan
    You think I won't make old bones, and you can stick it out.

    Pemberton
    You're too clever to live.

    Morgan
    I call it a mean idea. But, I'll punish you by hanging on a long time.

    Pemberton
    Look out, or I'll poison you.

    Morgan
    I'm stronger every year. Haven't you noticed, there hasn't been a doctor near me since you came?

    Pemberton (hugging Morgan)
    I'm your doctor.

    BLACKOUT


    Scene V.

    The same. Some months later. Mrs. Moreen is talking to Pemberton.

    Mrs. Moreen
    I was wondering if you could lend us three hundred dollars.

    Pemberton
    Dear lady, that is too much. Where in the world would I get money, following you about?

    Mrs. Moreen
    I thought you wrote things. Don't they pay you?

    Pemberton
    Not a penny.

    Mrs. Moreen
    Are you such a fool as to work for nothing?

    Pemberton
    You ought to know about that.

    Mrs. Moreen
    Why do you drag it in so often?

    Pemberton
    I think it apropos to hint that if I had the money, I surely wouldn't give it to you.

    Mrs. Moreen
    Nonsense. If you had the money, you'd give it to me. I know you.

    Pemberton
    Morgan. Morgan, to what a pass have you brought me?

    Mrs. Moreen
    Odious! Everything is too odious!

    BLACKOUT


    Scene VI.

    The same. Some months later. Pemberton and Morgan are talking.

    Pemberton
    I'll earn a lot of money in a short time and we'll live on it.

    Morgan
    Well, I hope the opulent youth will prove a dismal dunce and keep you a long time hammering his Latin into him.

    Pemberton
    The longer he keeps me, the more we'll have for our old age.

    Morgan
    Suppose they don't pay you?

    Pemberton
    There are not two such— (stopping short) —two such fatalities.

    Morgan (bitterly)
    Two such rascally crews. No, it is unlikely you'll meet up with someone like my father again in a long while.

    Pemberton
    What will become of you? What will you do?

    Morgan
    Grow up. I'll get on with them better when you're not here.

    Pemberton
    Oh, don't say that—it makes me feel I'm setting you against them.

    Morgan
    You do. The sight of you. It's all right, you know what I mean. Your very existence is a reproach to my parents. Never mind. I shall be beautiful. I shall take my sisters in hand and marry them.

    Pemberton
    You'll marry yourself.

    BLACKOUT


    Scene VII.

    The same. The room is being packed up. Mrs. Moreen is pacing up and down, dressed in a manner no longer fashionable. Pemberton rushes in. He is well-dressed, no longer threadbare. His fortunes, too, have undergone a reversal.

    Pemberton
    How is he? Where is he?

    (Morgan, hearing Pemberton's voice, rushes in and embraces him.)

    Pemberton (to Mrs. Moreen)
    You said he was dreadfully ill. I don't see it. (to Morgan) Why didn't you answer my last letter?

    Morgan
    I answered all your letters.

    (Pemberton stares at Mrs. Moreen in an accusing manner. She bears the exposure without comment.)

    Mrs. Moreen
    I acted from a sense of duty. You've taken him away from us. He's your responsibility.

    Pemberton
    Taken him away from you!

    Morgan (excitedly)
    Do it! Do it! That's just what I want. They're such awful frauds.

    (Morgan begins to pant and has to sit down.)

    Mrs. Moreen
    Now do you pretend that I've been dishonest?

    Morgan
    I say it, not he!

    Mrs. Moreen
    It's your place, Mr. Pemberton.

    Morgan
    Take me away! Take me away!

    Mrs. Moreen
    Now that you're back, it will be the same again. We'll all be happy as we used to be. It's Mr. Pemberton's place to take care of you. Everyone in his place. You in yours, your papa in his, me in mine. We'll all forget how foolish we've been and have lovely times.

    Pemberton
    I can't stay.

    Mrs. Moreen
    Nonsense, of course you can. You're just rebelling against your fate.

    Pemberton
    I can't stay.

    Morgan
    We can't stay either. They're kicking us out.

    Mrs. Moreen
    Morgan!

    Morgan
    They're kicking us out. Because we can't pay.

    Mrs. Moreen
    All right, it's true. Someone must take care of Morgan. We have to reduce our expenditures. YOU must take Morgan!

    Pemberton
    What?

    Morgan (joyously)
    Forever and ever?

    Mrs. Moreen
    Yes, dear. Forever and ever.

    Pemberton
    But—

    Mrs. Moreen (implacably)
    You must. He's your responsibility. Will you desert the child?

    Pemberton
    I can't desert Morgan.

    Mrs. Moreen (happily)
    Then everything's arranged, you see. I knew you could be counted on, Mr. Pemberton. From the beginning. You're the type one can rely on.

    Morgan (weeping)
    I want to die of shame.

    Pemberton
    No. She's right. You're my responsibility.


    CURTAIN