...

MADELYN Go ahead, make jokes. See if I care. Beth said I should stop seeing you because we’re going nowhere. Are we? Are we going nowhere?

RHET No, we’re going somewhere- If you’d let me just...

MADELYN If you don’t want me...just say so.

RHET I want you.

MADELYN You don’t mean it!

RHET Remember in the barn?

MADELYN I was only seventeen then. I’m a woman now. I’m eighteen.

RHET You didn’t speak to me for three months.

MADELYN You told everyone.

RHET I didn’t. They knew by the gouges on the side of my face. Do you think I liked that?

MADELYN You were never like that before...

RHET You were so beautiful that day...

MADELYN I didn’t want our first time to be in a barn when I was smelly and dirty...

RHET Your hair stuck to the side of your neck...it smelled like rain...

MADELYN I fell in the horse trough.

RHET Your skin smelled like earth...

MADELYN I was all dirty from shoveling manure.

RHET I wanted you so bad...

MADELYN You practically attacked me. I wasn’t ready- I could feel...your...your...I didn’t mean to scratch your face. I didn’t. I was scared.

RHET Now you’re not?

MADELYN No.

(Pause.)

Now I’m a woman. I’ve had time...

(RHET puts his hand on her leg and discovers she no longer has her nylons on. MADELYN is terrified.)

Wait!

(RHET gives up.)

You give up too easily.