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Back by Four
Ruth has the letter from the doctor on the kitchen table and wants Hal to sit down. Hal has a whole day lined up with a boat motor and a trailer hitch and lunch at the diner. He will not cancel it, and the reason is not what she thinks.
Characters
- RUTH - 70s, has rehearsed this all week and is done waiting for the right moment
- HAL - 70s, retired, restless, would rather fix anything in the county than sit at his own kitchen table
Setting
A farmhouse kitchen just after seven on a bright fall morning, coffee still brewing.
A kitchen, early morning. Coffee brewing. RUTH, in a cardigan, sits at the table with a folded piece of paper under her hand. HAL comes in already wearing his jacket and cap, looking for his keys.
HAL
You seen my keys?
RUTH
By the toaster.
HAL
They weren't by the toaster.
RUTH
Look again.
He looks. They're by the toaster.
HAL
Huh.
RUTH
Sit down a minute.
HAL
Can't. I told Arnie I'd be at his place by eight-thirty. He's got the motor half apart already.
RUTH
Hal.
HAL
And then we're gonna run out to Pelham and see the guy about the trailer hitch, and I figured lunch at the diner, and you could come to that part if you wanted. Get the fish.
RUTH
I don't want the fish.
HAL
You always get the fish.
RUTH
Sit down.
HAL
Ruthie, it's a whole day. I got it all lined up.
RUTH
I know you got it lined up. You've had it lined up since Wednesday. You told me about it Wednesday, and Thursday, and last night in bed.
HAL
So you know I can't sit.
RUTH
Five minutes.
HAL
I'll be back by four. We'll sit then.
RUTH
I have something I need to tell you, and I'd like to tell it sitting down, and I'd like you to be sitting down too. Is that a lot to ask?
He stands there. Keys in hand. Doesn't sit.
HAL
What's the paper?
RUTH
Sit and I'll show you.
HAL
Just tell me what it is.
RUTH
It's from Dr. Okafor.
HAL
Okay.
RUTH
From the scan.
HAL
Okay.
RUTH
Hal, will you please...
HAL
Arnie's got the motor apart.
RUTH
Forget the motor!
Pause. He takes off the cap. Puts it back on.
HAL
It's a nice day. Supposed to be sixty-eight. First nice day in two weeks.
RUTH
It is a nice day.
HAL
And I got it all lined up.
RUTH
I know you do, honey.
HAL
So I'm gonna go do it. And you're gonna come to lunch. And you're gonna get the fish. And then at four o'clock I'll come in and I'll sit at this table and you can show me the paper.
RUTH
Why four o'clock?
HAL
Because that's when I'm back.
RUTH
Why not now?
HAL
Because now's too early.
RUTH
Too early for what?
Silence. He sits down. Slowly. Keys on the table.
HAL
I heard you on the phone. Tuesday. The nurse called and you took it out on the porch, and I was in the garage with the window open.
RUTH
Oh.
HAL
So I know what the paper says. I don't know all of it. I know enough.
RUTH
Since Tuesday.
HAL
Since Tuesday.
RUTH
And you've been planning trailer hitches.
HAL
I've been planning trailer hitches.
RUTH
Hal.
HAL
Because I figured. I figured if I got this thing lined up, then I got somewhere to be. And if I got somewhere to be, then I'm not sitting at this table. Because once I sit at this table, Ruthie, I'm gonna sit here. I'm gonna sit here the rest of my life. I know myself.
RUTH
(gently)
That's not so long a time to sit.
HAL
Don't.
RUTH
It might not be. That's what the paper says. It's not what you think. It's not fast.
HAL
What is it, then?
RUTH
It's slow. It's years, maybe. They don't know. There's things they can do. It's not good, but it's not what you heard.
He looks at her. Really looks.
HAL
Years.
RUTH
Maybe.
HAL
That's. Okay. That's different.
RUTH
It's a little different.
HAL
Why didn't you say that on the phone?
RUTH
I didn't know you were in the garage!
A small laugh from both of them. Not much of one.
HAL
So. What do we do.
RUTH
Well.
(beat)
I guess you go help Arnie with the motor.
HAL
I don't have to.
RUTH
No. Go. It's a nice day. First one in two weeks.
HAL
You'll come to lunch?
RUTH
I'll come to lunch.
HAL
You'll get the fish?
RUTH
I'll look at the menu, Hal.
He stands. Picks up the keys. Stops at the door.
HAL
Four o'clock.
RUTH
Four o'clock.
HAL
Leave the paper on the table. I wanna read it myself.
He goes. She unfolds the paper, flattens it with her hand, and leaves it there.
End of script