Broken Glass by Arthur Miller Read Free Book Online Page A

disoriented you know? -lost. He has noticed a strangeness. —Something wrong?
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GELLBURG : She says she’s not being loved?
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HYMAN : No-no. I’m talking about how she may feel.
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GELLBURG: Listen... Struggles for a moment; now farmly. I’m wondering if you could put me in touch with somebody.
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HYMA N: You mean for yourself?
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GELLSURG: I don’t know; I’m not sure what they do, though.
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HYMAN : I know a very good man at the hospital, if you want me to set it up.
    GELLBURG: Well maybe not yet, let me let you know.
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HYMAN: Sure.
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GELLBURG: Your wife says I sigh a lot. Does that mean something?
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HYM A N : Could just be tension. Come in when you have a little time, I’ll look you over.... Am I wrong?—you sound like something’s happened...
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GELLBURG : This whole thing is against me ... Attempting a knowing grin. But you know that.
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HYMAN: Now wait a minute...
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GELLBURG: She knows what she’s doing, you’re not blind.
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HYMAN: What happened, why are you saying this?
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GELLBURG: I was late last night—I had to be in Jersey all afternoon, a problem we have there—she was sound asleep. So I made myself some spaghetti. Usually she puts something out for me.
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HYMAN : She has no problem cooking.
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GELLBURG: I told you—she gets around the kitchen fine in the wheelchair. Flora shops in the morning—that’s the maid. Although I’m beginning to wonder if Sylvia gets out and walks around when I leave the house.
    HYMAN: It’s impossible.-She is paralyzed, Phillip, it’s not a trick—she’s suffering.
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GELLBURG, a sideways glance at Hyman: What do you discuss with her?—You know, she talks like you see right through her.
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HYMAN, a laugh: I wish I could! We talk about getting her to walk, that’s all. This thing is not against you, Phillip, believe me. Slight laugh.— I wish you could trust me, kid!
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GELLBURG, seems momentarily on the edge of being reassured and studies Hyman’s face for a moment, nodding very slightly: I would never believe I could talk this way to another person. I do trust you.
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Pause.
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HYMAN: Good!—I’m listening, go ahead.
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GELLBURG: The first time we talked you asked me if we ... how many times a week.
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HYMAN: Yes.
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GELLBURG, nods: ... I have a problem sometimes.
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HYMAN : Oh.—Well that’s fairly common, you know.
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GELLBURG, relieved: You see it often?
    HYMAN: Oh very often, yes.
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GELLBURG, a tense challenging smile : Ever happen to you?
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HYMAN , surprised: ... Me? Well sure, a few times. Is this something recent?
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GELLBURG: Well ... yes. Recent and also ... breaks off, indicating the past with a gesture of his hand.
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HYMAN: I see. It doesn’t help if you’re under tension, you know.
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GELLBURG: Yes, I was wondering that.
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HYMAN: Just don’t start thinking it’s the end of the world because it’s not—you’re still a young man. Think of it like the ocean-it goes out but it always comes in again. But the thing to keep in mind is that she loves you and wants you.
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Gellburg looks wide-eyed.
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You know that, don’t you?
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GELLBURG, silently nods for an instant: My sister-in-law Harriet says you were a real hotshot on the beach years ago.
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HYMAN: Years ago, yes.
    GELLBURG: I used to wonder if it’s because Sylvia’s the only one I was ever with.
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HYMAN: Why would that matter?
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GELLBURG: I don’t know exactly—it used to prey on my mind that ... maybe she expected more.
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HYMAN : Yes. Well that’s a common idea, you know. In fact, some men take on a lot of women not out of confidence 
but because they’re afraid to lose it.
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GELLBURG, fascinated: Huh! I’d never of thought of that. —A doctor must get a lot of peculiar cases, I