Glass Menagerie: Tom’s Return

Glass Menagerie: Tom’s Return

A continuation of the Tennessee Williams play, “The Glass Menagerie”

Tom
The cities passed in desolation as I wandered farther from the past. My feet shuffled through autumn leaves in the park. My life had become a funeral procession. I had never known the sorrow which weighs the soul like a drunken stupor. Laura and mother returned every night to haunt me. In my dreams they pleaded for mercy and my return. Yet I kept moving for in motion I felt was the key to freedom. One night Laura approached me clothed in a virgin white dress. She held a flower to my face. I breathed the fragrance. She walked away leading me to the home I’d abandoned months ago. It was then I knew that she was my only absolution.

Tom climbs the stairs ascending to the apartment. He knocks on the door.

Amanda
Who are you? Go away! I haven’t got any money. There is nothing for you to steal.

Tom
Mother it’s Tom.

Amanda cracks the door open.

Amanda
You’re back from the dead, Tom, my only son. Please come in. I’ll heat up some soup for you. It’s all I have. Since you left we’ve had many hungry nights. Do you plan on staying?

Tom
Mother, I’m sorry. I don’t know how long I’ll be here. My love for you and Laura grew stronger the farther away I went. And so I’m here.

Amanda
Tom how could you be so heartless? You left us here to die. But that’s water under the bridge. Come on in and get yourself warm. I’ll wake Laura.

Amanda wakes Laura. She joins Tom and Amanda in the living room.

Laura
Tom, I knew you’d come home. Mother said you didn’t care. But I always knew you loved us.

Tom
Laura, please forgive me. I never forgot you. You followed me through the winter streets.
Everywhere I went you were there.

Amanda
Tom, Laura completed a typing course at the clerical school.

Tom
Laura, can you forgive me?

Laura
Tom you’ve come home. That’s all that matters now.

Tom
Mother, I’ll get back my job at the warehouse. I’ll never abandon you all again. You are my only family.

Laura
Tom, take off your coat and rest a while. Tell us about your travels. I’ve never been out of St. Louis.

Tom hugs Laura and kisses her on the cheek.

Tom
Laura the cities were a labyrinth of darkness. The lonely streets took me nowhere. I was adrift like a ship lost at sea. Each city was the same. And all roads led back to home.

Amanda
Tom you look lean like a scarecrow. Come eat and get your strength back.

Tom
I can’t take your food mother.

Amanda
You are my son. I want you to eat. Come sit at our table.

Tom
Mother, I don’t feel hungry.

Amanda
Nonsense. What is ours is yours. We’re together in this game called life. Now eat your soup. I’ll hear no more of this.

Tom
Mom, this is why I left. You boss me.

Amanda
You’ll not be leaving again. I’ll make your bed and this will be your home.

Tom
Mom, I’ll decide where to rest my head.

Amanda
Don’t be selfish Tom. Don’t put this family through perdition’s flames again.

Laura walks in and sits at the table with them.

Tom
Alright Mom. Laura, my angel sister, did we wake you up?

Laura
No I was just so happy you came back I couldn’t sleep.

Tom
Laura, your beauty is beyond this world. How could I forget the glitter of your eyes or the glow of your face?  I never forgot.

Laura
Oh Tom you’re making me blush. Stop it.

Tom
I shall try to stay my tongue. Yet your inner light cannot be resisted.

Laura
Tom when you talk like that I feel like a precious gem. Yet I long to be ordinary.

Tom
Laura, you are a rare jewel whose aura enchants mere mortals.

Laura
On that note dear brother, let us begin dinner.

One year later: Amanda takes Tom’s hand and leads him to the dining room table.

Amanda
Tom I know this is no life for a young man. But you’ve stayed with us this last year. You’ve brought hope back into this home. I know I’ve been harsh with you in the past. However, I want you to know you are loved.

Tom
Mother, I’ve always known you loved me. It’s funny how we can forget. Sometimes a reminder is all we need. I cooked some potatoes from the market for dinner.

Amanda
First let’s say grace. Ever since you left we begin our meals with grace.

Tom
Please commence mother. Where is Laura?

Amanda
Laura is getting spiffed up. She is going on a date.

Tom
You are still in hot pursuit of a gentleman caller for Laura. Mom, you are too much.

Amanda
Tom, Laura is a fine young lady. She’ll make some man a good wife. Now stop your sarcasm.

Tom
Mom I’ve got to do the graveyard shift at the warehouse. Let’s feast on our fare now.  I need rest to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at work.

Amanda
You need to have faith in your sister. She has charms any man would fall for.

Tom
On that we agree mother. Now let’s eat.

Laura arrives back home from her date just before Tom leaves for work. Tom is sitting at the kitchen table reading a book by candlelight.

Laura
Mother. I’ve returned. I didn’t cavort in opium dens or even get drunk. I was the pure virginal girl you raised me to be.

Amanda
You gave me the heebie-jeebies girl. Thank Jesus you’re home. Now look me in the eye and tell the Gospel truth. You didn’t let him take advantage of you?

Laura
Of course not mother. You know me better than that.

Amanda
Praise the Lord. Was he the marrying type?

Laura
Oh mother how would I know?

Amanda
Well I’ll retire to the arms of Morpheus. Goodnight.

Laura
Tom did you get any sleep?

Tom
I’ll sleep well enough in the sweet bye and bye.

Laura
Look at you. You are mesmerized by that book. What about it has you so fascinated?  

Tom
Henry Miller makes for good late night reading. But he’s too risqué for your innocence.

Laura
Well I’m not as innocent as I was this afternoon.

Tom
Oh no Laura. Please tell me you didn’t let him sleep with you.

Laura
Of course I didn’t my brother. However, he did kiss me. It felt strange. I was bathing in his kisses till I pushed him away. Such a peculiar feeling came over me. I felt beside myself with joy and fear.

Tom
What were you afraid of?

Laura
Well I was afraid he might take it further without my consent. And it felt like a part of me died. It was kind of like when the horn broke off my unicorn in my glass menagerie. I was joining the adult world. The magic of my child being was gone forever. I wasn’t protected anymore. My emotions were laid bare.

Tom
Laura you have blossomed into womanhood. But promise your brother that you’ll take things slow. There is still so much fragile about you. Wait until your newborn mind crystallizes and becomes stronger.

Laura
You came back just in time to save me Tom.

Tom
You saved me Laura. When I was on a drunk by the wharf in New Orleans, I faced the grim reaper straight in the eyes. I lay on Tchoupitoulas Street so near death I could feel the coldness spread through my heart and limbs. I was alone. Then I heard your voice call my name. I felt your hands rub my face as warmth returned. Then you breathed life into my frail and dying body. Your exhalation was like a spring breeze. It was then that I resolved to return home.

Laura
Tom, you are my beloved brother. Wherever life takes you my spirit will be there to hold your hand. Oh I hear mother stirring. She may be eavesdropping at this moment.  What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Please keep my secrets.

Tom
My lips are sealed.

Laura
Tom do they have any women at the shoe warehouse?

Tom
There are a few in the personnel department.

Laura
I bet you’re their heartthrob. You’ve got manly charisma. If you weren’t my brother I’d marry you.

Tom
Laura what did I do to earn such affection from my very own sister?

Laura
You make me feel normal.

Laura kisses Tom on the cheek. They stand up and Laura blows out the candle.