Part 4
| Mason is talking to Ted, the latter tells about the bracelet and the fight with Christie. Mason wonders why Ted took it back by force. Ted says that Christie seemed to beat into her head that Ted was in love with her and the bracelet belonged to her that time. He did not expect she would attack him. Mason says that the rape was obviously not Christie's fantasy. |
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| Ted gets angry and says that if Mason does not believe him, he will find another attorney. Mason answers that he believes him, of course; otherwise he would not take this case. He asks where he went after what had happened. Ted answers that he returned to his apartment. He was alone until Mason came and saw him asleep. He did not know he would need an alibi. Mason says it is necessary to release him on bail and talk to Christie. If they are just a little lucky she will listen to reason and won't accuse Ted. |
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| Steve persuades Christie to sign accusation against Ted. Christie asks Mary what she thinks about it. Mary says that to file a charge is her legal right and she should use it. Christie asks if she should turn the other cheek in accordance with the religious point of view. Mary says that not in this case. Ted must be punished for that he has done. |
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| Theda comes and shows cheerfully the booklet of Alcoholics Anonymous he is going to visit to begin giving up drinking. Steve says to his stepmother that Christie is not sure that she should file a charge. |
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| Theda says that Christie should do it; otherwise people will think that the rape is her fault. Christie asks everybody to leave her alone; she wants to think about it. All of them go away. Christie falls asleep and has a nightmare about the rape. She wakes up with a cry and sees Steve. |
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| Steve says he is sorry about what has happened but she offended him very much. Christie asks what she has done, he answers that he heard her throw at Ted's head but he left her alone. He asks Christie what Ted is like in the bed. She answers that there was nothing between them. Steve does not believe her. Ted said they were friends and he know what this means. Christie asks why she has to file a charge. Isn't what she has said enough? Steve answers that, being a prosecutor; he can't leave this awful crime without punishment. Ted will pay the penalty he deserves. |
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Theda interrupts the conversation and Steve leaves.
Mason sees Mary in the hall and comes to her to show his sympathy.
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| Mary says angrily that Christie hasn't yet make a decision about accusation against Ted. He came to learn about it, doesn't he? Mason answers that this is one of the reasons but also he came to see her. Mary gets angry and says indignantly that it must be because he considers her to be an easy game because of her devoutness. It is enough to tell her about the sins of his early years and she will melt. |
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| Mason says that an only sin here is unjust accusation against Ted, as he did not rape anybody. |
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| Mary says to him that tests show it was Ted and Christie's bruises tell their own story. Mason repeats that Ted did not touch Christie and tries to explain that they quarreled because she was in love with him and stole a thing from him. |
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| Mary stops him and says angrily that he must not look for a simple explanation of what has happened. Such cruelty can't be neither explained nor excused. She was taught how to help people who were in difficult situations but until now she did not understand what those who came to her for help felt. |
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| An awful anger is inside her and she doesn't want it to go away. The only thing she wants is Ted's imprisonment for the rest of his life. She will never forgive him. For a moment Mary stops and wonders at her own words. She says that she has been changed. |
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| Mason approaches Mary sitting on the hospital sofa and sits next to her. He says he understand her anger and revenge. And helplessness. |
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| "Oh, do you?!" Asks Mary indignantly, standing up and going aside. |
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| Also Mason stands up and follows her. He says that he does, as he feels the same way because of accusation against Ted. Mary supposes he is waiting for her apologies but Mason says he doesn't mean it. He means that she doesn't differ from other people if speaking about feelings. He knows for sure that pain makes person to concentrate on him/herself. Mary answers abruptly that he must not try to manipulate her. If it had depended on her, the charge against Ted would have been filed. |
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| Mason offers thinking about somebody except for herself. Not about him or Ted. About Christie. He didn't see her by himself and can just imagine her condition. Mary gets angry again, she says that she worked as a nurse in crisis center and saw victims of rape a lot of time but never such young girls in such awful condition, not only physical. Mason answers that it will hardly help Christie's condition if all the details of the rape are discussed publicly. Mary is indignant and she answers that Christie and herself have enough force not to be afraid of telling the truth to the entire world. Mason asks what made her think that she knows the truth. Her cross? Her habit? He did not hear that nun were impeccable. Mary answers that if he cares about Christie, it is better for him to go and persuade Ted to confess rape. Having told this, she goes away. |
