I don't suppose you live alone, or anything?
 

No!
 

I've got some wonderful caramels over't the hotel if you'd -

(MARIAN and MUSIC stop abruptly)
 

Mister Hill.
 

Professor Hill.
 

Professor of what? At what college do they give a degree for annoying women on the street like a Saturday night rowdy at a public dance hall?
 

Oh I wouldn't know about that. I'm a Conservatory man myself. Gary Indiana Gold Medal Class of '05.
 

Even should that happen to be true does that give you the right to follow me around wherever I go? Another thing, Mister Hill, I'm not as easily mesmerized or hoodwinked as some people in this town and I think it only fair to warn you that I have a shelf full of reference books in there which may very well give me some interesting information about you.
 

(After a pause) Shall we "set" as your mother said?

Well, I...

You did ask me to call...?

Professor Hill...Is it true that you've -

(SHE starts to lose her nerve)

...what I'm trying to say is...I must be very dull company for a man of your experience.

Now say, where'd you get an idea like that?

One hears rumors of traveling salesmen.

Now, Miss Marian - you mustn't believe everything you hear. After all, one even hears rumors about Librarians.

I suppose you're referring to Uncle Maddy.

Uncle Maddy?

Mr. Madison - my father's best friend. No matter what they say he left me an assured job so Mother and Winthrop and I would have some security. Surely you don't believe...

Of course not! That's exactly what I'm saying. But why do you think people start those rumors.

Narrow-mindedness, jealousy - jealousy, mostly I guess.

Exactly. And jealousy mostly starts rumors about traveling salesmen. What have you heard?

Just that -but of course, it stands to reason that - that disappointment and jealousy can lead to - I mean - take you for instance - your attentions to - to - customers and - and well, teachers might easily be misinterpreted mightn't they? I mean, now honestly - mightn't they?

Why...

And, so you say - if another salesman - or somebody were jealous - I mean - well, they could be downright lies - couldn't they?

What could?

Rumors and things!

Why, of course.

It just proves you should never believe everything you hear, doesn't it? I mean if you discuss things...

Miss Marian, I would be delighted to discuss anything in the world with you. But couldn't we do it sitting down? (Trying to lighten her mood) You do sit? Your knees bend and all?

We could sit on the porch steps.

We could also sit on a large hollow log over't the footbridge.

I couldn't think of it. I've never been to the footbridge with a man in my life.

Just to talk. Meet me there in fifteen minutes.

I just can't. Please, some other time? Maybe tomorrow.

My dear little librarian - pile up enough tomorrows and you'll find you've collected nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you but I'd like to make today worth remembering. The footbridge - fifteen minutes.

Fifteen minutes.

(HAROLD exits quickly. MARIAN's voice is suddenly loud and desperate)

Mama!

(Entering onto porch)
What?

I just told Professor Hill I'd meet him at the footbridge in fifteen minutes.