June 18, 1982: Tenacity by Three
After Elaine and the woman she had been speaking with had made plans to meet in a couple of days, Elaine hugged her, told her goodnight, then closed the door of the dressing room behind her.
Turning to Arnold with a smile, she said, “Well, I utterly enjoyed that. It was simply delightful to see her again. It’s been so many years.”
“She’s an actress, too?” Arnold asked, one hand wrapped around a large bouquet of flowers and the other holding onto Abigail’s lead.
“We went to RADA together,” Elaine said as she crossed to him. “But she suddenly decided she wanted nothing to do with acting. She moved to Leicester and opened a restaurant there instead. I’ve no idea why she changed her mind.” She kissed him, then looked at the flowers. “Oh. These are lovely. Are they for me?”
“Abigail was eyeing them quite a bit,” he answered, returning her kiss, “but they are yours.” He held them out for her.
“Arnold, you are so sweet,” she said, accepting them. “And they are absolutely beautiful.” She looked up at him, smiling. “You don’t have to bring me flowers every time you see me on the stage, you know.”
“I know it’s not a requirement, but I want to bring you flowers,” he replied. “Besides, it’s a tradition now, and don’t theater people have a good number of superstitions?”
“Oh, we do,” she told him. “We’re probably some of the most superstitious people you’ll ever meet. It’s all quite silly, really; and yet I’m as guilty as the next. For example, even though I know it’s utter nonsense, I’d still never, ever utter the name of that play anywhere in the theatre.”
“Then,” he told her, placing his hands on her sides, “I think you should consider this a new superstition because I will never stop bringing you flowers. If I could bring you an entire garden, I would.” He kissed her again.
“What a lovely superstition,” she said, smiling. “I like it very much.” She then bent down to Abigail. “And did you enjoy seeing Sam again, Miss Abigail? You’re becoming quite the little theatre sheep, aren’t you?”
Abigail’s eyes darted from Elaine to the flowers. She moved closer to them and then opened her mouth.
Elaine pulled the flowers back from Abigail, laughing. “Now stop that, you naughty girl! These are not for you!” Elaine stood, then added. “And besides, we’re seeing Tony tonight, and don’t think I don’t know what he gives you behind our backs.”
Arnold raised his eyebrows slightly and then glanced down at Abigail. She sat on the floor and then looked up at him.
“What does Tony give her?” he asked Elaine.
“He slips her leaves of lettuce from the moment we enter,” she answered, standing. “Do you mean to tell me you’ve never noticed?”
“I can’t say I have. I’m paying far too much attention to you,” he answered, smiling, “or avoiding Tony as much as possible.”
“There’s no avoiding Tony,” Elaine laughed. “In fact, he’ll be expecting us. Shall we go?”
“Quite,” he replied. “And yes. I’m ready.” Arnold looked down at Abigail, who seemed to be gazing at the flowers again. “I believe Abigail’s ready, too.”
As the three of them left the dressing room and walked down the hallway, Elaine told Arnold, “I’ve been looking forward all day to spending the evening with you.”
He smiled at her. “I find myself thinking of you at work almost constantly, but not when I’m Obliviating, of course.”
Elaine started to say something, but suddenly Sam appeared around the corner. “Oh! Fabulous! You’ve not left yet.”
Arnold stopped, as did Abigail.
“You wouldn’t mind if I borrowed Arnold for a moment, would you?” Sam asked Elaine. “Or Abigail, really,” she added laughing.
Arnold thought she needed help at first, but the mention of Abigail made him think his assumption might be a tad off. “What do you need, Sam?”
“My sister was here tonight with my two nieces,” Sam explained. “I’ve been telling them about Abigail, the dog with the funny bark, and they so want to meet her. They’ve only just made it backstage. Would you mind?”
“I don’t mind.” He looked at Elaine. “Would you?”
Before Elaine could answer, Sam said, “You don’t, do you Elaine? And Arnold must make her chase her tail. Abigail never does that for me.”
Elaine laughed. “Of course I don’t mind. You go show off Abigail,” she told Arnold. “I’ll run ahead and put my things in the car.”
Arnold had begun to smile at the thought of Abigail chasing her tail, but then he frowned. “Will you be all right?” he whispered to Elaine. “Perhaps Rhys could escort you.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said, kissing him. “Go. You mustn’t keep Abigail’s fans waiting.”
Arnold and Abigail continued to follow Sam until they reached a small room. Two young girls were waiting.
Abigail performed a series of tricks, chasing her tail, retrieving balls, and even wore a wig for the girls, who squealed appreciatively.
She also bleated several times, and the girls seemed to giggle louder each time she did so.
After ten minutes, Arnold said, “I hate to leave, but Abigail needs food and rest, as do I. Goodnight, Sam. Girls.”
When the girls immediately began their attempts to beg Arnold for one more Abigail trick, Sam said, “No. Abigail is very tired now. It’s past her bedtime. Just as it’s past yours.”
She stood up and turned to Arnold. “Thank you so much,” she told him. “And I’m ever so sorry about delaying you.”
“My pleasure, Sam, although I believe Abigail will be rather pleased with herself for the rest of the evening.” He gave a final wave; Abigail gave a final bleat. The two exited the room and went down the hallway towards the exit.
The stage door closed behind him, and he began to walk in the direction of the car park. Abigail walked beside him.
Perhaps Abigail heard them first. In any case, she jerked towards the river, compelling Arnold to follow her long enough for him to notice the two outlines against the water. He could barely hear the conversation at first, but he continued towards them.
As Arnold and Abigail approached the river, they increased their pace. He could see Elaine’s outline, and the other looked familiar enough to worry him a great deal.
“I never abandoned you, did I, Elaine? I know all about you-all of your flaws, all of your mistakes-and still I want you,” the man said, and Arnold was certain of the man’s identity. He moved more quickly, Abigail keeping pace.
He could hear Elaine’s soft voice but not make out her reply.
A moment later, the former Dr. Max Brown added, “No! Don’t tell me to go home. Listen to me! You ruined my career-my entire life You owe me!” He grabbed the flowers Elaine still held and threw them to the ground, shouting, “Damn it! You owe-”
But Arnold was in range. “She owes you nothing!” he yelled. “Do as she says. Go to whatever passes as your home these days.”
Elaine turned to him, looking very shaken. “No. It’s all right, Arnold. Let’s just go.”
Arnold approached her, wrapping the lead around his left wrist and then offering his left hand to her. He’d keep his right hand free-just in case. “Fine. We’ll go.”
But Max was laughing, stumbling back a bit. “You’re with him now, the drug trafficker?” He laughed in amazement. “Oh. Now this I find amusing. You can not be fool enough to fall for his lies. Come now. I never believed you were that stupid, my dear Elaine. Can’t you see he’s only using you, trying to look respectable behind your money and fame?”
Elaine had taken Arnold’s hand and they had begun to walk to the car park. At Max’s words, Arnold only snorted, continuing to walk away from the obviously drunken man.
“He’ll never understand you and accept you the way I do, Elaine. And you!” Max continued, slurring his words slightly. “You should know she’s not as perfect as you imagine, Peasgood. She has quite the dark past. Are you aware she’s tried to kill herself?”
Max trailed after, keeping a bit of distance between them. “She has rather a few abandonment issues, too, you realize. But then, who could blame her? Did she tell you how her father left her and her mother? How he blamed her for her mother’s illness?” Max took a swig of the bottle he had been holding. “And what about how her mother left her, too? Of course she took a more extreme route and placed her head in an oven.” He laughed. “And what about all those many, many-” He laughed once more. “-many men who left her? Did she tell you about them?”
Elaine had stiffened, but continued to walk, staring straight ahead.
Arnold almost paused mid-step but continued to walk and squeezed Elaine’s hand. Pay him no attention, Elaine. I hope you know this doesn’t matter. He doesn’t matter. And he hoped that she could-if not hear his words-sense their meaning in his touch. “You’re a sad, very small man, Max, and nothing that you say matters. I suppose that must hurt, considering how much you enjoy listening to your voice, but you do not matter.”
Max was taking a swallow of the bottle he held, and at Arnold’s words, nearly choked. “I don’t matter?” he said. “A man such as yourself tells me I don’t matter! I’ll have you know I’ve accomplished more in the past five years than you will in your entire life.” He paused for a moment, swaying slightly. “Elaine, listen to me. If it isn’t your fame and money he wants, then it’s only one other thing. And yes, Peasgood. Of course, she’s skilled in that particular area. She’s had a great deal of practice. A great deal. Beginning when she was fifteen and her father was late sending money to her and her mother. Did she tell you about that?”
Arnold felt Elaine slowing, and they came to a stop. Abigail was in front of them. Sit, he told her, quite certain that she could hear him. The lead strap uncoiled and dropped to the ground, and Abigail sat as she was told.
Arnold could feel his heart beating into his wand, resting inside his pocket.
He was quite certain that Max Brown, even on his best day, would be easy enough to take. But he was beyond his best day at this juncture-he was bloody obliterated; and how easy it would be for him to be bloody Obliviated.
He felt the blood pulse through the vein on his neck, rising to his brain and down again, through his chest, through his arms and his hands. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, slowly.
“Stop it,” Elaine was whispering, turning to Max. “Stop it.”
“Surely she told you,” Max taunted. “All about how she had to get down on her knees to beg the owner not to throw them out.” He paused. “Well, she had to get down on her knees anyway.” He gave a snort and stumbled a bit. “And then all those years in the theatre? Honing her bedroom skills on directors. Producers. Fellow actors. Come now, Elaine!” he shouted, waving the bottle he held in his hand. “This criminal you’re with, this drug lord, he already thinks you a whore. It’s perfectly obvious. That’s the reason he’s with you. And if you choose to go off with him instead of with me, that’s exactly what you will be-a whore! His whore!”
Arnold turned quickly. His eyes flashed and then the light faded, turning completely dark and terrible. His hand trembled, but he forced it to his side, summoning all of his willpower not to shred Brown’s mind like he had Dolohov’s-and yet, if he did, Elaine would never have to worry about this bastard attacking her again.…
“So yes, Peasgood,” Max continued, laughing, “enjoy all of her vast experience in the bedroom. And afterwards, my dear Elaine, once he’s finished with you, perhaps he and I can share a few drinks and compare notes. Oh! I wonder, Peasgood, does she make those same soft little moans in your bed that she made when she was in mine? Is she still the same little pathetic, desperately-eager-to-please little girl she was with me?”
For a split second, Arnold reached for his inside pocket, but then he had a flash from the dream he had once had-he saw boots again; and his father. So instead, he lunged forward and grasped Max by his collar with his left hand and planted his foot. He swung with all of his weight behind him, hitting Max in the mouth. He could feel the man’s teeth scrape against his knuckles and knew he’d knocked out at least one tooth, if not more.
“You pathetic bastard!” Arnold hissed, shaking the man and watching the blood and spittle run down his chin. “That’s what you can’t stand, your own cowardice. Your own wretchedness. Elaine is a wonderful woman, and you won’t finish the job you began on her. You won’t destroy her, and you won’t change how I feel about her.”
Arnold punched him once more, ignoring the pain in his knuckles, and let the man fall to the ground. “Leave her alone, or I’ll knock out the rest of your fucking teeth,” he spat and then turned.
He picked up Abigail’s lead and took Elaine’s hand again. But she didn’t move. She withdrew her hand from his, pulled away, turned from him.
He moved to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t let him win, Elaine,” he whispered, “because none of it matters to me at all.”
She slipped away and turned back to him. “How can it not matter? You heard the things he said,” she told him.
“Arnold,” she said softly. Her eyes did not meet his though, and her cheeks were wet with tears. “You don’t have to do this. I’ve known you long enough to understand you’re a gentleman-you’ll be kind, try not to hurt me. But you don’t have to pretend. I’ll hold you to nothing.” She looked up at him. “Just go. Really. You have no obligations.” She breathed out. “Just go.” She turned and started away from him.
He reached for her shoulder and turned her towards him. He lifted his hand to her cheek and gazed into her eyes. He had thought it before, but this would be the first time he told her. “I love you, Elaine. You matter-who you are now matters. Your past, that man, they do not matter.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “You can’t mean that. You’re too good; you don’t understand. You’ve no idea the things I’ve done-the things I was forced to do to survive; the things I turned to in order to cope. Arnold…” she shook her head again. “Really. I won’t blame you. Please. You can go.” She turned once more and started towards the car park.
“Elaine!” he yelled behind her. “I love you! Don’t you understand who you are? What you’ve done for me? How you make me feel? I love you, and what’s more, you deserve my love, goddamn it.”
She stopped, but didn’t turn to him. “I understand who I am. I don’t think you do. If you only knew…” She paused, then faced him. “As Max said, I’m not perfect. And someone as wonderful as you are deserves better. Someone more… Well, someone who’s made better choices.”
“And I’ve told you that I’ve made horrible choices, too,” he told her, catching up. “I won’t judge you for your past. No more than you’ve judged me for mine. All you’ve shown me is a wonderful, generous, kind woman, and my heart belongs to you. I offer you my love because of who you are. I am in love with you, Elaine, not some sort of imagined woman.” He moved and now stood in front of her and held out his hand. “I offer you my love.”
She looked at his open hand, then up into his face, searching his eyes. After one moment of hesitation, she reached out and took his hand, holding it between her two, and brought it to her heart. “And I’m in love with you, Arnold,” she whispered. “I am so in love with you.”
He bent and kissed her hands and then he looked up at her and smiled. “Our love makes us strong. Gives us power. Don’t doubt that. Don’t doubt us.”
“Are you sure,” she asked, “are you absolutely certain you know what you’re doing?”
“I can’t imagine being any more certain, Elaine,” he replied, gazing into her eyes.
She smiled softly at him. “I do love you,” she said. “And I’ll try never to disappoint you.”
He kissed her softly on the lips and then wrapped his arm around her as they began to stroll towards the car park again. “Disappointment would be not having you in my life. As long as you love me, there cannot be disappointments.”
The two of them, with Abigail, walked away, never looking back at Max, who, quite far behind them, had finally found one of his lost teeth. He stood-very unsteadily-and glanced once more at the departing couple, his eyes narrowed, then he stumbled off towards Waterloo station.
By obliviator and ovations