The Tunnel of Love

About the show

The play opens in Augie's studio with a brief prologue, in which Isolde is furious with Augie over some unknown transgression. She is also unhappy about living in a bedroom community, and wants to return to Manhattan. Alice and Dick Pepper offer unwanted support. Isolde storms out, followed shortly by the Peppers. Augie delivers a self-pitying speech to the empty set, trying to explain to the absent Isolde just how this all started a year ago... (Blackout) An afternoon in June. Alice and Dick bring champagne to Augie's studio for the Poole's 5th anniversary. Augie returns from Manhattan, having failed to sell cartoons to The New Yorker. He calls Dr. Vancouver's office trying to find Isolde. Dick admires Augie's latest cartoon idea, but not the drawing. He tries to get Augie to sell his ideas, but Augie dislikes being a "gagman". He asks the Peppers to leave and Alice does, but Dick stays behind. Dick phones the Westport Arms and makes a date with Terry McBain, a young libretist he knows. Augie and Dick argue about Dick's playing around. Isolde returns from shopping in the city. Alice comes back to congratulate Isolde on the anniversary. Isolde announces they are going to apply for adoption at the Rock-a-bye agency, using the Peppers as references. Dick is alarmed at being checked on by a case worker and decides to cancel his date. Alice and Isolde return from the bedroom, and the Peppers leave the studio. Isolde and Augie argue about the precise timing of lovemaking that Dr Vancouver's fertility program requires. Augie pleads for natural methods. Isolde pouts but changes into an enticing outfit. They reconcile, and Augie mentions giving up drawing and just selling his ideas. Isolde forbids it, and the couple embraces. (Curtain) The next day. Augie is in his studio battling a mouse. Dick comes in, and Augie chides him again for playing around. Dick leaves in a huff then Isolde comes in. Isolde reveals she is aware of Dick's philandering. She expresses relief that Augie is "normal", upsetting Augie who feels he has neuroses like other artists. He goes to take a shower; Alice rushes in to say Estelle Novick, the investigator from Rock-a-bye has just interviewed her. Alice hides bottles from the bar and the two women rush into the bedroom. Augie emerges from the bathroom, sans pants, furiously trying to hit a mouse with his slipper. Noticing the empty bar counter, he finds a hidden Scotch bottle and picks it up. Hearing the doorbell, he wraps a towel around him and answers it, still holding the bottle. It is the caseworker, Estelle Novick, but Augie doesn't recognize the name. His partially-clothed state and the bottle in his hand make a poor impression on her, as does his reference, Dick Pepper, who comes back in and immediately suggests a get together. Miss Novick reveals she is from Rock-a-bye. Both men plead with her as she starts to leave. Isolde and Alice return to the studio, and greet Miss Novick. They are surprised at her quick departure and interrogate their spouses. Isolde is furious with Augie; she and Alice leave for the Pepper's house. Dick explains to Augie the complicated balance between his cheating and his guilt feelings. He suggests Augie's inhibitions are preventing Isolde from conceiving and recommends his friend have an affair himself to "loosen up". Augie throws hims out then tries to call Isolde at the Pepper's. Alice and Isolde's' voices are heard through the speaker phone. Isolde rejects his suggestion that the two of them go out alone and hangs up. There is a knock on the front door; Estelle Novick has returned on a personal visit. Her dissertation is on sexual mores of New England, and she has decided Augie would make a good test subject. They share a few double scotch drinks; Augie is delighted when she picks up one of his drawings and laughs. They embrace and kiss. (Curtain) Three months later (Late September). On a Sunday morning, Isolde and Augie read the papers. Isolde wonders why they haven't heard from any of the adoption agencies to which they applied. After she leaves, Dick comes in, having been summoned by Augie. Augie confesses to having had a single encounter with Miss Novick three months back, from which she has become pregnant. He tells Dick he'll sign the "ideas" only contract with The Townsman for a $1000 advance. Dick reluctantly agrees and writes the check which Augie takes. Alice and Isolde come into the studio. Augie leaves to meet Miss Novick, however they have missed connections and she turns up at the studio. Dick is alarmed, but the two wives are delighted. Miss Novick assures them a baby may become available in six months, but doesn't reveal her own condition or Augie's slip. Augie returns to the studio, and is under great stress finding Miss Novick there. She asks to speak with Augie privately so the others leave. Augie gives her the check and she assures him they won't meet again, as she will leave for New Zealand after the birth. Miss Novick then tells him a folk-saying from Poland, without translating then leaves. (Curtain) Six months later (March). Isolde confronts Augie and Dick separately about a tax slip from The Townsman that shows Augie earned a $1000 more than expected. They offer conflicting explanations which Isolde plainly doesn't believe. Isolde tells Augie and Dick about an adoption prospect mentioned by Dr. Vancouver. After she leaves however, Augie reveals himself obsessed with adopting his own child. Alice, having had delivered the Pepper's latest baby sometime ago, fetches Dick back home to help care for it. Isolde returns to a tender scene with Augie, where he admires her understanding and forgiveness. Dick has slipped away from Alice again and returned to the studio. Isolde leaves him alone with Augie. Augie phones Dr. Vancouver, who is heard over the speaker phone saying the adoption prospect he knew of is no longer available. Miss McCracken knocks at the door. After meeting Augie and Dick, the former fetches Isolde, and Alice wanders in as well. All four of them sit and listen as Miss McCracken announces the Pooles have been selected to receive a baby boy. She says the mother is a doctoral candidate and the father a weak figure married to someone else. The act ends as both couples exit with Miss McCracken to pick up the infant. (Curtain) One month later (April). The two couples are in the studio, where a bassinet now resides. Isolde hold up a baby photo and asks everyone what they think of it. Told it is a good likeness of Augie Jr, Isolde announces its actually an old baby photo of Augie Sr, sent by his mother through the mail. Isolde confronts Augie, accusing him of being the father of the baby. Abashed, Augie can only hold his hands out in supplication. Isolde will have none of it, and we see the four characters assuming their starting positions from Act One, Scene 1 and the dialogue is repeated up to the point where Isolde leaves the studio. (Blackout) When the lights come up, Augie is alone. Miss McCracken appears at the door, to remind Augie that the Poole's are on probation and will be checked on regularly for a year. She leaves and Isolde comes in, determined to leave. She insists she'll bicycle away and leaves; off stage a crashing noise is heard. Augie rushes out and returns carrying Isolde, who has a sprained ankle. They argue about calling a doctor, while Augie fetches a first-aid kit. While he tapes the ankle he expounds his devotion to her. She tries to push him away, but injury and reluctance for throwing away six years of marriage causes her to reconsider. They reconcile; when Isolde suddenly asks Augie to run out and buy some Chinese food, he realises she must be pregnant. Augie declares they will move back to Manhattan to raise their children. They embrace and play ends.