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diff --git a/old/frsmn10.txt b/old/frsmn10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0540922 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/frsmn10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3428 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The First Man, by Eugene O'Neill +#3 in our series by Eugene O'Neill + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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DAVIDSON, his father's aunt +MARK SHEFFIELD, a lawyer +EMILY, JOHN JR.'S wife +RICHARD BIGELOW +A MAID +A TRAINED NURSE + +TIME--The Present + + + + + +SCENES + + +ACT I + +Living-room in the house of CURTIS JAYSON, Bridgetown, Conn.--an +afternoon in early Fall. + +ACT II + +CURTIS' study--morning of the following day. + +ACT III + +The same--three o'clock in the morning of a day in early spring of +the next year. + +ACT IV + +Same as Act I--three days later. + + + + + +ACT I + + +SCENE--Living-room of CURTIS JAYSON'S house in Bridgetown, Conn. +A large, comfortable room. On the left, an arm-chair, a big open +fireplace, a writing desk with chair in far left corner. On this +side there is also a door leading into CURTIS' study. In the rear, +center, a double doorway opening on the hall and the entryway. +Bookcases are built into the wall on both sides of this doorway. +In the far right corner, a grand piano. Three large windows +looking out on the lawn, and another arm-chair, front, are on this +right side of the room. Opposite the fireplace is a couch, facing +front. Opposite the windows on the right is a long table with +magazines, reading lamp, etc. Four chairs are grouped about the +table. The walls and ceiling are in a French gray color. A great +rug covers most of the hardwood floor. + +It is around four o'clock of a fine afternoon in early fall. + +As the curtain rises, MARTHA, CURTIS and BIGELOW are discovered. +MARTHA is a healthy, fine-looking woman of thirty-eight. She does +not appear this age for her strenuous life in the open has kept +her young and fresh. She possesses the frank, clear, direct +quality of outdoors, outspoken and generous. Her wavy hair is a +dark brown, her eyes blue-gray. CURTIS JAYSON is a tall, rangy, +broad-shouldered man of thirty-seven. While spare, his figure +has an appearance of rugged health, of great nervous strength held +in reserve. His square-jawed, large-featured face retains an eager +boyish enthusiasm in spite of its prevailing expression of +thoughtful, preoccupied aloofness. His crisp dark hair is graying +at the temples. EDWARD BIGELOW is a large, handsome man of thirty- +nine. His face shows culture and tolerance, a sense of humor, a +lazy unambitious contentment. CURTIS is reading an article in some +scientific periodical, seated by the table. MARTHA and BIGELOW are +sitting nearby, laughing and chatting. + +BIGELOW--[Is talking with a comically worried but earnest air.] Do +you know, I'm getting so I'm actually afraid to leave them alone +with that governess. She's too romantic. I'll wager she's got a +whole book full of ghost stories, superstitions, and yellow- +journal horrors up her sleeve. + +MARTHA--Oh, pooh! Don't go milling around for trouble. When I was +a kid I used to get fun out of my horrors. + +BIGELOW--But I imagine you were more courageous than most of us. + +MARTHA--Why? + +BIGELOW--Well, Nevada--the Far West at that time--I should think a +child would have grown so accustomed to violent scenes-- + +MARTHA--[Smiling.] Oh, in the mining camps; but you don't suppose +my father lugged me along on his prospecting trips, do you? Why, I +never saw any rough scenes until I'd finished with school and went +to live with father in Goldfield. + +BIGELOW--[Smiling.] And then you met Curt. + +MARTHA--Yes--but I didn't mean he was a rough scene. He was very +mild even in those days. Do tell me what he was like at Cornell. + +BIGELOW--A romanticist--and he still is! + +MARTHA--[Pointing at CURTIS with gay mischief.] What! That sedate +man! Never! + +CURTIS--[Looking up and smiling at them both affectionately-- +lazily.] Don't mind him, Martha. He always was crazy. + +BIGELOW--[To CURT--accusingly.] Why did you elect to take up +mining engineering at Cornell instead of a classical degree at the +Yale of your fathers and brothers? Because you had been reading +Bret Harte in prep. school and mistaken him for a modern realist. +You devoted four years to grooming yourself for another outcast of +Poker Flat. [MARTHA laughs.] + +CURTIS--[Grinning.] It was you who were hypnotized by Harte--so +much so that his West of the past is still your blinded New +England-movie idea of the West at present. But go on. What next? + +BIGELOW--Next? You get a job as engineer in that Goldfield mine-- +but you are soon disillusioned by a laborious life where six- +shooters are as rare as nuggets. You try prospecting. You find +nothing but different varieties of pebbles. But it is necessary to +your nature to project romance into these stones, so you go in +strong for geology. As a geologist, you become a slave to the +Romance of the Rocks. It is but a step from that to anthropology-- +the last romance of all. There you find yourself--because there is +no further to go. You win fame as the most proficient of young +skull-hunters--and wander over the face of the globe, digging up +bones like an old dog. + +CURTIS--[With a laugh.] The man is mad, Martha. + +BIGELOW--Mad! What an accusation to come from one who is even now +considering setting forth on a five-year excavating contest in +search of the remains of our gibbering ancestor, the First Man! + +CURTIS--[With sudden seriousness.] I'm not considering it any +longer. I've decided to go. + +MARTHA--[Starting--the hurt showing in her voice.] When did you +decide? + +CURTIS--I only really came to a decision this morning. [With a +seriousness that forces BIGELOW'S interested attention.] It's a +case of got to go. It's a tremendous opportunity that it would be +a crime for me to neglect. + +BIGELOW--And a big honor, too, isn't it, to be picked as a member +of such a large affair? + +CURTIS--[With a smile.] I guess it's just that they want all the +men with considerable practical experience they can get. There are +bound to be hardships and they know I'm hardened to them. [Turning +to his wife with an affectionate smile.] We haven't roughed it in +the queer corners for the last ten years without knowing how it's +done, have we, Martha? + +MARTHA--[Dully.] No, Curt. + +CURTIS--[With an earnest enthusiasm.] And this expedition IS what +you call a large affair, Big. It's the largest thing of its kind +ever undertaken. The possibilities, from the standpoint of +anthropology, are limitless. + +BIGELOW--[With a grin.] Aha! Now we come to the Missing Link! + +CURTIS--[Frowning.] Darn your Barnum and Bailey circus lingo, Big. +This isn't a thing to mock at. I should think the origin of man +would be something that would appeal even to your hothouse +imagination. Modern science believes--knows--that Asia was the +first home of the human race. That's where we're going, to the +great Central Asian plateau north of the Himalayas. + +BIGELOW--[More soberly.] And there you hope to dig up--our first +ancestor? + +CURTIS--It's a chance in a million, but I believe we may, myself-- +at least find authentic traces of him so that we can reconstruct +his life and habits. I was up in that country a lot while I was +mining advisor to the Chinese government--did some of my own work +on the side. The extraordinary results I obtained with the little +means at my disposal convinced me of the riches yet to be +uncovered. The First Man may be among them. + +BIGELOW--[Turning to MARTHA.] And you were with him on that Asian +plateau? + +MARTHA--Yes, I've always been with him. + +CURTIS--You bet she has. [He goes over and puts his hand on his +wife's shoulder affectionately.] Martha's more efficient than a +whole staff of assistants and secretaries. She knows more about +what I'm doing than I do half the time. [He turns toward his +study.] Well, I guess I'll go in and work some. + +MARTHA--[Quietly.] Do you need me now, Curt? + +BIGELOW--[Starting up.] Yes, if you two want to work together, why +just shoo me-- + +CURTIS--[Puts both hands on his shoulders and forces him to his +seat again.] No. Sit down, Big. I don't need Martha now. [Coming +over to her, bends down and kisses her--rather mockingly.] I +couldn't deprive Big of an audience for his confessions of a fond +parent. + +BIGELOW--Aha! Now it's you who are mocking at something you know +nothing about. [An awkward silence follows this remark.] + +CURTIS--[Frowning.] I guess you're forgetting, aren't you, Big? +[He turns and walks into his study, closing the door gently behind +him.] + +MARTHA--[After a pause--sadly.] Poor Curt. + +BIGELOW--[Ashamed and confused.] I had forgotten-- + +MARTHA--The years have made me reconciled. They haven't Curt. [She +sighs--then turns to BIGELOW with a forced smile.] I suppose it's +hard for any of you back here to realize that Curt and I ever had +any children. + +BIGELOW--[After a pause.] How old were they when--? + +MARTHA--Three years and two--both girls. [She goes on sadly.] We +had a nice little house in Goldfield. [Forcing a smile.] We were +very respectable home folks then. The wandering came later, after-- +It was a Sunday in winter when Curt and I had gone visiting some +friends. The nurse girl fell asleep--or something--and the +children sneaked out in their underclothes and played in the snow. +Pneumonia set in--and a week later they were both dead. + +BIGELOW--[Shocked.] Good heavens! + +MARTHA--We were real lunatics for a time. And then when we'd +calmed down enough to realize--how things stood with us--we swore +we'd never have children again--to steal away their memory. It +wasn't what you thought--romanticism--that set Curt wandering-- +and me with him. It was a longing to lose ourselves--to forget. He +flung himself with all his power into every new study that +interested him. He couldn't keep still, mentally or bodily--and I +followed. He needed me--then--so dreadfully! + +BIGELOW--And is it that keeps driving him on now? + +MARTHA--Oh, no. He's found himself. His work has taken the place +of the children. + +BIGELOW--And with you, too? + +MARTHA--[With a wan smile.] Well, I've helped--all I could. His +work has me in it, I like to think--and I have him. + +BIGELOW--[Shaking his head.] I think people are foolish to stand +by such an oath as you took--forever. [With a smile.] Children are +a great comfort in one's old age, I've tritely found. + +MARTHA--[Smiling.] Old age! + +BIGELOW--I'm knocking at the door of fatal forty. + +MARTHA--[With forced gaiety.] You're not very tactful, I must say. +Don't you know I'm thirty-eight? + +BIGELOW--[Gallantly.] A woman is as old as she looks. You're not +thirty yet. + +MARTHA--[Laughing.] After that nice remark I'll have to forgive +you everything, won't I? [LILY JAYSON comes in from the rear. She +is a slender, rather pretty girl of twenty-five. The stamp of +college student is still very much about her. She rather insists +on a superior, intellectual air, is full of nervous, thwarted +energy. At the sight of them sitting on the couch together, her +eyebrows are raised.] + +LILY--[Coming into the room--breezily.] Hello, Martha. Hello, Big. +[They both get up with answering "Hellos."] I walked right in +regardless. Hope I'm not interrupting. + +MARTHA--Not at all. + +LILY--[Sitting down by the table as MARTHA and BIGELOW resume +their seats on the lounge.] I must say it sounded serious. I heard +you tell Big you'd forgive him everything, Martha. [Dryly--with a +mocking glance at BIGELOW.] You're letting yourself in for a large +proposition. + +BIGELOW--[Displeased but trying to smile it off.] The past is +never past for a dog with a bad name, eh, Lily? [LILY laughs. +BIGELOW gets up.] If you want to reward me for my truthfulness, +Mrs. Jayson, help me take the kids for an airing in the car. I +know it's an imposition but they've grown to expect you. [Glancing +at his watch.] By Jove, I'll have to run along. I'll get them and +then pick you up here. Is that all right? + +MARTHA--Fine. + +BIGELOW--I'll run, then. Good-by, Lily. [She nods. BIGELOW goes +out rear.] + +MARTHA--[Cordially.] Come on over here, Lily. + +LILY--[Sits on couch with MARTHA--after a pause--with a smile.] +You were forgetting, weren't you? + +MARTHA--What? + +LILY--That you'd invited all the family over here to tea this +afternoon. I'm the advance guard. + +MARTHA--[Embarrassed.] So I was! How stupid! + +LILY--[With an inquisitive glance at MARTHA'S face but with +studied carelessness.] Do you like Bigelow? + +MARTHA--Yes, very much. And Curt thinks the world of him. + +LILY--Oh, Curt is the last one to be bothered by anyone's morals. +Curt and I are the unconventional ones of the family. The trouble +with Bigelow, Martha, is that he was too careless to conceal his +sins--and that won't go down in this Philistine small town. You +have to hide and be a fellow hypocrite or they revenge themselves +on you. Bigelow didn't. He flaunted his love-affairs in everyone's +face. I used to admire him for it. No one exactly blamed him, in +their secret hearts. His wife was a terrible, straitlaced +creature. No man could have endured her. [Disgustedly.] After her +death he suddenly acquired a bad conscience. He'd never noticed +the children before. I'll bet he didn't even know their names. And +then, presto, he's about in our midst giving an imitation of a wet +hen with a brood of ducks. It's a bore, if you ask me. + +MARTHA--[Flushing.] I think it's very fine of him. + +LILY--[Shaking her head.] His reform is too sudden. He's joined +the hypocrites, I think. + +MARTHA--I'm sure he's no hypocrite. When you see him with the +children-- + +LILY--Oh, I know he's a good actor. Lots of women have been in +love with him. [Then suddenly.] You won't be furious if I'm very, +very frank, will you, Martha? + +MARTHA--[Surprised.] No, of course not, Lily. + +LILY--Well, I'm the bearer of a message from the Jayson family. + +MARTHA--[Astonished.] A message? For me? + +LILY--Don't think that I have anything to do with it. I'm only a +Victor record of their misgivings. Shall I switch it going? Well, +then, father thinks, brother John and wife, sister Esther and +husband all think that you are unwisely intimate with this same +Bigelow. + +MARTHA--[Stunned.] I? Unwisely intimate--? [Suddenly laughing with +amusement.] Well, you sure are funny people! + +LILY--No, we're not funny. We'd be all right if we were. On the +contrary, we're very dull and deadly. Bigelow really has a +villainous rep. for philandering. But, of course, you didn't know +that. + +MARTHA--[Beginning to feel resentful--coldly.] No, I didn't--and I +don't care to know it now. + +LILY--[Calmly.] I told them you wouldn't relish their silly +advice. [In a very confidential, friendly tone.] Oh, I hate their +narrow small-town ethics as much as you do, Martha. I sympathize +with you, indeed I do. But I have to live with them and so, for +comfort's sake, I've had to make compromises. And you're going to +live in our midst from now on, aren't you? Well then, you'll have +to make compromises, too--if you want any peace. + +MARTHA--But-compromises about what? [Forcing a laugh.] I refuse to +take it seriously. How anyone could think--it's too absurd. + +LILY--What set them going was Big's being around such an awful lot +the weeks Curt was in New York, just after you'd settled down +here. You must acknowledge he was-very much present then, Martha. + +MARTHA--But it was on account of his children. They were always +with him. + +LILY--The town doesn't trust this sudden fond parenthood, Martha. +We've known him too long, you see. + +MARTHA--But he's Curt's oldest and best friend. + +LILY--We've found they always are. + +MARTHA--[Springing to her feet--indignantly.] It's a case of evil +minds, it seems to me--and it would be extremely insulting if I +didn't have a sense of humor. [Resentfully.] You can tell your +family, that as far as I'm concerned, the town may-- + +LILY--Go to the devil. I knew you'd say that. Well, fight the good +fight. You have all my best wishes. [With a sigh.] I wish I had +something worth fighting for. Now that I'm through with college, +my occupation's gone. All I do is read book after book. The only +live people are the ones in books, I find, and the only live life. + +MARTHA--[Immediately sympathetic.] You're lonely, that's what, +Lily. + +LILY--[Drily.] Don't pity me, Martha--or I'll join the enemy. + +MARTHA--I'm not. But I'd like to help you if I could. [After a +pause.] Have you ever thought of marrying? + +LILY--[With a laugh.] Martha! How banal! The men I see are enough +to banish that thought if I ever had it. + +MARTHA--Marriage isn't only the man. It's children. Wouldn't you +like to have children? + +LILY--[Turning to her bluntly.] Wouldn't you? + +MARTHA--[ Confused. ] But--Lily-- + +LILY--Oh, I know it wasn't practicable as long as you elected to +wander with Curt--but why not now when you've definitely settled +down here? I think that would solve things all round. If you could +present Father with a grandson, I'm sure he'd fall on your neck. +He feels piqued at the John and Esther families because they've +had a run of girls. A male Jayson! Aunt Davidson would weep with +joy. [Suddenly.] You're thirty-eight, aren't you, Martha? + +MARTHA--Yes. LILY--Then why don't you--before it's too late? +[MARTHA, struggling with herself, does not answer. LILY goes on +slowly.] You won't want to tag along with Curt to the ends of the +earth forever, will you? [Curiously.] Wasn't that queer life like +any other? I mean, didn't it get to pall on you? + +MARTHA--[As if confessing it reluctantly.] Yes--perhaps--in the +last two years. + +LILY--[Decisively.] It's time for both of you to rest on your +laurels. Why can't Curt keep on with what he's doing now--stay +home and write his books? + +MARTHA--Curt isn't that kind. The actual work--the romance of it-- +that's his life. + +LILY--But if he goes and you have to stay, you'll be lonesome-- +[meaningly] alone. + +MARTHA--Horribly. I don't know what I'll do. + +LILY--Then why--why? Think, Martha. If Curt knew--that was to +happen--he'd want to stay here with you. I'm sure he would. + +MARTHA--[Shaking her head sadly.] No. Curt has grown to dislike +children. They remind him of--ours that were taken. He adored +them so--he's never become reconciled. + +LILY--If you confronted Curt with the actual fact, he'd be +reconciled soon enough, and happy in the bargain. + +MARTHA--[Eagerly.] Do you really think so? + +LILY--And you, Martha--I can tell from the way you've talked that +you'd like to. + +MARTHA--[Excitedly.] Yes, I--I never thought I'd ever want to +again. For many years after they died I never once dreamed of it-- +But lately--the last years--I've felt--and when we came to live +here--and I saw all around me--homes--and children, I--[She +hesitates as if ashamed at having confessed so much.] + +LILY--[Putting an arm around her--affectionately.] I know. +[Vigorously.] You must, that's all there is to it! If you want my +advice, you go right ahead and don't tell Curt until it's a fact +he'll have to learn to like, willy-nilly. You'll find, in his +inmost heart, he'll be tickled to death. + +MARTHA--[Forcing a smile.] Yes, I--I'll confess I thought of that. +In spite of my fear, I--I've--I mean--I--[She flushes in a shamed +confusion.] + +LILY--[Looking at her searchingly.] Why, Martha, what--[Then +suddenly understanding--with excited pleasure.] Martha! I know! It +is so, isn't it? It is! + +MARTHA--[In a whisper.] Yes. + +LILY--[Kissing her affectionately.] You dear, you! [Then after a +pause.] How long have you known? + +MARTHA--For over two months. [There is a ring from the front door +bell in the hall.] + +LILY--[Jumping up.] I'll bet that's we Jaysons now. [She runs to +the door in the rear and looks down the hall to the right.] Yes, +it's Esther and husband and Aunt Davidson. [She comes back to +MARTHA laughing excitedly. The MAID is seen going to the door.] +The first wave of attack, Martha! Be brave! The Young Guard dies +but never surrenders! + +MARTHA--[Displeased but forcing a smile.] You make me feel +terribly ill at ease when you put it that way, Lily. [She rises +now and goes to greet the visitors, who enter. MRS. DAVIDSON is +seventy-five years old--a thin, sinewy old lady, old-fashioned, +unbending and rigorous in manner. She is dressed aggressively in +the fashion of a bygone age. ESTHER is a stout, middle-aged woman +with the round, unmarked, sentimentally--contented face of one who +lives unthinkingly from day to day, sheltered in an assured +position in her little world. MARK, her husband, is a lean, tall, +stooping man of about forty-five. His long face is alert, shrewd, +cautious, full of the superficial craftiness of the lawyer mind. +MARTHA kisses the two women, shakes hands with MARK, uttering the +usual meaningless greetings in a forced tone. They reply in much +the same spirit. There is the buzz of this empty chatter while +MARTHA gets them seated. LILY stands looking on with a cynical +smile of amusement. MRS. DAVIDSON is in the chair at the end of +table, Ieft, ESTHER sits by MARTHA on couch, MARK in chair at +front of table.] Will you have tea now or shall we wait for the +others? + +ESTHER--Let's wait. They ought to be here any moment. + +LILY--[Maliciously.] Just think, Martha had forgotten you were +coming. She was going motoring with Bigelow. [There is a dead +silence at this--broken diplomatically by SHEFFIELD.] + +SHEFFIELD--Where is Curt, Martha? + +MARTHA--Hard at work in his study. I'm afraid he's there for the +day. SHEFFIELD--[Condescendingly.] Still plugging away at his +book, I suppose. Well, I hope it will be a big success. + +LILY--[Irritated by his smugness.] As big a success as the brief +you're writing to restrain the citizens from preventing the +Traction Company robbing them, eh Mark? [Before anyone can reply, +she turns suddenly on her aunt who is sitting rigidly on her +chair, staring before her stonily like some old lady in a +daguerreotype--in a loud challenging tone.] You don't mind if I +smoke, Aunt? [She takes a cigarette out of case and lights it.] + +ESTHER--[Smiling.] Lily! + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[Fixes LILY with her stare--in a tone of +irrevocable decision.] We'll get you married, young lady, and that +very soon. What you need to bring you down to earth is a husband +and the responsibility of children. [Turning her glance to MARTHA, +a challenge in her question.] Every woman who is able should have +children. Don't you believe that, Martha Jayson? [She accentuates +the full name.] + +MARTHA--[Taken aback for a moment but restraining her resentment-- +gently. ] Yes, I do, Mrs. Davidson. + +MES. DAVIDSON--[Seemingly placated by this reply--in a milder +tone.] You must call me aunt, my dear. [Meaningly.] All the +Jaysons do. + +MARTHA--[Simply.] Thank you, aunt. + +LILY--[As if all of this aroused her irritation--in a nervous +fuming.] Why don't the others come, darn 'em? I'm dying for my +tea. [The door from the study is opened and CURT appears. They all +greet him.] + +CURTIS--[Absent-mindedly.] Hello, everybody. [Then with a +preoccupied air to MARTHA.] Martha, I don't want to interrupt you-- +but-- + +MARTHA--[Getting up briskly.] You want my help? + +CURTIS--[With the same absent-minded air.] Yes--not for long--just +a few notes before I forget them. [He goes back into the study.] + +MARTHA--[Seemingly relieved by this interruption and glad of the +chance it gives to show them her importance to CURT.] You'll +excuse me for a few moments, all of you, won't you? [They all +nod.] + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[Rather harshly.] Why doesn't Curt hire a +secretary? That is no work for his wife. + +MARTHA--[Quietly.] A paid secretary could hardly give the sympathy +and understanding Curt needs, Mrs. Davidson. [Proudly.] And she +would have to study for years, as I have done, in order to take my +place. [To LILY.] If I am not here by the time the others arrive, +will you see about the tea, Lily--? + +LILY--[Eagerly.] Sure. I love to serve drinks. If I were a man, +I'd be a bartender--in Mexico or Canada. + +MARTHA--[Going toward the study.] I'll be with you again in a +minute, I hope. [She goes in and shuts the door behind her.] + +ESTHER--[Pettishly.] Even people touched by a smattering of +science seem to get rude, don't they? + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[Harshly.] I have heard much silly talk of this +being an age of free women, and I have always said it was +tommyrot. [Pointing to the study.] She is an example. She is more +of a slave to Curt's hobbies than any of my generation were to +anything but their children. [Still more harshly.] Where are her +children? + +LILY--They died, Aunt, as children have a bad habit of doing. +[Then meaningly.] However, I wouldn't despair if I were you. [MRS. +DAVIDSON stares at her fixedly.] + +ESTHER--[Betraying a sudden frightened jealousy.] What do you +mean, Lily? What are you so mysterious about? What did she say? +What--? + +LILY--[Mockingly.] Mark, your frau seems to have me on the stand. +Can I refuse to answer? [There is a ring at the bell. LILY jumps +to her feet excitedly.] Here comes the rest of our Grand Fleet. +Now I'll have my tea. [She darts out to the hallway.] + +ESTHER--[Shaking her head.] Goodness, Lily is trying on the +nerves. [JAYSON, his two sons, JOHN and DICK, and JOHN's wife, +EMILY, enter from hallway in rear. JAYSON, the father, is a short, +stout, bald-headed man of sixty. A typical, small-town, New +England best-family banker, reserved in pose, unobtrusively +important--a placid exterior hiding querulousness and a fussy +temper. JOHN JUNIOR is his father over again in appearance, but +pompous, obtrusive, purse-and-family-proud, extremely irritating +in his self-complacent air of authority, emptily assertive and +loud. He is about forty. RICHARD, the other brother, is a typical +young Casino and country club member, college-bred, good looking, +not unlikable. He has been an officer in the war and has not +forgotten it. EMILY, JOHN JR.'s wife, is one of those small, +mouse-like women who conceal beneath an outward aspect of gentle, +unprotected innocence a very active envy, a silly pride, and a +mean malice. The people in the room with the exception of MRS. +DAVIDSON rise to greet them. All exchange familiar, perfunctory +greetings. SHEFFIELD relinquishes his seat in front of the table +to JAYSON, going to the chair, right front, himself. JOHN and DICK +take the two chairs to the rear of table. EMILY joins ESTHER on +the couch and they whisper together excitedly, ESTHER doing most +of the talking. The men remain in uncomfortable silence for a +moment.] + +DICK--[With gay mockery.] Well, the gang's all here. Looks like +the League of Nations. [Then with impatience.] Let's get down to +cases, folks. I want to know why I've been summoned here. I'm due +for tournament mixed-doubles at the Casino at five. Where's the +tea--and has Curt a stick in the cellar to put in it? + +LILY--[Appearing in the doorway.] Here's tea--but no stick for +you, sot. [The MAID brings in tray with tea things.] + +JOHN--[Heavily.] It seems it would be more to the point to inquire +where our hostess-- + +JAYSON--[Rousing himself again.] Yes. And where is Curt? + +LILY--Working at his book. He called Martha to take notes on +something. + +ESTHER--[With a trace of resentment.] She left us as if she were +glad of the excuse. + +LILY--Stuff, Esther! She knows how much Curt depends on her--and +we don't. + +EMILY--[In her quiet, lisping voice--with the most innocent air.] +Martha seems to be a model wife. [But there is some quality to the +way she says it that makes them all stare at her uneasily.] + +LILY--[Insultingly.] How well you say what you don't mean, Emily! +Twinkle, twinkle, little bat! But I'm forgetting to do the honors. +Tea, everybody? [Without waiting for any answer.] Tea, everybody! +[The tea is served.] + +JAYSON--[Impatiently.] Stop fooling, Lily. Let's get to our +muttons. Did you talk with Martha? + +LILY--[Briskly.] I did, sir. + +JAYSON--[In a lowered voice.] What did she say? + +LILY--She said you could all go to the devil! [They all look +shocked and insulted. LILY enjoys this, then adds quietly.] Oh, +not in those words. Martha is a perfect lady. But she made it +plain she will thank you to mind your own business. + +ESTHER--[Volubly.] And just imagine, she'd even forgotten she'd +asked us here this afternoon and was going motoring with Bigelow. + +LILY--With his three children, too, don't forget. + +EMILY--[Softly.] They have become such well-behaved and +intelligent children, they say. [Again all the others hesitate, +staring at her suspiciously.] + +LILY--[Sharply.] You'd better let Martha train yours for a while, +Emily. I'm sure she'd improve their manners--though, of course, +she couldn't give them any intelligence. + +EMILY--[With the pathos of outraged innocence.] Oh! + +DICK--[Interrupting.] So it's Bigelow you're up in the air about? +[He gives a low whistle--then frowns angrily.] The deuce you say! + +LILY--[Mockingly.] Look at our soldier boy home from the wars +getting serious about the family honor! It's too bad this is a +rough, untutored country where they don't permit dueling, isn't +it, Dick? + +DICK--[His pose crumbling--angrily.] Go to the devil! + +SHEFFIELD--[With a calm, judicious air.] This wrangling is getting +us nowhere. You say she was resentful about our well-meant word to +the wise? JAYSON--[Testily.] Surely she must realize that some +consideration is due the position she occupies in Bridgetown as +Curt's wife. + +LILY--Martha is properly unimpressed by big frogs in tiny puddles. +And there you are. + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[Outraged.] The idea! She takes a lot upon herself-- +the daughter of a Wild Western coal-miner. + +LILY--[Mockingly.] Gold miner, Aunt. + +MRS. DAVIDSON--It makes no difference--a common miner! SHEFFIELD-- +[Keenly inquisitive.] Just before the others came, Lily, you gave +out some hints--very definite hints, I should say-- + +ESTHER--[Excitedly.] Yes, you did, Lily. What did you mean? + +LILY--[Uncertainly.] Perhaps I shouldn't have. It's not my secret. +[Enjoying herself immensely now that she holds the spotlight-- +after a pause, in a stage whisper.] Shall I tell you? Yes, I can't +help telling. Well, Martha is going to have a son. [They are all +stunned and flabbergasted and stare at her speechlessly.] + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[Her face lighting up--joyously.] A son! Curt's +son! + +JAYSON--[Pleased by the idea but bewildered.] A son? + +DICK--[Smartly.] Lily's kidding you. How can she know it's a son-- +unless she's a clairvoyant. + +ESTHER--[With glad relief.] Yes, how stupid! + +LILY--I am clairvoyant in this case. Allah is great and it will be +a son--if only to make you and Emily burst with envy among your +daughters. + +ESTHER--Lily! + +EMILY--Oh! + +JAYSON--[Testily.] Keep still for a moment, Lily, for God's sake. +This is no subject to joke about, remember. + +LILY--Martha told me. I know that. + +JAYSON--And does Curt know this? + +LILY--No, not yet. Martha has been afraid to tell him. + +JAYSON--Ah, that explains matters. You know I asked Curt some time +ago--and he said it was impossible. + +EMILY--[With a lift of her eyebrows.] Impossible? Why, what a +funny thing to say. + +SHEFFIELD--[Keenly lawyer-like.] And why is Martha afraid to tell +him, Lily? + +LILY--It's all very simple. When the two died years ago, they said +they would never have one again. Martha thinks Curt is still +haunted by their memory and is afraid he will resent another as an +intruder. I told her that was all foolishness--that a child was +the one thing to make Curt settle down for good at home here and +write his books. + +JAYSON--[Eagerly.] Yes, I believe that myself. [Pleased.] Well, +this is fine news. + +EMILY--Still it was her duty to tell Curt, don't you think? I +don't see how she could be afraid of Curt--for those reasons. +[They all stare at her.] + +ESTHER--[Resentfully.] I don't, either. Why, Curt's the biggest- +hearted and kindest-- + +EMILY--I wonder how long she's known--this? + +LILY--[Sharply.] Two months, she said. + +EMILY--Two months? [She lets this sink in.] + +JOHN--[Quickly scenting something--eagerly.] What do you mean, +Emily? [Then as if he read her mind.] Two months? But before that-- +Curt was away in New York almost a month! + +LILY--[Turning on EMILY fiercely.] So! You got someone to say it +for you as you always do, Poison Mind! Oh, I wish the ducking +stool had never been abolished! + +EMILY--[Growing crimson--falteringly.] I--I didn't mean-- + +JOHN--[Furiously.] Where the honor of the family is at stake-- + +LILY--[Fiercely.] Ssshh, you empty barrel! I think I hear--[The +door from the study is opened and MARTHA comes in in the midst of +a heavy silence. All the gentlemen rise stiffly. MARTHA is made +immediately self-conscious and resentful by the feeling that they +have been discussing her unfavorably.] + +MARTHA--[Coming forward--with a forced cordiality.] How do you do, +everybody? So sorry I wasn't here when you came. I hope Lily made +proper excuses for me. [She goes from one to the other of the four +latest comers with "So glad you came," etc. They reply formally +and perfunctorily. MARTHA finally finds a seat on the couch +between EMILY and ESTHER.] I hope Lily--but I see you've all had +tea. + +LILY--[Trying to save the situation--gayly.] Yes. You can trust me +as understudy for the part of hostess any time. + +MARTHA--[Forcing a smile.] Well, I'm glad to know I wasn't missed. + +EMILY--[Sweetly.] We were talking about you--at least, we were +listening to Lily talk about you. + +MARTHA--[Stiffening defensively.] About me? + +EMILY--Yes--about how devoted you were to Curt's work. [LILY gives +her a venomous glance of scorn.] + +MARTHA--[Pleased but inwardly uneasy.] Oh, but you see I consider +it my work, too, I've helped him with it so long now. + +JAYSON--[In a forced tone.] And how is Curt's book coming, Martha? + +MARTHA--[More and more stung by their strained attitudes and +inquisitive glances. Coldly and cuttingly.] Finely, thank you. The +book will cause quite a stir, I believe. It will make the name of +Jayson famous in the big world outside of Bridgetown. + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[Indignantly.] The name of Jayson has been-- + +JAYSON--[Pleadingly.] Aunt Elizabeth! + +LILY--Aunt means it's world famous already, Martha. [Pointing to +the sullen JOHN.] John was once a substitute on the Yale Freshman +soccer team, you know. If it wasn't for his weak shins he would +have made the team, fancy! + +DICK--[This tickles his sense of humor and he bursts into +laughter.] Lily wins! [As his brother glares at him--looking at +his watch.] Heavens, I'll have to hustle! [Gets to his feet.] I'm +due at the Casino. [Comes and shakes MARTHA's hand formally.] I'm +sorry I can't stay. + +MARTHA--So glad you came. Do come in again any time. We keep open +house, you know--Western fashion. [She accentuates this.] + +DICK--[Hurriedly.] Delighted to. [He starts for the door in rear.] + +LILY--[As if suddenly making up her mind.] Wait a second! I'm +coming with you-- + +DICK--Sure thing--only hurry, darn you! [He goes out.] + +LILY--[Stops at the door in rear and catching MARTHA's eye, looks +meaningly at the others.] Phew! I need fresh air! [She makes an +encouraging motion as if pummeling someone to MARTHA, indicating +her assembled family as the victim--then goes out laughing. A +motor is heard starting--running off.] + +ESTHER--[With a huge sigh of relief.] Thank goodness, she's gone. +What a vixen! What would you do if you had a sister like that, +Martha? + +MARTHA--I'd love her--and try to understand her. + +SHEFFIELD--[Meaningly.] She's a bad ally to rely on--this side of +the fence one day, and that the next. + +MARTHA--Is that why you advised her to become a lawyer, Mr. +Sheffield? + +SHEFFIELD--[Stung, but maintaining an unruffled front.] Now, now, +that remark must be catalogued as catty. + +MARTHA--[Defiantly.] It seems to be in the Bridgetown atmosphere. +I never was--not the least bit--in the open air. + +JAYSON--[Conciliatingly.] Oh, Bridgetown isn't so bad, Martha, +once you get used to us. + +JOHN--It's one of the most prosperous and wealthy towns in the +U.S.--and that means in the world, nowadays. + +EMILY--[With her sugary smile.] That isn't what Martha means, you +silly. I know what she's thinking about us, and I'm not sure that +I don't agree with her--partly. She feels that we're so awfully +strict--about certain things. It must be so different in the Far +West--I suppose--so much freer. + +MARTHA--[Acidly.] Then you believe broad-mindedness and clean +thinking are a question of locality? I can't agree with you. I +know nothing of the present Far West, not having lived there for +ten years, but Curt and I have lived in the Far East and I'm sure +he'd agree with me in saying that Chinese ancestor worship is far +more dignified than ours. After all, you know, theirs is religion, +not snobbery. [There is a loud honking of an auto horn before the +house. MARTHA starts, seems to come to a quick decision, and +announces with studied carelessness.] That must be Mr. Bigelow. I +suppose Lily told you I had an engagement to go motoring with him. +So sorry I must leave. But I'm like Lily. I need fresh air. [She +walks to the study door as she is talking.] I'll call Curt. [She +raps loudly on the door and calls.] Curt! Come out! It's +important. [She turns and goes to the door, smiling fixedly.] +He'll be out when he's through swearing. [She goes out, rear.] + +JOHN--[Exploding.] Well, of all the damned cheek! + +ESTHER--She shows her breeding, I must say. + +EMILY--[With horror.] Oh, how rude--and insulting. + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[Rising rigidly to her feet.] I will never set foot +in this house again! JAYSON--[Jumping up to restrain her-- +worriedly.] Now, Aunt Elizabeth, do keep your head! We must have +no scandal of any sort. Remember there are servants about. Do sit +down. [The old lady refuses in stubborn silence.] + +SHEFFIELD--[Judiciously.] One must make allowances for one in her +condition, Aunt. + +JAYSON--[Snatching at this.] Exactly. Remember her condition. Aunt +[testily] and do sit down. [The old lady plumps herself down again +angrily.] + +EMILY--[In her lisp of hidden meanings.] Yes, the family mustn't +forget--her condition. [The door from the study is opened and CURT +appears. His face shows his annoyance at being interrupted, his +eyes are preoccupied. They all turn and greet him embarrassedly. +He nods silently and comes slowly down front.] + +CURTIS--[Looking around.] Where's Martha? What's the important +thing she called me out for? + +ESTHER--[Forcing gaiety.] To play host, you big bear, you! Don't +you think we came to see you, too? Sit down here and be good. [He +sits on sofa.] + +EMILY--[Softly.] Martha had to leave us to go motoring with Mr. +Bigelow. + +ESTHER--[Hastily.] And the three children. + +CURTIS--[Frowning grumpily.] Hm! Big and his eternal kids. [He +sighs. They exchange meaning glances. CURT seems to feel ashamed +of his grumpiness and tries to fling it off--with a cheerful +smile.] But what the deuce! I must be getting selfish to grudge +Martha her bit of fresh air. You don't know what it means to +outdoor animals like us to be pent up. [He springs to his feet and +paces back and forth nervously.] We're used to living with the sky +for a roof--[Then interestedly.] Did Martha tell you I'd +definitely decided to go on the five year Asian expedition? + +ESTHER--Curt! You're not! + +EMILY--And leave Martha here--all alone--for five years? + +JAYSON--Yes, you can't take Martha with you this time, you know. + +CURTIS--[With a laugh.] No? What makes you so sure of that? [As +they look mystified, he continues confidentially.] I'll let you in +on the secret--only you must all promise not to breathe a word to +Martha--until to-morrow. To-morrow is her birthday, you know, and +this is a surprise I've saved for her. [They all nod.] I've been +intriguing my damnedest for the past month to get permission for +Martha to go with me. It was difficult because women are supposed +to be barred. [Happily.] But I've succeeded. The letter came this +morning. How tickled to death she'll be when she hears! I know +she's given up hope. [Thoughtfully.] I suppose it's that has been +making her act so out-of-sorts lately. + +JAYSON--[Worriedly.] Hmm! But would you persist in going--alone-- +if you knew it was impossible for her--? + +CURTIS--[Frowning.] I can't imagine it without her. You people +can't have any idea what a help--a chum--she's been. You can't +believe that a woman could be--so much that--in a life of that +kind--how I've grown to depend on her. The thousand details--she +attends to them all. She remembers everything. Why, I'd be lost. I +wouldn't know how to start. [With a laugh.] I know this sounds +like a confession of weakness but it's true just the same. +[Frowning again.] However, naturally my work must always be the +first consideration. Yes, absolutely! [Then with glad relief.] But +what's the use of rambling on this way? We can both go, thank +heaven! + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[Sternly.] No. SHE cannot go. And it is YOUR duty-- + +CURTIS--[Interrupting her with a trace of impatience.] Oh, come! +That's all nonsense, Aunt. You don't understand the kind of woman +Martha is. + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[Harshly.] The women I understand prefer rearing +their children to selfish gallivanting over the world. + +CURTIS--[Impatiently.] But we have no children now, Aunt. + +MRS. DAVIDSON--I know that, more's the pity. But later-- + +CURTIS--[Emphatically.] No, I tell you! It's impossible! + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[Grimly.] I have said my last word. Go your own +road and work your own ruin. + +CURTIS--[Brusquely.] I think I'll change my togs and go for a +walk. Excuse me for a second. I'll be right down again. [He goes +out, rear.] + +EMILY--[With her false air of innocence.] Curt acts so funny, +doesn't he? Did you notice how emphatic he was about its being +impossible? And he said Martha seemed to him to be acting queer +lately--with him, I suppose he meant. + +ESTHER--He certainly appeared put out when he heard she'd gone +motoring with Big. + +JAYSON--[Moodily.] This dislike of the very mention of children. +It isn't like Curt, not a bit. + +JOHN--There's something rotten in Denmark somewhere. This family +will yet live to regret having accepted a stranger-- + +SHEFFIELD--[Mollifyingly--with a judicial air.] Come now! This is +all only suspicion. There is no evidence; you have no case; and +the defendant is innocent until you have proved her guilty, +remember. [Getting to his feet.] Well, let's break up. Esther, you +and I ought to be getting home. [They all rise.] + +JAYSON--[Testily.] Well, if I were sure it would all blow over +without any open scandal, I'd offer up a prayer of thanks. [The +Curtain Falls] + + + + + +ACT II + + +SCENE--CURTIS JAYSON'S study. On the left, forward, a gun rack in +which are displayed several varieties of rifles and shotguns. +Farther back, three windows looking out on the garden. In the rear +wall, an open fireplace with two leather arm-chairs in front of +it. To right of fireplace, a door leading into the living-room. In +the far right corner, another chair. In the right wall, three +windows looking out on the lawn and garden. On this side, front, a +typewriting table with machine and chair. Opposite the windows on +the right, a bulky leather couch, facing front. In front of the +windows on the left, a long table with stacks of paper piled here +and there on it, reference books, etc. On the left of table, a +swivel chair. Gray oak bookcases are built into the cream rough +plaster walls which are otherwise almost hidden from view by a +collection of all sorts of hunter's trophies, animal heads of all +kinds. The floor is covered with animal skins--tiger, polar bear, +leopard, lion, etc. Skins are also thrown over the backs of the +chairs. The sections of the bookcase not occupied by scientific +volumes have been turned into a specimen case for all sorts of +zoological, geological, anthropological oddities. + +It is mid-morning, sunny and bright, of the following day. + +CURTIS and BIGELOW are discovered. CURTIS is half-sitting on the +corner of the table, left, smoking a pipe. BIGELOW is lying +sprawled on the couch. Through the open windows on the right come +the shouts of children playing. MARTHA's voice joins in with +theirs. + +BIGELOW--Listen to that rumpus, will you! The kids are having the +time of their lives. [He goes to the window and looks out-- +delightedly.] Your wife is playing hide and seek with them. Come +and look. + +CURTIS--[With a trace of annoyance.] Oh, I can see well enough +from here. + +BIGELOW--[With a laugh.] She seems to get as much fun out of it as +they do. [As a shriek comes from outside--excitedly.] Ah, Eddy +discovered her behind the tree. Isn't he tickled now! [He turns +back from the window and lights a cigarette--enthusiastically.] +Jove, what a hand she is with children! + +CURTIS--[As if the subject bored him.] Oh, Martha gets along well +with anyone. + +BIGELOW--[Sits on the couch again--with a sceptical smile.] You +think so? With everyone? + +CURTIS--[Surprised.] Yes--with everyone we've ever come in contact +with--even aboriginal natives. + +BIGELOW--With the aboriginal natives of Bridgetown? With the well- +known Jayson family, for example? + +CURTIS--[Getting to his feet--frowning.] Why, everything's all +right between Martha and them, isn't it? What do you mean, Big? I +certainly imagined--but I'll confess this damn book has had me so +preoccupied-- + +BIGELOW--Too darn preoccupied, if you'll pardon my saying so. It's +not fair to leave her to fight it alone. + +CURTIS--[Impatiently.] Fight what? Martha has a sense of humor. +I'm sure their petty prejudices merely amuse her. + +BIGELOW--[Sententiously.] A mosquito is a ridiculous, amusing +creature, seen under a microscope; but when a swarm has been +stinging you all night-- + +CURTIS--[A broad grin coming over his face.] You speak from +experience, eh? + +BIGELOW--[Smiling.] You bet I do. Touch me anywhere and you'll +find a bite. This, my native town, did me the honor of devoting +its entire leisure attention for years to stinging me to death. + +CURTIS--Well, if I am to believe one-tenth of the family letters I +used to receive on the subject of my old friend, Bigelow, they +sure had just cause. + +BIGELOW--Oh, I'll play fair. I'll admit they did--then. But it's +exasperating to know they never give you credit for changing--I +almost said, reforming, One ought to be above the gossip of a town +like this--but say what you like, it does get under your skin. + +CURTIS--[With an indulgent smile.] So you'd like to be known as a +reformed character, eh? + +BIGELOW--[Rather ruefully.] Et tu! Your tone is sceptical. But I +swear to you, Curt, I'm an absolutely new man since my wife's +death, since I've grown to love the children. Before that I hardly +knew them. They were hers, not mine, it seemed. [His face lighting +up.] Now we're the best of pals, and I've commenced to appreciate +life from a different angle. I've found a career at last--the +children--the finest career a man could have, I believe. + +CURTIS--[Indifferently.] Yes, I suppose so--if you're made that +way. + +BIGELOW--Meaning you're not? + +CURTIS--Not any more. [Frowning.] I tried that once. + +BIGELOW--[After a pause--with a smile.] But we're wandering from +the subject of Martha versus the mosquitoes. + +CURTIS--[With a short laugh.] Oh, to the deuce with that! Trust +Martha to take care of herself. Besides, I'll have her out of this +stagnant hole before so very long--six months, to be exact. + +BIGELOW--Where do you think of settling her then? + +CURTIS--No settling about it. I'm going to take her with me. + +BIGELOW--[Surprised.] On the Asian expedition? + +CURTIS--Yes. I haven't told her yet but I'm going to to-day. It's +her birthday--and I've been saving the news to surprise her with. + +BIGELOW--Her birthday? I wish the children and I had known--but +it's not too late yet. + +CURTIS--[With a grin.] Thirty-nine candles, if you're thinking of +baking a cake! + +BIGELOW--[Meaningly.] That's not old--but it's not young either, +Curt. + +CURTIS--[Disgustedly.] You talk like an old woman, Big. What have +years to do with it? Martha is young in spirit and always will be. +[There is a knock at the door and MARTHA's voice calling: "May I +come in, people?"] Sure thing! [BIGELOW jumps to open the door and +MARTHA enters. She is flushed, excited, full of the joy of life, +panting from her exertions.] + +MARTHA--[Laughing.] I've had to run away and leave them with the +governess. They're too active for me. [She throws herself on the +couch.] Phew! I'm all tired out. I must be getting old. + +CURTIS--[With a grin.] Big was just this minute remarking that, +Martha. [BIGELOW looks embarrassed.] + +MARTHA--[Laughing at him.] Well, I declare! Of all the horrid +things to hear-- + +BIGELOW--[Still embarrassed but forcing a joking tone.] He-- +prevaricates, Mrs. Jayson. + +MARTHA--There now, Curt! I'm sure it was you who said it. It +sounds just like one of your horrid facts. + +BIGELOW--And how can I offer my felicitations now? But I do, +despite your husband's calumny. May your shadow never grow less! + +MARTHA--Thank you. [She shakes his proffered hand heartily.] + +BIGELOW--And now I'll collect my flock and go home. + +CURTIS--So long, Big. Be sure you don't mislay one of your heirs! + +BIGELOW--No fear--but they might mislay me. [He goes. CURT sits +down on couch. MARTHA goes to the window right, and looks out-- +after a pause, waving her hand.] + +MARTHA--There they go. What darlings they are! [CURTIS grunts +perfunctorily. MARTHA comes back and sits beside CURT on the +couch--with a sigh.] Whoever did say it was right, Curt, I am +getting old. + +CURTIS--[Taking one of her hands and patting it.] Nonsense! + +MARTHA--[Shaking her head and smiling with a touch of sadness.] +No. I feel it. + +CURTIS--[Puts his arms around her protectingly.] Nonsense! You're +not the sort that ever grows old. + +MARTHA--[Nestling up to him.] I'm afraid we're all that sort, +dear. Even you. [She touches the white hair about his temples +playfully.] Circumstantial evidence. I'll have to dye it when +you're asleep some time--and then nobody'll know. + +CURTIS--[Looking at her.] You haven't any silver threads. +[Jokingly.] Am I to suspect--? + +MARTHA--No, I don't. Honest, cross my heart, I wouldn't even +conceal that from you, if I did. But gray hairs prove nothing. I +am actually older than you, don't forget. + +CURTIS--One whole year! That's frightful, isn't it? + +MARTHA--I'm a woman, remember; so that one means at least six. +Ugh! Let's not talk about it. Do you know, it really fills me with +a queer panic sometimes? + +CURTIS--[Squeezing her.] Silly girl! + +MARTHA--[Snuggling close to him.] Will you always love me--even +when I'm old and ugly and feeble and you're still young and strong +and handsome? + +CURTIS--[Kisses her--tenderly.] Martha! What a foolish question, +sweetheart. If we ever have to grow old, we'll do it together just +as we've always done everything. + +MARTHA--[With a happy sigh.] That's my dream of happiness, Curt. +[Enthusiastically.] Oh, it has been a wonderful, strange life +we've lived together, Curt, hasn't it? You're sure you've never +regretted--never had the weest doubt that it might have been +better with--someone else? + +CURTIS--[Kisses her again--tenderly reproachful.] Martha! + +MARTHA--And I have helped--really helped you, haven't I? + +CURTIS--[Much moved.] You've been the best wife a man could ever +wish for, Martha. You've been--you are wonderful. I owe +everything to you--your sympathy and encouragement. Don't you know +I realize that? [She kisses him gratefully.] + +MARTHA--[Musing happily.] Yes, it's been a wonderful, glorious +life. I'd live it over again if I could, every single second of +it--even the terrible suffering--the children. + +CURTIS--[Wincing.] Don't. I wouldn't want that over again. [Then +changing the subject abruptly.] But why have you been putting all +our life into the past tense? It seems to me the most interesting +part is still ahead of us. + +MARTHA--[Softly.] I mean--together--Curt. + +CURTIS--So do I! + +MARTHA--But you're going away--and I can't go with you this time. + +CURTIS--[Smiling to himself over her head.] Yes, that does +complicate matters, doesn't it? + +MARTHA--[Hurt--looking up at him.] Curt! How indifferently you say +that--as if you didn't care! + +CURTIS--[Avoiding her eyes--teasingly.] What do you think you'll +do all the time I'm gone? + +MARTHA--Oh, I'll be lost--dead--I won't know what to do. I'll die +of loneliness--[yearning creeping into her voice] unless-- + +CURTIS--[Inquisitively.] Unless what? + +MARTHA--[Burying her face on his shoulder--passionately.] Oh, +Curt, I love you so! Swear that you'll always love me no matter +what I do--no matter what I ask-- + +CURTIS--[Vaguely uneasy now, trying to peer into her face.] But, +sweetheart-- + +MARTHA--[Giving way weakly to her feelings for a moment-- +entreatingly.] Then don't go! + +CURTIS--[Astonished.] Why, I've got to go. You know that. + +MARTHA--Yes, I suppose you have. [Vigorously, as if flinging off a +weakness.] Of course you have! + +CURTIS--But, Martha--you said you'd be lonely unless--unless what? + +Martha--Unless I--[She hesitates, blushing and confused.] I mean +we--oh, I'm so afraid of what you'll--hold me close, very close to +you and I'll whisper it. [She pulls his head down and whispers in +his ear. A look of disappointment and aversion forces itself on +his face.] + +CURTIS--[Almost indignantly.] But that's impossible, Martha! + +MARTHA--[Pleadingly.] Now don't be angry with me, Curt--not till +you've heard everything. [With a trace of defiance.] It isn't +impossible, Curt. It's so! It's happened! I was saving it as a +secret--to tell you to-day--on my birthday. + +CURTIS--[Stunned.] You mean it--is a fact? + +MARTHA--Yes. [Then pitifully.] Oh, Curt, don't look that way! You +seem so cold--so far away from me. [Straining her arms about +him.] Why don't you hold me close to you? Why don't you say you're +glad--for my sake? + +CURTIS--[Agitatedly.] But Martha--you don't understand. How can I +pretend gladness when--[Vehemently.] Why, it would spoil all our +plans! + +MARTHA--Plans? OUR plans? What do you mean? + +CURTIS--[Excitedly.] Why, you're going with me, of course! I've +obtained official permission. I've been working for it for months. +The letter came yesterday morning. + +MARTHA--[Stunned.] Permission--to go with you-- + +CURTIS--[Excitedly.] Yes. I couldn't conceive going without you. +And I knew how you must be wishing-- + +MARTHA--[In pain.] Oh! + +CURTIS--[Distractedly--jumping to his feet and staring at her +bewilderedly.] Martha! You don't mean to tell me you weren't! + +MARTHA--[In a crushed voice.] I was wishing you would finally +decide not to go--to stay at home. + +CURTIS--[Betraying exasperation.] But you must realize that's +impossible. Martha, are you sure you've clearly understood what +I've told you? You can go with me, do you hear? Everything is +arranged. And I've had to fight so hard--I was running the risk of +losing my own chance by my insistence that I couldn't go without +you. + +MARTHA--[Weakly and helplessly.] I understand all that, Curt. + +CURTIS--[Indignantly.] And yet--you hesitate! Why, this is the +greatest thing of its kind ever attempted! There are unprecedented +possibilities! A whole new world of knowledge may be opened up-- +the very origin of Man himself! And you will be the only woman-- + +MARTHA--I realize all that, Curt. + +CURTIS--You can't--and hesitate! And then--think, Martha!--it +will mean that you and I won't have to be separated. We can go on +living the old, free life together. + +MARTHA--[Growing calm now.] You are forgetting--what I told you, +Curt. You must face the fact. I cannot go. + +CURTIS--[Overwhelmed by the finality of her tone--after a pause.] +How long have you known--this? + +MARTHA--Two months, about. + +CURTIS--But why didn't you tell me before? + +MARTHA--I was afraid you wouldn't understand--and you haven't, +Curt. But why didn't you tell me before--what you were planning? + +CURTIS--[Eagerly.] You mean--then--you would have been glad to go-- +before this had happened? + +MARTHA--I would have accepted it. + +CURTIS--[Despairingly.] Martha, how could you ever have allowed +this to happen? Oh, I suppose I'm talking foolishness. It wasn't +your seeking, I know. + +MARTHA--Yes it was, Curt. I wished it. I sought it. + +CURTIS--[Indignantly.] Martha! [Then in a hurt tone.] You have +broken the promise we made when they died. We were to keep their +memories inviolate. They were to be always--our only children. + +MARTHA--[Gently.] They forgive me, Curt. And you will forgive me, +too--when you see him--and love him. + +CURTIS--Him? + +MARTHA--I know it will be a boy. + +CURTIS--[Sinking down on the couch beside her--dully.] Martha! +You have blown my world to bits. + +MARTHA--[Taking one of his hands in hers--gently.] You must make +allowances for me. Curt, and forgive me. I AM getting old. No, +it's the truth. I've reached the turning point. Will you listen to +my side of it, Curt, and try to see it--with sympathy--with true +understanding--[With a trace of bitterness.]--forgetting your +work for the moment? + +CURTIS--[Miserably.] That's unfair, Martha. I think of it as OUR +work--and I have always believed you did, too. + +MARTHA--[Quickly.] I did, Curt! I do! All in the past is our work. +It's my greatest pride to think so. But, Curt, I'll have to +confess frankly--during the past two years I've felt myself-- +feeling as if I wasn't complete--with that alone. + +CURTIS--Martha! [Bitterly.] And all the time I believed that more +and more it was becoming the aim of your life, too. + +MARTHA--[With a sad smile.] I'm glad of that, dear. I tried my +best to conceal it from you. It would have been so unfair to let +you guess while we were still in harness. But oh, how I kept +looking forward to the time when we would come back--and rest--in +our own home! You know--you said that was your plan--to stay here +and write your books--and I was hoping-- + +CURTIS--[With a gesture of aversion.] I loathe this book-writing. +It isn't my part, I realize now. But when I made the plans you +speak of, how could I know that then? + +MARTHA--[Decisively.] You've got to go. I won't try to stop you. +I'll help all in my power--as I've always done. Only--I can't go +with you any more. And you must help me--to do my work--by +understanding it. [He is silent, frowning, his face agitated, +preoccupied. She goes on intensely.] Oh, Curt, I wish I could tell +you what I feel, make you feel with me the longing for a child. If +you had just the tiniest bit of feminine in you--! [Forcing a +smile.] But you're so utterly masculine, dear! That's what has +made me love you, I suppose--so I've no right to complain of it. +[Intensely.] I don't. I wouldn't have you changed one bit! I love +you! And I love the things you love--your work--because it's a +part of you. And that's what I want you to do--to reciprocate--to +love the creator in me--to desire that I, too, should complete +myself with the thing nearest my heart! + +CURTIS--[Intensely preoccupied with his own struggle--vaguely.] +But I thought-- + +MARTHA--I know; but, after all, your work is yours, not mine. I +have been only a helper, a good comrade, too, I hope, but-- +somehow--outside of it all. Do you remember two years ago when we +were camped in Yunnan, among the aboriginal tribes? It was one +night there when we were lying out in our sleeping-bags up in the +mountains along the Tibetan frontier. I couldn't sleep. Suddenly I +felt oh, so tired--utterly alone--out of harmony with you--with +the earth under me. I became horribly despondent--like an outcast +who suddenly realizes the whole world is alien. And all the +wandering about the world, and all the romance and excitement I'd +enjoyed in it, appeared an aimless, futile business, chasing +around in a circle in an effort to avoid touching reality. Forgive +me, Curt. I meant myself, not you, of course. Oh, it was horrible, +I tell you, to feel that way. I tried to laugh at myself, to fight +it off, but it stayed and grew worse. It seemed as if I were the +only creature alive--who was not alive. And all at once the +picture came of a tribeswoman who stood looking at us in a little +mountain village as we rode by. She was nursing her child. Her +eyes were so curiously sure of herself. She was horribly ugly, +poor woman, and yet--as the picture came back to me--I appeared to +myself the ugly one while she was beautiful. And I thought of our +children who had died--and such a longing for another child came +to me that I began sobbing. You were asleep. You didn't hear. [She +pauses--then proceeds slowly.] And when we came back here--to have +a home at last, I was so happy because I saw my chance of +fulfillment--before it was too late. [In a gentle, pleading +voice.] Now can you understand, dear? [She puts her hand on his +arm.] + +CURTIS--[Starting as if awaking from a sleep.] Understand? No, I +can't understand, Martha. + +MARTHA--[In a gasp of unbearable hurt.] Curt! I don't believe you +heard a word I was saying. + +CURTIS--[Bursting forth as if releasing all the pent-up struggle +that has been gathering within him.] No, I can't understand. I +cannot, cannot! It seems like treachery to me. + +MARTHA--Curt! + +CURTIS--I've depended on you. This is the crucial point--the +biggest thing of my life--and you desert me! + +MARTHA--[Resentment gathering in her eyes.] If you had listened to +me--if you had even tried to feel-- + +CURTIS--I feel that you are deliberately ruining my highest hope. +How can I go on without you? I've been trying to imagine myself +alone. I can't! Even with my work--who can I get to take your +place? Oh, Martha, why do you have to bring this new element into +our lives at this late day? Haven't we been sufficient, you and I +together? Isn't that a more difficult, beautiful happiness to +achieve than--children? Everyone has children. Don't I love you +as much as any man could love a woman? Isn't that enough for you? +Doesn't it mean anything to you that I need you so terribly--for +myself, for my work--for everything that is best and worthiest in +me? Can you expect me to be glad when you propose to introduce a +stranger who will steal away your love, your interest--who will +separate us and deprive me of you! No, no, I cannot! It's asking +the impossible. I am only human. + +MARTHA--If you were human you would think of my life as well as +yours. + +CURTIS--I do! It is OUR life I am fighting for, not mine--OUR life +that you want to destroy. + +MARTHA--Our life seems to mean your life to you, Curt--and only +your life. I have devoted fifteen years to that. Now I must fight +for my own. + +CURTIS--[Aghast.] You talk as if we were enemies, Martha! +[Striding forward and seizing her in his arms.] No, you don't mean +it! I love you so, Martha! You've made yourself part of my life, +my work--I need you so! I can't share you with anyone! I won't! +Martha, my own! Say that you won't, dear? [He kisses her +passionately again and again.] + +MARTHA--[All her love and tenderness aroused by his kisses and +passionate sincerity--weakening.] Curt! Curt! [Pitiably.] It won't +separate us, dear. Can't you see he will be a link between us-- +even when we are away from each other--that he will bring us +together all the closer? + +CURTIS--But I can't be away from you! + +MARTHA--[Miserably.] Oh, Curt, why won't you look the fact in the +face--and learn to accept it with joy? Why can't you for my sake? +I would do that for you. + +CURTIS--[Breaking away from her--passionately.] You will not do +what I have implored you--for me! And I am looking the fact in the +face--the fact that there must be no fact! [Avoiding her eyes--as +if defying his own finer feelings.] There are doctors who-- + +MARTHA--[Shrinking back from him.] Curt! You propose that--to me! +[With overwhelming sorrow.] Oh, Curt! When I feel him--his life +within me--like a budding of my deepest soul--to flower and +continue me--you say what you have just said! [Grief-stricken.] +Oh, you never, never, never will understand! + +CURTIS--[Shamefacedly.] Martha, I--[Distractedly.] I don't know +what I'm saying! This whole situation is so unbearable! Why, why +does it have to happen now? + +MARTHA--[Gently.] It must be now--or not at all--at my age, dear. +[Then after a pause--staring at him frightenedly--sadly.] You have +changed, Curt. I remember it used to be your happiness to +sacrifice yourself for me. + +CURTIS--I had no work then--no purpose beyond myself. To sacrifice +oneself is easy. But when your only meaning becomes as a searcher +for knowledge--you cannot sacrifice that, Martha. You must +sacrifice everything for that--or lose all sincerity. + +MARTHA--I wonder where your work leaves off and you begin. Hasn't +your work become you? + +CURTIS--Yes and no. [Helplessly.] You can't understand, Martha! ... + +MARTHA--Nor you. + +CURTIS--[With a trace of bitter irony.] And you and your work? +Aren't they one and the same? + +MARTHA--So you think mine is selfish, too? [After a pause--sadly.] +I can't blame you, Curt. It's all my fault. I've spoiled you by +giving up my life so completely to yours. You've forgotten I have +one. Oh, I don't mean that I was a martyr. I know that in you +alone lay my happiness and fulfillment in those years--after the +children died. But we are no longer what we were then. We must, +both of us, relearn to love and respect--what we have become. + +CURTIS--[Violently.] Nonsense! You talk as if love were an +intellectual process--[Taking her into his arms--passionately.] I +love you--always and forever! You are me and I am you. What use is +all this vivisecting? [He kisses her fiercely. They look into each +other's eyes for a second--then instinctively fall back from one +another.] + +MARTHA--[In a whisper.] Yes, you love me. But who am I? There is +no recognition in your eyes. You don't know. + +CURTIS--[Frightenedly.] Martha! Stop! This is terrible! [They +continue to be held by each other's fearfully questioning eyes.] + +[The Curtain Falls] + + + + + +ACT III + +SCENE--Same as Act II. As the curtain rises, JAYSON is +discovered sitting in an armchair by the fireplace, in which a log +fire is burning fitfully. He is staring into the flames, a +strained, expectant expression on his face. It is about three +o'clock in the morning. There is no light but that furnished by +the fire which fills the room with shifting shadows. The door in +the rear is opened and RICHARD appears, his face harried by the +stress of unusual emotion. Through the opened doorway, a low, +muffled moan of anguish sounds from the upper part of the house. +JAYSON and RICHARD both shudder. The latter closes the door behind +him quickly as if anxious to shut out the noise. + +JAYSON--[Looking up anxiously.] Well? + +RICHARD--[Involuntarily straightening up as if about to salute and +report to a superior officer.] No change, sir. [Then, as if +remembering himself, comes to the fireplace and slumps down in a +chair--agitatedly.] God, Dad, I can't stand her moaning and +screaming! It's got my nerves shot to pieces. I thought I was +hardened. I've heard them out in No Man's Land--dying by inches-- +when you couldn't get to them or help--but this is worse--a +million times! After all, that was war--and they were men-- + +JAYSON--Martha is having an exceptionally hard ordeal. + +RICHARD--Since three o'clock this morning--yesterday morning, I +should say. It's a wonder she isn't dead. + +JAYSON--[After a pause.] Where is Curt? + +RICHARD--[Harshly.] Still out in the garden, walking around +bareheaded in the cold like a lunatic. + +JAYSON--Why didn't you make him come in? + +RICHARD--Make him! It's easy to say. He's in a queer state, Dad, I +can tell you! There's something torturing him besides her pain-- + +JAYSON--[After a pause.] Yes, there's a lot in all this we don't +know about. + +RICHARD--I suppose the reason he's so down on the family is +because we've rather cut her since that tea affair. + +JAYSON--He shouldn't blame us. She acted abominably and has +certainly caused enough talk since then--always about with +Bigelow-- + +RICHARD--[With a sardonic laugh.] And yet he keeps asking everyone +to send for Bigelow--says he wants to talk to him--not us. WE +can't understand! [He laughs bitterly.] + +JAYSON--I'm afraid Curt knows we understand too much. +[Agitatedly.] But why does he want Bigelow, in God's name? In his +present state--with the suspicions he must have--there's liable to +be a frightful scene. + +RICHARD--Don't be afraid of a scene. [With pitying scorn.] The +hell of it is he seems to regard Bigelow as his best friend. +Damned if I can make it out. + +JAYSON--I gave orders that they were always to tell Curt Bigelow +was out of town and couldn't be reached. [With a sigh.] What a +frightful situation for all of us! [After a pause.] It may sound +cruel of me--but--I can't help wishing for all our sakes that +this child will never-- + +RICHARD--Yes, Dad, I know what you're thinking. It would be the +best thing for it, too--although I hate myself for saying it. +[There is a pause. Then the door in rear is opened and LILY +appears. She is pale and agitated. Leaving the door open behind +her she comes forward and flings herself on the lounge.] + +JAYSON--[Anxiously.] Well? + +LILY--[Irritably, getting up and switching on the lights.] Isn't +everything gloomy enough? [Sits down.] I couldn't bear it upstairs +one second longer. Esther and Emily are coming down, too. It's too +much for them--and they've had personal experience. [Trying to +mask her agitation by a pretense at flippancy.] I hereby become a +life-member of the birth-control league. Let's let humanity cease-- +if God can't manage its continuance any better than that! + +RICHARD--[Seriously.] Second the motion. + +JAYSON--[Peevishly.] You're young idiots. Keep your blasphemous +nonsense to yourself, Lily! + +LILY--[Jumping up and stamping her foot--hysterically.] I can't +stand it. Take me home, Dick, won't you? We're doing no good +waiting here. I'll have a fit--or something--if I stay. + +RICHARD--[Glad of the excuse to go himself--briskly.] That's how +I feel. I'll drive you home. Come along. [ESTHER and EMILY enter, +followed by JOHN.] + +LILY--[Excitedly.] I'll never marry or have a child! Never, never! +I'll go into Mark's office to-morrow and make myself independent +of marriage. + +ESTHER--Sssh! Lily! Don't you know you're shouting? And what silly +talk! + +LILY--I'll show you whether it's silly! I'll-- + +RICHARD--[Impatiently.] Are you coming or not? + +LILY--[Quickly.] Yes--wait--here I am. [She pushes past the others +and follows RICHARD out rear. ESTHER and EMILY sit on couch--JOHN +on chair, right rear.] + +ESTHER--[With a sigh.] I thought I went through something when +mine were born--but this is too awful. + +EMILY--And, according to John, Curt actually says he hates it! +Isn't that terrible? [After a pause--meaningly.] It's almost as +if her suffering was a punishment, don't you think? + +ESTHER--If it is, she's being punished enough, Heaven knows. It +can't go on this way much longer or something dreadful will +happen. + +EMILY--Do you think the baby-- + +ESTHER--I don't know. I shouldn't say it but perhaps it would be +better if-- + +EMILY--That's what I think. + +ESTHER--Oh, I wish I didn't have such evil suspicions--but the way +Curt goes on--how can you help feeling there's something wrong? + +JAYSON--[Suddenly.] How is Curt? + +EMILY--John just came in from the garden. [Turning around to where +JOHN is dozing in his chair--sharply.] John! Well I never! If he +isn't falling asleep! John! [He jerks up his head and stares at +her, blinking stupidly. She continues irritably.] A nice time to +pick out for a nap, I must say. + +JOHN--[Surlily.] Don't forget I have to be at the bank in the +morning. + +JAYSON--[Testily.] I have to be at the bank, too--and you don't +notice me sleeping. Tell me about Curt. You just left him, didn't +you? + +JOHN--[Irritably.] Yes, and I've been walking around that damned +garden half the night watching over him. Isn't that enough to wear +anyone out? I can feel I've got a terrible cold coming on-- + +ESTHER--[Impatiently.] For goodness sake, don't you start to pity +yourself! + +JOHN--[Indignantly.] I'm not. I think I've showed my willingness +to do everything I could. If Curt was only the least bit grateful! +He isn't. He hates us all and wishes we were out of his home. I +would have left long ago if I didn't want to do my part in saving +the family name from disgrace. + +JAYSON--[Impatiently.] Has he quieted down, that's what I want to +know? + +JOHN--[Harshly.] Not the least bit. He's out of his head--and I'd +be out of mine if a child was being born to my wife that-- + +JAYSON--[Angrily.] Keep that to yourself! Remember you have no +proof. [Morosely.] Think all you want--but don't talk. + +EMILY--[Pettishly.] The whole town knows it, anyway; I'm sure they +must. + +JAYSON--There's only been gossip--no real scandal. Let's do our +united best to keep it at that. [After a pause.] Where's Aunt +Elizabeth? We'll have to keep an eye on her, too, or she's quite +liable to blurt out the whole business before all comers. + +ESTHER--You needn't be afraid. She's forgotten all about the +scandalous part. No word of it has come to her out in the country +and she hasn't set foot in town since that unfortunate tea, +remember. And at present she's so busy wishing the child will be a +boy, that she hasn't a thought for another thing. [The door in the +rear is opened and MARK SHEFFIELD enters. He comes up to the fire +to warm himself. The others watch him in silence for a moment.] + +JAYSON--[Impatiently.] Well, Mark? Where's Curt? + +SHEFFIELD--[Frowning.] Inside. I think he'll be with us in a +minute. [With a scornful smile.] Just now he's 'phoning to +Bigelow. [The others gasp.] + +JAYSON--[Furiously.] For God's sake, couldn't you stop him? + +SHEFFIELD--Not without a scene. Your Aunt persuaded him to come +into the house--and he rushed for the 'phone. I think he guessed +we had been lying to him-- + +JAYSON--[After a pause.] Then he--Bigelow will be here soon? + +SHEFFIELD--[Drily.] It depends on his sense of decency. As he +seems lacking in that quality, I've no doubt he'll come. + +JOHN--[Rising to his feet--pompously.] Then I, for one, will go. +Come, Emily. Since Curt seems bound to disgrace everyone +concerned, I want it thoroughly understood that we wash our hands +of the whole disgraceful affair. + +EMILY--[Snappishly.] Go if you want to! I won't! [Then with a +sacrificing air.] I think it is our duty to stay. + +JAYSON--[Exasperated.] Sit down. Wash your hands indeed! Aren't +you as much concerned as any of us? + +SHEFFIELD--[Sharply.] Sshh! I think I hear Curt now. [JOHN sits +down abruptly. All stiffen into stony attitudes. The door is +opened and CURT enters. He is incredibly drawn and haggard, a +tortured, bewildered expression in his eyes. His hair is +dishevelled, his boots caked with mud. He stands at the door +staring from one to the other of his family with a wild, +contemptuous scorn and mutters.] + +CURTIS--Liars! Well, he's coming now. [Then bewilderedly.] Why +didn't you want him to come, eh? He's my oldest friend. I've got +to talk to someone--and I can't to you. [Wildly.] What do you +want here, anyway? Why don't you go? [A scream of MARTHA's is +heard through the doorway. CURT shudders violently, slams the door +to with a crash, putting his shoulders against it as if to bar out +the sound inexorably--in anguish.] God, why must she go through +such agony? Why? Why? [He goes to the fireplace as MARK makes way +for him, flings himself exhaustedly on a chair, his shoulders +bowed, his face hidden in his hands. The others stare at him +pityingly. There is a long silence. Then the two women whisper +together, get up and tiptoe out of the room, motioning for the +others to follow them. JOHN does so. SHEFFIELD starts to go, then +notices the preoccupied JAYSON who is staring moodily into the +fire.] + +SHEFFIELD--Sstt! [As JAYSON looks up--in a whisper.] Let's go out +and leave him alone. Perhaps he'll sleep. + +JAYSON--[Starting to follow SHEFFIELD, hesitates and puts a hand +on his son's shoulder.] Curt. Remember I'm your father. Can't you +confide in me? I'll do anything to help. + +CURTIS--[Harshly.] No, Dad. Leave me alone. + +JAYSON--[Piqued.] As you wish. [He starts to go.] + +CURTIS--And send Big in to me as soon as he comes. + +JAYSON--[Stops, appears about to object--then remarks coldly.] +Very well--if you insist. [He switches off the lights. He +hesitates at the door uncertainly, then opens it and goes out. +There is a pause. Then CURT lifts his head and peers about the +room. Seeing he is alone he springs to his feet and begins to pace +back and forth, his teeth clenched, his features working +convulsively. Then, as if attracted by an irresistible impulse, he +goes to the closed door and puts his ear to the crack. He +evidently hears his wife's moans for he starts away--in agony.] + +CURTIS--Oh, Martha, Martha! Martha, darling! [He flings himself in +the chair by the fireplace--hides his face in his hands and sobs +bitterly. There is a ring from somewhere in the house. Soon after +there is a knock at the door. CURTIS doesn't hear at first but +when it is repeated he mutters huskily.] Come in. [BIGELOW enters. +CURT looks up at him.] Close that door, Big, for God's sake! + +BIGELOW--[Does so--then taking off his overcoat, hat, and throwing +them on the lounge comes quickly over to CURT.] I got over as soon +as I could. [As he sees CURT's face he starts and says +sympathetically.] By Jove, old man, you look as though you'd been +through hell! + +CURTIS--[Grimly.] I have. I am. + +BIGELOW--[Slapping his back.] Buck up! [Then anxiously.] How's +Martha? + +CURTIS--She's in hell, too-- + +BIGELOW--[Attempting consolation.] You're surely not worrying, are +you? Martha is so strong and healthy there's no doubt of her +pulling through in fine shape. + +CURTIS--She should never have attempted this. [After a pause.] +I've a grudge against you, Big. It was you bringing your children +over here that first planted this in her mind. + +BIGELOW--[After a pause.] I've guessed you thought that. That's +why you haven't noticed me--or them--over here so much lately. +I'll confess that I felt you--[Angrily.] And the infernal gossip-- +I'll admit I thought that you--oh, damn this rotten town, +anyway! + +CURTIS--[Impatiently.] Oh, for God's sake! [Bitterly.] I didn't +want you here to discuss Bridgetown gossip. + +BIGELOW--I know, old man, forgive me. [In spite of the closed door +one of MARTHA's agonized moans is heard. They both shudder.] + +CURTIS--[In a dead, monotonous tone.] She has been moaning like +that hour after hour. I shall have those sounds in my ears until +the day I die. Nothing can ever make me forget--nothing. + +BIGELOW--[Trying to distract him.] Deuce take it, Curt, what's the +matter with you? I never thought you'd turn morbid. + +CURTIS--[Darkly.] I've changed, Big--I hardly know myself any +more. + +BIGELOW--Once you're back on the job again, you'll be all right. +You're still determined to go on this expedition, aren't you? + +CURTIS--Yes. I was supposed to join them this week in New York but +I've arranged to catch up with them in China--as soon as it's +possible for us to go. + +BIGELOW--Us? You mean you still plan to take-- + +CURTIS--[Angrily aggressive.] Yes, certainly! Why not? Martha +ought to be able to travel in a month or so. + +BIGELOW--Yes, but--do you think it would be safe to take the +child? + +CURTIS--[With a bitter laugh.] Yes--I was forgetting the child, +wasn't I? [Viciously.] But perhaps--[Then catching himself with a +groan.] Oh, damn all children, Big! + +BIGELOW--[Astonished.] Curt! + +CURTIS--[In anguish.] I can't help it--I've fought against it. But +it's there--deep down in me--and I can't drive it out. I can't! + +BIGELOW--[Bewildered.] What, Curt? + +CURTIS--Hatred! Yes, hatred! What's the use of denying it? I must +tell someone and you're the only one who might understand. [With a +wild laugh.] For you--hated your wife, didn't you? + +BIGELOW--[Stunned.] Good God, you don't mean you hate--Martha? + +CURTIS--[Raging.] Hate Martha? How dare you, you fool! I love +Martha--love her with every miserable drop of blood in me--with +all my life--all my soul! She is my whole world--everything! Hate +Martha! God, man, have you gone crazy to say such a mad thing? +[Savagely.] No. I hate it. It! + +BIGELOW--[Shocked.] Curt! Don't you know you can't talk like that-- +now--when--CURTIS--[Harshly.] It has made us both suffer +torments--not only now--every day, every hour, for months and +months. Why shouldn't I hate it, eh? + +BIGELOW--[Staring at his friend's wild, distorted face with +growing horror.] Curt! Can't you realize how horrible-- + +CURTIS--Yes, it's horrible. I've told myself that a million times. +[With emphasis.] But it's true! + +BIGELOW--[Severely.] Shut up! You're not yourself. Come, think for +a moment. What would Martha feel if she heard you going on this +way? Why--it would kill her! + +CURTIS--[With a sobbing groan.] Oh, I know, I know! [After a +pause.] She read it in my eyes. Yes, it's horrible, but when I saw +her there suffering so frightfully--I couldn't keep it out of my +eyes. I tried to force it back--for her sake--but I couldn't. I +was holding her hands and her eyes searched mine with such a +longing question in them--and she read only my hatred there, not +my love for her. And she screamed and seemed to try to push me +away. I wanted to kneel down and pray for forgiveness--to tell her +it was only my love for her--that I couldn't help it. And then +the doctors told me to leave--and now the door is locked against +me--[He sobs.] + +BIGELOW--[Greatly moved.] This is only your damned imagination. +They put you out because you were in their way, that's all. And as +for Martha, she was probably suffering so much-- + +CURTIS--No. She read it in my eyes. I saw that look in hers--of +horror--horror of me! + +BIGELOW--[Gruffly.] You're raving, damn it! + +CURTIS--[Unheeding.] It came home to her then--the undeniable +truth. [With a groan.] Isn't it fiendish that I should be the one +to add to her torture--in spite of myself--in spite of all my +will to conceal it! She will never forgive me, never! And how can +I forgive myself? + +BIGELOW--[Distractedly.] For God's sake, don't think about it! +It's absurd--ridiculous! + +CURTIS--[Growing more calm--in a tone of obsession.] She's guessed +it ever since that day when we quarreled--her birthday. Oh, you +can have no idea of the misery there has been in our lives since +then. You haven't seen or guessed the reason. No one has. It has +been--the thought of IT. + +BIGELOW--Curt! + +CURTIS--[Unheeding.] For years we had welded our lives together so +that we two were sufficient, each to each. There was no room for a +third. And it was a fine, free life we had made--a life of new +worlds, of discovery, of knowledge invaluable to mankind. Isn't +such a life worth all the sacrifice it must entail? + +BIGELOW--But that life was your life, Curt-- + +CURTIS--[Vehemently.] No, it was her life, too--her work as well +as mine. She had made the life, our life--the work, our work. Had +she the right to repudiate what she had built because she suddenly +has a fancy for a home, children, a miserable ease! I had thought +I was her home, her children. I had tried to make my life worthy +of being that to her. And I had failed. I was not enough. + +BIGELOW--Curt! + +CURTIS--Oh, I tried to become reconciled. I tried my damnedest. I +tried to love this child as I had loved those that died. But I +couldn't. And so, this being estranged us. We loved as intensely +as ever but IT pushed us apart. I grew to dread the idea of this +intruder. She saw this in me. I denied it--but she knew. There was +something in each of us the other grew to hate. And still we loved +as never before, perhaps, for we grew to pity each other's +helplessness. + +BIGELOW--Curt! Are you sure you ought to tell anyone this? + +CURTIS--[Waving his remark aside.] One day, when I was trying to +imagine myself without her, and finding nothing but hopelessness-- +yet knowing I must go--a thought suddenly struck me--a horrible +but fascinating possibility that had never occurred to me before. +[With feverish intensity.] Can you guess what it was? + +BIGELOW--No. And I think you've done enough morbid raving, if you +ask me. + +CURTIS--The thought that came to me was that if a certain thing +happened, Martha could still go with me. And I knew, if it did +happen, that she would want to go, that she would fling herself +into the spirit of our work to forget, that she would be mine more +than ever. + +BIGELOW--[Afraid to believe the obvious answer.] Curt! + +CURTIS--Yes. My thought was that the child might be born dead. + +BIGELOW--[Repelled--sternly.] Damn it, man, do you know what +you're saying? [Relentingly.] No, Curt, old boy, do stop talking. +If you don't I'll send for a doctor, damned if I won't. That talk +belongs in an asylum. God, man, can't you realize this is your +child--yours as well as hers? + +CURTIS--I've tried. I cannot. There is some inexorable force in +me-- + +BIGELOW--[Coldly.] Do you realize how contemptible this confession +makes you out? [Angrily.] Why, if you had one trace of human +kindness in you--one bit of unselfish love for your wife--one +particle of pity for her suffering-- + +CURTIS--[Anguished.] I have--all the love and pity in the world +for her! That's why I can't help hating--the cause of her +suffering. + +BIGELOW--Have you never thought that you might repay Martha for +giving up all her life to you by devoting the rest of yours to +her? + +CURTIS--[Bitterly.] She can be happy without me. She will have +this child--to take my place. [Intensely.] You think I would not +give up my work for her? But I would! I will stay here--do +anything she wishes--if only we can make a new beginning again-- +together--ALONE! + +BIGELOW--[Agitated.] Curt, for God's sake, don't return to that! +Why, good God, man--even now--while you're speaking--don't you +realize what may be happening? And you can talk as if you were +wishing-- + +CURTIS--[Fiercely.] I can't help but wish it! + +BIGELOW--[Distractedly.] For the love of God, if you have such +thoughts, keep them to yourself. I won't listen! You make me +despise life! + +CURTIS--And would you have me love life? [The door in the rear is +opened and JAYSON enters, pale and unnerved. A succession of +quick, piercing shrieks is heard before he can close the door +behind him. Shuddering.] My God! My God! [With a fierce cry.] +Will--this--never--end! + +JAYSON--[Tremblingly.] Sh-h-h, they say this is the crisis. [Puts +his arm around CURT.] Bear up, my boy, it will soon be over now. +[He sits down in the chair BIGELOW has vacated, pointedly ignoring +the latter. The door is opened again and EMILY, ESTHER, JOHN and +SHEFFIELD file in quickly as if escaping from the cries of the +woman upstairs. They are all greatly agitated. CURT groans, +pressing his clenched fists against his ears. The two women sit on +the lounge. MARK comes forward and stands by JAYSON'S chair, JOHN +sits by the door as before. BIGELOW retreats behind CURT's chair, +aware of their hostility. There is a long pause.] + +ESTHER--[Suddenly.] She has stopped--[They all listen.] + +JAYSON--[Huskily.] Thank God, it's over at last. [The door is +opened and MRS. DAVIDSON enters. The old lady is radiant, weeping +tears of joy.] + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[Calls out exultantly between sobs.] A son, Curt--a +son. [With rapt fervor--falling on her knees.] Let us all give +thanks to God! + +CURTIS--[In a horrible cry of rage and anguish.] No! No! You lie! +[They all cry out in fright and amazement: "CURT!" The door is +opened and the NURSE appears.] + +NURSE--[Looking at CURTIS, in a low voice.] Mr. Jayson, your wife +is asking for you. + +BIGELOW--[Promptly slapping CURT on the back.] There! What did I +tell you? Run, you chump! + +CURTIS--[With a gasp of joy.] Martha! Darling, I'm coming--[He +rushes out after the NURSE.] + +BIGELOW--[Comes forward to get his hat and coat from the sofa-- +coldly.] Pardon me, please. [They shrink away from him.] + +EMILY--[As he goes to the door--cuttingly.] Some people seem to +have no sense of decency! + +BIGELOW--[Stung, stops at the door and looks from one to the other +of them--bitingly.] No, I quite agree with you. [He goes out, +shutting the door. They all gasp angrily.] + +JOHN--Scoundrel! + +JAYSON--[Testily--going to MRS. D., who is still on her knees +praying.] Do get up, Aunt Elizabeth! How ridiculous! What a scene +if anyone should see you like that. [He raises her to her feet and +leads her to a chair by the fire. She obeys unresistingly, +seemingly unaware of what she is doing.] + +ESTHER--[Unable to restrain her jealousy.] So it's a boy. + +EMILY--Did you hear Curt--how he yelled out "No"? It's plain as +the nose on your face he didn't want-- + +ESTHER--How awful! + +JOHN--Well, can you blame him? + +EMILY--And the awful cheek of that Bigelow person--coming here-- + +ESTHER--They appeared as friendly as ever when we came in. + +JOHN--[Scornfully.] Curt is a blind simpleton--and that man is a +dyed-in-the-wool scoundrel. + +JAYSON--[Frightenedly.] Shhh! Suppose we were overheard! + +EMILY--When Curt leaves we can put her in her proper place. I'll +soon let her know she hasn't fooled me, for one. [While she is +speaking MRS. D. has gotten up and is going silently toward the +door.] + +JAYSON--[Testily.] Aunt Elizabeth, where are you going? + +MRS. D.--[Tenderly.] I must see him again, the dear! [She goes +out.] + +ESTHER--[Devoured by curiosity--hesitatingly.] I think I--come on, +Emily. Let's go up and see-- + +EMILY--Not I! I never want to lay eyes on it. + +JOHN--Nor I. + +ESTHER--I was only thinking--everyone will think it funny if we +don't. + +JAYSON--[Hastily.] Yes, yes. We must keep up appearances. [Getting +to his feet.] Yes, I think we had better all go up--make some sort +of inquiry about Martha, you know. It's expected of us and--[They +are all standing, hesitating, when the door in the rear is opened +and the NURSE appears, supporting CURT. The latter is like a +corpse. His face is petrified with grief, his body seems limp and +half-paralyzed.] + +NURSE--[Her eyes flashing, indignantly.] It's a wonder some of you +wouldn't come up--here, help me! Take him, can't you? I've got to +run back! + +[JAYSON and SHEFFIELD spring forward and lead CURT to a chair by +the fire.] + +JAYSON--[Anxious.] Curt! Curt, my boy! What is it, son? + +EMILY--[Catching the NURSE as she tries to go.] Nurse! What is the +matter? + +NURSE--[Slowly.] His wife is dead. [They are all still, stunned.] +She lived just long enough to recognize him. + +EMILY--And--the baby? + +NURSE--[With a professional air.] Oh, it's a fine, healthy baby-- +eleven pounds--that's what made it so difficult. [She goes. The +others all stand in silence.] + +ESTHER--[Suddenly sinking on the couch and bursting into tears.] +Oh, I'm so sorry I said--or thought--anything wrong about her. +Forgive me, Martha! + +SHEFFIELD--[Honestly moved but unable to resist this opportunity +for Latin--solemnly.] De mortuis nil nisi bonum. + +JAYSON--[Who has been giving all his attention to his son.] Curt! +Curt! EMILY--Hadn't the doctor better-- + +JAYSON--Shhh! He begins to recognize me. Curt! + +CURTIS--[Looking around him bewilderedly.] Yes. [Suddenly +remembrance comes and a spasm of intolerable pain contracts his +features. He presses his hands to the side of his head and groans +brokenly.] Martha! Gone! Dead! Oh! [He appeals wildly to the +others.] Her eyes--she knew me--she smiled--she whispered-- +forgive me, Curt,--forgive her--when it was I who should have +said forgive me--but before I could--she--[He falters brokenly.] + +EMILY--[Looking from one to the other meaningly as if this +justified all their suspicions.] Oh! + +CURTIS--[A sudden triumph in his voice.] But she loved me again-- +only me--I saw it in her eyes! She had forgotten--IT. [Raging.] +Never let me see it! Never let it come near me! It has murdered +her! [Springing to his feet.] I hate it from the bottom of my +soul--I will never see it--never--never--I take my oath! [As his +father takes his arm--shaking him off.] Let me go! I am going back +to her! [He strides out of the door in a frenzy of grief and rage. +They all stand transfixed, looking at each other bewilderedly.] + +EMILY--[Putting all her venomous gratification into one word.] +Well! + +[The Curtain Falls] + + + + + +ACT IV + + +SCENE--Same as Act I. It is afternoon of a fine day three days +later. Motors are heard coming up the drive in front of the house. +There is the muffled sound of voices. The MAID is seen going along +the hall to the front door. Then the family enter from the rear. +First come JAYSON and ESTHER with MRS. DAVIDSON--then LILY, DICK +and SHEFFIELD--then JOHN and his wife. All are dressed in +mourning. The only one who betrays any signs of sincere grief is +MRS. DAVIDSON. The others all have a strained look, irritated, +worried, or merely gloomy. They seem to be thinking "The worst is +yet to come." + +JAYSON--[Leading MRS. D., who is weeping softly, to the chair at +left of table--fretfully.] Please do sit down, Aunt. [She does so +mechanically.] And do stop crying. [He sits down in front of +table. ESTHER goes to couch where she is joined by EMILY. MARK +goes over and stands in back of them. DICK and JOHN sit at rear of +table. LILY comes down front and walks about nervously. She seems +in a particularly fretful, upset mood.] + +LILY--[Trying to conceal her feelings under a forced flippancy.] +What ridiculous things funerals are, anyway! That stupid minister-- +whining away through his nose! Why does the Lord show such a +partiality for men with adenoids, I wonder. + +JAYSON--[Testily.] Sshhh! Have you no respect for anything? + +LILY--[Resentfully.] If I had, I'd have lost it when I saw all of +you pulling such long faces in the church where you knew you were +under observation. Pah! Such hypocrisy! And then, to cap it all, +Emily has to force out a few crocodile tears at the grave! + +EMILY--[Indignantly.] When I saw Curt--that's why I cried--not for +her! + +JAYSON--What a scene Curt made! I actually believe he wanted to +throw himself into the grave! + +DICK--You BELIEVE he wanted to! Why, it was all Mark and I could +do to hold him, wasn't it, Mark? [SHEFFIELD nods.] + +JAYSON--Intolerable! I never expected he'd turn violent like that. +He's seemed calm enough the past three days. + +LILY--Calm! Yes, just like a corpse is calm! + +JAYSON--[Distractedly.] And now this perfectly mad idea of going +away to-day to join that infernal expedition--leaving that child +on our hands--the child he has never even looked at! Why, it's too +monstrously flagrant! He's deliberately flaunting this scandal in +everyone's face! + +JOHN--[Firmly.] He must be brought to time. + +SHEFFIELD--Yes, we must talk to him--quite openly, if we're forced +to. After all, I guess he realizes the situation more keenly than +any of us. + +LILY--[Who has wandered to window on right.] You mean you think he +believes--Well, I don't. And you had better be careful not to let +him guess what you think. [Pointing outside.] There's my proof. +There he is walking about with Bigelow. Can you imagine Curt doing +that--if he thought for a moment-- + +DICK--Oh, I guess Curt isn't all fool. He knows that's the very +best way to keep people from suspecting. + +ESTHER--[Indignantly.] But wouldn't you think that Bigelow person-- +It's disgusting, his sticking to Curt like this. + +SHEFFIELD--Well, for one, I'm becoming quite resigned to Bigelow's +presence. In the first place, he seems to be the only one who can +bring Curt to reason. Then again, I feel that it is to Bigelow's +own interest to convince Curt that he mustn't provoke an open +scandal by running away without acknowledging this child. + +LILY--[Suddenly bursting forth hysterically.] Oh, I hate you, all +of you! I loathe your suspicions--and I loathe myself because I'm +beginning to be poisoned by them, too. + +EMILY--Really, Lily, at this late hour--after the way Curt has +acted--and her last words when she was dying-- + +LILY--[Distractedly.] I know! Shut up! Haven't you told it a +million times already? [MRS. DAVIDSON gets up and walks to the +door, rear. She has been crying softly during this scene, +oblivious to the talk around her.] + +JAYSON--[Testily.] Aunt Elizabeth! Where are you going? [As she +doesn't answer but goes out into the hall.] Esther, go with her +and see that she doesn't-- + +ESTHER--[Gets up with a jealous irritation.] She's only going up +to see the baby. She's simply forgotten everything else in the +world! + +LILY--[Indignantly.] She probably realizes what we are too mean to +remember--that the baby, at least, is innocent. Wait, Esther. +I'll come with you. + +JAYSON--Yes, hurry, she shouldn't be left alone. [ESTHER and LILY +follow the old lady out, rear.] + +DICK--[After a pause--impatiently.] Well, what next? I don't see +what good we are accomplishing. May I run along? [He gets up +restlessly as he is speaking and goes to the window.] + +JAYSON--[Severely.] You will stay, if you please. There's to be no +shirking on anyone's part. It may take all of us to induce Curt-- + +SHEFFIELD--I wouldn't worry. Bigelow is taking that job off our +hands, I imagine. + +DICK--[Looking out of the window.] He certainly seems to be doing +his damnedest. [With a sneer.] The stage missed a great actor in +him. + +JAYSON--[Worriedly.] But, if Bigelow should fail-- + +SHEFFIELD--Then we'll succeed. [With a grim smile.] By God, we'll +have to. + +JAYSON--Curt has already packed his trunks and had them taken down +to the station--told me he was leaving on the five o'clock train. + +SHEFFIELD--But didn't you hint to him there was now this matter of +the child to be considered in making his plans? + +JAYSON--[Lamely.] I started to. He simply flared up at me with +insane rage. + +DICK--[Looking out the window.] Say, I believe they're coming in. + +JAYSON--Bigelow? + +DICK--Yes, they're both making for the front door. + +SHEFFIELD--I suggest we beat a retreat to Curt's study and wait +there. + +JAYSON--Yes, let's do that--come on, all of you. [They all retire +grumblingly but precipitately to the study, closing the door +behind them. The front door is heard opening and a moment later +CURT and BIGELOW enter the room. CURT's face is set in an +expression of stony grief. BIGELOW is flushed, excited, +indignant.] + +BIGELOW--[As CURT sinks down on the couch--pleading indignantly.] +Curt, damn it, wake up! Are you made of stone? Has everything I've +said gone in one ear and out the other? I know it's hell for me to +torment you at this particular time but it's your own incredibly +unreasonable actions that force me to. I know how terribly you +must feel but--damn it, man, postpone this going away! Face this +situation like a man! Be reconciled to your child, stay with him +at least until you can make suitable arrangements-- + +CURTIS--[Fixedly.] I will never see it! Never! + +BIGELOW--How can you keep repeating that--with Martha hardly cold +in her grave! I ask you again, what would she think, how would she +feel--If you would only consent to see this baby, I know you'd +realize how damnably mad and cruel you are. Won't you--just for a +second? + +CURTIS--No. [Then raging.] If I saw it I'd be tempted to--[Then +brokenly.] No more of that talk, Big. I've heard enough. I've +reached the limit. + +BIGELOW--[Restraining his anger with difficulty--coldly.] That's +your final answer, eh? Well, I'm through. I've done all I could. +If you want to play the brute--to forget all that was most dear in +the world to Martha--to go your own damn selfish way--well, +there's nothing more to be said. You will be punished for it, +believe me! [He takes a step toward the door.] And I--I want you +to understand that all friendship ceases between us from this day. +You are not the Curt I thought I knew--and I have nothing but a +feeling of repulsion--good-by. [He starts for the door.] + +CURTIS--[Dully.] Good-by, Big. + +BIGELOW--[Stops, his features working with grief and looks back at +his friend--then suddenly goes back to him--penitently.] Curt! +Forgive me! I ought to know better. This isn't you. You'll come to +yourself when you've had time to think it over. The memory of +Martha--she'll tell you what you must do. [He wrings CURT's hand.] +Good-by, old scout! + +CURTIS--[Dully.] Good-by. [BIGELOW hurries out, rear. CURT sits in +a dumb apathy for a while--then groans heart-brokenly.] Martha! +Martha! [He springs to his feet distractedly. The door of the +study is slowly opened and SHEFFIELD peers out cautiously--then +comes into the room, followed by the others. They all take seats +as before. CURT ignores them.] + +SHEFFIELD--[Clearing his throat.] Curt-- + +CURTIS--[Suddenly.] What time is it, do you know! + +SHEFFIELD--[Looking at his watch.] Two minutes to four. + +CURTIS--[Impatiently.] Still an hour more of this! + +JAYSON--[Clearing his throat.] Curt--[Before he starts what he +intends to say, there is the sound of voices from the hall. ESTHER +and LILY help in MRS. DAVIDSON to her former chair. The old lady's +face is again transformed with joy. ESTHER joins EMILY on the +couch. LILY sits in chair--front right. There is a long, +uncomfortable pause during which CURT paces up and down.] + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[Suddenly murmuring aloud to herself--happily.] +He's such a dear! I could stay watching him forever. + +JAYSON--[Testily.] Sshhh! Aunt! [Then clearing his throat again.] +Surely you're not still thinking of going on the five o'clock +train, are you, Curt? + +CURTIS--Yes. + +SHEFFIELD--[Drily.] Then Mr. Bigelow didn't persuade you-- + +CURTIS--[Coldly and impatiently.] I'm not to be persuaded by Big +or anyone else. And I'll thank you not to talk any more about it. +[They all stiffen resentfully at his tone.] + +JAYSON--[To CURT--in a pleading tone.] You mustn't be +unreasonable, Curt. After all we are your family--your best +friends in the world--and we are only trying to help you-- + +CURTIS--[With nervous vehemence.] I don't want your help. You will +help me most by keeping silent. + +EMILY--[ With a meaning look at the others--sneeringly.] Yes, no +doubt. + +ESTHER--Sshhh, Emily! + +JAYSON--[Helplessly.] But, you see, Curt-- + +SHEFFIELD--[With his best judicial air.] If you'll all allow me to +be the spokesman, I think perhaps that I--[They all nod and +signify their acquiescence. ] Well, then, will you listen to me, +Curt? [This last somewhat impatiently as CURT continues to pace, +eyes on the floor.] + +CURTIS--[Without looking at him--harshly.] Yes, I'm listening. +What else can I do when you've got me cornered? Say what you like +and let's get this over. + +SHEFFIELD--First of all, Curt, I hope it is needless for me to +express how very deeply we all feel for you in your sorrow. But we +sincerely trust that you are aware of our heartfelt sympathy. +[They all nod. A bitter, cynical smile comes over LILY's face.] + +ESTHER--[Suddenly breaking down and beginning to weep.] Poor +Martha! [SHEFFIELD glances at his wife, impatient at this +interruption. The others also show their irritation.] + +EMILY--[Pettishly.] Esther! For goodness sake! [CURT hesitates, +stares at his sister frowningly as if judging her sincerity--then +bends down over her and kisses the top of her bowed head +impulsively--seems about to break down himself--grits his teeth +and forces it back--glances around at the others defiantly and +resumes his pacing. ESTHER dries her eyes, forcing a trembling +smile. The cry has done her good.] + +SHEFFIELD--[Clearing his throat.] I may truthfully say we all +feel--as Esther does--even if we do not give vent--[With an air of +sincere sympathy.] I know how terrible a day this must be for you, +Curt. We all do. And we feel guilty in breaking in upon the +sanctity of your sorrow in any way. But, if you will pardon my +saying so, your own course of action--the suddenness of your +plans--have made it imperative that we come to an understanding +about certain things--about one thing in particular, I might say. +[He pauses. CURT goes on pacing back and forth as if he hadn't +heard.] + +JAYSON--[Placatingly.] Yes, it is for the best, Curt. + +ESTHER--Yes, Curt dear, you mustn't be unreasonable. + +DICK--[Feeling called upon to say something.] Yes, old man, you've +got to face things like a regular. Facts are facts. [This makes +everybody uneasy.] + +LILY--[Springing to her feet.] Phew! it's close in here. I'm going +out in the garden. You can call me when these--orations--are +finished. [She sweeps out scornfully.] + +JAYSON--[Calling after her imperiously.] Lily! [But she doesn't +answer and he gives it up with a hopeless sigh.] + +CURTIS--[Harshly.] What time is it? + +SHEFFIELD--You have plenty of time to listen to what I--I should +rather say we--have to ask you, Curt. I promise to be brief. But +first let me again impress upon you that I am talking in a spirit +of the deepest friendliness and sympathy with you--as a fellow- +member of the same family, I may say--and with the highest ideals +and the honor of that family always in view. [CURT makes no +comment. SHEFFIELD unconsciously begins to adopt the alert +keenness of the cross-examiner.] First, let me ask you, is it +your intention to take that five o'clock train to-day? + +CURTIS--[Harshly.] I've told you that. + +SHEFFIELD--And then you'll join this expedition to Asia? + +CURTIS--You know that. + +SHEFFIELD--To be gone five years? + +CURTIS--[Shrugging his shoulders.] More or less. + +SHEFFIELD--Is it your intention to return here at any time before +you leave for Asia? + +CURTIS--No! + +SHEFFIELD--And your determination on these plans is irrevocable? + +CURTIS--Irrevocable! Exactly. Please remember that. + +SHEFFIELD--[Sharply.] That being your attitude, I will come +bluntly to the core of the whole matter--the child whose coming +into the world cost Martha her life. + +CURTIS--[Savagely.] Her murderer! You are right! [They all look +shocked, suspicious.] + +SHEFFIELD--[Remonstratingly but suspiciously.] You can hardly hold +the child responsible for the terrible outcome. Women die every +day from the same cause. [Keenly.] Why do you attribute guilt to +the child in this case, Curt? + +CURTIS--It lives and Martha is gone--But, enough! I've said I +never wanted it mentioned to me. Will you please remember that? + +SHEFFIELD--[Sharply.] Its name is Jayson. Curt--in the eyes of +the law. Will YOU please remember that? + +CURTIS--[Distractedly.] I don't want to remember anything! +[Wildly.] Please, for God's sake, leave me alone! + +SHEFFIELD--[Coldly.] I am sorry, Curt, but you cannot act as if +you were alone in this affair. + +CURTIS--Why not? Am I not alone--more alone this minute than any +creature on God's earth? + +SHEFFIELD--[Soothingly.] In your great grief. Yes, yes, of course. +We all appreciate--and we hate to--[Persuasively.] Yes, it would +be much wiser to postpone these practical considerations until you +are in a calmer mood. And if you will only give us the chance--why +not put off this precipitate departure--for a month, say--and in +the meantime-- + +CURTIS--[Harshly.] I am going when I said I was. I must get away +from this horrible hole--as far away as I can. I must get back to +my work for only in it will I find Martha again. But you--you +can't understand that. What is the good of all this talking which +leads nowhere? + +SHEFFIELD--[Coldly.] You're mistaken. It leads to this: Do you +understand that your running away from this child--on the very day +of its mother's funeral!--will have a very queer appearance in +the eyes of the world? + +EMILY--And what are you going to do with the baby, Curt? Do you +think you can run off regardless and leave it here--on our hands? + +CURTIS--[Distractedly.] I'll give it this home. And someone-- +anyone--Esther, Lily--can appoint a nurse to live here and-- +[Breaking down.] Oh, don't bother me! + +SHEFFIELD--[Sharply.] In the world's eyes, it will appear precious +like a desertion on your part. + +CURTIS--Oh, arrange it to suit yourselves--anything you wish-- + +SHEFFIELD--[Quickly. ] I'll take you at your word. Then let us +arrange it this way. You will remain here a month longer at least-- + +CURTIS--No! + +SHEFFIELD--[Ignoring the interruption.] You can make plans for the +child's future in that time, become reconciled to it-- + +CURTIS--No! + +JAYSON--[Pleadingly.] Curt--please--for all our sakes--when the +honor of the family is at stake. + +DICK--Yes, old man, there's that about it, you know. + +CURTIS--No! + +EMILY--Oh, he's impossible! + +SHEFFIELD--Perhaps Curt misunderstood me. [Meaningly.] Be +reconciled to it in the eyes of the public, Curt. That's what I +meant. Your own private feelings in the matter--are no one's +business but your own, of course. + +CURTIS--[Bewilderedly.] But--I don't see--Oh, damn your eyes of +the public! + +EMILY--[Breaking in.] It's all very well for you to ignore what +people in town think--you'll be in China or heaven knows where. +The scandal won't touch you--but we've got to live here and have +our position to consider. + +CURTIS--[Mystified.] Scandal? What scandal? [Then with a harsh +laugh.] Oh, you mean the imbecile busy-bodies will call me an +unnatural father. Well, let them! I suppose I am. But they don't +know-- + +EMILY--[Spitefully.] Perhaps they know more than you think they +do. + +CURTIS--[Turning on her--sharply.] Just what do you mean by that, +eh? + +ESTHER--Emily! Shhh! + +JAYSON--[Flurriedly.] Be still, Emily. Let Mark do the talking. + +SHEFFIELD--[Interposing placatingly.] What Emily means is simply +this, Curt: You haven't even been to look at this child since it +has been born--not once, have you? + +CURTIS--No, and I never intend-- + +SHEFFIELD--[Insinuatingly.] And don't you suppose the doctors and +nurses--and the servants--have noticed this? It is not the usual +procedure, you must acknowledge, and they wouldn't be human if +they didn't think your action--or lack of action--peculiar and +comment on it outside. + +CURTIS--Well, let them! Do you think I care a fiddler's curse how +people judge me? + +SHEFFIELD--It is hardly a case of their judging--you. [Breaking +off as he catches CURT'S tortured eyes fixed on him wildly.] This +is a small town, Curt, and you know as well as I do, gossip is not +the least of its faults. It doesn't take long for such things to +get started. [Persuasively.] Now I ask you frankly, is it wise to +provoke deliberately what may easily be set at rest by a little-- +I'll be frank--a little pretense on your part? + +JAYSON--Yes, my boy. As a Jayson, I know you don't wish-- + +ESTHEE--[With a sigh.] Yes, you really must think of us, Curt. + +CURTIS--[In an acute state of muddled confusion.] But--I--you--how +are you concerned? Pretense? You mean you want me to stay and +pretend--in order that you won't be disturbed by any silly tales +they tell about me? [With a wild laugh.] Good God, this is too +much! Why does a man have to be maddened by fools at such a time! +[Raging.] Leave me alone! You're like a swarm of poisonous flies. + +JAYSON--Curt! This is--really--when we've tried to be so +considerate-- + +JOHN--[Bursting with rage.] It's an outrage to allow such insults! + +DICK--You're not playing the game, Curt. + +EMILY--[Spitefully.] It seems to me it's much more for Martha's +sake, we're urging you than for our own. After all, the town can't +say anything against us. + +CURTIS--[Turning on her.] Martha's sake? [Brokenly.] Martha is +gone. Leave her out of this. + +SHEFFIELD--[Sharply.] But unfortunately, Curt, others will not +leave her out of this. They will pry and pry--you know what they +are--and-- + +EMILY--Curt couldn't act the way he is doing if he ever really +cared for her. + +CURTIS--You dare to say that! [Then controlling himself a bit-- +with scathing scorn.] What do know of love--women like you! You +call your little rabbit-hutch emotions love--your bread-and- +butter passions--and you have the effrontery to judge-- + +EMILY--[Shrinking from him frightenedly.] Oh! John! + +JOHN--[Getting to his feet.] I protest! I cannot allow even my own +brother-- + +DICK--[Grabbing his arm.] Keep your head, old boy. + +SHEFFIELD--[Peremptorily.] You are making a fool of yourself, +Curt--and you are damned insulting in the bargain. I think I may +say that we've all about reached the end of our patience. What +Emily said is for your own best interest, if you had the sense to +see it. And I put it to you once and for all: Are you or are you +not willing to act like a man of honor to protect your own good +name, the family name, the name of this child, and your wife's +memory? Let me tell you, your wife's good name is more endangered +by your stubbornness than anything else. + +CURTIS--[Trembling with rage.] I--I begin to think--you--all of +you--are aiming at something against Martha in this. Yes--in back +of your words--your actions--I begin to feel--[Raging.] Go away! +Get out of this house--all of you! Oh, I know your meanness! I've +seen how you've tried to hurt her ever since we came--because you +resented in your small minds her evident superiority-- + +EMILY--[Scornfully.] Superiority, indeed! + +CURTIS--Her breadth, of mind and greatness of soul that you +couldn't understand. I've guessed all this, and if I haven't +interfered it's only because I knew she was too far above you to +notice your sickening malice-- + +EMILY--[Furiously.] You're only acting--acting for our benefit +because you think we don't-- + +CURTIS--[Turning on her--with annihilating contempt.] Why, you-- +you poor little nonentity! [John struggles to get forward but Dick +holds him back.] + +EMILY--[Insane with rage--shrilly.] But we know--and the whole +town knows--and you needn't pretend you've been blind. You've +given the whole thing away yourself--the silly way you've acted-- +telling everyone how you hated that baby--letting everyone see-- + +JAYSON--Emily! [The others are all frightened, try to interrupt +her. CURT stares at her in a stunned bewilderment] + +EMILY--[Pouring forth all her venom regardless.] But you might as +well leave off your idiotic pretending. It doesn't fool us--or +anyone else--your sending for Bigelow that night--your hobnobbing +with him ever since--your pretending he's as much your friend as +ever. They're all afraid of you--but I'm not! I tell you to your +face--it's all acting you're doing--just cheap acting to try and +pull the wool over our eyes until you've run away like a coward-- +and left us to face the disgrace for you with this child on our +hands! + +ESTHER--[Trying to silence her--excitedly.] Emily! Keep still, for +Heaven's sake! [The others all utter exclamations of caution, with +fearful glances at CURT.] + +EMILY--[Becoming exhausted by her outburst--more faintly.] Well, +someone had to show him his place. He thinks he's so superior to +us just because--telling us how much better she was than--But I +won't stand for that. I've always had a clean name--and always +will--and my children, too, thank God! [She sinks down on the +couch exhausted, panting but still glaring defiantly at CURT.] + +CURTIS--[An awareness of her meaning gradually forcing itself on +his mind.] Bigelow! Big? Pretending he's as much my friend--[With +a sudden gasp of sickened understanding.] Oh! [He sways as if he +were about to fall, shrinking away from EMILY, all horror.] Oh, +you--you--you-filth! + +JOHN--[His fists clenched, tries to advance on his brother.] How +dare you insult my wife! [He is restrained, held bake by his +remonstrating father and DICK.] + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[As if suddenly coming out of a dream-- +frightenedly.] What is the matter? Why is John mad at Curt? + +CURTIS--[His hands over his eyes, acting like a person stricken +with a sudden attack of nausea, weakly.] So--that's--what has been +in your minds. Oh, this is bestial--disgusting! And there is +nothing to be done. I feel defenseless. One would have to be as +low as you are--She would have been defenseless, too. It is better +she is dead. [He stares about him--wildly.] And you think--you +all think-- + +ESTHER--[Pityingly.] Curt, dear, we don't think anything except +what you've made us think with your crazy carrying-on. + +CURTIS--[Looking from one to the other of them.] Yes--all of you-- +it's on your faces. [His eyes fix themselves on his aunt.] No, you +don't--you don't-- + +MRS. DAVIDSON--I? Don't what, Curtis? My, how sick you look, poor +boy! + +CURTIS--You--don't believe--this child-- + +MRS. DAVIDSON--He's the sweetest baby I ever saw [proudly] and +Jayson right to the tips of his toes. + +CURTIS--Ah, I know you--[Looking around at the others with +loathing and hatred.] But look at them--[With a burst of fierce +determination.] Wait! I'll give you the only answer--[He dashes +for the door in rear, shakes off his father and DICK, who try to +stop him, and then is heard bounding up the stairs in hall. DICK +runs after him, JAYSON as far as the doorway. ESTHER gives a +stifled scream. There is a tense pause. Then DICK reappears.] + +DICK--It's all right. I saw him go in. + +JAYSON--[Frightenedly.] But--good God--he's liable--why didn't you +follow him? + +DICK--The doctor and nurse are there. They would have called out, +wouldn't they, if-- + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[Getting angrier and angrier as her puzzlement has +grown greater--in a stern tone.] I understand less and less of +this. Where has Curtis gone? Why did he act so sick? What is the +matter with all of you? + +ESTHER--Nothing, Aunt dear, nothing! + +MRS. DAVIDSON--No, you'll not hush me up! [Accusingly.] You all +look guilty. Have you been saying anything against Curtis' baby? +That was what Curtis seemed to think. A fine time you've picked +out--with his wife not cold in her grave! + +JAYSON--Aunt! + +MRS. DAVIDSON--I never liked that woman. I never understood her. +But now--now I love her and beg her forgiveness. She died like a +true woman in the performance of her duty. She died gloriously-- +and I will always respect her memory. [Suddenly flying into a +passion.] I feel that you are all hostile to her baby--poor, +little, defenseless creature! Yes, you'd hate the idea of Curtis' +having a son--you and your girls! Well, I'll make you bitterly +regret the day you--[She plumps herself down in her chair again, +staring stubbornly and angrily before her.] + +EMILY--[Spitefully.] I fear it will be necessary to tell Aunt-- + +JAYSON--Sshh! You have made enough trouble with your telling +already! [Miserably.] It should never have come to this pass. Curt +will never forgive us, never! + +ESTHER--[Resentfully to EMILY.] See what not holding your tongue +has done--and my children will have to suffer for it, too! + +SHEFFIELD--[Severely.] If Emily had permitted me to conduct this +business uninterruptedly, this would never have occurred. + +EMILY--That's right! All pick on me! Cowards! [She breaks down and +sobs.] + +DICK--[From the doorway. Coming back into the room.] Sstt! Here he +comes! + +CURTIS--[Reenters. There is a look of strange exultation on his +face. He looks from one to the other of them. He stammers.] Well-- +my answer to you--your rotten world--I kissed him--he is mine! He +looked at me--it was as if Martha looked at me--through his eyes. + +ESTHER--[Voicing the general relief. Joyfully.] Oh, Curt! You +won't go now? You'll stay? + +CURTIS--[Staring at her, then from one to another of the rest with +a withering scorn.] Ha! Now you think you have conquered, do you? +No, I'm not going to stay! Do you think your vile slander could +influence me to give up my work? And neither shall you influence +the life of my son. I leave him here. I must. But not to your +tender mercies. No, no! Thank God, there still remains one Jayson +with unmuddled integrity to whom I can appeal. [He goes to MRS. +DAVIDSON.] I will leave him in your care, Aunt--while I am gone. + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[Delighted.] It will be a great happiness. He will +be--the one God never granted me. [Her lips trembling.] God has +answered my prayer at last. + +CURTIS--I thank you, Aunt. [Kisses her reverentially.] + +MRS. DAVIDSON--[Pleased but morally bound to grumble at him] But I +cannot approve of your running away like this. It isn't natural. +[Then with selfish haste, fearing her words may change his mind +and she will lose the baby.] But you always were a queer person-- +and a man must do faithfully the work ordained for him. + +CURTIS--[Gladly.] Yes, I must go! What would I be for him--or +anyone--if I stayed? Thank God, you understand. But I will come +back. [The light of an ideal beginning to shine in his eyes.] When +he is old enough, I will teach him to know and love a big, free +life. Martha used to say that he would take her part in time. My +goal shall be his goal, too. Martha shall live again for me in +him. And you, Aunt, swear to keep him with you--out there in the +country--never to let him know this obscene little world. [He +indicates his relatives.] + +MRS. DAVIDSON--Yes, I promise, Curtis. Let anyone dare--! [She +glares about her. The noise of a motor is heard from the drive. It +stops in front of the house.] + +CURTIS--I must go. [He kisses his aunt.] Teach him his mother was +the most beautiful soul that ever lived. Good-by, Aunt. + +MRS. DAVIDSON--Good-by, Curtis! [Without looking at the others, he +starts for the door, rear. They all break out into conscience- +stricken protestations.] + +JAYSON--[Miserably.] Curt! You're not leaving us that way? + +ESTHER--Curt--you're going--without a word! [They all say this +practically together and crowd toward him. JOHN and EMILY remain +sullenly apart. CURT turns to face them.] + +LILY--[Enters from the rear.] You're not going, Curt? + +CURTIS--[Turning to her.] Yes. Good-by, Lily. [He kisses her.] You +loved her, didn't you? You are not like--Take my advice and get +away before you become--[He has been staring into her face. +Suddenly he pushes her brusquely away from him--coldly.] But I +see in your face it's too late. + +LILY--[Miserably.] No, Curt--I swear-- + +CURTIS--[Facing them all defiantly.] Yes, I am going without a +word--because I cannot find the fitting one. Be thankful I can't. +It would shrivel up your souls like flame, [He again turns and +strides to the door.] + +JAYSON--[His grief overcoming him.] My boy! We are wrong--we know-- +but--at least say you forgive us. + +CURTIS--[Wavers with his back towards them--then turns and forces +the words out.] Ask forgiveness of her. She--yes--she was so fine-- +I feel she--so you are forgiven. Good-by. [He goes. The motor is +heard driving off. There is a tense pause.] + +LILY--Then he did find out? Oh, a fine mess you've made of +everything! But no--I should say "we," shouldn't I? Curt guessed +that. Oh, I hate you--and myself! [She breaks down.] + +[There is a strained pause during which they are all silent, their +eyes avoiding each other, fixed in dull, stupid stares. Finally, +DICK fidgets uncomfortably, heaves a noisy sigh, and blurts out +with an attempt at comforting reassurance:] + +DICK--Well, it isn't as bad as it might have been, anyway. He did +acknowledge the kid--before witnesses, too. + +JAYSON--[Testily.] Keep your remarks to yourself, if you please! +[But most of his family are already beginning to look relieved.] + +[The Curtain Falls] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The First Man, by Eugene O'Neill + diff --git a/old/frsmn10.zip b/old/frsmn10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..287235c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/frsmn10.zip |