_Bill._ When did it happen?
_Policeman._ In the night.
_Bill._ And where"s Schmidt?
_Policeman._ He"s in jail.
_Bill._ In jail?
_Policeman._ Sure, the firemen smelled kerosene.
_Bill._ Holy smoke! The poor old Dutchie! He set fire to his place!
_Policeman._ That"s what they say. I wasn"t here.
_Bill._ Well, I"ll be switched! If I"d been here I might a" got some charlotte russes!
_Policeman._ With kerosene on them, belike! _(Starts Right.)_
_Bill._ Say, mister! Youse know that guy that was waiter here?
_Policeman._ Yes.
_Bill._ They didn"t jug him, did they?
_Policeman._ No. He"s lookin" for his week"s wages! _(Laughs; exit Right.)_
_Bill._ Holy smoke! _(A murmur is heard from the child on cot Right.
The Play-play begins to fade. Faint light on the Real-play.)_
_Peggy (rises and goes over to cot; then returns to Will)._ He seems to be more restless. Oh, I hope he"s not going to be sick!
_Will (In agitation)._ Don"t let"s get to thinking about that now!
_Peggy._ All right, dear.
_Will._ We"re coming to the big scenes. I want to show the tenement where Belle and Dolly live. _(The Play-play begins to appear.)_ There"s a room adjoining, where Jack stays. It"s a few days after the fire. Belle has gone out to get something for supper. Meantime the land-lady comes. I used our landlady.
_Peggy._ That ought to make a lively scene!
_Will._ We"re ent.i.tled to a little vengeance, I think imagine her--with her ostrich feathers and her greasy old blue dress, her sharp red nose and her fighting voice. I"ve got our landlady, you bet!
_Peggy._ Give it here. _(Full light on the Play-play. Peggy makes secret exit. Repeated knocks at the door of Play-play Left.)_
_Landlady (opens door)._ Now, where"s them people? _(Looks about suspiciously.)_ Haven"t skipped, I hope! _(Goes to room Right.)_ Anybody in here? Humph! Looks like they"re hard up! A b.u.m lot!
_(Belle appears Left with shawl over shoulders and a loaf of bread in her hand.)_ Oh! Here you are! I want that rent.
_Belle._ Why do you come for it to-night? _(She stands in doorway, as if afraid of the woman.)_
_Landlady._ Ain" it been due two weeks?
_Belle._ But I told you we"d have it to-morrow.
_Landlady._ Well, it"s nearly to-morrow. I want to get it before it"s gone.
_Belle._ But Dolly doesn"t get home until very late.
_Landlady._ You keep telling me about Dolly----
_Belle._ She said she"d have some money. I"ll bring it to your room as soon as she gets home.
_Landlady._ All right. I"ve got sick of waitin" for that money! If you haven"t got it you can just move on, that"s all! You might as well understand----
_Belle (with gesture of distraction)._ Oh, all right! All right!
I"ve told you we"re doing our best! _(Turns and rushes off Left.)_
_Landlady._ Well, now. Will you look at that! _(Paces up and down.)_ They come and use your rooms and if you ask what"s due you, they turn and run! That"s what it is to be a landlady! That"s the way they treat you! _(Calls.)_ Here! You don"t need to move to-night!
_(Follows off Left; calling.)_ What are you running for? I"m not going to eat you! But I want you to know I got to have that money--I got my own bills to pay. _(A bell sounds in the Real-play and the Play-play fades instantly.)_
_Will._ G.o.d! It seems to me that bell rings all day and all night!
_Peggy (rising)._ Wait, dear. I"ll answer it.
_(Rises and goes to door. Will continues absorbed in ma.n.u.script.)_
_Landlady (at door of Real-play)._ Good-evening. I"ve come for the rent.
_Peggy._ I"m sorry, but you know I told you it would be a few days yet.
_Landlady._ How many days do you call a few?
_Peggy._ Well, a day or two more.
_Landlady._ That rent"s overdue a month. You"ll have to get it somehow or quit.
_Will (looking up from ma.n.u.script)._ Didn"t I tell you you could have it when Dolly gets home?
_Landlady._ Dolly! Who"s Dolly?
_Will._ Oh, I----_(Laughs.)_ I beg pardon!
_Peggy (laughing with him)._ You see, my husband"s writing a play, and Dolly is one of the characters in it. We"re putting you in, too.
_Landlady._ _Me?_
_Peggy._ Yes--I hope you won"t mind. You see, he wanted somebody that was interesting, that people would like to see on the stage----
_Will._ And when it comes out you can go and see it.