_Dad._ Used to it? Of course I was--and why shouldn"t _he_ be? Why is he too good to work like other men?
_Jessie (pleading)_ Oh, Dad--_(Sudden loud sounds in Real-play, Right; piano and voices shouting chorus of the latest rag-time.
Play-play fades instantly.)_
_Will._ h.e.l.l and d.a.m.nation! There go the devils with their c.o.o.n-songs! _(leaps up with distracted gestures)_ Oh! Oh! Oh!
_Peggy (laughing, runs to window--and tries to close it; sounds continue)._
_Will._ The monsters! The fiends! The satellites of Satan!
_Peggy. (laughing)._ The window"s stuck! Come put it down, dear.
_Will._ The window"s always stuck when that mad-house opens up!
_Bill (waking)._ Ah----
_Will._ What"s that?
_Peggy._ It"s Bill waking _(runs to him)._
_Bill (sitting up)._ Oh!
_Peggy._ They woke you up, dear!
_Bill._ I"m glad of it!
_Will._ h.e.l.lo! Bill!
_Bill._ Oh, h.e.l.lo! You got back, did you!
_Will._ Yes.
_Bill._ Say, Will, listen to the music!
_Will._ I hear it.
_Bill (delightedly)._ Gee! That"s great, ain"t it?
_Will._ You like it?
_Bill._ You bet I like it! Say, I know that tune! The beggar-kid sings it every time he comes. _(Sits up in bed and keeps time with his finger. Chorus begins and he joins in at the top of his voice.)_
CURTAIN
ACT II.
_Scene: The attic, afternoon of the next day. The set of the Playplay is a cheap Third Avenue restaurant. Entrance from the street Center, also window with cashier"s desk beside it. Tables up stage, from Right to Left. Entrance to kitchen Left. Clock on wall shows 11:30._
_At rise: The Real-play, with Bill Right on the fire-escape, sitting on mattress taken from his cot. Will Left with Mss. at desk. Peggy talking to Bill. She wears a "bungalow-ap.r.o.n," covering a waitress"s costume for quick change._
_Peggy_. That"s a dandy big fire-escape to play on!
_Bill_. You bet!
_Peggy_. You"ve got all your blocks?
_Bill_. Yes, Peggy.
_Peggy_. And your picture-books?
_Bill_. Yes, Peggy.
_Peggy_. And you won"t lean over the railing?
_Bill_. I won"t.
_Peggy_ (_to Will_). Now to the Pot-boiler!
_Will_. It"s a shame to keep the child out there on the fire-escape.
_Peggy_. He"ll be all right, dear. It"s the coolest place there is.
_Will_. If only we could get him to the park--
_Peggy_. I know, but we can"t. (_Sits at table._) Now--you"ve got the second act already?
_Will_. Yes. Read it, and I"ll get the dishes washed for you. (_Exit left_.)
_Peggy_ (_reads ma.n.u.script_). What"s this? You"ve got a drop-curtain?
_Will_ (_off; rattling dishes_). Yes; I want to show Jack"s adventures. Read the directions.
_Peggy_ (_reads_). Jack has been hunting a job, and has been unable to find one. The drop-curtain shows a street-scene. (_The Play-play begins to loom, as described._) A row of houses, just off Fifth Avenue, having the front door on the street level in the modern fashion. It is evening, and the ground is covered with snow. The snow-shoveller is at work Right. His feet and hands are tied with rags and his face is red with cold. (_The Play-play in full light._)
_Jack_ (_enters Left in hobo-overcoat, shuffling, and dejected_). I beg your pardon--
_Shoveller_. Hey?
_Jack_. I beg your pardon--
_Shoveller_. What the devil ye beggin" me pardon for?
_Jack_. I--I want to know--is that your shovel?