The Play-play begins to appear_.)
_Peggy_ (_reads_). Scene shows a cheap restaurant on Third Avenue.
Piles of shredded wheat and charlotte russe in the windows. Night scene, snow on ground. (_Full light on the Play-play_.)
_Bill_ (_wanders on Right, stops and gazes into window_). Gee, but that"s great lookin" shredded wheat!
_Jack_ (_enters Left, dejected-looking, and joins Bill_). You hungry, too, kid?
_Bill._ I could eat the whole hay-stack at one meal. (_Moves along to another part of the window._) Holy smoke, if they"d turn me loose in them charlotte-russes!
_Jack._ I wonder how many charlotte russes a man could eat at one meal.
_Bill._ Say, I wisht I was a rich man! I"d go youse a race at "em!
(_A silence; turns away._) Gee, I can"t bear to look at "em any more!
_Jack_ (_joins him down stage_). When did you eat last?
_Bill._ I had sinkers and coffee this mornin". What did youse have?
_Jack._ I had a gla.s.s of water in the public library.
_Bill._ Hully gee! And when did youse eat last?
_Jack._ Yesterday morning I had a slice of bread.
_Bill_ (_startled_). Gawd a"mighty! That all?
_Jack._ True as gospel.
_Bill_ (_warming to him_). Why say! Youse _are_ up agin it!
_Jack._ I am, for fair.
_Bill._ What"s the matter?
_Jack._ Can"t find any work.
_Bill._ Work? T"h.e.l.l with work! Why don"t yous slam the gates?
_Jack._ Why don"t I _what?_
_Bill._ I mean, why don"t youse panhandle it?
_Jack._ I don"t understand.
_Bill._ Gee! Where was youse raised--in the hayfields? I mean, why don"t youse git up a hard luck story?
_Jack._ Beg?
_Bill._ Sure!
_Jack._ I tried it some, but n.o.body"ll listen to me.
_Bill._ Why, youse poor helpless orphan! Somebody ought to take youse in hand and show youse.
_Jack (eagerly)._ Do you suppose you could do it?
_Bill._ Sure I could--teach youse in an hour or two!
_Jack (hesitatingly)._ But you don"t make so very much yourself, do you!
_Bill._ Sure I do--I got lots o" the stuff. Only I got a step-father I have to keep full of booze. He"ll be out lookin" for me now, I reckon. _(Looks about sharply)._ Say, youse come back here after a bit. I"ll go an" get him spotted, an" then we"ll frame up a good hard-luck story, an" we"ll get the price of that there hay-stack.
You get me, old pal?
_Jack._ Yes, I get you--only I"ll freeze in the meantime.
_Bill._ Youse keep movin". Hustle along now!
_Jack._ All right. _(Goes off Left stamping his feet, blowing his fingers.)_
_Bill._ Youse come back now! Don"t fergit! _(Stands looking after Jack.)_ Gee! I like that guy!
_Peggy._ Will! _(Faint light on the Real-play.)_
_Will. (Off.)_ What is it?
_Peggy._ You"re sending him off! But where"s the heart interest?
_Will._ It"s coming right now!
_Peggy._ What"s it to be?
_Will (appears Left with dishes in arms)._ Why, dearest, there"s only one thing it could be!
_Peggy._ What is that?
_Will._ You know I have only one heart-interest!
_Peggy (looks at him, then rises and steps to him, with Mss. in her hand)._ You dear, sweet boy?
_Will (steps back out of sight)._ Look out for my dishes! _(as Peggy follows off, sounds of kisses heard)_ My heart-interest! My dear, blessed heart-interest! My only heart-interest in the world! _(Full light rises slowly on the Play-play. The door of restaurant opens, and Peggy appears in the entrance, as Belle, with a waitress"s costume. She stands gazing out, as if getting breath of fresh air, being ill. Then she draws back and closes the door.)_
_Jack (enters Left)._ Gee, I never thought it would be as bad as this! _(goes to window of restaurant)_ I"ve got to get something to eat--there"s no use talking about it! I don"t believe that kid is coming back! I don"t believe he could help me, anyway! _(wanders back and forth again, goes to door, hesitates)_ I want something to _eat!_ I don"t care what happens, I can"t stand it! _(enters door of restaurant)._
_Bill (pokes head in from fire-escape)._ Say, Peggy! (_Play-play fades._)
_Peggy (appears in doorway, Left, having Mss. in her hand)._ Oh, Bill! You startled me so!
_Bill._ What"s the matter?