_Peggy._ We"ll get you tickets, you know.
_Will._ We"ll be delighted to place a box at your disposal.
_Landlady._ Well, for the land"s sake! _(Beaming.)_ What sort of a character am I?
_Will._ Why, you"re the landlady in the play; there"s a poor family in distress, and you take pity on them, and help them in their trouble. It"s very touching--everybody will be moved to tears by it.
_Landlady (suspiciously)._ Well now, that"s all right, but I have to have my rent. I have to pay the agent for this house. If you can"t pay me, I have to ask you to move.
_Peggy._ Oh, surely you wouldn"t do that!
_Landlady._ Why wouldn"t I?
_Peggy._ Don"t you see how it would be in the play? You"d be hard and unmerciful.
_Will._ Everybody would dislike you!
_Peggy._ Think how ashamed you"d feel--before a whole theatre full of people every night!
_Will._ You see, you must live up to the character we"ve imagined.
_Landlady._ Well, for the land"s sake! _(Overcome by curiosity.)_ When is this to be played?
_Will._ Just as soon as I can get it done.
_Landlady._ Well, don"t be too long. I"d like to help you, but I need my money as much as anybody. _(Grinning.)_ Well, now, ain"t that cute! In a play! Well, good luck to you! I"m sorry I interrupted you, I hope it"ll be all right. Good-evening.
_Peggy and Will._ Good-evening. _(Landlady exit.)_
_Will._ Did you ever hear the equal of that?
_Peggy._ Off in your local color again!
_Will._ We can jolly her along for a month yet!
_Peggy._ The landlady and the grocer--we can work forever! _(Child tosses restlessly in sleep and murmurs.)_
_Peggy (rises and goes to cot, and soothes child)._ There, there, Bill. _(To Will, who rises.)_ Dear, he"s feverish.
_Will._ Are you sure?
_Peggy._ Oh, I ought to get the doctor!
_Will._ We already owe the doctor.
_Peggy._ I know--but he"d come if I asked him to.
_Will._ What good could he do? He"d only tell us what we already know--that you can"t keep a child well if you shut him up in a tenement room in hot summer weather, and feed him on beans and prunes.
_Peggy._ Will, listen to me. I can stand anything else--but if Bill gets sick, we have to give up! Do you understand? I couldn"t endure that--I----
_Will (wildly)._ Why do we have to start that now? I want to finish the play! _(Drags her to work-table.)_ Come! Sit down here and let"s get busy! Right off! Not another word! _(They sit side by side.)_ I"ve a scene here with Bill. I want to know what you think of it.
_(Lights begin to rise on Play-play.)_ Bill comes to see Belle. This ma.n.u.script----
_Peggy._ Give it to me. _(They read together. Full light on the Play-play. Peggy makes secret exit. Several knocks on the door of Play-play Left. Bill opens timidly and looks about.)_
_Bill._ n.o.body home? _(Calls.)_ Hey! Anybody in here? Well, I suppose they won"t mind if I make myself at home. Gee, I wonder if they"ll sure enough let me stay here! _(Sits on chair.)_
_Belle (enters)._ Oh!
_Belle._ Good evening.
_Bill._ Youse remember me, lady? I was in Schmidt"s restaurant!
_Belle._ Oh, yes!
_Bill._ I"m a friend o" Jack"s. I seen him on the street just now.
_Belle._ Has he got a job yet?
_Bill._ Nothin" yet. Gee, that was tough--how he lost his week"s wages! Do youse think that old Dutchie set the fire?
_Belle._ I don"t know.
_Bill._ I seen there was a fur-shop over that there joint, and they say that fur-shops burn up in February--when they"ve sold out their stock!
_Belle._ You"re a knowing kid!
_Bill._ Youse got to be knowin" at my job!
_Belle (noticing that he has a black eye)._ You"ve got a black eye!
_Bill._ Sure! A shiner!
_Belle._ How did you get it?
_Bill._ Me step-father.
_Belle._ What did you do?
_Bill._ Sure, I ran into his fist.
_Belle._ But--what did he hit you for?
_Bill._ He don"t need no reason. He hits.
_Belle._ Oh, you poor kid! Why do you stand it?
_Bill._ I ain"t goin" to, no more. I told Jack about it, an" he says fer me to come and stay in his room. Will youse take me in?