_Shoveller_. Whose d"ye think it is?
_Jack_. I mean--where did you get it?
_Shoveller_ (_bridling_). You mean I stole it?
_Jack_. No--no! I mean, I"d like to get one. (_The other pays no heed._) You see, I"m up against it, and I thought perhaps I could earn money shovelling snow. I"d like to get a shovel. (_The other still pays no heed._) You wouldn"t like to rent it for a while, would you?
_Shoveller_ (_with mock merriment_). And me live on me income, hey?
_Jack._ I might help you, perhaps--
_Shoveller_. Say, young fellow, if you really want to help me, get a hot water bottle an" hold it to me feet!
_Jack (stands nonplussed, then turns away Left; as he is about to exit he changes his mind, and rings the bell at the door of a house Left. Butler comes_) I beg pardon--
_Butler_. Well, what d"ya want?
_Jack_. Could I shovel the snow off your sidewalk?
_Butler_ (_fiercely_). What d"ye mean by comin" to the front door?
_Jack_. Oh, I forgot.
_Butler_. Gow an with ye!
_Jack_. Won"t you give me a chance?
_Butler_. Where"s your shovel?
_Jack_. Why--I haven"t a shovel.
_Butler_. Well, what d"ya mean to use? Your hands?
_Jack_. I thought you might lend me--
_Butler_. Lend you! And me standin" out in the snow to watch ye return it, hey?
_Jack_ (_humbly_). I won"t steal anything. I"m trying honestly to earn the price of a shovel.
_Butler_. If ye didn"t spend your money in drink, ye might have the price.
_Jack_. I haven"t had anything to drink--nor anything to eat either.
_Butler_. Well, we ain"t runnin" no breadline "ere. Get along with ye! _(Slams door.)_
_Jack (stands shaking his head meditatively)_ Gee! This is a cold world!
_Shoveller_. Say, young fellow! I"ll tell ye what to do.
_Jack_. What"s that?
_Shoveller_. Come back in August. Ye"ll find it warmer.
_Jack (wanders off muttering to himself)._ I"ve got to get a shovel!
_Bill (appears at window Right)_. Say, Peggy! _(The Play-play vanishes.)_
_Peggy_. What is it, dear?
_Bill_. Can I have my paper soldiers?
_Peggy_. Yes, dear. _(Hurries to get them.)_ Now be quiet, Bill. I"m busy now.
_Bill_. Where is Will?
_Peggy_. Washing the dishes.
_Bill_. Can"t I help him?
_Peggy_. No, dear--we"ve got to talk about this play we"re writing.
Here are the soldiers.
_Bill_. All right. _(Exit Right.)_
_Peggy (goes to entrance Left where dishes are heard rattling)_. How are you making out?
_Will (off Left)_. What do you think of my opening scenes?
_Peggy_. Why, I think they could be better. You see, Will, you don"t really know anything about snow-shovellers or butlers.
_Will_ (_appears in doorway Left, wiping a dish_). I"ve got a real character for the next scene at least. I used Bill!
_Peggy_. For heaven"s sake!
_Will_. As a street-gamin.
_Peggy_. But Bill"s not like a street-gamin. Such a child is full of slang.
_Will_. I thought of what Bill might have been if he"d been turned out to shift for himself. I imagined the soul of a street-gamin in the body of our Bill.
_Peggy_. That sounds rather terrible. (_A pause_.) By the way, Will!
That love-interest you said was to come! Where is it?
_Will_. I"ve hardly got into the act yet.
_Peggy_. Well, you"d better get into your love-interest!
_Will_. The next scene is to be another dropcurtain. A restaurant.
I"m using that one down our street. Read it. (_He disappears Left.