RICHARD-Don't be afraid of a scene.[With pitying scorn.] The hell of it is he seems to regard Bigelow as his best friend. Damned if I can make it out.
JAYSON-I gave orders that they were always to tell Curt Bigelow was out of town and couldn't be reached.[With a sigh.] What a frightful situation for all of us![After a pause.] It may sound cruel of me-but-I can't help wishing for all our sakes that this child will never-
RICHARD-Yes, Dad, I know what you're thinking. It would be the best thing for it, too-although I hate myself for saying it.[There is a pause. Then the door in rear is opened and LILY appears. She is pale and agitated. Leaving the door open behind her she comes forward and flings herself on the lounge.]
JAYSON-[Anxiously.]Well?
LILY-[Irritably, getting up and switching on the lights.]Isn't everything gloomy enough?[Sits down.] I couldn't bear it upstairs one second longer. Esther and Emily are coming down, too. It's too much for them-and they've had personal experience.[Trying to mask her agitation by a pretense at flippancy.] I hereby become a life-member of the birth-control league. Let's let humanity cease- if God can't manage its continuance any better than that!
RICHARD-[Seriously.]Second the motion.
JAYSON-[Peevishly.]You're young idiots. Keep your blasphemous nonsense to yourself, Lily!
LILY-[Jumping up and stamping her foot-hysterically.]I can't stand it. Take me home, Dick, won't you? We're doing no good waiting here. I'll have a fit-or something-if I stay.
RICHARD-[Glad of the excuse to go himself-briskly.]That's how I feel. I'll drive you home. Come along.[ESTHER and EMILY enter, followed by JOHN.]
LILY-[Excitedly.]I'll never marry or have a child! Never, never! I'll go into Mark's office to-morrow and make myself independent of marriage.
ESTHER-Sssh! Lily! Don't you know you're shouting? And what silly talk!
LILY-I'll show you whether it's silly! I'll-
RICHARD-[Impatiently.]Are you coming or not?
LILY-[Quickly.]Yes-wait-here I am.[She pushes past the others and follows RICHARD out rear. ESTHER and EMILY sit on couch-JOHN on chair, right rear.]
ESTHER-[With a sigh.]I thought I went through something when mine were born-but this is too awful.
EMILY-And, according to John, Curt actually says he hates it! Isn't that terrible?[After a pause-meaningly.] It's almost as if her suffering was a punishment, don't you think?
ESTHER-If it is, she's being punished enough, Heaven knows. It can't go on this way much longer or something dreadful will happen.
EMILY-Do you think the baby-
ESTHER-I don't know. I shouldn't say it but perhaps it would be better if-
EMILY-That's what I think.
ESTHER-Oh, I wish I didn't have such evil suspicions-but the way Curt goes on-how can you help feeling there's something wrong?
JAYSON-[Suddenly.]How is Curt?
EMILY-John just came in from the garden.[Turning around to whereJOHN is dozing in his chair-sharply.] John! Well I never! If he isn't falling asleep! John![He jerks up his head and stares at her, blinking stupidly. She continues irritably.] A nice time to pick out for a nap, I must say.
JOHN-[Surlily.]Don't forget I have to be at the bank in the morning.
JAYSON-[Testily.]I have to be at the bank, too-and you don't notice me sleeping. Tell me about Curt. You just left him, didn't you?
JOHN-[Irritably.]Yes, and I've been walking around that damned garden half the night watching over him. Isn't that enough to wear anyone out? I can feel I've got a terrible cold coming on-
ESTHER-[Impatiently.]For goodness sake, don't you start to pity yourself!
JOHN-[Indignantly.]I'm not. I think I've showed my willingness to do everything I could. If Curt was only the least bit grateful! He isn't. He hates us all and wishes we were out of his home. I would have left long ago if I didn't want to do my part in saving the family name from disgrace.
JAYSON-[Impatiently.]Has he quieted down, that's what I want to know?
JOHN-[Harshly.]Not the least bit. He's out of his head-and I'd be out of mine if a child was being born to my wife that-
JAYSON-[Angrily.]Keep that to yourself! Remember you have no proof.[Morosely.] Think all you want-but don't talk.
EMILY-[Pettishly.]The whole town knows it, anyway; I'm sure they must.
JAYSON-There's only been gossip-no real scandal. Let's do our united best to keep it at that.[After a pause.] Where's Aunt Elizabeth? We'll have to keep an eye on her, too, or she's quite liable to blurt out the whole business before all comers.
ESTHER-You needn't be afraid. She's forgotten all about the scandalous part. No word of it has come to her out in the country and she hasn't set foot in town since that unfortunate tea, remember. And at present she's so busy wishing the child will be a boy, that she hasn't a thought for another thing.[The door in the rear is opened and MARK SHEFFIELD enters. He comes up to the fire to warm himself. The others watch him in silence for a moment.]
JAYSON-[Impatiently.]Well, Mark? Where's Curt?
SHEFFIELD-[Frowning.]Inside. I think he'll be with us in a minute.[With a scornful smile.] Just now he's 'phoning to Bigelow.[The others gasp.]
JAYSON-[Furiously.]For God's sake, couldn't you stop him?
SHEFFIELD-Not without a scene. Your Aunt persuaded him to come into the house-and he rushed for the 'phone. I think he guessed we had been lying to him-
JAYSON-[After a pause.]Then he-Bigelow will be here soon?
SHEFFIELD-[Drily.]It depends on his sense of decency. As he seems lacking in that quality, I've no doubt he'll come.
JOHN-[Rising to his feet-pompously.]Then I, for one, will go. Come, Emily. Since Curt seems bound to disgrace everyone concerned, I want it thoroughly understood that we wash our hands of the whole disgraceful affair.
EMILY-[Snappishly.]Go if you want to! I won't![Then with a sacrificing air.] I think it is our duty to stay.