ELEANOR—[_With a little frown._] We don’t fight so much.
CAPE—[_Frowning himself._] Too much.
ELEANOR—[_Forcing a smile._] Perhaps that’s the price.
CAPE—[_With a wry smile._] Don’t grow fatalistic—just when I was about
to propose reform.
ELEANOR—[_Smiling—quickly._] Oh, I’ll promise to be good—if you will.
[_Gently reproachful._] Do you think I enjoy fighting with you?
[_Intensely._] Don’t you realize how it destroys me?
CAPE—[_With deep seriousness._] Then let’s resolve—once and for all—to
refuse to wound each other again—— [_With passion._] It’s wrong, Nelly.
It’s evil! We love too deeply.
ELEANOR—Ssshh! We promise, dear.
CAPE—[_Kissing her; then, hesitatingly._] We’ve been taking each other
too much for granted. That may do very well with the earthly loves of
the world—but ours has a God in it! And when the worshipers nod, the God
deserts their shrine. [_He suddenly laughs with awkward
self-consciousness._] I’m afraid that sounds like preaching. [_He
suddenly pulls her head down and kisses her impulsively._] But you
understand! Oh, Nelly, I love you—love you with all my soul!
ELEANOR—[_Deeply moved._] And I love you, Michael—always and forever!
[_They sit close, she staring dreamily before her, he watching her
face._]
CAPE—[_After a pause._] What are you thinking?
ELEANOR—[_With a tender smile._] Of the first time we met—at rehearsal,
remember? I was thinking of how mistakenly I had pictured you before
that. [_She pauses—then frowning a little._] I’d heard such a lot of
gossip about your love affairs.
CAPE—[_With a wry grin._] You must have been disappointed if you
expected Don Juan. [_A pause—then forcing a short laugh._] I also had
heard a lot of rumors about your previous—— [_He stops abruptly with an
expression of extreme bitterness._]
ELEANOR—[_Sharply._] Don’t! [_A pause—then she goes on sadly._] It was
only our past together I wanted to remember. [_A pause—then with a trace
of scornful resentment._] I was forgetting your morbid obsession——
CAPE—[_With gloomy irritation._] Obsession? Why——? [_Then determinedly
throwing off this mood—reproachfully forcing a joking tone._] We’re not
“starting something” now, are we—after our promise?
ELEANOR—[_Impulsively kissing him and straining her arms around him._]
No, no—of course not! Dearest!
CAPE—[_After a pause—a bit awkwardly._] But you guessed my desire, at
that. I wanted to dream with you in our past—to find together in our old
love—a new faith——
ELEANOR—[_Smiling—a bit mockingly._] Another Grand Ideal for our
marriage?
CAPE—[_Frowning._] Don’t mock.
ELEANOR—[_Smiling teasingly._] But you’re such a relentless idealist.
You needn’t frown. That was exactly what drew me to you in those first
days. [_Earnestly._] I had lost faith in everything. Your love saved me.
Your work saved mine. [_Intensely._] I owe you myself, Michael! [_She
kisses him. Then she goes on intensely._] Do you remember—our first
night together?
CAPE—[_Kissing her hand—tenderly reproachful._] Do you imagine I
could’ve forgotten?
ELEANOR—[_Continuing as if she hadn’t heard._] The play was such a
marvelous success! I knew I had finally won recognition—through your
work. I loved myself! I loved you! You came to me—and my whole being
strained out—— [_More and more intensely._] Oh, it was beautiful
madness! I found and lost myself, I began living in you. I wanted to die
and become you!
CAPE—[_Passionately._] And I, you!
ELEANOR—[_Softly._] And do you remember the dawn creeping in—and how we
began to discuss our future? [_He kisses her hand. She exclaims
impulsively._] Oh, I’d give anything in the world to live those days
over again!
CAPE—[_Smiling reproachfully._] Why? Hasn’t our marriage kept the spirit
of that time—with a growth of something deeper—finer——
ELEANOR—Yes,—but—— Oh, you know what I mean! It was revelation, then—a
miracle out of the sky.
CAPE—[_Insistently._] But haven’t we realized the ideal we conceived of
our marriage—— [_Smiling but with deep earnestness nevertheless._] We
approached our wedding extremely cautiously, if you’ll remember, even
after months of successful living together. Not for us the convenient
sanction, the family rite. We swore to have a true sacrament—our own—or
nothing! Our marriage must be a consummation of creative love, demanding
and combining the best in each of us! Hard, difficult, guarded from the
commonplace, kept sacred as the outward form of our deep, inner harmony!
[_With an awkward sense of having become rhetorical he adds
self-mockingly._] We’d tend our flame on an altar, not in a kitchen
range! [_He forces a grin—then abruptly changing again, with a sudden
fierce pleading._] It has been what we dreamed, hasn’t it, Nelly?
ELEANOR—[_Thoughtfully._] Our ideal was difficult—for human beings. But
even when we’ve hurt each other most cruelly—I’ve always known——
CAPE—[_Putting his arms about her and straining her to him._] We must
learn to love even the things we hate in each other. We must accept each
other wholly, as we are, as we must become!
ELEANOR—[_Sadly._] Sometimes I think we have loved too
intensely—demanded too much of each other. Now there’s nothing left but
that something which can’t give itself. And I blame you for this—because
I can neither take more nor give more—and you blame me! [_She smiles
tenderly._] And then we fight!
CAPE—[_Excitedly._] Then let’s be proud of our fight! It’s the penalty
of a love that strives to surpass itself—by regaining unity. It began
with the splitting of a cell a hundred million years ago into you and
me, leaving an eternal yearning to become one life again.
ELEANOR—[_Kissing him passionately._] At moments—we do.
CAPE—Yes! Yes! [_He kisses her—then intensely._] You and I—year after
year—together—forms of our two bodies coalescing into one form; rhythm
of our separate lives beating against each other, forming slowly the one
rhythm—the life of Us—our life created by us—outside, beyond, above!
[_With sudden furious anger._] God, what I feel of the truth of this—the
beauty!—but how can I express it?
ELEANOR—[_Kissing him._] I understand.
CAPE—[_Straining her to him with fierce passion._] Oh, My Own, My
Own—and I your own—to the end of time! I love you! I love you!
ELEANOR—[_Returning his kisses._] I love you!
CAPE—[_With passionate exultance._] Why do you regret our first days?
Their fire still burns in us—but deeper—more sacred. Don’t you feel
that? [_Kissing her again and again._] My Own! My Own! I have become
you! You have become me! One heart! One blood! Ours! [_He pulls her to
her feet and kisses her._] My wife!——Come!
ELEANOR—[_Almost swooning in his arms._] My lover—yes—— My lover——
CAPE—Come! [_With his arms around her he leads her to the stairway. As
they get to the foot, there is a noise from the hall. She hears it,
starts, seems suddenly brought back to herself._ CAPE _is oblivious and
continues up the stairs. She stands swaying, holding on to the banister
as if in a daze. At the top_, CAPE _turns in surprise at not finding
her, as if he had felt her behind him. He looks down passionately,
stretching out his arms, his eyes glowing._] Come!
ELEANOR—[_Weakly._] Ssshh! A moment—— Listen!
CAPE—[_Bewilderedly._] What? What is it?
ELEANOR—Ssshh—Listen—Someone—— [_She speaks in an unnatural, mechanical
tone. A knock comes at the door. She gives a sort of gasp of relief._]
There.
CAPE—[_Still bewilderedly as if something mysterious were happening that
he cannot grasp._] What—what——? [_Then as she takes a slow, mechanical
step toward the door—with tense pleading._] Nelly! Come here! [_She
turns to look at him and is held by his imploring eyes. She sways
irresolutely toward him, again reaching to the banister for support.
Then a sharper knock comes at the door. It acts like a galvanic shock on
her. Her eyes move in that direction, she takes another jerky step_,
CAPE _stammers in a fierce whisper_.] No! Don’t go!
ELEANOR—[_Without looking at him—mechanically._] I must.
CAPE—[_Frantically._] They’ll go away. Nelly, don’t! Don’t! [_Again she
stops irresolutely like a hypnotized person torn by two conflicting
suggestions. The knock is repeated, this time with authority, assurance.
Her body reacts as if she were throwing off a load._]
ELEANOR—[_With a return to her natural tone—but hysterically._]
Please—don’t be silly, Michael. It might be—something important. [_She
hurries to the door._]
CAPE—[_Rushing down the stairs—frantically._] No! No! [_He just gets to
the bottom as she opens the door. He stands there fixed, disorganized,
trembling all over._]
ELEANOR—[_As she sees who it is—in a relieved tone of surprise._] Why,
hello, John. Come in! Here’s Michael. Michael, it’s John. [DARNTON
_steps into the room. He is a man of about fifty, tall, loose-limbed, a
bit stoop-shouldered, with iron-gray hair, and a long, gaunt, shrewd
face. He is not handsome but his personality compels affection. His eyes
are round and childlike. They seem to understand sorrow without ever
having known it. They see everyone with understanding, they never judge.
The whole man has the quality of steadfastness. You feel he will always
be there, unchanged, unchangeable, always serene and kindly, a cool rock
for the fevered. He has no nerves. His voice is low and calming. He is
dressed negligently but in expensive tweed._]
DARNTON—[_Shaking Eleanor by the hand._] Hello, Nelly. I was on my way
home from the theater and I thought I’d drop in for a second. Hello,
Michael. When’d you get in? Glad to see you back. [_He comes to him and
shakes his hand which_ CAPE _extends jerkily, as if in spite of himself,
without a word_.]
ELEANOR—[_After a glance at her husband—in a forced tone._] We’re so
glad you’ve come. Sit down.
DARNTON—[_He becomes aware of the disharmonious atmosphere his
appearance has created._] I can’t stay a second. [_To_ CAPE.] I wanted
some news of the big play. I thought Nelly’d probably have heard from
you. [_He slaps_ CAPE _on the back with jovial familiarity_.] Well,
how’s it coming?
CAPE—[_In a frozen tone._] Oh,—all right—all right.
ELEANOR—[_Uneasily._] Won’t you have a cigarette, John? [_She takes the
box from the table and holds it out to him._]
DARNTON—[_Taking one._] Thanks, Nelly. [_He half-sits on the arm of a
chair. She holds out a light to him._] Thanks.
ELEANOR—[_Nervously._] Why don’t you sit down, Michael? [_He doesn’t
answer. She goes to him with the cigarettes._] Don’t you want a
cigarette? [CAPE _stares at her with a hot glance of scorn. She recoils
from it, turning quickly away from him, visibly shaken. Without
appearing to notice_, DARNTON _scrutinizes their faces keenly, sizing up
the situation_.]
DARNTON—[_Breaking in matter-of-factly._] You look done up, Michael.
CAPE—[_With a guilty start._] I—I—I’m tired out.
ELEANOR—[_With a forced air._] He’s been working too hard. He finished
the last act only this afternoon.
DARNTON—[_With a grunt of satisfaction._] Glad to hear it—mighty glad.
[_Abruptly._] When can I see it?
CAPE—In a day or so—I want to go over——
DARNTON—All right. [_Getting to his feet._] Well, that’s that. I’ll run
along.
ELEANOR—[_Almost frightenedly._] Do stay. Why don’t you read us the last
act now, Michael?
CAPE—[_Fiercely._] No! It’s rotten! I hate the whole play!
DARNTON—[_Easily._] Suffering from the reaction. This play’s the finest
thing you’ve done. [_He comes to_ CAPE _and slaps him on the back
reassuringly_.] And it’s the biggest chance the lady here has ever had.
It’ll be a triumph for you both, wait and see. So cheer up—and get a
good night’s rest. [CAPE _smiles with bitter irony_.] Well, good-night.
[CAPE _nods without speaking_, DARNTON _goes to the door_, ELEANOR
_accompanying him_.] Good-night, Nelly. Better start on your part—only
don’t you overdo it, too. [_He pats her on the back._] Good-night.
ELEANOR—Good-night. [_She closes the door after him. She remains there
for a moment staring at the closed door, afraid to turn and meet_ CAPE’S
_fiercely accusing eyes which she feels fixed upon her. Finally, making
an effort of will, she walks back to the table, avoiding his eyes,
assuming a careless air._]
CAPE—[_Suddenly explodes in furious protest._] Why did you do that?
ELEANOR—[_With an assumed surprise but with a guilty air, turning over
the pages of a magazine._] Do what?
CAPE—[_Tensely, clutching her by the arm._] You know what I mean!
[_Unconsciously he grips her tighter, almost shaking her._]
ELEANOR—[_Coldly._] You are hurting me. [_A bit shamefacedly_, CAPE
_lets go of her arm. She glances quickly at his face, then speaks with a
kind of dull remorse._] I suppose I can guess—my going to the door?
CAPE—He would have gone away—— [_With anguish._] Nelly, why did you?
ELEANOR—[_Defensively._] Wasn’t it important you should see John?
CAPE—[_With helpless anger._] Don’t evade! [_With deep feeling._] I
should think you’d be ashamed.
ELEANOR—[_After a pause—dully._] Perhaps—I am. [_A pause._] I couldn’t
help myself.
CAPE—[_Intensely._] You should have been oblivious to everything!
[_Miserably._] I—I can’t understand!
ELEANOR—That’s you, Michael. The other is me—or a part of me—I hardly
understand myself.
CAPE—[_Sinking down on a chair, his head in his hands._] After all we’d
been to each other tonight—! [_With bitter despondency._] Ruined
now—gone—a rare moment of beauty! It seems at times as if some jealous
demon of the commonplace were mocking our love—— [_With a violent
gesture of loathing._] Oh, how intolerably insulting life can be! [_Then
brokenly._] Nelly, why, why did you?
ELEANOR—[_Dully._] I—I don’t know. [_Then after a pause she comes over
and puts her hand on his shoulder._] Don’t brood, dear. I’m sorry. I
hate myself. [_A pause. She looks down at him, seeming to make up her
mind to something—in a forced tone._] But—why is it gone—irrevocably—our
beautiful moment? [_She strokes his hair._] We have the whole night——
[_He stares up at her wonderingly. She forces a smile, half turning
away._]
CAPE—[_In wild protest._] Nelly, what are you offering me—a sacrifice?
Please!
ELEANOR—[_Revolted._] Michael! [_Then hysterically._] No, forgive me!
I’m the disgusting one! Forgive me! [_She turns away from him and throws
herself on a chair, staring straight before her. Their chairs are side
by side, each facing front, so near that by a slight movement each could
touch the other, but during the following scene they stare straight
ahead and remain motionless. They speak, ostensibly to the other, but
showing by their tone it is a thinking aloud to oneself, and neither
appears to hear what the other has said._]
CAPE—[_After a long pause._] More and more frequently. There’s always
some knock at the door, some reminder of the life outside which calls
you away from me.
ELEANOR—It is so beautiful—and then—suddenly I’m being crushed. I feel a
cruel presence in you paralyzing me, creeping over my body, possessing
it so it is no longer my body—then grasping at some last inmost thing
which makes me me—my soul—demanding to have that, too! I have to rebel
with all my strength—seize any pretext! Just now at the foot of the
stairs—the knock on the door was—liberation. [_In anguish._] And yet I
love you! It’s because I love you! If I am destroyed, what is left to
love you, what is left for you to love?
CAPE—I’ve grown inward into our life. But you keep trying to escape as
if it were a prison. You feel the need of what is outside. I am not
enough for you.
ELEANOR—Why is it I can never know you? I love you—and you’re strange. I
try to know you and I can’t. I desire to take all of you into my heart,
but there is a great alien force—— I hate that unknown power in you
which would destroy me. [_Pleadingly._] Haven’t I a right to myself as
you have to yourself?
CAPE—You fight against me as if I were your enemy. Every word or action
of mine which affects you, you resent. At every turn you feel your
individuality invaded—while at the same time you are jealous of any
separateness in me. You demand more and more while you give less and
less. And I have to acquiesce. Have to? Yes, because I love you. I
cannot live without you! You realize that! You take advantage of it
while you despise me for my helplessness! [_This seems to goad him to
desperation._] But look out! I still have the strength to——! [_He turns
his head and stares at her challengingly._]
ELEANOR—[_As before._] You insist that I have no life at all outside
you. Even my work must exist only as an echo of yours. You hate my need
of easy, casual associations. You think that weakness. You hate my
friends. You are jealous of everything and everybody. You would wall me
in——[_Resentfully._] I have to fight. You are too severe. Your ideal is
too inhuman. Why can’t you understand and be generous—be just! [_She
turns to meet his eyes, staring back with resentful accusation. They
look at each other in this manner for a long moment._]
CAPE—[_Averting his eyes and addressing her directly in a cold,
sarcastic tone._] Strange—that Darnton should pop in on us suddenly like
that.
ELEANOR—[_Resentfully._] I don’t see anything strange about it.
CAPE—It’s past twelve——
ELEANOR—You’re in New York now.
CAPE—[_Sharply._] I’m quite aware of that. Nevertheless——
ELEANOR—[_Shortly._] He explained. Didn’t you hear him? He wanted news
of the play and thought I might have a letter——
CAPE—That’s just the point. He had no idea he would find me here.
ELEANOR—[_About to fly at him, checks herself after a pause, coldly._]
Why shouldn’t he come to see me? He’s the oldest friend I’ve got. He
gave me my first chance and he’s always helped me since. I owe whatever
success I’ve made of my acting to his advice and direction.
CAPE—[_Stung—sarcastically._] Oh, undoubtedly!
ELEANOR—I suppose you think I ought to have said it’s to you I owe
everything?
CAPE—[_Dryly._] I’d prefer to say it was to yourself, and no one else.
[_After a pause—attempting a casual tone._] Has he been in the habit of
calling here while I’ve been gone? [_Hurriedly._] Don’t misunderstand
me. I’m merely asking a question.
ELEANOR—[_Scornfully._] Oh! [_A pause. She bites her lips—then coldly._]
Yes, he’s been here once before. [_Mockingly._] And after the theater,
too! Think of that!
CAPE—[_Sneeringly._] The same insatiable curiosity about my play?
ELEANOR—[_Angrily._] Michael! [_A pause—then scornfully._] Don’t tell me
you’re becoming jealous of John again!
CAPE—[_Meaningly._] Again. That’s just it.
ELEANOR—[_Springing from her chair—excitedly._] This is insufferable!
[_Then calming herself with an effort—with a forced laugh._] Please
don’t be so ridiculous, Michael. I’ll only lose my temper if you keep
on. [_Then suddenly she makes up her mind and comes to him._] Please
stop, dear. We’ve made up our minds not to quarrel. Let’s drop it. [_She
pats his head with a friendly smile._]
CAPE—[_Impulsively takes her hand and kisses it._] All right. Forgive
me. I’m all unstrung. His breaking in on us like that—— [_He relapses
into frowning brooding again. She sits down, this time facing him, and
looks at him uneasily._]
ELEANOR—[_After a pause—rather irritably._] It’s too absolutely silly,
your being jealous of John.
CAPE—I’m not jealous of him. I’m jealous of you—the perverse something
in you that repulses our love—the stranger in you.
ELEANOR—[_With a short laugh._] I should think after five years——
CAPE—[_Unheeding._] And what makes me hate you at those times is that I
know you like to make me jealous, that my suffering pleases you, that it
satisfies some craving in you—for revenge!
ELEANOR—[_Scornfully._] Can’t you realize how absurd you are? [_Then
with a forced placating laugh._] No, really, Michael, it would be
funny—if it weren’t so exasperating.
CAPE—[_After a pause—somberly._] You mentioned our years together as
proof. What of the years that preceded?
ELEANOR—[_Challengingly._] Well, what of them?
CAPE—By their light, I have plausible grounds for jealousy in Darnton’s
case. Or don’t you acknowledge that?
ELEANOR—I deny it absolutely!
CAPE—Why, you’ve told me yourself he was in love with you for years,
that he once asked you to marry him!
ELEANOR—Well, did I marry him?
CAPE—But he still loves you.
ELEANOR—Don’t be stupid!
CAPE—He does, I tell you!
ELEANOR—If you had any sense you’d know that his love has become purely
that of an old friend. And I refuse to give up his friendship for your
silly whims.
CAPE—[_After a pause in which they each brood
resentfully—sarcastically._] You were a shining exception, it appears.
The other women he helped could hardly claim he had remained—merely
their friend.
ELEANOR—[_Vehemently._] It’s a lie! You’re repeating low Broadway
scandal. And even if it were true, you’d find it was they who offered
themselves.
CAPE—[_Significantly._] Ah! [_Then after a pause._] Perhaps because they
felt it necessary for their careers.
ELEANOR—[_Dryly._] Perhaps. [_Then after a pause._] But they discovered
their mistake, then. John isn’t that type.
CAPE—[_Suddenly._] Why do you act so jealous—of those others?
ELEANOR—[_Flushing angrily._] I don’t. It’s your stupid imagination.
CAPE—Then why lose your temper?
ELEANOR—Because I resent your superior attitude that John had to bribe
women to love him. Isn’t he as worthy of love—as you are?
CAPE—[_Sarcastically._] If I am to believe your story, you didn’t think
so.
ELEANOR—[_Irritably._] Then let’s stop arguing, for heaven’s sake! Why
do you always have to rake up the past? For the last year or so you’ve
begun to act more and more as you did when we first lived
together—jealous and suspicious of everything and everybody!
[_Hysterically._] I can’t bear it, Michael!
CAPE—[_Ironically._] You used to love me for it then.
ELEANOR—[_Calming herself._] Well, I can’t endure it now. It’s too
degrading. I have a right to your complete faith. [_Reaching over and
grasping his hands—earnestly._] You know I have in your heart of hearts.
You know I love you, that there can never be anyone but you. Forget the
past. It wasn’t us. For your peace—and mine, Michael!
CAPE—[_Moved—pressing her hands._] All right. Let’s stop. It’s only that
I’ve thought I’ve felt you drawing away——! Perhaps it’s all my
super-sensitiveness—— [_Patting her hand and forcing a smile._] Let’s
talk of something else. [_Cheerfully—after a pause._] You can’t imagine
how wonderful it’s been up in the country. There’s just enough winter in
the air to make one energetic. No summer fools about. Solitude and work.
I was happy—that is, as happy as I ever can be without you.
ELEANOR—[_Withdrawing her hands from his with a quick
movement—sarcastically._] Thanks for that afterthought—but do you expect
me to believe it? When you’re working I might die and you’d never know
it.
CAPE—[_Amused but irritated._] There you go! You denounce my jealousy,
but it seems to me your brand of it is much more ridiculous.
ELEANOR—[_Sharply._] You imagine I’m jealous of your work? You—you
flatter yourself!
CAPE—[_Stung—bitingly._] It’s an unnatural passion certainly—in your
case. And an extremely ungrateful passion, I might add!
ELEANOR—[_Losing her temper completely._] You mean I ought to be
grateful for—— I suppose you think that without your work I——
[_Springing to her feet._] Your egotism is making a fool of you! You’re
becoming so exaggeratedly conceited no one can stand you! Everyone
notices it!
CAPE—[_Angrily._] You know that’s untrue. You only say it to be mean. As
for my work, you’ve acknowledged a million times——
ELEANOR—If I have—but please remember there are other playwrights in the
world!
CAPE—[_Bitingly._] You were on the stage seven years before I met you.
Your appearance in the work of other playwrights—you must admit you were
anything but successful!
ELEANOR—[_With a sneer of rage._] And I suppose you were?
CAPE—Yes! Not in your Broadway sense, perhaps, but——
ELEANOR—You’re contemptible! You know that’s the very last thing you can
say of me. It was exactly because I wasn’t that kind—because I was an
artist—that I found it so hard!
CAPE—[_Unheeding._] My plays had been written. The one you played in
first was written three years before. The work was done. That’s the
proof.
ELEANOR—[_Scathingly._] That’s absurd! You know very well if it hadn’t
been for John, you——
CAPE—[_Violently._] Nonsense! There were other managers who——
ELEANOR—They didn’t want your work, you know it!
CAPE—[_Enraged._] I see what you’re driving at! You’d like to pretend I
was as much dependent on Darnton as you were! [_Trembling all over with
the violence of his passion._] I should think you’d be ashamed to boast
so brazenly—to me!—of what he had done for you!
ELEANOR—Why should I be ashamed of my gratitude?
CAPE—To drag that relationship out of the past and throw it in my face!
ELEANOR—[_Very pale—tensely._] What relationship?
CAPE—[_Incoherently, strangled by his passion._] Ask anyone—here—to
Forty-second Street! [_Then suddenly with anguished remorse._] No, no! I
don’t mean that! [_Torturedly._] Wounds! Wounds! For God’s sake, let’s
stop!
ELEANOR—[_Trembling with rage._] I’ll never forget you said that! You
cur!
CAPE—[_Stung—in a passion again at once._] Cur? Because I resent that
man’s being here—late at night—when I was away? I would be a cur if I
didn’t! Oh, I don’t mean I suspect you—now——
ELEANOR—[_Viciously._] What noble faith! Maybe you’re going to discover
I don’t deserve it!
CAPE—[_Unheeding._] But there was scandal enough about you and him, and
if you had any respect for me——
ELEANOR—I’ve lost it now!
CAPE—You wouldn’t deliberately open the way——
ELEANOR—[_Tensely._] So you believe—that gutter gossip? You think I——?
Then all these years you’ve really believed——? Oh, you mean hypocrite!
CAPE—[_Stung—bitingly._] Don’t act moral indignation! What else could I
have thought? When we first fell in love, you confessed frankly you had
had lovers—not Darnton but others——
ELEANOR—[_Brokenly—with mingled grief and rage._] I was an idiot! I
should have lied to you! But I thought you’d understand—that I’d been
searching for something—that I needed love—something I found at last in
you! I tried to make you see the truth—the truth!—that those experiences
had only served to make me appreciate you all the more when I found you!
I told you how little these men had meant to me. I tried to convince you
that in the state of mind I had been in it had no significance either
one way or the other, and that such an attitude is possible for a woman
without her being base. I thought you understood. But you didn’t, you’re
not big enough for that! By your own experiences in the past you had
made sex a degradation to yourself—and physical virtue the highest
virtue in women! [_With a gesture of loathing._] Always the physical! As
if there could be only one attitude toward it for women!
CAPE—[_Angrily protesting._] What has all this silly generalizing to do
with us? You forget that when we conceived the ideal of our marriage we
_both_ agreed that unfaithfulness would be the unpardonable sin—not
because we regarded it as a crime in itself but because it was a symbol
of our separate weak attitudes toward love in the past,—a sin against
love, do you hear?—our love which we wished to make unique, beautiful,
finer than other loves!
ELEANOR—[_With a wild ironical laugh._] Words! Now I know why the women
in your plays are so wooden! You ought to get down on your knees and
thank me for breathing life into them!
CAPE—[_Furiously._] Good God, how dare you criticize creative work,
actress!
ELEANOR—[_Violently._] You deny that I create——? Perhaps if I’d consent
to give up the stage, have children and a home, take up knitting—— [_She
laughs wildly._] I’d be safe then, wouldn’t I?—reliable, guaranteed not
to—— [_Her face seems suddenly to congeal._] So you think that I was
Darnton’s mistress—that I loved him—or do you believe I just sold myself
for a career?
CAPE—[_In agony._] No, no! For God’s sake, stop! I may have thought you
once loved——
ELEANOR—[_Frozenly._] Well, it was—that—just that! When he first engaged
me—I’d heard the gossip—I thought he expected—and I agreed with
myself—it meant nothing to me one way or the other—nothing meant
anything then but a chance to do my work, live my life—yes, I agreed—but
you see he didn’t, he didn’t agree. He loved me but he saw I didn’t love
him—that way—and he’s a finer man than you dream!
CAPE—[_Hoarsely._] You’re lying! [_Bewilderedly._] I can’t believe——
ELEANOR—[_Fiercely._] Oh, yes you can! You want to! You do! And you’re
glad! It makes me seem a lower creature than you thought, but you’re
glad to know it just the same! You’re glad because now you can really
believe that—nothing ever happened between us! [_She stares into his
eyes and seems to read some confirmation of her statement there, for she
cries with triumphant bitterness._] It’s true! You can’t deny it!
CAPE—[_Wildly._] No! You devil, you, you read thoughts into my mind!
ELEANOR—[_With wild hysterical scorn._] It’s true! How can I love you?
How could I ever love you?
CAPE—[_Clutching her in his arms fiercely._] Stop! Stop! You do love me!
[_He kisses her frantically. For a moment she submits, appears even to
return his kisses in spite of herself._ CAPE _cries triumphantly_.] You
do! [_She suddenly pushes him away and glares at him at arms’ length.
Her features are working convulsively. Her whole tortured face expresses
an abysmal self-loathing, a frightful hatred for him._]
ELEANOR—[_As if to herself—in a strangled voice._] No! You cannot
crush—my loathing! [_Her face becomes deadly calm. She speaks with
intense, cold hatred._] Don’t kiss me. I despise you! I love him. He
was—my lover—when you were away!
CAPE—[_Stares dumbly into her eyes for a long moment—hoarsely, in
agony._] You lie! You lie! You only want to torture——
ELEANOR—[_Deathly calm._] It’s true! [CAPE _stares at her another
second—then, with a snarl of fury like an animal’s he seizes her about
the throat with both hands. He chokes her, forcing her down to her
knees. She does not struggle but continues to look into his eyes with
the same defiant hate. At last he comes to himself with a shudder and
steps away from her. She remains where she is, only putting out her hand
on the floor to support herself._]
CAPE—[_In a terrible state, sobbing with rage and anguish._] Gone! Dead!
All our beauty gone! Oh, how I hate you! And you don’t love him! You
lie! You did this out of hatred for me! You dragged our ideal in the
gutter—with delight! [_Wildly._] And you pride yourself you’ve killed
it, do you, you actress, you barren soul? [_With savage triumph._] But I
tell you only a creator can really destroy! [_With a climax of frenzy._]
And I will! I will! I won’t give your hatred the satisfaction of seeing
our love live on in me—to torture me! I’ll drag it lower than you! I’ll
stamp it into the vilest depth! I’ll leave it dead! I’ll murder it—and
be free! [_Again he threatens her, his hands twitching back toward her
neck—then he rushes out of the door as if furies were pursuing him,
slamming it shut behind him._]
ELEANOR—[_With a cry of despair._] Michael! [_She stops as hatred and
rage overpower her again—leaps up and runs to the door—opens it and
screams after him violently._] Go! Go! I’m glad! I hate you. I’ll go,
too! I’m free! I’ll go—— [_She turns and runs up the stairs. She
disappears for a moment, then comes back with a hat and coat on and,
hurrying down the stairs again, rushes out leaving the door open behind
her._]
[_The Curtain Falls_]
ACT II
ACT TWO
SCENE ONE
SCENE—_Library of_ JOHN DARNTON’S _home in Connecticut, an hour or so
from the city. The room is spacious, furnished in excellent taste.
The rear wall is lined with bookshelves. On the wall above the
shelves are hung framed photographs of stage-sets. A door is in
the rear, toward right. A grand piano at left of door. Near it a
round table with a bronze lamp. A smaller table with another lamp
is in the left corner. In the right corner a big cushioned chair
and an expensive Victrola. In the right wall, French windows
opening on a porch. In the left wall, an open fireplace in which
logs are burning. Before the fireplace, a double couch facing left
and right. The lamp in the left corner is the only one lit. Over
the fireplace, a framed, enlarged portrait study of_ ELEANOR,
_evidently taken some years before_.
_As the curtain rises_, JOHN DARNTON _is discovered. He is sitting
in front of the fireplace, lost in an apathetic dream. His body is
bent over wearily, the shoulders bowed, his long arms resting on
his knees, his hands dangling. He sits on the extreme edge in the
exact middle of the big couch, and this heightens the sense of
loneliness about him, of a man growing old among dreams which
become profitless as he feels the lack of a love that could
understand and share them._
_Suddenly he starts as the sound of a motor comes from the
driveway. The car is heard driving up; it stops before the front
door; its door is slammed, it drives off; a ringing of the
doorbell sounds from somewhere back in the house._ DARNTON _has
gotten up, gone toward the door in the rear, exclaiming irritably
as the bell continues to ring_—All right, damn it! Who the
devil——? [_He is heard opening the front door—in blank
amazement._] Nelly! [_Then her voice in a strained, hysterical
pitch._] John! I—— [_The rest is lost incoherently. Then his voice
soothingly._] Come in by the fire! Come in. [_He follows her into
the room. Her face is pale, distraught, desperate. She comes
quickly to the couch and flings herself down in one corner,
staring into the fire. He stands nearby uncertainly, watching her.
His face holds a confused mixture of alarm, tenderness,
perplexity, passionate hope._]
DARNTON—You’re shivering. Come closer to the fire.
ELEANOR—[_With a startled movement._] No—I—I’m warm. [_A pause. He waits
for her to speak, not knowing what to think. She gradually collects
herself. Memory crowds back on her and her face twitches with pain which
turns to hatred and rage. She becomes conscious of_ DARNTON’S _eyes,
forces this back, her face growing mask-like and determined. She looks
up at_ DARNTON _and forces the words out slowly_.] John—you said, if
ever—— You once said I might always come——
DARNTON—[_His face lights up for a second with a joy that is
incongruously savage—at once controlling this—simply._] Yes, Nelly.
ELEANOR—[_A bit brokenly now._] I hope—you meant that.
DARNTON—[_Simply._] Yes, I meant it.
ELEANOR—I mean—that you still mean it——?
DARNTON—[_Forcing an awkward smile._] Then—now—forever after, amen—any
old time at all, Nelly. [_Then overcome by a rush of bewildered
joy—stammering._] Why—you ought to know——!
ELEANOR—[_Smiling tensely._] Would I still be welcome if I’d come—to
stay?
DARNTON—[_His voice quivering._] Nelly! [_He starts toward her, then
stops—in a low, uncertain voice._] And Michael?
ELEANOR—[_With an exclamation of pain._] Don’t! [_Quickly recovering
herself—in a cold, hard voice._] That’s—dead! [DARNTON _lets a held-back
breath of suspense escape him_. ELEANOR _stammers a bit hysterically_.]
Don’t talk of him! I’ve forgotten—as if he’d never lived! Do you still
love me? Do you? Then tell me! I must know someone——
DARNTON—[_Still uncertain, but coming nearer to her—simply._] You knew
once. Since then—— My God, you’ve guessed, haven’t you?
ELEANOR—I need to hear. You’ve never spoken—for years——
DARNTON—There was—Michael.
ELEANOR—[_Wildly, putting her hands up to her ears as if to shut out the
name._] Don’t!
DARNTON—You loved him.
ELEANOR—[_Intensely._] I hate him! And he hates me! [_She shudders—then,
driven by a desperate determination, forces a twisted smile._] Why do
you stand there? Are you afraid? I’m beginning to suspect—perhaps,
you’ve only imagined you loved me——
DARNTON—Nelly! [_He seizes one of her hands awkwardly and covers it with
kisses—confusedly, with deep emotion._] I—— You know—— Don’t joke—— You
know I love you!
ELEANOR—[_With the same fixed smile._] You must put your arms around
me—and kiss me—on the lips——
DARNTON—[_Takes her in his arms awkwardly and kisses her on the
lips—with passionate incoherence._] Nelly! I’d given up hoping—I—I can’t
believe—— [_She submits to his kisses with closed eyes, her face like a
mask, her body trembling with revulsion. Suddenly he seems to sense
something disharmonious—confusedly._] But you—you don’t care for me.
ELEANOR—[_Still with closed eyes—dully._] Yes. [_With a spurt of
desperate energy she kisses him wildly several times, then sinks back
again closing her eyes._] I’m so tired, John—so tired!
DARNTON—[_Immediately all concern._] You’re trembling all over. I’m an
idiot not to have seen—— Forgive me. [_He puts his hand on her
forehead._] You’re feverish. You’d better go to bed, young lady, right
away. Come. [_He raises her to her feet._]
ELEANOR—[_Wearily._] Yes, I’m tired. [_Bitterly._] Oh, it’s good to be
loved by someone who is unselfish and kind—after all the hate——
DARNTON—Ssshh! [_Forcing a joking tone._] I’m cast for the Doctor now.
Doctor’s orders: don’t talk, don’t think, sleep. Come, I’ll show you
your room.
ELEANOR—[_Dully._] Yes. [_As if she were not aware of what she is doing,
she allows him to lead her to the door at right, rear. There she
suddenly starts as if awakening—frightenedly._] Where are we going?
DARNTON—[_With gentle bullying._] You’re going upstairs to bed.
ELEANOR—[_With a shudder—incoherently._] No, no! Not now—no—wait—you
must wait—— [_Then calming herself and trying to speak
matter-of-factly._] I’d rather stay up and sit with you. I must have
gotten chilled. I want to sit by the fire.
DARNTON—[_Worriedly, but giving in to her at once._] All right. Whatever
suits you. [_They go back to the fire. She sits in a chair which he
pushes near it. He puts a cushion in back of her._] How’s that?
ELEANOR—[_With a wan, grateful smile._] You’re so kind, John. You’ve
always been kind. You’re so different—— [_She checks herself, her face
growing hard, and stares into the fire._ DARNTON _watches her face.
There is a long pause._]
DARNTON—[_Finally—in a gentle tone._] Nelly, don’t you think it’d help
if you told me—everything that’s happened?
ELEANOR—[_With a shudder._] No! It was all horror—and hatred—and
disgust! [_Wildly resentful._] Why do you make me remember? I’ve come to
you. Why do you ask for reasons? [_With a harsh laugh._] Are you
jealous—of him?
DARNTON—[_Quietly._] I’ve always envied Michael.
ELEANOR—If you’d seen him tonight, you wouldn’t envy him. You’d despise
him as I do. He is mean and contemptible! He makes everything as low as
he is! He went away threatening, boasting he would——[_Hysterically._]
Why do you make me think of him? I hate him, I tell you! I want to be
yours—yours! [_She throws herself into his arms._]
DARNTON—[_Straining her to him—with awkward passion._] Nelly! Yes—yes—
[_Under his kisses her face again becomes mask-like, her body rigid, her
eyes closed._ DARNTON _suddenly grows aware of this. He stares down at
her face, his own growing bewildered and afraid. He stammers._] Nelly!
What is it?
ELEANOR—[_Opening her eyes—in alarm._] What——?
DARNTON—[_With a sigh of relief._] You gave me a scare. You were like a
corpse.
ELEANOR—[_Breaks away from him and bends over the fire with her
trembling hands spread out to it._] I—I’m so cold. I believe I do feel
ill. I’ll go to bed. [_She moves toward the door._]
DARNTON—[_Uneasily—with a forced heartiness._] Now you’re talking sense.
Come on. [_He leads the way into the hall. She goes as far as the
doorway—then stops. A queer struggle is apparent in her face, her whole
body, as if she were fighting with all her will to overcome some
invisible barrier which bars her way._ DARNTON _is watching her keenly
now, a sad foreboding coming into his eyes. He steps past her back into
the room, saying kindly but with a faint trace of bitterness._] It’s the
first door upstairs on your right—if you’d rather go alone. [_He walks
still further away, then turns to watch her, his face growing more and
more aware and melancholy._]
ELEANOR—[_Vaguely._] No—you don’t understand—— [_She stands swaying,
reaching out her hand to the side of the doorway for support—dully._]
The first door to the right—upstairs?
DARNTON—Yes.
ELEANOR—[_Struggles with herself, confused and impotent, trying to
will—finally turns to_ DARNTON _like a forlorn child_.] John. Can’t you
help me?
DARNTON—[_Gravely._] No—not now when I do understand. You must do it
alone.
ELEANOR—[_With a desperate cry._] I can! I’m as strong as he! I do!
[_This breaks the spell which has chained her. She grows erect and
strong. She walks through the doorway._]
DARNTON—[_With a triumphant exclamation of joy._] Ah! [_He strides
toward the doorway—then stops as he notices that she also has stopped at
the bottom of the stairs, one foot on the first stair, looking up at the
top. Then she wavers and suddenly bolts back into the room, gropingly,
her face strained and frightened._ DARNTON _questions her with fierce
disappointment_.] What is it? Why did you stop?
ELEANOR—[_Forcing a twisted smile—wildly._] You’re right. I must be
feverish. [_Trying to control herself—self-mockingly._] Seeing spooks,
that’s pretty far gone, isn’t it? [_Laughing hysterically._] Yes—I swear
I saw him—standing at the head of the stairs waiting for me—just as he
was standing when you knocked at our door, remember? [_She laughs._]
Really, it was too ridiculous—so plain——
DARNTON—Ssshh! [_Glancing at her worriedly._] Won’t you lie down here?
Try and rest.
ELEANOR—[_Allowing him to make her comfortable on the couch before the
fire._] Yes. [_Her eyes glance up into his bewilderedly._]
DARNTON—[_After a long pause—slowly._] You don’t love me, Nelly.
ELEANOR—[_Pitifully protesting._] But I do, John! I do! You’re kind!
You’re unselfish and fine! I do love you!
DARNTON—[_With a wry smile._] That isn’t me. You don’t love me.
ELEANOR—[_Desperately defiant, leaps to her feet._] I do! [_She takes
his face between her hands and bringing her own close to it, stares into
his eyes. He looks back into hers. She mutters fiercely between her
clenched teeth._] I do! I do love you! [_For a long moment they remain
there, as she brings her face nearer and nearer striving with all her
will to kiss him on the lips. Finally her eyes falter, her body grows
limp, she turns away and throws herself on the couch in a fit of
abandoned sobbing._]
DARNTON—[_With a sad smile._] You see?
ELEANOR—[_Her voice muffled—between sobs._] But I—want to! And I will—I
know—some day—I promise!
DARNTON—[_Forcing a light tone._] Well, I’ll be resigned to wait and
hope then—and trust in your good intentions. [_After a pause—in a
calming, serious tone._] You’re calmer now? Tell me what happened
between you and Michael.
ELEANOR—No! Please!
DARNTON—[_Smiling but earnestly._] It’ll relieve your mind, Nelly—and
besides, how can I help you otherwise?
ELEANOR—[_After a pause—with resigned dullness._] We’ve quarreled, but
never like this before. This was final! [_She shudders—then suddenly
bursts out wildly._] Oh, John, for God’s sake don’t ask me! I want to
forget! We tore each other to pieces, we destroyed one another! I
realized I hated him! I couldn’t restrain my hate! I had to crush him as
he was crushing me! [_After a pause—dully again._] And so that was the
end.
DARNTON—[_Tensely, hoping again now—pleadingly._] You’re sure, Nelly?
You’re sure your love is dead——
ELEANOR—[_Fiercely._] I hate him!
DARNTON—[_After a pause—earnestly._] Then stay here. I think I can help
you forget. Never mind what people say. Make this your home—and maybe—in
time—— [_He forces a smile._] You see, I’m already starting to nurse
along that crumb of hope you gave. [_She is looking down, preoccupied
with her own thoughts. He looks at her embarrassedly, then goes on
gently, timidly persuasive._] I don’t mind waiting. I’m used to it. And
I’ve been hoping ever since I first met you—eight years ago, isn’t it?
[_Forcing a half laugh._] I’ll admit when you married him the waiting
and hoping seemed excess labor. I tried to fire them—thought I had—but
when you came tonight—there they were right onto the job again! [_He
laughs—then catching himself awkwardly._] But hell! I don’t want to
bother you now. Forget me. Will you stay here and rest up—treat this as
your house? That’s the point.
ELEANOR—[_In a bland, absent-minded tone which wounds him._] You’re so
kind, John. [_Then following her own line of thought, she breaks out
savagely._] I told him I’d been your mistress while he was away!
DARNTON—[_Amazed._] Nelly!
ELEANOR—I had to tell that lie! He was degrading me! I had to revenge
myself!
DARNTON—But certainly he could never believe——
ELEANOR—[_With fierce triumph._] Oh, I made him believe! [_Then dully._]
Then—he went away. He said he would kill our love as I had—worse——
[_With a twisted smile._] That’s what he’s doing now. He has gone to one
of those women he lived with before—— [_Laughing harshly._] No! They
wouldn’t be vile enough—for his beautiful revenge on me! He has a
wonderful imagination. Everyone acknowledges that! [_She laughs with
wild bitterness—this is transformed into a frenzy of rage._] Oh, how I
loathe him! [_Then in agony._] My God, why do I think——? Help me, John!
Help me to forget—to love you!
DARNTON—[_After a pause—with a sad, bitter helplessness._] You mean—to
hate him! Help you—to revenge yourself! But don’t you realize I
can’t—you can’t—because—I see this damn clear now so don’t deny
it!—because you still love him!
ELEANOR—[_Fiercely._] No! [_After a pause—brokenly._] Don’t! I know! I
hate myself for loving him! I hate him because I love him! [_She sobs
heart-brokenly._]
DARNTON—[_After a pause, as her sobbing grows quieter—sadly._] Go home.
ELEANOR—No! [_After a pause, brokenly._] He hates me.
DARNTON—[_With a grim smile._] Because he loves you.
ELEANOR—He’ll never come back now.
DARNTON—[_With bitter humor._] Oh, yes he will; take my word for it. I
know—because I happen to love you, too.
ELEANOR—[_Faintly._] And do you—hate me?
DARNTON—[_After a pause—with melancholy self-disgust._] No. I’m too
soft. That’s why you’ve always liked me and never loved me.
[_Bitterly._] I ought to hate you! Twice now you’ve treated my love with
the most humiliating contempt—— Once, years ago, when you were willing
to endure it as the price of a career—again tonight, when you try to
give yourself out of hate and love—love!—for him! [_In sudden furious
revolt._] Christ! What am I, eh? [_Then checking his anger and forcing a
wry smile._] I think your treatment has been rather hard to take,
Nelly—and even now I’m not cured, at that! [_He laughs harshly and turns
away to conceal his real hurt._]
ELEANOR—[_With deep grief._] Forgive me.
DARNTON—[_As if to himself—reassuringly._] Still—I would have been the
poorest slave. I couldn’t have fought you like Michael. Perhaps, deep
down, I’m glad——
ELEANOR—Don’t say that! If I could have loved you—if I could love you
now—I’d be happy.
DARNTON—You’d have grown to despise a slave long ago. [_Then bluntly._]
You’d better go home right away.
ELEANOR—[_Dully._] Even if he has——
DARNTON—[_Brusquely._] You know you’ve got to—no matter what!
ELEANOR—How can I have faith? And how can I ever make him believe I lied
about you? How can he ever trust me about us—here—tonight?
[_Miserably._] Oh, don’t you see how impossible——!
DARNTON—[_Impatiently._] But evidently you must. Face the truth in
yourself. Must you—or mustn’t you?
ELEANOR—[_After a moment’s defiant struggle with herself—forlornly._]
Yes. [_After a pause, with a gesture toward the door and a weary, beaten
smile._] Upstairs—if I could have gone—I’d have been free. But he’s
trained me too well in his ideal. And I love him. From the depths of my
humiliation I love him! [_Despairingly._] But when I think of what he’s
doing, of what he will do to crush——! I hate him! I hate him so terribly
that——! [_She stops, trembling with passion, her face convulsed—then,
shrugging her shoulders, fatalistically._] It’s broken me. I’m no longer
anything. So what does it matter how weak I am? Let him win. [_A slight
pause._] I begin to know—something. [_With a sudden queer, exultant
pride._] I love him! But my love for him is my own, not his! My love for
him he can never possess! It is _my_ own! It is _my_ life! [_She turns
to_ DARNTON _determinedly_.] I must go home now.
DARNTON—[_Wonderingly._] Good. I’ll drive you back. [_He starts for the
door._]
ELEANOR—[_Suddenly grasping his arm._] Wait. [_Affectionately._] I was
forgetting you—as usual. How can you forgive me? What can I do——?
DARNTON—[_With a wry smile._] Forget, Nelly. Remember me as a manager.
Study your part; help Michael; and we’ll all three be enormously
successful! [_He laughs mockingly._]
ELEANOR—[_Tenderly._] I’ll always believe Fate should have let me love
you, instead.
DARNTON—[_With the same wry smile._] While I begin to suspect that in a
way I’m lucky—to be heart-broken. Our might-have-beens are more
enjoyable—as dreams, eh? [_With a laugh._] Curtain! You’ll want to go
upstairs and powder your nose. There’s no angel with a flaming sword
there now, is there? [_He points to the doorway._]
ELEANOR—[_With a tired smile._] No. [_She goes to the doorway. He
follows her. They both stop there for a moment instinctively and smile
forlornly at each other._]
DARNTON—[_Impulsively._] One question: That time you stood here and
called to me for help—if I could have given you a push, mental, moral,
physical——?
ELEANOR—[_Smiling._] Might-have-beens, John! [_Then earnestly._] You
didn’t because you couldn’t. It wouldn’t have helped, anyway. The angel
was here. [_She touches her breast._]
DARNTON—[_With a sigh._] Thanks. That saves me a life-long regret.
ELEANOR—[_Earnestly—gripping his right hand in hers and holding his
eyes._] There must be no regrets—ever—between old friends.
DARNTON—[_Gripping her hand in turn._] No, I promise, Nelly. [_Then,
letting her hand drop and turning away to conceal his emotion—forcing a
joking tone._] After all, friendship is sounder, saner—more in the
picture for my type, eh?
ELEANOR—[_Absent-minded again now—vaguely._] I don’t know. [_Then
briskly._] We must hurry. I’ll be right down. [_She goes out and up the
stairway in the hall._]
DARNTON—[_Stares up after her for a second, then smiling grimly._] Well,
business of living on as usual. [_He passes his arm here and there in
the open doorway as if he were a magician—with bitter irony._] You
see—nothing there! Invisible cobwebs—cast-iron cobwebs! [_He laughs
harshly._] Catching title for a play. I’ll tell Michael! [_He laughs
again—checks himself—then walks out, calling up the stairs._] I’m going
to get the car, Nelly.
[_The Curtain Falls_]
ACT TWO
SCENE TWO
SCENE—_A dingy bedroom in a Sixth Avenue “bed house.” In the rear,
center, a door leading into the hall. A chair to left of door. In
the left corner, a washstand with bowl, pitcher, towels, etc. In
the left wall, center, a small window with a torn dark shade
pulled down. On the right, a bed. A filthy threadbare carpet on
the floor. Ugly wall paper, dirty, stained, criss-crossed with
match-strokes._
_When the curtain rises, the room is in darkness except for a
faint glow on the window shade from some street lamp. Then the
door is opened and a woman’s figure is silhouetted against the
dim, yellow light of the hall. She turns and speaks to someone who
is following her. Her voice is heavy and slow with the strong
trace of a foreign intonation, although the words are clearly
enough defined._
WOMAN—Got a match? [_A man’s figure appears behind hers. He fumbles in
his pockets, hands her a match without speaking. She strikes it on the
wall, lights the gas jet near the door. The room is revealed in sordid
detail in the tarnished yellow light. The_ WOMAN _is fairly young. Her
face, rouged, powdered, penciled, is broad and stupid. Her small eyes
have a glazed look. Yet she is not ugly—rather pretty for her bovine,
stolid type—and her figure is still attractive although its movements
just now are those of a tired scrubwoman’s. She takes off her coat,
hangs it on a hook, then goes to a mirror on the wall over the
washstand, and removes her hat._
_The man is_ MICHAEL CAPE. _He is bare-headed, his hair disheveled, his
eyes wild, his face has a feverish, mad expression. He stands in the
doorway watching each movement of the_ WOMAN’S _with an unnatural
preoccupied concentration_.]
WOMAN—[_Having removed her hat and put it on the washstand, turns to him
impatiently._] Ain’t you comin’ in? [_He starts and nods stupidly,
moving his lips as if answering but not making a sound._] Come in! Shut
the door. [_He does so and locks it mechanically—then looks from her
around the room with a frightened, puzzled glance as if he were aware of
his surroundings for the first time._]
WOMAN—[_Forcing a trade smile—with an attempt at lightness._] Well, here
we are, dearie. [_Then with a sigh of physical weariness as she sits on
the side of the bed._] Gawd, I’m tired! My feet hurt fierce! I been
walkin’ miles. I got corns, too. [_She sighs again, this time with a
sort of restful content._] It’s good ‘n’ warm in this dump, I’ll hand it
that. [_A pause._] I’d gave up hope and was beatin’ it home when you
come along. [_A pause during which she takes him in calculatingly._]
How’d you lose your hat? [_He starts, passes a trembling hand through
his hair bewilderedly but does not answer. A pause—then the_ WOMAN
_sighs and yawns wearily—bored_.] Can’t you say nothin’? You was full
enough of bull when you met me. Gawd, I thought you’d get us both
pinched. You acted like you was crazy. Remember kissing me on the corner
with a whole mob pipin’ us off?
CAPE—[_With a start—evidently answering some train of thought in his
mind—with a wild laugh._] Remember? [_He sinks on the chair with his
head in his hands. There is a pause._]
WOMAN—[_Insinuatingly._] Goin’ to stay all night? [_He glances up at her
stupidly but doesn’t answer. The_ WOMAN _insists dully_.] Say, you got
ear-muffs on? I ast you, d’you wanta stay all night?
CAPE—[_After a moment’s groping, nods emphatically again and again,
swallowing hard several times as if he were striving to get control of
his voice—finally blurts out in a tone of desperation._] Yes—yes—of
course!—Where else would I go?
WOMAN—Home. [_Indifferently._] That’s where most of ’em goes—afterwards.
CAPE—[_With a sudden burst of wild laughter._] Ha-ha-ha. Home! Is that
your private brand of revenge—to go with men with homes? I congratulate
you! [_He laughs to himself with bitter irony—then suddenly deadly
calm._] Yes, I have a home, come to think of it—from now on Hell is my
home! I suspect we’re fellow-citizens. [_He laughs._]
WOMAN—[_Superstitiously._] You oughtn’t to say them things.
CAPE—[_With dull surprise._] Why?
WOMAN—Somep’n might happen. [_A pause._] Don’t you believe in no God?
CAPE—I believe in the devil!
WOMAN—[_Frightened._] Say! [_Then after a pause, forcing a smile._] I’m
wise to what’s wrong with you. You been lappin’ up some bum hooch.
CAPE—[_Jerkily._] No. I’m not drunk. I thought of that—but—it’s evasion.
[_Wildly._] And I must be conscious—fully conscious, do you
understand?—of what I do! I will this act as a symbol of release—of the
end of all things! [_He stops, shuddering. She looks at him stolidly. A
pause. He presses his hands to his forehead._] My brain burns up!
[_Suddenly striking his head with both fists—in a frenzy._] Stop
thinking, damn you! Stop! [_Then after a pause—dully._] How long——? What
time is it?
WOMAN—Little after two, I guess.
CAPE—[_Amazed._] Only that? [_She nods._] Only two hours since——? [_A
pause._] I remember streets—lights—dead faces—— Then you—your face alone
was alive for me, alive with my deliverance! That was why I kissed you.
You shall avenge me!
WOMAN—[_Looking at him queerly._] Say, you talk nutty. Been dopin’ up on
coke, I bet you.
CAPE—[_With an abrupt exclamation._] Ha! [_He stares at her with
unnatural intensity._] You seem to take it quite casually that men must
be either drunk or doped—otherwise——! Marvelous! You,—you are the last
depth—— [_With a strange, wild exultance, leaps to his feet._] You are
my salvation! You have the power—and the right—to defile beauty and
murder love! You can satisfy hate and exhaust it! Will you let me kiss
you again? [_He strides over to her._]
WOMAN—[_In a stupid state of bewilderment, feeling she has been insulted
but not exactly knowing by what or how to resent it—angrily, pushing him
away._] No! Get away from me! [_Then afraid she may lose his trade by
this rebuff._] Aw, all right. Sure you can. [_Making a tremendous
visible effort he kisses her on the lips, then shrinks back with a
shudder and forces a harsh laugh. She stares at him and mutters
resentfully._] O’ny don’t get so fresh, see? I don’t like your line of
talk. [_He slumps down on the chair again, sunk in a somber stupor. She
watches him. She yawns. Finally she asks insinuatingly._] Ain’t you
gettin’ sleepy?
CAPE—[_Starting—with wild scorn._] Sleep! Do you think I——? [_Staring at
her._] Oh—I see—you mean, what did I come here for?
WOMAN—[_In same tone._] It’s gettin’ late.
CAPE—[_Dully, with no meaning to his question—like an automaton._] A
little after two?
WOMAN—Yes. [_She yawns._] You better let me go to bed and come yourself.
CAPE—[_Again staring at her with strange intensity—suddenly with a queer
laugh._] How long have you and I been united in the unholy bonds
of—bed-lock? [_He chuckles sardonically at his own play on words._]
WOMAN—[_With a puzzled grin._] Say!
CAPE—Ten thousand years—about—isn’t it? Or twenty? Don’t you remember?
WOMAN—[_Keeping her forced grin._] Tryin’ to kid me, ain’t you?
CAPE—Don’t lie about your age! You were beside the cradle of love, and
you’ll dance dead drunk on its grave!
WOMAN—I’m only twenty-six, honest.
CAPE—[_With a wild laugh._] A fact! You’re right. Thoughts keep alive.
Only facts kill—deeds! [_He starts to his feet._] Then hate will let me
alone. Love will be dead. I will be as ugly as the world. My dreams will
be low dreams. I’ll “lay me down among the swine.” Will you promise me
this, you?
WOMAN—[_Vaguely offended—impatiently._] Sure, I’ll promise anything.
[_She gets up to start undressing. She has been pulling the pins out of
her hair and, as she rises, it falls over her shoulders in a peroxided
flood. She turns to him, smiling with childish pride._] D’you like my
hair, kid? I got a lot of it, ain’t I?
CAPE—[_Laughing sardonically._] “O love of mine, let down your hair and
I will make my shroud of it.”
WOMAN—[_Coquettishly pleased._] What’s that—po’try? [_Then suddenly
reminded of something she regards him calculatingly—after a pause,
coldly._] Say, you ain’t broke, are you? Is that what’s troubling you?
CAPE—[_Startled—then with bitter mockery._] Ha! I see you’re a practical
person. [_He takes a bill from his pocket and holds it out to
her—contemptuously._] Here!
WOMAN—[_Stares from the bill to him, flushing beneath her rouge._] Say!
I don’t like the way you act. [_Proudly._] I don’t take nothin’ for
nothin’—not from you, see!
CAPE—[_Surprised and ashamed._] I’ll leave it here, then. [_He puts it
on top of the washstand and turns to her—embarrassedly._] I didn’t
mean—to offend you.
WOMAN—[_Her face clearing immediately._] Aw, never mind. It’s all right.
CAPE—[_Staring at her intently—suddenly deeply moved._] Poor woman!
WOMAN—[_Stung—excitedly._] Hey, none of that! Nix! Cut it out! I don’t
stand for that from nobody! [_She sits down on the bed angrily._]
CAPE—[_With unnatural intensity._] Do you know what you are? You’re a
symbol. You’re all the tortures man inflicts on woman—and you’re the
revenge of woman! You’re love revenging itself upon itself! You’re the
suicide of love—of my love—of all love since the world began!
[_Wildly._] Listen to me! Two hours ago—— [_Then he beats his head with
both clenched hands—distractedly._] Leave me alone! Leave me alone, damn
you! [_He flings himself on the chair in a violent outburst of dry
sobbing._]
WOMAN—[_Bewilderedly._] Say! Say! [_Then touched, she comes to him and
puts her arms around his shoulders, on the verge of tears herself._] Aw,
come on, kid. Quit it. It’s all right. Everything’s all right, see. [_As
his sobbing grows quieter—helpfully._] Say, maybe you ain’t ate nothin’,
huh? Maybe soup’d fix you. S’posin’ I go round the corner, huh? Sure,
all I got to do is put up my hair——
CAPE—[_Controlling hysterical laughter—huskily._] No—thanks. [_Then his
bitter memories rush back agonizingly. He stammers wildly._] She
confessed—with hate! She was proud of her hate! She was proud of my
torture. She screamed: “I hate you! I’ll go too.” Go where? Did she go?
Yes, she must——! Oh, my God! Stop! Stop! [_He springs up, his face
distorted, and clutches the_ WOMAN _fiercely in his arms_.] Save me,
you! Help me to kill this beauty which she defiled! Help me to gain the
peace which is the death of love. [_He kisses her again and again
frenziedly. She submits stolidly. Finally with a groan he pushes her
away, shuddering with loathing, and sinks back on the chair._] No! I
can’t—I can’t!
WOMAN—[_Wiping her lips with the back of her hand—a vague comprehension
coming into her face—scornfully._] Huh! I got a hunch now what’s eatin’
you. [_Then with a queer sort of savage triumph._] Well, I’m glad one of
youse guys got paid back like you oughter!
CAPE—[_With dull impotent rage._] I can’t! I love her! [_As if he were
defying himself by this confession._] Yes, I still love her! And I
can’t! I only hate because I love—I’m the weaker. Our love must live on
in me. There is no death for it. There is no freedom—while I live.
[_Struck by a sudden thought._] Then, why——? [_A pause._] An end of
loathing—in a second, peace—no wounds, no memories—sleep!
WOMAN—[_With a shudder._] Say, you’re beginning to give me the creeps.
CAPE—[_Startled—with a forced laugh._] Am I? Well, never mind. [_He
shakes his head as if to drive some thought from his mind and forces a
trembling, mocking smile._] That’s over. The great temptation, isn’t it?
I suppose you’ve known it. But also the great evasion. Too simple for
the complicated,—too weak for the strong, too strong for the weak. One
must go on, eh?—even wounded, on one’s knees—if only out of curiosity to
see what will happen—to oneself. [_He laughs harshly and turns with a
quick movement toward the door._] Well, good-by, and forgive me. It
isn’t you, you know. You’re the perfect death—but I’m too strong, or
weak—no, merely I’m myself—and that myself can’t, you understand—can’t!
So, good-by. [_He goes to the door._]
WOMAN—[_Frightenedly._] Say! What’re you goin’ to do?
CAPE—Go on in the dark.
WOMAN—You better beat it home, that’s what.
CAPE—[_Violently._] No! [_Then bitterly._] I came home once tonight——
WOMAN—[_Wearily._] Aw, forget it. She’s your wife, ain’t she?
CAPE—How do you know? [_He comes back to her, curiously attracted._]
WOMAN—[_Cynically._] Aw, I’m wise. Stick to her, see? You’ll get over
it. You can get used to anything, take it from me!
CAPE—[_In anguish._] Don’t! But it’s true—it’s the insult we all swallow
as the price of life. [_Rebelliously._] But I——!
WOMAN—[_With a sort of forlorn chuckle._] Oh, you’ll go back, aw right!
Don’t kid yourself. You’ll go back no matter what, and you’ll learn to
like it. Don’t I know? You love her, don’t you? Well, then! There’s no
use buckin’ that game. Go home. Kiss and make up. Ferget it. It’s easy
to ferget—when you got to! [_She finishes up with a cynical, weary
scorn._]
CAPE—[_Very pale—stammering._] You—you make life despicable.
WOMAN—[_Angrily._] Say! [_Then with groping, growing resentment._] I
don’t like your talk! You’ve pulled a lot of bum cracks
about—about—never mind, I got you, anyhow! You ain’t got no right——
What’d you wanter pick me up for, anyway? Wanter just get me up here to
say rotten things? Wanter use me to pay her back? Say! Where do I come
in? Guys go with me ‘cause they like my looks, see?—what I am,
understand?—but you, you don’t want nothin’. You ain’t drunk, neither!
You just don’t like me. And you was beatin’ it leavin’ your money
there—without nothin’. I was goin’ to let you then, I ain’t now. [_She
suddenly gives him a furious push which sends him reeling back against
the wall._] G’wan! Take your lousy coin and beat it! I wouldn’t take
nothin’, nor have nothin’ to do with you if you was to get down on your
knees!
CAPE—[_Stares at her—an expression comes as if he were seeing her for
the first time—with great pity._] So—it still survives in you. They
haven’t killed it—that lonely life of one’s own which suffers in
solitude. [_Shamefacedly._] I should have known. Can you forgive me?
WOMAN—[_Defensively._] No!
CAPE—Through separate ways love has brought us both to this room. As one
suffering, lonely human being to another, won’t you——?
WOMAN—[_Struggling with herself—harshly._] No!
CAPE—[_Gently._] Not even if I ask it on my knees? [_He kneels before
her, looking up into her face._]
WOMAN—[_Bewildered, with hysterical fierceness._] No! Git up, you——!
Don’t do that, I tell you! Git up or I’ll brain yuh! [_She raises her
fist threateningly over his head._]
CAPE—[_Gently._] Not until you——
WOMAN—[_Exhaustedly._] Aw right—aw right—I forgive——
CAPE—[_Gets up and takes her face between his hands and stares into her
eyes—then he kisses her on the forehead._] Sister.
WOMAN—[_With a half sob._] Nix! Lay off of me, can’t you?
CAPE—But I learned that from you.
WOMAN—[_Stammering._] What?—loined what? [_She goes away from him and
sinks on the bed exhaustedly._] Say, you better beat it.
CAPE—I’m going. [_He points to the bill on the washstand._] You need
this money. You’ll accept it from me now, won’t you?
WOMAN—[_Dully._] Sure. Leave it there.
CAPE—[_In the same gentle tone._] You’ll have to give it to him in the
morning?
WOMAN—[_Dully._] Sure.
CAPE—All of it?
WOMAN—Sure.
CAPE—Or he’d beat you?
WOMAN—Sure. [_Then suddenly grinning._] Maybe he’ll beat me up,
anyway—just for the fun of it.
CAPE—But you love him, don’t you?
WOMAN—Sure. I’m lonesome.
CAPE—Yes. [_After a slight pause._] Why did you smile when you said he’d
beat you, anyway?
WOMAN—I was thinkin’ of the whole game. It’s funny, ain’t it?
CAPE—[_Slowly._] You mean—life and love?
WOMAN—Sure. You got to laugh, ain’t you? Sure! You got to loin to like
it!
CAPE—[_This makes an intense impression on him. He nods his head several
times._] Yes! That’s it! That’s exactly it! That goes deeper than
wisdom. To learn to love the truth of life—to accept it and be
exalted—that’s the one faith left to us! [_Then with a tremulous
smile._] Good-by, I’ve joined your church. I’m going home.
WOMAN—[_With a grin that is queerly affectionate._] Sure. That’s the
stuff. Close your eyes and your feet’ll take you there.
CAPE—[_Impressed again._] Yes! Yes! Of course they would! They’ve been
walking there for thousands of years—blindly. However, I’ll keep my eyes
open—— [_He smiles back at her affectionately._] ——and learn to like it!
WOMAN—[_Grinning._] Sure. Good luck.
CAPE—Good-by. [_He goes out, closing the door after him. She stares at
the door for a moment, listening to his footsteps as they die out down
the stairs. Then she takes a comb from her bag and, going to the mirror,
starts to comb her hair. She is preoccupied and her hand suddenly
stops._]
WOMAN—[_Confusedly._] Say——? [_She stares at herself with a
vaguely-troubled, ruminating stolidity. Then with a sigh she goes on
combing her hair._]
[_The Curtain Falls_]
ACT III
ACT THREE
SCENE—_Same as Act One, the_ CAPES’ _apartment, about five o’clock the
same morning. The door to the hall is still open, the reading lamp
alight, everything exactly as at the close of_ ACT ONE.
ELEANOR _is standing by the table, leaning her back against it,
facing the door, her whole attitude strained, expectant but
frightened, tremblingly uncertain whether to run and hide from, or
run forward and greet_ CAPE, _who is standing in the doorway. For
a long, tense moment they remain fixed, staring into each other’s
eyes with an apprehensive questioning. Then, as if unconsciously,
falteringly, with trembling smiles, they come toward each other.
Their lips move as if they were trying to speak. When they come
close, they instinctively reach out their hands in a strange
conflicting gesture of a protective warding off and at the same
time a seeking possession. Their hands clasp and they again stop,
searching each other’s eyes. Finally their lips force out words._
ELEANOR—[_Penitently._] Michael!
CAPE—[_Humbly._] Nelly! [_They smile with a queer understanding, their
arms move about each other, their lips meet. They seem in a forgetful,
happy trance at finding each other again. They touch each other
testingly as if each cannot believe the other is really there. They act
for the moment like two persons of different races, deeply in love but
separated by a barrier of language._]
ELEANOR—[_Rambling tenderly._] Michael—I—— Dearest—I was afraid——
CAPE—[_Stammering._] Nelly—it’s so good!—I thought—my own—you’d gone——
[_They stare at each other—a pause._]
ELEANOR—[_Beginning to be aware—a bit bewilderedly, breaking away from
him with a little shiver—stupidly._] I feel—there’s a draught, isn’t
there?
CAPE—[_Becoming aware in his turn—heavily._] I’ll shut the door. [_He
goes and does so. She walks to her chair and sits down. He comes and
sits beside her. They are now side by side as in Act One. A pause. They
stare ahead, each frowningly abstracted. Then each, at the same moment,
steals a questioning side glance at the other. Their eyes meet, they
look away, then back, they stare at each other with a peculiar dull
amazement, recognition yet non-recognition. They seem about to speak,
then turn away again. Their faces grow sad, their eyes begin to suffer,
their bodies become nervous and purposeless. Finally_ CAPE _exclaims
with a dull resentment directed not at her but at life_.] What is—it?
[_He makes a gesture of repulsing something before him._]
ELEANOR—[_In his tone._] I don’t know.
CAPE—[_Harshly._] A moment ago—there—— [_He indicates where they had
stood in an embrace._] We knew everything. We understood!
ELEANOR—[_Eagerly._] Oh, yes!
CAPE—[_Bitterly._] Now—we must begin to think—to continue going on,
getting lost——
ELEANOR—[_Sadly._] It was happy to forget. Let’s not think—yet.
CAPE—[_Grimly._] We’ve begun. [_Then with a harsh laugh._] One must
explain. Thinking explains. It eliminates the unexplainable—by which we
live.
ELEANOR—[_Warningly._] By which we love. Sssh! [_A pause._]
CAPE—[_Wonderingly—not looking at her._] You have learned that, too?
ELEANOR—[_With a certain exultance._] Oh, yes, Michael—yes! [_She clasps
his hand. A pause. Then she murmurs._] Now—we know peace. [_Their hands
drop apart. She sighs._]
CAPE—[_Slowly._] Peace isn’t our meaning.
ELEANOR—[_Suddenly turns and addresses him directly in a sad,
sympathetic tone._] You’ve something you want to ask me, Michael?
CAPE—[_Turns to her with an immediate affirmative on his lips, checks it
as he meets her eyes, turns away—a pause—then he turns back humbly._]
No.
ELEANOR—[_Her head has been averted since he turned away—without looking
at him._] Yes.
CAPE—[_Decisively._] No, Nelly. [_She still keeps her head averted.
After a pause he asks simply._] Why? Is there something you want to ask
me?
ELEANOR—No. [_After a pause—with a trace of bitter humor._] I can’t be
less magnanimous than you, can I?
CAPE—Then there is something——?
ELEANOR—Haven’t you something you want to tell?
CAPE—[_Looks at her. Their eyes meet again._] Yes—the truth—if I can.
And you?
ELEANOR—Yes, I wish to tell you the truth. [_They look into each other’s
eyes. Suddenly she laughs with a sad self-mockery._] Well, we’ve both
been noble. I haven’t asked you; you haven’t asked me; and yet—— [_She
makes a helpless gesture with her hands. A pause. Then abruptly and
mechanically._] I’ll begin at the beginning. I left here right after you
did.
CAPE—[_With an involuntary start._] Oh! [_He checks himself._]
ELEANOR—[_Her eyes reading his—after a pause—a bit dryly._] You thought
I’d stayed here all the time? [_Mockingly._] Waiting for you?
CAPE—[_Wounded._] Don’t! [_After a pause—painfully._] When I found
you—perhaps I hoped——
ELEANOR—[_Dully._] I had only been back a few minutes. [_After a
pause._] Was that why you seemed so happy—there——? [_She points to the
spot where they had stood embraced._]
CAPE—[_Indignantly._] No, no! Don’t think that! I’m not like that—not
any more! [_Without looking at her he reaches out and clasps her hand._]
ELEANOR—[_Looks at him—after a pause, understandingly._] I’m sorry——
CAPE—[_Self-defensively._] Of course, I knew you must have gone, you’d
have been a fool to stay. [_Excitedly._] And it doesn’t matter—not a
damn! I’ve gotten beyond that.
ELEANOR—[_Misunderstanding—coldly._] I’m glad. [_A pause. She asks
coldly._] Shall I begin again?
CAPE—[_Struggling with himself—disjointedly._] No—not unless—I don’t
need—— I’ve changed. That doesn’t matter. I—[_With a sudden twisted
grin._] I’m learning to like it, you see.
ELEANOR—[_Looks at him, strangely impressed—a pause—slowly._] I think I
know what you mean. We’re both learning.
CAPE—[_Wonderingly._] You——? [_She has turned away from him. He turns to
stare at her._]
ELEANOR—[_After a pause, taking up her story matter-of-factly._] I went
to John.
CAPE—[_Trying with agony to take this stoically—mumbling stupidly._]
Yes—of course—I supposed——
ELEANOR—[_In the same mechanical tone._] He drove me back here in his
car. He predicted you’d be back any moment, so he went right home again.
CAPE—[_A wild, ironical laugh escapes his control._] Shrewd—Ha!
ELEANOR—[_After a pause—rebukingly._] John is a good man.
CAPE—[_Startled, turns and stares at her averted face—then miserably
humble, stammers._] Yes, yes—I know—I acknowledge—good—— [_He breaks
down, cursing pitiably at himself._] God damn you!
ELEANOR—Oh!
CAPE—Not you! Me! [_Then he turns to her—with fierce defiance._] I love
John!
ELEANOR—[_Moved, without looking at him reaches and clasps his hand._]
That—is beautiful, Michael. [_A pause._]
CAPE—[_Begins to frown somberly—lets go of her hand._] It’s hard—after
what you confessed——
ELEANOR—[_Frightenedly._] Ssshh! [_Then calmly._] That was a lie. I lied
to make you suffer more than you were making me suffer. [_A pause—then
she turns to him._] Can you believe this?
CAPE—[_Humbly._] I want to believe——
ELEANOR—[_Immediately turning away—significantly._] Oh!
CAPE—[_Fiercely—as if to himself._] I will believe! But what difference
does it make—believing or not believing? I’ve changed, I tell you! I
accept!
ELEANOR—I can’t be a lie you live with!
CAPE—[_Turning to her resentfully._] Well, then—— [_As if she were
goading him to something against his will—threateningly._] Shall I tell
you what happened to me?
ELEANOR—[_Facing him defiantly._] Yes. [_He turns away. Immediately her
brave attitude crumbles. She seems about to implore him not to speak._]
CAPE—[_After a pause—hesitatingly._] You said that years ago you had
offered yourself—to him—— [_He turns suddenly—hopefully._] Was that a
lie, too?
ELEANOR—No.
CAPE—[_Turns away with a start of pain._] Ah. [_A pause. Suddenly his
face grows convulsed. He turns back to her, overcome by a craving for
revenge—viciously._] Then I may as well tell you I—— [_He checks himself
and turns away._]
ELEANOR—[_Defensively—with feigned indifference._] I don’t doubt—you
kept your threat.
CAPE—[_Glares at her wildly._] Oho, you don’t doubt that, do you? You
saw I’d changed, eh?
ELEANOR—I saw—something.
CAPE—[_With bitter irony._] God! [_A pause._]
ELEANOR—[_Turning on him doggedly as if she were impersonally impelled
to make the statement._] I want to tell you that tonight—John and
I—nothing you may ever suspect—— [_She falters, turns away with a bitter
smile._] I only tell you this for my own satisfaction. I don’t expect
you to believe it.
CAPE—[_With a wry grin._] No. How could you? [_Then turning to
her—determinedly—after a pause._] But it doesn’t matter.
ELEANOR—I wanted revenge as much as you. I wanted to destroy—and be free
of our love forever!
CAPE—As I did.
ELEANOR—[_After a pause—simply._] I couldn’t.
CAPE—[_Turns and stares at her—a pause—then he asks wonderingly,
eagerly._] Why couldn’t you? Tell me that.
ELEANOR—[_After a pause—simply._] Something stronger.
CAPE—[_With a passionate triumph._] Love! [_With intense pleading._]
Nelly! Will you believe that I, too——? [_He tries to force her eyes to
return to his._]
ELEANOR—[_After a pause—looking before her—sadly._] You should have been
generous sooner.
CAPE—It’s the truth, Nelly! [_Desperately._] I swear to you——!
ELEANOR—[_After a pause—wearily._] We’ve sworn to so much.
CAPE—Everything is changed, I tell you! Something extraordinary happened
to me—a revelation!
ELEANOR—[_With bitter cynicism._] A woman?
CAPE—[_Wounded, turns away from her._] Don’t. [_Then after a pause—with
deep feeling._] Yes—she was a woman. And I had conceived of her only as
revenge—the lowest of the low!
ELEANOR—[_With a shudder._] Ah!
CAPE—[_With feeling._] Don’t judge, Nelly. She was—good!
ELEANOR—[_With another shudder._] Not her! You!
CAPE—[Desperately.] I tell you I——! [_He checks himself helplessly. She
gives no sign. Then he asks sadly._] If you can think that, how could
you come back?
ELEANOR—[_Stammering hysterically._] How? How? [_Bursting into tears._]
Because I love you! [_Then turning on him fiercely as if defying him._]
I love you! I love you!
CAPE—[_Starting up from his chair and trying to take her in his
arms—exultantly._] Nelly!
ELEANOR—[_Pushing him away—violently._] No! I didn’t come back to you! I
came back to my love which is mine—mine! It conquered me, not you!
Something in me—myself—not you! [_She stares him in the eyes defiantly,
triumphantly._]
CAPE—[_Gently._] It doesn’t matter. [_After a pause._] Did I come back
to you?
ELEANOR—[_Taken aback, turning away._] No, I suppose—— [CAPE _stares at
her uncertainly, then sits down in his chair again_.]
CAPE—[_After a pause, looking before him—assertively, as if taking a
pledge._] But I have faith!
ELEANOR—[_Wearily._] Now—for a moment.
CAPE—No!
ELEANOR—Yes. We shall believe—and disbelieve. We are—that.
CAPE—[_Protestingly._] Nelly! [_For a time they both sit staring bleakly
before them. Suddenly he turns to her—desperately._] If there is nothing
left but—resignation!—what use is there?
ELEANOR—I know I love.
CAPE—[_Bitterly—beginning to work himself into a passion._] How can we
endure having our dream perish in this?
ELEANOR—Have we any choice?
CAPE—[_Intensely._] No! It’s not Fate! Fate lives—moves on! We are
merely victims of our dead selves. [_He seems to collect all his forces
and turns on her with a fierce challenge._] We can choose—an end!
ELEANOR—[_Shudders instinctively as she reads his meaning._] Michael!
[_A pause—then looking into his eyes—as a calm counter-challenge._]
Yes—if _you_ wish.
CAPE—[_With passionate self-scorn._] We! We have become ignoble.
ELEANOR—As _you_ wish. [_She again accents the you._]
CAPE—I?
ELEANOR—I accept. I can live—or I can die. [_A pause—gently._] I love
you. You must not suffer too much. [_She reaches out her hand and clasps
his comfortingly._] It is I who have changed most, Michael. [_Then she
speaks sadly but firmly as if she had come to a decision._] There is
only one way we can give life to each other. We must redeem our love
from ourselves!
CAPE—[_Sharply._] How?
ELEANOR—By releasing each other.
CAPE—[_With a harsh laugh._] Are you forgetting we tried that once
tonight?
ELEANOR—With hate. This would be because we loved.
CAPE—[_Violently._] Don’t be a fool! [_Controlling himself—forcing a
smile._] Forgive me. [_Excitedly._] But, my God, what solution——?
ELEANOR—It will give you peace for your work—freedom——
CAPE—Nonsense!
ELEANOR—I will continue to love you. I’ll work for you! We’ll no longer
stand between each other. Then I can really give you my soul and possess
yours. [_Rising to her feet in a pitch of dreamy enthusiasm._] Oh,
Michael, isn’t that a finer love than the old?
CAPE—[_Controlling himself with difficulty._] You’re talking rot!
ELEANOR—[_Hurt._] Michael!
CAPE—You’re mad! [_Then, suddenly glaring at her suspiciously._] Why did
you come back? Why do you want to go? What are you hiding behind all
this?
ELEANOR—[_Wounded._] Your faith? You see?
CAPE—[_Brokenly._] I—I didn’t mean—— [_Then after a struggle with
desperate bitterness._] Well—I accept! I love you enough for that. Go—if
you want to!
ELEANOR—[_Hurt._] Michael! It isn’t—— [_Then determinedly._] But even if
you misunderstand, I must be strong for you!
CAPE—[_Almost tauntingly._] Then go—go now if you can—if you’re strong
enough. [_Harshly._] Let me see you act nobility! [_Then suddenly
remorseful, catching her hand and covering it with kisses._] No! I love
you! Go now before—— Do whatever seems good. Be strong! Be free! I—I
cannot!
ELEANOR—[_Brokenly._] We can try—— [_She bends down swiftly and kisses
his head, turns away quickly._] Good-by.
CAPE—[_In a strangled voice._] Good-by. [_He sits in anguish, in a
tortured restraint. She grabs her cloak from the chair, goes quickly to
the door, puts her hand on the knob—then stops as tense as he. Suddenly
he can stand it no longer, he leaps to his feet and jumps toward the
door with a pleading cry._] Nelly! [_He stands fixed as he sees her
before the door as if he had expected to find her gone. She does not
turn but remains staring at the door in front of her. Finally she raises
her hand and knocks on the door softly—then stops to listen._]
ELEANOR—[_In a queer far-away voice._] No. Never again. “Come out.”
[_She opens the door and turns to_ CAPE _with a strange smile_.] It
opens inward, Michael. [_She closes it again, smiles to herself and
walks back to the foot of the stairway. Then she turns to face_ CAPE.
_She looks full of some happy certitude. She smiles at him and speaks
with a tender weariness._] It must be nearly dawn. I’ll say good-night
instead of good-by. [_They stare into each other’s eyes. It is as if now
by a sudden flash from within they recognized themselves, shorn of all
the ideas, attitudes, cheating gestures which constitute the vanity of
personality. Everything, for this second, becomes simple for
them—serenely unquestionable. It becomes impossible that they should
ever deny life, through each other, again._]
ELEANOR—[_With a low tender cry as if she were awakening to maternity._]
Michael!
CAPE—[_Passionately sure of her now—in a low voice._] Nelly! [_Then
unable to restrain his triumphant exultance._] You’ve failed!
ELEANOR—[_Smiling at him simply._] Yes. Again. [_Smiling dimly at
herself._] My acting—didn’t convince me.
CAPE—We’ve failed!
ELEANOR—Are we weak? [_Dreamily._] I’m happy.
CAPE—Strong! We’ve passed through! We can live again!
ELEANOR—[_With a strange dreamy exultance._] We love!
CAPE—[_Exultantly—but as if testing her, warningly._] But we’ll hate!
ELEANOR—[_In her same tone._] Yes!
CAPE—And we’ll torture and tear, and clutch for each other’s souls!
ELEANOR—[_Nodding her head in a simple emphasis of agreement._] Yes.
CAPE—We’ll have to strive on for perfect union—fight each other—fail
again—blame each other—fail and hate again—[_he raises his voice in
aggressive triumph_]—but!—fail and hate _with pride_—with joy!
ELEANOR—[_Exulted by his exultation rather than by his words._] Yes!
CAPE—_Our_ life is to bear together our burden which is our goal—on and
up!
ELEANOR—[_Dreamily._] Your dream.
CAPE—Above the world, beyond its vision—our height—our love—our meaning!
ELEANOR—[_Her eyes fixed on him—passionately._] My love!
CAPE—[_Half-sobbing as the intensity of his passion breaks the spell of
his exultation._] Oh, Nelly, Nelly, I want to say so much that I feel
but I can only stutter like an idiot! [_He has fallen on his knees
before her._]
ELEANOR—[_Intensely moved—passionately._] Like an angel! My lover! I
know! [_She bends over and kisses him._]
CAPE—[_Straining passionately for expression._] Listen! Often I wake up
in the night—terrified—in a black world, alone in time—a hundred million
years of darkness. I feel like crying out to God for mercy because life
lives! Then instinctively I seek you—my hand touches you! You are
there—beside me—alive—with you I become a whole, a truth! Life guides me
back through the hundred million years to you. It reveals a beginning in
unity that I may have faith in the unity of the end! [_He bows his head
and kisses her feet ecstatically._] I love you! Forgive me all I’ve ever
done, all I’ll ever do.
ELEANOR—[_Brokenly._] No. Forgive me—my child, you! [_She begins to sob
softly._]
CAPE—[_Looking at her—gently._] Why do you cry?
ELEANOR—Because I’m happy. [_Then with a sudden tearful gayety._] You be
happy! You ought to be! Isn’t our future as hard as you could wish?
Haven’t we your old dreams back again?
CAPE—Deeper and more beautiful!
ELEANOR—[_Smiling._] Deeper and more beautiful! [_She ascends the stairs
slowly._] Come! [_She reaches the top of the stairway and stands there
looking down at him—then stretches out her arms with a passionate,
tender gesture._] Come!
CAPE—[_Leaping to his feet—intensely._] My Own!
ELEANOR—[_Dreamily._] Love—and sleep. [_With deep, passionate
tenderness._] My lover!
CAPE—My wife! [_His eyes fixed on her he ascends. As he does so her arms
move back until they are stretched out straight to right and left,
forming a cross._ CAPE _stops two steps below her—in a low, wondering
tone_.] Why do you stand like that?
ELEANOR—[_Her head thrown back, her eyes shut—slowly, dreamily._]
Perhaps I’m praying. I don’t know. I love.
CAPE—[_Deeply moved._] I love you!
ELEANOR—[_As if from a great distance._] We love! [_He moves close to
her and his hands reach out for hers. For a moment as their hands touch
they form together one cross. Then their arms go about each other and
their lips meet._]
[_The Curtain Falls_]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
● Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained.
● Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.
● Images without captions use HTML alt text.