turns_) I know, it’s always been that way! You’ve never tried for
long; you’ve never had a real ambition.
BEN
When I was a kid I wanted to spit farther than anybody.
JANE
Good-by.
[_She starts up to door._
BEN
And so you’re going to break your word?
JANE (_hurt--turns_)
BEN
I don’t know what ’twas you promised mother, but you’ve broke your
word. No man ever needed a woman more’n I need you, and you’re
leaving me.
JANE
That isn’t fair.
BEN
It’s true, ain’t it; truth ain’t always fair--You ain’t helped me
none, you’ve hurt me--worse than being broke, worse than bein’ in
jail.
JANE
It don’t seem like I could stand to have you talk like that.
BEN
What you done you done for her. I didn’t count, I never have, not
with you.
JANE
When you’ve been trying to do a thing as long as I have, it gets to
be a part of you.
BEN
You done it all for her--well--she’s dead--you’d better go.
JANE
Maybe I had, but if I do it will be with the truth between us. Here’s
the letter she left for me, Ben--I got a feeling somehow like she
was here with us now, like she wanted you to read it. (_She holds it
out_) It’s like she was guiding us from the grave--Read it.
[_Crosses up to window._
BEN (_reads_)
“My dear Jane: The doctor tells me I haven’t long to live and so I
am doing this, the meanest thing I think I’ve ever done to you. I’m
leaving you the Jordan money. Since my husband died there has been
just one person I could get to care about, that’s Ben, who was my
baby so long after all the others had forgotten how to love me.” (_He
mumbles the letter to himself, then brings out the words_) “Hold out
her heart and let him trample on it, as he has on mine.”
[_Slowly he breaks down, sobbing bitterly._
JANE
Don’t, Ben----
BEN
Look what I done to her. Look what I done.
JANE (_hand on his shoulder_)
Oh, my dear--my dear!
BEN
I did love her, mor’n she thought, mor’n I ever knew how to tell her!
JANE (_kneels beside him_)
It wasn’t all your fault--you were a lonely boy--she never said
much--she was like you, Ben, ashamed to show the best that’s in you.
BEN (_bitterly_)
The best in me. I ain’t fit that you should touch me Jane--you’d
better go.
JANE
Not if you need me, Ben, and I think you do.
BEN
I love you--mor’n I ever thought I could--tenderer--truer--but I’m no
good--You couldn’t trust me--I couldn’t trust myself.
JANE
Spring’s coming, Ben, everywhere, to you and me, if you would only
try.
BEN
Can a feller change--Just ’cause he wants to?
JANE
I don’t want you changed. I want you what you are, the best of
you--just a man that loves me--if you do love me, Ben.
BEN
Can’t you help me to be fit?
JANE
I’m going to do the thing I always meant to do--Good times and bad,
Ben, I’m going to share with you.
BEN
God knows I----
JANE
Hush, Ben--I don’t want another promise.
BEN
What do you want?
JANE
You said I was a good sport once--You shook hands on what we’d do to
bring this old place back--there’s plenty to be done. I’ll stay and
help you if you want me.
BEN
A good sport? (_He takes her hand_) I’ll say you’re all of that.
[_Hannah enters._
HANNAH
If you ain’t careful you’ll miss that train.
JANE
That’s just what I want to do.
HANNAH
You ain’t going?
JANE
I’m never going, Hannah.
HANNAH
You going to marry him?
BEN
You bet your life she is!
HANNAH
I guess you’ll be mighty happy--marriage changes folks--and any
change in him will be a big improvement.
[_She picks up Jane’s bag and exits--Jane and Ben laugh._
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:
Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.