DAY BY DAY Paul Green THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL THE COLLECTION OF NORTH CAROLINIANA Cp8l2 G79dl Cp VIS' 67 qjl DAY BY DAY* A Comedy of Farm Life by Paul Green t V Issued, by Dept* of Rural Social Organization, N. Y. State College of Agriculture, Cornell University, Ithaca, N, Y, This play may be produced free of royalty in New York State, but permission to present must be se¬ cured from the above Department, If additional copies are desired they may be obtained for 15 £ The fullest possibilities of playing it slowly. this play only can be brought out by Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill https://archive.org/details/daybydaycomedyofOOgree IME - The present, a winter evening LACE - On a farm in the North. Characters George Harris, a farmer, past middle age. Mrs* * * Harris, his wife. Jane, their daughter, about seventeen# M^ry, her sister, about eight or ten* Zeb Aiken, a neighbor boy, nineteen. •he SCENE is laid in the sitting room of the Harris home* At the jft center a door leads into a bed-room* A table with a lighted imp on it is near the left rear. At the left-center back is a sofa, door in the rear center leads into the hall. To the right of the >or is a chest, and near the right center is a heater with a fire & q - ig. ;A rocking chair and several straight chairs are in the room.) to front door door to hall i i 'chest * *_i o chair O.rHeater o c h i i r o chair to t he kit chen i i ’sofa 1 i_i table' with' o lamp* 0 rocking chair door to bedroom w N Foot lights 1 . (When the curtain rises, George Harris comes in at the rear wiping his beard with a large blue and white striped handkerchief. He is a thick-set man past middle age, dressed in overalls and heavy- shoes, with raggedly combed hair.) HARRIS - (Picking his teeth and calling back over his shoulder.) That was a good supper, Mai (He closes the door behind him, comes up to the stove and puts in more wood# Then he sits down and leans back in his chair. After a moment he takes off his shoes and sets them to the left of the stove and begins warming his feet. He calls.) Hey, Mary, fetch my pipe and tobacco 1 MARY - (From another room) All right 1 (He stretches his arms and yawns* Mary comes in at the rear and hands him his pipe and tobacco.) MARY - Here it is, father. (She is a slender mischievous girl of ten with her hair in pig¬ tails down her back.) HARRIS - Ask your ma what mail come. And tell her and Jane to hurry out of that kitchen. They’ll ketch their death of cold. MARY - (Going out) They're coming right in. (He lights his pipe and puffs contentedly. Mary comas back in with a newspaper) MARY - This is all that came today. HARRIS - (Taking the paper) Huh? — I was expecting a letter from Sam Wheeler about them spotted calves. Gimme my specs from t A e table there. (He puts on his spectacles and becomes absorbed in Mary goes out at the left. Mrs. Harris comes in at the darning basket and socks. Mr. Harris mechanically make-3 her. She sits down and begins threading her needle.; reading, left with room for a MRS. HARRIS - (After a moment) George, I wish you’d speak to Jane. I’m worried about her more than ever. HARRIS - Ain’t them Germans and French having a in—in— (Looking closely at the page) What a name! that don't make sense. Is that a city or what is ib ing himself.) Did you say something to me. devil of a mess R-U-H-R—-- Ma? (Recollect- MRS HARRIS - I want you to have a long talk with Jane, comes in'with a pasteboard box scissors, and a magazine and the floor cutting paper dolls.) I tried to talk wuh h_ (Mary sits on the lichen a minute ago Lout her health, but sne wouldn’t tell rne any- 2 . thing. Continues making excuses as usual* HARRIS - Hah! — Oh, yes I will. Call her in. (He buries himself in the paper. MRS. HARRIS - Jane! — Janie! JANE - (From the room at the left.) Yes’m! MRS, HARRIS - Come here, your fatner wants you. (Harris clears his throat ominously, then goes on reading. Jane comes in at the left. Her hair is down her back and she has hairpins in her mouth. She is a rather pretty girl of seventeen. There is a tired nervous expression on her face that now and then gives way to a touch of jollity.) * JANE - What is it, father? HARRIS - (Absent-mindedly) What is what? — Oh, Jane, your Ma and me wants to know what’s the matter with you lately. You’re getting as pale as a ghost, and if you go on the next month the way you have this you won’t cast a shadow you’ll be so thin. Now look here, what’s the matter? Are you sick or what ails you? JANE - (Nervously) Pshaw! I want you and Mother to quit bothering about me. There’s nothing in the world wrong with me. I jfeel fine. HARRIS - Feel fine! You don’t eat no more’n a kitten, and you drag around the house like a chilled hen. Four weeks ago you were rosy and healthy as you please. You were plump and- JANE - That’s just it — plump! You're always teasing me, all of you, about getting fat! HARRIS - Fat! You were just a purty size. And now look at you, poor as a winter crow! JANE - (With tears in her. eyes) I — I won’t be fat and look like a squashy bag, I won’t! And there’s nothing wrong with me, MRS. HARRIS - (Soothingly) Don't mind, Janie. Go on back.to your dressing. Now, George, let her alone. She'll get all righu. (Jane goes back into the room, closing the door behind her.) HARRIS - Now — what do you think of that! Ask me to repri repri--to bawl her out, and then hush me up. (He;turns disgastedly to the paper.) MRS. HARRIS — I suppose it's not a suitable time to talk to he^ now. She's got a reason for not telling us just yet, I guess. (He does not hear her.) HARRIS - (Exploding) I be astonishment.) Why, I’ve knows! Dick MRS. HARRIS — What’s happened to HARRIS — No siree. He’s cured, this man Cou—Cou— dura! Listen, Ma. — (in Harper all my life. him? Is he dead or something? There's a large headline about MARY - The teacher says it's Coue. HARRIS - Yeh—Couah, Well, Dick’s gone and got cured of his St. Vitus Dance, Says so right here. (Thumping the paper with his finger,) MRS, HARRIS - What Will happen next! I bet Dick’s a glad man now. HARRIS - Of course he is. The last time I saw him he had it so bad he couldn't follow a furrow. That Cou-Couah man must be a meracle worker. MARY - Joe Turner's mother’s been practicing it, and Joe says she's took off fifty pounds or more in the last eight weeks, MRS. HARRIS - I'm afraid Joe's stretching his thinking cap. HARRIS - Nellie Turner! Had she got down to that too? The next thing I know some of my own family will be doing it. I don't believe in — (He stops, suddenly halted by a thought. He turns quickly to Mrs, Harris.) Say, you don't think Jane -■*- Jane could be fooling with this stuff, do you? MRS. HARRIS - I'd never thought of that. Mary, has she said anything to you about it? (Mary doesn't answer,) HARRIS - Answer your ma, has she? MARY - She told me not to tell* HARRIS - I be drot! MRS. HARRIS - Now George, don’t be upset! (To Mary) When did you find it out? N MARY - I heard her talking to that Dago woman yesterday about it. And when she found out I had heard she asked me not to diet any¬ body know. And now you—you’ve pulled it out of me, HARRIS - (Starting to rise) I’ll go have it out with her right now, — Jane! MRS. HARRIS - Don’t now, George. She's nervous and tired out. Tomorrow we'll have a long sensible talk with her. Please sit down and finish your paper. I • - . HARRIS - I won’t read another word in it. (He throws it from him) The Standard* s getting rotten. Every day it has the front pa? smeared with this auter-suggest ion trash. It's Cou-Couah this and Couah that. From the noise they make over him he rnignt be Jupitei’ hisself. And the 'whole thing* 3 witchcraft and sleight of hand and charms, and the like. A child of man shan’t fool with the stuff. What sort of medicine do the people take anyhow? MARY - You don’t take any medicine or anything. Just make up your mind, if you are sick, and say ’’Every day in every way”- HARRIS - Shut up that foolishness. — MRS. KARRIS - There might be something in it, mayo HARRIS - There might-eh? Well, we'd better try it on the next cow that gets sick. (He sits down puffs his pipe in a semi-sullen silence.) I'll talk to Jane, and when I’ve done it, she’ll know it* Why the child's crazy! Fat! ah — MRS. HARRIS - Mary, it's time for you to be at your lessons* MARY - All right. Mother. Let me stick this soldier's leg on. HARRIS - The paper said they would have Dick's picture January — sometime, I don't remember the particular date, around him for the paper. Showing a bit of embarrassment, moment,) Mary, hand me that paper, will you? in it on He ( After a MARY - You said you weren't going to — HARRIS - (with a blustering look) Little girls sometimes say too much. (She hands him the paper and sits back on the floor*) Here it is - next Sunday that is. It'll be the first time Dick Harper's ever been in the paper* And if it was me, I'd hope it was my last — me putting my hopes in a witch doctor! MRS, HARRIS - Don't you cut up anything worth while in that Home Journal, Mary. MARY - (Turning the sheet she is cutting) There's nothing on the back except something about making cheap wedding dresses and such. (There is silence for a moment. Mrs. Harris darns a/way, Mary works at her dolls, and Mr. Harris is once more reading the paper.) MRS, HARRIS - All right, Mary, you've played enough. Get your lessons now* Mary - (After a moment) Mother, I know something else wrong with Jane too. MRS. HARRIS - Well, for the land sake's tell me. What is it? MARY - She's got a sweetheart. MRS. HARRIS - A sweetheart 1 HARRIS - (Lowering his paper) Who's -zot a sweetheart! MRS. HARRIS - Sh-h-h! (As Jane comes in. She is holding • crumpled blue sash.) JANE - Just lock here, will you? I found my new sash all rammed down in the drawer with a lot of doll clothes and trash. Mary is suddenly busy with her scissors) I want you to make Mary let ly things alone. Oh—look what you 1 re doing! (She runs across the ■oom and snatches the Journal from Mary’s hand, (To Mrs. Harris) ; he’s cut up the very page I was saving. MARY - It’s not so. There’s nothing on it but something about Md weddings# JANE - And I wanted to keep it for a special purpose. (She 'links back the angry tears and goes out at the left, slamming the loor behind her.) HARRIS - (Turning around) What in the dickens can ail that girll If that Couah mess is going to set her by the ear like that, ‘d like to see them ship him back to France where he come from, .Reading again) From what it says here they’re having trouble there >ver this Sighky (Siki) Carpenter (Carpsntier) boxing business. I lever saw a Frenchman yet that wasn't either in trouble or a-causing ;rouble,, MRS. HARRIS - (Looking strictly at Mary) I’ve told you before ibout bothering Jane’s clothes. You worry her too much, do you hear? MARY - (Meekly) Yes’m. HARRIS - Your rna’s telling you the gospel truth, Mary. You jester the life out of that poor child. MRS. HARRIS - I'm serious, Mary, md now she’ll have to wear her white lot tonight. You've crumpled her blue sash, dress or something else like as HARRIS - What’s she dressing up for? MRS. HARRIS - (Patiently) Now—it’s all right. Zeb 1 s coming ever for a while. MARY - I knew she had a sweetheart. MRS. HARRIS - Be quiet. Can’t a boy come to see a girl once ar twice and they not be sweethearts! HARRIS - Zeb Aiken—eh? (Laughing) He ain’t months. That boy’s as awkward as a baby calf, and worse’ll a freezing sheep# been here in stutter! — thre £ 6 . MBS* HARRIS — That's nothing against him* HARRIS - Well, I'm glad it's not that Joe Wood from town that was here, last week* I don't like him. MRS* HARRIS - And Jane don't either. It was year fault that Zeb never has been back since that one time. You sat and talked to him the whole two hours he was here and kept the poor boy embarrassed He and Jane didn't have more than three words together, HARRIS - Great ScottJ I thought he’d come to see all of us, and I wanted to explain to him all about that new fangled reaper that's come out. How should I know that they'd want to be courting and it the second or third time he'd ever put foot in this housel MRS. HARRIS - When he comes tonight, we must leave them alone. HARRIS - I will, and don't you forget it. I never was one to hang around where I weren't wanted. (Mary goes to the chest at the rear for a magazine. He lowers his voice.) But see here, Ma, I don't want them two to get all tangled up in love. Why, Jane's just seventeen* MRS. HARRIS - The age don't matter so much. HARRIS ~ You don't mean you want her to get lit up on marrying notions with stuttering Zeb Aiken, MRS. HARRIS - Stuttering ain't a hanging crime. And Zeb Aiken's a nice hard working boy. Besides, he's intelligent and has good ideas♦ HARRIS - Yeh — I suppose so. They do say as how he's a much man when.it comes to wo rk * MRS. HARRIS - I'm. not in for saying there's anything serious between them. MARY - Jane got a letter from him last week. Harris - she did! Mary - Zeb said in his letter that he didn't stutter much any more, said Mr. Dick Harper had taught him how to cure himself, HARRIS - By Jingsl He's been doing that Couah business too. I'll stake my hat on it. MRS. HARRIS - Did Jane let you read the letter, Mary? MARY — (in confusion) Wo—' m, I—I found it in the bureau drawer— MRS* HARRIS - That will do from you takes the scissors and papers from, her.) tonight. (She rises and ! f 3 - 1 «» ** i la ifox.tf need 3 «t Teven 7 - JANE - (Coming in dressed up) cream, Mary? Have you used all the cold MRS. HARRIS - (Hustling Mary along) I suppose she has. Go get your books. (Mary goes out) I think there's some in the bottom drawer of the dresser. Seems I remember seeing some there. (She goes back to her sewing) What will I ever do with that child! | HARRIS - (Looking over his spectacles) All dressed out! Beau coming? JANE - (Timidly) Zeb's coming—I—think. MRS* HARRIS - He'll be here in a little while, George. We'd oetter go in the other room. JANE - If you want to it'll be all right* I've built a good fire in there for you. (Mary comes back in with her books. She goes to the table at the left of the room and begins studying apparently) HARRIS - (Lighting his pips again. Yes, we'll make everything as approp—appro- (clearing his throat) we'll leave you alone this time* (He goes on reading. Jane goes out at the rear. There is a sound of sleighbells outside.) MRS. HARRIS - There's Zeb now! Take your books in the other room, Mary. George! George! HARRIS - Hah MRS. HARRIS - (Gathering up her work) go now. (Jane comes back in with a coffee pot stove. Then she goes back into the hall; Zeb's outside which she sets Let' s on the HARRIS - (As Mrs. Harris takes tne paper from him and oegino idying the room) I'm coming as soon as I can get on my shoes. MRS. HARRIS - (As she goes out) Hurry up, George. HARRIS - All right. I ain’t deef. My feet's got swelled itting by the hot stove. ^ (Jane is heard talking to Zeb in the hall) JAKE - Corse in, I bet you're chilled through. ZEB - (Stamping his feet) No, I'm all warn as a rsouse. JANE - Just comeright inhere (Harris ^es artolentrf f ort lelps^off^irhil clat! Sbl doesn't see her father who is ben. . Sc down beside the stove, straining at his shoes. Zeb lays his things on the chest) Was the snow very deep down near the creek place? ZEB - Purty deep* (He is a strongly built, honest boy, awkward m his movements and dress. His clothes are somewhat too small for him.) JANE - Is it really true that you have cured yourself of stuttering? HARRIS - Hey, Zeb, how are you? ZEB - I’m well, Mr. Harris, how are you? HARRIS - Fine—fine. Except my back, now and then a catch in it. Think I’ll try some new medicine, auter-suggestion. Ever try it? ZEB - (Nervously) I—I put my horse under a shelter out there. HARRIS - Sure, all right. Have a seat. You and Jane’ll excuse me while I get on tnis other shoe, (Zeb sits down near the stove and Jane, after an embarrassed look or two at Zeb, goes over to the sofa and begins turning through a book, Mary comes in at the left.) MARY - Mother wants you. Pa. HARRIS - (Finally slipping on his shoe) Tell her I’ll be right along, (He lights his pipe) MARY - Heigho, Zebl ZEB - (Rising and shaking the hand Mary comes across the room to hold out.) Glad to see you. MARY - Why you don’t stammer a bit’. HARRIS - So you don’t Zeb. How in the world did you get over it? ZEB - (Twisting his hands nervously and now and then looking beseechingly towards Jane) I found out about it when Dick Harper began to get better. MARY - Did you say the day by day verse? JANE - Mary, you shouldn’t be so curious. ZEB - Yes, about a mil-million times. HARRIS - I wouldn't believe my own eyes and ears if I didn't have to.. MRS. HARRIS - (Calling from the inner room) Mary! Mary! • • *• MARY - Pa, she wants yon. HARRIS - Go on in, I f m coming’, (Mary goes out. He rises and straightens up with a grunt. Laughing.) That stuff might help my back. ZEB - Yessir, it might. (He turns to the fire several times* Mr. Harris starts across the room. Jane and Zeb are visably en¬ couraged. But near the door he turns and comes back to the stove.) HARRIS - It does beat the world how you’ve gone and fixed your¬ self % ZEB - (Speaking slowly) I’m not cured altogether yet. Some¬ times when I get excited I’m as bad as ever. (There is a long pause, then Harris knocks the ashes from his pipe into the stove, and sits down, Jane in despair goes out at the left.) HARRIS - (Looking around the room) Say, if you’d like a good job of helping an old man with his farm — I’m needing a young man to sort of get in the harness after me. ZEB - (impulsively) Yen—you mean? -Well — (He is over¬ whelmed and begins stuttering* Harris crosses his legs and takes out his pipe and tobacco.) HARRIS - Not a word of it yet to anybody. (Jane comes in. He rises and stands up) You can be thinking about it, (Jane takes a magazine from the table and goes petulantly to the sofa, Mrs. Harric comes to.the door.) MRS, HARRIS - George, Mary wants you to help her with her lessons. Good evening, Zeb. ZEB - Good evening, Mrs. Harris. (The tone of his wife’s voice has made Harris start guiltily. Mrs. Harris goes oack inoO the room.) HARRIS - (Turning at the door as he lays his pipe on the table.) Don't you children let the fire die out, (He goes out. For a moment Zeb stands by the stove.) JANE - (Biting her lip) Seems that you and Father ought not. to have stopped talking. s. ZEB - Maybe not. — Why, what you mean? (He goes oyer and sits on the end of the sofa with a good distance separating him ana Jane.) JANE - You and he started out just the way you did tne other time you were here. He'd talked a long time if Mother hadn t coir. in# 7 FB — (Somewhat "perplexed but pleased) You you- (H^ begin- punching his tale with hi fist) wanted him to leave you and me alone? (He clears his throat.) — 4 . 10 . JANS - Yes, I did — (Huriedly) No—no not that exactly. But- but when a boy comes to see a girl, he’s not supposed to spend a"! 1 the time talking to her father, is he? ZEB - (slowly) That’s right, I guess. (They look at each other and then away in embarrassment.) JANE - (After a moment) I think it’s wonderful that you’ve been able to control yourself the way you have about stammering* ZEB - Please don't say any more there* I almost wish I hadn’t started it* Everybody is asking me about it. And I must have said that motto ten million times. JANE - It does take a lot of will power, don't it? ZEB - Your pa ain’t so bad is he? I made up my mind I wouldn’t come here again till I had got over some of rny awkwardness and such* And now he treats me as kind as you please* JANE - He barks a lot. --(Silence) I suppose now you'll be thinking of going off somewhere to study law or do something differen* from farming, won't you? ZEB - (Without any enthusiasm) I had been thinking about it* That poetry in your letter made me say that you were above staying around a farm all your life. (He thumps his knee absently) : JANE - (A little proudly) I thought you’d have ideas of going off, maybe. ZEB - Now that everybody has seen how I am getting on, you tell me what that surprise is you have for me. JANE - (somewhat dismayed) Haven’t you noticed it? ZEB - (Looking around the room) No, I haven't, in your letter that you had a great surprise for me. surely been up* You said My curiosity's I JANE - (Naively) I’ve been doing auto-suggestion too* | ZEB - You have'. What in the world for? There never has been! anything wrong with you. N JANE - I’ve lost twelve pounds* ZEB - You been sick? You do look paler and thinner, not quite as well as you did last ti.-.e* JANE - (Wrathfully) I don't? ZEB - Look here, have you been trying to reduce your weight? JANE - Who wouldn't when they are teased forever about being fat? . 11 , ZEB - Who called you fat? JANE - Father has, and once you — Well, you remember that time you called me a plump partridge. And I don’t know how often you’ve spoken of Elsie Denning and how slender and graceful she is* ~ Was V ecause 1 lik ed Y°u to be plump that I called you that. And for Elsie Denning — that girl 1 s. head is empty, Besides, she has a beau that wears rings on his fingers, (He edges closer.) JANE - (Swiftly) And me starving myself to death, and all — to - to please* Anyway a nice boy wouldn't speak of a girl as a plump partridge, now! ZEB — Good gracious! I haven’t done a thing. JANE - (More quickly) It’s all right. But I can’t stand the thought of getting stout, ZEB - (Thumping his knee again) You always will be just — just right. (They look at each other and smile, When she turns away her eyes, he suddenly leans over and kisses her on the cheek* Then as if afraid of what he’s done, he moves away from her. JANE - (Ashamed and delighted) Zeb Aiken, you’ve insulted me! ZEB - What! JANE - You have, You took advantage of me. ZEB - (Woefully) My Lord, I never thought you’d take it like that. Why—why— (He stutters fearfully) JANE - Well, I did! (They both sit without speaking a moment. Then Zeb wi th decision turns to Jane.) ZEB — Now you needn’t fly off the handle at me, Jane, you you looked at me so, how could I help it. And I’m going to have it out with you. Jane, I—(He stutters at the wrong time again* He reaches out and pulls her to him. She starts to yield, when she sees Mary come in at the left. She tries to push Zeb away from her MARY - Father told me to — My land, what you two fighting abou^ (Zeb drops his hands and begins brushing his cuffs, trousers, shoes, and coat collar.) JANE - (Smothering her hair back nervously) What do you want, Mary? MARY - (Looking at Zeb steadily) P a wants his pipe. JUHE - You'd better hurry back then. (Nevertheless Mary come.; and perches herself on the sofa beside Zeb.) 12 , MARY - I'm going to stay a minute, (Zeb adjusts his necktie ind sits calm) What were you ^nd Jane doing? JANE - (Stirring uneasily) Stop asking such questions, Mary. MARY - What were you doing? ZEB - Oh-nothing-—just a — a game — "Catch me if you can M or something. MARY - It wasn’t any game. You were trying to k—kiss— JANE - (Reaching across and stopping her mouth with her hand). Hush, Mary, or I’ll call Mother, MARY - Yes, and 1*11 tell her something too. JANE - (Smiling weakly) Mary, if you’ll go back now I’ll give you a nice gift. \ MARY - What! JANE - I’ll gbt you a bag of fruit in town or some ribbon* iomething real nice, MARY - (To Zeb) You brought me a great big orange tnat other ;ime you came, ZEB - I’m sorry, I for yt to bring anything this time. But :’ll get you something too. MARY - Joe Wood brought me a box of candy. JANE - (Scenting trouble) Father needs his pips nov. ZEB - (As Mary makes no move to go) He did, eh? ^Teasin 0 l>) [ don’t know him. Is he your sweetheart? MARY - No, he comes to see Jane, JANE - (With a suffocating movement) Mary! ZEB - (His face hardening slightly) I =>e-. MARY - He works in a store _and brought me the *^st^ ^ hitman’s candy. (Half whispering oo Zeb) A^a lavaliere. N u it And he’s never been to JANE - It’s not true. He lef. it u.r_, see me but twice. ZEB - I’m not acquainted with the gentleman, mm - I bought some cloth *1®wsetest shirt-mists and the to see her. I've made her soma of the . J 13 * utest underwear! - JANE - (Jumping up) Mary, you are nor nice. (She goes to the .oor ♦ ; ZEB - I was about to forget, Mary, I do have a box of candy in ly overcoat. You may have it. (Jane shakes her head defiantly and calls) JANE - Father! Mary’s misbehaving. I wish you’d call her, MARY - (Taking the candy from Zeb) Goody! Thank you, Zeb, She picks up the pipe and starts out when Harris comes in barefooted, ith his shirt hanging out behind. Jane goes and sits suddenly with ightening lips on the sofa.) HARRIS - (At the door) Come on, where 1 s my pipe? (Mary hands t to him then she opens the box of candy and begins eating.) Zeb, guess my back won’t have a chance at your medicine. Ma says if I ake that stuff in preference to her rubbing, she’ll let me take the onsequences. Sh 3 says it’s foolishness* Maybe so* (To Mary who s waiting) I want to know why you’re so much interested in this ooml Time you were in bed right this minute. (He leads her out and loses the door behind them. Zeb goes and sits glumly in a chair ear the table* Jane rises and stirs the hot chocolate on the stove* Then she sits back down.) JANE - (With the hint of a sob in her throat) Who ever saw uch a mess! ZEB - Yes, it’s a mess all right enough. JANE - I wonder—wonder if when you’ve got a — a family you’ll ome in with your shoes off and your — your shirt hanging outt ZEB - I wasn’t thinking about that. There's nothing wrong in aving your shoes off and your shirt out if you want it. JANE - There isn't? We" 1- ZEB - And you needn’t talk to me about a family. I’ll never ave any such hung to me, I’m never, never going to marry* JANE - Why not? ZEB - Because gars, drive fast I’m not» cars I'm going to live by myself, smoke long — do no telling what. (Turning fiercely ) 0n her) So you've got a beau! — a regular town guy that can give >u 1 aval ieres and thi like, and keep his hair slick with oil - ive you? (Bitterly) I bet CJLIL'JL IV xx -x. he wouldn't know a cow from a camel. JAHE - (Hotly) He'S not my beau. But if he was, you wouldn't ive any right to talk about him the way you do. ZEB - Oh, well- (Throwing out his hands) I had a box ' f candy for you, and Mary’s got it now. But that Joe fellow’ll oub^less keep you supplied with candy« JANE - (With her chin in her hand) You can abuse him if you lease, but he never did take advantage of me and kiss me the way you id, just as if I was — was used to it, ZEB -(Coming over to the sofa) Don’t talk like that, I ouldn t mistreat you for the world, and you know I wouldn’t, JANE - (Wiping the tears from her eyes) Perhaps you kiss lsie Denning that way and carry on with other girls. ZEB - You stop accusing me like that, Jane. I — I — (He hammers) JANE - You certainly have changed a great deal since you took ip that self-mastery business. Now you’ll be going off, your head n the air, a smooth talker and a man of influence some day. i ZEB - And look how you’ve changed! (Roughly) Got a sporty allow that thinks a farrow’s a furrow and himself the Lord Almighty •iding in a Ford. And you — look at you! — trying to make your- islf look like a yardstick, all length and no thickness. (He beats ixs knees in anger. Thus they sit staring out before them.) JANE - I could tell you a lot of things, Zeb Aiken, but I fcn’ti (After a moment) T wish you were the Zeb I knew before you ;ot all these foolish ideas in your head. I liked your bit of hammering, myself. ZEB - I am the same, — (With fervor) And I wish you were the^ ane Harris I came five miles in the snowdrifts to see, X do that ail ight. JANE - Why? ZEB - I ask you why. JANE - I just liked you better then, ZEB - And I liked you better then. (There is another long iuse and staring,) JANE - Well, we're quits* zeb - (Gloomily) That's just it, quits, (After a moment) ien’ s the day to be? JANE - What day? ZEB - Yours and that Joe person married, I m.an, JANE - About the same time as yours and Elsie's. J . ZEB - (Getting Elsie! I tell do I It’s j • care for her'. (He a long ways home. o n P and striding ov-^r to th you I wouldn't toucff he^ with si e l stove) El:_ o^o ^ • - a ^en-foot pole. What ? J r t0 “ ls over coat) I*ii be ccoIpp' < E ~ picks up his scarf) ^oing. JANE — (Getting un) T)nr 1 + j , , cocoa for you. (She comes ud b-hin^-S g °T yet ‘ Vv3 mad3 some in the tray, up b - hl nd him) Just wait and I f H brinv ZEB I will, whirls (Suddenly she rearh^ 0 ^ 0 " hiS COat) Than5c you, around, but she al and sc l U3 ' 3z es his hand. Did you catch my hand like that?^ g ° ne throu?h the door at the rear) I guess lie light-up, and^he^alksT round th’ 11 b ® risht back ‘ (His face thought. Ha nods his head with an "I?ll dHt» S ^ k 2 33 in de “ p the door. Jane comes hart i? hurr * es and places himself just inside and saucers, cream L-ar cSoM * tray ' with na P kina > cups table at the left. 5 ° ’ cooki.s and spoons. She starts to the JANE - Where are you, Zeb? , Z ?L~ behind her) Wait a minute. I’ve got some- get”!t ^r ta, (HJpu^s 1 ! i° U d “T 6 >Vhile y ° Ur handS busy' I can ff__ _ °j ‘ (He ,P uts a ^‘ a nd on her shoulder. She waits) Jane I —• , .*• , . -* wwallowing and stammering) I do, (H=» null q hir fn^n therewith the nthe kiSS T+ k sr * -, She lets S ° the tray with one hand around his neck)* ^ ** 1S h<3ld UP betwesn them. She puts her arms JANE - Oh, Zeb, I do too. (The tray falls with a clatter of rolling dishes to the floor) Hurry, hurry, let 's pick up these tnings. (.They both get down on their knees and gather up the dishes and food*. They are facing each other. Jane looks up as they work.) v/e were silly to quarrel so, weren't we? ZEB - (Wiping up milk with his handkerchief) We were that, JANE - You never have said it, ZEB - (He reaches over and pulls her to him.) You do, don't you? (She nods her head) And you will, won't you? (Again she nods) JANE - And I'll get plump again, I will. ZEB - And I don't give a hang how much I stutter. (They (lave forgotten and they are still on their knees* He pulls her to lim and kisses her again. (The door opens at the left, and Harris, in his undershirt and trousers, followed by Mrs. Harris and Mary in ler nightgown, enters) HARRIS - (Sternly) What In the name of commonsense are you loing? (They spring to their feet) ,3G\t ;«:• f.v ( iiittiuu* #id rfSiv *Ii* tju. -j.iiqin) • 3SS . 16. MARY - They’re hugging, and praying! HARRIS - And who ever heard such a clatter in a peaceful man* s ousel And look at the spilled milk! MRS* HARRIS - Never mind, George* Let them explain* ZEB - (As Jane turns away her head) Mrs, Harris* we—we-- .ren’t we Jane? (He takes her hand) JANE - (Raising her head) Yes, we are, ZEB - We’re engaged, HARRIS - Well, if you make that much stir getting engaged jyhat’ 11 happen when you get married! (Mrs, Harris goes to J^ine kisses her on the forehead and pats her back) I’ll shake hands with you, Zeb. MARY - Does that mean that they’re going to marry? MRS* HARRIS - Yes, and you must go to bed, MARY - And he’ll be my brother, won’t he? HARRIS - Mother, we’d better go in. This is no place for us* Well, old Couah ain’t so bad after all. MARY - Coue, Papa, ('They start out) HARRIS - (At the door) Say, Zeb, you’d better go out and unharness your horse* CURTAIN* . ( r r’-f ft f •*; i ,j j r ( r 4 4 Q«^2_ou^.. c>2-<. ^L, [4/V y^r^~- r€ct~ J ^" 5 (^ , %ZrV. ^ sJlOv*-^ 6-— £>£*JIa4a6- A/^-^aa- ,' £--v? P z/zaa^X. C^Ao^aaIa f) Aaaz-a^jAaAl CaSaZLaaJl) 7 £*_ £<4aaJ S -^7 C ?*£ i ^ *'/ 0 r AruXJL " n ' —' ■ » ■^5 £2-0 &~- Ttu^. Aa-sJ. . ^VA, ^Aa^S /W* $ ^ s^-ftAdtc^ & F' (^ fixruu) jf. -4JU^