LAURA. [Screaming, crossing to WILL; she
attempts to push him.] No, you won’t; you
won’t stay here. You’re not going
to do this thing again. I tell you I’m
going to be happy. I tell you I’m going
to be married. [He doesn’t resist her very
strongly. Her anger and her rage are entirely
new to him. He is surprised and cannot understand.]
You won’t see him; I tell you, you won’t
tell him. You’ve got no business to.
I hate you. I’ve hated you for months.
I hate the sight of your face. I’ve wanted
to go, and now I’m going. You’ve got
to go, do you hear? You’ve got to get out—get
out. [Pushes him again.
WILL. [Throwing her off; LAURA staggers
to armchair, rises, crosses left.] What the hell
is the use of fussing with a woman.
[Exit.
LAURA. [Hysterically.] I want to be happy,
I’m going to be married,
I’m going to be happy.
[Sinks down in exhausted state in front of trunk.
CURTAIN, SLOW.
SCENE. The same scene as Act III. It is about
two o’clock in the afternoon.
AT RISE. When the curtain rises, there are two
big trunks and one small one up stage. These
are marked in the usual theatrical fashion. There
are grips packed, umbrellas, and the usual paraphernalia
that accompanies a woman when she is making a permanent
departure from her place of living. All the bric-a-brac,
&c., has been removed from dresser. On down-stage
end of dresser is a small alligator bag containing
night-dress, toilet articles, and bunch of keys.
The dresser drawers are some of them half open, and
old pieces of tissue-paper and ribbons are hanging
out. The writing-desk has had all materials removed
and is open, showing scraps of torn-up letters, and
in one pigeon-hole is a New York Central time-table;
between desk and bay-window is a lady’s hat-trunk
containing huge picture hat. It is closed.
Behind table is a suit-case with which ANNIE is
working when curtain rises. Under desk are two
old millinery boxes, around which are scattered old
tissue-paper, a pair of old slippers, a woman’s
shabby hat, old ribbon, &c. In front of window
at end of pianola is thrown a lot of old empty boxes,
such as are used for stocking and shirtwaist boxes.
The picture-frame and basket of flowers have been
removed from pianola. The stool is on top of pianola,
upside down. There is an empty White Rock bottle,
with glass turned over it, standing between the legs
of the stool. The big trunk is in front of sofa,
and packed, and it has a swing tray under which is
packed a fancy evening gown; the lid is down.
On top of lid are an umbrella, lady’s travelling-coat,
hat and gloves. On left end of sofa are a large
Gladstone bag, packed and fastened, a smaller trunk
(thirty-four inch), tray with lid. In tray are
articles of wearing apparel. In end of tray is
