Peggy. Oh, Will. I hope they like it!
I could get them by the throats and choke them until
they promise to like it! I could fall down upon
my knees and beg them to like it! (To audience,
with intensity.) Don’t you like it?
Don’t you like it? Tell us that you like
it! Tell us!
CURTAIN.
(SCENE—The attic, the following afternoon.
Scene of the Play-play is the drawing room, as in
Act I.
At rise: The Real-play, showing Will busy
working on his Mss., Left. Peggy Right, putting
Bill to sleep.
Peggy. Now, Mr. Bill, you’re going to
have a nice nap.
Bill. I feel better.
Peggy. I’m so glad to hear it. And
Will’s most through with his play, and then
he’ll take you to the park.
Bill. Say, Peggy!
Peggy. Now, go to sleep.
Bill. But say!
Peggy. Well?
Bill. I think I’m hungry.
Peggy. There’s nothing in the house,
dear.
Bill. No bread, Peggy?
Peggy. No, but we’ll get some when you
wake up. (Goes Left and sits by Will. Silence,
while he works over papers. He is pale and haggard;
she watches him anxiously.)
Will. (Leans on hands.) Oh, dear.
Peggy. Tired, Will?
Will. I’m getting a beastly headache.
Peggy. Will, you know you oughtn’t to
work when your stomach has quit like this.
Will. Hang my stomach!
Peggy. But, dear—
Will. Why do authors have to have stomachs?
They’re never of any use.
Peggy. Listen, Will. You can’t do
good work when you’re so tired.
Will. I can do good work! You’ll
see it’s good. I’ve nearly finished
the fourth act now. Come, read it—and
forget about my stomach. (She moves over to him.
The Play-play begins to appear.) The scene is
Dad’s drawing-room again. Jessie is there;
she’s worrying about Jack, and Bob is trying
to comfort her. (Full light on Play-play.)
Bob. He’s all right, Jessie. Anybody’d
think he’d gone to war!
Jessie. He was never away for so long before.
Bob. Don’t I seem a fairly healthy specimen,
Jessie?
Jessie. I suppose so, Bob.
Bob. Well, I’ve done what he’s
doing. I’ve done it for a year. And
I survived.
Jessie. But you knew how, Bob.
Bob. I didn’t when I started.
Jessie. It snowed last night; I lay awake till
daybreak worrying about him.
Bob. My dear girl, men have got snow on their
clothes before this.
Jessie. He’s been gone a month!
Bob. Listen, Jessie! You know there’s
misery and suffering in the world, don’t you?
