The Pot Boiler: A Comedy in Four Acts - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
_Peggy._ You'll truly not go off the steps?
_Bill._ Word of honor, Peggy!
_Peggy._ All right, then.
_Bill._ Hooray! Now, I'll get the roses in my cheeks! _(exit at door Left; Peggy closes window and sound of singing stops)._
_Peggy._ It's a crime that child isn't in the country!
_Will (drawing her to table)._ What do you think of my fourth act?
_Peggy._ Why dear, it's just as I said about Act One, you need more life in the scene, more variety and color.
_Will._ But how can it be got?
_Peggy._ I told you before--you must bring in Gladys.
_Will._ Gladys at this stage of the play?
_Peggy._ Of course! You're bringing home Belle, and you want a character contrast--the daughter of the tenements and the princess of the plutocracy. Gladys is still in love with Jack, and here he's coming home with another girl!
_Will._ Oh, Peggy, that's so cheap!
_Peggy._ Wait, Will--let me work it out for you. I can show you what I mean. Let me have your pencil.
_Will (groans)._ Go on!
_Peggy._ See now--it's the same scene--_(begins to write, Will reading over her shoulder. Play-play begins to appear)._ Only Gladys is pouring tea--
_Will._ Isn't that just like her! Always pouring tea!
_Peggy._ Shut up! There's Jessie and Bob. Gladys has her very finest society manner--she wouldn't for the world let anyone think that she was excited by the telephone-message. _(full light on Play-play)_
_Gladys._ Well, Jessie, I have had a most enjoyable evening. But I must be going now.
_Jessie._ What? When Jack is coming?
_Gladys._ Oh, would Jack want to see me? Surely not! No, I must really go. _(rises and starts to door)._ Good-bye!
_Will._ You're not going to have her go off?
_Peggy._ Wait! Let me write!
_Jessie (rises, runs and stops Gladys)._ No, dear! Please wait!
_Gladys._ What for?
_Jessie._ Do a favor for me, Gladys. I know Jack still loves you. I want you to stay here! I want you to hear it from his own lips. Let me hide you behind this screen _(starts towards screen with her)._ When Jack comes in, I'll speak about you--
_Will (vehemently)._ That won't do! _(Gladys and Jessie stop.)_
_Peggy._ Why not?
_Will._ It's rotten!
_Peggy._ But I want her to do it! _(Gladys and Jessie start towards screen again.)_
_Will._ I won't have it I say! It's undignified!
_Peggy._ Oh, don't be silly, Will!
_Will._ I say I won't have it! Let Gladys go on pouring tea!
_(Gladys starts towards tea table.)_
_Peggy._ Let them hide, I say! _(Gladys starts to screen.)_
_Will._ Stop, I say! _(Gladys stops, stands dazed and helpless.)_
_Peggy._ Why can't you give me a chance to write?
_Will._ I can't stand it, I tell you!
_Peggy._ But I want to show you how it would go.
_Will._ I don't want to see it! I won't read such things!
_Peggy._ But if I'm to have Gladys at all--
_Will._ You can't have her! She's got no business in my play! _(He leaps up in fury.)_ To h.e.l.l with her, I say--to h.e.l.l with her!
_(Gladys turns and flees off with a scream; the Play-play fades.)_
_Peggy._ Will, dear, _why_ must you be so unreasonable?
_Will._ Now see, do you want to read what I've written, or don't you?
_Peggy._ Yes, dear, of course.
_Will._ Well then, drop this tomfoolery and go on!
_Peggy (resignedly)._ All right, I'll do it.
_Will._ We've got that scene to finish. I've got a climax that isn't bad, I think. Jessie and Bob have just had the telephone-message.
_(Light begins to rise on the Play-play.)_ Jessie's dancing with happiness, but suddenly the thought comes to her, What will Dad say?
_(Full light on Play-play; Peggy and Will make secret exit.)_
_Jessie (in distress)._ Bob, do you suppose Dad will take Jack's money from him?
_Bob._ I don't know. It'll all depend.
