Plays Part 25

TOM: (coming to her, and with strength now) And I will threaten you. I'm here to hold you from where I know you cannot go. You're trying what we can't do.

CLAIRE: What else is there worth trying?

TOM: I love you, and I will keep you-from fartherness-from harm. You are mine, and you will stay with me! (roughly) You hear me? You will stay with me!

CLAIRE: (her head on his breast, in ecstasy of rest. Drowsily) You can keep me?

TOM: Darling! I can keep you. I will keep you-safe.

CLAIRE: (troubled by the word, but barely able to raise her head) Safe?

TOM: (bringing her to rest again) Trust me, Claire.

CLAIRE: (not lifting her head, but turning it so she sees Breath of Life) Now can I trust-what is? (suddenly pus.h.i.+ng him roughly away) No! I will beat my life to pieces in the struggle to-

TOM: To what, Claire?

CLAIRE: Not to stop it by seeming to have it. (with fury) I will keep my life low-low-that I may never stop myself-or anyone-with the thought it's what I have. I'd rather be the steam rising from the manure than be a thing called beautiful! (with sight too clear) Now I know who you are. It is you puts out the breath of life. Image of beauty-You fill the place-should be a gate. (in agony) Oh, that it is you-fill the place-should be a gate! My darling! That it should be you who-(her hands moving on him) Let me tell you something. Never was loving strong as my loving of you! Do you know that? Oh, know that! Know it now! (her arms go around his neck) Hours with you-I'd give my life to have! That it should be you-(he would loosen her hands, for he cannot breathe. But when she knows she is choking him, that knowledge is fire burning its way into the last pa.s.sion) It is you. It is you.

TOM: (words coming from a throat not free) Claire! What are you doing? (then she knows what she is doing)

CLAIRE: (to his resistance) No! You are too much! You are not enough. (still wanting not to hurt her, he is slow in getting free. He keeps stepping backward trying, in growing earnest, to loosen her hands. But he does not loosen them before she has found the place in his throat that cuts off breath. As he gasps)

Breath of Life-my gift-to you!

(She has pushed him against one of the plants at right as he sways, strength she never had before pushes him over backward, just as they have struggled from sight. Violent crash of gla.s.s is heard.)

TOM: (faint smothered voice) No. I'm-hurt.

CLAIRE: (in the frenzy and agony of killing) Oh, gift! Oh, gift! (there is no sound.

CLAIRE rises-steps back-is seen now; is looking down) Gift.

(Like one who does not know where she is, she moves into the room-looks around. Takes a step toward Breath of Life; turns and goes quickly to the door. Stops, as if stopped. Sees the revolver where the Edge Vine was. Slowly goes to it. Holds it as if she cannot think what it is for. Then raises it high and fires above through the place in the gla.s.s left open for ventilation. ANTHONY comes from the inner room. His eyes go from her to the body beyond. HARRY rushes in from outside.)

HARRY: Who fired that?

CLAIRE: I did. Lonely.

(Seeing ANTHONY'S look, HARRY 's eyes follow it.)

HARRY: Oh! What? What? (d.i.c.k comes running in) Who? Claire!

(d.i.c.k sees-goes to TOM)

CLAIRE: Yes. I did it. MY-Gift.

HARRY: Is he-? He isn't-? He isn't-?

(Tries to go in there. Cannot-there is the sound of broken gla.s.s, of a position being changed-then d.i.c.k reappears.)

d.i.c.k: (his voice in jerks) It's-it's no use, but I'll go for a doctor.

HARRY: No-no. Oh, I suppose-(falling down beside CLAIRE-his face against her) My darling! How can I save you now?

CLAIRE: (speaking each word very carefully) Saved-myself.

ANTHONY: I did it. Don't you see? I didn't want so many around. Not-what this place is for.

HARRY: (s.n.a.t.c.hing at this but lets it go) She wouldn't let-(looking up at CLAIRE-then quickly hiding his face) And-don't you see?

CLAIRE: Out. (a little like a child's pleased surprise) Out.

(d.i.c.k stands there, as if unable to get to the door-his face distorted, biting his hand.)

ANTHONY: Miss Claire! You can do anything-won't you try?

CLAIRE: Reminiscence? (speaking the word as if she has left even that, but smiles a little)

(ANTHONY takes Reminiscence, the flower she was breeding for fragrance for Breath of Life-holds it out to her. But she has taken a step forward, past them all.)

CLAIRE: Out. (as if feeling her way)

Nearer, (Her voice now feeling the way to it.)

Nearer- (Voice almost upon it.)

-my G.o.d, (Falling upon it with surprise.)

to Thee, (Breathing it.)

Nearer-to Thee, E'en though it be- (A slight turn of the head toward the dead man she loves-a mechanical turn just as far the other way.)

a cross That (Her head going down.)

raises me; (Her head slowly coming up-singing it.)

Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my- (Slowly the curtain begins to shut her out. The last word heard is the final Nearer-a faint breath from far.)

(CURTAIN)

INHERITORS

Inheritors was first performed at the Provincetown Playhouse on April 27, 1921.

SMITH (a young business man)