The Easiest Way Part 14

ELFIE. Me?

LAURA. Yes.

ELFIE. Lend _you_ thirty-five dollars?

LAURA. Yes; you've got plenty of money to spare.

ELFIE. Well, you certainly have got a nerve.

LAURA. You might give it to me. I haven't a dollar in the world, and you pretend to be such a friend to me!

ELFIE. [_Turning and angrily speaking across table_.] So that's the kind of woman you are, eh? A moment ago you were going to kick me out of the place because I wasn't decent enough to a.s.sociate with you.

You know how I live. You know how I get my money--the same way you got most of yours. And now that you've got this spasm of goodness I'm not fit to be in your room; but you'll take my money to pay your debts.

You'll let me go out and do this sort of thing for your benefit, while you try to play the grand lady. I've got your number now, Laura. Where in h.e.l.l is your virtue anyway? You can go to the devil--rich, poor, or any other way. I'm off! ELFIE _rushes toward door; for a moment_ LAURA _stands speechless, then bursts into hysterics_.

LAURA. Elfie! Elfie! Don't go now! Don't leave me now! [ELFIE _hesitates with hand on door-k.n.o.b_.] I can't stand it. I can't be alone. Don't go, please; don't go.

LAURA _falls into_ ELFIE'S _arms, sobbing. In a moment_ ELFIE'S _whole demeanour changes and she melts into the tenderest womanly sympathy, trying her best to express herself in her crude way_.

ELFIE. There, old girl, don't cry, don't cry. You just sit down here and let me put my arms around you. [ELFIE _leads_ LAURA _over to armchair, places m.u.f.f, &c., in chair, and sits_ LAURA _down in chair_.

ELFIE _sits on right arm of chair with her left arm behind_ LAURA; _hugs_ LAURA _to her_. LAURA _in tears and sobbing during scene_.]

I'm awful sorry--on the level, I am. I shouldn't have said it. I know that. But I've got feelings too, even if folks don't give me credit for it.

LAURA. I know, Elfie. I've gone through about all I can stand.

ELFIE. Well, I should say you have--and more than I would. Anyway a good cry never hurts any woman. I have one myself, sometimes--under cover.

LAURA. [_More seriously, recovering herself_.] Perhaps what you said was true.

ELFIE. We won't talk about it.

[_Wiping_ LAURA'S _eyes and kissing her_.

LAURA. [_With persistence_.] But perhaps it was true, and, Elfie--

ELFIE. Yes.

LAURA. I think I've stood this just as long as I can. Every day is a living horror.

ELFIE. [_Looking around room_.] It's the limit.

LAURA. I've got to have money to pay the rent. I've p.a.w.ned everything I have, except the clothes on my back.

ELFIE. I'll give you all the money you need, dearie. Great heavens, don't worry about that. Don't you care if I got sore and--and lost my head.

LAURA. No; I can't let you do that. [_Rises; crosses to table_.] You may have been mad,--awfully mad,--but what you said was the truth. I can't take your money. [_Sits right of table_.

ELFIE. Oh, forget that. [_Rises, crosses to centre_.

LAURA. Maybe--maybe if he knew all about it--the suffering--he wouldn't blame me.

ELFIE. Who--the good man who wanted to lead you to the good life without even a bread-basket for an advance-agent? Huh!

LAURA. Still he doesn't know how desperately poor I am.

ELFIE. He knows you're out of work, don't he?

LAURA. [_Turning to_ ELFIE.] Not exactly. I've let him think that I'm getting along all right.

ELFIE. Then you're a chump. Hasn't he sent you anything?

LAURA. He hasn't anything to send.

ELFIE. Well, what does he think you're going to live on?--asphalt croquettes with conversation sauce?

LAURA. I don't know--I don't know. [_Sobbing_.

ELFIE. [_Crosses to_ LAURA, _puts arms around her_.] Don't be foolish, dearie. You know there is somebody waiting for you--somebody who'll be good to you and get you out of this mess.

LAURA. You mean Will Brockton? [_Looking up_.

ELFIE. Yes.

LAURA. Do you know where he is?

ELFIE. Yes.

LAURA. Well?

ELFIE. You won't get sore again if I tell you, will you?

LAURA. No--why? [_Rises_.

ELFIE. He's downstairs--waiting in the car. I promised to tell him what you said.

LAURA. Then it was all planned, and--and--

ELFIE. Now, dearie, I knew you were up against it, and I wanted to bring you two together. He's got half of the Burgess shows, and if you'll only see him everything will be fixed.

LAURA. When does he want to see me?

ELFIE. Now.

LAURA. Here?

ELFIE. Yes. Shall I tell him to come up?

LAURA. [_After a long pause, crossing around to bed, down-stage side_.] Yes.