The Easiest Way Part 21

[_Crossing to left of sofa, around it on down-stage side_.

WILL. Yes, and it's mine.

_During scene. Backing away from_ WILL, _who is following her_, LAURA _backs against bureau_. WILL _grabs her and attempts to take telegram from her. She has put it in the front of her waist. She slowly draws it out_.

WILL. That telegram's from Madison. Give it here!

LAURA. No.

WILL. I'm going to find out where I stand. Give me that telegram, or I'll take it away from you.

LAURA. No.

WILL. Come on!

LAURA. I'll give it to you.

[_Takes telegram out of waist, and hands it to him_.

_He takes it slowly, looking her squarely in the eye_. WILL _crosses to centre, and does not glance away while he slowly smoothes it out so that it can be read; when he finally takes it in both hands to read it she staggers back a step or two weakly_.

WILL. [_Reads the telegram aloud_.] "I will be in New York before noon. I'm coming to marry you, and I'm coming with a bank-roll. I wanted to keep it a secret and have a big surprise for you, but I can't hold it any longer, because I feel just like a kid with a new top. Don't go out, and be ready for the big matrimonial thing. All my love. John." Then you knew?

LAURA. Yes.

WILL. But you didn't know he was coming until this arrived?

LAURA. No.

WILL. And you didn't mail the letter [_Tossing telegram on table_], did you?

LAURA. No.

WILL. What did you do with it?

LAURA. I--I burned it.

WILL. Why?

[LAURA _is completely overcome and unable to answer_.

WILL. Why?

LAURA. I--I couldn't help it--I simply couldn't help it.

WILL. So you've been corresponding all this time.

LAURA. Yes.

WILL. And he doesn't know [_With a gesture around the room, indicating the condition in which they live._] about us?

LAURA. No.

WILL. [_Taking a step towards her._] By G.o.d, I never beat a woman in my life, but I feel as though I could wring your neck.

LAURA. Why don't you? You've done everything else. Why don't you?

WILL. Don't you know that I gave Madison my word that if you came back to me I'd let him know? Don't you know that I like that young fellow, and I wanted to protect him, and did everything I could to help him? And do you know what you've done to me? You've made me out a liar--you've made me lie to a man--a man--you understand. What are you going to do now? Tell me--what are you going to do now? Don't stand there as if you've lost your voice--how are you going to square me?

LAURA. I'm not thinking about squaring you. What am I going to do for him?

WILL. Not what _you_ are going to do for him--what am _I_ going to do for him. Why, I couldn't have that young fellow think that I tricked him into this thing for you or all the rest of the women of your kind on earth. G.o.d! I might have known that you, and the others like you, couldn't be square. [_The girl looks at him dumbly. He glances at his watch, walks up stage, looks out of the window, comes down again, goes to the table, and looks at her across it._] You've made a nice mess of it, haven't you?

LAURA. [_Weakly._] There isn't any mess. Please go away. He'll be here soon. Please let _me_ see him--please do that.

WILL. No, I'll wait. This time I'm going to tell him myself, and I don't care how tough it is.

LAURA. [_Immediately regaining all her vitality._] No, you mustn't do that. [_Crossing back of table to centre._] Oh, Will, I'm not offering any excuse. I'm not saying anything, but I'm telling you the truth. I couldn't give him up--I couldn't do it. I love him.

WILL. Huh. [_Grins; crosses to front of sofa._

LAURA. Don't you think so? I know you can't see what I see, but I do.

And why can't you go away? Why can't you leave me this? It's all I ever had. He doesn't know. No one will ever tell him. I'll take him away. It's the best for him--it's the best for me. Please go.

WILL. Why--do you think that I'm going to let you trip him the way you tripped me? [_Crosses and sits in armchair._] No. I'm going to stay right here until that young man arrives, and I'm going to tell him that it wasn't my fault. You were to blame.

LAURA. Then you are going to let him know. You're not going to give me a single, solitary chance?

WILL. I'll give you every chance that you deserve when he knows. Then he can do as he pleases, but there must be no more deception, that's flat.

[LAURA _crosses and kneels beside_ WILL'S _chair._

LAURA. Then you must let me tell him--[WILL _turns away impatiently._]--yes, you must. If I didn't tell him before, I'll do it now. You must go. If you ever had any regard for me--if you ever had any affection--if you ever had any friends.h.i.+p, please let me do this now. I want you to go--you can come back. Then you'll see--you'll know--only I want to try to make him understand that--that maybe if I am weak I'm not vicious. I want to let him know that I didn't want to do it, but I couldn't help it. Just give me the chance to be as good as I can be. [WILL _gives her a look._] Oh, I promise you, I will tell him, and then--then I don't care what happens--only he must learn everything from me--please--please--let me do this--it's the last favour I shall ever--ever ask of you. Won't you?

[LAURA _breaks down and weeps._

WILL. [_Rising, looks at her a moment as if mentally debating the best thing to do. Crosses in front of table; stands facing her with back to audience._] All right, I won't be unkind. I'll be back early this afternoon, and just remember, this is the time you'll have to go right through to the end. Understand?

LAURA. Yes, I'll do it,--all of it. Won't you please go--now?

[_Crosses; sits in armchair._

WILL. All right. [_He exits into the bedroom and immediately enters again with overcoat on his arm and hat in hand; he goes centre, and turns._] I am sorry for you, Laura, but remember you've got to tell the truth.

LAURA. [_Who is sitting in a chair looking straight in front of her with a set expression._] Please go. [WILL _exits._

LAURA _sits in a chair in a state of almost stupefaction, holding this att.i.tude as long as possible._ ANNIE _enters, and in a characteristic manner begins her task of tidying up the room;_ LAURA, _without changing her att.i.tude, and staring straight in front of her, her elbows between her knees and her chin on her hands._

LAURA. Annie!