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A flat desk left center. At right a long table and chairs. Doors open right and left. Large windows open center. Beside the center window stands an upright desk. In one corner a rack with map rollers and folios of maps on the floor and leaning against the wall._
AT RISE: _Colonel Nicolay, the President's Secretary, is seen writing before an enormous pile of mail. He reads a letter and throws it down in disgust. Reads another and hurls it into the waste basket. He rises--turns back to the desk and hurls an armful of the letters into the corner on the floor and removes enough letters to clear a s.p.a.ce for his Chief to write._
[EDWARD _enters dragging a mail bag._]
NICOLAY
[_Calling to the Doorman._]
Edward!
EDWARD
Yes, sir----
NICOLAY
Hold that door tight this morning----
EDWARD
Tight as a drum, sir----
NICOLAY
If any men of importance try to crowd in before their time----
EDWARD
I'll look out for them, sir--here's another bag of letters, Colonel Nicolay----
NICOLAY
Another----?
EDWARD
And there's two more outside----
NICOLAY
My G.o.d----!
EDWARD
Don't blame me, sir--I didn't write 'em----
NICOLAY
No, I'll vouch for your loyalty to the President.
EDWARD
Where'll I put these----?
NICOLAY
Throw the bag in the corner--there's no room on his desk now----
EDWARD
[_Obeying._]
Yes, sir----
[EDWARD _throws the bag in the corner of the room where_ NICOLAY _has already piled the letters from the desk, and turns to_ NICOLAY. _He watches_ NICOLAY _destroying letters for a moment._]
NICOLAY
Well, Edward----?
EDWARD
Will you tell me one thing, Colonel Nicolay----?
NICOLAY
If I can----
EDWARD
What do they say in these letters to the President----? I've served through four administrations--I've never seen such piles of letters in the White House before----
NICOLAY
Well, Edward--these letters ask two things of Abraham Lincoln: That he dismiss General Grant from command of the Army----
EDWARD
The idiots----
NICOLAY
And stop the war to-day--August 23, 1864,--make peace--peace at any price--to-day----
EDWARD
G.o.d save us! After nearly four years--quit, with nothing settled----?
