Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays Part 197

HARRIET [_horrified_]. You wouldn't touch the piano in the presence of death!

LYDIA. Where is the key?

HARRIET [_unable to fathom Lydia's strange demand_]. It is gone. I don't know where it is.

LYDIA. Don't you? Don't you? [_Sliding her hands toward her aunt's throat and turning toward Joe._] Be brave, Joe. [_Speaking to her aunt._] Then if the key is gone, I shall have to take the fire-tongs.

[_Lydia steps toward the fire-place._]

HARRIET. Lydia! Don't touch them! What are you about?

LYDIA [_coming again to her aunt and placing her hands on her shoulders_]. I want--that--key. And I want it quickly.

[_They look squarely into one another's eyes._]

HARRIET [_uncertainly_]. I can't give it to you now. I will never give it to you.

LYDIA. No? [_Almost breaking down._] Joe, why didn't you tell me?

[_Walking toward the hearth._] Very well, Aunt Harriet.

HARRIET [_pa.s.sing her hand over her eyes in terror_]. Wait! Look in that old vase on the mantel. No--the one that we never use--with the crack in it--

[_Lydia takes down the vase and tilts it. A key falls on the hearth with a ringing sound. She picks it up and quickly opens the piano._]

HARRIET. To think that this should happen in my house. Lord, what have I done to deserve it?

LYDIA [_seating herself at the piano_]. Joe, this sounds like wind blowing through willow trees. [_She plays softly._] Good-by, Joe, good-by, dear. Good luck!

HARRIET [_pulling down the blinds on either side of the fire-place_].

Lydia, have you no religion?

LYDIA [_controlling her agitation_]. Yes--I have.

HARRIET [_looking from Lydia to Joe_]. I can't understand. Joe, poor Joe.

LYDIA. Let not your heart be troubled.... [_Continuing to play._] I'm smiling, Joe. I'm laughing, Joe! Be strong....

[_Harriet is stupefied. She starts toward Lydia, but stops. She lifts the Bible from the table, but replaces it hastily, as Lydia looks across at her._]

LYDIA [_dreamily_]. In my Father's house are many mansions.

[_Harriet looks to the portrait above the door, as if for help._]

LYDIA. If it were not so--I would have told you--

[_And Lydia looks mystically out into s.p.a.ce and continues to play while_

_The Curtain Falls._]

TRIFLES

A PLAY

BY SUSAN GLASPELL

Copyright, 1920, by Small, Maynard & Company.

All rights reserved.

TRIFLES was first produced by the Provincetown Players, at the Wharf Theatre, Provincetown, Ma.s.s., on August 8th, 1916, with the following cast:

GEORGE HENDERSON _Robert Rogers_.

HENRY PETERS _Robert Conville_.

LEWIS HALE _George Cram Cook_.

MRS. PETERS _Alice Hall_.

MRS. HALE _Susan Glaspell_.

It was later produced by the Washington Square Players at the Comedy Theatre, New York City, on the night of November 15th, 1916, with the following cast:

GEORGE HENDERSON _T. W. Gibson_.

HENRY PETERS _Arthur E. Hohl_.

LEWIS HALE _John King_.

MRS. PETERS _Marjorie Vonnegut_.

MRS. HALE _Elinor M. c.o.x_.

Reprinted from "Plays" by Susan Glaspell, published by Small, Maynard & Company, by permission of Miss Susan Glaspell and Messrs. Small, Maynard & Company. The professional and amateur stage rights on this play are strictly reserved by the author. Applications for permission to produce this play must be made to Miss Susan Glaspell, care of Small, Maynard & Company, 41 Mt. Vernon Street, Boston, Ma.s.s.

TRIFLES

A PLAY BY SUSAN GLASPELL

[SCENE: _The kitchen in the now abandoned farm-house of John Wright, a gloomy kitchen, and left without having been put in order--unwashed pans under the sink, a loaf of bread outside the bread-box, a dish-towel on the table--other signs of incompleted work. At the rear the outer door opens and the Sheriff comes in followed by the County Attorney and Hale. The Sheriff and Hale are men in middle life, the County Attorney is a young man; all are much bundled up and go at once to the stove. They are followed by the two women--the Sheriff's wife first; she is a slight wiry woman, a thin nervous face. Mrs. Hale is larger and would ordinarily be called more comfortable looking, but she is disturbed now and looks fearfully about as she enters. The women have come in slowly, and stand close together near the door._]

COUNTY ATTORNEY [_rubbing his hands_]. This feels good. Come up to the fire, ladies.

MRS. PETERS [_after taking a step forward_]. I'm not--cold.

SHERIFF [_unb.u.t.toning his overcoat and stepping away from the stove as if to mark the beginning of official business_]. Now, Mr. Hale, before we move things about, you explain to Mr. Henderson just what you saw when you came here yesterday morning.