Plays Part 14

TOM: And how did you like Europe?

ELIZABETH: (capably) Oh, I thought it was awfully amusing. All the girls were quite mad about Europe. Of course, I'm glad I'm an American.

CLAIRE: Why?

ELIZABETH: (laughing) Why-mother! Of course one is glad one is an American. All the girls-

CLAIRE: (turning away) O-h! (a moan under the breath)

ELIZABETH: Why, mother-aren't you well?

HARRY: Your mother has been working pretty hard at all this.

ELIZABETH: Oh, I do so want to know all about it? Perhaps I can help you! I think it's just awfully amusing that you're doing something. One does nowadays, doesn't one?-if you know what I mean. It was the war, wasn't it, made it the thing to do something?

d.i.c.k: (slyly) And you thought, Claire, that the war was lost.

ELIZABETH: The war? Lost! (her capable laugh) Fancy our losing a war! Miss Lane says we should give thanks. She says we should each do some expressive thing-you know what I mean? And that this is the keynote of the age. Of course, one's own kind of thing. Like mother-growing flowers.

CLAIRE: You think that is one's own kind of thing?

ELIZABETH: Why, of course I do, mother. And so does Miss Lane. All the girls-

CLAIRE: (shaking her head as if to get something out) S-hoo.

ELIZABETH: What is it, mother?

CLAIRE: A fly shut up in my ear-'All the girls!'

ELIZABETH: (laughing) Mother was always so amusing. So different-if you know what I mean. Vacations I've lived mostly with Aunt Adelaide, you know.

CLAIRE: My sister who is fitted to rear children.

HARRY: Well, somebody has to do it.

ELIZABETH: And I do love Aunt Adelaide, but I think its going to be awfully amusing to be around with mother now-and help her with her work. Help do some useful beautiful thing.

CLAIRE: I am not doing any useful beautiful thing.

ELIZABETH: Oh, but you are, mother. Of course you are. Miss Lane says so. She says it is your splendid heritage gives you this impulse to do a beautiful thing for the race. She says you are doing in your way what the great teachers and preachers behind you did in theirs.

CLAIRE: (who is good for little more) Well, all I can say is, Miss Lane is stung.

ELIZABETH: Mother! What a thing to say of Miss Lane. (from this slipping into more of a little girl manner) Oh, she gave me a spiel one day about living up to the men I come from.

(CLAIRE turns and regards her daughter.)

CLAIRE: You'll do it, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH: Well, I don't know. Quite a job, I'll say. Of course, I'd have to do it in my way. I'm not going to teach or preach or be a stuffy person. But now that-(she here becomes the product of a superior school) values have shifted and such sensitive new things have been liberated in the world-

CLAIRE: (low) Don't use those words.

ELIZABETH: Why-why not?

CLAIRE: Because you don't know what they mean.

ELIZABETH: Why, of course I know what they mean!

CLAIRE: (turning away) You're-stepping on the plants.

HARRY: (hastily) Your mother has been working awfully hard at all this.

ELIZABETH: Well, now that I'm here you'll let me help you, won't you, mother?

CLAIRE: (trying for control) You needn't-bother.

ELIZABETH: But I want to. Help add to the wealth of the world.

CLAIRE: Will you please get it out of your head that I am adding to the wealth of the world!

ELIZABETH: But, mother-of course you are. To produce a new and better kind of plant-

CLAIRE: They may be new. I don't give a d.a.m.n whether they're better.

ELIZABETH: But-but what are they then?

CLAIRE: (as if choked out of her) They're different.

ELIZABETH: (thinks a minute, then laughs triumphantly) But what's the use of making them different if they aren't better?

HARRY: A good square question, Claire. Why don't you answer it?

CLAIRE: I don't have to answer it.

HARRY: Why not give the girl a fair show? You never have, you know. Since she's interested, why not tell her what it is you're doing?

CLAIRE: She is not interested.

ELIZABETH: But I am, mother. Indeed I am. I do want awfully to understand what you are doing, and help you.

CLAIRE: You can't help me, Elizabeth.

HARRY: Why not let her try?

CLAIRE: Why do you ask me to do that? This is my own thing. Why do you make me feel I should-(goes to ELIZABETH) I will be good to you, Elizabeth. We'll go around together. I haven't done it, but-you'll see. We'll do gay things. I'll have a lot of beaus around for you. Anything else. Not-this is-Not this.

ELIZABETH: As you like, mother, of course. I just would have been so glad to-to share the thing that interests you. (hurt borne with good breeding and a smile)