The Easiest Way Part 25

LAURA. So you're very, very rich, dear?

JOHN. Oh, not rich [_Releasing her hand, he leans back in his chair._], just heeled. I'm not going down to the Wall Street bargain counter and buy the Union Pacific, or anything like that; but we won't have to take the trip on tourists' tickets, and there's enough money to make us comfortable all the rest of our lives.

LAURA. How hard you must have worked and suffered.

JOHN. n.o.body else ever accused me of that, but I sure will have to plead guilty to you. [_Rises; stands at upper side of table._] Why, dear, since the day you came into my life, h.e.l.l-raising took a sneak out the back door and G.o.d poked His toe in the front, and ever since then I think He's been coming a little closer to me. [_Crossing over._] I used to be a fellow without much faith, and kidded everybody who had it, and I used to say to those who prayed and believed, "You may be right, but show me a message." You came along and you brought that little doc.u.ment in your sweet face and your dear love. Laura, you turned the trick for me, and I think I'm almost a regular man now.

LAURA _turns away in pain; the realization of all she is to_ JOHN _weighs heavily upon her. She almost loses her nerve, and is on the verge of not going through with her determination to get her happiness at any price._

LAURA. John, please, don't. I'm not worth it.

[_Rises, crosses to right._

JOHN. [_With a light air._] Not worth it? Why, you're worth [_Crossing behind table, stands behind_ LAURA.] that and a whole lot more. And see how you've got on! Brockton told me you never could get along in your profession, but I knew you could. [_Crosses back of_ LAURA, _takes her by the shoulders, shakes her playfully._] I knew what you had in you, and here you are. You see, if my foot hadn't slipped on the right ground and kicked up pay-dirt, you'd been all right. You succeeded and I succeeded, but I'm going to take you away; and after a while, when things sort of smooth out, and it's all clear where the money's [_Crosses to sofa and sits._] coming from, we're going to move back here, and go to Europe, and just have a great time, like a couple of good pals.

LAURA. [_Slowly crosses to_ JOHN.] But if I hadn't succeeded and if things--things weren't just as they seem--would it make any difference to you, John?

JOHN. Not the least in the world. [_He takes her in his arms and kisses her, drawing her on to sofa beside him._] Now don't you get blue. I should not have surprised you this way. It's taken you off your feet. [_He looks at his watch, rises, crosses behind sofa, gets overcoat._] But we've not any time to lose. How soon can you get ready?

LAURA. [_Kneeling on sofa, leaning over back._] You mean to go?

JOHN. Nothing else.

LAURA. Take all my things?

JOHN. All your duds.

LAURA. Why, dear, I can get ready most any time.

JOHN. [_Looking off into bedroom._] That your maid?

LAURA. Yes,--Annie.

JOHN. Well, you and she can pack everything you want to take; the rest can follow later. [_Puts coat on._] I planned it all out. There's a couple of the boys working down town,--newspaper men on Park Row.

Telephoned them when I got in and they're waiting for me. I'll just get down there as soon as I can. I won't be gone long.

LAURA. How long?

JOHN. I don't know just how long, but we'll make that train. I'll get the license. We'll be married and we'll be off on our honeymoon this afternoon. Can you do it?

LAURA _goes up to him, puts her hands in his, and they confront each other._

LAURA. Yes, dear, I could do anything for you.

_He takes her in his arms and kisses her again. Looks at her tenderly._

JOHN. That's good. Hurry now. I won't be long. Good-bye.

LAURA. Hurry back, John.

JOHN. Yes. I won't be long. [_Exit._

LAURA. [_Stands for a moment looking after him; then she suddenly recovers herself and walks rapidly over to the dresser, picks up large jewel-case, takes doll that is hanging on dresser, puts them on her left arm, takes black cat in her right hand and uses it in emphasizing her words in talking to_ ANNIE. _Places them all on table._] Annie, Annie, come here!

ANNIE. Ya.s.sum. [_She appears at the door._

LAURA. Annie, I'm going away, and I've got to hurry.

ANNIE. Goin' away?

LAURA. Yes. I want you to bring both my trunks out here,--I'll help you,--and start to pack. We can't take everything.

[ANNIE _throws fur rug from across doorway into bedroom._], but bring all the clothes out and we'll hurry as fast as we can. Come on.

_Exit_ LAURA _with_ ANNIE. _In a very short interval she re-appears, and both are carrying a large trunk between them. They put it down, pushing sofa back._

ANNIE. Look out for your toes, Miss Laura.

LAURA. I can take two.

ANNIE. Golly, such excitement. [_Crosses to table; pushes it over further, also armchair._] Wheah yuh goin', Miss Laura?

LAURA. Never mind where I'm going. I haven't any time to waste now talking. I'll tell you later. This is one time, Annie, that you've got to move. Hurry up.

LAURA _pushes her in front of her. Exeunt the same way and re-appear with a smaller trunk._

ANNIE. Look out fo' your dress, Miss Laura.

_These trunks are of the same type as those in Act II. When the trunks are put down_ LAURA _opens one and commences to throw things out._ ANNIE _stands watching her._ LAURA _kneels in front of trunk, working and humming "Bon-Bon Buddie."_

ANNIE. Ah nevah see you so happy, Miss Laura.

LAURA. I never was so happy. For heaven's sake, go get something.

Don't stand there looking at me. I want you to hurry.

ANNIE. I'll bring out all de fluffy ones first.

LAURA. Yes, everything. [ANNIE _enters with armful of dresses and hat-box of tissue-paper; dumps tissue-paper on floor, puts dresses in trunk._

ANNIE. [_Goes out again. Outside._] You goin' to take dat opera-cloak?

[_Enters with more dresses, puts them on sofa, takes opera-cloak, spreads it on top of dresses on trunk._] My, but dat's a beauty. I jest love dat crushed rosey one. [_Exit._

LAURA. Annie, you put the best dresses on the foot of the bed and I'll get them myself. You heard what I said?

ANNIE. [_Off stage._] Ya.s.sum.

ANNIE _hangs dresses across bed in alcove._ LAURA _continues busily arranging the contents of the trunk, placing some garments here and some there, as if she were sorting them out._ WILL _quietly enters and stands at the door, looking at her. He holds this position as long as possible, and when he speaks it is in a very quiet tone._