The Pot Boiler: A Comedy in Four Acts Part 25

_Will. (Leans on hands.)_ Oh, dear.

_Peggy._ Tired, Will?

_Will._ I'm getting a beastly headache.

_Peggy._ Will, you know you oughtn't to work when your stomach has quit like this.

_Will._ Hang my stomach!

_Peggy._ But, dear--

_Will._ Why do authors have to have stomachs? They're never of any use.

_Peggy._ Listen, Will. You can't do good work when you're so tired.

_Will._ I can do good work! You'll see it's good. I've nearly finished the fourth act now. Come, read it--and forget about my stomach. _(She moves over to him. The Play-play begins to appear.)_ The scene is Dad's drawing-room again. Jessie is there; she's worrying about Jack, and Bob is trying to comfort her. _(Full light on Play-play.)_

_Bob._ He's all right, Jessie. Anybody'd think he'd gone to war!

_Jessie._ He was never away for so long before.

_Bob._ Don't I seem a fairly healthy specimen, Jessie?

_Jessie._ I suppose so, Bob.

_Bob._ Well, I've done what he's doing. I've done it for a year. And I survived.

_Jessie._ But you knew how, Bob.

_Bob._ I didn't when I started.

_Jessie._ It snowed last night; I lay awake till daybreak worrying about him.

_Bob._ My dear girl, men have got snow on their clothes before this.

_Jessie._ He's been gone a month!

_Bob._ Listen, Jessie! You know there's misery and suffering in the world, don't you?

_Jessie._ Yes, I suppose so.

_Bob._ And could you wish Jack to live all his life in indifference to such things--just idle and play, and spend the wealth that other people produce for him?

_Jessie. (Clenching her hands.)_ Oh, if he'd only come home! _(The telephone rings.)_

_Bob._ I'll answer it. _(Goes to phone.)_ h.e.l.lo. _(A pause; then exclaims.)_ Why, what's happened? _(Another pause; he turns to Jessie.)_ It's Jack!

_Jessie (leaps up.)_ Jack!

_Bob._ Ssh. _(In phone.)_ Yes, what's that? What's the matter? Well, I declare! Sure, Jessie's here. Yes, Dad's upstairs. No, I won't tell him. Perhaps he won't. Hey? In two minutes? All right! Bye-bye!

_(Turns.)_ He's coming home!

_Jessie._ Bob!

_Bob._ He's around at the subway station. He'll be here in two minutes.

_Jessie._ But what's happened?

_Bob._ He wouldn't say. Just says he gives up--he's coming home.

_Jessie._ Thank Heaven! _(A pause.)_ But Bob! What can it mean?

_Bob._ It means he's lost his wager.

_Jessie._ I don't care! He's coming home! Jack! Jack! _(She dances and claps her hands.)_ Oh, I'm so happy! So happy! _(The light begins to rise on the Real-play-enough to reveal Bill getting up from the cot. He looks about guiltily, climbs up to a shelf after a bowl. There is a crash. Instantly the Play-play vanishes.)_

_Will. (Starting.)_ What's that?

_Peggy. (Leaps up and runs Right.)_ Bill!

_Bill._ Boo-hoo-hoo!

_Peggy._ What's the matter?

_Bill._ I didn't go to do it!

_Peggy._ But what--

_Will._ Didn't you know we were busy?

_Bill._ I-I was hungry!

_Peggy._ Poor Bill! Never mind, dear! _(Clasps him in her arms.)_ There was nothing in the bowl.

_Bill._ I th-thought there might b-b-be.

_Peggy._ Never mind! Poor little fellow! He was hungry!

_Bill._ I couldn't sleep, Peggy.

_Peggy._ All right, never mind. We won't scold you. It doesn't matter about the old bowl--we've got nothing to put in it anyway.

Now, don't cry--you'll get yourself all excited. _(Sound of singing heard off Right.)_

_Bill._ Oh! There's the Beggar-kid! _(Runs to window.)_ Say, Peggy!

Can't I go down and listen to him? I won't go off the steps, and I won't talk to anybody.

_Peggy._ You're sure you feel well enough?

_Bill._ I'll feel better, Peggy. Please! Please!