Show 4 ru m Je J J I ti C- C IN TIlE THE E PLAY PERSONS i W Ol J 1 The Girl The Man lr A Place ace ace-A A CI City Time TIme The The Present 1020 1940 Dr Pr O. O W. W Johnston r tawdry shabby alil i v sitting room in an old old- el The Tho o scene is 3 a o f a i oar boarding As Aa the curtain rises a small mall the table drawer in rummaging slim Um girl it II a vaguely teen lean coat and a dress Vest Next the she abstracts o tI banknote from a crumpled wad toad of them from a white whito dress waistcoat both all this she thrown carelessly over a chair Throughout Is hurried and frightened and works with a breathless intensity Finally she dislodges a cane propped f against the ha way wan I and it U fa falls to th the J floor floar with a bang Panic Panic- she he darts darl hither and ancl thither seeking a way of escape but t there Mere d is none nOM u except pt through the doorway beyond tO b which oJ movement U is audible In her desperation the e switches off oft the lamp Samp and crouches behind the table 1 A i m moment t J later kr th the lights flash hash on an and a man is u visible t standing f beside the tM doorway He wears dress trousers a r shirt end and has a G white scarf neck loose loosely loose knotted his c. c He Ie holds a J revolver At the sight light the i gasps and cowers 0 on em the tM Moor floor Detecting her pros pres- Ewe the Ilia man CO Iet levels alt JI his bit revolver r at 1 her hiding n A end of your our string Jessie Is that it It s GIRL GIRL-At At the end sad of at my string Then suddenly sho she breaks break out with passionate fervor How lonesome Ive I've been How 4 lonesome and mile mileti miserable Ive I've been been n in the dark with dark with the lights ti h MAN iAly The MAN The The lights v l GIRL rises me from fromer h her chair and stares stare J JInto into vacancy a as though fascinated fas fa- by the vision that confronts confronts con eon 1 t a s fronts her her I I could see seo them LT from my window I couldn't couldn t stay in to bed with them thorn sparkling spark spark- te a ling Hug over o there there over over the tops of or the houses lIke houses like houses like diamonds Many and many a night Ive I've I i x- x eat Bat there In n tho the dark looking at the them them the whole sky bright 1 1 bright b n i MAN N cuts in swiftly wf tense tensely tensely tensely-I I I y i t- t get you you It Its It's s the white lights 4 p gym you rou mean And I know what r. r you are thinking about sitting r 5 there in your your our room what room what was Come out of that Quick f fretting letting 3 your our heart out Why M or HI Ill fire n 0 were you up under the roof in inthe G i i the dank In the h cold old nailed t it Y a. a r L down to some somo old rickety chair tt w That's what you were vere thinking F c about That's what chat was fret- fret 1 ff Jn 11 So 1 AN out of or that Quick or Ill I'll fire are The girl gIrt clam clam- clambers MAN bers bera to her Mr feet fut and stands stand behind the table a picture of shame and terror Stares J at the girl in astonishment Then en lowers hi M Ms pistol with th a laugh We Well if it isn't a a. Aa Ae the man approaches her the girl watching her chance dodges dodge around the tho table tabla in tn a an effort to run p past d him and escape through h the door Covers her with his hi pistol Halt Haiti No monkey business Up with your hands The girl lifts U her hands awkwardly and only partially Way up That That's the stuff I Now come here where I can get geta a good look at yon you The girl approaches him Mm slowly and A Aa he starts to search her with hi his left hand still din keeping her covered with the revolver in his right size she he flinches and anti draws back Keep still Safety first firstly you on now ow To ao such a as aa an a on n you GIRL No No Take yours away please It scares me rAN HAN lowers W his pun gun steps tepa back a pace or two and looks loob her over f from rem head to heel Mel His Hs eyes are cold and cruel crud There if is always on h his Ms lips Up a faint satirical smile mUe He Ht speaks peak teeth oit a J wave suave sarcasm Too sarcasm Too bad Never saw a gun before and It frightened her ber Poor little thing DIRL swaying from fright and Mar far e exhaustion vr I I take my hands down now Th They're y re tired KAN I VAN I guess eo so He takes her chin in n his Ms hand and turns turn her heT foe face abruptly to the light Ive I've Been seen you somewhere Where On GIRL On the stairs most likely I live lire on the t top p floor MAN HAN You MAN Yon Yon do What's your name GIRL sinks into a chair l beside the tM tal table Faintly Its It's Its It's Jessie Jessie- s Jessie Dean CAN SAN Jessie Dean W With tilt a I shrug of h 1 fa shoulders shoulder and a smite smile Well I suppose ose that'll do as well as any other name But how bow did you get in here Jessie Tessie Dean Tell me that The The he door wits was unlocked J J AN N starts and searches his Ms pockets pocket ha hastily Finding his door key Icey therein ln he hol holds it t tup up smilingly Youre You're Youre You're right But look Zook here Jessie What did you come here for Its It's two o'clock in Inthe the morning Rather late for a neighborly call can dont don't you yon think CURL shoots a 0 twin swift tt stealthy glance at the thc man over her short der Moistening her dry lips Ups she ahe mutters mutters mutters-I I made a mis mis- take take wing up to my sty room in fn the dark I was tired tired- daze dazed IrAN KAN seated lastly on the table taDie edge elge he lie picks pIck up one after aver another an an- other er such uch small objects a as lie He upon it U and passes them t through his hands seeming unconsciously to weigh measure meas mea ure and test them He speaks peak 1 with a sham aham seriousness seriousness- Dazed D Dazed I guess that's what was the matter with I me when 7 I got home last night forgetting night forgetting to lock my m own door But dont don't tell me you'd been boozing Jessie A nice girl like you I wouldn't believe It H He e s 's witches switches on the table lamp and tilts the shade so 0 a. a as to throw it its light full fun upon the girl He looks her over cynical cynically 1 y You come from the country dont don't you Jessie GIRL nods ls her head wearily wearily Yes iUAN r I thought ought s so Dazed f Just a little c cJ country country- June bug bumbling and buzzing around and J butting into the tho brown places In the dark You look like a June bu bug g J Jessie plain Jessie wrong plain J all over brown dress brown hat bat brown broWn brown- GIRL swings about in her chair and faces him with quivering Up lips and ana trembling hands hands hands-Don't Don't Dont make fun of at m me e Dont Don 1 MAN quiCkly and harshly Then harshly Then tell me the truth You dont don't expect me mo to swallow that dope Come youre you're feeding me do you GIRL distractedly oh Uhl J-Uhl Oh stop tormenting me me Let you Please me go wont won't t tt t J MAX A Not AN Not Not mu c He points point to some odd odds and ana ends of 01 which the girl n n her hasty search o of f the tab table le drawer papers had scattered on the floor You o been frisking things bat were you after my c t o r a GIRL BIRL flanz flames Samos out defiantly I de I wanted money I had to ha bare ve e eIt It it had It-had Tied had to I IMAN MAN MAN But But why did you pick me out Why did you come in hero That's what I want vant to know GIRL IRL Yours was the first door I found round unlocked going upstairs I was dazed I toll you you desperate ou d desperate sperato Id I'd been down at the river I stood on the dock I dont don't know how long I dont don't know how long I stood there the there the black water the water the stars shining In it She shudders and covers Tier liar face fac with her hands hand But I lost my nerve ner I couldn't do it ft couldn't t-couldn't MAN in ire mock sympathy YoU 81 You You Sure not DOt What would be the use Take it from mo me Jessie so 50 long ns as a girl Is young and pretty theres there's nothing in this drowning business not business not nota a thing GIRL passionately Theres There's There's Theres not a thing In living not living not for tor me I cant can't get work Im I'm hungry Do you know what hat It Is tobe to tobe tobe be hungry hungry to to have haTe something burning inside of you night and day gnawing day gnawing gnawing gnawing at you like a dog Jog Do you know what it is to have havo no DO place to go go-do go do you rouno you you- no place to go MA MAN You MAc You You said Bald you lived upstairs GIRL GIRL I I lI lied d. d I couldn't pay my rent I was put out last night Her Iler arms arms arm fall faU all hopelessly upon the thc table and she buries bUNC her er face in them Oh Ob if I could only go back back go go home But Im I'm ashamed I couldn't face them A failure a failure a good good- for nothing for nothing for that's what I am And now now now-a a thief Oh what a 0 fool tool I was Oh It If Id I'd ne ej never come como away MAN fa a slight pause ens ensues ensues cs Then the thc man man leans leans- over the table and nA rf look lot T 11 In the cues Just cues Just about at the vu n uc 0 were right down in the o lights all aU dolled up cabaret sup sup- suppers suppers pers pars trotting fox-trotting maybe maybe maybe- GIRL GIRL No No o no Not that It wasn't that j MAN Then MAN Then it was something mighty like it He walks deliberately aroun around f her scrutinizing her from from head to heel appraising ap ap- praising her like a slave And you OU as good a looker as any of at them Hard luck Hard luck His Hi manner manner man man- ner 1 changes completely His gaze gae softens so His tones become be come hushed soothing His touch is gentle reassuring a ahe as ashe ashe he lays a hand on each of ot her shoulders and holds her off at arms arm's length looking directly into her cr eyes eves Poor little Juno June bug You never had bad much fun did you Just blew In from the country and bumped your head against the city and then then nearly nearly fell fen into the river Its It's a mean trick the city plays playa on girls like Uke you He draws drates her closer to him She flutters trying to pull pun at away av But his compelling eyes never for an instant lose touch with hers and andis is is voice flows flow on soft oft cajoling Poor little kid Wanted pretty clothes like other girls wanted good times like other girls and girls and couldn't get getem em But never mind girlie The Tho end ond of ot the world Isn't d due e to-night to The white lights will will burn bum Just as bright morrow to-morrow night as they thep do now now now- brighter maybe Dont Don't worry Your chance will come i Gm GIRL GIRL IMy My ry chance What do you mean meanT I MAN There MAN There are plenty of ot dresses in the shops lots prettier than this one ever er was as There are aro slippers Just your size with high heels heets and with silver buckles on them and th the cutest little hats bats one for every evetT day In the week GIRL wistfully with trembling hands hand and sparkling eyes elles eyes You mean What do you mean How when How when will my chance come MAN fAN earnestly gravely TetI Tell Tell me sister What would you do doto doto to live Ii easy and sleep soft What would you do to jet get et etall all you wanted to eat and drink all aU the clothes you wanted to wear wear the the real reals stuff all you wanted mind you and then some Borne GIRL Oh GIRL Oh Dont Don't ask me MAN What MAN What would you do what do what wouldn't nt you do to do-to to be quit of the river river to to be bo quit of or it t for keeps GIRL shudders am and covers her face ace with hc her hands ToU hands Toll Toll mo how Tell me what to do dol MAN fAN But But would you do it Think GIRL Yes GIRL Yes Tell me Anything MAN rAN stretches out his Ms right hand and holds it flat fat T back ack upward His speech prows grows quicker cr crisper He closes his eyes and turns turn's urn his hb head aside aalde 55 s 8 though to concentrate nc t his Ms whole attention to the thc sense of feeling feeling feeling- Touch my hand with your fingers The girl surprised curious curf us hesitates a moment the then does doe as ai she has been told No o no That n wont won't do Lighter Just the tips 8 8 o 1 That's nat's more like it He takes a piece of Ir string from front the table ties a knot in it and holds it out to her Ter Untie that knot r GIRL as she undoes the knot quickly and dexterously dexter dexter- 1 the man critically studies every movement movement movement move move- ment of 01 her hands She is eager anxious for or rw There praise praise There Its It's untied See Cee But But But- f what's all aU this about I dont don't understand x MAN Walt MAN Wait He takes take from his pocket pocket a a neck lace of showy pearls pearla fondles it daintily and F holds it up before the girls girl's eyes See that Fasten it around my neck f Oh GIRL Oh Isn't it beautiful beautiful beautiful-beautiful beautiful She steps step behind him hint him and clasps it about hI his r neck t MAN Now MAN Now listen I want you to unclasp It t. t It If ih you can do it without my feeling it ft without 51 my knowing it Ill It-I'll Ill I'll give it to you sou GIRL starts tarts back amazed amazed To To me met me You'll YouIl give that hat necklace to mo me Why Why will you C 1920 Int International Inc r 1 t 1 J 1 No one over ever gave gaTo mo roo anything like that No one ever spoke to tome tomeno tomeno me no me-no no one ono over o treated me as J. J you do MAN jIAN pals pats her hand lightly closes his eyes and turns turna hi his head to one side Now sile-Now Now The girl quickly and eagerly steps behind him and aneZ unfastens the necklace MAN good good Rotten Rotten sister sister sis sis- ter Rotten You almost Jarred me oft off my feet The Thc girl clasps and unclasps the necklace once onee m more MAN Worse MAN rA Worse Ill I'll GIRL Ill I'll never be able to do IU t Never MAN MAN Forget Forget It t I caught onto your hads the minute you jOU held them up And I know If anybody docs does I 1 do Once more GIRL GrIlL wizen when she has again unclasped the necklace site she peeps anxiously about to ascertain if it he lie TIO-J TIO tat noticed He has not but stands motionless his eyes shut his hb head turned to one side wait waft ing The girl uirl thereupon tiptoes around in front of or him hint and holds the string of pearls up before before be be- fore lets his eyes proudly with a aUay pay gay little laugh laugh There There Ivo Ive done dona it I always was quick with my fingers They used to say at home hom home home- MAN fAN M AN In natured good-natured Dont Don't Don't Dont be too cocky cooley girlie Youre You're inthe In Inthe the tho kindergarten yet Youve You've got to learn how to unhook the goods so BO you can do It in the dark Youve You've got to learn loarn to do doIt doIt doit It so 80 fine that it wont won't even en rustle a a. cobweb You Youve got to learn to pass em to mo with ith a hundred guys gurs looking on may may- be Oh its it's a great game sister sister sis sis sis- ter Beats Jumping In the tho river all to death But Ill I'll have haTe to work on you a n. month before I dare put you on the Job GIRL she speaks thoughtfully in fn a alow alow low tone tone The The Job Whore MAN Why fAN Why the opera Peacock Alley cabarets everywhere everywhere everywhere every every- where they've they got Welcome on the doormat and the dames doll up and go He yawns awns and stretches h himself Of all the nuts in this crazy world 1 they're the worst worst the the dames They'd tie tIo a string of millstones J 1 f r 1 h Y 4 s ti S 'S St t 1 r l a lul rr t r Y l y V r r rF f bj y r a s l ti 1 r IC t- t 7 l lr r i r FI 1 r. r h l hrC lL t ni I r A J h r t tk k rrt r r u F Fl l f I w MI Y r hS r r J t. t Il 1 I 7 m p y R i F rN r r N rJ 7 i d di i ihl e tl l L F 1 A Ern l Jv ar Jl vb yr But I cant can't go back upstairs and wait and starve I want my chancel chance c Give it fo me Yes Im I'm game a. a I. 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