[He argues withBill.]
[He argues withBill.]
David
You don’t know my daddy! My daddy is the busiestman in the world! When he comes to see me, he says, “Exactly ten”—and that means exactly ten. When I want to see him I have to ask his secretary—and sometimes he can’t see me at all.
Bessie
Do yuh like dat?
David
I don’t like it—but I guess daddyhasto work.
Bessie
Your daddy woik? W’at fer?
David
I guess he wantshismoney—so that he can payhisrent.
[Bessiesnickers.Davidbridles indignantly.]
[Bessiesnickers.Davidbridles indignantly.]
Don’t make fun of him! I won’t let anybody do that! I don’t think anybody works as hard as he works! Why, he starts in the morning before I get up, and sometimes when I wake in the middle of the night, I tiptoe to the door of my room, and I can see the light burning in his study downstairs! Daddy workshard—and he looks so tired! He’s so tired sometimes that he won’t let me sit in his lap.
Bessie
My daddy lets me sit in his lap all I like!
David
[Eagerly.]
[Eagerly.]
Does everybody call him a fine man?
Bessie
[A bit dubiously.]
[A bit dubiously.]
Dey calls him all sorts of t’ings—but he don’t mind dat.
David
Do the policemen stop and speak to him?
Bessie
Not ef he sees dem foist.
David
Do they send men to his house to take his picture?
Bessie
[With pardonable pride.]
[With pardonable pride.]
Dey don’t have ter: dey got his pitcher at headquarters.
Bill
[Who has been arguing withSlimin undertones during the preceding dialogue, now turns abruptly.]
[Who has been arguing withSlimin undertones during the preceding dialogue, now turns abruptly.]
Come on, fellers! We’re gonna go!
[Slim takesDavid’shand.]
[Slim takesDavid’shand.]
A Chorus
Naw, Bill!... We wanna play wit’ de presents!... We don’t wanna leave de presents!... We want de presents!
Bill
[Angrily.]
[Angrily.]
Come on, I say!
Maggie
[Appealingly.]
[Appealingly.]
Baby don’t wanna leave de presents!
David
Santa Claus, let them take the presents with them!
[AsSlimreleases him in astonishment, he runs to the children.]
[AsSlimreleases him in astonishment, he runs to the children.]
Here: you take this, and here’s something for you; and you take one of the railroad trains—don’t forget the tracks—and you take the other one.
Bill
[Dumbfounded.]
[Dumbfounded.]
Yuh’re givin’ away yer toys?
David
[Busy distributing gifts.]
[Busy distributing gifts.]
They want them more than I do!
[He turns again to the children.]
[He turns again to the children.]
Here: you can carry more than that!
[Annie’sarms are full already, but he piles toys on the heap.]
[Annie’sarms are full already, but he piles toys on the heap.]
Put these on top. Take them along.
[ToPete.]
[ToPete.]
Do they let you ride a bicycle?
Pete
Sure t’ing!
David
Then take this one.
[ToBessie.]
[ToBessie.]
Do they let you go coasting on a sled?
Bessie
All I want—ef I gotta sled.
David
Here’s one for you.
[ToT’eodore,holding up a pair of boxing gloves.]
[ToT’eodore,holding up a pair of boxing gloves.]
Can you use them?
T’eodore
Kin a duck swim?
David
Take them.
Pete
[ToBill.]
[ToBill.]
Hey, Bill, can I have de tennis racket?
Bill
[ToDavid.]
[ToDavid.]
How about it?
David
[And you see it hurts—and besidesPete’sarms are full.]
[And you see it hurts—and besidesPete’sarms are full.]
He wants it more than I do.
Maggie
[With a cry of delight.]
[With a cry of delight.]
Gee, look w’at I found! Ice skates! See de ice skates, baby?
David
Ice skates!
[He pauses; takes them in his hand; caresses them. This time it hurts very much indeed.]
[He pauses; takes them in his hand; caresses them. This time it hurts very much indeed.]
Bill
[Almost savagely.]
[Almost savagely.]
W’at are yuh gonna do, kid?
David
[Smiling atBill.]
[Smiling atBill.]
I’m going to give them to her.
[He places them inMaggie’shands.]
[He places them inMaggie’shands.]
Take good care of them—and look out for the baby—they’re sharp.
[He turns toBill.]
[He turns toBill.]
And now, Santa Claus, what’s a kidnaping party?
Bill
Yuh wanna know dat?
David
Yes, Santa Claus!
Bill
Yuh really wanna know?
[Davidtakes his hand and nods eagerly.Billhesitates. Then he glares defiantly atSlim,and turns toDavid.]
[Davidtakes his hand and nods eagerly.Billhesitates. Then he glares defiantly atSlim,and turns toDavid.]
Kid, yuh ain’t never gonna loin dat from me!
Slim
[With hostility.]
[With hostility.]
W’at did yuh say?
David
[Apologetically.]
[Apologetically.]
I didn’t mean to forget your present, Mr. Slim.
[He runs to the tree and fetches the candy.]
[He runs to the tree and fetches the candy.]
Here you are! And Merry Christmas!
[He givesSlimthe box.]
[He givesSlimthe box.]
Slim
De candy! Dat’s my idee of one fine present!
David
And now, Santa Claus?
Bill
[Shaking his head.]
[Shaking his head.]
Kid, it’s gonna cost me a lotta coin—an’ gee, w’at wouldn’t I do wit’ just a coupla dollars?—but youse a little gen’leman—see?—an’ ef anybody lays a finger on yuh, I’ll moider him!
[He casts a defiant glance atSlim,and claps his arm uponDavid’sshoulders in a rough accolade.]
[He casts a defiant glance atSlim,and claps his arm uponDavid’sshoulders in a rough accolade.]
Kid, youse a good sport—
[He bows grotesquely.]
[He bows grotesquely.]
—an’ I take me hat off to yuh! Yours truly, John W. Santa.
Slim
[Gasping.]
[Gasping.]
Youse gonna leave him here?
Bill
Yuh hoid me.
Slim
But we come here to—
Bill
[Interrupting.]
[Interrupting.]
I changed my mind—see? A guy dat’s a he-man cando dat little t’ing—an’ John W. Santa’s a he-man!
[He indicatesDavid.]
[He indicatesDavid.]
I’m gonna leave him here—an’ me an’ de kids is gonna beat it—an’ youse is comin’ along, too; don’t yuh forget dat!
Slim
Bill! Yuh said yuh was hard-boiled!
Bill
[Crossing to him menacingly.]
[Crossing to him menacingly.]
Ef yuh don’t believe it, now’s de time to try me!
[He pauses.]
[He pauses.]
Well?
[There is a sudden loud knocking at the locked door at the right.]
[There is a sudden loud knocking at the locked door at the right.]
Halligan
[Outside.]
[Outside.]
Let me in! Let me in or I’ll break down the door!
Slim
Beat it!
[There is a rush for the windows, but it stops short as the door at the left, which has been ajar for some moments, suddenly opens, andMillmanstands on the threshold.]
[There is a rush for the windows, but it stops short as the door at the left, which has been ajar for some moments, suddenly opens, andMillmanstands on the threshold.]
Bill
[Rising nobly to the occasion.]
[Rising nobly to the occasion.]
A-choo!
David
God bless you!
Slim
We’re pinched!
Millman
[Quietly.]
[Quietly.]
Just that.
Slim
[Jerking his thumb toward the window.]
[Jerking his thumb toward the window.]
Cops outside?
Millman
[Nodding.]
[Nodding.]
They saw you come in. They’ve been waiting for you to come out.
Annie
[Beginning to cry.]
[Beginning to cry.]
I want my presents!
Halligan
[Hammering at the door again.]
[Hammering at the door again.]
Let me in!
Millman
Let him in.
[Billcrosses to the door and unlocks it.HalliganandVicky,both wabbly, but on their feet again, come into the room.]
[Billcrosses to the door and unlocks it.HalliganandVicky,both wabbly, but on their feet again, come into the room.]
Vicky
Master David! Master David! They haven’t hurt you, have they?
[She rushes to him.]
[She rushes to him.]
David
Santa Claus wouldn’t hurt anybody. He was going to give me a kidnaping party, that was all.
[He patsBill’shand.]
[He patsBill’shand.]
Vicky
[Horrified.]
[Horrified.]
Master David!
Halligan
[Producing a whistle.]
[Producing a whistle.]
Shall I whistle for the police, sir?
Millman
Wait, Halligan.
[He turns to the intruders.]
[He turns to the intruders.]
The house is surrounded. There is no way you can get out.
Bill
[Most unhappily.]
[Most unhappily.]
Yes, sir.
[He takes off his mask. For the first time we see his face: the face of a half-starved lad with big eyes.]
[He takes off his mask. For the first time we see his face: the face of a half-starved lad with big eyes.]
Millman
Bear that in mind.
[Most unaccountably, most leisurely, he turns his back onBill,and draws up a chair.]
[Most unaccountably, most leisurely, he turns his back onBill,and draws up a chair.]
Davy, how would you like to sit in my lap?
David
I’d love it, Daddy!
Millman
So would I.
[Davidrushes to him.Millmansettles him comfortably, quite oblivious of the others.]
[Davidrushes to him.Millmansettles him comfortably, quite oblivious of the others.]
There. There. David, where were you going with this man?
David
Not “this man,” Daddy: it’s Santa Claus.
Millman
I meant Santa Claus.
David
I was just going to the North Pole.
Millman
Were you going to leave me alone?
David
I would have come back to-morrow or the next day, Daddy—if you wanted me.
Millman
[Eloquently.]
[Eloquently.]
If I wanted you!
[He pauses.]
[He pauses.]
Are you sure you would have come back, Davy?
David
Well, pretty sure.
[He hesitates.]
[He hesitates.]
I wouldn’t want to bother you if you were busy.
Millman
[Wincing.]
[Wincing.]
I’m not so busy as you think, Davy.
David
No?
Millman
No.
[He pauses.]
[He pauses.]
Sometimes, when a man’s lonely—when he misses somebody who’s gone terribly, terribly much—he tries to make himself busy. Do you understand that, Davy?
David
I think I do. You mean—Mummy.
Millman
I mean—Mummy.
[His voice lightens.]
[His voice lightens.]
But now that my little boy is growing older, I don’t expect to be nearly so busy any more.
David
[Ecstatically.]
[Ecstatically.]
Really, Daddy?
Millman
Honest and truly!
David
[Turning to Bill.]
[Turning to Bill.]
Did you hear that, Santa Claus?
[Billshuffles his feet and does not answer.]
Millman
[Sharply.]
[Sharply.]
Did you hear that, Santa Claus?
Bill
Yes, sir. I hoid him.
Millman
[Trying to speak lightly.]
[Trying to speak lightly.]
And now, if you still want to go to the North Pole with Santa Claus—you may go.
[He pauses.]
[He pauses.]
Do you want to go?
David
[Hesitates; rises; looks at his father; looks atBill—and then, to his father’s unutterable horror, runs toBill.]
[Hesitates; rises; looks at his father; looks atBill—and then, to his father’s unutterable horror, runs toBill.]
You won’t mind, will you, Santa Claus?
[Billis silent.]
[Billis silent.]
Millman
[In a tone like that of a whiplash.]
[In a tone like that of a whiplash.]
Answer him!
Bill
[AddressingDavid,and exceedingly gruff.]
W’at do yuh mean, kid?
David
You won’t mind if I stay here, will you? I don’t care so much about that old North Pole.
Vicky
[Tremulous with joy.]
[Tremulous with joy.]
Davy! Davy, boy!
Bill
[A mighty effort.]
[A mighty effort.]
A-choo-oo—
Halligan
[After a pause.]
[After a pause.]
Shall I take them away now, Mr. Millman?
Millman
Yes, Halligan.
Halligan
[Gruffly.]
[Gruffly.]
Come on, you!
[He herds them toward the door.]
[He herds them toward the door.]
David
Don’t forget the presents!
Millman
No; don’t forget the presents!
[The children need no second invitation. They take up the gifts, as many as they can carry, in great haste. But there are more than they can carry unaided.]
[The children need no second invitation. They take up the gifts, as many as they can carry, in great haste. But there are more than they can carry unaided.]
Help them, Halligan.
Halligan
[Surprised at the order, but doing as he is told.]
[Surprised at the order, but doing as he is told.]
Yes, sir.
[AndVickyhelps without being told. The children begin to file out at the door.]
[AndVickyhelps without being told. The children begin to file out at the door.]
David
[Who has been watching with an eagle’s eye, and haltingBessie,who is next to last.]
[Who has been watching with an eagle’s eye, and haltingBessie,who is next to last.]
Take the sled!
Bessie
[Taking it.]
[Taking it.]
Much obliged.
David
[StoppingMaggieand the baby.]
[StoppingMaggieand the baby.]
You’re forgetting the skates!
Millman
Don’t forget the skates!
[Davidgives them to her.]
[Davidgives them to her.]
Maggie
T’anks. Come, baby.
[She goes, followed byVicky.]
[She goes, followed byVicky.]
Halligan
[Burdened with gifts, stands in the doorway, and crooks his finger atBillandSlim.]
[Burdened with gifts, stands in the doorway, and crooks his finger atBillandSlim.]
Come on!
David
You’re forgetting your candy, Mr. Slim!
Slim
[Refusing to take it.]
[Refusing to take it.]
I never seen dat box before in all my life!
[He goes quickly.]
[He goes quickly.]
Bill
[After a brief hesitation.]
[After a brief hesitation.]
Give it here, kid.
[Davidgives him the box.Billturns apologetically toMillman.]
[Davidgives him the box.Billturns apologetically toMillman.]
’Tain’t safe to leave dat stuff around.
Millman
[Gravely.]
[Gravely.]
Why not?
Bill
[Hesitates again; then he squares his shoulders.]
[Hesitates again; then he squares his shoulders.]
De candy’s loaded wit’ knock-out drops.
[There is a sharp intake of breath fromHalligan,but his employer is not surprised.]
[There is a sharp intake of breath fromHalligan,but his employer is not surprised.]
Millman
[Quietly.]
[Quietly.]
I guessed as much.
[He haltsBillas the latter turns to go.]
[He haltsBillas the latter turns to go.]
You came here intending to kidnap my boy?
Bill
[Reluctantly.]
[Reluctantly.]
Yes, sir.
Millman
You could have done it?
Bill
Yes, sir.
Millman
Why didn’t you do it?
[Billhesitates.]
[Billhesitates.]
Out with it!
Bill
[Raising his head, and lookingMillmanin the eye.]
[Raising his head, and lookingMillmanin the eye.]
He was nice to de kids—see? He give ’em all his presents. He didn’t hold out none fer himself. He’s de foist guy dat ever treated ’em like dey was yooman. I’d lay down me life fer him after he done dat!
[He pauses, and continues hesitantly.]
[He pauses, and continues hesitantly.]
Yuh see, paw don’t woik reg’lar; an’ maw’s sick, an’ ever sence I been old enough to go out on de street an’ sell papers, I’ve been keepin’ de kids alive—an’—an’ dere’s eight of ’em now.
[Once more he raises his head.]
[Once more he raises his head.]
He treated ’em square, see?—an’ I, I done de same by him.
Millman
[After a pause.]
[After a pause.]
You know where my office is?
Bill
[Puzzled.]
[Puzzled.]
Yes, sir.
Millman
Come and see me to-morrow.
[He turns.]
[He turns.]
Halligan!
Halligan
Yes, sir?
Millman
This gentleman will leave my house as a gentleman ought to leave it. You will show him to the door. You will send for my car. You will tell my chauffeur to drive him home. And you will see to it that the police do not molest him.
Bill
[Incredulous.]
[Incredulous.]
Mr. Millman!
Halligan
[Protesting.]
[Protesting.]
Mr. Millman!
Millman
[Once more the whiplash.]
[Once more the whiplash.]
Halligan! Do as I say!
Halligan
[Crushed.]
[Crushed.]
Yes, sir. I am to send this man home—
Millman
[Correcting him.]
[Correcting him.]
This gentleman.
Halligan
This gentleman—and his friend?
[Millmannods.]
[Millmannods.]
And the children?
Millman
Of course the children.
Halligan
Very good, sir.
David
[Halting them.]
[Halting them.]
Daddy, Santa Claus has no home to go to.
Millman
[Smiling.]
[Smiling.]
I forgot.
[He produces an envelope from his pocket.]
[He produces an envelope from his pocket.]
I listened at the door for ten minutes before I came in. I heard every word that was spoken.
[He clapsBillheartily on the shoulder, and extends his hand—and in it is the same envelope that hung on the tree.]
[He clapsBillheartily on the shoulder, and extends his hand—and in it is the same envelope that hung on the tree.]
Merry Christmas, my friend!
Bill
[Wiping his hand on his trousers leg before takingMillman’s,and painfully embarrassed.]
[Wiping his hand on his trousers leg before takingMillman’s,and painfully embarrassed.]
De same to youse, Mr. Millman, an’ de same, an’ lots of ’em, to de little gen’leman.
David
Thanks, Santa Claus.
[Billgoes, followed byHalligan.The door clicks shut after them. For a second father and son gaze at each other in silence. Then:]
[Billgoes, followed byHalligan.The door clicks shut after them. For a second father and son gaze at each other in silence. Then:]
Millman
I gave him your aunt Mary’s envelope.
David
I know you did, Daddy.
[The two gaze at each other, wishing to say much, but unable to break through their masculine reserve.Millmaninspects the stripped tree with elaborate care.Daviddoes likewise.Millmanturns toward his son, distant ten feet; gazes at him; folds his arms.Davidobserves the gesture—deliberately mimics it to the life.]
[The two gaze at each other, wishing to say much, but unable to break through their masculine reserve.Millmaninspects the stripped tree with elaborate care.Daviddoes likewise.Millmanturns toward his son, distant ten feet; gazes at him; folds his arms.Davidobserves the gesture—deliberately mimics it to the life.]
Millman
Well, son?
David
Well, Daddy?
[Millmanunfolds his arms, and hooks his thumbs into his trouser pockets. AgainDavidobserves—and copies the pose.]
[Millmanunfolds his arms, and hooks his thumbs into his trouser pockets. AgainDavidobserves—and copies the pose.]
Millman
Christmas is over, Davy.