ANDREW.(misunderstanding her—his face pale with dread) He’s not——
RUTH.(interrupting him—hysterically) He’s gone! The bed’s empty. The window’s wide open. He must have crawled out into the yard!
ANDREW.(springing to his feet. He rushes into the bedroom and returns immediately with an expression of alarmed amazement on his face) Come! He can’t have gone far! (Grabbing his hat he takesRUTH’Sarm and shoves her toward the door) Come on! (Opening the door) Let’s hope to God—— (The door closes behind them, cutting off his words as
(The Curtain Falls)
Same as Act One, Scene One—A section of country highway. The sky to the east is already alight with bright color and a thin, quivering line of flame is spreading slowly along the horizon rim of the dark hills. The roadside, however, is still steeped in the grayness of the dawn, shadowy and vague. The field in the foreground has a wild uncultivated appearance as if it had been allowed to remain fallow the preceding summer. Parts of the snake-fence in the rear have been broken down. The apple tree is leafless and seems dead.
ROBERTstaggers weakly in from the left. He stumbles into the ditch and lies there for a moment; then crawls with a great effort to the top of the bank where he can see the sun rise, and collapses weakly.RUTHandANDREWcome hurriedly along the road from the left.
ANDREW.(stopping and looking about him) There he is! I knew it! I knew we’d find him here.
ROBERT.(trying to raise himself to a sitting position as they hasten to his side—with a wan smile) I thought I’d given you the slip.
ANDREW.(with kindly bullying) Well you didn’t, you old scoundrel, and we’re going to take you right back where you belong—in bed. (He makes a motion to liftROBERT).
ROBERT.Don’t, Andy. Don’t, I tell you!
ANDREW.You’re in pain?
ROBERT.(simply) No. I’m dying. (He falls back weakly.RUTHsinks down beside him with a sob and pillows his head on her lap.ANDREWstands looking down at him helplessly.ROBERTmoves his head restlessly onRUTH’Slap) I couldn’t stand it back there in the room. It seemed as if all my life—I’d been cooped in a room. So I thought I’d try to end as I might have—if I’d had the courage—alone—in a ditch by the open road—watching the sun rise.
ANDREW.Rob! Don’t talk. You’re wasting your strength. Rest a while and then we’ll carry you——
ROBERT.Still hoping, Andy? Don’t. I know. (There is a pause during which he breathes heavily, straining his eyes toward the horizon) The sun comes so slowly. (With an ironical smile) The doctor told me to go to the far-off places—and I’d be cured. He was right. That was always the cure for me. It’s too late—for this life—but—— (He has a fit of coughing which racks his body).
ANDREW.(with a hoarse sob) Rob! (He clenches his fist in an impotent rage against Fate) God! God! (RUTHsobs brokenly and wipesROBERT’Slips with her handkerchief).
ROBERT.(in a voice which is suddenly ringing with the happiness of hope) You mustn’t feel sorry for me. Don’t you see I’m happy at last—free—free!—freed from the farm—free to wander on and on—eternally! (He raises himself on his elbow, his face radiant, and points to the horizon) Look! Isn’t it beautiful beyond the hills? I can hear the old voices calling me to come—— (Exultantly) And this time I’m going! It isn’t the end. It’s a free beginning—the start of myvoyage! I’ve won to my trip—the right of release—beyond the horizon! Oh, you ought to be glad—glad—for my sake! (He collapses weakly) Andy! (ANDREWbends down to him) Remember Ruth——
ANDREW.I’ll take care of her, I swear to you, Rob!
ROBERT.Ruth has suffered—remember, Andy—only through sacrifice—the secret beyond there—— (He suddenly raises himself with his last remaining strength and points to the horizon where the edge of the sun’s disc is rising from the rim of the hills) The sun! (He remains with his eyes fixed on it for a moment. A rattling noise throbs from his throat. He mumbles) Remember! (And falls back and is still.RUTHgives a cry of horror and springs to her feet, shuddering, her hands over her eyes.ANDREWbends on one knee beside the body, placing a hand overROBERT’Sheart, then he kisses his brother reverentially on the forehead and stands up).
ANDREW.(facingRUTH,the body between them—in a dead voice) He’s dead. (With a sudden burst of fury) God damn you, you never told him!
RUTH.(piteously) He was so happy without my lying to him.
ANDREW.(pointing to the body—trembling with the violence of his rage) This is your doing, you damn woman, you coward, you murderess!
RUTH.(sobbing) Don’t, Andy! I couldn’t help it—and he knew how I’d suffered, too. He told you—to remember.
ANDREW.(stares at her for a moment, his rage ebbing away, an expression of deep pity gradually coming over his face. Then he glances down at his brother and speaks brokenly in a compassionate voice)Forgive me, Ruth—for his sake—and I’ll remember—— (RUTHlets her hands fall from her face and looks at him uncomprehendingly. He lifts his eyes to hers and forces out falteringly) I—you—we’ve both made a mess of things! We must try to help each other—and—in time—we’ll come to know what’s right—— (Desperately) And perhaps we—— (ButRUTH,if she is aware of his words, gives no sign. She remains silent, gazing at him dully with the sad humility of exhaustion, her mind already sinking back into that spent calm beyond the further troubling of any hope).
(The Curtain Falls)
The Plays byEUGENE O’NEILL
in this series are:
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