(He rushes towards them and overturns the lamp. They laugh mockingly farther off in the complete darkness.)
(He rushes towards them and overturns the lamp. They laugh mockingly farther off in the complete darkness.)
I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!
Jerry
(As she enters)
Grant!! What is the matter?
(She turns on the switch by the door. The other lights flare up. She is dressed in a kimono, with her hair in braids. He rushes towards her.)
(She turns on the switch by the door. The other lights flare up. She is dressed in a kimono, with her hair in braids. He rushes towards her.)
Grant
I’ll kill you!
Jerry
Grant!
(He holds her arms, suddenly realizing who she is and that they are alone.)
(He holds her arms, suddenly realizing who she is and that they are alone.)
Grant
You are real, aren’t you? You are flesh and blood?
Jerry
Silly boy. What on earth is the matter with you? I go out of the room for a moment and I come back to find you yelling and wanting to kill me.
Grant
(Still dazed)
No. It wasn’t true: I don’t want to get rid of you. I....
Jerry
(In a matter-of-fact tone)
I do wish you’d get over the habit of acting all your plays out. The neighbors will think you and Iaren’t happy. You’d better come to bed and get some rest.
Grant
I—I couldn’t sleep just now.
(He goes over to the table and sees the manuscript ofThe Lonely Wayuntouched. He stands trying to collect himself.)
(He goes over to the table and sees the manuscript ofThe Lonely Wayuntouched. He stands trying to collect himself.)
Jerry
It’s upset you, reading overThe Lonely Way?
Grant
(Half to himself)
That’s strange.
Jerry
Then what is the matter?
Grant
(Evasively as he sits down wearily)
I—I was reading over the notices.
Jerry
I should have thought they’d soothe you, not get you so excited. Though there is one that put me in a terrible temper. (He looks at her quickly.) Why did you conceal theGazettenotice from me? (Smiling, she shows it to him: he takes it.) Did you think this would worry me because Arthur Black saidThe Sand Bardidn’t live up to the promise of your other plays?
Grant
(Half to himself)
And he was the only one who liked the others that failed.
Jerry
But it is outrageous of him to say you’d deserted your ideals. I have half a mind to write to the Editor.
Grant
(With a thought)
Would it mean so very much to you if it were true?
Jerry
Of course it would.
Grant
(Defensively)
But, after all, Jerry, does it make any difference to anybody but the artist whether he sells out or not?
Jerry
But, dear,Ithink you’ve just begun to reach your ideals.
Grant
Just begun?
Jerry
Yes. I never told you before because I didn’t want to discourage you when we were so hard up. But,Grant dear, I never liked all those other plays—especiallyThe Lonely Way. They seemed unworthy of you.The Sand Baris the first play that really seems true to life.
Grant
(Staring at her)
Really true to life?
Jerry
Yes. And I hope from now on you’ll go on writing the plays that will make people feel happier and....
Grant
(Suddenly bursting out in an ironic laugh)
I’ve got it. I’ve got it.
Jerry
What?
Grant
The curtain raiser Trebaro wants. I’ll call itThe Mask. No.Masks!That’s the title. I’ll showthemwhether I’m dead or not.
Jerry
What are you talking of?
Grant
The theme of my play: that so long as an artist knows what he is doing with his art he is alive: that the only thing which can kill him is self-deception.
Jerry
Dear me, you’re going to write another play nobody will understand?
Grant
(Contemptuously)
Why should I care whetheranybodywill understand it?
Jerry
But Trebaro won’t produce it, dear.
Grant
Oh yes, he will: he said he’d produce anything I wrote no matter how good it was.
Jerry
(Seeing him eagerly go to his typewriter)
You’re going to begin itnow?
Grant
Yes.Now.I can write it off at a sitting.
Jerry
To-night—of all nights?
Grant
Yes. As Tom said: while the “glow” is here. Now that I’m free. I’ll show them whether I’m dead or not. I’ll use their very words. I’ll make it bite.
Jerry
(Completely lost)
I don’t understand you or what you are talking about.
Grant
(Gives her a look)
You don’t need to understand now, Jerry;The Sand Barhas released you.
Jerry
(Hurt)
I never heard you talk like this before. You’re unkind.
Grant
(Putting paper in machine)
I don’t mean to be, dear; only my nerves are on edge.
Jerry
(Begins to cry)
I can see that. You’ve no regard for my feelings.
Grant
I have my work....
Jerry
You seem so far off all of a sudden. To-night of all nights! Just when you’ve made your first real success!
Grant
(More testily)
Please. Please, Jerry. I won’t be able to write this if I have to think of anything else.
(He begins to write. He looks about the room showing he is describing it.)
(He begins to write. He looks about the room showing he is describing it.)
“The scene is the living-room in a flat. The doorway from the public stairs opens immediately upon it without the intervening privacy of a small hallway....”
(He murmurs as he goes on, striking the keys very rapidly. She stands looking at him—hurt and wondering what it means: but he is absorbed. Then she slowly goes to the kerosene heater and lights it. She looks at him a moment.)
(He murmurs as he goes on, striking the keys very rapidly. She stands looking at him—hurt and wondering what it means: but he is absorbed. Then she slowly goes to the kerosene heater and lights it. She looks at him a moment.)
Jerry
I guess I won’t wait up for you to-night. I’m cold.
(She goes out, hardly controlling herself. He continues for a moment. Then he gets up, still absorbed, and closes the door after her. He resumes his work with the glow of intense creation on his face.)
(She goes out, hardly controlling herself. He continues for a moment. Then he gets up, still absorbed, and closes the door after her. He resumes his work with the glow of intense creation on his face.)
[Curtain]