Mrs. Pampinelli.[Picking up the orchids from the table below the window] Paula, you should have Jenny put these orchids in water; they keep ever so long in a cool place. [She comes across towards the left, below the piano.]
Mrs. Ritter.Will you call her, Nelly?
Mrs. Fell.[Crossing to meet Mrs. Pampinelli]Give them to me, Betty, I’ll take them out to her. [Mrs. Pampinelli gives her the orchids.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.Tell her to put them in a cool place. [Nelly starts up for the center-door. The telephone-bell rings.]
Mrs. Ritter.Will you answer that, Nelly?
Mrs. Fell.[Setting the orchids down on the chair in the left hallway] Certainly, darling.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Standing back of Mrs. Ritter’s chair] If it’s anything concerning the play, I shall be at home on Tuesday at two.
Mrs. Fell.[At the telephone] Yes?—Yes?—Who?—Oh,—well, wait just one moment, please.
Mrs. Pampinelli.What is it?
Mrs. Fell.[Holding the transmitter against her bosom and leaning over the partition towards Mrs. Pampinelli] It’s the Star Moving Picture Company.
Mrs. Pampinelli.What do they want?
Mrs. Fell.They want the address of Mrs. Ritter’s manager. [Mrs. Pampinelli gives a quick look at Mrs. Ritter.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[To Mrs. Ritter] I anticipated this. [She goes quickly towards the center-door, laying her fan and roses on the left partition-seat, as she passes out into the hallway.] Give it to me, Nelly. [Nelly hands her the telephone, and, picking up the orchids from the chair, tiptoes back of Mrs. Pampinelli and in through the center-door.]
Mrs. Fell.[In an excited whisper to Mrs. Ritter]What did I tell you! [She giggles nervously, shakes her finger at Mrs. Ritter, and then watches Mrs. Pampinelli eagerly.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Into the telephone] Hello-hello—This is Mrs. Ritter’s manager speaking. Mrs. Pampinelli. Pampinelli. Mrs. J.DuroPampinelli. Capital P—a—m, p—i—n, e—double l—i.—Correct. Yes—I see—I see.—Well, how do you mean, a thousand dollars, a thousand dollars a day, or a thous—I see. Well, just one moment, please. [She lowers the telephone and leans towards Mrs. Ritter, speaking in a subdued tone.] The Star Moving Picture Company wants to know if Mrs. Ritter will appear in a special production of tonight’s play before the camera.
Mrs. Fell.[Narrowing her left eye] What’s the figure?
Mrs. Pampinelli.One thousand dollars per week.
Mrs. Fell.[Definitely] Fifteen hundred.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Into the telephone] Hello-hello!
Mrs. Ritter.[Rising] Maybe I’d better talk to them.
Mrs. Fell.[Suggesting with a gesture that she be quiet and resume her chair] Please, dear. [Mrs. Ritter meekly sits down again.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Into the telephone] Why, I’m sorry,—but Mrs. Ritter does not appear under fifteen hundred dollars per week.
Mrs. Fell.[Watching her shrewdly] Net! [Mrs.Pampinelli turns and looks at her sharply, and Nelly emphasizes what she said by inclining her head: then Mrs. Pampinelli speaks into the telephone again.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.Net.
Mrs. Fell.[To Mrs. Pampinelli] It’s a bargain at that. [She nods towards Mrs. Ritter.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Into telephone] Twelve-fifty?
Mrs. Fell.No compromise.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Into telephone] Well, just one moment. [Covering the transmitter and speaking to Mrs. Fell] Twelve-fifty is offered.
Mrs. Fell.[Definitely] Fifteen hundred dollars. They’ll lift it.
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Turning back to the telephone] Why, I’m very sorry,—but Mrs. Ritter positively does not appear under fifteen hundred dollars. [Nelly inclines her head towards her.] Net. Well, how do you mean satisfactory? Satisfactory at our figure? [Mrs. Pampinelli glances at Mrs. Fell and Mrs. Fell glances at Mrs. Ritter.]
Mrs. Fell.[To Mrs. Pampinelli] Sign!
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Into the telephone] Very well, then,—signed at fifteen hundred dollars per week,—
Mrs. Fell.Net!
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Into the telephone] Net! And Mrs. Ritter appears. [She stands holding the telephone and listening.]
Mrs. Fell.[Whirling round and teetering down to Paula] Our STAR! I always said it! [She shakesMrs. Ritter by the shoulders.] I always said it! [She whirls round and teeters up towards the center-door.] Haven’t I always said it, Betty? [Mrs. Pampinelli is listening on the telephone, and tries, by dint of thrusting the telephone towards Nelly, to silence her. But Nelly is irrepressible.] That it was only a question of time? [She turns and flies down towards Mrs. Ritter again.] We must telephone Mrs. Livingston at once, Paula!
Mrs. Pampinelli.Be quiet, Nelly, be quiet!
Mrs. Fell.[Rushing up towards the center-door again] She’ll be so interested! We must call up Mrs. Livingston right away, Betty!
Mrs. Pampinelli.Please, Nelly! [Nelly is silenced. Mrs. Pampinelli listens sharply, Nelly and Mrs. Ritter watching her; and there is a dead pause.] Beg pardon? [There is another slight pause; and then Mrs. Pampinelli utters an abrupt shriek and sets down the telephone.]
Mrs. Fell.What is it, Betty? [Mrs. Pampinelli looks at her, then straight ahead.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[With venomous enunciation] It’s Ritter! [Mrs. Ritter rises slowly.]
Mrs. Fell.Ritter? [Mrs. Pampinelli doesn’t stir.]
Mrs. Ritter.[Addressing Mrs. Pampinelli] Fred?
Mrs. Pampinelli.I recognized his voice. [She moves along the left hallway and comes in through thecenter-door and forward, a little to the left of the center of the room.]
Mrs. Fell.[Up just to the right of the center-door] Why, where is he?
Mrs. Ritter.[Beginning to cry] He must be on the extension upstairs. [Nelly listens keenly.]
Mrs. Fell.It is he; I hear him laughing. [She crosses down to the door at the left.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Taking a step towards Mrs. Ritter] Sit down, Paula. [Mrs. Ritter sits down, rests her elbows on the table and weeps bitterly. Nelly stops over at the door and turns.]
Mrs. Fell.[Positively] Paula,—if he weremyhusband, I should lose no time in having him arrested. [She goes out, at the left door.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.[Standing back of Mrs. Ritter’s chair] Paula dear, I do hope that you are not going to allow Mr. Ritter’s flippancies to discourage you. [Paula clasps her hands in her lap and looks tearfully at the backs of them.] The way of the essential artist is always hard; and so very frequently the most serious obstacles are those to be encountered at home.
Mrs. Ritter.But, I feel so unsuccessful.
Mrs. Pampinelli.I know, dear—I know exactly how you feel. But you mustgo on. Just remember that art is the highest expression of truth,—and you cannot fail. For you have everything in your favor, Paula.
Mrs. Ritter.[Weakly] Thank you.
Mrs. Pampinelli.And the masses need you, dear; you are an altogethernew notein the theatre.
Mrs. Ritter.But—I don’t know whether Fred’llwantme to go on any more—[Mrs. Pampinelli suddenly becomes very still and stoney, and looks down at Mrs. Ritter with merciless inquiry. Mrs. Ritter senses the change and turns hastily to explain.] the way he spoke.
Mrs. Pampinelli.And, do you mean that you will allow him tostopyou, Paula?
Mrs. Ritter.[Breaking down under Mrs. Pampinelli’s frozen amusement] Well, of course, he’s myhusband, Betty. [She cries. Mrs. Pampinelli regards her with a kind of pained toleration; and settles her cloak, preparatory to going.]
Mrs. Pampinelli.Very well, then, Paula—if you feel that way about it, I should advise you to keep him; and I shan’t waste any more of my time encouraging you. [She sweeps around to her left and up towards the center-door.] There are far too many who are only toowillingto make the necessary sacrifices without being urged. [She picks up her fan and roses from the partition-seat, lays them across her left arm, and turns regnantly to Mrs. Ritter.] Only remember this, Paula,—there will be actresses when husbands are a thing of the past. [She sweeps out through the center-door and out into the right hallway. There is a slight pause; then Nelly Fell comes in at the left door. She misses Mrs. Pampinelli.]
Mrs. Fell.Where is Mrs. P., Paula?
Mrs. Ritter.She’s just gone out to the car, Nelly.
Mrs. Fell.[Stooping to pick up one of the chrysanthemums from the floor] Do you mind if I take one of these flowers, Paula? [She stands in the middle of the room, holding it, and looking at Mrs. Ritter.] I want it for my dramatic shrine.
Mrs. Ritter.You can take them all if you like.
Mrs. Fell.Why, what wouldyoudo, dear?
Mrs. Ritter.I don’t want them.
Mrs. Fell.[Crossing towards her] Now, you mustn’t feel like that, Paula Ritter.
Mrs. Ritter.[Having all she can do to keep from crying] I just can’t help it.
Mrs. Fell.I see in your husband’s attitude—nothing but a desperate attempt to save his home;—for hemustknow what your performance tonight will inevitably lead to. [Mrs. Ritter turns with a puzzled expression and looks at her.]
Mrs. Ritter.I don’t understand what you mean, Nelly.
Mrs. Fell.Why, you must go to New York, dear; you can do nothing dramatically here.
Mrs. Ritter.But, I have a husband.
Mrs. Fell.[Very casually] Every married woman has that cross, darling. But you mustn’t let it stand in the way of your career; he would very soon eliminateyou, if you stood in the way ofhis.
Mrs. Ritter.But, I don’t like the thought ofbreaking up his home, Nelly. [Nelly gives a hard, knowing little laugh.]
Mrs. Fell.Don’t be unnecessarily sacrificial, darling. I made that mistake with my firsttwohusbands; but I waswiserwith the third. And I said to him, immediately we returned from the church, I said, “Now, Leonard, you and I have just been made one; andIam that one.” [She touches herself on the breastbone with her forefinger, then touches Paula on the left shoulder.] And it worked out beautifully. So be sensible, darling. [She skips up towards the hallway.] I must run along, Mrs. Pampinelli’s waiting! [She teeters out through the center-door into the right hallway.] Cheerio, Paula darling!
Mrs. Ritter.Good night.
Mrs. Fell.Cheerio! [She giggles and vanishes into the right hallway. Mrs. Ritter sits still for a second, looking from side to side, at nothing, particularly, and presently gets up. The horseshoe of “SUCCESS” over in front of the mantelpiece catches her eye, and she wanders slowly towards it. But the irony of it all overcomes her and she commences to cry again. Ritter appears at the head of the stairs and starts down. She turns and looks at him, as he comes through the center-door.]
Mrs. Ritter.Fred Ritter, those women will never come inside that door again, the way you talked to them. [He moves to the piano and leans against it.]
Ritter.Well, I don’t suppose that’ll make very much difference.
Mrs. Ritter.[Looking straight ahead] Well, itshouldmake a difference.
Ritter.They’d hardly come here to seeme, anyway.
Mrs. Ritter.Well, they’d come to see me.
Ritter.Butyouwon’t be here. [She turns and looks at him blankly.]
Mrs. Ritter.Why,—what—what do you mean, I won’t be here?
Ritter.[With a touch of delicacy] Why, aren’t you going on withThe Work?
Mrs. Ritter.Well, I don’t want to go unless youwantme to.
Ritter.But, Idowant you to. I don’t think a talent like yours should be hidden; [He looks straight out, thoughtfully.] it’s too unique.
Mrs. Ritter.I thought you said a while ago you didn’t like me?
Ritter.[Raising his left hand and crossing over and down in front of her towards the arm-chair at the left] You mustn’t hold me responsible for what I said a while ago—[He stops back of the arm-chair and rests his hand upon the back of it.] I was panic-stricken at the thought of having my home broken up. [She moves down to the center of the room.] But I’ve been thinking it over upstairs, and I’ve concluded that it’smore important that the world should see you act, than that I should have a home to come to.
Mrs. Ritter.But, I don’t like the thought of breaking up your home, Fred.
Ritter.[Raising his right hand to her with a touch of solemnity] You mustn’t consider me in the matter at all, dear. Every great gift has its victim—and I am, in a way, rather happy—to find myself chosen the victim of yours.
Mrs. Ritter.What wouldyoudo, if I were to go?
Ritter.[With the faintest shade of classic pose] I’d go with you; you’d need someone to look after the flowers—see that they got to the various hospitals all right.
Mrs. Ritter.[Looking away out] I might not like it, after I’d get there.
Ritter.Maybe not. I suppose fame becomes monotonous like everything else. But, I wouldn’t want you in the future, to look back and feel that I had stood in your way.
Mrs. Ritter.[Carefully] No, Fred,—I really don’tknowwhether I want to be a great actress or not.
Ritter.But, you are a great actress, dear.
Mrs. Ritter.Thank you.
Ritter.[Indicating the anchor of roses down at the left] Look at this anchor,—of hope. [He steps back and picks up the horseshoe.] And this horseshoe of “SUCCESS.” [He brings it forward and sets it down just to Mrs. Ritter’s left. Then he steps acrossin front of it, takes her hand and slips his right arm around her waist.] And I think, Paula, it might be a very sensible move, to just let the publicrememberyou as a great actress—as they saw youtonight—at your best.
Mrs. Ritter.[Looking wistfully straight ahead] Do you think theywillremember, Fred?
Ritter.[Inclining his head, with a suggestion of the obsequious] Yes, Ithinkthey will. [Curtain.]
Mrs. Ritter.[Turning and sinking into his arms] You’re awfully sweet, Fred.
THE END OF THE PLAY
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.Inconsistencies in typesetting have been standardized.The cover image for this eBook was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.
Inconsistencies in typesetting have been standardized.
The cover image for this eBook was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.