Chapter X: Act TWO: Scene Two

SCENE—_A dingy bedroom in a Sixth Avenue “bed house.” In the rear,
center, a door leading into the hall. A chair to left of door. In
the left corner, a washstand with bowl, pitcher, towels, etc. In
the left wall, center, a small window with a torn dark shade
pulled down. On the right, a bed. A filthy threadbare carpet on
the floor. Ugly wall paper, dirty, stained, criss-crossed with
match-strokes._

_When the curtain rises, the room is in darkness except for a
faint glow on the window shade from some street lamp. Then the
door is opened and a woman’s figure is silhouetted against the
dim, yellow light of the hall. She turns and speaks to someone who
is following her. Her voice is heavy and slow with the strong
trace of a foreign intonation, although the words are clearly
enough defined._

WOMAN—Got a match? [_A man’s figure appears behind hers. He fumbles in his pockets, hands her a match without speaking. She strikes it on the wall, lights the gas jet near the door. The room is revealed in sordid detail in the tarnished yellow light. The_ WOMAN _is fairly young. Her face, rouged, powdered, penciled, is broad and stupid. Her small eyes have a glazed look. Yet she is not ugly—rather pretty for her bovine, stolid type—and her figure is still attractive although its movements just now are those of a tired scrubwoman’s. She takes off her coat, hangs it on a hook, then goes to a mirror on the wall over the washstand, and removes her hat._

_The man is_ MICHAEL CAPE. _He is bare-headed, his hair disheveled, his eyes wild, his face has a feverish, mad expression. He stands in the doorway watching each movement of the_ WOMAN’S _with an unnatural preoccupied concentration_.]

WOMAN—[_Having removed her hat and put it on the washstand, turns to him impatiently._] Ain’t you comin’ in? [_He starts and nods stupidly, moving his lips as if answering but not making a sound._] Come in! Shut the door. [_He does so and locks it mechanically—then looks from her around the room with a frightened, puzzled glance as if he were aware of his surroundings for the first time._]

WOMAN—[_Forcing a trade smile—with an attempt at lightness._] Well, here we are, dearie. [_Then with a sigh of physical weariness as she sits on the side of the bed._] Gawd, I’m tired! My feet hurt fierce! I been walkin’ miles. I got corns, too. [_She sighs again, this time with a sort of restful content._] It’s good ‘n’ warm in this dump, I’ll hand it that. [_A pause._] I’d gave up hope and was beatin’ it home when you come along. [_A pause during which she takes him in calculatingly._] How’d you lose your hat? [_He starts, passes a trembling hand through his hair bewilderedly but does not answer. A pause—then the_ WOMAN _sighs and yawns wearily—bored_.] Can’t you say nothin’? You was full enough of bull when you met me. Gawd, I thought you’d get us both pinched. You acted like you was crazy. Remember kissing me on the corner with a whole mob pipin’ us off?

CAPE—[_With a start—evidently answering some train of thought in his mind—with a wild laugh._] Remember? [_He sinks on the chair with his head in his hands. There is a pause._]

WOMAN—[_Insinuatingly._] Goin’ to stay all night? [_He glances up at her stupidly but doesn’t answer. The_ WOMAN _insists dully_.] Say, you got ear-muffs on? I ast you, d’you wanta stay all night?

CAPE—[_After a moment’s groping, nods emphatically again and again, swallowing hard several times as if he were striving to get control of his voice—finally blurts out in a tone of desperation._] Yes—yes—of course!—Where else would I go?

WOMAN—Home. [_Indifferently._] That’s where most of ’em goes—afterwards.

CAPE—[_With a sudden burst of wild laughter._] Ha-ha-ha. Home! Is that your private brand of revenge—to go with men with homes? I congratulate you! [_He laughs to himself with bitter irony—then suddenly deadly calm._] Yes, I have a home, come to think of it—from now on Hell is my home! I suspect we’re fellow-citizens. [_He laughs._]

WOMAN—[_Superstitiously._] You oughtn’t to say them things.

CAPE—[_With dull surprise._] Why?

WOMAN—Somep’n might happen. [_A pause._] Don’t you believe in no God?

CAPE—I believe in the devil!

WOMAN—[_Frightened._] Say! [_Then after a pause, forcing a smile._] I’m wise to what’s wrong with you. You been lappin’ up some bum hooch.

CAPE—[_Jerkily._] No. I’m not drunk. I thought of that—but—it’s evasion. [_Wildly._] And I must be conscious—fully conscious, do you understand?—of what I do! I will this act as a symbol of release—of the end of all things! [_He stops, shuddering. She looks at him stolidly. A pause. He presses his hands to his forehead._] My brain burns up! [_Suddenly striking his head with both fists—in a frenzy._] Stop thinking, damn you! Stop! [_Then after a pause—dully._] How long——? What time is it?

WOMAN—Little after two, I guess.

CAPE—[_Amazed._] Only that? [_She nods._] Only two hours since——? [_A pause._] I remember streets—lights—dead faces—— Then you—your face alone was alive for me, alive with my deliverance! That was why I kissed you. You shall avenge me!

WOMAN—[_Looking at him queerly._] Say, you talk nutty. Been dopin’ up on coke, I bet you.

CAPE—[_With an abrupt exclamation._] Ha! [_He stares at her with unnatural intensity._] You seem to take it quite casually that men must be either drunk or doped—otherwise——! Marvelous! You,—you are the last depth—— [_With a strange, wild exultance, leaps to his feet._] You are my salvation! You have the power—and the right—to defile beauty and murder love! You can satisfy hate and exhaust it! Will you let me kiss you again? [_He strides over to her._]

WOMAN—[_In a stupid state of bewilderment, feeling she has been insulted but not exactly knowing by what or how to resent it—angrily, pushing him away._] No! Get away from me! [_Then afraid she may lose his trade by this rebuff._] Aw, all right. Sure you can. [_Making a tremendous visible effort he kisses her on the lips, then shrinks back with a shudder and forces a harsh laugh. She stares at him and mutters resentfully._] O’ny don’t get so fresh, see? I don’t like your line of talk. [_He slumps down on the chair again, sunk in a somber stupor. She watches him. She yawns. Finally she asks insinuatingly._] Ain’t you gettin’ sleepy?

CAPE—[_Starting—with wild scorn._] Sleep! Do you think I——? [_Staring at her._] Oh—I see—you mean, what did I come here for?

WOMAN—[_In same tone._] It’s gettin’ late.

CAPE—[_Dully, with no meaning to his question—like an automaton._] A little after two?

WOMAN—Yes. [_She yawns._] You better let me go to bed and come yourself.

CAPE—[_Again staring at her with strange intensity—suddenly with a queer laugh._] How long have you and I been united in the unholy bonds of—bed-lock? [_He chuckles sardonically at his own play on words._]

WOMAN—[_With a puzzled grin._] Say!

CAPE—Ten thousand years—about—isn’t it? Or twenty? Don’t you remember?

WOMAN—[_Keeping her forced grin._] Tryin’ to kid me, ain’t you?

CAPE—Don’t lie about your age! You were beside the cradle of love, and you’ll dance dead drunk on its grave!

WOMAN—I’m only twenty-six, honest.

CAPE—[_With a wild laugh._] A fact! You’re right. Thoughts keep alive. Only facts kill—deeds! [_He starts to his feet._] Then hate will let me alone. Love will be dead. I will be as ugly as the world. My dreams will be low dreams. I’ll “lay me down among the swine.” Will you promise me this, you?

WOMAN—[_Vaguely offended—impatiently._] Sure, I’ll promise anything. [_She gets up to start undressing. She has been pulling the pins out of her hair and, as she rises, it falls over her shoulders in a peroxided flood. She turns to him, smiling with childish pride._] D’you like my hair, kid? I got a lot of it, ain’t I?

CAPE—[_Laughing sardonically._] “O love of mine, let down your hair and I will make my shroud of it.”

WOMAN—[_Coquettishly pleased._] What’s that—po’try? [_Then suddenly reminded of something she regards him calculatingly—after a pause, coldly._] Say, you ain’t broke, are you? Is that what’s troubling you?

CAPE—[_Startled—then with bitter mockery._] Ha! I see you’re a practical person. [_He takes a bill from his pocket and holds it out to her—contemptuously._] Here!

WOMAN—[_Stares from the bill to him, flushing beneath her rouge._] Say! I don’t like the way you act. [_Proudly._] I don’t take nothin’ for nothin’—not from you, see!

CAPE—[_Surprised and ashamed._] I’ll leave it here, then. [_He puts it on top of the washstand and turns to her—embarrassedly._] I didn’t mean—to offend you.

WOMAN—[_Her face clearing immediately._] Aw, never mind. It’s all right.

CAPE—[_Staring at her intently—suddenly deeply moved._] Poor woman!

WOMAN—[_Stung—excitedly._] Hey, none of that! Nix! Cut it out! I don’t stand for that from nobody! [_She sits down on the bed angrily._]

CAPE—[_With unnatural intensity._] Do you know what you are? You’re a symbol. You’re all the tortures man inflicts on woman—and you’re the revenge of woman! You’re love revenging itself upon itself! You’re the suicide of love—of my love—of all love since the world began! [_Wildly._] Listen to me! Two hours ago—— [_Then he beats his head with both clenched hands—distractedly._] Leave me alone! Leave me alone, damn you! [_He flings himself on the chair in a violent outburst of dry sobbing._]

WOMAN—[_Bewilderedly._] Say! Say! [_Then touched, she comes to him and puts her arms around his shoulders, on the verge of tears herself._] Aw, come on, kid. Quit it. It’s all right. Everything’s all right, see. [_As his sobbing grows quieter—helpfully._] Say, maybe you ain’t ate nothin’, huh? Maybe soup’d fix you. S’posin’ I go round the corner, huh? Sure, all I got to do is put up my hair——

CAPE—[_Controlling hysterical laughter—huskily._] No—thanks. [_Then his bitter memories rush back agonizingly. He stammers wildly._] She confessed—with hate! She was proud of her hate! She was proud of my torture. She screamed: “I hate you! I’ll go too.” Go where? Did she go? Yes, she must——! Oh, my God! Stop! Stop! [_He springs up, his face distorted, and clutches the_ WOMAN _fiercely in his arms_.] Save me, you! Help me to kill this beauty which she defiled! Help me to gain the peace which is the death of love. [_He kisses her again and again frenziedly. She submits stolidly. Finally with a groan he pushes her away, shuddering with loathing, and sinks back on the chair._] No! I can’t—I can’t!

WOMAN—[_Wiping her lips with the back of her hand—a vague comprehension coming into her face—scornfully._] Huh! I got a hunch now what’s eatin’ you. [_Then with a queer sort of savage triumph._] Well, I’m glad one of youse guys got paid back like you oughter!

CAPE—[_With dull impotent rage._] I can’t! I love her! [_As if he were defying himself by this confession._] Yes, I still love her! And I can’t! I only hate because I love—I’m the weaker. Our love must live on in me. There is no death for it. There is no freedom—while I live. [_Struck by a sudden thought._] Then, why——? [_A pause._] An end of loathing—in a second, peace—no wounds, no memories—sleep!

WOMAN—[_With a shudder._] Say, you’re beginning to give me the creeps.

CAPE—[_Startled—with a forced laugh._] Am I? Well, never mind. [_He shakes his head as if to drive some thought from his mind and forces a trembling, mocking smile._] That’s over. The great temptation, isn’t it? I suppose you’ve known it. But also the great evasion. Too simple for the complicated,—too weak for the strong, too strong for the weak. One must go on, eh?—even wounded, on one’s knees—if only out of curiosity to see what will happen—to oneself. [_He laughs harshly and turns with a quick movement toward the door._] Well, good-by, and forgive me. It isn’t you, you know. You’re the perfect death—but I’m too strong, or weak—no, merely I’m myself—and that myself can’t, you understand—can’t! So, good-by. [_He goes to the door._]

WOMAN—[_Frightenedly._] Say! What’re you goin’ to do?

CAPE—Go on in the dark.

WOMAN—You better beat it home, that’s what.

CAPE—[_Violently._] No! [_Then bitterly._] I came home once tonight——

WOMAN—[_Wearily._] Aw, forget it. She’s your wife, ain’t she?

CAPE—How do you know? [_He comes back to her, curiously attracted._]

WOMAN—[_Cynically._] Aw, I’m wise. Stick to her, see? You’ll get over it. You can get used to anything, take it from me!

CAPE—[_In anguish._] Don’t! But it’s true—it’s the insult we all swallow as the price of life. [_Rebelliously._] But I——!

WOMAN—[_With a sort of forlorn chuckle._] Oh, you’ll go back, aw right! Don’t kid yourself. You’ll go back no matter what, and you’ll learn to like it. Don’t I know? You love her, don’t you? Well, then! There’s no use buckin’ that game. Go home. Kiss and make up. Ferget it. It’s easy to ferget—when you got to! [_She finishes up with a cynical, weary scorn._]

CAPE—[_Very pale—stammering._] You—you make life despicable.

WOMAN—[_Angrily._] Say! [_Then with groping, growing resentment._] I don’t like your talk! You’ve pulled a lot of bum cracks about—about—never mind, I got you, anyhow! You ain’t got no right—— What’d you wanter pick me up for, anyway? Wanter just get me up here to say rotten things? Wanter use me to pay her back? Say! Where do I come in? Guys go with me ‘cause they like my looks, see?—what I am, understand?—but you, you don’t want nothin’. You ain’t drunk, neither! You just don’t like me. And you was beatin’ it leavin’ your money there—without nothin’. I was goin’ to let you then, I ain’t now. [_She suddenly gives him a furious push which sends him reeling back against the wall._] G’wan! Take your lousy coin and beat it! I wouldn’t take nothin’, nor have nothin’ to do with you if you was to get down on your knees!

CAPE—[_Stares at her—an expression comes as if he were seeing her for the first time—with great pity._] So—it still survives in you. They haven’t killed it—that lonely life of one’s own which suffers in solitude. [_Shamefacedly._] I should have known. Can you forgive me?

WOMAN—[_Defensively._] No!

CAPE—Through separate ways love has brought us both to this room. As one suffering, lonely human being to another, won’t you——?

WOMAN—[_Struggling with herself—harshly._] No!

CAPE—[_Gently._] Not even if I ask it on my knees? [_He kneels before her, looking up into her face._]

WOMAN—[_Bewildered, with hysterical fierceness._] No! Git up, you——! Don’t do that, I tell you! Git up or I’ll brain yuh! [_She raises her fist threateningly over his head._]

CAPE—[_Gently._] Not until you——

WOMAN—[_Exhaustedly._] Aw right—aw right—I forgive——

CAPE—[_Gets up and takes her face between his hands and stares into her eyes—then he kisses her on the forehead._] Sister.

WOMAN—[_With a half sob._] Nix! Lay off of me, can’t you?

CAPE—But I learned that from you.

WOMAN—[_Stammering._] What?—loined what? [_She goes away from him and sinks on the bed exhaustedly._] Say, you better beat it.

CAPE—I’m going. [_He points to the bill on the washstand._] You need this money. You’ll accept it from me now, won’t you?

WOMAN—[_Dully._] Sure. Leave it there.

CAPE—[_In the same gentle tone._] You’ll have to give it to him in the morning?

WOMAN—[_Dully._] Sure.

CAPE—All of it?

WOMAN—Sure.

CAPE—Or he’d beat you?

WOMAN—Sure. [_Then suddenly grinning._] Maybe he’ll beat me up, anyway—just for the fun of it.

CAPE—But you love him, don’t you?

WOMAN—Sure. I’m lonesome.

CAPE—Yes. [_After a slight pause._] Why did you smile when you said he’d beat you, anyway?

WOMAN—I was thinkin’ of the whole game. It’s funny, ain’t it?

CAPE—[_Slowly._] You mean—life and love?

WOMAN—Sure. You got to laugh, ain’t you? Sure! You got to loin to like it!

CAPE—[_This makes an intense impression on him. He nods his head several times._] Yes! That’s it! That’s exactly it! That goes deeper than wisdom. To learn to love the truth of life—to accept it and be exalted—that’s the one faith left to us! [_Then with a tremulous smile._] Good-by, I’ve joined your church. I’m going home.

WOMAN—[_With a grin that is queerly affectionate._] Sure. That’s the stuff. Close your eyes and your feet’ll take you there.

CAPE—[_Impressed again._] Yes! Yes! Of course they would! They’ve been walking there for thousands of years—blindly. However, I’ll keep my eyes open—— [_He smiles back at her affectionately._] ——and learn to like it!

WOMAN—[_Grinning._] Sure. Good luck.

CAPE—Good-by. [_He goes out, closing the door after him. She stares at the door for a moment, listening to his footsteps as they die out down the stairs. Then she takes a comb from her bag and, going to the mirror, starts to comb her hair. She is preoccupied and her hand suddenly stops._]

WOMAN—[_Confusedly._] Say——? [_She stares at herself with a vaguely-troubled, ruminating stolidity. Then with a sigh she goes on combing her hair._]

[_The Curtain Falls_]