Chapter XI: Act THREE

SCENE—_Same as Act One, the_ CAPES’ _apartment, about five o’clock the
same morning. The door to the hall is still open, the reading lamp
alight, everything exactly as at the close of_ ACT ONE.

ELEANOR _is standing by the table, leaning her back against it,
facing the door, her whole attitude strained, expectant but
frightened, tremblingly uncertain whether to run and hide from, or
run forward and greet_ CAPE, _who is standing in the doorway. For
a long, tense moment they remain fixed, staring into each other’s
eyes with an apprehensive questioning. Then, as if unconsciously,
falteringly, with trembling smiles, they come toward each other.
Their lips move as if they were trying to speak. When they come
close, they instinctively reach out their hands in a strange
conflicting gesture of a protective warding off and at the same
time a seeking possession. Their hands clasp and they again stop,
searching each other’s eyes. Finally their lips force out words._

ELEANOR—[_Penitently._] Michael!

CAPE—[_Humbly._] Nelly! [_They smile with a queer understanding, their arms move about each other, their lips meet. They seem in a forgetful, happy trance at finding each other again. They touch each other testingly as if each cannot believe the other is really there. They act for the moment like two persons of different races, deeply in love but separated by a barrier of language._]

ELEANOR—[_Rambling tenderly._] Michael—I—— Dearest—I was afraid——

CAPE—[_Stammering._] Nelly—it’s so good!—I thought—my own—you’d gone—— [_They stare at each other—a pause._]

ELEANOR—[_Beginning to be aware—a bit bewilderedly, breaking away from him with a little shiver—stupidly._] I feel—there’s a draught, isn’t there?

CAPE—[_Becoming aware in his turn—heavily._] I’ll shut the door. [_He goes and does so. She walks to her chair and sits down. He comes and sits beside her. They are now side by side as in Act One. A pause. They stare ahead, each frowningly abstracted. Then each, at the same moment, steals a questioning side glance at the other. Their eyes meet, they look away, then back, they stare at each other with a peculiar dull amazement, recognition yet non-recognition. They seem about to speak, then turn away again. Their faces grow sad, their eyes begin to suffer, their bodies become nervous and purposeless. Finally_ CAPE _exclaims with a dull resentment directed not at her but at life_.] What is—it? [_He makes a gesture of repulsing something before him._]

ELEANOR—[_In his tone._] I don’t know.

CAPE—[_Harshly._] A moment ago—there—— [_He indicates where they had stood in an embrace._] We knew everything. We understood!

ELEANOR—[_Eagerly._] Oh, yes!

CAPE—[_Bitterly._] Now—we must begin to think—to continue going on, getting lost——

ELEANOR—[_Sadly._] It was happy to forget. Let’s not think—yet.

CAPE—[_Grimly._] We’ve begun. [_Then with a harsh laugh._] One must explain. Thinking explains. It eliminates the unexplainable—by which we live.

ELEANOR—[_Warningly._] By which we love. Sssh! [_A pause._]

CAPE—[_Wonderingly—not looking at her._] You have learned that, too?

ELEANOR—[_With a certain exultance._] Oh, yes, Michael—yes! [_She clasps his hand. A pause. Then she murmurs._] Now—we know peace. [_Their hands drop apart. She sighs._]

CAPE—[_Slowly._] Peace isn’t our meaning.

ELEANOR—[_Suddenly turns and addresses him directly in a sad, sympathetic tone._] You’ve something you want to ask me, Michael?

CAPE—[_Turns to her with an immediate affirmative on his lips, checks it as he meets her eyes, turns away—a pause—then he turns back humbly._] No.

ELEANOR—[_Her head has been averted since he turned away—without looking at him._] Yes.

CAPE—[_Decisively._] No, Nelly. [_She still keeps her head averted. After a pause he asks simply._] Why? Is there something you want to ask me?

ELEANOR—No. [_After a pause—with a trace of bitter humor._] I can’t be less magnanimous than you, can I?

CAPE—Then there is something——?

ELEANOR—Haven’t you something you want to tell?

CAPE—[_Looks at her. Their eyes meet again._] Yes—the truth—if I can. And you?

ELEANOR—Yes, I wish to tell you the truth. [_They look into each other’s eyes. Suddenly she laughs with a sad self-mockery._] Well, we’ve both been noble. I haven’t asked you; you haven’t asked me; and yet—— [_She makes a helpless gesture with her hands. A pause. Then abruptly and mechanically._] I’ll begin at the beginning. I left here right after you did.

CAPE—[_With an involuntary start._] Oh! [_He checks himself._]

ELEANOR—[_Her eyes reading his—after a pause—a bit dryly._] You thought I’d stayed here all the time? [_Mockingly._] Waiting for you?

CAPE—[_Wounded._] Don’t! [_After a pause—painfully._] When I found you—perhaps I hoped——

ELEANOR—[_Dully._] I had only been back a few minutes. [_After a pause._] Was that why you seemed so happy—there——? [_She points to the spot where they had stood embraced._]

CAPE—[_Indignantly._] No, no! Don’t think that! I’m not like that—not any more! [_Without looking at her he reaches out and clasps her hand._]

ELEANOR—[_Looks at him—after a pause, understandingly._] I’m sorry——

CAPE—[_Self-defensively._] Of course, I knew you must have gone, you’d have been a fool to stay. [_Excitedly._] And it doesn’t matter—not a damn! I’ve gotten beyond that.

ELEANOR—[_Misunderstanding—coldly._] I’m glad. [_A pause. She asks coldly._] Shall I begin again?

CAPE—[_Struggling with himself—disjointedly._] No—not unless—I don’t need—— I’ve changed. That doesn’t matter. I—[_With a sudden twisted grin._] I’m learning to like it, you see.

ELEANOR—[_Looks at him, strangely impressed—a pause—slowly._] I think I know what you mean. We’re both learning.

CAPE—[_Wonderingly._] You——? [_She has turned away from him. He turns to stare at her._]

ELEANOR—[_After a pause, taking up her story matter-of-factly._] I went to John.

CAPE—[_Trying with agony to take this stoically—mumbling stupidly._] Yes—of course—I supposed——

ELEANOR—[_In the same mechanical tone._] He drove me back here in his car. He predicted you’d be back any moment, so he went right home again.

CAPE—[_A wild, ironical laugh escapes his control._] Shrewd—Ha!

ELEANOR—[_After a pause—rebukingly._] John is a good man.

CAPE—[_Startled, turns and stares at her averted face—then miserably humble, stammers._] Yes, yes—I know—I acknowledge—good—— [_He breaks down, cursing pitiably at himself._] God damn you!

ELEANOR—Oh!

CAPE—Not you! Me! [_Then he turns to her—with fierce defiance._] I love John!

ELEANOR—[_Moved, without looking at him reaches and clasps his hand._] That—is beautiful, Michael. [_A pause._]

CAPE—[_Begins to frown somberly—lets go of her hand._] It’s hard—after what you confessed——

ELEANOR—[_Frightenedly._] Ssshh! [_Then calmly._] That was a lie. I lied to make you suffer more than you were making me suffer. [_A pause—then she turns to him._] Can you believe this?

CAPE—[_Humbly._] I want to believe——

ELEANOR—[_Immediately turning away—significantly._] Oh!

CAPE—[_Fiercely—as if to himself._] I will believe! But what difference does it make—believing or not believing? I’ve changed, I tell you! I accept!

ELEANOR—I can’t be a lie you live with!

CAPE—[_Turning to her resentfully._] Well, then—— [_As if she were goading him to something against his will—threateningly._] Shall I tell you what happened to me?

ELEANOR—[_Facing him defiantly._] Yes. [_He turns away. Immediately her brave attitude crumbles. She seems about to implore him not to speak._]

CAPE—[_After a pause—hesitatingly._] You said that years ago you had offered yourself—to him—— [_He turns suddenly—hopefully._] Was that a lie, too?

ELEANOR—No.

CAPE—[_Turns away with a start of pain._] Ah. [_A pause. Suddenly his face grows convulsed. He turns back to her, overcome by a craving for revenge—viciously._] Then I may as well tell you I—— [_He checks himself and turns away._]

ELEANOR—[_Defensively—with feigned indifference._] I don’t doubt—you kept your threat.

CAPE—[_Glares at her wildly._] Oho, you don’t doubt that, do you? You saw I’d changed, eh?

ELEANOR—I saw—something.

CAPE—[_With bitter irony._] God! [_A pause._]

ELEANOR—[_Turning on him doggedly as if she were impersonally impelled to make the statement._] I want to tell you that tonight—John and I—nothing you may ever suspect—— [_She falters, turns away with a bitter smile._] I only tell you this for my own satisfaction. I don’t expect you to believe it.

CAPE—[_With a wry grin._] No. How could you? [_Then turning to her—determinedly—after a pause._] But it doesn’t matter.

ELEANOR—I wanted revenge as much as you. I wanted to destroy—and be free of our love forever!

CAPE—As I did.

ELEANOR—[_After a pause—simply._] I couldn’t.

CAPE—[_Turns and stares at her—a pause—then he asks wonderingly, eagerly._] Why couldn’t you? Tell me that.

ELEANOR—[_After a pause—simply._] Something stronger.

CAPE—[_With a passionate triumph._] Love! [_With intense pleading._] Nelly! Will you believe that I, too——? [_He tries to force her eyes to return to his._]

ELEANOR—[_After a pause—looking before her—sadly._] You should have been generous sooner.

CAPE—It’s the truth, Nelly! [_Desperately._] I swear to you——!

ELEANOR—[_After a pause—wearily._] We’ve sworn to so much.

CAPE—Everything is changed, I tell you! Something extraordinary happened to me—a revelation!

ELEANOR—[_With bitter cynicism._] A woman?

CAPE—[_Wounded, turns away from her._] Don’t. [_Then after a pause—with deep feeling._] Yes—she was a woman. And I had conceived of her only as revenge—the lowest of the low!

ELEANOR—[_With a shudder._] Ah!

CAPE—[_With feeling._] Don’t judge, Nelly. She was—good!

ELEANOR—[_With another shudder._] Not her! You!

CAPE—[Desperately.] I tell you I——! [_He checks himself helplessly. She gives no sign. Then he asks sadly._] If you can think that, how could you come back?

ELEANOR—[_Stammering hysterically._] How? How? [_Bursting into tears._] Because I love you! [_Then turning on him fiercely as if defying him._] I love you! I love you!

CAPE—[_Starting up from his chair and trying to take her in his arms—exultantly._] Nelly!

ELEANOR—[_Pushing him away—violently._] No! I didn’t come back to you! I came back to my love which is mine—mine! It conquered me, not you! Something in me—myself—not you! [_She stares him in the eyes defiantly, triumphantly._]

CAPE—[_Gently._] It doesn’t matter. [_After a pause._] Did I come back to you?

ELEANOR—[_Taken aback, turning away._] No, I suppose—— [CAPE _stares at her uncertainly, then sits down in his chair again_.]

CAPE—[_After a pause, looking before him—assertively, as if taking a pledge._] But I have faith!

ELEANOR—[_Wearily._] Now—for a moment.

CAPE—No!

ELEANOR—Yes. We shall believe—and disbelieve. We are—that.

CAPE—[_Protestingly._] Nelly! [_For a time they both sit staring bleakly before them. Suddenly he turns to her—desperately._] If there is nothing left but—resignation!—what use is there?

ELEANOR—I know I love.

CAPE—[_Bitterly—beginning to work himself into a passion._] How can we endure having our dream perish in this?

ELEANOR—Have we any choice?

CAPE—[_Intensely._] No! It’s not Fate! Fate lives—moves on! We are merely victims of our dead selves. [_He seems to collect all his forces and turns on her with a fierce challenge._] We can choose—an end!

ELEANOR—[_Shudders instinctively as she reads his meaning._] Michael! [_A pause—then looking into his eyes—as a calm counter-challenge._] Yes—if _you_ wish.

CAPE—[_With passionate self-scorn._] We! We have become ignoble.

ELEANOR—As _you_ wish. [_She again accents the you._]

CAPE—I?

ELEANOR—I accept. I can live—or I can die. [_A pause—gently._] I love you. You must not suffer too much. [_She reaches out her hand and clasps his comfortingly._] It is I who have changed most, Michael. [_Then she speaks sadly but firmly as if she had come to a decision._] There is only one way we can give life to each other. We must redeem our love from ourselves!

CAPE—[_Sharply._] How?

ELEANOR—By releasing each other.

CAPE—[_With a harsh laugh._] Are you forgetting we tried that once tonight?

ELEANOR—With hate. This would be because we loved.

CAPE—[_Violently._] Don’t be a fool! [_Controlling himself—forcing a smile._] Forgive me. [_Excitedly._] But, my God, what solution——?

ELEANOR—It will give you peace for your work—freedom——

CAPE—Nonsense!

ELEANOR—I will continue to love you. I’ll work for you! We’ll no longer stand between each other. Then I can really give you my soul and possess yours. [_Rising to her feet in a pitch of dreamy enthusiasm._] Oh, Michael, isn’t that a finer love than the old?

CAPE—[_Controlling himself with difficulty._] You’re talking rot!

ELEANOR—[_Hurt._] Michael!

CAPE—You’re mad! [_Then, suddenly glaring at her suspiciously._] Why did you come back? Why do you want to go? What are you hiding behind all this?

ELEANOR—[_Wounded._] Your faith? You see?

CAPE—[_Brokenly._] I—I didn’t mean—— [_Then after a struggle with desperate bitterness._] Well—I accept! I love you enough for that. Go—if you want to!

ELEANOR—[_Hurt._] Michael! It isn’t—— [_Then determinedly._] But even if you misunderstand, I must be strong for you!

CAPE—[_Almost tauntingly._] Then go—go now if you can—if you’re strong enough. [_Harshly._] Let me see you act nobility! [_Then suddenly remorseful, catching her hand and covering it with kisses._] No! I love you! Go now before—— Do whatever seems good. Be strong! Be free! I—I cannot!

ELEANOR—[_Brokenly._] We can try—— [_She bends down swiftly and kisses his head, turns away quickly._] Good-by.

CAPE—[_In a strangled voice._] Good-by. [_He sits in anguish, in a tortured restraint. She grabs her cloak from the chair, goes quickly to the door, puts her hand on the knob—then stops as tense as he. Suddenly he can stand it no longer, he leaps to his feet and jumps toward the door with a pleading cry._] Nelly! [_He stands fixed as he sees her before the door as if he had expected to find her gone. She does not turn but remains staring at the door in front of her. Finally she raises her hand and knocks on the door softly—then stops to listen._]

ELEANOR—[_In a queer far-away voice._] No. Never again. “Come out.” [_She opens the door and turns to_ CAPE _with a strange smile_.] It opens inward, Michael. [_She closes it again, smiles to herself and walks back to the foot of the stairway. Then she turns to face_ CAPE. _She looks full of some happy certitude. She smiles at him and speaks with a tender weariness._] It must be nearly dawn. I’ll say good-night instead of good-by. [_They stare into each other’s eyes. It is as if now by a sudden flash from within they recognized themselves, shorn of all the ideas, attitudes, cheating gestures which constitute the vanity of personality. Everything, for this second, becomes simple for them—serenely unquestionable. It becomes impossible that they should ever deny life, through each other, again._]

ELEANOR—[_With a low tender cry as if she were awakening to maternity._] Michael!

CAPE—[_Passionately sure of her now—in a low voice._] Nelly! [_Then unable to restrain his triumphant exultance._] You’ve failed!

ELEANOR—[_Smiling at him simply._] Yes. Again. [_Smiling dimly at herself._] My acting—didn’t convince me.

CAPE—We’ve failed!

ELEANOR—Are we weak? [_Dreamily._] I’m happy.

CAPE—Strong! We’ve passed through! We can live again!

ELEANOR—[_With a strange dreamy exultance._] We love!

CAPE—[_Exultantly—but as if testing her, warningly._] But we’ll hate!

ELEANOR—[_In her same tone._] Yes!

CAPE—And we’ll torture and tear, and clutch for each other’s souls!

ELEANOR—[_Nodding her head in a simple emphasis of agreement._] Yes.

CAPE—We’ll have to strive on for perfect union—fight each other—fail again—blame each other—fail and hate again—[_he raises his voice in aggressive triumph_]—but!—fail and hate _with pride_—with joy!

ELEANOR—[_Exulted by his exultation rather than by his words._] Yes!

CAPE—_Our_ life is to bear together our burden which is our goal—on and up!

ELEANOR—[_Dreamily._] Your dream.

CAPE—Above the world, beyond its vision—our height—our love—our meaning!

ELEANOR—[_Her eyes fixed on him—passionately._] My love!

CAPE—[_Half-sobbing as the intensity of his passion breaks the spell of his exultation._] Oh, Nelly, Nelly, I want to say so much that I feel but I can only stutter like an idiot! [_He has fallen on his knees before her._]

ELEANOR—[_Intensely moved—passionately._] Like an angel! My lover! I know! [_She bends over and kisses him._]

CAPE—[_Straining passionately for expression._] Listen! Often I wake up in the night—terrified—in a black world, alone in time—a hundred million years of darkness. I feel like crying out to God for mercy because life lives! Then instinctively I seek you—my hand touches you! You are there—beside me—alive—with you I become a whole, a truth! Life guides me back through the hundred million years to you. It reveals a beginning in unity that I may have faith in the unity of the end! [_He bows his head and kisses her feet ecstatically._] I love you! Forgive me all I’ve ever done, all I’ll ever do.

ELEANOR—[_Brokenly._] No. Forgive me—my child, you! [_She begins to sob softly._]

CAPE—[_Looking at her—gently._] Why do you cry?

ELEANOR—Because I’m happy. [_Then with a sudden tearful gayety._] You be happy! You ought to be! Isn’t our future as hard as you could wish? Haven’t we your old dreams back again?

CAPE—Deeper and more beautiful!

ELEANOR—[_Smiling._] Deeper and more beautiful! [_She ascends the stairs slowly._] Come! [_She reaches the top of the stairway and stands there looking down at him—then stretches out her arms with a passionate, tender gesture._] Come!

CAPE—[_Leaping to his feet—intensely._] My Own!

ELEANOR—[_Dreamily._] Love—and sleep. [_With deep, passionate tenderness._] My lover!

CAPE—My wife! [_His eyes fixed on her he ascends. As he does so her arms move back until they are stretched out straight to right and left, forming a cross._ CAPE _stops two steps below her—in a low, wondering tone_.] Why do you stand like that?

ELEANOR—[_Her head thrown back, her eyes shut—slowly, dreamily._] Perhaps I’m praying. I don’t know. I love.

CAPE—[_Deeply moved._] I love you!

ELEANOR—[_As if from a great distance._] We love! [_He moves close to her and his hands reach out for hers. For a moment as their hands touch they form together one cross. Then their arms go about each other and their lips meet._]

[_The Curtain Falls_]

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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

● Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained. ● Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. ● Images without captions use HTML alt text.