Etext by Dagny
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C 1985
Characters:
Adela Chart, a young woman of twenty
Godfrey Chart, her brother, about twenty-four
Scene: Godfrey's room. A typical student's room. Messy with books
and papers. Godfrey is sitting in an armchair reading something. Adela
enters. She is pretty, but very upset.
Adela
Father's going to marry Mrs. Churchley.
Godfrey (without looking up)
How do you know?
Adela (pacing around)
I've seen them with my own eyes. We've been dining with her and
just got home. They're in love. They'll arrange it.
Godfrey (finally looking up)
I don't care for that. Maybe he won't.
Adela (miserably)
He will, he will, he will.
Godfrey (getting up and lighting a cigarette)
He ought not to. He really shouldn't.
Adela
Think of Mamma, think of Mamma.
Godfrey
Father should think of mother.
Adela
To such a woman as that—after Mamma. Everything about that woman
is enormous. She has big eyes, big teeth, big shoulders, big hands, big
feet.
Godfrey
Big boobs, too.
Adela
Godfrey, don't be indecent!
Godfrey
That's what father likes about her, I bet.
Adela
It's an insult to Mamma's memory. It's as if he denied her.
Godfrey
They were awfully happy.
Adela
No one else will ever be like her.
Godfrey
I suppose he's not very happy now.
Adela
Of course he isn't. None of us are. It's dreadful of him to want to
be.
Godfrey (back to his book)
Well, don't make yourself miserable until you're sure.
Adela
I'm certain of it.
Godfrey
You're always certain of everything. Maybe it's your imagination.
Adela
I'm not the sort of girl who thinks every woman wants to marry her
father.
Godfrey
When did you first suspect it?
Adela
There have been signs for some time—two or three weeks ago. But I
hadn't felt fear until tonight.
Godfrey
But, he hasn't known her long.
Adela
I've begun to think he's been seeing her more than I supposed.
Godfrey
Well, she's probably all right.
Adela (furiously)
All right to come and take Mamma's place? To sit where she used to
sit? To lay her horrible hands on Mamma's things?
Godfrey (unperturbed)
Nothing will come of it.
Adela
Not if we do our duty.
Godfrey (staring at her)
Our duty?
Adela
You must speak to him. Tell him how we feel; that we shall never
forgive him; that we can't endure it.
Godfrey
Oh, come on. It's not that bad. It will happen eventually anyway.
Besides, he'll tell me I'm acting like a busybody.
Adela
A busybody to plead for her memory?
Godfrey
He'll say it's none of my business.
Adela
Then, you believe he'll do it.
Godfrey
Not a bit. Go to bed.
Adela
I'll speak to him.
Godfrey
Wait until he speaks to you.
Adela
He won't. He won't. He won't ask us. He'll do it without telling
us.
Godfrey
Is she very rich?
Adela
I haven't the least idea. What has that got to do with it?
Godfrey
Does she live as if she were?
Adela
She's got a lot of flashy things.
Godfrey
Well, we must look out for ourselves. And you must let me get back
to work if I'm ever going to pass this stupid exam.
Adela (suddenly throwing herself with a howl into her brother's
arms)
Why did she have to die? Why did she have to leave us?
Godfrey (comforting her)
Why, indeed?
Adela (bounding up)
Never forgive him. Never ever forgive him.
BLACKOUT
Adela Father is planning a party for her—a family party. Isn't
that tantamount to an announcement?
Godfrey
It doesn't look good. I've been to see her.
Adela
You! When? Why? What on earth for?
Godfrey
Dad asked me to.
Adela
Then, he told you?
Godfrey
Told me what?
Adela
That they're engaged, of course. What else can all this mean?
Godfrey
He didn't tell me that. But I like her.
Adela
Like her!
Godfrey
To be fair, she's very kind—very good.
Adela
To thrust herself on us when we hate her! Is that what you call
kind? Is that what you call good?
Godfrey
I don't hate her.
Adela
You should! You must! He wants to take the children to see her.
Godfrey
What?
Adela
He insisted. Why did you see her?
Godfrey
I told you. He wanted me to.
Adela
What did you say to her?
Godfrey
Nothing. There's nothing to say. He wanted me to tell her I was
glad.
Adela
And did you? You couldn't!
Godfrey
I couldn't. But, I said something non-committal. She kissed me.
Adela
How could you!
Godfrey
Father says she's very rich.
Adela
Is that why you kissed her?
Godfrey
I didn't kiss her. She kissed me. Goodnight.
Adela
Not yet, Godfrey. I promise you, this marriage will never take
place.
Godfrey
Who's to stop it? (bitterly) There's no stopping a man when he
wants a woman.
Adela
We'll see. I've just thought of a way.
Godfrey
How? What do you mean to do?
Adela
Leave things to little sister. She has an idea. This interesting
couple will give it up themselves.
Godfrey
Hmm! That will be really horrid of them. The only respectable thing
at the point they've come to is to go through with it.
Adela
You make me mad.
BLACKOUT
When the lights go up, Godfrey is questioning Adela in a somewhat
angry and menacing way. Adela is defensive.
Godfrey
Please tell me this, Adela, what was the purpose of your visit to
Mrs. Churchley the other morning?
Adela
The purpose? What's the matter? Why do you ask?
Godfrey
They've put it off. They've put if off a month.
Adela
Ah, thank God.
Godfrey
Why do you thank God? It's the devil's work, I believe.
Adela (innocently)
You know I think it's all wrong.
Godfrey
What did you do there? How did you interfere?
Adela
Who told you I interfered?
Godfrey (about ready to strangle her)
You said something. I know you did.
Adela
What I did was my own business.
Godfrey
Damn your own business.
Adela
And your business, then, what was your business with her?
Godfrey (disgusted)
You've made a pretty mess.
Adela
My conscience is clear!
Godfrey
If I don't pass my exams, it will be your fault!
Adela
That's a dreadful thing to say to me. What has what I did or didn't
do got to do with your exams?
Godfrey
What was it you said to her?
Adela (maddeningly)
If she's told you, why do you ask?
Godfrey
She told me nothing. I've seen for myself.
Adela
What have you seen?
Godfrey
She's broken it off—everything's over. Father's in the depths.
Adela (uncertainly)
In the depths?
Godfrey (savagely)
Did you think it would make him happy?
Adela (uneasily)
He'll get over it. He'll be glad!
Godfrey
That remains to be seen! You interfered. You invented something.
You got round her. I insist on knowing what you did.
Adela (slyly)
Are you absolutely certain it's broken off?
Godfrey
He is and she is.
Adela
What reason has she given?
Godfrey
None at all or half a dozen—it's the same thing. She's changed her
mind. She mistook her feelings. She can't part with her independence.
Adela
Did he tell you this?
Godfrey
She told me.
Adela
And she didn't tell you what I said to her?
Godfrey (utterly exasperated)
Would I take all this trouble if she had?
Adela
Maybe. To torment me. That appears to be what you want to do.
Godfrey
I leave that to you. It's the good turn you've done me.
Adela
What do you mean? What in the world have I done to you?
Godfrey
She would have helped me. She was ready to do it.
Adela
How could she help you? What do you need her for?
Godfrey
I'm in trouble, Adela. Where are your eyes, your sympathy? Haven't
you seen anything these past months?
Adela (alarmed)
What's the matter, Godfrey? What is it?
Godfrey
I could strangle you.
Adela
In God's name, what have you done? What have you done that needs
the help of a Mrs. Churchley?
Godfrey
WHAT DID YOU TELL HER?
Adela (quietly)
I told her Mamma had been wretched.
Godfrey (stunned)
Wretched? You told her such a lie?
Adela
It was the only way. And she believed me.
Godfrey
What are you talking about?
Adela (very calmly)
I told her Papa had made Mamma so—and he would make her so, too. I
said Mamma had been miserable—but that she hid it wonderfully from the
world. I told her it was his failing and peculiarities. I put the dots
on the i's. I said it wasn't fair to let another person marry him—at
least without a warning. She could do what she liked—my conscience was
clear.
Godfrey (with slow understanding)
You—why, that's monstrous!
Adela
I told her Papa had—well, come to me, too.
Godfrey
And you talk about your conscience!
Adela (fiercely)
I would have committed any crime that would have rescued us!
Godfrey
You insult and defame your own father!
Adela
He'll never know it. She swore she wouldn't tell him.
Godfrey
I'll be damned if I don't.
Adela (wildly)
I did right! I did right! I prayed for guidance and I stopped this
outrage.
Godfrey
You raving maniac!
BLACKOUT
When the lights go up, Godfrey is sitting with his head in his
hands. Adela bursts in.
Adela
Godfrey, Godfrey, is it true?
Godfrey (wearily)
Yes, it's true.
Adela
How could you marry a woman like that? Why, she's at least fifteen
years older than you—maybe twenty.
Godfrey
I really can't explain it. You can say what you like to me. You
can't say anything worse than I've said to myself.
Adela
And, what has father said?
Godfrey
He's given her money—on the condition that she never come near me
again.
Adela
Father's an angel.
Godfrey
She solemnly promised. She'll probably leave me alone to get the
money. If she doesn't, I'm finished as a diplomat. I've been living in
hell.
Adela (cooing)
My brother, my brother.
Godfrey
I'm not an idiot. Yet, for her, I behaved like one. Don't ask me.
Adela
At least you've passed your exams.
Godfrey (matter of factly)
I planned to shoot myself if I didn't.
Adela (not picking up on this)
Did she tell him?
Godfrey
Yes. I couldn't. She saw him alone first.
Adela
Poor, poor father. Have you told him?
Godfrey
Told him what?
Adela
What you said you would. About what I did?
Godfrey
I cooled off. No, I couldn't tell him.
Adela (serenely)
You thought of Mamma.
Godfrey
Don't speak of Mamma. Mamma has nothing to do with this. I thought
it might kill him—on top of all the rest.
Adela
So, father doesn't know?
Godfrey (grimly)
No, he doesn't know. Your secret is safe.
Adela
He's been a little cold with me lately. I'll find out. I can bear
his reproaches. But, what had Mrs. Churchley to do with it?
Godfrey
I told her. I had to tell someone.
Adela (reproachfully)
Why didn't you tell me?
Godfrey
Oh, you take things too hard. You make such rows. What I wanted was
comfort, not reproaches. She was awfully kind to me. She understood how
it could happen. She was going to break it to him for me! But, then,
when you cut in—of course, it spoiled everything. That's why I was so
angry with you.
Adela
Poor father. So, he had to meet it alone.
Godfrey
Alone.
Adela
I went to Mrs. Churchley and confessed the other day. I begged her
to forgive me and take poor Papa back. He was suffering too much and I
couldn't console him the way I thought I'd be able to. She said she
never believed me anyway.
Godfrey (puzzled)
Then, why did she break it off?
Adela
She told him she didn't like me, and couldn't marry him if I was to
stay. She's clever, that woman. I underestimated her. She knew what she
was in for if she went through with it. (proudly) But Papa defended me.
Then she broke it off. Fancy that! Paper gave her up for me. What an
angel. Fancy what I shall have to be to him now.
Godfrey
She won't come back?
Adela (delighted)
Oh, no. She's going to marry Lord Scarsdale. And I'm going to have
Papa all to myself.
Godfrey (looking askance at her and mumbling)
Everything works out for the best, hmm?
Adela
Everything, absolutely everything.
CURTAIN