Bought and Paid For By George Broadhurst Comedy dramas have been rare during the last few seasons, but Mr. George Broadhurst's "Bought and Paid For," which has been crowding The Playhouse for the past five months, promises to have the longest run of any play this season. This article is published by the courtesy of the manager, Mr. W. H. Brady, and of Mr. George Broadhurst, the author. T HE scene is Robert Stafford's splendidly furnished bachelor apartment about 7.30 at night. The stage is empty as the curtain rises, but in answer to a ring, a Japanese servant enters and admits Virginia Blaine, a pretty girl of twenty-two or three, very simply dressed, her sister Fanny, who is several years older and not nearly so dainty a type, and James Gilley, a twentyfour-year-old shipping-clerk, who has a great deal of assurance and swagger in spite of the fact that he earns only fourteen dollars a week. Virginia, who is a telephone girl in one of the big hotels, has been invited by one of her customers, Robert Stafford, a very wealthy broker, to dine at his apartment. Fanny and her fiancé, Gilley, have been asked to complete the party. Stafford has been detained downtown, but his servant explains that he will arrive in a very few moments. They all sit down. Jim-(Looking around the room) I guess this is bad, eh? Virginia-It's beautiful! Fanny-When this hotel was being built, I read in the paper that Mr. Stafford was to pay twenty-two thousand dollars a year for his rooms. Jim-Twenty-two thousand a year, just for his rooms! Fanny-Yes! Jim-Why-that's over four hundred dollars a week! Fanny-Yes. Jim-Four hundred a week for his rooms! I call that criminal (to Virginia), don't you? Virginia-Mr. Stafford is a very rich man. Jim-But four hundred dollars-just for his rooms, while I slave a whole week from eight in the morning till six at night for a measly fourteen! I tell you there's something rotten in this country. Virginia-Mr. Stafford didn't get more than fourteen when he was your age. He was poor, too. Fanny (To Jim) Yes, and when they raised you from twelve at Christmas, you thought you were doing great. I remember how chesty you were about it. Jim-Only because I figured that I might be gettin' eighteen pretty soon and then we could get married. Do we still have to wait till I get eighteen, Fanny? Fanny-Indeed we do. A couple simply can't live on less than eighteen. Jim-How did you come to know him, Virginia? Virginia-Do you mean Mr. Stafford? Virginia-I was at my desk in the hotel about three months ago, and he came and wanted long distance-I think it was Washington. There was some trouble getting his party and, as people will, we got into conversation about it. Fanny-Did you know who he was? Virginia-No. A girl who handles a telephone desk at our hotel hasn't got much time to bother about anything else. Jim-When did you find out? Virginia-About a month later. He got into the habit of 'phoning every two or three days to some one, and finally he asked me to go to dinner with him. Jim-And did you? Virginia Certainly not. Then he used to come nearly every day. One time I-I think he had beendrinking. Jim-Say, but that was foxy. Jim-Making him think Jim-Sure it didn't. That was the way to play it. Virginia-I don't know what you mean. I wasn't "playing" anything or anybody. Fanny - He was drunk? Virginia-Oh, no! Not at all! Jim-Just lit up a bit to show that he's human. Fanny-Oh! Virginia-Well, one of the clerks noticed how often he came, and told me that he was Mr. Stafford. A few days later, he asked me if I knew who he was and I said that I did. Jim-Do you mean to say that if any man you, on the level, to be his wife, you Virginia-I've seen men who are twice wouldn't marry if they gave me half Fanny-Then what happened? Virginia He finally asked me to dine. with him here and to bring you and Jimmie. I had told him about your being engaged. Jim-I'm beginning to think that he's on Fanny-Then did he ask you to go again? the level. He might even want to marry you. Virginia-Yes. Fanny And you wouldn't? Virginia-Of course not. Virginia-Don't be absurd. Fanny-But if he did, would you marry him? Fanny-I thought he was rather distinguished looking. Stafford, a handsome man of forty-odd, enters and makes them all welcome; and presently Fanny and Jim wander into the library, leaving the other two alone. Stafford brings out a picture of his yacht and shows it to Virginia. Virginia-I don't know much about such things, but she looks very big and strong. Stafford-She is. She's an oceangoing boat; I can go anywhere in her. Have you ever been on a trip on a private yacht? Virginia-Never. Stafford-It's the most enjoyable thing in the world. You can have a little private party of two, four, or as many as you like. You are absolutely and entirely away from the rest of the world, and you can go where you please and do what you please. Virginia-It must be splendid. Stafford-Believe me, it is. My boat will be in commission in a week How-how would you like to or so. make a voyage on her? Virginia-I've had my vacation. Stafford-Perhaps you prefer the country, and fishing and hunting. Virginia-I love the country. Stafford-In Maine, I have a hunting lodge that is absolutely out of the world. How would you like to spend a month or so there? Virginia-But I've had my vacation. Stafford-Or perhaps you'd prefer to go abroad Virginia-I've told you that I've had my vacation, and I simply couldn't afford another one even if they would let me go. Stafford (With meaning) I wasn't speaking of a vacation. (Virginia catches an idea of Stafford's meaning. Her incredulity changes to anger during the following speech) A friend of mine has a villa just outside Monte Carlo. I believe it is in the loveliest spot in the world. He isn't using it this year, and I know he'd be glad to let me have it. Suppose I get it and send you and your sister over. I could join you in two or three weeks, and meanwhile I would arrange a letter of credit for you for fifty thousand dollars. (Blazing with anger and without a word, Virginia starts to cross to the door, that you don't but Stafford intercepts her) Would a hundred thousand be enough? Virginia-No! Nor a million! Nor any amount! Stafford-That's just what I wanted you to say. Had you hesitated even for a minute, I should have been the most disappointed man in the world. Miss Blaine will you marry me? Virginia-Marry you? Stafford-Yes. Virginia-You could speak to me one minute as you didStafford-That was the test. Virginia-The test? Stafford-Yes. From the day success first came my way, I and the men associated with me have been buying things. We have bought contracts, newspapers, legislatures, everything. Some of my friends have even bought off their old wives. After meeting you it didn't take me long to make up my mind that you were the girl I desired to marry. I could have sworn, too, that money wouldn't tempt you, but I wanted to be sure. Virginia-And so you set a trap for me? Stafford-You wish for the truth? Stafford-If to want to be near you, to be tender to you, to look after and guard you; to hold you to my breast and shield you from all trouble and harm -if that is love, then I love you. Virginia-And if I don't consider that love? Stafford-Then I am afraid I shall never love any one. I'm not a romantic man. I never was. But I think this will prove how I regard you; I am forty-seven years old and you are the only woman I have ever asked to marry me! Will you? Virginia-You don't trouble to ask if I love you. Stafford-I don't expect you to-yet. But I think you like me don't you? (There is a pause) I am taking it for granted love any other Virginia-No. StaffordThen be my wife. I'll be a loyal and faithful husband, and I'll see that you won't have a care in the world. Virginia-I don't know what to say. The curtain ing, announces his engagement to Virginia. have a baby, and, thanks to Stafford's generosity, they have been able to move from 140th to 125th Street. Gilley is now in Stafford's employ. Fanny, who is visiting her sister, sees that Virginia is unhappy. Virginia declares Stafford to be the best husband alive except when he drinks. Twice lately, she declares, he has made a beast of himself, but he has promised never to do so again. (Stafford enters. He is evidently drunk. He is in the best of humor, but when he speaks to his wife, his looks and manner show the feeling toward her about which she has previously spoken) Stafford-Evening, everybody! (He beams upon them all. Virginia's face shows her feelings. Stafford goes to her.) Hello, baby! (He kisses her and puts his arm about her) My, but you look pretty to-night! (To Jim) Do you wonder that I'm in love with her? Jim-I should say not. Stafford-She's the prettiest and sweetest girl that ever lived. (To Virginia) Kiss me, baby. Virginia-Robert! (She indicates that others are present.) Stafford (To Fanny) Oh, you wouldn't mind, would you? You wouldn't mind if a husband kissed his own wife? Fanny-No, of course not. Stafford-How's the kid? Fanny-Very well, thank you. Stafford-When I saw her this morning, I thought she looked a little pale. Now it |