isn't good for kids to look pale-shows that they don't get enough fresh air and sunshine; so do you know what I'm going to do? He tells her that he is going to give her an automobile for the baby's use. Stafford grows more intoxicated; Virginia more distressed. The Gilleys leave. Stafford orders another bottle of wine, in spite of Virginia's protests. Stafford-I want that wine and I'm going to have it. Virginia-Then say good-night and take it to your own room. Stafford-Drink alone! And you right here! I should say not! Where'd be the fun of that! No! We'll have it in here, and we'll have a little party just you and me. A little party! Eh! Virginia-Please don't! Stafford-Why not? Fanny, Virginia, Jim, and Stafford sit down to dinner, and Virginia-I love the man I married-love him with all my heart and he loves me. But you are not the man I married. You are another man! You are a stranger, a man influenced with liquor, a man who comes and talks to me of love when it isn't love at all, a man whose every protestation of love is an insult! That's the man you are and I hate you! I hate you! Stafford-So you hate me, do you? Virginia-Yes! I do! And now will you let me go? Stafford-Not much I won't. Even though you do hate me, you're still my wife. Do you hear, you're still my wife! Virginia-Robert! Stafford-Who were you till I married you? Nobody! What were you? A telephone girl getting ten dollars a week! And now who are you? You're Mrs. Robert Stafford! And what are you? You're the wife of one of the richest men in the country! And how did he get you for his wife? He bought you and he paid for you. Virginia-You didn't. You tried to buy me, but you couldn't do it. Stafford Oh, yes, I could-and I did! Did you love me when you married me? No! Would you have married me if I'd been poor? No! I bought and paid for you and anything I've bought and paid for belongs to me! Understand? It belongs to me! And now will you kiss me? Virginia-No. Stafford-Then if you won't! (He pulls Virginia to him and, despite her struggles, kisses her on the mouth. Then he unthinkingly releases his hold) Virginia Oh, my God! (She runs from the room, slams the door, and bolts it. Stafford goes to the door and tries to open it) Stafford-Unbolt this door! Unbolt this door, I tell you! You can't get away from me like that! Unfasten this door! Do you hear me unfasten this door! All right, then -if you won't(He picks up a heavy andiron from the fireplace and smashes in the panel of the door. Then he reaches through the broken panel, pulls back the bolt, throws open the door, goes out, and slams the door after him) CURTAIN As the curtain rises on the third act, Virginia is arranging her jewels in their separate cases. Fanny smells trouble in the air. She begs Virginia not to do anything rash and finally leaves her. Jimmie is troubled Virginia-I don't want-anything. Virginia-Nothing. Do you know what you said to me last night? Stafford-Sweetheart, I was drunk last night, and I'm sorry—and I'm ashamed— and I apologize! And I've got a dreadful head this morning and I'm as nervous as I can be! So don't bother me any more than you have to, will you, dearie! Be nice to me this morning. Come on now, dearie, be nice to me. Virginia-Last night you said that you bought and paid for me! Stafford-But I've explained, haven't I? And I've said that I'm ashamed, and I've apologized, and I've told you to buy anything you like! Can I do any more? And you don't know how nervous I am to-day— nor how I feel! I can't stand these rackets like I used to. So be nice to me, dearie, please. Be a dear, good, sweet little girl and don't scold me. Please, dearie, please! Oh, come on now, be nice to me-be nice to me. Virginia-You said that you bought me and paid for me. It isn't the first time you have said it, either. And the dreadful thing about it is that it's true. Stafford-But it isn't true. You know it isn't. I married you because I cared for you -because I loved you. Virginia-The dreadful thing about it is that it is true. Stafford-I won't have you say that. I tried you, to see if money would influence and found that it wouldn't. You know how glad I was of it, too. you that you did buy me! And-(In- Virginia-You bought me, but you didn't buy my selfrespect! And no matter what happens, I am going to keep that. Stafford-It's the last thing in the world that I'd have you lose. Virginia Then why do you try to rob me of it? Why do you come to me as you did last night-and insult and de grade me. StaffordI'm sorry. Virginia -So you have told me be fore! And I've cried-and suffered and forgiven youand prayed that it would never happen again! And now, dear, I'm not going to cry any more, and it won't happen again. Stafford-You mean? Virginia-I mean that we have got to have a defi nite and explicit understanding. I refuse to remain in a position where you can humiliate me as you have done. What must I think of myself if I respect and I am going to keep ittwo and only two. One is this, you must promise me, now, that you will never drink again. do? I ask you, Robert, what must I think of myself? (There is a pause) A good woman must retain her respect for herself-she must know in her heart that she is sweet and fine-if she doesn't, what is there left for her? There are just two ways in which I can keep my 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-I'm not sure that I could keep such a promise. I'll agree, though, to try. Virginia-No, dear. That won't do. How many times already have you agreed to try and how many times have you failed? You can stop if you wish. You are not a weakling. You're a big man, a strong man. You can stop if you wish and you must promise me that you will or! Stafford-Or what? Virginia Or I shall take the only other course open to me and-leave you. Stafford-Leave me! Virginia-Yes. (There is a pause. Stafford pours some water into a glass and. drinks it) Stafford-Let me get this straight. You say I must promise that I will never take another drink, or you'll leave me. Is that it? Virginia-Yes. Stafford-That is an ultimatum. Stafford-And you want an answer here and now. Stafford-Very well, then, you shall have it. I won't promise. Virginia-Robert! Stafford-I can't be driven and I won't be bullied! No man, by holding a revolver to my head, can force me to do anything I don't want to do, nor can any woman, either, not even you. Virginia-Very well. Stafford-Besides, there has to be a head of every family, just as there has to be a head of every business and every country, and so long as I have my family, I am going to be the head of it! If I had a partner and he came to me and said, "Do this thing or I quit you," whether the thing was right or wrong, I'd say, "Go ahead. Quit." Because if I didn't, from that minute on, he, not I, would be the boss! So it is with us. VirginiaThen Iam to -go. Stafford-There's no time like the present, so I'll have Oku bring it in and I'll drink-I'll drink to your pretty eyes! My, but you look sweet to-night! I'll ring for Oku. You won't run away? It wouldn't be a pretty thing for you to run away from your husband! So you won't do it, will you? (There is a pause) Will you? Virginia-No, I won't run away |