Eugene O'Neill - The First Man

SHEFFIELD-You have plenty of time to listen to what I-I should rather say we-have to ask you, Curt. I promise to be brief. But first let me again impress upon you that I am talking in a spirit of the deepest friendliness and sympathy with you-as a fellow- member of the same family, I may say-and with the highest ideals and the honor of that family always in view. [CURT makes no comment. SHEFFIELD unconsciously begins to adopt the alert keenness of the cross-examiner.] First, let me ask you, is it your intention to take that five o'clock train to-day?

CURTIS- [Harshly.] I've told you that.

SHEFFIELD-And then you'll join this expedition to Asia?

CURTIS-You know that.

SHEFFIELD-To be gone five years?

CURTIS- [Shrugging his shoulders.] More or less.

SHEFFIELD-Is it your intention to return here at any time before you leave for Asia?

CURTIS-No!

SHEFFIELD-And your determination on these plans is irrevocable?

CURTIS-Irrevocable! Exactly. Please remember that.

SHEFFIELD- [Sharply.] That being your attitude, I will come bluntly to the core of the whole matter-the child whose coming into the world cost Martha her life.

CURTIS- [Savagely.] Her murderer! You are right! [They all look shocked, suspicious.]

SHEFFIELD- [Remonstratingly but suspiciously.] You can hardly hold the child responsible for the terrible outcome. Women die every day from the same cause. [Keenly.] Why do you attribute guilt to the child in this case, Curt?

CURTIS-It lives and Martha is gone-But, enough! I've said I never wanted it mentioned to me. Will you please remember that?

SHEFFIELD- [Sharply.] Its name is Jayson. Curt-in the eyes of the law. Will YOU please remember that?

CURTIS- [Distractedly.] I don't want to remember anything! [Wildly.] Please, for God's sake, leave me alone!

SHEFFIELD- [Coldly.] I am sorry, Curt, but you cannot act as if you were alone in this affair.

CURTIS-Why not? Am I not alone-more alone this minute than any creature on God's earth?

SHEFFIELD- [Soothingly.] In your great grief. Yes, yes, of course. We all appreciate-and we hate to- [Persuasively.] Yes, it would be much wiser to postpone these practical considerations until you are in a calmer mood. And if you will only give us the chance-why not put off this precipitate departure-for a month, say-and in the meantime-

CURTIS- [Harshly.] I am going when I said I was. I must get away from this horrible hole-as far away as I can. I must get back to my work for only in it will I find Martha again. But you-you can't understand that. What is the good of all this talking which leads nowhere?

SHEFFIELD- [Coldly.] You're mistaken. It leads to this: Do you understand that your running away from this child-on the very day of its mother's funeral!-will have a very queer appearance in the eyes of the world?

EMILY-And what are you going to do with the baby, Curt? Do you think you can run off regardless and leave it here-on our hands?

CURTIS- [Distractedly.] I'll give it this home. And someone- anyone-Esther, Lily-can appoint a nurse to live here and- [Breaking down.] Oh, don't bother me!

SHEFFIELD- [Sharply.] In the world's eyes, it will appear precious like a desertion on your part.

CURTIS-Oh, arrange it to suit yourselves-anything you wish-

SHEFFIELD- [Quickly.] I'll take you at your word. Then let us arrange it this way. You will remain here a month longer at least-

CURTIS-No!

SHEFFIELD- [Ignoring the interruption.] You can make plans for the child's future in that time, become reconciled to it-

CURTIS-No!

JAYSON- [Pleadingly.] Curt-please-for all our sakes-when the honor of the family is at stake.

DICK-Yes, old man, there's that about it, you know.

CURTIS-No!

EMILY-Oh, he's impossible!

SHEFFIELD-Perhaps Curt misunderstood me. [Meaningly.] Be reconciled to it in the eyes of the public, Curt. That's what I meant. Your own private feelings in the matter-are no one's business but your own, of course.

CURTIS- [Bewilderedly.] But-I don't see-Oh, damn your eyes of the public!

EMILY- [Breaking in.] It's all very well for you to ignore what people in town think-you'll be in China or heaven knows where. The scandal won't touch you-but we've got to live here and have our position to consider.

CURTIS- [Mystified.] Scandal? What scandal? [Then with a harsh laugh.] Oh, you mean the imbecile busy-bodies will call me an unnatural father. Well, let them! I suppose I am. But they don't know-

EMILY- [Spitefully.] Perhaps they know more than you think they do.

CURTIS- [Turning on her-sharply.] Just what do you mean by that, eh?

ESTHER-Emily! Shhh!

JAYSON- [Flurriedly.] Be still, Emily. Let Mark do the talking.

SHEFFIELD- [Interposing placatingly.] What Emily means is simply this, Curt: You haven't even been to look at this child since it has been born-not once, have you?

CURTIS-No, and I never intend-

SHEFFIELD- [Insinuatingly.] And don't you suppose the doctors and nurses-and the servants-have noticed this? It is not the usual procedure, you must acknowledge, and they wouldn't be human if they didn't think your action-or lack of action-peculiar and comment on it outside.

CURTIS-Well, let them! Do you think I care a fiddler's curse how people judge me?

SHEFFIELD-It is hardly a case of their judging-you. [Breaking off as he catches CURT'S tortured eyes fixed on him wildly.] This is a small town, Curt, and you know as well as I do, gossip is not the least of its faults. It doesn't take long for such things to get started. [Persuasively.] Now I ask you frankly, is it wise to provoke deliberately what may easily be set at rest by a little- I'll be frank-a little pretense on your part?

JAYSON-Yes, my boy. As a Jayson, I know you don't wish-

ESTHEE- [With a sigh.] Yes, you really must think of us, Curt.

CURTIS- [In an acute state of muddled confusion.] But-I-you-how are you concerned? Pretense? You mean you want me to stay and pretend-in order that you won't be disturbed by any silly tales they tell about me? [With a wild laugh.] Good God, this is too much! Why does a man have to be maddened by fools at such a time! [Raging.] Leave me alone! You're like a swarm of poisonous flies.

JAYSON-Curt! This is-really-when we've tried to be so considerate-

JOHN- [Bursting with rage.] It's an outrage to allow such insults!

DICK-You're not playing the game, Curt.

EMILY- [Spitefully.] It seems to me it's much more for Martha's sake, we're urging you than for our own. After all, the town can't say anything against us.

CURTIS- [Turning on her.] Martha's sake? [Brokenly.] Martha is gone. Leave her out of this.