Eugene O'Neill - The First Man

MARTHA-But-compromises about what? [Forcing a laugh.] I refuse to take it seriously. How anyone could think-it's too absurd.

LILY-What set them going was Big's being around such an awful lot the weeks Curt was in New York, just after you'd settled down here. You must acknowledge he was-very much present then, Martha.

MARTHA-But it was on account of his children. They were always with him.

LILY-The town doesn't trust this sudden fond parenthood, Martha. We've known him too long, you see.

MARTHA-But he's Curt's oldest and best friend.

LILY-We've found they always are.

MARTHA- [Springing to her feet-indignantly.] It's a case of evil minds, it seems to me-and it would be extremely insulting if I didn't have a sense of humor. [Resentfully.] You can tell your family, that as far as I'm concerned, the town may-

LILY-Go to the devil. I knew you'd say that. Well, fight the good fight. You have all my best wishes. [With a sigh.] I wish I had something worth fighting for. Now that I'm through with college, my occupation's gone. All I do is read book after book. The only live people are the ones in books, I find, and the only live life.

MARTHA- [Immediately sympathetic.] You're lonely, that's what, Lily.

LILY- [Drily.] Don't pity me, Martha-or I'll join the enemy.

MARTHA-I'm not. But I'd like to help you if I could. [After a pause.] Have you ever thought of marrying?

LILY- [With a laugh.] Martha! How banal! The men I see are enough to banish that thought if I ever had it.

MARTHA-Marriage isn't only the man. It's children. Wouldn't you like to have children?

LILY- [Turning to her bluntly.] Wouldn't you?

MARTHA- [Confused.] But-Lily-

LILY-Oh, I know it wasn't practicable as long as you elected to wander with Curt-but why not now when you've definitely settled down here? I think that would solve things all round. If you could present Father with a grandson, I'm sure he'd fall on your neck. He feels piqued at the John and Esther families because they've had a run of girls. A male Jayson! Aunt Davidson would weep with joy. [Suddenly.] You're thirty-eight, aren't you, Martha?

MARTHA-Yes. LILY-Then why don't you-before it's too late? [MARTHA, struggling with herself, does not answer. LILY goes on slowly.] You won't want to tag along with Curt to the ends of the earth forever, will you? [Curiously.] Wasn't that queer life like any other? I mean, didn't it get to pall on you?

MARTHA- [As if confessing it reluctantly.] Yes-perhaps-in the last two years.

LILY- [Decisively.] It's time for both of you to rest on your laurels. Why can't Curt keep on with what he's doing now-stay home and write his books?

MARTHA-Curt isn't that kind. The actual work-the romance of it- that's his life.

LILY-But if he goes and you have to stay, you'll be lonesome- [meaningly] alone.

MARTHA-Horribly. I don't know what I'll do.

LILY-Then why-why? Think, Martha. If Curt knew-that was to happen-he'd want to stay here with you. I'm sure he would.

MARTHA- [Shaking her head sadly.] No. Curt has grown to dislike children. They remind him of-ours that were taken. He adored them so-he's never become reconciled.

LILY-If you confronted Curt with the actual fact, he'd be reconciled soon enough, and happy in the bargain.

MARTHA- [Eagerly.] Do you really think so?

LILY-And you, Martha-I can tell from the way you've talked that you'd like to.

MARTHA- [Excitedly.] Yes, I-I never thought I'd ever want to again. For many years after they died I never once dreamed of it- But lately-the last years-I've felt-and when we came to live here-and I saw all around me-homes-and children, I- [She hesitates as if ashamed at having confessed so much.]

LILY- [Putting an arm around her-affectionately.] I know. [Vigorously.] You must, that's all there is to it! If you want my advice, you go right ahead and don't tell Curt until it's a fact he'll have to learn to like, willy-nilly. You'll find, in his inmost heart, he'll be tickled to death.

MARTHA- [Forcing a smile.] Yes, I-I'll confess I thought of that. In spite of my fear, I-I've-I mean-I- [She flushes in a shamed confusion.]

LILY- [Looking at her searchingly.] Why, Martha, what- [Then suddenly understanding-with excited pleasure.] Martha! I know! It is so, isn't it? It is!

MARTHA- [In a whisper.] Yes.

LILY- [Kissing her affectionately.] You dear, you! [Then after a pause.] How long have you known?

MARTHA-For over two months. [There is a ring from the front door bell in the hall.]

LILY- [Jumping up.] I'll bet that's we Jaysons now. [She runs to the door in the rear and looks down the hall to the right.] Yes, it's Esther and husband and Aunt Davidson. [She comes back to MARTHAlaughing excitedly. The MAID is seen going to the door.] The first wave of attack, Martha! Be brave! The Young Guard dies but never surrenders!

MARTHA- [Displeased but forcing a smile.] You make me feel terribly ill at ease when you put it that way, Lily. [She rises now and goes to greet the visitors, who enter. MRS. DAVIDSON is seventy-five years old-a thin, sinewy old lady, old-fashioned, unbending and rigorous in manner. She is dressed aggressively in the fashion of a bygone age. ESTHER is a stout, middle-aged woman with the round, unmarked, sentimentally-contented face of one who lives unthinkingly from day to day, sheltered in an assured position in her little world. MARK, her husband, is a lean, tall, stooping man of about forty-five. His long face is alert, shrewd, cautious, full of the superficial craftiness of the lawyer mind. MARTHAkisses the two women, shakes hands with MARK, uttering the usual meaningless greetings in a forced tone. They reply in much the same spirit. There is the buzz of this empty chatter while MARTHAgets them seated. LILY stands looking on with a cynical smile of amusement. MRS. DAVIDSON is in the chair at the end of table, Ieft, ESTHER sits by MARTHA on couch, MARK in chair at front of table.] Will you have tea now or shall we wait for the others?

ESTHER-Let's wait. They ought to be here any moment.

LILY- [Maliciously.] Just think, Martha had forgotten you were coming. She was going motoring with Bigelow. [There is a dead silence at this-broken diplomatically by SHEFFIELD.]

SHEFFIELD-Where is Curt, Martha?

MARTHA-Hard at work in his study. I'm afraid he's there for the day. SHEFFIELD- [Condescendingly.] Still plugging away at his book, I suppose. Well, I hope it will be a big success.

LILY- [Irritated by his smugness.] As big a success as the brief you're writing to restrain the citizens from preventing the Traction Company robbing them, eh Mark? [Before anyone can reply, she turns suddenly on her aunt who is sitting rigidly on her chair, staring before her stonily like some old lady in a daguerreotype-in a loud challenging tone.] You don't mind if I smoke, Aunt? [She takes a cigarette out of case and lights it.]