Джек Лондон - Theft - A Play In Four Acts

Chalmers

Out in the car with Madge.

( Glances at tea-table and consults watch. ) She should be back now.

Connie

Mother, you mustn't stay long. I have to dress.

Chalmers

Oh, yes, that dinner.

( Yawns. ) I wish I could loaf to-night.

Connie

( Explaining to Hubbard. ) The Turkish Charge d'Affaires – I never can remember his name. But he's great fun – a positive joy. He's giving the dinner to the British Ambassador.

Mrs. Starkweather

( Starting forward in her chair and listening intently. ) There's Tommy, now.

( Voices of Margaret Chalmers and of Tommy heard from without. Hers is laughingly protesting, while Tommy's is gleefully insistent. ) ( Margaret and Tommy appear and pause just outside door, holding each other's hands, facing each other, too immersed in each other to be aware of the presence of those inside the room. Margaret and Tommy are in street costume. )

Tommy

( Laughing. )

But mama.

Margaret

( Herself laughing, but shaking her head. ) No. Tommy First —

Margaret

No; you must run along to Linda, now, mother's boy. And we'll talk about that some other time.

( Tommy notices for the first time that there are persons in the room. He peeps in around the door and espies Mrs. Starkweather. At the same moment, impulsively, he withdraws his hands and runs in to Mrs. Starkweather. )

Tommy

( Who is evidently fond of his grandmother. ) Grandma!

( They embrace and make much of each other. )

( Margaret enters, appropriately greeting the others – a kiss ( maybe ) to Connie, and a slightly cold handshake to Hubbard. )

Margaret

( To Chalmers. ) Now that you're here, Tom, you mustn't run away.

( Greets Mrs. Starkweather. )

Mrs. Starkweather

( Turning Tommy's face to the light and looking at it anxiously. ) A trifle thin, Margaret.

Margaret

On the contrary, mother —

Mrs. Starkweather

( To Chalmers. ) Don't you think so, Tom?

Connie

( Aside to Hubbard. ) Mother continually worries about his health.

Hubbard

A sturdy youngster, I should say.

Tommy

( To Chalmers. ) I'm an Indian, aren't I, daddy?

Chalmers

( Nodding his head emphatically. ) And the stoutest-hearted in the tribe.

( Linda appears in doorway, evidently looking for Tommy, and Chalmers notices her. ) There's Linda looking for you, young stout heart.

Margaret

Take Tommy, Linda. Run along, mother's boy.

Tommy

Come along, grandma. I want to show you something.

( He catches Mrs. Starkweather by the hand. Protesting, but highly pleased, she allows him to lead her to the door, where he extends his other hand to Linda. Thus, pausing in doorway, leading a woman by either hand, he looks back at Margaret. ) ( Roguishly. ) Remember, mama, we're going to scout in a little while.

Margaret

( Going to Tommy, and bending down with her arms around him. ) No, Tommy. Mama has to go to that horrid dinner to-night. But to-morrow we'll play.

( Tommy is cast down and looks as if he might pout. ) Where is my little Indian now?

Hubbard

Be an Indian, Tommy.

Tommy

( Brightening up. )

All right, mama. To-morrow. – if you can't find time to-day.

( Margaret kisses him. ) ( Exit Tommy, Mrs. Starkweather, and Linda, Tommy leading them by a hand in each of theirs. )

Chalmers

( Nodding to Hubbard, in low voice to Hubbard and starting to make exit to right. ) That high-ball.

( Hubbard disengages himself from proximity of Connie, and starts to follow. )

Connie

( Reproachfully. ) If you run away, I won't stop for tea.

Margaret

Do stop, Tom. Father will be here in a few minutes.

Connie

A regular family party.

Chalmers

All right. We'll be back. We're just going to have a little talk.

( Chalmers and Hubbard make exit to right. ) ( Margaret puts her arm impulsively around Connie – a sheerly spontaneous act of affection – kisses her, and at same time evinces preparation to leave. )

Margaret

I've got to get my things off. Won't you wait here, dear, in case anybody comes? It's nearly time.

( Starts toward exit to rear, but is stopped by Connie. ) Madge.

( Margaret immediately pauses and waits expectantly, smiling, while Connie is hesitant. )

I want to speak to you about something, Madge. You don't mind?

( Margaret, still smiling, shakes her head. ) Just a warning. Not that anybody could believe for a moment, there is anything wrong, but —

Margaret

( Dispelling a shadow of irritation that has crossed her face. )

If it concerns Tom, don't tell me, please. You know he does do ridiculous things at times. But I don't let him worry me any more; so don't worry me about him.

( Connie remains silent, and Margaret grows curious. ) Well?

Connie

It's not about Tom —

( Pauses. ) It's about you.

Margaret

Oh.

Connie

I don't know how to begin.

Margaret

By coming right out with it, the worst of it, all at once, first.

Connie

It isn't serious at all, but – well, mother is worrying about it. You know how old-fashioned she is. And when you consider our position – father's and Tom's, I mean – it doesn't seem just right for you to be seeing so much of such an enemy of theirs. He has abused them dreadfully, you know. And there's that dreadful speech he is going to give to-morrow. You haven't seen the afternoon papers. He has made the most terrible charges against everybody – all of us, our friends, everybody.

Margaret

You mean Mr. Knox, of course. But he wouldn't harm anybody, Connie, dear.

Connie

( Bridling, ) Oh, he wouldn't? He as good as publicly called father a thief.

Margaret

When did that happen? I never heard of it.

Connie

Well, he said that the money magnates had grown so unprincipled, sunk so low, that they would steal a mouse from a blind kitten.

Margaret

I don't see what father has to do with that.

Connie

He meant him just the same.

Margaret

You silly goose. He couldn't have meant father. Father? Why, father wouldn't look at anything less than fifty or a hundred millions.

Connie

And you speak to him and make much of him when you meet him places. You talked with him for half an hour at that Dugdale reception. You have him here in your own house – Tom's house – when he's such a bitter enemy of Tom's. ( During the foregoing speech, Anthony Starkweather makes entrance from rear. His face is grave, and he is in a brown study, as if pondering weighty problems. At sight of the two women he pauses and surveys them. They are unaware of his presence. )