ACT III
_Scene: Same as Act One. Parlor at the Jordans’, two months later._
_At rise the characters are grouped exactly as they were at the opening of the play. The white slip covers, however, have been removed from the chairs, and the backing through the window shows partly melted snow drifts. Henry sighs; the clock strikes two. Henry looks at his watch._
_There is a pause. The outside door slams and Ben enters and looks about._
BEN
Well--here we all are again.
SADIE (_sadly_)
Yes.
HENRY
I ain’t been in this room before since the funeral.
SADIE
And I ain’t, and the last time before that was when father died.
EMMA
I sat right here, in the same chair I’m settin’ in now, but to your grandfather’s funeral, right after I married Henry, I was treated like one of the poor relations! I had to stand up.
HENRY
I remember; it made considerable trouble.
ELLA
I don’t know as it was ever what I called a cheerful room.
HENRY (_severely_)
A parlor’s where a person’s supposed to sit and think of God, and you couldn’t expect it to be cheerful!
ELLA (_looks about_)
Seems like we’d had trouble and disgrace enough in this family without her takin’ all the slip covers off of the chairs and sofa!
EMMA
It ain’t _right_!
SADIE
That Boston woman that’s building the house over on Elm Street ain’t so much as goin’ to have a parlor. I stopped her right on the street and asked her what she was plannin’ to do soon as the first of ’em died.
EMMA
What did she say?
SADIE
Said she tried not to think about such things.
HENRY (_sternly_)
We got Atheists enough in this town right now.
BEN
Well, if Jane’s coming I wish she’d come; this ain’t exactly my idea of pleasant company.
ELLA
She says we’re all to wait in here for Judge Bradford.
SADIE
What did she send for us for?
ELLA
I don’t know.
EMMA
Why didn’t you ask her?
ELLA
I did, and she most bit my head off.
BEN
She most bites mine off every time I see her. I must say she’s changed, Jane has; she ain’t the same girl at all she was a few weeks ago.
NETTIE
She’s actin’ just awful, especially to me!
SADIE
Of course, I’d be the last one to say anything against her, but----
BEN
But nothin’! There ain’t one of you here fit to tie her shoes!
SADIE
_We_ ain’t?
BEN
And I ain’t! The only difference between us is I ain’t worth much and I know it, and you ain’t worth nothin’ and you don’t.
EMMA
I guess you’d better be careful how you talk!
NETTIE
If anybody says anything about Jane lately, that’s the way he always talks! The worse she treats him the better he seems to like it.
SADIE
Well, I don’t know as I’m surprised more about his insultin’ the rest of us, but it’s sort of comical his talkin’ that way about you, Nettie.
EMMA
Nettie! What’s Nettie got to do with him?
SADIE
Oh! Excuse me! I didn’t know ’twas supposed to be a secret.
EMMA
What is?
SADIE
About the way those two have been carryin’ on together!
HENRY
What!
ELLA
Ben and Nettie!
NETTIE (_afraid_)
Stop her, Ben, can’t you?
BEN
If I knew a way to stop women like her I’d patent it and get rich!
EMMA (_sternly_)
Him and Nettie?
SADIE
They passed my house together _once_ a week ago Wednesday, _once_ the Tuesday before that, and _twice_ the Sunday after New Year’s.
HENRY
Together!
SADIE
And Eben Tilden’s boy told Abbie Palsey that Tilly Hickson heard Aaron Hamlin say he’d seen ’em together at the picture show!
HENRY (_to Ben_)
Is it true?
EMMA
You’ve been with him after all I told you!
BEN
It ain’t going to hurt her none just to talk to me, is it?
EMMA
Them that touches pitch gets defiled!
HENRY (_to Nettie_)
I want you to tell me everything that’s took place between you two.
SADIE
Wait!
HENRY
What?
SADIE
Orin! Leave the room!
NETTIE
He don’t have to leave the room. I don’t care who knows what happened!
HENRY
Go on then.
NETTIE
Well--Ben and I--We--Just for a few days--anyway, it was all his fault.
BEN
She threw me down because I was going to prison.
NETTIE
He said he’d get out of it somehow, but he can’t, and I just won’t have folks laughing at me!
BEN
It’s all right, it never meant nothin’ to her, and I guess it didn’t mean much to me. It’s just as well it’s over.
NETTIE
It’s a whole lot better.
HENRY
Well--what’s passed is passed. Folks that plant the wind reap the whirlwind! There’s no use cryin’ over spilled milk.
ORIN
Say, Mum! What do you s’pose Uncle Henry thinks he means when he says things?
HENRY
Somehow I can’t help wishin’ you was my son for just about five minutes.
[_Hannah and Judge Bradford enter._
HANNAH
They’re all in here, Judge.
JUDGE
Good afternoon.
HENRY
How are you, Judge?
SADIE
It’s a mild day; winter’s most over. Stop scratching yourself.
[_This last to Orin who seems to be uneasy and frequently scratches himself._
HANNAH (_at door_)
I’ll tell her you’re here, Judge. She’ll be right down.
[_Hannah exits._
ELLA
Won’t you sit?
JUDGE
Thanks.
[_He sits by table._
HENRY
What’s it about? Why did she say we was to all be here at two o’clock?
JUDGE
She will probably be able to answer that question herself, Ben.
SADIE (_to Orin_)
Don’t.
ORIN
What?
SADIE
Scratch!
ORIN
Oh.
[_Jane enters. The Judge rises._
JUDGE
Well, Jane?
JANE
Don’t get up, Judge.
JUDGE
Will you sit here?
[_Judge turns to get a chair for Jane. Orin scratches himself. Ella rises._
ELLA
What is the matter with this brat?
ORIN
I itch!
SADIE
It’s warm, and he’s got on his heavy flannels! He’s as clean as you are!
[_Jane and Judge sit._
BEN
You said to heat this room up and wait here for you and the Judge. Why? I got my stock to tend.
HENRY
It’s a bad time for me to get away from the store; What was it you wanted of us?
JANE
I’m afraid it isn’t going to be easy to tell you.
JUDGE
Won’t you let me do it, Jane?
JANE
No. I’ve come to know that your mother didn’t really want that I should have the Jordan money.
SADIE
What’s that?
JANE
I put it as simply as I could.
BEN
You mean a later will’s been found?
JUDGE
No.
JANE
In a way, Judge, it’s like there had. Your mother left me a letter dated later than the will.
ELLA
Leavin’ the money different?
JANE
Tellin’ what she really wanted.
BEN
Well, what did she want?
JANE
It was like she left me all her money in trust, so I could keep it safe until the time she was hopin’ for come, and in a way it did come, not quite like she wanted it, but near enough so I can give up a burden I haven’t strength enough to carry any more.
[_She stops._
JUDGE
Let me finish, Jane. Jane has asked me to draw a deed of gift, making the Jordan property over to Ben.
BEN
Why?
JANE
She wanted you to have it.
BEN
Why didn’t she will it to me, then?
JANE
She was afraid to trust you.
BEN
Well?
JANE
You’ve learned to work; you’ll keep on working.
HENRY
You mean to say my mother wanted him to have it all?
JANE
Yes.
HENRY
I am a religious man, but there was a time when even Job gave up! So--all our money goes to Ben--and he can’t even buy himself out of prison!
JANE (_after a pause_)
Ben isn’t going to prison.
BEN
Why? Who’s to stop it?
JUDGE (_after a look from Jane_)
Kimbal agreed not to press the charge against you. It seems that there were certain extenuating circumstances. A motion has been made for the dismissal of the indictment, and it won’t be opposed.
BEN
Why did he? Who fixed this thing.
JANE
Judge Bradford did.
[_She looks at Judge._
BEN (_slowly_)
It means a lot to me. There’s things I’d like to do. I haven’t dared to think about ’em lately--now I’ll do ’em.
[_There is a pause._
HENRY
Well, Ben, so you’ve got the money! I guess maybe it’s better than her havin’ it; after all blood’s thicker than water! We’ll help you any way we can and--er--of course you’ll help us.
BEN
Why will I?
HENRY
We’re brothers, Ben! We’re old Jordans!
BEN
What was we when I got back from France? There was a band met us boys at the station. I was your brother all right that day, only somehow, in just a little while you forgot about it. I was a Jordan when I was hidin’ out from the police, and all that kept me from starvin’ was the money Jane sent me! I was your brother the night mother died, and you said you wouldn’t go my bail.
ELLA
You ain’t going to be hard, Ben!
BEN
I’m the head of the family now, ain’t I, and you can bet all you’ve got I’m going to be a real Jordan.
HENRY
I think, Ben----
BEN
From now on, there ain’t nobody got any right to think in this house but just me! So run along home, the whole pack of you, and after this, when you feel like you must come here--come separate.
ELLA
Turn us out, Ben?
BEN
Sure, why not?
NETTIE (_crosses to him. Sweetly_)
There ain’t any reason why _we_ can’t be friends, is there?
BEN
Well, I don’t know. There’s only one way I could ever get to trust you.
NETTIE
What way, Ben?
BEN
I’d have to go to jail for five years and see if you’d wait for me!
EMMA
It’s an awful thing for a mother to have a fool for a child.
ELLA (_goes upstage with Nettie_)
Well, I must say you made a nice mess of things!
NETTIE (_exits with Ella_)
Well, I don’t care! I don’t see how anybody would expect me to be a mind reader!
SADIE
Come, Orin--say good-by to your Uncle Ben.
ORIN
What will I do that for?
SADIE
Because I tell you to!
ORIN
Yesterday you told me he wasn’t worth speakin’ to!
SADIE
Are you going to move, you stupid little idiot.
[_She drags him out._
ORIN (_as they go_)
What did I say? You let me alone!
HENRY
I was wonderin’, Ben, how you’d feel about endorsing that note of mine.
BEN
You was?
HENRY
Yes, I don’t know what I’m going to do about it.
BEN
As far as I care, you can go nail it on a door. (_Henry and Emma start to exit_) No, hold on, I’ll pay it.
HENRY
You will!
BEN
Yes, I don’t know as it would do me much good at the bank, havin’ a brother of mine in the poorhouse.
[_Ben laughs as Henry and Emma exit._
JUDGE
Well, Ben? “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”
BEN (_down to stove_)
Depends on the head. Mine’s thick, I guess. Anyhow, none of them is going to bother it. I’m boss here now.
JUDGE
You’ll find a copy here of the inventory of the estate, and other legal papers. Everything is in order.
JANE
And my accounts, Ben; you’ll find the exact amount your mother left. I spent some money about six weeks ago, on myself, but I’ve been careful ever since and I’ve made up for it.
BEN
You said, Judge, she didn’t have to go by that letter of my mother’s, if she didn’t want to? She didn’t have to give anything back at all?
JUDGE
No, she didn’t.
BEN
Then if I was you--(_to Jane_) I wouldn’t talk so much about the little you spent on yourself. I guess to look at you it wasn’t much.
JANE
Yes, it was.
BEN
Well, we’ll fix things so you can keep on spendin’. Only let’s see somethin’ come of it. I never was so damned sick of anything in my life as I am of that old black dress of yours!
[_Crosses stage up and over right._
JANE
I’ve got plenty of clothes upstairs. I’m sorry now I ever bought them, but I’ll take them with me when I go.
BEN
Go? Go where?
JANE
To Old Town. I’ve got a place there, clerking in the Pulp Mill.
BEN
You!
JANE
Yes.
BEN
But what about me?
JUDGE
Don’t you think Jane has done about enough for you?
BEN
She’s done a lot, she’s given up the money. I don’t know as I like that; ’course I like gettin’ it, but not if she’s going away.
JANE
I couldn’t stay now, and I wouldn’t want to.
BEN
I don’t suppose you remember about plannin’ what you and me was to do with this old farm?
JANE
I remember.
BEN
Well--then what are you going away for?
JANE
Because I couldn’t be happy here, Ben--It’s been harder than anything I ever thought could come to anybody, the last few weeks here--and so I’m going. (_She turns to Judge_) I’ll go upstairs and get my things. I’ll stop at your office, Judge, on the way to the station.
JUDGE
Thank you, Jane.
BEN
You’re goin’ to-day? Before I order my new farm machinery or anything? You’re goin’ to leave me with all this work on my hands?
JANE
Yes, Ben.
[_She exits._
BEN
Well--that’s a lesson to me! Oh, she’s a good woman! I ain’t denyin’ that--but she’s fickle!
JUDGE
You’re a fool, Ben!
BEN
I been doin’ kitchen police around this town for quite a spell now, Judge, but from this day on I ain’t goin’ to take that sort of talk from anybody.
JUDGE
I assure you that you won’t have to take any sort of talk at all from me.
[_He starts for the door._
BEN
I didn’t mean that. I don’t want you to think I ain’t grateful for all you’ve done for me.
JUDGE (_coldly_)
I have done nothing for you.
BEN
If it wasn’t for you, I’d want to die; that’s what I did want. I was afraid of that prison, just a coward about it. Now I’m a free man, with a big life openin’ out ahead of me--I got everything in the world right here in my two hands, everything--and I owe it to you!
JUDGE
I am very glad to say that you don’t owe me anything. I don’t like you, I haven’t forgiven you for what you did to your mother’s life. Nor for a worse thing, one you haven’t brains enough to even know you’ve done. Don’t be grateful to me, Ben, please. I think nothing could distress me more than that.
BEN
You’ve been a good friend to me.
JUDGE
I haven’t meant to be, as I said I don’t like you. I haven’t any faith in you. I don’t believe in this new life of yours. You made a mess of the old one, and I think you will of the new.
BEN
No matter what you say, you can’t get away from me. I’ll be grateful till I die. But for you I’d have gone to that damned prison!
JUDGE
But for Jane.
BEN
How Jane?
JUDGE
How Jane? Jane went your bond the day your mother died. Jane took you in and taught you how to work, made you work, taught you through the one decent spot in you something of a thing you’d never know, self-respect. Worked over you, petted you, coaxed you--held you up--Then you hurt her--but she kept on--She went herself to Kimbal, after he had refused me, and got his help to keep you out of prison--then, against my will, against the best that I could do to stop her, she turns over all this to you--and goes out with nothing--and you ask “How Jane?”
BEN
Why? Why has she done this, all this, for me?
[_The Judge looks at Ben with contempt and turns and exits. Ben is left in deep thought. Jane comes downstairs dressed for a journey with a hand bag, etc. She enters._
JANE
Good-by, Ben. (_She crosses to him, her hand out_) Good-by. Won’t you say good-by?
BEN
First, there’s some things I got to know about.
JANE (_smiles_)
I guess there’s not much left for us to say, Ben.
BEN (_she crosses to door, but he gets ahead of her_)
There’s things I got to know. (_She looks at him but does not speak_) The Judge tells me ’twas you got Kimbal to let me go free. (_He looks at her--she half turns away_) Answer me. (_Pause_) The Judge tells me you gave up what was yours--to me--without no other reason than because you wanted me to have it. That’s true, ain’t it? (_Pause_) You sent me every cent you had, when you knew mother was dying, then you went bail for me, like he said--and did all them other things. I don’t know as any woman ever did any more--. I want to know why!
JANE
Why do you think?
BEN
I don’t know--I sort of thought--sort of hoped----
JANE (_bravely_)
It was because I loved her, Ben----
BEN
Oh.
[_He turns away disappointed._
JANE
You’re forgetting, I guess, how long we was alone here--when you was in France--then the months we didn’t know where you was, when the police was looking for you--She used to make me promise if ever I could I’d help you.
BEN
Well--all I’ve got to say is you’re no liar.
JANE
Good-by.
[_She turns to go._
BEN
Wait. (_Closes door_) Let’s see that letter you said she left for you.
JANE
No. I won’t do that. I’ve done enough; you’re free, you’ve got the money and the farm.
BEN (_crosses in front of table and sits left of table_) They ain’t worth a damn with you gone--I didn’t know that till just now, but they ain’t.
JANE
It’s sort of sudden, the way you found that out.
BEN
Oh, it don’t take long for a man to get hungry--it only takes just a minute for a man to die; you can burn down a barn quick enough, or do a murder; it’s just living and getting old that takes a lot of time--Can’t you stay here, Jane?
JANE
There’s Nettie.
BEN
Nettie--that couldn’t stand the gaff--that run out on me when I was in trouble.
JANE
It doesn’t matter what folks do, if you love ’em enough.
BEN
What do you know about it? I suppose you’ve been in love a lot of times?
JANE
No.
BEN
Then you be quiet and let an expert talk. I was lonesome and I wanted a woman; she was pretty and I wanted to kiss her--that ain’t what I call love.
JANE
You. You don’t even know the meaning of the word.
BEN
That don’t worry me none--I guess the feller that wrote the dictionary was a whole lot older’n I am before he got down to the L’s.
JANE
You’ve got good in you, Ben, deep down, if you’d only try. (_Ben turns_) I know, it’s always been that way! You’ve never tried for long; you’ve never had a real ambition.
BEN
When I was a kid I wanted to spit farther than anybody.
JANE
Good-by.
[_She starts up to door._
BEN
And so you’re going to break your word?
JANE (_hurt--turns_)
BEN
I don’t know what ’twas you promised mother, but you’ve broke your word. No man ever needed a woman more’n I need you, and you’re leaving me.
JANE
That isn’t fair.
BEN
It’s true, ain’t it; truth ain’t always fair--You ain’t helped me none, you’ve hurt me--worse than being broke, worse than bein’ in jail.
JANE
It don’t seem like I could stand to have you talk like that.
BEN
What you done you done for her. I didn’t count, I never have, not with you.
JANE
When you’ve been trying to do a thing as long as I have, it gets to be a part of you.
BEN
You done it all for her--well--she’s dead--you’d better go.
JANE
Maybe I had, but if I do it will be with the truth between us. Here’s the letter she left for me, Ben--I got a feeling somehow like she was here with us now, like she wanted you to read it. (_She holds it out_) It’s like she was guiding us from the grave--Read it.
[_Crosses up to window._
BEN (_reads_)
“My dear Jane: The doctor tells me I haven’t long to live and so I am doing this, the meanest thing I think I’ve ever done to you. I’m leaving you the Jordan money. Since my husband died there has been just one person I could get to care about, that’s Ben, who was my baby so long after all the others had forgotten how to love me.” (_He mumbles the letter to himself, then brings out the words_) “Hold out her heart and let him trample on it, as he has on mine.”
[_Slowly he breaks down, sobbing bitterly._
JANE
Don’t, Ben----
BEN
Look what I done to her. Look what I done.
JANE (_hand on his shoulder_)
Oh, my dear--my dear!
BEN
I did love her, mor’n she thought, mor’n I ever knew how to tell her!
JANE (_kneels beside him_)
It wasn’t all your fault--you were a lonely boy--she never said much--she was like you, Ben, ashamed to show the best that’s in you.
BEN (_bitterly_)
The best in me. I ain’t fit that you should touch me Jane--you’d better go.
JANE
Not if you need me, Ben, and I think you do.
BEN
I love you--mor’n I ever thought I could--tenderer--truer--but I’m no good--You couldn’t trust me--I couldn’t trust myself.
JANE
Spring’s coming, Ben, everywhere, to you and me, if you would only try.
BEN
Can a feller change--Just ’cause he wants to?
JANE
I don’t want you changed. I want you what you are, the best of you--just a man that loves me--if you do love me, Ben.
BEN
Can’t you help me to be fit?
JANE
I’m going to do the thing I always meant to do--Good times and bad, Ben, I’m going to share with you.
BEN
God knows I----
JANE
Hush, Ben--I don’t want another promise.
BEN
What do you want?
JANE
You said I was a good sport once--You shook hands on what we’d do to bring this old place back--there’s plenty to be done. I’ll stay and help you if you want me.
BEN
A good sport? (_He takes her hand_) I’ll say you’re all of that.
[_Hannah enters._
HANNAH
If you ain’t careful you’ll miss that train.
JANE
That’s just what I want to do.
HANNAH
You ain’t going?
JANE
I’m never going, Hannah.
HANNAH
You going to marry him?
BEN
You bet your life she is!
HANNAH
I guess you’ll be mighty happy--marriage changes folks--and any change in him will be a big improvement.
[_She picks up Jane’s bag and exits--Jane and Ben laugh._
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:
Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.