Chapter 3

wife busy over stove, and kitchen table set for lunch for two. Adjacent room, left, small bedroom in which lies a pallid thin child in bed with dishes and bottles on little bedside table. Very little light. Curtains to a single window down. Farmer in overalls comes in, looking hot and tired. He throws hat on chair, says "Hullo, Mary, dinner ready?" and proceeds to wash hands and face in a basin on a stool. Then sits down at the table._

_Mary_ (_bringing food from stove and sitting down opposite_)

Here we are, Jim. Guess you're ready for something. It takes a man to sprout a patch o' locusts, and you had breakfast by lamplight.

_Jim_

Some o' them roots seemed as long as from here to the barn.

_Mary_

But you'll have the best pasture in the county next year.

_Jim_

What's the good? We rationed our beef steers the way that government chap taught us, and our pigs, and our sheep, and who got the profit?

_Mary_

A lot more documents came from the government to-day--all about _pigs_. And we haven't got a decent house to live in! If we could only build on that pretty bit of high ground I've had picked out for three years, Rosie would quit havin' these sick spells.

_Jim_

How is she, mother?

_Mary_

I b'lieve she's a little better. Jim, have you got any money left from sellin' the car?

_Jim_

You know we had to pay the interest at the bank first of all, and the rest went for fertilizer.

_Mary_

I miss the car more on Rosie's account than mine. She's been cryin' for a ride this morning. I didn't know what to say. And I had to promise her she could go to the picnic if she got well. That'll mean a pretty dress, and hat and shoes.

_Jim_

I don't know where you'll get 'em then.

_Mary_

Looks like we ought to be able to give our children a little pleasure. There's poor Billie and Tom don't more'n get home from school an' lay their books down till they have to go to hoein' and pullin' weeds. I don't blame Billie a bit for runnin' away and goin' fishin' last Saturday.

_Jim_

I don't either, though I had to whip him for it. I can't do without his work and get through.

_Mary_

Get through? When did we ever get through anyhow? Look at this, Jim. (_Picks up paper and points to paragraph._) Beef steers sold to-day in Chicago at nine cents a pound. It cost us fourteen cents to raise ours, and we're countin' on makin' things easier by raisin' more next year. And see here, it says _beef_ went _up_ in the Eastern market four cents.

_Jim_

Steers down, beef up! Robbin' both ways.

(_Enter_ BILLIE _and_ TOM _with schoolbooks, which they throw down, shouting: "We got a half-holiday!"_)

_Billie_

The big boys are goin' to play ball. Dad, can't we go watch 'em? (MARY _and_ JIM _look at each other._)

We ain't seen a ball game this year, and we want to learn to play. They're makin' a little boys' team at school.

_Mary_

Daddy's workin' awfully hard to-day. He needs you bad to pile brush for him.

_Jim_

You can't go to-day, boys. Next time----

_Billie_ (_hopeless_)

Oh, next time! It's always next time.

_Mary_

Wash up now, and you can have a hot dinner.

(_They wash listlessly._)

_Jim_

Mary, I think you'd better telephone for the doctor to come and have a look at Rosie.

_Mary_ (_hesitating_)

I did--this morning. He said he didn't have time to come out to-day.

_Jim_

Dr. Lowden?

_Mary_

Guess he's tired o' comin' for nothing. You can't blame him.

(JIM _hangs his head. A knock at the door._ JIM _rises and opens it._ CHO-CHO _enters giggling and grimacing while the farmer and his wife are speechless with amazement._)

_Cho-Cho_

You sent for a doctor?

_Jim_

Yes--but--you--ain't--no doctor.

_Cho-Cho_

No, I--ain't--no--doctor (_mimicking_), but my daughter is a doctor and here she is now.

(_Enter_ EVERYCHILD _disguised as a doctor, with a long black cape hiding her white dress, a pair of goggles over her eyes, a long white beard, a white wig, a man's hat on, a little black bag in her hands._)

_Jim_ (_tearing his hair distractedly_)

You say that little old man is your daughter and a doctor?

_Cho-Cho_

That's right--but a new kind of doctor. This is a Health doctor, not a Disease doctor. Present treatment for Health--absent treatment for absence of Health. (_Ha--ha--hee--hee!_) I'll leave the doctor here. (_Goes out._)

_Everychild_

Well, well, where is the patient? (_Putting hat on chair._)

_Jim_

I must be crazy, but I never seen a doctor like you. You ain't no doctor.

_Everychild_

Oh, yes I am. I'm a children's specialist. Is she in that room? (_Goes to door and opens it_--_draws back a little._) Whew! No air. Lift up that curtain and open the window! (JIM _does it, rather aghast._) You must show me where you keep your pigs. Don't they get light and air on a day like this? (_Goes toward bed as_ ROSIE _rises up in bed and stares with a smile at the little doctor_.) So this is the little patient. Well! Well! (_Lifts up and looks at the bottles._) Take these and throw them out. (_Hands them to_ MARY, _who takes them out and returns._) My! My! Pork and potatoes and candy! Of all things! I'll have to make out a diet list later. (_Feels pulse--listens to her chest._) I think the trouble with you is bad food, bad air, and no light. The trouble is not enough agricultural pamphlets on human live stock, not enough government millions spent on the real thing. Now get up, Rose! Let me see you stand. There, that's good. Now a comb and brush--we'll help this hair a little.

_Mary_ (_handing_ EVERYCHILD _a comb and brush_)

My hands are so full of work----

_Everychild_ (_arranging_ ROSIE'S _hair_)

Yes, that's better. Now, father, a glass of milk! (JIM _goes into kitchen._) And mother, open that bag, please.

(_While_ MARY _opens bag._ JIM _returns with glass of milk, which_ ROSIE _drinks._)

_Mary_

Oh, my!

(_Takes out pretty dress, stockings and slippers, which she lifts up, looks at delightedly, and carries to the doctor._)

_Rosie_

Oh, mother! You did get them!

(EVERYCHILD _works fast, slips the gown on the patient with the stockings and slippers, while_ ROSIE _smiles happily, though dazed by the splendor of it._)

_Rosie_

Are you going to take me to the picnic?

_Everychild_

Indeed I am! A picnic that will never be over!

_Rosie_

Are we going to ride? Have we got our car back?

_Everychild_

Better than that.

_Rosie_

What is it?

_Everychild_

You'll see. Maybe you'll dance out of the window.

_Mary_

Are you going to take her away?

_Everychild_

Yes, I shall keep her with me until she is well. Then she will return to you.

(_Takes out of the bag the rosy lamp and waves it. Throws aside her cap and pulls off goggles, wig, and beard. The back wall moves away, revealing the first scene with the same strains of music and the dancing children in the orchard._ EVERYCHILD _leads_ ROSIE _out to join them._ BILLIE _and_ TOM _move after them calling: "Let us go with you! Take us with you!"_)

_Rosie_

Oh, please take Billie and Tom!

_Everychild_

Yes, I want them, too. Come along, boys!

(_They shout and run after_ ROSIE _and_ EVERYCHILD.)

_Mary_

Oh, Jim, is this a dream? Or am I awake at last?

_Jim_ (_putting his hand to his head, dazedly_)

Perhaps this is what it ought to be for all the children of the world.

(CURTAIN FALLS)