Chapter VIII: Act ONE

SCENE—_The Capes’ studio apartment on Fifty-ninth Street, New York
City—a large room with a high ceiling. In the rear there is a
balcony with a stairway at center leading down to the studio
floor. This balcony is the second story of the apartment, on which
are situated the bedrooms, bathroom, etc. The section of the
studio beneath the balcony is used as a dining room. The studio
proper is a combination of tasteful comfort with the
practicability of a workroom. Well-filled bookcases line the
walls. There is a typewriting table with a machine on it, a big
desk, a reading and writing table with books, magazines, etc. Easy
chairs, a chaise longue, rugs, etc._

_It is about eleven-thirty. The room is in darkness except for the
reading lamp on the table. The chaise longue has been pulled up
within the circle of light and_ ELEANOR _is lying back on this,
reading from a manuscript. She is a woman of thirty. Her figure is
tall, with the lithe lines of nervous strength. Her face, with its
high, rather prominent cheek-bones, lacks harmony; but each
feature is in itself arresting. It is dominated by passionate,
blue-gray eyes, restrained by a high forehead from which the mass
of her dark brown hair is combed straight back. The first
impression of her whole personality is one of charm, partly
innate, partly imposed by years of self-discipline. The motions of
her body are free and sure. Each movement is a complete reason for
itself. The low notes of her voice are disturbing. She is
something of every character she has ever played, of every woman
one has ever met._

_She reads, puts the script down, and her lips move as if she were
memorizing. She hesitates, frowns, utters an exclamation of
annoyance, looks at the script, finally flings it on the table
with a sigh of irritation at her mistakes, gets up, lights a
cigarette, resumes her former position, starts to take up the
script again but instead, with a sudden impulse which has
something in it of girlish embarrassment, picks up a letter from
the table. This she opens and reads, an expression of delight and
love coming over her face. She kisses the letter impulsively—then
gives a gay laugh at herself. She lets the letter fall on her lap
and stares straight before her, lost in a sentimental reverie._

_The door at right, underneath the balcony, is noiselessly opened and
Cape appears. He is thirty-five, tall and dark. His unusual face
impresses one. It is older and wiser than he, a harrowed
battlefield of super-sensitiveness, the features at war with one
another though the general effect is of a handsome face. He has
the forehead of a thinker, the eyes of a dreamer, the nose and
mouth of a sensualist. One feels a powerful imagination tinged
with somber sadness—a driving force of creation which can be
sympathetic and cruel at the same time. His manner is
extraordinarily nervous and self-conscious. He is never at ease,
is always watching himself. There is something tortured about him.
Yet at moments he can be astonishingly boyish and outpouring. His
body is gracefully made but his nervousness gives his movements an
uncoördinated quality. One feels perpetual strain about him, a
passionate tension, a self-protecting and intellectually arrogant
defiance of life and his own weakness, a deep need to love and be
loved, for a faith in which to relax._

_He has a suitcase, hat, and overcoat which he sets inside on the
floor by wall to rear of door, glancing toward his wife, trying
not to make the slightest noise. But she suddenly becomes aware of
some presence in the room, starts nervously, then turns boldly to
face it. She gives an exclamation of delighted astonishment when
she sees_ CAPE _and jumps up to meet him as he strides toward
her_.

ELEANOR—Michael!

CAPE—[_With a boyish grin._] You’ve spoiled it, Nelly; I wanted a kiss to announce me. [_They are in each other’s arms. He kisses her tenderly._]

ELEANOR—[_Kissing him—joyfully._] This is a surprise!

CAPE—[_Straining her in his arms and kissing her passionately._] Own little wife!

ELEANOR—Dearest! [_They look into each other’s eyes for a long moment._]

CAPE—[_Tenderly._] Happy?

ELEANOR—Yes, yes! Why do you always ask? You know. [_She kisses him again and nestles her face against his shoulder._]

CAPE—[_Pressing her to him._] Darling!

ELEANOR—[_Suddenly pushing him to arms’ length—with a happy laugh._] It’s positively immoral for an old married couple to act this way. [_She leads him by the hand to the chaise longue._] And you must explain. You wrote not to expect you till the end of the week. [_She sits down._] Get a cushion. Sit down here. [_He puts a cushion on the floor beside the chaise longue and sits down._] Tell me all about it.

CAPE—[_Notices the letter lying on the floor._] Were you reading my letter? [_She nods. He gives a happy grin._] Do you mean to say you still read them over—after five years of me?

ELEANOR—[_With a tender smile._] Oh—sometimes.

CAPE—[_Kissing her hand._] Sweetheart! [_Smiling._] What were you dreaming about when I intruded?

ELEANOR—Never mind. You’re enough of an egotist already. [_Her hand caressing his face and hair._] I’ve been feeling so lonely—and it’s only been a few weeks, hasn’t it?—but it’s seemed—ages. [_She laughs._] How was everything in the country? [_Suddenly kissing him._] Oh, I’m so happy you’re back. [_With mock severity._] But ought I? Have you finished the fourth act? You know you promised not to return until you did.

CAPE—This afternoon!

ELEANOR—That’s splendid!

CAPE—When I wrote you last it was dragging damnably—then suddenly everything cleared and there was nothing to do but write like the devil. [_With smiling elation._] From then on it rode me unmercifully to the finish!

ELEANOR—You’re sure you didn’t force it—[_with a tender smile at him_]—because you were lonely, too?

CAPE—[_With a sudden change in manner that is almost stern._] No. I wouldn’t—I couldn’t—— You know that.

ELEANOR—[_Her face showing a trace of hurt in spite of herself._] I was only fooling. [_Then rousing herself as if conquering a growing depression._] Tell me about the last act. I’m terribly anxious to hear what you’ve done.

CAPE—[_Enthusiastically._] It’s _real_, Nelly! You’ll see when I read you—— The whole play has power and truth, I know it! And you’re going to be marvelous! I could see you in it every second I was writing! It’s going to be the finest thing we’ve ever done!

ELEANOR—[_Kissing him impulsively._] Dear! I love you for saying “we.” But the “we” is you. I only—[_with a smile of ironical self-pity_]—act a part you’ve created.

CAPE—[_Impetuously._] Nonsense! You’re an artist. Each performance of yours has taught me something new. Why, my women used to be—death masks. But now I flatter myself they’re as alive as you are—[_with a sudden grin_]—at least, when you play them, Wonderful! [_He kisses her hand._]

ELEANOR—[_Her eyes shining with excited pleasure._] You don’t know how much it means to have you talk like that! Oh, I’m going to work so hard on this play, Michael! I’ve been studying the first three acts—— [_Impetuously._] You’ve simply got to read me that last act right now!

CAPE—[_Jumping to his feet eagerly._] All right. [_He walks toward his bag—then stops when he is half-way and, hesitating, turns slowly and comes back. He bends down and lifts her face to his and kisses her tenderly, looking into her eyes—with a loving smile, slowly._] No, on second thoughts, I won’t read it now.

ELEANOR—[_Disappointed—but tenderly._] Oh. Why not, dear?

CAPE—[_With a smile._] Because——

ELEANOR—[_Smiling._] Plagiarist!

CAPE—Because I’ve been hoping for this night as our own. Let’s forget the actress and playwright. Let’s just be—us—lovers.

ELEANOR—[_With a tender smile—musingly._] We _have_ remained lovers—in spite of marriage—haven’t we?

CAPE—[_With a grin._] Fights and all.

ELEANOR—[_With a little frown._] We don’t fight so much.

CAPE—[_Frowning himself._] Too much.

ELEANOR—[_Forcing a smile._] Perhaps that’s the price.

CAPE—[_With a wry smile._] Don’t grow fatalistic—just when I was about to propose reform.

ELEANOR—[_Smiling—quickly._] Oh, I’ll promise to be good—if you will. [_Gently reproachful._] Do you think I enjoy fighting with you? [_Intensely._] Don’t you realize how it destroys me?

CAPE—[_With deep seriousness._] Then let’s resolve—once and for all—to refuse to wound each other again—— [_With passion._] It’s wrong, Nelly. It’s evil! We love too deeply.

ELEANOR—Ssshh! We promise, dear.

CAPE—[_Kissing her; then, hesitatingly._] We’ve been taking each other too much for granted. That may do very well with the earthly loves of the world—but ours has a God in it! And when the worshipers nod, the God deserts their shrine. [_He suddenly laughs with awkward self-consciousness._] I’m afraid that sounds like preaching. [_He suddenly pulls her head down and kisses her impulsively._] But you understand! Oh, Nelly, I love you—love you with all my soul!

ELEANOR—[_Deeply moved._] And I love you, Michael—always and forever! [_They sit close, she staring dreamily before her, he watching her face._]

CAPE—[_After a pause._] What are you thinking?

ELEANOR—[_With a tender smile._] Of the first time we met—at rehearsal, remember? I was thinking of how mistakenly I had pictured you before that. [_She pauses—then frowning a little._] I’d heard such a lot of gossip about your love affairs.

CAPE—[_With a wry grin._] You must have been disappointed if you expected Don Juan. [_A pause—then forcing a short laugh._] I also had heard a lot of rumors about your previous—— [_He stops abruptly with an expression of extreme bitterness._]

ELEANOR—[_Sharply._] Don’t! [_A pause—then she goes on sadly._] It was only our past together I wanted to remember. [_A pause—then with a trace of scornful resentment._] I was forgetting your morbid obsession——

CAPE—[_With gloomy irritation._] Obsession? Why——? [_Then determinedly throwing off this mood—reproachfully forcing a joking tone._] We’re not “starting something” now, are we—after our promise?

ELEANOR—[_Impulsively kissing him and straining her arms around him._] No, no—of course not! Dearest!

CAPE—[_After a pause—a bit awkwardly._] But you guessed my desire, at that. I wanted to dream with you in our past—to find together in our old love—a new faith——

ELEANOR—[_Smiling—a bit mockingly._] Another Grand Ideal for our marriage?

CAPE—[_Frowning._] Don’t mock.

ELEANOR—[_Smiling teasingly._] But you’re such a relentless idealist. You needn’t frown. That was exactly what drew me to you in those first days. [_Earnestly._] I had lost faith in everything. Your love saved me. Your work saved mine. [_Intensely._] I owe you myself, Michael! [_She kisses him. Then she goes on intensely._] Do you remember—our first night together?

CAPE—[_Kissing her hand—tenderly reproachful._] Do you imagine I could’ve forgotten?

ELEANOR—[_Continuing as if she hadn’t heard._] The play was such a marvelous success! I knew I had finally won recognition—through your work. I loved myself! I loved you! You came to me—and my whole being strained out—— [_More and more intensely._] Oh, it was beautiful madness! I found and lost myself, I began living in you. I wanted to die and become you!

CAPE—[_Passionately._] And I, you!

ELEANOR—[_Softly._] And do you remember the dawn creeping in—and how we began to discuss our future? [_He kisses her hand. She exclaims impulsively._] Oh, I’d give anything in the world to live those days over again!

CAPE—[_Smiling reproachfully._] Why? Hasn’t our marriage kept the spirit of that time—with a growth of something deeper—finer——

ELEANOR—Yes,—but—— Oh, you know what I mean! It was revelation, then—a miracle out of the sky.

CAPE—[_Insistently._] But haven’t we realized the ideal we conceived of our marriage—— [_Smiling but with deep earnestness nevertheless._] We approached our wedding extremely cautiously, if you’ll remember, even after months of successful living together. Not for us the convenient sanction, the family rite. We swore to have a true sacrament—our own—or nothing! Our marriage must be a consummation of creative love, demanding and combining the best in each of us! Hard, difficult, guarded from the commonplace, kept sacred as the outward form of our deep, inner harmony! [_With an awkward sense of having become rhetorical he adds self-mockingly._] We’d tend our flame on an altar, not in a kitchen range! [_He forces a grin—then abruptly changing again, with a sudden fierce pleading._] It has been what we dreamed, hasn’t it, Nelly?

ELEANOR—[_Thoughtfully._] Our ideal was difficult—for human beings. But even when we’ve hurt each other most cruelly—I’ve always known——

CAPE—[_Putting his arms about her and straining her to him._] We must learn to love even the things we hate in each other. We must accept each other wholly, as we are, as we must become!

ELEANOR—[_Sadly._] Sometimes I think we have loved too intensely—demanded too much of each other. Now there’s nothing left but that something which can’t give itself. And I blame you for this—because I can neither take more nor give more—and you blame me! [_She smiles tenderly._] And then we fight!

CAPE—[_Excitedly._] Then let’s be proud of our fight! It’s the penalty of a love that strives to surpass itself—by regaining unity. It began with the splitting of a cell a hundred million years ago into you and me, leaving an eternal yearning to become one life again.

ELEANOR—[_Kissing him passionately._] At moments—we do.

CAPE—Yes! Yes! [_He kisses her—then intensely._] You and I—year after year—together—forms of our two bodies coalescing into one form; rhythm of our separate lives beating against each other, forming slowly the one rhythm—the life of Us—our life created by us—outside, beyond, above! [_With sudden furious anger._] God, what I feel of the truth of this—the beauty!—but how can I express it?

ELEANOR—[_Kissing him._] I understand.

CAPE—[_Straining her to him with fierce passion._] Oh, My Own, My Own—and I your own—to the end of time! I love you! I love you!

ELEANOR—[_Returning his kisses._] I love you!

CAPE—[_With passionate exultance._] Why do you regret our first days? Their fire still burns in us—but deeper—more sacred. Don’t you feel that? [_Kissing her again and again._] My Own! My Own! I have become you! You have become me! One heart! One blood! Ours! [_He pulls her to her feet and kisses her._] My wife!——Come!

ELEANOR—[_Almost swooning in his arms._] My lover—yes—— My lover——

CAPE—Come! [_With his arms around her he leads her to the stairway. As they get to the foot, there is a noise from the hall. She hears it, starts, seems suddenly brought back to herself._ CAPE _is oblivious and continues up the stairs. She stands swaying, holding on to the banister as if in a daze. At the top_, CAPE _turns in surprise at not finding her, as if he had felt her behind him. He looks down passionately, stretching out his arms, his eyes glowing._] Come!

ELEANOR—[_Weakly._] Ssshh! A moment—— Listen!

CAPE—[_Bewilderedly._] What? What is it?

ELEANOR—Ssshh—Listen—Someone—— [_She speaks in an unnatural, mechanical tone. A knock comes at the door. She gives a sort of gasp of relief._] There.

CAPE—[_Still bewilderedly as if something mysterious were happening that he cannot grasp._] What—what——? [_Then as she takes a slow, mechanical step toward the door—with tense pleading._] Nelly! Come here! [_She turns to look at him and is held by his imploring eyes. She sways irresolutely toward him, again reaching to the banister for support. Then a sharper knock comes at the door. It acts like a galvanic shock on her. Her eyes move in that direction, she takes another jerky step_, CAPE _stammers in a fierce whisper_.] No! Don’t go!

ELEANOR—[_Without looking at him—mechanically._] I must.

CAPE—[_Frantically._] They’ll go away. Nelly, don’t! Don’t! [_Again she stops irresolutely like a hypnotized person torn by two conflicting suggestions. The knock is repeated, this time with authority, assurance. Her body reacts as if she were throwing off a load._]

ELEANOR—[_With a return to her natural tone—but hysterically._] Please—don’t be silly, Michael. It might be—something important. [_She hurries to the door._]

CAPE—[_Rushing down the stairs—frantically._] No! No! [_He just gets to the bottom as she opens the door. He stands there fixed, disorganized, trembling all over._]

ELEANOR—[_As she sees who it is—in a relieved tone of surprise._] Why, hello, John. Come in! Here’s Michael. Michael, it’s John. [DARNTON _steps into the room. He is a man of about fifty, tall, loose-limbed, a bit stoop-shouldered, with iron-gray hair, and a long, gaunt, shrewd face. He is not handsome but his personality compels affection. His eyes are round and childlike. They seem to understand sorrow without ever having known it. They see everyone with understanding, they never judge. The whole man has the quality of steadfastness. You feel he will always be there, unchanged, unchangeable, always serene and kindly, a cool rock for the fevered. He has no nerves. His voice is low and calming. He is dressed negligently but in expensive tweed._]

DARNTON—[_Shaking Eleanor by the hand._] Hello, Nelly. I was on my way home from the theater and I thought I’d drop in for a second. Hello, Michael. When’d you get in? Glad to see you back. [_He comes to him and shakes his hand which_ CAPE _extends jerkily, as if in spite of himself, without a word_.]

ELEANOR—[_After a glance at her husband—in a forced tone._] We’re so glad you’ve come. Sit down.

DARNTON—[_He becomes aware of the disharmonious atmosphere his appearance has created._] I can’t stay a second. [_To_ CAPE.] I wanted some news of the big play. I thought Nelly’d probably have heard from you. [_He slaps_ CAPE _on the back with jovial familiarity_.] Well, how’s it coming?

CAPE—[_In a frozen tone._] Oh,—all right—all right.

ELEANOR—[_Uneasily._] Won’t you have a cigarette, John? [_She takes the box from the table and holds it out to him._]

DARNTON—[_Taking one._] Thanks, Nelly. [_He half-sits on the arm of a chair. She holds out a light to him._] Thanks.

ELEANOR—[_Nervously._] Why don’t you sit down, Michael? [_He doesn’t answer. She goes to him with the cigarettes._] Don’t you want a cigarette? [CAPE _stares at her with a hot glance of scorn. She recoils from it, turning quickly away from him, visibly shaken. Without appearing to notice_, DARNTON _scrutinizes their faces keenly, sizing up the situation_.]

DARNTON—[_Breaking in matter-of-factly._] You look done up, Michael.

CAPE—[_With a guilty start._] I—I—I’m tired out.

ELEANOR—[_With a forced air._] He’s been working too hard. He finished the last act only this afternoon.

DARNTON—[_With a grunt of satisfaction._] Glad to hear it—mighty glad. [_Abruptly._] When can I see it?

CAPE—In a day or so—I want to go over——

DARNTON—All right. [_Getting to his feet._] Well, that’s that. I’ll run along.

ELEANOR—[_Almost frightenedly._] Do stay. Why don’t you read us the last act now, Michael?

CAPE—[_Fiercely._] No! It’s rotten! I hate the whole play!

DARNTON—[_Easily._] Suffering from the reaction. This play’s the finest thing you’ve done. [_He comes to_ CAPE _and slaps him on the back reassuringly_.] And it’s the biggest chance the lady here has ever had. It’ll be a triumph for you both, wait and see. So cheer up—and get a good night’s rest. [CAPE _smiles with bitter irony_.] Well, good-night. [CAPE _nods without speaking_, DARNTON _goes to the door_, ELEANOR _accompanying him_.] Good-night, Nelly. Better start on your part—only don’t you overdo it, too. [_He pats her on the back._] Good-night.

ELEANOR—Good-night. [_She closes the door after him. She remains there for a moment staring at the closed door, afraid to turn and meet_ CAPE’S _fiercely accusing eyes which she feels fixed upon her. Finally, making an effort of will, she walks back to the table, avoiding his eyes, assuming a careless air._]

CAPE—[_Suddenly explodes in furious protest._] Why did you do that?

ELEANOR—[_With an assumed surprise but with a guilty air, turning over the pages of a magazine._] Do what?

CAPE—[_Tensely, clutching her by the arm._] You know what I mean! [_Unconsciously he grips her tighter, almost shaking her._]

ELEANOR—[_Coldly._] You are hurting me. [_A bit shamefacedly_, CAPE _lets go of her arm. She glances quickly at his face, then speaks with a kind of dull remorse._] I suppose I can guess—my going to the door?

CAPE—He would have gone away—— [_With anguish._] Nelly, why did you?

ELEANOR—[_Defensively._] Wasn’t it important you should see John?

CAPE—[_With helpless anger._] Don’t evade! [_With deep feeling._] I should think you’d be ashamed.

ELEANOR—[_After a pause—dully._] Perhaps—I am. [_A pause._] I couldn’t help myself.

CAPE—[_Intensely._] You should have been oblivious to everything! [_Miserably._] I—I can’t understand!

ELEANOR—That’s you, Michael. The other is me—or a part of me—I hardly understand myself.

CAPE—[_Sinking down on a chair, his head in his hands._] After all we’d been to each other tonight—! [_With bitter despondency._] Ruined now—gone—a rare moment of beauty! It seems at times as if some jealous demon of the commonplace were mocking our love—— [_With a violent gesture of loathing._] Oh, how intolerably insulting life can be! [_Then brokenly._] Nelly, why, why did you?

ELEANOR—[_Dully._] I—I don’t know. [_Then after a pause she comes over and puts her hand on his shoulder._] Don’t brood, dear. I’m sorry. I hate myself. [_A pause. She looks down at him, seeming to make up her mind to something—in a forced tone._] But—why is it gone—irrevocably—our beautiful moment? [_She strokes his hair._] We have the whole night—— [_He stares up at her wonderingly. She forces a smile, half turning away._]

CAPE—[_In wild protest._] Nelly, what are you offering me—a sacrifice? Please!

ELEANOR—[_Revolted._] Michael! [_Then hysterically._] No, forgive me! I’m the disgusting one! Forgive me! [_She turns away from him and throws herself on a chair, staring straight before her. Their chairs are side by side, each facing front, so near that by a slight movement each could touch the other, but during the following scene they stare straight ahead and remain motionless. They speak, ostensibly to the other, but showing by their tone it is a thinking aloud to oneself, and neither appears to hear what the other has said._]

CAPE—[_After a long pause._] More and more frequently. There’s always some knock at the door, some reminder of the life outside which calls you away from me.

ELEANOR—It is so beautiful—and then—suddenly I’m being crushed. I feel a cruel presence in you paralyzing me, creeping over my body, possessing it so it is no longer my body—then grasping at some last inmost thing which makes me me—my soul—demanding to have that, too! I have to rebel with all my strength—seize any pretext! Just now at the foot of the stairs—the knock on the door was—liberation. [_In anguish._] And yet I love you! It’s because I love you! If I am destroyed, what is left to love you, what is left for you to love?

CAPE—I’ve grown inward into our life. But you keep trying to escape as if it were a prison. You feel the need of what is outside. I am not enough for you.

ELEANOR—Why is it I can never know you? I love you—and you’re strange. I try to know you and I can’t. I desire to take all of you into my heart, but there is a great alien force—— I hate that unknown power in you which would destroy me. [_Pleadingly._] Haven’t I a right to myself as you have to yourself?

CAPE—You fight against me as if I were your enemy. Every word or action of mine which affects you, you resent. At every turn you feel your individuality invaded—while at the same time you are jealous of any separateness in me. You demand more and more while you give less and less. And I have to acquiesce. Have to? Yes, because I love you. I cannot live without you! You realize that! You take advantage of it while you despise me for my helplessness! [_This seems to goad him to desperation._] But look out! I still have the strength to——! [_He turns his head and stares at her challengingly._]

ELEANOR—[_As before._] You insist that I have no life at all outside you. Even my work must exist only as an echo of yours. You hate my need of easy, casual associations. You think that weakness. You hate my friends. You are jealous of everything and everybody. You would wall me in——[_Resentfully._] I have to fight. You are too severe. Your ideal is too inhuman. Why can’t you understand and be generous—be just! [_She turns to meet his eyes, staring back with resentful accusation. They look at each other in this manner for a long moment._]

CAPE—[_Averting his eyes and addressing her directly in a cold, sarcastic tone._] Strange—that Darnton should pop in on us suddenly like that.

ELEANOR—[_Resentfully._] I don’t see anything strange about it.

CAPE—It’s past twelve——

ELEANOR—You’re in New York now.

CAPE—[_Sharply._] I’m quite aware of that. Nevertheless——

ELEANOR—[_Shortly._] He explained. Didn’t you hear him? He wanted news of the play and thought I might have a letter——

CAPE—That’s just the point. He had no idea he would find me here.

ELEANOR—[_About to fly at him, checks herself after a pause, coldly._] Why shouldn’t he come to see me? He’s the oldest friend I’ve got. He gave me my first chance and he’s always helped me since. I owe whatever success I’ve made of my acting to his advice and direction.

CAPE—[_Stung—sarcastically._] Oh, undoubtedly!

ELEANOR—I suppose you think I ought to have said it’s to you I owe everything?

CAPE—[_Dryly._] I’d prefer to say it was to yourself, and no one else. [_After a pause—attempting a casual tone._] Has he been in the habit of calling here while I’ve been gone? [_Hurriedly._] Don’t misunderstand me. I’m merely asking a question.

ELEANOR—[_Scornfully._] Oh! [_A pause. She bites her lips—then coldly._] Yes, he’s been here once before. [_Mockingly._] And after the theater, too! Think of that!

CAPE—[_Sneeringly._] The same insatiable curiosity about my play?

ELEANOR—[_Angrily._] Michael! [_A pause—then scornfully._] Don’t tell me you’re becoming jealous of John again!

CAPE—[_Meaningly._] Again. That’s just it.

ELEANOR—[_Springing from her chair—excitedly._] This is insufferable! [_Then calming herself with an effort—with a forced laugh._] Please don’t be so ridiculous, Michael. I’ll only lose my temper if you keep on. [_Then suddenly she makes up her mind and comes to him._] Please stop, dear. We’ve made up our minds not to quarrel. Let’s drop it. [_She pats his head with a friendly smile._]

CAPE—[_Impulsively takes her hand and kisses it._] All right. Forgive me. I’m all unstrung. His breaking in on us like that—— [_He relapses into frowning brooding again. She sits down, this time facing him, and looks at him uneasily._]

ELEANOR—[_After a pause—rather irritably._] It’s too absolutely silly, your being jealous of John.

CAPE—I’m not jealous of him. I’m jealous of you—the perverse something in you that repulses our love—the stranger in you.

ELEANOR—[_With a short laugh._] I should think after five years——

CAPE—[_Unheeding._] And what makes me hate you at those times is that I know you like to make me jealous, that my suffering pleases you, that it satisfies some craving in you—for revenge!

ELEANOR—[_Scornfully._] Can’t you realize how absurd you are? [_Then with a forced placating laugh._] No, really, Michael, it would be funny—if it weren’t so exasperating.

CAPE—[_After a pause—somberly._] You mentioned our years together as proof. What of the years that preceded?

ELEANOR—[_Challengingly._] Well, what of them?

CAPE—By their light, I have plausible grounds for jealousy in Darnton’s case. Or don’t you acknowledge that?

ELEANOR—I deny it absolutely!

CAPE—Why, you’ve told me yourself he was in love with you for years, that he once asked you to marry him!

ELEANOR—Well, did I marry him?

CAPE—But he still loves you.

ELEANOR—Don’t be stupid!

CAPE—He does, I tell you!

ELEANOR—If you had any sense you’d know that his love has become purely that of an old friend. And I refuse to give up his friendship for your silly whims.

CAPE—[_After a pause in which they each brood resentfully—sarcastically._] You were a shining exception, it appears. The other women he helped could hardly claim he had remained—merely their friend.

ELEANOR—[_Vehemently._] It’s a lie! You’re repeating low Broadway scandal. And even if it were true, you’d find it was they who offered themselves.

CAPE—[_Significantly._] Ah! [_Then after a pause._] Perhaps because they felt it necessary for their careers.

ELEANOR—[_Dryly._] Perhaps. [_Then after a pause._] But they discovered their mistake, then. John isn’t that type.

CAPE—[_Suddenly._] Why do you act so jealous—of those others?

ELEANOR—[_Flushing angrily._] I don’t. It’s your stupid imagination.

CAPE—Then why lose your temper?

ELEANOR—Because I resent your superior attitude that John had to bribe women to love him. Isn’t he as worthy of love—as you are?

CAPE—[_Sarcastically._] If I am to believe your story, you didn’t think so.

ELEANOR—[_Irritably._] Then let’s stop arguing, for heaven’s sake! Why do you always have to rake up the past? For the last year or so you’ve begun to act more and more as you did when we first lived together—jealous and suspicious of everything and everybody! [_Hysterically._] I can’t bear it, Michael!

CAPE—[_Ironically._] You used to love me for it then.

ELEANOR—[_Calming herself._] Well, I can’t endure it now. It’s too degrading. I have a right to your complete faith. [_Reaching over and grasping his hands—earnestly._] You know I have in your heart of hearts. You know I love you, that there can never be anyone but you. Forget the past. It wasn’t us. For your peace—and mine, Michael!

CAPE—[_Moved—pressing her hands._] All right. Let’s stop. It’s only that I’ve thought I’ve felt you drawing away——! Perhaps it’s all my super-sensitiveness—— [_Patting her hand and forcing a smile._] Let’s talk of something else. [_Cheerfully—after a pause._] You can’t imagine how wonderful it’s been up in the country. There’s just enough winter in the air to make one energetic. No summer fools about. Solitude and work. I was happy—that is, as happy as I ever can be without you.

ELEANOR—[_Withdrawing her hands from his with a quick movement—sarcastically._] Thanks for that afterthought—but do you expect me to believe it? When you’re working I might die and you’d never know it.

CAPE—[_Amused but irritated._] There you go! You denounce my jealousy, but it seems to me your brand of it is much more ridiculous.

ELEANOR—[_Sharply._] You imagine I’m jealous of your work? You—you flatter yourself!

CAPE—[_Stung—bitingly._] It’s an unnatural passion certainly—in your case. And an extremely ungrateful passion, I might add!

ELEANOR—[_Losing her temper completely._] You mean I ought to be grateful for—— I suppose you think that without your work I—— [_Springing to her feet._] Your egotism is making a fool of you! You’re becoming so exaggeratedly conceited no one can stand you! Everyone notices it!

CAPE—[_Angrily._] You know that’s untrue. You only say it to be mean. As for my work, you’ve acknowledged a million times——

ELEANOR—If I have—but please remember there are other playwrights in the world!

CAPE—[_Bitingly._] You were on the stage seven years before I met you. Your appearance in the work of other playwrights—you must admit you were anything but successful!

ELEANOR—[_With a sneer of rage._] And I suppose you were?

CAPE—Yes! Not in your Broadway sense, perhaps, but——

ELEANOR—You’re contemptible! You know that’s the very last thing you can say of me. It was exactly because I wasn’t that kind—because I was an artist—that I found it so hard!

CAPE—[_Unheeding._] My plays had been written. The one you played in first was written three years before. The work was done. That’s the proof.

ELEANOR—[_Scathingly._] That’s absurd! You know very well if it hadn’t been for John, you——

CAPE—[_Violently._] Nonsense! There were other managers who——

ELEANOR—They didn’t want your work, you know it!

CAPE—[_Enraged._] I see what you’re driving at! You’d like to pretend I was as much dependent on Darnton as you were! [_Trembling all over with the violence of his passion._] I should think you’d be ashamed to boast so brazenly—to me!—of what he had done for you!

ELEANOR—Why should I be ashamed of my gratitude?

CAPE—To drag that relationship out of the past and throw it in my face!

ELEANOR—[_Very pale—tensely._] What relationship?

CAPE—[_Incoherently, strangled by his passion._] Ask anyone—here—to Forty-second Street! [_Then suddenly with anguished remorse._] No, no! I don’t mean that! [_Torturedly._] Wounds! Wounds! For God’s sake, let’s stop!

ELEANOR—[_Trembling with rage._] I’ll never forget you said that! You cur!

CAPE—[_Stung—in a passion again at once._] Cur? Because I resent that man’s being here—late at night—when I was away? I would be a cur if I didn’t! Oh, I don’t mean I suspect you—now——

ELEANOR—[_Viciously._] What noble faith! Maybe you’re going to discover I don’t deserve it!

CAPE—[_Unheeding._] But there was scandal enough about you and him, and if you had any respect for me——

ELEANOR—I’ve lost it now!

CAPE—You wouldn’t deliberately open the way——

ELEANOR—[_Tensely._] So you believe—that gutter gossip? You think I——? Then all these years you’ve really believed——? Oh, you mean hypocrite!

CAPE—[_Stung—bitingly._] Don’t act moral indignation! What else could I have thought? When we first fell in love, you confessed frankly you had had lovers—not Darnton but others——

ELEANOR—[_Brokenly—with mingled grief and rage._] I was an idiot! I should have lied to you! But I thought you’d understand—that I’d been searching for something—that I needed love—something I found at last in you! I tried to make you see the truth—the truth!—that those experiences had only served to make me appreciate you all the more when I found you! I told you how little these men had meant to me. I tried to convince you that in the state of mind I had been in it had no significance either one way or the other, and that such an attitude is possible for a woman without her being base. I thought you understood. But you didn’t, you’re not big enough for that! By your own experiences in the past you had made sex a degradation to yourself—and physical virtue the highest virtue in women! [_With a gesture of loathing._] Always the physical! As if there could be only one attitude toward it for women!

CAPE—[_Angrily protesting._] What has all this silly generalizing to do with us? You forget that when we conceived the ideal of our marriage we _both_ agreed that unfaithfulness would be the unpardonable sin—not because we regarded it as a crime in itself but because it was a symbol of our separate weak attitudes toward love in the past,—a sin against love, do you hear?—our love which we wished to make unique, beautiful, finer than other loves!

ELEANOR—[_With a wild ironical laugh._] Words! Now I know why the women in your plays are so wooden! You ought to get down on your knees and thank me for breathing life into them!

CAPE—[_Furiously._] Good God, how dare you criticize creative work, actress!

ELEANOR—[_Violently._] You deny that I create——? Perhaps if I’d consent to give up the stage, have children and a home, take up knitting—— [_She laughs wildly._] I’d be safe then, wouldn’t I?—reliable, guaranteed not to—— [_Her face seems suddenly to congeal._] So you think that I was Darnton’s mistress—that I loved him—or do you believe I just sold myself for a career?

CAPE—[_In agony._] No, no! For God’s sake, stop! I may have thought you once loved——

ELEANOR—[_Frozenly._] Well, it was—that—just that! When he first engaged me—I’d heard the gossip—I thought he expected—and I agreed with myself—it meant nothing to me one way or the other—nothing meant anything then but a chance to do my work, live my life—yes, I agreed—but you see he didn’t, he didn’t agree. He loved me but he saw I didn’t love him—that way—and he’s a finer man than you dream!

CAPE—[_Hoarsely._] You’re lying! [_Bewilderedly._] I can’t believe——

ELEANOR—[_Fiercely._] Oh, yes you can! You want to! You do! And you’re glad! It makes me seem a lower creature than you thought, but you’re glad to know it just the same! You’re glad because now you can really believe that—nothing ever happened between us! [_She stares into his eyes and seems to read some confirmation of her statement there, for she cries with triumphant bitterness._] It’s true! You can’t deny it!

CAPE—[_Wildly._] No! You devil, you, you read thoughts into my mind!

ELEANOR—[_With wild hysterical scorn._] It’s true! How can I love you? How could I ever love you?

CAPE—[_Clutching her in his arms fiercely._] Stop! Stop! You do love me! [_He kisses her frantically. For a moment she submits, appears even to return his kisses in spite of herself._ CAPE _cries triumphantly_.] You do! [_She suddenly pushes him away and glares at him at arms’ length. Her features are working convulsively. Her whole tortured face expresses an abysmal self-loathing, a frightful hatred for him._]

ELEANOR—[_As if to herself—in a strangled voice._] No! You cannot crush—my loathing! [_Her face becomes deadly calm. She speaks with intense, cold hatred._] Don’t kiss me. I despise you! I love him. He was—my lover—when you were away!

CAPE—[_Stares dumbly into her eyes for a long moment—hoarsely, in agony._] You lie! You lie! You only want to torture——

ELEANOR—[_Deathly calm._] It’s true! [CAPE _stares at her another second—then, with a snarl of fury like an animal’s he seizes her about the throat with both hands. He chokes her, forcing her down to her knees. She does not struggle but continues to look into his eyes with the same defiant hate. At last he comes to himself with a shudder and steps away from her. She remains where she is, only putting out her hand on the floor to support herself._]

CAPE—[_In a terrible state, sobbing with rage and anguish._] Gone! Dead! All our beauty gone! Oh, how I hate you! And you don’t love him! You lie! You did this out of hatred for me! You dragged our ideal in the gutter—with delight! [_Wildly._] And you pride yourself you’ve killed it, do you, you actress, you barren soul? [_With savage triumph._] But I tell you only a creator can really destroy! [_With a climax of frenzy._] And I will! I will! I won’t give your hatred the satisfaction of seeing our love live on in me—to torture me! I’ll drag it lower than you! I’ll stamp it into the vilest depth! I’ll leave it dead! I’ll murder it—and be free! [_Again he threatens her, his hands twitching back toward her neck—then he rushes out of the door as if furies were pursuing him, slamming it shut behind him._]

ELEANOR—[_With a cry of despair._] Michael! [_She stops as hatred and rage overpower her again—leaps up and runs to the door—opens it and screams after him violently._] Go! Go! I’m glad! I hate you. I’ll go, too! I’m free! I’ll go—— [_She turns and runs up the stairs. She disappears for a moment, then comes back with a hat and coat on and, hurrying down the stairs again, rushes out leaving the door open behind her._]

[_The Curtain Falls_]