Chapter VII: Act THREE: Scene Two

_Same as Act One, Scene One--A section of country highway. The sky to the east is already alight with bright color and a thin, quivering line of flame is spreading slowly along the horizon rim of the dark hills. The roadside, however, is still steeped in the grayness of the dawn, shadowy and vague. The field in the foreground has a wild uncultivated appearance as if it had been allowed to remain fallow the preceding summer. Parts of the snake-fence in the rear have been broken down. The apple tree is leafless and seems dead._

ROBERT _staggers weakly in from the left. He stumbles into the ditch and lies there for a moment; then crawls with a great effort to the top of the bank where he can see the sun rise, and collapses weakly._ RUTH _and_ ANDREW _come hurriedly along the road from the left._

ANDREW. (_stopping and looking about him_) There he is! I knew it! I knew we’d find him here.

ROBERT. (_trying to raise himself to a sitting position as they hasten to his side--with a wan smile_) I thought I’d given you the slip.

ANDREW. (_with kindly bullying_) Well you didn’t, you old scoundrel, and we’re going to take you right back where you belong--in bed. (_He makes a motion to lift_ ROBERT).

ROBERT. Don’t, Andy. Don’t, I tell you!

ANDREW. You’re in pain?

ROBERT. (_simply_) No. I’m dying. (_He falls back weakly._ RUTH _sinks down beside him with a sob and pillows his head on her lap._ ANDREW _stands looking down at him helplessly. ROBERT moves his head restlessly on_ RUTH’S _lap_) I couldn’t stand it back there in the room. It seemed as if all my life--I’d been cooped in a room. So I thought I’d try to end as I might have--if I’d had the courage--alone--in a ditch by the open road--watching the sun rise.

ANDREW. Rob! Don’t talk. You’re wasting your strength. Rest a while and then we’ll carry you----

ROBERT. Still hoping, Andy? Don’t. I know. (_There is a pause during which he breathes heavily, straining his eyes toward the horizon_) The sun comes so slowly. (_With an ironical smile_) The doctor told me to go to the far-off places--and I’d be cured. He was right. That was always the cure for me. It’s too late--for this life--but---- (_He has a fit of coughing which racks his body_).

ANDREW. (_with a hoarse sob_) Rob! (_He clenches his fist in an impotent rage against Fate_) God! God! (RUTH _sobs brokenly and wipes_ ROBERT’S _lips with her handkerchief_).

ROBERT. (_in a voice which is suddenly ringing with the happiness of hope_) You mustn’t feel sorry for me. Don’t you see I’m happy at last--free--free!--freed from the farm--free to wander on and on--eternally! (_He raises himself on his elbow, his face radiant, and points to the horizon_) Look! Isn’t it beautiful beyond the hills? I can hear the old voices calling me to come---- (_Exultantly_) And this time I’m going! It isn’t the end. It’s a free beginning--the start of my voyage! I’ve won to my trip--the right of release--beyond the horizon! Oh, you ought to be glad--glad--for my sake! (_He collapses weakly_) Andy! (ANDREW _bends down to him_) Remember Ruth----

ANDREW. I’ll take care of her, I swear to you, Rob!

ROBERT. Ruth has suffered--remember, Andy--only through sacrifice--the secret beyond there---- (_He suddenly raises himself with his last remaining strength and points to the horizon where the edge of the sun’s disc is rising from the rim of the hills_) The sun! (_He remains with his eyes fixed on it for a moment. A rattling noise throbs from his throat. He mumbles_) Remember! (_And falls back and is still._ RUTH _gives a cry of horror and springs to her feet, shuddering, her hands over her eyes._ ANDREW _bends on one knee beside the body, placing a hand over_ ROBERT’S _heart, then he kisses his brother reverentially on the forehead and stands up_).

ANDREW. (_facing_ RUTH, _the body between them--in a dead voice_) He’s dead. (_With a sudden burst of fury_) God damn you, you never told him!

RUTH. (_piteously_) He was so happy without my lying to him.

ANDREW. (_pointing to the body--trembling with the violence of his rage_) This is your doing, you damn woman, you coward, you murderess!

RUTH. (_sobbing_) Don’t, Andy! I couldn’t help it--and he knew how I’d suffered, too. He told you--to remember.

ANDREW. (_stares at her for a moment, his rage ebbing away, an expression of deep pity gradually coming over his face. Then he glances down at his brother and speaks brokenly in a compassionate voice_) Forgive me, Ruth--for his sake--and I’ll remember---- (RUTH _lets her hands fall from her face and looks at him uncomprehendingly. He lifts his eyes to hers and forces out falteringly_) I--you--we’ve both made a mess of things! We must try to help each other--and--in time--we’ll come to know what’s right---- (_Desperately_) And perhaps we---- (_But_ RUTH, _if she is aware of his words, gives no sign. She remains silent, gazing at him dully with the sad humility of exhaustion, her mind already sinking back into that spent calm beyond the further troubling of any hope_).

(_The Curtain Falls_)

* * * * *

_The Plays by_

EUGENE O’NEILL

_in this series are_:

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WHERE THE CROSS IS MADE 55c.
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ILE 35c.

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