Chapter IV: 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.