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zoa hattc
nan
a grail of laughter of an cmqty ash can, and tbough dll rcund of gaiety amd gucst han bcard a kitten in the zttildarnest, Hrnr CneNr (CluPlincsgual
CHARACTERS
Tnr Lnrr.r Mars. Tnr Laworaoy. Tsr Or,o MlrN, her father-in_law.
Scnvr
Tlze Landlady, a heavy of foty anho n o,tres and speak ??ry utitlz a powerful sort ol indotettci, is'showing tlr" roori to a ?to:?ect*e room,er, the Linle Man, dark oh, *or" d"tiraiu and, nentoas in appearante iltan laborers usuoily are. As soon as lze en*rs the door beh.ind the Landldy, his'renorkably iL lapidated suitcase con es a?arr, spilling its conrents o,uer ,he fl.oor--.unlaandered shirts, old sho)s, sh"oe-polish, a rosary.
La*pr,aoy: (laugh.ing) Well! The suitcase has decided! tTr (ltooVtng to replace the scattered articles) _ been working loose all day. Lawpr,epy: How long have you had that suitcasel Lrrrr.r Max: Since I started traveling. r35
Lt;1r,e
lts
Itll call you Musso. Musso for Mussolini. you got jobl Lrmr,e MaN: Not yet. Lerqpr-epy: Go down to the plant ant ask for Oliver Woodson. Lrrrr.r Merv: Oliver Woodsonl Lenpr,eoy: Tell him Mizz Galbway sent you. He'll put you right on the pay-roll.
Lnmpr.epy:
a
Lrrrr.r Mex:
Good. Thanks. Lexnr,apy: Linenrs changed on Mondays. (She srur, ,o tutt away") I got to apologi",e for the condition the walls are in. Lrrrr,r Merq: I noticed. Who did itl Lenpr,apy: Every man who lived here signed his name. Lrrrr.r Man: There must have been a lot. Lanor-epv: Birds of passage. You ever try to count theml RestIessness---changes.
Lrr:rrr Mru:
r38
r39
LeNor..epv: You must be Gulliver, then! Yory've stood up under the strain a lot better than it has. Lrrrr.n MeN: (stroightenizg) I don't know. Larqor.eov: You aintt held together by such old worn-out roPes. Lrrrr,n MaN: (smiling shyly and' sad.ly) I dontt know. Lenpr,epy: (crossing to rahe the dindoavblind) About this
room-I
Well'-the work at the plant is unhealthy for even a strongbodied man. The Polack broke down. Tuberculosis developed. He gets an indemnity of some kind and goes West. The cathe wanted to take her with him. I set my foot down on that. told him she'd disappeared. He left without her. Now
of the porch, an' climbed in th'window. (Tha Little Man sets don)n his valise and tosses gefi\ smiling to the cat. He
picks her up atith great tend'erness.) She used to occupy this room with the Russian. Lrmr.r Men: The whol LrNnr-apv: The fellow I mentioned who had the bad run of luck. I used to say I thought she brought it on him. Lrcrr.r MeN: They loved each otherl LlNpr-nov: I never seen such devotion. Lrrrr,n MeN: Then she couldn't have brought the bad luck on him. Nothing's unlucky that loves you. Whatts her namel LeNpr-eov: Nitchevo. Lrrrr.r MeN: Whatl LaNor.apv: Nitchevo. That's what he called her. He told me once what it means but Itve forgotten. It used to give me a
pain.
Itd
to live under are trying. I have a good deal of steam to blow ofi. He was a good listener. r36
need
LlNpr.apv: Never in this world. Lrr:rlr MeN: Deadl LeNor.eov: The sixteenth of January I got the notice. Wasntt nobody else to be informed. (The Little Mot nods with a sad snile and strokes the cat.) Some people say an animal understands. I told her this morning, He aintt coming back, hets dead. But she dontt understand it. Lrrrr.B Mxv: I think she does. Shets grieving. (holding het ogaimst his aar) Yes, I can hear her-grieving. Llwpr,anv: Youtre a funny one, too. How does this be&oom suit youl t37
a beautiful room.
Laxor-aov: Who're you kiddingl Lrrrlp Mau: You. FIow muchl Laxpr,apv : Three-fifty-in advance. Lrrrrr MaN: I will take it, providedLaupreoy: Whatl Providedl Lrrru Maw: I can do like the Russian and keep the cat here with me. tanpr,eny: (grinning) Oh, so you want to do like the Russian.
Ltrrr,r
Mer.r: Yes.
Laxpr,epy: (fi*in7 her hair at the crackad mirror) My husbants a chronic invalid. An injury at the plant. Lrr-rlr MeN: Yeahl Itm sorry. Lexprepy: Codein every day. Fifty cents a pill is what it costs me. I wouldn't mind if only he wasn't such a pill sometimes himself. But who can look at suffering in a person? Lrmrn MnN: Nobody. LeNpr,anv: Yes. That's how I feel. Well . . . the Russian used to help me out with mants work in the house. Lrrrln Meu: I see. Lenor.epy: How old are youl I bet I can guess! Thirty-fivel LrmlB MeN: Uh-huh. About. teNor,apyi Eyetalianl Lrrrr-B Max: Uh-huh. LaNprepy: Wouldn't you think that I was a fortune-tellerl My father was a Gypsy. He taught rne a lot of the Zigeuner songs. FIe used to say to me, Bella, youlre nine parts music-the rest is female mischief ! (She smiles at him.) That instrument on the wall's a balalaika. Some night Itll drop in here to entertain you. Lrrrur MeN: Good. I heard you singing as I came up to the house. That's why I stopped. (She srniles again and sta*d,s as if waiting.) r38
LeNpr,npv: I'll call you Musso. Musso for Mussolini. You got a jobl Lrrrr,r Merv: Not yet, Leupr,epy: Go down to the plant ant ask for Oliver Woodson. Lrrrr-n Mer.i: Oliver Woodsonl Lenor,apy: Tell him Mizz Gallaway sent you. He'll put you right on the pay-roll. Lrrrr"B MeN: Good. Thanks. LeNnr,epy: Linen's changed on Mondays. (She storrs to turt away.) I got to apologize for the condition the walls are in. Lrrrr,r Mew: I noticed. Who did itt Laxor,apy: Every man who lived here signed his name. Lrrrr.B Men: There must have been a lot. Lenpr,eoy: Birds of passage. You ever try to count theml RestIessness--<hanges.
Lrrrr-e Men: (smiling) Yeah. Ler.inr.eny: Youtd think a man with pay-money in his pocket would have something better to do than sign his n4me on
the walls of a rented bedroom. Lrrrr,r Men: Is the Russiants name here, tool L.o,wor.eoy: Not his name, he couldn't write-but his picture. There! (She points to a childish carroon of a big rnen) Right
beside
him, it chopped him down like a piece of rotten timber . . . Statistics show that married men live longest. I'll tell you why it is. (She straightens her blouse and ad.justs tlte belt.)
Lrrrrr Merq: Yeah? Lawnrapy: Well . . . They fill it with make-shift things. r39
Men that-live by themselves-get peculiar ways. All that part of their lives that was meant to be taken up with family matters is all left over---mpty. You get what I mean?
once
had a roomer who went to the movies every night of the week. FIe carried a brief<ase with him all of the time. Guess what he carried in it! Llr:rr-r MaN: Whatl LeNor.epy: sanitary paper toilet-seats. (The Little Man loohs away in ermbarrassrmel1't.) L crank about sanitation' Another
Or,n Mer: I'm only looking for some empty bottles. F{ave you any empty bottles?
He
just
Or,o MeN:
fr"pltn"
ant leave them walls as clean as they was before the first roomer moved in. (The d'oor is pushed' open' The QId' Mon enters. He looks like WaIt Whitman')
trade them in at the Bright Spot Delicatessen. I'll drop in later to finish our conversation. (He goes oilt.) LeNnlapv: My father-in-law. Don't encourage him, he'll be a nuisance to you. (She taps her forehead.) Alcoholic-gone! Lrrrrr MaN: (sinking down on the bed' and' lifting the cat again.) I'm-tired. Lexpr,aov: I hope youtll be comfortable here. I guess thatts all. Lrrr:,r MeN: Oliver Woodson? Lexpr.eov: (ot the door) Ohryes4liver Woodson. (She goes out. The Little Mon rises and. retnoqtes a st*b of pancil lrom his pocket. Srniling a little, he goes to the wall ond. beneath rhe large ond elkptical selfTortrait of the Russion, he draws his own lean figne, in a lew gukk pcncil statches- Beneath the cafs ?rcttre, he p*ts an etuPhntie check+ttark. Then he smiles at the cat *nd stands asid.e to saruey.)
CURTATN
daughter'
LeNnr.apv: Aw. You. WhY mustntt Il Olo Men: These signatures are their little clairns of remembrance. Their modest bids for immortality, daughter. Dontt brush them away. Even a sPat'row-leaves an emPty nest for a souvenir. Isntt that so, Young man? Lrtrr.r Marv: Yes. oro Man: cataracts have begun to- (He wal)es his hand' in of his nearly sightless eyes') l'm not sure where you
ScsNr
II
It
front
are.
while you stay. And write your name on the wall! You wontt be forgotten. LeNor,epv: Thatts enough, now, Father' r40
Ltrrln MeN: (sttetching oat his hand) Flere' olo Mew: Be comforted here. For the little
is late one night that vinter. The fu'rnished room is enapty ercce?t for the cat. Through the frosted' panes of the windorp in the left wall a steely winter moonlight enters" The window in the right wall adrnits the flickering ruddy glow of the plant and. its pulseJike throbbing is hemd fairtly. The Little Man errrers and saitches on the suspend,eil elecftic globe. He carries a small package. He smiles ot Nitchauo ond' wnwaps the pachage. It is a srnall bottle of crearn wh'ich he brand'ishes belore
her.
r4r
Lrmr-r MaN: Just a minute. (He lowers the window shade that (He pows th'e laces the ptant.) Now. We forget the plant. crea"ln,in a blue saucer.) There. Supper. (He sets it on the
don't be fl.oor by the bed' and' sits to watch her eat.) Nitchevo, hands my winter In about. nervous. There's nothing to worry get stifi, it makes me clumsy. But I can rub them together, I
can massage the joints. And when the weather turns warmer stiffness will pass away. Then I won't jam uP the ma-
-the chine any more. Today Mr. Woodson got mad. He bawled me out. Because my clumsy fingers jammed the machine' FIe stood behind me and watched me and grunted-like this! (He uilers an omino'tr,s gril,nt.) Oh, it was like a knife stuck
in me, between my ribs! Because, you seer I . . . have to keep this job, to provide the supper. Well . . . I began to shake! Like this! (He irnitates shahing-) And he kept standing behind me, watching and grunting. My hands went faster and faster, they broke the rhythm. All of a sudden a part was put out of piace, the machine was jammed, the belt conveyor stopped! SCR-E-E-ECH! Every man along the line looked at me! Up and down and all along the line they turned and stared-at nre! Mr. Woodson grabbed me by the shoulder! ('There you go," he said, ('you clumsy Dago! Jammed up the works again, you brainless Spick!" (H" covers his face") Oh, Nitchevo-I lost my dignity-I cried. . . . (H" draws kis breath in a shwd'dering sob.) But now we forget about that, that's over and done ! Itts night, wetre alone together-the room is warm-we sleep. . . . (Hu strips off |tis shirt and lies back on the bed,. Th'ere is a knock at the door and' he sits up guickty. He makes a warning gest&re to the cat. But tlze caller is not to be easily discouraged.. Th'e knock is repeated', the d.oor is thrust open. It is th.e Landlad'y in a soiled but fancy
negligee.)
LeNpr,apv: Nobody needs to be bashful on my accotut' I thought youtd gone out and left on the light in your room' We got to economize on electric current. Lrru-n MIN: I always turn it off when I go out. LeNpr-epv: I don't believe you ever go outr excePt to the plant' Lrrrr.r Mar: Itm on the night-shift now. Leupr-aov: The grave-yard shift, they call it. What is the trouble with you and Oliver Woodsonl Lrr"rr,s MaN: Troublel Why? ('Oh, by Lenuanv: I met him in the Bright Spot Delicatessen. way:'I said to him, 3(howts that feller I sent you getting ((Aw, him!" said Mr. Woodalongr that Eyetalian fellerl" son. '(Say, what's the matter with himl Isn't he doing okayltt ttNaw, he jams things uPl' ttwellrt' I saidr ((give him time, I think he's nervous. Maybe he tries too hard.t' Lnrr.n Men: What did he say? LeNpr-epv: FIe grunted. (She smiles. The Little Man pou'rs the rest ol the ffeefir' in the cntts sotrcer. He is trembling') You must try ant get over being so nervous. Maybe what you need is more atnusement. (She sits en the ed'ge of the bed', a:ith the batalaiko.) Sit back down! There's roorn for two on this sofa! (She pats the space beside her. He gingerly sits brck d,own ct a cowiderable distance- His hand's knot otttc' iously together. She ptays a soft chord' ott tha balaloika atd hurns ssith a sidelong glance at ,ha rreruous roomer.) Tiredl Lrrrr,r MeN: Yes. I-eunr-epv: Some nights I hear you-talking through the door. Who is he talking to, I used to wonder. (She chacklas.) At first I imagined you had a woman in here. Well, I'm a tolerant woman.
dressed.
what people need is more than food and more than work at the plant. (She plays dremnily for a rno/r?ent.) So when I heard that talking I was pleased. I said to
I know
r42
hoped it wasntt one picked up-you know<n the street. Women like that aren't likely to be very clean. Female hygienets a lot more--complicated. Well . . . (The Little Mon looks dovm in an ogony of ernbamassrment.) Lrrrlp MaN: It wasn't-a woman. LeNor,eov: I know. I found that out. Just you. Carrying on a one-sided conversation with a cat! Funny, yes-but kind of pitiful, too. You a man not even middle-aged yet-devoting all that care and time and afiection-on whatl A stray alleycat you inherited just by chance from the man who stayed here before you, that fool of a Russian! The stangest kind of a romance . " . a man-and a cat! What we mustntt do, is disregard nature. Nature says-((Man take woman or-man be lonesomel" (She smiles at hin coyly and, ,ttoves a little ((Man take cat!tt closer.) Nature has certainly never said,
said anything
LRrcpLAoy: Quit dodging the issue! (There is a paase and, ther she torrches his shouJd.er.) thought explained things to
to me.
Ler'rpr.aoy: (fuzpatiently) Because you wouldntt listen! L,rmr.e Mex: Oh, I listened. But all I ever heard was my own voice-asking me troublesome questions! LeNpr-aov: You hear merdonttyou? Lrrrr-n MeN: I hear you singing when I come home sometimes. Thatts very good, I like it. I-aNor.epv: Then why dontt you stop in the parlor and have a chatl Why do you act so bashfuIl (9he rkes and stands back ol him.) We could talk-have fun! When you took this room you gave me a false impression. Lrrrr,r MaN: What do you mean? Lewor-apv: Flave you forgotten the conversation we hadl Lrrrr,n Maw: I dontt remember any conversation. LeNpr,epv: You said you wanted to do just like the Russian. I-rrtr,r M.lw: I meant about the cat, to have her with me! LaNpr.aov: I told you he also helped about the house! Lrmr.n Men: I'm on the night-shift now!
you. My husband's a chronic invalid, codein, now, twice a day! Naturally I have-lots of steam to blow ofr.! (The Liule Mam firoves neryousl! away. She tollows gonderously, rercb ing above her to switch off the electric globe.) Now-that's better, aintt itl Lrmr,n Mar'l: I don't think I know--cxactly. Lerpr,eoy: You ain't satisfied with the room? Lrrrr,r Men: I like the room. LeNpr.aov: I had the idea you wasntt satisfied with it. Lrr"rr,r Meu: The room is home. I like it. Ler.lor.eoy: The way you avoided having a conversation+lmost ran past the front room every night. Why dontt we talk togetherl The cat's got your tongue? Lrtrlr MaN: You wouldntt be talking-to me. tar.ror,apv: Itm talking to you-direckly! L,rtrr.r Mew: Not to ma. taupr,aoy: You! Me! Where is any third partyl Lrurr-r Mew: There isn't a second party.
LaNpr-.nnv: What?
is me"
Lenpr,eov: Now we me getting in deep. Ltrrr-n Mew: You made me say it. (tarning to tace her) l'm not like you, a solid, touchable being. Lewor.any: Words*wonderful! The cat's let go of your
tongue?
if
you think
I'm-a
person! Itrn
little rnanl
kind of a-ghost of
Lrrrlr
and. shrwgging) A,
r4+
t45
out....
world-it
can,t back
LaNpreoy: Huhl Lrrrr,n MeN: But sometimesLauor,aoy: Whatl Lrl:rrr Mer: (with a bewild.ered. gesture) The body is only__a shell. It may be alive-when what's inside-is too afraid to come out! It stays locked up and alone! single! private! That's how it is-with me. you,re not talking to me_but just what you think is me! LeNor,apv: (laaghing gently) Such a lot of words. yourve thrown me the dictionary. All you needed to say was that you're lonesome. (She touches his shoulder.) plain old lonesomeness, thatts whatts the matter with you! (He turns to htr on'd she gently touches !,is fo.ce.) Nature says, ((Donrt be lonesome!" (The cuttain begins to fatt.) Nature says*( Dorlt
Or,o
Will wei (There is a rap at the door.) Bellal (The door is pushed
opan a.nd the Otd. Man uaps inside.) Mau: May I come inl (The Litile Man nods.) Don,r men_ tion this visit to my daughter_in_law. She doesnit
-be lonesomeltt
CURTAIN
Scrur
III
is again hte at night. The Little Mam enters with sno* on his nrned*p collar a*d, knitted black wool cap. He corries the ustnl little pachage o! cream for his friend. the cat. Again he follows his nightly routine of l.owering tke shad.e on ,h.e glare of tlze pla*t, pouring the crean in the blue sattter, ond the sigh.ing relaxation on the bed.
It
tie nervous! (l Nitchmo doesn't ha'e a care im ,he for qporld. The Little Mon, smiling, watches her as he hatfreclines om the bed.) As long as we stic-k together therers nothing to fear. There's only danger when two who belong to each other get separated. We wonrt get sepa"rated_nevej
Or.o Mau: Thank you. I wonrt stay long. Llrrr.r Meu: you may stay as long as you wish. Or"o MaN: Thatrs very generorr. oiyor. But I wonrt do it. I know how tiresome I am, a tiresome old man who makes-his needof companionship a nuisance. I donrt suppose yoo_t ro" a little tobaccol Lrt."r,r Mer: (prodrcing some) yes-here. shall I roll it for youl Or,p MeN: Oh, no, no, no. I have a wonderful lightness in my fingers! Lrmr.B MaN: Mine shake, theyrre always clumsy. or.n MeN: yes. I understand that. So liropp"i in. I thought we would have a talk. Lrrrr,r Mers: (em.barrassed) I donrt_talk much. Oro Meu: Fools hate silence. I like it. I see you have books. From the public libraryl Lrmr,u Merc: One or two. I own them. Oro Maw: As I was passing outside, I heard some clinking, Lrrrr.n Mer: Clinkingl or'p Mex: Yes--like bottles. I collect empty bottres which I exchange at the Bright Spot Delicatessei. Lrmr,B Max: The bottle you heard was only a little crearn bottle. It's under the bed. Oro Mer: Oh. That wouldnrt do any good. you drink creaml Lrrrr,r Maw: The cat. Orn Meu: (nod.ding) Ohhh, so the cat is present! That,s what made the air in the room so soft .nd f,rll of ,r"."tr.oi Nitcheve-where are youl
social relations with her roomers. "f where"pfr""" is a chairr Lrrrr,r Mer: (shoving one tuunrd hir) Here.
my having
r46
t47
LrrrI.s MeN:
Or,o Merv: Well, I won't disturb her until she's finished. You are devoted to animalsl Lrrrr,e Men: To Nitchevo. Or,n MeN: Be careful. Llrrln MaN: Of what? Orp Man: You may lose her. Thatts the trouble with love, the
of loss. Lrr"rr.r MeN: Nitchevo wouldntt leave me. Olo MeN: Not on purpose, maybe. But life is full of accidents, chances, possibilities--not all of which are always very good ones. Do you know tJratl
chance
Ltrrr,r
Marq: Yes.
Olp MeN: A truck might run her down. Lrrrr.r MeN: Nitchevo was brought uP on the street. Or-o Mer: The luxuries'of her Present existence may have
dulled her faculties a little. Lrrrr.n M.cn: You dontt understand Nitchevo. She hasn't forgotten how dangerous life can be for a lonely Person. Oln MaN: But she hasntt control of the universe in her hands! Lrmr.r MeN: No. Why should shel Or.p MeN: Other things might happen. You work at the plantl Lrr:rr,r Mell: Yes" Orn Mer.r: (a lonatical light coming into his clotd'ed' eyes) Uh-huh! I know those fellows that operate the plant, I know the bosses. They know I know them, too. They know I know their tricks. That's why they hate me. Look. Suppose the demand for what they make slacked off. Therets two things they could do. They could cut down on the price and so put the product within the purchasing power of more consumers. Listen! Iove read books on the subject! But, no! Therets another thing they could do. They could cut down on the number of things they make--create a scarcity! Seel And boost the price still higher! And so maintain the rich mants margin r48
of proft! Which do you think they'd dol Why, God Almighty-Nllchevoknows rhe answer! Theytd do what they've always done. (He chrckles and rises and bagins to sing in a hoarse tacked ooice.) Hold up, hold up the Profit, Ye Minions of the Boss! Lift high the Royal Proft, It must not suffer loss! (There is a pounding on the wall and vocal objectio* o*tsidc.) Lrrrr.r MaN: Mrs. OrFallon-disturbed. Or,o MeN: Yes, yes! What theytll cut down is production. I-ess and less men will be needed to run the machines. Fewer and fewer will stand at the belt conveyor. More and more workers will fall into the hands of the social agencies. Independence goes-then pride-then hope. Finally even the ability of the heart to feel shame or despair or anything at all-goes, too. What's left? A creature iike me. Whose need of companionship has become a nuisance to people. Well, somewhere along the line of misadventures-is the cat! Lrrrr,n Maw: Nitchevol Or,o Mrrv: (nodding sagaciously) You are not able to buy the
cream any more.
Lrrrrn
Merv: Well? Oro MeN: Well, cats are capricious! Lrrrr,r Man: She isntt a fair-weather friend. Oro Mex: You think she'd be faithful ro youl In adversity,
even?
Lrrrlr
Mew: Shetd be faithful to me. Orn Mex: (bearning slowly) Good! Good! (He touches his eyelids.) A beautiful trust. A rare and beautiful trust. It makes me cry a little. That's all that life has to give in the
way of perfection.
r49
and Stupidity, that is the two-armed cross on which you have nailed me! stupidity and cupidity, that is the two-armed cross
tend'er and, 'rtociferoas) The roof is thin. Above it, the huge and glittering wheel of heaven which spells a mystery to us. Fine-invisible'--cords of wonderattach us to it. And so we are saved and purifred and exalted. We three! You and me and-Nitchevo, the cat! (He lif ts h* against hh eor.) Listen! She purrs! Mmm, such a soft and sweet and powerful sound it is. It's the soul of the universethrobbing in her! (He hand.s her back to the Little M'an.) Take her and hold her close! Close! Never let her be separated from you. For while youtre together-none of the evil powers on earth can destroy you. Not even the imbecile child which is chance*nor the mad, insatiable wolves in the hearts of men! (The sound ol exterior ?rotest gathers vohmw. A a;indow bangs open amd' a asontan' shouts Jor an ofi'cer. The Old Man crosses ta the atindaw that faces the plont. He raises the blind and the f.ickering red' glare of the pulsing forges shines on his bearded. face.) There she is!
on which you have nailed me!', What did he say, thenl The Superintendentl Oro MeH: The Superintendentl Said, ((Hush up, be still! I'll send for the wagon!" Wouex Roounn: (sh.outing in the hall outsid.e) I ain't gonna live in no house with a lunatic! I calied the police, hers gonna
l-rrrrr Mer:
send
[,rrrr-r Mau: (sod.ly) She's going to send for the wagon. Orn Mer'r: There! You seel I speak for the people. F'or me,
they send for the wagon! Never mind. Take down rny name. It's Man! (He leans out the windaw and. shakes his fi"rt at tlze plant. The forges blaze higher ond their stead.y pulse seems
Lrr"rr,r MeN: The plant? Orn MeN: Uh-huh. (in a qaiet, corfl)ersatiorrtl tone) The day
before yesterday
('Oliver Woodson," I said, intendent about a job. 'this corporationts too big for me to fight with. Itve come with the ((You're too old," he told rne. olive branch. I want a job.t' ((Never mindrt' I said, ('take down my nameltt ((But, Poprtt (tyou're nearly blindlt'((Never mind,t'I said, he said to me, ('take down my name!" "Okay, PoPr" said Mr. Oliver ttWhatts your nameltt *My name is Manrtt I said. Woodson. ((My name is Man. Man is my namert' I said, ((spelt M-A-N." ('Okayr" said Oliver Woodson. ((Where do you livel" t(I live (tOn whatl" ((On a cross! I live on a cross, on a crossr)t I said. on a cross! (His ttoice rising loud.er and' Iouder-) Cupidity IJO
to quicken with the Old. Manrs frenzy.) I see you and I hear you! Boom-boom-boom! The pulse of a diseased heart! LnNprany: (in the hall) Be still, you drunken old fool, you've woke up the house! Wopren Roourn: (outside) Terrible, terrible, terribtrel Lunatics in the house! ()ro Mew: A fire-breathing monster you are! But listen to me! Because I'm going to speak The Malediction! Go on, go on, you niggardly pimps of the world! You entrepreneurs of deception, you traders of lies! We stand atbay but we are not defeated. The passion of our resistance is gathering force. We can Boom-Boom, too, we,re going to Boom! Itrs only a little while we give you license! We sayr Feed on, Feed on! you race of gluttons! Devour the fesh of thy brother, drink his biood! Glut your monstrous bellies on corruption! And when you're too fat to move-that fist will clench, which is the fist of God-to strike! Strike! STRIKE ! (He smoshes a pane ol the windout. At tlzis m,oment tlte d,oor i.s burst open. Ligh.t .rpills in lrom the h.all.)
I5I
LaNpr-epv: Mrs. OtFallon, be still, get out of the way! Ofrcer, go on inl (A police oficer enrers' followed' by the Landlady in owrapper. A group of trightened' rootners, gray and blooL less-looking, haddle behind. her in the d'ootw:oy. The AnIe Man stand's clutching the cat ogainst his chest. The Old Mads
rage is s?ent.
abwe her atd. switches it off. He s*ddenly goes ,o her ond phmges his head against her chest,) O beautiful, cruel Zigeuner! Sing to me, sing to me! Comfort me in the dark! (At first she stands stiff ond hostile. Then she relents ond embraces his crouching bod.y, and. begins to sing, softly.)
CURTAIN
He
stand's
of the electric bulb which the Land,lody switches on.) Lewnr.env: (to the Old' Mon) Ahh, you drunken old fool, my patience is gone. Officer, take him away. Lock him up till he comes to his senses. (The officer gras?s the OId, Marls artn.) Orrrcnn: Come alongr old man. \Mouan Rooprrn: (in the crowd ot the d.oor) A dangerous, criminal character! LaNpr-apv: (to the groa?) Go on, go on back to your beds. The excitement is over. (The Old Man seerms barely consciaus as he is pushed' out the door. The others retreot behind. hbn. The Little Mon makes a dutmb, protesting gest',tre, still clutching Nitchevo agoinst his chest vith one ornt. The Landlady slam.s the door om the others. She turns angrily to face the Little Man.) You! You're responsible for it! Flaven't I told you not to encourage him in his drunken ravingsl Well! . . . Why don't you say somethingl (She ierks the v;indow doan.) Christ. Youtre not a man at all, youtre a Poor excuse. Put down that cat! Throw that animal down! (She stutches Nitchevo lrorn h.irn and casts her to the floor.) She hates me. Lrrrr,r MeN: She doesntt like unkindness. (F/a stares at her.) LeNpr-eoy: (uneasily) Why that-look? What's the meaning of it? Lrrnr,r MeN: Itm not looking at you. I'm looking at all the evil in the world. Turn out the light. I've lived too long in a room that was nothing but windows and always at noon and with no curtains to draw. Turn out the light. (She reaches slowly
Scnrr IV
A norning in spring. The bra*ches oatside the ceind,ows of the fwnished. roont bear d,elicate new lea,ues which cast ,heir trenb bling shad.ovts through the panas. On the v:hite iron bed. is seated. the Boxer in his undershirt paring his corns with o penhnife. With a faint creoking, the d.oor k pashed. open, T he Little Man conres in. His n anner is dazed, he look as though he had
had a long illness.
Lrmr,r Mew: (faintly) Nr-tchevol Boxrn: (grinning) Sorry, you've got the wrong party-my narne is Bill! (F/a points to a s?ace on the wall afiere his signatare is suaailed. in greot letters. A great X mark has been d.raasn through the portraits ol the Rassiam, the Cat, and the Little Man.) Lrr:rr"r Mer: This was-my old roonr. Boxun: Well, it ain't any more. Unless the landlady rooked me. Ltrrr,n Mer: Youtve-moved in herel Boxrn: Yep. I've hung my boxing gloves on the wall. And there's my silver trophies. (He points to glo'ues suspended.
from a nail and several sihter caps on the bweou.) Lrt:rr,B MeN: There was-a cat. Boxrn: A cat? Lrrrr-n Mew: Yes. Boxnn: Yoursi
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She was
mine-by adoption.
thought
I can't help
you out. Lrrrr-r M.eN: You haventt seen onel A gray onel (He tottches his chest.) White-spottedl BoxsR,: Why, I've seen dozens of cats of every description(Away in tlte house somattshere the Land'Iod'y corturtuerrces to sing one of her haot'nting Zigeuner songs. As he speaks the Boxer retutns to paring ltis corns with an amioble expression"\ seen gray ones, black ones, white ones, spitted, spotted, -Itve and sputted! My relations with cats is strictly-loissez foire! Know what that means, buddy? Live and let live-a motto. I've never gone out of my way-(looking up refl.ectitt"b)-to injwre a cat. But when one gets in my way' I usually kickitl (The Litile Man stares at him speechlessly.) Any more in' formation I can give youl Lrr"rrn Meu: You see, I worked at the plant. Boxrn: So? Lrmr-r Mau: I was fired, I-<ouldn't handle the work! Myfingers-froze up on me! On the way home, I-*omething happened. They took me to the Catholic Sisters of Nlercy! (Th.e Boxer grunts") I had no idea how many weeks I was there. Observation-mental. When I got out-I wondered about my cat, and that was only this morning. I've-come to get her. Boxrx: I haventt seen her, buddy, Lrrrr,r Meu: (desperately) She hasn't-dimbed in the window?
Man laughs with kim, breathlessly and. uncontrollably. For several rnatnents tltey laugh together, then all at omce the Little Man's foce puckers up. He covers his fa.ce and. sobs" The Boxer grunts with arnazernent. This is entirely too rnuch. He strid,es to tlze d,oor,) Boxnn: (shouting) Bella! Bella! Hey, tseiial (The Landlad.y answers. Atter a flr"ornem, of tqJ)o she a??ears in the d,oor. Her lorge sirnplicity is gone. She hos trizzed her h.air and. has on a tighrfitilng d.ress and. f,ashy jewelry. In her now is a sinister,
gl.eaming rich.ness.)
Boxnn: No.
ception.
If
she
arownd" thenl (His voice breaks, his lips tremble. The Boxer stares at him incred* lously. Su'd.d.mly he begins to la*gh' Helplessly the Little
Lervpr.eov: Aw, YOU. They tole me you got laid off at th' plant. Itm sorry. The room'as been taken. Itts now occupied by this young gentleman here. Your stufi, your few belongings, are packed in the downstairs closet. On your way out you may as well pick them up. (The Little Man cloax in his pockeu and. puJls out a large dirty rag. He blows his nose on it.) I cantt afrord to let my rooms stay vacant. I got to be practical, don't Il I didn't take you under false pretenses. You must remember the first conversation we had, before you even decided you'd take the room. I told you there wasntt nothing soft in my nature. That I was a character perfectly fair and deeent*but not sentimental. It's luck in this world, plain luck-and you've got to buck it! Lrmr.s Mers: You---<ame in, nights and--sang. Boxnn: FIuh! Lrrrrr Mew: (wond.eringly) Sang. . . . Laupr-aoy: What of itl I gave you free entertainment. But that dontt mean I was sentimental about you. (The Little Mon shokes h.is head.\ LrmlB Meu: Nothingl l.eNnr,aov: Whatl I-rrrr,n Marq: Nothing? BoxrR: (annoyed.) What is thisl What's this going on herel Is this my room or is it somebody else'sl (He grabs his gloves
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frorn the atall..) Return me the fin I paid you and out! LeNnr-epv: Just hold your horses a minute!
Itll
move
luriously in the face. The Borer grabs his sha*Id.ers atd. shoves him oat the d.oor with a kick.) Boxpn: Now, God damn it! A mad-howe! Lewnr.eoy: Ahhh! Th'Lrrrr,r Mar.i: (screaming through the door) Where is shel Nitchevo, Nitchevo! Where is shel Where did she gol
Nitchevo, Nitchevo! Where! LeNpr,anv: (sueaming back at him) Hroly God, what do I care where that dirty cat went! She rnight've gone to the devil for all I care! Get out of the house and stop screaming! I'lI call the police! (The Littte Man does not ansaw and ,arns aa)ey frorn the door where the Boxer is blocking him,) Boxrn: Huh! Yes-a mad-howe. Lewpr,apv: Out of his mind. Completely, (She wipes her face on her slee,ue and. ad.justs her clothes.) Goingl Can you hearl Boxnn: Yeah. Going back downstairs. Lewplaov: God. I hate for people to make a scene like that. Imagine! Holding me responsible for a sick cat. (She snifi.es a little.) Mean, ugiy, fat. . . . I guess I am. But who isnrt? (She sinks exkaasted.ly on the bed,. The Boxer stand,s at the wind.ous rolling a cigarette.) Boxnn: FIe's gone out back of the house. Leupreny: What's he doing back therel BoxrR: Poking around in the alley and calling the cat. (The Little Man calls in the distance: .rNitch.evo!") Lewor.eny: Useless. He'll never find her. (Th.ere is a swdd.en burst of joyful shouting. The Boxer leans out the vsindow and cltuckles. A softer, watmer guality a??ears in th.e slanting swnlight. There is d.istanr rursic.) Now whatts going onl BoxBn: A celebration. Lewor,aoy: Celebration of whatl Boxrn: (ligh.ting h.is cigarette and resting a loot on the old cra&-pot with the whiskers has found the cat"
to
LaNnr.env: (grondly) That question I cannot answer. I turned her out. Lrr.nr Mew: Whenl Leupreov: I dontt remember. Two or three weeks ago, maybe. Lrr:rr.n Mew: (despairingly) No! Boxrn: Christ. Lrrrr-r Men: No, no, no! LeNnrepy: (angrily, to them both) Be still! What do you think I aml The nerve a some people . . . Expeck me to play nurse-maid to a sick alley<at? (There is a pouse.) Lttrr,r MeN: Sickl Lexnr.aoy: Yes! Whining! Terrifrc! Lrrrrr Maw: What was-the matter with herl LeNor,eov: How should I knowl Aml a---qtettinerry? She cried all night and made an awful disturbance. Yes, like youtre making nowl I turned her out. And when she come slinking back here, I thrown cold water on her three or four times! Finally, finally, she took no for an answer! That is all I have to say on the subjeck. LrrT rr Mar: (staring at her) Mean-ugly-fatl. (Ha repeats it faster.) Mean, ugly, fat, mean, ugly, fat! (She slaps hin
sill) The
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LeNpr,epy: Found herl Who did you sayl Boxrn: The old man, your father-in-law. Lauoreoy: The old man couldn't have found hert (She gets &? longuid.ly and. rmoves to the wind,ow.) How could he have found herl The old man's blind. Boxrn: Anyhow, he found her. And there they go, (The La4tdlady gazes wonderingly out the atind,ow, Tha Bonar slQs hit arm abou, hot waist. The light is golden, the m,tasic is tabt, ard, tender.) LeNpr.eoy: Well, well, well. And so they are leaving together. The funniest pair of lovers! The ghost of a man-and a cat named Nitchevo! I'm glad. , . . Goodbye! (The m*sic soutds louder and, triumphant,)
CURTAIN
'
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