Nina
[Strangely]
We’re always desiring death for ourselves or others, aren’t we—while we while away our lives with the old surface ritual of coveting our neighbor’s ass?
Darrell
[Frightenedly]
You’re talking like the old Nina now—when I first loved you. Please don’t! It isn’t decent—at our age!
[Thinking in terror]
The old Nina! . . . am I the old Ned? . . . then that means? . . . but we must not meddle in each other’s lives again! . . .
Nina
[Strangely]
I am the old Nina! And this time I will not let my Gordon go from me forever!
Evans
[Appears in the doorway of the cabin—excited and irritated]
Madeline’s listening in now. It went dead on me.
[Raising the binoculars as he goes to the rail, he looks up the river]
Last I got, Gordon third, Navy and Washington leading. They’re the ones to fear, he said—Navy especially.
[Putting down the glasses—with a groan]
Damned haze! My eyes are getting old.
[Then suddenly with a grin]
You ought to see Charlie! He started throwing Scotch into him as if he were drinking against time. I had to take the bottle away from him. It’s hit him an awful wallop.
