ACT EIGHT
ACT EIGHT
Scene: Late afternoon in late June, ten years later—the afterdeck of the Evans’ motor cruiser anchored in the lane of yachts near the finish line at Poughkeepsie. The bow and amidship of the cruiser are off right, pointed upstream. The portside rail is in the rear, the curve of the stem at left, the rear of the cabin with broad windows and a door is at right. Two wicker chairs are at left and a chaise longue at right. A wicker table with another chair is at center. The afterdeck is in cool shade, contrasted with the soft golden haze of late afternoon sunlight that glows on the river.
Nina is sitting by the table at center, Darrell in the chair farthest left, Marsden in the chaise longue at right. Evans is leaning over the rail directly back of Nina, looking up the river through a pair of binoculars. Madeline Arnold is standing by his side.
Nina’s hair has turned completely white. She is desperately trying to conceal the obvious inroads of time by an over-emphasis on make-up that defeats its end by drawing attention to what it would conceal. Her face is thin, her cheeks taut, her mouth drawn with forced smiling. There is little left of her face’s charm except her eyes which now seem larger and more deeply mysterious than ever. But she has kept her beautiful figure. It has the tragic effect of making her face seem older and more worn-out by contrast. Her general manner recalls instantly the Nina of Act Four, neurotic, passionately embittered and torn. She is dressed in a white yachting costume.
Darrell seems to have “thrown back” to the young doctor we had seen at the house of Nina’s father in Act Two. He has again the air of the cool, detached scientist regarding himself and the people around him as interesting phenomena. In appearance, he is once more sharply defined, his face and body have grown lean and well-conditioned, the puffiness and jowls of the previous Act are gone. His skin is tanned almost black by his years in the tropics. His thick hair is iron-gray. He wears flannel pants, a blue coat, white buckskin shoes. He looks his fifty-one years, perhaps, but not a day more.
Marsden has aged greatly. The stoop of his tall figure is accentuated, his hair has grown whitish. He is an older image of the Marsden of Act Five, who was so prostrated by his mother’s death. Now it is his sister’s death two months before that has plunged him into despair. His present grief, however, is more resigned to its fate than the old. He is dressed immaculately in black, as in Act Five.
Evans is simply Evans, his type logically developed by ten years of continued success and accumulating wealth, jovial and simple and good-natured as ever, but increasingly stubborn and self-opinionated. He has grown very stout. His jowly broad face has a heavy, flushed, apoplectic look. His head has grown quite bald on top. He is wearing a yachting cap, blue yachting coat, white flannel pants, buckskin shoes.
Madeline Arnold is a pretty girl of nineteen, with dark hair and eyes. Her skin is deeply tanned, her figure tall and athletic, reminding one of Nina’s when we first saw her. Her personality is direct and frank. She gives the impression of a person who always knows exactly what she is after and generally gets it, but is also generous and a good loser, a good sport who is popular with her own sex as well as sought after by men. She is dressed in a bright-colored sport costume.
Evans
[Nervous and excited—on pins and needles—lowering his binoculars impatiently]
Can’t see anything up there! There’s a damned haze on the river!
[Handing the binoculars to Madeline]
Here, Madeline. You’ve got young eyes.
Madeline
[Eagerly]
Thank you.
[She looks up the river through the glasses]
Nina
[Thinking—bitterly]
Young eyes! . . . they look into Gordon’s eyes! . . . he sees love in her young eyes! . . . mine are old now! . . .
Evans
[Pulling out his watch]
Soon be time for the start.
[Comes forward—exasperatedly]
Of course, the damned radio has to pick out this time to go dead! Brand new one I had installed especially for this race, too! Just my luck!
[Coming to Nina and putting his hand on her shoulder]
Gosh, I’ll bet Gordon’s some keyed-up right at this moment, Nina!
Madeline
[Without lowering the glasses]
Poor kid! I’ll bet he is!
Nina
[Thinking with intense bitterness]
That tone in her voice! . . . her love already possesses him! . . . my son! . . .
[Vindictively]
But she won’t! . . . as long as I live! . . .
[Flatly]
Yes, he must be nervous.
Evans
[Taking his hand away, sharply]
I didn’t mean nervous. He doesn’t know what it is to have nerves. Nothing’s ever got him rattled yet.
[This last with a resentful look down at her as he moves back to the rail]
Madeline
[With the calm confidence of one who knows]
Yes, you can bank on Gordon never losing his nerve.
Nina
[Coldly]
I’m quite aware my son isn’t a weakling—
[Meaningly, with a glance at Madeline]
even though he does do weak things sometimes.
Madeline
[Without lowering the glasses from her eyes — thinking good-naturedly]
Ouch! . . . that was meant for me ! . . .
[Then hurt]
Why does she dislike me so? . . . I’ve done my best, for Gordon’s sake, to be nice to her. . . .
Evans
[Looking back at Nina resentfully—thinking]
Another nasty crack at Madeline! . . . Nina’s certainly become the prize bum sport! . . . I thought once her change of life was over she’d be ashamed of her crazy jealousy . . . instead of that it’s got worse . . . but I’m not going to let her come between Gordon and Madeline . . . he loves her and she loves him . . . and her folks have got money and position, too . . . and I like her a lot . . . and, by God, I’m going to see to it their marriage goes through on schedule, no matter how much Nina kicks up! . . .
Darrell
[Keenly observant—thinking]
Nina hates this young lady . . . of course! . . . Gordon’s girl . . . she’ll smash their engagement if she can . . . as she did mine once . . . once! . . . thank God my slavery is over! . . . how did she know I was back in town? . . . I wasn’t going to see her again . . . but her invitation was so imploring . . . my duty to Gordon, she wrote . . . what duty? . . . pretty late in the day! . . . that’s better left dead, too! . . .
Evans
[Looking at his watch again]
They ought to be lined up at the start any minute now.
[Pounding his fist on the rail—letting his pent-up feelings explode]
Come on, Gordon!
Nina
[Startled—with nervous irritation]
Sam! I told you I have a splitting headache!
[Thinking intensely]
You vulgar boor! . . . Gordon’s engagement to her is all your fault! . . .
Evans
[Resentfully]
I’m sorry. Why don’t you take some aspirin?
[Thinking irritably]
Nina in the dumps! . . . Charlie in mourning! . . . what a pair of killjoys! . . . I wanted to bring Gordon and his friends on board to celebrate . . . no chance! . . . have to take Madeline . . . stage a party in New York . . . leave this outfit flat . . . Nina’ll be sore as the devil but she’ll have to like it . . .
Darrell
[Examining Nina critically—thinking]
She’s gotten into a fine neurotic state . . . reminds me of when I first knew her . . .
[Then exultantly]
Thank God, I can watch her objectively again . . . these last three years away have finally done it . . . complete cure! . . .
[Then remorsefully]
Poor Nina! . . . we’re all deserting her . . .
[Then glancing at Marsden—with a trace of a sneer]
Even Marsden seems to have left her for the dead! . . .
Marsden
[Vaguely irritated—thinking]
What am I doing here? . . . what do I care about this stupid race? . . . why did I let Nina bully me into coming? . . . I ought to be alone . . . with my memories of dear Jane . . . it will be two months ago Saturday she died . . .
[His lips tremble, tears come to his eyes]
Madeline
[With an impatient sigh, lowering the glasses]
It’s no use, Mr. Evans, I can’t see a thing.
Evans
[With angry disgust]
If only that damned radio was working!
Nina
[Exasperatedly]
For heaven’s sake, stop swearing so much!
Evans
[Hurt—indignantly]
What about it if I am excited? Seems to me you could show a little more interest without it hurting you, when it’s Gordon’s last race, his last appearance on a varsity!
[He turns away from her]
Madeline
[Thinking]
He’s right . . . she’s acting rotten . . . if I were Gordon’s mother, I certainly wouldn’t . . .
Evans
[Turning back to Nina—resentfully]
You used to cheer loud enough for Gordon Shaw! And our Gordon’s got him beat a mile, as an oarsman, at least!
[Turning to Darrell]
And that isn’t father stuff either, Ned! All the experts say so!
Darrell
[Cynically]
Oh, come on, Sam! Surely no one could ever touch Shaw in anything!
[He glances at Nina with a sneer]
[Immediately angry at himself]
What an idiot! . . . that popped out of me! . . . old habit! . . . I haven’t loved her in years! . . .
Nina
[Thinking indifferently]
Ned still feels jealous . . . that no longer pleases me . . . I don’t feel anything . . . except that I must get him to help me. . . .
[She turns to {{sc|Darrell} bitterly]
Sam said “our” Gordon. He means his. Gordon’s become so like Sam, Ned, you won’t recognize him!
Madeline
[Thinking indignantly]
She’s crazy! . . . he’s nothing like his father! . . . he’s so strong and handsome! . . .
Evans
[Good-naturedly, with a trace of pride]
You flatter me, Nina. I wish I thought that. But he isn’t a bit like me, luckily for him. He’s a dead ringer for Gordon Shaw at his best.
Madeline
[Thinking]
Shaw . . . I’ve seen his picture in the gym . . . my Gordon is better looking . . . he once told me Shaw was an old beau of his mother’s . . . they say she was beautiful once . . .
Nina
[Shaking her head — scornfully]
Don’t be modest, Sam. Gordon is you. He may be a fine athlete like Gordon Shaw, because you’ve held that out to him as your ideal, but there the resemblance ceases. He isn’t really like him at all, not the slightest bit!
Evans
[Restraining his anger with difficulty—thinking]
I’m getting sick of this! . . . she’s carrying her jealous grouch too far! . . .
[Suddenly exploding, pounds his fist on the rail]
Damn it, Nina, if you had any feeling you couldn’t—right at the moment when he’s probably getting into the shell—
[He stops, trying to control himself, panting, his face red]
Nina
[Staring at him with repulsion—with cool disdain]
I didn’t say anything so dire, did I—merely that Gordon resembles you in character.
[With malice]
Don’t get so excited. It’s bad for your high blood pressure. Ask Ned if it isn’t.
[Intensely—thinking]
If he’d only die! . . .
[Thinking—immediately]
Oh, I don’t mean that . . . I mustn’t . . .
Darrell
[Thinking keenly]
There’s a death wish . . . things have gone pretty far . . . Sam does look as if he might have a bad pressure . . . what hope that would have given me at one time! . . . no more, thank God! . . .
[In a joking tone]
Oh, I guess Sam’s all right, Nina.
Evans
[Gruffly]
I never felt better.
[He jerks out his watch again]
Time for the start. Come on in the cabin, Ned, and shoot a drink. We’ll see if McCabe’s getting the damned radio fixed.
[Passing by Marsden he claps him on the shoulder exasperatedly]
Come on, Charlie! Snap out of it!
Marsden
[Startled out of his trance—bewilderedly]
Eh?—what is it?—are they coming?
Evans
[Recovering his good nature—with a grin, taking his arm]
You’re coming to shoot a drink. You need about ten, I think, to get you in the right spirit to see the finish!
[To Darrell who has gotten up but is still standing by his chair]
Come on, Ned.
Nina
[Quickly]
No, leave Ned with me. I want to talk to him. Take Madeline—and Charlie.
Marsden
[Looking at her appealingly]
But I’m perfectly contented sitting—
[Then after a look in her eyes—thinking]
She wants to be alone with Darrell . . . all right . . . doesn’t matter now . . . their love is dead . . . but there’s still some secret between them she’s never told me . . . never mind . . . she’ll tell me sometime . . . I’m all she will have left . . . soon. . . .
[Then stricken with guilt]
Poor dear Jane! . . . how can I think of anyone but you! . . . God; I’m contemptible! . . . I’ll get drunk with that fool! . . . that’s all I’m good for! . . .
Madeline
[Thinking resentfully]
She takes a fine do-this-little-girl tone toward me! . . . I’ll give in to her now . . . but once I’m married! . . .
Evans
Come on then, Madeline. We’ll give you a small one.
[Impatiently]
Charlie! Head up!
Marsden
[With hectic joviality]
I hope it’s strong poison!
Evans
[Laughing]
That’s the spirit! We’ll make a sport out of you yet!
Madeline
[Laughing, goes and takes Marsden’s arm]
I’ll see you get home safe, Mr. Marsden!
[They go into the cabin, Evans following them. and Darrell turn and look at each other wonderingly, inquisitively, for a long moment. {{sc|Darrell} remains standing and seems to be a little uneasy]
Darrell
[Thinking with melancholy interest]
And now? . . . what? . . . I can look into her eyes . . . strange eyes that will never grow old . . . without desire or jealousy or bitterness . . . was she ever my mistress? . . . can she be the mother of my child? . . . is there such a person as my son? . . . I can’t think of these things as real any more . . . they must have happened in another life. . . .
Nina
[Thinking sadly]
My old lover . . . how well and young he looks . . . now we no longer love each other at all . . . our account with God the Father is settled . . . afternoons of happiness paid for with years of pain . . . love, passion, ecstasy . . . in what a far-off life were they alive! . . . the only living life is in the past and future . . . the present is an interlude . . . strange interlude in which we call on past and future to bear witness we are living! . . .
[With a sad smile]
Sit down, Ned. When I heard you were back I wrote you because I need a friend. It has been so long since we loved each other we can now be friends again. Don’t you feel that?
Darrell
[Gratefully]
Yes. I do.
[He sits down in one of the chairs at left, drawing it up closer to her]
[Thinking cautiously]
I want to be her friend . . . but I will never . . .
Nina
[Thinking cautiously]
I must keep very cool and sensible or he won’t help me. . . .
[With a friendly smile]
I haven’t seen you look so young and handsome since I first knew you. Tell me your secret.
[Bitterly]
I need it! I’m old! Look at me! And I was actually looking forward to being old! I thought it would mean peace. I’ve been sadly disillusioned!
[Then forcing a smile]
So tell me what fountain of youth you’ve found.
Darrell
[Proudly]
That’s easy. Work! I’ve become as interested in biology as I once was in medicine. And not selfishly interested, that’s the difference. There’s no chance of my becoming a famous biologist and I know it. I’m very much a worker in the ranks. But our Station is a “huge success,” as Sam would say. We’ve made some damned important discoveries. I say “we.” I really mean Preston. You may remember I used to write you about him with enthusiasm. He’s justified it. He is making his name world-famous. He’s what I might have been—I did have the brains, Nina!—if I’d had more guts and less vanity, if I’d hewn to the line!
[Then forcing a smile]
But I’m not lamenting. I’ve found myself in helping him. In that way I feel I’ve paid my debt—that his work is partly my work. And he acknowledges it. He possesses the rare virtue of gratitude.
[With proud affection]
He’s a fine boy, Nina! I suppose I should say man now he’s in his thirties.
Nina
[Thinking with bitter sorrow]
So, Ned . . . you remember our love . . . with bitterness! . . . as a stupid mistake! . . . the proof of a gutless vanity that ruined your career! . . . oh! . . .
[Then controlling herself—thinking cynically]
Well, after all, how do I remember our love? . . . with no emotion at all, not even bitterness! . . .
[Then with sudden alarm]
He’s forgotten Gordon for this Preston! . . .
[Thinking desperately]
I must make him remember Gordon is his child or I can never persuade him to help me! . . .
[Reproachfully]
So you have found a son while I was losing mine—who is yours, too!
Darrell
[Struck by this—impersonally interested]
That’s never occurred to me but now I think of it—
[Smiling]
Yes, perhaps unconsciously Preston is a compensating substitute. Well, it’s done both of us good and hasn’t harmed anyone.
Nina
[With bitter emphasis]
Except your real son—and me—but we don’t count, I suppose!
Darrell
[Coolly]
Harmed Gordon? How? He’s all right, isn’t he?
[With a sneer]
I should say from all I’ve been hearing that he was your ideal of college hero—like his never-to-be-forgotten namesake!
Nina
[Thinking resentfully]
He’s sneering at his own son! . . .
[Then trying to be calculating]
But I mustn’t get angry . . . I must make him help me.
[Speaking with gentle reproach]
And am I the ideal of a happy mother, Ned?
Darrell
[Immediately moved by pity and ashamed of himself]
Forgive me, Nina. I haven’t quite buried all my bitterness, I’m afraid.
[Gently]
I’m sorry you’re unhappy, Nina.
Nina
[Thinking with satisfaction]
He means that . . . he still does care a little . . . if only it’s enough to . . . !
[Speaking sadly]
I’ve lost my son, Ned! Sam has made him all his. And it was done so gradually that, although I realized what was happening, there was never any way I could interfere. What Sam advised seemed always the best thing for Gordon’s future. And it was always what Gordon himself wanted, to escape from me to boarding school and then to college, to become Sam’s athletic hero—
Darrell
[Impatiently]
Oh, come now, Nina, you know you’ve always longed for him to be like Gordon Shaw!
Nina
[Bursting out in spite of herself—violently]
He’s not like Gordon! He’s forgotten me for that—!
[Trying to be more reasonable]
What do I care whether he’s an athlete or not? It’s such nonsense, all this fuss! I’m not the slightest bit interested in this race today, for example! I wouldn’t care if he came in last!
[Stopping herself—thinking frightenedly]
Oh, if he should ever guess I said that! . . .
Darrell
[Thinking keenly]
Hello! . . . she said that as if she’d like to see him come last! . . . why? . . .
[Then vindictively]
Well, so would I! . . . it’s time these Gordons took a good licking from life! . . .
Madeline
[Suddenly appears in the door from the cabin, her face flushed with excitement]
They’re off! Mr. Evans is getting something—it’s terribly faint but—Navy and Washington are leading—Gordon’s third!
[She disappears back in the cabin]
Nina
[Looking after her with hatred]
Her Gordon! . . . she is so sure! . . . how I’ve come to detest her pretty face! . . .
Darrell
[Thinking with a sneer]
“Gordon’s third”! . . . you might think there was no one else pulling the shell! . . . what idiots women make of themselves about these Gordons! . . . she’s pretty, that Madeline! . . . she’s got a figure like Nina’s when I first loved her . . . those afternoons . . . age is beginning to tell on Nina’s face . . . but she’s kept her wonderful body! . . .
[With a trace of malice—dryly]
There’s a young lady who seems to care a lot whether Gordon comes in last or not!
Nina
[Trying to be sorrowful and appealing]
Yes. Gordon is hers now, Ned.
[But she cannot bear this thought—vindictively]
That is, they’re engaged. But, of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean— Can you imagine him throwing himself away on a little fool like that? I simply can’t believe he really loves her! Why, she’s hardly even pretty and she’s deadly stupid. I thought he was only flirting with her—or merely indulging in a passing physical affair.
[She winces]
At his age, one has to expect—even a mother must face nature. But for Gordon to take her seriously, and propose marriage—it’s too idiotic for words!
Darrell
[Thinking cynically]
Oh, so you’ll compromise on his sleeping with her . . . if you have to . . . but she must have no real claim to dispute your ownership, eh? . . . you’d like to make her the same sort of convenient slave for him that I was for you!
[Resentfully]
I can’t agree with you. I find her quite charming. It seems to me if I were in Gordon’s shoes I’d do exactly what he has done.
[In confusion—thinking bitterly]
In Gordon’s shoes! . . . I always was in Gordon Shaw’s shoes! . . . and why am I taking this young Gordon’s part? . . . what is he to me, for God’s sake? . . .
Nina
[Unheedingly]
If he marries her, it means he’ll forget me! He’ll forget me as completely as Sam forgot his mother! She’ll keep him away from me! Oh, I know what wives can do! She’ll use her body until she persuades him to forget me! My son, Ned! And your son, too!
[She suddenly gets up and goes to him and takes one of his hands in both of hers]
The son of our old love, Ned!
Darrell
[Thinking with a strange shudder of mingled attraction and fear as she touches him]
Our love . . . old love . . . old touch of her flesh . . . we’re old . . . it’s silly and indecent . . . does she think she still can own me? . . .
Nina
[In the tone a mother takes in speaking to her husband about their boy]
You’ll have to give Gordon a good talking to, Ned.
Darrell
[Still more disturbed—thinking]
Old . . . but she’s kept her wonderful body . . . how many years since? . . . she has the same strange influence over me . . . touch of her flesh . . . it’s dangerous . . . bosh, I’m only humoring her as a friend . . . as her doctor . . . and why shouldn’t I have a talk with Gordon? . . . a father owes something to his son . . . he ought to advise him. . . .
[Then alarmed]
But I was never going to meddle again . . .
[Sternly]
I swore I’d never again meddle with human lives, Nina!
Nina
[Unheedingly]
You must keep him from ruining his life.
Darrell
[Doggedly—struggling with himself]
I won’t touch a life that has more than one cell!
[Harshly]
And I wouldn’t help you in this, anyway! You’ve got to give up owning people, meddling in their lives as if you were God and had created them!
Nina
[Strangely forlorn]
I don’t know what you mean, Ned. Gordon is my son, isn’t he?
Darrell
[With a sudden strange violence]
And mine! Mine, too!
[He stops himself]
[Thinking]
Shut up, you fool! . . . is that the way to humor her? . . .
Nina
[With strange quiet]
I think I still love you a little, Ned.
Darrell
[In her tone]
And I still love you a little, Nina.
[Then sternly]
But I will not meddle in your life again!
[With a harsh laugh]
And you’ve meddled enough with human love, old lady! Your time for that is over! I’ll send you a couple of million cells you can torture without harming yourself!
[Regaining control—shamefacedly]
Nina! Please forgive me!
Nina
[Starts as if out of a dream—anxiously]
What were you saying, Ned?
[She lets go of his hand and goes back to her chair]
Darrell
[Dully]
Nothing.
Nina
[Strangely]
We were talking about Sam, weren’t we? How do you think he looks?
Darrell
[Confusedly casual]
Fine. A bit too fat, of course. He looks as though his blood pressure might be higher than it ought to be. But that’s not unusual in persons of his build and age. It’s nothing to hope—I meant, to worry over!
[Then violently]
God damn it, why did you make me say hope?
Nina
[Calmly]
It may have been in your mind, too, mayn’t it?
Darrell
No! I’ve nothing against Sam. I’ve always been his best friend. He owes his happiness to me.
Nina
[Strangely]
There are so many curious reasons we dare not think about for thinking things!
Darrell
[Rudely]
Thinking doesn’t matter a damn! Life is something in one cell that doesn’t need to think!
Nina
[Strangely]
I know! God the Mother!
Darrell
[Excitedly]
And all the rest is gutless egotism! But to hell with it! What I started to say was, what possible reason could I have for hoping for Sam’s death?
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.
[Then looking from one to the other—resentfully]
What’s the matter with you two? There’s a race going on, don’t you know it? And you sit like dead clams!
Darrell
[Placatingly]
I thought someone’d better stay out here and let you know when they get in sight.
Evans
[Relieved]
Oh, sure, that’s right! Here, take the glasses. You always had good eyes.
[Darrell gets up and takes the glasses and goes to the rail and begins adjusting them]
Darrell
Which crew was it you said Gordon feared the most?
Evans
[Has gone back to the cabin doorway]
Navy.
[Then proudly]
Oh, he’ll beat them! But it’ll be damn close. I’ll see if Madeline’s getting—
[He goes back in the cabin]
Darrell
[Looking up the river—with vindictive bitterness—thinking]
Come on, Navy! . . .
Nina
[Thinking bitterly]
Madeline’s Gordon! . . . Sam’s Gordon! . . . the thanks I get for saving Sam at the sacrifice of my own happiness! . . . I won’t have it! . . . what do I care what happens to Sam now? . . . I hate him! . . . I’ll tell him Gordon isn’t his child! . . . and threaten to tell Gordon too, unless! . . . he’ll be in deadly fear of that! . . . he’ll soon find some excuse to break their engagement! . . . he can! . . . he has the strangest influence over Gordon! . . . but Ned must back me up or Sam won’t believe me! . . . Ned must tell him too! . . . but will Ned? . . . he’ll be afraid of the insanity! . . . I must make him believe Sam’s in no danger . . .
[Intensely]
Listen, Ned, I’m absolutely sure, from things she wrote me before she died, that Sam’s mother must have been deliberately lying to me about the insanity that time. She was jealous because Sam loved me and she simply wanted to be revenged, I’m sure.
Darrell
[Without lowering glasses—dryly]
No. She told you the truth. I never mentioned it, but I went up there once and made a thorough investigation of his family.
Nina
[With resentful disappointment]
Oh—I suppose you wanted to make sure so you could hope he’d go insane?
Darrell
[Simply]
I needed to be able to hope that, then. I loved you horribly at that time, Nina—horribly!
Nina
[Putting her hands on his arm]
And you don’t—any more, Ned?
[Thinking intensely]
Oh, I must make him love me again . . . enough to make him tell Sam! . . .
Darrell
[Thinking strangely—struggling with himself]
She’d like to own me again . . . I wish she wouldn’t touch me . . . what is this tie of old happiness between our flesh? . . .
[Harshly—weakly struggling to shake off her hands, without lowering the glasses]
I won’t meddle again with human lives, I told you!
Nina
[Unheeding, clinging to him]
And I loved you horribly! I still do love yon, Ned! I used to hope he’d go insane myself because I loved you so! But look at Sam! He’s sane as a pig! There’s absolutely no danger now!
Darrell
[Thinking—alarmed]
What is she after now—what does she want me for? . . .
[Stiffly]
I’m no longer a doctor but I should say he’s a healthy miss of Nature’s. It’s a thousand to one against it at this late day.
Nina
[With sudden fierce intensity]
Then it’s time to tell him the truth, isn’t it? We’ve suffered all our lives for his sake! We’ve made him rich and happy! It’s time he gave us back our son!
Darrell
[Thinking]
Aha . . . so that’s it! . . . tell Sam the truth? . . . at last! . . . by God, I’d like to tell him, at that! . . .
[With a sneer]
Our son? You mean yours, my dear! Kindly count me out of any further meddling with—
Nina
[Unruffledly—obsessed]
But Sam won’t believe me if I’m the only one to tell him! He’ll think I’m lying for spite, that it’s only my crazy jealousy! He’ll ask you! You’ve got to tell him too, Ned!
Darrell
[Thinking]
I’d like to see his face when I told him this famous oarsman isn’t his son but mine! . . . that might pay me back a little for all he’s taken from me! . . .
[Harshly]
I’ve stopped meddling in Sam’s life, I tell you!
Nina
[Insistently]
Think of what Sam has made us go through, of how he’s made us suffer! You’ve got to tell him! You still love me a little, don’t you, Ned? You must when you remember the happiness we’ve known in each other’s arms! You were the only happiness I’ve ever known in life!
Darrell
[Struggling weakly—thinking]
She lies! . . . there was her old lover, Gordon! . . . he was always first! . . . then her son, Gordon! . . .
[With desperate rancor—thinking]
Come on, Navy! . . . beat her Gordons for me! . . .
Nina
[Intensely]
Oh, if I’d only gone away with you that time when you came back from Europe! How happy we would have been, dear! How our boy would have loved you—if it hadn’t been for Sam!
Darrell
[Thinking—weakly]
Yes, if it hadn’t been for Sam I would have been happy! . . . I would have been the world’s greatest neurologist! . . . my boy would have loved me and I’d have loved him! . . .
Nina
[With a crowning intensity to break down his last resistance]
You must tell him, Ned ! For my sake! Because I love you! Because you remember our afternoons—our mad happiness! Because you love me!
Darrell
[Beaten—dazedly]
Yes—what must I do?—meddle again?
[The noise of Madeline’s excited voice cheering and clapping her hands, of Marsden’s voice yelling drunkenly, of Evans’, all shouting “Gordon! Gordon! Come on, Gordon!” comes from the cabin. Marsden appears swaying in the cabin doorway yelling “Gordon!” He is hectically tipsy. Darrell gives a violent shudder as if he were coming out of a nightmare and pushes Nina away from him]
Darrell
[Thinking—dazedly still, but in a tone of relief]
Marsden again! . . . thank God! . . . he’s saved me! . . . from her! . . . and her Gordons! . . .
[Turning on her triumphantly]
No, Nina—sorry—but I can’t help you. I told you I’d never meddle again with human lives!
[More and more confidently]
Besides, I’m quite sure Gordon isn’t my son, if the real deep core of the truth were known! I was only a body to you. Your first Gordon used to come back to life. I was never more to you than a substitute for your dead lover! Gordon is really Gordon’s son! So you see I’d be telling Sam a lie if I boasted that I— And I’m a man of honor! I’ve proved that, at least!
[He raises his glasses and looks up the river]
[Thinking exultantly]
I’m free! . . . I’ve beaten her at last! . . . now come on, Navy! . . . you’ve got to beat her Gordons for me! . . .
Nina
[After staring at him for a moment—walking away from him—thinking with a dull fatalism]
I’ve lost him . . . he’ll never tell Sam now . . . is what he said right? . . . is Gordon Gordon’s? . . . oh, I hope so! . . . oh, dear, dead Gordon, help me to get back your son! . . . I must find some way. . . .
[She sits down again]
Marsden
[Who has been staring at them with a foolish grin]
Hello, you two! Why do you look so guilty? You don’t love each other any more! It’s all nonsense! I don’t feel the slightest twinge of jealousy. That’s proof enough, isn’t it?
[Then blandly apologetic]
Pardon me if I sound a bit pipped—a good bit! Sam said ten and then took the bottle away when I’d had only five! But it’s enough! I’ve forgotten sorrow! There’s nothing in life worth grieving about, I assure you, Nina! And I’ve gotten interested in this race now.
[He sings raucously]
“Oh we’ll row, row, row, right down the river! And we’ll row, row, row—” Remember that old tune—when you were a little girl, Nina? Oh, I’m forgetting Sam said to tell you Gordon was on even terms with the leaders! A gallant spurt did it! Nip and tuck now! I don’t care who wins—as long as it isn’t Gordon! I don’t like him since he’s grown up! He thinks I’m an old woman!
[Sings]
“Row, row, row.” The field against Gordon!
Darrell
[Hectically]
Right!
[He looks through the glasses—excitedly]
I see a flashing in the water way up there! Must be their oars! They’re coming! I’ll tell Sam!
[He hurries into the cabin]
Nina
[Thinking dully]
He’ll tell Sam . . . no, he doesn’t mean that . . . I must find some other way . . .
Marsden
[Walks a bit uncertainly to Nina’s chair]
Gordon really should get beaten today—for the good of his soul, Nina. That Madeline is pretty, isn’t she? These Gordons are too infernally lucky—while we others—
[He almost starts to blubber—angrily]
we others have got to beat him today!
[He slumps clumsily down to a sitting position on then deck by her chair and takes her hand and pats it]
There, there, Nina Cara Nina! Don’t worry your pretty head! It will all come out all right! We’ll only have a little while longer to wait and then you and I’ll be quietly married!
[Thinking frightenedly]
The devil! . . . what am I saying? . . . I’m drunk! . . . all right, all the better! . . . I’ve wanted all my life to tell her! . . .
Of course, I realize you’ve got a husband at present but, never mind, I can wait. I’ve waited a lifetime already; but for a long while now I’ve had a keen psychic intuition that I wasn’t born to die before—
[Evans and Madeline and Darrell come rushing out of the cabin. They all have binoculars. They run to the rail and train their glasses up the river]
Madeline
[Excitedly]
I see them!
[Grabbing his arm and pointing]
Look, Mr. Evans—there—don’t you see?
Evans
[Excitedly]
No—not yet— Yes! Now I see them!
[Pounding on the rail]
Come on, Gordon boy!
Madeline
Come on, Gordon!
[The whistles and sirens from the yachts up the river begin to be heard. This grows momentarily louder as one after another other yachts join in the chorus as the crews approach nearer and nearer until toward the close of the scene there is a perfect pandemonium of sound]
Nina
[With bitter hatred—thinking]
How I hate her! . . .
[Then suddenly with a deadly calculation—thinking]
Why not tell her? . . . as Sam’s mother told me? . . . of the insanity? . . . she thinks Gordon is Sam’s son. . . .
[With a deadly smile of triumph]
That will be poetic justice! . . . that will solve everything! . . . she won’t marry him! . . . he will turn to me for comfort! . . . but I must plan it out carefully! . . .
Marsden
[Driven on—extravagantly]
Listen, Nina! After we’re married I’m going to write a novel—my first real novel! All the twenty odd books I’ve written have been long-winded fairy tales for grown-ups—about dear old ladies and witty, cynical bachelors and quaint characters with dialects, and married folk who always admire and respect each other, and lovers who avoid love in hushed whispers ! That’s what I’ve been, Nina—a hush-hush whisperer of lies! Now I’m going to give an honest healthy yell—turn on the sun into the shadows of lies—shout “This is life and this is sex, and here are passion and hatred and regret and joy and pain and ecstasy, and these are men and women and sons and daughters whose hearts are weak and strong, whose blood is blood and not a soothing syrup!” Oh, I can do it, Nina! I can write the truth! I’ve seen it in you, your father, my mother, sister, Gordon, Sam, Darrell and myself. I’ll write the book of us! But here I am talking while my last chapters are in the making—right here and now—
[Hurriedly]
You’ll excuse me, won’t you, Nina? I must watch—my duty as an artist!
[He scrambles to his feet and peers about him with a hectic eagerness. Nina pays no attention to him]
Evans
[Exasperatedly, taking down his glasses]
You can’t tell a damn thing—which is which or who’s ahead—I’m going to listen in again.
[He hurries into the cabin]
Nina
[With a smile of cruel triumph—thinking]
I can tell her . . . confidentially . . . I can pretend I’m forced to tell her . . . as Sam’s mother did with me . . . because I feel it’s due to her happiness and Gordon’s . . . it will explain my objection to the engagement . . . oh, it can’t help succeeding . . . my Gordon will come back! . . . I’ll see he never gets away again! . . .
[She calls]
Madeline!
Marsden
[Thinking]
Why is she calling Madeline? . . . I must watch all this carefully! . . .
Evans
[Comes rushing out in wild alarm]
Bad news! Navy has drawn ahead—half a length—looks like Navy’s race, he said—
[Then violently]
But what does he know, that damn fool announcer—some poor boob—!
Madeline
[Excitedly]
He doesn’t know Gordon! He’s always best when he’s pushed to the limit!
Nina
[She calls more sharply]
Madeline!
Darrell
[Turns around to stare at her—thinking]
Why is she calling Madeline? . . . she’s bound she’ll meddle in their lives . . . I’ve got to watch her . . . well, let’s see. . . .
[He touches Madeline on the shoulder]
Mrs. Evans is calling you, Miss Arnold.
Madeline
[Impatiently]
Yes, Mrs. Evans. But they’re getting closer. Why don’t you come and watch?
Nina
[Not heeding—impressively]
There’s something I must tell you.
Madeline
[In hopeless irritation]
But— Oh, all right.
[She hurries over to her, glancing eagerly over her shoulder towards the river]
Yes, Mrs. Evans?
Darrell
[Moves from the rail toward them—thinking keenly]
I must watch this . . . she’s in a desperate meddling mood! . . .
Nina
[Impressively]
First, give me your word of honor that you’ll never reveal a word of what I’m going to tell you to a living soul—above all not to Gordon!
Madeline
[Looking at her in amazement—soothingly]
Couldn’t you tell me later, Mrs. Evans—after the race?
Nina
[Sternly—grabbing her by the wrist]
No, now! Do you promise?
Madeline
[With helpless annoyance]
Yes, Mrs. Evans.
Nina
[Sternly]
For the sake of your future happiness and my son’s I’ve got to speak! Your engagement forces me to ! You’ve probably wondered why I objected. It’s because the marriage is impossible. You can’t marry Gordon! I speak as your friend! You must break your engagement with him at once!
Madeline
[Cannot believe her ears—suddenly panic-stricken]
But why—why?
Darrell
[Who has come closer—resentfully thinking]
She wants to ruin my son’s life as she ruined mine! . . .
Nina
[Relentlessly]
Why? Because—
Darrell
[Steps up suddenly beside them—sharply and sternly commanding]
No, Nina!
[He taps Madeline on the shoulder and draws her aside. Nina lets go of her wrist and stares after them in a sort of stunned stupor]
Miss Arnold, as a doctor I feel it my duty to tell you that Mrs. Evans isn’t herself. Pay no attention to anything she may say to you. She’s just passed through a crucial period in a woman’s life and she’s morbidly jealous of you and subject to queer delusions!
[He smiles kindly at her]
So get back to the race! And God bless you!
[He grips her hand, strangely moved]
Madeline
[Gratefully]
Thank you. I understand, I think. Poor Mrs. Evans!
[She hurries back to the rail, raising her glasses]
Nina
[Springing to her feet and finding her voice—with despairing accusation]
Ned!
Darrell
[Steps quickly to her side]
I’m sorry, Nina, but I warned you not to meddle.
[Then affectionately]
And Gordon is—well—sort of my stepson, isn’t he? I really want him to be happy.
[Then smiling good-naturedly]
All the same, I can’t help hoping he’ll be beaten in this race. As an oarsman he recalls his father, Gordon Shaw, to me.
[He turns away and raises his glasses, going back to the rail. Nina slumps down in her chair again]
Evans
Damn! They all look even from here! Can you tell which is which, Madeline?
Madeline
No—not yet—oh, dear, this is awful! Gordon!
Nina
[Looking about her in the air—with a dazed question]
Gordon?
Marsden
[Thinking]
Damn that Darrell! . . . if he hadn’t interfered Nina would have told . . . something of infinite importance, I know! . . .
[He comes and again sits on the deck by her chair and takes her hand]
Because what, Nina—my dear little Nina Cara Nina—because what? Let me help you!
Nina
[Staring before her as if she were in a trance—simply, like a young girl]
Yes, Charlie. Yes, Father. Because all of Sam’s father’s family have been insane. His mother told me that time so I wouldn’t have his baby. I was going to tell Madeline that so she wouldn’t marry Gordon. But it would have been a lie because Gordon isn’t really Sam’s child at all, he’s Ned’s. Ned gave him to me and I gave him to Sam so Sam could have a healthy child and be well and happy. And Sam is well and happy, don’t you think?
[Childishly]
So I haven’t been such an awfully wicked girl, have I, Father?
Marsden
[Horrified and completely sobered by what he has heard—stares at her with stunned eyes]
Nina! Good God! Do you know what you’re saying?
Madeline
[Excitedly]
There! The one on this side! I saw the color on their blades just now!
Evans
[Anxiously]
Are you sure? Then he’s a little behind the other two!
Darrell
[Excitedly]
The one in the middle seems to be ahead! Is that the Navy?
[But the others pay no attention to him. All three are learning over the rail, their glasses glued to their eyes, looking up the river. The noise from the whistles is now very loud. The cheering from the observation trains can be heard]
Marsden
[Stares into her face with great pity now]
Merciful God, Nina! Then you’ve lived all these years—with this horror! And you and Darrell deliberately—?
Nina
[Without looking at him—to the air]
Sam’s mother said I had a right to be happy too.
Marsden
And you didn’t love Darrell then—?
Nina
[As before]
I did afterwards. I don’t now. Ned is dead, too.
[Softly]
Only you are alive now, Father—and Gordon.
Marsden
[Gets up and bends over her paternally, stroking her hair with a strange, wild, joyous pity]
Oh, Nina—poor little Nina—my Nina—how you must have suffered! I forgive you! I forgive you everything! I forgive even your trying to tell Madeline—you wanted to keep Gordon—oh, I understand that—and I forgive you!
Nina
[As before—affectionately and strangely]
And I forgive you, Father. It was all your fault in the beginning, wasn’t it? You mustn’t ever meddle with human lives again!
Evans
[Wildly excited]
Gordon’s sprinting, isn’t he? He’s drawing up on that middle one!
Madeline
Yes! Oh, come on, Gordon!
Darrell
[Exultantly]
Come on, Navy!
Evans
[Who is standing next to Ned, whirls on him in a furious passion]
What’s that? What the hell’s the matter with you?
Darrell
[Facing him—with a strange friendliness slaps him on the back]
We’ve got to beat these Gordons, Sam! We’ve got to beat—
Evans
[Raging]
You—!
[He draws back his fist—then suddenly horrified at what he is doing but still angry, grabs Darrell by both shoulders and shakes him]
Wake up! What the hell’s got into you? Have you gone crazy?
Darrell
[Mockingly]
Probably! It runs in my family! All of my father’s people were happy lunatics—not healthy, country folk like yours, Sam! Ha!
Evans
[Staring at him]
Ned, old man, what’s the trouble? You said “Navy.”
Darrell
[Ironically—with a bitter hopeless laugh]
Slip of the tongue! I meant Gordon! Meant Gordon, of course! Gordon is always meant—meant to win! Come on, Gordon! It’s fate!
Madeline
Here they come! They’re both spurting! I can see Gordon’s back!
Evans
[Forgetting everything else, turns back to the race]
Come on, boy! Come on, son!
[The chorus of noise is now a bedlam as the crews near the finish line. The people have to yell and scream to make themselves heard]
Nina
[Getting up—thinking with a strange, strident, wild passion]
I hear the Father laughing! . . . O Mother God, protect my son! . . . let Gordon fly to you in heaven! . . . quick, Gordon! . . . love is the Father’s lightning! . . . Madeline will bring you down in flames! . . . I hear His screaming laughter! . . . fly back to me! . . .
[She is looking desperately up into the sky as if some race of life and death were happening there for her]
Evans
[Holding on to a stanchion and leaning far out at the imminent risk of falling in]
One spurt more will do it! Come on, boy, come on! It took death to beat Gordon Shaw! You can’t be beaten either, Gordon! Lift her out of the water, son! Stroke! Stroke! He’s gaining! Now! Over the line, boy! Over with her! Stroke! That’s done it! He’s won! He’s won!
Madeline
[Has been shrieking at the same time]
Gordon! Gordon! He’s won! Oh, he’s fainted! Poor dear darling!
[She remains standing on the rail, leaning out dangerously, holding on with one hand, looking down longingly toward his shell]
Evans
[Bounding back to the deck, his face congested and purple with a frenzy of joy, dancing about]
He’s won! By God, it was close! Greatest race in the history of rowing! He’s the greatest oarsman God ever made!
[Embracing Nina and kissing her frantically]
Aren’t you happy, Nina? Our Gordon! The greatest ever!
Nina
[Torturedly—trying incoherently to force out a last despairing protest]
No!—not yours!—mine!—and Gordon’s!—Gordon is Gordon’s!—he was my Gordon!—his Gordon is mine!
Evans
[Soothingly, humoring her—kissing her again]
Of course he’s yours, dear—and a dead ringer for Gordon Shaw, too! Gordon’s body! Gordon’s spirit! Your body and spirit, too, Nina! He’s not like me, lucky for him! I’m a poor boob! I never could row worth a damn!
[He suddenly staggers as if he were very drunk, leaning on Marsden—then gives a gasp and collapses inertly to the deck, lying on his back]
Marsden
[Stares down at him stupidly—then thinking strangely]
I knew it! . . . I saw the end beginning! . . .
[He touches Nina’s arm—in a low voice]
Nina—your husband!
[Touching Darrell who has stood staring straight before him with a bitter ironical smile on his lips]
Ned—your friend! Doctor Darrell—a patient!
Nina
[Stares down at Evans—slowly, as if trying to bring her mind back to him]
My husband?
[Suddenly with a cry of pain, sinks on her knees beside the body]
Sam!
Darrell
[Looking down at him—thinking yearningly]
Is her husband dead . . . at last? . . .
[Then with a shudder at his thoughts]
No! . . . I don’t hope! . . . I don’t! . . .
[He cries]
Sam!
[He kneels down, feels of his heart, pulse, looks into his face—with a change to a strictly professional manner]
He’s not dead. Only a bad stroke.
Nina
[With a cry of grief]
Oh, Ned, did all our old secret hopes do this at last?
Darrell
[Professionally, staring at her coldly]
Bosh, Mrs. Evans! We’re not in the Congo that we can believe in evil charms!
[Sternly]
In his condition, Mr. Evans must have absolute quiet and peace of mind or— And perfect care! You must tend him night and day! And I will! We’ve got to keep him happy!
Nina
[Dully]
Again?
[Then sternly in her turn, as if swearing a pledge to herself]
I will never leave his side! I will never tell him anything that might disturb his peace!
Marsden
[Standing above them—thinking exultantly]
I will not have long to wait now! . . .
[Then ashamed]
How can I think such things . . . poor Sam! . . . he was . . . I mean he is my friend . . .
[With assertive loyalty]
A rare spirit! A pure and simple soul! A good man—yes, a good man! God bless him!
[He makes a motion over the body like a priest blessing]
Darrell
[His voice suddenly breaking with a sincere human grief]
Sam, old boy! I’m so damned sorry! I will give my life to save you!
Nina
[In dull anguish]
Save—again?
[Then lovingly, kissing Evans’ face]
Dear husband, you have tried to make me happy, I will give you my happiness again! I will give you Gordon to give to Madeline!
Madeline
[Still standing on the rail, staring after Gordon’s shell]
Gordon! . . . dear lover . . . how tired . . . but you’ll rest in my arms . . . your head will lie on my breast . . . soon! . . .
CURTAIN