The Return of Peter Grimm by David Belasco (classic reads .TXT) 📕

said too much. The room is now very dark. The rain has subsided. Everything is quiet outside. There is not a sound, save the ticking of the clock._

REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Solemnly--breaking the pause._] Young man, it might have been better had Mr. Grimm given his _all_ to charity--for he has left his money to an ingrate.

FREDERIK. [_Laughing derisively._] Ha! Ha!

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. Sh! Someone's coming.

_All is quiet. The clock ticks in the dark. The door opens._

FREDERIK. [_With a change of voice._] Come in. [_Nobody enters._] Where's a light? We've been sitting in the dark like owls. Come in. [_A pause. He strikes a match and holds it above his head. The light shows the open door. A wind, blowing through the doorway, causes the match to flicker, and_ FREDERIK _protects it with his hand._

COLONEL LAWTON. I'll see who's ... [_Looks out._] No one.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. Someone _must_ be there. Who opened the door? [_The wind puts out the match in_ FREDERIK'S _hand. The room is once more in semi-darkness._] There ... it closed again ... [FREDERIK _strikes another match and holds it up. The door is seen to be closed._

COLONEL LAWTON. [_Who is nearest to the door._] I didn't touch it.

FREDERIK. [_Blowing out the match._] I'll have the lamps brought in.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. Curious ...

REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY. It was the wind--a draught.

COLONEL LAWTON. [_Returning to his chair._] Must have been.

CATHERINE. [_Entering with a lamp._] Did someone call me?

_Without pausing, she sets the lamp on the table down right--opposite the group of characters. She turns up the wick and _PETER GRIMM _is seen standing in the room--half in shadow. He is as he was in life. The clothes he wears appear to be those he wore about his house in the first act. He carries his hat in his hand. He has the same kind smile, the same deferential manner, but his face is more spiritual and years younger. The lamp, which _CATHERINE_ has placed on the table, brightens the room._

PETER. [_Whose eyes never leave_ CATHERINE.] Yes ... I called you.... I've come back.

FREDERIK. [_To_ CATHERINE.] No.

PETER. Don't be frightened, Katie. It's the most natural thing in the world. You wanted me and I came.

FREDERIK. Why? What made you think someone called you?

CATHERINE. I'm so accustomed to hear Uncle Peter's voice in this room, that sometimes I forget he's not here ... I can't get over it! I was almost sure I heard him speak ... but, of course, as soon as I came in--I remembered.... But some one must have called me.

FREDERIK. No.

PETER _stands looking at them, perplexed; not being able to comprehend as yet that he is not seen._

CATHERINE. Isn't it curious ... to hear your name and turn and ... [_Unconsciously, she looks in_ PETER'S _face._] no one there?

REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Kindly._] Nerves ... imagination.

FREDERIK. You need a complete change. [_Crossing to the door._] For heaven's sake, let's have more light or we shall all be hearing voices.

PETER. Strange.... Nobody seems to see me.... It's--it's extraordinary! Katie! ... Katie! ... [_His eyes have followed_ CATHERINE _who is now at the door._

CATHERINE. [_Pausing._] Perhaps it was the book I was reading that made me think I heard.... The Doctor lent it to me.

FREDERIK. [_Pooh-poohing._] Oh!

CATHERINE. [_Half to herself._] If he _does_ know, if he _can_ see, he'll be comforted by the thought that I'm going to do everything he wanted. [_She passes out of the room._

PETER. [_Showing that he does not want her to carry out his wishes._] No, no, don't ... Frederik, I want to speak to you.

[FREDERIK, _not glancing in_ PETER'S _direction, lights a cigarette._

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. Well, Frederik, I hope the old gentleman can see his mistake _now_.

PETER. I can see several mistakes. [REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY _rises and goes towards the door, pausing in front of_ PETER _to take out his watch._] ... Mr. Batholommey, I'm glad to see you in my house.... I'm very sorry that you can't see me. I wasn't pleased with my funeral sermon; it was very gloomy--very. I never was so depressed in my life.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_To_ FREDERIK.] Do you know what I should like to say to your uncle?

PETER. I know.

REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY. I hope at least you'll care for the parish poor as your uncle did--and keep on with _some_ of his charities.

PETER. [_Putting his hand on_ REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY'S _shoulder._] That's all attended to. I arranged all that with Frederik. He must look after my charities.

FREDERIK. I might as well tell you now--you needn't look to me. It's Uncle Peter's fault if your charities are cut off.

REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Half-doubtingly._] It doesn't seem possible that he made no arrangements to continue his good works. [FREDERIK _remains stolid._ REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY _puts back his watch after glancing at it._] Just thirty minutes to make a call. [_Goes into the hall to put on his overshoes, coat, &c., leaving_ PETER'S _hand extended in the air._

COLONEL LAWTON. [_Rising._] I must be toddling. [_Pauses._] It's queer, Frederik, how things turn out in this world. [_He stands, thinking matters over--cigar in mouth, his hand on his chin._

PETER. [_Slipping his hand through_ COLONEL LAWTON'S _arm. They seem to look each other in the eye._] You were perfectly right about it, Thomas, I should have made a will ... I--suppose it _is_ a little too late, isn't it?... It would be--er--unusual to do it now, wouldn't it?

COLONEL LAWTON, _who has heard nothing--seen nothing--moves away as though_ PETER _had never held his arm, and goes up into the hall for his cape and overshoes._

COLONEL LAWTON. [_Noticing an old gold-headed walking-stick in the hall._] Oh, er--what are you going to do with all the old man's family relics, Frederik?

FREDERIK. The junk, you mean? I shall lay it on some scrap-heap, I suppose. It's not worth a penny.

COLONEL LAWTON. I'm not so sure of that. They say there's a lot of money paid for this sort of trash.

FREDERIK. Is that so? Not a bad idea to have a dealer in to look it over.

PETER _stands listening, a faint smile on his face._

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. If I could have the old clock--cheap, Frederik, I'd take it off your hands.

FREDERIK. I'll find out how much it's worth. I shall have everything appraised. [_Sets his watch by the clock._ MRS. BATHOLOMMEY _gives him a look and joins her husband at the door._

COLONEL LAWTON. Good-night. [_Exit, closing the door._

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_As_ REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY _goes out--calling after him._] Henry, Catherine wants you to come back for supper. [MRS. BATHOLOMMEY _leaves the room too disgusted for words._ FREDERIK _goes into the office._

PETER. [_Now alone._] We live and learn ... and oh! what I have learned since I came back.... [_He goes to his own particular peg in the vestibule and hangs up his hat. He glances at the wedding presents. Presently he sees the flowers which_ CATHERINE _has placed on the desk. With a smile, he touches the flowers._ MARTA _enters with another lamp, which she places on a table. As_ PETER'S _eyes rest on_ MARTA, _he nods and smiles in recognition, waiting for a response._] Well, Marta?... Don't you know your old master?... No?... No?... [_She winds the clock and leaves the room._] I seem to be a stranger in my own house ... yet the watch-dog knew me and wagged his tail as I came in. [_He stands trying to comprehend it all._] Well! Well!

FREDERIK. [_Looking at his watch, re-enters from the office and goes to the 'phone, which presently rings._ FREDERIK _instantly lifts the receiver as though not wishing to attract attention. In a low voice._] Yes ... I was waiting for you. How are you, Mr. Hicks? [_Listens._] I'm not anxious to sell--no. I prefer to carry out my dear old uncle's wishes. [PETER _eyes him--a faint smile on his lips._] If I got my price? Well ... of course in that case ... I might be tempted. To-morrow? No, I can't see you to-morrow. I'm going to be married to-morrow, and leave at once for New York. Thank you. [_Listens._] To-night? Very well, but I don't want it known. I'll sell, but it must be for more than the price my uncle refused. Make it ten thousand more and it's done. [_Listens._] You'll come to-night?... Yes, yes.... [_Listens at the 'phone._] The dear old man told you his plans never failed, eh? God rest his soul! [_Laughing indulgently._] Ha! Ha! Ha!

PETER. Ha! Ha! Ha!

FREDERIK. [_Echoing_ HICKS' _words._] What would he say if he knew? What could he say? Everything must change.

_A far-away rumble of thunder is heard--the lightning flickers at the window and a flash is seen on the telephone which tinkles and responds as though from the electric shock. Exclaiming "Ugh,"_ FREDERIK _drops the receiver--which hangs down._

PETER. [_The storm passes as he speaks into the receiver without touching the telephone._] Good-evening, my friend. We shall soon meet--face to face. You won't be able to carry this matter through.... [_Looking into space as though he could see the future._] You're not well and you're going out to supper to-night; ... you will eat something that will cause you to pass over.... I shall see you to-morrow.... A happy crossing!

FREDERIK. [_Picks up the receiver._] Hello?... You don't feel well, you say? [_Then echoing the purport of_ HICKS' _answer._] I see.... Your lawyer can attend to everything to-night without you. Very well. It's entirely a question of money, Mr. Hicks. Send your lawyer to the Grimm Manor Hotel. I'll arrange at once for a room. Good-bye. [_Hangs up the receiver._] That's off my mind. [_He lights a fresh cigarette--his face expressing the satisfaction he feels in the prospect of a perfectly idle future._ PETER _looks at him as though to say: "And that's the boy whom I loved and trusted!"_ FREDERIK _gets his hat, throws his coat over his arm, and hastens out._

PETER. [_Turns and faces the door leading into the next room, as though he could feel the presence of some one waiting there._] Yes ... I am still in the house. Come in ... come in ... [_He repeats the signal of the first act._] Ou--oo. [_The door opens slowly--and_ CATHERINE _enters as though at_ PETER'S _call. She looks about her, not understanding. He holds out his arms to her._ CATHERINE _walks slowly towards him. He takes her in his arms, but she does not respond. She does not know that she is being held._] There! There!... Don't worry.... It's all right.... We'll arrange things very differently. I've come back to change all my plans. [_She moves away a step--just out of his embrace. He tries to call her back._] Katie! ... Can't I make my presence known to _you_? Katie! Can't my love for you outlive _me_? Isn't it here in the home?... Don't cry. [_She moves about the room in thought. As_ PETER _watches her--she pauses near his desk._

CATHERINE. [_Suddenly._] Crying doesn't help matters.

PETER. She hears me. She doesn't know it, but she hears me. She's cheering up. [_She inhales the flowers--a half smile on her lips._] That's right, you haven't smiled before since I died. [_Suddenly giving way to the realization of her loss_, CATHERINE _sighs._

PETER. [_Correcting himself._] I--I mean--since I learned that there was a happier place than the world I left.... I'm a trifle confused. I've not had time to adjust myself to these new conditions.