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

[CATHERINE _smiles sadly--goes up to the window, and, leaning against the pane, looks out into the night._ PETER _continues comfortingly._] The dead have never really died, you know. We couldn't die if we tried. We're all about you.... Look at the gardens: they've died, haven't they? But there they are all the better for it. Death is the greatest thing in the world. It's really a--Ha!--delightful experience. What is it, after all? A nap from which we waken rested, refreshened ... a sleep from which we spring up like children tumbling out of bed--ready to frolic through another world. I was an old man a few days ago; now I'm a boy. I feel much younger than you--much younger. [_A conflict is going on in_ CATHERINE'S _mind. She walks to the chair by the fireplace and sits--her back to the audience. He approaches her and lays a tender hand on her shoulder._] I know what you're thinking.... Katie, I want you to break that very foolish promise I asked you to make. You're almost tempted to. Break it! Break it at once; then--[_Glancing smilingly towards the door through which he came--as though he wished to leave--like a child longing to go back to play._] then I could--take the journey back in peace.... I can't go until you do--and I ... I long to go.... Isn't my message any clearer to you? [_Reading her mind._] You have a feeling ... an impression of what I'm saying; but the words ... the words are not clear.... Mm ... let me see.... If you can't understand me--there's the Doctor, he'll know how to get the message-- he'll find the way.... Then I can hurry back ... home....

CATHERINE. [_Helplessly--changing her position like a tired child._] Oh, I'm so alone.

PETER. [_Cheerily._] Not alone at all--not at all. I shall drop in very often ... and then, there's your mother. [_Suddenly remembering._] Oh, yes, I had almost forgotten. I have a message for you, Katie.... [_He seats himself in a chair which is almost in front of her._] I've met your mother. [_She sits in a reverie._ PETER _continues with the air of a returned traveller relating his experiences._] She heard that I had crossed over and there she was--waiting for me. You're thinking of it, aren't you? Wondering if we met.... Yes, that was the first interesting experience. She knew me at once. "You were Peter Grimm," she said, "before you knew better"--that's what _they_ call leaving _this_ world--"_to know better_." You call it "dying." [_Confidentially._] She's been here often, it seems, watching over you. I told her how much I loved you and said that you had a happy home. I spoke of your future--of my plans for you and Frederik. "Peter Grimm," she said, "you've over-looked the most important thing in the world--love. You haven't given her _her right_ to the choice of her lover--_her right_!" Then it came over me that I'd made a terrible mistake ... and at that minute, you called to me. [_Impressively._] In the darkness surrounding all I had left behind, there came a light ... a glimmer where you stood ... a clear call in the night.... It seemed as though I had not been away one second ... but in that second, you had suffered.... Now I am back to show you the way.... I am here to put my hand on your dear head and give you your mother's blessing; to say she will be with you in spirit until she holds you in her arms--you and your loved husband--[CATHERINE _turns in her chair and looks towards the door of the room in which_ JAMES _is working._ PETER _catches the thought._]-- yes, James, it's you.... And the message ended in this kiss. [_Prints a kiss on her cheek._] Can't you think I'm with you, dear child? Can't you _think_ I'm trying to help you? Can't you even hope? Oh, come, at least hope! Anybody can hope.

CATHERINE _rises with an entire change of manner--takes a bright red blossom from the vase on_ PETER'S _desk--then deliberately walks to the door of the room in which_ JAMES _is working._ PETER _follows her action hopefully. She does not tap on the door, however, but turns and sits at the piano--in thought--not facing the piano. She puts_ PETER'S _flowers against her face. Then, laying the flowers on the piano, sings softly three or four bars of the song she sang in the first act--and stops abruptly._

CATHERINE. [_To herself._] That I should sit here singing--at a time like this!

PETER. Sing! Sing! Why not? Lift up your voice like a bird! Your old uncle doesn't sleep out there in the dust. That's only the dream. He's here-- here--alive. All his age gone and youth glowing in his heart. If I could only tell you what lies before you--before us all! If people even _suspected_ what the next life really is, they wouldn't waste time here--I can tell you _that_. They'd do dreadful things to get away from this existence--make for the nearest pond or--[_Pausing abruptly._] Ah, here comes someone who'll know all about it! [_The_ DOCTOR _comes from_ WILLIAM'S _room._ PETER _greets him in a cordial but casual way, as though he had parted from him only an hour before._] Well, Andrew, I apologize. [_Bowing obsequiously._] You were right. I apologize.

CATHERINE. How is he, Doctor?

DR. MACPHERSON. William is better. Dropped off to sleep again. Can't quite understand him.

PETER. I apologize. I said that if I could come back, I would; and here I am--apologizing. Andrew! Andrew! [_Trying to attract_ DR. MACPHERSON'S _attention._] I have a message, but I can't get it across. This is your chance. I want _you_ to take it. I don't wish Catherine to marry Frederik.

DR. MACPHERSON. He's somewhat feverish yet.

PETER. Can't _you_ understand one word?

DR. MACPHERSON. It's a puzzling case....

PETER. What? Mine?

DR. MACPHERSON. [_Getting a pad from his pocket--writing out a prescription with his fountain pen._] I'll leave this prescription at the druggist's--

PETER. I'm quite shut out.... They've closed the door and turned the key on me.

DR. MACPHERSON. [_Suddenly noticing that_ CATHERINE _seems more cheerful._] What's happened? I left you in tears and here you are--all smiles.

CATHERINE. Yes, I--I am happier--for some reason.... For the last few minutes I--I've had such a strange feeling.

DR. MACPHERSON. That's odd: so have I! Been as restless as a hungry mouse. Something seemed to draw me down here--can't explain it.

PETER. I'm beginning to be felt in this house.

DR. MACPHERSON. Catherine, I have the firm conviction that, in a very short time, I shall hear from Peter. [_Sitting at the table._

PETER. I hope so. It's high time now.

DR. MACPHERSON. What I want is some positive proof; some absolute test; some--er--[_Thinks._

CATHERINE _has seated herself at the table.--Unconsciously they both occupy the same seats as in the first act._

PETER. The trouble is with other people, not with us. You want us to give all sorts of proofs; and here we are just back for a little while--very poorly put together on the chance that you'll see us at all.

DR. MACPHERSON. Poor old Peter--bless his heart! [_His elbow on the table as though he had been thinking over the matter._ CATHERINE _sits quietly listening._] If he kept that compact with me, and came back,--do you know what I'd ask him first? If our work goes on.

PETER. Well, now, that's a regular sticker. It's bothered me considerably since I crossed over.

CATHERINE. What do you mean, Doctor?

DR. MACPHERSON. The question _every man wants the answer to_: what's to become of me--_me_--_my work_? Am I going to be a bone setter in the next life and he a tulip man?... I wonder.

PETER. Andrew, I've asked everybody--Tom, Dick and Harry. One spirit told me that sometimes our work _does_ go on; but he was an awful liar--you knew we don't drop our earth habits at once. He said that a genius is simply a fellow who's been there before in some other world and knows his business. Now then: [_Confidentially preparing to open an argument-- sitting in his old seat at the table, as in the first act._] it stands to reason, Andrew, doesn't it? What chance has the beginner compared with a fellow who knew his business before he was born?

DR. MACPHERSON. [_Unconsciously grasping the thought._] I believe it is possible to have more than one chance at our work.

PETER. There ... you caught that.... Why can't you take my message to Catherine?

DR. MACPHERSON. [_Rising to get his shawl--gruffly._] Thought over what I told you concerning this marriage? Not too late to back out.

PETER. He's beginning to take the message.

CATHERINE. Everything's arranged: I shall be married as Uncle Peter wished. I sha'n't change my mind.

DR. MACPHERSON. H'm! [_Picks up his shawl._

PETER. [_Trying to detain the_ DOCTOR--_tugging at his shawl without seeming to pull it._] Don't give up! Don't give up! A girl can always change her mind--while there's life. Don't give up! [_The_ DOCTOR _turns, facing_ PETER, _looking directly at him as he puts his hand in his coat pocket._] You heard that, eh?... Didn't you? Yes? Did it cross over?... What?... It did?... You're looking me in the face, Andrew; can you see me? [_The_ DOCTOR _takes a pencil out of his pocket, writes a prescription, throws his shawl over his shoulder--turning his back towards_ PETER _and facing_ CATHERINE.] Tc! Tc! Tc!

DR. MACPHERSON. Good-night.

CATHERINE. Good-night. [CATHERINE _goes quietly to the fireplace, kneeling down, mends the fire, and remains there sitting on an ottoman._

PETER. [_Calling after the_ DOCTOR.] If I could only make some sign--to start you thinking; but I can't depend upon _you_, I see that.... [_Then changing--as though he had an idea._] Ah, yes! There _is_ another way. Now to work. [_With renewed activity, he taps in the direction of the office door, although he himself stands three feet away from it. The door opens promptly and_ JAMES _appears on the threshold--pen in hand--as though something had made him rise suddenly from his desk._ CATHERINE, _still seated, does not see_ JAMES, _who stands looking at her--remembering that she is to be married on the following day._ PETER _tempts_ JAMES.] Yes, she _is_ pretty, James ... young and lovely.... Look!... There are kisses tangled in her hair where it curls ... hundreds of them.... Are you going to let her go? Her lips are red with the red of youth. Every smile is an invocation to life. Who could resist her smiles? Can you, James? No, you will not let her go. And her hands, James.... Look! Hands made to clasp and cling to yours. Imagine her little feet trudging happily about _your_ home.... Look at her shoulders ... shaped for a resting-place for a little head.... You were right, James, we should ask nothing of our girls but to marry the men they love and be happy wives and happy mothers of happy children. You feel what I am saying.... You couldn't live without her, could you? No? Very well, then--[_Changing abruptly._] Now, it's your turn.

JAMES _pauses a moment. There is silence. Then he comes forward a step and_ CATHERINE, _hearing him, turns and rises._

JAMES. [_Coldly--respectfully._] Miss Grimm ...

CATHERINE. James ...

JAMES. I felt that you were here and wished to speak to me. I--I don't know why ...

PETER. Good for James.

CATHERINE. [_Shaking hands with him._] I'm very glad to see you again, James. [_When_ PETER _sees that he has brought the two young people together, he stands in the background. The lovers are in the shadow, but_ PETER'S _figure