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

whom the idea appeals._] As nice as that!

PETER. Nicer. But I had to come back with this message. I want you to help me to deliver it. [_Indicating the picture._

WILLIAM. Where's the bosom of Abraham, Mr. Grimm?

PETER. Eh?

WILLIAM. The minister says you're asleep there.

PETER. Stuff and nonsense! I haven't been near the bosom of Abraham.

WILLIAM. Too bad you died before you went to the circus, Mr. Grimm. But it must be great to be in a place where you can look down and see the circus for nothing. Do you remember the clown that sang: "Uncle Rat has gone to town?"

PETER. Yes, indeed; but let us talk of something more important. Come here, William [_He starts towards the desk._]; would you like to see someone whom all little boys love--love more than anybody else in the whole world? [PETER _is standing at the desk with his finger on the torn pieces of the picture._

WILLIAM. Yes, the clown in the circus.... No ... it isn't a clown; ... it's our mother.... Yes, I want to see my mother, Annamarie. [_Unconsciously_ WILLIAM _comes to the desk and sees the torn picture-- picks up a piece and looks at it. Very simply._] Why ... there she is!... That's her face.

PETER. Ah! You recognize her. Mother's face is there, William, but it's in little bits. We must put her together, William. We must show her to everybody in the house, so that everybody will say: "How in the world did she ever get here? To whom does this picture belong?" We must set them to thinking.

WILLIAM. Yes. Let us show her to everybody. [_He sits and joins the pieces under the guidance of_ PETER.] Annamarie ... Annamarie ...

PETER. You remember many things, William ... things that happened when you lived with Annamarie, don't you?

WILLIAM. I was very little....

PETER. Still, you remember....

WILLIAM. [_Evasively._] I was afraid....

PETER. You loved her.

WILLIAM. [_To picture._] Oh, yes ... yes, I loved you.

PETER. Now, through that miracle of love, you can remember many things tucked away in your childish brain,--things laid away in your mind like toys upon a shelf. Come, pick them up and dust them off and bring them out again. It will come back. When you lived with Annamarie ... there was you ... and Annamarie ... and--

WILLIAM. --and the other one.

PETER. Ah! We're getting nearer! Who _was_ the other one?

WILLIAM. [_Gives a quick glance towards the door--then as though speaking to the picture._] I must put you together before _he_ comes back. [_He fits the other pieces together_--PETER _trying to guide him. Presently_ WILLIAM _hums as a child will when at play, singing the tune of "Uncle Rat."_] "Uncle Rat has gone to town."

PETER _and_ WILLIAM. [_Singing together._] "Ha! H'm!" [_At this instant_, PETER _is indicating another piece of the picture._

WILLIAM. Her other foot. [_Then sings._]

"Uncle Rat has gone to town,
To buy his niece a wedding gown."

[_Adjusting a piece of the picture._] Her hand.

WILLIAM _and_ PETER. [_Singing._] "Ha! H'm!"

WILLIAM. Her other hand. [_Sings_.] "What shall the wedding breakfast be? Hard boiled eggs and--" [_Speaking_.] Where's--[WILLIAM _pauses--looking for a piece of the picture_.

PETER. [_Finishing the verse_.] "A cup of tea." [_With a gesture as though knocking on the door of the adjoining room to attract_ MRS. BATHOLOMMEY'S _attention_.

WILLIAM. [_Speaks_.] There's her hat.

WILLIAM _and_ PETER. [_Singing_.] "Ha! H'm!"

WILLIAM. [_Stops singing and claps his hands with boyish delight--staring at the picture_.] Annamarie! Annamarie! You're not in bits any more-- you're all put together.

_By this time,_ PETER _is going up the stairs, and, as he stands in front of_ CATHERINE'S _door, it opens_. PETER _passes in and_ CATHERINE _comes out_.

CATHERINE. [_Astonished_.] Why, William! What are you doing here?

WILLIAM. Miss Catherine! Come down! Come down! I have something to show you.

CATHERINE. [_Not coming down_.] No, dear--come upstairs; there's a good boy. You mustn't play down there. Come to bed. [_Passes into_ WILLIAM'S _room_.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Who has entered, and sees_ WILLIAM..] William!

WILLIAM. Look--look! [_Pointing to the picture_.] See what old Mr. Grimm brought back with him.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Alarmed_.] What are you talking about, William? Old Mr. Grimm is dead.

WILLIAM. No, he isn't; ... he's come back.... He has been in this room.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. Absurd!

WILLIAM. I was talking to him.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. You're feverish again. I must get the Doctor. [_Comes down to_ WILLIAM.] And I thought you were feeling better! [_Seeing_ CATHERINE, _who appears on the balcony as though wondering why_ WILLIAM _doesn't come to bed_.] The child's mind is wandering. He imagines all sorts of things. I'll call the Doctor--

PETER. [_Who has re-entered._] You needn't--he's coming now. Come in, Andrew. I'm giving you one more chance.

_The_ DOCTOR _enters, wearing his skull-cap, and carrying his pipe in his hand. It is evident that he has come over in a hurry._

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Surprised._] I was just going for you. How fortunate that you came.

DR. MACPHERSON. I thought I'd have another peep at William.

_By this time_, CATHERINE _has seated herself on a chair, and takes_ WILLIAM _on her lap. He puts his arms round her neck._

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. He's quite delirious.

DR. MACPHERSON. Doesn't look it. [_Putting his hand on_ WILLIAM'S _cheek and forehead._] Very slight fever. What makes you think he was delirious? [_Taking_ WILLIAM'S _pulse._

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Interrupting._] He said that old Mr. Grimm was in this room--that he was talking to him.

DR. MACPHERSON. [_Interested._] Yes? Really? Well, possibly he is. Nothing remarkable in _that_, is there?

PETER. Well, at last!

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. What? Oh, of course, you believe in--

DR. MACPHERSON. In fact, I had a compact with him to return if--

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. A compact? Of all the preposterous--

DR. MACPHERSON. Not at all. Dozens of cases on record--as I can show you-- where these compacts have actually been kept. [_Suddenly struck--looking at_ WILLIAM.] I wonder if that boy's a sensitive. [_Hand on his chin._] I wonder ...

CATHERINE. [_Echoing the_ DOCTOR'S _words._] A sensitive?

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. What's that?

DR. MACPHERSON. It's difficult to explain. I mean a human organism so constituted that it can be _informed_ or _controlled_ by those who--er-- have--[_With a gesture._] crossed over.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. I think I'll put the boy to bed, Doctor.

DR. MACPHERSON. Just a moment, Mistress Batholommey. I'm here to find out what ails William. William, what makes you think that Mr. Grimm is in this room?

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. I wouldn't have the child encouraged in such ideas, Catherine. I--

DR. MACPHERSON. Sh! Please, please. [_Taking the boy on his knee._] What makes you think Peter Grimm is in this room?

WILLIAM. [_Hesitating._] ... The things he said to me.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. Said to you?

CATHERINE. [_Wonderingly._] William, ... are you sure he ...

DR. MACPHERSON. Said to you, eh? [WILLIAM _nods assent._] _Old_ Mr. Grimm? [WILLIAM _nods._] Sure of that, William?

WILLIAM. Oh. yes, sir.

DR. MACPHERSON. Think before you speak, my boy; what did Mr. Grimm say to you?

WILLIAM. Lots of things ...

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. Really!

DR. MACPHERSON. [_Raises his hand for silence._] How did he look, William?

WILLIAM. I didn't see him.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. Ha!

DR. MACPHERSON. You must have seen something.

WILLIAM. I thought once I saw his hat on the peg where it used to hang. [_Looks at the peg._] No, it's gone.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Remonstrating._] Doctor!

DR. MACPHERSON. [_Thinking._] I wonder if he really did--

CATHERINE. Do you think he could have seen Uncle Peter?

PETER. [_Pointing to the desk._] William!

WILLIAM. Look! ... [_Points to the picture._] That's what I wanted to show you when you were upstairs.

CATHERINE. [_Seeing the picture._] It's his mother--Annamarie.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. The Lord save us--his mother! I didn't know you'd heard from Annamarie.

CATHERINE. We haven't.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. Then how'd that picture get into the house?

PETER. Ah! I knew she'd begin! Now that she's wound up, we shall get at the truth.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. It's a new picture. She's much changed. How ever did it find its way here?

CATHERINE. I never saw it before. It's very strange.... We've all been waiting for news of her. Even her mother doesn't know where she is, or-- could Marta have received this since I--

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. I'll ask her. [_Exit into dining-room._

CATHERINE. If not, who had the picture?... And why weren't we _all_ told?... Who tore it up? Did you, William? [WILLIAM _shakes his head, meaning "No."_] Who has been at the desk? No one save Frederik ... Frederik ... and surely he--[_She pauses--perplexed._

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Re-entering._] No, Marta hasn't heard a word; and, only a few minutes ago, she asked Frederik if some message hadn't come, but he said "No, nothing." I didn't tell her of the picture.

CATHERINE. [_Looking at the picture._] I wonder if there was any message with it.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. I remember the day that picture came ... the day your uncle died.... It was in a long blue envelope--the size of the picture.... I took it from the postman myself because every one was distracted and rushing about. It dropped to the floor and as I picked it up I thought I knew the writing; but I couldn't remember whose it was.... It was directed to your uncle.... [_Looking from the desk to the waste-basket._] There's the envelope [_Holding up a scrap of blue envelope._] and paper; ... some one has burned it.

CATHERINE. Annamarie wrote to my uncle ...

DR. MACPHERSON. [_Not understanding._] But what could Peter have to say to _me_ concerning Annamarie? [_Making a resolution--rising._] We're going to find out. You may draw the curtains, Catherine, if you please. [CATHERINE _draws the curtains. The_ DOCTOR _turns the lights down and closes the door. A pause._] Peter Grimm ...

PETER. Yes, Andrew?...

DR. MACPHERSON. [_Not hearing._] If you have come back ... if you are in the room ... and the boy speaks truly--give me some sign ... some indication ...

PETER. I can't give you a sign, Andrew.... I have spoken to the boy ... the boy ...

DR. MACPHERSON. If you cannot make your presence known to me--I know there are great difficulties--will you try and send your message by William? I presume you have one--

PETER. Yes, that's right.

DR. MACPHERSON. --or else you wouldn't have come back.

PETER. That's just the point I wanted to make, Andrew. You understand perfectly.

DR. MACPHERSON. [_As before._] I am waiting.... We are all waiting. [_Noticing that a door is a trifle ajar._] The door's open again. [MRS. BATHOLOMMEY, _without making a sound, closes it and sits as before._

PETER. Sh! Listen! [_A pause._

WILLIAM. [_In a peculiar manner--as though in a half dream--but not shutting his eyes. As though controlled by_ PETER.] There was Annamarie and me and the other.

DR. MACPHERSON. [_Very low, as though afraid to interrupt_ WILLIAM'S _train of thought._] What other?

WILLIAM. The man ... that came.

DR. MACPHERSON. What man?

WILLIAM. The man that made Annamarie cry.

CATHERINE. Who was he?

WILLIAM. I don't know ...

PETER. Yes, you do. Don't tell lies, William.

DR. MACPHERSON. What man made Annamarie cry?

WILLIAM. I can't remember....