The Return of Peter Grimm by David Belasco (classic reads .TXT) π
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/> PETER. [_Knowing that_ JAMES, _is demanding a kiss._] Aha! [_Rubs his hands in satisfaction--then listens--and after a second pause exclaims, with an upraised finger, as though he were hearing the kiss._] Ah! Now I can go.... [_He walks to the peg on which his hat hangs, and takes it down. His work is done._ CATHERINE _re-enters, darting into the hall in girlish confusion._
JAMES' HAPPY VOICE. [_Outside._] Good-night!
CATHERINE. [_Calling to him through the crack in the door._] Good-night! [_She closes the door, turns the key and draws the heavy bolt--then leans against the door, candle-stick in hand--the wind has blown out the candle._] Oh, I'm so happy! I'm so happy!
PETER. Then good-night to you, my darling: love cannot say good-bye. [_She goes to_ PETER'S _chair, and, sitting, thinks it all over--her hands clasped in her lap--her face radiant with happiness._] Here in your childhood's home I leave you. Here in the years to come, the way lies clear before you. [_His arm upraised._] "_Lust in Rust_"--Pleasure and Peace go with you. [CATHERINE _looks towards the door--remembering_ JAMES' _kiss--half smiling._] [_Humorously._] Y--es; I saw you. I heard ... I know.... Here on some sunny, blossoming day when, as a wife, you look out upon my gardens--every flower and tree and shrub shall bloom enchanted to your eyes.... All that happens--happens again. And if, at first, a little knock of poverty taps at the door, and James finds the road hard and steep--what is money?--a thing,--a good thing to have,--but still a thing ... and happiness will come without it. And when, as a mother, you shall see my plantings with new eyes, my Catherine,--when you explain each leaf and bud to your little people--you will remember the time when _we_ walked together through the leafy lanes and I taught you--even as you teach them--you little thing!... So, I shall linger in your heart. And some day, should your children wander far away and my gardens blossom for a stranger who may take my name from off the gates,--what _is_ my name? Already it grows faint to my ears. [_Lightly._] Yes, yes, yes, let others take my work.... Why should _we_ care? All that happens, happens again. [_She rests her elbow on the chair, half hides her face in her hand._] And never forget this: I shall be waiting for you--I shall know all your life. I shall adore your children and be their grandfather just as though I were here; I shall find it hard not to laugh at them when they are bad, and I shall worship them when they are good--and I don't want them too good.... Frederik was good.... I shall be everywhere about you ... in the stockings at Christmas, in a big, busy, teeming world of shadows just outside your threshold, or whispering in the still noises of the night.... And oh! as the years pass, [_Standing over her chair._] you cannot imagine what pride I shall take in your comfortable middle life--the very _best_ age, I think--when you two shall look out on your possessions arm in arm--and take your well-earned comfort and ease. How I shall love to see you look fondly at each other as you say: "Be happy, Jim--you've worked hard for this;" or James says: "Take your comfort, little mother, let them all wait upon _you--you_ waited upon _them_. Lean back in your carriage--you've earned it!" And towards the end--[_Sitting on a chair by her side and looking into her face._] after all the luxuries and vanities and possessions cease to be so important--people return to very simple things, dear. The evening of life comes bearing its own lamp. Then, perhaps, as a little old grandmother, a little old child whose bed-time is drawing near, I shall see you happy to sit out in the sunlight of another day; asking nothing more of life than the few hours to be spent with those you love,... telling your grandchildren, at your knees, how much brighter the flowers blossomed when _you_ were young. Ha! Ha! Ha! All that happens, happens again.... And when, one glad day, glorified, radiant, young once more, the mother and I shall take you in our arms,--oh! what a reunion! [_Inspired._] The flight of love--to love.... And now ... [_He bends over her and caresses her hand._] good-night. [CATHERINE _rises and, going to the desk, buries her face in the bunch of flowers placed there in memory of_ PETER.
CATHERINE. Dear Uncle Peter....
MARTA _enters--pausing to hear if all is quiet in_ WILLIAM'S _room_. CATHERINE, _lifting her face, sees_ MARTA _and rapturously hugs her, to_ MARTA'S _amazement--then goes up the stairs_.
PETER. [_Whose eyes never leave_ CATHERINE.] "_Lust in Rust_!" Pleasure and Peace! Amen! [CATHERINE _passes into her room, the music dying away as her door closes_. MARTA, _still wondering, goes to the clock and winds it_.] Poor Marta! Every time she thinks of me, she winds my clock. We're not quite forgotten.
DR. MACPHERSON. [_Re-appears, carrying_ WILLIAM, _now wrapped up in an old-fashioned Dutch patchwork quilt. The_ DOCTOR _has a lamp in his free hand_.] So you want to go downstairs, eh? Very good! How do you feel, laddie?
WILLIAM. New all over.
DR. MACPHERSON. [_Placing the lamp on the little table right, and laying_ WILLIAM _on the couch_.] Now I'll get you the glass of cold water. [_Goes into the dining-room, leaving the door open_.
PETER. [_Calling after the_ DOCTOR.] Good-night, Andrew. I'm afraid the world will have to wait a little longer for the _big_ guesser. Drop in often. I shall be glad to see you here.
WILLIAM. [_Quickly rising on the couch, looks towards the peg on which_ PETER GRIMM'S _hat hung. Calling_.] Mr. Grimm! Where are you? I knew that you were down here. [_Seeing_ PETER.] Oh, [_Raising himself to his knees on the sofa_.] I see you _now_!
PETER. Yes? [_There is an impressive pause and silence as they face each other_.
WILLIAM. Oh, you've got your hat;... it's off the peg.... You're going. Need you go right away--Mr. Grimm? Can't you wait a little while?
PETER. I'll wait for you, William.
WILLIAM. May I go with you? Thank you. I couldn't find the way without you.
PETER. Yes, you could. It's the surest way in this world. But I'll wait,-- don't worry.
WILLIAM. I sha'n't. [_Coaxingly_.] Don't be in a hurry ... I want--[_Lies down happily_.] to take a nap first.... I'm sleepy. [_He pulls the covering up and sleeps_.
PETER. I wish you the pleasantest dream a little boy can have in _this_ world.
_Instantly, as though the room were peopled with faint images of_ WILLIAM'S _dream, the phantom circus music is heard, with its elfin horns; and, through the music, voices call "Hai! Hai!" The sound of the cracking of a whip is heard, and the blare of a clown's ten-cent tin horn. The phantom voice of the_ CLOWN _(very faint) calls:_
CLOWN'S VOICE. Billy Miller's big show and monster circus is in town this afternoon! Don't forget the date! Only one ring--no confusion. Circus day comes but once a year, little sir. Come early and see the wild animals and hear the lion roar-r-r! Mind, I shall expect _you!_ Wonderful troupe of trained mice in the side-show.
_During the above, the deeper voice of a_ "HAWKER"--_muffled and far off-- cries:_
HAWKER'S VOICE. Peanuts, pop-corn, lemonade--ice cold lemo--lemo-- lemonade! Circus day comes but once a year.
_Breaking in through the music, and the voices of the_ CLOWN _and_ HAWKER, _the gruff voice of a_ "BARKER" _is heard calling._
BARKER'S VOICE. Walk in and see the midgets and the giant! Only ten cents--one dime!
_As these voices die away, the_ CLOWN, _whose voice indicates that he is now perched on the head of the couch, sings:_
CLOWN'S VOICE. "Uncle Rat has gone to town, Ha! H'm! Uncle Rat has gone to town To buy his niece"--
_His voice ends abruptly--the music stops. Everything is over. There is silence. Then three clear knocks sound on the door._
PETER. Come in.... [_The door opens. No one is there--but a faint path of phosphorous light is seen._] Oh, friends! Troops of you! [_As though he recognizes the unseen guests._] I've been gone so long that you came for me, eh? I'm quite ready to go back. I'm just waiting for a happy little fellow who's going back with us.... We'll follow. Do you all go ahead-- lead the way. [_He looks at_ WILLIAM, _holds out his arms, and_ WILLIAM _jumps up and runs into them._] Well, William! You _know better_ now. Come! [_Picking up_ WILLIAM.] Happy, eh? [WILLIAM _nods, his face beaming._
WILLIAM. Oh, yes!
PETER. Let's be off, then. [_As they turn towards the door._
DR. MACPHERSON. [_Re-entering, goes to the couch with the water, and suddenly, setting down the glass, exclaims in a hushed voice:_] My God! He's dead! [_He half raises up a boy that appears to be_ WILLIAM. _The light from the lamp on the table falls on the dead face of the child. Then the_ DOCTOR _gently lays the boy down again on the couch, and sits pondering over the mystery of death._
PETER. [_To the_ DOCTOR.] Oh, no! There never was so fair a prospect for _life_!
WILLIAM. [_In_ PETER'S _arms._] I _am_ happy!
_Outside a hazy moonlight shimmers. A few stars twinkle in the far-away sky; and the low moon is seen back of the old windmill._
PETER. [_To_ WILLIAM.] If the rest of them only knew what they're missing, eh?
WILLIAM. [_Begins to sing, joyously._] "Uncle Rat has gone to town."
PETER _dances up a few steps towards the door, singing with_ WILLIAM.
PETER _and_ WILLIAM.
"Ha! H'm!
Uncle Rat has gone to town
To buy his niece a wedding gown.
Ha! H'm!"
PETER. [_Gives one last fond look towards_ CATHERINE'S _room. To_ WILLIAM.] We're off! [_Putting the boy over his shoulder, they sing together, as they go up, the phantom circus music accompanying them._] "What shall the wedding breakfast be? Ha! H'm!"
PETER. [_Alone._] "What shall the wedding breakfast be? Hard boiled eggs and a cup of tea."
WILLIAM _and_ PETER. "Ha! H'm!"
PETER GRIMM _has danced off with the child through the faint path of light. As he goes, the wind or an unseen hand closes the door after them. There is a moment's pause until their voices are no longer heard--then the curtain slowly descends. The air of the song is taken up by an unseen orchestra and continues as the audience passes out._
CURTAIN.
Imprint
JAMES' HAPPY VOICE. [_Outside._] Good-night!
CATHERINE. [_Calling to him through the crack in the door._] Good-night! [_She closes the door, turns the key and draws the heavy bolt--then leans against the door, candle-stick in hand--the wind has blown out the candle._] Oh, I'm so happy! I'm so happy!
PETER. Then good-night to you, my darling: love cannot say good-bye. [_She goes to_ PETER'S _chair, and, sitting, thinks it all over--her hands clasped in her lap--her face radiant with happiness._] Here in your childhood's home I leave you. Here in the years to come, the way lies clear before you. [_His arm upraised._] "_Lust in Rust_"--Pleasure and Peace go with you. [CATHERINE _looks towards the door--remembering_ JAMES' _kiss--half smiling._] [_Humorously._] Y--es; I saw you. I heard ... I know.... Here on some sunny, blossoming day when, as a wife, you look out upon my gardens--every flower and tree and shrub shall bloom enchanted to your eyes.... All that happens--happens again. And if, at first, a little knock of poverty taps at the door, and James finds the road hard and steep--what is money?--a thing,--a good thing to have,--but still a thing ... and happiness will come without it. And when, as a mother, you shall see my plantings with new eyes, my Catherine,--when you explain each leaf and bud to your little people--you will remember the time when _we_ walked together through the leafy lanes and I taught you--even as you teach them--you little thing!... So, I shall linger in your heart. And some day, should your children wander far away and my gardens blossom for a stranger who may take my name from off the gates,--what _is_ my name? Already it grows faint to my ears. [_Lightly._] Yes, yes, yes, let others take my work.... Why should _we_ care? All that happens, happens again. [_She rests her elbow on the chair, half hides her face in her hand._] And never forget this: I shall be waiting for you--I shall know all your life. I shall adore your children and be their grandfather just as though I were here; I shall find it hard not to laugh at them when they are bad, and I shall worship them when they are good--and I don't want them too good.... Frederik was good.... I shall be everywhere about you ... in the stockings at Christmas, in a big, busy, teeming world of shadows just outside your threshold, or whispering in the still noises of the night.... And oh! as the years pass, [_Standing over her chair._] you cannot imagine what pride I shall take in your comfortable middle life--the very _best_ age, I think--when you two shall look out on your possessions arm in arm--and take your well-earned comfort and ease. How I shall love to see you look fondly at each other as you say: "Be happy, Jim--you've worked hard for this;" or James says: "Take your comfort, little mother, let them all wait upon _you--you_ waited upon _them_. Lean back in your carriage--you've earned it!" And towards the end--[_Sitting on a chair by her side and looking into her face._] after all the luxuries and vanities and possessions cease to be so important--people return to very simple things, dear. The evening of life comes bearing its own lamp. Then, perhaps, as a little old grandmother, a little old child whose bed-time is drawing near, I shall see you happy to sit out in the sunlight of another day; asking nothing more of life than the few hours to be spent with those you love,... telling your grandchildren, at your knees, how much brighter the flowers blossomed when _you_ were young. Ha! Ha! Ha! All that happens, happens again.... And when, one glad day, glorified, radiant, young once more, the mother and I shall take you in our arms,--oh! what a reunion! [_Inspired._] The flight of love--to love.... And now ... [_He bends over her and caresses her hand._] good-night. [CATHERINE _rises and, going to the desk, buries her face in the bunch of flowers placed there in memory of_ PETER.
CATHERINE. Dear Uncle Peter....
MARTA _enters--pausing to hear if all is quiet in_ WILLIAM'S _room_. CATHERINE, _lifting her face, sees_ MARTA _and rapturously hugs her, to_ MARTA'S _amazement--then goes up the stairs_.
PETER. [_Whose eyes never leave_ CATHERINE.] "_Lust in Rust_!" Pleasure and Peace! Amen! [CATHERINE _passes into her room, the music dying away as her door closes_. MARTA, _still wondering, goes to the clock and winds it_.] Poor Marta! Every time she thinks of me, she winds my clock. We're not quite forgotten.
DR. MACPHERSON. [_Re-appears, carrying_ WILLIAM, _now wrapped up in an old-fashioned Dutch patchwork quilt. The_ DOCTOR _has a lamp in his free hand_.] So you want to go downstairs, eh? Very good! How do you feel, laddie?
WILLIAM. New all over.
DR. MACPHERSON. [_Placing the lamp on the little table right, and laying_ WILLIAM _on the couch_.] Now I'll get you the glass of cold water. [_Goes into the dining-room, leaving the door open_.
PETER. [_Calling after the_ DOCTOR.] Good-night, Andrew. I'm afraid the world will have to wait a little longer for the _big_ guesser. Drop in often. I shall be glad to see you here.
WILLIAM. [_Quickly rising on the couch, looks towards the peg on which_ PETER GRIMM'S _hat hung. Calling_.] Mr. Grimm! Where are you? I knew that you were down here. [_Seeing_ PETER.] Oh, [_Raising himself to his knees on the sofa_.] I see you _now_!
PETER. Yes? [_There is an impressive pause and silence as they face each other_.
WILLIAM. Oh, you've got your hat;... it's off the peg.... You're going. Need you go right away--Mr. Grimm? Can't you wait a little while?
PETER. I'll wait for you, William.
WILLIAM. May I go with you? Thank you. I couldn't find the way without you.
PETER. Yes, you could. It's the surest way in this world. But I'll wait,-- don't worry.
WILLIAM. I sha'n't. [_Coaxingly_.] Don't be in a hurry ... I want--[_Lies down happily_.] to take a nap first.... I'm sleepy. [_He pulls the covering up and sleeps_.
PETER. I wish you the pleasantest dream a little boy can have in _this_ world.
_Instantly, as though the room were peopled with faint images of_ WILLIAM'S _dream, the phantom circus music is heard, with its elfin horns; and, through the music, voices call "Hai! Hai!" The sound of the cracking of a whip is heard, and the blare of a clown's ten-cent tin horn. The phantom voice of the_ CLOWN _(very faint) calls:_
CLOWN'S VOICE. Billy Miller's big show and monster circus is in town this afternoon! Don't forget the date! Only one ring--no confusion. Circus day comes but once a year, little sir. Come early and see the wild animals and hear the lion roar-r-r! Mind, I shall expect _you!_ Wonderful troupe of trained mice in the side-show.
_During the above, the deeper voice of a_ "HAWKER"--_muffled and far off-- cries:_
HAWKER'S VOICE. Peanuts, pop-corn, lemonade--ice cold lemo--lemo-- lemonade! Circus day comes but once a year.
_Breaking in through the music, and the voices of the_ CLOWN _and_ HAWKER, _the gruff voice of a_ "BARKER" _is heard calling._
BARKER'S VOICE. Walk in and see the midgets and the giant! Only ten cents--one dime!
_As these voices die away, the_ CLOWN, _whose voice indicates that he is now perched on the head of the couch, sings:_
CLOWN'S VOICE. "Uncle Rat has gone to town, Ha! H'm! Uncle Rat has gone to town To buy his niece"--
_His voice ends abruptly--the music stops. Everything is over. There is silence. Then three clear knocks sound on the door._
PETER. Come in.... [_The door opens. No one is there--but a faint path of phosphorous light is seen._] Oh, friends! Troops of you! [_As though he recognizes the unseen guests._] I've been gone so long that you came for me, eh? I'm quite ready to go back. I'm just waiting for a happy little fellow who's going back with us.... We'll follow. Do you all go ahead-- lead the way. [_He looks at_ WILLIAM, _holds out his arms, and_ WILLIAM _jumps up and runs into them._] Well, William! You _know better_ now. Come! [_Picking up_ WILLIAM.] Happy, eh? [WILLIAM _nods, his face beaming._
WILLIAM. Oh, yes!
PETER. Let's be off, then. [_As they turn towards the door._
DR. MACPHERSON. [_Re-entering, goes to the couch with the water, and suddenly, setting down the glass, exclaims in a hushed voice:_] My God! He's dead! [_He half raises up a boy that appears to be_ WILLIAM. _The light from the lamp on the table falls on the dead face of the child. Then the_ DOCTOR _gently lays the boy down again on the couch, and sits pondering over the mystery of death._
PETER. [_To the_ DOCTOR.] Oh, no! There never was so fair a prospect for _life_!
WILLIAM. [_In_ PETER'S _arms._] I _am_ happy!
_Outside a hazy moonlight shimmers. A few stars twinkle in the far-away sky; and the low moon is seen back of the old windmill._
PETER. [_To_ WILLIAM.] If the rest of them only knew what they're missing, eh?
WILLIAM. [_Begins to sing, joyously._] "Uncle Rat has gone to town."
PETER _dances up a few steps towards the door, singing with_ WILLIAM.
PETER _and_ WILLIAM.
"Ha! H'm!
Uncle Rat has gone to town
To buy his niece a wedding gown.
Ha! H'm!"
PETER. [_Gives one last fond look towards_ CATHERINE'S _room. To_ WILLIAM.] We're off! [_Putting the boy over his shoulder, they sing together, as they go up, the phantom circus music accompanying them._] "What shall the wedding breakfast be? Ha! H'm!"
PETER. [_Alone._] "What shall the wedding breakfast be? Hard boiled eggs and a cup of tea."
WILLIAM _and_ PETER. "Ha! H'm!"
PETER GRIMM _has danced off with the child through the faint path of light. As he goes, the wind or an unseen hand closes the door after them. There is a moment's pause until their voices are no longer heard--then the curtain slowly descends. The air of the song is taken up by an unseen orchestra and continues as the audience passes out._
CURTAIN.
Imprint
Publication Date: 08-13-2010
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