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

[_Rising to the occasion--warmly grasping_ PETER'S _hand_.] Ah, my dear friend! Many thanks for the flowers William brought us, and the noble cheque you sent me. We're still enjoying the vegetables you generously provided. I _did_ relish the squash.

PETER. [_Catching a glimpse of_ MRS. BATHOLOMMEY'S _gloomy expression_.] Anything distressing you this morning, Mrs. Batholommey?

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. No, no.... I hope _you're_ feeling well--er--I don't mean that--I--

REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Cheerily_.] Of course, she does; and why not, why not, dear friend?

PETER. Will you have a glass of my plum brandy?

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Stiffly_.] No, thank you. As you know, I belong to the W.C.T.U.

PETER. Pastor?

REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Tolerantly_.] No, thank you. I am also opposed to er--

PETER. We're going to drink to spooks--the Doctor and I.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_With a startled cry_.] Oh! [_Lifts her handkerchief to her eyes_.] How can you! And at a time like this. The very idea--you of all people!

PETER. [_Coming down with two glasses--handing one to the_ DOCTOR.] You seem greatly upset, Mrs. Batholommey. Something must have happened.

REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY. Nothing, nothing, I assure you. My wife is a trifle nervous to-day. We must all keep up our spirits, Mr. Grimm.

PETER. Of course. Why not? [_Looking at_ MRS. BATHOLOMMEY--_struck_.] I know why you're crying. You've been to a church wedding. [_To the_ DOCTOR, _lifting his glass_.] To astral envelopes, Andrew. [_They drink._

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_With sad resignation_.] You were always kind to us, dear Mr. Grimm. There never was a kinder, better, sweeter man than you were.

PETER. Than I _was_?

REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY. Rose, my dear!

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. What _will_ become of William? [_Weeps_.

PETER. William? Why should you worry over William? I am looking after him. I don't understand--

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Seeing that she has gone too far_.] I only meant--it's too bad he had such an M--

PETER. An M--?

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_In pantomime--mouthing the word so that_ WILLIAM _cannot hear_.] Mother ... Annamarie.

PETER. Oh! ...

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. She ought to have told you or Mr. Batholommey who the F-- was.

PETER. F--?

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_In pantomime--as before_.] Father.

PETER. Oh... [_Spelling out the word_.] S-c-o-u-n-d-r-e-l--whoever he is! [_Calls_.] William. [WILLIAM _looks up from his book_.] You're very contented here with me, are you not?

WILLIAM. Yes, sir.

PETER. And you want to stay here?

WILLIAM. Yes, sir. [_At that moment, a country circus band--playing a typical parade march--blares out as it comes up some distant street_.] There's a circus in town.

PETER. A circus?

WILLIAM. Yes, sir. The parade has started. [_Opens the window and looks out towards left_.] Here it comes--

PETER. [_Hurrying to the door_.] Where? Where?

WILLIAM. [_Pointing_.] There!

PETER. [_As delighted as_ WILLIAM.] You're right. It's coming this way! Here come the chariots. [_Gestures to the_ BATHOLOMMEYS _to join him at the window. The music comes nearer and nearer--the parade is supposed to be passing._ WILLIAM _gives a cry of delight as a clown appears at the window with handbills under his arm._

THE CLOWN. [_As he throws the handbills into the room_.] Billy Miller's big show and monster circus is in town this afternoon. Only one ring. No confusion. [_Seeing_ WILLIAM.] Circus day comes but once a year, little sir. Come early and see the wild animals and hear the lions roar-r-r! Mind! [_Holding up his finger to_ WILLIAM.] I shall expect to see you. Wonderful troupe of trained mice in the side show. [_Sings_.]

"Uncle Rat has gone to town,
Ha! H'm!
Uncle Rat has gone to town
To buy Miss Mouse a--"

[_Ends the song abruptly_.] Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! [_The_ CLOWN _disappears, repeating "Billy Miller's Big Show," &c., until his voice is lost and the voices of shouting children are heard as they run after him._

PETER. [_Putting his hand in his pocket_.] We'll go. You may buy the tickets, William--two front seats. [FREDERIK _re-enters with a floral catalogue._

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Apart to_ REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY--_looking at_ PETER.] Somebody ought to tell him.

WILLIAM. [_Getting the money from_ PETER.] I'm going! I'm going! [_Dances_.] Oh, Mr. Grimm, there ain't anyone else like you in the world. When the other boys laugh at your funny old hat, _I_ never do. [_Pointing to_ PETER'S _hat on the peg._

PETER. My hat? They laugh at my hat?

WILLIAM. We'll have such a good time at the circus. It's too bad you've got to die, Mr. Grimm.

_There is a pause._ PETER _stops short, looking at_ WILLIAM. _The others are startled, but stand motionless, watching the effect of_ WILLIAM'S _revelation._ FREDERIK _doesn't know what to make of it. There is an ominous silence in the room. Then_ MRS. BATHOLOMMEY, _whose smile has been frozen on her face, takes_ WILLIAM'S _hand and is about to draw him away, when_ PETER _lays his hand on_ WILLIAM'S _shoulder_. MRS. BATHOLOMMEY _steps back._

PETER. [_Kindly_.] Yes, William, most people have to. ... What made you think of it just then?

WILLIAM. [_Points to the_ DOCTOR.] He said so. Perhaps in twenty minutes.

REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Quietly but very sternly_.] William! [WILLIAM _now understands that he should not have repeated what he heard._

PETER. Don't frighten the boy. Only children tell the truth. Tell me, William--you heard the Doctor say that? [WILLIAM _is silent. He keeps his eyes on the_ CLERGYMAN _who is looking at him warningly. The tears run down his cheeks--he puts his fingers to his lips--afraid to speak_.] Don't be frightened. You heard the Doctor say that?

WILLIAM. [_His voice trembling_.] Y--es, sir.

PETER. [_Looks round the room--beginning to understand_.] ... What did you mean, Andrew?

DR. MACPHERSON. I'll tell you, Peter, when we're alone.

PETER. But ... [MRS. BATHOLOMMEY _shakes her finger threateningly at_ WILLIAM _who whimpers_.] Never mind. It popped out; didn't it, William? Get the circus tickets and we'll have a fine time just the same. [WILLIAM _goes for the tickets._

REV. MR. BATHOLOMMEY. I--er--good-morning, dear friend. [_Takes_ PETER'S _hand_.] Any time you 'phone for me--day or night--I'll run over instantly. God bless you, sir. I've never come to you for any worthy charity and been turned away--never.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [_Suddenly overcome_] Good-bye, Mr. Grimm. [_In tears, she follows her husband. The_ DOCTOR _and_ PETER _look at each other_.

DR. MACPHERSON. [_Cigar in mouth--very abruptly_] It's cardiac valvular--a little valve--[_Tapping heart_]--here. [_Slaps_ PETER _on the shoulder_] There's my 'phone, [_As a bell is heard faintly but persistently ringing across the street_] I'll be back. [_Catches up his hat to hasten off._

PETER. Just a minute.

DR. MACPHERSON. [_Turning_] Don't fret yourself, Peter. You're not to imagine you're worse than you are. [_Angrily_.] Don't funk!

PETER. [_Calmly_] That wasn't my reason for detaining you, Andrew. [_With a twinkle in his eye_] I merely wanted to say--

DR. MACPHERSON. Yes?

PETER. That if there is anything in that ghost business of yours, I won't forget to come back and apologize for my want of faith. [_The_ DOCTOR _goes home_. FREDERIK _stands looking at his_ UNCLE. _There is a long pause._ PETER _throws up both hands_] Rubbish! Doctors are very often wrong. It's all guess work, eh, Fritz?

FREDERIK. [_Thinking of his future in case of_ PETER'S _death_] Yes, sir.

PETER. However, to be on the safe side, I'll take that nip of plum brandy. [_Then thinking aloud_.] Not yet ... Not yet ... I'm not ready to die yet. I have so much to live for. ... When I'm older ... When I'm a little old leaf ready to curl up, eh, Fritz? [_He drains the glass. Goes up to the peg, takes dawn his hat, looks at it as though remembering_ WILLIAM'S _words, then puts it back on the peg. He shows no sign of taking_ DR. MACPHERSON'S _verdict to heart--in fact, he doesn't believe it_.] Frederik, get me some small change for the circus--enough for William and me.

FREDERIK. Are you going ... after all? ... And with that child?

PETER. Why not?

FREDERIK. [_Suddenly showing feeling_.] That little tattler? A child that listens to everything and just told you ... He shouldn't be allowed in this part of the house. He should be sent away.

PETER. [_Astonished_.] Why do you dislike him, Frederik? He's a fine little fellow. You surprise me, my boy ... [CATHERINE _enters and goes to the piano, running her hands softly over the keys--playing no melody in particular._ PETER _sits in his big chair at the table and picks up his pipe._ FREDERIK, _with an inscrutable face, now strikes a match and holds it to his uncle's pipe_. PETER _thoughtfully takes one or two puffs; then speaking so as not to be heard by_ CATHERINE.] Frederik, I want to think that after I'm gone, everything will be the same here ... just as it is now.

FREDERIK. Yes, sir. [_Sitting near_ PETER.

PETER. Just as it is ... [FREDERIK _nods assent_. PETER _smokes. The room is very cheerful. The bright midday sunshine creeps through the windows,-- almost causing a haze in the room--and resting on the pots and vases and bright flowers on the tables._

CATHERINE. [_Singing_.] "The bird so free in the heavens"--

PETER. [_Looking up--still in thought--seeming not to hear the song_.] And my charities attended to. [FREDERIK _nods assent_.

CATHERINE. "Is but the slave of the nest; For all must toil as God wills it,-- Must laugh and toil and rest."

PETER. [_Who has been thinking_.] Just as though I were here.

CATHERINE. "The rose must blow in the garden"--

PETER. William, too. Don't forget _him_, Frederik.

FREDERIK. No, Uncle.

CATHERINE. "The bee must gather its store; The cat must watch the mouse-hole; The dog must guard the door."

PETER. [_As though he had a weight off his mind_.] We won't speak of this again. It's understood. [_Smokes, listening with pleasure as_ CATHERINE _finishes the song_.

CATHERINE. [_Repeats the chorus_.] "The cat must watch the mouse-hole; The dog must guard the door. La la, La la," &c.

_At the close of the song,_ PETER _puts down his pipe and beckons to_ CATHERINE.

PETER. Give me the Book. [CATHERINE _brings the Bible to_ PETER _as the garden bell rings outside_.

FREDERIK. Noon.

PETER. [_Opening the Book at the history of the family--points to the closely written page_.] Under my name I want to see this written: "Married: Catherine and Frederik." I want to see you settled, Katie-- [_Smiling_] settled happily for life. [_He takes her hand and draws_ FREDERIK _towards his chair_. CATHERINE, _embarrassed, plays with a rose in her belt_.] Will you?...

CATHERINE. I ... I don't know....

PETER. [_Taking the rose and her hand in his own_] I know for you, my dear. Make me happy.

CATHERINE. There's nothing I wouldn't do to make you happy, Uncle, but--

FREDERIK. You know that I love you, Kitty.

PETER. Yes, yes, yes. _That's_ all understood. He has always loved you. Everybody knows it.

CATHERINE. Uncle...

PETER. Make it a June wedding. We have ten days yet. [_Slipping her hand in_ FREDERIK'S, _taking the rose, and tapping their clasped hands with the flower as he speaks._

FREDERIK. Say yes, Kitty.

CATHERINE. [_Nervously_] I couldn't in ten days....

FREDERIK. But--

PETER. [_To_ FREDERIK.] Who is arranging the marriage, you or I? Say a month, then, Katie.... Promise me.

CATHERINE. [_Her lips set._] If you have