Coldly and quietly

You haven't told me the story yet. You just came in here and hinted at it. You stormed around and then went out.

GEORGE HORTON Well, all right. A young boy, Harry's friend … you don't know him … you always keep to yourself … you

don't know any one. His name is Will Howard. He is the son of the Presbyterian preacher here. I'll tell you what, I wish our Harry was like that boy. He doesn't smoke or swear or anything. He's got a good job, too.

MARY HORTON

A little smile goes across her lips

What a paragon, really! But what about him? I want to know what he told you.

GEORGE HORTON He was up in Harry's room early this afternoon. He had heard things. I am not like you, I'm a man who keeps

his eyes open. I stopped this boy coming down from Harry's room and asked him. I'll tell you what, there's a boy who will get somewhere.

MARY HORTON

She interrupts impatiently. She has aroused herself and is sitting up straight in her chair and is looking hard at her husband

Yes, yes, all right, all right. Get on with the story.

-- 8 --

GEORGE HORTON

Defiantly

He said that our Harry has been going down to Mabel Clark's house at night. He goes sneaking down there. This young Will Howard saw him do it. He followed Harry and watched him. He just told me because he doesn't want Harry to get in trouble. He says this Mabel Clark's going to have a kid. He told me because he wants Harry warned. My God, Mary, a woman of that age fooling with a boy like Harry, the damned slut. Will says that Harry is stuck on her, that he's in love with her. Now he says he thinks that she's that way -- that she's going to have a kid.

He jumps to his feet and walks angrily up and down the room

I tell you this boy Will knows what he is talking about. He got in with Harry and got Harry to talk. And I saw something myself. Only the other day, right on Main Street, I saw Harry walking with this woman. I came right up to them. You should have seen his face when he saw me. I was never so ashamed in my life.

MARY HORTON

Also jumping up out of her chair and moving about the room All right, all right, but you keep your mouth shut. Don't go 'round town indulging in talk. And if you have got so much influence, you stop that boy, that paragon of a boy -- you use your influence to stop his talking. As for this Mabel Clark, I'll talk to her. I'll see her. And if she won't come here to me, I'll go to her. That's what I told her in my note.

She whirls suddenly on her husband

And don't you ever again call any woman a slut in my presence.

-- 9 --

GEORGE HORTON

Getting away from her toward the door left. He is near the door

You go to the devil. I'll call any one anything I want to. You can't browbeat me. I'm not a boy. I'm a man.

The two stand staring at each other, the man excited and nervous and the woman now gazing coldly at him. There is again the sound of foot-steps in the hallway outside. The attention of both the man and the woman is immediately diverted and they both stand tense listening

MARY HORTON

In quiet, commanding voice Wait! Stand still! Don't move!

She goes quickly over to the rocking chair by the window and sits to compose herself. There is a knock on the door. In a quiet voice

Come in.

The door opens and the head of a young man, FIZZY, the hotel clerk, appears. He steps inside. He is a young man with a long nose and a pimply face and has a great mop of yellow sandy hair. There is a lighted cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. He looks from one to the other of the two people and then turns to MARY HORTON

FIZZY FRY There's a lady to see you, ma'am.

He grins

It's a lady named Mabel Clark.

FIZZY has left the door open behind him and MABEL CLARK appears standing in the door, back of FIZZY. She is a rather handsome woman of thirty and is rather overdressed. She stands staring boldly into the room and GEORGE HORTON, seeing her, is immediately disconcerted. He pushes past FIZZY and the woman and exits. He speaks gruffly to MABEL CLARK

-- 10 --

GEORGE HORTON Hello.