The Pot Boiler: A Comedy in Four Acts Part 17

_Dolly._ See here, young fellow--you might just as well save your breath. You're not going to come any game over me. We're not making any show, but we've kept decent, and we'll go on trying.

_Jack._ Where did you learn such ideas? What sort of men have you met?

_Dolly._ That's not the question--it's what sort of men my sister's going to meet!

_Belle._ Dolly, I'm sure you're mistaken about Jack----

_Dolly (to Schmidt, who enters Left)._ Mr. Schmidt, my sister will be here to work to-morrow morning.

_Schmidt._ Vot?

_Belle._ But, Dolly----

_Dolly (stamping her foot)._ Tell him!

_Belle (feebly)._ All right, I'll come.

_Dolly._ Now then--come home. _(Lifts her by the arm and starts to street.)_

_Belle._ Good-bye, Jack.

_Jack._ You're going off like that? You won't even let me help you home?

_Belle._ Thank you, Jack. I'll get along. _(Jack starts towards her, but she continues to the door. When almost there she staggers.)_

_Dolly (trying to hold her)._ Belle! What's the matter?

_Jack (leaps to help her)._ There! You see! You'll _have_ to let me help her! She can't walk, I tell you! See now, I'm strong, I can almost carry her. This way, Belle--now we'll go all right. And you'll have a good rest and get well and then come back----_(Exit with Belle and Dolly.)_

_Schmidt._ Und they go out und don't tell me who is coming back in der morning! Und dey leave me to shut up mine restaurant by mineself! _(Shakes fist.)_ All right! Ven you come back to-morrow I send you up to Schnitzelman on der next block! I don't have you come by my restaurant und eat double orders of beef stew und coffee! No, sir! I run mine little restaurant for mineself a while! I got so many debts, und I don't get no customers, I don't make no money by mine liddle place! When you come back here you don't find no job--you go up to Schnitzelman for your double orders! _(Loud fire alarm heard. Play-play fades.)_

_Will._ What's that?

_Bill (at window Right)._ It's a fire!

_Will._ What?

_Bill._ Look! It's right down the street! _(Sounds of fire-bells and shouts heard in Real-play.)_ Fire! Fire!

_Peggy (sharply)._ Don't lean out! _(Runs to him.)_

_Bill (beside himself with excitement)._ Oh! It's right down the street! It's the restaurant! That little restaurant down the street!

Fire! Fire! _(Turns to Peggy and Will.)_ Come, quick! Where's my cap? _(Rushes and gets cap, starts to door.)_ The restaurant's on fire!

_Peggy._ Wait, Bill!

_Bill._ But I want to see it!

_Peggy._ You can't go alone.

_Bill._ Then come with me! Come with me! I've got to see it!

(_Dancing with excitement._) Come on! Come on! Perhaps we can get some of those charlotte russes in the window!

_Will (rising resignedly)._ We'll have to stop work.

_Bill._ Oh, I hear the engine coming! Hurry! Hurry! They'll have it all out! _(Rushes to window.)_ Oh, look! Look! There's the engine!

_(Peggy holding him.)_ Look, Peggy! See the firemen! The engine's stopping! See all the smoke! There's flames--don't you see? Out of the window of the little restaurant! Oh, gee! Look how the firemen run! They've got axes! Oh! Oh! Oh! They're smas.h.i.+ng in the windows!

Look, they're running out the hose! See them--they're going into the restaurant! One after another--into the smoke! Look at that, Peggy! Hurrah! Hurrah! Charlotte russes to burn!

CURTAIN.

ACT III.

_Scene: The attic, the following evening. The Play-play shows a tenement room. Entrance to hall Left; also a small stove. In center a table. Entrance to another room, Right._

_At rise: The Real-play, showing Will buried in his ma.n.u.scripts, Left. Peggy Right at the cot, where there is a subst.i.tute child, representing Bill asleep._

_Peggy (goes and watches Will)._ Well, how goes the Pot-boiler?

_Will._ Almost through.

_Peggy._ Will, do you think it can be good if you do it so fast?

_Will._ I can't do it any other way, dear. I have to throw it off at white heat. We can go back and revise it.

_Peggy._ You look dreadfully pale, dear.

_Will._ I know--I'm tired.

_Peggy._ You promised you wouldn't work right after meals. How is your stomach?

_Will._ Oh, bother my stomach! I can't keep away from this work, there's no use talking about it. Come see what you make of this ma.n.u.script. _(Peggy sits.)_ I want to show a front scene, the same as in the last act. It's the restaurant again. _(The Play-play begins to appear as in Scene II, Act II, but showing restaurant in ruins.)_ It's morning. There's a difference, you see. The place has been burned out.

_Peggy._ Yes, Bill and I had a look at it!

_Will._ There's the policeman on guard, marching up and down; and Bill comes on. Here, read it. _(Full light on the Play-play.)_

_Bill._ h.e.l.lo! What's happened?

_Policeman._ I'll give yez three guesses!

_Bill._ A fire!

_Policeman._ Right yez are!