The Pot Boiler: A Comedy in Four Acts Part 24

_Bill._ Youse runnin' from that landlady?

_Dolly._ Don't ask me now.

_Bill._ Well, there's somethin' wrong, I know! Youse can't fool me!

_(Looks about.)_ Gee! I thought I had a home! And now I'm movin' out of it! _(The lights fade slowly on the Play-play and rise on the Real-play.)_

_Will (in a whisper)._ Well?

_Peggy (low)._ Oh, Will! That's the real stuff!

_Will._ You like it?

_Peggy (with intensity)._ Yes, I do! It's real, it's true. Will, I think it'll go!

_Will._ You do?

_Peggy._ Yes, even with Broadway! It made me cry--and I'm a hardened old sinner.

_Will._ Oh, dearest, I'm so glad!

_Peggy._ I'm proud of you, Will! _(Rises and puts her arms about him.)_ We've got a real Pot-boiler! _(Sound of bell in Real-play Left. Play-play vanishes. Full light on the Real-play. A post-man's whistle off Left.)_

_Will._ What's that?

_Peggy._ The post-man!

_Will (leaping up)._ Maybe it's a check for the poem!

_Peggy._ Oh, yes!

_Will._ Where's the key to the letter-box?

_Peggy (runs Right)._ Here, I think. _(Searches about.)_ Here!

_(Brings him key.)_ Be quick!

_Will (exit Left)._ I'll be quick!

_Peggy (As Bill tosses and calls aloud in his sleep, goes to his bed, kneels and soothes him)._ Oh, my baby! My baby! You're not going to be sick! No, no, I can't stand that! Anything but that!

I'll have to give it up! Will must give up trying to be a writer, and get some sort of paying job. Or I'll have to go on the stage again, and earn some real money----_(Hearing Will returning, she leaps up and runs Left.)_ Was it the check?

_Will (enters)._ Yes.

_Peggy._ For how much?

_Will (in a voice of agony)._ _Guess_ how much?

_Peggy._ Tell me!

_Will._ Two-fifty.

_Peggy._ Two-fifty!

_Will._ Two dollars and a half!

_Peggy._ Great G.o.d!

_Will (furiously)._ How do they expect a poet to live on two dollars and a half for a poem?

_Peggy (hysterically)._ They don't expect poets to live! They don't care anything about poets! Poets are cheap!

_Will (catches her by the arm, stares at her)._ Peggy! Peggy! This play has got to succeed! It's got to succeed! People have got to like it!

_Peggy._ Oh, Will. I hope they like it! I could get them by the throats and choke them until they promise to like it! I could fall down upon my knees and beg them to like it! _(To audience, with intensity.)_ _Don't_ you like it? Don't you like it? Tell us that you like it! Tell us!

CURTAIN.

ACT IV.

_(SCENE--The attic, the following afternoon. Scene of the Play-play is the drawing room, as in Act I.)_

_At rise: The Real-play, showing Will busy working on his Mss., Left. Peggy Right, putting Bill to sleep._

_Peggy._ Now, Mr. Bill, you're going to have a nice nap.

_Bill._ I feel better.

_Peggy._ I'm so glad to hear it. And Will's most through with his play, and then he'll take you to the park.

_Bill._ Say, Peggy!

_Peggy._ Now, go to sleep.

_Bill._ But say!

_Peggy._ Well?

_Bill._ I think I'm hungry.

_Peggy._ There's nothing in the house, dear.

_Bill._ No bread, Peggy?

_Peggy._ No, but we'll get some when you wake up. _(Goes Left and sits by Will. Silence, while he works over papers. He is pale and haggard; she watches him anxiously.)_