The Straw Part 10

(Peters, _a stupid-looking young fellow with a sly, twisted smirk which gives him the appearance of perpetually winking his eye, detaches himself from a group on the right. All join in with urging exclamations: "Go on, Peters! Go to it! Pedal up, Pete!

Give us a rag! That's the boy, Peters!" etc._)

PETERS. Sure, if I got time.

(_He goes to the pianola and puts in a roll. The mingled conversation and laughter bursts forth again as he sits on the bench and starts pedalling._)

MURRAY (_disgustedly_). It's sure good to think I won't have to listen to that old tin-pan being banged much longer!

(_The music interrupts him--a quick rag. The patients brighten, hum, whistle, sway their heads or tap their feet in time to the tune._ Doctor Stanton _and_ Doctor Simms _appear in the doorway from the hall. All eyes are turned on them._)

STANTON (_raising his voice_). They all seem to be here, Doctor. We might as well start.

(Mrs. Turner, _the matron, comes in behind them--a stout, motherly, capable-looking woman with grey hair. She hears_ Stanton's _remark._)

MRS. TURNER. And take temperatures after, Doctor?

STANTON. Yes, Mrs. Turner. I think that's better to-day.

MRS. TURNER. All right, Doctor.

(Stanton _and the a.s.sistant go out._ Mrs. Turner _advances a step or so into the room and looks from one group of patients to the other, inclining her head and smiling benevolently. All force smiles and nod in recognition of her greeting._ Peters, _at the pianola, lets the music slow down, glancing questioningly at the matron to see if she is going to order it stopped. Then, encouraged by her smile, his feet pedal harder than ever._)

MURRAY. Look at old Mrs. Grundy's eyes pinned on us! She'll accuse us of being too familiar again, the old wench!

EILEEN. Sssh. You're wrong. She's looking at me, not at us.

MURRAY. At you? Why?

EILEEN. I ran a temperature yesterday. It must have been over a hundred last night.

MURRAY. (_with consoling scepticism_). You're always looking for trouble, Eileen. How do you know you ran a temp? You didn't see the stick, I suppose?

EILEEN. No--but--I could tell. I felt feverish and chilly. It must have been way up.

MURRAY. Bos.h.!.+ If it was you'd have been sent to bed.

EILEEN. That's why she's looking at me. (_Piteously._) Oh, I do hope I won't be sent back to bed! I don't know what I'd do. If I could only gain this morning. If my temp has only gone down! (_Hopelessly._) But I feel---- I didn't sleep a wink--thinking----

MURRAY. (_roughly_). You'll persuade yourself you've got leprosy in a second. Don't be silly! It's all imagination, I tell you. You'll gain.

Wait and see if you don't.

(Eileen _shakes her head. A metallic rumble and jangle comes from the hallway. Everyone turns in that direction with nervous expectancy._)

MRS. TURNER (_admonis.h.i.+ngly_). Mr. Peters!

PETERS. Yes, ma'am.

(_He stops playing and rejoins the group of men on the right.

In the midst of a silence broken only by hushed murmurs of conversation,_ Doctor Stanton _appears in the hall doorway.

He turns to help his a.s.sistant wheel in a Fairbanks scale on castors. They place the scale against the wall immediately to the rear of the doorway._ Doctor Simms _adjusts it to a perfect balance._)

DOCTOR STANTON (_takes a pencil from his pocket and opens the record book he has in his hand_). All ready, Doctor?

DOCTOR SIMMS. Just a second, sir.

(_A chorus of coughs comes from the impatient crowd, and handkerchiefs are hurriedly produced to s.h.i.+eld mouths._)

MURRAY (_with a nervous smile_). Well, we're all set. Here's hoping!

EILEEN. You'll gain, I'm sure you will. You look so well.

MURRAY. Oh--I--I wasn't thinking of myself, I'm a sure thing. I was betting on you. I've simply got to gain to-day, when so much depends on it.

EILEEN. Yes, I hope you---- (_She falters brokenly and turns away from him._)

DOCTOR SIMMS (_straightening up_). All ready, Doctor?

STANTON (_nods and glances at his book--without raising his voice--distinctly_). Mrs. Abner.

(_A middle-aged woman comes and gets on the scale._ Simms _adjusts it to her weight of the previous week, which_ Stanton _reads to him from the book in a low voice, and weighs her._)

MURRAY (_with a relieved sigh_). They're off. (_Noticing_ Eileen's _downcast head and air of dejection._) Here! Buck up, Eileen! Old Lady Grundy's watching you--and it's your turn in a second.

(Eileen _raises her head and forces a frightened smile._ Mrs.

Abner _gets down off the scale with a pleased grin. She has evidently gained. She rejoins the group of women, chattering volubly in low tones. Her exultant "gained half a pound" can be heard. The other women smile their perfunctory congratulations, their eyes absent-minded, intent on their own worries._ Stanton _writes down the weight in the book._)

STANTON. Miss Bailey. (_A young girl goes to the scales._)

MURRAY. Bailey looks bad, doesn't she?

EILEEN (_her lips trembling_). She's been losing, too.

MURRAY. Well, _you're_ going to gain to-day. Remember, now!

EILEEN (_with a feeble smile_). I'll try to obey your orders.

(Miss Bailey _goes down off the scales. Her eyes are full of despondency although she tries to make a brave face of it, forcing a laugh as she joins the women. They stare at her with pitying looks and murmur consoling phrases._)

EILEEN. She's lost again. Oh, I wish I didn't have to get weighed----

STANTON. Miss Carmody.

(Eileen _starts nervously._)

MURRAY (_as she leaves him_). Remember now! Break the scales!

(_She walks quickly to the scales, trying to a.s.sume an air of defiant indifference. The balance stays down as she steps up._ Eileen's _face shows her despair at this._ Simms _weighs her and gives the poundage in a low voice to_ Stanton. Eileen _steps down mechanically, then hesitates as if not knowing where to turn, her anguished eyes flitting from one group to another._)