More Portmanteau Plays Part 81

Take that suit case back into the house.

JONATHAN

No, sir! I'm going and n.o.body can keep me here unless they tie me.

JOHN

Well, I'll tell you one thing--if you leave this house without my permission I'll cut you off without a penny and you'll never be allowed to come back again.

JONATHAN

Yes, sir. I know that; but I'm going and I came to tell you good-bye.

JOHN

Very well. You've made your choice--and I never want to see you again as long as you live. Good-bye, Jonathan. Good-bye, Nathaniel.

LEt.i.tIA

John, don't say things you'll regret. Jonathan doesn't mean what he's saying.

JONATHAN

Yes'm, I do mean what I say.

JOHN

Good night.

[_He goes out._

LEt.i.tIA

Boys, you are so hot-headed--so much alike....

NATHANIEL

You dear, you have always been content to compromise while we two must go our own ways or not at all. You go to John. Help him as you can. He's not a bad man--he's just a structure of reinforced concrete. You love John and he in his way loves you. Go to John and comfort his outraged authority.

LEt.i.tIA

I'm sorry things have turned out this way. (_She kisses them_) Good night, my dears. Wait until morning if you can, my darling Nathaniel.

[_She goes out._

NATHANIEL

Now you've done it!

JONATHAN

I couldn't help it.

NATHANIEL

What are you going to do?

JONATHAN

I don't know.... They say there's plenty of work on farms.

NATHANIEL

You can't write if you work on a farm.

JONATHAN

I can earn some more money and save. Other boys have worked their way through school and college. I can do that.

NATHANIEL

Of course--that is a way out of it. Yes... of course....

[_Nathaniel opens the back doors and sees the thinnest crescent moon hanging in the sky._

The new moon.... They say if you make a wish on the new moon it will come true.

JONATHAN

You have to see it over your right shoulder.

NATHANIEL

You saw it over your right shoulder.

JONATHAN

I don't believe that, do you?

NATHANIEL

Well, suppose it were true, what would you wish?

JONATHAN

You mean for right away?

NATHANIEL