The Pot Boiler: A Comedy in Four Acts - BestLightNovel.com
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_Dad._ Used to it? Of course I was--and why shouldn't _he_ be? Why is he too good to work like other men?
_Jessie (pleading)_ Oh, Dad--_(Sudden loud sounds in Real-play, Right; piano and voices shouting chorus of the latest rag-time.
Play-play fades instantly.)_
_Will._ h.e.l.l and d.a.m.nation! There go the devils with their c.o.o.n-songs! _(leaps up with distracted gestures)_ Oh! Oh! Oh!
_Peggy (laughing, runs to window--and tries to close it; sounds continue)._
_Will._ The monsters! The fiends! The satellites of Satan!
_Peggy. (laughing)._ The window's stuck! Come put it down, dear.
_Will._ The window's always stuck when that mad-house opens up!
_Bill (waking)._ Ah----
_Will._ What's that?
_Peggy._ It's Bill waking _(runs to him)._
_Bill (sitting up)._ Oh!
_Peggy._ They woke you up, dear!
_Bill._ I'm glad of it!
_Will._ h.e.l.lo! Bill!
_Bill._ Oh, h.e.l.lo! You got back, did you!
_Will._ Yes.
_Bill._ Say, Will, listen to the music!
_Will._ I hear it.
_Bill (delightedly)._ Gee! That's great, ain't it?
_Will._ You like it?
_Bill._ You bet I like it! Say, I know that tune! The beggar-kid sings it every time he comes. _(Sits up in bed and keeps time with his finger. Chorus begins and he joins in at the top of his voice.)_
CURTAIN
ACT II.
_Scene: The attic, afternoon of the next day. The set of the Playplay is a cheap Third Avenue restaurant. Entrance from the street Center, also window with cas.h.i.+er's desk beside it. Tables up stage, from Right to Left. Entrance to kitchen Left. Clock on wall shows 11:30._
_At rise: The Real-play, with Bill Right on the fire-escape, sitting on mattress taken from his cot. Will Left with Mss. at desk. Peggy talking to Bill. She wears a "bungalow-ap.r.o.n," covering a waitress's costume for quick change._
_Peggy_. That's a dandy big fire-escape to play on!
_Bill_. You bet!
_Peggy_. You've got all your blocks?
_Bill_. Yes, Peggy.
_Peggy_. And your picture-books?
_Bill_. Yes, Peggy.
_Peggy_. And you won't lean over the railing?
_Bill_. I won't.
_Peggy_ (_to Will_). Now to the Pot-boiler!
_Will_. It's a shame to keep the child out there on the fire-escape.
_Peggy_. He'll be all right, dear. It's the coolest place there is.
_Will_. If only we could get him to the park--
_Peggy_. I know, but we can't. (_Sits at table._) Now--you've got the second act already?
_Will_. Yes. Read it, and I'll get the dishes washed for you. (_Exit left_.)
_Peggy_ (_reads ma.n.u.script_). What's this? You've got a drop-curtain?
_Will_ (_off; rattling dishes_). Yes; I want to show Jack's adventures. Read the directions.
_Peggy_ (_reads_). Jack has been hunting a job, and has been unable to find one. The drop-curtain shows a street-scene. (_The Play-play begins to loom, as described._) A row of houses, just off Fifth Avenue, having the front door on the street level in the modern fas.h.i.+on. It is evening, and the ground is covered with snow. The snow-shoveller is at work Right. His feet and hands are tied with rags and his face is red with cold. (_The Play-play in full light._)
_Jack_ (_enters Left in hobo-overcoat, shuffling, and dejected_). I beg your pardon--
_Shoveller_. Hey?
_Jack_. I beg your pardon--
_Shoveller_. What the devil ye beggin' me pardon for?
_Jack_. I--I want to know--is that your shovel?
