The First Man Part 7

CURTIS--One whole year! That's frightful, isn't it?

MARTHA--I'm a woman, remember; so that one means at least six. Ugh!

Let's not talk about it. Do you know, it really fills me with a queer panic sometimes?

CURTIS--[Squeezing her.] Silly girl!

MARTHA--[Snuggling close to him.] Will you always love me--even when I'm old and ugly and feeble and you're still young and strong and handsome?

CURTIS--[Kisses her--tenderly.] Martha! What a foolish question, sweetheart. If we ever have to grow old, we'll do it together just as we've always done everything.

MARTHA--[With a happy sigh.] That's my dream of happiness, Curt.

[Enthusiastically.] Oh, it has been a wonderful, strange life we've lived together, Curt, hasn't it? You're sure you've never regretted--never had the weest doubt that it might have been better with--someone else?

CURTIS--[Kisses her again--tenderly reproachful.] Martha!

MARTHA--And I have helped--really helped you, haven't I?

CURTIS--[Much moved.] You've been the best wife a man could ever wish for, Martha. You've been--you are wonderful. I owe everything to you--your sympathy and encouragement. Don't you know I realize that?

[She kisses him gratefully.]

MARTHA--[Musing happily.] Yes, it's been a wonderful, glorious life.

I'd live it over again if I could, every single second of it--even the terrible suffering--the children.

CURTIS--[Wincing.] Don't. I wouldn't want that over again. [Then changing the subject abruptly.] But why have you been putting all our life into the past tense? It seems to me the most interesting part is still ahead of us.

MARTHA--[Softly.] I mean--together--Curt.

CURTIS--So do I!

MARTHA--But you're going away--and I can't go with you this time.

CURTIS--[Smiling to himself over her head.] Yes, that does complicate matters, doesn't it?

MARTHA--[Hurt--looking up at him.] Curt! How indifferently you say that--as if you didn't care!

CURTIS--[Avoiding her eyes--teasingly.] What do you think you'll do all the time I'm gone?

MARTHA--Oh, I'll be lost--dead--I won't know what to do. I'll die of loneliness--[yearning creeping into her voice] unless--

CURTIS--[Inquisitively.] Unless what?

MARTHA--[Burying her face on his shoulder--pa.s.sionately.] Oh, Curt, I love you so! Swear that you'll always love me no matter what I do--no matter what I ask--

CURTIS--[Vaguely uneasy now, trying to peer into her face.] But, sweetheart--

MARTHA--[Giving way weakly to her feelings for a moment--entreatingly.]

Then don't go!

CURTIS--[Astonished.] Why, I've got to go. You know that.

MARTHA--Yes, I suppose you have. [Vigorously, as if flinging off a weakness.] Of course you have!

CURTIS--But, Martha--you said you'd be lonely unless--unless what?

Martha--Unless I--[She hesitates, blus.h.i.+ng and confused.] I mean we--oh, I'm so afraid of what you'll--hold me close, very close to you and I'll whisper it. [She pulls his head down and whispers in his ear.

A look of disappointment and aversion forces itself on his face.]

CURTIS--[Almost indignantly.] But that's impossible, Martha!

MARTHA--[Pleadingly.] Now don't be angry with me, Curt--not till you've heard everything. [With a trace of defiance.] It isn't impossible, Curt. It's so! It's happened! I was saving it as a secret--to tell you to-day--on my birthday.

CURTIS--[Stunned.] You mean it--is a fact?

MARTHA--Yes. [Then pitifully.] Oh, Curt, don't look that way! You seem so cold--so far away from me. [Straining her arms about him.] Why don't you hold me close to you? Why don't you say you're glad--for my sake?

CURTIS--[Agitatedly.] But Martha--you don't understand. How can I pretend gladness when--[Vehemently.] Why, it would spoil all our plans!

MARTHA--Plans? OUR plans? What do you mean?

CURTIS--[Excitedly.] Why, you're going with me, of course! I've obtained official permission. I've been working for it for months. The letter came yesterday morning.

MARTHA--[Stunned.] Permission--to go with you--

CURTIS--[Excitedly.] Yes. I couldn't conceive going without you. And I knew how you must be wis.h.i.+ng--

MARTHA--[In pain.] Oh!

CURTIS--[Distractedly--jumping to his feet and staring at her bewilderedly.] Martha! You don't mean to tell me you weren't!

MARTHA--[In a crushed voice.] I was wis.h.i.+ng you would finally decide not to go--to stay at home.

CURTIS--[Betraying exasperation.] But you must realize that's impossible. Martha, are you sure you've clearly understood what I've told you? You can go with me, do you hear? Everything is arranged. And I've had to fight so hard--I was running the risk of losing my own chance by my insistence that I couldn't go without you.

MARTHA--[Weakly and helplessly.] I understand all that, Curt.

CURTIS--[Indignantly.] And yet--you hesitate! Why, this is the greatest thing of its kind ever attempted! There are unprecedented possibilities! A whole new world of knowledge may be opened up--the very origin of Man himself! And you will be the only woman--

MARTHA--I realize all that, Curt.

CURTIS--You can't--and hesitate! And then--think, Martha!--it will mean that you and I won't have to be separated. We can go on living the old, free life together.

MARTHA--[Growing calm now.] You are forgetting--what I told you, Curt.

You must face the fact. I cannot go.

CURTIS--[Overwhelmed by the finality of her tone--after a pause.] How long have you known--this?

MARTHA--Two months, about.