Why Marry? — Act 3
ACT III
_It is well along in the afternoon of the same busy day of rest.
Most unaccountably--until the JUDGE accounts for it later--the terrace has been decked out with festoons and flowers since the excitement of the morning.
Japanese lanterns have been hung, though it is not yet time to light them and though it is Sunday in a pious household.
_ _Most incongruously and lugubriously, LUCY is pacing to and fro in silent concern.
_ _THEODORE now comes out of the house, also looking harassed.
Lucy turns to him inquiringly.
He shakes his head sadly.
_ LUCY
No word from Uncle Everett?
THEODORE
No word.
He must have reached town long ago, unless he had tire trouble....
It's a bad sign, Lucy, a bad sign.
He would surely telephone us.
LUCY
Oh, if he _only_ hadn't missed their train!
THEODORE
[_hopelessly_] Uncle Everett is the only one who could have brought them to their senses.
LUCY
It may not be too late.
He took our fastest car, our best chauffeur.
THEODORE
Detectives are to watch all the steamers to-morrow.
John telephoned at once.
LUCY
But to-morrow will be too late!
And, oh!
when it all comes out in the newspapers!
The ghastly head-lines--"well-known scientist, beautiful daughter of a prominent family!"
Oh!
What will people say?
[_JOHN, hurried and worried, rushes out shouting for LUCY.
_ JOHN
Any news?
Any news?
[_THEODORE and LUCY give him gestures of despair.
_] Then it's too late.
[_He, too, paces to and fro in fury.
Then bracing up.
_] Well, I found Rex, over at the Golf Club.
Terribly cut up.
But listen; not a drink, not one!...
Where's Jean?
Got to see her at once.
THEODORE
Locked herself up in her room, John, crying her little heart out!
JOHN
Rex is a changed man, I tell you.
We've got to patch it up, and we've got to do it _quick_!
LUCY
But, John!
When the Bakers hear about Helen ...
Rex marry into our family?
Never!
We're disgraced, John, disgraced!
JOHN
[_impatiently_] But they're not _going_ to hear about Helen.
No one knows, and no one _will_.
Helen has simply returned to Paris to complete her scientific research.
My press-agent--he's attending to all that.
THEODORE
But questions, gossip, rumor--it's bound to come out in time!
JOHN
In time; but meanwhile, if Jean marries Rex, the Bakers will _have_ to stand for it.
What's more, they'll make _other_ people stand for it.
Backed by the Bakers, no one will _dare_ turn us down....
Our position in the world, my business relations with the old man--_everything hangs on little Jean_ now.
Tell her I've simply got to see her.
[_LUCY
hesitates.
_] Hurry!
Rex is coming over later.
[_He catches sight of the table, festoons, etc. _] Heavens!
What's all this tomfoolery?
LUCY
[_going_] Uncle Everett's orders--he wouldn't stop to explain.
He left word to summon the whole family for dinner.
[_LUCY goes.
_ JOHN
[_shrilly_] The whole family!...
To-day of all days!
THEODORE
John!
You must not, shall not, force Jean to marry this man.
JOHN
[_unappreciated_] Haven't I done everything for my sisters?
Can't they even _marry_ for _me_?
THEODORE
The man she loves or none at all.
JOHN
That cub at the law school?
No money to keep a wife, no prospects of any.
His father's a college professor.
THEODORE
[_shaking head sadly_] "No love without marriage, no marriage without--money!"
Ernest Hamilton's words this morning, when we walked to church.
JOHN
[_watching house expectantly_] Survival of the fittest, Theodore, survival of the fittest.
THEODORE
The fittest for what?
--for making money!
the only kind of fitness encouraged to survive, to reproduce its species.
JOHN
If the ability to make money is not the test of fitness, what is?
THEODORE
Then you are more fit than a hundred Hamiltons, are you?
And Rex?
How fit is he?
Rex never made a cent in his life.
JOHN
He's got it, all the same....
See here!
Haven't I enough to worry me without your butting in?
Jean's got to marry _some_body, _some_time, hasn't she?
THEODORE
But not Rex, not if I can prevent it.
JOHN
But you can't--you have nothing to do with it ...
except to perform the ceremony and get a big, fat fee for it.
THEODORE
I--marry Jean and Rex?
Never!
[_JEAN comes out.
She is frightened and turns timidly to THEODORE for protection.
_ JOHN
Jean, don't detain Theodore.
He has an important business letter to write.
[_THEODORE turns to JOHN indignantly.
_] Your wife's sanatorium bills--better settle up before they dun you again.
THEODORE
With your money?
[_Takes JOHN'S check out of pocket, about to tear it.
_ JOHN
[_catching THEODORE'S hand_] For Mary's sake, for the children's--don't give way to selfish pride....
Want to kill your wife?
Then take her out of the sanatorium.
Want to ruin your children?
Then take them out of school!...
Cash your check, I tell you, and pay your debts!
[_THEODORE glances at JEAN, at check.
A struggle.
At bay, he finally pockets check and dejectedly goes into the house.
_ JEAN
[_with a wet handkerchief in hand_] Well?
If I refuse to marry Rex?...
Cut off my allowance or merely bully me to death?
JOHN
[_kindly_] Oh, come!
You've filled your romantic little head full of novels.
I
never force _any_body to do _any_thing.
[_Suddenly breaks out.
_] My heavens!
what's the matter with all of you?
I only want to give you and Lucy and Helen and Theodore and the whole family the best of everything in life!
And what do I get for it?
I'm a brutal husband, a bullying brother, and a malefactor of wealth.
Lord!
I guess I have some rights, even if I have got money!
JEAN
Rex has money, too.
Should that give him the right to women?
I, too, have some rights--even though I _am_ a woman.
JOHN
Any woman who can't care enough for a Baker to marry him--Rex is the sort who would do everything in the world for the woman he loves, everything.
All the Bakers are like that.
JEAN
But what would he do for the woman he no longer loves?
JOHN
He wasn't fool enough to tell you about that?
JEAN
About what?
JOHN
[_halting_] Nothing--I thought--I tell you, Rex has reformed.
JEAN
You thought I meant his "past."
I meant his future ...
and my own.
JOHN
Well, if you expect to find a saint, you'll never get married at all.
JEAN
And if I never married at all?
JOHN
_Then_ what will you do?
JEAN
[_with a wail of despair_] That's it--then what _should_ I do--what _could_ I do?
Oh, it's so unfair, so unfair to train girls only for this!
What chance, what choice have I?
To live on the bounty of a disapproving brother or a man I do not love!
Oh, how I envy Helen!
If I only had a chance, a decent chance!
JOHN
Any sensible girl would envy your chance.
You'll never have another like it.
You'll never have another at all!
Grab it, I tell you, grab it.
[_REX comes quietly, a determined look on his face, JOHN sees him.
_] Now, think, before too late, think hard.
Think what it means to be an old maid.
[_And leaves them abruptly.
_ [_JEAN stands alone, looking very pretty in girlish distress.
REX
gazes at her a moment and then with sudden passion he silently rushes over, seizes her in his arms, kisses her furiously.
_ JEAN
[_indignant, struggles, frees herself, and rubs her cheek_] Ugh!
How could you!
REX
Because I love you!
JEAN
Love!
It isn't even respect now.
REX
Has that fellow ever kissed you?
JEAN
I have begged you never to refer to him again.
REX
He has!
He has held you in his arms.
He has kissed your lips, your cheeks, your eyes!
JEAN
How many women have you held in your arms?
Have I ever tried to find out?
REX
Ah!
You don't deny it, you can't. JEAN
I can!
_He_ respects me.
I don't deserve it, but he does.
REX
Thank heavens!
Oh, you don't know how this has tormented me, little Jean.
The thought of any other man's coming near you--why, I couldn't have felt the same toward you again, I just couldn't. JEAN
[_bites her lips--then deliberately_] Well, then ...
other men have come near me ...
other men have kissed me, Rex.
REX
[_getting wild again_] What!
When?
Where?
JEAN
[_laughing cynically_] Oh, in conservatories in town, John's camp in the North Woods, motor rides in the country--once or twice out here on this very terrace, when I've felt sentimental in the moonlight.
REX
[_recoiling_] Oh!
Jean!
I never supposed _you_ were that sort!
JEAN
[_with distaste_] Oh, I don't make a habit of it!
I'm not _that_ sort.
But ...
well, this isn't all I could tell you about myself, Rex.
REX
Don't!...
Oh, what do you mean--quick.
JEAN
Oh, I've merely been handled, not hurt.
Slightly shop-worn but as good as new.
REX
[_after a pause, quietly_] Jean, what makes you say such horribly honest things to me?
JEAN
Yesterday I did you a great unkindness, Rex.
I deserve to suffer for it....
You don't suppose I enjoy talking this way about myself?
REX
I never heard a girl--a nice girl--talk like this before.
JEAN
Naturally not.
Usually "nice" girls hide it.
It's an instinct in women--to keep up their value....
Often I've had thoughts and feelings which "nice" girls of your artificial ideal are supposed never to have at all.
Perfectly natural, too, especially girls of my sort.
We have so little to occupy our minds, except men!
To have a useful, absorbing occupation--it rubs off the bloom, lowers our price in the market, you see.
REX
Oh, stop!...
If you're not going to marry me, say so, but---- JEAN
But I am!...
I am not going to be a dependent old maid.
[_REX,
bewildered, only gazes at her.
_] But, first, I want you to know exactly what you're getting for your money.
That seems only businesslike.
REX
[_recoils_] Would you only marry me for that?
JEAN
I told you I loved another man.
Do you want me?
REX
[_with jealousy returning_] Do I want you!
He shan't have you.
[_He comes close.
_ JEAN
Then take me.
REX
[_seizes her passionately_] I'll make you love _me_!
[_Kisses her triumphantly.
_] I'll bring a different light into those cold eyes of yours.
Wait until you're married!
Wait until you're awakened.
I'll make you forget that man, all other men.
